I finished Block 4 of the 2011 Designer Mystery BOM. Thanks so much to Sinta for hosting this BOM Rehab Monday! I am getting so many things done thanks to this program.
In fact, this should be a week full of good posts from me, as I had an extremely productive weekend. It is amazing what one can accomplish with 8 uninterupted hours of sewing. I started at 8:00 AM Sunday morning, and finished up at 5:00 PM. I did take one break and ran to the store, came home and made Avocado Cucumber soup for dinner, which we will have with a grilled pork tenderloin. The bakery in Murphys makes this soup, and I tried to duplicate it. It is served cold, and has a yogurt base. Avocado, cucumber, shallot, yogurt, vegetable broth and seasonings. It is so refreshing, I swear I could live on it in this hot weather. After Gazpacho and Vichyssoise, this is my favorite chilled soup. Do any of you have a cold soup you love?
In addition to the block shown above, on Sunday I finished two quilts and tried out a new tool. I can't wait to share the tool with you tomorrow, as it is the best thing I have discovered in ages. One of my readers suggested it and I am so grateful! Come back tomorrow and I will share.
Hope you all had a splendid weekend. I was happy as can be since the temperatures have cooled down. 98 instead of 104! Woo hoo.
Nicole, your blocks always look so crisp and refreshing - you have a great sense of colour. The soup sounds delicious - think I will give it a try - I also love cantaloupe soup - I must dig out the recipe again and make it this week. We are in the midst of a heat wave (it's already 87 degrees with the humidity factor at 8 a.m.) and haven't had rain for way too long, the grass is brown and a lot of the trees have turned yellow.
Posted by: CarlaHR | July 16, 2012 at 05:14 AM
Love the block and the good news about your sewing weekend - amazing what a little sewing time (and cooler temps) can do for the psyche!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 16, 2012 at 06:15 AM
This is our favorite summer soup. We don't eat it often as the cream and butter are not exactly low cal but it is a special treat when we have zucchini coming out of our ears.
Zucchini Soup (serves 4)
3 T butter
1 lb. zucchini, silced in 1/4” rounds
1 lrg. clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped shallots
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper
1/2 t. curry powder
Melt butter in a frying pan, add zucchini, garlic and a shallots and cook, covered over low heat until softened. Scrape into blender jar, add stock, cream, salt and pepper and curry powder. Blend until zucchini is minced. Chill.
Posted by: Sue | July 16, 2012 at 06:23 AM
Another lovely block! I agree, your blocks always look so crisp and fresh!
Have never tried a cold soup...... (hangs head in shame) maybe one of these days I will.
Posted by: sillysally | July 16, 2012 at 07:53 AM
Seems your weekend was super productive! I love when I get a good sew in. I didn't even do groceries this weekend. I was so focused on sewing. I didn't finish my project but made a great dent. I'm sewing my rows together, which is the final step for a reveal!
I did some test cooking this weekend too. Saturday's pasta dish was much more successful than Sunday's but I'll take it! LOL!
Posted by: Sandy | July 16, 2012 at 08:03 AM
98....wow, that's hot!!
Glad you had a great weekend and can't wait to see everything!!
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | July 16, 2012 at 08:42 AM
Hi! I have been away from my computer the past week but I am looking forward to catching up on your posts! I just saw your basket quilt at Mary's blog - it looks wonderful! Small world! I was so excited to see your quilt there!!! Hey look - there's Nicole!!!! Mary always has such pretty work to show. She does all my quilts for me - she is amazing and really brings them to life! I love, love, love her! :o) Have a great day! Love that spool quilt - got the pattern - fun sew along you are hosting! I hope to make it some day too!!!!
Posted by: Bari Jo | July 16, 2012 at 09:41 AM
congrats to you! i actually did blocks 1 & 2 this weekend for the 2012 BOM...I know! I haven't finished last years...but...whatever!
Posted by: Dianne | July 16, 2012 at 11:12 AM
I'm sure you were content as could be with that many sewing hours in a row! That's why you put that wonderful studio together, right? Right! The cold soup sounds very refreshing for a hot evening's dinner! Add a salad and a nice chunk of French bread...yummy! I'm wondering what kind of new tool you've discovered!
Posted by: Jan | July 16, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Tools Tuesday! Blogger everywhere will be so grateful for a post about tool they can use, and that you can demo! What an improvement over my posts!
Love Block Number 4!
Posted by: Thelma | July 16, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Dang! I gotta wait until tomorrow?? ;p
Your block is beautiful. ;p
Posted by: ina | July 16, 2012 at 03:07 PM
lol@Thelma = tool tuesday
Posted by: ina | July 16, 2012 at 03:08 PM
I can't wait to see the new tool, Nicole! So glad to hear you had a productive weekend! I had a chilled peach soup in Napa once - never had anything so good!
Cheers!
Posted by: Candace | July 16, 2012 at 03:29 PM
Looking forward to the tool review! Enjoy your eve.
Posted by: Mary | July 16, 2012 at 05:29 PM
What a cheery block and stellar fabrics!! I cannot imagine sewing for so long in one day but admire your energy and enthusiasm.
I cannot wait to see tomorrow's post!
Today we spent a bit more than 8 hours in the car going from here to there and back again to see DS2's new apartment in a town too, too far from us. I know it's not across an ocean and that IS a plus, but still... this son was my preemie and is an utter delight. Sigh!
I am tired, and turned on my computer for the first time today at 8p.
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | July 16, 2012 at 05:58 PM
I haven't tried cold soup, your recipe sounds like something I'd love to try. Is the recipe in a book?
Posted by: wendy | July 16, 2012 at 08:04 PM
Wow, I want to try that avocado cucumber soup! It sounds so nice for summer. It's been raining like a bad thing here (yeah, I know... nice Irish summer!) and we made Nettle Soup with nettles we picked from the back yard. It was pretty good. Basically, the soup was potato-leek with some nettles added in.
BTW, that's a nice quilt block. The center square would be perfect for 'fussy-cut' fabric, wouldn't it? Is that a 'bear paw' corner? They look a bit like tulips actually.
Posted by: hitchhiker42 | July 16, 2012 at 11:16 PM
Can you post the recipe for the soup. It does sound yummy. Thanks..
Posted by: Sandy | July 17, 2012 at 04:10 PM