Friday, August 28, 2015

Five on Friday (or Six or Seven)




Another bloom of roses, taken earlier this week. Today they are bedraggled with the very welcome rain.
 

Last weekend two of the grands came over to stay while their parents went away for a couple of nights. We had a LOT of fun visiting the Children's Farm, two playgrounds, and the beach. 
We were all very tired by Sunday afternoon, and Nana took a nap after the little ones left. I realized that the rhythm of life with preschoolers has faded into the background of my mind.
 

Pinterest is a great place for inspiration. I found the link to this skirt pattern there and printed it out rather a long time ago. I ran across it and decided to stitch up a couple for the little Misses. The green skirt has some Richard Scarry themed fabric, and the blue has Frozen themed fabric. Catering to tastes, you know. 
Then I thought I'd make something for Mister F. More Richard Scarry fabric and a shirt pattern came together quickly. 
 

Signs of the season - cobwebs on the grass and spiders looking for winter homes. 
 

More signs of the season. With the rain predicted for today, I spent a couple of hours cleaning out space in the garden beds for fall plantings of kale and kohlrabi. The squash vines were pulled and the harvest, above, is sitting outside to harden a little. I left the pumpkins for later. Tomatoes will be dealt with this weekend.
 

A few of the books I've read recently. The Hare with the Amber Eyes traces the story of a Jewish family and its rising and falling fortunes from the mid-1800s to the present, focusing on the family's collection of Japanese netsuke. (I'll leave you to look that up.)
Four Queens is an historical work that tells the story of four sisters who grew up in Provence and each became queen of some part of Europe. Yes, it's medieval history, and fascinating.
The Cellist of Sarajevo evokes the horror of living in a war zone. It's beautifully written and made me look up the history of the conflict that took place in the 1990s. 
 

This book is sitting on my dining room table. I'm itching to get to it - Louise Penny's latest, released this week. But I'm being strong, telling myself there are a few things to do first - like finish editing a paper for a friend, and dealing with those tomatoes.

What's been happening with you? Projects going on? Books read, or to read? Changing seasons?

 

25 comments:

  1. Autumn seems to be on its way, without really having had a Summer here. My garden is in need of some serious cutting back now, but I'm too busy processing pounds of tomatoes!
    What an exquisite rose that is, I love pink roses.

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  2. Great photos. Cute Grands. So lucky with those butternut squash. Make some soup and roast some. :)

    Madonna

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  3. The roses look so pretty in their lovely shade of pink. And the kids' clothing that you put together so quickly is quite nice--bet they were a hit with them. Have a nice weekend and hope you get some reading done.

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  4. Anonymous1:32 PM

    Love Richard Scarry. What a fun shirt and cute skirts! I was just wondering about when the new Penny book would come out. When I was at costco today I bought a dvd called Still Life A Three Pines Mystery based on Louise Penny's best sellers...
    I hope it's good.
    Have a great weekend...

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  5. You've been Busy! I loved Hare with the Golden EYes and also The Cellist of Sarajevo.

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  6. First - those clothes are simply darling. I've never seen Richard Scarry fabric - my kids and grandkids would have loved it. I spent some time yesterday cleaning up planters on the deck - pulling out the sweet peas - hate to see them go, but they are done. Potted up some Shasta Daisies that will bloom next year and gave the deck a good washing so it is ready for the rain. We only got about 1/2" last night - and only clouds today. Did you get more than that up there?

    My project right now is embroidering more day-of-the-week dishtowels for the hospital gift shop in my home town in Alaska - they are begging for more for the holidays - if only I could stitch faster.

    I'm reading "On Island Time" by Hilary Stewart. She lives (lived) on Quadra Island in BC and tells of how she moved there and her house and activities - it is neat to read about somone so near to home. But I have to be careful and not read too much - I have embroidering to do too.

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  7. I know how those little grands can sap your energy--I have small nieces and nephews who do this to me a lot. My granddaughter is not walking but after having 4 kids, I know that's when the real effort begins!!! :)

    Your garden is doing so well, I really have to get my big bed going again. I used to have some wonderful harvests and that was way before we gave up processed food.

    The books look fantastic...two I think my husband would enjoy so I'll pass them on. I just can't seem to reach "The End" of the many books I have going. :(

    Happy Weekend. Lorrie!

    Jane x

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  8. That is a full week, Lorrie, family time, crafting, reading. I love Louise Penny and have been known to shift my priorities when a favorite author comes along :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  9. I can totally relate to the joy of a weekend with grands that ends in a nap! :D I love the photo of the two in the water. Adorable!

    The new skirts/shirt that you made for the little ones are cute. I'll bet that they were thrilled with themed fabric and will probably always remember wearing them. (I still remember a grey blouse with red gingham piping and a red gingham cat that squeaked...given to me by my great-aunt on my third birthday.)

