Happy October...

 It's October 1...and Fall has not quite decided to come to my neck of the woods...

 We thought it was going to... at the beginning of the week...

 But the weather is fickle here...record temps are predicted for the next few days...

 So I just added Fall to the inside...and pretend...

 Just a little...to ease into it...

 I don't want to rush it...well...really I do...I love Autumn weather...its clear and bright...yet much cooler...usually...

 I even made a bag of Fall colors...to celebrate...

 This picture posted out of order...don't know how that happened...it sort of ruined my thoughts...oh well...Autumn Sedum...soon the flower will get darker and darker...

Oops...back to my bag...oh you get my jest...Fall is just a state of mind here ya know...right now...we're always a bit behind...but as I dream about the upcoming season...that's all I can do when its over 100 degrees outside...I hope you are seeing some changes in the weather where you live...in 15 days...I will get to experience 2 weeks of Autumn in Minnesota and the Dakotas...I can't wait!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Can you believe it...

 For the last couple of months it seems like Don and I have been going non-stop...preparing...well...the day finally came...and the thing is...I forgot to get out my camera once the guests started arriving...and take pictures!! I got so busy...with food, drinks, greeting everyone...I didn't even pose for one picture with the kids...oh well...it's all a blur to me now...

 We spent so long preparing...sewing, planting, gardening, cooking, cleaning, painting...I even made pretty table runners for all the surfaces inside...Selin has a good friend who took pictures...I am just waiting to see them now...and print them...I'm so glad we at least got pictures on their wedding day!

 My back yard was a sea of tables and chairs...we weren't sure how everyone was going to fit in...

 this was before all the candles got put on the tables...there were candles everywhere...in all sorts of jars and holders...it was pretty...sure hope Ann got pictures...boy am I a dope! 

 I guess sometimes these things happen...Don and I don't have a single picture of our wedding day...we eloped...went with our best friends...film didn't hook on the camera...it was blank...oh well...everyone seemed to have a great time! Wish you could see all the smiling faces!!

 I did get a picture of Lola checking things out before the guests arrived...see...even Lola was ready in her pretty white and gold ribbon...

 Lots of desserts...

 My sister, Debbie and her daughter, Chelsey helped us so much with the desserts...I did get a picture of Selin and my younger son, Stephen with Debbie before the guests started arriving...before Selin changed too...

The next morning we had a nice big breakfast with the brave ones who returned back...and Joseph and Selin opened some presents...they seemed to enjoy the ribbons just as much as the gifts...the football game was on...so I think Joseph was a bit distracted...

Things are getting back to normal around here...it took a while to get the house back together...furniture had to be moved....borrowed items returned...things boxed up...now Don and I are concentrating on our craft fair next Saturday...and our much needed vacation!!! I hope soon that I will have time to come visit you all ...and catch up on what's been happening in your lives...soon...I promise...

Until then...enjoy your day!!!

10 more days...

 We are working hard over here to get things done for the big reception...I've been planting all sorts of little containers with succulents...these are some of the buckets that Don painted white for me...these will be on the tables...

 Lots of little glass candle holders...found a lot at yard sales and also at Hobby Lobby for 50% off...which made them all about 50 cents a piece...yard sales ones were 25 cents each...these will all be filled with votives and tea lights...

 Don has been busy spraying the picture frames gold...we have a bunch more to paint...now I need to get to Target and print all the pictures ...still so much to do!

 These are going to be filled with candles as well...there will be candles everywhere...that's what they want...we aim to please! Luckily I found all these on clearance...

 This one was hard to get a picture of...it looks better live...it's gold tulle...with glitter in it...very sparkly in the  lights...it will go over the white table cloths...I haven't quite figured it out yet...just in my mind...I bought 17 yards of it though...with my 50% coupon from Joanns...It will add a bit of bling I think...I hope so anyways!!

 Other things I have been doing...besides gardening and getting things ready is sewing...I do have craft fairs coming up...gotta get that inventory ready...

So half of my days are spent sewing...its been really crazy busy...it seems like we don't have time to take a breath...I will be so ready for my vacation in October...I'm ready now!!! But just 10 days left...did I mention that Don and I have also been scrubbing walls and floors and trying to get the inside as nice as possible too...I am so thankful I have him by my side...he is such a trooper...he just basically does what I ask him to do...what a guy!! 

I haven't even mentioned the horrible weather we've been having ...not very normal for our area...the heat...yes...but humidity...no...and its been really bad. It looks like its going to rain everyday...but all we get is a drop or two...I feel sticky the whole time I'm outside gardening...it is really yucky! Even my plants aren't sure how to handle this...some of them have just given up...I lost 5 azaleas this summer...they just died...without warning...just gave up...and then there's those that are blooming at weird times...I have camellias blooming ...now that's really weird...or those that just won't bloom at all...too hot I suppose!

And its supposed to heat up 15 degrees this week...holy moly! Now Don just came home and told me the A/C in his SUV isn't working...oh well...I guess we're off to take the car in...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

We're getting things done...

 We have been getting up with the birds these days...trying to find time for all the things we need to do ...this is what sunrise looks like in our neck of the woods...

