jennifer, Author at Hopeful Homemaker

Lavender Lemonade

August 6, 2010 jennifer Beverages

It’s August, the month of sleepy summer afternoons, good books, and lemonade.

But not just any lemonade.

Homemade lavender lemonade. Our favorite summertime drink. Delicious and refreshing.

My husband just looked at these pictures and said, “If only you could describe how good that stuff is!”

Here’s how to make it:
Boil 10 cups water with 4 cups sugar to make a simple syrup. Remove from heat and add 4 Tb. dried lavender buds to the syrup. Cover and let sit for at least 2 hours. Pour mixture into a large container, using cheesecloth to strain lavender. Discard lavender buds.

Squeeze up to 10 lemons until you have 1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice.
In a large container, mix lemon juice with 12 cups water.

Add lemon water to syrup mixture and watch the color change. Stir and pour a bit into a glass to taste. Feel free to add more water if it’s too strong, or a bit more lemon juice if you want it stronger.

Add ice, and serve.

Enjoy the refreshing taste. Serve some more.

You get the idea.

Makes just less than 1.5 gallons of lemonade.

I poured some into pint sized mason jars to share with friends. Fabric and a tag finished the gift. I enjoy sharing gifts from my kitchen.

Hope you try it, and happy August!

Hopeful Homemaker

Chirp Chirp Quilt

August 5, 2010 jennifer Quilting and Sewing

At last, I’ve finished the Chirp Chirp quilt. The quilting is done and binding is on.

I quilted it in a diamond pattern, much like the Rouenneries quilt I finished earlier in the year. Rather than quilt over the bird, I quilted around the applique area. This quilt is much smaller and therefore was much easier to quilt. I’m happy with the overall outcome.

I embroidered my initials and the year beneath the tree branch, just for fun.

I changed my mind about the binding at least ten times, and then at the last minute discovered I had just enough of the Kona bone to make a binding and went with that. I’m so glad I did. It gives a beautiful crisp edge to the quilt, and provides the contrast I wanted.

For the backing I used a beautiful cotton-linen blend from the Rural Jardin collection by French General. I think this fabric is especially beautiful. I felt drawn to the rich, deep blues in this collection. I love the subtle red, white and blue color scheme, making it a perfect summer quilt for my home. Of course, the birds don’t hurt, either.

Measuring 52 by 40 inches, this is a great size for my younger children to snuggle with. It was a simple and enjoyable project which I hope will be used and enjoyed for a long time!

Hopeful Homemaker

2 comments quilting

Play-Doh

August 4, 2010 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty

Play-doh.

It’s great stuff. Kids love it, it’s inexpensive and it promotes creativity. There are so many reasons to like it.

I hate it. I try not to feel that way, but as it gets broken into tiny pieces, tracked all over my kitchen and into the carpet, my stress levels go through the roof. I am not a good play-doh mom.

Not anymore.

It’s all about location.

Play-doh is now an outdoor only activity at our house. It’s a win-win arrangement. They get to play with it all they want and I don’t find it all over my house.

They’re happy. I’m happy.

Hello, Play-doh.

Why didn’t I figure this out years ago?

Hopeful Homemaker