Trying for the happy attitude . . .

When I re-read the post I started this morning, it sounded a little like this:

Bleh.

And honestly, one sick boy, two funerals (one completely heart-wrenching), a train wreck of a performance at the fair, 8 hours in the St. A booth and rain, rain, rain this week made me pretty bleh.

But the sun is shining this morning. It's not raining. I don't have to go back to the fair unless I want to. Will is better. My little sweater, hat, booties set won a blue ribbon. Although is was slow and rainy, we had a good time at the booth. Tomorrow, we go to Ft. Wayne for a wedding. Today, I have time to catch up on some housework, which in a weird way makes me really happy. Like this:

Peace.

Fair/Not Fair

This is fair week, one of my favorite times of the year. I think I've said the same thing every year on this blog -- I love going to the fair, eating, seeing friends, looking at the exhibits, eating. And, getting an elephant ear and eating it in the car on the way home. (Yes, I know -- we are messy people.)

But I'm not too jazzed up for the fair this year, because our dear friend, Trish, died Friday afternoon after an 8-year battle with cancer. Mother of three beautiful kids -- 17, 16 and 9 -- wife to our pal, Doug, and all-around wonderful person.

Just not fair.

Some stuff to talk about

One of the moms at school asked me to make this quilt for her baby -- she bought the fabric and gave me a rough idea of what she wanted. The minkee is really hot pink -- so soft.

It rained all day Wednesday, and the pool Nate is building is a big mud hole, so Will has been off the past three days -- he's re-reading HP 7. He and Clay finished their backstops for the horseshoe pits, and have been playing a couple of games every evening.

Sarah and the boys came down Wednesday -- we had green beans, tomatoes and sweet corn for supper. They have added a new item to their list of things to do every time they come to Mimi and Grandma Clay's house (along with swing, ride the Gator and take a bath) -- milkshakes!

In sports news, the St. A softball team lost their first game last night. They are now 10-1. It was a good run while it lasted, but I know they were all hoping to go undefeated. They play again tonight.

I have a funeral to play today -- I didn't know the woman, but she lived to be 106. Not sure I want to live that long, unless I can still knit, read and toodle around in the garden.

Peace.

Video moment of the week

Plans and Projects

One project complete:

Top-down sweater and onesie dress for Brindley, a new baby in the neighborhood. I'm working on another sweater and dress set, but in turquoise and brown.

And what to do with these cute Japanese fabrics I got in the mail? Suggestions? I'm sending my cousin Lilly some (she loves sheep and fabric, just like me!) and think I will make myself another cup cozy, but after that?

Question of the week -- Will I have anything to take to the fair? Better question -- what happened to all those great plans I had after last year's fair?

Peace.

Just a few from the Zoo

While at Grandma Shirley's, we spent one day at the Cleveland Zoo. It was a nice, cool day, and we had a great time.

What's Up?

Still playing catch-up, but since I'm also preparing for a wedding this weekend and a big catering job/family party next weekend, things around the house just aren't getting done as quickly as I would like. But I am trying not to stress about it. So, instead of putting clothes away, I thought I would blog a little instead. (!)


In the reading arena, I should tell you about the three great books I recently finished. First, The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn. This was a vicarious read for me --if I wouldn't miss my family, going to culinary school in Paris would definitely be on my to-do-before-I'm-50 list. But I'm pretty sure that I would have run home to Indiana, weeping, after my first lesson. I was proud of her strength and sticktoittiveness. Plus, I love the recipes she included in the book -- her take on many of the French classics, which make them a little friendlier for a cook like me.

I have Julie and Julia and Service Included on reserve at the library -- I love reading food/restaurant books, whether novels or non-fiction, and I have yet to be disappointed with a book reviewed/suggested by Lynne on The Splendid Table.

The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schafer and Annie Barrows is just a sweet, sweet book. Sent me off to research the Channel Islands -- think we need to visit there someday. Read it soon.




And I plowed through Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I had seen the movie of his previous novel, Everything is Illuminated, and loved that, so I thought I would love this book, too. It was a good but sad story, put together in an interesting (and sometimes undecipherable) way. The main character, Oskar, reminds me alot of someone we know -- I need to give this book to Sharon and see if she agrees.

Projects? I've been knitting like a crazy woman to have something for Knit Night this evening, but mostly, I've been embroidering. Lately, it's storybook and nursery rhyme characters for a quilt I have planned (in my head), but I did finally get these dish towels finished:

Peace.

Convention/Vacation

Four days of convention followed by six days of vacation in Ohio makes for one messy house, three piles of laundry, six papers to quickly read, 214 e-mails (mostly to delete), tall grass, lonely cats and weary me. I shall return.
Peace