Family

One week ago, we received a phone call in the middle of the night. My father in law passed away unexpectedly.

Everyone in the family traveled to Manitoulin Island for his funeral. Such a sad visit to the Island and to camp. It still feels unreal to me.

all of the Campbell cousins!

I am so glad that everyone made it to the Island.

Judy's Pasta Salad

Many many years ago, I got this recipe from a neighbour, my good friend Judy. She has moved far away, but we still love this pasta salad, it has a Greek twist to it, delicious! I highly recommend it!

Judy’s Pasta Salad

-2 cups pasta (your choice of kind), cook 8 minutes, or to package directions
-add 1 tbsp. olive oil to cooked, drained pasta, mix well
-in a small bowl combine 1/3 cup, diced sweet red pepper, 1/4 cup chopped green onion, 1/4 cup slivered black olives
-add this to pasta

Dressing:
3 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1/2 cup feta cheese
2 tbsp. minced fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
Combine everything in a blender and blend well.
Add to pasta mixture. Dressing is good when made the day before as well. Just before serving, add to salad: 1 cup cherry tomatoes - cut in half, (any tomatoes will do), and 1/2 cup chopped cucumber. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

I have been known to double the salad dressing to give the salad more flavour!

Soft Pale and Pretty Yellow Opals...

Last summer when I went to London to visit Megan, I bought these gorgeous African yellow opals while out with Gillian. They are a gorgeous, pale, creamy soft yellow. 

I am also playing with my staging again.. always trying new things. Nice to keep things fresh!

lemon meringue lilac

African yellow opal, sandalwood, lilac freshwater pearl necklace

Hollow Glass Beads

I am not sure why but I love hollow glass beads. Love the transparent delicacy of them. I received a new packet of them in the mail this past week. Such a treat to work with them.

burnt sugar  

glass & copper earrings

effervesce  

glass & sterling silver earrings

silvered transparencies

glass & sterling silver earrings

A Two Blanket Rug

In the winter, someone asked me if I would weave a blanket for her daughter from two old wool blankets. Some friends dropped the blankets off here and I finally got around to tackling it. The edges of one of the blankets was threadbare so it did not felt as much as I had hoped. 

Even so I am very pleased with the result, very excited actually. Processing and cutting a blanket is a tad easier than processing and cutting a dozen or two sweaters.

cutting, or scissoring as I like to call it

two blankets, one pale green, the other, yellow, beige and green

the finished rug, I have left the blanket tags on, but will remove them for the customer. I want her daughter to see what the rug was made from

whole rug

27 1/2" x 48"

lengthwise view

close up

felted wool blanket rug

Blue Eyed Grass

One of our favourite wild summer plants is blue eyes grass. It is not a true grass but a member of the iris family. Last summer Mark planted some in a pot, and overwintered them in the garden. They are blooming now!! Such gorgeous little flowers.

blue eyed grass, on our back step

blue eyed grass, sisyrinchium

Crispy Potato Salad

Last week I made this salad for part of our dinner. It is from Issue 43 of the Donna Hay magazine. I will give the recipe as it is in the magazine, though I didn't have all the ingredients and substituted. I used greens from the garden instead of just spinach, and I didn't have lemon so I made my own dressing with an avocado, garlic, white wine vinegar and olive oil. It was delicious and I will make it again.

Crispy Potato Salad

1 kg potatoes, thinly sliced

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp celery salt

100 g baby spinach

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan

Creamy Lemon Dressing

2 tbsp. sour cream

2 tbsp whole egg mayonnaise

1 tbsp lemon juice

Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F). To make the creamy lemon dressing, place the sour cream, mayonnaise and lemon juice in a non metallic bowl and stir to combine, and set aside.

Place the potato, oil and celery salt in a baking dish, toss to coat. Roast for 20 - 30 minutes or until golden and crisp. Cool and place in a bowl with the spinach and Parmesan and toss to combine. Spoon the dressing over to serve.

Serves 4.

I used a 400° F oven and it took quite a bit longer to roast the potatoes to a golden crisp.

Yummy! Enjoy! 

Wild Strawberries

Yum, the wild strawberries are ripening! We took the dogs out and munched on some delicious berries.

wild strawberries