Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Home






















After my last trip, I am ready to settle in a little bit longer and catching up "things". I guess just a lot of sewing and promises that I made, but never be able to fulfill. and no more time changes and jet lag . So here I go...

Between now and then...

My S graduated from middle school and is a busy freshman in high school now. She is busy because she said so! Moving to N.Y. was a big culture shock for her and much more. It was a handful 3 years and she is coming her way around this place and everything nicely! She is almost as tall as I am and talks real fast if she wants to and just like every typical teens these days!  She continues out seeking her own path as we talk over the table and there is no need rush for any firm plan, and just take one step a day.

It would be so ideal that time can pause or slow down a little. I am not so ready for my girl to take her big step in a few years. It will be oddly without the chatterbox around for sure. S and I have took a trip back to Iowa last summer. It was a much needed trip that we both so look forward to. We drove around the city and to small towns; went to our favorite bakery. We met our friends for coffee and soaking up as much as possible. Yes, to the sweet corns and pork chop and the homemade meals that we were spoiled to. Nothing like blue sky, corn fileds, donut holes and friendship all at once!

As I prepared for my last oversea trip, there were a lot in my mind that felt brain jam! I don't even know if brain jam makes sense to you! It was alike a pile of list to check off, but have no idea where to start. And yes! I was able to pull everything together the very last minutes. I was baking in the morning before the flight took off at 10p.m.  Nothing like some special handmade gifts! All the gifts were much loved and well received!  I was able to double up the cookie recipe and put them in the jars for S. I told her, before these cookies are gone, I should be able to come home to fill them up again.

Home sweet home! I have finally really throughly understand what it real means!  It was nearly midnight, but when I exit out the airport lobby gate, I saw my girl waving hard at me and that is my home! When I got back to the apartment and saw the cookie jars had few cookies left  and I started the Christmas baking right away. mom, you are  the best! 

That took a good 6 weeks for turning around the jet lag this time. Partly being sick in the cold winter days and partly I was just exhausted. Home is the same; laundry, making meals, tidy up space, dress in cozy flannel pjs for days, a bit hand sewing and listening to my chatter box at 3:25p.m. when the door knob turns. Hey, mom did you know..... (and tea is ready,snacks on the table and I get to visit with the teen before she calls it off).  And all quiet again till the dinner time, I've pick up a few knitting stitches here and there...

Thank you for all the heart warming welcome come back messages! I can't believe that you all are staying around and checking in. It is amazing how this space have reach out so many of you and have been so supportive in this journey.

With all that... I am really miss the little space of mine here!


xxc



Saturday, January 24, 2015

Slowly Simplify











































Hello! Hello! heLLo! hEllo! Happy New Year, Friends!

2015-
There will never a "best" time to return to this space! It took me awhile to publish this post. Last few days, I have been typed a few lines then I clicked delete.. then repeat... repeat.  It might be post that will disappoint you, but I think it is time to do so.

Around here-
We are still organizing around here! Good news is that all the boxes have been unopened and organized! We ended up recycled many papers and little projects collected over the years! I ordered boxes and sorted by the year. There's a new folder called Dear Mom! It is the folder that collected all the letters from S and you bet, all the letter started with Dear MOM! We laughed together as we read all the letters together! Oh, you probably have not idea how many troubles S had when she was a little one!

Good time-
I quiet so proud of myself as I went through all the boxes in the sewing studio; organized all the trims ( total of 3 boxes}, pins (total of 8 boxes), patterns (two repeated), separated craft supplies and sewing supplies! We moved most all the craft supplies downstair, so it would be easier to access to. The New Year time was busy; cooking, reading, watercoloring, lettering, chatting, and laughing! S and I both agreed and miss our "work room" space that we have had for years! A space where we used to craft, chat, snack, laugh, or just being slight together. We decided to find a bigger table and recreate the "work room" space in our dinning room this summer! Well, we are thinking about this {table} or this {table}. If any of you have it. I'd love to learn how you like or dislike it.

