Saturday Wrap Up

The ballet recital was precious as always last night. They don't allow photos during the performance but I got a couple nice photos of Jillian in her make up afterwards holding the flowers I gave her. Krista got some nice ones of her in her costume so I'll post those once she is able to load them in my system. Her class performed first so we then enjoyed other classes performing. Besides Darling Jillian, I love the little bitty girls. They look like they are about 3 or 4 and are adorable following their teacher around the stage in their costumes.
Brother Ethan struggles a bit during the performance but overall did pretty good. I was able to get a shot of the two of them afterwards actually sitting quietly! I still can hardly believe how quickly they are growing up.
Ethan was actually born here 4 1/2 years ago at my house with the aid of a lovely midwife. She nearly didn't make it! We had 10 minutes to spare was all. She reminded me that "you know what to do", and I said I know, but that was not the plan!!!
My husband was seriously freaked out about the placenta being in a tupperware bowl on the kitchen counter! Jeff and Krista are talking about another baby next year, and Lynn says "Not Here!" But I'm pretty sure he'll come around as it approaches. Krista labors so quickly and pretty easily (the filipino culture seems to do that) so as long as the pregnancy goes well, there is no reason to NOT birth at home. And my house is closer to emergency care than theres. Anyway...
I was able to do a fair amount of weeding today which felt really good. I'm planning to call and order up a few yards of compost/mulch to fill the beds next week, so I need to get them all weeded. My veggies are coming along nicely too. Not much sewing was done, other than my mandatory project. I plan to do some sewing tomorrow and at least one evening next week. I'm currently watching season two of "30 Rock" in my sewing room. Hilarious! Hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

No more pencils, no more books!!!

Today was Jillian's last day of first grade....how is it that the time is going by so darned fast! Her Geepa is so proud that she won the "cleanest desk of the year" award..... I went to the school so I could get a photo of her with her first grade teacher so we can have it for a journal for her. Her teacher does a fabulous job. If you click on the photo it will blow up and you can see the cute pink stripes in Jillian's hair. It was "crazy hair, crazy hat day". I guess these are little clips so no real color in there, which is good since she has her ballet recital tonight! Next year Ethan will be in preschool and Jillian into the second grade. OH and her exciting news was that her pesky second bottom baby tooth finally came out! Her new permanent tooth was already up behind it so it was kinda funny looking. After school we went over to dear friend Junes' house and had some strawberry cake to celebrate the end of the school year. June and her husband did not have children so it can be a challenge to have these two energetic youngsters in their beautiful home. She is always so gracious and they truly do love her. Thanks again June.
Tonight is the spring ballet recital so I'll have another photo to share. In the meantime, it is out to the yard for me, so spend some time with the miracle grow feeder and some weeding.
Hope you are all planning a nice and relaxing weekend.

Mission Accomplished!

It's done! My lovely small quilting group is celebrating it's birthday tomorrow. We have been meeting since June 2001 at least once monthly in each others homes. There are 12 of us so we each get a chance to be the hostess once a year. Half of us are the original 12. Our newest member has been with us for just a year now. Anyway, we decided we wanted to make a small gift for one of our "sisters" so we drew names. The task was to make a "tank topper" for the person whose name we chose. Secret drawings of course. So about the size to go on your toilet tank cover. I drew my dear friend Shirlene. She is a Thimbleberrie queen! I don't know what inspired me to do the embroidery in the center, but that is just what felt right! And of course the borders are pieced from some older Thimbleberrie fabric I had stashed away. I hope she likes it.
Right now my husband and I are watching a fabulous show on channel 9 (our PBS station). It is American Masters doing a feature on Neil Young. This is an artist that my husband introduced me to when we were in college. Well, not physically, but musically! We have seen him in concert many times and I have owned all of the albums and CD's that he did with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young as well as his solo CD's. And I've added much of it to my iPod. Amazing artist. Every song brings such emotions out for me. When we saw a reunion tour with CSN&Y at the Tacoma Dome about 10 years ago, I spent most of the concert in tears. This was the early to mid 70's for me. Out of high school, into college, getting married, starting a family. Man......
We just recently "heard" that he has a yacht that he keeps up in Roche Harbor in the San Juan islands and occasionally even comes into Bellingham. I would definitely invite him to dinner!

What's on my design wall Monday

Actually this has been on this wall for a few weeks and I need to get it finished and put together. These are "strings" I guess most people call them. Random strips, around an inch wide, that I sew together and then cut into squares. Now trying to find a way to make them into something! I figure by posting some things like this it might motivate me to get them done! This being on my wall has to be addressed as it has so many pieces, I can't just take it down to put something else up there!

