project on my table.

Yup, I have another doll on my table. My little boy-hero doll needs a damsel in distress! I've taken pity on him and cut out a little girlfriend for him.Her legs and arms are finished, as is her hair, but I need to find some fabric for a little skirt. This is kind of fun!

In other matters, can someone please send some cool air down here to the South? I'm frying! Summer clothes have all been deleted from the stores; sweaters, jackets and long-sleeved apparel have been downloaded into them! Sheesh, enough heat, already!

Maybe if I do some Fall decorating, I'll feel cooler. Thinking not really...but the house will look cute!

Pinterest

I shudder at what I'm about to share with you...don't say I didn't warn you.

It's a new phenomenon called, Pinterest.

My darling niece reallly got me started with Pinterest...I'd seen it referenced, but never really understood Pinterest until...Donna!

So now I'm pinning like crazy, like I've never pinned before!

Several friends have asked me what Pinterest is and how you use it. Let me just say, whatever grabs your interest, you can find it on Pinterest.

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.


People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and share their favorite recipes.

Think of a bulletin board nailed to your wall, where you tack magazine clippings of great kitchen remodels, dream bathrooms, outfits, recipes, etc. Then when you need to refer to that clipping, you go back to your bulletin board and retrieve the information.

With Pinterest, it's the same thing, only virtual. And neater. And organized.

Here's a screen print of my boards (there are others, but I'm keeping it short in the name of "who really cares?):

Titles of my niece's boards:

My Hubby Can Build That! (I love that title!)
Click
Backyards

I want to learn how to knit or crochet, so when I find some interesting-looking tutorials, I'll "pin" them on the board I created.

Recipes. Another great reason to create a board.

Christmas...I'll make a board for great decorating ideas. Speaking of Christmas, I have a board for things I'd someday like to have. Or, gift ideas for other people. I might create boards with names of my family and pin gift ideas for each one. I like that idea!

If you want to use Pinterest, you need an invitation from someone already addicted registered. I'm not sure why, but them's the rules!

If you need additional help with Pinterest, just email or Facebook and I'll make you a junkie pro.

So go, pin away!

Have fun.

Then detox.
Forget my name.

I Need A Hero!

Super-heroes.

What the world just doesn't have enough of.

 That's about to change...

Because I am on a mission to bring some caped-crusaders to the world!

What's this? There must be trouble...

 My super-hero is racing to the TV...

Oh, now he's scaling the dog kennel. One of BB's "babies" must be in trouble!

 No, they're fine. It seems that my super-hero just wanted to introduce himself to them and let them know that if there's ever any trouble, he's right here!

 Oh, now his identity is revealed! He's relaxing, hanging out after a busy Saturday morning.

You'll be seeing more of this dude hanging around on this blog. You can find the pattern here.

Wendi Gratz is the designer of the pattern and her blog is Shiny Happy World. She has set up "schools" on her blog, to help guide you in sewing methods and embroidery stitching.

The patterns are fairly easy to make and very super-cute! If you have some basic sewing skills, you could totally make this little guy. Especially with all the help Wendi has available.

Next...some girl dolls!

Stay tuned!

happy doggie-day!

 Oh, my goodness. She was happy, she was ecstatic.

She wouldn't leave his side...she took up her old familiar place on the floor near the couch. Close enough to have her belly scratched when he felt like scratching it.

And then he got on the floor to play with her and as you can see, she couldn't take her eyes off of him.

That's love, right there.

Timeless, classic.

A boy young man and his dog.

All is right with the world.

little man.

There's a little guy on my table.

So far he has a face, hair, and legs with shoes, of course!

I'm having fun making him. Now I need to locate some old jeans and an old shirt. I think I'll raid somebody's closet...

This is a cute one, can't wait to share the finished boy with you.

And after he's stuffed, a girl will be in the works.

Have a great Monday!

I remember.

Ten years-ago today, I was crying.

I cried for weeks and our then 9 year-old little boy would say, "Mom, you're still crying." The emotions of September 11 would wash over me and I felt such a sense of loss and sadness, not because I had lost a loved one on 911, but because countless families lost loved ones in the blink of an eye. Tragically. And the victims suffered. And that's what the survivors and loved ones of those lost had to cope with.

