>1 The self-timer on my camera and I seem to be having a bit of a tiff right now so photos of sewing week projects are not yet forthcoming. I had plans to make another attempt at a photography session today, but there were a couple of electricians crawling around the deck and an audience of strange men put something of a damper on my photographic frolic.
>2
One of the first things that struck me upon my return home was what a total disaster area my gardens had become. The fact that the front yard was such a mess is about as clear an indication as any I can imagine that I was indeed overwhelmed and depressed. This was the longest time I had ever spent not gardening since my bout with Melanoma 20 years ago, and I am rather stunned at my ability to ignore my surroundings for so long. Needless to say, I felt a strong urge to make some inroads in reclaiming my space.
The gardening season is nearly over, and aside from weeding, cleaning up beds and generally preparing for next year there is little to be done at this point. However, while I was t the grocery store I saw a couple of these tall millet plants and some mums on sale and decided that it was well past time that I put something in the planters flanking the garage doors. Just this little bit has really perked up the place and my spirits and been enough incentive to start tackling the bigger projects, which abound.
>3 I have also been very busy in the kitchen. 
Even though fall is not quite here I have been overcome with the fall cleaning bug and I started with the kitchen, hauling everything out of the pantry (not difficult as the cupboards were pretty bare upon my return) and scrubbing everything from top to bottom, then restocking. It was almost as if I scrubbed out some frustrated part of my mind, the part that had been cooking because we had to eat but not enjoying it, and starting fresh allowed me to rekindle my love of food and cooking and just playing in the kitchen…….see what a little sewing time and time spent with friends will yield? A full rekindling of creative endeavors. Tonight we had sea scallops (the freshest I have ever seen in a local market) sauteed with roasted red bell peppers and artichoke hearts served with a side of spaghetti squash.
>4 The box I shipped home from San Francisco arrived today.
In it were some of the things I originally packed to take with me, but decided I could live without for a week or so and a few new things I picked up, including this fabric. It is a knit with these fabulous blue and yellow brushed mohair stripes. I got two full panel repeats (gray knit plus stripe) plus one extra striped area.
I have ideas bubbling about. Will they work with this fabric? I have no idea. I am torn between wanting to jump right in and having second thoughts. I think I will let this piece sit and inspire me a little bit.