Summer Time...

"... and the living is easy!"

Miracles do happen because we have been experiencing true summer time temperatures for several days now.  I'm just about as tanned as I will be for the rest of the year and that sure gives you a boost! 

Today will be the hottest day with temps around 84F / 28C (or higher) and then we will go down a bit again, which is just fine with me. Mid-seventies is perfect for still doing stuff. Now I just sit outside and read Maeve Binchy books all day! I know, a very 'high' level of reading, but sooooo comfy. The Pernod on the side was pretty nice as well...   <wink>

Last Friday was the annual Arts Fest at school and we got to see Master C.'s final appearance in the Jazz Band, ever! Another step closer to college...

They played outside on the lawn and people got so excited they even started dancing! It was just fabulous!  {smile)

Master C. with the electric bass...
(click! to enlarge)

These were the views of the valley on my way there:

Not a bad place we live in over here!  {smile}

And oh yes, I wore my new dress and received lots of compliments on it!

Off I go for a run, now that it is still somewhat cool outside. I bought some new running clothes for these hot temperatures yesterday and can't wait to try them out. (a combo of dark grey with duck egg blue!)

The photo doesn't do the colors justice. The shirt and the spandex under shorts
(which are attached to the grey outer shorts by the way: brilliant!) 
are a duck egg blue...

Ik Geef Je Een Roosje M'n Roosje...

"Ik geef je een roos elke dag..."  

(= a Dutch folk song: I give you a rose every day)

Yesterday I received these lovely orange roses from my husband, in honor of our new King. I also feel they are in honor of my now late step-grootmoeder (step-grandmother) who passed away yesterday at the most honorable age of 96....

I've only met her a few times, but she was always so lovely and so warm towards my children, who after all weren't even her biological great-grandchildren. Fais de beaux rêves, Grandmere!

Reminiscing...

Everything seems to be glowing at the moment, basking in the sunshine. The forecast is absolutely tremendous with expected temperatures rising to 80F / 28C this weekend!

I must say that after all the 'larger than usual' events lately (son deciding on college, daughter turning 16 and a new King in our country (the last not as large as the other two obviously, but it was still a large event)) I can do with some warmth: I'm feeling a bit lost in it all. Our lives are changing and that is how it should be, but this fast???

I am very grateful about the path we've taken so far and am looking forward to the path we will take in the future, but I need some time to put it all in in the right spot so to speak...

Sweet Sixteen...

Click! to enlarge...

So so Happy today!  {biggest smile}

Thrifty Finds...

Seven yards of  lovely fabric for $10: a deal or what?! And that lovely pitcher was apparently made for Restoration Hardware. I will use it for my Pernod drinks this summer: Yum!

PS I've added the little star reflections to the pitcher, just to give it a bit more pizzazz...

Go Zags!

Yesterday the big decision was made that Master C. will be going to Gonzaga University next Fall! What a relief to finally know where he is going. He called me yesterday from over there (after the tours etc) and I could hear both the relief and his enthusiasm coming through. (he doesn't usually show much enthusiasm  so I will take every little bit I can get!)

Gonzaga (pronounced Gone-ZAG (zag like bag) - uh) is about a 4 hour drive to the East from here, across the mountains and into the wheat fields. Even though he will still be living in the same state as us, everything looks very different over there 'on the other side', so it will really feel like a new place to him. Truly exciting times!  {smile}

In the mean time we are enjoying some absolutely wonderful weather here. Today will be the last day unfortunately, so I will be spending it outside as much as possible. In all the excitement yesterday (while I was awaiting 'the phone call') I forgot to put on sunscreen and that was quite a mistake: I see red!  <wink>

The garden of course is doing just fabulous and here are a few moments in the sunshine...

And oh yes: it is Friday!!!  {smile}

Sewing For Baby...

Devided Basket pattern found here and the Zippered Pouches here 
Click! to enlarge...

I did some more sewing for a baby who will be here within the next month or so. You can always use a little bit of extra storage, either for diapers, wet wipes, burp cloths etc. I loved the vintage looking (but new!) fabric  for the outside and added some tiny polka-dotted green and red fabrics from my stash. Another quick and fun sewing project!

Liebe Grusse Aus...

We spent yesterday afternoon in The Netherlands...

Not!  <wink>

No, we didn't fly all the way to Holland (which would be at least a ten hour flight!), but we did spent the afternoon between the tulips, daffodils and the cows. We drove to Skagit County (about 75 minutes North from here) and drove around the tulip fields: it was glorious!

Believe it or not but I have never visited the tulip fields in my own country, ever! I know, I don't understand it either. Anyway, it was really pretty up there in Skagit County, especially also since the sun was shining. It had been about a week since we had seen the sun and all rain records for the month of April have been broken...

We drove around just on a whim and ended up at a fabulous pasture with cows in it. Behind me was a dike with a river behind it and in front of me pastures as far as the eye could see and glorious cows in them! (and the smells too!) It truly felt just like visiting my dad's place and going into the 'polders' (fields) behind his house in Muiden: inhale - exhale!    {biggest smile!}

We also came across lots of nice real-estate and beautiful old barns...

Miss M. came along and I made a few pictures of her in between the flowers...

Truly a nice afternoon, especially after all the university stress that we are in with our oldest. We have one more week left to decide. This week he and Mr. G. are going on an overnight trip (4 1/2 hours one way) to visit Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Let's hope this will be the one!

Adventures in Sewing...

Click! to enlarge...

After sewing so many dresses lately, I thought it might be fun to sew a skirt again. This one is a mixture of two patterns. The main skirt is #M5591 and the scalloped edge is from #M6322. 

It might be a bit difficult to see in these pictures, but there were a lot of pleats in this pattern! Two boxpleats in the front, two in the back and several regular pleats both front and back. These pleats aren't that difficult to sew in itself, but just rather finicky. I added the scalloped edge for fun, but don't think I will use it again. I just couldn't get the turning points between the scallops to lay nice and flat. (and yes, I did snip the access in the back)

Anyway, it was a fun project, but now I'm ready to do some more baby sewing. I had a little bit of inspiration over the weekend and made these little pairs of pants and diaper covers. I gave them to the expectant mother-to-be already because I was so excited about them myself and couldn't wait any longer!  <wink>

'Made-by-Rae' pattern

'Made' pattern

Those diaper covers were once again rather finicky with the elastic in the legs, but the pants were super duper easy. I've left the elastic in the waist band rather loose, so that they can adjust that waist line once the baby is born...

Now I want to start on that new baby project (which I can't show you yet, since the receiver reads here), but first I will have to deal with this MESS!!!

Wow, this is what happens when the creative juices get flowing...  {smile}

The Light!

Some pretty light pictures from the last two days...

Above some dark clouds approaching with the sun right behind it and below right after some interesting thunder and lightning last night. (very rare for this area)

PS I've added my blog to 'Bloglovin'. Apparently the Google Reader will stop working in the coming months and so you can still follow me there. I don't really understand what it means, but hopefully you do!    <wink>
You can find my 'follow' button/ link at the top of the sidebar above my profile picture... 

Very Touching 'Little Bit' Video...

Featured (please click on the colored word to get to the video) is not one of  'my own' riders but it could have been. So happy to be a part of this fabulous program!  {big smile}