Just Stuff...

Here is Evangeline in a dress I finally got around to finishing for her.  The sewing was finished a few weeks ago, but I had to make myself complete the hem and sew on some snaps (those are among some of my least favorite parts of sewing projects).  She wore it to church on Sunday and was very happy with it.  It always makes me smile when I hear her say, "my mommy made it."  I know the window of proudly sporting a "mommy made" item is probably small.

I really liked this pattern.  It was really the first dress I've made where I didn't have to have mom help me translate the instructions or help me with perception.  Maybe I'm learning a thing or two.  

During the school year I noticed that I felt my most creative and inspired to make something when I had chaos ensuing all around me: stacks of papers to grade, a laundry explosion all over the house, places to be, obligations to fill.  Maybe it was a way for me to feel a little sense of control over things.  Summer has been wonderful in so many ways, but it's been especially nice to get around to all the unfinished projects I've started over the year and never had the time to complete, and to even start a few more.

We like to walk around in the yard together first thing each morning and check on our plants.

 Here are a few pretty begonias that I received at the end of the year from two of my little students.  I often think of their sweet faces when I am admiring the flowers.

We are enjoying watching our tomatoes and other vegetables grow.

These may be weeds, but I haven't the heart to pull them. (I can see Peggy laughing here saying to herself, "she hasn't the heart to pull any weeds.  I think an intervention may be on the horizon.)

I am reminded of one of my favorite little quotes by A.A. Milne- "Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them."  Such a sweet thing to tell yourself, not just when looking around your garden, but in all of life as well.

Another sweet little thing growing around here...

Now Dad, I know that you aren't supposed to let your dill flower.  I took this picture right before I pruned it back.

My lantanas are finally growing back after Mrs. Deer made a meal out of them.

I have always wanted to make a layer cake.  Zachary and Candice came over for dinner last Sunday and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to do it.

It was good if I do say so myself.  As you can see it was a chocolate cake.  There was hot coffee in the batter which was said to bring out the flavor of the chocolate.  I put some strawberry jam on the first layer before I covered it with icing.  Next time I will put some jam on the top layer too.  It really made the cake moist and flavorful.

The frosting I made was a traditional red velvet frosting.  It had flour in it which I thought was interesting....

Zach and Candice brought their other niece, Brooklyn over to play.  Evangeline had a melt down when it was time for her to go home.