The Wandtke Family

Another Green Fairy Quilts Giveaway!

2011-07-31T19:20:00.000-05:00

She's giving away a layer cake this time.

No good deed.

2010-10-26T09:37:00.000-05:00

Saturday night I took Finn to a birthday costume party for a boy at his school who is turning 5. This party was from 6:30pm - 9pm. Let me just mention again that this boy is turning FIVE. Somewhere in my marriage contract it apparently states that the horror that is children's birthday parties are my sole responsibility; my attorney must have missed this in the prenup. I have not ever nor do I think I ever will enjoy children's birthday parties. I actually feel that it is a very huge accomplishment on my part that I have shown up for all of MY children's parties for the past fifteen years. I think I should be given some sort of recognition or prize for this...

This party took place in a tiny house. There were about 15 - 20 children there all hopped up on frosting and punch. It was not wonderfully organized. There were a lot of adults there too. Some were family members to the birthday boy. None of these family members offered in any way to help the mother of the b'day boy. The mother of the b'day boy got tears in her voice and screeched, "Could somebody help me please?" after the candles were blown out. None of these family members came to her assistance in any way other than standing in her teeny tiny kitchen in the way of anyone who had any kind of business in there. (In my defense I offered to help her 3 times she should've taken me up on this)

I have a cold the kind where your eyeballs actually hurt and feel like they will burst any moment. I know exactly how I came to have this cold. Since I began living like this person http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_in_the_Plastic_Bubble it is very easy for me to trace illness' to their source with the efficiency of someone on CSI. The birthday boy in question had a hacking cough, looked more than a little fevered and was hacking all over his cake right before and after he blew out the candles. I could actually see the bronchitis coming off of him toward me. To add insult to injury there were clowns. Children do not like clowns. Clowns are scary. It doesn't matter if they can make balloon animals, they are still scary. If they try to handy out candy to you the proper procedure is to scream and run away, these are the strangers your parents told you never to take candy from! These clowns were also drinking beer from punch cups and were related to the b'day family. This actually explains a lot.

On the upside. Finn and I made new friends there. We are going to meet at the park for a playdate. I knew I wanted to be this woman's friend as soon as I noticed from across the room her ability to look absolutely astonished while rolling her eyes at the same time. It takes years of practice, hard work and talent to develop a skill like that. Most people have to start practicing in junior high or high school in order to be able to produce this expression so effortlessly.

My brave protector!

Finn is saying, "Well, I can't see it!"

This is NOT Gilbert.

I am finding reasons to love her anyway.

We left this party at eight o'clock so we could go home and have ~~terrifying~~ sweet dreams of happy clowns.

(Blogger will not let me display my pictures how I want them to be displayed. This is not my fault. I am rolling my eyes and giving up.)

Houston, we have a problem...

2010-10-26T08:56:00.000-05:00

The purple/turquoise handspun became fingerless gloves and there are three problem with them. #1 - Different skeins knit up to different gauges, this means that the gloves are two different sizes. #2 - When washed the dye bled out like it was coming from a femeral artery. #3 - I blocked them out on the back table to dry because knitting takes weeks to dry inside my house for some reason and now one side of each glove is purple and the other side is a sort of sea green color. I believe this may be because the late afternoon sun hits this table in spite of it being covered by a ~~tarp~~ awning. This leaves me with a choice I can either take this as a design feature and act like my yarn was so self patterning it happened on it's own. Or I can leave the gloves out there for todays afternoon sun to try and sunbleach them evenly.

This hawk has been sitting on my neighbors house looking into my back yard. I have my newly washed hand knits out there drying. I think he's contemplating stealing them. I don't know what he would want with my socks... maybe he will take the gloves though and we can pretend like they never happened.

purple

not purple

badness

Could this really be worth it?

2010-10-15T16:15:00.005-05:00

I don't think so...

One word describes this "ca-ca"! The locks don't seem very long, it chock full of VM and filth. I even went so far as to try washing some of it first thinking it would be easier. I actually wonder if perhaps this is from the under parts of the sheep as how can a sheep possibly get this nasty?


after wash

I'm not really sure if this is worth the trouble. Please advise.

The conversation I had with Finn regarding this nasty nightmare is as follows:

Finn: DID YOU KILL A DOG?

Me: No. Why?

Finn: How do you have the dog fur?

Me: It's not from a dog. It's from a sheep.

Finn: Why did you kill a sheep?

Me: I didn't kill a sheep, if I did there'd be more blood, less poo. The shepherd which is another name for sheep farmer shaved the sheep and gave me his fur which is actually called "wool".

Finn: Why did the guy shave the sheep? Now the sheep is going to die.

Me: No the shepherd shaves it when it's getting warm out so the sheep would not be hot and it grows back before it gets cold out.

Finn (with a distrustful look on his face like he thinks I'm certainly telling him a big fat lie as well as killing animals in cold blood to steel their fur): Why do you need that sheep fur for that's "yuck"? (you have no idea kid!)

Me: People spin it on their spinning wheels and make it into yarn so they can do their "needling" (Finn's word for knitting)

Finn: The sheeps gonna die.

This kid will probably never wear anything I needle for him ever again. He has a point though, the dog fur is definately yuck!

Autumn Addictions

2010-10-14T14:02:00.000-05:00

Autumn table runner made entirely of scraps I had lying around. (That makes it free!)

Single from purple roving

I was a little leary of investing in a spinning wheel not knowing for sure if it was an interest that would pass once I "used up" my curiosity. I am thinking now it's definately a hobby (obsession) I'll enjoy for the rest of my life. I love how it keeps suprising me. I love how autumn makes you want to make things even if your particular weather doesn't feel very fall like.

Three 2-ply skeins made from the singles

Merino otherwise known as "Lassie Fur"

Hated the single it wasn't spinning up like I thought it should

Then loved the tweedy look of a 2-ply skein!

Unfelted slipper

Slippers overdyed then felted

Mine are on the right

I really didn't care for how the slippers finished up, it just wasn't the way I pictured. They were supposed to be red not rusty orange but when you're dying with Kool Aid it isn't an exact science I guess. They were knit as a gift for someone who saw my felted slippers and said they wanted a pair, but I'm thinking they're not good enough now and when I tried them on to sort of shape them after felting they were way more comfortable then the ones I made for myself. Next time I think if I over dye I will do it before the knitting.

Could my 'art yarn' days be over?

2010-08-20T10:45:00.000-05:00

Summer Girls

2010-07-29T13:36:00.000-05:00

Ellie in her Princess' dress

Cadence in her Tinkerbell dress, she has such beautiful hair!


Hannah in her Dora dress Aunt Jess made.

It was so nice to see my nieces, they're getting so big and beautiful, and have all this gorgeous little girl hair!

More Pictures

2010-07-28T14:33:00.000-05:00

Rylin at the beach at camp

Bob trying to chop wood while I comment on his manly Paul Bunyan woodman skills. (he is getting better at ignoring me)

Tractor ride with Grandma Debbie

Finn talking to girl about being his girlfriend

Bob and Wendy

Rylin

Going Home

2010-07-28T14:24:00.000-05:00

Member these?

Vacation Pictures (At Camp)

2010-07-28T14:19:00.001-05:00


Gage in row boat

Ron, Bob, Dad, Rylin and Finn

Wendy, Stepmom Deb, Jessica

Vacation Pictures (Ontario Beach)

2010-07-28T14:01:00.000-05:00

You wouldn't think we forced him to ride with us would you?

View from pier


Carousel at Ontario Beach

Vacation Pictures (Syracuse Area)

2010-07-28T13:45:00.000-05:00

Driving through Pennsylvania at dawn.

Pap-pap, Finn and Bob

In my mother's gazebo. Hannah and a little of Cadence

Mark and I

Bob & Mark saying "Keys!" instead of "Cheese!"

Springing

2010-05-20T08:13:00.000-05:00

We are definately feeling the full effects of spring around here, even though it feels more like summer...

We had a nest of baby birds growing in the plant on our front porch. They made a whole lot of racket to the point I couldn't open the window or front door and I could still hear them. Not sweet "cheep cheep" noises. More like an alarm clock! They left their nest last week and I am trying to revive the plant that I stopped watering so I did not drowned the baby birds.

The garden is growing great and last night one cucumber and yellow grape tomato was harvested. I went out this morning with an artist's brush of Rylin's and polinated some squash that was blooming. We seem to have many wasps but I'm not seeing a lot of helpful bees.

Monday I turned the last of the season's strawberries into 11 quarts of jam and filled two gallon bags with washed strawberries and put them in the freezer to top cakes or ice cream.

The Quilt For Kids quilt has been quilted, hopefully today I can find time to put the binding and label on so it can be sent out tomorrow. Gilbert as usual was his helpful self!

We have a busyish day today. Finn and I are going out to check out pre-schools for him to attend VPK in the fall.(He will go from 9 - 12 most likely.) Then this evening we are going to Rylin's play at the school.

I am off to have a shower, get Finn a shower and give Ole Grandpa Dog a bath so we can get on the road.

Mother's Day, Birthday and Christmas

2010-05-07T13:13:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I was on Craigslist doing a quick check for a spinning wheel as I do pretty much every day. And one listed literally minutes before I checked and I forwarded it to Bob. Wonder of wonders Bob called the woman selling it and asked if he or I could come over in the evening and have a look at it! I never expected him to actually take it upon himself to make the phone call and seriously think about purchasing it.

So yesterday evening I went to this lady's house in Orange Park and got my Mother's Day, Birthday and Christmas gifts.

I paid more than I really had expected to pay for a used spinning wheel but I bought it as part of a lot of items. And there were tons of stuff included. Unfortunately there is only one bobbin, no lazy kate, niddy noddy or threader but you can't always have it all and sometimes have to make do I suppose.

Here is the list of what's included so you can make your own opinion as to whether or not I got a good deal:

#1 - Spinning Wheel - It is older as the things to the side of the bobbin are made of leather and I can't seem to find a stamp on it saying what brand but the Ashford Traditional bobbins fit it.

#2 - Homemade Yarn Swift - The thing made of pvc pipe. (If I ever have a broken pipe in my home I should be set!

#3 - One set of carders

#4 - One Knit Picks ball winder (which I already have)

#5 - Size F light up crochet hook (The novelty of this thrilled my kids in a way you couldn't possibly imagine!

#6 - Addi Turbo 32" cir. needles in sizes 1, 3, 4, 6

#7 - Hiya Hiya 24" circ needles size 5

#8 - Straight needles in sizes 10.5, 9, 8, 6 (Also a pair of lighted knitting needles but one of the tips broke off so now they are magic wands!

#9 - Various other circ needles in sizes 7, 8, 1 and 2.

#10 - 150 grams Knit Pick's Imagination in "Looking Glass"

#11 - 150 Grams Knit Pick's Gloss in "Black" (exciting!)

