Saturday, July 3, 2010

How about a cup of tea ?

Summer holidays have arrived and I have spent the last couple of days hanging out at home- doing things like watching some movies, reading Mark Lipinski's magazine " Quilter's Home" and picking up here and there. My very good friend Val and I had lunch today and began to catch up with one another after the busy school year. We visited the bead section of Michael's and I bought a new Dr.Suess welcome sign for my classroom door. Even though school is just over, it seems like I am still planning ahead a little bit for September.
The last days of school were busy with tidying up, emptying some boxes from our earlier move and attending some social events at night. During that week I had 5 days where I was out to dinner with friends- both old friends and new as well as attending a nice barbecue with my husband.
My friend Lou and I went out to our favorite local quilt stores and stopped for an enjoyable lunch. Life was particularly full that last week of school so I was certainly ready to stop when we left school at 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon.

The beginning of summer is always a time to catch my breath. Do you have a time where you pause to reflect on life and just enjoy the that particular day? I found this tea set while out shopping last weekend. Most days Bruce and I have tea when I come home from school. I love pottery and this one just called my name. This sign "You Sew Girl" from Connecting Threads made me laugh when I saw it " It is beckoning me to get started quilting... I have been thinking about what projects that I might like to complete this summer. ( a couple of convergences? two BQ quilts? my cube quilt? get my wheel of mystery quilt quilted? two optical illusion quilt tops to finish piecing? this is the start of the list ?)
Naomi of Bee she bags blog sent me these lovely thimbles a couple of weeks ago. Aren't they pretty - I especially like the rose colored one in the middle of the plate. By the way, I made that pottery plate a few years ago when I was playing with clay. Over the years, I have experimented with clay, knit, crocheted, made candles, done embroidery and sewn clothing. Some hobbies have stayed for a good length of time and others it became clear that they were not for me. Quilting is the one that has endured since 1996.
Susanof blackberry creek chose my name when she was giving away this gorgeous tapestry hanging by Susan Winget. I am still deciding where I am going to hang it Susan but it sure is a beauty. Thank you so much for choosing my name. Do stop and visit these two ladies blogs- They are lovely people who enjoy sharing their lives and love of quilting.

You may remember that I was busily working on this Life is a trip quilt. Here was the reason: My friend Clementine was retiring. She seems very happy with her quilt, doesn't she? She is a dear friend who is retiring after 32 years of teaching and moving back home to the province of Manitoba. I will miss her zest and enthusiasm for life. Her laugh is as beautiful as the smile on her face. Safe journeys dear friend!
Clementine's photo was taken in my renovated classroom- You can see we are still in the process of sorting. They are continuing to renovate over the summer- It is like moving into a new school- Everything is fresh and clean...

The rest of the weekend I plan to finish making my quilting list, do some seasonal changes of our decor and take a look at some of the books I have taken out from our local library. I have begun to catch up to some of my friends both in my regular life as well as in blogland.
Perhaps you have some great summer plans or maybe they are like mine- you are stopping to smell the roses too... trying some new recipes and enjoying living a little simpler pace...

Here are a few giveaways for you to check out too.
If you have time, go and visit these lovely ladies-

Lori from Bee in my bonnet who is having a fun pincushion giveaway. The garden chairs are so very cute...She even shows you how to make one of your own..
Khris has a fun turnover giveaway going on her blog - She will draw on the 8th of July ( Aussie time)
Michelle is sharing her love of white and bunnies- I have followed her blog for a long time and always enjoy reading what is happening at raspberry rabbits.

On Thursday we celebrated Canada Day with Red Maple Leaves flying. Hope my American friends enjoy a very Happy Fourth of July.
And now I am off to add to my quilting plan list....and start my summer reading.

What book is on your night table just now ?

Regards,
Anna

19 comments:

Orcsmom said...

Hello dear friend!

