Lucy's Tales From Home

these are the moments....

the last few moments of the season to savor all the goodness, cram it in I say!

I am baking cookies and preparing yummies for tomorrow,

sewing,

 

 

trying to finish a up a gift that won't be done I'm afraid till after Christmas.

watching my go to Christmas movie,  right after Little House on the Prairie Chirstmas :) 

Delivering goodies to the neighbors, and stopping a  l-o-n-g time with some to catch up with this and that :)

 
 

squeezing in time for family traditions ...

 

picture from flickr
 

Eating special treats... and

just visiting with neighbors that come delivering goodies to the door.

Oh, and I almost forgot, if you have an iphone get this voice changer app. Oh my goodness I laughed so hard this morning my sides hurt and I cried till tears ran down my cheeks, literally!! The chipmunks changer. Too funny, we must of listened to a silly recording 15 times, I seriously haven't laughed that hard in a very long time! Check it out! 

Enjoy whatever you are doing RIGHT now, smile and make it last :)

Merry Christmas!

last minute baking

a few quiet hours of peaceful baking

 

dark chocolate was all I had

  

mmm "dark" chocolate almond roca

 

no one but me and g home, he helped me bake! 

 

OhMyGoodness, our new favorite cookie, from here, recipe saved from last year. I made them for neighbor gifts and they are perfect. Easy, so pretty and delicious. 

 

gonna go watch a movie with glen, hope you are all enjoying the season right now.
 

last minute Christmas crafting

 

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

 Easy ~ Quick ~ Fun

Materials:

Red and Green felt

Mini yellow felt balls or pom poms

Red floss or whatever color you want

Red and green thread

Scissors

 
  

Cut up some red squares about 1" by 1" or just a tad bigger

 

Take a red square and pinch the centers together and sew them in place in the center.

 

like sew :)

 

You can add the yellow pom pom centers now. Just stick needle and thread up through center of flower from the bottom and then through center of pom pom and sew in place. 

Cut leaf shapes out of green felt. 

 

Overlap the fat ends on top of each other and just like with the flowers pinch in the middle and sew.

 

Layer on top of another set of leaves and sew.

 

Then add the flower. Thread the needle up through the center of the leaves, (from the underside) and then through the bottom of the flower and repeat several times, like a button until secure.

 

I varied the leaf pattern in my garland. Every other flower has four leaves, the rest have just two.

 

Now you can take your embroidary floss and thread your garland. I tied knots before and after each flower at their base so they would not move.

 

 

 

 
 

 These would work in place of ribbons on gifts too.

Enjoy ♥
 

better late than never

I'm not sure why it took me so long but I finally opened my Etsy shop. I'm very excited! It needs a little tweeking and some of the pictures could definately be better but that is easy cheese now that its finally up.  I missed the Christmas window but that is ok too,  better late than never.  

You can click the link in my sidebar or here  if you care to check it out.  The most is exciting thing is I SOLD something :)) and it wasn't even to family, yay!

 

All packaged up and ready to mail. Almost as much fun to wrap as it was to sew.

I am home today because Avery came downstairs this morning pale and c/o a sore throat. What a bummer, its the last day before Christmas break aka the funnest day and she had lots of class parties and after school activities planned. She got a little tearful, "why today" she says. Oh pooh. I ran to the store for Top Ramen, Hot Pockets, cough drops and candy canes. I know, I will feed her well tomorrow, but this is what she wanted to feel better today:)
 

I've been sitting on the couch messing with some felt watching this with her.

 

I started to make a Holly garland but ended up with a little Poinsettia one instead. This was fun and quick to make. I like having something to do with my hands while watching the tube, I feel less like a potato then. 

I think tomorrow I will post a little tutorial on how to do this. It is very easy, but pictures always help:)
  

Randomness

I hope it comes back soon. My skin is glad the moisture is back in the air though.

I have been thinking a lot about food lately, (nothing new for me). Especially this time of year. Sometimes I do find myself in a totally unispired rut but not now, not with so many occasions and activities to cook and bake for. I love it. Here are some labels I made with Publisher for the Caramels I am giving away.

But I have been thinking about what we consume a little more thoughtfully and frankly getting sort of pissed ever since we watched this the other night. Nothing I didn't really know already really just sort of shocking to see an entire movie about it. Its so graphic and gross.

