babies and sunsets . . .

Monday, I took a little time off and gave Joc a bit of a breather.  This time I took Ezra off her hands so she could shower and do some things she wanted to do.

Ummmmm, my pleasure!

Evidently I'm just the right sleep select comfort number.  Isn't he sweet??!  :)

And then Wednesday (because we knew we'd not be able to go out today ... we have our ministry's annual Pastor/Wife Appreciation banquet) I took off again.  (Because a five-day weekend wasn't enough.) And Todd and I hit the lake . . . again. The weather has just offered itself up for it!  It's not boiling hot, there's a decent mix of sun and clouds, and the fish are biting! We both fished, but Todd did most of the fishing and I went back and forth between fishing, reading, and taking pictures of the sky.

I think it's gotten to the point where I just need to list it as a hobby.

But what am I supposed to do when there's this glorious sky just begging to be captured??!

I think I mentioned my camera roll may go whacko every time we go out . . .

Although, to be fair, it doesn't *just* happen when we're on the lake.  I take a lot of morning sunrise shots going into work, too.  LOL!

I did go to work Thursday (yesterday). 

See? That's a sunrise.  

:)

celebrate on . . .

I may have shared that I give as much time as my birthday wants to be celebrated. A week where you only work two days and have the next five free is as good a time to continue celebrating as any! I gave a whole post to the Tate Farms fun, but I'll condense the remainder of the long weekend here. Mostly.  I think. 

Thursday, the weather continued to be beautiful, and since a wet, cool front was moving in on Friday, our regular boat day, Todd and I decided to go ahead and get our lake action in a day early.  It was another of those days where Todd was really catching them, so I fished, too.  Another fabulous day -- he caught two to my one, but that's pretty exciting to me, especially since our total was 45! And what do you know, algebra does pay off!  2x + x = 36; solve for x.  Hahaha...I caught 12!

What really captured my attention, though, was the late afternoon sun, and the clouds that were starting to pile up in anticipation of the next day's front . . .

I couldn't stop taking pictures! I think partly because my photo never looks quite as spectacular as what I'm seeing, and I want desperately to capture it that way.

I'd never seen a sun dog before ... it was just beautiful! I had to confirm with the meteorologist of Alabama, James Spann, to make sure it was what I thought it was.  If James says so, it is so!

The combination of the sun setting and the clouds amassing made for fabulous effect. My camera roll has no end of these photos.  Just saying. 

The City of Guntersville finally has a developer working on a spot of land on the lake aimed at boaters/tourists.  It's called City Harbor, and it's supposed to be a great spot for dining and entertainment, once they get it all built.

Not the best pic (this was actually taken 10/8).  We were moving at a pretty good clip!

It's really close to the marina ... it's a pretty spot now; just imagine what it will look like when it's all finished!

Friday I did a couple of things.  I visited Patches & Stitches and picked up some pumpkin oranges and greens (and used my birthday discount) . . .

Quite a nice little haul there, don't you think??

And then I traveled on to a new old shop.  It's an old shop that's been bought and is now being run by a new owner.  Southern Charm Quilting!  The new owner is in my stitch group.  She was having a terrific sale, trying to clear out some old inventory and make room for new fabric lines and wool.

I did very well here, too.  Seven yards of fabric for $36!  You can't beat that!!

From there I headed home and spent a little time in the Nook.  Worked on a mock-up of some pumpkin/jack-o-lantern placemats I wanted to make.  I messed up on the width of my strips, so I ended up with this little cutie instead . . .

I'll keep it for me ... at 12" wide it's too small for a placemat and a little too big for a mug rug ... but perfect as a small topper.  So be it.  I big stitched around the edges and down the lines.  It makes me smile!

Saturday was game day.  I made a double crust pizza and prepped the other two trick or treat bags for stitching . . .

I also finished up (finally) the pineapple block for Hospital Sketches in wool.

I've got two more blocks to finish.  The two most involved.  Go figure!  LOL!

As the evening (and the football) went by, I finished up my stitching . . .

I can't wait to gift these to the girls! 

One final photo.  Joc actually took and sent me this one.  In case you're wondering what Edith thinks about her baby brother . . . 

Baaahaaahaaa!!  As is usual, her face clearly says it all.

:)

let the festivities commence . . .

It's BIRTHDAY weekend!!  Hip, hip!!  The fun started Thursday evening when I pulled up and there were two beautiful planters of my favorite fall flowers . . .

