Take A Walk With Me...

The weather (until today) has just been beautiful in Iowa and I have been getting in a Komen 3-Day training walk with Miss Schatzi every single morning. Schatzi, our all-black German Shepherd, is already doing 6+ miles with me every day. We are blessed to be very close to some fabulous Central Iowa Trails...we are exactly one mile from a Jordan Creek Trail entrance, and from there, an abundance of walking choices await us each daybreak. Today, I thought I would take you along on a 6.3 mile journey with us and show you the scenery on one of our favorite walks...

At the entrance to the Jordan Creek Trail...

Along the trail, we come to my very favorite tree...full of life and character...

Then, off to the left, we often see deer in the tall grass...

The trail then leads out to the sidewalk on Mills Civic Parkway, where
we pass Valley Stadium (this is a great incline for training)...then we turn
on Fuller Road and pass the Bennett School. Built in
1926/1927, the Bennett School was one of the last one room schools
 to be built in West Des Moines and was in use until at least 1941.

From there, we come back down the hill and take the path around
the West Des Moines City/School Campus pond and fountain...the
building in the background next to the weeping willow tree is the
West Des Moines Public Library...

Cattails on the edge of the campus pond...

Next, we continue on the path across the street to Southwoods Park,
and you will be amazed at what is coming up on the path...

...a HUGE field of incredible native wild flowers...it is breathtaking...and so
very peaceful...it is one of my favorite places on earth...

...more native wild flowers...

...wild flowers as far as the eye can see...

Here is Schatzi, VERY intrigued by a dragonfly in the flowers...

After viewing all the gorgeous scenery, I am completely inspired and ready to start my day. We continue back on the trail, past the field where we saw the deer and my favorite tree...back to the trail entrance...and then make the mile walk back to our house...it truly is the perfect way to begin any day!

So I am feeling good - training is going great - and I am feeling prepared for Dallas in November...yes, I am ready for my Komen 3-Day 60-mile journey...and I can't wait to see my AMAZING Twinkle Toes teammates!

If you would like to see my daily 3-Day training photos, simply follow me on Instagram...or check out my Instagram profile page...I have been posting the beautiful images I see on my walks. And, if you have a fitbit, please send me a friend request (e-mail is in my profile)...an angel surprised me with one about a week ago and I have been having fun keeping track of my daily steps...and being cheered on and taunted by my fitbit friends!

Finally, I am so close to posting my special Komen 3-Day needlework design...it is in the final finishing stages and I will be sharing it within the next few days...I can't wait...look for details very soon!!

An Iowa Summer...

Hello friends - I sure have missed you (and from the photo on the right, my dogs aren't getting enough attention either...this is what is waiting for me when I come down the stairs from my studio). It has been a couple hectic weeks...and although I have a TON of creative things to share with you, it has been hard to make the time to sit down and blog. Troubleshooting with the new website has been a huge time investment...and now, I am waiting for the latest cart software update, hoping that will fix some of the connection issues that some of you are experiencing. I have around forty handmade items to add, but I was hoping the site would be working properly for everyone before I take the time to list everything. Thank you for your patience while I sort everything out - and for those of you who have been able to view and explore the new website, thank you for your very kind compliments and orders. I have also been keeping busy with some special design projects and commissioned sewing/quilting work - unfortunately, needlework just doesn't pay the bills these days, so I have been forced to sit it on the back burner and focus on projects that can supplement my income....it has been quite the balancing act, but when you are passionate about your career, you find a way to keep your dream alive. I am also getting in my training walks for the Komen 3-Day in November...and yes, I am still stitching on the model for my 2014 fundraising design....it is about 75-80% finished, so you will see it soon - I really wanted to have it completed by now, but life has had other plans....

So I thought I would share a few photos I have taken over the last several weeks - a little "catch-up"...and then later this week, I will share some of my latest sewing/quilting creations with you (I have a bunch!)....

Raccoon River Park - this is where I do a lot of walking with Schatzi - it is
3 miles to walk around the lake...

On the Nature Walk at Raccoon River Park

Travis giving Schatzi a swimming lesson at Raccoon River Park...

I took a little road trip with my friend Lorrie to Pella, Iowa, where we visited
the quilt shop and the bakery.

Fishing with friends on the 4th of July...yep, that is my fishing pole (and yes, I
have a fishing pole).

Here is one of the 8 fish I caught - obviously, I threw them all back...

Friends around the fire pit on the 4th of July...(their house overlooks the pond we
were fishing on)...

Toasting marshmallows for s'mores....

The first s'more I have made/had since I was a kid...I made my husband hold it
for a photo...and yes, it was delicious...

Iowa sunset on Independence Day

A Tiger Swallowtail butterfly I spotted on an early morning training walk...

Another quiet, early morning on the trail with Schatzi - this was taken on one of
the bridges - it is my favorite bench in a small clearing...we have a lovely trail system
close to our home...

A current photo of Miss E Schatzi Nace Wir Vertrauen CGC - she is now 82 pounds.

Pincushion-A-Day Progress...