It makes me sad that as always greed has once again ruined what was once a really wonderful thing. You know, that crazy concept of being a loving and thoughtful steward of the earth and the creatures God put on it for our benefit. Why do we always have to make everything bigger, better, faster and cheaper? Who needs a chicken that grows so fast it's legs can't support it or they never see the light of day. The farmers get the short end too. They have to comply or have no one to buy their product.

I don't eat a lot of meat and neither do the girls but Glen doesn't think he has eaten unless there was meat on the plate.  I like a good steak or burger now and then myself and I don't want to be a vegetarian. But I don't want to eat or buy meat that is produced this way either. I already buy organic chicken but beef is so expensive. I get the 3 pack at Costco of ground beef but organic steak, forget it. The answer for us I think will be to find a local source of responsibly grown beef that we can buy in bulk.

I will get off my cow now and move onto something else, something fun.

 

We have been playing this lately. A new game to us. It is fun and easy cheese to play. Lots of fun foodie questions in different catagories. Did you know that ketchup was actually promoted as a vegetable, yep, on school menus during the Recession in the 80's. gross!

Scallops, a first for me. Mmm, salt, pepper and butter, oh the butter. 

Remember that yummy looking bruschetta Julie and her husband were wolfing down in this movie?  Taylor made it for us tonight. Turns out the real recipe the food stylist used in the movie is all over the internet. No heirloom tomatoes in ours but it was still heavenly. 

 

told you food has been on my brain lately ♥

 

 

Top Chef Style

Round here our favorite show is Top Chef, (tied with Survivor, thats just me though). We have always wanted to do the blind taste testing that they do to see who has the best and most sophisticated palate.

So today we did as one of our few advent activities of the season. Mandy joined us.

 

Here we are drawing names to see who is tasting who's selected items. We decided on 7 things a piece and nothing that we wouldn't normally eat, nothing gross.

  

Avery about to stick her finger into something yummy.

 

Man reluctantly trying "something"

 

Here is a sampling of what we tasted. This is Avery's. I think it was the best because it was quite a variety with some stuff that was on the edge, like the Salmon, cold to boot.

 

Taylor dipping into something. It was fun, we all did pretty well which means we are all

    TOP CHEFS!

♥ Me

a how "not" to...

Well friends here it is Friday night, one of my favorite times. Everyone is home, dinner is cooking and Christmas carols are playing as I type and the chance of snow is looming in the air, always exciting. I find myself so happy right now, truly!  Most of my shopping is done and it makes me giddy to have a surprise for everyone.

My list is looooong for the weekend. Sewing, sewing, cleaning, giving Ave's room the BIG once over with her, getting list upon list together for baking and ingredients. Starting my little nieces new "blankey". That makes me really excited. To make something that this little person will cart around and snuggle with everyday. (I hope)

Sooo tonight I thought I would do a "How Not To" instead of a "How To". Sometimes the best thought out plans just don't come together the way they do in my head.

 I bought this old frame and mirror for dirt cheap this summer at my fav junk shop and knew exactly what I was going to do with it.

A great frame but yucky mirror someone distorted and painted.

  

 The plan was to get a new mirror cut and put into this cool frame. Then I was going to "distress" it and make it look old and then hang it above my mantel Pottery Barn style with some cool silver tinsel garland across it strung with old silver oranments. THAT was the plan anyways.

 

How pretty with the new mirror before I messed it up!

 

After several googles and reading how to do this I finally came upon a plan that I thought I could carry out. The above photo is the backside of the new mirror with "Jasco" paint remover smeared in different blobs on the mirror. You let it sit and do its thing and about 10 minutes later you come back and gently scrape the paint coating off the back of the mirror.

 

I really didn't know what to expect. Leave it to me to take a brand new mirror and jump right in. Obviously the smart thingwould of been to try out my technique on an old mirror. BUT no, exuding with confidence and generally being sort of lazy I skipped the details and I messed up!
 

Once the paint is scraped off you are left with spots that have just the "silver mirror" coating. This is where it gets DANGEROUS! 

 

This is what it looks like after you apply  muriatic acid. 

 
 
 
 This stuff scared me. It can eat your skin off and cause you to stop breathing instantly. Just kidding, sort of! I bought special chemical gloves and put on goggles when I was using it. 

