The Big Dig

Most of the houses on our street were built in 1954. Although the neighborhood has sidewalks, we don't have paths from the sidewalk to the front door. I guess you're just supposed to walk down the driveway. Add in a couple of cars--which people wouldn't necessarily have had back then--and there's really no way to get to the door. We've always wanted to put in a walkway. So we chose the hottest day to start. Actually once I called 811 ("Know What's Below") we had to start in the next ten days. Since we're going away next weekend, we were locked in.

We've nearly dug the whole path to the correct depth. At the beginning of the week, we'll get the stone and sand. Then we'll put in the pavers. Phase 2 is to take out the cement path between the door and the driveway and put in pavers there as well.

Phase 3 is digging a garden from the path to the driveway. I'm not nearly as gung-ho about that as I was just yesterday. Give me a few days to recover. {wink}

For earlier posts about the garden, see here and here. (In these two you can see the cement path a bit better.) (No comments from the peanut gallery about how overgrown the roses are. Many thanks.)

Not Dead Yet

I haven't stitched in days. On Friday, I went to the library but I had to show wedding photos to one of the ladies. And then I had things to do for the Garden Tour, a library fundraiser. Just as I was leaving, my cousin called. Her babysitter cancelled and she needed me to watch the kids after all. Since she was going out with the dude and giving him a ride home, it was the least I could do. So that meant no stitch night in Chadds Ford. The dude and the rest of the family went off to see my brother-in-law in his first only boxing match. It was an amateur match, but the guy he was fighting was 35 pounds heavier. Word is my BIL was the better technical boxer but the other guy won. I'm just glad I didn't have to watch. The girls had Stella on high alert all night; she was completely wiped out on Saturday. Seriously she didn't get up until 8:45 and then she only crawled down to the couch to sleep some more. She didn't ask to go out until 1:00! That's what they call dog tired.

I didn't get to enjoy having a calm, well-behaved dog because I had to work the Garden Tour. I sat in someone's garden for two hours then worked a bit at the reception (for which I made cake balls and became popular all over town). (In the good way.)

On Sunday I tried to bring order to our garden, but I fear it is a never ending battle, and I am already too far behind to win the war. Of course, that doesn't stop me from wanting to expand my gardens. We're putting in a path to the front door from the sidewalk in the next few weeks, and I'm trying to convince the dude that we should dig up even more of the lawn for a front yard garden. Because I am completely insane.

Anyway, I saw this cute sheep today and I thought I should pop in and tell you, "not dead yet."

Cute but so faffing expensive!

Back 40

Sissy and I are driving up to New Hampshire right now to see what treasures we can find in our parents' attic. You may remember the last time we did this. Or the time before that.

Anyway, nothing really to share at the moment, so I thought I'd show you what's going on in the back 40.

We've got hot peppers, squash, basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, and eggplant. (The tomatoes live on the side of the house where I think they get a bit more sun.) We did a little experiment and put one squash right in the ground. Let's see if we can keep the pennywort off it. (It's looking a little stunted compared to the squash-in-pots, so I've been feeding it special.) The cilantro went NUTS with all the rain we were having.

Hello, beautiful! I love you, future-eggplant, I will be very respectful when I gobble you up. It will be a special recipe, I promise.

And not to be outdone, a little shot from the "mother's garden," the one our mothers helped us dig and plant. So fabulous!

I know this post was a little sillier than usual. But that is exactly how this ride whole weekend is going to be. It's our coping strategy...

Stairway to Heaven

This weekend, I got tired of seeing my three newly framed pieces sitting in the chair.

New frames lounging.

So, I gathered up all of pieces I had and I put them on the wall.

Well, first I had to attend to the three pieces that had been laced but not actually put in their frames. I got out my point driver and drove them into the frames but good. Then I applied the backing paper and hanging wires.

Just in case you've never seen backing paper and hanging wire.

Then, I started hanging. After I had hung about four pictures, I thought it might be a good idea to put them on the wall in a less permanent way in case I was screwing up. So I cut out kraft paper squares to match the picture sizes. Then I put the stand-ins on the wall with repositionable scrapbook adhesive and played with the layout for a while. I might be a slow learner, but at least I get there in the end.

New gallery

I have been basking in reflected glory...or something like that. I feel quite accomplished. Not that I was any less accomplished when they weren't hanging on the wall. But the pictures sort of remind me (almost constantly) that they exist.

Looking up as you enter the house.

Top down.

It reminds me of when I was writing my dissertation. I had been in the program so long I was growing moldy. But then I started keeping track of how I was doing--how many chapters complete and approved, how many pages in progress. Every time I started writing, I would open that document first as a little reminder. Suddenly, instead of lamenting how long I had been working on the project and how much was left to do, I had some kind of grip on reality. I was, say, 2/3 of the way through chapter four and had outlined chapter one while chapters two, three, and five were done and dusted. (Chapters 2, 3, and 5 really were done first. Chapter 1 was dead last.) I could see the light at the end of the tunnel--and it was rapidly moving closer.

Suddenly, all I want to do is stitch--I haven't been stitching so much you might have noticed. I want more things on that wall. And I think a few of them should be a bit bigger. I feel so focused! Let this be a lesson to me.

Anna's Bird was really the inspiration to all this. One of the places the dude and I discussed hanging her was right where she is now. Because she leads you into the dining room.

