Interview

Crazy. I just did an interview with local Chicago CBS about selling things on Etsy.

They may take this logo down for copyright infringement. . . but even if they do, Chicagoans, please tune in to CBS local news this coming Monday to see how twitchy and weird I look on camera talking about my work.

And thanks Dorothy and Jerry! It was super great meeting you and talking in my wee office in Cicero. Happy Day!

Newer Rattles

Rattle-tastic!

Happiness is. . .

a cold frame made for you by your husband.

what was cool when it was being built in the basement, is now resplendent in the backyard. this weekend (in November!!!), planting begins.

Plus, Henri!

he'll be posted to the etsy site soon!

Fall Loveliness

I might also be embracing fall with a family walk--me, D and L.P. If fall weren't the lead in to winter, it would be my favorite season. Because, seriously, what's prettier than fall trees?

or funnier than kid designed pumpkins? tres adorables!

Holy Fall Cooking!

I am embracing Fall with open arms and food. Loads of soups. My first first chicken pot pies from scratch. Cranberry bread. Brussel Sprouts. Catatoes or mashed parrots--Dan's awesome combo of mashed potatoes and carrots.

the handsome husband denuding the brussel stalk.

How pretty is that? I was super proud. If you ever make chicken pot pies, steal this crust recipe. Fill however you like, but this crust is awesome.

embroidery heading shopwards

Embroidery! More is on its way, but these are the bad boys I have been able to finish so far. The one that looks like a bike wheel (spokes and all) is the back of one to show the stretching treatment they get once finished.

This one's for Silent Thunder

This is Alex's favorite word. So, inspired by him, I embroidered it. Someone else may love it, too. Who knows!

Market

Today was the last day of the Oak Park farmer's market. . . which means no more fresh veg or church donuts again until next May. It's a blow combined with falling back thanks to Day Light Savings Time.

But at least today, we had donuts and found the most beautiful carrots (for Catatoes! or Mashed Parrots!) brussel sprouts and butternut squash. Good eatins the rest of this week!

Last Day of Travel

So we've been back from vacation for 4 or 5 days now, but the last day of travel was so pretty, that I still wanted to post pictures. When I was a kid, the Pennsylvania Turnpike was an unending emotional wasteland of when-are-going-to-get-there and are-we-there-yet. It was interminable. Going was slow. Loads of traffic and it went on for hours.

But now that other highways have been opened in the area--the Appalachian Highway to the south most especially--the Turnpike is now actually amazing. As beautiful as it always was, but now also speedy. Driving home from the beach, where it was 80 degrees on our last morning, through the fall splendor of Pennsylvanian mountains the next day felt like unexpected magic.

Vacationing in late September/early October is fine by me.


Plus, bonus! In the very first rest stop on the Ohio toll road, on the extreme eastern border of the state, we found this guy:

It was a happy surprise to see that the robots are branching out to other states. And it gave us a boost before we took on driving the whole width of Ohio.