Anyways it eats through that "silver mirror" layer and leaves sort of a brownish tarnished distressed look. When done right it's awesome looking. Unfortunately I didn't find that out till after I messed up!

 

Yecht! Horrible. I ended up painting the blobs blackish gold. Believe me its better than what it did look like. The blobs are too big. I know what to do differently next time, but next time is going to be next year. I'm not buying a new mirror, even though it was just $25. I will suffer with my goof! I put it up anyways. 

 

With all the stuff hanging off it you can hardly see the goof ups.

Better luck next year!
  
 

frozen

It is going on over a week of temperatures in the teens. Last night I had on my warm jammies, socks and two exra blankets in bed, I didn't warm up until 5am. Woke up to the pipes frozen in my bathroom. That has never happened before. Its cold!! Yesterday I could not break apart the chicken's water so I put our plastic sled in their pen and filled it full of water. I see them walking around down there this morning so they didn't turn into popcicles. We keep a light on in their coop, but I worried about them last night.

I wish it would snow instead.

 

We had a great time as usual shopping, eating and being together. Most of the pictures I took are blurry. This is the girls goofing around in the hotel. I ended up getting some gifts and a few tidbits for myself like underwear, whohoo!

Something that really stood out to me this trip because it was so cold was how thankful I am that I am not one of the many people I saw living or should I say exsisting on the streets. There were so many wandering "lost" people. I am thankful for my warm coat, shoes, bed and house. But more than that I am so thankful I am not lost.

I take all of the blessing I have for granted, a lot. I'm working on that. One huge piece of that is to be happy in my own shoes, right here, right now. To enjoy it and be a blessing to my family and an example to my kids. I don't want to complain or be in a bad mood because its another day and I'm doing the same thing over and over again. I want to rejoice because IT IS ANOTHER DAY AND I AM HEALTHY, CAPABLE AND ABLE TO DO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND DO THE BEST I CAN EACH TIME. I have nothing to complain about. I'm thankful I don't have to do it alone. I have the best friend, example, couselor, provider, and protector to help me 24/7, my Savior, my King.

I found my Christmas Spirit. I guess I knew where it was all along. I just let other stuff get in the way and crowd Him. I stumbled onto this blog the other day by way of someone elses blog and I am so sorry that I can't remember where. I tried to go back and find out who led me there but I am so thankful you did. Its wonderful and makes me feel good and it reminded me of the greatest gift of all this season. A gift that is for everyone.

here

I'm still here, just quiet. I have walked by this little box several times with the intention of putting something in this space but instead keep giving it an unintentional cold shoulder. I have felt like things have been sort of repetitive lately, same stuff different season. When my life is chronicled here month after month I see what a creature of habit I am. Thats ok with me, just a bit boring to write about. I feel a tad uninspired. My Christmas Spirit is still lagging a bit behind me just yet too.

 
 

I will throw a few of the usual tidbits out here anyways.  Thanksgiving was nice. My turkey turned out to be the best ever. We brined it, didn't stuff it and kept the oven closed! I wrote down everything so I won't forget what I did next time.  The above picture is taken the day after.  This turkey sandwich is actually my favorite part of the meal :) with lots of hot sauce and mayo of course.

Yarded out all the decorations. Before its all said and done it looks like Christmas barfed in my living room. Too much too much! I need to do some serious thinning out this year when I am putting stuff away.

a few of my favorite spots...

 

 

 
 
 
 So now the tree is up and the halls decked, the lights are on the house and I have done most of my Christmas shopping on line, love doing that. We aren't doing the advent calendar this year. I'm sort of sad about that but relieved at the same time. I thought I would choose a few small but fun activities to do together throughout the month instead.

Tomorrow we are going on our annual girls shopping trip to Portland. Its more about getting away, and having fun instead of shopping but you knew that already. 

Thats about it. I'm doing all the usual stuff and going through the motions. Maybe my Christmas Spirit will catch up with me this weekend.  

A boy in middle school came into my office this week. He was trying to explain to me that he didn't feel good, but nothing hurt. He said, "I know it sounds weird, but I just feel like I'm not here."  I kind of know how he feels. 

