A sudden storm rolled through yesterday evening with a heavy downpour and thunder and lightening. (And a rogue overhead crack of thunder at about 9 pm that sent Brian and me both scrambling off the couch away from the big speech to check our trees!) And there was cool air on the other side. In August. Who'd a thunk it? The grass here is still green green not the usual crinkly lifeless brown we see this time of year. Strange and all together fabulous.

I am so very much looking forward to this long weekend. The week kind of got away from me, so I have a long list today to accomplish. Things to wrap up and ship off. A bit of cleaning. A couple of errands. Maybe some baking. This household has a hankering for sitting outside and relaxin'. (Yo, Rach. If you find yourself bored, hungry and/or lonely, head over.)

But first, I am going in for another cup of coffee and to sneak some peach cobbler for breakfast. If you have kids, you know what I mean.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Posted by Alicia at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)

good morning chickadees!

Wow! Thank you all so much for entering the give-away!! You sure know how to flatter a girl.

I had a small assistant pick the winner. Can you see it? This particular assistant often has a hard time holding still. It reads: Bluebirdbaby. Erin, email me your address. I'll send the bag right away.

Of course there is one more tote in the shop, discounted quite a bit. I'll leave it in there for a few more days.

My other good news is that I'm guest blogging at Uncommon Grace today! I'm so tickled to be a part of the guest line-up (pun intended) she's hosting. You ought to go read all the 'Summer Is' series- lovely women with lovely pictures and words to make you appreciate these last fleeting days of summer. Fall is on deck, my friends. (pun intended again. hee hee.) Soak it up.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Posted by Alicia at 09:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Sorry about that! I intended to post here early, but we went walking with my mom and got distracted by a biscuit covered in gravy, then a thrift store and an estate sale on the walk back. Surely you know how that goes. ; )

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First up, our Wild Guys:

Sweet Cindy at Skip to My Lou has been hosting a series of guests this week to raise awareness for the Read to Feed program, and she asked me to join in! We looked over one of our favorite books, Where the Wild Things Are, and then made our own Wild Guys. There's a quick step-by-step over there for these funny critters.

They were so simple and turned out pretty cute, but I'm always such a sucker for my kids' artwork. Please go have a look-see and check out all the other guest crafters.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Up next is the give-away. Remember this artist tote? It's been waiting patiently in the shop. I was going to pull it to re-list later, but it's doing me no good hanging here looking nice in the studio. It's linen and cotton with the little bird on the front and is heavy and hangs low on the hip. The folks who have purchased them in the past have been pleased. Interested? Leave me a comment on this post (don't forget your email address), and I'll draw a name Tuesday morning. It doesn't matter where you live, I'll ship it to you. And hey! My quiet in-town friends. Yes, YOU! Leave a comment. You'll be in the running too.

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Lastly I want to say thank you to all of you, who come here and support me and laugh with me and cheer me on and inspire me and give me advice. It really is a fun place to hang out. I mean it. Thanks.

(Oh, and go wish Rachel a happy birthday, will ya?)

Posted by Alicia at 08:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (125)

I'll tell you about a project involving this book.

. . . . . . . . .

And I'm having a little give-away.
(that doesn't involve the book.)

Come back, ok?

Posted by Alicia at 02:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

(you like the old school rap, don't ya kids? tee hee.)

Well, it didn't harden up at all, but peach syrup is still pretty yummy. It's especially good served on still-warm bread with a cup of coffee, while laughing with friends and being surrounded by the happy squeals and giggles of little girls.

Posted by Alicia at 09:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

yesterday:

today:

peach freezer jam that didn't set. I left the skins on- figuring it would be fine since I was food processoring them. I wonder if that threw off the acid + sugar equation somehow. I'm going to try the suggestion on the pectin box for resetting the jam right now. Think it will work?

When I called in for back-up, my mom said, "Oh, just serve it over ice cream."

Brilliant woman.

Posted by Alicia at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)

and off he goes.

I'm calling it quits here for the week. I feel like I've talked way too much already.

Have a wonderful and fabulous weekend, my friends!

