one benefit of aging...

...is that although you might have to wear reading glasses to see your linen while stitching...

when you take them off, you don't see the pug hair or the twisty stitches!

The America Pillow
by Handwork Primitives
32 ct. unknown linen (calls for Sparrow by BOAF)
Gentle Art Sampler Threads

Here's my patriotic finish for the 4th, just a wee bit late! Started in June, this one took me forever it seemed, all of that border! I decided before starting on it, that I would not railroad my stitches, (something I usually do when stitching with two threads because I tend to twist my thread a lot while stitching), as that takes a lot more time for me. And since this will be a pillow that the dogs will just shed on, who's ever going to know that my stitches aren't flat? And I certainly can't tell without my glasses!

Here's another benefit of my getting older....I DON'T EVEN CARE ANYMORE! Life is just too short to fuss over such things. At least for me anyway! I have doggies to kiss, people to hug, pies to make...you get the picture!

Gotta run, Muttley is whining because his tennis ball is under the coffee table!
Have a Happy Weekend!

no stitching. just pie.

Oh, I have been stitching, and something patriotic to boot, but since it's the "lazy, hazy days of summer", I am trying my best to live up to the lazy part by refusing to iron it and take photos of it until it's complete!

So instead, may I present....

The Easiest and Best Key Lime Pie EVER



I thought twice about making this since it involves turning the oven on for a few minutes, but the fact that there are no eggs in the recipe made me forge ahead.
My family was glad about that ;-)

Here's the recipe (please note that I had a typo on this recipe when it was first posted, but it's correct now)

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
2 cans sweetened condensed milk (I used Eagle Brand)
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup key lime juice
1 tablespoon grated lime zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime zest. Mix well and pour into graham cracker crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 5 to 8 minutes, until tiny pinhole bubbles burst on the surface of pie. DO NOT BROWN! (mine never did get the little pinholes and I baked it ten minutes then took it out and it was perfect!)

Chill pie thoroughly before serving. Garnish with lime slices and whipped cream if desired.

If you would like to be lazy like me, you can use this stuff, instead of squeezing all those tiny limes....



We happen to go through a LOT of limes in this house, so I had some zest already, but I think this pie would be fine without it. You can also use the fat free Eagle Brand milk to reduce calories but whatever!
One piece ain't gonna kill ya.


Last week was my birthday and here's one of the bestest things I received, just had to share....



Isn't it adorable?! (thank you sweet Nancy if you're reading this, I love you!)
I was truly spoiled by my family, friends and coworkers and felt completely undeserving of everything!

Life is good. Pie is good. Enjoy it.