Another Arrival . . .

Our "July" grandbaby -- a little boy -- joined our family yesterday...

Isn't he adorable!?!

Bloomin' Tuesday . . .

It looks like we have a bumper crop this year...

I love the fruit trees in our backyard. We have two apple, a cherry, a pear and a peach. The cherries always are the first to ripen -- usually around the 4th of July. This year the cherries are a week or two behind schedule, but the tree is loaded with these gorgeous crimson orbs ...

When we have a crop like this I usually pick all we can handle and then let neighbors fill their buckets! We're very popular this time of year in our neighborhood.

A little later this week I'll be making some cherry jam -- one of my favorite things to do mid-summer. It makes me feel productive.

There's nothing better than a countertop filled with these...

...except maybe this -- some homemade Artisan Bread slathered with butter and homemade jam...

Linked to:
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jeans
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Tuesday Garden @ An Oregon Cottage

Binky Bag . . .

The other day I was visiting my favorite blogs when I came upon this post at "Make It - Love It." Because of all the infants we have and are expecting in our family by the end of the summer, I'm loving anything baby-oriented lately.

I read over that post and although I thought the Pacifier Pocket was a cute idea at first glance I didn't know how useful it would be. It seemed to me that most diaper bags these days have a number of pockets to store a Binky in, so it seemed a little redundant to attach a little pouch onto the diaper bag to hold a Binky. Still, the idea kept percolating in my mind...

Finally, as I thought about possible scenarios I realized the wisdom in {what I will call} a Binky Bag. Consider the following experience which may help you to understand the prudence in owning a Binky Bag.

{This may or may not be a true-life experience.}

A young mother is walking her infant through the mall when the baby becomes irritable and requires a pacifier. Wasting no time said mother reaches for her diaper bag stored conveniently in the basket under the seat of her stroller. {Baby is becoming more and more agitated.} Eventually the mother is able to wrestle the diaper bag from its cubby-hole, and she begins the frantic search for a Binky to soothe the frayed nerves of the infant. She finally locates the Binky tucked, not in the pocket where it belongs, but "conveniently" located between the clean flaps of a disposable diaper -- just as the infant's screams reach the decibel level of a jet at takeoff. As scary as this scenario is, we've all been there...

After recalling about a million of these types of experiences I began to see the wisdom of having a Binky Bag close at hand. I considered making the Pacifier Pocket from the pattern linked in the post at Make It and Love It, but instead I chose to design my own pattern. (Mine's an easier pattern to make.)

If I was young mother I'd have about twelve of these -- per child. 

I'd put one here...

and here...

and here...

...and then I'd hang one from a chain around my neck. Don't judge. A pacifier is very important to a mother child.

I plan on making this pattern available at some point in time, but it may not be for a few weeks. Baby season has commenced in our family (another grandbaby is due on Tuesday), and I don't plan on doing much more than rocking infants, taking care of their mothers, and playing with the baby's siblings for the next couple of months! Some things are a whole lot more important than sewing.  ;o)

Have a great day! 

Linked to:
Strut Your Stuff Baby Ideas @ Somewhat Simple
Running with Glitter Linky Party
Mad Skills Monday @ Support Blog for Moms of Boys

Thankful Thoughts

What surprised me this week?

My husband is a do-it-yourselfer. This characteristic was passed down from his father. For example when the hubs was a young boy his parents decided to put in a swimming pool. They had four "strapping" sons so instead of hiring someone with a backhoe to dig the hole, his father gave each one of his sons a pick and shovel and put them to work. It took the good part of a summer to get 'er done. Soon after we married my husband told me that story. At the time I thought his father was on the cruel side to demand such from his boys. Later, after I'd birthed five boys of my own, I realized my father-in-law's perfect wisdom. He kept his boys busy and out of trouble for most of the summer with that and other similar projects. Pure genius.

My husband couldn't help but be influenced by his upbringing. This became apparent for the umpteenth time this week when he decided to take down one of our sickly aspen trees in our backyard. Instead of going next door and asking our neighbor if he could {please} borrow his chain saw, the hubs decided to hack it down on his own. The necessary tools were assembled ... saw, hatchet, ax, son-in-law. What surprised me was this: They had that tree down in no time. Usually when the hubs takes on a project with his bare hands, it involves the passage of time and a few choice words (mostly mine). This time that tree was felled lickity-split. Much of the credit is due to our son-in-law who has been lifting weights this summer and has the upper-body strength of an ox. {Bless him.} I'm grateful.

What inspired me this week? 

Recently I was asked to be a teacher for the women's organization of our church. Next week I'll teach my first lesson entitled, "Family Responsibilities." The lesson discusses the responsibilities of fathers, mothers, and children within the family. I've read this lesson a number of times, but this week I had an experience that gave me more insight than reading material ever could...

I have a close friend and neighbor who recently required major surgery. She has a young family and her parents live with them. I went over to my friend's home a couple of times this past week to visit her, and each time I went I noticed her mother busy at work. She was either cooking, cleaning, or herding small children here or there -- all with a light heart and a smile on her face. Through her actions she happily nurtures, teaches, and serves. She is such a wonderful example to me of a loving and effective mother. She takes her responsibilities and commitments to heart -- especially when times are difficult. 

We often think of "responsibilities" as something difficult or burdensome, but the responsibilities associated with motherhood have been such blessing in my life. It's a role that gives my life purpose, definition and direction. It also requires more of me than any other aspect of my life, thus demanding growth and fostering maturity.

