ant knit

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T13:04:00.007-06:00

Dear friends,

I hope Christmas has found you happy and well, as it has us. For the most part. (Mikay had her tonsils out last week, so I'm not sure how happy or well she's feeling.)

looking at the lights in ogden a couple of nights ago

Lucky 13

2011-12-14T09:30:00.004-06:00

Thirteen things I love about Mikay

1. She plays the oboe.

2. She's a "friend for babies," and she always has been.

3. She is sarcastic in a funny way.

4. Even though she has been sick most of this school year, she still managed to land herself on the honor roll.

4. She is happy.

5. She chooses her friends well.

6. Her smile.

7. Mikay genuinely cares about people.

8. She is dedicated - to her family, to her friends, to her schoolwork, and to God.

9. I can ground her for the rest of her life, and she doesn't mind (little does she know, I plan on enforcing that one because I never want her to leave!).

10. She is well-rounded.

11. She is kind.

12. She's my kid.

and

13. I get to be her mom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAELA MISHARON!

(or Mikaela Sharon, whichever)

are you kidding me, yahoo?

2011-12-12T14:26:00.007-06:00

Yahoo has an article up right now with a picture of this mixer claiming it is among the gifts men should not give their women. Seriously? Personally, I would die for this mixer. Well, perhaps die is a little dramatic. At any rate, who wouldn't adore this yummy, yellow mixer?

Dear Doug,

Please don't take yahoo's advice. Also, I would like a new crock pot.

I've been good(ish).

My Favorite Christmas Spot

2011-12-08T19:53:00.008-06:00

The cookie cutters belonged to my mom when she was a child. This is their third (or so) year sitting atop the shadowbox frame in the corner of my kitchen. The towel is new this season. Well. New-ish. I made it for my parents when I was in the fourth grade. My mom gave it to me last year.

a tradition

2011-11-29T00:24:00.013-06:00

This year's theme: The 12 Days of Christmas

It is now a tradition. I can think of a million other traditions I would rather have involving our Lucy, birthday-party sleepovers, matching swimming suits with Tessa, crazy cousin games at Nanny & PopPop's house.

All of those traditions would mean we would still have our girl. It struck me today, as we decorated Lucy's 8th tree for the Festival of Trees, we would not have one of our most treasured holiday traditions if we still had her.

I do dearly love the festival, but I would trade it all to have that beautiful child here. Every single tree, every single scone, every single speck of glitter.

Oh, I miss my sister's daughter.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T09:20:00.009-06:00

I've shared this poem before, I know. But, I love it. I've been listening to my 12-year-old practice committing it to memory all week. "Thanksgiving Feasts" has been recited at my family's Thanksgiving table for longer than I have been alive.

Oh, and meet Tom. He's for my mama.

Thanksgiving Feasts
author unknown

“Thanksgiving feasts,” O’Hara said,
“Thanksgivings like this here
Ain’t nothin’ to the one I et
In Wardleburg one year.
The Champeen eaters all were there,
Slack-stomached for the feast,
And we agreed the ones to pay
Were those who ate the least.
Ol’ Haskins, up Frog Holler way,
And Uncle Pelig Coon,
And Moses Hitt across the creek,
And Bill, and Doc M’Goon,
While several others I can’t name,
All trained and gaunted down,
Sat stroppin’ knives upon their boots,
While hundreds gathered ‘round
To see the champeen eatin’ race,
And when the judge yelled, ‘Go,’
We started in deliberate
Devourin’ vittles slow.
First came a chicken pie apiece
With mushrooms sprinkled in,
And then we had a quart of squash,
Six ‘taters, and a tin
Of pipin’ biscuits, buttered hot
With jam an’ apple jel,
And pickled beets and celery –
‘Twas here that Pelig fell.
While several others looked quite faint
Yet feebly carried on,
But when we reached the turkey course
The most of them were gone.
Each had an eight-pound turkey
Stuffed with nuts and sage and things,
I hadn't hardly et a half
‘Fore Bill and Haskins rings
Their curtains down and drags away
Upon their hands and knees.
That left just three, just Doc M’Goon
An’ me an’ Adam Peas.
The doctor started, but he then
Fell over in his chair.
But me and Adam, we ate ours
And split the doctor’s share.
But that fixed Adam, mournfully
He realized his fate,
His middle swelled so mightily
He couldn’t reach his plate.
I cleaned the board, and then I rose,
Disgusted with the bunch.
I wandered to the pantry
Where I fixed myself some lunch!”

Happy Thanksgiving!

edit: my sister Sarah declared his name to actually be Corky the Torkey.

A Real Artist

2011-11-17T22:03:00.011-06:00

So, my best friend from second grade only lived in Utah for one year. Her dad was here working; they were from New York. Her name was Annie. She and I bonded over identical Miss Piggy lunch boxes. It was some sort of sign.

Although we exchanged addresses and promised to write, we were, unfortunately, only eight-years-old (read: not very good at keeping in touch). Years later, after the Internet invaded our home, I would look her up online from time to time. But, I never found anything.

Enter Facebook.

Oh, so terrible in many ways, but for one thing I will forever be grateful. Through Facebook, I found Annie again. We've picked up our friendship as if time never elapsed.

Always creative, Annie has stayed true to her nature. She's a wonderful artist. Earlier this year she sent me a personalized piece. Can you believe that? Art made just for me? Like, about me?

It is personal in many ways. There is a picture of the lunchbox. There is a picture of my dog. There is the jacket to one of my all-time favorite books. There are pictures of the actors in my favorite shows and movies. There is a crochet monster and a sock monkey. I like to think, though I do not know for sure, that the two women in the bottom right corner represent her and me, out having a fabulous time in NYC. Someday...

Annie has also sent many things for my children, things they love. We decided to send her a package back. For it, Tessa painted some pictures. Tessa was really proud of her work, and asked if I thought Annie would like them. And if Annie did, maybe she'd declare Tessa a "real artist," just like herself.

in the future

2011-10-27T17:55:00.009-05:00

I made a lion for a friend who had a baby. Then I decided to make a blanket to match. It can't be too hard to find cute lion flannel, can it? Uh. Think again.

I looked at a few too many stores (oh, I don't love shopping), and spent more than I wanted to, but in the end, I think it turned out well. Next time, I'll find cute flannel then make a toy to match.

I hope he's happy in his new home.

similarly

2011-09-18T20:26:00.003-05:00

The school issued netbooks for 7th and 8th graders (not really sure why 9th graders were not included, seems a bit backwards to give them only to the younger kids, but whatever). So, for my 7th grader, I made a bag like the iPad bag and the small bag made to be like the iPad bag.

a small bag

2011-09-17T21:05:00.007-05:00

I had a friend of mine email and ask if I could make her a bag for her iPad. She sent a picture of one she had seen and loved. So I made one, based on the picture. I borrowed an iPad to test it out, and I took a few pics. However, those pictures turned out blurry. Bummer.

