45 degrees this morning when I took my coffee out to watch the pink fog burn off. I know I post this view endlessly but the Lake is like a living thing, constantly changing, ever more beautiful and I am always in awe.

Labor of Love

Finally finished cutting and folding my fat quarters from my Bali batiks! (It only took me 3 months.) Now to bundle them, photograph them, and list them in my online store.See that stack to the left rear? Mine to keep! Although, I may carve off a few half yard cuts to sell. I will miss the nightly folding ritual that takes me off to Bali in my mind, smelling the incense . . .

I wanted to give a shout out to the Mainely Sewing branch in Wiscasset. Cute little shop under the General Store. I bought a new bag pattern I didn't need and some sweet fabric to make a BD present for my sis. If you are ever in the area, it is mos def worth a visit.

 Yesterday, I took my friend Sue to Belfast for her birthday. Happy Happy, Sue! Love this bench down town and you can see the architectural style of the town in the next photo.

 I am thinking mercury is in retrograde as we had two false starts trying to get going in the morning and then I locked the keys in the car (first time EVER!) but we had a nice day anyway and had a yummy lunch at Darby's in Belfast. We wanted to go to Rockland for lunch but had to wait for AAA to come and unlock my car. oy vey

So check this out: I'm sitting at my computer in my living room and something thunks me on the top of the head. Zoiks! I jumped up and madly shake my hair out. No clue what it was so I went back to my screen. Flash forward a few hours and I'm working on my jigsaw puzzle (autumn scene with pumpkins and fall leaves on a farm if you must know) and a grasshoppper lands smack in the middle of the puzzle. Gave me a start. Little sucker is not that easy to catch and take outside. Settling down with my book (ok, my kindle) later in the evening and I look over and there is a grasshopper climbing up the arm of my chair. Honestly! So I get up to catch him and move him outside and I turn around and he's gone. Later, I'm in the kitchen (cooking 15-bean soup, yum) and a grasshopper bounces off my chest. Ok, really? I chase him around the kitchen, get fed up, pick up the newspaper and shut out his lights. Permanently. I don't know where they are coming from. Maybe they're upset because I don't have that much grass to hop in . . .

Six things that make me happy!

The Lake at dawn

Little offering of gratitude

Apple season

Sophie's grin

Silver toes!

Sundown

I spent a little bit of time this morning re-reading my blog from a year ago. What a different summer I've had this year. Tons of family and friends visiting, a website finally up, my oilcloth bags in a shop in town, lots of swimming and meals shared and laughing and sewing and working and volunteering, healthy doggies, and on and on, everything good.

I do have to admit that I still have not gone a day without thinking about my husband. But I am building up that scar tissue and it doesn't upset me as much as it used to. Eventually, I will realize that I didn't think about him at all for x amount of time. So looking forward to that day! And I trust it will come soon.

I'm remembering 9/11/2001 today. Not working or sewing. Took a long walk and now I'm doing a jigsaw puzzle and letting my mind drift over the many things I have to be grateful for. Life. What bliss.

And, I don't normally post politics here but can't resist the following from my friend, Stacy:

We won't go back

So, Friday I worked at the Gardens and here I am playing chicken with the other shuttle. Always freaks the guy out. They are so beautiful this time of year and I think will be even lovelier in another couple of weeks when I work again. We've had enough rain now that the fall colors should be outstanding. If you haven't been, you really should go. As their website says, Discover Spectacular Gardens. so true

Saturday, I picked Sue up at the crack of dawn and we headed for Portland (via Starbucks of course) to the South Portland Sewing Center where Miss Elna and Sue's Bernina had their annual check-ups.

Miss Elna looking sharp and ready to sew!

We spent our time in the teeming metropolis of Portland going to Trader Joe's and Mardens and we had lunch at South of the Border before picking them up. I have no idea who this guy is but it seemed like a good photo op.

Lastly, I wanted to show you the yellow begonia on my front porch this morning. Look how beautiful it is. It has given me the most gorgeous blooms all summer. 

I am off to the laundromat this morning. My dryer is still on the fritz and the guy who came out to look at it (took him 2 weeks to get here!) has to order a part which will "take about a week." PIA

Happy Sunday!

The spark is gone…

'Tis a fine soft day, as they say in Ireland. I woke up to the gray rainy day and thought, oh it's the perfect day to sew. yipee! I celebrated Labor Day by working my last day on Sunday and although I like my job, I am always glad when it is over for the season. More creative time for yours truly.

So, before 8am, the girls and I piled in the car and roared off to the local florist because today was none other than Good Neighbor/Friendship Day. No, seriously. So, I got my free dozen roses and so beautiful they were. The deal is FTD made up this day and certain florists offer a dozen roses for free as long as they last and you keep one and pass the other ones out which I did, one by one. The other part is the florist can accept donations for a charity. Hers was Haiti. It was fun and it made people smile. I saw a man downtown doing the same thing and we did a long distance high five.

And then I sewed. And sewed and sewed. I'm still not finished cutting the fat quarters from my Bali fabrics but the pile is getting smaller. And, I just have the hand sewing of the binding to do for Roman's little quilt; waiting for my hands to  cooperate. Here it is. Look how cute! I used a soft blue minky backing and made up a little matching label.

I took myself out to the pub for lunch and saw Queen of Eider, Sarah! So nice to see you, girlfriend. Life is good indeed.

I am so pleased with where I am, and I eagerly look forward to the future.

That is today's affirmation from Louise Hay.

Anyhoo it was so weird, after all this time (I've been divorced for a year and four months now; alone for three years) . . . but last night I was watching a movie about a man who leaves his wife for the usual reasons (reclaim his youth, sex with other women, blah blah) and I totally lost it. Found myself blubbering like a bebe.

It took me all day to process this.  I was listening to NPR in the car, sort of, and kept hearing "are you better off now than you were four years ago?" (all of the election BS, you know)

Well duh, I thought. Yeah I am. Four years ago, an alcoholic psychopath was calling me ugly names and undermining every move I made and really, making my life miserable while I was loving him to the best of my ability. Ick. I mean really, ick. How did I ever become such a doormat, especially for a man who never did and never will know the real meaning of love? How is it I spent so many years living an illusion? (Well jeez, that one is for another day and I digress.)

So, I'm not sure why I lost my mind again last night but I imagine it's for the usual reason. Missing the life and love I thought I had. Silly me.

I am so pleased with where I am and I eagerly look forward to the future. Words to live by. Although I'm still working on being happy in the present moment. Howz that going, you may ask?

Pretty darn good.