♥

getting ready

 

This really means nothing without the "before" shot but somehow I could not bring myself to take that particular picture. This is much nicer. I haven't cleaned house for two weeks because, well, cuz I just haven't. Maybe knowing I was going to be doing the real down and dirty cleaning for T-day (its at our house this year) had something to do with it.  And because we jump right into Christmas the day after, decorations, tree, lights, everything.  I have so much more fun decorating and enjoying the holiday atmosphere when the floor isn't covered with enough crumbs that we leave footprints, or everywhere you look or touch there is just a little bit of schmutz, (schmutz = any unknown sticky, lumpy, gross, dried on substance, can be any color).

You get my point. Last night the girls and I cleaned and cleaned and I finished up this morning. Now if we can just keep it that way until Thursday. Right. 

 

I have also been working on a few new decorations. Got these really cool felt balls from Etsy. (I need to make own, next time)

 

Making a garland out of them for my new little tinsel tree I got for Christmas last year.

 
 
 I strung them on fishing line so they will look like they are floating. Thats my thinking anyway.

 

Hope you are warm and cozy tonight and the cleaning fairies came to your house and cleaned it.

♥ me
 

 

Saturday...

 

My little girl kitty Dinah, a new box, oh a new toy! Today I decided to make my new Christmas wreath. Last Spring I bought some Christmas glass balls from my favorite junk store. 

 

Many of these wonderful old boxes and another huge box filled with these oh so cool glass balls in all colors, for like $20 ☺

 

 

 
 

I wasn't quite sure where to begin so I just started grabbing and gluing.

 

All done and I am pretty happy with it. Definately a fun 2 hours. So its on the shelf for a few weeks. We deck the halls the day after Thanksgiving round here.  Yeah baby, gotta soak up every little bit.

Going to make dinner now, goodnight.

♥ me.
 

 
 
  
 

Friday night.....again.

Here I am again, Friday night. I didn't mean to let a week go by but didn't feel I had enough to tell you before now. Day to day, work, activities, appointments, errands, that has been my week. Not bad, just the day to day. Friday night is when I start to be me and not the "week" girl. She is consumed with getting from "A to B" until finally we are at Friday and all her peeps are together with no other distractions. Well, except the distractions I love.

 

I have been busy sewing this week, lots! 

Fun Christmas goodies. Normally this time of year I have been listening to Christmas music since like mid October and watching Christmas movies too. But not this year. Not sure what is quite wrong with me, but my Christmas spirit is taking a while to show up. I feel it coming though. I have always jumped into Christmas waaaaaaaaaay before the normal person. I have Christmas tunes churning on Pandora right now. This weekend I am going to ask Honey to bring up the Christmas decorations up from the shop so I can look through them. Its like a present, I love doing it every year.

After much deliberation we have decided who is doing what this year. I am doing Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. GREAT! I asked Avery to come up with an appetizer, one that is her idea and one that she can execute on her own. It has kept her busy all afternoon. She is sooooo excited to have her own "dish". (good idea mum, pat on back)!

Honey brought home REAL smoked ribs from a REAL meat smoker guy and some FRESH crab. I am not keen on the ribs, that is Honey's and Avery's deal but I am totally down with the crab, along with Taylor. So its a feast of meats for dinner tonight :))

Happy Friday Night Ya'll

♥ me

 

Status report...Friday 10pm

 I have not had a lot of time this week to check in. That is not exactly right, I have had the time but just not the spark. I don't know how you regular bloggers do it. I just can't put together something worth talking about everyday. Wish I could. Takes me too long to think about it. Maybe that is my problem. Too much thought, haha. err maybe its not enough thought. Anyways here I am a little after 10pm and this week is behind me and the weekend is laying like a giant present in front of me waiting to be unwrapped and savored and believe me that is my plan! 

(oops picture removed due to author's ridiculous self consciousness)

It was conference week so the days were only half days. Avery was sick one day, thought she was coming down with the you know what, S _ _ N _ flu. But no, just a short crud bug. So far so good as we navigate through this weird flu season. I don't know about where you live but the vaccine is in very short supply.

I talked a few days ago about the middle school woes of my youngest.  Tonight was the first middle school dance of the year. She wanted to go and totally earned to go if you were judging by her grades and conferences. But, I was reluctant to let her to save her from any troubles or hurt, but she wanted to go. So I dropped her off and her dad picked her up. She had a great time and hung out with some other very nice girls. She is happy inside and out and silly and funny and carefree. Seems for now as though the drama is behind us. Thank you Lord. Thank you for giving my girl such courage and strength. BUT, the lesson learned: You know what it feels like to be treated badly, don't repeat it. Be kind, generous, forgiving, even to those who have hurt you. Never intentionally hurt anyone by making them feel left out or like they don't fit in.  Be happy because you are HIS and that is all that matters.

