Hindsight

Tomorrow my baby turns five. Where did that time go? I am feeling especially melancholy about this birthday.

A few weeks back, I took my four children to the park in the middle of the day. The playground was filled with moms of the stroller set, deeply entrenched in the stage of sippy cups, diapers, and the hope of naps after a morning outing. I felt out of place with my four children -my youngest being at least 2 years from his last scheduled nap. I watched the other moms from my bench. Remember those days? A trip to the park consisted of helping your little one up the ladder, then down the ladder, changing a diaper on your lap, running one to the potty, and all the while trying to squeeze in a conversation with another adult. I wanted to run over to them and tell them and warn them that, yes these days might seem loooong but the years go fast. You will blink and these days , these long, long days when you think you will never be able to sit and relax while your children stay safe and entertain and feed themselves will be over and you will ache for those days when your struggles consisted of timing naps and potty training, and kissing boo-boos. Funny now. On their end they might envy me with my abilty to sit on the bench. And here I sit, looking at those moms, wishing for those simple moments at home with my little ones.

Garden!!!

We finally did it!! The garden is planted and I am beyond excited. My inspiration for this year's garden began last summer. Whenever we would park at our favorite parking spot to hit the beach, we would walk past an apartment complex where there was the most amazing garden planted in 4'x5' plot in the area between the road and sidewalk. We later found out it was the very well planned garden of a marine living in those apartments. He made the most efficient use of the space he had...everything from corn to green beans.
I also remember reading somewhere about victory gardens and that they weren't big but fed a family to help with the war effort and hey! this isn't rocket science ... just throw some seeds into the ground already!!!
Our garden is 4'X10' and we planted sunflowers, peas, bell pepper, squash, lettuce, jalepeno, tomatoes, cucumber, pickling cucumber, pumpkin (seeds saved from last year's pumpkin), and lavender. It is organized into 4 foot rows with one area designated as the *mystery garden* because the seedlings got mixed up and we're not really sure what sprouted...should be fun!!!

Still waiting for the chickens to hatch...

Achoo!!

Sure is dusty over here! Guess it is time to post something...
Spring fever has definitely hit this household and we are itching to start some new projects.
Project number one:
Vegetable garden
Project number two:
Chickens!

I am tired already.

My dear friend hosted my entire family last weekend. We felt so welcomed by her sunshine-y brood. I picked up this sign for her as belated birthday present and promptly forgot to pack it to deliver it. Sorry Summer, guess you'll have to visit me now to claim your prize.

The next picture is my efforts at reusing. The idea is from the book Handmade Home by Amanda Soule. I took all my tired dishtowels and quilted them into a bathmat for dishes. Fun.

Love ya sum.

Nighttime Visitor

I really wish I had a picture. I don't. I am really sorry.
Since our move into the "country" (I don't know if you would call it the country since I'm five minutes from the store) we have had many encounters with creatures that we did not have in our former tract housing suburban neighborhood. Since we moved here 3 months ago, we have seen one rattlesnake, 2 gopher snakes, birds galore, coyotes, lizards and about 1,998,876 bugs. I am not a fan of bugs. We don't really get along. I think they are rude, showing up uninvited to areas of your home that guests just aren't supposed to go.
Well, last night I was awakened by my sweet 3 year old who had asked for a glass of water. So as I made my way down the hall, I came face to face with the largest, hairiest, scariest looking spider. He looked guilty for sure, like he was caught in the act of snooping around my house. Oh, sure, he tried to blend in, hoping I wouldn't noticed him. But really, even in my sleepy stupor, who could miss a ginormous, hairy, black spider sitting (hanging?) on your white wall.
We had a stare down for a few seconds as I weighed my options. But, my squeamishness would not allow me any further thought so I went and woke up The Man. Now, I am sure he was not prepared for the enormity of this spider because he has been summoned many times for much smaller creatures.
This spider did not disappoint. After, my husband saw the thing he very calmly said,

"Well, I better go get my shotgun."

Thank you honey.

We currently have the body at the taxidermist so we can have its bust mounted above our fireplace.

Skirting the Issue

I made this little number before church today...

Impressed?

Well, don't be.  In a complete moment of I-have-nothing-to wear frustration, (TRANSLATION:  I am behind on the laundry and nothing fits right because I have been eating way too many cookies) I decided that a certain cute little sundress, that has hung in my closet since 2006, and that has been worn exactly ONCE, was no longer welcome in my closet.  She had beckoned to me from catalogue and during their annual clearance sale I purchased it.  I loved the colors, the a-line of the skirt and the femininity of wearing a dress.  

Never mind that I looked like an Easter egg in it. 

I know this because, my friend's teenage son told me so.  And really, I have to agree.

So that little dress smirked at me from her hanger each spring, mocking my frivolous purchase and chastising my poor judgement, forever a reminder that things need to be tried on for goodness sakes.  Internet shopping can be so unkind.  

That's when I decided, she needed to be a skirt.  So I grabbed my pinking shears and cut off the top.  Then turned down the new edge and hemmed it with a zigzag stitch.    All this in the time it took my husband to gel his hair and shake his head.  He is used to my shenanigans , complete inability to stay focused creativity.

Voila! 

Now what do I do with this?

Any one have a pattern for an Easter bonnet?

Green capes and lime popsicles....

...should make for a fun summer!!!