This is the week we've been waiting for. Our daughter Jill, and her family are moving back to the US! This is the first time in five years Jill has lived in the states. She left the US single and is returning a wife, and a mother with two children... and another on the way.
Until they buy a car and find a place to live (in Kansas City), the family be staying with us for several weeks. That means my blog posts may be a smidgen less about my "flourishing palms." I intend to spend as much time as possible with them, giving particular attention to hugging, snuggling and playing with Celina and Tay. I can't wait to get my hands on these two sweeties!
They will arrive here after having sold all their belongings; packed and sent only three boxes of stuff here; lived in temporary, furnished housing in Sydney (Australia); and been in transit for 40 hours, including an overnight in Los Angeles. All that followed by the big adjustment to the 15-hour time difference.
In anticipation of Tay being understandably unsettled by the time he gets to our house, Jill asked if I would sew a "lovey" for him. Her idea is to have a little something, other than his thumb, that he can use to comfort himself. She wanted a lovey that was inexpensive, and could be made in multiples so they'd never be without one.
The 16" X 16" loveys I made aren't much in the way of cuteness, but are all about being tactile. One side is a brown, corduroy-looking Minky-type fabric - soft with a plush, directional nap. The other side is ivory flannel. It's bound with satin binding. Cutting and sewing them was a mess with lots of ravelings and fuzzies all over my sewing area.
Satin binding isn't fun to sew either. But since I'm in the habit of binding quilts with machine-sewn mitered corners, (refer to my binding tutorial), I did the same with these loveys. They should be durable through repeated machine washings. 
Now, four loveys are awaiting Tay's arrival.
While I spent several hours sewing loveys, Mr. FP was outdoors in 90-degree heat putting a new rim and net on our long unused basketball hoop. A new basketball is waiting for Celina's arrival. 
We have heaps of anticipation at our house!I'll conclude this post with one of the many funnies I received as comments in my recent giveaway. Spamgirl left a sewing-related joke.
- What's the difference between a woman jogger and a sewing machine?
- A sewing machine has only one bobbin.
Sydneysiders are accustomed to being on or near water. Boats are everywhere, and it's different for this Midwesterner to see waterways used commonly as a form of transportation. 
After a pretty, 15 minute walk, I arrived at my destination, St. Andrew's Anglican Church. The people are very welcoming and friendly! I arrived a bit early but had the pleasure of meeting and visiting with several members. After the service I met a woman from Michigan married to an Aussie. I think I've made another friend who I'll see in church next week!
Celina is very happy with her new journal and matching pencil case. Me too!
