Wednesday night

Got out the embroidery that's been sitting in my red glass bowl on the side table (bowl courtesy of Gary going dumpster diving a few years back), and did a square for the Pugs.  Had forgotten how satisfying that a needle and thread is in my hand.  Soothing.  I realize that's not the way with everyone, but it seems to work for me.

And with today being very busy, with the three youngest going out with me all day, it's nice to think of sitting and stitching some more tomorrow.

Hauled the kids to a library a distance away, just to get out of our regular stomping ground.  Then got home to rest and eat a sandwich for about 30 minutes before it was time to go pick up fourth son at work. Then to the store for my mom, then to her house to deliver things, then Gary came by to get us back home (after borrowing my mom's car).  So extraordinarily glad to be back here.  Deliriously happy.  Thinking with a few groceries now in the house again that tomorrow will be spent totally at home.  Not a step off of our property.  I don't think I could bear it.  Might just explode if someone makes me leave. Don't even try.

See, I enjoy being home with little variance.  Home is good.  Tease me with an every-so-often visit to a bookstore, and I'm fine for a looooong time.

Besides, as I've said, going to my mom's sort of wigs me out.  Now that she has groceries as well, we probably won't be back to her house until Saturday. She'll have therapists tomorrow, and one brother will take her dinner on Friday.  That means freedom for me for two whole days.  Cause for celebration, I'm thinking.

Besides, I've got a book to finish reading to review---Myquillyn Smith's book called The Nesting Place, and am reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way---curious about her take on creative usage of time, and will begin tomorrow writing 3 "morning pages" as she calls them.  Words to get out of our heads before the day begins.  A purge for the head, I reckon.  And I got my head into a library book for awhile as well, and it's called Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins.  So far, so good.

The kids already have their assignments for schoolwork tomorrow, so I'm free to do as I like.  Delicious.

{TH} read

After seeing Lesley's post about participating in Peggy's new crafting/sewing/reading group, I thought I'd join in as well.  I'm hoping the weekly contact with these folks will inspire me and give me a 'much needed' kick in the pants to get back into some sort of creative work.  As I was telling a sweet friend earlier, it's so easy to be busy cleaning and tidying so much that, all the while I forget how enriching a simple hour of sewing can be for me. And since I last commented and photographed this piece, I've added the umbrella and am working on the chicken, happily from a pattern dear Bonnie shared with me recently.  Definitely have to have a chick on a piece that showcases favorite things!

So, the embroidery photo is from a piece I began AGES ago.  Now it's out and I'm ready to get serious with some crafting now. The books are part of my current pile, but just part of it.  The stash of reading material changes almost daily.

Stitch-a-long---square 3

Instagram is nice, but tends to be blurry. Well, it does when I use it!  The pixels on this old iPhone are a bit lazy, so will charge up my 'real' camera and give it a go.

First square of a heart to indicate that the stitch-a-long is for favorite things...the cake is self-explanatory since I adore cake, and the mustache is for my sweetie.  Next will tackle a teacup, honeybees, a cupcake, books, a house, pugs, rain, possibly sleeping (the least one's idea), and whatever else I can come up with.  Need to throw in some Zen just for good measure. :)

Friday afternoon

Working on the third embroidered square now.  It's a mustache in honor of my main squeeze, and I must admit is sorta cute.  Later on will post a photo.

Just trying to get things done in the house with the least amount of sweating. Unfortunately, even when the air is on, the house reminds us of the heat outside.  And on that topic, I might pass on helping sweet Indian boyfriend's family move tomorrow.  They'll have other folks, so we won't be missed, but my truck hisses and wheezes in the extreme heat.  Had hoped that the temps. would go down a bit, but that's not going to happen---104F. will be the highest this weekend, I think, without the heat index.  Anyway, I was getting anxious at the thought of driving it so far away and then back again.  The check engine light comes on and then goes off.  Gary looked at it for me, but still...he's offered me the use of his Suburban, but he's not got working air conditioning (which I do have) and I'm a weenie.  So there. I would melt.  The least one is disappointed at my decision, but it's what it is. Melting is not an option.