Ok, now its like 10:56pm and everyone has gone to bed. I sit here alone at my computer with some good Pandora tunes going, I am drinking a Thunderhead beer. Its hubby's and sort of strong but not bad. A little relaxing and quite nice at the end of a week. 

I have been thinking about work. (actually I am always trying to figure out how to NOT work :) However, this is my 5th year at this job, WOW, but I have finally gotten in agroove,  I know and like the people I work closest with and I think they like me too. That is quite something, it feels good to go to work and enjoy being there, to be comfortable.  Again, I'm thankful because God put me there. I need to focus on that more and realize that I am REALLY working for him, no one else. I work to pay the bills, but all the while honoring HIM. (something by big girl reminded me of the other day after her bible study, something I forget easily when I want to complain about work instead of remembering why I am there)

  
 (pictures from trekearth.com) 

I guess I will sign off now. I will go read a bit. I have some really fun ideas of trying to make my own cheese after reading my current book. You can actually make small batches of really good cheese at home. Did I ever tell you I wanted to be a goat cheese farmer for the longest time. I did, until I realized how much actual milk it took to make even a small batch and that I would be the only one there everyday to do that milking at goodness knows what hour in the am rain or shine. Still just for home use it would be fun. Homemade goat cheese, on my list of stuff to do for next year! 

Happy beginning to your weekend!

♥ me

10 to Eight, Its a date!

                                              

 I have a date with my hubby in the hot tub at 7:50pm. Right now it is 7:21pm. Thank goodness for Fall Back! It is one of my favorite days. Set your clock an hour behind and enjoy a loooooonger day. I have! So right now according to my calculations I have about 25 min for this post. Ok Ok, get to the serious stuff.

Hmm. What did I do today. Ate a yummy omelet prepared by my wonderful hubby who always makes breakfast on the weekends. Its just his thang. Then I got on the treadmill, yah! Followed by nagging Avery to do her chores before she went to play B-Ball with the neighbor kids. Taylor volunteered to make dinner, so I just watched movies and sewed, perfect!

    

Here is a funny picture of Avery as a dude and her cousin Sam as a girl. (They traded clothes, although Sam was enhanced with some baloons I think:) Love this, so funny.

Taylor, after taking her fabric out of the dryer for her new headboard. Its orange, but not that orange, a nice shade. 

 

Taylor, her dad and Lucy trying to figure out this headboard thing. Doing the buttons. I think it looks waaay cool, but what do I know.

 

Please take into account the bad lighting, and the bad lighting.

It really did turn out so nice and way cheaper than the one in Ballard Design for like $600. I will have to get a picture in the daylight.

 

 

after several tries, this is what I came up with for the beard on my gnomes. What do you think?? Still need something...

Happy Sunday Night, I'am now 6 minutes late for my date, gotta go:)

♥ Me
  

Middle school is like fashion...

 

or as Heidi would say, "One day your in, and the next your Owwt"!

I keep trying to figure out how to start this post and organize my thoughts. This topic is close to my heart. Close because it kills me to see one of my kids hurting, just like any parent. It makes me nauseated quite frankly.

Avery has always been so eager to do and try everything, she likes to be busy. Her M.O. is just to forge ahead to the next new thing and have fun doing it with zest. Nothing gets her down. Like most kids she just wants to be happy! She carries none of the hang-ups or insecurities that her mother does. She can make a speech in front of her peers without a minute of worry or doubt, she charges headlong into new situations where she knows no one else just to participate in a sport or activity she wants to try. (One of the things I have always loved and been in awe of about her).

She has loved and looked forward to school everyday since Kindergarten. Yesterday was the first day she came home in tears. She has had a group of friends that she hangs out with since about 3rd grade, but things are changing, they are changing, but why do they get mean? I know Middle School is or can be a horribly difficult time for lots of kids. I don't know any woman who hasn't experienced this, including myself. I don't understand that about women in general. Not everyone, but you know what I'm saying, women are just plain mean sometimes and enjoy nothing better than picking each other apart, and when somebody is down, then tromp on them!  

