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White knuckleing our way into Fall

That's what we are doing here in the Pacific Northwest.
Hanging onto Fall with white knuckles not wanting it to slip away unnoticed.
A freeze will likely come next week.
But until then...

Every opportunity to soak up the beautiful world around us is being enjoyed in full measure.
It is a relief to step outside - away from the doom and gloom on the news and pause, breathe deeply, think about faith and trust and such things.
When I asked Ranger Rick to shake the rugs for me and he didn't return I wondered....

so did Miss Pepper...dropping toys close by hoping for a game of fetch.
This my friends, is a man who has 'it' figured out. He remains steady, optimistic, full of faith in the future, calm.
Enjoys the journey of life.
Lucky me. Lucky me.

Sweet Land of Liberty

of thee I sing!

Land of the noble free, Thy name I love.

Let music swell the breeze...Sweet freedoms song.
 
Long may our land be bright, with freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.

Doors all painted nicely, and my "America's" back in place. Feels good. Also scrubbed and wax the 'no-wax' floor. Ahhhh
The groove is a returning. 

County Living Fair - can you find me?

Rolane my friend from Antique Barn Show returned from the Country Living Fair.

Pictures from Fair found here. If'n you look closely and scroll down you will catch a glimpse of some of bags. How fun! She asked me to write a bit about them...this is what I wrote.

"The names for the bags came about quite naturally as they were being made. Because they are each original and no two are alike they seem to have personalities. And I started calling them my 'girlie-girls.' Girls need names - right? - so each girl (bag/tote) receives a name.

One evening I was working on naming the bags, and my husband commented, "You are naming your bags?" Yip. They have names.

(A side note here: At one of my shows a customer was looking at the bags, then noticed they had names and started reading all the names....then she read one and hugged it to her, "Oh! this is my Mothers name."

" My Mom loved old things."

" My Mom loved to sew."

" My Mom would have love this bag."

Of course, I believe things happen for a reason, a small measure of unexpected comfort, that was exciting.)

My business is HeartRocks.

The name Heartrocks actually began when my husband, a Natural Resource Specialists, came home from work one day with a rock….perfectly heart-shaped. His tender expression and the rock discovery took my breath away….and Heartrocks was born.

My hope is that everyone that has a Heartrock creation will have their breath taken away one way or another. They will feel the magic/love/kindness that goes into its creation.

Since that first HeartRock many people have found and brought me HeartRocks.

I have HeartRocks from many many places. Friends and family finding them is the gift.

Looking for them and thinking about me, it always seems to take my breath away in the same magical way.

I once read about a teacher working on an isolated island. One of the treasures of the island was a rare shell found only on a deserted beach far from the village where the teacher worked. One day a student brought her a gift of one of those shells. The teacher was touched but told the student he shouldn’t have walked so far to get her the present. The student replied, “But teacher, the walk was part of the gift."

Naturally shaped heart rocks is not something that can be picked up at the mall, making the gift of finding and giving - even more precious.

Now, I can't really explain, but all of this connects together in my brain."

HeartRocks

Kindness

Taking ones breath away.

This is what made it's way to the blog..."From Vintage Barn these vintage flour sack market totes made by Arlene, with love, I am told. They come in two sizes. What i love about these, beside their graphics and ample size, is the hang tags. Like a fortune in a cookie, a positive message -- something for your scrap book - is on each tote."

getting my groove back

I am not sure where it went. My Mom use to say, "My get up and go - got up and went".
Maybe that is what happened.
On the home front...well, I have walked from room to room. Fiddled with this fiddled with that - sort of a fiddle-dee-dee thing.
I really should 'tie into' finishing that back porch project.
I am in the slow process of painting each door a different color..they all need another coat and the trim about the laundry needs some color instead of just primer...

I really should...
I really should....
On the flour sack business front...well, I have straightened, stacked, sorted my vintage lining fabrics. Still love the bunny soft feel of vintage fabric.

