The Craft Room

I'm sorry if this post doesn't interest you at all. It's been a pretty time consuming project and I just couldn't be happier with the outcome. As I mentioned the other day there are still a few things to tweak, including the closet... but that will just have to wait for now. I think what makes me happiest about this room is just finally having a place to put things that haven't had a home since we moved into the house over 4 years ago. I love looking at all of the pictures on the walls and just knowing that every thing has a place. The photos are pretty self explanatory,   We removed the bed and added inexpensive shelving from Target. We brought up an unused chair from downstairs and that's about it. I'm using Graces desk to sew on for the time being. She kindly left her TV and spinning wheel for me to borrow. We did remove the mirror that was attached to the dresser so that my cutting mat could fit and not hang off in the front. My ironing board hangs on the back of the door. The lights are also Grace's. She had them in her apartment but since we've been storing them in the basement I figured they were fair game. I have to say that I was not thrilled when she asked if I'd take care of her fish, but he adds a little something to the room. I wish that I had more time to spend crafting away in there, but I know the time will come and I am ready.
Sally

Transformation Sneak Peek

 Alan and I have spent the past few weeks transforming Grace's bedroom into a sewing/craft room. There are a few more finishing touches I'd like to add, but I thought I'd give you a quick sneak peek with before and after pictures. It felt very strange taking the bed out, but it's in the basement just in case we need it again. Packing Grace's stuff up also felt a bit odd. Who knows what she will be doing or where she might be in two years? In the mean time, David's coming to live with us for a month while he does an emergency room rotation at University of Louisville hospital. He will be taking over the guest room and I need a place to sew. If we only had a bigger house... Any way, I'm very pleased with how things are turning out. I'll show you more of it the next time I post.

Sally

My New Best Friend

 Do you have one of these things? Do your love it? Alan has had one for a while now and he totally loves it. He's been trying to convince me to get one and I have been very reluctant. Do I really need to know for sure that I don't get enough exercise or sleep? Well, apparently I do. My fitbit arrived last week and it hasn't left my side, well actually my chest, because I got the kind that hooks on the front of my bra. I had a hard time choosing, but I knew I wouldn't be happy wearing the bracelet type. I hate to admit it, but I find myself checking my step and stair climbing count and getting up off the couch so that I can meet my daily goals. How long will this last? Who knows? Accountability is a good thing, right?
Sally

To Iowa And Back

A couple of weekends ago Alan and I drove to Iowa. It was a perfect weekend; visiting with good friends, eating delicious food and enjoying the gorgeous Iowa weather. There is more corn growing between Louisville and Iowa city than I can even begin to describe. It just goes on and on for miles. After a while it can get a little boring. Good thing that I had a sock with me to knit on and Alan had loaded his IPod with lots of fun pod-casts for us to listen to. Much thanks to Barb and Jorge for putting us up and putting up with us. We talked and talked and played several hands of bridge. Barb and I participated in the 10th Anniversary Common Threads Sew In. It is so hard to believe that we took our first quilting class at the original Common Threads 10 years ago. Boy does time fly. I came home with a finished quilt top and a lovely bag of beautiful grey wool. I love spending time with crafty ladies. Jackie, who just happens to be the crafty lady that taught Barb and I how to quilt has also become my spinning/knitting inspiration. She had an extra bag of ready to spin fiber and I was very happy to take it off her hands. I can't explain the happiness in my heart after a weekend like that. Being with people who really know you and love you anyway is just the best.
Sally

The Dog Days of Summer

So sorry for the lack of posting. I went back and looked, and it seems that I tend to slack off every summer. I'm not really sure why that is. I'd like to blame it all on work; summer is my "busy" season. All the kids are out of school and need extra speech therapy. I could also try and blame it on the weather being hot and miserable, but that certainly has not been the case this year. We have had the perfect summer (so far...) Honestly I don't have an excuse. We are still busy doing things except for when we're not. I've managed to complete several knitting, sewing/quilting projects, cook and clean a little here and there and grow some really pretty flowers. I've read several books, some of which may have been a waste of time.  We have seen all three of the Shakespeare in the Park shows, which were fantastic and we've made a bit more of a dent in sorting out our messy basement. I'm guessing that once September gets here I'll get my blogging mojo back. You know how much  I love Fall. Until then It will  probably continue to be hit or miss around here.Hopefully more hits than misses. Have a great weekend,
Sally
P.S, Grace has gotten her Blog approved and has begun writing a bit about Cambodia. No pictures yet, but she promises to post some soon.

July Yum

 The first full size tomato from my garden this summer. Isn't she a beauty?

 Can you guess what I' had for lunch today?

I saved this tomato from the squirrels by picking it a little early. It's been sitting on my counter, slowly turning red since Tuesday. I probably should have shared it with Alan, but honestly it was just big enough for me. I might have to continue the "pick early " plan because I found two almost ripe tomatoes on the ground this morning with tiny little squirrel size bites taken out of them. It just makes me so mad. You would think that between the dog and the cat our rodent population would be next to nil. I wish. Hope you have great plans for the weekend. Not sure what we are going to do yet. We've been kinda last minute planners lately. Everything always depends on the weather.
Sally.

And She's Off...

Grace made to Cambodia all in one piece. She left Louisville early Thursday morning and got to Phnom Penh early Sunday morning their time, late Saturday night our time. She stayed one night in LA and about 4 hours at a hotel in Bangkok. the Bangkok stop was just long enough for them all to take showers and change their clothes so that they would look presentable when arriving in Cambodia. The Peace Corps has given her a phone, but Alan found out today that it will cost us $1.99 a minute to talk to her. I think most of our communications will be through email and skype when she has internet access. When I spoke with her this morning, she had just finished dinner. They are 11 hours ahead of us. She said the food was delicious. She had also already had her first Khmer language lesson and was able to say "Hi, my name is Grace. I am from America".  She sounded even more excited if that is possible, but seriously sleep deprived. She was on her way to get some much need rest. Hopefully she will be able to update her blog regularly. She has information there about how to get in touch with her. I have no idea how much postage will be. She wants me to send her a couple of things that she forgot, including her raincoat. I told her I would so long as the postage didn't cost more than the coat.
Sally