Bloglovin'...

Don't forget: as of July 1st you will no longer be able to follow my blog via Google Reader so....

Here is the link to CowRoad on Bloglovin'.

Hope to see you there!  {smile}

Crazy Sewing Going On!

I had not one, not two, but three sewing projects going on! Crazy right? 

Unfinished bag...

I started out sewing a messenger bag out the very fabulous 'PTT Post' (former Dutch postal service) fabric that I received from my sister. When Miss M. saw it, she immediately wanted one of her own! Since I didn't have enough of this particular fabric and she didn't want to wait until late September (when my mom will be visiting), we found her some other fun home decor fabric at Joann's yesterday.

I immediately started her bag and finished it this afternoon!

In between all these bags I also made some sleeping shorts out of the softest flannel for Miss M., just for fun...

I will leave you with a macro shot of a moth that I found sitting on the outside of our kitchen window...

PS Oh yes, I also designed a new blog-header and a little welcome sign in the sidebar!  {smile}

Birthday BBQ...

Picture edited by my lovely sister!

Today Mr. G. (also know as Mr. B.) celebrated another birthday. He was a happy man with his new fly fishing rod and reel!

Pictures taken last night...

We woke up to a bright blue sky and bright sunshine: Perfic!  {smile}

He finally had a chance to change out two shock absorbers in my car (he had been dying to try that out, believe it or not), we did lots of chores around the yard (weed whacking, weeding, mowing the lawn etc) and then there was still lots of time for just enjoying the afternoon quietly.

Around 4:30 we drove all the way to Monroe for some Texas Barbecued Meats: Mr. G.'s favorite food and just fabulous, even for me!  <wink>

This is what it looked like and the views came for free!

On our way home we bought supplies for some wonderfully delicious (and messy) smores (= graham cracker, large piece of chocolate, melted marshmallow) for around the fire-pit in the back yard. Quite the day! {smile}

Raindrop Magic...

The rain never seemed to end yesterday, but then this morning, magic appeared in front of my lens...

I wasn't quite convinced yet of the powers of this new lens (especially since it cost more than my whole camera!), but oh boy, be still my beating heart...

--  **  --  **  --

On a completely different note: I finished those shelving units last night and they don't look bad at all! {smile}

(Click! to enlarge)
All that stuff on and under the table miraculously made it back in those shelves!

>> Today it is dry out and I'm getting ready to finally to go out for a run. After that I have another Little Bit lesson and then it is time to celebrate Mr. G.'s birthday tomorrow. They say the sun will be shining then! Have a happy Midsommar everyone!

Ramblings...

Yes, it is time for some ramblings, since I don't have much sane stuff to mention...  <wink>

It is raining, quite a bit. Great for the garden, not good for my running. While my dad was here I only squeezed in one run (a good one though!), but now I really need to get back on a better schedule...

New table covering (vinyl) found at Joann's...

I've had lots of creative ideas, but feel that I need to clean up all those messy areas everywhere first. You know; those funky drawers and cabinets with lots of random stuff in them. 

And then there is my sewing area. In my mind I know where everything is (most of the time), but it all just looks so messy. I have these cheap cabinets form Target to store things in but they are black. Black, what was I thinking??? So I took out a small paint can that I had standing around, dusted the cabinets and rolled on the paint. No sanding, no priming no nothing. This is what happened:

Sea foam green...

Miss M. thought it was artsy looking, I am just hoping that once I put the storage containers back in you won't notice the effect so much. I'll keep you posted...

Last Sunday, after we dropped of my dad at the airport, we stopped by Ikea. I found such a fun fabric there for a very reasonable price, that I bought 3 yards of it. I've sewn it into a duvet cover (used old sheets for the backing and the side panels) and am now making some fun matching pillow cases to go with it. It certainly cheers me up every time I enter the bedroom!  {smile}

One big panel in the middle (the Ikea fabric),
two white panels on each side...

Already used pillow case...

My (secretly) favorite part: a pink pillow case!  <wink>

They had several good pattern sales at Joann's the last couple of weeks so I'm set for some summer sewing. First some more cleaning up and organizing though! What are you guys up to???

PS Monica, if you read this, could you please send me your email address (if you don't mind?) My reactions to your posts keep on disappearing!

Vaderdag...

Happy Father's Day to my dad! Today was the first time in at least 25 years that we have been able to celebrate it together...  {smile}

I made him a beautiful canvas with lots of our memories together, old & new, three generations!

Rattlesnake Lake...

Yesterday, after all the clouds cleared, we arrived at Rattlesnake Lake, just south of I-90 towards the mountains. Only a 35 minute drive from our home...

There was a slight breeze, the sun came out, it was gorgeous. Just look at the color of the lake!

Below you see Rattlesnake Ledge. I only brought one lens so I had to make the picture in three's to fit in all its height and splendor.

Old tree stumps litter this lake. Unfortunately the water level was really high so we could only see a few, but the whole lake has lots of them just below the water line.

And so many geese, with babies!  {smile}

And a pretty duck... (who was very nosy)

And this interesting insect...

On our way back we stopped by the Snoqualmie Falls. Always splendid!

We ended the day with an extraordinary dinner at Fall City Bistro: Yum!   {smile again!}

A New Macro Lens!

Yesterday, my new macro lens (Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM) arrived! At first I couldn't get any good shots at all, but now, after a little bit of practicing (and re-reading the instruction manual over and over again) some descent shots are starting to emerge...

For more macro photography have a look at my sister's blog. She obviously has had a lot more practice and has even taken quite a few photography classes, which is something I probably should do too some time in the future... <wink>

PS I will try not to inundate you with tons of macro photography, but I cannot promise a thing!

Along The Puget Sound...

Only 10 minutes on the beach, gave me the most beautiful pictures...

And then the skies changed and changed...

Until the day ended with this...

Click! on the pictures to enlarge...

This is what summer days are made off...