Busted!

Hard evidence that the cat and dog are in collusion.  This is what is left of the fresh, hot loaf of bread we had with our salad Saturday night before going off stargazing for fun/school.

The cat, who can get on the counter, hopped up and ate what she wanted.  To pacify and bribe the dog, she knocked the rest onto the floor.  Lady, I'm sure, ate some of it and then hid the rest in her cage.  Sunday morning she brought it out for al fresco dining.

My good friend Joy brought me a vase full of lilacs last week.  One of my favorite memories from childhood is the huge lilac bush my parents had at the side of their shed in the back yard.  My mom would cut armloads and bring them inside.  Every time I walked by this bouquet, I was a little girl again playing in the yard.  Smelling the lilacs when the wind blew.  I was a little girl in the kitchen of my parents' house.  Thank you Joy!

Before.  The gag me, gross me out, so abused couch cushion.  Once upon a time, this was the coolest couch.  The In-Loves gave it to us when we were married.  It's still in awesomely good shape as far as the frame goes.  It is one of my favorite pieces of furniture.  And it needed to be saved!

This is where it's going.  Last week I got the two seat cushions and one of the back cushions sewn and threw away the old covering and stuffing.  I was going to do several square pillows for the back instead of the two that the couch originally came with.  But I dreamed the back cushions looked better with two and with the gingham in the center sashed by the floral.  So, I'm working on the second back cusion today.  I just sewed the zipper onto the fabric.

May I just take a moment?  LOL  I am not a zipper person.  And now I realize how I could have done a hidden one on the cushions.  But, we learn as we go don't we?  I am especially proud of the zippers.  I salvaged the old zippers from the original cushions.  One, because I'm cheap economical and like to recycle and repurpose.  Two, because I wanted to keep the exact same size cushion cover and this made sense.

I am so very pleased with how this is turning out.  I hope to get the other back cushion finished today.

Yesterday I got the fabric for May's block for the ISQ bee.  Alison sent us Hope Valley fabric to make her blocks.  Feeling a little sheepish, because I just finished the prototype for Sharon.

She asked us to make wonky gnome homes.  Any size.  Well, if you're gonna go, go big!  LOL  I got to thinking that there might be gnomes who love to sail.  And all sailors need a way to find their way home.  So, I'm pleased to introduce you to the Lighthouse Keeper Gnome.  He keeps the glass glean and the oil full.  He never abandons his post and lives to help his fellow gnomes come to safe harbor.

Thank you for your responses yesterday.  They lifted my heart and I was thankful for each one.  Like little stars twinkling in the dark sky that sometimes feels way too big and overwhelming to me.

Bless you all.