Keeping busy...

     It's July 1st already!  I stopped right in my tracks this morning when I realized that.  This Summer seems to be flying by.  There are mixed emotions about the days passing so fast.  Sad to think that our days of simplicity and doing whatever won't last long and quite pleased that some Summer obligations are nearly done.  Thank goodness.  

     Otherwise there have been very early mornings filled with creating.  Enjoying a new quilt in the making, finding happy little surprises right in the middle of sewing and finding the perfect fabric for the back of it.

     There has been a bit of teaching someone how to put zippers into skirts.  Apparently she thinks they are the easiest things ever.  A second skirt was just finished yesterday and a third is in the planning stages.

     There is careful consideration being given to a new bundle of fabric.  My lovely peeps gave this to me for my birthday so I want to make sure it's not used on something willy-nilly.  Something extra special must be made with it.

     There are flowers still blooming every where in the yard.  This year seems to be a great year for everything to be growing.  The weather has been very cooperative.  I can't help but smile when I see all the color throughout the yard.

     The garden is doing well so far.  I've got a second batch of rhubarb that needs to be picked.  And there seems to be lots of little goodies finally making their show, which is wonderful being last year really stunk in the veggie department here.  Nice to see all this effort is not a waste of time this year.

         There has also been more painting, even after I swore not to touch another paint can this year.  It's all good though because it was a completely spur of the moment 'I just have to do it' thing and turned out quite well.  Today there will be more cutting, sanding and painting to finish what I started.  Hopefully it turns out well.  I'm thinking that one day I will need a few more pieces added to the power tool collection to make things a wee bit easier going with these projects.

~*~

Kar

     

Lazy days of Summer...

     The start of this Summer has been the best in a long time.  The garden is doing great and lots of early Summer treats are coming out of our little patch of veggies.  It has been so wonderful to walk out to the garden in the cool morning air and pick things to eat on during that day.  Such a great way to start the day.  There have been many times already when I just stop and eat little snacks while I'm still out there.  Snacking away at all kinds of lettuces and other yummies while listening to the early morning birds.  Such a wonderful way to start the day.

     There have been many visits to the library so far.  So many books to check out, so many activities to join in on there.  It seems like it's been non-stop at least for the last two weeks.  Science experiments to see, reptiles to hold (not for me), free movies and much more.  The girls have rated our library as the absolute best in the world.  And just think, the Summer activities aren't over yet.

     The weather has been absolutely perfect this Summer, so far.  I don't remember the weather being this great in years.  The mornings are cool, there are breezes all day long and even with the temps getting into the upper 80's and a couple of low 90's I still have not turned on the A/C once.  I know that day is coming.  But for now I'm just loving having the windows open every day.  Morning, noon and night.  It's been a wonderful treat to have the windows open every night.  Just about every night.  There were two nights where I flew out of the bed to shut the windows as fast possible due to a lovely smelling skunk somewhere nearby.  I only ran into a door frame once and scared the begebees out of every one else in the house.  It's a wonderful ruckus to have to deal with in the middle of the night. 

     There have been quite a few days we have been lucky enough to where there was no where to be rushing off to, no expectations.  Those days were fabulous.  Slow starts in the morning.  Lounging around in pj's until nearly lunch time.  Blankets thrown out in a bedroom so special play time can happen.  Special little animals being read fantastic stories by a sweet little girl.  And another not so little sweet girl creating more things to decorate her room with.  It's been wonderful seeing the girls go from one creative thing to another and filling their days with such happiness and "busy" work since the rule for the Summer has been no TV or video games.  It reminds me of the Summers when I was little and makes my heart sing seeing the both of them enjoying every day with all that they find to fill the day with.  

     I finally finished the quilt for my Mom for her birthday.  It turned out just as I imagined it would, probably a bit better than that truthfully.  My favorite part of it all was learning a new technique to add the heart on the back just for Mom.  Just hearing her voice when she opened the package made all the work put into it so well worth it.  Love you Mom!

     And apparently I'm the best Auntie ever in the world.  My sweet little niece wanted a Princess Elsa dress for this coming Halloween more than anything in the world.  So once I received all the supplies from my sister, construction commenced.  It turned out pretty good.  But it may be the one and only princess dress I ever make.  I have a great appreciation for all the seamstresses in the world that work with all that slippery, shimmery fabric all the time.  I have also figured out why wedding dresses and fancy schmancy dresses are so expensive.  There is a "frustration" charge added to all of them due to all the finagling that must be done with this not so wonderful fabric.  This is just my theory to it all.  But I will be reminding someone in the years to come that I am the best Auntie in the world.  I wouldn't want her to forget that.

~*~

Kar

Summer time sewing...

     After being inspired by a beautiful quilt, I couldn't help myself and just had to start cutting out fabric for one of my own.  My measurements are a tad different so I could use some fabric that I've had stashed away forever.  So far so good.  Here's hoping for lots of sewing time this weekend.

~*~

Kar