 Don has been so busy priming all the goodies I have found at yard sales and thrift shops...things that will decorate our yard during the upcoming reception...so right now...everything is getting sanded and primed...

 Table legs for a $3 table we found at a yard sale...it was a natural birch color...soon it will be white...

 Some of the little buckets , frames and an old tarnished sugar bowl...they are all betting primed...the containers will hold succulents...they are going to stay white I think...the frames are  just  a few of the many that will be sprayed gold and scattered across the tables with the bride and groom's pictures in them...we have so many pictures to share! while Don was painting...I have been busy gardening and sewing...

Don has managed a nap or two though...

Until next time...enjoy your day...and have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!

They finally did it...

 The last time we visited I told you that my oldest son, Joseph and his long time girl friend, Selin, decided to marry...well...it happened Friday! They had decided that they just wanted a simple service at the courthouse...so we drove down to San Diego  to be part of the wedding...it was very nice...and very fast!

 We all walked outside and found a nice place for some photos...they are very happy...and it shows!

 These are Selin's parents...Huseyin and Gul...

 And here are Don and I...

 Stephen, our youngest...and Anna joined us...

 They haven't gotten their rings made yet...they are not sure what they want and Selin can't wear a ring at work...she is a yoga instructor in training..so they had tattoos done...the infinity symbol...

 Here's some of their best friends who live down in San Diego and took the day off to celebrate...

 We celebrated after at one of their favorite restaurants ...Ranchos...its a small place and they were so nice to us...we were there for a few hours...it was fun!

We brought cake and champagne to celebrate too...they were all equally wonderful!!

24 more days until we have the reception...Don and I have been VERY busy trying to get things done...we have been gardening, cleaning, shopping, sewing, more gardening, renting tables and chairs, making many lists so we don't forget things, more gardening, ordering food, making more lists...and generally just trying to get things ready so that we can have a wonderful party to celebrate our son and new daughter! So if you don't see me...or hear from me on your sites...I am here...getting things ready...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

A couple finishes...

 It's been pretty crazy busy around here these last few days...so much floating around in my head it feels like its going to explode if I don't let some of it out...so I starting making some lists...as I think of ideas for the reception...they tend to just pop right in my head at the weirdest times...in the meantime...I'm sewing for my craft fairs and Etsy shop...and I thought I'd show you a few more finishes...

 This one I actually made as a gift for my Aunt's birthday last Saturday...lately I have been piecing a lot of bags together...I like the randomness of it...

The flower button on here is part of a collection of ceramic buttons I have had for years and years...I heard the woman who made all of these died a few years back...and I have been hoarding them...so I decided they can't be enjoyed sitting in my button container...I need to let them out and share...I like the way it looks on this bag.

In other news...Joseph had his surgery yesterday...Don and I drove down to San Diego...it went better than the doctor first thought it would. He ended up with 2 screws in that wrist...and a few holes drilled to speed up the growth too...oh I hope his tricks on the slopes will slow down a bit...but somehow I doubt it! Snowboarding is in his blood and he's counting the weeks until snow will be falling again! Even in his bad state...

It is still hot here...it has been over 100 for what seems like forever...but has actually just been about 10 days. Several days were over 110...so all work outside has had to be done very early in the morning...my yard is suffering...even with watering...the blazing heat is taking a toll on some of my plants...and the front lawn!Not much can be done though...just wait til it passes...soon I hope! Until then I have plenty of inside work to be done...and lots of sewing...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

So much going on over here...

 I can't tell you how busy it's been in my neck of the woods lately...time seems to be going quicker every day...I tend to lose track of what day of the week it is too...I've been busy sewing...

 trying to get ready for the craft fairs I will be in this Fall...and trying to fill up my Etsy shop...

 I have had quite a few custom orders that I have been working on...lots of baby doll carriers...those seem to be really popular now...I have just one left...but I need to figure out how to make it for a very large doll and not pay a fortune for shipping...

 I feel fortunate for problems like that...and that I stay busy every day...doing the things I love...sewing...

 gardening...

 Right now I am as busy as a bee...my older son and his long time girl friend have decided to marry...they called a few days ago to let us know...they are going to just go to City Hall in San Diego...on August 24th...so soon we said!! He told me just a few could attend...like 8 people...and yes they decided a reception afterwards would be nice...so we are having one here...at our house...on September 22...

 There is so much to do between now and then...I started making lists in my head...somehow those lists need to go onto paper...and get done...I have a decent sized yard...lots of shade in the afternoon...how hard can it be??? 

So if you notice that I am absent a lot...it's because I am very busy...planning a wedding reception...we have 7 weeks...oh and not to mention my son is having his next surgery in a week ...so I will be distracted form here...not to mention visiting all of you! This is one more reason that I am so lucky to not have a job away from home...and that Don is now retired!! We need all the man and woman power we can muster!!!

And it's really HOT right now...the kind of hot that wears you down...so we gardened only for a couple hours...it was hot by 8AM this morning... it was 111 yesterday...but we must have a beautiful back drop for a wedding reception...Joseph and Selin deserve this...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!