August 30

The thrift gods have been smiling on me lately ... I've found some cool vintage sheets and pillowcases.

And I finished my picnic tablecloth/blanket! I'm going to add some ties to the ends so that it can be secured to the table legs if needed.

I backed it with some heavier home dec fabric I also found at the thrift store last week. So, it's 100% from stash. Woohoo.

Now I need to go on a picnic!

August 28

Sometimes my prop man brings home dismembered bodies. Sometimes, model trains.

August 25

Last day of summer vacation. Backpack, clothes, and school supplies have been purchased. First-day lunch has been planned, bought, and baked. Hair has been cut. What's left to do but go out blazing with an adventure day?

Hoo-boy. We're pooped.

August 24

('Scuse the crappy photo; I keep forgetting to shoot this in daylight. When it's finished I'll take a pretty shot.)

I'm attempting to turn my overflowing crate of fabric scraps (I keep every little piece) into something useful. To wit, a tablecloth-cum-picnic blanket.

It's a project I can work on when I have only ten minutes at the sewing machine, which makes it ideal for my lifestyle of late. I'm figuring I'll need 60 blocks; I have half of them done.

What I haven't figured yet is the color to frame each block, and tie it all together. White would be an aesthetically pleasing choice if this wasn't destined to have ketchup and curry spilled on it. I don't really want a dark color, because I want this to feel summery.

Maybe a sunshiny yellow. We'll see. When you indiscriminately throw every color and hue into one project, it's bound to look all over the place like a mad woman's breakfast.

But I think I'm OK with that.

August 23

Joy the Baker threw a downtown rooftop picnic. And we went.
It was yummy. It was fun. We made new friends, whom we hope will come to dinner some Sunday soon.

Thanks Joy! You rock.

Where I work

It's kind of weird that I ended up in advertising. Me, who never turns a TV on. Who is at the 'starved' end of the media-exposure spectrum. Who, as a child, was forbidden to sing jingles, and had to remove the brand tags from her jeans. Somehow, I ended up working here.

The ageing surfer guy in this clip with the white hair and beard? That's my boss.

I manage the disconnect by not creating the work, merely producing it. And I work solely in print, a long-time love of mine. But still, it's kind of odd. Leaving school, I just wanted to keep chooks and grow veggies and build my own home in the country.

But I suppose, if I'm going to work for the Man, Lee Clow is a pretty good man to work for.

August 16

Ah, Sunday dinners.

Peach-blackberry galette ...

... blueberry pie ...

.... serendipitous heart, while preparing the salad ...

... and some fun time with the dismembered body Josh happened to have in the back of his truck.

As someone who has never willingly seen a horror movie, it's so weird to be married to someone who works behind the scenes to make the gore and guts look real.

August 15

I've had this song on my brain all day. Why? Because I'm lucky.
I have a sister who not only knits me socks ...
she also sends me wonderful little gifts like this, a needle case made of our mother's long-ago satin dress ...
with mama's handmade felt inside.

I feel hugged from afar.

I don't need a bracelet
No salt for my shoulder
I don't own a rabbit
No clover
No heather
No cross
No wonder
I'm lucky
I'm lucky
I can walk under ladders.

August 7

Friday night. Home alone ... ahh! I thought my weekend was mapped out, but have suddenly found that it's not.

Shawna and I had our calendars crossed, so we won't be going to the Maloof House tomorrow after all. And my very exhausted Josh (who, being a super fabulous dad, is taking Lauren to see the Jonas Bros on Saturday night) has asked that we please not have guests for dinner this Sunday.

So, after a very stressful day, these twin realizations have left me feeling very free. What to do with a suddenly open weekend?

HSL. Yes, of course. But apart from that ...
Hike. But maybe it's too hot for that. Unless I go beachward.
Sew. I've have the material for a satin camisole; that could be fun.
Paint. Time for some more faces.
Read. I just started a new book.
Garden. Harvest the Swiss Chard, cut back the tomatoes, plant some beans.

Any other suggestions?

How luscious, that I have so many choices. Life is good.