Clay Pot Wreath

I saw this wreath over at Cherry Hill Cottage awhile back.  SO cute!!

It took a very LONG time to collect enough clay pots, though!

Simple to make… clay pots individually wired to a grapevine wreath. 

A few notes –

Even with sales and coupons the pots were $30…. a LOT more than I usually pay for wreath supplies.  It would definitely be cheaper to hunt for them at thrift stores and garage sales instead. 

(If you’re more patient than Me).

This thing is HEAVY!!  It weighs much more than I imagined!  So plan to have sturdy hanging supplies available. 

You may need a few extra clay pots to replace any that are broken, say, by an errant baseball g

Pickle Pinwheels

These little roll ups are a recipe I found when looking for low carb/high protein recipes to serve when my dad (who is a diabetic) was visiting. 

Little did I know how yummy they are.  Or that everyone in the family would love them too! 

Bonus:  They’re super easy and can be made ahead. 

Dill Pickle Pinwheels

• 1/2 lb thinly sliced deli ham or salami or dried beef
• 1  package “whipped” cream cheese
• 4 large kosher dill pickles, whole

Pat dill pickles dry with paper towels. Take enough slices of meat (depending on size of pickle), and place them overlapping on a cutting board. (If you're lucky, just one slice will encase the entire pickle).

Spread cream cheese over meat.  (This is why it’s important to use the soft “whipped” cream cheese:)

Place dried pickle along one edge of cream cheese/meat and wrap up the pickle in blanket fashion.

Chill for an hour or two, then slice pickle in 1/2 inch pieces and lay flat on tray.

Enjoy your low carb treat!  b

Posted to Temp My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday.  (Links in sidebar). 

Blessed

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
       who walk according to the law of the LORD.

Blessed are they who keep his statutes
       and seek him with all their heart.

Psalm 119:1-2

BBQ Chicken Salad

This is our favorite summer pasta salad… fast and easy too.  Bonus!  Feel free to substitute or leave out any fruits you don’t care for or don’t have on hand.

Barbecue Chicken Salad
INGREDIENTS: 
4 cups cooked bow-tie pasta
2 cups cooked & cubed chicken meat
1 large apple - peeled, cored & cut in chunks
1 cup halved seedless grapes
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
DRESSING: 
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon milk
1-2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pinch ground nutmeg

In a large bowl, mix chicken, pasta and fruits.  Mix dressing ingredients together and gently toss with the chicken mixture.  Chill until ready to serve. 

Posted to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday  - See links in the sidebar    9  9  9 

Hush-a-bye Flower Garden

Finally finished this blanket I’ve been working on.  Love this color combination… rose, aqua, sage, chocolate.  Soft and yummy. 

I’m perfecting the art of joining squares or hexagons together as I crochet.  Because I’m not too great at, you know, actually sewing everything up once the pieces are all made. 

If you haven’t tried this method before, Moonstitches has a great tutorial.   
Look for Hush-a-bye over at puddintoes. 

Happy 4th of July!

 
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
The Star-Spangled Banner, 4th verse

Psalm 119:2

Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.

Psalm 119:2