End of Summer Sale! ...and more...

Hello everyone! I'll start off the week by announcing that I'm having an End of Summer Sale at my Etsy shop!  This week only, Monday August 20th thru Saturday August 25th, ALL handbags will be on sale at cut prices--savings from $10.00-$25.00, some bags reduced down to half price!  So please stop by and take a look around.  It's not too late to treat yourself to something pretty or buy a gift!

Do you have a touch of the summertime blues?  I know I do.  Summer is waning a bit...And here in southern Norway it's scarcely been summer at all most of the time, so I'm feeling a bit more sensitive than usual about the change of season.  Autumn can be rainy sometimes here, and after this very wet summer, it's hard to get my bearings it's just around the corner.  There are signs already of autumn approaching...The most prominent being the apples coming to ripeness.  Unfortunately our apple trees are not doing so well.  They seem to have a fungal infection of some kind.  It's much too late in the season do anything about it this year.  We need to prune the trees and, hopefully, can find an organic solution to the fungal problem.  The pear trees look to have the same problem as well.  We are novices to caring for fruit trees and must learn how to take care of these old trees properly.  I dream of making apple and pear butters, apple desserts and treats, and just eat the fruit!  So far I found two edible apples during the weekend, these little beauties shown here.  A bit under-ripe, but I like a tart apple.  Taking on this old house and old property has been a learning experience since we moved here.  I hope that in time we can bring the garden to more glory as the years go by.  And that we can grow good quantities of fruits and vegetables.

This photo is actually a mistake!  The sun was so bright on Saturday, and for that and wearing sunglasses I couldn't make out what I was really doing with the camera --LOL!  So my camera settings were wrong here, as the focus ought to have been on the apple.  But I like the backwards view here.

This past Saturday was also a big day, for it was the day of the Krystal Glass Benefit in Houston, Texas!  I heard from Evelyn and it sounds like it was a great day!  She has updated her blog with a little info on the Benefit, along with a wonderful photo of herself along with Krystal and Krystal's young son, Alec.  So please stop by and see her for a round up on how things went, and see a photo of all the beautiful craft donations she received--a truly wonderful thing!  Thanks again to everyone who helped make the day a success to help Krystal! :o)

During the weekend I came across a very crafty blog, Melly & Me,  which shared some information about another blog that was new to me.  Sonnja in the Netherlands is looking for donations of fabric for her Beertje Zonn, which are little stuffed bear toys that she makes by the hundreds.  With the help of an organization, these toys are delivered and distributed to Aids orphans in Africa.  How wonderful is that?!  That's a lot of bears, needing lots of fabric!  Last night I had fun going through my fabric stash and have put together a little package to send to her today.  To make each bear Sonnja needs a piece of fabric that's 12" x 24" (30.5 cm x 61 cm).  If you would like to help towards this great effort, please send Sonnja an email and she will give you an address where you can send your fabric donations. 

This week will find me in the craft room and I'll be making up new designs for items for my shop.  I'm a bit behind on adding Autumn-flavored goodies to my shop, but hopefully I can catch up yet!  So I'll be at the sewing machine, and maybe even knitting too...But I'll be here during the week and can't wait to stop by and see you all too.  Have a lovely week! :o)

Comments

[Natalie]

Maybe your trees are suffering the wet summer too... plants, like roses, have lots of fungus problems when they stay damp. Hopefully the hard prune will cure all, and then next summer you will find a bountiful harvest growing!
I like the photo *mistake.* Sometimes we focus beyond what is right in front of us... LOL... And you do have a beautiful fence!
Tracy I hope your last few weeks of summer warm-up and fill you with enough light and joy to carry you through fall, winter and spring. I suspect you will embrace each new season with the same grace and pleasure you seem to take in so many things.
Lots of hugs to you.

[sara, the wine makers wife]

Looking forward to Fall as well. That apple picture was great! I'llbe sure to check out your etsy site!!!

[naturegirl]

Your designs are charming and each so unique!
We rented a house while this one was being built and that rented house had 5 fruits trees.plums peaches and 2 different apple trees! We had so much fun harvesting and just eating them right from the tree! Our property now is small however we did manage to plant 2 bing cherry trees that we harvest in June..if the ~night vistors or birds~ don't get to them first! Have a wonderful sale! hugs NG

[Randi]

Having healthy apple trees would be wonderful! All that abundance for pies, sauce and cobblers just sounds great. Best of luck finding your solution for next year!

