Oscar visits are fun

Oscar and his grandpa are a team.

They love each other.

And here is proof that they are related, matching photo smiles.  They must have regular visits with each other and they have certain routines.

One of those routines involves throw pillows, lots of throw pillows.  Why where did Oscar's mommy go?

There she is!

More pillows!

This time a mommy and an Oscar!  Good times!

Another Soccer Boy

Last Saturday morning we went to Raymond's soccer game.  He loves it when it is his turn to put on that goalie shirt.  I loved how his coach was making sure that each player got a chance to play and to play different positions.

This is his first soccer season and he is enjoying it.

He is giving it his all.

Once again Opal was a somewhat willing spectator.

Sometimes she just needed a bit of distraction. . .

like who has my pacifier daddy?

And finally, here is my favorite goalie in action.  He is great at falling on the ball!

Peach Cobbler

I found a great recipe for peach cobbler online.  This has been a hit each time I've made it since August, so I'm sharing it here for easy access.  This is a biscuit style cobbler.

First peel and thinly slice 8 medium size peaches.  Disclaimer:  That is my 2 1/2 quart casserole dish holding just 4 large sliced peaches which bring me to the large variety of peaches available in Utah.

Currently Angelus peaches are available for purchase.  These are my favorites,  They are big, colorful, and delicious.

I do mean big and I do mean beautiful.

This week I am a very lucky girl because my favorite apple, Honey Crisp, is also available.  This apple is also very big.  So much lovely goodness all at once!

Allred Orchards Fruit Barn here in Provo hands out a flyer in August letting buyers know what to expect when.  Did you even know that there were that many varieties of peaches grown in Utah?

Because my two favorites were up at the same time, I had to buy two boxes last Friday, one of peaches and one of apples.

I've been generous so they are going fast.

Back to the cobbler. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. If your peaches are not Angelus, peel and slice thin 8 peaches.  If you are lucky like me, peel and slice 4 beautiful Angelus peaches.  Combine the following and mix with the peaches:

1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsps. cornstarch

Pour mixture in a 2 - 2/12 quart casserole.  Place in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

Now for the topping.  Mix together:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Cut into flour mixture with pastry blender 6 tablespoons unsalted cold butter which has been cut into small pieces.  Then add:

1/4 cup very hot water and stir gently until just combined.

Take peaches from oven and drop spoonfuls of dough over peaches.  Sprinkle top with:

3 tablespoons white sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Place bake in oven and bake for about 30 minutes until top is golden brown.

Serve with a scoop of your favorite vanilla bean ice cream.  It does not get better than this!

Ingredients:

8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges (4 if you have giant Angulus)
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Combine to coat evenly, pour into 2 quart baking dish, and bake in preheated 425 degree F oven for 10 minutes.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix together then cut in:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter which is cold and cut into small pieces

Gently fold in:

1/4 cup very hot water

Drop dough by spoonfuls over hot peaches.

Combine:

3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Sprinkle over top of dough.  Bake in 425 degree F oven for 30 minutes until top is golden.

September sewing projects

I finished my final block for "The Night Before Christmas" quilt early.  The plan was to do a block each month and to finish all 9 by the end of September. Done!  Now to assemble the blocks and add the border.  I have really enjoyed this project.

My sweet little grand daughter turns one soon.  A year ago I was making bedding for her crib.  This year I decided to make her a larger size quilt with the leftover fabrics.  This took some planning.  This is the label I made for the back of the quilt using yet again the leftovers from the new quilt.

I love the alphabet options on my new Bernina 750.

I did purchase this pink dot blender fabric for the background and the back.  I purchased all that was left on the bolt.  It was not enough so I had to get creative with the quilt back, but I made it work.  This is the most piecing I have ever done on a back.  It made me think - hard.

Here is the front.

I always pictured pinwheels for this leftovers quilt.  I loosely followed an American Jane pattern.  Those are 11 inch pinwheels. They alternate with a pink and a very light lavender pinwheel background.

I had just enough of this print for the border.  The bright pinky purple background pinwheels ended up on the back.  I also used it for the 1/2 inch stop border and it will also be the binding.  I knew right away that  pinky purple pinwheels would demand the show if on the front.  I marked the top this morning and hope to do the machine quilting later today.  The quilt is 62 inches square.

I also finished my Saturday Sampler square in a square blocks for September.  Can't wait to see how they are finally used.  I am also thrilled today to have all the windows open.  The invigorating cool fall air is divine and the grass on the mountains is golden this morning.  Life is good!

Happy first day of Autumn

Saturday morning we were in Alpine for our grandson's soccer game.  After we decided to head for home via the Alpine Loop in hopes of finding autumn color.

We headed up the north fork and eventually made our way up to Silver Lake Flat.  I snapped these pictures coming down from Silver Lake.

Lots of orange with a bit of Aspen yellow way up high.

I love this time of year.  The Loop was not as colorful as these pictures and the aspens are still green which means we will have to make another later drive.  I wouldn't miss all that shimmering gold for the world.

That is Tibble Fork Reservoir in the distance.  I love the beautiful Utah mountains.

Clark Planetarium Fun and Butterflies

My grandsons may look like they are moon explorers, but they are just exploring a photo op at The Clark Planetarium  at the Gateway in Salt Lake City.

Raymond also explored Mars.  This was a great outing for the boys with Grandpa Glen on a rainy Saturday.

We watched movies about the planets and the stars in the Dome Theatre.  At movie's end, Ray and Henry would also tell me what they had seen on Nova.  Smart kids!

Oscar's absolute favorite thing was the ball drop.

Henry was a great cousin who explained all the nuances to him.

Now they are at the bottom of the stairs.  That's right!  It is a two story ball drop.

Down stairs there were many hands-on exhibits.

Including tornado and cloud formation.  The boys also loved exploring the gift shop.  They each came away with a favorite small airplane or helicopter.  Thanks Grandpa!

Our finale was the IMAX movie "Flight of the Butterflies."  The boys looked so cute with their 3-D glasses on but the best part was watching them trying to catch butterflies.  Luckily no one was sitting in the row in front of us.

The movie interweaves two stories. One is that of Fred Urquhart who studied butterflies, perfected tags to track their movement, and finally found the location of where the monarchs go in winter.  I love this quote of his that I found.

“I gazed in amazement at the sight. Butterflies – millions upon millions of monarch butterflies!” wrote Urquhart in a 1976 National Geographic story. “Breathless from the altitude, my legs trembling from the climb, I muttered aloud, “Unbelievable! What a glorious, incredible sight!”

And it was an incredible sight, the IMAX movie image of all those monarch butterflies which still migrate to the Mexico High Sierras.  This was the second story told, the yearly 3000 miles migration of the monarchs which actually takes the time of three generations of butterflies.  If you get a chance, go see this great movie experience.

Soccer Boy

Henry is showing you how many goals he made at his soccer game on Saturday.

The Green Lizards were in fine form.

He can do it all.

Act as goalie and follow that ball down the field with a last kick into the net.

Grandpa Glen with our current baby.  She's growing up fast so it is good that we got news last week of a new grandson due the first part of March.  I so love having a baby in the family!

Treat time.  They were downing those apples.

Grandpa and his boys.  We plan on watching Raymond play next Saturday.  Both boys are loving their soccer season.

Opal, not so much.