Look! We're Back!

So, I'm back from wherever I was . . . rested and ready to take on the world weed. If it ever stops raining long enough.

Above is my newest thrift-store toy (50¢ at Goodwill): meet Harry the Happy Heffalump, who resides on the bed and makes me very happy. Isn't it nice to be easily amused?

As to what I did—well, I finished a couple of hats and a pair of lace mitts, and part of a nativity set (i.e., most of the pieces are done, lacking a couple of sheep, and possibly the three kings amd the stable, but not put together yet—all right, not finished at all, but on the way), and some stuffed animals (two cats for a No Picture/No Instructions challenge at Cloth Doll Artistry and a patriotic pig for my father's birthday); baked a lot; made some ATCs . . . sorted out my sewing/crafting space yet again; cut out Eliza's Halloween/RenFest dress (electric blue satin and spangled tulle, with a back zipper ::sigh:: Why doesn't anyone ever want to be anything that involves elastic?); weeded, and weeded, and weeded some more (and it still looks like a jungle out there); bought a dozen chrysanthemums to put in a new bed (they are, however, still in their pots beside the house; I lost the shovel, and then it began to rain, and has continued to do so. Maybe this weekend.); successfully gathered seed from the butterfly milkweed I planted this year; read the first two books of Hilary Mantel's trilogy about Thomas Cromwell (Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies; she's still writing the third), which are excellent and I highly recommend them; slept a lot, and probably a bunch of other stuff, too. All in all, a successful vacation.

Also, I split the blog: and now there are three. (see sidebar) This one is mostly general goings-on and things I've made or attempted to make. Mother Bluejay's Commonplace Book is pictures, quotes, odds and ends I found interesting and wanted to save. not a pretty girl is politics, insofar as I deal with them (mostly in the form of links to what other people said or general idiocy), and status reports from The People's Republic of Oteen. (That would be us.)

Oh, and there's this:

Now I have an excuse for letting everything grow up . . . Seriously, we are now certified by National Wildlife as providing food, water, cover, and a place to raise young for various wildlife. (Mostly birds in our case, but also squirrels, chipmunks, mice, possums and the occasional raccoon. Also chickens who have escaped from the lot and aren't going back, except at feeding time.)

Information here if you're interested. The registration fee is $25, and the sign cost me another $30 (birthday money—thanks, Mom and Daddy!), but it goes to a good cause.

Pictures of various things to follow before long; now I have to go bake gingersnaps to send to Eliza and Riley.

Comments

[Jo-Anne]

Hey, you're back!! I have an elephant about the same size, but with a puppet head. It's a Wrinkles heffalump, and he is living on my dresser at the moment. He could easily take over half of my couch, and has at times.
Sounds like your vacation was a great success.

[Kai]

THERE'S my Anita! I MISSED you! I took a blogging break, too. Haven't accomplished 1/100 of what YOU'VE done, but I have to confess, I enjoyed the break. Love your new bed buddy! And kudos for the Wildlife Habitat certification! YOU ROCK! (Hi, John! You rock, too!)