Keeping cool in the basement

Our house has no air conditioning, but happily the basement stays cool. We spent an entire Saturday down there during the big heat wave. Nelson and Liz got into a big woodworking project.

They made a set of side-tables for out on our porch, copied from one we had gotten at a yard sale.

Here is one installed on the porch. They are perfect!

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Summer Snapshots: Cousins

This might be my favorite photo of the summer. Helen and her cousin went on tour together for three weeks with Village Harmony. Here they are waltzing together at the end of one of their performances.

I love that they will have this memory for the rest of their lives. They aren't just cousins now, they are also friends.

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Summer Snapshots: Steamy Days

I feel so lucky that I have a job where I can move out onto my porch when the temperature climbs!

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Summer Snapshots: Nesting Loons

Liz and I canoed out into the rain to check on the nesting loon. A magical moment.

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Summer Snapshots: July 4th

Sitting on the dock, watching the fireworks...and the sunset. What could be better?

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One thing leads to another

You know that book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?" That was me earlier this week. I was heading out to a teacher institute and wanted to bring some knitting.

But....before I could start something new, I wanted to finish my hat.

In order to finish my hat, I had to find some size 8, double-pointed needles.
In looking for the needles, I discovered the basket of needles had dumped all over the floor of the closet.
Really, who keeps needles in a basket?

So. I gathered up all the circulars and sundries and put them in this tin.
Then decided to make a needle-case.

In order to make a needle-case, I had to descend into my messy stash cupboard to find some fabric.

Folded (and found) some fabric, but then found patterns everywhere.
Organized them into this box.

Needed thread for the project. Found spools of thread spread all over the house.
Gathered them all into a sensible tub.

In doing so, my sewing basket demanded attention.

It then contained just what I needed to make my needle-case.

Finished the hat. (sorry no photo).
Facebooked friends for a new pattern.

But then needed yarn for the new project.
Determined not to buy new, I tidied my stash.

Gathered the delightfully organized needles.
Wound the yarn.
Headed off to my program, project in hand, and a very organized craft scene left behind.

Now, if only I could be inspired to do the same in the kitchen...

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