Fiddled with this and fiddled with that but not sewn a silly thing.
I don't know why but all my fiddling about and not accomplishing diddley squat reminded me of once my sister needed a new freezer and a new TV at the same time. Living on a shoestring budget it had to be one or the other. She bought the TV, and then said, "Who wants to sit and look at a freezer?"  Sometimes we just do the fiddley instead of the productive, eh? I've been playing with paper.
Went to the store and looked at scrapbook supplies. O.V.E.R.W.H.E.L.M.I.N.G.
Made this silly little pocket...

Will hold a kiss -  Pretty cute - but - not sure what to do with it.
Got out my good old trusty recycle paper pile and made this flower.

Really like it  - not sure what to do with it, either.

Found these labels I forgot about - I like to put these on packages.
I'm glad I found them before Christmas instead of after...

Happy to share that this sweet girl...has her groove back...

Maybe it will 'catch on' and I'll get mine.
In the meantime. Well, ..in the meantime....

Autumn

The last summer  rose on our yellow rose bush.
Reminds me of the classic story The Last Leaf, by O'Henry. I just reread it. Great story.
Autumn is "rat tat tatting" on our window here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Cool night breezes wafting in the window in the evenings.
Bright brilliant Fall flowers tipping their heads.

The garden winding down..eating our last summer squash harvest this evening.
The plum tree beginning to turn colors and loose her leaves.
Ah...Autumn
Ranger Rick stands on the deck this time of year and does quite a bit of 'air sniffing'.
Breathing deeply.
Enjoying.
Being quiet on the inside.

A Grace Gisguised

For book club in October we are sharing favorite Christmas books.
I will share.
For November we are reading this.
I recommended it and the club decided to read it together.
I am so thrilled.
It is one of my favorite all time books.
Most books I read - then either donate back to the Thrift Store from whenst it came or return to the library.
I have purchased several of these books.
Just bought another one, in fact.
A good review here.
My original book has so many marks and sticky notes - it is not loanable anymore.
I have given several away.
I was first introduced to this book when I was going through some personal loss of my own.
Though the books addresses loss - it is not heartrending.
It is encouraging and insightful.
It is healing.
I recommend.
It is also available at my library..check there..but I believe you will want to own a copy.
It is a book worth having on your beloved book shelf.
When you have read it - let's talk. I'd love to share. Just come back and post on this link and we'll discuss it together. (You can find this link by clicking on 'book club' in the categories on the sidebar)

A bit distracted

See this really adorable, affection, terrific dog?

Well she has a fragile digestive system - poor pooch.
Having a bad spell and been in the doggy hospital on IV therapy.
She is finally home tonight - WHERE SHE BELONGS.
How she could have slipped in and taken over such a big spot in our hearts, causes bewilderment, but she has.

She this really handsome, kind, amazing man?

He has a fragile digestive system - poor Grandpa.
Having a bad spell and been under the weather.
He is home  - resting in bed.

How could he have taken over my whole my heart ?
Perhaps we'll have to put them both on the same canned dog food diet.
Ya think?

Feeble Fables

Oh, don't get all upset - I'm not going to trash Aesop.
In fact, I quite like Aesop - most the time.
I just have issue with a couple fables.
The Tortoise and The Hare
The Ant and the Grasshopper or is it he Grasshopper and the Ant?
Either way.
I like the slow and steady wins the race philosophy. But just the philosophy, in practicality, I think there is something to be said for the Hare.
I am more of a Hare. I am married to a Tortoise. We make a good match.
There are virtues - for both.
I tend to rush in ('fools rush in' comes to mind but we won't go there) and tackle a thing and get 'er done.
In fact, I love to fix - solve - a BIG mess. Love it.
A cupboard that is just a jumbled mess, that yucky mess behind the washing machine, the spill over in the oven - bring it on -  but to daily dust and tidy and straighten - sweep the floor EVERY day and supper EVERY night - not so much.
The PTA where our children were in school was a mess, with a capital MESS. Oh. That was fun. Getting that all organized and pulling everyone on board. Recruiting members and teachers to work together for our kids. I LOVED IT. The challenge of the thing gave me great energy and was very rewarding. Once we had it running smoothly and were winning awards - not so.
I lost interest. Was more than happy to pass the torch to someone else...to plod along.
That said, you wouldn't think I also have grasshopper tendencies.
But alas and alack.
I just like to take a nap, read a good book, dilly dally about with a thing.
Remember those two gifts?
To ourselves - not to compare.
To others - not judge.
Let's embrace and enjoy our grasshopper and hare-ness, if that's what we are.
O.K?

