Lottery!

Remember way back in the Spring when everyone was crazy for the giant lottery jackpot?

I gave in and joined the pool with my teachers at school 

(while simultaneously trying to explain to Anna why it was foolish)  

and we won!  

20 cents each.  

;)

Iron-on Family

I found these "Make your own alien" iron-on kits last fall on clearance.  On one rainy morning we had Daddy at home and had time to make some family shirts.  I can hardly wait for a family portrait!  Can you figure out who all the shirts belong to?

12th Anniversary

Our 12th wedding anniversary was last summer.  Linen is the traditional gift, so I collaborated with Anna to make something on linen for Daddy's office.  She drew the picture and finally this summer I got it stitched. I discovered that Anna is a picky collaborator, as any true artist is.  She's not pleased with the leaves on some of the corn.  :)   


This is my first embroidery project other than cross stitch, and I feel good about it.  It was fun and quick and I like the end result.  Those are pretty much my requirements for any crafting project.  I think we'll do more things like this in the future!


Now I have less than a month to figure out 13...Lace or textiles....  

Summer List

I could really feel life getting back to "normal" this season.  It was busy, and then things evened out and I started to feel in control again.  Time for a new baby, I guess!

Spring 2012 List

1.  Spencer Quilt  Done and delivered!
2.  Levi something Done-not delivered but wrapped and ready.  :)
3.  Lainey  & Mark something Lainey says I already got something for her wedding.  That may be just her being nice.  I really can't remember. 
4.  Drew & Jenna something I just bought something.  Which is fine. 
5.  Finish Threesie's blanket  Thanks to being laid up at the cabin and spending lots of time in a chair.
6.  Mulch the front bushes
7.  Fix the rose bush area by the back door.  Really I'm waiting on someone to bring me the dirt across the yard.  Too hard for this Mama to lug around buckets of dirt. 
8.  Plant some flowers on the porch.
9.  Finish Portfolio!!!!!!!
10.  Finish Sociolingüística
11.   Mail that pile of boxes!
12.  Make something to keep Anna school work-binder, digital album, something.  I just put things into page protectors in a big binder-a few things from each year.  

I'm trying to be reasonable and have low expectations-Summer is for enjoying.

Summer 2012 List

1.  Finish last class for Master's degree!!!!!
2.  Get out all the baby stuff. Abby came out and helped.  What would I possibly do without her?
3.  Figure out how to fit baby and Katie into one room. 
4.  Fix the rose bush area by the back door. Done 8/9/12-hauling of dirt and everything!
5.  Enjoy Summer activities-swimming and VBS and Arts and Crafts Camp and sno cones and fun.
6.  Start Chelsea's quilt (See how reasonable I am-my only goal is to START)
7.  Begin Library classes!
8.  Do some paper crafting.
9.  Make back to school skirt with Anna.
10.  Have a baby!
11.  Make Threesie CDs and birth announcements.
12.  Keep up with pictures and emails.

Pillowcase Blankies

On my luxurious weekend off back in May, I got to make some sweet baby blankets.

I dug into my vintage sheet box and pulled out some pretty pillowcases and just made simple blankies with pillowcase on one side and flannel on the other.  I love love love these.  Soft and cool and pretty and old, my favorite.

And it's so satisfying to use something you've been hoarding-like this Love pillowcase.

And I didn't buy anything new...

And I used a fancy stitch on my new machine.  It was so much fun.

For the sweet boy on my list I used this cute flannel I had saved.  Yay for time!

MJL's Office

One of my grand goals for last winter, which then rolled over into this winter, was to really finish MJL's new office.  Put EVERYTHING away and organize and decorate and give my hard worker a nice space to do his paperwork in.  

Did you know he's not only a fabulous farmer, but also a brilliant business man?  Now he has the desk to match.  

He's got a place to read and relax-or at least I do when I come down to visit.  That clock up on the wall is a customizable magnetic clock I found on clearance.  He took pictures of numbers around the farm and sized them for it.

The other half of the room is for the Rock Star part of life.  Drums and dulcimer and a place for all the music stuff that kids like to play with.  Those are painted drum heads on the wall, and his art that's been sitting in the basement for years while he didn't have a place to call his own.

And a new (old) guitar as icing.  I'll consider this my April craft project.

March Craft

 It was one of my resolutions this year to try to make something each month.  In March I did this mantle for Lent.

Anna made this cross with her Grammy a few years ago.  We've been propping it up for Lent the past few years, but I'm really happy with the purple cloth I pulled out this year.  It looks much more finished.

I also made a purple bow for this wreath.  I like how these are spare and a bit solemn and purple and Lent-y, but still pretty and nice.

yan yan

I found this in the dollar spot at Target and was intrigued.  From the outside, it looked like Pocky.