Posted by Alicia at 09:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

I'm breaking my no-kid-faces rule, just for today. Our little friend Zoe has been coming to our house every Wednesday for years. She's the daughter of one of my best friends in the world. This photo was one of the first times she stayed. For a while if you asked her who her brother was, she'd say J. They really are the best of friends- all three of them. When we go out and about, people often comment how much "all" my kids look alike and how cute they are together. Instead of explaining the whole thing, I often just say, "Yes. Thanks!"

But time flies, people. It really does. Heading off to all-day kindergarten next week, today is her last day here with us. We had a little lunch party in the backyard with friends, grilled hot-dogs, cake, chips, cookies, and water play. I told her she was our guest of honor. She said "Oh, Leeshie, I'm not a guest here." Of course not, sweetie.

They are in there now, watching "Night at the Museum" and playing and bickering like siblings.

We do love her so.

Posted by Alicia at 03:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

My local bloggy friends know how I feel about "look what I got posts" and I'll explain that** in a minute. But hey, girls, forget that for a sec because, um, look at this!

This necklace is from Lisa Leonard. Isn't it just beautiful? I wanted something sort of peaceful, something to remind me to live in the moment. And Brian suggested the word 'today' as a nice reminder to not fuss over the rest. I've been wearing it almost constantly since it arrived. It is perfect.

Lisa is a talented jewelry artist and everything in her shop is pretty much amazing. Her blog is so pretty and yet honest; she seems like a genuinely sweet person. I really am honored to own one of her necklaces. I may have to order my sister a little belated birthday gift.

** So, now about the my statement above, I really don't want to offend anyone and get all negative. I love new stuff as much as the next gal. But we live pretty darn well on a smallish income and that means very few fun extras. If I read too many posts in a day about fancy camera lenses and sewing machines and big bundles of Japanese fabrics and fancy shoes and bags, I feel myself getting all annoyed and wanty and jealous. Usually it just means it's time to shut off the computer for awhile.

BUT I do see the huge value of reciprocal advertising for hardworking artists and small-time designers. After all, isn't that one of the benefits of this little community? And I love it when folks post a little bit about something I've made!

I didn't mean to turn this post into a discussion on consumerism, so that's all I have to say about that. ; )**

ANYWAY, I love my new necklace and it makes me very happy. Thanks, Lisa.

Posted by Alicia at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (36)

We walked nearly 25,000 strong and raised $1.2 million.

I walked for:

my dad's mom
Brian's cousin, Jeanie
my friend, Corey
my mom's friend and neighbor, Rosemary
my friend Angie's mom
my friend Meg's mom

my mom. (I love you, Mom.)

and all the women who walk this path, so they don't have to walk alone.

Posted by Alicia at 08:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

We go to a lake every single year as a big noisy family. This year it was HOT (there was mention of the hottest heat indexes in thirty-some years), but there were cousins of all ages and fun galore, so we didn't mind one bit.

And every year we want to stay...

but we can't.

We're home and unpacked and staring into the headlights of a big week- a week in which our routine changes in many ways. And I've got several little things to visit about.

So until then, much love to you.

Posted by Alicia at 06:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

My sister, Jenni. She's probably about three here, looking so sweet and Olan Mills-ish.

I know I said I'd be gone, but I had to pop in and tell her happy birthday. I won't give away her age, but let's say it's a big one. They kind that is divisible by ten. The kind that makes me really restrain myself not to hang a banner in her yard that reads, "LORDY, LORDY. JENNI IS -----!"

Hee hee.

Happy Birthday, Jen. I love you!

Posted by Alicia at 09:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Hello, all. I just realized that I haven't posted a thing here since Monday. Sorry about that- we've been awfully busy trying to soak up every last bit of summer.

J and I made the lemon bars. They were yummy. Now they're gone. Just a bit too tart for her, N declared them "not really very tasty", but that just left more for the rest of us. I am sorry I really couldn't sit down and have one with all of you. Wouldn't that be fun?!

And now we're planning a little bit of extended put-up-our-feet time. I'll still be posting at the NP but probably not at Echoes. So I'll see you in a week or so.

Take good care, friends!

Posted by Alicia at 05:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)