Busy in August!

This is the only smocking I have done in weeks!  I'll post pics and patterns soon.

 Hellooooooo out there!  It has been a hectic couple of weeks here but I am back to give you a little taste of a little of what I have been doing.

My mother died about twenty months ago and my sister and I have been slowly going through all her things and deciding what to do with them.  We recently closed on her waterfront condo and had to scramble to complete the last of the sorting and deciding.  Much of the furniture was stored for my nephew and his wife who have been living in Asia as missionaries.  They will be here in the States soon to spend about a year to establish his wife's citizenship in this country.  My sister and I also saved some pieces for ourselves but much of the oriental vintage pieces have been taken to a consignment shop.  (That was a job in and of itself!)

Our mother had beautiful oriental furnishings.

 School started for teachers in Pinellas County, Florida on August 12.  I was lucky to have a 'smartboard' installed over the summer break.  Unfortunately, that meant that two walls were reworked and the entire classroom's furnishings were relocated to get the job finished.  With the help of my husband, children, and one of my son's friends, my room was almost back to normal and set up for 'Meet the Teacher' on the morning of August 16.

View from the doorway of one corner of the room.

Smartboard!  

A tea party was planned for the weekend before Victoria-Rose was to return to college.  Such fun!  More on the party to come.

Teacups set out for the girls to choose their favorite for the party.

A little bit of sewing was squeezed in to this very busy month.  Two little sundresses were made from vintage pillowcases and will be blogged about soon.

And....we managed to get almost a week's holiday in Orlando!  Our hands-down favorite activities were Disney related.  We went to Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom.  We all LOVE the Magic Kingdom.

Son Logan

The Family

We had dinner one night at Beast's Castle.  It was truly a magical experience.  The food was delicious and the ambiance, service, and the special touches were just amazing.   (It was snowing outside the windows of the ballroom!)

Another highlight of the trip was high tea taken at the Grand Floridian.  Again the attention to detail was so special and appreciated.

Grand Floridian lobby as viewed from the second story promenade. 

Marble mosaic floor outside the tearoom.

I couldn't resist 'singing in the rain' at Hollywood Studios.  It was a 'glorious feeling'!