Scrappy Hearts: July 2016

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July 2016

July 31, 2016

I Visited the Mall

Generally the mall is the last place you will find me, ever, but Wednesday I needed something and I had already been to Target so I thought I would give Macy’s a try. I did find what I was looking for, but then I also found this t-shirt. It immediately brought me back to a Christmas when Jason was 2 or 3. All he wanted for Christmas was the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. I remember Jason playing with that toy everyday for months. Who knew that the same marshmallow man would someday grace the front of a young girls t-shirt?

Next I decided to walk over to the shoe department, don’t ask why, it certainly isn’t because I like buying shoes. But lookie what I saw...

Jason certainly wasn’t concerned about relationship goals when he was younger, but he and Jessica both loved TMNT. Wednesday was a night that I was bombarded with memories of simpler times spent with my little ones. Grateful for happy memories. Blessed, always to be a mom with two wonderful children that are now wonderful adults!

Posted at 11:24 AM in Random Memories | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 29, 2016

Maintaining Balance

Trying to move quicker than the incoming storm, Mark and I managed to do some yardwork on Monday. Our yard has really suffered neglect with us opening the shop this past spring. A quick mow and once over with the trimmer seemed to make a great deal of difference in the appearance of the yard. Not to mention the weeding, I think we filled 6 trash cans with yard waste. Now if we could just get rid of the mosquitoes in the evening, we might actually find it relaxing to sit in the yard and read or just catch up on the days events! We are maintaining a bit of a balance which means we take time for ourselves as our first priority after the shop. The housecleaning and the yardwork, let’s just say that they take a close second to time for us. For now, that works for me.

Posted at 11:04 PM in summer | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 25, 2016

Farm Fair

Saturday afternoon, after closing the shop for the day, Mark and I headed over to the Burlington County Farm Fair. The last time I experienced a fair like this was the summer Mark and I drove cross country. It turned out that his hometown of Olney was having their fair during our visit.

As it turns out, this farm fair was much larger in scope and brought back memories of attending the 4-H Fair when I was younger. My main interest in attending was to see how quilters used the specified fat quarter in their creations. That made our first stop the Home Arts tent.There were entries of jams, pickles and relishes as well as flower arrangements and vegetables. Entries spanned many needle arts crafts like weaving, crochet, knitting, sewing and quilting.Here are the Farm Fair fat quarters folded and ready to go before the shop even opened. I just love the fabric and I was so very impressed with the projects created for the contest.Photographing the entries was not easy because of the angle of the sun, but you can see the ruffled basket, the placemate with napkin pocket, as well as a few mini quilts.There were also a few clothing items and a couple of totes. I love that everyone was so creative! It was fun to see this contest through its fruition.While at the fair we consumed a respectable amount of fair food before calling it a night. I am thrilled that the rain experienced by so much of South Jersey on Saturday seemed to move well south of the fair. By the time we arrived, the air had cooled a bit and there was a soft wind blowing. Definitely a fun night which we will need to make a tradition. I am already thinking of fabrics to suggest for next year’s quilt challenge!

Posted at 01:42 PM in quilting, summer, The Village Quilter | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 21, 2016

Summer Reading

Don’t ask me how I ended up with this book, I really couldn’t tell you. But, it was next in the pile so I picked it up and started reading. Before I knew it, I had reached the end. I do that. I have a hard time reading novels because once I become engaged, I have a hard time putting the book down. Even books that I am not all that fond of keep me up at night, probably because I am hoping that they will get better. That was certainly true of the book pictured above.

On the other hand, the book I finished last night, I couldn’t put down. I really just wanted to know how it all turned out. The story was very engaging and I seriously kept reading until way after 3 in the morning just so I knew what happened before I fell asleep.

I am much better with non-fiction. I do not stay up to all hours and I do not feel compelled to peek at the ending. So, I decided to take a break from novels just so that I get a decent nights sleep. Staying up to all hours is not helping me finish quilt tops and that is what needs to happen here tonight!

Posted at 09:56 PM in Reading, summer | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 18, 2016

Road Trip

Meet Gary. Gary was Jessica’s bike and is used to tooling around Brooklyn. Tomorrow, bright and early, Gary will be embarking on a very long road trip with Mark and Ted. I think I may end up calling this “Ted and Mark’s Excellant Adventure”. From what I understand, Ted has planned this excursion to the beach. Which beach, I am not sure, but any beach is pretty far away for Gary and Mark who are not used to biking that far.

Here’s wishing them a safe trip and an excellant adventure!

Posted at 11:14 PM in Mark, summer | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 17, 2016

Life with Marlow

Seriously, this cat is the strangest cat that has ever graced our home. Last evening, after working late, I came home to find him very agitated. Not sure why, but I chose to just go on with what I had planned to do - shower and then finish my latest novel. I was sitting in the dining room, preparing to place an order for the shop when I heard a racket in the kitchen. I looked up to find Marlow wrestling a mouse under the open dishwasher. He was going crazy and that poor mouse didn’t stand a chance.Usually I am not a panic around bugs or mice or birds that break into my house, but last night was different. That cat was so proud of his conquest that he took ownership of that poor mouse. Everytime I tried to get near enough to dispose of the poor thing, Marlow would pick him up in his mouth and move him. I didn’t help matters any, I just screamed. Seriously?

I could not wait until Mark got home. I covered the mouse under a shoe box and put shoes, a jar of pasta sauce anything to weigh it down. That cat and that mouse set off my entire evening. Nothing got done because everytime I turned my back on the cat, he managed to expose that mouse. I was a wreck and completely worn out by the time Mark took care of the mouse. Here’s hoping that the next time it is storming outside, the mice find another place to seek shelter!

Posted at 11:35 PM in home, summer, Tales of our House Cat | Permalink | Comments (0)

Life with Marlow

Posted at 11:35 PM in home, summer, Tales of our House Cat | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 14, 2016

Back to Reading

Reading is something that has always been a huge part of my summer. I remember as a child, curling up in a livingroom chair and reading Nancy Drew Mysteries or the Boxcar Children for hours. Then I would run to the library to return the books I read and take out another 4 books to start the process all over again. These days I still enjoy a good mystery and I can even be convinced to read a “beach” novel that does not take much concentration. My favorite books just happen to be memoir followed by some sort of non-fiction. This summer I have 3 “beach” reads selected to start with.

I started late, just last Wednesday or Thursday, but I finished my first book on Sunday. I have started my second book but it has been slow going since I have shop work to do most evenings. I haven’t forgotten my manifesto and I have been reading every day, but sometimes it is work related reading. When work is a quilt shop, the reading is all good! In fact, one of the books I am reading for work happens to be a book that I am thinking about using as a book club at the shop.

I am hoping to finish 10 books this summer and I am happy with my progress so far! Here’s to summer and the opportunity to read for enjoyment!

Posted at 10:15 PM in my quilt shop, Reading, summer | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 11, 2016

Summer Manifesto - 2016

Each year I set forth a manifesto for my summer. This is the time of year that I need to remind myself about doing what’s right for myself and my family. Health is usually at the top of my list along with relaxing and taking the time to smell the roses. This year, now that we have the shop, I feel it is even more important to take the time for me, my health and my family. So far I have done well, but I cannot guarantee that I will continue to be mindful! It is best to put these things in writing!

Posted at 08:36 PM in daily life, summer | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 10, 2016

Sundays Are For...

Sundays are for...sleeping late,taking in the sunshine...Sunday chores...watching the birds...reading in your pajamas...watching the clouds float by...bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches...basically just hanging out!