The mountain laurel is in bloom now, and we have two large shrubs on our property. One is behind the house, the other on the edge of the meadow. I love these pink-tinged flowers with the red lines radiating from the center.
My bargain New Guinea impatiens have doubled in size and are blooming well. They seem to be very happy here. I really like the variegated coloring on the flowers.
My other bargain plant is a verbena. It also seems to be coming back well, getting larger and now sporting several blooms along with a bunch of buds for more flowers soon.
I got my doves repainted, and placed them in the planter box among the clover.
It was baking day one day last week, and I started out with my own recipe. This Caramel Apple Cake is one of My Sweet Babboo’s favorites. He likes a liberal amount of cinnamon and big chunks of apples.
I made some blueberry muffin tops from a mix, too. It seems like I do this combination of baked goods quite often. I will sometimes add a bit of vanilla or a pinch of cinnamon to box mixes to make them just a bit better. Wilton makes PFAS free muffin top pans. See my post on Sunday Chat and an Alarming Discovery to see why this is so important.
I made some Cranberry donuts last week too.
My donut pans from Wilton are PFAS Free as well.
Download my Carole’s Cake Donuts Recipe Ebook for four donut recipes in one pdf file.
I also made some biscuits from a mix My Sweet Babboo loves, Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix. It calls for 1/2-cup of shredded cheddar, but I add 2/3 cup and also some green onions.
You add cheddar cheese and water to the mix, then drop it by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.
When they are baked, mix up the garlic and seasoning packet with melted butter and brush over the tops.
These are so good!! The mix makes about a dozen, and more than half were gone on the first night. They also have a Gluten Free version.
The big news of the week is that my Freedom Waves Quilt pattern is featured on the Quilting Daily website this month! I am really excited about this. The digital download pattern can be purchased separately (no affiliation here, and no, I do not get any royalties). Click on Freedom Waves pattern to see it. The print magazine has been published, and is being shipped to stores now. Today only, for Mother’s Day, use coupon code MOMSTITCH to get 25% off!
I have received the quilt back, and got out my bag of sleeves so I could attach one. Beginnings Quilt Shop has ordered the magazine and wants to display the quilt with it. I love the backing fabric, and it goes perfectly with the fabrics on the top. These are all Benartex fabrics with vivid red and blue colors, and crisp white.
Our resident black bear has made a couple of visits to the house this past week. My Sweet Babboo kept running him off before I could take a new photo, but it looks just like this one from last year. He/she is about 200 pounds.
I saw Wilson last week too, while driving down the road, but could not get his photo either. But he looks pretty much the same as well.
Yesterday, we once again had a murder of crows in the meadow. This time, I could photograph them because they were not up next to the house. These were at the driveway circle, and the edge of the meadow.
More were in the meadow. There were still more in the trees. Total number was about two dozen.
On the feeder, a chickadee posed for a profile shot.
A pair of house finches came for a meal. The male is on the left, with some purplish red, while the female is all spotted brown.
We watched Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix, and I was very disappointed. The movie does not faithfully follow the book, and the role of Marcellus was reduced so much that the charm is lost. It is just another ho-hum story of loss that we’ve all seen before many times. Read the book, skip the movie.
This week is going to be insanely busy, with our quilt show next weekend. On Monday we begin taking in all the quilts and items for the gift shop, and I am working a shift that day. I’ll also be there on Thursday for set up, and Friday to work the bookstore and see the show. In the intervening days, I have two car club events plus a meeting one afternoon. But, when the show is over, I’ll have two weeks of virtually nothing to do, and plan to get in some quality sewing time.
What are your plans this week?
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From My Carolina Home 
Oh, I am disappointed to know that about the movie! I have to admit that most of the time, though, I like the book (any book!) better than the movie version. We have been in bird-watching heaven here in S. Carolina! Our Merlin app is getting a workout – lots of birds here that we don’t see out west. We saw a yellow-crowned night heron last night when walking along the Charleston harbor area – that’s a new one for my life list!
The mountain laurel is rather amazing! Such beautiful flowers!
Thanks for the heads up about the movie. Sometimes I enjoy what is actually there if I temper my expectations. The book was fabulous!
