Kaffe Needlepoint

Looking through my blog labels I see I had something called Needlework Tuesday. So here is my current work in progress. This is an 18" square needlepoint that I'll turn into a cushion when I'm done.

It's actually coming together rather quickly. I started rewatching Game of Thrones before the final season came out and this was a perfect project for binging. Now that the completely disappointing finale has aired, I've abandoned my plan to watch the whole thing so I'll need to find a new show I can "half-watch" as my eyes stay mostly on the work.

I love the colors in this. Bright and clear, like Kaffe Fassett's fabrics. The kit is available from the Ehrman needlepoint website here.

Makes My Monday: New Laptop

Is there anything more fun than new technology to play with? I love getting new toys as much as the next person. This one is twice as powerful as my old laptop and weighs half as much.

My old laptop has been dying for a while. Freezing up, keyboard problems, slow as molasses at times. Worst of all though, my kids regularly ridicule my old hardware. There's nothing quite as annoying as young whippersnappers looking down on you.

I can get sentimental about literally anything, and I've certainly done a lot with my old tools. Just looking at this new pink beauty gives me the same rush as new notebooks and pens. A blank slate to create all kinds of wonderful new ideas. How many books will I write on this? How many great ideas will start here?

Now if I can just remember all those passwords I need to get all that software going again.

Finished for Friday: Table Runner

I love collecting mini charm packs of fabric. The assorted 2 1/2 inch squares are meant to show a complete line by a designer and they are just the right size for a quick tiny project.

Now that I live alone, my home has definitely become more girly, and my Hoosier cabinet is full of flowery china that I've collected over the years. I made this little pink table runner to continue the theme.

I still have some charm packs left. Aren't they cute? It's not really hoarding if they're tiny.  (Yes, it is, but I think this is a reasonable number).

This is the only quilting project I've been able to finish recently because I'm working on something very big and very secret. For someone very special who is about to graduate. Only three more weeks to get it done. Wish me luck!

Welcome to Wine Country

 Wasabi Girl came to visit me for a day recently, and since she had just turned 21 I decided to take her on a little wine tour through my neighborhood. I live in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and you can't swing a cat without hitting a winery. I even have "Wine Country" license plates.

We did the complete winery tour at Lange Vinyards and it was amazing. We kept getting dazzled by the statistics. Did you know each barrel holds 300 bottles of wine? There were rooms and rooms of barrels, steel tanks, and even a concrete "egg." The neutral nature of the concrete gives the wine a bright, clean flavor.

The Willamette Valley is sometimes called the "Burgundy of the West," because we are at the same latitude as Burgundy France. The similar growing conditions yield rich reds, although we have plenty of wonderful wines of all types.

At the end of the tour we were able to taste and compare a variety of their offerings and of course, I ended up buying a few bottles.

So if you ever come visit, prepare to meet some wine. One of the perks of living in Wine Country.

The End of the Game

I admit that I, too, invested a decade of my life waiting to see who would finally win the Game of Thrones. Like so many others, I was incredibly disappointed with the final season.

But what I'm not disappointed in, is how this series brought people I know together. Two of my kids have been avid watchers for years. Many people I know watch it. Sharing the finale was something we rarely get to experience in these days of streaming. Everyone is usually binging their own current favorite on their own schedule.

It reminded me of huge shared moments in the past, like watching the moon landing. Thanks to Twitter, we can now instantly find a broad spectrum of opinions and explanations. Facebook friends acted like a massive support group for those of us who were dazed by it all. Friends were texting me nonstop. What a luxury to all live in the moment together.

The clever jokes and memes make all the pain a lot more palatable. People who can make me laugh when I'm frustrated are the best people.

So cheers to the creators of such a huge spectacle - and boo to some writers who dropped the ball. And hugs to everyone who watched. Valar Morghulis.

It's Not About the Day

Happy Mother's Day to those of you who have children, wish for children, or are just starting to think about children. And if you are uncomfortable today because you've lost your mom, or you have a strained relationship with your mother, or for any reason really, I'll be your mom. Today and every day.

The greatest gift Drama Girl gave me today was informing me that she'd invited another friend for this Thanksgiving. I'm already excited.

Last Thanksgiving, my kids and their friends flew in from all over the country to my house. I got to be the mom for everyone who needed it. They slept all over the house in beds and couches and air mattresses, they all cooked, arranged flowers, and got board games going. It was a lot of people in my tiny house.

It was the greatest time of my life. One of the many payoffs for raising kids is getting to embrace their friends and being embraced by them in return.

 Happy Mother's Day to you and the family you were born into or the family you have found. It's not about the day, it's about the love.

Writing a Novel

I wrote a book. It's got a beginning, a middle, and an end,  plot, characters, dialogue, emotions. All the stuff that makes a book. I edited it, read it through, smiled and carefully put it in a drawer.

So now that's over. I know that I have the mechanics to actually bring a story to life in long form. But I also know that that first book was a bit of an experiment and  big adventure in learning.

I learned a lot, and I'm well into my next book now, which has a better chance of becoming a real book - or at least having a few other humans reading it.

So don't ask me if you can read my book yet. Believe me, when it's out there I won't shut up about it. You'll probably find a free copy in your mailbox if you know me personally.

Writing is relaxing for me, and I'm enjoying the adventure. Drama Girl teaches writing and has been helping me every step of the way. Seems fair, since I taught her how to do things like ride a bike, use a spoon and for that matter, the English language.  That investment in child-rearing is already paying off.

Tell me about your writing adventures!