You know you're busy when...

You know you're busy when you can't write on your blog.  Even now, I have a million things to do, but I made it a goal to write every day and I haven't fulfilled my goal.
We've been working on the bathroom.  The UPSTAIRS bathroom. Yes, the one that is the MAIN bathroom.  The one with the SHOWER AND TUB and all the OTHER stuff you need to bathe and freshen up with every day.  That's the one!  It was my crazy idea and it's gone a little haywire.  Mr. Fix It has been working so hard his body is aching and he woke up moaning and groaning from muscle pain.  Nothing a little ibuprofen can't help with!  When it's all said and done, it will be nice, though.
Lark's on her last week of camp.  Then, it will be August and then.  NO, I'm not allowed to say it.  So, I won't...but it's that other S word that no one likes to hear when it means the end of summer is near.
Jamie's aunt and uncle are here from Pennsylvania.  It's been nice visiting with them and discussing the Amish. I find the Amish ways intriguing and can't wait to make a visit.
My niece Addi and future brother-in-law came for a visit tonight.  That was fun, but not without drama!  Lark, while attempting to play outside with the kids, got stung twice.  Again, Mr. Fix It went to the rescue!  This time wielding a spray can of wasp killer instead of a crow bar and sledge hammer.
Ahh.  The dog days of summer!
I'll write more (not necessarily tomorrow) when i get a chance.  Fair warning, though.  It may be days.

Sit and Spin

It's been a while since I last wrote.  This is for several reasons as I have been just too busy.  Silas started swim lessons this week and with being at PEI last week, we had several appointments and catching up to do.
While we were away, the weeds in the garden completely took over.  It's taken me several hours to try to reclaim the turf! Thank goodness for audiobooks. I have been listening to Mennonite in a Little Black Dress while I rip the weeds, dump the weeds, and ditch the edges of beds.
The visit to PEI has influenced me to do more art.  I created a needle felted snail pincushion.  It came out really cute. Larkin, Silas, and Addi (my niece) also got into needle felting.  They all made needle felted doll heads.  Each one of them pricked their fingers, but kept going.  Addi was more upset that she wouldn't be allowed to continue because she pricked herself and less upset about the prick itself.
I've also taken out the spinning wheel that I bought two years ago.  I put a new drive band on the wheel and got going.  What a difference!  I'm spinning something that ACTUALLY looks like YARN!  This is very exciting!
Off to breakfast!

Mud Spuds

Today was a fun day! I had an opportunity to visit some great artists! My favorite stop was  Hope River Studio The shop owners specialize in pottery, weaving, and painting.  I purchased a container I will use for pens in my attic sewing room ( my studio) and a skein of hand-spun yarn that is absolutely gorgeous! I even got to meet the producers (two angora bunnies). I might even get myself  an angora bunny of my own so someday.
Life on the island is wonderful.  The views are so beautiful it almost feels like you have eaten the most delectable dessert ever.  We head home tomorrow.  I cannot say that I am happy about this. I have really loved being on the island and seeing the beautiful sites, eating food that was grown here, but my most favorite experience was meeting the kind and generous people of the island.  I will be back and I won't wait 11 years to visit again.
A few thing to note about PEI:
1. Homemade bread is cheap! At Mary's Bake Shop in Kensington, you can get a loaf of bread for $1.80!
2. Mud Spuds on Graham's Road are divine! $4.50 for a large carton.
G'Night!

Foxy Loxy

Today we went to the town of Victoria.  We got to see glass bead making.  Lark and Si were both given a bead. Larking got a fish bead and Silas got a tractor bead.  We ordered drawer pulls for our bathroom too! We are excited to have a little piece of PEI to use every day! 

Silas, Jamie, and I went to Brackley Beach with Nonna and Bwa Bwa for a bike ride. Fun! 

Our day finished with seeing a resident fox!  One of the neighbors up here called us down to check out Buddy. The kids even got to feed him! Well, I am a tired " Mombie." I'll be seein' yous!

Threes Company

The day started off great! Jamie and I went out for an early bike while Lark, Si, and Grannykins slept in.  We went to New Glasgow and picked up a couple of pottery mugs for Lark and Si.  We walked on the boardwalk and bought fudge too.  Yum!
The day went a little downhill by the afternoon, however, when I got stung by a jelly fish! youch!  Jamie helped me clean it out with vinegar and I spent the time making dinner with ice stuffed down my pants.  My mother has always said, " Things happen in threes..." Well, thing number two was hitting my ankle on the rocker when I was trying to get to the phone.  Thing three? Slicing my thumb on the rotary cutter.  Now, maybe things really happen in threes or maybe we just forget to count after three. Whichever it is these three things hurt and I don't care to have a fourth nor do I care to count a fourth.  Before I experience any other calamities, I am going to bed!

