To all who are celebrating . . . . have a great 4th of July!

Remember these? After Calico Amy left a comment on that post, I knew I had to do this.
I mentioned to Karen at Log Cabin Quilter what was on the menu and she said she had not heard of Tomato Pie. So I thought I would share the recipe again. For our family, it really has come to symbolize summer and the bounty of our garden.
I no longer have the link to the original website for the recipe, just the copy I've pasted into my 'scrappy cookbook.'
I use this recipe for my crust. It really is an easy and delicious crust recipe. For savory pies, such as the tomato pie, I substitute olive oil for vegetable oil.
We ate this pie for dinner. It's twin will most likely become Sunday brunch. It is tasty hot or cold - add a couple of eggs over easy and a side of fruit and you've got yourself a wonderful breakfast.
Something new got planted in our yard today - the 'For Sale' sign. I won't have to water it, or weed it, or try to keep squirrels away from it. But in even better news - whoever our buyer is will end up with this growing-by-the-day pumpkin to be used as the first jack-o-lantern in their new home.

This is just the beginning.
This year I planted four tomato plants in the spring. After the lousy harvest from last year, I was determined to make a change for the better this year. My plan is working. Each one of the plants has now surpassed the 5 foot mark with one now over six. Once commenter described them not as plants, but as trees. I cannot disagree. Not only are the plants tall, they are thick with vines that are heavy with fruit. Since I won't be canning this year, I'll be making friends (or enemies, as the case may be) by handing out tomatoes to every stranger I meet.
Not to be outdone are the squash plants.Look at that big guy on the left. A testament to the fact that you should NEVER turn your back on a zucchini plant. I'm out there daily looking for things to pick. That one must have been hiding under a big leaf every time I went out the door. Apparently zucchinis are tricksters.
I'm finding a little more time to stitch each day.
Yesterday I added five more diamonds to my pile. Another evening or so of that I'll be back to stitching rows. A couple of months back I would have never dreamed that I would be getting this close to completing the top. Now like a horse headed to the barn door, I can hardly wait.

Thank you all for bearing with me. I have not forgotten that when I began this blog is was primarily a quilting blog with just a touch of this and that thrown in for fun. Lately there has been a lot more this and that and precious little quilting. That holds true not just for my blog, but in my daily life. All work and no quilting makes Libby a cranky girl.
Today that changed . . . . in a small way. Still change is change and I'm all the happier for it. Here's a peek at what I got to do.
Two nearly completed small diamonds for my hexagon stars. When last I stitched on this project, I was adding more star rows to the top. Before I got to the end of my finished stars, I ran out of diamonds. Good thing they stitch up quickly. I should have enough to finish my rows in just a day or so, provided I continue to find a few minutes here and there to stitch.
I've also had a little time to think about the big changes that are ahead of us. I'm looking forward to the adventure of it all. Still California has always been my home. A piece of my heart will remain here forever. And I've been thinking about some of the things that I will truly miss.
Hubby reminded me of this just a few days ago. As far back as I can remember, Santa sat atop a building on Santa Claus Lane right next to the ocean. I longed to stop in and visit that village. But even at my youngest, I knew this was not REALLY where Santa lived. And if our family was driving past it was probably because we were taking a trip to a place where I knew it's most famous resident did live.
Still year after year, Santa was always there to cheerfully wave us on our way. Years went by, I became a grown-up with every opportunity to stop in and visit that little village. But somehow the whole thing seemed a little run down and not very inviting. It was comfort enough to know that Santa was there. Then an group of investors (and apparently non-believers) bought the place with visions of making the prime beach front real estate into something modern and profitable. Santa was taken down. Thank goodness some kind hearted folks of Santa's faithful came to his rescue. With a new paint job and location, he happily salutes everyone who passes him on the 101 Freeway. Hubby and I always return the salute.
Because I do not want to spend my time pining for the familiar, I've made a pact with myself to do a little cyber-touristing. When I find myself thinking about what will be left behind, I turn to the internet to seek what I will be going to. While the roadside Santa might be filled with all sorts of kitsch, I found this place in Massachusetts that looks like just my cuppa to explore. I bet there's a gift shop. One where I can buy some flour to bake bread or maybe bake some cookies to leave on the hearth for Santa.

My how the week has flown by. I hardly had a minute to put a stitch in any project. When the day's work came to an end, there wasn't enough energy left to hold a needle. The good news is that things are really coming together nicely. Soon enough I'll be spending my days stitching away in an effort to not make a mess that can't be cleared in a few moments.
Instead of a new quilt project, I'll share a few of the things that we worked on around the house this week.
The painting over of the red walls is complete and the room restored to a bedroom.
I couldn't resist keeping the room decorated with an Americana theme.
The rest of the house has undergone a make-over, too. Here's what you see when you come through the front door.
I can't get over how spacious it is.
The garden continues to amaze me. Look at how crazy the tomato plants have grown.
Greer has gone from being a garden guardin' gal to becoming a tomato stake. She doesn't mind being a support to the garden in any way she can.
The pumpkin vines are really taking off, too.
I love how they are starting to climb up the fence. Those little curly tendrils that grab on as the vines grow make me smile.
Here's a little peek at the celery patch.
Just looking at it makes me want a tuna sandwich for my lunch tomorrow. I think the menu is set.

Today from the garden.

Talk about stash reduction!
All of my quilting supplies are about to be boxed up as part of the declutter/make our home look roomy campaign. I knew that I was not going to be able to do without something to keep my hands busy, so not everything will be packed away.
In order to give myself some variety to assuage boredom, I've chosen several projects that have been on-going or categorized as UFOs. All but one will not require my sewing machine. Of course, both hexagon projects are a part of the mix. Also there is the queen-sized whole cloth quilt, a wool applique pillow, A Penny Saved, supplies and patterns for punch needle and even a knitting project. If that doesn't keep me busy, then there will be nothing left for me to do but shop.
We got the ball rolling with a realtor today. We were so pleased to hear that all the work we have doing is getting our home right where it needs to be. We have a few maintenance items scheduled over the next week to tweak the curb appeal which puts on target for listing on July 1.
We were given a couple of suggestions for taking out some small pieces of furniture in the main living space. But the best news of all - I don't need to paint over the mural in our bedroom. I've always known that it might not be every one's cup of tea and that it would probably be painted over eventually. Still I will sleep well tonight know that I don't have to do the deed.