fourth of july

  • D.C.

    ByHeather Bailey

    USCapitol_HeatherBailey470

    We did it. We really did it. We took a much needed break and had two
    wonderful weeks touring Washington D.C., Williamsburg, and New York City with the
    kids and visiting east-coast family—Isaac's sisters, Evie and Laura
    both live near D.C. with their families and his brother Ross lives near
    N.Y.C. It was a trip like none other we've had to date. I came home
    home this week refreshed and inspired.

    In D.C. alone, we saw: The Natural History Museum, The Library of Congress (incredible!), The National Portrait Gallery (I'm finally ready to try my hand at portraiture), The Lincoln Memorial, several war memorials (speechless), The American History Museum, The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum (my baby's heaven), and a had a private tour of The U.S. Capitol Building (my office manager, Karen's son works for our AZ congressman). I posted highlights from the trip on Instagram as we went along. There is so much more that wasn't posted.

    Grid_DC_470

    This collage shows some highlights from the DC portion of our trip. My iPhone
    alone has 1000+ photos from the trip, so choosing was tough. Some of you have asked for our itinerary to help plan
    future vacations to the area. I'll type that up and post it for you this week.

    Can I just say that D.C. was so much more magnificent and visually
    powerful than I expected. I was proud to see such beautiful architecture
    and art on display. I was especially taken by The Library of Congress and The National Portrait Gallery. I wasn't so sure about the massiveness of some of the government institutions. That was shocking. But, all in all, wow.

  • Patriotic Pear Peculiar

    ByHeather Bailey

    PatrioticPearPincushion_HeatherBailey

    A rambling hello and a Happy 4th of July to you.

    I love me a holiday. I don't always take the day off, but knowing that I could is a relief on its own.

    PatrioticCowboyT2 Today, my day is a mix. So far, I've flitted between shopping with Charlotte for sillybands, managing a play date with cousins, washing the laundry, photographing a pattern cover, sketching aprons and prepping to-do lists for the week. In another hour we head to Granny's house for a swim party and food, then out for fireworks.

    A simple celebration works for me — especially in this heat, with this belly. These days I get winded just walking up the stairs. I tell myself it's a heat/pregnancy/blood-volume thing. It couldn't possibly be my fitness level. I plan to sit. And sip. And sit. It is HOT out there.

    * * * * *

    If you haven't heard, there's a patriotic pack of Trash Ties™ posted in our shop till Labor Day — with a FREEBIE offer good till July 15th (see latest newsletter). And long Trash Ties are BACK! And on super sale. Just sayin.

  • Be-Spangled

    ByHeather Bailey

    There's been a lot of corn on the cob and swimming this weekend —
    dental floss and sunscreen.  (Somehow, in there, I completed the
    illustrations for another sewing pattern too.)

    America

    Happy Fourth to the U.S. Let's hold tight to our freedoms.  Educate
    yourself (real, balanced, self-directed education — not spoon-fed.) 
    Speak up when needed and don't just wait for election time.  That's not
    loud enough.  Fit it in.

    And God bless the troops.  I don't know how they do it — super powers? 

    Fourth of July 2009

    I'm grateful for the principles upon which this country was founded.  A favorite book of Isaac's, John Adams, was mentioned at election-time last year.  I've decided it will be my next read.  I know right where it is.

    And, check out that sparkler of a hairdo Isaac did for Charlotte.  A daddy 'do.  I don't think I've ever wrapped three different colors in one motion.  Impressive.  Yep, I wasn't even in the room.

    Next
    up, pattern testing/editing.  Today I'm taking 20 nickels to the
    nearest wishing well to wish for a skilled seamstress/writer to move in
    next door.  I hear there's a magic fountain at the mall, right below
    the escalator. 

  • |

    Red, White, and Blue All Over

    ByHeather Bailey

    RedWhiteBlue-04 

    June
    has been beautiful this year.  Normally it’s breath-suckingly hot in
    June in Arizona.  We’ve been camping and canoeing, working in the yard,
    and eating outside at every chance. Being outdoors with my family more
    than usual this month has put me in a good place for the Fourth of
    July.  Something about the lush cornfields that surround us, the
    well-groomed campsites we’ve visited, and driving along the Mogollon Rim has me feeling patriotic. 
     
    RedWhiteBlueTrashTies310In
    the last month, I’ve seen a bald eagle nesting on top of a dead pine
    tree, 200 feet up, I’ve picniced in a field of wild strawberries and
    I’ve watched hundreds of Great Blue Herons dive for fish to feed to their hatchlings. 

    If you ever camp in Arizona, make a point to visit the movie-perfect Woods Canyon Lake.  It’s looks almost fake, it’s so beautiful.

    We
    have a few more campouts planned for the summer.  In prep, I’ve been
    working on some fun camping crafts, recipes and whatnot.  We whipped up
    a perfect blackberry grunt in our dutch oven that turned our teeth
    black — as though we didn’t feel mucky enough without black teeth. 
    But it sure was delicious.

    Meadowside470

    I’m
    almost to the crest of the mountain with my design work too.  That
    place where things begin to glide.  Several projects now have enough
    stored, potential energy to self-propel when released.  Like a stretched spring. 

    First, a little more stretching to do.  Burn baby burn.

    It’s looking like a great summer.