It is so exhausting to imagine that summer time is over. I solely wrote a couple of posts; the time glided by so quick. It has been an emotional summer time for certain, and I feel that is because of loads of the adjustments round my home recently–Noah shifting out, Jerry’s drastically totally different work schedule, Eli graduating highschool, each of the children working full-time (with Jerry, no much less!), our automotive state of affairs, and another issues. I am nonetheless making an attempt to get used to it.
Quite than completely overwhelming myself by making an attempt to “catch up” right here, I believed I would just undergo my images from the summer time and attempt to write about some key issues (or simply random ideas). I really haven’t got loads of photos! Since I have not been running a blog, I drastically lowered the variety of photos I have been taking. I want I had taken extra, if just for my very own recollections.
Anyway, right here goes…
*Keep in mind after I wrote about how I used to be FINALLY rising Asian pears after in all probability 10+ years of making an attempt? I used to be so excited! Effectively, I went out to take a look at them someday they usually have been simply fully gone. Vanished, in a single day. There wasn’t even a hint of them left. I formally quit. I hate getting my hopes up yearly after which being upset, so I’m not even going to consider it anymore. I am going to simply proceed to purchase them after I see them someplace and revel in all of them the extra.
*I bought a brand new rug for the lounge. Thrilling, proper? Haha. The opposite one was undoubtedly worn, however it was additionally a pet hair magnet. Joey preferred to lie down on it and even vacuuming day by day, it was ridiculous how a lot hair collected. I bought this shag rug and I like it! I used to be anxious it will be exhausting to scrub, however it vacuums simply.
*My pal Sarah came visiting from Arizona and I went to her mother’s home to see her (and her husband and children). A pal of mine had advised me a few enjoyable, sneaky factor to do in random places–stick a pair of googly eyes someplace inconspicuous. I introduced some with me to Sarah’s as a result of I believed her youngsters may need enjoyable discovering a spot to place them to “prank” their grandma. They selected to place them on their college portraits–haha! They have been SO excited for her to note that they might barely maintain of their giggles. When grandma observed, she discovered it hilarious.
*Luke and Riley came to visit and wished to play with the skeletons. I could not consider one thing extra boring, however they beloved them! Riley even danced with one. (By the best way, I would like to put collectively a put up of skeleton Halloween decorations once more this yr. I am unsure how many individuals are nonetheless studying my weblog, however you probably have any skeleton ornament images to share, you may e mail them to me and if I get sufficient for a put up, I am going to compile them when it will get nearer to Halloween: Katie (at) runsforcookies (dot) com.
*I did a LOT of stitching this summer time. Like, in all probability a very irregular quantity. Nevertheless it’s helped with all of the emotional stuff I’ve had happening. I actually love making luggage, however one can solely have so many luggage… so I branched out to different issues. I must do a completely separate put up (or sequence) of these initiatives, though–there are too many. The cats completely love every part to do with my stitching. I even constructed a little bit shelf to go on the windowsill within the stitching room and Duck sleeps on his mattress there after I sew.
*My brother had his annual July get together. I requested Luke if he would drive me round on his little… side-by-side? I do not know what to name it. It is smaller than a side-by-side, safer than a four-wheeler. Anyway, he drove me across the property, which was enjoyable. I advised him that I would wager if he would give individuals a journey from their vehicles to the yard, he would possibly earn some suggestions… and he sighed and stated, “I have been driving individuals round all day and I simply need to benefit from the get together!” I believed that was hilarious–he’s seven.
*My dad despatched me this textual content (out of nowhere) and I believed it was actually candy. The highest of it’s lower off, however it’s that big magnet that was on the aspect of our Ragnar Relay van in 2013 (when the From Fats to End Line documentary was filmed). There was a magnet for every particular person on our workforce and this one has been on my dad and mom’ storage fridge ever since.
*I painted the “craft room” (since Noah moved out, I transformed the additional bed room to my craft room). I used leftover paint from Eli’s room and I used to be so certain I would have sufficient… however I ran out with only a small a part of the wall left. I did not need to purchase one other gallon if I might assist it, after which I discovered a nearly-full gallon of the aviary blue paint that I used for the pantry. I used that as an alternative, and I like it! It seems so shiny in there.
I additionally eliminated the carpet (it was severely SO gross–I did not even need to share a “earlier than” picture). Jerry put in the plank flooring. It nonetheless wants some cabinets and issues on the partitions, however I am going to simply try this over time. I made do with what I already had, together with a makeshift desk constructed from merely setting a large board over a few small nightstands. It isn’t fairly, however it works!
*An image of Jerry and the children at work. They’ve totally different jobs inside the plant, however they nonetheless see one another loads. It nonetheless feels so odd to me that all of them work in the identical place! (The children solely plan to remain there for a yr whereas they save up cash and determine what they actually need to do.)
*I went of my first airplane flight since 2019. I used to depend on wine to get me by flights (I hate flying) however since I give up consuming in 2021, I simply needed to white-knuckle it by the flight. Fortunately, the flight was tremendous brief… I simply flew into the higher peninsula to go go to Jeanie and Shawn. The airport I flew into was completely TINY. This image is of the whole airport!
It rained the whole time I used to be there, however I solely went so I might go to with Jeanie and Shawn, so the rain did not trouble me. And I really misplaced seven kilos, hahaha. My being vegan, Jeanie thoughtfully requested what I would like from the shop. I used to be solely going to be there for 5 days, so I selected a really minimal menu: Larabars for breakfast, peanut butter toast and apples for lunch, vegan “rooster” nuggets and apples for dinner. I did not really feel disadvantaged in any respect and it made me understand simply how a lot my night snacking was hindering my weight reduction. (I gained again the load after I bought house, sadly, however I have not gained any extra.) It was a very good, stress-free go to!