What are you...a grasshopper, ant, hare, tortoise?
Whatever it is..it is okay. It's alright.
Go ahead..you can be it. I am giving you permission.
Aesop is just one opinion.

And it would be feeble to draw a conclusion on ONE opinion, now wouldn't it?

Remembering

Listening to this today. (5 and 13 my favorite)
Thinking.
Remembering.
Praying

So many people...all because of hate dwelling and growing in peoples hearts.

Looking here and here.

Wishing we could all live that "Golden Rule" - don't you?

His head was mis-shapen and he worked among hookers

And I adore him.
True story.
Miss Bernina froze. She locked up. Won't move.
The motor would make a noise but no up and down needle action.
I froze.
No sewing machine.
No Miss Bernina.
Oh, we have a Bernina dealer in town and thus a Bernina repair man.
But - I don't much like him.
He mocked my old machine.
And put a couple scratches on the previously perfect finish.
AND he takes at least a week to work on anything.
AND he is expensive.
....................Then I remembered
I have a friend who sews - like - really sews professional. Formals, wedding dress and such.
She likes Boyd Walker.
Boyd Walker - you mean that Boyd Walker that has the little shop down on Sprague where it seems every night the news is  reporting that police are arresting hookers?
That Boyd Walker??
Yes.
So off to 1926 East Sprague -  Boyd Walker Sewing Machine Co. I go. Grateful it is midday.
Hugging my Bernina to my bosom like one of my grandchildren

"Set your machine right here", she said. "I"ll go get him."
He comes.
I don't know if it is the different size of ears or that the two sides of his head don't seem to quite match, but he looks - well, he looks like a sewing machine repairman.
I attempt to tell him what is the matter but he is hard of hearing and mostly just holds his hand to his ear in a gesture to let me know he can't hear me.
Then.....his nimble fingers begin to do their magic.
"How long until I will have her back?" I ask.
Another hand behind ear gesture.
Soon there are many parts strewn about the table top.
The memory of my Dad fixing a toaster once and when reassembled there were many 'extra' screws flashes through my mind.
Again..."Do you know what is wrong? How long?" I am hoping one (praying) not two weeks, remembering the mocking of former repair man..."Parts are hard to get for these OLD machines."
No response.
He can't hear.
Nimble fingers busily undoing screws removing plates.
I soon realize he is FIXING the machine right on the spot. Right now. Was it because I was hugging her or the fact that I refer to 'it' as a 'her' he sensed my urgency for a quick repair.
I glance out the window as he works, and spot three women. Short shorts, lots of jewelry, a couple tatoos, nice big red lips. Hummmmm.
He doesn't notice, of course.
Thirty minutes later he begins to grin and I begin to wonder, "How much will this cost me?"
Doing a rush job..on the spot. Taking a long time.
He then asks if I brought the foot pedal.
I did.
He hooks it all up and she sews like a dream.
He smiles.
"I'll take it to the back and blow out all the lint."
It's fixed.
Returned lint free and time to ring up the bill.
I pull out my debit card thinking, "It doesn't matter, I HAVE TO HAVE my Bernina."
"Fifteen dollars", he states.
I think fifty dollars - well, at least it is fixed.
He pulls out his little credit card machine, you know the ones that slide over your card and make an impression on the carbon copy...from the 80's.
I then sign the slip.
FIFTEEN.
That is right..I was hard of hearing.
FIFTEEN...on the spot repair.
As I drive away, I remember the delightful story of, "The Old Fisherman".

Thank you Boyd Walker..on 1926 East Sprague...Spokane Washington.
Go there.
He is amazing.
Go in the middle of the day.