MUMS!  Aren't they pretty?  Todd knows me so well!

Friday we hit the lake around 11:30.  Even the fish must have known it was my birthday weekend! I actually pulled out my pole (Todd was catching them hand over fist, so to speak) and I did well. 

I caught about eight (to Todd's twenty, but who's counting?).  Mine were GOOD sized!

The heron even squawked out a birthday greeting.  ;)

Saturday I pulled out that cute glow-in-the-dark fabric I found a month or so ago, and put it to good use!  I made these darling, lined trick or treat bags for the local grandgirls.

Then I realized I needed them to be able to differentiate them, so I decided to embroider the each little girl's name on them.  I finished Edith's.  Whew!

Sunday was my actual birthday.  Fifty-nine, if you must know!  Todd and I headed to lunch at my folk's house after church, and then we headed to Joc's house for [cookie] cake and ice cream.  

Edith was very happy to help me unwrap presents!  I'm particularly pleased to have that 16.5" square ruler from Creative Grids!  Todd got my the 10.5" ruler. Yay!

This was Todd's first time to hold Ezra!  Ezra's middle name, Paul, honors in part Todd's dad, Paul. Isn't that sweet?

Not nearly as sweet as this darling boy!

Look at that gas smile! 

I got in a good birthday pic with the entire crew . . . 

I think this is a first with the whole gang!  It's not a very flattering photo of me, but who's looking at me with all those cute kiddos surrounding me??!

This one is a little nicer . . .

Taken Monday at work (secret:  I generally wear the same outfit to work Monday that I wear to church on Sunday).  The first full day of my sixtieth year!  

:)

one, two, three . . .

What a splendid weekend! Friday, Jason had to go to work to handle an emergency, so I told Jocelyn I'd fill the gap.  (I mean ... three active girls and a four-day-old!)  With Joc's permission blessing gratitude, I loaded up the three girls in Joc's mini-van and headed off to the Botanical Gardens!

We packed a picnic, grabbed the Picnic Quilt for its first real test, and scouted the grounds for the perfect picnicking spot. What do you think . . . 

I think it's a perfect fit!  Did you know there's actually a formula to determine the best size for a picnic quilt (or blanket)?  I think I definitely got it right with this one.  

We had such a blast walking the Scarecrow Trail ... it's truly one of my favorite fall things to do!

The girls enjoyed the day and the sunshine, running the paths and climbing and exploring.  It was a nice treat for all of us!

And of course, I got a little *extra* reward from it myself . . .

Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

Saturday was game day.  I really enjoy doing handwork during games.  It keeps me from getting (dare I admit this?) too agitated during the play.  Well, mostly.

I saw this great tutorial for making embroidery acorns and giving them a little depth/dimension, by satin stitching the little caps, and split stitching the bodies. So I drew a handful out on my favorite Crackle, linen, and went to work in an assortment of colors (and notably, some Cosmos variegated) flosses.

I'm really pleased with how this is turning out.  And it'll be time to rotate my decor into fall (which definitely includes acorns) very soon!  I will say, if I ever do this again, I'll satin stitch the bodies and split stitch the caps. Hind sight is 20/20.

James sent me a dozen fabulous action shots of Sawyer playing soccer.  I'll limit what I share to these two . . .

Check out that steal! I'm not sure whether I'm more wowed by Sawyer's athleticism, or James's photography skills!

And since I gifted my Friday to Joc and the gang, Todd and I took advantage of a lovely Sunday afternoon and spent as much of it on the lake as was possible . . . 

A very good weekend.

:)

bringing home baby . . .

You know the old saying, when the cat's away, the mice will play, right?? That's exactly what happens when Neesey's left in charge for a couple of days!  Picnic dinners in front of the big screen . . .

Jumping-on-the-bed parties . . . 

And makeovers!

Ahem.  Extreme makeovers, as the case may be.  <grin>

Let's just say it took us a little while to remove evidence of that particular makeover.

And while we were killing it in the fun department, look what mom was doing!

May I introduce Ezra Paul?!?  Isn't he the sweetest? At 5 lbs, 10 oz, and 18 in, he's tiny!  And by the way, doesn't his mama look good??

He's so tiny, even his little newborn cap is a tad big!

But gosh, so very precious!

Each sister got a turn to hold him . . .

It was love at first sight for every one of his big sisters!

And then Neesey got a turn . . .

Isn't that just the best? ♥

:)