School’s Out

Today was Leanne’s last day of fourth grade. 

She’s a year older, 3.5” taller and ready for new adventures.

Go get ‘em, Leanne!

Water Garden

Today we picked and ate the first spinach leaves

from the hydroponic garden Jac and I planted May 13. 

I wasn’t convinced it would actually grow anything (black thumbs are me!)

so we only planted 6 each of spinach and cherry tomatoes.

All but one of the tomatoes are thriving, including one I planted in dirt since I didn’t have enough slots in the planter.

Not doing so well on the spinach tho. Three failed to sprout at all and the fourth died after putting out a few leaves. Bad seeds? Not hydroponic friendly? Just bad luck? Who knows at this point.

Jac has decided she loves spinach, so we’re going to try again using the same batch of seeds but a different starter medium. Wish us luck!

P.S. Jac asked for a “cabbage sandwich” for dinner. Happy to oblige! 

Another One Done

Another National Parks quilt finished and gifted. 

Debbie and I collaborated again, using the same front panel and quilting (cute little travel trailers),

but a different binding and the recipients favorite blue on the back. 

Jack (the recipient’s newest grandson) is the perfect model

Hoping she gets lots of use from it when she’s up to traveling again. 

Bye Bye

We were planning to take out the pink magnolia tree in the backyard “someday“

but when the roving tree trimmers showed up next door

we decided the time was now.

I’ve loved that tree since we moved into our house over 30 years ago 

but it had definitely outgrown its space

and the roots were lifting the pavers

and threatening the foundation of the house. 

No idea what we’ll replace it with - or if we’ll replace it. 

I’ll miss* those gorgeous winter-blooming flowers, but it was the right time to say good-bye.

* The raccoons that used the tree to reach our roof will miss it more, but we sure won’t miss their noise and mess! 

Dinosaur Bones

Thanks to the arrival of an awesome gift from Auntie Rachel

and the ok to play in the dirt Pop set aside for the backyard project,

Jac and Donovan spent a couple of hours

digging for dinosaur bones,

playing prince and princess of the hill,

and getting happily, 

thoroughly, 

ridiculously 

dirty.

It was awesome. 

When they were done,

I stripped them to their underwear at the front door

and plopped them both in the bathtub for another hour of play. 

And with any luck, we’re going to do it all again tomorrow.

Thanks for the new imaginationland, Rachel and Pop!

Big Ol’ Hole

It took four guys and two 12-hour days, 

but we officially have a giant hole in the ground.

Before and after

Some dirt still needs to go - 

That’s the door to my craft room 

the bin we rented wasn’t big enough for all of it -

and the fence needs a bit more work -

the gate was too small for the Kaboda. Solution? Tear it out! -

Reusable dirt and bricks

but overall we’re pleased with the progress. 

So, what’s going in that big hole, you ask?

We’re getting a pool! The baby grands (and hubby) are so happy.

View from my craft room, end of Day 1

Binding Marathon

It took all Saturday afternoon

but the bindings are on three quilts, ready for hand-stitching. 

 Ombre Carnival and 2 National Parks quilts

Whoohoo!

I can’t decide if it’s sad or hilarious that after all this time, and all these quilts, 

I still can’t remember how to finish a binding without pulling out the directions.