My choices of an air conditioned wonky truck (that'd be mine) that has off again/on again issues with just about everything under the hood---and over 200,000 miles on it---or his truck, which runs great, yet will be hot-hot-hot. I think staying home is best, yes?

So if I can manage a teensie grocery store trip this evening, I'll be good.  Wish they delivered.

(the kitchen window in the afternoon)

Mid-day, mid-week

Second square, and a bit untidy as the heart is as well.  A bit like the way I dress!  The distractions here are so constant, it's hard to do anything neat and...let's say, perfect.  Perfection certainly isn't in my profile.  And, mind, I'm not complaining.  I've noticed that there are variations in what the other students in the stitch-a-long create. Some are so meticulously done, and others are more homespun.  Sweet that everyone finds their niche.

A home day, I think.  Not sure if things will warrant a change in that respect, but I'm hopeful that they won't.  Took fourth and fifth sons out to T*arget last night and got a few things.  New dishtowels...those that look like cloth diapers. Love those.  And some Watkins lemon hand soap for sweet Indian boyfriend's mom.  We'll help them move into their new house on Saturday, and I wanted to leave a little gift there.  Honored to be asked.  Was figuring that they'd ask folks from church, but since we're 'sort of' family, maybe we rank up on the ask list.  Looking forward to that.

Reading Elizabeth Jenkins' book The Tortoise and the Hare and loving it. Found it via Alison at Brocante Home.  I ordered it online here in the US (it was sent from England), and would love to have something else of hers to look forward to.  She wrote some historical fiction as well, but this one, which takes place in the fifties---domestic stuff, is right up my alley.

Will get the clothes washed and hung out in a minute.  Am between loads. They'll dry in a snap being that we'll reach 100 or so today.  An easy dinner of pasta and cole slaw.  I have some frozen veg as well to choose from---breaded okra (oh so yummy!) or brussel sprouts.

Take care, and stay cool.

Stitch-a-long, square one

After watching several of the videos for the stitch-a-long I've joined, I realized something.  The videos are sped up so that the viewer can see quickly what's going on.  I get that.  Anyway, after watching for a bit, gleaning some tips and all, I found that when I began the first square, I was stitching like a mad woman. Seems I was trying to keep pace with the rapid-pace video. You'd think I'd realize what I was doing!  It was MESSY.

Anyway, cut out that first try and here's my first square, done at a more leisurely pace.  It's in a variegated pearl cotton in a satin stitch with a plain cranberry as a border, using the stem stitch.  The cloth is a yummy piece of cream linen, with a light sparkly finish on it.  Might detail the fabric a bit with beads or buttons, etc. later on.  But for now, it's fine.  Figure it'll be easier to add pretties later on, when I don't have to contend with an embroidery hoop.

Thursday afternoon

Got up just in time to go to church (if I had stickers, I'd give myself a star!).  And in an interesting turn of events, I was the only one there besides the rector.  That made me the reader, which means I read the Scripture while we did the Daily Prayer.  So cool.  Nervous? Yes.  But the rector is such a nice person...we're about the same age and seem to relate pretty well.  All good.  And since it was just the two of us, I was able to pick his brain about some Anglican stuff I was curious about.

He said that a lot of folks who are coming to the Anglican church are tired of the more modern styles of worship with what I was talking about recently.  Hymns are gaining popularity again, as is old-school worship (well, I called it old-school, but it fits).  It's been done this way for hundreds of years and that has its own appeal.

In other topics, just looked at the videos for the stitch-a-long I'm doing...first class today (see sidebar).  But must move on to mothering tasks.  Time to cook the potatoes for potato salad and we'll do hamburgers as well.  Will pull out my fabric and threads after dinner.  It's been a good day. :)

(painting of 'young woman sewing' by gary melchers)