Another friend of mine saw what I was working on and fell in love. She said she wished she had an iPad. I decided to make her a bag in the same pattern. It's a little larger and, because I don't ever do any two things the same, the handle is slightly different. Also, because this one is a purse-ish bag, I lined it with a remnant I got at Hobby Lobby. I love it and so did Suzanne. (at least she said she did!)

Now I'm working on another similar bag for my daughter's laptop, which she has to have for school every day.

Wool socks in August

2011-08-13T22:59:00.009-05:00

I know, perfect season for wool socks, huh? Oh well. I started these forever ago. They are for a friend. I can't believe it took me so long to knit them. Soon (hopefully Tuesday) they'll be stuffed in an envelope and on their way to an exciting new life.

I used my favorite sock (non)pattern. It is pretty much the same as the ones I would make for Tessa when she was a little thing, only bigger. C/O 60 stitches over four needles (I think I used size 2 needles for these), K3 P2 rib for as long as I want to make it, heel, continue K3 P2 across the top of the foot until sock measures 8 inches from the edge of the heel, decrease toe & finish. Easy-peasy.

seven years

2011-08-07T23:07:00.006-05:00

For seven years, we have missed Lucy.

(the girls found this little bug during our visit to a botanical garden in nashville, tennessee)

Sometimes I make cards.

2011-08-05T23:54:00.003-05:00

102

2011-07-28T12:38:00.005-05:00

this pic was taken at her 100th bday party in 2009

Yesterday we went to the funeral for the very best neighbor we've ever had. She was 102-years-old. She was wonderful and kind. Gentle and caring. Thoughtful and sweet. We only knew her for the last 10 years of her life. When we moved in she was still taking care of her yard (minus the mowing). She would make treats for the girls every Christmas. She would sit outside in the summer, just to watch them play. She worried and prayed when Tessa was sick just after birth. She had a couple of falling accidents that took their toll. Her family began taking shifts to care for her, at first during the days, and then 24 hrs as it became needed. We became close to them as well.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Jones. We loved you.

One night last month as I was putting Tessa to bed she told me, "Mom, the Bible says if you obey your mom and dad you'll live a long and happy life. Well, I think Mrs. Jones must've been very good at that."

Less than a week before her 8th birthday...

2011-07-21T12:42:00.005-05:00

My little girl decided to jump from the top bunk bed. It didn't work out well for her. Birthday plans of a trail ride with dad and a new bike will have to wait. For now, she's playing wii and making up her own algebra equations on her dry-erase board.

bugs in a bag

2011-07-07T22:20:00.012-05:00

I have two daughters with birthdays in July. One is turning 11. The other, my baby, eight. Seriously, where has all of the time gone? Thankfully my Tessa still likes little girl things. So, for her approaching birthday I made these:

Five little finger puppet friends, a butterfly, a bumble bee,

a blue bird, a daisy and, of course, a ladybug.

Tessa has always had such an amazing imagination. My mom jokes that if Tessa is playing in the other room, there's no way to be sure if she's alone or having a party.

She also has a wonderfully tender heart. Often she talks to me about Lucy and how she wishes her cousin were here on Earth with us. No bug collection is complete without our ladybug.

I was going to make just a plain old bag for the bugs,

but then I had the idea to make a tree.

I can't wait for T's birthday.

A Dry Spell

2011-06-16T21:04:00.009-05:00

A blogging dry-spell. Like everyone else, the end of the school year is crazy busy around here. Add to that our trip to the South in the middle of May. It was amazing. Mikay was awarded a trip to Space Camp by her school teacher. She had the best time ever. If the beds had been a little more comfortable and the rooms a little warmer, we probably would not have been able to get her to come home.

Tess, Mikay & Suzy at Space Camp in Huntsville, AL

While Mikay was exploring the depths of space and the surface of the moon, the rest of us stayed in Nashville, Tennessee and had an amazing time. We spent time with cousins, hung out at a children's museum, visited the Grand Ole Opry and the General Jackson.

Doug and our remaining girls outside the Opry.

We made friends at our hotel who were visiting the US from Switzerland and also had a seven-year-old girl. And went to the botanical gardens with some friends who live in Nashville.

The glass bridge at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.

Although I very much loved our time in the South (the green everywhere is amazing!), after returning home I found did not miss the cicadas. Or the threat of tornados.

Mesh Bag

2011-05-06T20:27:00.007-05:00

I'm not really all that green. I know, controversial. I do what I can, but I don't go very far out of my way (hey, gas is expensive). We reuse, but we've been doing that since before it was cool. We shop at thrift stores & yard sales, and have for a very long time.

(See my pup in the background? Isn't he a cutie?)

Reusable shopping bags are not something I've ever bought. I try to avoid purchasing things made outside the USA. I like to support our economy. All of the ones I've looked at have come from elsewhere. But. I dreamed up a bag that was not only made right here in the good ol' US of A, but right in my very own state, town and home. With yarn I already had.

Originally I had thought it would be more of a swimming bag or a gym bag or something like that. And it still could be. But I think it also kind of lends itself to groceries. It can hold the same amount as a plastic grocery bag.

I made a single crochet pocket at the top for keys or change (though I didn't line it, therefore very small items could fall out). The strap is pretty thick and comfortable to carry. I really like this and hope that I can remember how I did it once I have time again (will that ever happen? It isn't looking very promising).

flip-flop socks

2011-05-01T16:13:00.005-05:00

I made these for a friend. I think I need to make some for me. They were very simple, I c/o 60 stitches on size 2 needles. I knit in a k3 p2 rib for three inches. At that point I ran a piece of yarn through the last 20 stitches to save for later and continued around the remaining 40 for five rows. I like to bind off (loosely!) alternating knit and purl (that makes the last row on top instead of the side, and I like that look better). Next I put the 20 st from before back on needles and knit them for five rows using the same binding off technique.

Make some. Be happy. Flip-flops can now be worn in April & May when we're not sure if it's going to be warm and sunny or cold(ish) and snowy.

what college is teaching me

2011-04-27T16:31:00.003-05:00

(Have I mentioned I'm back in school?)

I have now have a well defined sense of right & wrong. I am right, everyone else is wrong.

I love being a mom

2011-04-19T20:17:00.001-05:00

A Pooping Bird

2011-04-18T14:19:00.006-05:00

At the request of my cousin/sister (technically my cousin, but love her like my sister), I've made a pooping bird of some sort. Our grandma made pooping chickens. If I could find the one she made that my cousin sent me, I would post it. Although I find the concept somewhat unsettling, I've made one for her and it only took 3 years of her asking for me to do it.

