Weekend Camping!

It seems we have had bad luck when camping at the state park lately. The first thing was, I spiked a fever the day we left, the good thing was, my doc had just given me meds so I had something to take so I could enjoy our weekend. The other thing is the weather, hot one week and it dropped to the low 70's over the weekend, but the good thing was, we could go for walks and ride the bikes and it wasn't too hot.

We had a nice site, right near the water. The photo is from the phone so it is a bit warped, but the camp is a straight line down and behind on the right is where the table and fire pit was, so lots of space.

We enjoyed relaxing, took a swim and a short bike ride to test Bean out and that night we went to Quonochontaug pond to watch the sunset. We wanted to go to the ocean, but the beaches on this side do not face the sunset, so this was the perfect place to watch it. Bean got to play with Bill while I took photos, a nice end to the day.

On Sunday the kids came down. It really made my day and was wonderful to spend time with all of them and share new memories with the kids. Alex was happy to just sit and watch everyone have fun, he is such a happy baby.

Since the camp was mostly deserted, we had the little beach, all to ourselves. Everyone else sat and relaxed. My son was making faces at me.

Nick and Bean had a blast playing in the water.

And since no one took one of the rocks I left hidden in the rock, Nick found it and was thrilled to have something fun to take to school for show and tell on the first day. Someone actually found them, and took the whale, but left the alligator in the tree. I was worried someone might walk under it and get knocked in the head, lol. So I put it back and it was still there when Nick came to the beach.

After dinner, Nick and I went for a paddle.

Then we all went for a walk around camp, while Nick rode his bike. He loved being able to ride on the roads.

To end the night, we watched the sunset. Love this photo of Ivy kissing Alex. I had to lighten it since they were so dark. I would like to play with it more in photoshop and maybe do a framed photo for her.

On Sunday we went and got coffee, then enjoyed it at Quonochontaug beach. It was more crowded than I expected, but with low tide, we walked down to the point and had a nice spot for Bean to play. I had planned on paddling but it was windy and I had my play boat, which is too hard to paddle in wind when I am not up to par.

Since it was too cool to swim and too windy to paddle, we enjoyed biking around the campground. Bean is ok in the carriage, but not thrilled with being stuck inside. I think we need to make a more padded bottom, the bumps can be a bit rough. We rested and let Bean play in the water and he made some friends who were happy to play with him, so it was a nice end to our long weekend. Today I crashed, the meds are really kicking in, so mostly resting today. Now to get the rest of the rocks painted and get ready for our next trip. So far it looks like it is going back into the 80's, perfect weather for the ocean and perfect time after the crowds are gone.

Friday Finishes, Yes, I actually finished two things!

I finished the piece I was working on and the piece I finished earlier. The old houses is a design by Primitive Spirits, gifted to me by a friend. I loved the design and had thought I would mount it on wood and add nail hooks for a key holder, but I changed my mind.

I remembered I had a square box and it was the perfect size for this piece. The box was gray, but I painted it white, then sage green and sanded it down. I was hoping for more white to show, but my hand is still messed up, so not strong enough for heavy sanding. I ended up antiquing it to match the piece. The punch looks lighter than it is, it is more stained than shows, so it goes perfectly with the box. I think it would make a nice gift and something they can use to put items in.

The second piece was a free design by Julie of The Old Tattered Flag. Another design I loved when I saw it and the perfect gift for a friend who has a birthday coming up. I like making pillows, they are small enough to fit anywhere and go nice in settings. I also remembered why I don't use java stain on punched pieces, it leaked out and the hidden colors like green, came out. I had to rinse it a few times to get it out, but it left some darker staining.

Today was one of those days when I felt overwhelmed with all I had to do. We are heading to camp tomorrow for a 3 day weekend. I had to cook food, clean up all the messes, pack clothing, laundry, clean house and finish some rocks to take with me, but I got most of it done. Just a few more dishes and I will vacuum and tomorrow I can get last minute things done. The nice thing about camping nearby is we can leave later and only a half hour away. We are camping at the state park on the lake with a spot next to the boat launch, so I plan on relaxing and paddling and getting some bike riding in, this time.

I wasn't doing very well with my painting last week, so I took a few that weren't too bad and finished them up quickly. Not the best, but I am sure, whoever finds them will have fun and that is what counts. I can do the rest, next week, to take on our next trip. Then that will be it, I have lots of quilting and things to make and the holidays will be here before I know it.