Your green thumb continues for another season. I love that you are allowing your local quilt shop, New Beginnings, to display your beautiful quilt. I hope they sell lots of magazines!! I’m very surprised that you don’t get any royalties from sales of the digital pattern. I guess I don’t know anything about getting a pattern or quilt published. BTW – I am so excited to have achieved success with my EQ8 pattern design, and have completed the associated quilt top. It does inspire me to try something else on EQ8. My EQ skills are low, but I am using your suggestions on watching YouTube videos . Thanks.
PS – that first photo of the mountain laurel is spectacular. One to consider for this year’s fair entry!! Beautiful.
Thanks so much, Mary. The magazine pays me a flat fee for exclusive use for a period of time. They also provide the fabric to make the quilt. After that, I can sell the pattern on my own.
Glad you are having more fun with EQ8!
Glad you got paid!! I wondered about how it all works. EQ8 is a challenge but so far I got done what I needed. I’ll leave the magazine pattern creating to pro’s like you.
Hi, Carole. Shipping out a baby quilt to California
My family took me to see Sheep Detectives at the movies for Mother’s Day. It was absolutely charming. Highly recommended.
I love mountain laurel, the blooms are spectacular! The cinnamon apple cake looks delicious! Happy Sunday, Carole!
*Caramel Apple
Thanks, Pam! Happy Mother’s Day to you.
You have more than a green thumb, Carole. Your rejuvenated plants are so precious. The mountainn laurel must be a beautiful sight in person. Our bird news is an indigo bunting. He looks like a jewel flitting around the house. This week I’ll be busy hanging quilts before our show & checking in volunteers during the show. Hanging quilts is a workout, but I really enjoy getting a sneak peek before the crowds descend on the arena.
I’m glad your plants are doing so well. Sounds like you have a busy but fun week. I am planning to do some yard work this week since the weather is finally warming up. Have a great week.
the mountain laurel has such pretty flowers. I don’t think I would like to walk outside to do some gardening and find a bear walking around outside! has that ever happened to you? walk out and see one in your yard? or have you always been in the house or on the veranda when that has happened?
If the bear hears humans, they don’t approach the house. I just be sure to make a lot of noise while I am outside. But, if I am sitting on the veranda, enjoying the quiet, I am alert to my surroundings, as one could come around the house at any time. I do make sure to check around a bit before I start digging. I’ve never been surprised by one when I’ve been outside. On the other hand, I have opened up the drapes on the sliding glass door and found one on the veranda! One time it was a mom and three cubs!
Wow that must have been startling!!
I’m glad they are not real common to see here but they are in Arkansas but rarely do we see them but hear of them in the news when someone sends in a photo of one.
It’s good to know that the Red Lobster biscuit mix comes in gluten-free, also. They staged your quilt beautifully. Best wishes for your quilt show.
Goodness me, a great big bear on your property! You certainly have been busy baking. I’ve never heard of donut pans, but then donuts are not such a big thing here.
Carole,
Thank you for the beautiful pictures and recipes. Also for alerting people to non-stick cookware. I use all Stainless Steel- made in America and Le Creuset enameled cast iron. You’ve certainly been baking up a storm!
Beverly
I bet your house smells amazing!!! and all those flowers – so very pretty. And yay for your quilt being featured!!
It was baking day here today too! Banana, pumpkin and blueberry quick breads for the kiddos at Master Class tomorrow. I love the phot of the mountain laurel…what a gorgeous flower!
What a lovely lot of plants you have rescued and are rewarding you with lovely flowers. The Mountain Laurel is a sweetie – looks like icing on the Christmas cake. Baking items look good too. I made a few bakery tempters today too.
Just think how many people will be using your quilt pattern in future. Very exciting!
Nice roundup of visiting animals and birds. That bear looks a bit big……..
Mary :))
Your mountain laurel is looking lovely. They are very pretty flowers.
The wildlife around you gets very active in Spring. Still takes me a while to get used to seeing bears.
So much to love here! Congratulations on more quilting kudos! It is a beauty. I love those cheddar biscuits are one of my favorites (I add to them too) but I haven’t had them in ages because they are too dangerous! Maybe I’ll make some for our next Cork Poppers — a good excuse. And that cake sounds fabulous. Lovely blooms, happy birds — life is good.
(The book is almost always better!)
Thanks so much. Oh, yes, having friends around to help eat those cheese biscuits is a great idea.
The movie leaves out so much of what made the book so special. I hate it when a screenwriter guts a great book. I’m so glad that Project Hail Mary had Andy Weir (the author) as part of the crew to be sure the movie stayed true to his novel.