(Sorry this one is a little blurry. I didn't check my pic quality before sending her)

Untie the bow at the back and watch her go! (yuck) Just in time for Easter. Now if it would only stop snowing/raining.

Oh by the way, those are jelly beans.

lil baby hats

2011-03-18T17:34:00.006-06:00

There are a lot of girls in the other room, playing wii dance party. Or something like that. I'm hiding in here, thought I'd blog the hats I made yesterday. I didn't really use a pattern, but I did google how to crochet a rib. I liked it!

newborn-sized

***

larger-than-newborn-sized

hide-a-bed

2011-03-12T13:23:00.007-06:00

My daughter was invited to the birthday party for a little girl she babysits. We went to Target for a small baby doll. I learned my lesson making these beds last fall, always buy the doll first. I made several but couldn't find babies small enough to fit, never mind that we had a million that size when my girls were small(er).

I based this on little doll bed purses I bought for my daughters at a craft fair before Easter many years ago. I know the concept is an old one. When I showed this to a good friend of mine she started gushing at the memory of her own doll bed when she was young.

(the blanket is a separate piece)

Sugar Cookies

2011-03-05T12:01:00.007-06:00

These are the cookies on which I was raised. Every Christmastime my mom would make batch upon batch which we kids would decorate using her cloth piping bags. At Valentines she would make us each a giant heart decorated fancy with our names written across (Mom is amazing with frosting!). I remember shamrock cookies and bunnies, stars and pumpkins. These cookies are happiness, joy and childhood wonder all in a single bite.

Mom's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Cream:

1/2 c. softened butter

1 c. sugar

1 egg

Then add:

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 c. sour cream

Stir together, then add:

3 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Roll & cut out.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 350 degrees for 6-8 mins.

The cookies should still be pale, but dry-looking.

Dough needs no refrigeration (that's the best part!).

Makes about 2 dozen cookies, depending on size.

They are so, so yummy.

2011-02-18T11:19:00.019-06:00

borrowing the idea for this from a friend.

A little about me as told by pieces of facebook flair:

to go

2011-01-25T18:13:00.009-06:00

I don't love every item I ever make. In fact, I'm pretty picky about the ones I even like. So to have a set about which I love nearly every piece, well, that's pretty amazing! Here is such a set:

The only one I don't love is the ice cream, but even that I don't hate. I do love the box, I got it at a craft store. I love the hamburger parts.

I love how the fries are all individual and can be taken out of the bag. I love the apple slices and their little seeds. I love the juice box with the picture on front & a straw sticking up from the top.

All of these items are firsts for me. I wanted to make things I've never made before because this set will be included in a baby-sitting tote that my girls will take with them to their new jobs & one of the kids already has one of my typical food sets. This way there won't be any confusion.

It's the busy time

2010-12-18T11:31:00.005-06:00

After the Festival of Trees, I packed up and headed to Southeastern Utah and participated in a craft fair with my sister (went mostly for the fun of hanging out with her, the fair was an excuse). I've never been in one of those before and it went much better than I anticipated. I sold some mini stockings, some animals, some blankets, some stuff like that.

After I got home I worked madly on scarves for my aunt & cousin. My aunt is my dad's only sister and I love her so much! Dace, my cousin, is like another sister. We didn't know each other well growing up because they lived far away but, thanks mainly to facebook, she's one of my best friends.

Since then I have made stockings for teachers (I had quite a stock before the craft fair, but they sold out, so I started again at zero). Now I'm going to work on some dinosaurs and a couple of scarves.

Next month, next month I'll be able to stop, breathe and sleep again. Right? (PS, I am making a goal of 1 stocking a week next year.)

Lucy's 7th tree

2010-12-06T10:19:00.004-06:00

Last week was the Festival of Trees. A favorite time. We made Lucy's 7th tree. We laughed. We got choked up. We remembered.

O Christmas Tree

a trellis scarf

2010-11-02T16:58:00.008-06:00

I've got a new crochet stitch pattern that I adore. It makes a mesh-like fabric and I've been using it for water bottle slings. Yesterday I decided to apply it to a scarf and some soft, yummy yarn. I don't know if the stitch has a name, it probably does, I can't imagine nobody else has ever dreamed it up before.

I call it a Trellis Scarf because the stitch reminds me of a once-white, weather-beaten trellis on the side of an old farmhouse, the kind a young man would climb to whisper to a girl upon whom he had a crush, long after her parents had gone to bed (oh dear, this image is starting to worry me because I, myself, have four daughters!).

The yarn is Patons Bohemian (poly/acrylic blend) in indigo. The scarf measures about 89 or 90 inches (oh how I love a long scarf!), plenty of room to knot around a neck and keep someone toasty and snug. The flower in the bottom corner is made of wool. The scarf can be machine washed in cold and left flat to dry.

Although there are holes throughout the pattern, this scarf is very warm and cozy.

It is for sale, $20, which includes shipping (in the US). If you're interested, let me know. I can run a sale through Etsy (so I'm told. I'll have to call my etsy-pro friend *hi Jamie!* for instructions, but she says it can be done!).

My daughter won a trip to Space Camp(!) from her teacher and though tuition is free, we are responsible for getting her there. I'm going to be making items to sell to help pay for her airfare.

Zion

2010-10-19T09:33:00.009-05:00

The girls and I spent a long weekend in Southern Utah. These pictures were taken while on a hike in Zion National Park. Amazing.

We used our water bottle holders on the hike. I redesigned my pattern to make them able to accommodate different bottle sizes better, and made some for our friends who went with us. We got lots of compliments on them.

I bought a parks pass. We're going back. We're also going back to Arches. And, I hope, all of the other national parks in this beautiful state. Oh! And the Grand Canyon.

It's going to be a fun year.

my blog life is suffering

2010-09-28T09:54:00.002-05:00

Yes, my blog life is suffering since my beloved mac g5 died. I can access most stuff from my husband's computer, but I don't know how to, and am kind of protesting anyway, upload pics from my camera to this machine. Poor blog. Poor Marcia. I was in the process of writing a post about a unicorn cake I made for a friend's daughter's 5th birthday. Sad.

On the other hand, I'm getting a lot more done around the house and with my crochet. So that's a good thing, right?

an ugly buddy

2010-09-13T10:20:00.005-05:00

Inspired by a monster on a cup we got at Target, I made an ugly buddy. I think his name is Steve. Or Dave. Not sure.

