Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone???

Clara has disappeared. It has been 2 whole days now. I have called places, looked places. So now I am feeling sad. But this is her picture, and if you see her, please let me know!

Monkey Bars

These are pictures I took of Claudia and her friend Megan last weekend.

Happy Autumn

Finally!! I finished my big rug-hooking project. It took me 2 years from start to finish. It is also my first real rug-hooking project. I should learn to start small. I dyed some of the wool, and all of it is recycled. I have a couple projects in the works of my mind, but haven't executed anything yet. I did clean out my craft/sewing room, and when everything is in its place, I will take a picture. I am grateful for having such a space, but I do wish it had more storage space.

Claudia is home again today. All of her playmates have tested positive for H1N1, so I am assuming she has it, also. She is feeling much better, but gets tired easily, so I kept her home. It has been a good incentive for me NOT to home school. I don't know how others do it. My patience is wearing thin, and we haven't even had big problems with the homework. There is just so much of it. She needs constant motivation to keep at it. I am easily distracted by all the other "stuff" that needs doing. She really just wants to watch Pinocchio, and we will, she just has to get her work done. Then we will lay down for a rest.

Fungus

Fungus. The interesting looking kind. I'm a little obsessed. I just want to take photos of them all. In fact, this week I may go on a fungus forage through the woods.

Sometimes I feel my life is not meant for blogging. I mean, there's just not much going on. Today I took Claudia to the doctor, which didn't make her better, she's only worse. So, I could blog about taking care of a sick child. But, that isn't very intriguing.

So instead, look at pretty fungus.




Plus, I threw in a seed-head for viewing pleasure.

Pumpkin Cookies

I know my heart has turned to fall when I get the urge to make pumpkin cookies. They are so good. So good, in fact, that it is hard to type as I eat them. I tried a new recipe this time, and I think I like it better. It has more spices, and more depth. I added dark brown sugar instead of light. The recipe I used is from George Duran on the Food Network. I must stop eating these. Save some for the girls.

This is not road-kill. It is our 15 year old cat, Iggy who loves to sun herself, exposing her tummy. I wish I could do that.


I am getting obsessed with Christmas, also. As in, what to make for people this year. I have some ideas, but I won't share, I wouldn't want to spoil the fun!

Tomato Time

You wait patiently, and then impatiently for your tomatoes to grow and ripen. Magically overnight they are red and ripe. Cancel, all appointments and plans. You must now can these hard-won fruits. Such was my day. Once I get into the mind-set I actually enjoy canning. I turned on my WVPR and grooved to some classical music. I wore a groovy scarf on my head. When did I become a scarf-wearing person? I remember Mom wearing one when she made bread. We had to go over her person to make sure there were no stray hairs anywhere. (Who wants hair in bread? yuck.) My sisters (in the 70's) wore scarves. And now I carry on the tradition.

Tomorrow I hope to borrow Heather's pressure canner and "put up" some beans and beets.
I love beets! I make a delicious Russian Borscht. I'll post the recipe someday when I make it.

Pop! Pop! My jars are sealed!

Summer is Over

Summer is almost over, and I haven't written anything at all!! That is because we have been busy with the business of daily life. Plus, I got a job at a local fabric shop. I can't even think on one outstanding thing to say about my summer. Other than my childhood friend was able to visit with her family, and I survived VBS, and we didn't go on a vacation. But, I went to Romney last week and Eric's girls Katie and Alexa were visiting. They are actually on their way to my house as I write. Things went pretty well in Romney. It was nice for the cousins to spend time together, getting to know each other.

I finally finished my shawl that I started last fall. Maddie and Katie went to town on knitting, also. Subsequently, I am now obsessed with knitting. I think I have craft A.D.D. I just have to try everything, and I will go through phases of sewing, rug-hooking, knitting, whatever. It must be summer coming to an end that makes me itchy to be arsty. Summer is so busy with swimming and gardening and grass cutting. But fall is for cozy craftiness beside the fire. I can't wait. Of course, it is about 90 degrees here right now. Makes me dream of snowy days, and icy creeks and warm quilts.

I wanted to get some photos of Mom knitting. So here they are. Did I mention how much I love my mother?? She has such patience with me, with us. Any knitting snafu she can fix, without cursing. I wish I had inherited that trait.