Summer Draws to a Close

While fall doesn't technically start for another 23 days, the end of August is pretty much the end of summer with all the kids going back to school and the traffic loosening up just a little.  Pretty soon I can resume my beach combing endeavors without having to share the beach with a ton of people or paying to park.  

This summer went by just way, way too fast.  I can't think of anything I did at all either, except for a few things.  Life & humidity really got in the way of all the stuff I intended to do.  So I stayed in and cross stitched.  Last summer, 2014, seemed to go by really slowly.  For one thing, the weather was perfect last year.  That enabled me to get out of the house almost daily for walks and day trips.  I've found that time slows down when you are doing stuff but goes by wicked fast when you are doing nothing. 

Finished wine project for Mary's housewarming gift.  This took less than a week to do.  I could've done it in a day or two tops but I kept getting interrupted.

Still working on the shells.  Both the instructions/pattern and the photo on the package show the word 'sundial' off center.  I stitched it that way but it's reeeeeeeally messing with my OCD.  I will probably go back and center it.

Here's another simple craft project that serves no real purpose except look really pretty when you shake it up.  It's just water & glycerin with glitter.  I used a small Sutter Homes wine bottle.  I still need to do something for the cap.  I've noticed that the water has turned pink over the past few days too (these were taken the day after I made it).

If you are going to do this project, put the glitter and stuff in the bottle first.  Mix the water and glycerin in a measuring cup and then pour it in.  If you try putting the water/glycerin in first the glitter will never sink to the bottom when you add it in.  

My sweetie and I were out and about doing some errands and stopped in Benny's.  They have the best craft kits and stuff.  I spied this kit and had to have it.  Russell was over in the automotive department and I met up with him there with a big grin on my face.  He saw the box and started to laugh, and he bought it for me.  

I just finished reading my friend Robyn's book, Woman on the Verge of Paradise.  It's an excellent read, very funny and poignant at the same time.  I highly recommend it....it's a great read.  Please visit her blog too, Life by Chocolate.  Tell her JoJo sent ya.  

The fuzzies on National Dog Day (August 26th).  Of course every day is 'National Dog Day' in this house.

Maxfield Parrish skies.

Pretty clouds.

Unusual clouds

I shot this with my zoom lens, from my chair on the deck.  That's why you can't see my reflection.  

I really enjoy autumn, but I am in no hurry for the winter months.  I am in denial about the Farmer's Almanac prediction that the northeast is going to have an even worse winter than last, which is really hard to imagine.  I hope that it's not true and the El Nino building in the Pacific gives us a milder and rainier winter.