Funny Magic

Our Summertime Staycation

This past weekend (and through today), we've been having ourselves a little "Thompson Family Staycation."  Originally, we were gonna stay at a cabin up north, but since our budget dictated otherwise we decided to stay at home and fill our days with fun activities and good food, together as a family.

So far we've been swimming at a local wading pool and water park:

We took a little daytrip to Pepin, Wisconsin,

where we had a picnic at the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder:

Of course we had to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum, where hubby mugged for the camera:

(What can I say...he cracks me up!)

A plus side to the Family Staycation? We've been able to bring Flossie with us for most of our outings:

And yes, she prefers to ride on my lap in the car and fall asleep with me holding her like a baby. Woof!

(I'll be back soon with more photos...right now I gotta get back to "staycationing!" Later, 'gators!)

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple moment I'm pausing to remember and keep with me today. Visit SouleMama for lots more "moments," and have a lovely weekend!

For a Busy Table

Hi there! How's your summer going so far? We've been busy around here with a myriad of activites for both kids, such as tumbling and t-ball and afternoon summer programs. Somehow, though, I managed to find a little time for some simple sewing...for quite a while I've been wanting to make up some new placemats and napkins for the table; our old ones were looking downright shabby.

For the placemat tops I used some Tina Givens fabric from the stash, and I have to say that her designs are one of my very favorites. Like, I've been ooohing-n-ahhhing over her latest collection, "Opal Owl."  Go ahead and click...cool, huh?

To back the placemats I used some fabric from Ikea, then put some batting inbetween the layers and finished 'em off with a little free-motion quilting. Fun stuff, I say! Oh, and let's not forget the napkins:

After all that, I figured the table needs a new a new runner now:

And now I'm off to get started with a bit more sewing while Juliet watches an episode of Gilligan's Island. (Yep, that's her most favorite show, and yep, we own all three seasons on DVD!)

Knittin'

I'm happy to report that I finished a pair of socks that had been lingering on the needles for a loooong time:

They turned out just right, and I love 'em. (Ravelry deets here.) But then, there's hardly a pair of knitted socks out there that I don't love.

I really want to cast-on for another pair, but first I need to finish up a test-knit for Jess of Fifth Lamp Down:

This'll be a little top for Juliet; Jess is a phenomenal knitter, and I can only hope to serve her pattern well. So far, so good, though...I love me a bunch'a mindless stockinette in-the-round, especially with summer vacay in full-swing around here. Today the kids and I slept in late and went to the Minnesota Zoo in the afternoon; a great time was had by all, and I got some pretty cool pics, as well. If time permits, I'll devote a post to the animals later this week. Ta-ta for now...  
 

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple moment I'm pausing to remember and keep with me today.   Visit SouleMama for lots more "moments," and have a lovely weekend!

A Bit 'O This-n-That

Well, hello! We're at the official start of summer vacation here...I have high hopes that there'll be lots of sewing and knitting, playing and enjoying each other's company, grilling outdoors, sleeping late, and general chillax-ation. This coming fall my littlest one will go to Kindergarten all day/every day, so I want to really try and soak-up our time together this summer. In other words, I've got squirt guns and water ballons at the ready for our next good-n-hot day!

In the meantime, I whipped-up a little Lazy Days skirt for Juliet last week:

I used some fabric that she chose herself from JoAnn's, and all-in-all it probably took 45 minutes to make. Love that. Don't love that I couldn't get a decent shot of her wearing the skirt, but she's a rascally little 5-year-old, so I guess that explains it!

Today it was wet and rainy...all day...so I got some major knitting done on the pair of socks I started last year. That's right...LAST YEAR.

Why it's taken so long to bust these out is beyond me; perhaps it's because I keep getting sidetracked by newer, shinier projects?? I think I'm addicted to casting-on, that feeling of beginning anew, the excitement of new yarn and a new pattern...I could go on. But finish these this week I will; they're 75% there, and I'm motivated!

Anyhoo, tomorrow is supposed to be a nicer, warmer, sunshiney day and I'm looking forward to walking around outside and inspecting my gardens to see what's about to bloom now, as we've said goodbye to these beauties for the season:

I just loved the Peonies this year...they welcomed Spring with such a big 'ol burst of bloom and color and fragrance.

Hope your week is off to a good start, and thanks for reading. Ta-ta for now!

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple moment I'm pausing to remember and keep with me today.   Visit SouleMama for lots more "moments," and have a lovely weekend!

Turn the Page...Tuesday

Er, Wednesday - I'm a day late, but here it is:

I'm probably the last person on earth whose read this one, but read it and like it I did. I thought it was intriguing, well-paced, and I loved that it was about a travelling circus during the Great Depression. Oh, and did you know that it's being made into a movie now, too, that'll star Reese Witherspoon and Robert Patinson? (Little known fact: I like to visit Eonline daily periodically.)

Anyhoo, I'm nearly finished with The Island, as recommended by Ms. TTPT herself...and with that I do declare that it's time for me to finish it up so's I can write about it next month. Oh, and I gotta think about what I'm gonna read for next month's challenge, too.

Have yourself a happy Wednesday!

Peonies

In the little garden out back by our garage, the peonies are finally blooming; it's taken a couple of years for the flowers to emerge since transplanting. The white ones are in full bloom right now, and a dark pink plant is getting ready to burst open - perhaps tomorrow? I'm also hoping to put up a post for Turn the Page Tuesday tomorrow, as well; a day late, but better late than never. Ta-ta for now.