I hope  you all have a nice weekend, and prayers for those in the hurricane's path.

Weekend Weirdness!

This weekend we went back to Jamestown, another partly rainy day then sun, so we like to go to the Diving launch, where it is not crowded. There were a lot of boats out, so it was nice just relaxing and enjoying the views.

I was also trying my filters, to block the bright sun. I love how this photo made the water and boats look like glass.

I was trying to get the schooners, but they were really traveling fast with the higher winds. This is a cliff we have gone on, from the other side. If you look closely you can see some boys at the bottom of the cliff, wonder if they jumped off or swam up.

Of course Bean had lots of fun, we always pick a spot away from people so he can play off leash. I think he wants to be in the movies.

Here he is practicing his dance moves.

 And for a part in, The Walking Dead.

 I had planned on swimming, but the water was all murky from the boaters, so we headed to my Sister in laws beach. Her beach is at the end of their road and usually empty, so I love swimming there and Bean can play some more, plus the water was nice and clean. Bill and Bean are looking for rocks that I can use for painting.

Sunday was another slow day, but Bill decided he was going to repurpose our old fence for my beach room, so he started getting the nails out and cleaning the wood. We needed a power washer to clean it good, so we headed to my son's to borrow his.

Of course I got to spend time with Nick and Alex which is always fun. I took Nick to the river and he rode his new scooter. Fun for him, but tiring for me since I had to walk really fast to keep up with him, lol. He was happy for about 10 minutes and then wanted to go home, he has this new fear of going places with me and having his parents disappear. He starts preschool next week, so hopefully that will help with his new found fear.

So, we played outside his house and had fun watching the frogs in the run off pond, in front of his house. Alex is walking now, so the rest of the time was spent keeping him from running into things so no photos this time. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Friday this and that!

Another week of projects that haven't gotten finished, but no hurry, and some weeks I just can't push like I usually do.

One thing I did was start painting the rocks I found, a few finished and more than a few, not finished. The lyme is affecting my eyes this week and my arm is still messed up, so it is slow going and I end  up making more messes, and having to fix them, so I do what I can and take a break.

These I did freehand, two are Laurel Burch designs, I have a couple of her quilting books. The other I just drew up, using my quilting chalk pencil. That is nice since I can draw on the design to see how it looks and not worry about following lines since the chalk disappears.

Then I started with one batch and decided to do them all. At this point, I just want to get them done and put the supplies back into my beach room. I have a million things to finish and projects I want to do, so time to get working on my quilting and I need that table back. Painting rocks is fun, but time consuming when you are slow, so later I can do more and maybe do some folk art designs that are simpler. I think doing pumpkins for halloween would be fun and easy to do.

You can see I have some odd shapes, and my brain wasn't working, so I have to remember to relax and just enjoy it and not try so hard, kids will love them.

I also started a punch needle. A free design by, The Old Tattered Flag. Here is the back, not very pretty, but much better on the front;) I wanted it to look like brick on the house, but brighter than I wanted, good thing for walnut stain, that will go on to dull them down and blend them into the house.

And the animals keep me busy, Bean always wants to play and the kitties leave tons of hair and dirty litter boxes for me to clean. But, moments like this, sharing dinner with Bean. Moki is like Bean, he thinks everyone should love him and he loves to say hi to company.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I am hoping to get out more this weekend, great weather for the beach.

Monday this and that!

This weekend we didn't do too much outdoors, though we did get some time at the beach with Bean. I spent the time walking in the water and playing with Bean, but no photos. We did go to the lighthouse and as we walked around, I found my first rock. It was done by another group, so I took a photo with my phone. I put it back so someone else can find it.

 One thing we did do, is go shopping. Bean needed a new leash so we went for that and I found one roll of netting, so I grabbed it.

What did I do with it? I made a curtain for the little window in my beach room. I had a pair of cast iron, blue anchors and I put those at the top of the window and dropped the netting over that. I haven't gotten a chance to get new lights so I threw up my starfish to see how they looked. I might try and find something large, since the netting is heavy and bulky, would be fun to find beach items on one string, or things that get caught in a net.

Not a great photo, just used my phone and I will rearrange the area as I go. The room was dark when I took it, so the lights look funny and a little figure at the end.