I haven't been much into the whole blogging thing lately. I guess I don't feel super creative these days. We've been doing a lot of work on the craft room. The end is in sight. Thankfully. Most of the things I've made lately are either gifts or donations. With birthday party invitations coming around now that the girls are back in school, I've been making a lot of presents for little girls. It's been fun, they've been cute but with the last minute-ness they all seem to possess, I don't ever remember to take a picture.

I should think of something clever to say, but I seem to be short on 'clever' too. :)

***update: his name is dave. thought you'd like to know.***

a new (to me) lamp

2010-08-31T00:14:00.002-05:00

Just thought I'd update that I decided to leave the dresser as is for now. I figure if I ever REALLY want to, I can paint it later but I would not be able to change my mind and get this look back after having been painted. And I do love this. Thanks for the votes! Here's a picture of the lamp I got today at the thrift store...

thrift store find

2010-08-30T14:50:00.004-05:00

I went to the thrift store looking for a chest of drawers in which to keep (some of) my yarn in my new craft room and found this. Immediately I fell in love. Originally I thought I wouldn't paint it, but now I'm not so sure. I guess the biggest reason I'm considering paint is because most everything in the room is bright. There is one desk with a light wood finish. Opinions?

the lip at the top is my favorite part.

we have a new baby

2010-08-18T00:33:00.004-05:00

we found this little guy, a stray, near my parents' house. he was skinny. he was dirty. he was hungry. we brought him home. we named him barkley (after my childhood cat who was also black). we love him. he's had a bath. he's getting some meat on him. he's fitting in well.

another activity book

2010-08-13T09:28:00.010-05:00

My nephew had a birthday. I made him an activity book, similar to the one I made before.

This book would be great for the car or church or wherever.

The girls colored the first page for him (but used different crayons so these stay pretty). Because he has a two-year-old brother (Elliot is turning 5) we included washable crayons, you know, for the sake of the benches in the chapel.

Elliot. My boy. He's such a boy too! He loves trucks and cars but doesn't like getting dirty. He has a full head of adult-like hair and a great, big smile. He blessed us almost exactly one year from the day our hearts broke when his older sister died. I love him.

schrute farms beets

2010-07-31T19:34:00.010-05:00

I tried something new, freezer paper stenciling. I was nervous. It took longer than I wanted it to. But in the end, I am happy with my results.

Thankfully my fussy printer worked well enough for me to print off "Schrute Farms Beets" exactly how I wanted it. I taped the printed paper facing the waxy side of the freezer paper and cut around the letters with a blade. I didn't do a very good job. Oh well.

Then I removed the printer paper and ironed it, wax side down, onto my washed t-shirt.

Next I dabbed on fabric paint I had leftover from our 4th of July t-shirts, then left it in the sun to dry.

I peeled off the paper & heat set the paint with the iron. I'm very happy with how it turned out. I decided to use the brown paint instead of the white I had because I wanted a more subtle look. It's a gift for a fellow fan of The Office. I hope he likes it!

(Schrute Farms & Dwight. Also, my shirt was inspired by this shirt)

You Bet I'm Proud

2010-07-24T11:47:00.005-05:00

This was made by my 13-year-old daughter.

Now don't get me wrong,

I am proud of her school achievements,

she gets good grades and is in advanced classes.

She is gifted in music and art.

She is funny and sweet and helpful.

She bakes.

But this? This might be IT.

Good job, Birdie!

new friends

2010-07-20T17:30:00.003-05:00

eddie (giraffe) & quintin (bird)

friends made for the first birthday of a little girl who did not live even to see her first christmas. little kenzie's story is heartbreaking. her parents had a fund raising carnival to support research into the disease that took their beautiful daughter from them. we were unable to attend, but i was able to donate a few items to their gift shop.

lunch!

2010-07-14T13:51:00.012-05:00

more food creations:

Every kid's favorite (well, except Tessa)

PB&J

The sandwich was made with mostly acrylic yarn (the PB is cotton). The bread is two strands thick and even still I am not sure it is thick enough.

***

Another crowd pleaser

pizza that could be either pepperoni or cheese.

I may be slightly addicted to making play food. Tessa loves them and is sad these are not for her. Luckily her birthday is next week and I plan on making more as a surprise.

t-shirt mistake fixed

2010-07-06T20:55:00.007-05:00

My sister saw a great idea for a patriotic t-shirt in an issue of Family Fun Magazine. She organized an effort to make them with a whole bunch of cousins a couple of weeks ago (why didn't I take any pictures of that?!).

All was well until 11 pm the night before the Independence Day parade (which wasn't on Independence Day this year, but the day before). This was when two of my girls realized their shirts had accidentally been mixed up between the hand-stamping and name-painting phases. Oops. Lizzy's name ended up on Tessa's shirt and Tessa's name ended up on Lizzy's shirt. And they are dramatically different sizes. What's a mom to do with one girl in tears and another not far behind?

Well. I remembered fabric I had leftover from a few years ago when I attempted jumpers for the 4th of July.

And I made a plan.

They turned out very cute and I had requests from two other girls to add stars to their shirts even though there were no mistakes that needed a band-aid.

oh are ee oh

2010-06-30T18:52:00.005-05:00

Anybody want a cookie?

The girls are loving these, even though one has a bite missing.

Low in calories, high in fun.

weeds at the park

2010-06-25T14:01:00.003-05:00

I'm being an ADD crocheter right now. About half-way through a giraffe and wanting to make play food now instead. And then there's Quintin the over-grown baby blue bird who needs only a few feathers atop his head. *sigh* I'll get back to them soon, I promise!

more hair pretties

2010-06-19T13:00:00.009-05:00

For my sister's birthday, I made these:

Although her birthday was earlier in the week, I haven't given them to her yet.

Why?

Oh, because she's been on a fancy European vacation.

And she gets home today.

I'm only a liiiiiittle jealous.

Love you, Sissy.

PS the adorable model is my Mikay

cold

2010-06-12T16:14:00.003-05:00

It's super cold here. So yesterday I made chicken and rice soup, from scratch. And sugar cookies. Although the soup was very, very good, I only took a picture of the cookies. I used my mom's recipe. They are the best I've ever had, hands down. Doug told me over Christmas that I was a lucky child, indeed, if I grew up eating those cookies. He's right. I tried to call my mom to ask about sharing the recipe but was unable to get a hold of her. I'll keep trying, but in the meantime, enjoy the pic... mmmm...

Field Trip!

2010-06-11T10:20:00.002-05:00

So ... here's a new to me idea, blog field trips! Jax from Aly&Ash and I swapped blogs for the day. I love her blog, she's so crafty! Today I'm posting over there, how super generous of her! Aaaaand without further ado, here she is:

Crochet Flowers & Card Making

Hi I'm Jax from Aly&Ash! I'm excited to be posting over here today! Today I wanted to show you some adorable flowers my mom made me recently for card making! The center are brads which make attaching to cards easy peasy!

