dog days

Busy times and utter chaos this summer -- I'm embracing the dog days and looking forward to crisp autumn days, cozy cardigans, and fall colors. My older brother had a stroke and has been in rough shape this summer -- a month in the ICU, life support, pneumonia... I've been traveling back and forth to Minnesota a good deal. The upshot? More times with family and friends, progress on cleaning out my parents' old house, and best of all, my brother has really turned a corner and is on the upswing.

 Sugar enjoying "my" reading chair in our new Craftsman bungalow

 a good book and the start of a North Shore pullover for E

 cocktails at Grey Ghost in Detroit

 my neighbor's cheerful zinnias

Thank goodness for fenced yards, water tables (busy, happy kids!), and sparkling rosé. The bag is from Better Life Bags, a neat company based here in Detroit. You design your own custom handbag either in the store or online, then each bag is hand cut and hand sewn by women facing economic challenges here in Detroit, a city where resources and opportunities can be pretty tough.

crafting on with Nicole et al.