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  10. Love your photos Lorrie, as well as your reading list..I adore Louise Penny, just ordering the book. Have a great weekend!
    Xo
    Dagmar

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  11. Netsuke -- always nice to learn something new. :) Your little grandkiddos are so cute! I can imagine you were tuckered out by the end of the weekend. Definitely no changing of the seasons here. Been crocheting a lot. And reading some, too. Looking into trying to grow some things from seed once the weather starts to cool off a little. We have a big balcony that I should really utilize more when the weather is nice and I know lots of folks who have success with container gardens. Have a good weekend. Tammy

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  12. The Misses must love visiting with Nana; what fun they must have had, and gone away with pretty new additions to their wardrobe!

    Your veggies look vibrant and fresh and I'm sure will make sweet and delicious sides or mains for those end of summer meals.

    You have been quite busy, Lorrie, with a lovely balance of work and play!

    Happy weekend!

    Poppy

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  13. Anonymous4:21 PM

    First I have to stop smiling at the photos of your grands. Take a nap but enjoy them before they are grown up in a blink of an eye. :-) I've been working outside getting some grass seed to grow, starting the project to take down and replace some raised beds, and sashing a few quilt blocks in between. I must admit I'm not driven to quilt when I can garden. :-)

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  14. We are working like crazy on projects here before the wedding next Saturday. I am enjoying preparing our home for our sons wedding.

    Your grands are cute, and those outfits are great! I'm sure they'll love wearing them.

    Lots of reading, a few caught my eye.

    Deanna

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  15. Hi Lorrie,

    I so enjoyed this post; I enjoy reading about everyday activities. Those little grands are just adorable!! I could just squeeze them. :-D The skirts and shirt you made are wonderful! We used to read Richard Scarry to our son when he was little. He turned 25 this month -- just don't know where the years went. I love your photo with the roses covered with raindrops. They're such a pretty shade of pink. It looks like you got a good late-summer harvest from your garden!

    I love to read mysteries and I'm not familiar with Louise Penney. I'll definitely have to check hers out. I've read Elizabeth George (Inspector Lynley), Ellis Peters, Ruth Rendell, and am re-reading Sue Grafton mysteries. Thanks for sharing these with us. I think I'd love the Four Queens book, too. I love medieval history. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Lorrie!

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  16. I'm glad you had the rain you needed! Your autumn bounty looks plentiful. The skirst and shirts you made for your grandchildren are adorable! You found the perfect fabrics for them. My granddaughter loves Mickey and Minnie Mouse right now and Curious George adventure books so that would be the themes I'd look for.

    I'm always looking for a good book so I wrote down the titles of the ones you listed and I'll see if my library has them. The last book I read was "Devil in the White City" about the 1890 Chicago Worlds Fair and the first recorded series killer. It was very factual and well written and I recently heard it will be made into a movie.

    My grandchildren have been keeping me busy lately and also chores around the house as we get ready for autumn to arrive. It is still warm during the day but gets very cool at night. It won't be long, I think, before we get our first snow!

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  17. Your grandchildren are so adorable! I love the autumn squash you have there - I love making a layer of roasted butternut squash in my lasagne. I'm trimming and pruning the garden today ready for autumn plants to start their show :-D Have a wonderful Sunday my lovely xx

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  18. Such a beautiful post, Lorrie!
    It doesn't matter if it's about roses, grandchildren (incredibly cute!), your sewing works or cooking, your photos are always perfect. A treat for the eyes and the mind.
    Have a lovely new week!

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  19. Did you begin reading yet? I am guessing you have! Your roses are so pretty. Thank you for visiting my blog. I left a reply there. xo Kerrie

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  20. The little ones can wear us out, yes! Love the photo of them in the water...so darn cute.

    Your sewing projects are VERY nice. I'll bet the kiddos are going to love them!

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  21. I think I'm observant of nature but I've never associated the webs in the grass which my daughter just asked about this morning with it becoming cooler and fall....I guess I just observe beauty but miss some of the cause and effect.

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  22. Good Randoms. - I really liked the pretty roses sprinkled with the rain drops.
    Also very cute shot of the Grand Kids.
    I need to find another good book to read.

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  23. What sweet things you made your grand children. It almost tempts me to get the sewing machine out. Love what you are up to. My August was all about plums and thankful they are about done. Starting to thinking of fall adventures coming. Cleaning up loose ends on a few things, so the fall can first be fun adventures and then to get on with a few back burner projects and prepare for the holidays.

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  24. Your skirts inspired me and I bought the pattern to sew for my littlest granddaughter - thanks!
    (Now we'll see if it "happens")

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  25. Ooh, I like the sound of Four Queens... Thanks for the idea. Autumn always gives me a longing to delve into medieval things... Really don't know why!







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