And so it Begins...

It had apparently been quite a long time since I stitched on a piece of Weeks' 40 count linen. So when I picked up my newest project, started up my needle, and my eyeballs kept getting crossed instead of the threads, I thought I needed a new lightbulb in my lamp.

The new lightbulb did not help.

Sitting in a different chair with a different lamp helped only slightly.

Stitching by daylight helped only slightly more than slightly.

So I did what any intelligent woman would do.

I bought my first pair of stitching glasses.

I thought stitching glasses were at least a decade in my future.

But the glasses did the trick, so I'm just going to have to admit it...
this Spring chicken is all grown up.

But I'm Not that Old Yet

I graduated from a tiny little private Christian school in Southern Oregon. My graduating class was even smaller than the average in our high school by at least half. Yes, you counted right... ten of us (aren't we cute?).

I read recently that 20 to 30 percent attendance at a high school reunion is average, and anything above that 30 percent is considered a great success. So I guess I should be pretty proud of the 40 percent of my class that showed up for our 20th reunion.

Here we are with our families (and Bailey!), not feeling a day over 28, and yet somehow we are... how did that happen?

We made a promise to each other to not let another 10 years go by before we meet again. I honestly think we'll keep that promise.

The Best Kind of Fun

Just a few miles down the road lives the best little play spot ever. Surrounded by old growth forest, moss, and ferns, Eagle Creek babbles and splashes its way happily along, singing to those who decide to stop by.

As is often the case, when something is so very close, we have neglected to visit for a very long time. Its doubtful that the kids have ever visited this particular spot in the entirety of their lives.

We made up for it recently, on a hot Summer evening, packing tunafish sandwiches and grapes and lemonade for a simple supper by the water.

They were quite sad when we drove past the official park with its play structure, but settled right in once we took a little side trail down to the water.

Skipping rocks, floating leaves, making splashes, both little and small, poking, prodding, and investigating.

At the end of the evening, it was declared by the 7 year old to be, "the best kind of country fun ever!". He even went on to say that throwing rocks into the water is now one of his very favorite activities, and the best thing he's done so far this Summer.

Now if that doesn't make this Mama proud, I don't know what would.

Let Him Eat Crepes

My tough little guy is doing well, thank you. Recovering as well as can be expected from his surgery yesterday. They ended up taking his adenoids as well, since they were classified as nearly 100 percent blockage. No wonder he has snored like a freight train since he was a toddler!

His throat is very sore, but no other troubles so far, and even the medication isn't causing tummy upset or other common side effects.

So how did we celebrate this morning? The Farmboy (who is home all week on vacation) cooked up some of his famous crepes... not the egg/dairy/gluten free yucky crepes of the past few months, but the full-on original recipe.

And goodness, were they ever yummy. Post-op boy even asked for seconds, stating that the hurt when he swallows was well worth the yummy-ness in his mouth.

To-do List for 7-17-13

The seven-year-old wrote this list a few days ago. Anticipating with both dread and excitement a very big day.

Check-in is at 7am, surgery from 8-9am, and we should be on our way home by 10:30am to start the recovery process. Keep him in your prayers, please?

The End is Near

Its been another seven weeks that has felt like both an eternity and a blink of the eye. So much of our time and energy goes into getting these furry babies to their launching point. The day they get to go to their forever family is a big day for them and they don't even know it.

Squirmy little adorable hooligans, weeks four through seven of their lives are all about learning to eat and play with each other without the guidance of their Mama, and starting to learn what "No!" and "Good Dog!" mean.

And those weeks are also about learning to shift their trust toward the two-legged mammals that stand so tall above them.

They won't be this little and cute for long, but each one is guaranteed to become a faithful companion.

A faithful companion with insatiable curiosity and a never-ending well of enthusiasm for play.

Pearl went to her home this morning. Nora and Scout and Cooper and Pirate and the sweet female that doesn't have a name yet will all be gone by Sunday.

But we aren't sad. Rather, we're excited for the lives they get to go lead without our constant supervision. It will be the first taste of real Summer freedom for us this year. There is lots of talk around here of taking entire days to go visit Grandma, a zoo trip with cousins, a stay at the beach, a mountain camping trip, and so much more.

So here's to Endings that are also Beginnings...

Just Now

Its been a cool, overcast morning. Quiet out, with just the birdsong and distant sound of the creek. Meandering from house to kennel (for the morning feeding frenzy), I saw some lovely things.

Potato blossoms and chicken feathers and lichen sprouting on a fencepost, baby grapes and tomato starts and rhubarb leaves turned crimson, berries of all shape and shade, and Lavender graced by a fuzzy winged suitor.

I haven't slowed to take note of these blessings for days on end. Is it any wonder the poet in my mind has been a bit sleepy lately?

*NEW* A Weaver's Shuttle

Inspired once again, by the graphic appeal of woven antique coverlets from the beginning of the 1800’s, meet my newest design!

I first spotted the quote, “My days are swifter than a weavers shuttle” on an old sampler, but a tiny bit of research revealed that it is originally from the King James Version of the Bible, found in Job 7:6. Used in this context, it is a reflection of a time when death was a frequent, familiar, and expected occurrence. Young sampler workers were directed by their teachers to stitch phrases that led them to reflect on the shortness of their lives in comparison with the length of eternity. I imagine that this was done in order to either comfort them, knowing that they had already or would soon experience the death of a loved one, or to frighten them into good behavior!

Half-size Model stitch count: 153 x 126
Stitched on Picture This Plus 32ct. Sand

Full-size Model stitch count: 153 x 219
Stitched on Picture this Plus 40ct. Sand

Using thread from The Gentle Art: 7055 Uniform Blue

Both frames by Valley House Primitives:
MCD with corner appliques, Lamplight, Small Swirl

Included with the chart is a full alphabet and number set so that you can customize it with your initials and date.

This design is now available in my etsy shop, and will be going out to my distributors and the shops on my automatic shipments list soon. If you prefer to bypass etsy and order directly through me, you can send me an email: beth@heartstringsamplery.com

In Case You Missed It

Some of you had to work yesterday, or simply chose to stay away from the festivities, so I thought I'd share some festive moments trapped forever by my camera.

Our small town fireworks display once again, did not disappoint. Just the right length, with just the right amount of drama. Two sweet kiddos snuggled up next to me, surrounded by other family members, it was yet another night to stow away in our memory banks.

On our drive to town, the youngest voice piped up from the back seat, "I love this time of da season... because its da time of da season for fireworks!" And later, as we drove home, shortly before nodding to sleep in her booster seat, "Mama, when do we get to see da fireworks again?"

Too bad we only celebrate this way once a year. I think maybe we need to adopt some Chinese traditions and light up the sky any chance we get.