Aren't they adorable!
Here are a few examples of cards I've made using them!

The stems and leaves I just hand stitched with a little embroidery floss!
Well thanks for letting me guest post today! Come by Aly&Ash to check out other cool crafts plus a week of Father's Day gift ideas! Here are a few of my recent favorites!

www.alyandash.com

the year of the water bottle sling

2010-06-07T10:16:00.001-05:00

turns out that's what everyone is getting from us/me. if you're on the list, please pretend to be surprised!

end of the year teacher gifts

2010-06-03T18:18:00.006-05:00

For our teachers this year I made water bottle slings, except for Birdie's 3 male teachers. For them, she made chocolate chip cookies.

This year brought new things into our lives:

Children in two different schools; one in jr. high, three in elementary.

All kids gone all day.

Our baby learned to read.

Our oldest earned a national math award.

And became a teenager.

Also some not new, but still exciting things:

State projects

County projects

Art projects

Field trips

Spelling tests

Math tests

And always, of course:

Teachers who give of themselves with their motive being making better the lives of children.

Perhaps my favorite moment of the school year was about a month ago when I picked Birdie up one day and asked, "What was your favorite thing you did today?"

Her answer came thoughtfully, "Probably the test we took in algebra."

We've been blessed.

shelves, after

2010-06-01T12:44:00.005-05:00

Remember my $4 thrift store shelves before? If not, I'll remind you:

Ugly, no?

How about now? ...

We started by removing the back, then we washed and sanded everything. I bought the paint at Walmart. The shelves are Mediterranean Teal and the back is Jalapeno (though I've never seen a real jalapeno this color, it looks more like a banana pepper to me).

I love the arches and poles (columns? sticks? what would you call those?)

another shoulder bag

2010-05-28T19:57:00.006-05:00

I made another bag for a girl we know and love who is turning eleven.

I crocheted the bag using yarn I had on hand. Trying to cut down the stash a little before buying more, you know. Some of it is TLC, I think - another is Caron. The last one, I have no idea!

I lined this bag like my other one, using a remnant piece I bought at Hobby Lobby.

(my Birdie)

from my front yard

2010-05-24T12:24:00.001-05:00

he wanted cupcakes

2010-05-22T23:15:00.003-05:00

Today my husband said he wanted cupcakes, so I made these:

I Thought I'd Died and Gone to Chocolate Heaven Cake

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups raw (turbinado) sugar

2 eggs

1 cup butter milk (I use 1 c. milk + 1 tsp lemon juice)

1/2 cup + 2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/4 cups unbleached flour

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flower

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup water, boiling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. If using layers, grease and line pans with parchment paper. If using a 9x13 pan, grease and dust with cocoa powder. Sift together cocoa, flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Alternately beat in the flour mixture and the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated. Add boiling water and beat for one full minute.

3. Bake in preheated oven 30 to 40 minutes (20 mins for cupcakes, 10-15 mins for mini cupcakes), or until toothpick inserted into center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool, frost with chocolate butter cream frosting.

(this is based on a recipe I found on allrecipes.com under a different name. I changed it to within an inch of it's life.)

church doll

2010-05-15T23:03:00.003-05:00

My mom made dolls like this for all of us little girls at least (not sure if she made them for my two older sisters ... Anchely?). We played with them a lot but most especially at church, while we were supposed to be sitting quietly on the bench like the little angels that we were. The dolls are made with a white handkerchief and have our names embroidered on the bottom corner. I had my friends who are framers put her in a shadow box for me and she hangs in my room.

(another church secret, my mom used to bring masking tape in her purse. apparently we would beg her for pieces and tape our own mouths closed. had we known that was part of her master plan, i'm not sure we would have been so happy about it but i do remember loving that tape.)

thrift store shelves before...

2010-05-12T09:12:00.005-05:00

I paid $4 for these, which I think was a steal. The guy who priced my lovely shelves (the very morning I bought them) said he almost threw them in the dumpster. Their future home will be in my craft room on a lovely, orange wall and most likely under my mod podged letters.

Oh while my friend and I were at the thrift store we were talking about 70's style (my favorite!) with one of the adorable, young, male employees when he said, "The 70's were great! I wish I could have been alive during that decade!" We felt old but laughed anyway.

a question and some other stuff

2010-05-04T15:08:00.005-05:00

I've mentioned my love of remnants. Several times. I suspect it's incurable and I'm ok with that. I recently found a couple of pieces that I adore. They seem to be calling to me, but I can't quite make out what they are saying.

Any suggestions about what to do with them? Of the black there is 7/8 of a yard and 1/2 a yard of the white.

***

I'm making another flower, but this one is bigger and has no stem. It is intended to be a gift for my friend's daughter's birthday. I thought it would be cute on her bed.

I hope I have enough of the pink yarn.

***

and just for fun, a couple of future strawberries...

does this mean it's really spring?

a new puppet friend

2010-04-30T20:07:00.006-05:00

This puppet is named for another nephew of mine, Elliot.

Tessa is a little sad that he will be moving on, unlike Porter who ended up under the Christmas tree with a tag for her.

But I'm sure Elliot will be able to find a little friend who will love him as much as Tess loves Porter.

PS, he's much cuter in person. I promise.

Bonnie

2010-04-28T10:34:00.011-05:00

l-r: me, my sister, my mama

On Monday we went to a taping of The Bonnie Hunt Show.

We made friends.

We ate hot dogs.

We sang Happy Birthday to Carol Burnett.

We ate birthday cake.

Trisha Yearwood made carrot cake.

We ate more cake.

I got a free t-shirt.

Some of the most fun I've ever had

a crocheted bunny

2010-04-23T00:54:00.011-05:00

My second oldest brother took it upon himself to give all of his younger siblings nicknames that ended up following most of us into adulthood. I, myself, am the family's Baby Rabbit. It can be, and most often is, shortened. Rabbit, Rab and even Rabbi. That's me! As you can maybe imagine, rabbits have always had a special place in my heart, even though I didn't ever really like the part of being "set free". That involved my brother grabbing me and shouting "BE FREE, RABBIT!" while he carried me to the porch and proceeded to lock me out of the house. How many ten-year-olds do you know who can break into their own home? I knew.

For the recent sweater set I made, I also crocheted a little rabbit to go along for the ride. The colors just seemed to scream "Baby Rabbit" to me. And so a rabbit I made and sent as a surprise to the friend who ordered the set.

