Pictures from the fair

Time for the County Fair

It's time, once again, for the Great Geauga County Fair! Yes, it's called the "Great Geauga County Fair" and it's held every year on Labor Day weekend. Now in it's 186th year, it is Ohio's "Oldest Continuous County Fair" as well as one of the oldest existing agricultural fairs in the nation.
It is huge and will be a lot of walking around. In fact, another of their slogans is "You can't see it all in one day!" Well, we always try. There will be great food, greasy fair food, candy apples, corn dogs, and more food! One time we were there at the right time to see the Dock Dog Jumping Contest. That was so fun to see all the dogs jumping off the dock into the lake.
I'm not sure what we'll see this year. There's something different each day. I always stop by the "Domestic Arts" barn and eye-up the knit and crocheted entries. One of these days I would like to enter. I'll have to try to get an application next year.
There's something fun for everyone at the Great Geauga County Fair!
Maybe I should have entered the Apple Pie contest? Maybe next year!

Apple Pie and Woolly Bears

It's not quite Fall yet, but there's definitely a chill in the air these days!

I made an apple pie. The crust isn't perfect this time, but it doesn't have to be!
Did your grandma make pinwheels too? You take the little bit of left-over crust and roll it out. Spread it with butter and sprinkle with lots of cinnamon sugar. Bake them in a hot oven until they're done. Not too sweet, but a nice little treat. My husband thought the pie was a yummy surprise. The kids even ate a piece!

I saw a fuzzy woolly bear caterpillar yesterday and it reminded me of some brown furry yarn that I had. I made a long scarf with it last year, but had just enough left over to make this fun button scarf. Stay tuned for more signs of Fall!

Traditions

I have been taking the kids picture on the first day of school ever since Walker started preschool. I am waiting to get a scanner so that I can organize them all, including the pre-digital ones.

One of these kids is so excited! Can you tell which one was literally jumping for joy as the bus pulled up? Well, yes Coco was pretty excited too until she realized that we weren't going for a run.
I bought a couple dozen ears of sweet corn and am going to freeze ears since the kids love having corn-on-the-cob in the winter. LOL It doesn't always taste the best. If it's really good corn, I may get more and either can or freeze some off the cob.
I also have a bag of apples that I picked up from my Mom and Dad's yard. They make great pie, applesauce and apple butter. Maybe I'll bake a surprise pie for tonight.
Busy days! Have a good one!

When I first met Lily

I knew I had met an extraordinary woman when I first read a comment on my blog from Lily of Tulips Treasure Box. Lily is the Featured Etsy Blogger for August and you can read her blog here at Tulip's Talking. You see people on blogs and forums and begin to recognize more here and there, but Lily's comments were always so thoughtful, kind and comforting.
When I was first able to write about my husband's accident, I received so many words of support and help from friends, bloggers, and "Etsyans" alike and I can't thank you all enough.

Here are Lily's words that couldn't have come at a better time:
"Tricia...You are anything but "Lazy" *smile*! I am deeply touched by your stories, and though we do not know one another well...except through being teammates on the etsyBloggers Team, I hope you can feel that I held your hand a moment ago.

I have asked my angels to go to your angels, sending my prayers and warm healing thoughts with them.

God and Love will see you through.

Blessings,
~Lily"

ClevelandTeam Rocks!

Friday Finds....Back-to-School

Awesome stretchy vintage belt from sosaysi.

Yummy black raspberries from redheart13.

Black butterfly bracelet from sarahlizzytish.

Organic black and green handwoven bag by KhaoSanRoad.

Big Bubbles

My daughter found several half bottles of bubble stuff while we were cleaning out the garage. I happened to remember buying a bubble wand at a craft show and we had never used it. It's like a lasso on a stick that you dip into a bucket of solution. I lost the recipe for the solution, but she made do with what she gathered up. The result were some gigantic bubbles. It's hard to get perspective of how big they were, plus you have to be quick to photograph bubbles!

Dinner was a challenge. I've been remembering our honeymoon in Bermuda 20 years ago. It was in August of 1988. One of my favorite things was the meat pies you could get from the street vendors. Other than a delicious version my Dad found in Toronto's Jamaican village, I had never had them before.

Here's a recipe I found on Food Network. They omitted the instructions for the filling, but I just fried it all together and it worked well. The recipe for the dough is spot on. It was surprisingly easy...and delicious! And yes...that tomato was fresh-picked from my garden.
Hope you take time to enjoy this recipe.

It's a Blog Carnival!

I'm so happy to be hosting this weeks Blog Carnival for the EtsyBloggers Street Team!
We just had a fun and wonderful week celebrating our 1st anniversary as a street team on Etsy. We had great participation with this weeks Blog Carnival. The topics up for discussion were "Back-to-School" and what's your favorite tool and why.
I, for one, can't wait for school to start! I will enjoy having more time to create. So, grab a cuppa joe or something. There's lots to read here!

