Home again home again jiggity jig + Zakka

Ahhhh...home.  As exciting as it is getting ready to go on holiday, coming home is always the best feeling!!  I'm frantically trying to catch up with bee blocks, swap projects, blog-reading and answering all your lovely comments about Jax on the plaid quilt.  You can still go vote for him [he's #60 in the Dog on Quilt category over at Lily Pad Quilting! You just vote in the comment section]. VOTING CLOSED

The highlight of our 13 night cruise holiday was Florence.  My mother travelled to Europe after university and before getting married (I think in about 1969 or 1970).  I recall her telling me that she shopped for a gold bracelet by candlelight, and there were shops on a bridge.  My memory holds no other details because it was probably 20+ years ago that she told me about it, but as soon as I saw this bridge I was positive that this was the place where she had been!  I wish she had kept a travel journal - I could have checked the details.  I got all choked up thinking that this was a place she had once been and here I was seeing it in real life :)  She didn't feel so far away all of a sudden...

Another highlight was eating a macaroon in Cannes.  O--M--G this was the most divine taste experience/sensation that I have EVER had in my life!  Up to then, I had only ever tried one of these macaroon thingys and it was a UK shop-bought one.  I didn't think it was all that special.  I've seen them made on the tv cooking programs and again thought 'nothing special'.  So when I discovered this little shop FULL of them looking so very tempting, I decided to try two -- a 66% chocolate one and a butter-caramel one (my English translation of the French label). 

And I was not disappointed!  They were pricey but-oh-so-worth-it!!  They cost 3.79 Euros for the two [sold by weight - and they were only small] so I was thinking 'boy I hope these are good'.  The chocolate one was ok.  Nothing to go rushing back for.  I even shared the rest of it with Mr Crafty Shenanigans!  But when I bit into the butter-caramel one I immediately thought 'I should go buy a dozen more'... but then I remembered the cost!   

Bad photo [I have a lopsided my-mouth-is-full grin on] but here I am pausing just long enough to have photographic evidence of the experience!  I'd fly go back to Cannes just for more of these!!!  Confession - I did go back for one more which I took back to the cabin and ate very slowly...  Yum!

Coming home from holiday meant I got to see my wee Jax too - he's been at a dog-sitter for 2 weeks and he was so happy to see us!!  And then today I collected Mr Toyota from the sewing machine doctor/spa and he is sewing like a dream!  Hardly a noise out of him - he obviously needed the holiday as well!  He got a tune-up, a polish and was dusted and oiled too!  Lucky machine :)

And this is what I made - the Zakka Sugar Cookie Sack.  I did the embroidery last week by the pool so all I had to do this morning was sew it together.  Once I finish the second bit of embroidery I will make another.

With that completed, I am now off to sew some bee blocks and then hopefully teach myself/learn a new technique so I can finish my Brit Quilt 3 mini quilt for the swap.  Wish me luck!!  It is so nice to be home and back on-line properly and have a long list of things to do :)

I shall be linking up to:

• LR Stitched
• Quilty Embellishment Day
• The Handmade Parade