I/we have been praying about this. It hasn't helped that we changed churches in hopes of finding a good youth group for her and just has not felt right since we made the change.  But, God is faithful. Last Wednesday I decided to go back to our old church and try the youth group. She is old enough now that she can be in a youth group and not little kid classes like Awanas. (although she did Awanas all through elementary school and loved it. Its a great program for littles). She agreed to go, wasn't thrilled but didn't put up one fuss. Like always she walked right into a room full of kids with no fear, well maybe a little. 

Turns out they have a new youth pastor and he and his wife are young and cool and I really liked them. She came out after I picked her up and was so happy. She liked the girls and even knew a few, and said it was so much fun and couldn't wait to go back. Amen!  We are going again tonight.

This is what I wanted for her, I hope it grows into a strong group of Christian friends that she can grow in the Lord with and be the foundation of her social life as she goes through high school. I'm not expecting it to be perfect, I know there are mean girls at church too, but its not the norm and being in this setting I believe is where He wants her. After all she is His, she knows it and has declared it, she is stronger than I give her credit for, I think because I am view this situation through my own eyes and know how I would feel.I Need to stop doing that, she does not need to carry my baggage too.

It is funny because as all of this was coming to a head the other day as I was sewing my little pouches :

 

The tutorial I used among others was from skip to my lou. In her tutorial she had this image with this verse:

 

So wonderful and prophetic. I shared it with my girl and prayed with her. 

This is a time to learn and realize that you need to rely on God, not people. It is hard, but He has a plan for you and this is part of it. 

She just looks at me, I'm fine mom, I get it. 

I thank God for my blessings, my family, my friends, my faith. In the end it is all that matters, PERIOD.  
 

 

full

 

This weekend, although fast, was full. Full of time spent together, whether working or playing it was filled with us being "US".

My Sis stopped by to bring Avery home after spending the night with her & her cousins at her house and she brought her new little fluff ball, Abby.

 

Lucy just wants to eat her up and Abby just wants her to go away. But, in a few weeks I am sure they will be best friends.

 
 

I had an urge for horribly cheesy, gooey, crusty homemade mac -n- cheese.

 

Obviously not finished, but so much fun to make. I have to make a stop at Joann's tomorrow to get a few bits to finish him up.

 

I have officially made friends with the zipper. I don't think it can scare me anymore. I hope. I whipped out 7 of these little zipper pouches this weekend. FUN!

FULL ♥

Hope your weekend was too!

Bread ~ Wine ~ Cheese

Besides my family, good books, water, a tooth brush with paste, soap, lotion, and maybe a few hundred other things, THESE are the only things I would need to survive on a desert island. I do crave protein from time to time BUT, in hard times I could survive on bread, wine and cheese...which brings me to my point...

 

A quick and really good read. About sisters, love and making champagne.

 

Follow it up with Cheese. Also with filled with family, love and cheese making of the best kind........

 

And then finish it off with Bread. I have not read this one yet but know it will be just as good as the rest. I love how Sarah Lynch combines several different characters from totally different backgrounds that all come together in the end. Easy and mouth watering reads:)

On this same theme I am sad to say that my library has started to charge late fees. I know that this has been customary really everywhere, but not in my town. I am so spoiled. Greedily grabbing those books and keeping them way longer than I should cuz I just don't have the time to get to them all! Now I will be fined for my indulgence. Pooh! Pooh! 

I love the library though. Truly its the coolest thing ever if you think about it. I love being able search,request,renew my books all online. I even love the "Cyber Space" voice mail with my name saying my books are ready for pick up. We always laugh at those messages, but I don't take this service for granted. It was my sanctuary when my kids were little. As an adult its just amazing to me that I can bring home tons of wonderful books for free!

I Love the Library!!
  

giddy

Yep, I'am simply giddy. Its like a Friday night. We don't have school tomorrow.  Yeah! It is some sort of "calendar alignment" day to keep us square with other school districts. Any who, no work, and no school!  I am getting my roots done in the am, (yuck, but I need to do it) then I am free as a bird till we have dinner with my folks. aka...I don't have to cook, and if my sister comes I get to see her new puppy!!! I have been hankering for some new little fluffy thing to love, but just don't want the vet bills to go along with it right now, so her new puppy will be my "fix".