#12 - 150 Grams Knit Pick's Gloss in "Winter Night"

#13 - Two balls Peaches & Cream in "Black" (The excitement continues..)

#14 - 100 Grams Claudia Handpainted Yarn Merino in "Baby Girl"

#15 - 4 bags roving in a "purple turquoise" color

#16 - 2 bags Merino Roving naturally brown, black and cream. You cannot imagine how soft and silky this felt when I stuck my hand in the bag.

#17 - 8 bags Merino Roving natural undyed.

#18 - A box of unwashed/unskirted wool that appears to be covered in "stinkies".

I really don't know who was more excited over my fabulous prizes, the boys or me! I haven't used the wheel yet I just sorted through everything and polished the wheel last night. This morning while I was making school lunches Finn pulled out the PVC swift (his spinning wheel) and opened the box of stinky wool and said, "Come on Mom, lets do our stuff!" Then at naptime he asked if we could "do spinning wheel" when he gets up and told me not to do it without him. When I brought the wheel into the house last night he said,"That's Noodle's you have to give it back!" I had to explain that it was mine to keep and different from hers so he wouldn't think I was a thief!

I am off to finish my chores as I don't want to spend the weekend doing them and then look at the Ashford spinning book some more and then I'm going to hopefully give it a test drive. Maybe on Mother's Day I can get a chunk of unbroken time to play with my new toy.

Quick Quilt Kit

2010-05-07T12:37:00.001-05:00

I sent away for my Quilt for Kids kit hoping that it would come while Gage was visitng and also that it might be more of a 'girlie quilt'. It came after Gage left as well as being an airplane theme which is definately not girlie.

I think the casino pictured in the focus fabric is an extra special little touch for a childrens quilt. I'm about half way done with it and Gilbert has been hard at work with me as usual!

Christmas Knitting

2009-12-17T15:54:00.000-05:00

This year for Christmas presents I decided I would knit hats. Lots of hats, out of leftover yarn from other projects or yarn I mysteriously accumulated with no pattern intentions attached to them. I am hoping Finn will not be scarred for life after modeling pink hats but I don't have a Styrofoam head so he got the job.

The State of the Children Address, Part 2

2009-12-17T15:35:00.000-05:00

Monday, was Frankie's Boy Scout Court of Honor. I made a cake to bring as we were all supposed to bring a dessert. Bob made Finn's cake, I made the on for Frankie's court of honor. Bob thinks cakes should be rectangles and made from boxes. I think they should be round and made from scratch!

Frankie was promoted from Tenderfoot to Second Class. He has a lot of fun in boyscouts and is working his way up the ranks! I guess, a lot of boys join for the campouts etc. and never really progress. I'm glad my son is ambitious enough to keep moving on up. I am very proud of him and he seems to be pretty popular in his troop. We shopped around for a troop as some of them seem sort of stunted - no growth, the kids aren't progressing up the ranks, people are just.... er.... peculiar. But who am I to judge? I just wanted Frankie to fit and people who appreciate a made from scratch cake instead of homemade granola.

Tonight is his Christmas Chorus Concert at the school and then the Jaguars game at our friends house. We don't usually have outings on school night but tomorrow is a half school day where they show up, take attendance, feed them candy and then send them home. (Your tax dollars at work....) All their Christmas activities were today and they were told not to even bring their back packs tomorrow so I take it this is just a ploy to collect the money for the school without actually having to do actual teaching of any kind. They will be excused the absence as they will be attending the Political Science Class I will be teaching about the unethical practice of squandering taxpayer money and learning how loopholes are tantamount to fraud. You know, I just don't understand why they never invite me to join the PFA anymore.... do you think they don't like my cake?

Franklin is happy with his accomplishments and we are proud.

The State of The Children Address, Part 1

2009-12-17T15:08:00.000-05:00

On December 6th, Finn celebrated his fourth birthday. This is one of those milestones where your baby is really becoming a boy and there is no denying it anymore. (No matter how much this mother wants to.) We were told when he was born much too early that he would probably always be behind and that we had to adjust his age as to when things were expected and we were indeed told that our child may not ever be 'normal' 50% according the great medical brains. (What is normal anyway?) We were even urged to file for Social Security for him; not the number, THE CHECK! Judging by what I have seen and experienced in the four years I have had the gift of this small human, I am going to write a letter to Shands Hospital where he was born. Their slogan is, "Shands the Science of Hope." How about this instead, "Shands - Keeping Faith in God's Miracles." If you're ever in doubt look at all the children in this world who's parents were told they wouldn't be able to do this or overcome that apparently, someone forgot to tell these little people what they couldn't do cause they did it anyway.

Finn's first Christmas, this picture was a gift to us from the NICU nurses. They each decorated a t-shirt for their baby and took pictures for the parents.

Finn on his birthday, preparing to be deployed!

Our Decorations

2009-12-17T13:49:00.000-05:00

Here are some of the things we decorated for Christmas....

The good smelling Fraser Fir that it turns out I'm allergic to. Bob thinks because I nagged him about getting a tree and I turned out to be dreadfully allergic to it is pure providence. Talk about be careful what you wish for!

And of course the outside of our house. I can never get decent pictures of Christmas lights! We think it looks beautiful as we all worked on it. Putting up the candy canes is Finn's specialty.

Christmas Cheer

2009-12-17T08:51:00.000-05:00

Here is a 10lb bar of chocolate our neighbor brought us. The retirement company the company uses brings one to each office every Christmas time and since he works alone and could not even imagine what he would do with all this chocolate he gave it to us. We knew exactly what to do with it.

Here is my diningroom with the only snowflakes I will see this year...

and the basil plant I decorated because Bob wouldn't go get me a real Christmas tree.

Here is my neighbor Barbara's house. Barbara and her son put up this huge light display every year and every year they add something new. The come on Thanksgiving evening and stay up till New Year.

My pictures really don't do them justice.

Green Fairy Quilts: Time for another giveaway!!

2009-12-12T14:26:00.001-05:00

Green Fairy Quilts: Time for another giveaway!!

2009-12-12T14:26:00.000-05:00

Green Fairy Quilts: Time for another giveaway!!

She's giving more patterns away and they're beautiful as always!

In Return For Your Opinion...

2009-11-05T16:12:00.000-05:00

I will give you mine. Haha. Thought it was going to be a giveaway? Nope, odds are too good a certain someone would win, especially since like two people read this blog!

Here are some reviews for you:

The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck - Excellent book. I listened to it instead of reading it because I have a soft spot for books read by the actual author because they made the characters and so therefore must know what they indeed sound like. Frankie listened to it as well (in about a day!) and he liked it even though he is eleven years old and so as a matter of course has very bad taste. Great Family Read. (It is not in the least political even though Fox News' Glenn Beck wrote it.)

The Sister by Poppy Adams - I'm currently listening to this one. So far all I can tell you is that I know way more about moths and caterpillars than I ever have or will want to know! I'll finish it of course, because I always finish books I buy because I spent the cha-ching on it and it will either amuse me or make me weep with boredom for hours and hours and hours but I finish what I start! Whichever way it goes is my own fault (oh, and the people who write reviews on amazon.com)

Arguing With Idiots by Glenn Beck - First, of all Bob is starting to wonder if I secretly have the hots for Glenn Beck. Second, This is a political book, be warned. It is all about how are country is failing to keep to the constitution. I felt he made a lot of true and valid points and in an extremely funny and scarry way. The truth is always scarier than fiction though isn't it? A good book if you follow politics or if you don't.

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers - Mixed review on this one. I listened again, and it seems every time I listen to a Christian fiction book it is read by the same woman or type of woman. It is hard to picture a book about a young christian college woman when her voice is being done by a woman who sounds like she may actually have been aboard the ark with Moses and his family; perhaps, she should go read The Sister which is actually about old ladies. This production company needs to try a little harder if they hope to keep selling audiobooks! As for the actual story, I wasn't thrilled. It was very predictable. In some way unbelievable (3 women in the same family in the same sort of situation), I'm not buying it, sorry. It did make me think a lot about the hypocrisy that must indeed be in certain churches and christian colleges and in some ways it did hit home with me in a personal way. Honestly, not Francine River's best though.

I know I've only reviewed audio books, but I haven't been doing a lot of sitting and reading and so this is the best way for me to get my fiction fix at the moment.

One last review and this is probably the most important of them all:

Great Value Mayonnaise sold by Walmart - This is the nastiest, most disgustingest mayo I have ever tasted. hospital cafeteria packet mayo is better than this. I really expect better quality from the Chinese Mayonnaisemakers than this! I stopped eating sandwiches until it was gone, or tried it's still not gone. And they changed the packaging from the picture and there are ripples inside the jar now so you cannot get the last of the mayonnaise out, so it makes it look like it's NEVER GONE! There is no hope of getting a new, better mayonnaise because this one will last you forever. The Rules specifically state that you cannot open a new jar until the old jar is gone, right? I snuck off to Winn-Dixie yesterday where Hellman's is on sale buy one get one free. I now have a mayonnaise stash, I'm so ashamed...

2009-11-05T15:27:00.000-05:00

Which shawl would you make with this yarn? Cascade Yarns Alpaca Lace Colorway: Red Wine Heat (Name sounds a bit risque, huh?)

Fountain Pen Shawl

Luna Moth Shawl

Snowdrop Shawl

Rose Trellis Shawl

Queen Anne's Lace

Bleeding Heart's Stole


Cobweb Lace Stole



Official Disclaimer: Your opinion may or may not matter. All opinions are subject to rejection with or without prior notice. Please keep in mind the number of year I will probably be knitting this. Thank you.

I sure would like to hear it though... help me out.

Progression

2009-11-03T18:59:00.001-05:00

Here are a some of the things I've been trying to make progress on lately... First we have an apron for Christmas time.

Here is a close up to show the fabric; my stomach fat is just a little bonus I provide.

Second is the Celtic Tote, that is the back and it's hard to see the pattern because it's squished up on the needles and it's not felted yet and so on... I just really wanted to put it on here to show that I am making progress.

Third, is a new project that a person such as myself has no real business starting at this point, but the yarn was so yummy and felt so good in my hands and I just gave in. I am not a one project girl anymore, apparently. In fact there is another project on different needles, but we aren't talking about that. This is a yarn I bought when I went to a knit-in at a yarn shop in Jacksonville. It's a kettle dyed, I got the colorway Tango Reds. http://www.aslantrends.com/santa_fe.html

Lastly, here are some pictures of the back room. It occurred to me that I never took any once it was all done. By the way, this room ~~calls my name and invites me to hide in there~~ needs cleaned quite a lot for just a tiny little room. I try to keep up with my cleaning chores!