Welcome to the August 18, 2008 edition of etsybloggers.

lazytcrochet presents Time's A-Wastin' posted at LazyTcrochet.

Brandy presents Tools of the Trade posted at Wyles Style.

Ashley presents So Easy A Caveman Can Do It posted at Wax Dribbles & Melt Pools.

Stormy Designs presents My Favorite Tool posted at Stormy Designs.

HomeMadeOriginals presents Tools of the Trade posted at Home Made Originals.

Ebony presents Tools of my trade posted at Off The Peg

shellmitchell presents Back to School posted at Shell Mitchell Accessories
and Design.

Andrea
presents School Days, School Days posted at Rock-a-Baby Clothing
Co..

Yazmin presents
Etsy Blogger's Carnival: The Best Tool Ever posted at A Pretty Rock Jewelry - blog.

Donna Pool presents EtsyBloggers Rock! posted at Donna Says....

Kelly Drill presents Guest Vendor with Artiste Congo posted at Macaroni and Glue

Rainy presents Tools of the Trade Blog Carnival posted at RainyDayArt.

Alicia Mae presents What I Want For My Birthday - In an ideal world posted at AliciaMae's Xanga.

Vanessa presents The significance of a backpack... posted at Designs by Vanessa.

Jen (bfbeads) of Baby Friendly
Beads presents Etsyblogger Carnival -- Favorite Crafting Tool posted at Mama's Magic.

Kathy and Carrie presents Back To School posted at CalKat The Jewelry
Junkie.

Mandy
presents Back to school- EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival!!! posted at MandyMagoo.

theophany. presents august 12th. posted at myself, in pieces..

storybeader presents Tools of the Trade - Etsybloggers Carnival posted at Stroll Through Storyland.

HBIC presents Back to School, again and again posted at Home Deconomics.

Kathy Johnston (Cozy) presents
School Day Priorities posted at A Cozy Life.

hadesigns presents I'm not ready... & Blossom Delight Drawing posted at ha! designs.

Erika presents Tool
of the Trade posted at TOTE-N-TOTS.

Margaret Chayka presents I'm Getting the Back to School Munchies posted at Crafty Chef Graphics
Foodie & Craft Blog.

CREATEaTHOUGHT presents Tools of my trade posted at CREATEaTHOUGHT.

gabrielle presents Oh My - Life of cutting paper posted at Mintage Home.

Gloria Gangi presents Tools Of The Trade posted at All Things Handmade.

miesmama presents Back to School is coming soon! posted at miesmama.

Janet Reddick presents Back To School posted at Sky Girl Style.

FaerieRebecca presents What?! It's August?! Oh dear... posted at FaerieRebecca's Workbench

Brandi Morgan presents
EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival...Tools of the Trade! posted at The Creative
Princess.

Lily Wrey
presents FAVORITE BEAD TOOL posted at TuLips Talking.

Melinda Beatty presents Drilling For all I?m
Worth posted at My
Aphrodite Jewelry.

Linda
Wheelock presents Back to School Anticipation posted at Spotted Cow Soaps.

Candy Stick Lane presents
...Ode to the Spray Bottle posted at CSL.

That concludes
this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
etsybloggers using our carnival submission
form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index
page.

Technorati tags: etsybloggers, blog
carnival.

Have a Coke and a Smile!

Look what my friend found, on the shores of Lake Erie! Jodie, from Lake Erie Beach Glass writes...
"This genuine piece of sea glass is CLEARLY from an old Coca~Cola bottle. The Ca writing is still very visible on this triangular piece. So, was this left over from a bottle of Coca~Cola that was shared between a young couple sprawled out on a beach blanket? It IS fun to imagine the journey a piece may have taken.
"Pieces of sea glass, beach glass, and sea pottery are so very unique in that they were once beautiful pieces of tableware, vases, figurines, liquor bottles, apothecary bottles and so much more! Due to the change of times, these pieces were thrown out as trash, carelessly dumped overboard from a vessel, or buried at the bottom of our lakes, sea, and oceans due to sunken ships. Each carries a story, a bit of history with it. Wether they were the left overs of a pirated and pillaged vessel, or the remains of the prohibition era and rum running days, they did make their way into the water where nature and time combined to deliver them to shore in the beautiful condition that we find them today!"

Check out lakeeriebeachglass on Etsy and you'll find beautiful beach glass creations, plus pre-drilled bits that you can use to make your own designs.

Time's A-Wastin'

Summer is on the downhill slope now. There's a chill in the mornings and it's starting to get darker earlier. School will be starting in 10 days or so and it's soccer season for the local soccer club.
Sorting through the leftovers from last school year, my son found all his old papers and notebooks and decided to have a "Ceremonial Burning of the Notebooks." Out with the old and in with the new. He's not looking forward to going back to school. My daughter, on the other hand, has her outfit already picked out and is super-excited.
As for me, I'm looking forward to having my quiet time again. Ever since the kids were little, I've loved having them home with me. I suppose it was a separation issue at first, but, since 9/11, I've just been much more at-ease knowing they're safe at home. It will be nice to have my time alone again so that I can get caught up on some things. I've been putting off scrubbing the carpeting. I need to finish painting the kitchen cabinet doors, and gather more stuff for a huge garage sale.
All that aside, my true love of design and fiber arts has me dreaming of Fall Fashions and jotting down notes as to what I can make with my yarn stash. I'm hoping to get started on some jackets and sweater coats and stock up on scarves, hats, and mittens.
But first...that boy needs a haircut!!