But once I was inside, I could see it had biscuit sticks, but with frosting to dip in.
 

Pretty tasty, but I still prefer my Pocky.

Summer

My friend Sarah had the great idea of asking her kiddos what they wanted to do this summer. Thinking of projects and goals, I sat down with Anna and asked her, and she wrote some things on the list.

Play with Spencer.
Read.
Learn to swim and PASS SWIM TEST!
See Abby.

It's good to remember what Summer is all about.  Swimming, reading, spending time with the people we love.

Miss you Mama.  

Flowers from Anna

The day before we left for the cabin Anna disappeared in my studio while we were all busying around trying to pack and get ready to go.

She came running up breathlessly with her hand behind her back and brought me these.

The best bouquet of flowers I've ever received.

A blankie for Threesie

At the cabin I spent a lot of time sitting in a comfy chair and crocheting, and so I was able to finish Threesie's blanket.  Now at least one thing is ready.

I like the three blankies together, with their varying degrees of wear.  I hope Threesie loves his/hers just as much.

Extravagance

I've just been busy with taking these two sweet girls to the cabin...

(Thanks Susu-matching outfits=extravagant Mama joy).

And before that, and on most Friday nights this summer, we're going to concerts in the park to watch Daddy play drums.

  (Thanks, 134 year old Municipal Band-Snare drum=extravagant Daddy joy).

We have a few things scheduled, but this girl loves the TIME.  She loves running over to Grammy's and staying all day, or working for 3 hours on a project at the table, or spending 2 hours (with millions of distractions) organizing her drawers as a surprise for me. 

 No rushing, no "Hurry please!" from Mama = extravagant Anna joy.  

Can you see why it's hard to stay in the house, or near a computer?  She stands at the door, with her fingers in the crack, wondering why she's inside.  Even in jammies.  

Outside=extravagant Katie joy.

    

So I'll be around, but mostly during nap time.  :)  

Happy Summer!

Ten Commandments for Children

I got to help teach Religious Education (PSR-when I was growing up-CCD) this year in Anna's class.  I really enjoyed it.

When we studied the Ten Commandments we used this list (I'm not sure where it came from) and I thought it was a wonderful adaptation for children,  so I thought I'd share (and write it down somewhere so I don't have to keep this piece of paper).

1.  I am the Lord your God.  Love nothing more than me.
2.  Use God's name with respect.
3.  Honor the Lord's Day.
4.  Honor your parents.
5.  Treat all human life with respect.
6.  Respect married life.
7.  Do not steal.
8.  Tell the truth.
9.  Respect your neighbors and friends.
10.  Be happy with what you have.

On my own Saturday

I slept until 10!  Lovely.  Then I got up and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned.  I didn't take before/after pictures of all of the carpet spots I scrubbed because they were embarrassingly bad before and, while much improved, are still bad.  My mom would clean up spots immediately after spills.  That was smart.  I am kind of lazy about that.  Which is evidenced on my carpet.  Anyhoo-cleaned carpets (emptied the vacuum twice!) until it was time to go meet Linda for lunch.

Then I took Abby shopping for a new Confirmation dress and she talked me into one which was too expensive and very pretty.  It was fun.  :)  And I bought the pink sweatpants I resisted three times before.  I've been living in them since.  So happy.

Then I tried to get another sno cone but they were closed.

I came home and finished the carpets and then finished Spencer's quilt top!

  

Then I got ready to start Levi's quilt, but got distracted looking at fabric and found some nice flannel I forgot about and then got inspired and made three baby blankets.  I'll post about those once I get them mailed out. It was my most favorite thing-using what I have, making gifts, using fabrics that I adore and tend to hoard-perfect.  

Then my sweet family came home.  Hugs and snuggles and I did their laundry straight out of the suitcases because I wasn't ready to part with my empty hamper joy.  

Home Alone Friday

I taught school and then zipped home to make my favorite lunch (almost).  Yellow squash and zucchini with a little garlic on wheat spaghetti with mozzarella.  I forgot the tomatoes.  Tomatoes make it perfect.  I threw in the leftover edamame from the night before-not perfect.  But still super yummy.  

I remembered to take a picture of the mantle-Thanks Dad-my Birthday pictures are perfect!

I took out all the trash and moved a bunch of stuff that was on the back porch into the shop.  I did most of the mudroom tidy a few weeks ago, but finally was able to finish so it's done and lovely.

My new expandable drying rack came and I hung it up myself.

I often wonder in the midst of projects like this if my absolute refusal to admit defeat is an asset or a liability. But it's up!  And plenty sturdy.  Surely.  

   

I finally put out my little figurines on the china hutch.  The top shelf had been bare since the Nativity Set came down in January.   My mom used to put these on top of the piano in the Spring because it was my Birthday season.  Most of them are from my Godmother, Aunt Irene.

