cherry tomato

stopping for a break

Of course, it's all about the home right now. It has been a long weekend of unpacking, and it feels so nice to just sit down and relax on a Sunday evening. Now that things are settling, I'm noticing some of the little details of the house.

This is a view of the kitchen fan above the sink. We don't have any sort of hood above the stove, so I think this is meant to serve the same purpose.

Dishes in the sink:

And, because it's in bloom now, I thought I'd share a photo of our hibiscus.

Things are really starting to come together now. I'll be sharing some more photos this week, and sharing links to some of the things I want to get for the house.

Have a great week!

drifting

I'm feeling a bit like I've been set adrift. In the past several days, I've really been forced to analyze just about every aspect of my life. One obvious thing is how we take our health for granted. I think of all the things I have done to mistreat my body, because it's so easy to do. We can't really see what's going on inside our bodies, and we just put them through so much abuse because we can't really see how that abuse affects them. It actually makes me feel good and empowered to be taking care of my body, and so far I haven't even wanted to eat a single cupcake!

Another thing I've been thinking about is all the "things" I have. Part of this is just part of process of moving, but a bigger part of it is a desire to live a simpler life. I so cherish the simple pleasures of life, and I'm having this very strong desire to purge. One of the things I have to start working on is getting rid of things I don't need. Eric and I have decided that even with our setback, we are not going to give up our new house. So we're just going to make it work. period. It's all about reassessing our priorities. We're both willing to make the necessary sacrifices to make it happen. As a consequence, we've decided we need to move out of our place by the end of this month so we have one less month of paying for a mortgage and rent. I will be going to live at my family's lake property  and Eric will stay in town with a friend until we can move into our house. There could be much worse things than having to go live out at a cabin on a lake for a month, but it will definitely take a bit of getting used to. There is no phone out there, and my cellphone doesn't get reception. It should be very nice and peaceful and hopefully allow me to relax and just focus on my health. My great aunt and uncle own the property next door, and they live there, so I will have access to a phone if necessary, and I can accompany my aunt on her weekly trip to town for groceries (since I won't have a car either). It will be hard to be away from Eric, but a month really isn't that long, and we truly think it's the best decision. We're so lucky to have family and friends who want to help us out.

So that's the plan. Things will be pretty hectic, and I won't really be able to do much crafting, but I'm happy to at least have a plan.

One of the simple things I appreciated most today was our first crop of cherry tomatoes. All of our tomatoes are ripening at once, and I'm so pleased. Last year was the first year we grew tomatoes, and we had a pretty small crop. This year we are almost overwhelmed by all the tomatoes we will have. Fortunately, we both love tomatoes, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem. We had these in a salad for dinner tonight:

here's to those bumps in the road, supportive friends and family,  and the beauty and simple pleasures of life.

new beginnings

Just a short note to say we FINALLY sign our closing docs on the house. There were times I honestly thought it wouldn't happen. It truly has been the longest month ever, but now we're homeowners, and we couldn't be any happier with our first house.

I spent this evening working on the bunny from Hillary's booklet. Her pattern is insanely easy, and the bunny is adorable. She really did a great job with the booklet. All I have left on the bunny is the stitching, so I should have it finished tomorrow. I have to get it finished quickly so I can get it mailed out to my little sister who's eighth birthday is next week.  I promise to post a picture as soon as it's finished.

ciao!

i'm melting....

I'm not going to lie. I've been complaining quite a bit about how cool the weather has been, wondering when it would finally feel like summer around here. When I awoke to sunshine on Saturday morning, I gleefully rose and immediately started working on the planned projects for the day. The big plan was to plant the annuals we had purchased earlier in the week. We're a little behind in getting our annuals planted this year, and I'm sure that has everything to do with buying the house. I feel like the last month has just fallen into a black hole of time, and now I'm realizing how much I have to do.

My immediate concern is Plush You II. Initially, our submissions were due in September, but now our due date is in less than a month, and I have nothing more than an idea. Additionally, Blair and I will be running a workshop during the show, and we've been trying to come up with a plan. At least we have a little more time to get that in order, but I have a feeling this summer is going to fly by, and October is already shaping up to be a crazy month. It's the month we'll be moving into our house, so I know all my concentration will be focused on that.

Anyway, I tried to sit down and work out a pattern for my Plush You submissions. I cut it out, sewed it up, realized it was smaller than I had envisioned, and threw it aside. It's not that I'm not motivated. I truly am. It's just that,

IT'S FRIGGIN' HOT HERE!!

Have I mentioned that? Oh yeah, I started to, but I got a bit sidetracked. See, it's been rather chilly around here. In fact, just last Friday I was complaining about how terribly wrong it was that I still had to wear a jacket to work in the morning. So when I awoke to the sun on Saturday, I was elated. I immediately set to work. I spray painted our flower boxes a nice light green color, then set to work planting the geraniums, petunias and begonias we had purchased at half price because they had all been woefully neglected. We felt very proud of ourselves for saving them and giving them a lovely new home.

I was enjoying our little task so much that I didn't really notice exactly how warm it was getting outside. It was so unexpected, that I didn't really even pay attention. Sure, the weather forecasters said it was going to be warm, but they're always so unreliable. Of course, in this situation they were unreliable as well - they failed to tell me it was going to be sweltering.

Despite the heat, and my subsequent sunburn, I had one of the finest days I've had in a long time. I took my old twin sized laura ashley comforter from college out to the lawn, sat down and worked on my mailorder project. I spent more time than I would like to admit trying to figure out the secret word, but felt so satisfied once I had, and I'm quite please with the reward.

