Bee Day again for the JSS gals.  Once again, our hostess, Nancy, was very creative.  She decided to serve “Stone Salad” for lunch, a take-off on stone soup.  For those of you who don’t know about stone soup and the legend behind it, you can read all about it on Wikipedia, or this version:  The Story of Stone Soup.  I love the last line of the story.  “There is no secret, but this is certain:  it is only by sharing that we may make a feast.”  Good words!

So we were all invited to bring an ingredient to add to the salad to make a delicious lunch.  And the creative ladies of JSS came through with some really fabulous things!

Nancy had big bowls in which to toss the ingredients when it was time for lunch.  Lettuce, sugared pecans, cranberries, eggs, berries, mushrooms and maybe artichoke hearts in the can (?) had already arrived at this point.  As well as a yummy cucumber salad in its own separate bowl.  Nancy started with a “stone” and got lots of ingredients.  What a fun idea!

But first, we absolutely had to have breakfast.  It’s just not a JSS gathering without multiple meals in one day.  And appetizers.  And dessert.  You do remember how we like to eat, right?

Look at these yummy jelly/pastry/sugar things just out of the oven.  Oh, my!  They were just as delicious as they look.

And how about this banana bread?  Have you eaten yet today?  Sorry. 

This plate was full when Nancy set it down.  You can see we didn’t waste any time grabbing slices and gobbling them up.  I couldn’t take a picture fast enough.  Or maybe it was because I had my mitts in the banana bread and didn’t want to get sticky stuff on the camera.  Something like that.

Look Susan!  We even made a plate for you.  With coffee on the side.  I ate it all for you.  Wasn’t that nice of me?

And then as everyone was arriving, chatting and solving the problems of the world,  I took the opportunity to snap a few pics of smiling faces.

Cindy and Betty’s smiling faces always make me smile too.

And how about Suz, Judy and Sally?  Sally is smiling big because she has breakfast in her hand.  We’re all about the food you know.

Kay definitely enjoyed her pastry too.  I think I had six of them.  But who’s counting?

Pat, Tracie and Pam were definitely enjoying the day.  Laughter is the name of the game with this group!

Before we knew it, it was time for lunch.  Didn’t we just finish breakfast?  What does that have to do with anything?

Tracie shows off the big bowls of salad.

And, lest you think Tracie got it all ready by herself, I made Nancy join her for a picture.

There were four, count them four, different homemade dressings to try.  I used them all because I couldn’t decide which one I wanted.  I just wasn’t in a decision-making mood.

Here’s my plate.  Doesn’t it look delicious?  Once again, I apologize if you haven’t eaten in awhile.  Go fix something quick!  Because dessert is coming up and you sure don’t want to view that on an empty stomach.

First you have to see that little star up close.  Sue O won the prize for the most creative “stone.”  It’s jicama and if you don’t know what that is, you can click on it and read all about it.  I must admit I only met jicama recently myself and it adds a nice extra crunch to a salad.  But Sue really went the extra mile when she cut it into little stars.  And she really did win a prize from Nancy!

There were even appetizers.  Like this cream cheese log with raspberry chipotle sauce to put on crackers.

And these cheesy logs.  And hummus.  Didn’t we just finish breakfast?  Oh, yeah.  Who cares.

Here is the dessert bar.  Two homemade cheesecakes with strawberries and/or raspberries.  And hiding just the other side of the raspberry dish was this:

Banana pudding.  Yum.  Cool, creamy banana pudding.  Made by Gloria.  Who also makes fabulous cookies.  Just sayin’.

I had some of everything.  I had to try it all so I could report to you how good it was.  How’s that for an excuse?  Oh, who needs an excuse when JSS food is around.  And can I just tell you……..the cheesecake?  Too delicious for words.  I warned you about being hungry while reading, now didn’t I?

After lunch Nancy gave us a tour.

Here she is showing us the sewing room.  What a fun place!

With great things on the design wall.

And fabulous organized baskets under her cutting table.

This fun display above the cabinet keeps Nancy company while she sews.

It is a very welcome room.  Do you suppose baby bear fainted after washing with Lava soap?

Nancy’s daughter and son had messages on their doors for us – and anyone else in the house, I think….

Nicely decorated, don’t you think?

I didn’t go near her son’s door.  I knew I was not authorized.  Wonder what critters he’s hiding in there?  I didn’t want to know.

Fabulous, beautiful artwork adorns the stairs that lead to Nancy’s sewing room.  You need to see a few of these up close….

Cool flying things……

Love the colors in the sky!

How’s that for a rainbow balloon?

By the way – we got a great group photo while we were at Nancy’s………. 

……………..wearing our hats in honor of Linda.

So if you stop by Nancy’s house, be sure to ask to see the artwork and the sewing room.  But don’t expect to go into the kids’ rooms.

And be sure to ask Nancy about the toaster on the back patio.  I’m certain there must be a good story involved.

Next time?  Show ‘n Tell of the quilts!

Hugs,
Barb