A Wonderful BLUR...

Yes, that is the only way I can describe the entire month of July...a wonderful blur!

It all began the end of June, when after a very long travel day, delays, mechanical problems, weather issues, and an extra trip back to LAX for my luggage (my project suitcase was the important one) my vacation in California began...Sewapalooza 2013!  Now don't try to Google that, it wasn't an organized retreat or anything, it was a wonderful 11 day vacation with great friends...sewing, laughing, crying (just a little), eating, shopping, and sewing some more!  It was amazing!  We did a little bit of the Southern California Quilter's Run on Saturday...no jet lag for this girl...we were on the road right around 8 (with a stop at Sonic for a Diet Coke, I needed all the help I could get)...we were off to Fat Quarters, Grand Country, Temecula Quilt Company (my absolute favorite) and Stars and Scraps.  What a fun, fun day!

Sunday through Wednesday we sewed and sewed and sewed and on Wednesday we headed back to Temecula and spent the day sewing in the shop with Sheryl Johnson...she is the sweetest person, opened up her shop to us, had yummy bread and fruit and we got to meet her sweet, sweet daughter...if you get to the area, make sure to stop in...if you love reproduction fabrics, you will love Sheryl's shop...there is so much inspiration in that shop, I could stay there for days and take in all in.

Thursday through Monday we sewed and sewed and sewed...ate great Mexican food, grilled out and just absolutely had the BEST time!  Hope we can do it again some time!

Then I came home on Tuesday and left for my week at the beach on Saturday, just enough time to unpack, do laundry and repack.  Andy went with me for the weekend, we went to 2 of our favorite fish places in Sarasota for dinner Saturday and Sunday night and then he came home Monday.  I was alone reading on my porch with this view...

Walking on the beach as much as I could...

 

These fellas walked with me a lot...

visiting with old friends, watching sunsets

and sewing in the evening

until Wednesday when the kids arrived.  We had so much fun...even when it rained

...this is the first time the kids have joined me at the beach, Josh spent every summer there until he was probably 18 or so...he was thrilled to share it with his children and will probably make it an annual vacation...that makes me very happy.  We all came home together on Saturday and spent some great time together...the kids were thrilled to spend time in the pool

...Sunday they went out to Disney and really had a great time and then headed back home on Tuesday...they had a very hard time saying good-bye to Howie...

  We went into cleaning over drive...bathrooms, laundry, sheets and towels, and were done pretty quickly...quickly enough that I got to sew a few stitches that afternoon.

So you're all caught up, whether you wanted to be or not...LOL!  I'm here sewing and cleaning and yes doing a bit more destashing...I think I may be back this week with some goodies.  I have a bunch of wool that I would really like to get rid of.  Happy weekend everyone!