*This fully freaked me out one morning. I used to be going to place some peanuts within the squirrel lunchbox and to my shock, there was a raccoon proper subsequent to the door! Raccoons are the primary service of rabies within the States and to see them out in the course of the day is extraordinarily unusual. Every time I began to open the door to scare it off, it began to come back at me. By the point I bought my telephone to name the DNR, although, it was gone. I have not seen it once more.
[This reminds of a comment I got one time. I was out for a run and I saw a raccoon acting very oddly (again, during the day). I decided to call the DNR when I got back from my run (I didn’t have my phone with me). It was gone on my way back. I wrote about it on my blog, and someone who had always been super nice left a comment saying that I should have taken off my shirt and wrapped the raccoon in it and take it to get help. She was so angry that she said she was done reading my blog. Haha! First, I am not taking off my shirt in public unless someone is bleeding out and in dire need of a tourniquet and my shirt is the ONLY option to save their life; second, I don’t want rabies? Anyway, she followed through–I never heard from her again.]
*Jerry and I celebrated our twenty first wedding ceremony anniversary final month. The evening earlier than, we each stated we want we would have gotten presents for one another (we had agreed to not). At that second, we determined to order one another one thing from Amazon–but we had guidelines: 1) It needed to be next-day supply 2) It needed to value lower than $25. So, we sat scrolling on our phones–it was really fairly enjoyable!–and in some unspecified time in the future, one in every of us instructed we get one another a Squishmallow. I selected this alien from Toy Story for Jerry (we wish to say the quote from the film typically, “You saved our lives. We’re eternally grateful.”) Jerry selected this little lady from Monsters, Inc. as a result of her title is Boo! (He calls me Boo. It was excellent.) It was a enjoyable present change!
*Jerry and I went to Japanese Market in Detroit a couple of weeks in the past. I all the time love going there! We purchased a ton of produce and made it a mission to make use of all of it earlier than it went unhealthy. The cats have been thrilled that I introduced again some cat grass for them. I’ve tried rising it myself, however it by no means seems like this.
*Since Noah moved out, and with Eli probably shifting out inside the subsequent couple of years, I wished to begin a convention the place we have now a plan for them to come back over each different Sunday for a brilliant informal dinner and one thing small however enjoyable to do. They preferred the concept, they usually (and their girlfriends) came to visit. We made particular person pizzas after which had a hearth outdoors. The wheelbarrow was subsequent to the hearth pit and we ended up doing a wheelbarrow race and timing one another. It was so enjoyable!
Then Noah sat on Rose’s lap and I believed it will be humorous if she was his arms to eat his plum and drink his pop. Principally, she put her arms beneath his and made the consuming and consuming motions whereas Noah could not use his. They really did fairly good!
*My Uncle Ron (my dad’s brother) and his accomplice, Renee, came visiting from Florida. I hardly ever see them, however he’s so enjoyable to speak to (he is had fairly the life–I’d love to put in writing a memoir for him!). He and Jerry went to a Tigers sport, after which we met up with him and Renee afterward. I want I would thought to take an image with him–I do not know that I’ve a single one. He loves to inform each single person who he comes throughout, “Hello, I am Ron from Florida!” and he is so personable that individuals love to talk with him.
*I haven’t got an image to share for this one, contemplating the privateness circumstances, however bear in mind how I stated I found a primary cousin by way of 23&Me? They have been positioned for adoption and no person within the household knew they existed till I took this take a look at. We had been speaking since January, and final week, they came visiting and meet in particular person! It was actually enjoyable attending to know them and we plan to remain in contact.
*Brian took Luke, Riley, and my dad and mom to Alaska. That they had a good time! Becky despatched me some photos and I used to be certain that Brian had in all probability photoshopped this bear into the image… however nope, it was actual.
*I do know I stated I am going to do a separate put up for my stitching initiatives, however I’m fairly happy with this one, so I am going to share it right here. I made a quilt! I’ve by no means actually had the curiosity in choosing up quilting (and I nonetheless do not, actually) however after I noticed this sample I could not resist. And it was a easy, newbie pattern–a quilt-as-you-go appliqué approach.
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| I feel my favourite cat is the one within the seventh row, fourth from the left–I do not know why, however I used to be simply drawn to that one. |
I discovered that 1) quilting will get VERY costly in a short time, even for a thrifty particular person like me, and a couple of) it is a lot tougher to do the precise quilting half (stitching the backing to the quilt high) than I believed. I used to be stunned at how time consuming the binding (the orange border) was; it is really finished by hand in order that the stitches aren’t seen. It took me 11 hours!! I am certain for an skilled quilter, it would not even take half that point. However I really loved that half probably the most out of the whole mission. It was stress-free and I bought to observe like 15 episodes of Evil Lives Right here whereas I labored on it, hahaha.
Right here is the binding. I simply have to indicate it as a result of I really feel like I did a very good job and the place else can I give myself a pat on the again?
This was an amazing first quilt–there isn’t any intricate piecing and I selected to make the outlines on every cat “scribbly” wanting. It is meant to look odd and a little bit messy, so my mistakes–and there are several–aren’t so noticeable. It has character 😉
Earlier than it was finished, I swore it will be the one quilt I ever make. And after I completed it, I used to be already Pinterest for different quilt concepts! It is type of like racing… whereas coaching for a marathon, you swear it is a one-and-done race. After which as quickly as you cross the end line, you are already planning the subsequent one. Anyway, I like how this quilt turned out–it’s not an “heirloom” quilt by any means, however it’s enjoyable and undoubtedly suits my persona!
