I was lucky enough to spend a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday in Houston.  I spent part of the time with Larissa and her family at her house, complete with delicious baked goods and a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.  The other part of the time I spent celebrating the engagement of one of my cousins, in a style I’ve never seen before!  The bride-to-be’s family is from India, and we were treated to a wonderful party.  As an added bonus to seeing cousins, aunts, and my mom, I was able to also see my great aunt and uncle.  I don’t have any grandparents left to visit or hear stories from, so it was especially meaningful.

Of course now, I am feeling generally crappy physically but am downing the oj in a last ditch effort to not get sick.  Maybe its just allergies.  Maybe the humidifier will help.  Right?

This has actually been finished for a few weeks now, but finally got a chance to wash and take photos.  This is for the daughter of one of my coworkers, and I love all of the juicy colors!  Super cute. Its hard to tell from this picture, but all of those stars are made up of fabric with tiny little dots on them too, to compliment the big polka dots around the border.  #33 of Year of Making Stuff. Woo!  I am definitely slowing down though…think I need a few quick projects.

Last weekend Cynthia came in town to visit and we were able to meet up on Saturday afternoon to catch an IU football game with Abby, Erik and two of their girls.  The weather was beautiful and we had a great time.  Of course, we had an even better time late night at the Vid, but there is mighty little photographic evidence of that, for which we are lucky I think.  It does make me sad though that so many of my beloved friends live so far away!

Speaking of friends, Jenn and I went climbing today and I did even better than last time by far!  I reached the top on all of my four attempts and generally felt stronger and more confident as to what I was doing.  I think Jenn is also getting more comfortable with me as her partner!  It is scary to have to hold someone up at that height!  Again, my hands and forearms are a little sore, but it was a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning.

Last weekend, Steph invited a few friends to join her at her family’s property by the Morgan-Monroe State Forest.  We took a beautiful hike in the late afternoon, stayed up to all hours with a fire and then survived the frost in the morning.  It was a great time and a nice get away.

This week at work was crazy, but I survived and am now enjoying the weekend even though we’ve gone from a cool summer to a cold fall.  I have no Halloween costume ideas and forgot to get pumpkins at the grocery today.  Maybe at the market tomorrow.

Its done.  I feel like it is a little anti-climactic as its been done for a few weeks now, I just hadn’t washed it and hung it to take a proper photo.  Even then, its a little dark at the bottom.  This is the 1200+ piece twin sized quilt that will go to the new shelter for the Middle Way House.  I wrote more eloquently about this quilt back in JUNE!  Heh.  I am glad it is done.  Now I am on to making three baby quilts for friends who are due this winter.  Also, smaller projects. Things I can actually finish!  I am way behind in my YOMS…this is only #31!

I did my last bit of Lotus stuff yesterday, went to the park to watch Ugandan drums and song and check out the parade.  I think the marching bands just aren’t measuring up to the one three years ago.  I did my unorganized volunteer shift as a door watcher at the Methodist Church (vacuuming between pews after included!) and went back to work today.

We also picked new dates to meet up for the Cutters Craft Brigade!  Third Sundays at 5:30pm at Fountain Square mall (at least for October and November).  Join us for craftiness and possibly snacks.

Monday afternoon we had a party to celebrate the library garden and the approximately 100 pounds of produce that we’ve grown and donated.  The tomato plants are still out of control, squash is coming in and the peppers look delicious.

After that, I met up with Tim for a SLIS function at Farm.  It was fun to see all the SLIS kids dressed up.  Farm isn’t very veggie entree friendly, so neither of us had been there before, but the Root Cellar has summertime appeal.  It was also Jenn’s birthday, so later I met up with her at the Bishop, a new bar/music venue where the Cinemat used to be.  Good times.

I still have yet to wash the twin sized quilt, take photos and be done with it so I can stop talking about it.  Next up come three winter baby quilts and a certain unnamed Christmas knitting project.

Lotus and concerts galore this weekend!  Must rest up.

By late fall I would like to have 4 more hats to donate to the Quilt Guild for distribution to the Olcott Cancer Center and other organizations in our community.  Quilting isn’t easy to take on the road, but I think I need to remember to just take some knitting with me, as you never know when you’ll have a good opportunity.  Part of this hat was knit at Tim’s softball game.

Had a great weekend, but now looking a a few ugly days at work.  June starts tomorrow!

Yarr.  So I’ve been looking for a new pair of flats latey (well you know, in a very half-assed online sort of way) and finally came across the ones that were perfect today!  Oh, except for the fact that they were $180.  Guess I’ll keep looking.

I have the next two days off….reading, knitting, bike riding, gardening, art show visiting, party going, friend seeing, sleeping, music listening and kitty playing to commence now!

I decided to make a flash tattoo t-shirt after being inspired by someone at work.  I originally had other plans in my head, but I am happy with the results and would like to play around with this a little more.  I didn’t have tracing paper (my favorite marking tool wouldn’t show up on the black) or stabilizer for embroidering on a tshirt, but think the “winging it” method actually worked best. Swallow tattoos are traditional for sailors (no really!) indicating both long voyages and returning home.

Memorial Day weekend starts early for me, but I will be interrupted with work on Sunday.  Tomorrow, though it is off to Bedford!  Yes, because we are fancy.

Dear St. Louis,

Watch out.

Love, Sarah

Yay!  Looks like I am going to St. Louis for the 4th to visit Suzy and family.  I haven’t been in years, but its always a good time.  A trip to the arch is a must (we have to go every time, but can’t beat the time that those people were doing the polka in front of us in line and Abby hated riding in the egg and there is the picture of Suzy’s hand on the cow’s butt in the exhibit even though she was only demonstrating) and maybe camping!

Tim will be at home studying, but also hosting a bachelor party.  Yeah!

Growing up the big day for us was always Christmas Eve, complete with homemade soups, gourmet trimmings, fancy dessert, and opening presents. I would have spent the day making luminarias and maybe working on a jigsaw puzzle.

But without family in town, and without visitors here, it is much more low key. I am sewing on a few projects, and we even cleaned up the basement today.

We aren’t without socializing either, Jenn and Scotty had us over on Saturday night, and tomorrow (Christmas Day) we head to Bedford in the afternoon to meet up with that bunch.

Wherever you are, and however you celebrate, I wish everyone the best. Happy Festivus!