EKjourney Backup

I had an appointment this evening and the ride home was truly magnificent.  We chased the dark storm clouds all the way home with the setting sun behind us.  For the entire hour and a half drive, we saw this rainbow.  The most beautiful, glorious, brightest, longest lasting rainbow that I have ever seen!  Just outside of Silverton, I could stand it no longer and Phil pulled over so I could snap a few pictures with his phone. The first two pictures are at one end of the rainbow, the second two at the other.  The last picture was when the sun dipped down below the horizon and the rainbow melted away as we finally caught up with the storm and the rain poured down.          

I can't bear to see this day go!  It was full of crafty fun.  I experimented with wet felting, something I hadn't done before.  Now that I have had a taste...I can't wait to make more.  I have so many new ideas swirling around in my head. Before, laying out the wool roving and playing around with design and color.  After, the wool is in matted together in one firm shape. A wet soapy piece ready to be felted.  I used lots of thick pieces and really like the way it turned out (it is currently drying under a fan).  Felted flower.  I need to add some beads or embroidery in the center. 

 We prepared for the big storm and it never came!  This was fine by me.  There were more opportunities for bike rides and outside time. Today was just about a perfect mix of a day.  I ran a few early morning errands and crocheted.  We had delicious cinnamon rolls (made with almond and coconut flour) with apple topping for brunch.  After a short rest, it was off to Wilco to splurge on flowers, followed by planting and a big patio clean.  Spring rolls, rice, and salad are on the table waiting for the last of the clean up to be finished and for Phil and the children to get washed up. It was the kind of day where the clouds were dark and ominous or fluffy and billowy and blown about in the blue sky.  Autumn perfection! My crochet spider web!  I love how it turned out.  I followed this pattern:  http://glor-crochetgalore.blogspot.com/2010/01/1.html   The spider is a little hokey but the children like it.  The front porch all cl...

...of this lovely Autumn Day before the storm front rolls in tonight bringing lots of rain and damp chilly air. We did morning school in the sunbeams in the playroom with tea and lots of blankets.  We took a walk.  We picked tomatoes, figs, and grapes.  We made salsa and grape juice.  We skipped afternoon school (will catch up tomorrow instead).  I picked Goldenrod and made a Autumn display.  I made a quick trip to the store to pick up wicks for the Kerosene lamps and stock up on tea.  We stayed outside until dark.  It was a lovely busy day until about 6:30 when I was ready to be done and sit down and rest. Studying a book on warships  Being silly at the table  My "big" kids  Sweet grapes Zinnia and Sunflower  Peppers  Juicy tomatoes  Hydrangea  A yummy lunch.  It was so colorful, I just had to take a picture. Autumn display  Our latest art work project 

We did it!  Our school routine has started and we have transitioned to the school year.  We are on week 2 of homeschooling and have a good 7 days of school under our belt.  It is going very well and I am so pleased to see all the pieces fall into place. Our homeschooling day goes like this: I get up around 6:30 and start my day with a cup of Earl Gray (with cream and stevia) and check computer stuff and read my Bible.  This time in the morning is essential for me.  Early risers (Brighton mainly) watch something on Netflix.  It isn't the most ideal situation but having that time to start my day with the quiet and with the Lord is so important/essential/necessary. The last of the stragglers (Sawyer) must be up by 8:00.  I work on breakfast and the children work on getting dressed and morning chores.  This literally take 1-1-/2 hours.  The children are fabulous helpers.  They take care of all the animals, vacuum, load and unload the dishwas...

Stylecraft yarn.  I made a key so I can remember the names of yarn colors.   Love the bright warm colors!  I am making a valence for the window in the kitchen.  Needle felting project basket  Felted crochet Fall leaves We got rid of our old 32 inch tv that took up the entire bottom section of my crafty closet.  Now there is so much more room for crafty stuff!  See the white and red stripy valence over the top of the closet?  I picked that up at the Goodwill.  It is a perfect fit to cover up the upper storage space.  To the left is the homeschooling shelf.  Ready to begin the school year. My crafty corner  I love beautiful colorful things! 

Even though Phil starts back to school the week before labor day, it always feels like the official end when those last 4 days of vacation are used up and he returns to work after labor day. I have to say, this was probably one of my worst summers ever and I think it was for Phil too.  The grief over losing Ezzy was not something that could be wrapped up in a neat little box and put on the shelf marked closure despite my best efforts to do so.  Phil and I had decided to use the summer to finish projects in the house.  It seemed like something that ought to take just a few weeks but it literally sucked up most of the summer.  The house was in construction work shambles and the projects still are not ready to be officially crossed off the list.  I appreciate Phil's effort and I know that going back to work for him was a vacation from the summer. Without getting into a lot of details, I have had some health issues.  I had bloodwork done and the results showed ...