Farmer's Market Bag

These bags are made out of thrifted pillow cases. Because I used the seams that were already sewn, I didn't have to sew all that much. A very quick and easy project.

This one was made for a friend who is having a birthday this week. I can just see her walking down to put her apples and peaches in here.

After I become better at maintaining a straight seam, I might try to do these on etsy. Re-usable bags are all the rage and the cheapy ones you buy at the store don't really last that long. They get fuzzy very quickly.

So, not only have I thrifted, I have recycled, too! And this gift probably only cost me $1.00, plus my time, which wasn't much.

Owie

Sometime this...

Results in this.

It's not broken, just badly bruised. She'll have to use crutches for a couple of days and miss a week of softball practice.

All-in-all, not a bad trip to the emergency room if you have to go there.

I have so much to show you

But I have other responsibilities before I can sit down and play with the photos. I never edit them (except for cropping and red eye) but someday I want to get photoshop and then, watch out!

The festival was fun. Today is strike for the musical, which was a hit. And I am so proud (I feel like I can brag a little here) that I consistently got laughs in all the right places and a really big one on the last night. It felt really good. But I'm glad it's over.

My little one did an amazing job. I can see her doing musicals and drama for a while.

I have an awfully weird sun burn where the sunscreen did not quite reach. Splotches on my feet, a stripe on both forearms, and my lips don't feel so good. I am in desperate need of a pedicure, as well. It's time for summer feet!

So, I will be back, with pictures! As soon as I spruce up the house and take a nap.

Wax Museum

My little Sprite's 4th grade class gave history presentations yesterday.

This little one is very academic. She does reports for fun. She is always very thorough and competent and prepared.

See the little yellow sticker on her shoulder? That's what you press when you want the presentation to start. Most of the kids said, "Oh, hello... I didn't see you standing there. My name is...

Sprite did Sacagewea. Sacagewea had a son named Pomp. I bet you didn't know that.

We saw Charles Limburgh, Ice Skaters, Journalists, Princess Diana and even The Rock. And if all their buttons were pressed, we heard them all at THE SAME TIME! It was sort of like when 'Tickle Me Elmo' was popular. My kids would go squeeze all the hands at the same time and drive the Target employees crazy.

Besides all the amazing facts I heard, I also learned that I could never be a school teacher. They looked exhausted!

She's so sweet, this one. And amazing and smart and pretty and loving and, and, and.

Happy Birthday

Today is my man's birthday. He is a great husband and the best dad I know.

Happy birthday, babe! I hope this is your best year ever.

Jungle Kitty

It's archive day again!

In honor of the survivor finale.

It's archive day

In honor of our towns annual festival (and because I'm feeling a little lazy), I give you this two year old post.

Hmm. It's gone now.

Must've been a fluke. All's right with the world again.

What is that and how do I get rid of it?

Evidently, my posts can be rated now.

I don't like that. It's another pressure I really don't need.

Why did it just appear? I would much prefer someone just move along to greener pastures than give my post a 2 1/2 stars. You don't have to like me, but I don't want to know about it.

Now I'm self-conscious. Oh, the drama!

I guess I'll go fiddle around in the profile area and see if I can get rid of it. If I can't, just be nice and give me five! :)

My new best friends

This is good stuff!

I like the idea of using non-toxic stuff in my house.

I used to use Shaklee products, which are fabulous, but you have to order them and wait for them to come and pay shipping. I hate to pay shipping. But they were good and they worked. But they were terribly expensive for our graduate student budget. Green Works is only $2.67 a bottle.

Lots of other green cleansers seem to be rather high in price, too. Method from target is okay, but I never feel like things are super clean. I would often get my bleachy product out after I used the cucumber melon cleanser because the counters stayed sticky. Kind of defeats the purpose, eh?

But this stuff! Wow! It smells so fresh and doesn't hurt my sinuses. No residue. My bathroom is sparkling! I hope they aren't pulling a fast one one me.

And also, how did I ever live without the wet jet? It's so easy to mop now.

Plus, when I ran out of the cleanser it came with, I pulled out the pliers to pry the lid off the bottle and put the Green Works in! Don't tell the swiffer people.

I have this morning off, so I am in a cleaning frenzy. My mom is coming to visit on Friday, then we have our local city festival and the show goes up, so I'm taking today to get the house in shape. The upstairs is done.

Now I will quit procrastinating and get the downstairs going.

Let me know if you have any good, healthy products that I should add to my stash.

Almost there

Here is me in my habit. It's not quite right yet. I haven't been successful at keeping the whimple in place. Definitely not the most attractive picture I've ever taken.

