My Latest Project:)

I LOVE batik fabrics and was excited to use them in this quilt.
When Laura was in London she took a picture of these tiles that she says are from the Charles Dickens' house. I liked the pattern so much that I did a little drafting and this is the result:

Scenes from a warm summer's evening

We had hotdogs and smores, then watched the bats come out of the trees.

MK decked out in her cool JV uniform. So far her team is 3-0. Go Warhawks!

Fresh Tomatoes

There is nothing like fresh garden tomatoes. You can't find them in the grocery store and when I made the mistake of buying several from a farmers' market at Oak Marr last year I was sorely disappointed. Bruce's tomato plants are having an OK year. Enough to get 3 or 4 good tomatoes a week. And enough to make the best salsa I've ever had. Here's the recipe:

4 large chopped tomatoes with skins and seeds removed

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 finely minced jalapeno pepper with seeds removed

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon chopped onion

the juice of 1 or 2 limes

1 tablespoon sugar

The key is the lime and cilantro--so yummy. Adjust ingredients according to taste, but don't add too much onion! Sometimes I add a little chopped green, orange, red or yellow pepper.

Momma Nielson's Top Ten.....

Children's Books! My friend, Lara, blogged about her's and inspired me to do the same. I'd love to hear what yours are.

Stake Dance Night

Beach theme.

Da Latest

This past week was Madison High School's field hockey tryouts for MK. It was pushing 100 degrees the first 2 days, but thanks to copious amounts of rain, it cooled down enough to make the last 2 days fun. She was all smiles when I picked her up this morning. She made the JV team:) Let the games begin!

Laura doesn't leave to go back to BYU for 10 days but has seriously already packed. We hauled a humongous box off to the PO this AM. After the box she mailed from London sadly never got here (that was four months ago!) we decided we had better play it safe and get this one insured. The girl has been itching to be out of here for so long. She's barely dated in the past 8 months and for Laura, that's saying something.

With summer winding down we are looking forward to another quick trip to the beach and football, football and more football:) Goooooo JMHS Warhawks/BYU Cougars:) Notice I didn't include the Redskins--I am a lifelong Washingtonian and guess what? I am so disgusted with DC sports teams in general that I will now be rooting for.... The Cowboys. Yep. My husband FINALLY converted me.

I Love Summer

I tell ya, it's great alright. Not only is it heaven not to have to get up for seminary and sleep in, but my kids are happy and oh, so busy. MK loved EFY, girls' camp and now she is having an absolute ball at basketball camp. Mike did great on his high adventure trip up to Pennsylvania where he biked 200 miles with his buds. Laura has been a blast to have at home. The kids she nannies are sweeties and are over here lots. We sure will miss her when she leaves in August. Here are some of the sweaters I've been cranking out this summer: I'm also working on a couple of awesome quilts--no pictures yet as it is a work in progress ;) But these are the fabrics: