Sweet summer bags

The Genevieve Bag in lavender ooh la la

current happenings

So, I got my first flat tire on the way to Augusta the other day. I was cool and collected and steered to the side of the road and probably only used a few expletives. Josh sprung into action and wrestled that sucker off and changed the tire in record time. I took it to mean that when Toyota told me I needed four new tires, they weren't kidding. So, my little Prius is now sporting four new ones.

 And, I've got another full house. Josh is out in my studio again and Lu and Catherine are in the guest room. Their camping trip came to an abrupt end and they appeared on my doorstop with a kayak, loads of food, a grill, sheets, towels, etc. They've been doing the cooking so as far as I'm concerned, they can stay as long as they like! Here is my busy little kitchen. As you can see, even Sophie is in on the action.

 Breakfast this morning was pancakes. And, not just any pancakes. Catherine sprouted the grain and then milled it and then soaked it in buttermilk. Imagine that! Delish

 And, last night we had some celebratory oysters. Celebration of a fabulous day on the Lake with lots of swimming, kayaking and sailing. So what that Catherine got lost on the lake in her kayak and that the sail jumped off the mast while Lu was sailing. It was a great day!

I made an awesome mignonette sauce with shallots and some of my Fiore white lemon balsamic vinegar and Josh is now an accomplished oyster shucker!

So, I've been working on a commission:  making a makeup case with attached brush roll. Here's what I got so far.

Obviously, I have some work to do . . . In other news, check out this float plane on my Lake. It is huge and was quite a surprise when it landed and taxied by. We sometimes get a little two seater landing and taking off but this one must have had 4 to 6 windows along the sides. 

And lastly, here is the view that greeted me this morning. It fits my mood as I had one of those nights, dreaming of the past and then having a rude awakening this morning when I realized it was all a dream. A little while ago the newscaster said, "we're entering the dog days of summer with the heat and humidity." It's going to be in the 70's today. haha

My sister sent this to me. Of course, as a sewist, I naturally follow all of these rules. 

So, Josh and I walked to Local 188 on the west side and shared a seafood paella and people-watched from our table on the sidewalk before the concert. It was absolutely fabu and you must give it a try next time you're in Portland.

And, let me tell you Ingrid Michaelson rocked the house y'all! She was amazing and best of all, I won't think about my husband anymore when I hear Ingrid Michaelson on the radio, especially after her punk rock version of The Way I Am. I'll think of dinner with my nephew at Local 188 and a fabulous show at the State Theatre in Portland. 

Yay for happy new memories!
The concert was sold out and I immediately lost track of Josh and couldn't even find him after the show but we eventually made contact by phone. My only complaint is that it was positively sweltering in the theatre with all those bodies. Great great show though. We had to rush home this morning so I could be at work on time. This is what we saw on Highway 1:

Only in Maine: The Way Life Should Be!

Well, it's been a long and busy day and we haven't even come to the Main Event yet! Josh and I drove down to Portland today for a concert tonight. We stopped for breakfast with none other than my near and dear friend, Gloria!  Yay! Can't believe we only saw her for an hour or so but she'll be back . . . and  by the way, we ate at Chrissy's in Damariscotta and two thumbs up! Excellent breakfast.

making Josh smile

We made a stop at JoAnn for some necessaries and then in Portland, we took a walk around town and hit a few shops before we went to the Museum of Art for a couple of hours.

Next, on to our hotel: The Inn at St. John, a Victorian railroad hotel dating from 1897 and claiming to be the oldest continuously operating inn in Portland. Other than the fact that it is surrounded by the homeless and drug addicted, it is just great. oy vey

Here is my little room - key word little - but clean and comfy and a TV that has real channels. That work. Wow! And airconditioning! I have to share a bathroom with strangers but the guy that checked us in said they are very nice. I take that to mean they don't appear to be axe murders, but one never knows, does one?
I'll tell you about dinner and the concert later. If you don't hear from me, my neighbor really was an axe murderer!  haha

Things are quiet at my house this morning. My sister, Becky, arrived Sunday night and I drove her and Ryder to the airport yesterday for their trip back to California. We had a nice lunch at DeMillos, a Portland institution.

I got home in time to water my plants and have a swim. Check out the ugliest tomato plant ever - and the most prolific. It has been giving me three or four tomatoes every day for a month or so but now it is churning them out by the dozen!

And, look at what I picked up at the Post Office today. New oilcloth in a yummy lavender color. Soon to be a new Genevieve Bag. Fabulous!

Josh, said to me yesterday, so things will be back to normal now with everyone gone. I thought, hmmmmm, normal is when you leave, buddy! Don't get me wrong: I love my nephew and I love having him here and I'm not in a hurry for him to go. It's just that normal for me has become living alone. I've been on my own for three years now - not my choice and I never expected to be - and I have become a stronger person because of it. Just like with driving, I choose to love it because I do not have a choice. So, I choose to love living alone. The love of these things extinguishes the fear. My affirmation from Louise Hay today says, I utilize the treasures within me-joy, peace, love, and wisdom-and I find only good before me.