A Year in a Life

 

Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends. These are the words of Joan Didion from her book The Year of Magical Thinking on the unexpected loss of a loved one. My instant was yesterday. Last week, at our family reunion, I had a half brother. Today I don't. He didn't sit down to dinner, he took a nap and without warning or complaint entered into eternity. A simple text told the tale that I still can't process. It was only about a year ago that I even knew he existed. A DNA test resulted in many, many hard kept secrets being uncovered and he was one of them. He was four months older than me and a kinder and gentler version of Dad. My family fell in love with him and he with us. He had searched all his life to find his roots and he was finally home. Today we mourn for someone we barely knew but had hoped to have a future with. I was preparing a family album to show him all the people that have come and gone of which he is now one. So much to share, so many feelings and thoughts now all out to sea. 

TNT: Redemtion

 

The replacement materials I need to re-do Patchwork Automne are not here yet but the material for The Patchwork of the Crosses is. I have to tell you picking up my rotary cutter again gave me the willie's. I am happy to report those two border panels I needed were measured and cut correctly. Whew. 

While I wait, I picked Goat Load back up. It wasn't doing it for me this summer but for early fall, it's perfect. I finished the big goat this week and am working on that mound it's standing on. That's always my least favorite part of all the stacked critters I've stitched but I suppose they have to stand on something. 

I'm rounding  the corner on the center panel of Funky Flower. I should have it done this week. I've been working on it while listening to CBC True Crime podcasts in the afternoon. Sea of Lies is jaw dropping crazy. I thought the US had cornered the market in crazies but it seems our neighbors to the north have a few of their own as well. 

As for Dear Jane, E3 has its borders on and E4 has been sorted and examined. It looks like a doozy. I just might have to modify those corners. I'm no good with points and that's a lot of points. 

Many Thanks

 

First I would like to thank the NFL. I've got my Sewing Sundays back while The Mister frets and hollers downstairs over some big guys throwing a ball around all day. Speaking of big guys, Taylor Barbie got her engagement dress made yesterday.

With those teeny tiny pieces, I've discovered that hand sewing is the way to go. I also used glue on the tiny straps. That itty bitty ruffle under the bodice had me pulling my hair out for a few hours. 

Then I tackled that knot bag that's been sitting here waiting for months. I had cut it out once, realized the material was upside down and had to order more. Here's proof I got it right this time. 

I also have to thank NYPeapod for posting about basting last week. It not only saved Taylor Barbie's dress but it saved this knot bag. Those handles are a real bear to drag around the machine bed especially when they are pinned. I couldn't keep all those layers together to save my life.  After ripping out my terrible top stitching, I basted the seams first and it worked like a charm. Ditto for Taylor Barbie's ruffle and skirt gathers. 

Ta da....here's its mugshot with a peek at the lining material. Do you know how hard it was NOT to go find some matching sock yarn to put in it? I already have SIX pairs of socks on the needles. 

To Market, To Market

 

Ugh...it was hot yesterday. 90 degrees with stifling humidity. Nonetheless, we went out bright and early to the Farmer's Market. In spite of the heat, I was expecting a fall festival vibe but there was only a lovely bunch of apples and....

...a very few early pumpkins. No mums yet.

There was a beautiful display of wildflowers but by the time I realized I wanted a photo of them, all but this one bunch were gone. 

I came home with the usual fruits and veg and a bag of fresh figs that I will turn into jam. Dad had a fig tree in his yard that I planted when I first moved down here and it gave up plenty of figs every year. We always made jam. This little bit will be just enough for me for the week. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to eat it up in a few days especially since I have a freezer full of English muffins. 

I also treated myself to this pattern from Stone Knits. It's 30% off through tonight. If you haven't seen this designer's YouTube shorts I urge you to do so. She's got a lovely presence and a wonderful array of sock patterns for sale. She's in full autumn mode right now so if you need some inspiration, you'll find it there. 

Autumn Interrupted

 

In spite of a stiff breeze coming off the water, summer is making a last gasp effort to be as miserable as usual. Mid 80's with humidity to match and the AC is back on. Ugh. 

Yesterday was the September First Friday beach party. The historical car exhibition was VW's as far as the eye could see. Back in the day I had one in almost every color they made.  They were cheap and easy to work on. Motor out. Motor in. Back on the road in no time. 

It was also the Grand Opening of the newly renovated pier. We've been watching them inch their way down to the boardwalk for a few months now. That was a lot of wood to replace. I can't imagine the cost. 

The little corner shop that used to be the coffee shop has been a brewery in the works for months. We walk past it everyday in anticipation and voila....the doors were open yesterday.

The Mister who recently discovered, in spite of his Irish surname, is actually mostly German and Swiss so he had an Oktoberfest brew. It was good.

There is an interesting array of vendors. Three blocks worth. There are lots of crafty folk in the area it seems. I was disappointed the fiber ladies weren't there. After a few sips of that beer, I might have been tempted.

What I did bring home was kettle corn. We'll be back down here bright and early for today's Farmer's Market.  Next week is the Taste of the Beaches which is another big town to-do. Lots of food. Lots of stuff to look at and buy along with a night time showing of Jaws on the beach. There's never a dull moment. 

Friday Fluff: Vuelta Week 2

 

I'm still peddling along with the riders every morning but I still haven't come to the end of the Cormo. 

There's been a lot of drama in this year's event but it hasn't stopped me from getting some knitting done while I watch. Team squabbles, protesters and the usual pile ups keep it interesting. 

I've got some off winding to do. This time I'm going to use an actual bobbin. The toilet paper rolls I had been using were a nightmare to unwind the last time I did this. 

The cool mornings have seen Garter Squish back into play. I was going to bind it off but thought better of it. I need more purple and I need it to fade into something light to end with. I think. I may just rip out that entire dark bit at the end and fade out the yellow instead now that I'm looking at it. It's possible that I just may have knit myself into a corner with this thing. 

So It Begins

 

My soap friends probably think I've forgotten all about them. Over the summer I couldn't order my supplies because we were off baby sitting and I couldn't take the chance of having my precious oils go rancid in the hot summer sun if they were left on the porch. Then for the past few weeks I've been struggling to find what I need. Supply issues are real. High oil prices make comparison shopping a thing now so it's taken a lot of time to do all the ordering while trying to figure out a recipe that would work with what I can get. Stay tuned. Things are starting to arrive. Soap Week should be coming up soon. I hope.