After what seems like just a huge wave of never ending stress at work I am thankful for this weekend. Seems like there has not been a moment for me to breath and just get stuff done, There has been a lot of sick kids, lice and H1N1 stuff to deal with. Throw in a totally new software that we have to enter all our old data into and you have one frazzeled nurse. But, I love the kids and the people I work with and my school, so all is good, just so darn fricken busy!

Don't pay any attention to the above photo, that is just another "event" that my girls do to our poor, (hahaha), dog Lucy. She really tolerates it quite well, she thinks everything is a game and will end in a treat, which it does. But I thought it was fitting to feature her as she is sporting a quite nifty Fallish look.

 

Been watching this a lot while sewing, like over and over again. Which is what I tend to do. I need something in the background that I enjoy and know what is going on but does not cause me to go to the couch and watch instead of sew. Its a problem, finding that "neutral" movie that will be the perfect background for my sewing. No, I do not like music instead. It is ever changing too cuz, well, you know you just get tired of watching something after 15 times...
  

My big girl actually "let me" have her ipod at work the other day and while I was on the treadmill. Seriously, I am So Out of the loop,I don't even know what the loop looks like.

BUT, I DO know what I like. She had "Pie in the sky" by Andrew Hollander, from the "Waitress" soundtrack on her ipod, (it was in a playlist she calls Gentle Slumbers so of course I loved it), its so happy. 

Well, thats it for tonight. I wanted to check in and say HEY I have a 3 day weekend. I have missed having time to stop by and visit you, I plan on catching up this weekend.

 I have some views on "middle school" coming up. Oh GEEZE, I can't wait for it to be over,...more to come on that. 

Happy Thursday/Friday night friends!! 

Weekend Wrap Up

Life, its so fickle. It is always moving and changing. It never stands still for very long. So I must take advantage of and savor those "slow" moments. Learn to just shake off the crap that weighs me down and does not matter at the end of the day. What matters is, did I let the ones I love know that I LOVE them. Did I treat them well, did I build them up? Did I treat myself well too? Was I true,loving and real to others? I don't know if I was, I hope, I tried to be.

 

Its that "Bob Ross" time of year again. I love it, everywhere I look its like a gorgeous explosion of my favorite colors. This is my backyard, what a blessed girl I am.

I usually try to squeeze in every little thing that happens during the weekend in one post. That is just TMI! So here are the highlights according to me...

I went to pick up Lucy from the groomers on Friday with Taylor and even though we knew she was going to have a cow and bark like a crazy mad dog we stopped by our favorite junk shop, cuz we have not been there since summer.

I love the shop lady, she knows me quite well, and said, "Hey, I found some phones". I asked her a few months back when I was re-doing our bedroom that I was looking for a circa 1970's black rotary phone. Well she had a great one for $15 bucks! These are going for like $50 plus on ebay or even more in town at local antique shops so I was very excited. She didn't know if it worked though.I washed it up and plugged it in and it works like a charm. Love that ring too:) Why on earth do I want the same phone that I grew up with in my house, that I talked to my friends on and my boyfriends in the  "ironing/storage room under the stairs"? I don't know, I just do.

 

 

 I would like to know whose number this was?  Mine was 491-5324. I remember my best friends and my Grandmas too. Crazy. Anyway, this fits in quite nicely in my room, like its been there forever.

 

 Picked these up to for $6 bucks. Need to get some pretzels, chips and nuts now.

 

Had to take a pic of this. Taylor trying to dye 4 yards of home dec fabric that she bought to upholster a new headboard she and her dad are making for her bed. She bought the wrong color and is trying to dye it some shade close to what she wanted. I would not let her use my washer or utility sink, thus the wheelbarrow. Hey, its orange dye okay. I don't need orange clothes.Sort of goes with the time of year thought eh?

 

I am gonna throw in a few pics on how to do this quilt as you go method. I cannot respond to anyones comments right now, or at least I don't know how since typepad changed and I can't just hit reply! Its quite complicated, grrrrrrr.

Anyway as you can see you just cut a center piece and start from there. I cut about a 17 by 17" piece of batting. Stuck my main piece in the center and started building around it. You quilt each piece as you go.

 

 

 

 

 

You just keep going,and going till you cover the batting. At this point you can make a bunch of blocks and sew them together to make a quilt, table runner, or anything you want. I made a pillows.

 

 

Wishing all a great week.

♥ me.