Pretty Pincushion for me!

I got this lovely sea turtle pincushion today from my pincushion swap partner. The details are amazing and she did a beautiful job with the embroidery. I've got her package all set to ship out, but because it's still here I'll wait to post pictures for the pincushions I've made for her until she gets it... just in case she happens to read my blog. A long shot, but good to be on the safe side.

School starts tomorrow with the lab I am teaching bright and early. Hopefully things go without a hitch and all my students are super cool and excited about microbio like me. I'm sure I'll still be the biggest micro dork in the room, but I can't wait to get started teaching this lab. It should be loads of fun and challenging too. I've never taught a lab class so wish me luck! Now off to prepare for my first day of school.

A domestic day...

I couldn't have been more domestic today if I tried. My day started at the bright and early hour of 10:30 - I love the weekends (especially not having to work)! First things first, I had to finish cleaning up my room. I find it very hard to keep my room clean and after putting my laundry away yesterday (finally) the room still needed lots of attention. That took the rest of the morning, but actually went really fast and it feels so good to see my floor again.

My next activity was a trip to the fabric store. And I came home with these lovely new fabrics. I asked for just 1.5 yards of the flowered one, but it was the end of the bolt so he just gave me the whole thing - 2 yards, but charged me the 1.5. That made my day. These fabrics are destined to be aprons. I saw these super cute aprons in Anthropologie the other day and have had them on my mind since then. So, with this as my inspiration I whipped up this little apron number as my second domestic task of the day. I'm not quite sure about the buttons I chose and I think I need to move the straps out - like in the one that I used for inspiration. Otherwise I'm really happy with how this turned out.
My third and final domestic task of the day was cooking dinner. A healthy dinner! Baked zucchini. Fresh zucchini from Farmer's Market sliced lengthwise and with their innards scooped out. Then I heated up some oil with chopped garlic and throw in the zucchini. Lastly, that all got mixed with some grated cheese and cooked brown rice and stuffed back into the zucchini "boat" shells and into the oven it went. Now it's got just a couple more minutes to bake and then dinner with be done. Let's see if I can keep up the domestic trend and do my dishes after dinner... that might just be asking a little too much.

I got mail!

I got mail today. I got home early and waiting for me outside the door was a package with my name on it! yippee! I hurriedly unlocked the door, ran in inside and rushed to turn off the blaring alarm. And then... I ripped on my package to find this - a scarf that I had been expecting and two beautiful fabric pieces that were a surprise. The scarf is amazing!! Wonderful color choice and I love the feel of the yarn and the pattern too. It was made just for me in the first swap I was in. I'd have to say my first ever swap with quite a success. My partner liked the bag I made her and I'm in love with my new scarf. Too bad I live in L.A. and I'm pretty sure it's never winter here. But, yesterday I think fall started - maybe. The weather turned a little crisper and the sun some how feels a bit further away. This scarf is going to be a perfect fall weather scarf!
Yesterday I went to the farmer's market around the corner from my house for the first time. I can't believe I didn't go before. Awhile back I researched farmer's markets in the area and found this one, but then never ended up going. This was a wonderful little stop on my way home. I got a basket full of fresh produce for $20 - all organic and $8 of that was impulse/treats (cheese and a yummy drink). It's a pretty little farmer's market, but just the right size with all the produce I was looking for. Not crowed and the sellers were all super friendly. Everyone just seemed happy to be there. I know I was. Now... off to have some of the red, ripe strawberries. Yummy!