What I've Celebrated, Sewn & Read This Week

Our week started off with a "bang" when on Monday my younger daughter both celebrated her 15th birthday AND had her first day of high school. 

(I think I caught her mid-blink?)

Some important asides here-- I met my husband when I was 15, and let me tell you, having her this age is kinda blowing my mind! I went through these shocked feelings when my older daughter hit 15, so I'm surprised to feel them so strongly again. 

I mean, really, WHAT WERE WE THINKING?!?!?! I look at her & realize how young we were!! NO WONDER OUR PARENTS WERE FREAKING OUT!!!!

Anyway, the other aside here is that my dear daughter has spent the last three years as a homeschooler. So we're severely out of practice with getting up so early in the morning! 

She's holding her own though & is loving school thus far. 

I'm NOT loving the early morning wake-up but do find I rather like being up that early. It just doesn't come naturally to me. I'm amazed at how much I've gotten done & realize it's "only" 10am. 

The side-effects of being up earlier are that I 1) tend to work longer & be on my feet longer, thus my body has actually been in pain a few days after being on my feet for the better part of 13 hours, and 2) since I'm up longer, my body seems to think it needs to eat more (grrrrr).

One day I face-planted on my desk, literally fell asleep in that contorted position & was startled awake when my hubby walked in the front door. 

Alright, change of topics from What I Celebrated to What I've Sewn:

 Show & Tell

A chocolate-themed tote bag with a zipper. This is for the car waits-  I have such difficulty just sitting & waiting. I have to bring something to work on or to read when sequestered in a car & waiting on a child... 

 ... and the zipper ensures that when I go careening around corners, all my stuff doesn't go flying all over the car.

I've been working on this Halloween square table topper for a couple weeks here & there.  And it's quilted with GLOW IN THE DARK thread! How cool is that?? I'm going to list it on etsy & see what happens.

 Here's a back shot, which as is so typical, shows the quilting off a bit better.

A smallish Halloween table runner...

 Again, a back shot shows the quilting.

Finally, I thought I'd share what I've read this week: "Echoes of Lies" by Jo Bannister:

While not the best book I've ever read, I did find it entertaining. The story kept me engaged & wanting to read more.

Brodie is a woman who "finds things" for a living. When the man she "finds" for her client ends up brutalized, she becomes enmeshed in his story. Obligatory feelings lead to a true friendship which stands the tests of threats, violence, & tragedy. 

Now I'm onto "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. This one's been on my to-read list for some time, but being a cheap, avid reader kept me from buying it full price. I've been scouring Bookmooch & Paperback Swap faithfully to no avail. I've waited patiently for Barnes & Nobles to send me a 50% coupon for naught. And I'd even searched at Borders since they're having their going-out-of-business sales, but NO GO. With the movie out, my search became almost frantic. My girls want to go see it. I want to go see it. BUT I'm neurotic about reading the book before seeing the movie, and so I caved & bought the dang thing full price. Ugh, I still haven't recovered from that failure!!

I hope you all have a fantastic, long weekend!