A Quiet Day at Home

or An Unexpected Blessing!

Some women say, “Oh, I’d just like to get away by myself.” That’s never been my desire; if I’m going to go somewhere, I want to have my husband or my kids along to enjoy it with me. Now that’s not to say that I don’t, also, crave some “alone time”, but what I have always craved is a day AT HOME ALONE -- just me, myself, and I for company. That is a rare treat for me, because usually there is at least some one else here at the house as well.

But today, quite without realizing it was coming, I have the whole day before me at home by myself. All is quiet, and I have time to think, and plan, and create. It wasn’t until 8:30 this morning that I realized that such a day was mine to relish here at Brambleberry Cottage. It all began last evening with. . .

DEPARTURE #1: Our youngest daughter went to take her turn to spend three days at Grammy and Pappy’s house before it’s time again to start school.

DEPARTURE #2: This morning I made my usual 5:30 run, to take our elder daughter to work for the day. Her dad will pick her up on his way home from work.

DEPARTURE #3: My sweet hubby headed off to work at 6:15 a.m.

It was then that I remembered that. . .

DEPARTURE #4: was about to embark with my son. He and Pappy were going to make their annual run to the County Fair. Pappy loves the County Fair – Grammy doesn’t care for it, it tires her out too badly. Pappy doesn’t like to go alone, so each year he and his “side-kick” head off to spend the day together enjoying the sights and food at the fair.

And that left me with a day to do as I pleased.

The first thing I did was to finish this market bag I have been working on. I’ve finally had it with flimsy plastic grocery bags that tear, leaving the bag in my hand and my groceries “well, NOT in the bag!” So I designed this bag to mimic the design of the plastic grocery sacks, only a LITTLE LARGER and a LOT STURDIER, and a GREAT DEAL PRETTIER! This was my “prototype” and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. In fact, I like it so well that I’m going to try selling some of these bags.

This is the pocket, which I designed. It works on the same idea as a “Quillo” pockets. I can just turn it inside out, and it becomes a little “pouch” for the rest of the bag. I even added a wrist strap. I can keep it in the van in a nice, tidy, little pouch; and it will be ready to use when I need it at the market.

I embroidered the “To market, to market” phrase to give it a special touch. I borrowed the phrase from an old nursery rhyme I remember from my childhood.

To market, to market
To buy a fat pig
Home again, home again
Jiggity jig!