On Sunday we worked around the house. I also got my oar on the wall, I had to place it above my painting area, since it didn't fit in the other space with the longer mermaid hooks. My son and Nick came over for a visit, he had to return some tools and decided he would eat dinner with us, he loves shish kabobs.

He and Nick went in the jacuzzi, Nick loves to swim in that, but when my son went to cool off in the pool, Nick decided he wanted to try it, after all. My son was blowing up the raft and Nick decided he didn't like the deep water, but after awhile he got used to it and was having fun.

And of course, Bean was thrilled to have his buddy to play with, especially when they splashed water out of the pool. I wonder if Bean will ever slow down, wish I had half of his energy, lol.

I hope you all had a nice weekend. Today I started on the rocks I found, this time I am just going freehand, I make so many messes, having lines doesn't help. Next I need to work on some pillows and the blue jean quilt for my beach room.

Friday Finish!

I received a copy of Kelley Belfast's new booklet and as always, I love her designs. Of course I had to make one. I did change it up a bit, the kitty is in the middle instead of the end so it would fit the size I wanted. This is an eyeglass case, there is a pair inside.

The beauty of making them this way is, I add a lining on the punched piece, then I attach a wool backing with blanket stitch to that and it makes a nice cushy case. It is also nice for cell phones or pocket cameras.

If you are interested in visiting Kelley's blog, you can find her at With Hook and Needle. If you are interested in her booklet, you can email her and she is also offering the designs on linen, through Saundra at Woodland Junction.

I realized I need more background colors, so I used what I had, I think it is a bit dark and too green, but a little walnut ink, helped with that.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I am hoping to get out, but might be a rainy morning tomorrow.

Weekend Wanderings!

This weekend we got a bit of rain, so I used the time to get things done and when the rain stopped, we took a trip to the lighthouse. It was perfect timing, not too many people and the perfect place to hide my rocks. The bad thing was, after I left them, carloads of families came in and when we got back from our hike, all the rocks were gone. One couple found the funny face and posted, but no word from the others who found them.

This time we walked along the rocks and just enjoyed the views. A fog bank came rolling in.

With the end of the rain and bits of sun, it was also a good time to enjoy the beauty of nature on our walk.

This butterfly has the strangest face, it reminds me of a bunny.

A strange flower along the cliffs, no idea what it is. It was a perfect day for walking, but Bean was upset that he couldn't run down the cliffs to the water.

On Sunday we went to the forts again. It is a large area with several parking areas and beach ways, as well as view points, so we can always find a spot without the crowds.

We enjoyed watching the boats coming in and out of Newport. We also went to the launch and beach so Bean could play a bit. The problem was, there were more people, paddlers and divers and two dogs fetching balls in the water. Bean got so excited, he jumped in and started paddling out to them, luckily he was on a leash. I don't think he realized how far out and deep it was and it was the first time he ever went over his head on purpose, to swim. I wish I could have videoed him but I was too busy holding on to him and not getting pulled in, lol.

We decided to take him to his Aunt Natalie's so he could play off leash. He got to have fun and we took a dip. The tide was out though, so between the reeds and all the gunk from boaters, it wasn't as nice, as it usually is. But it is still a nice quiet spot to relax with Bean and I got lots of rocks to paint. I spotted this bee on her flower bush, I think he was full up on pollen. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Friday Finishes!

Finishes or should I call them  foibles? This has not been my week, on meds so my brain is scattered and my arm is no cooperating so I do not have a steady hand, but even so, I love to create, even if I mess it up.

This month's stitchery from Kathy Schmitz was a bird bath and I thought it would make a nice pillow to go with my bird house. I guess I made it a bit large, it is larger than the birdhouse, so it will go in another space.

I used fabric from her line, which goes beautifully with her designs. I did not have much left, so I had to sew some pieces together and it is a bit crooked. The stuffing is way too puffy, I got it by mistake and using it, but I think I will have to get more of the softer kind.

The finished piece is 7" x 11".

Another thing I want to try was rock painting. Our area has been painting rocks and leaving them hidden around the towns, for others to find. I thought it would be fun to try some and hide some myself. I used designs I found online, nothing fancy, wanted them to be fun for kids, who seem to be the ones finding them. With my arm and fuzzy eyes, my painting is horrid and I think I tried to make too much design in a small space. But, it was fun anyways and hopefully the people who find them, will like them. I guess I need to get more paint colors, I tend to have a more prim palette.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Maybe you can find some rocks and paint some yourself.