Friday

 I should have worked on the graduation quilt yesterday. I didn't. I felt like doing some cross stitching after some laundry, picking up and getting groceries. I added the wagon part above the wheel that I finished a few weeks ago. Two eggs collected from the coop around noon. The chickens are happy, I just tossed them the remains of the rotisserie carcass and veggies I strained out of the crock pot this morning from making broth overnight. Grandma had gotten that and made pasta salad and watermelon for Tuesday when we got home. 

I've got to go pick up glasses after I log off from work today. I had pulled thinly sliced pork chops from the freezer the other day, so those will be made into schnitzel tonight for dinner. I think I still have lemons in the fridge. I really need to pull up the unsuccessful summer garden and prep it for planting for the fall. This is the planting that up north you do in May/June. Hoping the temps go down so I can get some crops to be happy this fall. Crazy with all the recalls on everything in the grocery store lately. I need to go back to the farmers markets on Saturday or Friday after work I think. Must remind Greg to start my hydroponic lettuce up again. My salads have a base of quinoa right now instead of lettuce.

Slow Sunday in Vermont

 It has been a long couple of days with lots of family. This was a beautiful morning this week on the lake. Love how the calm lake has the reflection. 

Aidan did most of the puzzle with help from the rest of us (grammy, emily, greg and me)

I've added some rows to the blanket each day. This will travel home with me. I'm almost done the first skein of yarn. It is a variegated blues from red heart. Just a simple single crochet and double crochet pattern. 

Two more days here before we fly home.  Emily wants her senior photos taken here, so Greg brought his camera. Today will be the day to get that done. We might go to the races tonight as we missed going Thursday.  Mom is doing well and will enjoy a quiet day today I think. 

Linking up with Kathy and the Slow Sunday Stitching . It appears hand quilting on the grad quilt is not required,  so I'll do simple walking foot quilting this week and hope to be binding next weekend.  He moves to college the 16th.

Cool Vermont weather.

 Lovely cool temps today. Under 70 and we are enjoying it! Just got back from a kayak paddle with Emily.

I did a little crochet with this view yesterday. 

There are 2 mama ducks with 6 babies each. This was one set.

One loon in the middle of the lake. There are 5 or 6 on the lake this year.  

Testing the boat.  Something needs fixing. Someone did too much twisting to check things. Will see if greg and bob can work together on it. 

Dinners are planned the next few days. Mom has been out here with us. Enjoying peaceful lake time. 

Listening to the latest Thursday night murder club on Libby.

Weekend wrap up

 Friday on my morning walk with Bear the dog, we got to see 4 deer! I think I was able to get 3 of the 4 in this photo. I had the leash in one hand, so the shot was not great. 

For the RSC, I was able to add one teal house to the pile. I plan to add a few more later tonight and maybe a chicken or two! Linking up with the RSC.

I did get into the sewing room on Thursday and figured out I had the Graduation quilt bear paws into diagonal rows, but they needed their side triangles added. Then they got sewn into a top. Did I mention I absolutely hate sewing those long seams? I added the four corners today. 

It needs a press and to determine a border or not. I believe it is 80x80 now so might want a little plain border all around. It might just be a slightly darker cream to make it bigger as it will shrink a bit in the quilting. I'll let the boy decide though as it is his quilt. I'll have to find a backing and batting for hand quilting, and put it onto the frame. Someone will have to wait a bit for it but, that is what he wants. The crazy summer delayed it a bit (doubt I would have hit the deadline anyway!). We will see how long it takes. I see a green binding to finish it off.... or maybe the blue? I think I have enough of a couple of fabrics so we will see what happens when I need a binding.

I've been doing a lot of counted cross stitch and I've managed to distort my fabric, so it is horrible in photo's. I've tried spritzing it with water and pressing it. Nothing seems to work. So, here is where I am at this point. I'll work on the pumpkin in the lower left tonight, I think. This will be taken with me for plane work (yup - travelling again but this one was scheduled!Flights 12+13 for me since June 3) up to Vermont. The kids and hubby are going with me this time. We have our house/animal sitter in place again. Linking up with Kathy and the Slow Sunday stitchers.