Also, the blue polish and the jewelry have to go. My friend thought is was funny to see the blue nails against the habit.

The show is coming along quite nice. I can't wait!

It is so much fun to be in a show with one of my kids. I hope we get to do this as a family a lot more in the future.

I'm not looking foward to stage makeup. Last year I got the biggest zit you could believe. It would not go away, I tell ya.

Oh well, the show must go on.

The good, the bad and the ugly

It's another new day!

The laundry fairy has deserted me.

Snow in the forecast.

Today...

Well, it hasn't been a total day relaxation, but it's been good.

I took the kids to school then went to work out. I came home to eat breakfast and I finished a book (that had a bad ending).

Took a shower and put on comfy clothes.

Spent a leisurely amount of time in the grocery store and came home to unload. There is something very gratifying about a full fridge, freezer and pantry. It makes me feel very grateful.

Went to pick up some of the kids from school. My boy is away in the Big, Big City on his 8th grade trip. There is always something unbalanced when one of my chicks are abroad.

Next, I will finish the kitchen clean up and make something healthy and wholesome for my family to eat for dinner. Then off to rehearsal.

Not a bad day at all.

I need a quiet day

I can feel the need for a day all to myself. I've had too many busy days without a restful one.

People have been driving me crazy today, and I work in a place where I see people all day long. And I like people. I've just had enough of them for awhile.

I come off as an extroverted person, but I think I am an introvert who has decent people skills.
Am I an introverted extrovert or a extroverted introvert?

I need my day of rest. I need a jammie day.

I think tomorrow might be a good choice. I need to grocery shop and do some chores, but otherwise, I think my time is my own until 6:00 pm.

In other news.... My friends Rock!

This morning, out of the blue, one of my girlfriends called me at work and told me she was making my family dinner tonight. She said she knew I had been working hard and wanted to do something nice for me.

How awesome is that?

I know it's blurry...

but it makes me happy. We'll see how long I can keep it up before he says, "Ew, gross, take it down".

He's something else, that man of mine. I really, really like him.

See what's playing in theater #5?

Yup! The movie finally got a premeire date. We had a premiere party.

Oh my Goodness! The excitement is just too much to contain.

I have photos up on facebook under Dave's 16th. I think you can go visit it without being a true facebooker. There is also a blog, but I haven't updated that yet.

This film was shot the summer before last, but couldn't be edited for almost a year while my husband worked on another project. So it feels like it's been a really long journey from way back then to now. But it feels really good.

Now we will try to get it out to festivals and do some marketing and try to get distribution. But it feels really good to finally get it out there and have people watch it.

I'm so proud of the hubby. He did good.

Dave was played by Tim Sprigg

Look who came to visit

The laundry fairy finally came to visit. I found her floating in a load of darks.

She has inspired me, I tell ya. I can now see the laundry room floor!

As a reward, we will watch a movie and fold, fold, fold.

Thank you laundry fairy. We hope you stay.

Can't even think of a title

It's been soccer, soccer, rehearsal, soccer, more rehearsal, hubby busy, busy, busy with movie stuff, more soccer, more rehearsal, work...

Sometimes when too much is happening, I can't think of what to write in my little blog spot.

Oh, I know!! I have a new favorite salad dressing. I will share:

2 TBS red wine vinegar
1/2 C olive oil
a squeeze of honey
2 tsp. chipotle seasoning
garlic powder
salt and pepper.

Blend it or whisk it all together. Let it sit for awhile. Shake it back up before using.

Now make a lettuce/spinach salad and on top place black beans, sweet red pepper, corn and scallions. Shredded chicken if you have it. Drizzle the yummy dressing on top. It is De-Lish!!

This one might take over my taco salad obsession.

Today: Put in a load of laundry, got kids in the car, yelled at them a little, then apologized to them, sent them into their schools. Took a walk. Checked email and blogs.

Now I will shower, do lots of laundry, pick up bedrooms, vacuum, mop and do lots of house stuff since I am not working today! Wish me luck.

Evolution of Dance

This is one of those things I wish I'd thought up.

A preview

My youngest daughter and I have the privilege of acting together in local production of The Sound of Music.

The Von Trapp Family gave a preview last night to a group of community members. They were so very cute!

My daughter plays Marta, second from youngest. I love hearing her sweet little voice and am so proud of her. She didn't seem to have any jitters at all.

I'll be sure to let you see me in my nun's habit. The best thing about my costume is that I get to wear shorts underneath!

Look how cute I was

I found some old photos that I thought I would share today.

This is my grandpa Ira. He was a little guy, but very manly. Manly enough to live in a pink house. He worked in the paper mills most of his life and played baseball when he was young. He was very good at math.

