Back to Life.. Back to Reality...

Yesterday was the first day back to school.

Yesterday I accomplished:

Deep cleaning my bedroom to get ready for a photo shoot in there.
That included scrubbing the floors. Hands and Knees style.

I canned 5 quarts of whole peeled tomatoes, my first batch, ever




I made a pillow cover and valence for my son's room out of thrifted mod animal fabric.




I worked on my next outfit for New Vintage

I started on and nearly finished a collage for my bedroom.



I finally got some overdue mail out.

I signed up for the "organic veggie box"

I filled out a ton of stuff for school

I worked on my next video


I am so relieved it is "Back to School"..
I feel like my old self again.

Bye Bye Love

We lost the little kitten we had just adopted 3 weeks earlier to FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitus).. and it was hard and sad to have such a bad thing happen to such a sweet baby. We had quickly fallen into that "baby love" that these little critters so quickly inspire. He was chock full of kittenish delights, liking to sleep curled up under my chin, crying to be picked up and carried even if it meant clinging painfully to your shoulder as you went about your daily chores. Sadly what he had contracted had 100 percent mortality rate and he had a serious and fast moving case of it.

We had a hard time. I did some generalized carrying on, crying and sulking about "unfairness". Jacob asked his dad why God would do this to such a tiny baby, Robert being largely "not religious" had no answer. I guess I couldn't really give that one an answer until after Frank was so badly hurting that it was clearly time to take hime to the vet and let him go. Even then, I was so sad and reluctant that the nurse had to coax me a bit to make the decision I knew was coming.

I think I came to realize that I, personally, avoid dealing with things that are serious and I avoid dealing with death in any form when ever I can. I think that maybe having to deal with death as a part of life, with our dear pets, might be so that we have practice with grief and dealing the pain of something dear and so that we have practice letting go. This is not how I wanted to spend our summer vacation, but these things happen when they happen and that must be part of the lesson.

We actually lost him a week ago Friday but I wasn't sure I want to blog about such a sad subject when I would like to think people stop by here to check out craft, and all that..

Besides I was busy feeling sad and getting the swap fabrics sent out, (which was good for me since I could feel like I was able to get something done and holding up my responsibility as a good swap hostess). I am hearing that people are getting their packages and loving the fabrics that they got. Which, of course, makes me very happy.. just as each package of fabrics made me happy as I unwrapped it. I will blog about all that fun in another day or so.. and will share some sewing stuff too.. But today I am just here to say:

Bye Bye Frank.
You were a very sweet little friend and I will miss you.

(Amy and Angelina and.. I hope you find some peace with the health struggles of your furry friends. My thoughts are with you.)

Fabric Swap Update

Hi All..

I just wanted to post this so no one will think I absconded with all the beautiful fabrics.
I have them and I am almost done sorting .
We had several drop outs due to good and bad events in their lives so it is a little harder to sort than I had anticipated.

Unfortunately I have had another big thing come up and slow me down.
We adopted a kitten 3 weeks ago and it turns out the tiny guy has a terminal and pretty uncomfortable disease.
I have been trying to fit fabric swap and kitty nurse into a hectic summer schedule and I am falling behind.

I promise they will go out to you all next week and I beg for your understanding.

Thanks,
Bethany

Sally Stitch: Placket Racket and the swappage update

Okay Kids...
I really am going to try and do my plackets first but I am not really sure what that even means!!! But I am going to try it on the next item I sew. Even if it means slowing down and concentrating.

I have a dozen swappers fabrics "in house" and I owe a couple lovely ladies some thank you emails for the bonus goodies enclosed. ( I am truly touched by your fabulous generosity but despite my mom's best efforts I continue to have the habits of a girl raised by wolves!)

I want to give everyone a chance to get their stuff in or bow out officially...

and I want to announce this swap will happen again.. ( in the "not summer") so more people can join in and not get overwhelmed!