Vacation

We've been on vacation all week. This is our view from the front porch. It has been heavenly! We all have sun tans and we are going to head back home tonight. I've spent a lot of time reading blogs this week; making for a great vacation. I'm totally refreshed and ready to sew again. I've received a lot of inspiration this week!

This is me and my cutie! He loves the beach. He has been Grandma's shadow this week and Grandma loves him more and more and more! He calls me "ma ma"(two distinct syllables) ... he can't get the grandma part out yet.

Avery loves the beach and Avery loves his Grandma.... what a great week!

**ps** My daughter is home from Hawaii!! It's been a truly great week! :O)

Rag Dolls and Grandma

There's just something about a rag doll that I love. Some people collect porcelain dolls that are absolutely beautiful. But to me, they have no heart inside. A rag doll is full of love, put together by her maker, with very unique traits that belong only to her. Rag dolls remind me of my daddy's mother: my grandmother. She enjoyed sewing, making quilts, and lots of other crafts. The older I get, the more like her I think I have become. I wish she were still living, so that I could have known her better and could have shared the joys of creating with her.

I remember her, but I don't think I ever really knew her. I did not have the same relationship with my grandparents that my children have with theirs. I am so thankful that my children's grandparents were able to give them so much time and love when they were growing up. I do think my children truly "know" their grandparents well.

I can only remember making just one rag doll when I was in high school. I think I still have her somewhere up in the attic??? Maybe she is at my mom's house, I'm not sure. I did make some Raggedy Ann and Andy's when the kids were small, but for some reason, they don't count. I like unique rag dolls, each with a personality of its own. My best friend bought me a beautiful rag doll for my 30th birthday. I remember thinking to myself that the rag doll was the best gift I received on that birthday!!

I have another birthday coming up soon. I think I may treat myself to a new rag doll... one that I make myself. I'll let you know....

*disclaimer: photo's stolen... I mean, borrowed from the internet.

The pretty cheap ones

It has been hot and dry in NC this year. I planted a few plants here and there, but they didn't do very well. The prettiest flowers I have this year are the cheap ones that came out of a seed package. These were supposed to be multicolored zinnias. They are zinnias, but they are all pink! I was amazed at how fast they sprouted and how quickly they bloomed this year. I have more "from seed" zinnias on one end of the house that barely came up and barely bloomed. (I think I've seen three orange flowers ) These are right beside my driveway where I park my car; and they make me smile everytime I see them. :o)

Thrift Quilt Top

Look what $5 will buy you at Goodwill!! As hubby and I were leaving the store last week, I saw a clear plastic bag sitting near the register, with this quilt top inside, along with lots of fabric scraps. After washing it and battling a few (lots) of cat hairs, I'm ready to work on this thing! Someone has folded and sewn the navy borders to the back of the quilt, as if they turned over the edge to hide the raw edges, without finishing the quilt. I am going to clip the stitches and pull out the edges, which should give another 5-7 inches of navy border around the entire quilt. Someone did a great job piecing this top together and I am thrilled to have rescued it!!

Quilts: reading and doing

I am not one who keeps up with the latest in literature and usually find good books "by chance" in thrift stores. Recently, I ran across a book from this series: Elm Creek Quilts. It was the third book written in this series and I am now hooked and want to read all of them, in the order they were written! Yesterday I went to the library and brought this book with me to read while staying at hubby's work place this week. I was excited when I saw there are quite a few books in this series and should keep me busy reading for awhile. The stories are great and there is a lot of "quilty" stuff involved, which serves as an inspiration for me to get busy and quilt! I also brought my unfinished, work in progress quilt with me that I need to finish up. I have my sewing machine set up here at the "lily pad" and I hope to machine quilt and get it ready for binding this week. My daughter will be home soon from Hawaii. (July 19th... yay) I made this quilt for her and need to get it finished. She will be arriving home just in time for the family beach vacation. She will fly home on Tuesday and we leave for our beach trip on Saturday. Is that great planning or what?? Maybe she'll be close to having her time zone readjustment by the time we get to the beach. If not, maybe the family can help her to readjust to NC time before our vacation is over. And then..... it will be job hunting time for her! Great things ahead!!! Looking forward to a great July, 2011!

Random Thoughts

I promised June would be a better blogging month, but so far, I haven't done too well. Sorry. I'm still going back and forth with my hubby to his work place and I don't get as much computer time at his place. :( Actually.... no frown! I've been able to "pull" myself away from the computer a little more and I am finding that I can actually get things done! :) I sewed some pillow covers for my outdoor patio set. We bought the set from Wal Mart and I just hated the pillows that came with the set. I now have some bright green, summer appropriate pillows on the orange chairs... made from thrift store curtains. (and was able to save enough of the curtain to make CUTE valances for my "one day" coastal home... LOL)

I've gone "hi tech" recently... I purchased an Ipod Touch for myself, having really no idea what this thing can really do. I am now learning to use it and I love it!!! What a cool toy! I love the fact that I can keep my music with me wherever I go. The young girls at work are helping me to learn my new gadget and I ordered the adapter to use with my car radio yesterday. It's so much fun to be hip and cool. LOL

