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Sunday, May 18, 2014

May-hem!

Hello, hello, hello!  I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm having a very hard time believing next weekend is already Memorial Day.  Really, shouldn't it maybe just be Super Bowl Sunday, or at the very latest St Patty's Day?  I feel like I'll go to bed tonight and when I wake up tomorrow morning it will be Thanksgiving!  Guess it's because every single day this month has been full, both at work and on the home front....

So starting with the home front first, I've managed to squeeze in a little bit more on poor patient Frances Eden.  Her final finish is within sight!


Not much left now but the bottom of the crazyhouse.  I was not really looking forward to all the solid stitching when I started in on it.  But, in true crazyhouse fashion, its been a hoot to see it come to life. Love how the colors are playing against each other so far....


Frances' finale is close enough now that I've really started playing with what to take up next.  My head says to stick to my vow and finish Hannah Pepper, but my heart is wishing for a new start.  Maybe I'll get Hannah out soon and let her speak for herself, in the hopes she'll say something profound and motivating to me.

Also on the home front, turns out the pepper plants on our patio that Jim has been coaxing along all spring have finally gone gangbusters.  Honestly, how many jalapenos can one family use at a time?  So early last Sunday morning, we got out our big pot, sliced those bad boys up.....


...to make jalapeno pickles.  Behold the fiery result:

 

Thank goodness it only yielded two jars.  Any more than that and we'd need life support.

But it hasn't just been fun and busy strictly at home either - our little roadster has a few more miles on it after yesterday's jaunt to St. Augustine.  With an unexpected late season cool snap, we had the perfect day to enjoy one of our favorite places.  Yes, the sky really was that blue!


As always, I'm charmed by the architecture of these old structures.  Like the details around  the lighthouse window....


....and the gingerbread on the Keeper's home.


But the best part is the reward you earn for making the climb to the top.


I could stay up there all day!

Oh yes...another reason May has been such a whirlwind.  It's not very often one gets to have dinner with this lady...


What a once in a lifetime thrill to attend the HIPPY USA conference in Washington at the beginning of the month.  Hilary has been a champion of the program ever since she was the first lady of Arkansas and she graciously donated her evening as the banquet speaker the first night.

The conference was full of sessions, but another important activity was the day spent visiting Capitol Hill for legislative appointments.   The weather was really wet, but I did capture a bit of it.



In spite of the miserable rain and limited time, I did manage to visit a few sites on my "must see" list.  It's hard to escape the Washington Monument -  for anyone who visits, it's a reference point to steer by....





Any girl from Illinois has to pay tribute to its favorite son....



Any advocate promoting the purposes of our conference also has to honor Dr. King...

  

Anyone whose  family was touched by the circumstances of the Great Depression and the events of World War II should acknowledge the greatest leader of the times...



....and any dog lover has to be charmed by Fala.

 


Well, now that I've written all this down, I'm suddenly realizing why it's the middle of May and how in the world that happened.  Wheww!!!  No regrets though, I wouldn't change a moment.  Here's hoping your weeks have been full and your stitching joyful.  Life is good!

10 comments:

Barb said...

Frances is such a pretty sampler and to think she was only 10 years old. I love all the travel photos. No wonder the month has sped by for you. That St. Augustine lighthouse is wonderful!

Jeannine520 said...

Your Frances Eden is super!! I think your color changes are fabulous. So cool that you got to see Hillary speak. I can't believe it's mid May either. I feel like I just took my Christmas tree down and what the heck are we doing at Memorial Day?!?

P.J. said...

Francis is coming along beautifully! What a beautiful day at the lighthouse. Love your snaps of our National Monuments...I can ever see them too many times!! Look at your peppers!! I have jalapeño envy... We haven't even put our garden yet; still cold and wet. :( must try peppers in my pots this year, they will make nice patio plants.

marly said...

Frances is a stunner. Loved the photos. We stuff a breakfast sausage link into a jalapeno and roast it at high temps. Bliss!! Surely you're wrong - Memorial day can't be this weekend already!!!!

Melissa said...

Frances Eden is looking terrific! To think you will have another finish for 2014 ...soon!

Life is busy for you but as you say, for all the right reasons!

Carol said...

Oh, you're almost finished, Mary--and doesn't Frances look amazing! Sounds like your year is speeding by as quickly as mine--I'm just amazed that June is approaching!

Margaret said...

Your Frances is looking wonderful! So close! So cool about Hilary! Love that lighthouse too. I hear you on the year speeding by. I didn't realize it was Memorial Day weekend next weekend until after we'd made our plans. lolol!

Ellen said...

Frances is looking wonderful! She is on my "to do someday" list.

Your visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse brings back fond memories to this transplanted Floridian. However, due to my fear of heights, I've never climbed to the top--but the rest of my family did.

Brigitte said...

No wonder that the May days went by so quickly for you as they were filled with some awesome stitching and great travelling.

Pam Tanner said...

Absolutely love the Frances Eden Sampler. If you have the chart and willing to let it go, I'd be so interested in purchasing!!!!!!