Since my last post, I have managed to keep up with a pincushion a day...finishing four more...which, at this point, is pretty much a miracle. Schatzi, Simba, and I are experiencing some quality time for 10 days and I have been scheduling accordingly...which doesn't leave much time to be creative. I am still trying to get in some stitching, doing my best to finish up my special "pink" project...I have the main piece finished and now I am working on the needlework smalls. I am also trying to prepare two new designs for printing, hoping to have them ready for production in the next few weeks. I am happy with my pincushion progress...my scrap bin is overflowing and I am thrilled to putting some to good use! I managed to pull out some Mary Engelbreit fabrics...some Blackbird Designs fabrics...and even a few blue scraps for a little embroidered heart motif...

Yesterday, Schatzi and I made it to the park to work on some of her obedience training...and to have a little fun...she loves the playground equipment and is pretty much fearless - making it through all the obstacles and stairs easily (even the rope bridge). She is growing like a weed...and has now started teething (ugh) - which has caused one of her ears to temporarily drop (which definitely makes me giggle). He are a couple photos taken yesterday at the park (thirteen and a half weeks old)...one ear up, one ear down...

A Postcard Afternoon...

Schatzi - 11.5 weeks - 28 pounds

Life in our household has been a little more hectic than usual...trying to balance a home-based business with a new puppy in the house is "insane" to say the least. I am working on finding a better balance...but for now, I have just accepted that things are going to be a little crazy in the coming months. Today I feel a sense of relief, as (late last night) I finished a gigantic deadline for a publisher that was completely stressing me out...and I actually got the Blue Ribbon Designs June Newsletter emailed this afternoon...and (fingers crossed) later today, I am really hoping the dogs allow me to do some much needed model stitching!

Yesterday afternoon, we took Schatzi to Raccoon River Park, to see if she likes the water...we walked her down to the lake, and after just a bit of gentle coaxing, she actually walked right in ...luckily I had my camera to commemorate the moment. It was a postcard afternoon, which was most welcome, after more than a week of severe weather, thunderstorms, and rain....I got a lovely photograph of the clouds reflecting on the lake...

I have had several messages asking me about my perennial garden I planted last year....first a photo from last year...then several photos from this year. I am happy to report, I just may have inherited my mother's green thumb after-all. Everything I planted returned this year, with the exception of one shrub....and I even moved a few things around a couple weeks ago to make the bed more eye-pleasing. My Knockout Roses are just starting to bud...and I am thrilled that my Spiderwort, Dianthus, Pincushion Flower, Cranesbill Geranium, Valerian, and Coreopsis are all in bloom...everything looks healthy and happy!

Perennial Garden 2012 - just planted..

Perennial Garden 2013 - after one year...

Valerian

Knockout Rose Bush

Coreopsis

Cranesbill Geranium, Chives, Lavender

It feels good to finally take a moment and catch-up with my blog readers...I have been missing you...I will do my best to get back to regular updates! I do have some sewing I *must* get to this week, as we are attending a wedding next weekend and I am making the gift...hopefully I will be back soon to share the project with you! I should also have some stitchy updates soon - I have a bunch of projects in the works...plus (if all goes well), I have a special road trip planned for Friday that will have lots of fun photos...
Wishing you a cheerful and productive week...

Yosemite National Park

Here it is Wednesday afternoon, and I am still suffering from the "California plague" (yes, my diagnosis has been changed from "California flu" to "California plague", which is much more accurate). I have started to feel a wee bit better and I am finally somewhat functional...my temperature has lowered and I almost able to breathe through my nose again, both of which are good signs...I am hoping to be back to normal in the next day or two...fingers crossed.

Today, I will once again let my photos do most of the talking...these gorgeous pictures are from Yosemite National Park. Last week during my trip to California, I was beyond blessed to stay with Lois and Mr. Bear for a few extra days to do some sightseeing...and Mr. Bear was kind enough to drive us to Yosemite for a day. He really had no idea what he was getting himself into, as this Iowa girl likes to stop at every single landmark for photos...he started out by giving me a time limit for each stop and by the end of the day, I was made aware I had reached my quota - no more stops...luckily by then I had a gazillion photos (and really, how many photos can you take of mountains, trees, and water??...it is really something you just have to experience in person). It was another breathtaking day filled with marvelous views and memories...and big, BIG trees (I am in a couple of the photos to show you just how BIG)...

Bridalveil Creek

Bridalveil Fall

Ribbon Fall

The Ahwahnee Hotel

Inside the Ahwahnee Hotel

Tunnel View

Horse Tail Fall

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Bachelor and Three Graces

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Fallen Tree

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Grizzly Giant

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
California Tunnel Tree
(cut in 1895 to allow horse-drawn stages to pass through)

And for my faithful readers...yes, it is still all "about the squirrel"...and the bird...and the lizard...

 I hope you enjoyed seeing Yosemite National Park through my camera lens....it was truly incredible...

It was an AMAZING trip to California - I can hardly wait to go back in November! A huge thank you to all the attendees at the Elegant Stitch Workshop - I am so glad you requested to have me return - I enjoyed my time with each and everyone of you!! ...and to Lois and Mr. Bear - you know how dear you are to me - thank you for your hospitality, your love, and your friendship - you hold a very special place in my heart...