Fabric talk-
Talking about fabric! The stash is pretty messy now as I have started working on S' 11th birthday quilt; they are everywhere! The plan is reorganize the stash after finish the quilt, but I know it will always  stay clutter as I pull them out! It is always nice to discover a print that I've been saved for years and finally able to cut a piece out ( I always worry that I would run out, do you?). Oh, I think it is time to buy prints rather than the full fabric line! I always have hard time to cut through the full bundle of fabrics. Do you?

Winter days-
Between now and then we have done some winter drives to visit our friends that lived out in the countryside. We've discovered some nice neighborhoods and historical houses during our drives. Have you noticed the daylight is getting longer these days? The PEFECT sunset time is 5:05 5:12p.m. Last two three Fridays, on our way to music lesson I purposely drive slowly, so we could watch the sun sets on the horizon line! I have to say the best sunset time of the year is closed to the end of January. It is warm and fuzzy and quiet lovely actually!

Back at it-
The kitchen oven and stove are often on this winter season! I have been back to the bread making business! Six months after moved in our new home, I found the oven is nice and trust worthy on the temperature setting now.  We made a batch of cheese bread sticks and used the leftovers batter for simple braiding bread.  I devoured a whole braid bread while waiting the soup that night! Butter, is the key ingredient!

Birthday Quilt-
The process of the birthday quilt is So so so so Slow! The squares are cut into 2.5"x2.5". According to the calculator I only need 2304 pieces of 2.5"x2.5" and 64 sets of 36 patchwork.  After all the math and the actual process, I came up with a new plan for the backing. Of course, I have already ordered all the backing fabric during the holiday time. The backing will be quiet fancy unlike the last one; simple! I can't wait to show you the complete quilt when I have it ready! This is probably the most difficult quilt to put together so far as we are going through lots changes around here. I keep cheer myself up and hope I could have the quilt top ready on time!  Oh, the longer daylight will help as well!

January-
January always seems so slow and long! However, this year has been going faster for us! After all the holiday rushes we always look forward a slower month to recap and just slow down! This year we started to journal on our planners, making simple notes on the daily events. A word to describe the day or a simple drawing to free up the lines on the pages!  We have missed receiving hand-writing letters in the mailbox.  A serious hand-writing letters is going on! We've mailed out many snail mails  since New Year and more to write and post! Oh, we hope to surprise some of our friends and families this year!

Winter Pause- 
This winter pause has been wonderful! So many accomplishments around here, not just organizing all the belongs. I also completed a few custom quilts and little bit of this and that sewings! S has been preparing her music festival that's coming up very soon! We've been listening the Concertro No.2 over and over together! Then we played some Jazz music then back to Conertro No. 2 again. There are times are hard to keep the little hands going as there are more music measure to polish up and room to grow. It is harder now as the music pieces are longer and challenger! It seems like after all that challenge stages everything will fall together again! I often see S gains great confidences and mature from all the experiences and struggles. We've talked about a little celebration after all the musical month that's coming up and yes, the birthday celebration as well! She has already received a birthday package and waiting nicely for the big day to arrive!

Decision-
This is the first post in 2015 and the last post for quarter inch mark life style sharing post! It has been in my mind for quite a while about sharing this journey of ours with you. I truly {thank you} come here and followed us throughout the years. Taking your time to read about S and I's journey and cheering us up in many manners. As you know, each blogger shares their post within their comfort zone and I am not an exception. It is hard to make this decision, but it is time!  I hope you don't mind to let S stay behind this space. Our journey will carry on, but will keep in private for now on! I'll continue blogging and sharing all the sewing fun, patchworking, fabric loves, and of course tutorials with you! I will be using a lot more I, me, mine, my and less we, us, and ours. I hope you don't mind this decision! I surely will miss having S around here at the blog, but I think she would appreciate so much having the privacy!

Update- 
Maybe you didn't get a chance to recheck on the {last post}. I have updated the half triangle quilt information awhile back. This is the update:  Many of you have asked about the {half triangle quilt}. As I mentioned in the post that the pattern is found from Patchwork Tsushin, a Japanese quilting magazine that I subscribed last year. The pattern was found in the June, 2014 issue. page 63. Due to the legal copy-right issue. I cannot share the pattern in this space ( Sorry, but it is illegal take someone's work and claimed as mine). I did work on my own measurement for the quilt blocks.  Thank you for understanding~

Have a great weekending

xxc