From Our Cottage Porch to yours ~ Happy Autumn!~~

Wonderful beautiful fall has arrived at our cottage and today is the perfect fall day in Texas ~~ we had an early morning rain & now everything is crisp, clear, & cool ~ it feels very much like fall & I'm so happy it's here!

HAPPY AUTUMN from our little Cottage to yours!~ xoxo Kathy

THANKS Project Runway! ~~

Project Runway made me do it! ~



All cut out & ready to sew......Simplicity Pattern #6888

Gathering.....

Ironing.....
My two "black & whites" Cookie & Cosmo always keep me company :-) Where were you Cabo?


Putting in the zipper.....

And WA~LA ~~ Here is my completed project runway dress :-)


I finished my summer dress - yes it's the end of summer but better late than never, right? :-) Project Runway MADE ME DO IT! ~~ I give them all the credit. Don't you love that show?!
It inspires me, really gets me going, & really makes me wanna sew & create something.

I love watching them drape this piece of beautiful fabric over that piece of gorgeous fabric, adding ruffles, & trims - all while pinning them to a dress form. And then ~poof~ they have a wonderful creation flowing down the runway. I've always used patterns but I think it would be fabulously fun to create something on a dress form. Even if I never do it I sure love watching it on Project Runway.

So, here is my new little dress which I finished Tuesday night & wore yesterday when mom & dad came for a lunch visit. It's nice & cool & comfortable & thanks mom for suggesting I can still wear it with leggings when it turns colder. So maybe I'm not too late for summer after all.

And NOW, I have to go watch tonight's new episode of PROJECT RUNWAY!! ~~ xoxo

Camping Adventures with Joey....

Number One Rule when Camping - "Must Take Flowers" :-) (or pick them if you're not in a state park) for the picnic table and my special red & white tablecloth just like mom's......


Our New Adventures with Joey......

We just had a wonderful, relaxing camping trip for the holiday ~~ I was a lady of leisure....relax, relax, relax was the rule of camp after falling on my tailbone 11 days ago - I'm wondering if it will ever get better? If you've never fallen on your tailbone, DON'T do it. It's not fun. And any ideas to help ease the pain will be greatly welcomed. Doctor, X-Ray, Pain pills, ice, rest, etc, etc, etc, nothing is working.....plain & simple --- It hurts....

Anyway, we took some nice, easy, slowwww little walks down winding trails, paths, among big beautiful trees, & calm breezes. We usually ride our bikes but no biking for me this time. Then back to the ice pack & lots of rest with books & magazines. Nice little afternoon naps were the best.

We recently graduated from our tent & this is our new baby - his name is Joey :-)
Our new pride & joy & we are having too much fun with this little guy.
And he IS little - just 17' & perfect for two people along with 2 little dogs.
We've been to 3 different Texas state parks this summer & we are loving our new adventures with Joey.....

The top picture is our lovely spot from last weekend & this shady spot was from our first camping trip in Joey.........


We sat up camp & then meandered down nice walking trails.....

Over Mossy Creeks......

Past Crooked Trees growing out of rocks......

Fallen Tree on the trail......

Cool Rock with perfectly round hole caught our attention......

Rambling on down the path......

Rest Area - too hard for injured tailbones to sit :-(

Soft Green Moss......

And back to my cozy corner to relax with magazines & books......my Gene Autry flashlight is handy so NO more tailbone falls during the night......I found the peacock feather on our first trip when we toured a lovely garden.....

A "sneak peak" inside - NO we don't take Cosmo camping - I took this at home & he was hoping to take his afternoon nap in there........

My fun little kitchen.....

Little retro flowers party lights & I found the lounge/recliner chair at a garage sale - one dollar!....was so happy to have it since tailbone injury......I could stretch out & lay on my side.......really comfy....


Too much fun - I am SO ready for fall & can't wait for our fall trip in October!

Hatch Green Chile & Corn Relish.....

In between sewing, cleaning out & straightening up my sewing room, plus clearing out & throwing away unnecessary "stuff" (it feels really good to get rid of "stuff") - along with too many other projects that I seem to be in the middle of - yikes -I spent a whole morning this week canning corn relish. This took the ENTIRE morning!



Wish you'd been here mom! My other two canning adventures this summer making muscadine jelly & strawberry jam were with mom by my side reading directions & it was easy breezy helping each other along the way. I did this one all by myself & what alot of work!
But it was worth it - we've eaten almost two whole jars because it turned out surprisingly good. Promise I'll bring you some mom & dad before it's all gone.



And THANKS SO MUCH mom for finding Hatch Green Chile at Kroger in Denton for 99 cents a pound! Wow wow wow.....I just looked at the Hatch Green Chile website where you can buy 10 frozen pounds for $86.00 - Wow again - my 6 pounds at Kroger for fresh green chile was $6.00 & roasting them on the grill myself was worth every penny.

Almost 20 years ago I lived in Santa Fe, NM & the best thing about living there was buying Hatch Green Chile off the street corner as they were roasting them in huge roasting barrels. I use to buy huge burlap bags full, take them home & freeze them, & put them on EVERYTHING!



I'm SO happy to have them again, right now, right here in TX & they are just as good as if I were in Santa Fe again. I made a green chile relleno casserole & have already put them on EVERYTHING! My favorite new discovery - Pimento cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise & green chile. I've eaten one every day this week for lunch along with my favorite summer food - watermelon - And my "Luby's Tea" :-)

Will you check the Kroger ad for me mom? I'm off to Denton tomorrow where I must buy every Hatch Green Chili I can find!

Time to Sew....

Looking at some of my favorite sewing blogs lately has inspired me to get back to my sewing machine & get busy with some new projects.....



I found this wonderful old piece of fabric at a garage sale & knew it would make a pretty pillow ~ just an easy pillow with brush fringe down the sides.....I cut up a matelasse pillow sham for the back. It's my favorite color - deep dark red - I love the design & colors in this old fabric.

I have a new pattern, pieces cut and ready to start a sundress next. The pattern reminds me of a dress mom made for me in high school - one of my favorite summer dresses from ages ago. Gotta get going on it before fall gets here!

Happy Birthday TZ....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TZ!!

Here is a sneak peak at your Cowboy Cake....I sure had fun making it!

We will be taking the cake to the lake tomorrow morning for a camping weekend - looking forward to more relaxation & birthday celebrating....

~now where am I gonna put all those candles?!!....

Beach Sunset....

A wonderful week at the beach.......relaxation, walks on the beach, warm sand, ferry ride, good seafood, seashell hunts, beautiful beach sunset ~~ a lovely vacation week ~

We're having a nice thunderstorm this morning, lots of rain, & I'm happy to be home sweet home....

Have a great week! xoxo