A clean room...

Sometimes I find that cleaning helps clear out more than just the obvious junk. Last week, I cleaned out the sewing/music room. I only touched the fabricy, yarny stuff. And it felt so good. I took out a large trash bag for the garbage, 2 bags to goodwill, and 1 bag full of bits of fabric for a kids quilting unit.

 Here's the view from the door. See that doll bed on the right with the bears -  it had two big baskets of fabric and projects. I semi-finished two of the projects and they moved over to the shelves on the left. I also made a cover for my sewing machine. It has been in the works for a couple of years. Do you have any projects that laze around in your brain until one day they just "appear"?

 The view from the chair behind my sewing machine.

I've been toying with this shelving unit since I got it eons ago. In the first re-arrangement of the room, it moved out of the closet and under the window. The projects were stacked in there. Kept saying that I would complete them, but I would start another one. So I finally gave myself permission to put them away. Away went the quilt I was making for my parents 30th wedding anniversary. They will be married 45 years this year (right Mom?).  Away went the wedding quilt with squares that people created for us from our wedding - 12 years ago this June... Fabric that I was keeping just for me went back into it's color family drawer. This is what was left. Two quilt tops that I completed this summer - just need backs and to be quilted.  Two quilt tops that are soooo close to being done. A wall hanging. A bag. The spines that need to be sewed into the dresdan plates. The bottom shelf has projects that I wasn't ready to put in a drawer or send on yet.

I felt so much better - I said that didn't I? It helped with my boredom and gave me something else to focus on besides Kal finding a new job, like ASAP. I wasn't fighting with the boys - they were outside playing.

Cleaning out, making room....maybe it's what we all need to be in a better mood!

A summer happiness

This is one of my favorite summer "things" or maybe I should say "end of summer" things.

See that little tan line. Go back, it's ok. I love it when the boys get there back to school haircuts. Don't ask me why, but it's one of my pleasures.

A completely finished object!

 The treasure box quilt kit was in my stash for a couple of years. I actually cut out and pieced the quilt last summer.

 Then, I made it one of my hand projects and started quilting it by hand.

 Gratuitous picture of the back and one of the label.

It took a little over a year to complete. Remember, I am not completely quilt monogamous, several others were started in this time. I finished two tops this summer which are waiting their quilting fate.

Things I've learned in the past week....

1. I really love my children, BUT they are driving me INSANE!!!! Case in point, today we went shoe shopping. It took 1 1/2 hours to pick out 3 pair of tennis shoes.

2. Sometimes those same kids that drive me crazy make me incredibly proud and happy.

3. Summer is almost over.

4. I'm not sure if I want summer to be over.

5. We still have to go school supply shopping. See #1. Now imagine folders and notebooks and making sure the right one is in the cart.

6.  I think I might be a little bit bored. See #1, 3 & 4. I have gobs of stuff I could be doing for fun, but just can't make a decision.

7. I can run. Just for a little bit. A few minutes at a time actually and I don't keel over - thanks to the couch25K program I started. And I'm liking it - I think, if I remember to bring water and stretch before I start and have a good podcast to listen to....

I supposed I learned a bunch more things but am drawing a blank right now because I am still coming down from shopping....

Cat Wrangling

Today was another "boring" day here. Nothing to do. No friends to see. Nothing to eat. No more video games or t.v. shows. Then someone found a cat collar and the rest is probably a kitty that will need some xanax.

(ian was messing with different photo finishes)

 Shortly after this the cat bolted because he didn't like the ratcheting sound of the dog leash - go figure.

Now to figure out what's for supper. Have a good rest of the day everyone.

The dog days ....

We have been gone off and on for the past few weeks having fun with friends and family. Now we are home for the duration of summer. Well, I will be. The boys are going to grandma and grandpa's when I head back to work before school starts.

At the Highgrounds in Neilsville, WI - the WI Veteran's Memorial Park

Could he get any more tools in that tool belt?

Cool shadow of a plane at the Museum of the Air Force

A plane like the one Aunt Irene flew in in WWll

examining a catfish at Buck's Creek St. Park, OH

flying a simulator, don't worry Simon got a turn, too

here we are - warts and all (hehehe - Ian has a wart right now)

I debated and debated putting up a picture of me in my swimsuit. I rarely put full pictures up of myself right now because I am big! Big girl big. You know what this is who I am and where I am right now. I guess I need to embrace it even if I don't like it. ALSO we have pictures in photo albums from when I was a kid with friends and family in swimming gear and I love to look at those. Everybody looks so happy and silly. I want to create some of those memories. I guess I will have to figure out how my kids will be able to see these images because only scrapbookers make albums these days and I am NOT going to start doing that! I have enough hobbies.

What does one do when it's too hot for anything??

Well she lives in her swimsuit, for one. You'll have to use your imagination for that - it is a nice suit.

She sews and sews...

 Dresden Plates - I think I have 4 sew to this stage. Each plate has twenty pieces. There will be 24 plates in all - that's 480 of those spears for this quilt. I'm not even going to think about how many times I have touched those little buggers.

 I still have 80 of them to sew together, turn and press. This pattern is a bit labor intensive at the start.

 Then she listens to two boys whine and wheedle about how there's nothing to do..

 She watches one take a nap with the cat....

Then she goes out to the garden to see that something is enjoying her tomatoes....

 And she spies small cucumbers on the vine.

Is it "warm" by you?? What are you doing to stay cool and sane?