Monday Madness

Monday actually isn't terribly "mad" around here today. Ethan was here bright and early and has had fun finding some older toys to play with. I got a fair amount of gardening done yesterday which was nice. Finished with 4 more hanging pots and got them up. Filled the bird feeders and did some weeding. Also some work on my sewing project that must be done by Wednesday night.
Speaking of sewing, I haven't done much since my last retreat! One of my ongoing projects is something I call "Dear Me". There is a large group of women across the country who are doing a historical project called "Dear Jane". They are 4 1/2" blocks in the style of a woman from long ago times. The colors are not my fave, and many of them are paper pieced (ICK!) and use templates (YUCK). I am a piecer first and foremost. So I decided to do a similar project. I am using the three Around The Block books by Judy Martin and making each and every 4 1/2" block offered. There are 174 of them. And I am doing them in order! Here is a photo of what I have finished so far Aren't they cute? Now remember these little guys are only 4 1/2" square!! When I'm not motivated to be working on something else, I can almost whip out a couple of these and it gets me sewing again. I need to choose one of my recently completed quilts and it will be donated to the Ferndale Boy's and Girl's Club auction that is being held at the end of the month.
Ethan wants me to play trains with him, so CHOO CHOO!!!!!

Aren't they beautiful? The wall color isn't very complimentary though is it?? Still very overcast out there. Jillian and Ethan have arrived and are patiently waiting for us to go to the park. I'll get some photos there of the kids and add them here in a bit.
We are enjoying watching an inventive bluejay at one of my suet feeders. He can't quite reach the feeder from the pole so he leaps over, grabs some suet and falls to the ground to enjoy it! I don't like what a bully he can be, chasing the smaller birds away, but he is nicer to look at then that pesky crow.
Jillian only has one more week of school and she will be onto second grade, amazing! She is signed up for several weeks of daycamp this summer and so Ethan will take swimming lessons those weeks. Off to the park we go.

Some catching up

I spent some time this morning cruising through my list of saved blogs in my bookmarked list. It was very refreshing and again encouraged me to open up a bit and let my blog address be "out there" for anyone who might like to read along. It doesn't have to be just about quilting, or kids, or work or whatever. It can just....be. Right? So I'm going to do it. Welcome to anyone who has decided to join me.
Lynn is gone in the truck to get it's oil change (he is OCD on car maintenance) and I'm hoping my camera is in there. I want to post a few photos here today, plus take one of the incredible bouquet of peonies I picked yesterday. I love it as I sit at the computer and for some reason a little breeze must come from somewhere I get the most glorious light scent from them.
Lots of things "to do" around here. Not much desire to do them unfortunately! I have a couple of MUST DO things that I ought to attack first. The first of which is to get dressed, so off I go to do that. More later.

Sunny days are here again

I spent the Memorial Day weekend on beautiful Lake Cavanaugh. The sun was out everyday so it was just lovely. A nice retreat with a great group of quilting friends. I don't have another "runaway" event until late August.
Lynn is spending the night away from home tonight, so I can stay up late and catch up on my TV viewing. But first lunch with friend Carol, and a run to Van Wingertan nursery in Blaine. Just what I need, more stuff to plant. Actually, I have all but a few perennials I bought just before leaving town planted so I'm not so far behind. I'll also turn the sprinkler system on today and see that they are all running. I'll take some photos and some good garden spots and post them here soon.

Hooray, hooray.....wait, is it really May?

Every spring I sort of challenge myself to have my furnace turned off sometime in March. This spring has been so cold, that I have had to turn it on a few days in the morning or the evening for a couple of hours. Weird. Lynn keeps saying we are destined for warmer climate for his retirement, he can't take these winters anymore. Sigh.....they don't bother me much as I am lucky enough to usually not HAVE to go anywhere in bad weather. And if I do, I have the mondo 4 wheel drive truck to take me there.
Not working much lately, doesn't hurt my feelings either. I have a big bill for my hospital visit last month, but no house payment until July 1st due to the refinance (that was a nightmare, but now done). Plus we are going to be paying $600 a month less on the mortgage so that will help.
Dr Burden says I really am right that I need to get some poundage off or I will be facing diabetic issues next year. So I'll definitely be working on that.
Lots of yard work to catch up on this weekend, plus house cleaning before Lynn gets home tomorrow night.
Oh Goodie!! Friend Shirlene just dropped in for a visit.

Happy Easter

My family has never celebrated this holiday in the religious sense. It is a chance to gather, share a meal, catch up with each other and have the little kids hunt for plastic eggs that are filled with little treats.
Ethan will be with me everyday this week. My plan at this moment is to go to the gym at least 3 times, and he can go to the child care center there. Also we will make a run into Costco one day. He pretty much is done with his naps, so the afternoons will be better spent out.
I feel like Todd is melting away here in the house. He has been on his own for so long that to have our roof to be under, even in this short term is pretty uncomfortable for him. Hopefully he gets everything in order and can move into his new spot by the end of the week.
My allergy/cold seems to be improving. At least I have more energy today. Less sneezing, still some stuffiness.
No hours schedule for work. Will try to get at least one 4 hour shift picked up.
Hoping for nicer weather so more outside work can be done.