Just for Fun

 

 

 

It seems I'm usually making and crafting for my Etsy shop, and sometimes gifts for others, but I don't very often make or sew for myself. But I made two plush koi fish just for me.

As I enjoy watching our koi and goldfish in our backyard pond, I can't help but admire the colorful spots and patterns. So I tried to duplicate the look by needle felting sweater wool to make soft plush koi pillows. I started with the orange koi with black spots and then made the "calico" koi, white with bright orange and black spots.
They now reside on the back of the family room sofa.

Say So Long to August. . .

Summer always seems to go by so fast. . .

Happy Fish

 

 

All of our koi and goldfish are very happy in the new backyard pond. They have lots of room to swim and have all gotten much bigger in the extra space.
Some of the goldfish, the first inhabitants of the new pond, spawned when we first put them in the pond. Quite a few of the baby goldfish have survived and are about three inches long now!

After all of my husband's hard work on this project to dig, fill and landscape the pond, it's been so relaxing to sit and enjoy the beautiful fish enjoying their new home.

Fresh Basil Pesto

I love the extra flavor fresh herbs add to a dish and basil is one of my all time favorite herbs. Fresh basil pesto is deliciously fragrant added to your favorite pasta, served hot or cold. I've posted this recipe before, but it's so good and easy I thought I'd share it again.

 

 

Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
2 cloves minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Combine the basil in with the nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.

2. Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

 

Serve with your favorite pasta or spread over toasted baguette slices.

This recipe makes a little more than 1 cup.

 

 

What's your favorite way to use fresh herbs?

Plush Blooming Catus

 

 

I finally found some small clay pots in just the right sizes to finish up a collection of plush cactus. I have a whimsical prickly pear cactus, a San Pedro cactus, and a barrel cactus all made from repurposed sweater wool in varying shades of green. I've added some not so prickly "spines" made from thread and beads. And I couldn't resist adding some small blooms to each one.

These make great gifts for anyone lacking a "green thumb", and are fun home or office décor, alone or in a grouping. I have a group of them on my coffee table right now!

 

They are all available in my Etsy shop right now.