Some Shopping Therapy

After a week of no driving, no crafting, and no gardening my sweet husband knew I needed a diversion. So he suggested a road trip to Indianapolis. I accepted! So he drove me around and very patiently waited while I shopped at Archiver's and my favorite quilt shop, Quilts Plus.

 

Look at all this scrapbooking goodness! I had been wanting those Tim Holtz Halloween stamps for awhile, so glad they had them. I'll use the min-misters to make up my own spray with Perfect Pearls.

I have admired the work of Australian quilter Lynette Anderson for a long time. So I was excited to see some of her Christmas fabric at Quilts Plus. And I also got a new Halloween Threads book.

 

Thank you to all the well wishing comments! I can't do much yet, though I did drive yesterday. I get my stitches out on Monday, and hopefully by then I can do some needlework and the housework that my very helpful husband doesn't see. I also want to hold our little Tad the next time we see him!

Out of Commission

I just wanted to let you all know that while I will be checking everyone's blogs, I won't be commenting or posting for awhile. Yesterday I had carpel tunnel surgery on my right hand and I won't be doing much for awhile. Even trying to type this is hard with just my left hand. And I am kind of sleepy from the pain pills. I'll spend the next week or so reading and watching movies...Going back to bed!

Cute and Cuter

Tell me, what's cuter than our sweet kitty, Loyal, taking his nap in the doll crib?

 

I'd say this little guy! What do you think?

Tad, at 2 1/2 months

Our World Traveler

On Sunday we spent the day in Chicago with our oldest son, Justin. He's leaving this week to live in Macedonia for nine months. (Where the heck is Macedonia? I had to look it up - it's north of Greece). His girlfriend will be teaching there and Justin will put the finishing touches on his dissertation, when he's not sightseeing. He will come home in December to defend it and spend Christmas with us. (Yeah!) Then graduation in June. He has already been to Turkey and Greece this summer. He's really getting around!

We had such a wonderful day. The weather was perfect, so we had a picnic and explored the Logan Square neighborhood.  We are sure going to miss this guy, but we are happy that he has the chance to do the traveling that he loves. 

Yesterday I made up this simple little quilt and started sewing on some felt leaves that I die cut using Papertrey Ink dies. I am going to embroider the leaf veins with several strands of floss so they stand out.

I've had that leaf pattern fabric for years. So glad I finally found a use for it!

Vintage Garden Swap

 This summer I participated in a matchbox swap hosted by Sheila from http://cheekymagpie.com/. It was right up my alley - vintage garden. This is the box I decorated and some of the goodies I filled it with.

 I was so excited to find out my swap partner was Heather from http://speckled-egg.com. Here is the what I received from her:

So many crafting goodies! The charms, glitter, crocheted trim - I love it all. Thanks, Heather! (And Sheila!)

This is just the second swap I have done. Must do more! And speaking of goodies, I just put in an order for Halloween stuff - charms, tinsel, paper. Can't wait!

The Fall Garden

Now that we are into September, the gardens are winding down. I didn't plant fall vegetables because I will be having hand surgery in a few weeks. No gardening for me after that. But we have lots of peppers and tomatoes.

 

The flower beds are looking kind of bare as I cut back the perennials and pull out spent annuals. The mums and asters haven't started yet. But the herb garden seems to look as good as ever.

I try to keep the plants cut back so they are not overgrown and floppy. And I am continually using the basil, dill, oregano, and others.

 

Notice the butterfly bush growing between the bricks.

 The roses are doing better now that the Japanese beetles are gone.

Joseph's Coat

And even though it is kind of weedy, I love Sweet Autumn clematis. I like how it drapes over trellises and fences, and smells so good. 

And speaking of draping, look at this morning glory. Growing up a plant hanger and into a crab apple (that has already lost most of its leaves).

 

 

The temperature this morning was in the 50's. Can you believe it?  It was almost 100 on Saturday!  Much easier to work outside now. Enjoy your fall gardens!