Crochet Log Cabin Squares

I learned how to crochet a couple of months ago. My mom told me that my Grandma used to love to crochet. I have caught that bug too! I love making these squares to put together for a blanket. My favorite colors are fall colors and brown, so I am loving this combination! I went up to a USI9/5.5mm size needle. I like using the bigger needle, the stitches are more defined and show the single crochet stitch better. I LOVE crocheting!

Charlie likes them too :)

Crochet dishcloths

Love using good tools for washing dishes!

Summer Salad

Summer salads are so perfect for these 90 degree days! I warmed up some precooked chicken cubes and added some salsa seasoning (no tomatoes added). I let that cool then added apples, mandarin oranges, cucumbers and radishes. Then topped with all natural creamy poppy seed dressing (Marketside). It was scrumptious!

Gift from Mom

I got the nicest housewarming gift from my mom. I love it! I have to get an anchor to hang it on the wall. My mom gets me the neatest gifts! :)

Good stuff

I have been munching on chips and junk at work so I stopped to get some good stuff to munch on instead. Bing cherries are my all time favorite fruit. There are a bit messy to eat but so worth it. I love munching on a sliced cucumber and radishes cut in half. I am all set for the next couple of days at work. I am so glad that I grew up eating lots of fruits & vegetables and love them all.

I was out of sandwich works, so I got some deli sliced Angus Beef. It is so good with Hellmann's, honey mustard and good Muenster or Swiss cheese. I always put it in the microwave for 20/30 seconds to warm it up a bit. So good! I try not to eat out to eat healthier and to stay within my (tight) budget.

Strawberry freezer jam

I missed the very short strawberry season this year, which is a huge bummer. Last year was my 1st year picking strawberries and making jam. My mom always made it so I wanted to give it a try. I had no idea how many strawberries to get so I went a little overboard! I will have enough jam for this year too! I wonder how many times Grandma made freezer jam and think about how much she had to make! Wowza!

The strawberries were so ripe and beautiful.

It took a long time to prepare them to make for jam but I had help, thank goodness. :)

I am sure grandma did not use plastic Ball jars! I should be ashamed. Crazy plastic world we live in! Making the jam was one of the funnest things I did last summer! Plus it tastes so good.

I even made my first pie. It was so good! I have strawberries & rhubarb frozen to make another one. I need to do that soon!

simple summer sandwich

Sometimes I crave a toasted tomato sandwich. Sounds weird, ha? I used to work with a vegetarian and she used to make this at lunch. Toast the bread, apply Hellmans's, slice up a tomato, layer and add pepper (if you like it). It tastes so great and really light for summer. Of course, I always have to have Westby Creamery cottage cheese with it.