Yesterday was hubby and mine's 27th wedding anniversary! Where has the time gone? 27 years of total dysfuntion.... ha ha! But still... 27 years. :o) We were both off work yesterday and spent the day together. We shopped at the new Tanger Outlets and had lunch at Mellow Mushroom... yummo... one of my new favorite places to eat. We stopped by our sweet Avery's house (and his mom and dad's) to see his new swimming pool and his new swing set that his Daddy has built for him. (sorry, mom, I forgot to get pic's for you) When we got there, he was swinging in his new swing and was such a "big boy". Grandma had some fun play time and then he wanted to go home with me..... WHAT A FEELING! Now I know how my mom used to feel when my kids didn't want to leave her house to come home with me... ha ha!!

The pic's above are of our little guy when he was at our house a couple weeks ago. He is 16 months old now and is turning into such a big boy. I'm amazed each time I see him... all the new words and how smart is has become! He has finally said "grandma" a few times and I think that's the sweetest word ever. :) With kids, you never have to wonder... you just KNOW that they love you! And Avery loves me. He's truly one of the best things that has happened in our 27 years of marriage. And I'm looking forward to the next one... and the next one... and the next one....

You will never know how much joy you bring..... I love you, Sweet Avery!

Going Coastal!

You can take a girl away from the coast... but that doesn't stop her from wanting to return!! As hubby is drawing "very" close to retirement, we are seriously considering our options and trying to decide where we want to live. All things keep drawing us back homeward... that dream of "a little cottage by the sea" just doesn't leave me.
We drove to Edenton, NC last week, just to browse.... Hubby knows I want to retire in New Bern, NC... but he wanted me to see this little coastal town, too. It is BEAUTIFUL, but it's not "in my blood" like New Bern seems to be. This town is probably just as pretty, if not prettier than New Bern, but it's a little too far away from "civilization" for me. Plus, New Bern is so much closer to the beaches that I love.

So, we think we have made our decision. The next year will be very busy, as we have a lot to prepare for.... but I am sooooo ready to go! I like calling (eastern) North Carolina "home".

Zippers

Just wanted to show off my cute little "zipper" flowers! I found these shoes at a new(er) outlet store nearby and so far, they have been my favorite summer shoes. (check out those hardwood floors... these are from the lilypad, where hubby lives during the week. They are very dog friendly and I love them!!! Wish I had them in my current home!) I had been seeing lots of "zipper" pins and jewelry on some of the blogs and magazines. I really like them, but thought to myself that I would never "wear" them, even though they would be fun to make.

(borrowed picture) So, when I found the zipper shoes, I didn't hesitate to buy them. They are fun and they seem to go with anything I wear! :o)))

Kisses

Just wanted to show you who I've been smooching with these days! Our Avery has learned to kiss! Nothing like those sweet baby kisses. :o)

Welcome

Welcome to the dark hole! I have never loved my entry way from the outside, as it looks like a plain dark hole to me. Here's my new wreath for this year (paid way too much for it), but it does add a pop of color against the brown.

I spray painted the chair, spray painted the metal hanging, and added the pillow for more color. It's better, but still a dark hole to me. :( I'm looking for a bright colored welcome mat... no luck so far. I know we are supposed to never say never, but I hope we never buy another BROWN house. Wishing for my white country farmhouse right now. :o)

Sorry for the long delay in posting... June will be better, I promise. :o)

Vintage Linens

I'm still dreaming of my "future" old farmhouse in eastern NC near the water. When I'm at thrift stores, I always look through the linens that have been donated. Sometimes you can really hit the jackpot! You see, in my future old farmhouse, with its many bedrooms, I have designed several different rooms already in my mind. One will be a vintage little girl's room, with lots of pink and other pastels... and lace.I'm not sure what this above piece is, but I'm guessing a tissue box cover?? It seems to drape over the box nicely. I'm not sure if it's handmade by anyone local or not, but it sure is pretty to me.

I couldn't pass up this set of pink pillowcases. They are made from a nice heavy cotton fabric. I washed them and they ironed up so pretty! I love the vintage design.

And THIS was my favorite find!! When I pulled this dresser scarf from the hanger, there were lots of frayed strings all around the edges. My first thought was that this piece was very damaged and that I would cut it up and make something , using the embroidery. When I got it home and washed it, I realized the frayed strings were only frayed edges from the hem on the back side of the piece. I am positive that the lace edge was done with a tatting shuttle and it is beautiful. I have this piece folded over and you can't see the whole scarf, but it is long, with both ends having identical embroidery. I trimmed the frayed strings, ironed it, and I am in LOVE with it! Seriously, in the store, one would think "why are they even selling this worn out stuff"? So, it was another happy week at the thrift store for me. Now, if we could just move along on getting that farmhouse in eastern NC!

First haircut

Look who got his first "big boy" haircut on Saturday! His mom took some great pictures of him with his precious little bottom lip rolling out during the haircut. What an experience for any little guy to have to go through. :o) Isn't he cute??? He sure does add a lot of love to our little world. :p