Jenna Lou Loves You

It's a great day to turn 22!

Photo credit: ginnerobot

Capturing the Magic - Fun Days Fair Photography

We are very lucky to have a great fair every year right here in town. They always get huge crowds and for good reason. It's the best place around for carnival food, rides, 4H tents, and live music until the stars shine in the late summer sky. Something is really special about the fair at night... it's just magical to me.

John and I went as watchers and photographers. The grounds where littered with people of all ages enjoying the festivities and truth be told I could have stayed all night just to watch and sneak photos of unsuspecting people. Here are some of my favorite captures of the night. More can be seen over on flickr.

This is the first year we DIDN'T indulge in cheese curds (our all time favorite fair treat) because they were $5 for about a cup and a half worth. YIKES... since when did the fair get so expensive?? Or maybe I'm just becoming a tightwad!

I'll be back tomorrow with the rivet tutorial. See you then.

You know it is summer when...

You know it is summer when a full week passes in the blink of an eye (sorry blog... summer is here!).

When lunch breaks are spent on the porch.

When the strawberries are bountiful in your back yard.

When the flowers grow taller than you are (hello hollyhocks).

Summer is off to a great start! Be back soon with some shop news.

Free Fabric Giveaway - Amy Butler's Midwest Modern

It's time for a giveaway!!

As you may recall I have a bit of a fabric addiction, and so I wanted to share a little from one of my favorite designers: Amy Butler. Up for grabs are two fat quarter sets. Each containing 5 fat quarters of coordinating prints from Amy Butlers Midwest Modern collection.

All you have to do to enter is tell me what's keeping you crafty this spring/summer? If you link back to this post on your blog I'll add your name to the hat twice for even better chances of winning. Just leave me your blog link in the comments so I can check out your site! Comments will close on Wednesday the 27th so all you long weekenders can get a chance to enter too.

Google Readers 'Next' Browser Button

Did you know about this? Google Reader has an awesome feature where you can add a bookmark button to your browser so you can easily read blogs from your blogroll just by clicking NEXT! If you are like me and have hundreds of blogs you like to read then you are probably already a friend to Google Reader, but it's not as fun when you don't get to visit the sites to see the post in context.

Thanks to this handy little button now you CAN. Give it a try today... you'll never go back!

PS to all you feed readers. Have you stopped by lately?? I have made lots of fun changes.

Weekend Review

:: Enjoyed one homemade rhubarb crisp in honor of one handsome mans birthday.

:: Dinned out in honor of our -1 anniversary. (less than one year until the big day!)

:: Viewed the latest X-man movie. Hugh is such a hunk.

:: Took one 4 hour nap... proceeded by 3 hours of turning in bed before finally falling asleep.

:: Complete two craft projects on my endless list of things I want to try to make.

Overall... GREAT weekend! Hope you had a great one too.

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I'm very disappointed in myself today. I normally only get sick once per winter and it usually comes the same week we turn the heater on. I thought I had gotten my sick week out of the way earlier this year like usual, but then last night I was hit with something out of this world. I'm down for the count and will be back in a couple days to share my weekend with you.

Off to drink my wellness tea and hunker down under several blankets.

Vote!

I hope you all got the chance to vote today!

Glimpse

Sorry for the unexpected break. A lot has happened and because I'm still a bit rushed today to catch up I'm just going to leave you with a glimpse of what I've been up to and a few fun things to check out.

:: 30 + hours without electricity will leave you with some soggy frozen goods and warm dairy :(

:: Sewing lessons with family is a fun way to spend a day.
:: Fried squash and eggplant are being eaten nightly.

:: Saturday mornings at the farmers market is the best way to get some fresh air while meeting some locals.
:: This is a nice recipe for hot summer days. You do have to use the stove, but believe me... it's worth it.
:: Speaking of cooking. Have you seen this site?
:: If you were inspired by my embroidery check out this flickr group (Thanks Patty for the link!). I'm already planning for the next one.

xo,
Jennalou

Disgruntled Employee

Monday. It's such a hard day for me. It's hard to get back in the swing of things after two wonderful days off of relaxing and thinking nothing of my email inbox or the 101 things to get done before yesterday.

And it doesn't seem to help that my body aches from the clumsy accidents that have been following me like a hungry dog. Not one day has gone by since last Wednesday that I haven't done something to hurt myself or wreck something. These things include, but are not limited to:

:: Breaking a glass pitcher on the counter by pouring too hot water into it.
:: As a result of the previous mishap; burning myself in an unmentionable place. YES... now I understand how this woman feels.
:: Breaking a glass drinking cup (no injuries this time)
:: Having my legs slip off the kick start of Stella so many times that they are covered in bruises the size of apples. AND Stella had to go to the shop for a tune up because she's not working right. Let's cross our fingers that she is alright because if I have to return her I can't get another (there aren't any more) :(
:: Tripping over the dog leash and falling flat on the cement. Luckily I only bruised my palm, but it's really painful to use (no yoga for awhile).

I guess you could say it's just been a bad week. The good thing about Mondays is that they seem like a fresh start. A new week with new possibilities. Here's hoping that it goes good and accident free.

xo,
Jennalou