Sheep to Shore

We delivered the wool to Macauslands today.  Hard to think about wool on a day like today...it was about 95 degrees and the mill was like a sauna.  One of the workers said, "It's hard to believe people PAY to use saunas!" We ended up having 42 pounds of wool. We'll get blankets back in about 3 months.
On our way to the mill we checked out a quilt shop.  The workers were very friendly and helpful!
We had a picnic at a soccer field looking at a beautiful blue and white house.  A few minutes into eating a guy came along on his lawnmower.  His name is Cletis.  Turns out the ball field is really his.   He didn't mind us having lunch there in fact,  he invited us in to see his house and his wife gave us a tour.  The house is known as a fox house.  The home will be 100 years old in 2016 and was built from the riches made by selling fox furs.  You can check out the house here. The people of PEI are so friendly!
We also visited the wind farm and light house at the North Point shore.  If we had water shoes, we would have stayed all day to play on the reef.  On our way, we checked out the Co-op at Tignish. Pretty neat...kind of like a Co-op at home with Dan and Whits!
Tomorrow we'll head to Pottery by the Sea, Mary's Bake Shop, and The PEI Preserve Company.  Nonna and Bwa Bwa are joining us tomorrow! YIPEE!

Where in the world is Petunia?

Prince Edward Island!  Remember Sherrie Sheerer? That was me with wool on my head!  Well, we're up on PEI  to bring that very wool to the mill.
We're staying in beautiful French River at a friend's house.  The rolling hills and ocean breezes are relaxing.  Just what Petunia needed!
The PEI bike trail is amazing.  It stretches from one side of the island to the other.  We biked part of it today for about an hour.  The kids really enjoyed the ride - Silas fell asleep in the trailer!
We went to the beach today too...the tide was out and swimming was shallow.  A fun time for the kids (and me).  We also collected driftwood and rocks to bring home.  Grampy will be carving something to adorn the driftwood...probably a sea bird...
Tomorrow we'll head for MacAusland's to drop off wool and maybe check out the potato museum.
I'll post pictures soon!

Sherrie Sheerer ...

It's 10:30 and I am not in bed.  That's unusual for me.  Jamie and I were picking the last two fleeces to be sent to MacAusland's mill.  We'll be having approximately forty pounds of grease wool processed into blankets.
No, I don't have my OWN sheep.  I SHARE sheep with my brother Aaron.  He deals with the animal (unless they are up here on Graham Hill or if he's away) and I deal with the wool.  A joint venture; so to speak.
You need 12 pounds of grease wool to make one queen-sized blanket.  Therefore, we can make 3 queen-sized blankets and a lap blanket.
Thanks to our good friends Tom and Heidi for showing me the ropes on wool packing.
Off to count sheep!  ZZzzzzzz!

Get 'Er Done

Today was a get 'er done kind of day.  We started out the day with a dentist appointment for Silas.  It was totally cute!  He wanted to know what each tool was for and how it worked.  In the end, we left with all of the throwaway pieces of the tools and cavity.

We're going to finally finish the upstairs bathroom.  It's summer, why not!?  Silas and I went over to Barre tile to take a look at some of the options for tile.  Did you know if you have a small room you should use large tile to make the room feel larger?  I didn't know that.  We'll also be removing the existing cabinet and replacing it with a new one.

Our day ended with some clean-up chores. I folded THREE loads of laundry, cleaned out a bookshelf and brought two bags of books to the library.

I'm signed up for the beach read bingo at the Canaan Town Library.  I think I might actually have a shot at getting a BINGO.  How can I do that with all the cleaning I'm doing?  Well, my friends, it's called AUDIO BOOKS.  I am reading a fun book called the Gatecrasher. A light read, but super fun!

In other news, I am working on a quilt for our bed.  It's going to be beautiful!  I figured out how to size it up for a queen-sized bed.  When I've got more done than just cut fabric, I'll post some pictures.

'Night!

Cool Wool

We've been picking wool!  Take a peek at our pictures!  We're getting ready to have the wool processed into blankets.

 This fleece is particularly nice.  It came off one of the lambs...

Good times...