Autumn Inspirations

2009-10-27T09:55:00.001-05:00

I finished my fall apron. It's nothing fancy, but it can be completed in under an hour... besides, I love aprons and you can never have enough! They come in handy when you are baking half moon cookies. We brought in the cabinet that Bob refinished. He said he wasn't quite done but I was tired of waiting.

We enjoyed some pretty cool days and evenings about two weeks ago and took advantage by spending a lot of time outdoors. It's a good thing we did because autumn is over; it's summer again.

Look at Finn's sweater in the last picture, he looks like a little Canadian.

The Lace Scarf

2009-10-27T08:49:00.000-05:00

I finished the lace scarf and it's busy being blocked. Gilbert the Great and Terrible was of course busy guarding it and Bob was teasing him that he was "going to touch the knitting!"

It is so soft and I love the pattern and the color but it is not keeping blocked well. It keeps rolling in on itself. I'm thinking it may be the silk mixed in with the wool, I've come to understand the silk doesn't block as well as pure wool.

I'm going to block it again and leave it for a couple days, I'll show pics when I'm done...

Finn's Post

2009-10-08T10:36:00.003-05:00

Finn would like everyone to know that he now has a real big boy bed. Also, that regardless of this he will continue to crawl into Mommy and Daddy's bed each and every night and kick them till they bruise.

Do you suppose this means that it's not Rylin's desk anymore?

Needle Arts

2009-10-08T09:44:00.006-05:00

Up until the past week or so I feel I've been making very little progress especially in the knitting department but I'm back at it now. The return of television that is not entirely garbage may be the cause because I'm more likely to be sitting on the couch in the evening with Bob instead of off reading a book after the kids are in bed.

I cast on the Celtic Tote because most of the parts of it are just stockinette so reading etc. can be done at the same time.

There has been progress made on the lace scarf, this is the re-knit because I ripped it entirely out once due to an error. (mine not the patterns) I am angry that the camera doesn't do the color justice. It is not turquoise, it is green. Close to the color of the Bayou, I mean, pool. The bag next to my knitting is from Cindy who gifted me one of her bags. It is the perfect size for knitting or to bring books to church etc. It is wonderful to get handmade gifts from good friends...

I am also gauging my ability and patience at piecing the Double Wedding Ring Quilt by putting together one block before cutting out the bazillion pieces required to make one quilt. I got a little stuck when it came to some rather vague direction so I turned to the great answerer of questions: the innernet. Guess what I found out? Number one: There is a youtube video for everything in the whole wide world except for what I am looking to find out about at the time. Number two: That most people who make double wedding ring quilts now do not buy the acrylic templates and painstakingly cut out pieces and sew crazy curves together, they just go ahead and paper piece them...

Why did that not occur to me? Why??

Junkiness

2009-10-08T08:55:00.005-05:00

Saturday morning Frankie, Rylin and I went out to yard sales around our neighborhood. There were three, we stopped at two. (I do not stop where I see only baby stuff or little girl stuff, lifes too short.) Also, most people have yard sales here even if it says "garage sale" as a matter of fact if you stray toward the opening of the garage they look at you all shifty eyed like you're going to go in and steal their circa 1970 Craftsman Drill.

Well at one we saw a school desk and Rylin expressed interest in it but only mildly after all it was green with flowers and the name "Jo-Beth" painted on it. So we leave start driving down the road and get this.... RYLIN IS CRYING!!! I question him as to the cause of his tears and it's because he wants the desk. And so I say, "It is a girl's desk Rylin" and then I hear, "So! You can fix it mom! Make it a boys desk!" I drive back to the garage sale in reverse.

When we got home and after Bob gave me the "What were you thinking?" look regarding the girldesk, I told him about a cabinet at one of the sales and that I thought it would look good if fixed up under the kitchen cabinets that hang in the middle of nowhere in my kitchen. (After all, if I have to fix stuff up why shouldn't he?) So he went down with his truck and offered the amount I told him to offer as it was later in the afternoon and did the guy really want to haul it back into his garage? The man accepted and Bob brought it home.

I got to work on the girly desk with paint stripper and a sander. Rylin wanted flames painted on it but I told him it would not in fact make it look like he was doing his homework faster and Mommy isn't very artsy in that way that's Aunt Carrie's thing. So now he has a blue desk and I used chalk board paint on the top surface.

Work commenced on the cabinet on Tuesday. I'll update as it progresses. We are arguing at the moment as my vision of what it should look like differs from the nightmare that he envisions. It's his project. He can make it how he likes. Or I could just go get started and um... you know, make it my project and then it could be how I like. All is fair in love and war you know. If you think it's not, just remember... he cut my babies' curls off!

Nervous Sock Completed

2009-10-02T12:23:00.004-05:00

I've completed the second of Gage-Michael's socks I couldn't find the matching yarn without buying it online and paying for delivery for just the little bit I needed to finish them. So I picked up some Bernat Sox yarn at Jo-ann's and finished the foot and toe.

The Patons Kroy Sock yarn I was using washed up unbelievably soft; which is good because Gage was worried they'd be itchy.

In pursuit of procuring more Patons Kroy I read some reviews online and everyone seems to like the colors changes and softness, but... most had the same opinion as me - that Patons is all crazy in their mind for thinking that two skeins will knit one pair and that having to buy 3 skeins of yarn for a pair of socks at $6 a skein is totally not a good deal. It is so nice to have one's opinion shared so that you can be assured it is not you yourself who is crazy in your mind.

I will be sending these out to Gage Monday which is good because he's getting winter boots this weekend as they may be seeing some snow next week. Oh, and he is totally okay with the toe of one not matching because that part is in the shoe and who will see it anyway. (You have to check these things with teenagers)

Godlessness in America

2009-10-02T09:28:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEuAVgmWt0U

The Weekend

2009-10-01T12:35:00.006-05:00

Saturday we spent the day at the beach. I got the truck stuck this time as Bob stayed home because he had some work to catch up on.

Sunday afternoon we watched football. We wore our jaguars shirts and Dad and Cheryl wore their Texans shirts. It worked out great that not only were they playing each other but they were playing in Houston so the game wasn't blacked out here. There was lots of banter going back and forth during the game. The Jags won in spite of the fact that the refs might as well have put on a Texans jersey.

After the game Bob & Finn made us chicken & homemade noodle soup. Hmmm...

A Night Out

2009-10-01T08:37:00.006-05:00

My Dad and Step-Mom, Cheryl flew in from Houston Thursday afternoon. Friday Bob worked from home and we went to the outlet mall in St. Augustine and then headed home and got ready to go out to dinner. Our neighbor came over to watch the boys and we headed out to The Chart House for dinner.

Cheryl works for the company that owns The Chart House so we were sat at a VIP table, our names were on the menu and we met everyone from the manager to the chef. We got a 50% discount as well and Bob and I agreed it was the best dinner we've ever had.

The restaurant is right on the river so afterword we outside to walk off some of those calories from the hot chocolate lava cake we all shared (we were all pretty full). The blue in the backround of the outside pictures is The Hart Bridge, Jacksonville is much prettier at night.

A Quick Taste of Fall

2009-10-01T08:16:00.005-05:00

We're getting a little feel of fall for a couple days at least, so when I woke up and actually had a day where I wanted to wear socks I put them on and Finn and I headed off to the store. Not to mention it was the first time I've opened my windows for a full 24 hour period since April.

Granny Smith apples were on sale for 99cents/pound which is really good here. And I baked a couple pies. As you can see folks were into one before I could even get around to snapping pictures of the first pies of the season. On the other hand it's great to know they're appreciated.

These were served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, hot caramel sauce and whipped cream. (I never should've taken in the Christmas Gift Pants from last year...)

The whole week has been pretty nice to be outside and we've been taking advantage. My Dad and Cheryl bought the boys remote control cars and it was a great gift since they've been outside a lot and it gives them something to do other than fight over who's the captain of the starship playground!

I'm finally starting to catch up on sleep. I wasn't sleeping very well before Gage left, then hardly at all after and then with Dad and Cheryl visiting and you only see people every few years you're up way longer than you should be in order to make the most of your time together (1 am almost every night). Bob actually tried to send me to bed early Tuesday after they left, saying he figures I've gotten about 20 hours sleep in the past week and I'm going to end up sick like always happens when I'm sleep deprived for too long. I spent some alone time with my family though, because you always miss that when you don't have it. And told him I'd be fine because I did the math and had about 24 hours sleep in the past week. Bob on the other hand is very wise and goes to bed at least close to his usual time no matter who is here. It was a very fun time and was worth it!

The Nervous Sock and some chocolate...

2009-09-16T08:12:00.002-05:00

I have one sock finished for Gage-Michael. It fits perfectly. The second sock is knitted to just past the heel and gusset ready for plain ole stockinette till the toe. The sock is very nervous though because there is only a smallish ball of yarn left to finish it. I used Patons Kroy Jacquard that I had bought from Michael's and guess what? They no longer carry it. Haven't found it at Jo-anne's either... What does this mean? Will it be just enough to finish the sock? Or will it be finished to almost the toe and then that's it? I did by two balls which according to the ball band should have been enough for two plain ole stockinette socks, but I have a fourteen year old with some big honkin' feet.

So what do you do when you have a nervous sock? You make brownies of course. The good Ghiradelli fudgie kind!

Other News

2009-09-12T17:47:00.004-05:00

Remember the blue room with the pink carpet? I fixed it, it is now the yellow room with the laminate flooring. Finn is wearing a tool belt in the picture, even though you can't see it very well.

Since fall is the season even if the state of Florida doesn't realize it yet, I put in a yarn order at knit picks for two projects I wanted to start. The first is Dee's Diamond Scarf from Piecework magazine. The second is the Celtic Tote from Interweave Knits. I've cast on the scarf, but I am not permitting myself to cast on the tote no matter how badly I want it I really need to finish some other projects first. sigh.

First Day of School Pictures

2009-09-12T17:24:00.003-05:00

Here are my boys on the first day of school. Oh, and yes... Rylin did wear the glasses to school.

News

2009-09-12T17:00:00.004-05:00

Rylin turned seven on August 12th. He is very thrilled to be seven and whenever I suggest things to him for his own safety such as wait for your brother to walk with you to school, or don't sit on the very top of your playground we're still paying for Finn's broken arm. His reply is, "I'm seven now."

In other news Finn is potty trained. He was sitting on the toilet one morning and says to me, "Bring me the newspaper." This apparently how you use the potty properly.

Clearwater Beach Pictures

2009-09-12T16:04:00.005-05:00

Here are some pictures from our trip to Clearwater Beach.

Green Fairy Quilts: It's finally here! 99th post here I come with a huge giveaway!

2009-07-10T08:12:00.000-05:00

Green Fairy Quilts: It's finally here! 99th post here I come with a huge giveaway!

Not only is the giveaway great but the blog itself is pretty lovely.

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-07-01T14:11:00.000-05:00

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am going to look so absolutely fantastic in this.