My mom likes to tell the story of a very young Marcia who approached her with a long face shortly before Easter and with tears in her eyes held her pony-tails straight up above her head and asked, "How can I be the Easter Bunny if I can't get my ears to stay up?"

a contest

2010-04-22T09:15:00.004-05:00

Occasionally I enter contests. I rarely win, but that's ok. I'm entering one at esbe chic to win a super cute reusable, reversible shopping bag. If I win, I may give it to my mama for Mothers Day. Or I may keep it for myself.

go, enter.

painting, again.

2010-04-20T14:35:00.006-05:00

Oh how I love to paint. Walls, not pictures. Thanks to my BFF Michelle for showing me that I do, indeed, possess the ability to choose paint and apply it to my walls, my house looks a little like a dumped out box of crayolas. It started with my living room and has progressed from there. The final room - my craft room. I'm still getting headaches, but I've decided to just start painting anyway. I prefer to brush anyhow and this way I can go at it a little at a time. I picked a yummy, pumpkin-y orange. I love it.

Here's what we have:

living room: mustard-y tan

kitchen: red

bathroom: greenish blue

office: green

stairs/hall: green & brown

big girls' room: peachy pink

little girls' room: sunny yellow (with a garden painted on the walls)

my room: brown & tan

my bathroom: white (how boring, huh? I may have to change that before too long but in my defense there is a white crayon)

I plead the 5th

2010-04-18T01:41:00.004-05:00

I am considering ~~asking~~ no, begging my sister's mother-in-law to adopt my husband and become my mother-in-law too. Because of her I acquired a lovely (to only me, apparently) set of salad spoons. Why nobody else likes them, I'll never know. And contrary to what she says, they were a gift. Oh wait ... she was the one who said they were a gift! That's all I can say about it for now and in fact, I may just invoke my 5th amendment rights.

I love them:

In One Hour

2010-04-15T22:56:00.003-05:00

In one hour, it will be Lucy's birthday.

I imagine we would have told her at lunch today to enjoy her last day of being five.

I imagine she'd be giddy with excitement, pigtails dancing as she skipped up Nanny's walk.

In one hour, my sister will face the 6th anniversary of her only daughter's birth.

It will be the 6th time she's done it without Lucy.

No candles will be blown out by our little girl.

No wishes made.

No "Heavy, heavy hangs over..."

There will be no Lucy.

It breaks my heart.

So much time has gone on since Lucy came and left.

So many babies born.

Cousins, brothers.

But still we miss her.

We'll always miss her.

Our Ladybug.

(Megan, June 2009)

Arches

2010-04-13T14:05:00.008-05:00

All of my life I've wanted to go to Arches National Park in Utah. Last Friday I finally made it. My dream is the Delicate Arch hike, but unfortunately I had neither my good shoes nor my inhailer. We had to take an easier hike. Next time, Delicate!

North and South Windows

My family sitting under the North Window

Looking up at the North Window from behind and below.

My daughter & husband walking towards Turret Arch

The six of us sitting under Turret Arch with North & South Windows in the background.

flower

2010-04-09T00:50:00.003-05:00

When the Aprils of my childhood would roll around, the kids (mostly boys) in my school class would usually begin chanting:

Spring has sprung

The grass has risen

Two more months

Till we're out of prison!

I made this flower on a request and wonder why I never thought of them before. I love it and am nearly finished with a second, purple one. Yay flowers! Yay spring!

crocheting again

2010-04-06T14:15:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I felt well enough to crochet again! Yay! So I made a shoulder bag. And! another use for remnants. My supply is getting low. I might need to go get some more.

My head still hurts some, but I think I'll survive.

lil rabbit

2010-04-04T21:32:00.005-05:00

This afternoon I made this little bunny for my mom out of flannel,

fluff, a couple buttons, some cotton yarn and a little bit of felt.

We had an enjoyable dinner with family.

eggs

2010-04-03T22:42:00.002-06:00

we colored eggs today in anticipation of a furry little friend coming to visit during the night.

happy easter!

simple banner tutorial

2010-04-01T08:39:00.015-06:00

I got the idea to make this from my clever and crafty sister. She had made one, but because I didn't take a picture of hers, I just had to sort of guess how to do it. Not too complicated though.

Because I'm all about what's easy, I cut fabric squares that were 8.5 inches (so I could just use a piece of printer paper for my pattern).

Simple enough. I cut my paper into a square, folded it in half and made the triangle edges meet in the middle. For the cut, I lined up the edge of the ruler with the pattern. (did you notice I didn't cut this piece of fabric into a square first? Oops)

And then I cut the other side. My original plan was to make 16 triangle wedges in four different patterns. But in the end I made 20 because I liked another pattern so much I couldn't leave it out.

I wanted the fronts and backs to be different, so I could have options in decorating. One side is more fun (my favorite), the other more formal. I lined the center of each triangle with white cotton, hoping to keep the opposite pattern from being seen through the others. Worked on some, but not all.

Because it is unnecessary to sew all three edges, I didn't. I left the short side undone. It will be in the binding anyway.

After I finished sewing the triangles, I joined them all together using 2 packages of double fold bias tape across the tops.

It really could not have been more simple. And what a great use for my remnants!

Oh now I remember, I wasn't going to post this until I could get to the craft store for more felt to cut out letters for such phrases as, "Happy birthday" "Congratulations" "Welcome" and "No belly rubbin'!" that can be attached using small pins. Oh well.

I want to have a party.

a felt book

2010-03-29T10:28:00.010-06:00

Because I'm pretty sure we have the most awesome pediatrician around, I made a felt book. He really is amazing. I had a whole post listing all of the wonderful things we love about him, but it didn't work right, everything kept messing up. So, because I'm on day 3 of a migraine, you'll just have to take my word for it.

I've been wanting to do something for his family for a while now. When I saw a felt book on my friend Kalleen's blog (At Second Street) I knew that was it.

After finishing the tic-tac-toe page I started with the people but didn't really like making them, so I abandoned them for a while to make a sea. I don't know what made me think of it, but I seriously love it. Behind the waves are pockets to hold fish, seaweed, clouds, etc.

In his family they have four children, 2 girls and 2 boys. They recently adopted their baby from Ethiopia.

I realize he probably isn't going to want to play with a felt book much, but I know his kids, and I figured they would like it.

love

2010-03-26T09:38:00.009-06:00

My brother and his wife welcomed their fourth child, third daughter, in January. While at Hobby Lobby a month ago I found a sweet little iron-on that said it was for babies. I bought it and a pink onesie.

It read "loved" - perfect, I thought. Except no matter what I did I couldn't get the iron-on to transfer (and for once in my life I even followed directions!). Then I started thinking that if I were to finally get it to stick, how secure would it be? What if the little dots came off and made it look ugly, or worse - choked my sweet little niece? So I formulated another plan. I remembered one of my favorite remnants.

