Gehring Road

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image at google.com

Did you google today? I love this one... Hope you are finding reasons to smile this weekend! 

quilt feast at denyse schmidt studio sale

We headed a bit south on Saturday and found ourselves stopping by Denyse Schmidt's studio sale. Like last year, I took a ton of pictures (it is impossible to take a bad shot in that space... oh to enjoy that light everyday!) and intend on sharing them all. And like last year, I also snagged some goodies, which of course, I intend to share. More on that a bit later this week... now for the images I snapped... this first batch was just in the hallway outside of the studio, amazing...

... and inside Denyse's Studio (I tried not to snap pictures of people grabbing amazing deals on beautiful quilts, last year I got a look from a little girl that told me that was creepy)...

...and those last two are of a quilt I thought about either snatching and running off with (the eighteen flights of stairs and a criminal record prevented me from doing so) or buying it with the tuition money for the classes I am taking in the spring (that was harder to convince myself out of than it should have been!) I ended up just staring at it... for a long time, it's gorgeous, no? So what did I end up buying? This...

... a stack of digital sample yardage from the upcoming release of Flea Market Fancy... a line I love, and just missed when I first started to sew. I'm more than excited about its release. So here's how this little stack became mine. At 10:00 when the doors opened a local photographer got a little pushy and wanted to take some photos of Denyse... so the doors were opened and I took that moment to scan... I saw dots on a little cart near the kitchen (which also had amazing little cupcakes for us... the shoppers) and decided to go there first... no elbows, no sprinting, I just walked over and picked this little bundle up. I then gave it to Rob to hold, who delighted in putting it down everywhere to fake yawn, sneeze... clearly someone was there to tease. Denyse, who checked me out (so cool!) said that she had to use the digital printing to create some of the sample items as she too is down to scraps of the line. I know all about that. Anyway, though it is a digital printing, I'm excited to be using the pieces in little projects here and there. And I hope you are too... today I'm going to cut little bundles of the sample pack (some of the pieces are quite large) and give them away on the blog later this week as a little Thanksgiving for a reprint, the end of stormy weather (for the time being), the start of the holiday season and most importantly for the readers who frequent this little space here. I'm always amazed at how patient and caring you all are... so have some Flea Market Fancy before it's released... just don't wash it! Happy weekend and I'm off to cut. 

scenes from our week

I learned a few things this week...

:: trees falling down around you in the midst of a storm in the middle of the night sound like a billard hall... 

:: ear plugs are essential to sleeping through those sounds...

:: my guy is a relentless provider, I don't think his mind stopped working, planning, gathering for eight days...

:: the fates have a way of making one smile... that same generator we plugged in two months ago, only to have our power restored two hours later saved us from the cold and dark this time...

:: our neighbors and community leaders are truly giving and supportive...

:: lack of television is not a loss, lack of news and connectedness is...

:: having school cancelled for five days straight is incredibly stressful...

:: power executives sometimes hide the truth and are not always good at communicating...

:: mother nature can be exceptionally surprising and relentless and beautiful all at the same time.

 

We're basking in the glow of the lights in our home this weekend, while wondering why most of our street is still without power. Feeling lucky, loved and ready to get back to normal. I hope this weekend finds you surrounded by warmth, light and all things you love. 

let's hope for light at the end of the tunnel...

Sigh... This is the end of day six without power for us. School has been out this week also due to the storm damage and the fact that our High School is being used as a shelter serving hot meals and a bed for those in the community. This has felt long my friends. Our spirits were buoyed by the arrival of a mi-fi so Rob can work, we're just hoping for a little movement and a little good news. I've been so impressed with the way people in our communities have pulled together... Hopefully this feeling of solidarity lasts. I have pictures of our days and a little glimpse into some of the damage for you, hopefully you're not stormed out by now. Keep good thoughts coming this way,fingers and toes crossed for us? Back soon...

love royale

Photo found here 

The best moment from today, by far, for oh so many reasons... that little bridesmaid made my day... did you watch? Happy Friday!  

new and noteworthy

Some Ranunculus flowers scored at Whole Foods... simple joys!

If you haven't noticed (and if you blink you might have missed them, really) there are some new features here on the blog that I've been waiting to share with you.  Now back from my little hiatus, let's take a look around... 