[Marie]

It is hard to feel chipper when the weather is so gloomy, but the rain cannot last and soon it will be sunny again. I have faith in that! I have to say Tracy that, having purchased one of your bags, your work is impeccable. Your bags are of the finest quality and handiwork, well worth every penny. I am really hoping tha I can get another one, fingers crossed! I am looking foward to your new fall line as well!

[dottycookie]

Oh I'm glad you found Melly & Me - isn't their site great? - ,and Sonnja! Sounds like there will be many more pretty bears winging their way across. I've been meaning to check my stash too ...

[Ele]

Your bags are lovely, just simply elegant. I will check out your etsy for sure! I'm so glad you found me. My grandfather was born in Norway. My mother spent her early childhood years only speaking Norwegian. My sons took Norwegian in college as our scandinavian heritage is very important to us. I will stop back soon!

[Wild Rose]

Hi Tracy

I've just returned from a walk and it certainly feels like Fall today. It is 16 C and it was raining. I really enjoyed being able to wear jeans and a jacket without feeling overdressed...as you may have guessed, I'm no fan of the heat and humidity.

Your etsy items are beautiful and I am sure that they will sell out fast.

Marie x

[kim]

Our apple tree went through a rough patch a couple of months ago and we had to chop lots of it away, but we seem to have masses of apples this year - maybe the trick is to give it a good hard prune. I made apple and fig jam yesterday for the first time and it is the prettiest colour! We can smell Autumn in the air tonight - I don't really mind except that we haven't exprienced much of a summer!
Kim x

[kathryn]

I can feel that fall is on its way as well. It is stinking-hot here right now, but I can tell that the light is changing. Yes, I'm sensitive to those summertime blues too!

[Maureen]

Lovely apple photos! I especially like the one with the apple in the foreground and the yard behind it! Sometimes a photo is just meant to be!

[Lissa]

If you keep up all this sewing, you're gonna need a new machine soon! So glad the auction went well! Hehehe..you should see some of my toss out photos...yours look like it was supposed to be like that :)

[Victoria May Plum]

I'm so looking forward to Autumn, and Christmas too! All of the apples on our tree are too high to reach! We shall have to leave them for the birds.
The little bear charity sounds like such a wonderful idea, I'm sure that those little kiddies will be thrilled with their gifts.

Anyway, have a great time making all of those Autumnal goodies. Speak to you soon
Victoria x

[Sandi McBride]

You may have fire blight on your apple tree. We had a problem with fire blight and used a soap wash, then pruned and BURNED the affected limbs...also, are there any cedars growing near your apple tree? They cause a problem...I have a cedar near mine, so just planted more apple trees farther away, couldn't bear to cut down the cedar, it's such a love tree and home to many birds.
Enjoyed your blog, and that is a lovely bag!
Sandi

[Mette]

Hi Tracy! The apples look great - such a pity that the trees have a fungus-problem though. It seems that autumn has arrived in the north of Norway too. The weather is great, but the air is a lot crisper than just last week. And last night it was freezing cold! Time for blankets in the couch and candlelights soon... But autumn has its charm too, if its not too rainy, that is. I look forward to see what's coming in your Etsy Shop. Seems like the sale is going very well, the bags are almost selling by the minute! Such fun! Have a great week, hope the sun will stay in Horten. Hugs!

[cd&m]

Know what you mean about summer waning, it seems positively autumnal here at the moment, best of luck with your Etsy sale, sounds like there are lots of bargains to grab.

[weirdbunny]

We are eating apple and blackberry rumble most night at the moment. The apple tree's in the garden are covered with a good crop this year. Unfortunately are summer has been very hit and miss. It's hard to tell if it's going to be a sunny or a rainy day, as the weather is changing so frequently - Julia

[weirdbunny]

We are eating apple and blackberry rumble most night at the moment. The apple tree's in the garden are covered with a good crop this year. Unfortunately are summer has been very hit and miss. It's hard to tell if it's going to be a sunny or a rainy day, as the weather is changing so frequently - Julia

[Susan]

That apple photo is wonderful...I love happy accidents! We've had a couple of cool days here lately and I'm definitely not ready for autumn yet, either. But I am looking forward to seeing what you create in your craft room this fall!