I’m still desperately trying to blog as one can probably tell by my sporadic postings! Summer is wearing on me and I am tired of the heat. I find myself looking forward to fall and the cooler temps. (Just maybe not the rain!) My garden is such a reflection of myself and it has been neglected as I have been rather weary this summer. Four kiddos and a sleepless baby can really tire a mama out! Numerous health challenges in the family have also kept me from this blog. The garden, as pathetic as it is this year, lives on thanks to my oldest son. He has kindly kept it watered and weeded while I have been busy tending to his baby brother and younger sister.  A few days ago he spotted this visitor to the garden while out giving the plants a drink.

He is much braver than me for I would never hold one of those! I appreciate their visits to the garden as they keep the plants free from pests but that is about it. I find them rather creepy really. And that one is just a baby too!

Just yesterday my patience was rewarded and my passionflower finally bloomed! I planted two of these from seed last year and have been waiting ever since to see a bloom on them. Aren’t they such wild looking flowers. Almost as wicked looking as the visitor above, don’t you agree?

Next week marks the start of school so we will be as busy as ever. My daughter’s 4th birthday is rapidly approaching and I just can’t believe she is getting that big already. To think that when I started this blog she was only two! And now her baby brother calls so I must end this post until I can grab another spare second or two.

My little man does not seem to think too highly of napping which leaves me little time for blogging and hobbies. I sneak in some knitting and crocheting when I can. The baby afghan I am working on is perfect for grabbing and working on when all I can get are tiny breaks. (Some details on it can be found on Ravelry.)

My interest in sewing has grown by leaps and bounds this summer and I have attempted a few projects here and there. My daughter is the lucky recipient of my latest attempts and I love how quickly I can sew a skirt for her out of about a half a yard of fabric.

It has been quite a hectic summer and as it begins to wrap up (hard to believe Autumn is about a month away!) I am now in the thick of planning my 11 year old’s homeschool curriculum for the year. We have decided, after much consideration, to keep him home one more year. Next year when he begins middle school we will reevaluate our decision.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Mine has absolutely flown by!

Here is a link to making a granny square as well as a link to a free simple skirt pattern.

So, it seems I remain MIA these days. Life has been pretty hectic with the new baby. He has decided to follow in his big sister’s shoes and defy what sleep a typical baby needs to survive. Consequently, I am one tired mama! Certainly there has been no time for blogging or much else for that matter. Sleep (or lack there of) is what remains top on my list this summer. We are currently in the thick of “nap training”. (i.e. convincing a 4 month old that naps that last longer than 30 minutes are good for everyone.) I’m not one for letting a baby “cry it out” so instead what I am doing is before he hits that magical 30 minute mark I sneak in the room and pat his back when he begins to stir. So far it seems to be working and I am hoping (and praying, and fingers and toes crossed!) that in another week or so he will be doing much better. Then it will be on to the night time where he still seems to think that waking up 3-4 times is necessary. Boy, am I ever TIRED.

I am really hoping I can keep this blog alive. I truly do enjoy it. Hopefully, with time, I can get to it again on a more regular basis. I’m not done with it just yet!

Oh, and the blackberries are so ready for picking. I do hope I can find the time and energy to make some preserves before it gets too late.