Loving the Line

In my neck of the woods, close to Washington, D.C., the weather has been absolutely beautiful: no rain, low humidity, gentle breezes. This is quite unusual for D.C. summers where breathing, Mark Twain (I believe) once said, compared to sucking blubber through a straw.

I have received so many comments at my original Clothesline Challenge post. Please check back there for my replies as you know Blogger does not provide me with your personal email addresses.

I think it's time for another giveaway, don't you?

I have just finished reading, and am perfectly in love with, The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty Birney. If you have ever read, and loved, Cold Sassy Tree or even Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe you will understand the feel of this book. So, please leave a comment if you would like to be entered into a drawing for this little gem by Sunday, July 19th, 2009 at midnight Virginia time. And with all my friends from abroad chiming in, how could I not not ship internationally, so enter away!

And just to be clear, since it seems that bloggy giveaways are coming under a bit of scrutiny, this book will be purchased with all the money I'm saving by line drying.

Mount Kearsarge - Poems from New England

Great blue mountain! Ghost.

~From "Mount Kearsarge" by Donald Hall

Listen! to Donald Hall recite "Mount Kearsarge"

Let Evening Come ~ Poems from New England

To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop
in the oats, to air in the lung
let evening come.

Let it come, as it will, and don't
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.

~From "Let Evening Come" by Jane Kenyon

Finish Every Day - Quotes from New England

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities
no doubt have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely
and with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with
your old nonsense.

This day is all that is
good and fair.
It is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on yesterdays.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

De-Crafto Craft

Um, remember when I vowed to NEVER craft again?

Well, I crafted.

And I am so proud of myself because I cannot craft. Seriously.

But here, by some miracle, a crafty endeavor actually worked! Inspired by The Nester, I stuck with the project from start to finish! I did not waste money by purchasing cute accoutrements that found themselves relegated to the back of my closet! My daughter expressed joy at my finished product!

So without further ado (or don't) I present to you a pair of Ikea curtains. Hemmed (big accomplishment!) with Stitch Witchery (who knew?!) and then cuted up with an adorable trim of pink pom-poms (Hot Glue Gun!). Yippeeeee! Now I am really gung-ho to complete my daughter's room in the Fifties, chenille-esque bed covering, girly-girl, princess phone look I'm going for... Any suggestions? Who knows...I may craft again...