Grosgrain: Rock Paper Scissors GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-07-01T14:09:00.000-05:00

Grosgrain: Rock Paper Scissors GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Oh, Yeah! It's my turn to win something!

Prayers, please

2009-06-29T17:32:00.004-05:00

I just came back from taking Gage & Frankie to the airport, they're going to Syracuse for their summer visit with their father.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers...

My heart feels so broken. I hate this feeling.

Mommy's Little Helper

2009-05-20T08:40:00.002-05:00

Don't you wish you had one of these?

Prom Night 2009

2009-05-19T10:26:00.004-05:00

The day before Mother's Day Bob the husband took me to see the musical 'Wicked'. We got dressed and Mom took pictures of us like we were leaving for prom.

We walked around Jacksonville Landing which is right on the river until it was time for the show to start, we even held hands.

The show was great, it was wonderful to be out alone with my husband something we haven't done in well over a year. He even opened car doors for me... NICE! We went and had a huge dinner after the show most of which came home in a 'to go' box we had a gift card for The Texas Roadhouse and our eyes were much bigger than our stomachs.

Our date was perfect and a long time coming, Bob thought because he opened car doors for me he'd get a kiss at the door, but I informed him I'm not that kind of a girl...

The Bible according to children

2009-05-02T10:24:00.000-05:00

A child was asked to write a book report on the entire Bible.
I wonder how often we take for granted that children understand what we are teaching???
I love the part about the democrats...

Through the eyes of a child: The Children's Bible in a Nutshell

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden . Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars. Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah , who lived to be like a million or something. One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat. Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston . Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people.These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.

Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother. One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them. After the Old Testament came the New Testament .

Jesus is the star of The New. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'A s a matter of fact, I was.') During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus.

Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum.

His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

One arm, one ear and two socks

2009-04-24T07:29:00.005-05:00

Thursday morning I took Finn in to get his x-ray, this is to check that the bones are sitting right in the cast and healing properly. Well, they weren't. There was 38% angulation and so the cast had to come off, the bones reset and a new cast put on. Very upsetting to watch him go through this twice.

No sooner did Finn and I get home but the school called me to come get Rylin he had a fever. He has an ear infection and he's resting up and taking his pink stuff.

In news that is actual progress I finished a pair of socks. Just a plain toe up pattern, magic loop method and the finn wool Mrs. M. sent me. These went very quick because it was just plain knitting for the most part so I could read my kindle at the same time. I felt any kind of pattern would detract from the color variations. It's nice to get something done.

To Do List Progress

2009-04-20T19:48:00.008-05:00

Warning: Not for some children's consumption, specially city children.

what Bob does instead of manly rooster slaying stuff ..... -------->

I have definitely knocked some things clear off the to do list this weekend-

#1- The sundress just needs a zipper and a hem and it's done.
#2 - No progress made on winter quilt
#3- Plants were put into front garden on Friday
#4- Lot's of laundry today, oh, and Friday... I think this is going to be a permanent on the list. : (
#5 - Got housework caught up but it er... needs doing again.
#6 - Kill the rooster. Check.
#7 - Borrow hatchet to kill rooster with. Check.
#8 - Talk Bob into killing rooster. Nope, didn't happen.
#9 - Toughen stomach to take all rooster bits and pieces out. Check.
#10- Take a long bath. hehehe. Just fell on the floor laughing, what was I thinking?
#11 - Talk someone into watching Finn while I cut down the 'list'. Nope, again. Waited till he was in bed. Who needs sleep??? What a complete waste of time!

Friday the rooster met his bitter end after Finn was in bed. Bob could not be talked into doing it although he observed for "moral support". So I donned my rubber gloves, Christmas apron and the deed was done. My neighbor did the actual chopping while I held him down. There was some comment made about my clumsiness, axes and medical bills.

I removed feathers which was way easier than I thought it would be. Took the insides out not as bad as I thought either, though I did have the foresight to withhold food from him on Friday. Cooked him on Saturday and it was nothing like I thought. The children refused to eat him. Franklin said, "I only eat anonymous chicken." Today I took the leftovers and made it in to soup to be passed off as someone else's chicken at a later date.

I did save some of the extra parts... feathers for my hair in case those old gaudy hat styles come back or we get a drought. I also made the kids necklaces to ward off broken bones...

The Hens are doing well, they even left me a little something to prove their fealty. I've decided eggs are made out of threats and fear.

Official Disclaimer: One rooster was harmed in the writing of this blog. Also, my son wore that for all of 30 seconds for the picture and then I took it off him and threw it away. (he mentioned something about wearing it to school to show friends, it is not only in garbage it is buried there.) Look closely for feathers -------------->

Simple Skirts GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-04-20T19:48:00.000-05:00

Simple Skirts GIVEAWAY!!!!

What I did instead.

2009-04-17T07:59:00.006-05:00

As for progress on the to do list I did lots of number 4. However, that is really not an accomplishment because laundry is an ongoing chore in this house. I do four loads on Mondays. Two loads the rest of the week. I don't usually do laundry on Saturday or Sunday unless there has been a 'situation' that requires it.

So, instead of working on the rest of the list I made enchiladas and key lime pie. Bob had smoked a turkey on the grill and we had massive amounts of leftovers and you can only serve them the same way twice, any more than that and folks just won't eat them. So I made Chicken enchiladas with smoked turkey instead of chicken (if I had done the dirty deed of killing the rooster it would've been chicken). Bob and the kids gave compliments to both, Bob's compliment was, "You should've married a Mexican you're way better with Mexican food than Italian." I think it's a compliment anyway... Finn said that the pie was 'bad' though but since everyone else liked and I like it I think it was fine.

Oh, and I went on an egg hunt. My hens are still not laying so it crossed my mind that the bad rooster is teaching them how to be sly and deceptive and that they are hiding them from me. So I went all around the yard looking. The only eggs I found were plastic Easter eggs my kids failed to find. Then I tricked the flock into getting into their coop and locked them up because I wanted to put the plants in the garden and they see me, get curious and start scratchin' all around where I'm trying to work. Oh, and the rooster flaps his wings and crows at me because he does not allow me to be in his yard. So I lock the flock and come back in the house to do a couple things, next thing I know I hear the chickens by the back door... taunting me... Rylin had let them out, he had a friend over and she wanted to see them. AGGGHHH!

So the plan today is to get the Friday morning chores done - laundry, clean the bathrooms, sweep and mop floors etc. and then go out try to fool the chickens again (I know how cool am I that my chickens out smart me. They probably sit in their coop at night cackling away at me. "Eh, did you see the stupid lady today? Walkin' around lookin' for de eggs... if she only knew we're laying them in de pool! Yeah, or remember the time we flew over the fence to the neighbor's and laid them in the grass and came back before she even saw us? HAHAHAHHAHA! Heh Rooster, crow real loud she'll really get angry if you do it in the middle of the night. Did you see her yesterday, she was staring at you with de shovel in her hands. HAHAHAHAH! Eh, we should talk to the grey cat maybe he could help us out the next time the lady's staring at us we can have him jump on her head and scratch 'er eyes out, we could pay em with the eggs. Oh, and we can remind him about the time that little one with the yellow feathers on his head locked him in the fridge and the lady didn't find him for a long time he'll do it then! HAHAHA! She'll be locked up in de Assylum before we're done with her, who's lockin' who up now lady?) They think I don't know about their devious Chicken Mafia ways, but I'm on to them. I told Bob last night that if they don't start laying some eggs when I 'whack' the rooster I'll sit them all in a row and have a class about what happens to bad little mob boss chickens!!!

So let's see how it goes today. I think I'm going to add another item to the list, "Check pool for eggs."

Here's Finn yesterday, if you look closely you can see he let us 'do drawing' on his cast. He's riding his horse and making motorcycle noises because I won't let him ride his motorcycle do to the fact that a good amount of crashing occurs and that can't be good for casts or broken arms.

Oh, and when I gave him his bath last night I tied a grocery bag around his cast and said, "Ok, we have to keep this arms out of the water." I turned to get a washcloth, turned back and he was sticking it under the faucet! Must be pay back for the 'bad pie'.

Nice Tote Bag

2009-04-16T11:09:00.003-05:00

I totally need to make this bag, in those colors. It almost looks like my Kindle is already in the front pocket. http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/accessories/six-pocket-bag/

List of things I need to do before I can make that tote bag:

1. Finish the sundress that is currently on the dress form waiting to be finished.
2. Finish quilting the winter quilt. Seriously, it's April!
3. Put the plants in the garden. (Everytime, I go to do this either we get a cold front where it's kind of iffy or a few days of drowning thunderstorm rains)
4. Get the laundry caught up.
5. Get the rest of the house cleaning caught up.
6. Kill the rooster. (I have contemplated hitting him in the head with the shovel because he will not stop crowing all day... everyday...; but this seems wasteful and like poor chicken farming)
7. Borrow a hatchet to kill the rooster with.
8. Talk Bob into doing the actual 'murderous act'.
9. Toughen my stomach to do the dressing out part.
10. Take a very, very long bath.
11. Talk someone into watching Ole' One Arm while I do all of the above.
12. Stop fooling with this blog and get to work.

P.S. I was putting laundry into the washer this morning and Finn was out in the garage talking to me and he shows me his cast and says, "The man squished my boo boo. The man's gonna to pay." The matter of fact tone in which Finn said this does not bode well for this man's safetly. Yes, he actually said this! I also know why... 3 years of observing 3 older brothers threaten retribution for every little wrong done them from another brother. Why do they only learn the things you don't want them to? They never seem to catch on when Mommy tries to teach them how to pick up their own room like a big boy or you try to potty train them because pull ups are putting a big dent in the budget. It doesn't seem fair. Someone's gonna pay. I think it should be the rooster.

Finn's Big Band Aide

2009-04-15T17:46:00.004-05:00

The injury in question occurred when we were outside swimming, I was sitting on the deck watching Franklin & Rylin in the pool and Finn had just gotten out. Bob was down on the patio lighting the grill and Finn fell off the side of the top step to the deck and into.... the big ceramic flower pot. There is now a railing on both side of the steps, one normal size, one Finn size.

Other than right when it happened Finn didn't cry, in fact we only brought him in as a precaution because the swelling was not going down and he kept babying it. The Doctor said that the little kids never cry and carry on, only the big kids and adults. Both the bones on each side of his wrist are fractured.

His cast was put on yesterday at Nemour's and he was very big and brave until the man had to squeeze his wrist to hold the bones straight until the cast dried. Finn screamed and cried and tried to pry away the man's hands, but it only lasted a minute or two.(I never want to hear a child of mine scream like that again. You know it's for their own good but you want to push the man over and say, "I don't think so Buddy!") Oh and Finn is wanting to show anyone who will look his "bone pictures". He thinks they're pretty cool. He picked the color from a little sample, I felt neon yellow would really show dirt but he's the one who has to suffer it so I gave in. Oh, and they said to try to keep him cool and not hot and sweaty because that is when the itching inside of the cast will kick in and start driving him mad.