Anna's Bird, leading you into the dining room.

So This is Spring

Thanks for all your comments about Anna's Bird. I can't believe it's done--and in time for the Strawberry Sampler framing sale! I really thought I'd be bringing that to camp to work on again next year. I might be bringing Tree of Life Window--it has so much back stitching! But I'm working on it--photos soon. I'm glad you enjoyed our trip report too, no matter what kind of animal you want to bring home. (Poo, people, you have to remember the poo!)

Yesterday* I was freezing when I got out of the shower so I put on jeans and a pink long sleeve tee under my brown and pink Craft tee--one of my favorite slummy outfits. By the afternoon, I was sweltering while I put together my tomato cage. Indeed, I've been out in the garden.

One to enjoy now and one for later.

Carol is ready to send on the Sisterhood pattern. Will she be addressing the envelope to your house?

* This morning I put my coat on in the house. It seemed ridiculous to turn on the heat and I've learned you can't dress for 50 degree weather when it will be 81 before long.

Home Again Home Again

I'm back home (try to ignore the glossy abelia which is in need of pruning) for two days before I head out again, and I'm avoiding the laundry and the grocery shopping and the cleaning that goes along with being away and going away. But it will all be worth it because I have such a good time at camp every year.

I had promised some photos.





My mother's bracelet.

As you can see, I got a mermaid in there. My mother loved it. I overestimated the size of her wrist by five links. It may not be as big as she claims.

The piece I finished on the delayed trip to Florida. With luck I will finish-finish this so I can use it when I shop! This is a JBW freebie created for the Silver Needle. I stitched it on white linen with DMC 335.

Love you too, blogger!

And an update on the mermaid. I spent most of my free time on DD's RR. Funny story about that. Should probably tell DD before I share it here though. I don't want it to be that kind of surprise.

Now to the cleaning, laundry, shopping and responding to e-mail.

Backsplash Fever

The backsplash is in! Our kitchen is complete! (Well, as soon as we repaint a few little patches of wall.) I've staged the photo with just a few of our red small appliances. The rest of the crap is decorating the dining room table. Fortunately, I invited my sister and cousin over for dinner on Sunday so that will all get taken care of soon.

I've been stitching on the angel. It's almost done. Tonight I am running to Joann's to pick up some finishing fabric so that I can do the finishing tomorrow. I've also been working on my Christmas cards. They're going out Monday. I'm okay with that. Aren't there like, twelve days of Christmas?

I just have to pick up a bottle of vodka and a bottle of wine. A little wrapping and a long drive on Wednesday! I am so relaxed, which just seems crazy.

Counter Intuitive

First, the dude thanks you all for your kind words regarding his big brain. He's a little worried that it's going to give him a big head. But I'm here to keep him grounded. (Also, his head is freakishly large all on its own.)

No stitching. I have been expending my energy cleaning the craft room and the master in preparation for the installation of the quarter round (toe-molding, shoe molding) tomorrow. (That craft room was a disgrace!)

But here's what did happen today. They installed new countertops. Quartz composite, never needs resealing. It's called Galaxy Black in the Zodiaq line. And now you really notice how hideous the backsplash is. Really, see the tacky transfers on the tiles? Totally old lady. Also I love how the baking cupboard is open in this picture, because we haven't adequately shoved the sugar in there. Sigh. Work remains...always.

The Goose is Getting Fat

So, when I went to get the muscle relaxant at the drug store, I noticed the big wreaths on the front of Staples. I really have no plan for the upcoming month. It's a little worrying because so many things are going to be different this year: I didn't have to mail gifts to England in mid-October because we're going to England at the beginning of December; I'm going to NH for Thanksgiving (I haven't in 20 years); I will be at home for Christmas and hosting people on Boxing Day. I think the England trip has really thrown me for a loop. Usually in mid-October, I'm already in my Christmas groove, working from the plan. And this year, I've actually got people coming to my house. And no plan.

Here's a rough draft
Nov. 10--clean yard, plant bulbs; make Christmas cards with Sissy
Nov. 17--paint bathrooms, touch up downstairs; shop for nephews
Nov. 24--In NH
Dec. 1--paint doors and craft room; finish English gifts
Dec. 8--In England
Dec. 15--decorate for Christmas; finish gifts for American relatives
Dec. 22--prep for 12/26

Does that seem like everything? I feel like I'm floating...That may be the muscle relaxants talking.

Lot's of Work, Little Stitching

I was flat out this weekend. On Friday, I started cleaning and by Sunday, I had

• thoroughly cleaned the downstairs
• hung the clock in the kitchen
• purchased and set up a printer
• printed 20 photos for the big picture frame (35 photos)
• hung the bpf in the dining room
• hung other pictures in the dining room, hallway, and guest room
• had my cousin her family over to hang the chandelier in the dining room and the light fixture in the downstairs bath, and eat dinner (which I fixed)

I think we may be almost ready for the dude's friend to arrive from England. I just have to clean the upstairs, do the laundry, and buy a duvet at IKEA. Now that I write it, it doesn't seem like a lot, but I was going full tilt until I dropped into bed every night. Maybe you had to see the unbelievable mess two people who don't pick up after themselves can make...

I can't believe it's almost time to review my goals for the month...and I haven't even picked up the marquoir!