Home Again, Day Three

Back at work today, and tonight I am beyond tired.

But, I am reminded

that there are lots of gems in this world

and the secret is to look for them

and identify them.

Back Home Again, Day Two

Back again, day two.
- The traffic sounds are too loud.
- My stuffy house is cooling down.
- Enjoying using moisturizers. I take them camping but don't use them much. My excuse is that they might attract bugs.
- Kudos to Steph and to Bridget, who realize that kids need time in the woods, hikes on trails, splashing in creeks, and sleeping in tents.
- Helen will be coming to town in about a month and her quilt will be ready. Enough of not knowing how to do it. I'm putting Jack in place today. Fuse. Use a glue stick. Let the thread work its magic. Just show up.
- More rain this morning. No watering necessary.
- My goal was to take too many clothes since last year it rained and rained and I didn't have enough. I brought half of them home unworn. Only a few sprinkles.
- I can't figure out what to take to the quilt guild potluck tonight. I like to cook, but I'm not a fancy cook and so many of those women make really nice things. Should I look at a magazine?
- Aaron spent much bike-riding time stopping at each post and measuring himself, like he might do at Kings Island. Nora spent much bike-riding time saying, "Aaron, you don't have to stop at every one." Nora is fast, fast on her bike with training wheels. Aaron is coasting on the Stryder, lifting up his feet and learning to negotiate curves. Another Aunt Sarah in the making.
- What not to take next time? Hard to say. What to take next time? Three tarps are just right. Pump soap to leave in the bathroom is lovely. One pair of water shoes got lots of use. One two-year-old's are unworn because he insisted on wearing Crocs in the water, and they stayed on his feet. Somewhere there is a place with lots of Crocs that floated down the river, but a Sponge Bob Croc in size 9 isn't one of them today.

Home Again

Home again, and musing that
- the van breakdown in Knoxville had a safe ending, the tow truck was prompt and the drivers mechanical, we were back on the road in two hours and the repair bill was $16.38. Honest.
- the Ibuprofin and bandaids in the camp box came home unused.
- someone I know really does play those arcade games in Gatlinburg.
- my teeth feel fabulous after two brushings and one flossing.
- two year old conversation is amazing. "We don't poop in our diaper. We don't. We poop in the potty. I just pooped in my diaper. There isn't a potty here."
- my new plantings got lots of rain while I was gone. And my basement got wet because it rained so hard and fast that debris covered the drain at the bottom on my driveway and water came into the basement. I think it's one of the design flaws of a Cape Cod. And I really did make sure that the drain was clear before I left.
-the synchronized fireflies at Elkmont really put on a beautiful show.
- Nora is learning to read.
-one of the happiest parts of the trip was seeing Sarah, Winnie, and Helen.
- I'm grateful that Steph is a good driver.
- waiting at home was a birthday postcard from my postcard exchange.

This Time and This Place

(This time and this place - taken from my church's covenant: this time and this place are God's gifts to us.)



I love the feeling when I walk into my office now. The quilt is hung behind the desk, just like I wanted when I was working on it way back in February. There are new pictures hanging. There is no longer Medicare information everywhere because the decision has been made. I have two new binders for the sewing information that accumulates and that helps contain the clutter. This time and this place - I am content.

And, also in the office is a new fan for blowing out the hot air on summer afternoons. With exhaust fans in both upstairs windows the house is so much more comfortable. So much so that I've been puzzling - I thought the house faced west, figuring that from the position to the stadium downtown, which I thought was north. But the house is too comfortable for a western orientation. Today when I got out my camping lantern I checked with the compas on top and the house is actually southwest, much more south than west.

All this time I've been feeling a little guilty for not looking harder for a south facing house, which saves ten percent on utility bills just by virtue of its orientation. Although I did look and look. And all this time that's what I had. I forgot to take into account that the river curves several times as it goes through Cincinnati and I can't judge direction just by a landmark.

And now, finished is this sweet little backpack with metal zipper piping. I put off doing it because I knew I wouldn't like it, but, you know, I do. Viking Embroidery Club. Their picture showed a black and white zebra print and it was very trendy but harsh looking. I like the floral better.

Also complete - this little trivet, which was fun and is something I'll do again. I wouldn't have thought it would be possible to sew through the thickness of the cording, but the double welt cord foot makes it easy.

This is Monday. Two days from now, Steph's van will be heading for the Smokies. And I'll be in it.

Friday Fill-In # 179

Friday Fill-Ins on a sunny Friday morning.

1. The Smokies is my favorite place to travel to. Lots of hiking trails, beautiful scenery, sun-dappled roads. Waterfalls. Roaring creeks. Trips to down for supplies or shopping. Campfires. And next week I'll be there.

2. When I think about my childhood I often remember when my siblings were born. I'm the oldest, my older brother is five years younger than me, my sister is ten years younger, my younger brother was twelve years younger. Back in the day, having a baby meant a long hospital stay even for a normal delivery. I think my mother stayed ten days for me, seven days for the others. Followed by help at home by my grandmother. Different times.

3. Common interests and shared times makes for a good friend. A generous spirit. A happy disposition. A willingness to try new things. Creativity doesn't hurt either.

4. The wind in the trees, the rain on my skin, is a nice feeling on a hot day. During the winter, with a cold rain, not so much.

5. A night at the ball park is so exciting. Even if it's a slow game, there's lots going on off the field. A few home runs by the home team followed by some fireworks doesn't hurt either.

6. My best friend knows that sometimes I need time by myself to recharge my energy stores. I'm a classic introvert.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to more gardening (it's starting to look good,) tomorrow my plans include working with maybe a stop at the bookstore on my way home, and Sunday I want to swap out the banners at church then get my camping things ready.

Happy weekend, everyone.

Cotton Candy

Cotton candy at the Great American Ball Park - one grandbabe likes it, namely Aaron.

And Nora doesn't. Never has. But everyone had a fine time last Friday night.

All those fans in red went home happy since the Reds scored 16 runs. Lots of fireworks, both during the game and after.

One of my resolutions for this year is to go to more games. After all, I live RIGHT HERE. It's an easy ride down to Newport parking and an easy walk across the bridge. Or, as happened this time, the bus came along at the same time that I did.

Not tonight, though, the Reds are out of town.

Lemons, Tomatoes, and Roses

The lemons are on a work project, Martha Pullen designs, napkin on the left, placemat on the right. Wonderfully easy mitered corners.

Finally, finally, I've got my front yard flower/vegetable bed laid out. I'm a fan of the mulch over topsoil over cardboard way of making beds, so much easier. Only thing is, it takes about six months for the sod to break down and get soft, so only the little portion of my bed that I laid out last fall is actually usable now. Even as is, though, it's an improvement and I now longer have to mow so much of the slope which is a nice bonus. I'm very excited.

In another bed, an heirloom tomato that reseeded. I always leave a few tomatoes on the ground and hope for the best. It's either Black Karim or Sungold, we'll wait and see.

And in yet another bed, a new yellow rose bush. I love rose bushes, not the hybrid teas but the sprawling ones, and want to plant lots.

In case you're wondering, it wasn't misty in my neighborhood this morning. I think I had a two-year-old fingerprint on the lens. If you're going to have a fingerprint on the lens, that's the very best kind to have.