the first day

when you go antique/flea market shopping you really can not go with a plan.  i mean a plan to find some thing specific.  at the Sandwich Flea Market i thought i was looking for a twin bed frame for the guest room.

you just need to go and discover.  enjoy what you see.  look at all the old stuff, remember all the things you had a kid, see all those old bobbles that took up way to much room at your Grandmother's house. and when you get passed all the junk.....dream about those beautiful, pieces of refinished furniture that you can't afford.  let your husband look at all those old tools that don't mean a thing to you, because they mean something to him. and then pass by some of that stuff that you really do like but can't take home because you do not need more clutter.

however, always remember to do 2 things.....bring baby wipes in your purse because your hands have never felt so dirty all day long......and take lots of breaks to eat the yummy, really bad for you "fair food". like popcorn, funnel cakes, corn dogs and the like.

then....when you least expect it....and when you are not looking for anything anymore, something finds you. something that you didn't know you were looking for.....something you just can't go home without.

a vintage, 1970's, Louis Vuitton Bag, one owner, well loved, but well taken care of.

infact, i felt a bit like the owner wanted me to have it but at the same time wanted to come home with me.

after i walked away and she had told me all about how she took it yearly to "her leather person" for cleaning, i saw her walk over to the vendor working next to her booth and say, "i sold my Louie".

i finally have the fitting bag to match my vintage LV wallet that belonged to my now 95 year old neighbor. she's in a nursing home now but i bet she bought it during some of her "wild days" on one of her travels to Paris.

sure beats the "fun" i would have had wheeling a dealing with a street vendor in NYC this summer for a faux one!!!!

seems the week flew by...suppose that's good.

went out with co-workers after school yesterday.  hadn't done that in ages. fun to connect, yak it all out, and bitch and complain a bit over a drink.

treated myself to a bit of yarn store shopping this morning. i headed out, three pattern books in hand and ideas in mind. i'm doing a bit of planning for Christmas gift-giving ideas. the shop is about 25 minutes away so i thought it was a perfect time to catch up on my podcasts. so with nano and "pods" in ears, some ideas in mind, i set off. listening to The Creative Mom this morning it seems that everyone has gift planning and ideas on their mind. it was inspiring as usual.

is it still or really illegal to drive with headphones? remember in highschool driver's ed they told you it was illegal to drive without shoes! or was that my mom, who was just trying to get me to wear shoes. i used to walk all the way home from H.S. without my shoes on. couldn't stand shoes. first of all, how gross is that and 2nd, why would i want to carry them along with my books instead of just wearing them on my feet?  but i know i did it.  i can clearly remember it, and i had a pretty long walk. who knows why...those were also the days that we did weird things like "froze for fashion" and never thought twice about it. 

anyways....the trip to the yarn shop was a success. got yarn for two gifts, found some of that Trekking #126 sock yarn that was all the rage on the blogs the beginning of the summer. you know the one. i tried to find this yarn on line everywhere right after the big craze. this yarn shop had only one skein, which will make a pair. seriously, if they would have had more i would have bought it all. i know i could sell it on Ebay for twice the $. this is the self-striping yarn that knits up these cute socks that remind you of the colors of those old fashion Brach's Neoplitan Candy (brown, pink and white). they will have to be knit on size #2 needles. #3 is really my personal limit but i really want a pair of these socks.  and...i went to the shop with a FILLED punch card!!! that's like $ in the bank!  so put that toward some Debbie Bliss yarn for me, in black. i don't think i've ever knit in black? maybe i have?

tomorrow hubby and i are going to head to Sandwich, Ill for the GIANT antique flea market. (is that a play on words?) i've heard about it for years and it was featured in this month's Country Living Magazine. so we thought we'd have a go of it.

it's rainy and gloomy. i bought the dog a new bone at Target, should keep him busy awhile. i think i will take to the davenport and the Food Network today and knit.

have a good weekend.

I Knit With Grey's.

tonight's the BIG night. we've been waiting for it since spring. ever since those black, lace panties went up on the cork-board in the staff room (yes, i did type that here!).

and if you don't know what i'm talking about YOU don't watch what i think may be the best show on TV right now.