I went to town and had dinner with Katrina!  And then we went shopping and looked at every single thing in Target.  It was really fun.  We didn't buy this Shinny Ball, but we did laugh about it a lot.

Then we sat outside her house and talked for another two hours, and then I came home and put things away and folded the last bits of laundry and then it was time for bed so I cleaned the bathrooms instead.  And then I went to bed.  

How to enjoy "free time"

1.  Come home and go straight to work on that paper you've been putting off.  Finish 3 hours later.
2.  Immediately switch the Internet radio from "Pachelbel" to "Julieta Venegas".
3.  Tidy the house and feel giddy that it'll stay tidy for days.

 4.  Make some Teacher Appreciation Banana Bread.
 5.  Go to town for the Retirement Reception for a dear colleague.  Try not to think about her really leaving.

 6.  Go to Goodwill!  Spot this trash can and spend 5 minutes debating (we already have a trash can in the mudroom, but this one is cuter...) in the aisle because there are no sweet girls climbing out of the cart.

7.  Decide to get it because it really does match the sign you have hanging in the mudroom.

 8.  Also spot 14 matching napkins for $3.50!

9.  And a bright vintage sheet!

10.  And two maternity skirts.  Decide to go wild and get both, because one looks nicer, but the other looks more worn, which probably means it's comfier.  Feel simultaneously guilty and gleeful for buying two skirts for a total of $5.50.

11.  Go to Dillons to buy home alone food!  Breakfast since my breakfast maker is out of town, and lots of fruit and veggies.  And a new kind of Pocky!

12.  Have dinner on the bed and watch a girly movie (28 days).  

 13.  Fold all the laundry in the house.  All clean.

 14.  Have some dessert.

15.  Sleep tight...  :)

Busy Busy

Another month!

But I finished and passed my portfolio, and I just turned in my final project for Sociolingüística (not my best work, but I think the class activities are really good, so it's just the paper part that's iffy-on the short side, but I honestly could not think of anything else rational or logical to add, and I'm not as good at fluffing things up in Spanish.  I don't have as many words.)

Matthew took Anna and Katie to Oklahoma this weekend, so now that I have my work done, I feel dizzy with possibilities.  Naps!  Sewing!  Pulling weeds!  Laundry!  I hardly know what to do with myself.

First, though, Tums.  As usual.

Spring 2012 List

Really? It's been a month since I posted anything? It felt busy, but I didn't know it had been THAT busy. I was thinking that I'd never posted a Spring List, and as I looked I noticed I never posted a Winter List either! So ALLLL the way back, here's what I wanted to do:
 Fall 2011 List:
1. Make things for Susu's wedding; Petticoat, veil, flowers, tablecloths; and have fun with sisters.   The wedding was lovely and wonderful and I even managed to have fun and enjoy the day.  Big success.
2. Finish MJL 12th anniversary present.  I haven't even looked at it.
3. Spencer Quilt  I'd say the blocks are 1/2 done.  And another nephew is graduating next month...eek.
4. Secret Sibling gift  Yes!  Some sweet little snowflakes and a sequined angel ornament.  
5. File the giant pile of papers.  Well, yes, but I have another one since then...
6. Finish Practicum. Again, yes...but now I have:  Finish Sociolingüística AND Portfolio-double eek
7. Get out Baby Toys.  Done! 
8. Lainey something with Abby.  Sigh-I would really love to do this-don't know where we'll find the time.  And another nephew got married in the meantime...  And the babies keep coming...
9. Chelsea Wedding Book.  I finished this last week!
10. Pull some of the giant weeds. On Friday!  But mostly sweet Matthew took care of this for me, much earlier in the year.  


And from lists much much earlier and never accomplished-I re-potted my poor sad root bound plants.  They now have more room to grow, which may or may not be good.  If you've visited my house and wondered when the plants would take over completely--they are now one step closer.  I stopped fertilizing them years ago-they're just very happy here.

And now for Spring 2012:

1.  Spencer Quilt
2.  Levi something
3.  Lainey  & Mark something Lainey says I already got something for her wedding.  That may be just her being nice.  I really can't remember. 
4.  Drew & Jenna something I just bought something.  Which is fine. 
5.  Finish Threesie's blanket
6.  Mulch the front bushes
7.  Fix the rose bush area by the back door.
8.  Plant some flowers on the porch.
9.  Finish Portfolio!!!!!!!
10.  Finish Sociolingüística
11.   Mail that pile of boxes!
12.  Make something to keep Anna school work-binder, digital album, something.
I sat thinking for a long time and nothing else came to mind-so though I'd like to have 12 things because it's 2012, I'm going to stop there. Thought of what the last one was last night.