There were butterflies all over the back yard. Eric and put out some melon for them hoping they would get just a little bit closer, but they never did. Nonetheless, they were thrilling to see. that evening we had good friends over for an impromptu BBQ and sipped mojitos as the sun went down. It simply could not have been a more perfect summer day.

But then there was yesterday: 90 degrees. And today: 92 degrees. We northwesterners simply aren't prepared for such heat in much the same way we aren't prepared for snow. Here, it's all about moderation: not too hot, not too cold. Even the sunworshippers are out of sorts, and it's difficult to get any sleep.

So, back to my Plush You project. I just had to give up for the night. I simply don't have the energy. I'm just too hot...

I'll leave you with a picture of Eric's cherished Valiant. It got a bath today because Eric is going to be selling it. I can't believe we never went to a single drive-in movie in that car...

I'm so sorry to those of you I haven't written back. I'm still getting caught up. Please be patient with me.

the silence is broken

i have been wanting to write everyday, but when I sit down to do it, I somehow lack the inspiration. My thoughts are being pulled in so many directions now, that I find it difficult to sit down and put them all down in one place. I can say I have been one busy girl.

On the crafting front, I have been working on making things for next month's Craftywonderland. After reading Stephanie and Abby's description of their experiences, I wasn't sure I really wanted to do it, because, well, although I love making things, I'm not much of a salesperson. I just want my things to speak for themselves. I think it will be very nice to meet some new people, and see other people's work, and that's why I'm doing it. Plus, it gives me an excuse to go visit my sister in Portland (not that I really need one).

So I've been making a bunch of new aprons, and I'm working on making some smaller items as well. We get a very small space there: 4x4, so I'm not going to bother taking any pillows, or if I do, I will only take a few. I'm also going to be making some cards and small patches using the gocco. I already have the screens finished, I just need to sit down and get to work. I'll share of these things with you as I get them done.

I'm also working on my submission for Nichola's Wall of Yarn. It seemed like such a simple project, and yet, I realized I've never really made my own knitting pattern, and it proved to be more of a challenge than I first suspected. I've already had to rip it out twice. The first time was because I was  watching a foreign film with subtitles while knitting. I really don't advise this. It's just too much to think about all at once. Of course, I knew that before I started, but we really wanted to watch the movie.  I should be finished with my square after this weekend, and I promise to share a photo. I just hope it turns out the way I'm envisioning it in my head.

Meanwhile, Eric has been doing all the work on our garden this year, and he is doing an amazing job. He has planted nearly everything from seed, and he lovingly tends to his little baby vegetables every day. He was walking around bragging the other day, "My thumb is greener than yours" (imagine taunting tone). As much as I hate to admit it, I think he may be right. Just look at this darling lettuce:

 
so cute!!

I do have a couple of things to share with you. I made three baby bonnets from Amy's pattern. It's really a great pattern. I had so much fun making them, and I can't wait to give them away to some of the special little girls in my life. I have away one of them before I took a picture, but trust me, it was darling. Here are the other two all set to go out to the girls:

I hate that I don't have a little baby to model these for you. They would look so much cuter on a little head.

I still have so much more to write about, but I will save it for later. I hope you all are enjoying your memorial day weekend. I must get back to some sewing.

scary people and a wee garden

I didn't manage to get anything completed the is weekend. I cut out and started working on my tie one on apron, but i just couldn't get motivated to finish it yesterday. Saturday, eric and I spent the day visiting my all my grandparents. It was quite and exhausting day, but we had a lot of fun. My grandmother (my mother's mother) loves going thrifting, and there are some great thrift stores in the town where she lives. it always seems that I go to visit her on Sunday when they're closed, but since we went on Saturday, I knew we'd have to do some thrifting. I found loads of great, incredibly inexpensive craft supplies and a couple clothing items i have plans to deconstruct. I didn't take pictures of everything, but I thought I'd share my favorite purchase of Eric's and my own favorite purchase.

Eric's:

There are just so many things wrong with this:

• DIY taxidermy!
• "honey, you'd better get those dishes put away now! I don't want to have to use my rifle on you."
• "oh darling, I can't wait to go out and murder that family. Just let me get these dishes put away, and I'll be ready to go"
• "is that a rifle you have, or are you just happy to see me?"
• "wow honey, that rifle is such a great accessory - you look like a total stud!"
• "yes dear, I know I'm always supposed to kneel down before you because you're the man. There's no need to bring out the rifle again."

Oh, I could go on and on. Feel free to add your own dialog. it's super fun!

my find:

This little owl vase is the new container for my great grandmother's knitting needles. Perfect for my studio.

I'll be sure and show you some of the other things we got later this week. I still haven't posted pictures of some of my great finds from going thrifting with my mother last month. We found some great fabric and trim.

Eric was like a man obsessed this weekend, and spent all day Sunday working on the garden. I wanted to help, I really did, but I just didn't feel like gardening in the cold weather. So I spent the day inside lounging and keeping warm. He's done such a lovely job this year. We had our first garden last year, and it was very satisfying. We grew pickling cucumbers and dill and made our own pickles, we had the requisite zucchini and loaves and loaves of zucchini bread, we had carrots and beets and peppers. Our beans and peas didn't make it last year, so we're really dedicated to their prosperity this year. Eric made a lovely lattice today for the beans which are yet to be planted. Here is what we've (er, Eric) done so far:

there is still much to do, but i'm so proud of our babies!

okay, i'm off to finish a yellow and white apron...