* Amazon... First, something you can't really see, so to speak, on the blog... a new Amazon affiliation. A little note about this... I've always recommended things on this little blog that I love and have always linked (for your convenience) back to the source where I first found them... sometimes Amazon, sometimes not.  I have recently been asked to take part in Amazon's Affiliate Program where I earn a (very, very!) small percentage of all sales made via links through my blog. So, how it works... If you head over to Amazon after clicking on one of my links, I earn based on your purchases. Nothing changes with regard to the content on my blog or the finds I choose to share with you, which is why I felt comfortable becoming part of this program. This just allows me to earn a wee little bit from this blogging I so love while still sharing things that I love with you all... and the program, I feel, isn't intrusive or overtly an advertisement, which is where I am right now with what appears on this site. If you have any questions about this please let me know, I'll be glad to answer what I can! 

* Email... Speaking of email, I've added a teeny tiny link to my email address on the very top right corner of the page. I love reading your comments but if you feel more comfortable emailing me, please do. 

* How Tos... I've added a new page to this little space, really an organized way to keep track of (right now just recipes, though I have a quilt-block tutorial in the works!) things that have been featured on the site. The links are at the header as well...

         

* Goodreads... and finally, I really haven't mentioned a new site that I just adore called Goodreads. The site is really an organizational tool for your book shelves... what you're reading, what you've read and what's on deck in your library.  Upload lists of your books and you can share your feelings about books or as I have done, read some reviews from like minded readers before you purchase/borrow a book.  It's fantastic.  If you join, make sure to send me a link to your page, I'd love to see what you're reading...

Happy Wednesday all... I hope this week finds you loving and embracing the newness of the season, and I so hope the newness on this little corner of my world is helpful and inspirational to you as well.  Enjoy! 

etsy finds tuesday... it's a royal wedding!

Commemorative Tote Bag of Royal Wedding Procession from House That Lars Built Etsy Shop

I'll be waking up on Friday (normal time for this lady!) at 5 am to catch a glimpse of the royal wedding... truth be told, I'm a wee bit excited about it and I haven't really a clue as to why.  We're planning some celebratory scones and tea for breakfast one of us (that's me) will be glued to the telly (it's a telly on Friday you see) faking a British accent and commentating on the dress, the flowers, the pomp, the royals, the Beckhams... and one of us will be rolling his eyes. Luckily Etsy has my Royal Wedding mini-obsession covered and someone needs to convince me that I don't need that tote bag for my knitting supplies, it's too sweet... here are some finds for your crack of dawn viewing party...

Royal Wedding Paper Chains Union Jack Pattern from Nicola Luke Etsy Shop

Royal Wedding Engagement Ring Dessert Plate from House That Lars Built Etsy Shop

London Town Earrings from Signature by Natonia Etsy Shop

Royal Wedding Tea Towel from The Screen Prince Etsy Shop

Set of Six Royal Wedding Souvenir Postcards from Claryce Design Etsy Shop 

Royal Wedding Wills & Kate Coffee Cosy from Cosy Up UK Etsy Shop 

Keep Calm Print from 3 Lambs Graphics Etsy Shop 

Vintage Union Jack Flag and Crown Bracelet from Rezin 8 Designs Etsy Shop 

William and Kate Royal Wedding Print from Taylors Type Etsy Shop

If you're watching on Friday, bleary eyed and barely awake... we're right there with you. I can't wait to feast on the pageantry, though I hope in the midst of it all, Kate and her Prince are able to steal a few moments for themselves.  My guy will likely be sweeping me off my feet with his scones... and our Welsh import will likely be alternately snuggling and sleeping and growling... not so glamourous but so perfect. Happy viewing... Cheers! 

special treat

Those mini banana cream pies were dessert tonight while we watched some basketball (go UCONN!). Rob spent the evening making pie crust, custard, candied bananas... to make the most amazing dessert... just because I asked... sigh. They were so tasty, so unexpectedly flavorful, think cinnamon and nutmeg custard not the vanilla/fake banana pudding I thought they would have at the base... (when I mentioned this to Rob he said, "did you read the recipe before you asked for these? Sheepish...) you really have to try these. Recipe found here. While we're not eating the spoils of Rob's kitchen adventures, we managed to get a closet cleaned, some words with friends games started (the waiting in that game kills me...), some papers graded and some pictures of fabric taken. Such a lovely, quiet and treasured weekend so far... I hope you are enjoying these days as much as we are! 

calm after the storm

  Seattle sunset captured by Rob

I thought this blog is sorely in need of some photos devoid of snow, so they're a little less Gehring Road and more where one of us is and one of us would like to be.  This week has been a disaster... really one thing after another. It started with yet another snow clean-up (we were off two days this week...) our snowblower promptly bit the dust at the end of the driveway when I was about halfway through. As the sleet and freezing rain pelted me and I desperately tried to restart my life-line I had a little break down in the middle of the driveway and decided to go in. The exhaustion of dealing with every single solitary issue involved with snow and this winter solo had frankly done me in. I was angry, exhausted, stressed and lonely.

