Make Your Child Work Day

So ... I thought it ironic that we received these two pictures from different families from different parts of the country on virtually the same day. It's pretty clear that Miss Dub and Mr. Gee are growing up faster than I want them to.

But frankly, all I could think was "Why didn't I try and get my kids to do the grocery shopping and the dishes before they turned two?"

I might have more (or ... some) energy this very day if I had.

Self-Medicating

So ... there's a reason that the Red Cross and the Swiss flag have something in common and that reason is this:

Swiss chocolate will cure what ails you. Or ... you won't even care about being sick.

I was lucky enough to be the recipient of this magical piece of pure swiss chocolate. Hand carried from Switzerland. From the proprietors of this store who took an excursion there, courtesy of Bernina.

Now ... I really, really like their sewing machines. And I generally feel better after sewing on mine.

But this ... this ... is different.

This is a medical miracle.

So ... what delectable goodness does it for you??

Designing /Woman

So ... several millennia ago, I made this Christmas quilt to teach at Bernina Connection, (on Monday, November 3rd from 10 -2 ... if anyone asks) put together this pattern and nearly exhausted/killed myself in the process.

Someday I hope to be in the category of so many quilt designer/pattern publisher/super women/bloggers that I know who enlist the help of professionals to photograph/print their patterns, but for now it's just me and the guy at Kinko's who helps out the do-it-yourselfers ... and is frankly just a little weird.

But ... inspite of all those disclaimers, I am still proud/pleased as punch/tickled pink. I'm taking them in tomorrow to be sold.

At least that is my hope/wish/dream.

Escape-i-chosis: A Real Disease

So ... remember how excited I am to be home and how much I missed my "normal" life and how nice it is not to take a 40 year old elevator down 6 floors in order to to my laundry?

Yeah. But as it turns out ... "normal" life is back with a vengence, and my "obligation-less" life that was boring me speechless a week ago is now the fodder of wistful memories.

The ol' calendar is full to the brim this week ... full of things I essentially enjoy and with people I have truly missed.

But ... they all take more energy than threading a needle and doing a crossword puzzle. All those little activities that I brought along to merely fill the time suddenly feel like they should be the essence of my day.

So ... how did this happen? Has this ever happened to you?

It stands to reason that I need a vacation. A three-hour tour would be perfect.

I just hope I pack enough evening gowns.

What's out YOUR window?

So ... we're home.

Sigh.

But, oddly enough, there are many things I will miss about our home-away-from-home. I will miss the experience of true city living. I will miss walking to get our groceries, and walking to downtown and the sense of community we had with everyone else who was walking in the opposite direction. I will miss looking out our window and seeing the lovely hotel and outdoor cafe (above) that was across the street.

Last week we received this picture from Sonny-boy and the Mrs. who live in a different city. This is what they saw out their Brooklyn window one week ago today. On the 11th. Of September. They also love their city views.

But today I could not be more grateful to look out my window and see my olive tree arching over the front walk. Yes ... I live in the suburbs and my house looks suspiciously like some of my neighbors' houses and it's still over 90 degrees out there in the shade.

But ... it's home.

So ... what are you looking at? What is your view? Feel free to show and tell.

Knock Knock

So ... we're going home. Yep ... to Arizona. To real carpet and soft towels and decent internet connections and loving friends.

And we're doing it a week earlier than expected.

And we're glad.

However, we can't say that we won't miss many, many things about our stay here at The Baroness. Like crystal doorknobs and a swanky, art deco living room/lobby (sat in only slightly less often than our real living room/lobby) and cool breezes and an obligation-less life.

Oh yes ... and lifesaving doctors right across the street. Yep, we'll miss the ol' neighborhood.

Good bye dear Baroness. Don't worry, we will no doubt be back for an x-ray or two. But you have been a swell home-away-from-home.

And we will never forget you.

Flying Lessons

So ... with not much more to blog about ... I still have my birds. And I thought I would offer forth the following tip to those who, like me, might not have optimum space to pack ones sewing essentials.

The best tip of all is that I managed to make a template for the applique by using permanent marker on a plastic-paper-holder-thingy (which can be flipped to use either direction) which also serves as a carrier for the fabrics and applique pieces.

And here are a couple of my latest feathered friends. There are more, but let's face it ... I have to draw this out as long as possible.

Unless, of course, you are interested in pictures of the umpteen kajillion crossword puzzles I have also done.

I'd like to thank the Academy ...

So ... guess what? I won an award! Someone hearts my blog!

I have been asked to the Prom.

Tara at Days Missed on a Hammock gave me this very prestigious honor. In return I have been asked to do the following. And if I link your blog here, I am asking you to do the same.

Here are the rules: 1. Please put the logo on your blog. 2. Link the person from whom you received your award. 3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs. 4. Put the links of those blogs on to your blog. 5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them!

Ooh ... ooh ... so many lovely choices. How about ....

Kelley aka Glamma Fabulous

Nannette at Freda's Hive

Renee at Liberty Star

My British Friend at Linen Cupboard

Leslie at A Room Somewhere

Jodi at Simply This That & the Other

and of course ... my own Mrs. Dub.

Thank you Tara for this lovely honor. You deserve to have a day on your hammock.

Now ... if I can just figure out how to put the icon on my sidebar without consulting the techies.

Bluebirds of Gratitude

So ... several people asked me if I was bringing my sewing machine to Seattle with me. The answer to that question is ... yes. Yes, I brought my two hands, some blue thread, embroidery scissors and a toothpick. That machine constitutes what I need to do hand applique.

And when I'm doing it, I am quite the sewing machine.

I decided just about a week before our departure that I wanted to sew birds. Blue Birds. On Blue Backgrounds. I got all the backgrounds, birds and wings cut out ahead of time. I spent most of my time in the hospital (when not caring for PDaddy or yakking with Gin) reading a biography by Amy Tan. Then I managed to eke out these four babies in the last couple of days.

Only 12 more to go.

And just in case you are wondering, I am no longer sitting in the hospital, I am in the hotel. PDaddy got discharged yesterday. And yes ... that would be in record time.

We are just trying to figure out whether or not this qualifies for the Summer Olympics or the Winter.

What's your vote?

Still Charming ...

So ... you'll be happy to know that I have (somewhat) gained control of my food-tossing ways. And my shoulder is better. And I have a sneaking suspicion that my shoulder is not what you have tuned in here to inquire about.

Yep, the PDaddy is coming along like the trooper he is. Last week we actually had a setback (an irregular heartbeat that put him in the cardio ward for a couple of days) and I was like ... "Are you kidding me? We don't have setbacks! We only move forward!"

And that's when I realized that even with all we have been through, I feel like we live this very charmed life. And naturally the heartbeat "popped" back into place in not too long and we went back to an even better room with an even better view than before.

It was ever so lovely to have my Miss Gin with me, but alas she went home on Saturday. Before she left, I combined some errand-running with a vigorous walk and the chance to take some pictures. I do love me some greenery! Okay ... so I just happened to end up in a quilt store (Undercover Quilts) down at Pike's Market. This little lovely in the window had some incredible machine stitching, not to mention happy, happy applique.

And just so you know. I am well aware that we are not really charmed ... we are blessed.

I'm just saying.