Sisters!

My sister and I both were out running today. 'Only' 4860 miles / 7822 kilometers apart... {smile}

(and don't worry, I run with my shirt on! this was in my backyard)  <wink>

Hummmm...

It truly is the season of the Hummingbirds: we have to refill the feeder almost every day!

It is very difficult to take good pictures of these little guys, they are just so fast! These I've taken through the window...

Slurp!
(Click! to enlarge...)

Remember that they are only about 2 - 3 inches tall... (= 5 - 8 cm) They make a fun buzzing sound when they swoop in and there is quite the chatter going on when two arrive at the feeder at the same time! (they don't seem to like company...)
I wasn't able to capture the beautiful coloring they have, but believe me, they are bright!  {smile}

Poppies!

I love Poppies and just now, while I was weeding in the yard, I spotted these beautiful light pink ones next door in the neighbors' front patch...

They looked almost like tissue paper...

Last week I got a call that I quickly had to come to a friend's house and photograph her red Poppies. Unfortunately I had to delay our visit a few days and by the time I got there the flowers were already past their prime. But still, I was able to take a few nice ones...

Around the corner  I spotted these beautiful blue Irises!

What a bounty of colors!  {smile}

Creative Creations...

Oh boy, I've been rather busy sewing the last few days!

Click! to enlarge...

Last night I started this fully lined children's apron for use at Little Bit. Sometimes after the actual riding lesson, the rider comes back to the tacking area to help brush the horse and then you need to wear an apron to hold your little brushes of course!

The grey and white chevron is a kind of recycled fabric/ paper? Very easy to sew with and pretty sturdy. (and cheap!) I found it at Joann Fabrics for $2.99 the yard and I also bought a light-blue with white polka-dotted version in the same material.
All the seams have been extra reinforced for the heavy wear and tear in the barn and the over-your-head strap can be readjusted to fit practically anyone...

Out of that same grey chevron I made two zippered pouches. One for Miss M. (the simpler one) and the other one for a friend of hers who had her 16th birthday party last week. (they had lessons on a trapeze, how cool is that?!)

And then yesterday I finished a fun and easy-to-sew skirt out of some vintage fabric. Super comfy, but I must admit it does feel a bit like wearing a sack...  <wink>

In the mean time, Master C. is busy shadowing several business men (yesterday at Microsoft, today at Eddie Bauer) for his senior project. Miss M. is starting her first job as a dishwasher at a local recently opened cafe in our own little town: she is so excited!  {smile}

We will also be having a long weekend for Memorial Day and all I can say is: Bring It On!!!  {smile}

PS  The baby I was sewing those fun pouches, containers, and pants for was born two nights ago. I made her a little card:

Do You Believe In Magic?

Playing with bubbles last night...

Fun Encounters Of The Animal Kind...

Mini horse and mini donkey, owned by a friend of mine.
They always make me laugh...

And lastly a WIP (work in progress)...

Pocket on a skirt...

Sunday Evening At The Lake...

Lake Washington that is...

Town & Country...

The day ended with this...

And started with this...

Click! to enlarge...

A Dutch friend of mine (I met her at Little Bit) recently moved to downtown Seattle and she invited me for a day out in the city.  Above you see her views from the West facing balcony of her 21st floor apartment. On the pictures it is not that impressive but believe you me, it was!

We had a lovely walk down Pike Street, walked around Pike Place Market, visited her hairdresser (where she bought a very fun ring for me and the same one for herself as well), looked around in the Dr. Martens shop and slowly we made it back up the hills again. It was all very wonderful, but to be honest, I was very happy to see all the greenery of the Valley and my back yard again...

Five Point Two...

Yes, today I ran 5.2 miles!!! (= 8.4 km)

Now I do have to add that I didn't run that whole distance in one go. I run 4 minutes and then walk 1 (the one minute always seems to go by in two breaths, why is that?  <wink> ), but this way I can go on for much longer and am still in a good mood when I come home again.
This distance took me 65 minutes to complete, so very slow indeed, but I'm going and that is the most important thing!

Wow, I am so happy (albeit a bit sore in the shoulders) right now!  {big smile}

Pictures found an inspirational quotes Facebook page...

The Weekend That Was...

Wow, it was quite the weekend indeed...

Beautiful people and very proud parents!

There was of course The Prom, a very big deal here in the States with an organized dinner at the Seattle Tennis Club beforehand, then the Prom downtown and then an after party further outside of the city. We arrived home (Mr. G. always has to chaperone these events) around 12:30am and Master C. didn't see his bed until 3am.

Of course before this whole Prom event happened, we had spent most of the day watching Miss M. perform during an Ultimate Frisbee event during 85 degree weather: it was hot & humid! 

Miss M. in action!

Needless to say, we were all rather frazzled on Sunday and then Master C. had to take the Amtrak train service to Portland to start his senior project. (he is shadowing several business men in different businesses and then after three weeks he has to give a presentation at school about his findings) This week he is staying with his aunt & uncle in Portland and so I had made two zippered pouches as a thank you gift for auntie K. She is a big fan of France (Paris especially) so I was very happy to make here these two themed pouches...

Yesterday I had another visit with the orthodontist. We both agreed that after a year and a half of Invisalign treatment those darn two bottom teeth still weren't in the right place. So now I have actual braces on my lower teeth. Rather painful (sensitive is the better word) right now, but lo and behold: they are straight already!

As I was resting on the couch afterwards, a big storm came up with thunder and lightning and power outages. At one point the wind blew a huge part of our Maple tree right into the neighbors' yard. Thank goodness the two large branches landed right between the fence and their house and didn't do any damage! (except for the hedge, but that was obviously not important) 

It took us over an hour and four people plus a chain saw to get rid of the debris. What busy few days we've had. Now I just want to go back to bed again. Instead I will do some more sewing I think...

Proud Mama!

Last night...

This morning...

Happy Moother's Day!

Now This Was Fun!

Look, I made my own 'cowroad' labels!
(and a new little zippered pouch as well)

Click! to enlarge...

A couple of months ago I came across these home made labels at Elke Dag Zaterdag and thought to myself: I can make those too! 

I finally got my act together earlier this week and bought the iron-on photo transfer paper (at Joann's) and two kinds of twill tape and off I went designing on the computer. I tried out several different styles and sizes and I think I like the smaller ones with the least amount of details best.

What a highly satisfying little project!