… staying mostly indoors

It's been a very (very!) busy last few weeks! (& very warm - to boot!)

Firstly, for all of you who have shown so much Betsy's Closet - In Stitches love. . .

Thank you.

Wow, folks.

You have kept me so incredibly busy, filling orders, making kits, & shipping. I've hardly had time to work on anything else.

Not complaining.

 Not. at. all.

I haven't even had the chance to send it to my distributors yet (!) . . . Hopefully that will happen next week.

In fact, after many emails asking. . . I've finally decided that,

 yes, there will be a Benji's Pockets - In Stitches as well.

I wasn't planning on doing one, but I've been convinced 

that you would like a little stitchery for a little boy as well.

So, the blocks have been drawn, & I'm deciding on extra little stitching details.

But. . . I have two or three other patterns that I'm in the middle of, 

so I probably won't get to stitching it until next month.

Here in Oro Valley. . . we have had a really nice summer.

Sure, we've had hot days. . . but we've also had a really good 'monsoon season' & wonderful summer rains. . . cooling things off & making the plants bud & bloom & re-bud again & again.

I've actually wanted to post about it - but I've felt so bad for the parts of the country that weren't getting the much needed rains. Please know that if you are in one of those areas - my prayers are with you!

I live in what is known as 'high Sonoran desert', & then I also live at the foothills of a little mountain range - so it's not the typical 'desert' scene. We have dirt - not sand. . . & while there are cacti that grow, there are actually more brush & trees. I live north of Tucson, AZ. . . which is truly a very small city. 

(. . . & I like it that way!)

Sometimes though, it's nice to get to a bigger city - where there are lots more to choose from - shopping wise. . . & I end up going up to Phoenix about once a month. Often it's with some dear friends & we make it a 'retreat weekend' - sewing & stitching. I love those. . .  (& need them!)

Last month, & also this month. . . on the weekends that we went up to Phoenix (which is much hotter & is not surrounded by mountains - like the Tucson area is. . .) we experienced one of these. . . (!)

In fact, I got this photo of the dust storm that hit Phoenix last month while we were there.

(. . . No, I didn't take it, I got from weather.com. . . we were (thankfully) sealed up in the house we were staying at!)

What an experience (that I have now experienced twice!). You can see it coming. . . & then the wind blows like crazy & then the dust. . . It blocks out the sun, it get's a bit dark. . . & there's really nothing you can do. Since Phoenix is not surrounded by mountains. . . when the summer storms build up, the winds that bring them can stir up the dust from the desert & it all comes like a wall. Once it hits - it takes about 15 minutes or so for it to pass by. . . leaving a coating of fine dust/powder.

Amazing.

I have to admit. . . it was actually kinda fun.

Um. . . except the last time. . . when I remembered, just as it had hit. . . that because of the 100+ degree temps - I had cracked open the windows in my car. . .

Oops.

Yep, now I do know what it's like to be outside in the middle of one of these.

Let's just say there was some major holding-my-breath, & I'm not sure - but it might have been the fastest I have moved in a very long time. (!)

There was a bit of clean-up needed, but thankfully it wasn't too bad. It's just amazing how the dust/powder travels!

Well, I've spent the day getting orders out. . . & so now it's time for me to sit down & get some stitching done. . . (& pattern writing. . . there's also pattern writing. . . there's always pattern writing!) :o)

So, I hope that you have sunny days & clear skies. . . or rain if you are needing it!

♥ Bren