I went to work. (if you can call it work - it was very fun!)

I made the heart big enough to cover the indents left by the crappy iron-on which, by the way, I'm glad didn't work out because I love this a lot more than I would have loved that.

probably my favorite verse

2010-03-24T23:05:00.010-06:00

What shall we do about poor little Tigger?

If he never eats nothing he'll never get bigger.

He doesn't like honey or haycorns or thistles

because of the taste and because of the bristles.

And all of the good things which an animal likes

have the wrong sort of swallow or too many spikes.

-- A.A. Milne

This tiny book is one we had as children.

I remember looking at during church when I was very small,

it's the story of when Eeyore lost his tail.

that sweater set

2010-03-23T13:48:00.004-06:00

I'm mad at it. I made 87 different sweaters, it felt like that many anyway (blogged about it here). finally landed on one that worked. Yay! Right? Made booties. Made hat. Found baby upon whom to try them out for sizing. Hat too small. Booties WAY too small. Crochet those items again. Booties slightly big, but not bad. Hat, WAY too big. Arg.

Cute baby though, right? She's the daughter of a girl who used to babysit for us when our girls were small.

change, it kills me.

2010-03-22T23:55:00.007-06:00

so i was trying some new layouts. new fonts. new colors. the best i could do was a new pattern (which i really like, by the way) from the cutest blog on the block. i like to change that from time to time, but putting my links on the right-hand side of my blog? Ack! i don't think i could cope with that.

some other strange things? i hate, hate, hate to touch metal. i can only use certain pieces of flatware because (and i kid you not) some of them hurt my hands. or my brain. or both. i really don't like going to bed at night. i suffer from huge amounts of anxiety (topped the charts when i took the profile test thing) and it increases as the sun goes down. i'm left-handed but only for writing, eating, crocheting & knitting, everything else is done with my right hand. and finally the blog changes, this entry, are only lame attempts to stall bedtime.

blah.

a picture. birdie's birthday cake. it was good.

it occurs to me

2010-03-21T17:18:00.006-06:00

I remember I was going to share a picture of the rag blanket I made for Doug. It is similar to the ones the girls got for Christmas, only this one is a little bigger.

If you know Doug you know he's a talented musician. He plays piano, and very well. When I saw this musical note flannel at Joann's before Christmas, I knew it was for him. He loves it but unfortunately so does the cat. Tiger thinks it's her wonderful new bed.

addictions

2010-03-18T22:29:00.006-06:00

i've recently been cultivating a new-to-me addiction;

remnants.

i may need a 12-step program.

a few gifts

2010-03-17T10:37:00.004-06:00

For some young friends of mine:

Bubble Gum, for a little girl who reminds me a lot of my girls when they were preschoolers.

Caramel Kitty II, for my nephew's birthday (brother of the nephew who received Buster II)

Dots, a birthday gift for my adorable niece who just turned one.

13 things I love about Birdie

2010-03-15T08:18:00.004-06:00

1. She is one of the most intelligent people I know.

2. I've never once worried about her misbehaving at school.

3. The effort I've seen her making to have good relationships with her sisters & cousins.

4. She's very musically talented.

5. Her laugh.

6. That she is open with me about more than I was at that age.

7. How hard she works at school, especially this past year.

8. She is dependable.

9. Her long, long eyelashes (though sometimes it borders jealousy for me!)

10. Like her aunts, she's a fantastic writer, her 6th grade teacher would often read her pieces to the class.

11. She is a talented artist.

12. I get to be her mom.

13. She's my kid.

Happy 13th birthday, Girlie!

Adventures in Mod Podge

2010-03-09T23:03:00.009-06:00

Good news! Doug said he's going to put all of his junk from the other room in the garage and I can transform the crap room into my very own craft room. Ok, well in honesty I'll probably have to let the girls in every once in a while, but it will be mostly mine, and I couldn't be happier! To celebrate I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some cool letters and attempted Mod Podge for the first time in my life. How have I lived nearly 35 years and never before tried this stuff? I'm in love. Check it out:

I'm going to paint the walls orange and hang these there. I can't wait! I'm not typically a fan of words on the walls (I do have one sign that I love, but other than that, not so much) but I just couldn't resist. The letters are on sale this week for a dollar each. The paper too, though I have probably a small forests worth of scrapbook papers in my closet, unused because I really only scrapbook in theory anymore. Maybe having a room dedicated to my endless crafts (mostly crafts-in-progress *sigh*) will help. Tessa is sad because her book only has two pages (one of those I posted).

I miss having babies

2010-03-07T22:48:00.002-06:00

chapter books

2010-03-02T23:18:00.006-06:00

This is one of those happy/sad things for me. I have them often when Tessa starts something new and exciting. She has begun to read chapter books. And she's started with Charlotte's Web. Happy because, well, who doesn't want their kid to read? (super funny clip by Brian Regan: here) And sad because this is my baby. And she isn't much of one anymore.

But lest anyone be concerned, she began reading this book with motives that were not quite pure. It seems her teacher is reading it to the class and she, my darling, my baby, my Tessa, was merely interested in getting ahead of everyone else. Yep. That's my girl!

sweater (also titled: ugh!)

2010-02-28T16:57:00.012-06:00

So I'm crocheting a baby sweater for a friend. Because she's paying for it, I wanted to make my own pattern (didn't want to worry about a copyright, ya know). Let's just say I'm not very good at anything that requires measuring, keeping track, paying attention.

I've made several attempts. I've pulled out and restarted. I crocheted an entire sweater that ended up being much too small and another where the shoulders were just wrong. I've gone and bought more yarn. Now I think I'm finally onto one that is going to work. All that is left is to finish up the body, add length to the sleeves & finish the edges.

And then attempt to figure out booties.

nothing, really

2010-02-24T11:55:00.005-06:00

I'm on my way out the door to get yarn and dog food. I'm super tired today. And sad. But we made it to the gym this morning, even though we were only there for half an hour. Here's a picture of my girls from our hike with my sister & her kids a couple of weeks ago.

a small purse I crocheted in a short amount of time

2010-02-21T21:49:00.003-06:00

a valintim

2010-02-16T23:49:00.003-06:00

"I love you so

much you shine

like the stars

I love you"

Buster II

2010-02-08T14:52:00.005-06:00

cat parts

***

For my nephew's birthday, Buster II - in memory of Nephew's first cat (who is actually still living as far as we know, Buster just didn't want to move when my sister did and the family who bought their house was happy to let him stay and continue catching mice in the very large field/backyard).

making hair pretties

2010-02-04T11:02:00.016-06:00

hair pretties like these are super easy to make, just watch!

you'll need felt in 4 colors (the stuff I used is made from recycled plastic!), bobby pins, seed beads, needle, thread, paper, pencil, pins, scissors & hot glue gun (I would not use the low temp one for this).

on paper draw three graduated flowers, cut them out and pin them each on a different color of felt.

cut them out.

cut out a circle from the fourth color of felt large enough to be the center of the smallest flower. cut a second, smaller circle from the same felt as the largest flower. stack flowers and circles as pictured and tie together using thread, placing a seed bead in the center. tie in back with double knot.

out of the same felt used in the bottom flower, cut out oval or square large enough to cover back, but not big enough to be seen from the front. slide bobby pin over.

glue on the straight side of the pin (not the bumpy side).

press oval onto back of flower, but please be careful! I have a blister on my thumb from the glue.