Thursday

 Saw a couple sets of wild turkeys on the walk with Bear this morning. This is 2 of the babies with their Mom's. I have a feeling they are from the group of 8 a few months ago. 

Today I will wander into the sewing room and finish getting Aidan's quilt to a top stage. I've been working on this cross stitch at night. The front wheel is done. I'll move to the pumpkins tonight - I believe there are two on the bottom to do and one up on the seat of the wagon. I'll work on the two at the bottom next. 

I think it is a french toast morning for breakfast. Then a shower and a visit to see my FIL. It has been about 4 weeks since I have seen him I think. 

The kids are busy, so Greg and I have actually had a couple dinners on our own this week! I guess it is easing us into that empty next that will be happening soon. Monday was pork chops, potato and zucchini. Tuesday was Chicken tikka masala. I baked off another chicken with just herbs to use for lunches for me and Em this week. Last night was beef stroganoff over noodles. Tonight is fajitas, so I need to grab some steaks for that and get the sides for it. I think Friday will be mushroom ravioli pasta and/or naan bread as pizzas. Can't buy too much since we are leaving Monday again. Grandma will be house sitting the animals again.

Listening to Home Front by Kristin Hannah on my Libby app. I just finished listening to the audible Harry Potter Series. I forgot about the differences between the books and the movies. I'll have to go searching for another series to listen to next.... although maybe I'll read an actual book?

I scheduled my Mammogram that I had to cancel last month. I got my eye's checked yesterday. Seems my distance sight has gotten better and I don't need glasses for that anymore! The close up... about the same or slightly worse. I was using the 1 reader glasses. I think I'm up to the 1.5's now. I'll take it. Guess I can just get regular sunglasses for driving now! 

Time to make breakfast and get on with my day. Emily is off to band camp. The boys are still sleeping. 

Two steps forwards, one step back.

 Well, there was more stitching yesterday that I planned but that is a good thing! I did notice a boo boo and got to take out that top left portion as it was one row off! 

I swapped to two other colors to play with and made progress within the wheel. I think I'll finish off the wheel the next few nights. It might be pumpkins after that as I need to think while doing those... and that will leave the other wheel and wagon base to play with on flights and in Vermont next week. 

I think I'll wander into the sewing room this afternoon and see where I left Aidan's quilt. I managed to get through the 535 emails (I figured I'd be able to delete a bunch, but turns out I left a clean up rule on while away ... or there would have been much more in there!). Since I got a new phone while off, I had to have help getting my verifications working again with the new phone. Now to review a few meetings I missed and a catch up with a coworker. I've just got this week of work before being off another 6 days.... =).

Slow Sunday at home

 First time back on my computer and I see I need to play with the camera feature when snapping photos of the cross stitch! I was able to sleep in my own bed for the 7th time since June 3rd. Lots of travel this summer between Vermont to help with my parents, Alaska trip with my family, a local college tour with Emily then back to Vermont. Flew home then a quick turnaround the next day for a quick jaunt with Emily to Nashville to tour a college. I'm home for a wonderful 8 days and then a week back up in Vermont we previously scheduled with the kids to visit my family up there. We scheduled Dad's funeral during that time, so hubby will set foot in Vermont again and our pet/house sitter is all lined up again since it went so well last time. 

This was the progress from the first plane ride.

.I had a little more time and added some stitches in the hotel yesterday morning then airport time and plane time. This is the beginning of the wagon wheel and the wagon the quilt is draped over. This cross stitch is from the book 'Quilts for all Seasons' by Paula Vaughn. This is November. I have finished and framed August and September back in the early 2000's. I have January half done, but have a bit of a boo boo I have not figured out how to fix.... so I started this one instead just after Christmas! 

Today will be laundry, grocery shopping, figuring out meals (it's been 6 weeks since I've done that!) and some cleaning around the house. The dog was oh so happy to get his sniff walk in this morning, as no one gets up early enough to do that with him other than me. I might even try and sew some more of the graduation quilt together into a top! Maybe a dip in the pool this afternoon. This evening I'll be adding more stitches into this project before a week of work. Wow, been 6 weeks since I've done that too!

Linking up with Kathy and the other Slow Sunday Stitchers.