Since we were down near Daddy's work, we stopped in and Finn drove the forklift and we went out to lunch with Daddy and Mr. Billy (one of the owners). When we got back to the office Finn and Daddy drove the forklift and then Finn did some work. He was told to check on some parts for Mr. Billy. So Finn picked up the phone and said,"Parts, where are you?!?"

Finn was asleep in his car seat before we hit the highway and of course woke up just as we got home. I was hoping to catch up on some stuff that didn't get done that morning since we left first thing.

The whole family is waiting on him hand and foot and generally spoiling him. Rylin even gave him some of his candy, he said, "I don't really like you Finn but I feel bad for you because your arms broken." Ahh, brotherly love.

We go back next Thursday to get another "bone picture" to make sure that his bones are still aligned properly in the cast. The Dr. figures about 4 weeks because they heal very quickly at this age.

He's getting loved, snuggled and coddled a lot and is taking all this very well. Although, when I was putting him to bed last night he told me to take off his big band aide because his booboo is all better now.

It's going to be a long four weeks....

Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-14T08:29:00.003-05:00

Saturday

2009-04-14T07:57:00.007-05:00

Saturday morning we packed up and headed to the beach. Bob said,"Don't bother to have the boys put their suits on they won't swim in that cold water." K Bob.

We got towed TWICE when Bob got the truck stuck in the sand.

We had to take separate cars and when we got home Wendy showed me a picture of this house she loves. Bob and I laughed because when we were driving and I pointed it out I said, "That's the house I want."

We headed home when the sky started getting dark there and smoked/barbecued ribs, went swimming and when the kids went to bed we made them an Easter egg hunt.

Wendy decided to try and hide an egg in the grill of my van. It disappeared and she had to go looking for it.

This is what my brother in law looked like when we were teasing him about how he tried to 'save' the hen when the rooster was trying to "kill her." It was very valiant of him to protect the virtue of our hens. It's extra funny because earlier in the day he was telling Bob we shouldn't eat the rooster because we should keep him to get chicks.

Friday

2009-04-14T07:22:00.007-05:00

Bob took the day off Friday and we colored Easter eggs and then took the kids to Whitey's Fish Camp to fish. We brought 3 poles for Gage, Frankie and Rylin and bought our bait at the store right there.

I sat on the dock baiting hooks and Bob and Finn did their fishing from the outside deck of the restaurant.

Then Rylin saw them and realized they were sitting up there probably drinking sodas. The sodas the restaurant puts CHERRIES in. So I had to hold Rylin's pole for him while he went to "talk to his dad about gittin' a soda". So Gage, Frankie and I sat on the dock with our poles in the water and discussed why Frankie's bate never stays on his hook.

The restaurant started getting busy with boats docking for lunch. I was enjoying the sunshine and glanced up as these three people were getting off a boat that had just docked next to me. A WILDLIFE FISH AND GAME boat. Guess who doesn't have a fishing license?

We came home and ate dinner out back at the table and just as we were finishing up there was a knock at the door. Bob's oldest brother and his wife Wendy came to suprise Bob with a visit for the weekend (I knew they were coming so I could make sure we were home).

Finn's Big Booboo

2009-04-13T19:01:00.003-05:00

He gets his cast on Wednesday at Nemour's Children's Hospital. : ( Poor Baby just started swimming too...

My Workin' Man

2009-03-30T19:59:00.002-05:00

"Mom, leave me alone can't you see I'm working here?"

"I thought you wanted me to build this Mom, just go and let me work."

"Okay, here's your smile. Now go away!"

First Family Swim of the Season

2009-03-30T16:01:00.003-05:00

Some of us happily jumped in...

others needed a push.

Do Over Weekend

2009-03-30T15:17:00.004-05:00

I went to a rummage sale and bought some new lamps. The lamps were acceptable however they came with the ugliest lamp shades in the south. So I decided to spray paint them and see if I could salvage them for use.

Bob stood on the deck where he was replacing boards in the deck telling me about how, "that's not going to work."

I persevered.

They don't look to bad now. What do ya think? Oh, and Bob... Neener! Neener!

Getting Big

2009-03-30T14:49:00.003-05:00

Our little grey puffball Gilbert is getting very big. We found him sleeping in the laundry basket and so Finn had to toss him out and have a turn.

Speaking of getting big check out the hens, oh yeah, and the rooster!

Pretty, Yummy Things

2009-02-25T08:28:00.005-05:00

I finished the top to the 'winter quilt'.

Bob brought me home a gift bag from Heavenly Chocolates. There's some missing though I had to eat some before I took the picture They're soooo good!

He also sent me roses for valentines Day enough for two vases, so two rooms were brightened up by them.

I guess I must be doing something right. I wonder what...

(There are 2 pictures of the chocolate because blogger will not alllow me to delete the extra one I stuck in by accident)

Opera House Glove and Caplet GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-02-03T09:41:00.001-05:00

Opera House Glove and Caplet GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check this out and may the best woman win!

Rainy Day Reading

2009-01-29T08:30:00.004-05:00

Today is a rainy day, it's been raining all night and suppose to rain the majority of the day.

Finn and I drove the boys to school this morning even though Rylin insisted it would be better for him to walk in the rain and as he owns a rain coat sincerely thinks this should to be totally acceptable to all parties. It was unacceptable to his brothers as they are old enough to know they will not enjoy sitting in sopping wet sneakers and socks all day. It was also unacceptable to me because in spite of rain coat ownership I have definite fear of one of my neighbors contacting Florida Children's Services about my children tromping throught the Tsunami on their way to school. In this day and age allowing your children to become 'damp' is most likely child abuse, as is discipline and giving your child dirty looks in public.

Finn thought this what a great adventure because the one person in this family who does not own a rain coat (me) is the one who had to stand in the down pour fastening him into his car seat while he squirmed and told me over and over "It's raining, Mommy." Hmmm... I'd noticed.

So what does one do on a rainy day? Read, of course. What is the perfect rainy day read? I went to my book shelf and perused the books I have yet to read. There are a few I had procured from my grandparent's house, among them I knew I'd find what I was looking for. Can you think of any book more perfect on a chilly rainy day than Wuthering Heights?

These books are not some cheap old paperbacks. My copy of Wuthering heights was published in 1907. There is another book named 'Anna Clayton' that was published in 1856. Depsite the stains the covers are beautiful and Anna Clayton has a very intricate design on the cover. The pages feel as close to silky fabric as you could get in a fictional book. I think back then books must've been quite a treat as tv wasn't invented until quite a long time after. No stupid dust jackets covered them, I sincerely dislike book jackets and when I am reading a hard cover book I usually remove them. I wonder who in my family read Wuthering Heights before me. Grandma? Gram Galla?

I'm still not over my cold and it's going around the family. I'm calling it 'The Consumption' and taking to my chaise to read and drink tea.

As The Phone Ringeth

2009-01-22T09:30:00.003-05:00

Once again we have received a call from companies we have specifically told to stop calling us. Usually Bob fields these phone calls and has all the fun but this time I had a turn after all, if they can waste our time it is fair indeed for us to waste theirs.

We are enjoying a nice quiet evening together as a family when the phone rings. I pick up the phone and look at the caller ID. Bob says, "Who is it?" I say, "TruGreen Chem Lawn", he says, "Give it here." I say, "No'.

Me: Hello.
T.G. : Hello, this is Matt from TruGreen Chem Lawn, we care for your neighbor's lawn and we've noticed you have quite a weed problem in your front yard.
Me: A weed problem? Well, that sounds serious.
T.G.: Yes, well that is why I'm calling to offer a special introductory rate...
Me: Well, that sounds like a good deal. I've seen you all at my neighbor's house doing her lawn.
T.G.: Yes, we have been caring for her lawn for quite some time now.
Me: Well... her yard is brown.
T.G.: It is winter time...
Me: But my yard is green.
T.G.: But it is full of weeds.
Me: My weeds are green. Her ChemGrass is brown.
T.G.: But you don't want those weeds in your yard.
Me: I want my yard to be green, aren't we after the same thing here? A green lawn? Are you the one who tells my neighbor to run her sprinklers all the time? Because she wastes all this water and her yard is still really brown.
T.G.: Your neighbor seems happy with our service and I think you could be too.
Me: I won't be very happy if you turn my yard brown. All these chemicals are they safe for the environment? The St. John's is turning green and I think it may have something to do with you people.
T.G: Our lawn care plan has been proven safe for the environment.
Me: Well, that's good to know. I'll tell you what I'm prepared to offer you my weed clippings at a very low rate... they are guaranteed to stay green year round.
Me: Hello?
Me: Matt? Are you there?

Colds and cold

2009-01-21T10:04:00.006-05:00

Here is how Finn has been dressing lately. It's been cold enough here that if we go out in the morning I actually have to put a hat on Finn. Finn of course continues to wear the hat in the house through the day and night.

Finn caught a really nasty cold last week and gave it to Bob who spent Thur. - Mon. sick with it. They were kind enough to gift it to me. I spent yesterday on the couch knitting and watching a movie (A&E's Pride and Prejudice) when Bob came home from work he sent me to bed (away from him where the risk of reinfection will be lower he thinks) and hooked up a dvd player in our room and popped in Sense and Sensibility. When he came to bed however he demanded it stop, I am in full agreement because otherwise he will sit and mockingly speak to me in an atrocious British accent of things like crumpets, clotted cream and anything else that sounds even remotely British to him.

I finished the fingerless mitts and had to model them on Finn due to the fact that I could not wear them and take the picture and my dress form does not have arms.

I cast on a new project last night; The Stolen Moments Wrap and I'm using Bernat Bamboo yarn.

I'm going to go make some tea, grab my tissues, my knitting and my blanket and set up camp on the couch. I'll try to forget the fact that I should really switch the laundry, clean my room and take a shower. Seriously, it was too cold this morning to even contemplate wet hair!

Bob has also instituted a rule that I am required to wear socks and mittens to bed, my hands and feet are always like ice and according to him, "If I didn't talk so much he'd think I was dead."

Oh, and proof that I'm sick... I'm wearing sweat pants and no make up, I am so totally HOT right now.

"Big Girl Pants"

2009-01-08T17:08:00.005-05:00

Tuesday my friend Mrs. M. visited we chatted and played with Finn, had some show and tell, ate lunch and then put Finn down for his afternoon rest. Once Finn was down we got out the pants that Bob laughingly has named, "The Big Girl Pants". Har, Har! Mrs. M. had quite a laugh when I held them up to me, yes, very very funny. Ya'll just wait...