Today, Jamie and I woke up early and attempted to reclaim our vegetable garden.  With all the rain and thunderstorms we had in the last two weeks, the weeds grew and grew! Things are looking pretty good out there though.  Regardless of the weeds, the basil, peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini are doing great!  The tomatoes on the other hand could use some help.  And then, there's the mystery tomatoes.  Jamie and I were weeding the peas and kept coming across tomato plants.  Hmmmm.  It's not like you can confuse tomato seeds with pea seeds.  I could see it if it was zucchini seeds versus pumpkin seeds.  At any rate, we ripped some up and left a few just to see what they'd do.

Yesterday, we celebrated my Mom's 53rd birthday.  She got lots of nice new kitchen things from everyone.

We spent the earlier part of yesterday shopping.  We had a giant list of things to do and even with two kids in tow, we got it all done.

Have you eaten at the 4 Aces Diner lately?  If not, you should!  It's delicious fare.  Lark and Silas had pancakes - with REAL maple syrup and REAL butter!  The butter was super yummy.  It was flavored with vanilla and whipped up with heavy cream. I'm going to try that for one of our fancier breakfasts here at home.  If you're in West Lebanon anytime soon and need a good place for lunch (or breakfast (all day, by the way)), go to 4 Aces!

We burned off some of our calories by taking a family run with Chelsi, Addi, and Leon.  A good time!

Fourth of July

I missed out on last night's posting.  We had a wonderful day of fun-filled events that took us right up until 10:30 pm!
Canaan's Masons held a benefit four mile road race and kids' fun run.  It was at the back of my mind all week last week and then yesterday I decided we'd go and that I'd run the 4 miler.  Let me just say this - WOAH! It was super hot and super sunny.  I did it, but had to stop to walk a bit to catch my breath.  At water station 2, I missed my turn and added on another 4/10's of a mile before someone came to get me.  At that point all I wanted was a ride on the bumper of his car.  Even though I added a bit to my run, I still wasn't last - although I had prepared myself for it!
Lark and Si participated in the fun run around the elementary school.  Lark almost gave out right at the start line, but Jamie pulled her along and she made it through.  Silas did well too.  He runs around at home a lot, but hasn't done anything organized.  You should have seen the smile on his face when he crossed the finish line.  Priceless!
I finished the quilt for the Canaan Historical Museum raffle and delivered it to Donna Dunkerton.  By the time she left yesterday, she had sold 20 tickets...$100.00 toward building improvements!  The raffle date has yet to be set as the historical society needs to decide on a date.  When I get more information on that, I'll let y'all know.  Thanks to those of you who bought tickets - even if you don't really need a quilt.
Cardigan Mountain School put on a BBQ for the town at the Meeting house.  It was WONDERFUL!  Larkin and Silas enjoyed seeing all the dogs that came for the dog show.  There were dogs of all shapes, sizes, and fluffs!  Lark especially enjoyed the chocolate colored miniature poodle puppy - I think the pup liked her too!
We finished up our day with a cookout at the beach with friends and family.  The water was refreshing!    
Canaan's fireworks were held at the Speedway again this year as Cardigan Mountain School has some construction going on.  We got a little (ok,VERY) bug-bitten and damp, but all in all the fireworks were nice!
It was a great day of freedom! I appreciate all the efforts that have been made to establish and keep our freedom as it is today.

Canaan Historical Museum Quilt Raffle

Today I worked on getting a quilt finished.  This quilt, I have decided, will be used to raise money for the Canaan History Museum.  The quilt will be raffled.  Ticket sales start tomorrow at the museum. Take a look at the poster below:

Tea Dying!

While Larkin was at camp today Silas and I tea-dyed his bed skirt.  Silas opened the tea packets and removed the tags as I put them into the stock pot.  I've always wanted to try to tea-dye something before and this was the perfect item!  It will match Silas's primitive quilt much better!
While we were waiting for the bed skirt to soak, Silas and i went down to Canaan Street so he could ride his bike.  What a fun time!  It was perhaps the only part of the day that it DIDN'T rain.
Roads are washing out all over the place around here.  Parts of Lebanon have been hit hard from the rain.  Hopefully the precipitation will stop soon!
Aside from other boring chores, Silas and I just hung out.  Miss Larkin had camp and then piano so we didn't see her much.  :(

Another rainy day....

Lark started camp today!  She came home very excited about making friendship bracelets and even took orders to make each of us a bracelet!
Silas and I played and visited with Addi and Aunt Chelsi and then Leon and Grannykins.