Hey Folks!
Happy Friday to you! Before I get into TGIALW, I want to point out that this is a long post. And the Freebie Friday's Giveaway is all the way at the bottom. So don't be discouraged...read on (or skip to the bottom if you must! Just don't tell me you did that...as you'll break my heart! smiles).
So Yes, Thank Goodness It's A Long Weekend! Am I the only one completely exhausted right now? It is that time of year...the end of the school year..where it seems the days get shorter and shorter. And there is never enough time for all the activities. We are wrapping up the kids' sports seasons, too. But no practices and no games this weekend! Yay!
I am so looking forward to having one extra weekend day! Because I need an extra day...I really do.
An extra day to spend with my little family. Hubby was gone to Vienna, Austria for a whole week (he left on Mother's Day!) and then came back to an ultra busy week at work, so I feel like we just have not spent enough time together! Then the kids have been busy with school work, after school activities and friends. So some good old, 'nothin planned family time is in order. We'll continue where we left off Mother's Day weekend, handing out here (sorry for all the pics, by my father-in-law has been waiting patiently for me to post a garden update!).
We recently picked up some chaise loungers and umbrellas here for a steal! We still need to find a little table to put in the the middle to hold some drinks and a book or two.
The cannas are in full bloom. I need to thin them out in the Fall..they are way over crowded....but pretty none the less.
And the pool water has been sitting around 86 degrees for the last month. This is with no pool heating...just the heat from the sun! Amazing!
My favorites in the garden. Lookt at how those two tall ones on the left have bowed into a heart shape...they know I love them so! These have been blooming for about 6 weeks now. I hope they bloom all summer..we'll see!
My father-in-law (Opa...the German name for Grandpa) planted a bunch of gladiolas for me. The first one bloomed a couple weeks ago...it was red...my favorite!
Opa bought us some Texas Blue Bonnets back in March when...they are blooming beautifully!
Thanks Opa!
Tiny new grapefruit tree we planted in April. There was a huge banana tree here before. You can see some of the little sprouts shooting back up!
We also planted 3 fig trees...this one is already producing loads of fruit...52 figs and counting!
The others have not started fruiting yet...we bought 3 varieties that will produce at different times so we'll have figs all year long!
Organic Basil from seed....I use alot of basil...and the basil I find here in the stores is a very spicy..peppery basil. This is sweet basil...yum!
Nursery Tomatoes producting fruit...We eat alot of tomatoes! We have 12 plants growing that we planted from seed. Then we planted 8 more nursery plants so we'd have some early tomatoes as well.
Melons from seed..they are starting to send out the shooters and really grow now!
Organic broccoli from seed...Broccoli is a fave with the kids, so planting some was a must.
Squash and cucumber from seed...they are really starting to take off!
Organic tomatoes, peppers, canteloupe from seed and okra from the nursery.
Our little garden is our little sanctuary. This is where we have been eating dinner during the week and having breakfast, lunch and dinner on the weekends. And during the last couple months, we have been spending at least many hours out here...planting, weeding, mulching, weeding, cutting, weeding, watering, weeding. Yes, weeding is not my favorite thing to do..but I am determined to keep this little space as chemical free as possible (I know, this from a chemist!). I have nothing against chemicals...I just don't want them in my garden. But this whole organic gardening thing requires a bit more time and love and patience. And a ton of reading/research. The up side of all this, on top of the health benefits, is that I am getting in lots more N.E.A.T. ! It is easy to work up a sweat in this garden as well, because it is HOT! Often when I go out to weed, it is before 7am and it is already in the 80s. The heat also poses a problem with what I can plant. Alot of the seeds I bought, I can't plant until Fall...but that means I get to have a winter garden, which is way cool!
What else? Oh, and I also need an extra day to sew. I have to finish up the projects for the sewing classes I'll be teaching at Hancocks Fabrics. Man, those classes are coming up fast...but I am also done and will run through all the projects a second time, just to check for errors and such. But it should be so much fun. I can't wait so show you all what the students make! Plus I need to put some finishing touches on items for the next shop update here.
For those of you in the area, will be teaching 3 1 week long kid's summer sewing camps. The classes are for ages 8-15. Sign up starts next week. I got a call from the folks at Hancocks that the phone is ringing off the hook with folks asking about the camp and they asked if I could schedule several more. They also want some adult classes in the evening. I am holding back right now because my friend Debbie has booked her trunk show!
So yes, I need an extra day to start getting a plan together for this trunk show...my first trunk show! I have the fabric groupings all set. I put them all together in a pretty little swap book! I have to make some final decisions on the designs. I don't want to offer too many options...because I'll end up driving myself crazy. But I want to definitely offer enough variety and options for folks....lots of mix and match! I have to figure out that right balance. We'll see. But her show will be on July 17! I am so excited, can you tell! I'll show you all some previews soon. :)
I could also use another day to get the end of year teachers' gifts ready. I can't talk about the gifts just yet, because the teachers visit this space and I don't want to ruin the surprises! But I can't wait to show you all what I am making. I am thinking about writing them up as tutorials/free patterns. What do you all think? There are soooo many tutorials and free patterns on the web. I wonder if I would be wasting my time putting something together? Thoughts/suggestions? I'd do it if folks were interested.
Okay, enough with all that. This post is already ridiculously long! Let's get on to the Giveaway for goodness sakes! Because I really like you all, I whipped up this super cute summery tote...just for one of you!
Do you like it? I sure do. I may have to make myself one. I used some lovely strawberry and do printed japanese linen on the outside and the lining is made from an organic linen fabric I brought back with me from Europe! It's perfect for anything really...especially for those visits to the Farmers Market, don't you think. I'll leave this contest active for 1 week. Enter by next Friday, May 29. I'll draw a name and announce on the following Tuesday.
I have to give credit to my husband on this one. I showed him the other giveaway I had planned and he said, but why aren't you doing someting red, white and blue for Memorial Day? He's in my head, people. If I were not so tired, I would have been on top of it! Really! I'd better watch out before he tries to take over this blog. He has actually already suggested some blog topics for me, which cracks me up completely, because he doesn't even read the blog! I guess if I start blogging about what he is suggesting (road cycling, food, endurance excercise), he'd read it. But then I think you all would stop!lol
One last thing before I go...For those of you that are on the mailing list...don't forget to use your coupon code at checkout so you can save 15%. I see some of you are shopping and not using your code and I know you are on the mailing list. And remember..the drawing for the $50 gift certificate is still active throughout the end of May! If you need me to resend you the Newsletter with the code and giveaway information...let me know and I'll resend it to you. I just don't want you all to miss out on your chance to save. :)
Okay then...I am off. Time to meet my girl at the bus stop! I'll see you all back in this space in a couple days. In the meantime, you all be safe this weekend! Have a wonderful Holiday for those of you in the US. And I hope you all find some time to make something lovely!
Hugs,
Sheree