Notes from the Trail

Hooray for a quick run at the trail this morning. I decided not to start the Nike+ until after I've walked to warm up and see what a difference it makes on my overall time.
Bugs can be motivating! I stepped it up a bit for a short run, with intervals (as best I can anyway). I tried to work on my stride, but yet get in the groove. If I can't get in the groove, it's a bad day at the trail. I managed to let my mind wander and pull it off. And, I got a Congrats from Lance saying "Congratulations! You've just recorded your personal best for the mile." Wooooot!!

Mobius Huh??

I've been making twisted wraps for awhile now. Once discovering the secret to the continuous twist, I've just made them up as I go, choosing colors and changing the width and edgings. It's a fun accessory because it can be worn so many different ways. Wear a narrow strip as a scarf, wider as a hooded scarf, or even wider to keep your shoulders warm.

Although I've used the term "mobius" for the twisted wraps, I only just looked up the true definition this morning. I think the answer lies with PhysLink.com's Ask the Experts. "What is the Mobius Strip? ...a Mobius strip only has one side and one edge. It was named after Ferdinand Mobius.

Ants would be able to walk on the Mobius strip on a single surface indefinitely since there is no edge in the direction of their movement"

Click on the picture for a link to purchase a poster!

If you'd like to make your own Mobius wrap, I found a pretty pattern for a Starry Night Shrug from Lincraft. Click on the "printable pattern" for a pdf file and a really cute picture!

Kitty and Cross

kitty and cross, originally uploaded by lazytcrochet.

I just took this seconds ago. In trying to participate in HeyHarriet's Shadow Shot Sunday, I find it amazing how shadow opportunities present themselves sometimes....or not. There's no forcing a good shot. I don't know if this is a good shot, but it was fun!
Stop and visit HeyHarriet's blog for some amazing gallery collages.

Market Goodies

market goodies, originally uploaded by lazytcrochet.

I had a great day at the Market. I sold the new sweater bag that I made, plus a few more. Here are some Dahlias, some delicious bread, and some basil that I bought. I also bought peaches and peppers....yum!

Vintage

As much as I appreciate looking at all the vintage items on Etsy, so far, I haven't listed anything vintage. There are many vintage styles that I find inspiration from, like coats and hats. And there are some vintage finds that are so cute and remind me of my childhood. I don't know much about vintage or antiques. I'm just not the type that has a house full of things and I don't flock to sales to rummage through and find that mint condition whatchamacallit. I did stumble upon this Christmas apron and was fascinated by the design and the colors that were used. I don't know much about vintage kitchen linens - or more specifically whether it's linen or cotton. It looks like a very sturdy kitchen towel material. Plus, it has jingle bells on the ties! I love it.

Wild Wednesday

Something "Wild" to brighten your day!

Want to preserve that great hairdo one more day? Why not don this wild leopard print shower cap by soprettyshowercaps?

Here's something "Wilde" - noradora has been crocheting these gorgeous snoods for Ellowyne Wilde dolls. I love this elegant one in black and white!

This Rosa Salvage Wild Rose print on a canvas bag is from mybabyunicorn. I love this print and the bag is organic cotton!

Have a Wild day!

Happy 11th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sarah - my little BeDazzler!
She BeDazzled the edge of this yellow shirt the other day. I wasn't even home, but she did a great job! Her friend BeDazzled her Crocs too, but I didn't get a picture of them.

Here's a colorful list I made through my eyelids this morning. Be sure to check out Wildwood's shop - celebrating 3 years on Etsy!!!

Faux Fur

I was watching "The Thin Man" again the other day and they showed a brief, but beautiful photo-biography of Myrna Loy, the "Queen of Hollywood." I scoured the net looking for a particular picture that they showed, but couldn't find it. The one I saw was of her wearing a coat with a huge fur collar - one that goes down the front of the coat as well. It was big and fluffy and obviously real fur of some sort.



I came across a few examples, though none of these are exactly what I had in mind. I have some loopy Italian mohair yarn in dark rust that I've had set-aside, waiting for inspiration. Well, I think I've found it. I'm picturing a coat with a big furry collar. I'm not sure yet if it should be detachable, or worked directly onto the sweater. I like the short coat with big buttons too.

I love finding inspiration from movies and vintage fashions. While there are many gorgeous movie stars, there are a few that I find fascinating. Katherine and Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, and Greta Garbo - to name a few. Perhaps I was born in the wrong era? I think I'll work on some hats while I'm at it. And I'd love to hear who or what inspires you!