We used a pattern I had in my pattern drawer as I cutting guide and I made it harder than it had to be because I demanded that the zipper be left in tact because I hate putting zippers in. We got all the pieces cut out ate some chocolate pie and then Mrs. M. had to go. I was a little down about the fact that we took pants from size 26W to my size and there was only this little pile of fabric (I seriously thought there would be more)

I sewed up all the seems and then tried on the pants. And guess what....?

They're too tight! I mean they're wearable and they're cute in an Audrey Hepburn skinny pants type way, but they were not what I was looking for. Not enough seem allowance to let them out. That means one thing - treadmill.

Dear Jo-ann,

2009-01-08T08:56:00.002-05:00

Dear Jo-ann,

I am writing to let you know that your fabric store has gone severely 'down the toilet'. I went there last night with three children while my fourth one was at an appointment. I had approximately 1.25 hours to spend in your store. In the form of reality I chose to live in this should be ample time to buy the things on my list which was:

5 yards of fabric for backing a quilt
1 spool bobbin thread for embroidery machine
1 package of Avocado Cucumber soap
1 art item for Rylin to buy with the allowance that is burning a hole in his pocket

Your store was not busy in the least. (If you are easily offended by any kind of discrimination go away now this is fair warning) I walked into the store grabbed my buggy placed smallest child in said buggy and proceeded into the store. Glanced at bin right there in main aisle and picked up one package of Christmas labels for $.30, made note to self that I need to store these somewhere that will make me recall next Christmas that I own these and do not need to buy them. I then proceeded to go to the thread section... it wasn't where I left it. It had gone away. I walked around the store trying to locate where an entire retail section could have gone off to. I eventually found it behind the cutting table (where the people cut your yard goods for you) I thought to myself, "Well this has got to be dumbest place to put this as on Saturday or sale days when this place gets busy and the line is all over the place to get your fabric cut you will have to push, shove and physically harm folks to get a spool of thread." So I got my thread, went straight to the back of the store and started looking through the quilting fabrics. Everytime I found something I liked that was the right price there wasn't enough left on the bolt. I finally found a fabric that was acceptable, apeared to have just enough fabric on it and that was not priced so that I would have to chose between finishing my quilt and feeding my beloved offspring. So off we go to the cutting table.

As I walk up there 3 people waiting. A man with a huge pole with home dec fabric on it. A woman with a child wearing a cow boy hat in the front of the cart and a new baby in a infant carrier in the back, Finn declared, "That's a nice baby." You know, like you would say about someone's new car or truck. Then there was a lady with a cart full of pillow forms and fabric & trims to be bought to cover them. So now we have our setting. Also, your store has recently implemented a number pull thing like the deli at the grocery store. The 3 children and I stroll up I pull a number from the pole and look up. They are on #74 I am #79.

The man with the home decor fabric is first. His huge pole of fabric is laying all across the cutting counter. The woman behind the counter who is aproximately eleventy hundred years old and due to her advanced age may be hard of hearing, I will give her that... is apparently not qualified to cut home dec fabric, this is out of her job description and in no way will she attempt such a feat and will not be convinced. I know this because she is loudly telling the man, "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THE ONLY WAY YOU ARE GOING TO GET HER BACK HERE IS TO GO UP TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT HER! I'VE ALREADY CALLED HER TWICE ON THIS HEADSET AND SHE HASN'T COME BACK HERE YET." The man walks away leaving his 6ft fabric pole on the cutting counter and comes back. "DID YOU GO UP THERE?" The crone says. The man nods. "WELL, SHE'S NOT HERE AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TALK TO A MANAGER DID YOU?" (In the meantime Rylin is dancing around demanding to know when we can go to the toy aisle, Franklin is sighing and starting to wander off and Finn is telling me he wants to go home.) I discretely tell them, "A few more minutes," and contemplate how I can jump the counter, grab the scissors out of the crones hands and bump her out of the way with my ample hips and cut the stupid fabric. Then she pipes up again,"WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY EXPECT THIS STORE TO RUN IF NO ONE IS GOING TO DO THEIR JOB." I contemplate what I could use the scissors for before cutting the fabric... it involves this person's tongue. (Frankie and Rylin are looking up at me with their eyes all wide in the way that children do when they come into contact with crazy folk and want assurance it's going to be alright. I wink at them, which is the universal symbol for "it's all good" and make sure I do not smirk cause if I do, they will laugh, then I will laugh and then Ole' Miss Crazy is going to know we're onto her we don't want that because the scissors apear to be sharpish.) So as she's saying this in the loud voice I hear from the next aisle, "I'm here. You can stop now." It is the long awaited employee with the mad home decor fabric cuttin' skillz. Ole Miss Crazy says,"Ok, good." Very quietly, she looked rather red faced and her total demeaner changed." I turned my head and met the eyes of the owner of the 'nice baby' and we both had the very tight faces of people who are putting all their might into not laughing out loud.

The newly arrived employee who is only about ten hundred years old as oposed to eleventy, goes over to the very patient if frightened man and begins cutting his fabric. Ole' Miss takes the fabric & corded trims of the pillow form lady, she asks the woman how much of each trim she needs and the woman says,"I'm not sure I need it to go all the way around the pillow form..." Miss Crazy says loudly, "WELL, YOU NEED TO DECIDE HOW MUCH YOU NEED I CAN'T DECIDE THAT FOR YOU!!!" The woman shamefacedly mumbles something along the lines of, "well I've never done this before..." I look into her cart at the pillow forms and say, "I would do 2 yards per each pillow." She looks at me gratefully and seemed to relax a bit, no longer looking like someone shamed and put on the spot and tells the crone what to cut. New employee finished with the man and started cutting nice baby's fabric, ok I was next please let me get new employee please... Ole Miss says," 76? 76? 77? 77? 78? 78? 78?" I pipe in and Rylin is now sitting on the filthy tile floor and I can't take much more of this. "They probably couldn't stand the wait time and left, I'm number 79." I step up put my bolt of fabric down and said, "5 yards." She unwraps the bolt with her witch like claws 5 yards takes me just a bit shy of the end of the bolt and as she goes to look up I say, "Yes, I'll take what's left." So she says, "WELL, I'LL NEED TO REMEASURE TO SEE HOW MUCH MORE THAT IS." Ok, so she measured five yards, looked up at me and now has to remeasure the entire thing simply because she looked away. She's remeasuring get's to the end and says," 1/4 yard" I look down and say, "No, I don't think so." She looks down at the fabric, I look down at the fabric, I say,"That is less than 1/4 I can see it from here." She looks at me distrustingly like I just told her I could see her girdle under her clothes. "IT LOOKS LIKE 1/4 TO ME!" I said, "Just give me the five yards then, I will not pay for what I am not getting. Please, make sure you cut it even as I will need all of it." She says,"I'll just give you the whole thing and put 1/8 yard remnant on there for the end of the bolt?" I look at her and say very nicely, "Since it's 1/8 yard it sounds good to me." I take my fabric and walk away. Meanwhile my cell phone had rang about 4 times because Bob was calling I picked up and said, "Call you back in ten minutes."

I look at my watch we've been here an hour already. We run to get the soap, then to the art aisle where I tell Rylin to pick quickly. And he says,"Stop rushing me." There were not prices on the shelves or products anywhere!!! We get up to the counter and I look at the two cashiers one is high school age the other is elderly. I'm noticing a trend...
We pay. We leave. I call Bob back, he says,"What is your problem?" I explain to him what I'd just witnessed and endured. He says, "Maybe you should get a job there." I said,"I've applied there before they weren't interested." He says, "So they hire people who cannot competantly cut fabric and they weren't interested in you." I said, "No. I figured it out. They do not hire women of child bearing age. Every employee was either too old by far or too young. They had said that they'd keep my application on file, they'll call when I'm Medicare eligible."

So, Jo-ann what I am thinking is this: #1 - You do not hire women who have children if you can help it because inevitably these sorts of women will be required to leave early or call in due to a sick child etc. as you cannot ask, "Do you have children?" by law you simply do not hire anyone of a certain age. Other than that your standards regarding your employees seem a bit lax to say the least. #2 - You in no way screen your employees for any kind of customer service skills or even plain old manners. #3 - You do not verify that they are capable of cutting in a straight line or have the ability to cross train between regular fabric and home dec fabric. I cannot positively say that this is what you are doing but that's where the evidence leads me. I am not going to say, "Don't hire this sort of people." That would not be right. I'm just saying do not hire people and then put them into positions they cannot fulfill. I don't care if you hire orange Oooompa Loompas as long as they understanding the first grade skills of measuring and cutting accurately. Futhermore, stop moving things around. I am not comfortable with change. Put the thread back where it goes.... everything else too, I couldn't find a price for one single thing because when they got moved the prices did not follow them to their new shelves perhaps that would be a fitting job for the crone instead interacting with people.

Should the employee I've complained about in this letter decide to gather her coven together and take action to harm me, let her know I have $4000.00 eyes and I'll see them coming and she was right I can also see her girdle...

I will be calling your store and speaking to the manager today. I thought a fabric store was the sort of place where you could take your impressionable children and not have them pick up rude, nasty habits such as verbally slamming a co-worker in front of a whole slew of customers, or listen to your mother get that slightly threatening tone in her voice while speaking about yard goods. And it is a wonderful thing that they couldn't read my mind where in there was a picture of me leaning over the counter and snatching someone up by their purple polo shirt.

Lastly, please tear up the application I have submitted. I do not think I have the sort of tolerance required to work with your existing employees around sharp objects, I would probably go all crazy in my mind (seems to be a bit catching there) and label the scissor section"Shanks" and relocate those long poles that hold the Home Decor fabric some place very inconvenient. It's best I look for employment elsewhere, you continue getting your day labor from the asylum as you have been doing.

Regards,
Jessica Wandtke

P.S. You were having a big yarn sale but I didn't buy any because I spent all my time waiting at the cutting counter.

Relaxing Pastime Photos

2009-01-01T19:11:00.005-05:00

Pieces for the Christmas Mystery Quilt. Which will from this time forward will be referred to as "The Winter Quilt" as Christmas is over and changing the name will make me feel less inadequate. I appreciate your compliance with this

Here is the Fingerless Mitten that is completed. The ends still need woven in but I'll do that when I finish the second one. I am almost finished with the ribbing on the 2nd one in spite of the naughty cats theft attempts. She steals my knitting, needles and all and runs making me chase her and strewing yarn all over. In case you are interested the Pattern is Mitt Envy (free on Ravelry), knit with fingering weight yarn on size 0 needles. I have altered the pattern by doing the first repeat 8 times instead of just once in order to have them be longer they are a little shy of elbow length.

Oh, and Happy New Year everyone!!!

