wrapping it up . . .

The month, that is . . . wrapping up August!  It was a good week.  The Merkel girls went back to school this week!

I love Edith's face in this one . . .

They won't be able to call it the 'School for Girls' in a couple of years!  

Thursday I left work for a moment and skipped next door to Barb's Sewing.  Social media really does work for advertising.  They had posted some cute new fabrics on the Instagram, and don't you know I came back with yardage from several of those they advertised and some from those they didn't!

But check out those Halloween prints!  Aren't they darling??  Those two and the three on the bottom, right, were advertised.  It obviously, in my case, pays off. ;)

Friday we hit the lake.  Again, the forecast held rain, but it's so hit or miss in the summer, we hate to scrap a whole day because of it.

This time we did run into a little shower.  You know, just enough to make everything wet and have it feel more humid and stickier!  LOL!

But afternoon storms often bring . . .

Rainbows!  First we could only see half of it.  But then the clouds shifted and we got to see the whole glorious thing!

I mean — there's no other word for it — just glorious!!  Plus the stormy clouds heading out made for a most fantastic sunset:

I can't ever get enough of that sight, even though it's bittersweet (because it means we're headed back to the marina).  Todd and I talk about getting a houseboat some day.  Not sure what I'd do with my fabric stash, but otherwise, I can imagine it!

Saturday was a stitch-in with my stitcher's group.  We had a good turn out.  

I brought my machine (I brought it to retreat and to a stitch-in ... the gals thought the world was ending) and worked on the top-stitching of Ezra's pillow sham.

Today is our last day of service at Essential Church.  We've been there for a while; nearly three years.  I will miss worshiping and serving with this group.  We will take a furlough through the end of the year.  With Ezra on the way and both Todd's dad and my folks struggling health-wise, we need to have a little more flexibility.  It's all in God's perfect timing!

:)

all the grands . . .

The Panter crew headed back to school this week . . .

I cannot believe how quickly they're growing!  And I absolutely canNOT believe that my Sawyer is in middle school.  Say it ain't so!! It's just been a month since we saw them last ... and it still feels like way too long.  

I took the Merkel girls the picnic quilt.  We wanted to take it out for a test run, but settled for a living room test run . . .

I'd say it was a hit!  We'll look forward to picnicking on it sometime soon (maybe when the weather cools a little and it's not so RAINY!

Burrito quilt!

Peek-a-boo!!

We also played upstairs in the playroom.  The girls insisted on pulling out their princess tent and decorating it lights . . .

They were pretty proud of their setting up.

Everyone in their crowns!  They have the sweetest smiles!

These girls ... they also know how to make a face!

Leia joined in ... well, she hung out on the outskirts and made it look like she wanted to be sociable.  She didn't, trust me.  ;)

And now, finally, we've got a NAME!! And I was entrusted to do some special stitching on a special little cap . . .

Ezra Paul, we can't wait to meet you!!

:)

school daze . . .

Todd was on shift yesterday, so I was *almost* destined to spend the day alone. Luckily, fate and my daughter stepped in! I had a quiet morning, which was nice because it allowed me to finish up quilting on my Russia block and do all my physical therapy exercises. Joc, who's a third grade teacher, had meetings most of the morning, and then a PTA sponsored lunch. Afterward, though, she came and got me and I helped her prepare for the first day of school and she kept me company with her bright and cheery self!!!

This year, she was able to move her classroom into the school building. Last year she was in a portable. So she did have to start from scratch on getting her room ready. The school-wide theme is that the school and its students ROCK! All the teachers have cute welcome bulletin boards outside their classrooms. Joc's was the BEST!

I helped cut out flash cards . . .

And made lovely messes . . .

And I collated papers and stuff, too, but mostly I just admired.

If I was in third grade, I'd like to be in this classroom!

Science books ready to go!

She hasn't hung her curtains yet.
I think she was doing that today.

There's lots of 'areas' in her classroom!

See that stack of textbooks, below, ready to be handed out??

School starts MONDAY! I think she's ready!

We had a productive day and it was lots of fun! I miss being in the classroom and getting ready for a new school year!! (I don't miss administration. LOL!)

Today, Todd and I spent at Camp MACOBA! Yay! With the crutches I'm able to maneuver the steps inside the RV! This is tremendous!! Last hurdle is the shower. But it won't be long, now. It won't be long at ALL!

We have a church up here for their church-wide picnic this afternoon. Todd went over and chatted with the setup committee when they first got up here. We're both going over in just a bit to say hello. Then we'll head back to house for the night. But it will be one of the last times--perhaps THE last time, that we spend the day at the RV and return to the house for sleep. And I'm so ready!

Ciao!!

:)