On entering the house, I noticed that a bottle of Ibuproferin (which is never anywhere besides the bathroom) lay open and knocked over on the dining room table, cap on the floor, and not a pill to be found anywhere.  Kylie, who is a bit of a maniac while I snowblow (picture screaming, getting up on the table because she can no longer see me from the windows over the snow drifts) had clearly been up on the table... my heart sank.  Getting to the vets in an ice storm... down the driveway at full tilt through snow ice, into the snow bank, shoveling out... up the nearby "mile hill road"... around plows and people driving slowly of course, but painfully slow for my frame of mind... breaking down the equally slippery road that the vet is on was enough to shatter my nerves completely... it was absolutely the worst day of my life. Kylie spent two days there. I've spent very few days of her life away from her and these were hideous days I tell you.  The vet tech picked her up and dropped her as she squirmed before I left... that haunted me... "She may or may not have a slipped disk" I said to the vet, about the dog who may or may not have ingested advil "that cannot happen again." The emergency vet on call scared the daylights out of me.  She repeatedly talked about the grim situation, the fact that pills really shouldn't be out, and dropped words like "kidney failure" "ulcers" and "extremely toxic" I sat in the vets office when she took Kylie away and wept.

Heading back home from the vets without the little lady for the first time ever, I didn't notice that the plow had been by and the bottom of the driveway was impassible. Stuck at the bottom of the driveway, my cell phone died... leaving me out of touch with the vet, Rob, everyone. I frantically dug myself out and into bigger trouble at the bottom of the driveway.  A really wonderful neighbor helped and helped me gun it up backwards (how I now have to get up our driveway as that ice I left out there is beyond treacherous). 

So little lady's kidney values were perfect for two days. She finally came home to me on Friday I was delighted she seemed to be really fine... the vet's parting words were "well, we won't know, but we've done all we can do..." I paid and left.  An exhausted Kylie has spent this weekend sleeping, coming back into her own and even playing.  

That huge sigh of relief you heard at your home (wherever you are) is me... who luckily did not poison her dog, crash her car and break the snowblower aka lifeline in one day. Big sigh... I think I need vacation. Anyway, I hope your week and weekend were full of good things and big sighs of happiness. We're off to rest and recoup and recenter. Here's more serene Seattle... 

etsy finds on a wednesday... cozy home

  Vintage Scottish Wool Throw from Comet Wreckage Etsy Shop 

The weather has kept me at home the past few days, really the past few weeks and I've had oodles of time to scour Etsy for some really cozy finds for the home.  There isn't much to do besides sew, sit by the fire and read (I just recently finished The Help on my iPad, it was wonderful...) and try to get the smell of snow-blower exhaust out of my hair with repeated washings... man those fumes linger! So here are my picks... that I keep putting into and taking out of my cart at Etsy... to further cozy up this home that I've been spending oh so many hours in...

  Vintage French Enamel Cream Coffee Pot from Wyncott Etsy Shop 

  Old Farmhouse Cabinet Wood Crate from Polka Dot Home Etsy Shop 

 Vintage Church Bench by French By Design Etsy Shop

 Shabby White Painted Buffet/Sideboard from Royal Oak Cottage Etsy Shop 

 Vintage Pewter Pitcher from Charleston Picker Etsy Shop 

 English Tea and Dessert Setting from The Fox and the Spoon Etsy Shop 

As I sit here and watch the rain freeze to nearly everything outside (including our power lines) I'm reminded that really the things that make a home most cozy are the people in it.  You would absolutely need to add a small and incredibly sweet snuggeler of a Jack Russell Terrier or other suitable four legged friend to make the scene as cozy as it is right now... and on that note, I'm off to snow blow the driveway again... Happy Wednesday friends... good news, Phil didn't see his shadow, just the glare of 50,000 cameras... I was hoping for Phil to match my current mood and take a nice big chunk out of his wrangler's hand... too negative? Very possible.  Anyway, I'm going to remind myself of Phil's prediction frequently... especially while ridding myself of exhaust fumes.