Post Christmas Primer

2008-12-30T20:14:00.006-05:00

All the days leading up to Christmas you spend a very large amount of time cooking (ham), baking (cookies, candies, prune buns) and decorating and then fixing the very same decorations over and over and over due to children and a very bad wee kitten. Christmas comes you eat your yummy things, fix the decorations for the last day you'll care this year and go to your events (church and popping over to the neighbors to wish them well). Wake up in the morning (8:30am my two young ones keep very respectable hours thank you very much no 5:30am, "MOMMY Get UP IT'S CHRISTMAS!!! Not for them. Actually, Bob and I were up first drinking coffee and waiting; we refrained from running in their room screaming for them to get up we sat quietly looking at the tree sipping our little hot cups and trying very hard to pretend like we were indeed grown ups. )

The children arose, we exchanged gifts. Ate Christmas appetizers, baked goods and ham.

Ok. It's all over. Now what? What does one do with the days after Christmas? You observe that you have serious amounts of leftovers so you firstly, stop cooking. Secondly, remove all the childrens new toys from their bondage of boxes covered in wire ties and plastic straps (someone is apparently afraid that all the "Little People Toys" have a very well plotted plan to take over the world and should therefore be restrained in EVERY SINGLE MANNER POSSIBLE to make sure they don't leave their little red and yellow boxes and GET US WHILE WE SLEEP!) Anyway, you get your scissors, wire cutter, blow torch and box cutter and get to work. Make sure you get every single toy out of it's bondage. Because if you leave just one in the child will find you later and demand the toys' freedom papers while you, my dear grown up, are try to play with your own new toys. So if you follow my instructions your children should in theory busy themselves with their new stuff and leave you to your own devices.

Ahhh, I love the quietness of the season....

Here's a bit of a laugh for you. Bob ordered me some lovely clothes from a catalog this Christmas. He received them, wrapped them very nicely and placed them under the tree. Didn't double check the invoice (or so he says). He gave me a rose colored 1920 or 30's? style dress that makes me want to run put on my hat and run on down to the USO and dance the jitterbug, a long white dress w/just a little bit of sequins and a set of capris. A set of capris that will fit both Bob, myself and all the children in quite comfortably at the same time. They are size 26W. I don't know if you can tell from the picture but these pants are really a bit too gynormous for me, anyone I know, the mini van... So the day after Christmas Bob contacts the catalogue company to exchange these for the size that is me, (that info is so classified) the size he allegedly ordered and they cannot be exchanged. They were on Clearance. So I have a good 2 yards of pretty fabric to remake into something fitting. He also got me a George Foreman Fat Reduction Grill... coincidence? You do the math, here's a hint it adds up to 26W.

I'm gonna go now and read my new books. I think I'll have some celery and water while I do it.

All Was Calm... for some that is!

2008-12-30T19:38:00.006-05:00

Here are some pictures of Christmas Eve and morning.

Bob had some assembly required of him, do not feel too sorrowful for him though, this happens every year and has come to be quite the tradition. This year was much easier than others and after all he does bring it on himself. You don't see me in the picture because I was in my rightful supervisory position.

Rylin asked if he could open the gift early that had been sitting under the tree and he had been I quote: "squishing to try to find out what was in it when you weren't looking". It turned out to be his quilt and he was happy and snuggled under it for his Christmas Eve sleep. Finn started screaming when he saw it saying, "THAT'S MINE! THAT'S MY MOTORCYCLES! NOT YOURS!" He was a rather purple color actually. The quilt has cars fabric squares I bought last year ummm.... before Christmas, the rest is mostly scraps left over from other stuff.

Bob also gave me a gift early... a new camera. Can you tell? It even does video, just imagine the myriad of ways I can and most likely will humiliate my family with this shiny, bright new object. Hehehe. I love presents, specially useful ones.

Thought this was cute and there is a lesson.

2008-12-19T19:46:00.000-05:00

T'was the Night Before Christmas for Moms
T'was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode Only one creature was stirring and she was cleaning the commode. The children were sleeping, all snug in their beds While visions of Wii games and Barbie danced through their heads. The dad was snoring in front of the TV With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee. So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter Which made her sigh, "Now...what's the matter?" With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand She descended the stairs and saw the old man. He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug. "Oh, great", muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug." "Ho-ho-ho!", cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake. Your gift was especially difficult to make." "Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone." "Exactly!", he chuckled , "I've made you a clone!" "A clone?", she asked, "What good is that? Run along Santa, I've no time for chit-chat." Then she saw what appeared to be her twin.... Same hair, same eyes, same double chin. "She'll cook , she'll dust, she'll mop every mess. You'll relax, take it easy, watch the Young and the Restless". "Fantastic!", the mom cheered, "my dream come true! I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a whole night through!" From the room above, the youngest began to fret. "Mommy?! I'm scared....and I'm wet." The clone replied, "I'm coming sweetheart." "Hey", the mom smiled, "she knows her part." The clone changed the small one and hummed a tune as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon. "You're the best mommy ever, I really love you." The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too". The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal! That's my child's love she's trying to steal." Smiling wisely Santa said,"To me it is clear, only one loving mother is needed here." The mom kissed her child and tucked her into bed. "Thank you Santa for clearing my head. I sometimes forget, it won't be very long, until they'll be too old for my cradle-song." The clock on the mantle began to chime. Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time." With the clone by his side, Santa said, "Good Night. Merry Christmas mom. You'll be all right." -Author Unknown

Ginger Dwellings and Christmas Concerts

2008-12-19T19:19:00.003-05:00

Tonight is the last night Gage and Frankie will be home until January 4th when they return from the land of snow, bitter coldness and rusty cars. At the moment there is a pretty decent sized storm going on there both Mother and Carrie called today to report that... "it is snowing". Imagine...

Ok, I'm back I had to get some more sunscreen on.

Tonight after dinner the boys built a Gingerbread house. For once I just sat and watched and offered the occasional suggestion. I did not get all overbearing and demand perfection. In a house filled with children a Gingerbread house should look like children made it and enjoyed themselves in the process (by that I mean sneaking the candy meant for the house), not Martha Stewart.

Tuesday evening we all went to Frankie's Christmas chorus concert. It was actually very good. They have a new music teacher and he knows his stuff. In case you're having some trouble my kid is the one dressed like a spearmint candy cane.

As an aside Frankie made the All County Chorus. A very small amount of children are honored with this priviledge, unfortunately their big concert is New Years Eve at the college. Frankie won't be here so we decided the correct thing to do was to decline so that another child may have that spot.

Tonight we are eating popcorn and watching Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian. Then tomorrow it's the LONG drive to the airport and the even longer drive home alone.

Sugar Cookie Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-12-19T19:12:00.000-05:00

Sugar Cookie Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

I'M GOING TO WIN THIS TIME! I'M GONNA GONNA GONNA! AND I KNOW SOMEONE WHO WANTS IT REALLY, REALLY BAD!

A Parade of Pictures

2008-12-15T08:05:00.004-05:00

Christmas card picture out-takes.

Bob's handknit b'day socks.

Finn on his birthday present motorcycle and with his kitten Gilbert.

Frankie's December Court of Honor for Boyscout's.

Apron Giveaway!

2008-12-12T09:40:00.000-05:00

They are giving away a vintage apron as well as some other vintage stuff at the blog http://lifeinacordwoodcabin.blogspot.com/2008/12/good-afternoon.html.

A Good Mum

2008-10-02T08:46:00.002-05:00

Here is Frankie in his boyscout shirt his Mummy procured on e-bay at a small fraction of the price it would have cost regularly. Mummy then took it out of the mailbox, removed the patches the previous owner had earned (why they were left on there I know not.) and presented said uniform washed and ready to Franklin in time for his troop meeting. The shirt came in the mail Monday and his meeting was Monday night how is that for turn around?

Frankie's Mum then proceeded to the sewing machine where she whipped up a valance for Frankie's & Rylin's room in spite of the fact that her faithful sewing machine of many years would sew approximately 9 stitches and stop screaming an error message at her that something in the threading of the sewing machine was amiss. She checked, rethreaded, rebobbined, took said machine apart and cleaned and oiled it's many bits and pieces it still would not cease it's horrible screams she even gave it a brand new needle and it would not be satisfied. In spite of the aforementioned issue she continued to sew until the curtains were finished while mashing her foot on the pedal and threatening the faithful machine with the Clay Co. Landfill or donation to some 10 year old girl somewhere who would make her sticky and use her once to make something 'Hannah Montanah' and leave her to become dusty, forlorn and generally misuse her in every manner possible. The machine would not relent to the desperate Mum. Little does the machine know that this VERY clever Mum has what is known in some circles as a spare sewing machine a machine which lacks all bells and whistles that the nasty naughty sewing machine has but can be trusted to behave in a more appropriate manner .

Oh yes, back to the valance. Frankie's mum trimmed the threads, gave the sewing machine an angry shove and nasty look then went in and hung up the curtains.

She then went and sat down for her well earned rest and knit on this sock she loves the pattern, LOVES IT, it is interesting yet not too hard and she wears a smug little smile while knitting on it because it is her first time knitting from a chart.

When Frankie arrived home from school he walked into his room to put his school bag away and came running out saying, "I love the curtains, they look so nice... you're such a good Mom!" he then hugged and squeezed her very tight and she smiled contentedly.

She then walked into the room where the retched sewing machine does it's dirty business and yanked it's plug out of the wall, wrapped the cord tight around it's tender plastic shell and shoved it into what is known to her as 'the new sewing cupboard' she smiled as she turned a deaf ear to it's desperate pleas of, "No" and "I'm so sorry" she gave it one last devious glance slowly shut the doors and left it crying in the dark...

Tiny Happy

2008-09-25T11:22:00.006-05:00

This post is about the tiny, happy, beautiful things. The things that are so easy to take for granted yet bring so much happiness.

The smell of fresh baked cookies...

The beauty of a cookie jar filled to the brim with cookies you made yourself.

A book so good you read this much in one day of stolen moments.

A husband who the lizards love to be around even though he's kind of a dork because he never let's his wife get a proper picture without doing something silly.

Rylin would like for everyone to know that this is what he would look like if he was a "china guy". (We had Chinese take away one Friday)

Finn would like everyone to know that this is what he would look like if he was Rylin. I blame this sort of behavior on the fact that my husband the afore mentioned dork contributed to half the DNA of these kids.

I inspected a friends new baby... meet Brendan. I held him, smelled him and loved him. (During which time Bob was hysterically flipping out about how I shouldn't touch the baby or even allow them in my home and that it's "bad luck" and babies are "catching" and to please keep the baby outside.)

I started an autumn quilt to hang in my dining room it was just waiting for the binding to be sewn onto the back.

I also cast on a sock, knit on it a while, realized it was the very wrong size ripped it out and cast it on again using smaller needles.

All a bunch of little things that make me happy.

One Picture. One Word.

2008-09-09T11:13:00.002-05:00

Beautiful...

