Quick Update

 I'm back for a quick update since I've been gone for so long. Sometimes "life" takes over and takes you to unexpected places. That is kind of what happened this week. The story is longer than you need to hear-or even want to hear-but it all started with a phone call from daughter #1 last Friday telling me that she was on her way to her daughter-my granddaughter #4- in Gainesville and asking if she could drop off my grand dog. It seems as if my grand's 5 month old kitten had suddenly taken ill and they were at UF Veterinary Hospital with things not looking great.

This would always have been a concerning call but it was made even more so by the fact that my granddaughter was to have her first final exam of her 2nd semester of law school that day-which, of course, wasn't going to happen for her.

After 12 hours of waiting they were sent home-to my house-without the kitten but with what might have been cautionary optimism...only to receive a call not too many hours later that they needed to get back. Unfortunately, the kitten didn't make it and we had a pretty rough weekend as that cat was kind of a "support" friend through the first year of law school which seems to be pretty isolating with all of the work and studying being required.

There were so many other ducks to get into rows after that but, in the end, my granddaughter was allowed to make up that exam yesterday and she and my grand dog are staying with me this week as she studies for her next exam on Friday while my daughter finally returned to her home in St. Pete yesterday to get back to work.

I am enjoying spending time with Liv when she isn't studying. It is kind of mind blowing to realize just how grown up my grands, who I guess I still think of as young, have become. Conversation topics have certainly changed as they face life's realities and my mind is challenged just trying to keep up. Lol

With all of that said, that is why I haven't been here to visit or finish our tour. My house is being used for its "real" purpose-living!!- and some places just might not currently be "photo worthy". Lol

I have been doing some 4th of July photo perusing from past years and I'm not sure there is a lot I will be changing. I think with the possible exception of Halloween, the 4th actually has the most of my craft decor and, most of them are things I really like. I am still looking for new ideas-if anybody has one please send it along-but, so far I am coming up empty.

I will say that if I didn't have Mother's Day, baccalaureate, more award banquets, prom and graduation all still to go this month, I might have been tempted to start my patriotic decor now. So many others are-I guess because this one is #250! But, honestly, there is no time for that in my schedule right now. And so, I will wait. Here are some of the things that are really popping out for me and I know you will see them again.

I made this one last year and was able to make the base using various leftover pieces and shapes of wood that I had on hand.

 These are both "oldies" but I love them.

Not sure why, but I LOVE the star. It is another of the "faux $Tree tile" crafts and not really spectacular but, it speaks to me. And, I can't believe it took me so many years to remember these commemorative pewter plates that have been sitting in my closets for YEARS!!

I'm actually shocked that I still want to use this guy. I am NOT a fan of dolls for decor-especially ones that look so scary but, this is what a primitive Uncle Sam looks like. I made him without a pattern and was truly flying by the seat of my pants so he almost didn't make it to completion more than once during the process. Lol

I made the box he is sitting on because I had it in my stash leftover from when I bought the boxes to make the drum pictured above. The boxes came in sets so it was just sitting here waiting for this idea to finally pop into my head.

And, of course, a "fan favorite"-the wreath that daughter #3 made me using my grandchildren's handprints back when they were still small enough to do this. Sigh!!!!

I bought this dough bowl last year because my antique one is SO LARGE and sometimes decor like this simply gets lost in it. And then, as the month continued, I found more and more tchotchkes to make and add. It's kind of fun but I'm thinking it may need something with some color as a base-a piece of fabric, some red "shredded filler" or ??? Yet to be determined. Lol

I've got to say that I am looking forward to revisiting those things-I hope you are too. Not sure when I will be back-the rest of the week is still pretty full-but until then, stay safe and stay tuned.