by Kat | Aug 16, 2019 | General, In This Moment
Mid-August… yes, I said it. Unbelievably, the month is half over. I am having zero success in my efforts to slow August down and my garden is beginning to show “end of season” signs. All of this is putting me in a bit of a melancholy mood – although I am more than ready for the neighborhood kids to head back to school, thank you very much!
Thrilled —
I don’t know if its just my “Ravelry Pattern Highlights” but I have enjoyed seeing a much more diverse group of models and designers recently! Models are not all 20-something, stick-thin, and white – and I say bravo! It is lovely to see diversity of age, shape, and yes, beautifully multi-cultural! It also makes me so happy that the “never-ravelry” nitwits have seemingly burned themselves out.
Go Sew —
I have spent much of the week pinning and cutting out a bunch of patterns. Honestly, this is my least favorite part of the entire sewing process and I figured that just sitting down and pinning/cutting in assembly line fashion would minimize the pain. As of this morning I have three things cut out, with two to go! In other words – next week will be full of my favorite part of the sewing process – the sewing part! My sewing next week will include: two Uniform Tunics, one Esme Tunic, one pair of Rose Pants, and yes, one Zadie Jumpsuit! I am excited to sit down at my machine with a stack of sewing to work on!
Irritated —
Yes, the aging process has positives, however this week I cannot think of a single one! Perhaps that is because I am focused on the aspects of aging that are just downright irritating. Things like the increased occurrence of UTI’s in postmenopausal women (hello, why yes, I do have another UTI…thank you very much!) and needing a different strength reader to *read* the damned computer monitor! So, this week I am navigating the pitfalls of growing older – and not very gracefully. My irritation is extending to Happy Hour as I am weighing the pros and cons of having a cocktail while on an antibiotic.
Forward looking —
Next weekend Steve has a work function and I am really looking forward to the time by myself! It feels selfish to say that, but boy it is so true!
What about you? Are you looking forward to anything?
That’s all I have for this week! I hope you all have a great weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
by Kat | Aug 12, 2019 | General, In This Moment
Are a harbinger for a coming change….
The past two morning it has been so crisp outside that I needed a sweater to work in the garden! Everything is laden with dew and glistening in the early morning sunlight. The drone of the mosquitos and the buzzing of the cicadas seemed like “white noise” as I picked vegetables in the garden.
Over the weekend, I noticed the birds are beginning to flock – sitting in fretting little groups on the wires around our house.
No matter how I want to ignore it, the summer days are waning. So today is all about “making hay while the sun shines!”
What about you? What do you feel the need to get done before summer is over?
by Kat | Jul 26, 2019 | General, In This Moment
It is almost painful to type these words: The last weekend of July is upon us…and while I have no desire to return to the ungodly temps we had last weekend, I would like to put July on pause and slow down these days that are just racing by!
Thinking –
I did not make a “Summer Bucket List” this year, but with July almost over I have been thinking about what things I’d like to do before September is here. One thing I have wanted to do for some time is visit the Woodville Plantation which is around the corner from me. Sunday I will be able to check that off as I am going with a girlfriend!
Grateful –
I have struggled with finding gratitude in recent days and I realize that finding even one thing to be grateful for is crucial to my wellbeing. This morning’s Tiny Bit of Quiet is an excellent reminder to pay less attention to the “what” and more attention to the “how”… Today I will pay more attention to all the how’s of my day – and I am so excited to have this reminder that sometimes you need to change your focus, to look beyond.
Inspired –
By so many things! But this crossed my radar today and I love that steps can be art!
Finally –
I laughed at a tied vote between Daelyn and The Weekend yesterday. I bound off my Early Bloomer yesterday… she is having a bit of a spa treatment currently and I hope to be wearing her soon! And, I am hoping that plums will be available at the farmer’s market tomorrow – they are one of the best tastes of summer!
That is all I have for this week! Have a great weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jul 22, 2019 | General
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. – Robert Burns
Note to self, 95+ degree heat and humidity at a gajillion percent means that your camera lens will instantly fog up…
Add to all of that, this morning it is raining, and the humidity is still off the charts making big camera photography impossible. So, I am phoning in my “homework” this week… literally. These photos are from my iPhone Xs Max, and Steve has already weighed in on how pitiful they are. No, they are not actually macro photos. Yes, they are a bit blurry. But I hope they convey the obvious joy of the subject.
Bee, complete with a full pollen basket
Sunflowers are the bee version of a hamster wheel… they go round and round and round!
Bee Joy might just be the most wonderful thing ever! And, these bees are fearless – no flinching, or flying away from my phone all up in their business! You can see that these 99 cent sunflower plants are a HUGE hit! And can I just say – holy cow on the number of blooms? Each plant has easily 2 dozen flowers and buds!
As for my weekend, with a glimpse of “hell on earth” temps this weekend – I spent much of the weekend indoors with the perpetually running AC.
I discovered a new to me mystery series – Maigret. The mysteries are based on the novels written between 1919 and 1922 by Georges Simenon. I binged a bit on them and got “close” on my Early Bloomer. I am having a bit of a “do I have enough yarn” panic, so I put the body on waste yarn, and I will finish the neck and sleeves, and then finish the body and lower ribbing.
I also sewed up another Uniform Tunic Dress – it is almost done, and I just need to ease in the sleeves, which I plan on doing this morning. I have finally mastered sleeve placement with no puckers, but it means taking my time and methodically pinning – with LOTS of pins!
And, that was my weekend complete with my photos.
I hope you had a great weekend. Happy Monday, stay cool and dry!
by Kat | Jul 16, 2019 | General
I tried this cocktail on Thursday (because all cocktails need a test run, right?) and it was just kind of bland and I did not think the tequila was really the best in this application. But I thought the idea had potential. So, I worked on it Friday and found that my “fixes” made a much better beverage!
So, I thought I’d share my recipe with you all, in case you want to try it out… say like tonight, non?
Step One: Make a blackberry-thyme simple syrup
- 1-pint blackberries
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- lemon zest (I used 4 strips from a very small lemon)
- 6 sprigs of thyme
Combine berries, water, sugar, and lemon zest and bring to boil. Stir to ensure sugar has dissolved and to mash berries a bit. Add thyme and bring heat down and simmer for 2 minutes. Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes to steep. Strain mixture and cool before refrigerating. Will last approximately 10 days.
Step Two: Make Cocktail
- 2-ounces Dry Gin (I used London Dry Gin)
- 1.5-ounce blackberry-thyme syrup
- 1-ounce fresh lemon juice
- Sparkling water
Combine gin, syrup, and lemon juice over ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Serve over ice in tall glass and top with sparkling water and enjoy!
I found this to be an incredibly delicious and refreshing cocktail.
AND, totally unrelated but incredibly awesome!!
Yesterday, the mail carrier brought a lovely little surprise to my doorstep from Washington D.C. Yes, my dear friend Honoré sent me the loveliest little gift! It is a mouse pad that you can take notes on! And, it is so wonderful! As you can see, I am already using it (although – no notes…yet!) Thank you so much, Honoré for this lovely gift! Even the Roald Dahl quote is perfect – and it reminds me of her!
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
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