Glad to hear you are enjoying your time after the school year ended. I love the tea set! We are in the start of baseball tournaments, which runs from July 3rd through July 31st! Yes we are busy, but we sure enjoy it and we have made a lot of wonderful friends through all of the years we have been doing this, 17 years in all! Have a wonderful Canada Day, and I will think of you as I drink my morning tea! Big hugs!!


Pam

Joyce said...

Although I've been retired for over ten years I can still remember how busy the last week of school gets and how nice the first few days of holidays are. Enjoy your time off.

A Garden of Threads said...

You must feel free with the summer months ahead of you. I used to feel that way the last of school, took my a good week of just lazing around before I had the energy to start something. Enjoy your summer vacation and have a wonderful week. Maybe even in the quilt room?:)

Micki said...

Glad that you are planning such wonderful projects for the summer. You will be so busy, but what fun!
Have a wonderful Canada Day and enjoy your rest this summer!
Micki

Sara said...

Anna,

Sounds like you are getting your summer organized...

Currently I am reading: Scent of the Missing: Love & Partnership with a Search-And-Rescue Dog by Susannah Charleson

Have fun reading, quilting and relaxing!!!

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Gracious my friend! You are one busy lady! I love that little tapestry you won. ;)
Summer will be gone before we know it and we will be getting ready for Christmas. Just seems to get faster and faster every year.
Hugs to you!

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

Pretty tea set. And i love the "You Sew GIrl" sign. Glad the bunny tapestry made it safely. I hope you enjoy it.

Purple Pam said...

Sounds like you are already enjoying your summer break. You are so lucky with all your new pretties.

I finished two new books this last week, Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich, and Whiplash by Catherine Coulter. I am starting up a new book, The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson. I also finished the A and B books by Sue Grafton, A is for Alibi and B is for Burgler a week ago. It seems I am on a book reading frenzy lately. I need to be on a quilt making frenzy! LOL!

Ivory Spring said...

Thank you for entering my giveaway, and sharing with me your perspective on why you quilt. :)

I will join you for tea!

Tracey Jacobsen said...

she has to love it... it's gorgeous! :)

zandra said...

Hi, from New Jersey. Glad to meet another sister.
Hugz,
Zandra

Thimbleanna said...

It sounds like you're having a lovely start to your summer Anna. Hopefully you'll have fun quilting in the next few months!

Meggie said...

Loved reading this post Ann. I did look at Bee in my Bonnet, & love those little chair pincushions.
Your tea set is very nice.

Your life is very busy, hope you get some time to just smell those roses!
HugsXX

annieb said...

Hello my Alberta friend! I came across your blog via another blog and tapped in...Enjoy your summer and read and quilt to your hearts content! I am reading Heart of The Matter by Emily Giffen. I am a mystery fan so love the Sue Grafton books you mentioned as well as a multitude of others. I read chick lit as well if it well written. Have a wonderful summer.

Merisi said...

Good morning, Anna!
Thank you for offering a cup of tea, that is quite a lovely welcome.

I came over from Corey's blog, where I read about your concern about your daughter in law. I thought I drop you a note, since I have been that homesick girl at one time or another. If you can afford, make it possible for her to go and visit the place she comes from regularly, be it short or for a longer period. In my experience, it helps to soothe not only homesickness, but to learn that, after all, there are places of the heart, and they can be anywhere. She will learn to love her new home more if she feels she is free to go and visit the place she loved before.
I have been there, and I do.

Best wishes,
Merisi

Candace said...

Wow, it sounds like even though you are doing some reflecting, you are staying very busy and getting in some fun stuff, too. The quilt is lovely, the colors are so rich that it looks almost like satin.
I love your new tea set and sign.

Unknown said...

I'll take a cup of tea. Have agood vacation.

Ivory Spring said...

Hi Anna,

Thanks for visiting and leaving the kind comment. That was a most fun project. I really enjoyed it. :)

Happy Quilting.

laura west kong said...

Wow, we just started school here (year-round schedule).

I'm finishing up assorted quilts here and there.