Ages ago I signed up for an adult ed outing titled Winery Tour and Vinfest. So yesterday, another gray rainy day, off I went to Wiscasset to catch the little shuttle.

Our first stop was The Fat Friar's Mead, practically in my backyard. The guy basically has a basement business and he and his wife are very ernest about growing their business. They use local honey and fruits and their own well water. Same ingredients that have been used for eons. Not really my cup of tea but I appreciated the tradition of it and the labels were cute . . . 

The Fat Friar himself

In stark contrast, The Cellar Door Winery was putting on Vinfest. Check out this tent they had out in the field. Wow. Chandeliers. They had a barbeque, cooking classes, tastings of course, and wine and food pairings.

tasting bar

We did a Viognier with a bit of lobster ceviche, a Cayuga wine with the mini reuben (yum - and I don't know why "Cayuga" because isn't that in New York State someplace?) and a Riesling with a little chocolate cookie thingy. I have to say, my own personal opinion is that their wine sucks but it is a lovely place and the people are uber friendly and I could have eaten about a pound of that lobster ceviche. They also had grape stomping which I have always wanted to do but there was no way I was taking off boots and socks in the 45 degree weather, Maybe next time.

wine and food pairing 

Fall colors - beauteous!

I don't know what this car is, a Model T maybe? But these gents picked me up on my trek from the tent down in the fields back up to the winery. Sweet!

The next visit was to Savage Oaks, and we didn't even get out of the shuttle because there was a big bus tour there from Boston. Too bad because I heard they were harvesting yesterday. But we said no thanks. Last was Sweetgrass Winery, a fave of mine. In addition to wines, they do spirits and this is their still. How cool is that! They make a world famous Back River Gin. 

So, it was a good day and I met some nice people and sampled some ok wine and did my part for the Maine wine growers. Sue, you have some birthday wine coming your way from Maine and who knows, you might even like it!

I am all excited because I have a new porch (doesn't take much.) I wanted a little more space so I can have a chair to sit on in the morning sun, and my little grill, and a wood rack so I don't have to go so far for firewood when it's cold. It went from 8x4 to 10x8 and I think Chris did a great job. Still a few more finishing touches, including an awning. woohoo!

before

during

after - well, almost done . . . 

And, here is a little bit of wisdom for a rainy day:

I intend to!

Chris's divorce is final today. He told me yesterday and I thought about it half the night. I was thinking that the reason they have Single and Divorced on the forms you fill out -- you know, the ones where you check marital status: M S D -- anyway, the reason is that even though technically you are single again, you are not the same as you were before the divorce. You have been changed by the divorce and can never be single again really. Getting a divorce is like having a hysterectomy. When it's over, you know it's been done to you for the rest of your life.

So, forget paper piecing - I am in love with this by the yard fabric, called Prairie Braid. So easy. You just cut one strip off, place your strip, turn over and sew on the numbered line, trim and voila! No picking off the paper - the fabric braid stays put. I'm taking a class with Sue to make a batik jacket and this will be the front. (Hope I don't look too home-made-quilty-poo-poo when it's done.)

There you have it. So easy.

Just to catch you up . . . I loved the ooh la la fabric by Bunny Hill so much, I made a male version for baby Roman. Just a little tied quilt with a soft back.

And, I whipped up this cute bag by Anna Maria Horner yesterday morning. It was fun and the first time I made something with the batiks I brought back from Bali. (As opposed to just fondling them.)

This woman was making Troll Beads at a shop in town. The colored sticks next to her are glass. It was a cool process to watch and while people seem to just love these beads, they kind of leave me cold. I guess they are sort of a charm bracelet. Just as well I'm not interested. I imagine you could spend quite a bit on the things. I asked the woman if it wouldn't be more cost effective to just get a troll bead bracelet tattooed on your wrist . . . she was not amused.

So, check this out. Above is what it looked like at my house yesterday afternoon. Gorgeous Now, look at the picture below. I was in the house reading just before sunset and I looked up when something hit the roof. The wind was suddenly whipping like crazy and a band of rain was coming across the lake. Through it all, you could see the sunset. This is NOT a black and white picture. wow

So, today I will start putting the binding on Florence's quilt. The kid will be able to put this quilt on her toddler bed and then her full size bed. Don't know how it go so big! Here it is all quilted and ready for the binding:

That is Sophie doing her vulture impression.

happy first day of autumn

I read this quote on BitsofWisdom.com this morning. It makes me realize how far I've come in focusing on the present and being happy in the moment.

The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.

    — Marcel Pagnol

It's a gray rainy morning at the Lake today. Fire in the fireplace, Irish oatmeal for breakfast and the girls have gone back to their beds. Vivaldi is on the radio and I have two chapters to go in my Gil McNeil book. Big sigh of contentment.

Work in progress

Did I tell you I brought back vanilla beans from the spice market in Bali? When I got home, I boiled up a canning jar and washed the beans. Then, split them and scraped out the "caviar" and chopped them. Added all that to a jar of vodka and I give it a shake each day if I think of it.

I opened it to smell it today and guess what? It smells just like vanilla!! Imagine...

scrape out caviar

add vodka

what it looks like today

Happy 18th Birthday, Anna!

My beloved niece turns 18 today - I can hardly believe it! I just want to go on the record and say you will never meet a better person. She is beautiful inside and out and just by being here, she makes my life richer.  Oh, I'm suddenly feeling quite faclempt!

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.