Two more bags!

I made two more bags! The yellow one is for me--you can see the lining in the picture--the bag is reversible. The blue and cream bag is for my cousin. Her birthday is July 4 and she really likes the patriotic theme. I added a red button so she could have a red/white/blue bag!

I made a bag!

First of all, you need to know that I am a VERY novice sewer. . .but I was determined to have a cute fabric bag for the summer--and I wasn't willing to pay upwards of $30 for one. So I searched the internet for a free pattern. Found a GREAT tutorial at

http://tinyhappy.typepad.com/tiny_happy/2006/06/shoulder_bag_tu.html

Thanks so much tinyhappy!

Here is my bag! I will be making another soon--already have fabric. The one here follows tinyhappy's pattern except I made the shoulder strap longer. The next one will have the longer shoulder strap--but will also be a deeper bag. . .

Wanna Go for a Bike Ride?

The last couple of weeks have been busy. My nephew was here. . .Lucy loves to have the boy around. Jake and I painted the foundation of my house, the side of my garage and the side of the house (where I sprayed it with deck stain. sigh.) Jake also mowed the lawn.

The really exciting thing for Lucy is. . .Lucy can run next to me when I'm riding the bike! I had hoped she would do this without running into the wheels, pulling me over or otherwise tangling herself around the bike. The first time we took off, she went like she'd been doing this her whole life. At first she would trot next to the bike, even when I went faster, she wouldn't break out into a run. . .now she will run. I think she was a little afraid that I would hit her with the bike. She was very careful and watched me every minute. Now she is more confident--she will attempt to bark at other dogs and big, noisy vehicle. When she does this, I either speed up, brake, or turn the bike into her (depending on the situation.) I do this because I think she needs to focus on me, and not on the 'danger' lurking out there. So far, it's worked. I'm sticking to streets that are not very busy, and am staying pretty close to home. I'm not 100% sure that she won't make me crash, and I want to be close if I have to walk Lucy and the bike home because I'm too bloody to ride :o).

Busy Days!

Whew! I've been busy! I had a class and I'm getting ready to paint. Lucy likes me to be home with her all day. She is much happier when I'm home with her than when I have to go to work. On Sunday, we spent a long time outside. I read and sometimes threw the ball for her. She laid in the shade (on the step by the garage) and sometimes would bring the ball and drop it next to my chair. It was too hot for her to play a lot of fetch. She'd get the ball a couple of times, then need to take a break.

I changed the bedding tonight. It's a hard job with Lucy around. She likes to jump up on the bed when I'm changing the sheets. She lays in the middle of the bed and makes me work around her. Sigh.

My nephew is here this week. Lucy really likes 'the boy'. He is a good player and will throw the ball a lot. Lucy thinks having 'the boy' here all the time would be grand, but 'the boy' doesn't want to live in this town. Lucy doesn't bark at 'the boy' the way she barks at everyone else when they come and go.

It amazes me how much Lucy likes kids considering she doesn't live with any. My friend has a two year old little boy, and Lucy thinks he is a good playmate and ball thrower (even though he only throws it a couple of feet in front of him.) The neighbor girl (see above) is a good friend to Lucy, and sometimes she babysits her kindergarten cousin. The little cousin and Lucy are a good match. They are both full of energy. . .personalities my mom calls "being a pistol." Sometimes they come over and play with Lucy. . .Lucy enjoys them too. Lucy is not picky about who throws the ball or flippy-flopper. If someone wants to throw it, she is a happy camper!