What does one

write about when there is nothing to write about? 

My life is chaotic and full of things like this.....

 

We've returned the two college students to their respective schools....one 2 hours east, the other 2 hours west. 

 

It's time to fold up the kitchen table,

 reduce my grocery list from this.....

 to this. 

 

There is still one at home but she's very involved in school activities...both after school and in the evening.  I see her off in the morning, attend meets once a week, and make sure there is something to pack for lunch and supper. 

 

It takes a while to adjust but I'm ready for fall.  I barely sewed this summer given all the goings on but I'm hoping this fall allows me some quality time with needle and thread.  I see the light at the end of the tunnel for the enormous charity related project I took on last fall.  That should also free up my time around October.   

 

Fingers crossed I'll have something worth showing soon.  I have projects in various states of done-ness so there is hope.

 

L

 

 

 

A thing of beauty.....

Pretty?  I know...can't I take a better picture?  It's been moved to my sewing room where it awaits some serious play time. And trust me, nothing in that room is photo ready!  I'm currently using my back-up machine as my main machine is STILL at the repair shop getting a lobotomy.  Guess it takes a while to order a new main board from Germany.  While I'm very fond of my Pfaff machines, I've been craving a Bernina.  Now that my happiness quotient has declined regarding Pfaff, I shopped for and purchased this Bernina 350 Patchwork model.  I think the two of us will produce some lovely quilts over the coming years.


Libby

The Weird Summer

This summer is just plain weird so I'm calling it 'The Weird Summer'.  Makes me think of the book:  The Weird Sisters.  Did anyone read it?  I liked it.  The sisters were hardly weird.  I have sisters...I know about these things.

Anyhow, I have an empty nest this summer, I've traveled to exotic places, I've barely sewn, and I'm tired all the time instead of rested....like one should feel during summer break. 

On the upside, my husband and I are having a blast squeezing in all the things we can't do when kids are home.

The fun will end soon as the youngest will return home this weekend.  She'll be trailed by her varsity sport's schedule and, before I know it, I'll be right back in the fall school schedule.  I keep comforting myself with the thought that it's really the last summer I'll be obligated to drive someone to practice at the crack of dawn every morning.  I've learned that the junior year of high school is really the last year anyone needs Mom's Taxi.  By next summer she'll be driving herself and I'll be home praying the phone doesn't ring until she's safely back.  I've done it twice before...I can do it again, I keep telling myself.  This child comes with a whole different manual than the other two, though, so the learning goes on. 

Anyway, as promised and encouraged by readers, I have a picture of my finished Part 1 of the Lizzie Kate Halloween project.  No amount of loading and linking would make a hyperlink work.  I have no idea what that's all about so I'm posting it below....way below.  Only look if you want to see Part One of Lizzie Kate's 3 part Halloween mystery project.  In the mean time check out this.....it's the view outside my bedroom window the other morning.

It was even closer when I first caught sight of it.  There was a second one that moved out of range too quickly to get a picture of. 

Ahhh....summer.

Libby

Warning.....

Don't look if you don't want to spoil the surprise when you stitch your own Lizzie Kate.....

Does anyone else

LOVE this show as much as me? 

I discovered it on HGTV on a Saturday night when nobody was home.  I only get to watch this kind of 'chick' TV when I'm home alone.....

If you haven't seen it, look for it on Saturday evenings.  It is so much fun.  Makes me want to hit the antique stores and get creative.

I've been catching up with my block-of-the-month projects but I need to buy a new camera before I can show you.  Mine survived the rain forest but not the first day home.  It suffered a bizarre accident involving a bottle of sun screen.  You know, sun screen...the stuff we rub on our skin to protect it from the sun's evil rays?  Apparently it takes the finish right off the surface of cameras! (Not to mention how thoroughly it gums up every moving part.)  Who knew? 

Libby

Hmmm.

You know how people always say they need a vacation to recover from their vacation?  I'm not sure what I need. 

What does a person need after a trip where their luggage....their rugged, hard sided, 10 year warranty luggage looks like this by the 3rd day?

The Central American country I visited has umpteen million miles of roads that look like this. 

Honestly, it takes about 1 1/2 hours to travel 30 miles on these bone jarring roads.... and the picture just doesn't do them justice. 

Maybe I'm calling this adventure a vacation and it wasn't a vacation.  It was an adventure.  I think I need bed rest because I'm not hard sided or rugged and my 10 year warranty expired.  I did, however, avoid being eaten alive by bugs.  Thanks to the Passport Health Office who gave me some serious bug spray.  I didn't read the directions until half way in...oops...only spray on clothing before putting them on.  Well, all the same...it worked great.

Anyone else working on the new Lizzie Kate Halloween mystery piece?  I started it by accident.  I really wasn't going to work on it but it came in the mail, I had an hour or so free, and my other focus piece was in an entirely different part of the house...so what's a girl to do?  Stitch what's at hand. 

Libby

Whoa!

I honestly thought the Mother Ship had landed!  Today I was at our local outlet mall when I rounded a corner and saw this.....

I've been to that exact same part of the mall twice in the last 6 weeks and that wasn't there. 

I LOVE Longaberger.  Once upon a time I was a consultant.  I have a truck load of the stuff so quit buying a couple years ago but how does a person just walk on by? 

I suppose having the Longaberger products available to everyone, without the benefit of a home party or consultant, makes them a little bit 'every day' but I DON'T CARE. 

Now on to my explanation for why there are no sewing projects to photograph.....

Life is chaotic this summer.

My son has gotten very serious about his running (as if he wasn't before) but is now signing up for lots of races.  One or another of us go along as his 'support staff''.  Today it was my job.  I love going to cheer on the runners.  He won 1st place for his age group in a local 5K.  He ran a half marathon a couple weeks ago....which to date...is the longest race. 

Aside from the world of kids, I am very involved in a couple of charitable projects that are taking up quite a bit of my time. 

And lastly, I am accompanying a group of high school students on an adventure filled trip to Central America.  Go Mom!  Keep in mind that my idea of communing with nature is to view it through the picture window.  One of our 'adventures' involves a zip line.  I have wanted to try that ever since the first time I saw someone do it on The Amazing Race.  However, I am very scared of heights.  I told the kids that if I start to look scared they are to wrestle me into that harness and throw me off the platform.  There is NO WAY I'm coming home without doing it. 

Wish me luck, safe travels, and send me for a sanity check. 

Libby

Does everyone remember

the big bag'o'patterns?

Well, Mary has taken what she wants and added to it.  Now she's doing a give-a-way on her blog.   I don't know what she took out of the bag or what she added but if you want another go at it, hop on over to Quilt Hollow and enter again. 

Good luck and happy stitching.

Libby