Inside My Mid-life Crisis

Picture this, 3 full days of nothing but sewing, eating and gabbing with some of your quilting besties.
Once again, a fine time was had by all and many projects completed (well for some of us anyway)
I am still so discombobulated from going back to work full time (woe is me) that I was not very organized this year.

Here we are at the Wild Rose Retreat Center in beautiful "downtown" Orting, WA on day 1. All Set up and working away. Does anyone else see a disproportionate amount of tables around LaDonna? We had to have a table intervention and it's a good thing we were one person short!
It doesn't look like much but it took me all day just to cut out my project--there are 600 triangles alone.
Each block contains 29 pieces, there are 2 different block designs and a total of 30 blocks; do the math, that is 870 pieces in the blocks.
I actually completed 22 blocks, not bad considering we left after lunch on Sunday and I spent all day Friday cutting...I decided to put sashing in. OK, I lost count now.
Here are Ethel's accomplishments--she is amazing with the tiny pieces and her table topper pattern was a hit with us all!

These are Di's and LaDonna's....
These are Sue's and LaDonna's...If we were giving a prize for highest production it would go to LaDonna! (hmmm note to self for next year..a prize for most items completed..) We have already scheduled next years 3rd Annual. Maybe I will actually get my project done before then!

Fish can be somewhat of an acquired taste. I love all kinds but it's taken me 20 years to get Brant on board. This is a salmon recipe given to me by my old buddy Matt T and even Brant likes this one.

I'm planking but you can do it just on the foil which is how I normally do it.

Salmon Filet (plan on 6-8 oz per person; it's yummy)
Mayo
Johnny's Seasoned Salt
Black Pepper
Foil
Cedar/alder Plank (optional)

Start by creating a tin foil tray with 2 layers of foil, fold the edges over and up to form sides.

If using a plank, you need to soak your plank submerged in water for 2-4 hours. This is a cedar plank.
**Note--make sure you are using a "store-bought" cooking plank, don't just buy a cedar shake at home depot-no telling what kinds of chemicals may be on it.

Spread a thin layer of Mayo over the top of your filet, I use light mayo but that is up to you. Sprinkle liberally with Johnny's Seasoning Salt. (This is also a left coast item, right coast may need to look for something like Lowrey's Seasoned Salt) Finish with some fresh cracked black pepper.

 Place the foil directly on a medium high grill (we use a gas grill). The fish will take about 20 minutes to get to "medium" if you like your fish cooked well give it another 5-10 minutes. Cooking times will vary depending on your grill temp. Fish is done when it flakes and is opaque; test in the fattest part.

If you are planking, the plank will get burn marks even through the foil- just throw it on the burn pile when you are done!  You can do this with just the foil in a 350 oven if you are not a griller. Enjoy!

Wine Corner: 2010 Stoneleigh  Sauvignon Blanc, Marlboro New Zealand