Mall Trip

Mike installed a car seat in my truck last night, and today Nora and I took off for the mall.

This little girl, who has yet to touch a starfish at the Aquarium, much less a shark, is brave when it comes to Kings Island rides, or in this case bungee jumping. Her mom had told me she had done this before at a festival, so I let her do it. I'm sure if her mom hadn't told me, Nora would have.

After that, there was some down-to-earth merry-go-round riding.

Friday Fill-In # 133

My answers for Friday Fillins are in bold.

1. Salad and whole wheat bread make a quick and easy dinner. Last night I waited too long for dinner to even want that, so I had a veggie burger.

2. Lancaster Brides by Wanda Brunstetter is the book I'm reading right now. Easy reading, slightly fluffy, four stories about Amish women. For the book I pick up and glance at, Creative Embellishments by Sherrill Kahn.

3. July brings back memories of family reunions, my dad's family coming from Indiana and the whole family of five siblings and their families getting together. Lots of older cousins to play with, homemade ice cream, happy adults.

4, It was obvious from the start that the bill for security for Michael Jackson's funeral would be enormous.

5, They say if you tell your dreams they'll never come true? I don't know what they say about that. Hope it's that they don't come true - night before last I dreamed that cats kept getting into my house and I had to keep tossing them out. And some of them weren't happy about it. I also dreamed that the trash truck came very early and I didn't have my trash out. Apparently there are unwanted things in my life that I need to get rid of.

6. I always need time to think it over. There are two extremes on the continuium - there are those people who want the decision to be made, not stopping to consider the options, they just want the decision made so they can move on. And there are those people who feel like they need more and more information so they can make a good choice and they can drag it on and on. You can really see this in teams. I fall on the second side, and fairly close to the end at that. Sometimes someone just has to say, "You just need to make up your mind."

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to time with Nora and Aaron, tomorrow my plans include not sure, I may just go camping, it's been a heck of a week, and Sunday I want to just relax.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Rose Bouquet

L . o . n . g work day today. Good thing I got my sewing in early.

Embossed Rose Bouqet from Embroidery Library

I did this on a really thick bath towel. Don't try it without your Q foot or equivalent. I actually did try once, around Christmas, and had to give up. This design has 50,000 stitches and the whole design stitched without incident with the Q foot.

Little Jacket

I needed a work sample for a new embroidery design pack, Husqvarna Yarn Fiesta. I decided to use a pattern I already had and make a jacket for Aaron's September birthday - that would give the sample plenty of store time.

I enlarged the pattern a little to accomodate his weight, but I forgot the height factor, and now I'm wondering whether it will be long enough. There was a quick try-on Sunday and it was quickly clear that the sleeves, which are supposed to be rolled up to reveal the lining, are just about right with no roll-up. In July.

Maybe, just maybe, it can be a waist-length jacket to be worn when he sails down the street on the back of his dad's bike. Or maybe, sigh, it will belong to some other little boy.

The jacket has a tuck-in scarf to show off a few more designs.

Lovely

After church, Welda, Patti, Carol, and I went to Essencha Tea Shop in Hyde Park. They'd all been there before, but it was my first time.

There were flowers on the tables,

sample sips of today's tea,

a gorgeous salad for me,

and half a sandwich with more salad.

And one more thing - a waiter with an Obama t-shirt.

Lovely.

Nora 'n Aaron

Here's Nora - just back from getting her hair cut in long layers. The purple balloon was a part of the experience. Sometimes she takes my breath away - she looks so much like her mom.

And here's Aaron - when you have a big sister, you learn the right style for doing somersaults. Tuck and roll.

But playing with blocks - he picked up that on his own. This kid looks so much like his dad.

Friday Fill-In # 132

My Friday Fill-In answers are in bold.

1. The last thing I ate was a Chipotle veggie burrito and a strawberry. It wasn't in the plan, but it was late and I was driving by. The nice thing about Chipotle at 8:30 is that there was no wait. And now I have half the burrito for lunch.

2. A serger is something I recently bought. And used, and threaded several times. I also bought a good serger book at Barnes and Noble.

3. When it rains, it makes me happy. And, since Mike's fixed my gutters, there's no water in the basement even when it pours. Thanks, Mike.

4. No one was the last person I talked to today. Because it's early and I live by myself. I'm sure there will be much conversation before the day is over and I will be looking forward to some quiet.

5. Hugs are ever so nice. I got a lovely one from Aaron last night, along with his comment about my shirt - "that's Gran B's shirt" and his doctor visit - "I don't like the shots." I just knew he'd have something to say about that.

6. I could use some extra comfort. I think everyone can.

7. And as for the weekent, tonight I'm looking forward to embroidering another pair of animals for Aaron's quilt (I have alligators, armadillos, badgers, monkeys, and beavers,) tomorrow my plans include a visit with Sandra after work, and Sunday I want to have a nice lunch after church.

Happy Friday, everyone.