Trick or Treat....

From my favorite trick or treaters....

Bitty Elmo ( who is on the mend).....

...and our cute little "cow" girl and her trusty companion!!!!

Hoping everyone has a fun and treat filled day.

Vacation OVER.....

I was certain that I would have SOOO many posts

to share about our wonderful vacation.

It would have been about the amazing people we met,

the wonderful things we saw

and how our trip to New England far surpassed our expectations.

BUT....we came home to a very sick Donovan who has the CROUP!!!

So we have been full time "Grampie and Oma" for our little guy

.....while Mommy and Daddy go to work.

Needless to say there has been lots of worrying and concern going on.

I get home long enough to make a bit of dinner

and off to teach ( a lovely diversion).

So thanks to ALL who have left sweet notes

and fogive me for not writing you sweet notes in return.

Life should return to normal soonest.

Oh, I am even MORE grateful for that wonderful vacation

we had and the chance to relax and renew.

But I am sure you know

....nothing is more wonderful than Grandbaby hugs,

even when they are not feeling their best.

All About the Lobster....

You can't visit New England and not enjoy the lobster.

You find lobster dishes everywhere.

From cute pubs and cafes....

....to the harbor docks.

You can't escape from the LOBSTER!!!!

There is your more formal lobster dinner....

to the less formal lobster and fries.

Lobster and eggs for breakfast...

....and lobster stew for lunch.

Of course there are lobster rolls.....

...and even lobster and mac and cheese.

Even Clare figured out that lobster is so yummy!!!!

So many of our meals began as this....

.....and ended like this.

Ahhh.....it was all so delicious !!!!

Home Again....

We have been in New England....

....chasing Fall color.

Enjoying all of the tiny villages full of Fall displays.

We saw the magnificent mansions of Newport, Rhode Island.

A great contrast to the simplicity of the home of Louisa May Alcott.

We saw wonderful beaches....

...and lovely harbors.

We saw more lighthouses than I can count.

We stayed in some adorable Bed and Breakfasts.

We ate LOTS of chowder.....

....and LOTS of lobsters.

The best part was sharing this wonderful journey

with those that hold my heart.

It was the best vacation....and there are many stories to tell.

Feeling Fallish....

A favorite time of year

....and always fun to decorate for the season.

The table is set with harvest as a theme.

This year I added teeny acorn salt and pepper shakers.

Can you find them on top of my quilt????

The majority of my quilts are Thimbleberries,

and each year it brings to mind the time I got to visit their shop.

It is one of my favorite quilt shops of all times!!!

I love my collection of Fall inspired quilts....

My memories bring me back to classes I have taught....

...and Fall trips we have taken.

This is my newest Fall quilt....just finished it last weekend.

Best of all the family seems to appreciate my efforts very much.....especially Bailey!!!

Speaking of Fall vacations

....we are off for a bit of leaf peeping.

I promise to bring back lots of pictures, and tales of our adventures!!!

Some Finishes....

I have been SEW busy....

maybe the touch of Fall like weather has me energized!!!!

I finished this purse ( complete with a hidden zipper... I like that)

This little top for Clare is big enough for NEXT summer.

I made a cozy scarf in Fall colors for our "Leap Peeping" trip....

I finished this sweater for Clare too.

This cute hat will match the other sweater for Clare that I am finishing as we speak...

...and if the sweater looks half as cute

as the hat does on Clare, I will be very pleased!!!

Oh yeah....the quilt I used as my background.

Well, I finished it too!!!!

I am even thinking ahead to some holiday gifties.

Always a good thing to be ahead of the curve

....especiallly because I am usually far behind!!!!

Oh Oh....

Watching Donovan has been so much fun.

I am paid in smiles and giggles and he is such a sweet boy.

But there is trouble brewing.

All of a sudden he is crawling faster than I can catch him!!!

He can get into all sorts of mischief!!!

Then there is this....when did he learn to pull himself up???

Can walking be that far behind?

Followed by this greeting when I got him up from his nap.

I guess there is NO stopping him now!!!!

We do have "moments" of peace and quiet....

like when Donovan is reading quietly to himself (G).

And I did manage to knit him a hat when he was napping this week.

But don't worry to much about how things are going.

Molly is LOTS of help and the truth is.....

I am having the time of my life!!!