A fair end

I'll get right to it; it's time for me to move on from this happy blog.

When I started it three years ago, I was eager to reach across the miles from our temporary home in New Jersey. Now I feel both geographically and emotionally closer to many of you and can seek shared contact through the full gamut of social media.

I have truly appreciated the handful of you who read my posts and enjoyed your comments to me about something that inspired or entertained you.

I received the pictured card from a dear friend, and I feel it cheerily sums up what this blog provided me and those kind enough to follow it.

Troy's big day

Happy birthday to Troy today! Pictures from our dinner and dessert out.

The owls are back

The good-size lump at the top of the right tree and likewise at two o'clock of the left tree are our owl friends out for an early hunt. No sounds yet, that I could hear, but they were surveying the scene.

First try

Zada and I are both home regrouping today. She was running a fever yesterday so we are waiting out her 24 hours. I thought as long as she was sitting still I would try out a special holiday hairdo. It looks like we're both happy with the results.

In the meantime

While the kids are at school I've been volunteering in a number of capacities. One thing I've really enjoyed is our church's quilting circle, with whom I've helped make quilts for Lutheran World Relief.
During 2013, this group of nine to ten women has been responsible for creating 116 quilts to be sent all over the world to people in need. To illustrate the magnitude of this gift, the quilts are draped over the church pews for this Sunday's service.

Keeping it all together

My constant quest around our house is to keep things simple and tidy. My new tool in this effort is the RASKOG cart from IKEA. I assembled and loaded it up this afternoon, with art supplies of all varieties and homegrown optimism.

Pasties for dinner

Free motion movement

This is my very first piece of free motion quilting. I am inspired!

Sewing weather

I took the opportunity to stay inside and sew this afternoon. My new plaid flannel pillow covers make it kind of cabin cozy in our living room, and I'm happy to see they play nicely with our already-a-favorite Minnesota pillow.

Finally at the corn maze

We have driven by our local corn maze so many times this fall, and today we finally got to pull in, park, and enjoy the festivities.

Pumpkin harvest

We pulled 11 pumpkins from our back garden tonight. We found four goofy kids out there as well.

Afternoon o' sewing

I finally finished this vintage quilt rehab yesterday! It feels good to be done and in spite of its inherent challenges, i.e. wackadoodle shrinking on some panels, I am happy with the results.

First day pictures

Phew! We made it through the first week, and here are some photos to prove it. The kids were joined by Noah, our family friend who was also starting kindergarten.

The end of summer story

The story for our family this last week of summer involves Zada's injury. She fell while playing with friends on a grounded inner-tube and broke the two bones in her forearm. We were camping at the time. A shout of thanks to all who were party to her treatment and early recovery. She's already transitioned to a shorter waterproof cast, much to everyone's delight.

Camping adventures

Day's work

Yesterday I volunteered at the kids' school and painted a giant carrot. I also added the stems to the apple and pear. And, I operated a hydraulic lift to do it. Boom.

Our friend family

Tall ships visit

Cardinal cousins