Getting ready for baby birds to leave the nest.

The boyz are moving into their own apartment.  Together!  Another friend will be joining them, probably just to keep the peace!  We have been collecting furniture and kitchen items for them from the local thrift stores.  We found a beat-up drop-leaf table at Savers.  It was marked $24.99, but the kind employee changed it to $19.99, just to get it off the floor.  Plus we had a 20% off coupon, so it was a great deal.  After hours of sanding and stripping off the junky top, repairing and painting the legs, the table is ready for its new home.  The 4 oddball chairs will be painted a cheery red to add a punch of color to the dwelling!

Of course, I get so excited to start the new project, that I forget to take the 'before' picture.  So, sadly, all we have is a 'during' picture and two 'afters'.  You  can see the two leaves in the background, they have been stripped and sanded and still look a little rough.  It was one messy table top!

A trimmed bush...

Some of the harvest

Happily harvesting my small crop of lavender this weekend, I was remembering Dad's last birthday at Park Place; the boyz and I brought the fixins' for homemade ice cream and some sugar cookies.  While the ice cream churned away in the gazebo, I harvested a TON of lavender from the grounds (with permission!).  I promised to come back with some dried lavender and have an 'art lesson' for the residents at a later date.  We served ice cream and cookies to all who would partake.  In October I came back with lots of dried lavender and sachet bags.  The residents removed the dry flowers and put them into the bags for their drawers.  The entire compound smelled heavenly and everyone got a little fine motor skill workout.  Plus, I had lots of lavender left over :)

Sadly, the other father of the mother has gone on to the 19th hole.  Hard to believe that only a week ago he was teaching me how to make a Manhattan (with brandy).  EP was always a part of my life, attending every single important event.  I will miss him terribly.  Via con Dios!

Eddie Bauer sweater - repurposed

Computer camouflage 

After felting a thrift store sweater, I wondered what do make with it... I've made a cover for my laptop (check out the pictures of it), "acorn" type slippers and several purses.  I just got a new Ottlite for scrapbooking and decided it needed a special bag for transporting to various locations.  The body of the sweater fit perfectly over the light;  the bottom and flap were simple after that.  Now I have to hook a strap on the top and pack up for the next scrapbooking event!  Repurposing things is so much fun!

Ottlite bag

The cool guy in the picture is my wonderful Grandpa

Just needs a strap!

Our teacher is leaving after four years.  We were her first class in 2009.  I had each class bring in mementos for stepping stones for the teacher's garden.  I used 'cement all' from Home Depot ($18.00 per bag).  Next time I won't use plastic wrap to line the pizza boxes.  Just let the slop run out, I guess.  The top of each stone had to be power washed to get the mementos exposed.  I used a set of letter stamps from Harbor Freight Tools to mark washers with '2nd grade' and '2009-2010'.  A step for each year.  Now she'll be home with her almost 16 month old and a new one due in December.  She'll be busy!

Bought the cutest sarong/scarf at Goodwill for $2.99.  Made it into another skirt for work.  I think it's my 6th skirt made from a sarong.  Make a casing in the top, insert elastic cut to waist size, and sew up the side.  On some of my other skirts I've left the fringe on the side rather than the bottom.  This sarong print dictated that the fringe goes on the bottom!

Spent a fun weekend with the best girlfriends.  The weather at Lake Tahoe was absolutely wonderful, especially since it will be bad weather and a high of 46 by Tuesday!  We hiked over 5 miles and swam in the pool.