Ten years later, the sense of loss resides deep within, as I watch families and survivors at the 911 Memorial lovingly caress their fingers over the engraved names of lost loved ones.

And I cry.

Still.

And hopefully, I will always shed tears on this date.

Because I want and need to remember the events that sought to destroy our Nation, by killing Her beloved citizens in NY, Washington and Pennsylvania.

May God bless America and the surviving families of those we lost on this date, 10 years-ago today.

And please Lord, keep us free!

accidental on porpoise.

We were cruising up the St. John's River, just talking and looking at the downtown buildings when I spotted a dolphin. Then another dolphin, then a school broke the surface together. They were beautiful, playful, graceful. One came up to the side of the boat and greeted Jason...so funny. I grabbed my camera and pointed at the spot I thought they'd next be surfacing. I have a point and shoot digital, which means that bright sunlight pretty much makes it impossible to see the subject. So I just pointed the camera and hoped that when I downloaded into the computer, I'd have a few photos of the dolphins. I managed to capture several fins, but this is the best photo.  I had no idea that dolphins could travel through the river...I thought they were strictly ocean-dwellers. Definitely a great day on the river!

blue skies, smiling at me!

Our day in photos.

Blue skies, smiling at me. Nothing but blue skies, do I see.

And our great son, who is now grown...but forever our "Bud."

God is good.

this one's for Georgia, in Waterport, NY!

I've often wondered if this blog is worth my time and effort. I mean, what good does it bring? Is anyone actually reading and who really cares about what I'm thinking? I know my brother and my parents stop by to see what I'm up to...but does anyone else actually visit this site?

Apparently, they do! I received a very lovely email from a lady new friend in NY, introducing herself and telling me that she has visited the little green argyle/bird skirt I made a few weeks back...about 20 times! Wow! Apparently, Georgia knows my brother and his wife up yonder in NY, which in my world, makes her almost family!  I have to tell you, her lovely note gave me the jump start I needed to continue writing on this blog. It's not uncommon for bloggers to hit a wall, feeling that the only one reading their words is maybe their spouse or mother, so naturally I was delighted with her encouraging words and stories of my darling brother.

So in light of this revelation, this post is for Georgia in NY...

I bring you...

Argyle & Chevron!

I found this luscious brown argyle when Donna was visiting at the end of July...we were in a quilt shop together and I swooned. I bought the green argyle instead, thinking that it had an extra "cute" factor. But my mind always went back to this traditional brown argyle. Which makes me think of English gentlemen and pipes (Mr. Hawkes?). About two weeks ago, I went back for the fabric that's been burning in my brain, brought it home and made yet another pleated skirt.

The chevron pattern beautifully complements the argyle pattern. I had worried, at first, that the browns weren't feminine enough... but I think that it's a perfect combination for the new Season!

This skirt is a size 3T, with elastic on the backside of the waist. Picture it with brown tights and a cute long-sleeved tee or turtleneck and it will make a darling autumn outfit.

Thanks for writing, Georgia. Your kind words reignited my pursuit of blogging excellence (or at least what I strive towards!). I hope you enjoyed yet another round of argyle and I hope that one day soon, another creation resonates within your creative soul.

little girl, British.

Cheeky little girl!

This is my mother-in-law, Ivy.

Ivy was born in Devon, England. She has an identical twin sister, Irene.

My mother-in-law makes perfect tea, loves to garden and met Winston Churchill's mother.

During WWII, as a hired farm-hand, she found a Roman coin as she was digging in the farmer's garden.

She traded it to a "Yank," as all the girls were "mad" for American soldiers. She received a quarter for the Roman coin.

Ivy still kicks herself for being so gullible!

My mother-in-law walks several times a week and though I'm not allowed to state her age, she is over 85. Shhhh, don't tell her I gave you a hint!

Little Ivy is active, independent and yes, cheeky.

We wouldn't have her any other way!

food blog and it's delicious!

Spaghetti.

Have you been wanting to make your own sauce?

This recipe looks promising. But all her recipes do. Her stories are fun, the photographs of her food are lovely.

Smitten Kitchen...go visit. You'll be smitten.