June from Irene

Irene was inspired by Jen Sweeney on her envelope as well as the very pretty bookmark. She wrote that she did random flowers on a piece of card stock and then turned it over and cut the strips to make the bookmarks. She adhered them to a second piece of card stock and added a grommet and ribbon. Irene wondered if people still read books and I know a few people who have not warmed up to reading on screens. I still read books and my grandkids read actual books. Since their screen time is *metered* - they have to read books. I'm wondering at what point that will change. 

I am writing his on the 4th of July. The grandkids and their parents are gone for the weekend to a baseball tournament. I am *home alone.* I knew this would be a good time to fill up the blog with some posts. Whenever I am in Chicago, I have little chunks of time when I am *home alone* and I often select household projects that do not appear to be very high on the family's to-do list. I never tell them what I am going to do. I wait for them to discover what has been done.

My favorite secret project was a 4-inch slice in the upholstery on a sofa that is L-shaped. It was on the back of the section that was not against the wall so it was visible in a high traffic area. We are guessing that it happened when the movers sliced off that plastic wrapping that they use when they move furniture. It was a very disappointing discovery, but they chose to not bring it up with the movers. 

I would walk by it and ponder if it would be better to do some kind of suture even if it was somewhat visible because to leave it the way it was --- it was eventually going to fray. But, I knew if I asked them if I could try sutures - they would say no. So, I just up and did it while I was home alone. 

A couple weeks after I left, my daughter called and asked if I had done the stitching. While it was not perfect - she agreed that it was better than just leaving it. Tomorrow, I will show my first *home alone* project of this trip.