HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GENEVIEVE, 6 YEARS OLD TODAY!

Remember that Blend fabric I bought at Mardens ages ago? Well, I used it to whip up a 241 Bag by Noodlehead. So fast and easy and it was blissful to have a sewing day at long last. (Toothfairy doesn't count)

Our warm humid weather went out with the rain last night and we are in for a cool snap with possible frost in the mountains by tomorrow night! Here are five things I'm loving right now:
1.) Long Way Round, which is a 9 episode series with Ewan MaGregor and Charlie Boorman about their motorbike trip from London to New York, traveling east, including Kazakhstan, Siberia, eastern Russia, the Road of Bones, etc. and then from Alaska, thru Canada to NY. I'm watching it on Netflix and it is GREAT. And those two are pretty easy on the eyes as well. :)
2.) Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, by Beth Hoffman. Good read - I laughed, I cried...
3.) Maine scallops - my seafood of choice this summer. So yum. (Of course, let's not forget oysters or lobster. Or mussels.) So much to love!
4.) Norah Jones, Little Broken Hearts
5.) Being the only one left on my road as of today! Peace and quiet.

I woke up at about 4:00 this morning, believing I was still married. I hate those dreams. In the dream, we are just doing the mundane ordinary things of our life together, nothing remarkable. And, it is heartbreaking every time to realize it was just a dream. Here's the good thing though, I only have those dreams a couple of times a month now. I used to have them every night. I'm looking at that as significant progress.

Anatomy of a tooth fairy pillow

So, I found this Larissa Holland pattern thru Pinterest (epic time suck alert!) and tweaked it a little and documented my process. It is clever in that you make a little pocket behind the mouth, as you can see below, to put the tooth/money in. The pattern has it made with felt which I think is more effective. I had flannel. Hey, you work with what you got.

Used my watercolor pencils to put on the cheeks and an iron-on doll face transfer for the eyes - found it at Joann's in the sale bin ages ago.

 Added a skirt.

Sewed her right sides together and left a hole for turning - used a little pink boa for hair and it's also a loop to hang her by.

Stuffed her and gave her some better lips. Sort of. Just have to put some fray check on the lips, give her a little more stuffing and sew up her crotch.

So, here is my question:  Is this thing creepy or cute? It's a fine line, isn't it?

Last night I went to an end of summer party at a neighbor's house. Everyone is packing up to leave. Today dawned cold and rainy and so it does feel like the end of summer. My affirmation today says, I am thankful for my wonderful life. I accept with joy and pleasure and gratitude all the good that life offers me. Well, yeah.

Well, here is a picture that is near and dear to my heart: my nephew Will sewing with Miss Elna. Will's goal for his visit was to sew a vest. Now, I can quilt and make bags like a pro but clothing? Not my forte. However, we persevered. Bought a t-shirt and made a pattern and went to work. Here is Will hard at work sewing the slippery satin back and lining. The trick? Pinning pinning and yes, more pinning. 

He took some time out to build a fire and roast us some marshmallows and I would have an action shot of that but the kid is in constant motion - difficult to get a shot of him that isn't blurry.

And, while I was at work, he was off at the boat ramp doing his part for the Lake by inspecting boats for invasive plants. Yay for Will! 

So, I take full responsibility for the shoulders being a little hinky and one side being longer than the other but I think he did a great job altogether. In the dictionary, this is the picture next to Suave and Debonaire.

My family is visiting. My beloved nephew, Will, and his mom and dad arrived on Monday and this is what my little cottage looked like on Monday night. Sweet to see it all lit up like that.

Also on Monday, the kitchen sink started to back up and then yesterday morning, the bathtub. You know something like this only happens when you have a houseful of guests, right? Anyhoo, props to Downeast Energy Systems who sent this guy out and he fixed us right up. Not only did he un-clog everything, he replaced the ancient works under my kitchen sink. So, now it looks like new inside and out. And best of all, no butt crack!  Yay!

 In the meantime, we were having a Lake day. I thought fall was here to stay but we are back into the soup. warm and humid days and the swimming is perfect.

Will fly fishing

Leslie being supervised in her kayak

In the meantime . . . I have lost control of Sophie's shedding so called The Animal House for some help. In she went for a bath and some serious grooming and here she is with Phoebe, losing about a third of her body weight. She was not amused. 

For the love of Dog, somebody help me!!!

And, here is the happy family and who wouldn't be? Super fantastic lobster feast with blueberry pie for dessert! Leslie and Tom are off to Acadia for a couple of days and I will fill you in later on Will's activities.