Beach Day

When it's a sizzling, fry-an-egg-on-the-concrete-hot day, where do you go?  For us, it was the beach.

First, though, on the way to the beach, we did a little thrift shopping.  I netted two new leather purses, a ladies black leather vest, and a pair of ladies black leather Harley-Davidson lederhosen.  Okay, lederhosen is not the correct name for them, but I don’t know what is—overalls? Shorts with leather straps? I haven’t a clue, but I do know they’re pretty sweet, and hopefully someone will be happy to nab them from me on eBay, perhaps just in time for Sturgis.  But I digress.

Harrington Beach State Park is one of my favorite beaches on Lake Michigan.  North of Milwaukee, south of Green Bay, it’s about halfway between Port Washington and Sheboygan.  It's usually less crowded than the bigger beaches, especially on a weekday or the day before a major holiday.
 

It’s cooler near the lake, and indeed that was the case today.  High 90s inland, mid-80s at the lakefront.  We walked the smooth sand along the shoreline, letting the cool, clear water lap at our feet, with only gentle sounds of surf, seagulls, and conversation carried on the wind. 

We've been there many times, even when conditions were less than ideal.  The last time we were there, a number of years ago, the personal watercraft were out en masse, making it seem more like a racetrack. 

One time, on a hot and humid day inland, we arrived at the lakeshore to find it completely fogged in.  We spent some time on the beach anyway, though it was strange to enter what seemed like another world just a few steps from our parked car.

Another visit coincided with a massive die-off of alewives littering the shore.  That was not a particularly good beach day.

Today, though, was about as close to perfect as it gets.  If asked to imagine my personal “happy place,” it may well be this.

I hope you get your holiday happy on tomorrow—have a fun and safe 4th!

Sundry Sunday - Vol. 46

I'm over the funk, thank goodness.  Whether it was a matter of time, a shift in the tide, or the mailman bearing squishies, it's gone.  Besides, who can be down on a day like this?

We did some hiking around Devil's Lake State Park on Saturday, enjoying the sunshine and last remnants of fall foliage.

Temps were on the cool side, but as we walked, the layers came off.

The first trail was called Tumbling Rocks.  You can see why.

It was a paved path, though.  Nothing strenuous, just a nice stroll along the shoreline.

I'm not sure how this happened, but Norm is actually smiling here.  It looks genuine, even.  Was my hair goofy?  Some spinach from lunch lingering in my teeth?  (That link is to an awesome restaurant, if you're anywhere near Baraboo, WI.  I had the Moroccan chicken, yum.  The decor is retro fun too.)  

Anyway, this one's a keeper.

Yes, he is wearing gloves that look like skeletal bones.  Quite the sense of style (and humor).

We also did a little trail in Parfrey's Glen nearby.  The trail was quite different than last time we were there five or so years ago.

It used to wind its way to a big waterfall (that's just a tiny one we passed along the way, above), but the path and improvements got washed out with some major flood damage a couple years ago.

The new trail only goes so far, and neither of us were wearing the right footwear to cross the stream and navigate the mud and rocks to get to the falls.  Maybe next time.

Still, it was a nice walk.

Other nice things arrived in the mail this week.  One I can't show you yet because it may be a gift for someone who reads this.  But here is a surprise that arrived from Shay.  She sent me one of her fabric baskets and a fridgie notepad.  So sweet of her!

And how did she know the sorry state of affairs on my refrigerator prior to her new notepad arriving to spruce up the joint?  The woman must be psychic, I tell ya.

I saw these on Generation Q this week and my mouse made a beeline to the site to order myself a necklace.  It arrived in my mailbox almost blindingly fast.  I love-love-love it!

 

The red/black/white project underneath the necklace is a sewing machine cover I started on Friday night.  The apron fabric was another treasure from Jenny's goodie box of scraps—a entire fat quarter of fabulosity!

Here's hoping you all go forth and be fabulous today!

Favorite Things Friday - Scraps

Scraps, wonderful scraps!  It's my Favourite Thing this week, and pretty much any other week of the year too.

(Caution:  Potentially disturbing images of disorganization follow.  Viewer discretion advised.  Sensitive persons may wish to pop a Xanax or pour a glass of wine.)

Under this pile is a vintage sewing table...somewhere.

New fabric is great, but I have a confession to make.  I look forward to the end of any project made with new fabric yardage just so I can have fun with the scraps.  You too?

So colorful and interesting!

There is a sort of liberation with scraps.  You have to use your noggin a bit to make it work.  You don't have to do matchy-matchy, unless you want to.  Not that there's anything wrong with coordination, but personally, I've grown comfortable with a certain degree of uncoordination.

A small pile to the left of my cutting mat.

Scraps offer so many possibilities.  Using the bits and bobs you have on hand can net you something very unique and interesting (and fugly happens too, let's be honest). 

To the right of the cutting mat, and keeping the Juki from getting lonesome.

I think the appeal of scraps plays right into my appreciation for people who make something from nothing.  Recycle, upcycle, turn trash to treasure, whatever you want to call it.  We throw so much away that still has value to someone somewhere.

To the right of the Singer, more black and white scraps.

But I'm not denying the urge to purge.  We all go through cycles of accumulating and getting rid of things.  Circle of life and commerce and all that.

Currently hogging space on my ironing board.

An attempt to organize by color on the floor (FAIL).

What's cool is when you share your scraps with willing quilty friends, like Jenny did when she packed (and I mean PACKED) a Priority Mail box and sent it my way.

This is after at least half of the scraps had been removed.  Still packed!

Scraps on top of scrap drawers (which are full of more scraps).

It was like scoring the jumbo pack of Crayolas with the built-in sharpener!  So many colors!  Patterns!  Potential!

A peek at one of the things I made from scraps this week.

And another peek at something else.

In fact, I'm reminded of my childhood love of coloring with crayons, because that's exactly what it's felt like to play with these.  Time disappears.  I'm in my happy place.  Likely to forget appointments, meals, and basic hygiene. 

To be sure, playtime with scraps will come to an end all too soon.  Work will get busier.  I'll feel the effects of neglect in other areas of life.  The phase of the moon will change and I'll get a wild hair to clean up all the clutter.  Or I may even decide to quilt a flimsy or two (gasp!).

Still, there's no doubt about it.  Scraps kick ass.

Happiness

A quarter doesn't get you much today. A shopping cart at Aldi, maybe.

So I was happy to find this pattern for 25 cents at Bethesda Thrift Shop last year. I bought it just because it made me smile.


A few months later, I came across Peter's blog, and offered to send it to him.

This made my day!