Grey's Anatomy!!

season premeire tonight. of course i have to get out the old VCR, i've got knitting class tonight, but i'll be up late watching.

and the show following, 6 degrees, looks interesting too. think i'll give it a try for a few weeks.

it's got j.j.abrams name on it so should be a good call. isn't he the guy credited with the creation of my long lost but loved Felicity?

what do you do with books that you've already experienced, traveled through, cried and laughed with?  you can only save so many. they began to fill bookshelves. then over-take bookshelves. spill onto the floor, bedside tables, and any other nook and cranny you can find.

at the end of last year, when i knew i was leaving the school i was at and i knew the teachers would be off for summer break with time to read i did a "sweep" of my bookshelves. put many enjoyed, but able to part with novels in the teachers lounge with a sign "free-enjoy". they were gone in 2 days. i was so happy! on to good homes.

well......it wasn't enough....you know how you don't think you can part with things until you start to and then you give yourself a little more time and you're ready to do it again. today i was ready...again.

i did another "sweep".  i have 2 full size "Gap" shopping bags fulled with books to the top after this mornings sweep. and of course in my opinion, better choices for the "finders" this time around than the first time around.

also in my book shelf sweep i took off all the paper covers from the hard cover books and shelved all the books by the colors of their spines. i think it's beautiful.

so....come Monday morning there will be new novels at school again. however this time i guess i will either put them in the copy room or put a memo in mailboxes for teachers to visit my room if interested.  oh, we have an amazing teachers lounge with beautiful IKEA-like furniture, a wall of windows, great cabinets and counter tops. we're just missing stuff like, electricity, a microwave, sink, water, stove, and refrig.......someday!

oh...other junk...

i now have a pair of Sunflower Socks, remember, i had one to finish. they're happy and cute!and that 2nd one went very fast. now i'm casting on for a pair of wool, cabled, knee hi's. got some new boots to wear with skirts this fall and knee socks are everywhere! i think they will be fun. also working on a Multi-Directional Scarf (sample for a class). and would like to work up the pattern for a sweater i just saw in the new Sundance catalog, or i could just buy it......tempting? and i NEED to get on those Christmas stocking for the mantle. i only have 2 done and my goal was to do another over the summer. what happened?

i should go grocery shopping today....but don't really feel like it. if i went to Trader Joe's that would put me in the mood.

we have to make a stock-up trip to Pet Smart today. The Dog always gets to come along. he loves it.

hey, want some fun, Fall cooking ideas? www.susanbranch.com click on What's Cooking.

have a good weekend!

"i can't find ANYTHING to do"

moms everywhere hate hearing those words. mostly they hear them in the summer. sometimes it isn't long before school is back on the calendar and Saturday morning is filled with those words. winter comes around and that familiar line comes with it.

i really don't remember being bored too often as a child. really i don't. i guess i should ask my Mother, maybe she would have a different story but i had many interests, as i remember things.

i don't think i've changed much.

i liked to read one book right after another.

i loved crafts and was interested in many different types. i always had 2 or 3 projects going.

i really didn't know the first thing about cooking but i loved to bake. by 8th grade i made most of the baked goods in the house. chocolate chip cookies, cakes, pies, candy, christmas cookies, quick breads... and in the summers did canning and made jellies when i visited my Grandmother on the farm.

i loved organizing and re-organizing my little bedroom.

 dreaming and looking through the Sear's and JCPenney's catalogs.

not a lot has changed. i do most of the same things with my free time now.

 some of the projects have changed a bit but they still leave no room for idle hands.

 i read as much as i can.

 i don't bake as much but that's only because it's just me and hubby and our waistlines would suffer. as soon as i hear of company coming  out come the pots and pans.

i love to move the furiture around, just for the heck of it.

and magazine and catalogs are my greatest downfall. just ask my poor mailman!

"i don't have ENOUGH time to do all i want"

need some inspiration?

 www.purlbee.com

has amazing ideas for knitting and quilting, right there on their brand-new website.  if you are new to their site scroll down sometime and visit the archives. some REALLY great stuff!!!!!!

yep, i missed last saturday. hey, it was the Holiday Weekend. i went to lunch at one of my fav spots, Grand Lux Cafe' and did some shoppping on Michigan Ave.

boy do i have a drawer of random stuff today.

have you checked out the newest Martha magazine? yep, she's at it again. i don't think she sleeps. the 2nd issue of Blueprint Mag is out. kinda cool. check it out, i like the Suede projects and the wardrobe ideas.