Ravelympics Progress

2008-08-22T14:42:00.004-05:00

The Striped Felted Tote is completed here is before and after felting pictures. I felted it yesterday and today I cast on a new project, The Omo Scarf. I'm using a turquoise handspun superwash wool yarn that a friend gifted me for my birthday. The scarf is a fashion scarf rather than a scarf for warmth. With all the rain and wind it is definately good knitting weather. Our power was out today for quite a while and Bob hooked up the generator, if it weren't for the humidity that makes a/c a necessity for comfort I would have been content to just sit by the window and knit with no power.

Your guess is as good as mine...

2008-08-19T06:43:00.003-05:00

Here is the current forecast for Fay. This is this morning's forecasted track. I point this out because by this afternoon it will be different. Get out the generator; go put it away... get it out, put it away... take the furniture of the deck; put it back it will go on and on until either it starts to blow and rain or the sun comes out and people who jumped the gun by hanging plywood over their windows look a big sort of fool. (My apologies to the man down the street whom I saw hanging plywood yesterday evening. Hope it comes buddy, to save you the shame)

Another thing is that no matter how the forecast starts out it always ends up in our area on a weekend (this was what happened in 2005 anyway) so you didn't even get a day off from school or work because of it. (Not me, I don't get days off. Not even CHRISTMAS! I need to get with the union about that...)

There is an upside though. The media is having a wonderful good time with this, it's a big huge story with the propensity for loss of life, property, flooding and government aid (in their opinion, I don't think it's such a big deal) but for a very short time at least we're not hearing so much about Barrak Obama and that's a good thing.

Should it come I am prepared; I have my book, book light, knitting and a rocking chair on the front porch where I will sit and watch the wind blow, the rain fall and pond and discuss with Bob how I am a terrible role model for the children sitting outside during a storm and no, he will absolutely not video me standing out in the yard in my rain coat like Jim Cantori on the weather channel and for me to get myself in this house and act like a grown woman and responsible mother. I wonder if it will make my neighbors feel any better to know that Bob and I also spend a good amount of time during these storms speculating on which of your trees are most likely to fall first and whether or not we think it will be on your home. Don't be upset. After all, what are folks to do when the satellites out?

First Day of School 2008

2008-08-18T13:24:00.004-05:00

This morning the boys were up early, breakfasted, dressed and ready to go.... to school.

In my defense Rylin dressed himself. He inisted that he wear that shirt because it was a 'special day' and thus a button up shirt was desirable. I figured it wasn't so unreasonable for a first grader to demand a little individuality so I relented.

Look at the van and look at Gage, see how tall he's getting?

Frankie is busy concentrating on staying upright do to the amount of school supplies in his back pack.

The day was quite quiet without them. When we were walking to the car this morning after walking them into their classrooms Finn refused to walk and stood pointing back to the school insisting we were forgetting Rylin.

I missed them today. Summer seemed so short this year.

Finished just in time.

2008-08-17T12:37:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I spent the day in my room finishing the quilt while some of the boys lay on the bed and watched a movie.

I put the last stitch into the binding at 11:33pm, Saturday night. That's pretty close since I handed it over to the lady running the auction at 9:45am this morning. Good thing the Olympics were on to keep me awake last night!

I'm glad it's done. I don't think I'm going to sew anymore though... I think I'll just knit.

Progress

2008-08-15T15:12:00.003-05:00

Here is the finished quilt top for the church fundraiser.

The tote needs to be cast off, the handles knit and felted. There is definately progress but not enough.

Happy 6th Birthday, Rylin!

2008-08-13T07:29:00.005-05:00

We had pineapple upside down cake. Rylin got a new scooter, a remote control helicopter and a harmonica that Finn insists is his.

Church Quilt

2008-08-11T12:06:00.003-05:00

Here is what I have done so far for the church fundraiser quilt.

I signed up for the knitting olympics on Ravelry and now I'm thinking it would have been better to sign up for the quilting olympics.

It must be complete by Sunday the 17th. I wonder if I can do it...

Fort Matanzas Part 2 - A Perfect Beach

2008-08-04T09:14:00.003-05:00

Here is the view to the South and North along the beach.

Frankie and Rylin played in the waves and Finn walked Mrs. M. along the beach. We took about a 2 mile walk along the beach and picked loads of shells and swam in little tide pools along the way. We had a great time and we look forward to taking Bob to this beach.

A Trip to Fort Matanzas

2008-08-04T08:37:00.006-05:00

Friday the boys and I met The Minota's at Fort Matanzas.

We tried to take a group picture by the very old oak tree. Do you think maybe two of the kids were having a disagreement?

We rode the ferry over to the fort. Who's more excited the kids or Mr. M.?

We listened to the Park Ranger tell us the history of Fort Matanzas.

We had a nice fried chicken lunch and took more tree pictures.

Unexpected Blessings

2008-07-30T11:28:00.003-05:00

Two good things happened yesterday that were quite unexpected. First, a cordless phone that Finn had thrown in the pool last Friday and hadn't worked since then began suddenly working again.

Second, Callie the Cat had been missing since Saturday. We scoured the neighborhood looking for her, made posters and put them up around the neighborhood. Yesterday afternoon I received a call from a lady saying she believed she had our cat. She brought her over and indeed it was Callie. She had followed some ladies who were jogging and made it to the other side of the neighborhood where she wandered around until this lady took her in to be with her other cats. She was very sad to hand her over to me, was crying and had renamed her "Puppet". I didn't not ask this woman if it ever occured to her that this was someone else's cat that they were missing, I just thanked her for returning her.

Callie is back home and being loved and squeezed whether she wants to or not. As well as lying in wait for me to leave my laptop so she can lay on the keyboard and refuse to get up. We honestly didn't think we would ever see her again but God is good and brought her home.

Some Finished Quilt Blocks

2008-07-28T08:23:00.002-05:00

I finished some quilt blocks, there are 14 in all. That's about all I've accomplished.

Family Beach Day

2008-07-28T07:11:00.005-05:00

Saturday we went to Villano Beach. The water temp was perfect not freezing but cool enough to be refreshing. There were enough waves to have fun in them but no so rough that Finn & Rylin couldn't go in. We got there about 11:30am and left around 4pm it was a pretty fun day and it's great that Finn is old enough now that we can all go to the beach without too much hassle. After two years of sitting home. We invested in a dining canopy that can be set up easily on the beach to provide some shade which makes it much more enjoyable to be able to get out of the sun whenever you wish.

Reunion Trip

2008-07-24T08:42:00.004-05:00

Last Friday Frankie, Rylin and myself took a trip up to Canton, Georgia to visit my friend and sister of my heart if not by blood. This was our first opportunity to spend any length of time together as adults, wives and mothers. Our conversation differed from what it used to be as girls as a lot of the things we wondered about as girls we now have the answers too. It was wonderful to sit by the pool and knit and watch our children play together our ideal when we were younger was that we would live near each other and watch our kids play, we are not near each other but as it turns out we will never be too far away.

Animals and Aliens

2008-07-18T07:18:00.004-05:00

Here is a turtle the visited us in our yard. This is the second one we've seen in the neighborhood since we've lived here.

Then there is Rylin and Finn playing war.

And where do roosters go during thunderstorms? In the grill of course!

A Birthday.

2008-07-18T06:33:00.003-05:00

Here are pictures from my 30th birthday. Bob took us all to The Texas Roadhouse for dinner. It was quite delicious. He also made me a brownie and cream cheese frosting cake.

I spent the day with my children and my friend Cindy Minota. We had a swim, did a tiny bit of sewing and broke up fights between the children. Some things never change.

Everyday Doings pt. 2 - Projects

2008-07-09T08:42:00.002-05:00

Here are some things I've been working on or thinking about working on.

I picked up a Double Wedding Ring Quilt kit with the acrylic templates. I also purchased the fabric the black will be the backsround, the batik will be the rings and the yellow & green will be the little squares where the rings meet.

Here is the tote I've been knitting for a thousand years. The knit side is the wrong side. The purl side is the right side. In the end I will felt it and have a beautiful bag. In theory.

Here is some messing about I did with my embroidery machine. I am planning a Disney Cars quilt for Rylin's birthday, he has been pestering me quite a while for a new "blanks".

Everyday Doings Family

2008-07-09T07:45:00.003-05:00

The new 'pool boy' started his job.

Finn rode a horsey.

Until the horsey refused to get up anymore.
The horse wouldn't give me a ride, in fact when I got on he screamed, "Get off! Get off!" I won't be giving that horse any oats.

Child Labor

2008-07-07T15:23:00.002-05:00

When I came back from a quick run to the store this is what I found. Bob had the little ones washing his bike. I can't even get them to flush the toilet...

OOOPS!

2008-07-07T14:34:00.003-05:00

When I looked at my blog a little while ago I realized some of the pictures I had put on here from the church picnic and 4th of July weren't there. Blogger kept giving me some kind of error so it may have something to do with that anyway here they are.

Awesome sky.

Some of the ladies.

Finn eating watermelon again.

Rylin enjoying some as well.

Bob and Finn and a pretty pregnant Leslie.

The Wandtke Family 4th Of July

2008-07-07T08:05:00.003-05:00

It's been a long weekend for sure. Jacob flew in Friday, wearing a mohawk. Bob swiftly removed it Saturday before my friend Barbara's BBQ.

Friday night we watched Bob's Big Firework Show, some of the fireworks are pictured on the truck behind him. (I think we've been in the deep south too long, Bob never wears a shirt anymore) We oohed and aaahed appropriately and I even set some off.

We picked up some citronella tiki torches to keep the 'skeetos' away during the fireworks show. The kids thought they were very neat and I had to keep a pretty good eye on them so they didn't get all "Lord of the Flies" with them.

We were all pretty tired at this point as we had spent the majority of the day in the pool and ate ribs, cheeseburgers, sausage and macaroni salad until we were about burst. We actually made it a pretty early night. It was a nice family long weekend, Saturday evening we went to a barbecue down the road for a friend's birthday and Sunday was the church picnic. I think we could all use a weekend to rest from the long weekend.

Annual Church Picnic

2008-07-07T07:37:00.004-05:00

Sunday after the morning service we went to the annual church picnic in the pavilions at a park close by.

There was losts of yummy food and Finn enjoyed some watermelon.

If you notice the picture of me it is a definite oddity. #1 I'm sitting. #2 None of my children are near by. The picnic was definately enjoyable.

Then I took a picture displaying the Baptist male physique. Left to right: Jacob, Bob the husband &Finn, Bob Patterson, Pastor Troy Grant, Assoc. Pastor Jason Weathersby and Andy Barker. We always joke that whenever us Baptists get together there's food involved... these men indicate that it is true.

Finn ate him some more watermelon like a true southern child. A good time was had by all and around 3 pm when the last of us were leaving a huge thunderstorm moved in that lasted about 3 hours. That shows God's perfect timing.