Voila!

my kind husband posed for this picture because the girls are at school.

now make more!

dinner

2010-01-28T20:15:00.003-06:00

My kids won't eat chili, but they LOVE ham and beans.

beans, pre-soaking, pre-soup, pre-ham

cheetah

2010-01-23T22:41:00.006-06:00

My daughters are crazy. One might argue that they get it from me. Not this time, folks! They LOVE hot cheetos. Oh. My. Sometimes when a friend is over to play (or rather, hang out, since I think they might be too old & too cool to 'play' now) they'll ask if they can take a walk up to the gas station to get a bag of those evil snacks. I usually let them.

Today was Mikay's friend's birthday party. I asked if she wanted me to make something for her gift and my daughter wondered if I could crochet a guy like Chester. I said I would try. What I ended up with isn't as much a look-a-like as it is a look-similar:

(the glasses look far more glasses-ish in person)

finishing up

2010-01-20T11:42:00.004-06:00

Crocheting the head and finishing up, I watched Criminal Minds on ion (it's one of the few shows I watch on an actual TV set!).

legs

2010-01-19T18:46:00.003-06:00

watched The Biggest Loser

beginning a horse

2010-01-18T13:45:00.007-06:00

While I crochet I like to watch shows on hulu. Today it was the most recent episode of Parks & Recreation, I enjoy that program.

frost

2010-01-16T19:28:00.002-06:00

a granny a day

2010-01-15T09:43:00.005-06:00

I heard about this:

at Works in Progress and decided to join in the fun. I have a little bit of catching up to do (but that's ok). I've always admired the granny squares with the flower centers but assumed it would be too difficult for me. Then yesterday I got to thinking and realized I'm a moderately intelligent person. Never mind that I can't seem to follow instructions to save my life, I ought to be able to figure it out. So I looked at the ones Pip has pictured and then made these:

I'm not sure if I've done them the same way or not, but I'm pleased! Like I said, I have a bit of catching up still, but I'm excited! Yay granny squares! (PS, if you are interested but don't know how to crochet or crochet a granny, Pip is posting video tutorials)

a monkey & his blankie

2010-01-13T13:55:00.011-06:00

We used to home school. The year we put our daughters in public school for the first time Suzy had one of the most amazing teachers I've ever met. I cannot say enough good about her. That was also the year Teacher got married. Suzy and some of her little friends were able to attend the wedding reception.

This year Tessa is in the same teacher's class and this year Teacher is having her first child! We're hitting her milestones well, don't you think? So for this teacher we love I've made a monkey rag blanket & a monkey friend to go with it. Tessa is so excited for Mrs. N, she can hardly stand it.

P.S. I decided to let Tessa name him. She chose Bananas.

for & from Kalleen

2010-01-12T13:38:00.008-06:00

These are for Kalleen, At Second Street. Well, actually probably her kids. Kalleen was so super sweet to give me a blog award! Here it is:

She listed the award rules...

The rules for accepting this award are:

Put the logo on your blog.
Pass the award on to 10 bloggers.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So in no particular order (oh wait, it's alphabetical order!):

1 large family in 1 small farmhouse

Blessed Family

The California Whites

Eye'm all Puckered Up!

Some are blogs of family members, some are friends. Some are crafty, some are life updates. Some belong to people I have never met, some I've known for years. But I enjoy all of them, and more ... but I reached 10 randomly going through my list. So there ya have it. :)

a rag blanket christmas

2010-01-10T22:10:00.007-06:00

This year I made several rag blankets (or nokies, if you are my friend Michelle). There was one for each of the girls and 3 others for 3 others (those ones I neglected to photograph). I had fabric for a blanket for Doug, but that didn't end up happening until the kids went back to school. I'll post a pic of it later.

Instead of our traditional Christmas eve jammie present, the girls opened the blankies and got to sleep under them while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

Maybe next year I'll feel brave enough to attempt sewing jammies!

da bense

2010-01-07T00:27:00.002-06:00

my nephew. we call him da bense. i love him!

unicorn

2010-01-05T10:19:00.005-06:00

I made a unicorn before Christmas for a little girl in Tessa's Sunday school class. She and her brother are so super adorable, I could squeeze them! Her brother reminds me of my Suzy when she was littler. He went to "big church" instead of Sunday school, with his parents and grandparents because he was always hitting the other kids in class. One of my friends I met at the library when Suz was a year and a half. Suzy bit her son on the back and drew blood through his shirt. I was horrified. Little Boy's mom was still nice to me and I decided I needed to do whatever it took to remain friends with someone like that!

The boy from church would watch me crocheting and was very interested in Silas. The next week I brought him a duckling I had previously made but for no purpose (his mom said he sleeps with it every night! Oh, my heart!). I asked his sister what her favorite animal was. Unicorn. Of course. She's five-years-old. And her favorite colors? Purple and pink.

Ms. Grouchy Pants

2010-01-03T20:30:00.005-06:00

I'm really in a bad mood. A really bad mood. And I'm not completely sure why, I just know that I am. I have a daughter who sometimes gets too carried away with the dog and another who wishes she were more helpless than she really is. I'm tired. I didn't sleep well, but then I never really do anyway. I'm sad. I'm uncomfortable because I ate way too much crap in the last month and a half. I've been worried about my mom and I've been worried about my grandma. Both were in the hospital the weekend before Christmas. Grandma is still there (broken pelvis & collar bone from a fall). Mom is home, thankfully.

One of my sisters, who is also one of my best friends, was in town for a week and went home today. I think. She was staying with my parents mostly (did spend a couple of nights here). I wanted to go see her one last time yesterday, but wasn't able to make it down there. I miss her.

The kids are fighting. I am hiding in here on the computer. And YAY! I'm blogging about it!

a present to you for listening to (reading) my fussing, I give you Fruithenge. My brother-in-law built this masterpiece at about 1:00 am on January 1st. He and my sister humored my inability to go right to bed and hung out with me for a little while (the girls and I spent NYE with them and my parents at mom & dad's house).