in your ears!!!!......i'm lovin my Nano! besides the music, i've found 2 weekly podcasts that i really enjoy. www.cast-on.com  Brenda is a knitter from Wales. she's spirited, informative and fun to listen to. i usually enjoy her mix of music too. www.creativemompodcast.com  this podcast is a bit different. i think her name is Lisa(?) she is a mom of little ones so there are some things that i don't relate to in that respect but she talks about many different art-related subjects and gives great resources on her page, and has a nice, relaxing voice to listen to. i love her music choices too.  i would say give them both a try sometime!!!! also, both podcast can be found and downloaded on itunes.

i'm ready to start getting out some of the fall home decorations in the next few weeks.  ready to begin to change the outdoor planter boxes from summer flowers to fall mums. the squirrels are starting to get very busy, have you noticed? and a few leaves, here and there are starting to fall in the driveway.  start unpacking those sweaters!!!!

i found two, new, fun websites!!! you should put them in your favorite places. they are busy, busy! hip and happening! be sure to check them everyday.

www.lifever.com  go ahead, scroll down. oh-my-gosh! so cool. you could spend days here and you just want EVERYTHING......

.......and http://dannyseo.typepad.com/my_weblog/   love Danny.  and if you have Sirius Radio he has a show on #114 i think.

go see the movie Little Miss Sunshine!!!

need a laugh? go to www.youtube.com and do the search for "treadmill dance".  go ahead, i know, there's mostly just crap on sites like that.  really....i'm so not in to sites like that, but someone linked me to that crazy treadmill dance and if you need a good laugh go ahead.  it will just take a minute. trust me, you will laugh.  and give the guys some credit for all the practice time. and then i started wondering  about how many skinned knees there where or stuck shoe laces or other wardrobe malfunctions.  whatever....it's just good old-fashioned funny.

you're curious now aren't you?  have a good weekend!!!

september first.......

means a lot of different things; falls is in the air here. over the last few days we have had some cooler, wet weather. don't think it is really here to stay but don't really mind the welcomed weather break. wore lightweight long sleeves and some socks for the first time in a long time.

let's take a bit of a look back over the summer.

FOOD....tried lots of new recipes, went out to eat lots, had slow mornings with coffee, did some baking, watched a lot of the food network, enjoyed new and old favs from Trader Joe's, now i'm enjoying late summer/early fall bounty. have a row of garden tomatoes on my kitchen window sill now from the neighbor!!!

READING....probably only read 3 or 4 books this summer (that's a very small # for me) but polished off piles of magazines. that's just the way it was this year.  probably one of my fav books was The Alchemist's Daughter and i'm really enjoying the one i'm reading now, it's listed down and over on my sidebar.

KNITTING....of course there was plenty of knitting. i continued my teaching/knitting schedule at Art 4 Soul and it was as busy as ever.  i condensed things a bit to every-other Thurs, instead of weekly and that seemed to work.  we had a "fullhouse" each time.  i also offered some ongoing Saturday Topdown Sweater Classes throughout the summer and those were a great hit.  the classes filled and many knitters are on their 2nd sweaters!!! who sayes you don't knit in the summer?

personally in knitting.....i'm heading back to school with a new caplet, shrug, and sweater, a pair of fingerless mittens(they're not unfinished they're suppose to be fingerless), a nice, long cotton scarf. also knitted this summer: a cotton sweater for the grandson, 2 market day bags (to steal tomatoes with!), a striped felted bag,(that still needs to be felted),2 pillow covers, and 1 sock. unless i get the other sock done by Labor Day, which i won't, it will have to be consider for a fall project.

TIME W/ FAMILY....had fun times with family. my parents visited here very early spring (infact it wasn't truly summer yet). had time with my sister and her little ones who live close by. had time back and forth to Michigan to see the kids and my little, too cute, grandson. a fun long weekend in NYC. a weekend a day trips with hubby. and plenty of personal little field trips for me.

BACK TO SCHOOL....well i started back to school yesterday. i did not purchase "hard-hats" as i mentioned in a post earlier but that was not so far fetched.  we were in our new building for planning the past 2 days and the students come on Tues.  let me just say a few things: it will be amazingly beautiful when it is done, there are more construction workers there than teachers, we will have a fire marshal on post in the building for at least the first 2 weeks because we have a sprinkler system, and fire alarms, but no direct lines to the fire dept to send them any signal in the event of of a fire and the alarms do go off, we have no phones now but by Tues they are suppose to have 2 in the office, and on, and on, and on,..... oh! and did i mention that on Tues. morning at 7:30, 21 buses....with 800 Jr. High students will be pulling up!

i'll be stopping at Starbuck's for a Venti first, i've never ordered a Venti.

Welcome Fall!