Ain't it funny . . .

I was sewing last night, thinking about how long it has been since I have written a post and noticing how time slips away.

It's been one of those weeks where I have only done little things 

like slapping a coat of green paint on an old window frame

 and adding greenery to a wire wreath.

I'm still organizing the house after having 3 rooms painted

and hung my favorite hand on the wall - IG friends were unanimous that I should keep the hand at an angle.

 A year ago I took a felting class and made the little black cat

 and the other night I got out the felting supplies to try my hand at mice - hey, it's a first attempt!

I used some old book pages and my metal stencils

to create a B O O banner

and took apart three necklaces

to create a rustic garland

to embellish the Halloween display in the guest room.

My favorite addition to the decor is a 1944 edition of the Tales of Edgar Allan Poe that I found in the attic.

I also found my little hedgehog in the attic

and added him to a bouquet of tulips in the entry.

and there's that wreath all finished.

Time has gotten away with me again this morning

 and Steve & Lulu are telling me that it's time to get outside and enjoy the gorgeous fall day.

Permission To Simply "BE"

I am a "doer".

I constantly make lists and I'm always on the go with just 2 speeds - On & Off.

A couple of  things occurred lately that really make me question my need to always be "doing".

First, I took a felting class on Saturday and loved it,

the Scaredy Cat on the far left is the sample and the cat in the middle is mine

but my by right hand hurt like the dickens on Sunday.

I thought about all the crafts that I can't do right now, but then I asked myself, "do you really have to be making something all the time?

The second occurrence was something my daughter wrote - "I can be really hard on myself about being lazy and doing nothing on a weekend. I have a history of trying to cram a ton of activities into 2 days which usually leaves me no time for rest and relaxation".

I felt a little guilty because KC said she learned her "always on the go" lifestyle from me.

As I was taking pictures yesterday for an Instagram post, I looked out at my garden and asked myself why I rarely ever just kick back and relax on the chaise.

 The answer is that I am forever tweaking things around the house

and coming up with projects

like the new latitude/longitude sign I convinced Steve to make for the entry.

Yesterday I posted this picture of my garden on Instagram

with this comment.

So, I greeted the morning with no list, no deadlines and gave myself permission to slow down and simply BE.

We took Lulu to the park

and slowly walked along the dunes to Soter Point.

After lunch, I made peanut butter cookies and headed out to the garden to read.

I looked around the garden feeling restless although I had vowed to sit and relax, - I really am a "doer" and I needed to do something.

I grabbed my camera and started taking pictures

and then I decided to set the table for dinner -

it's still warm enough to be eating outdoors each night.

As I stood back to look at the table, I noticed that I was in the garden and I was relaxed despite the fact that I was busy.

When I began writing my post last night, I gave it the title of "Permission To Simply Be", but as my day developed, I accepted that, like Popeye, "I am what I am".

Instead, I am giving myself permission to simply be ME.

30 Days of Pinterest

Usually, the day after school is out, I begin working on my summer project list.

This year is different because I am not on summer vacation.

I am on vacation for life, so to speak.

So, now is the time to do all those things I said I would do when I had the time.

After reading the post A Simple Pinterest Project by Judy at 20 North Ora.

I went to my Pinterest boards and chose 30 projects.

There are things to make, things to buy, bits and pieces to gather and vignettes to mimic.

The goal - complete the 30 projects in 30 days -

June 8 to July 8.

Embroidered pennants 

Alphabet table cloth 

Bicycle rim

Crocheted bags

 Alphabet sign 

Polka dot container

Film reels
    
Eyelet napkins

  Colorful quilt

 Green Bench

  Metal chair

  Stenciled bucket

 Old door

 Fun Scrabble tiles

Felt Letters

Metal labels

Heart Tags

Crate 

Wash tub

Linen napkins

Numbered containers

Sweet yellow vignette

Galvanized tins

Floral plates

Windowseat cushion

Sweet heart

Colorful utensils

Steps to the Beach sign

altered globe

garden dresser

The shop teacher cut out the wooden sign for me to paint and the linen table cloth to stencil arrived yesterday.

The countdown begins.

Wish me luck!

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Between projects, I'll be partying at

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday