Hello Again!!!

Aughhhhh....as our "staycation" begins to come to an end...it's fun to share that this has been my sewing view for the past twelve days:

Yes, hubby and I snuck off to the mountains for our own little retreat from the world. The cabin we stay at it is perfect and remote enough that our cell service is sporadic at best.  The tendency to check our "mail" and "cruise the internet" disappeared within a few days as we found ourselves settling into being "unplugged". We enjoyed morning coffee and walks without it. We relaxed. Which meant I got to sew! Here's a peek at an upcoming finish that I worked on while away:

Our days were filled with wonderful day hikes:

The people in our hiking club are such great people! We really enjoyed our adventures together.

Mimosa's anyone?? Hey what's a vacation without good food and drink??

We also had fun painting pottery one afternoon...

...and me finding new projects. (This one will be a great stash buster and I think it would look cute hung in my second grade classroom once it's ever finished!)

Of course, afternoon naps were always part of the routine!

Anyhoo....it's good to be back! I missed home. But, I do have to admit, that the rejuvenation found in getting away and taking a break is priceless. It's refreshing and allows me to gain a new perspective on our life's journey. How about you? I'm curious, are you too, the personality type that sometimes need to "reset"?? And if not, please do share your secret? Thanks for stopping by! I'm off to catch up on everything all of you have been up to over the past couple of weeks.

Next week's August 9th theme is: Giraffes

Stay-cation Wrap-up

  Thank you all for keeping me company during my little Stay-cation this week. I seriously can't think of a better way to end it than having a weekend visit with this little guy that's filled with numerous bike rides around the block, dinosaurs, Paw Patrol, and too much candy.

I managed to get a few more things checked of my Stay-cation list, 

my 30 mile walking goal being one of the them.

(I have three weeks until my big race.)

I enjoyed a "girl" afternoon with our daughter as we got our toes pretty for Spring...

...and somehow ended up here! LOL!!!

The boys took an afternoon rest...watching Paw Patrol and napping.
Good job Papa finally getting his helmet off!!

Today will find us busy at the town Easter Egg Hunt. I'm sure more bike rides around the block  

 time spent building trains, playing with dinosaurs, and watching movies are on the horizon.

 Even if Meme falls asleep first during movie time. 

Wishing you an Easter weekend that is filled with the love of family and fun.

A dinosaur themed Easter Basket was a hit!
Especially as it included The Good Dinosaur movie from Great Grandma and Pa.

Next week's theme is Circles.

Stay-Cation Day 2: Jackson

We spent the moring in the country at Jackson's breeder. 

As you can see he got his Spring haircut.

He transformed from "Mr. Scruffy" to....

...this handsome guy.

The best part, afterwards he gets to strut his new "do" with a pack of female JRT's 

 as they enjoy a walking adventure along the cannals. (Boy do they keep him in line!)

By the time I get him home, he's seriously one tired boy. 

(I bet you've never seen a picture of a tired Jack Russell!!)

I actually decided to leave him home from our afternoon Sunday walk and it felt wierd to not have him along. But Sunday's are my distance day and he really didn't look up to a long walk with mom.

The weekend found me crossing a lot of Spring Cleaning off the ol' stay-cation list which you know what that means: I'm free to sew and create my little heart out now. I can't wait. Till tomorrow...

This week's theme is Crumb Quilts.

My Spring Stay-cation Begins!

The seats are empty, the lights are out and the first day of Spring finds me officially on  Spring Break from teaching this next nine days. 

(I think we teachers look forward to this break more than the kids do!)

I have a quilty list of projects I want to tackle, along with some spring cleaning. So, mostly to entertain & motivate myself. (I wierdly like to cross things off my lists. Notice the house is already cleaned. YEAH!!) This week I'll be posting my 2nd Annual Stay-cation blog series. 

Here's my list of Spring Stay-cation Activities I'm hoping to accomplish:

(And if I don't, that's okay too.)

My Quilty List:

1. Quilt Sat. Sampler??
2. Quilt a top for Project Linus (I got three done!!)
3. Enjoy sewing my curved dots??
4. Scrap Secrets Book Release Blog Hop: (My day is the 27th.)
5. Cut eye spy fabric (Stay tuned: I'm organizing an eye spy swap this summer.)
6. Rainbow girls made into a flimsy
7. Sew Bloom blocks 7,8,9,10...prep 11, 12.
8. Create purple RSC Flowers :)
9. Begin Master Bedroom Quilt...this will be a queen size...may wait till summer??
10. Plan a bright happy H2H quilt. (This will be my third year donating to Happy Chemo.)
11. Finish Spring Wool banner.  Done! Saving to post this one the 1st Sunday in April.
12. Make new (tied fleece) dog blankets/donate old ones to vet. (Good idea mom)

Other Spring"Things":

30 of  30 miles walked

1. Mow and fertilize the yard
2. Trim all my back yard roses and remove and replace front roses.
3. Wash my car inside and out
4. Spring Clean the house 
5. Continue training for Race to Robie Creek (Goal: walk 30 miles this week)
6. Jackson gets a playday and groomed
7. Create a new "budget" book
8. Get my toes ready for Spring with a pedicure 
9. Enjoy Easter with our grand-guy
10. Relax: enjoy stitching outside in the evenings with a glass of  wine. (Too cold to stitch outside...but did enjoy ourselves.)

As you can see, I won't be sleeping in.  But, I do hope you'll stop by often and find yourself a smile and maybe even a little inspiration. Stay tuned.

Stay-cation Day 9: Jackson's Post!

This very moment in November of 2009, was the first time I met Jackson and fell in love with him immedietely. We have alway had dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters (Yuck...hamsters) All of them being rescue/adopted pets.  

 This was our very first time, not only "picking" out a dog, but having a puppy!  

Don't we look like proud new parents!!

 Well, our new quiet, empty nest of a home did not stay that way very long.

 Before we knew it there were naughty messes to clean up. 

   

Toys were all over the house again.

Suddenly, someone needed naps again...

...and help getting up the stairs.

Now almost 5 1/2 years later, come Winter:

 Spring... 

Summer... 

or Fall...

...he is my constant companion. 

Today we visited his breeder for his Spring grooming. This is always a wonderful treat for him as he  gets to run and play with his dad and other JRT as they explore the countryside.

He's quite the happy boy!

Quite the tired one too!

Like so many us, he's always glad to be home where his toys are his own...

 There are no puppies climbing all over him as he basks in the sun.

 And, he can get back to the business of chasing squierrels!

So it's kinda easy to see why he's in so many quilty pictures. Sometimes we just get the "right" pet and it makes all the difference in the world doesn't it! Thanks for keeping us company with your comments and drop ins this week during my Spring Stay-cation. It was fun, relaxing and rejuvinating.  I even find myself looking forward to getting back to work.