I am inspired by wonderful examples of motherhood in my life and by the ever-changing, always challenging role of motherhood that is mine.

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...

a hint of lavender.

Clockwise, starting top left:

French Blackberry Macaroons
Oatmeal Lavender Bath Soak
PomPom Hairpin
Fine Art Print
Lavender Sachet


Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Fabric Sources . . .

I imagine most of you realize that I don't choose to advertise on my blog, however, when I come upon a good source I'm more than willing to share the love and promote a business, blog or an individual. Along that line, I'm often asked in comments or emails where I purchase my fabrics. Hopefully a few of those questions will be answered in this post.

Occasionally I will purchase a fabric or two from Hobby Lobby or Hancock Fabrics -- mostly for projects that don't require a really high-quality quilting fabric. There's also a local quilt store that I may or may not have visited a thousand times in the last few years, but generally speaking I purchase my fabrics online at a number of different sources. One of my favorites is Fabric.com. (Recently I purchased the flannel fabrics in the photos in this post from Fabric.com) Fabric.com has a broad selection of fabrics. I always go to their "quilting fabric" section to purchase high-quality designer cottons. They also have a "clearance and discount section" within the quilting section that I love to browse.

I have found that Fabric.com's fabrics are often a dollar to two less per yard than other sources if you are paying full price for a piece of fabric, however, the real advantage comes if you spend more than $35. Shipping is free (every day) with a purchase over $35, and if you sign up for their emails you will receive coupons that lower the price further! There is one area where I think Fabric.com can improve. Their fabric often arrives a bit wrinkled and sloppily folded. That really irritates me. An improvement in their shipping department would go a long way in showing appreciation for their customers purchases.

Additional resources where you can find fabulous fabrics are the individual fabric stores on Etsy. Many of them have close-out sales on fabric lines where you can get a great deal.  Fresh Squeezed Fabric is an example of an Etsy store that has a fabulous "clearance section". I love frequenting these stores and supporting these cottage businesses. As a side note -- I've yet to receive a package from an Etsy fabric store that isn't packaged beautifully. I appreciate their handling my purchases with care!

One more great source for fabric is the blog The Fabric Shopper. Shortly after I started blogging I came upon a blog written by Rosie. She shared the same love of fabric that I did, so I quickly became an admirer of her, her projects and her blog. Since that time Rosie started the blog "The Fabric Shopper" -- a blog about fabric and people who love it! This blog features all the latest collections and patterns from favorite designers and tells you when they’re available and where you can find them. It also points you in the direction of sales on fabulous fabric lines. It's a great daily read.

I hope this answered some questions you might have had about where to purchase fabric online. Have a great day!

Little Boy Pocket Bib . . .

A couple of weeks ago I introduced my Pocket Bib Pattern -- little girl style. Never let it be said that I don't give equal time to the fashionable attire of little boys! Last week I had a little down time and whipped up these two masculine versions of my pocket bib...

My favorite little boy flannel fabric these days is this Michael Miller flannel called "Dino Dudes". I made a receiving blanket out of it recently and had just enough left over for a few pockets for some bibs! I love the whimsical, happy little dinos depicted on this fabric!

Like before, I'm offering this Pocket Bib Pattern to all. 

Go here for the tutorial about how to make this simple bib,

and find out how to receive the pattern!

It's Bloomin' Tuesday . . .

It seems that daylilies have the leading role in our garden in Colorado this week. They are usually in full bloom by the 4th of July, and although most of my garden is a week or two behind this year the daylilies are right on schedule. We have two varieties in our garden. Both are used as "hedges" -- one such hedge surrounds our flagstone patio and the other is used in a bottom tier of our rock garden.

The first is a variety called "Renaissance." It has a spider-like blossom of dark crimson with a splash of yellow at the center that reaches into the petals. Sixteen of these lilies surround our flagstone patio with their dramatic blossoms. An example is shown below in the foreground of the picture. It's flanked by two container plants -- a gorgeous hot pink Bougainvillaea and a Blue Potato Bush with it's delicate purplish flowers.

The second variety of daylilies are my favorite lily. This variety is named "Forever Stella." Their beautiful golden buttercup blossoms add such a beautiful punch to any garden. We have a four-tier rock garden and these daylilies claim the third tier as their home. You can see them in the background of the photo below. The first tier is filled with a beautiful birdie fountain and a gajillion impatiens. The second tier is a rock garden brimming with perennials. In the third tier my "Stellas" thrive...

To see more bloomin' posts visit these linky parties:

Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Tuesday Garden @ An Oregon Cottage

Happy Independence Day

Wishing you a fun-filled day of celebration with family & friends!

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

I spy with my Etsy eye...

a baby boy.

Clockwise, starting top left:

String of 20 Blue Lights
Hanging Owl Mobile
Vinyl Wall Decal
Wool Felt Bunny
"It's a Boy" Banner
Sweet Set
Typography

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

It's Bloomin' Tuesday . . .

It's time once again for a quick walk through my garden. This time I'll concentrate on our roses. When we planted these roses they were tucked between small fruit trees on the perimeter of our yard. Since then the fruit trees have flourished, and the roses have suffered from shade imposed upon them by those trees. Each year, however, the roses give it their best and manage a nice showing even though they would love to have more sun. Currently they are in full bloom. Here are a few collages of photos I took a few days ago...

Linked to:
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean's.