september time

I'm still here, adjusting, sort of. Last week felt like one huge up-in-the-air readjustment phase. School for two half days, one sick day for a child already. And Mike, well he was away in Costa Rica on a business trip and got seriously sick with a really bad case of food poisoning. That was a week ago last Wednesday. What a helpless feeling to be so far away and unable to do anything but pray for him. His company has a private jet to retrieve sick employees who are doing business in foreign countries, but luckily things didn't get quite that bad. He made it home very late last Friday night. I think he coulda kissed the asphalt at the airport. I was so glad to have him home, safe and recovering.

Pulling weeds would have been good therapy last week, now that I think about it. (I see one in the photo). This week, better, much better. I feel settled in again. Glad for school routines, a well husband at home, and this time of year.

The black-eyed susans in the back yard are wowing me right now... Why do I always forget how nice it is in September?

I forget about the shadows too, and how the light changes. Almost imperceptibly, but then one day you see it, and you know summer is starting to wane. But it's really okay-- I've had my fill of summer this year. (That's a first, btw).

 
I'm missing the neighborhood ballgames in the backyard everyday though. Maybe there'll be a few more when the kids get used to school schedules.

 
Winston misses them too. Last week he walked into the kitchen and dropped a baseball on the floor and looked up at me. I told the kids what he did, so they took him out to play catch. He came in after a couple of throws and sat and stared out the front door. (We have a glass storm door.) I knew what he wanted... another neighborhood ballgame in our backyard. He likes loves to watch the kids play ball while he sits on the hillside by the trees. Perfect stadium seating. Not crowded either.

 
He sits there looking like my china terrier on the kitchen window sill-- only with his tongue hanging out and his eyes glued to a flying baseball. (Smiling too, I'm pretty sure.)

 
So this week I got back to sewing. Sometimes it's just the biggest hurdle for me to get back to making something. It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I get stuck after a long break. Monkeys seemed like the safest place to get going again, so that's what I did... in the kitchen, with a cup of tea and the tv for a few days. It felt like a total luxury, since I haven't watched a thing on tv all summer. (Hannah Montana does not count).

I am so smitten with the Dena Designs fabric in the photo. I don't think fabric for sock monkey clothes can get any more perfect than a red rose cheetah stripe!

 
 
I'm also pretty smitten with my favorite summer yard sale find right now too ($2.50! Unbelievable). Admiring it all week over on the couch while I've stitched. (I've wanted one like this with the black edging for a really long time.) It's perfect for the evenings now. 

 
Looks like my naked sock monkeys on the kitchen counter could use that blanket. Well, it's time to sew clothes next.

In the meantime until I get back to better blogging and projects I've got the best cupcake frosting recipe for you. I made two dozen last Sunday and they were gone in two days. The cupcake is a mix; I just wanted to deal with the fosting recipe.

So anyway, here it is:

OREO COOKIE FROSTING

1 16 oz box powdered sugar

1 8 oz container Cool Whip

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 pkg cream cheese, softened

15 Oreo cookies, crushed

With a mixer, mix together the cream cheese, vanilla and Cool Whip. Gradually add in the powdered sugar. Stir in crushed cookies by hand. (If I had really thought about how simple this was, I probably could have handled some homemade cupcakes. Duh. Oh well.) This stuff is like clouds... clouds filled with Oreos and a choir of singing cherub angels. 

You'd like it :)

Happy Labor Day weekend!! xoKelly  

 

Comments

[Maria]

Hey Kelly!! Your flowers light up my day, literally. :> It's about 10:30 pm and we have absolutely no power in the neighborhood! So I got online to have some light. The candles don't count. And I was just starting to watch Star Wars 1V...
Anyway, the cat just purred along as if nothing had happened. I wish I could be more like him... Taking everything in stride. We take electricity for granted. Without it there's no a/c, no fans, no lights, no stove, no fridge, no WATER, just think about it... Oh anyway, I love your blog and I think Winston has the right idea: a shade tree, lovely kids, a flying ball. What else is important??

xo
Maria

[Brenda Just a bed of Roses]

sorry to hear about Mike being so sick...so unfortunate...those foreign countries leave much to be desired.
Geez Kelly I just realized do we need to be to a certain store right now on Labor day???

A little going back to school blues for mom and doggie? But look at those sock monkeys and your right it doesnt get better than that particular fabric and oreo frosting...thanks for sharing your first thoughts on fall.

Now...must get dressed and head off to you know where.

[Julie]

First, I'm glad your husband is feeling back to his healthy self, for his sake and for yours.

What a smokin' deal on the pretty afghan! The guy with the price gun wasn't on the ball that day, for sure! Lucky you! :)

I'm loving all your cheery flowers and your deck looks like a lovely place to sit and relax!

This afternoon I was sorting through some boxes I haven't opened in almost 3 years and came across a China dalmation that I had wondered where it'd been hiding. Looks like the cousin of your terrier on the window sill. Made me smile when I saw yours.

Landsakes! How do you whip out a big batch of sock monkeys so quickly?? You have little tiny elves that stitch while you sleep??

[Cassie Shella]

I'm very glad to hear your hubby is safe at home. Your black eyed susans look beautiful, only you can see the weed in the picture! I would love to see the clothes you make for your monkeys. Have a Blessed week.

[Traci]

Your poor husband. Being sick is one thing. Being sick when youre thousands of miles from home is terrible. Glad everyone is feeling better now. Hopefully this week will be better for all of you. You black eyed susans are gorgeous. Hey. I would love to buy a sock monkey from you. I think they would be adorable for kids to hang on to in photo shoots.

[kayellen]

Your blackeyed susan's are so pretty Kelly~~~

Sorry about you husband, that must been terrible to be so far away and sick:(

Your sock monkeys make me smile:))

Off to look at your beach photos again...looks like a fun spot to getaway!

xo
Kay

[Deb]

Your poor husband! Nothing worse than being ill and away from home.
I LOVE your little window sill display with the china terriers. I'm always on the lookout for little china black labs but have never found one! What a pretty garden you have with the black eyed susan's ... AND those sock monkeys will look adorable all dressed in the D.D. fabric ♥
Have a fantastic weekend Kelly xo

[cindy geilmann]

Hi my friend, love all the colors in you post's. I've missed my visits with you, I've been off in other directions. I'm very jealous over you vacation. I want that vacation, that very spot.

I want to make the cupcakes and your flowers are specktacular.

I want one of your monkeys.

big hugs
cindy@stitches