This is my grandma Virginia. She has the softest skin. She used something with roses in it. She was a very good housekeeper but didn't sing very well. We played a lot of word games and yahtzee and uno.

These were very lovely grandparents to have. I was a very loved baby.

Just to clarify

I just read a post about plagiarism at The Magpie Files that made me think.

Of course, none of us with any conscience will take word for word what anyone else writes and claim them for their own. That's just stupid.

But there are craft ideas, and blog styles, and pictures out there that I am heavily influenced by. If someone asked me if I've ever plagiarized I would be quick to say no. But maybe I have. I'm not sure I could say my blog has a style, so I think I'm clear there, but I have done some knitting or other crafty stuff. I just assume people figure I probably used a pattern. I'm no designer!

The thai food picture that I used below is not my own. I just googled thai food and hit images and chose the first one that popped up. I didn't even think to look at who it belonged to. Probably some magazine. I'll try to go back and find it. If it had been on your blog, I would have asked first and given you credit. But this time it didn't even occur to me to check.

I always try to link articles and acknowledge fun things I find out there in the blogosphere. But the magpie lady gave me lots more to consider and I'm sure I will be more conscientious in the future.

I only started this blog because I enjoy reading your blogs so much. I didn't think it was fair for me to read all about you and not give a little something back. I'm not here to make a buck (maybe someday on etsy? who knows) or write a book or make some kind of name for myself. I like that blogging lets me meet people I never would otherwise. It's about making the big world a little smaller for me.

So, all this to say, my intentions are honorable. Any little slip ups have been due to thoughtlessness, not intentional meanness.

A lot of the blogs I read have a sameness about them. We are moms and readers and crafters and wives and friends and lovers who are happy or depressed or overwhelmed or content. I'm mostly amazed at all of you. You are awesome! So if a little of you seeps in to what you read here, I hope you know that it is because I like you and I think friends become a little like each other eventually.

Now, I'm off to find that thai food picture! xoxo

A new dining experience

Picture from bangkokhotel-tours.com

We ran into some friends in the Big City and they invited us out to dinner. My husband, who is meat and potatoes and pizza, said that we would love share a meal, but that they would be dealing with a few picky eaters.


We had just fed the kids Icees and pretzels from Sam's club, so I knew they wouldn't starve and if they tried a little everything and didn't use the words 'eww, gross' we promised to get them french fries later.

So we dined on Thai food and everyone survived. I loved it. I have had pad thai and chicken on skewers at street fairs and such, but this time I had salmon with green beans in some sort of yummy sauce and pineapple rice and fish cakes with cucumber and cabbage in a sauce and Jasmine rice. I'm not a huge fan of Indian food with curry, so when they ordered my meal and saw that it had curry in it, I was a little worried, but it was oh, so good.

It was great to spend time with friends, and eat new foods and talk and enjoy each other. Only three family members needed the french fries, but they were good and tried stuff and had their horizons widened.

I was very proud of my husband, who is the second pickiest of the bunch. He did good.

April showers bring May flowers

Another reason I love my job... I get to make displays every month or so.

This month I hung my daughter's umbrella and trolled the garage for garden-y looking things. I collected all the books with pretty flowers on the cover, and voila! A spring display.

Now, if the snow will just finish melting, we can plant some real flowers.

A sure cure for my overwhelmedness

I found this article at zen habits that is very appealing. Go there to read the whole thing, but here is the short list.

Do one think at a time.

Do it slowly and deliberately.

Do it completely. (This is not a fly lady essential. I think this must be one of the reasons I can't follow that program. Who wants to stop making the bed when the timer rings if the pillow cases aren't on?)

Do less.

Put space between things (I don't think this means evertime I finish a chore I get to play a round of scramble. Because we all know that you can't play JUST ONE!)

Develop rituals.

Designate time for certain things.

Devote time to sitting.

Smile and serve others.

Make cleaning and cooking become meditation.

Think about what is necessary.

Live Simply.

Wow. Pretty common sense stuff, huh? Sounds like a Jesus way to live, too.

I think I will try to post about each essential as I'm working on it.

I sort of feel like I have to get everything in order before I can begin my more zen-like but I just read a C.S. Lewis quote through the bunny trail of blogs that says something to the effect that successful people are those who seek knowledge while conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come. (Go to pink sneakers for the full quote).

Anyone out there have this under control? I'm wondering what your life looks like.

For Today

Todays weather: Snowing. Again.

Todays breakfast: Apples, oranges, banana and a string cheese. String cheese is a very convenient take-along food.

Todays lunch: Hopefully eaten out if a friend calls back. If not, I have a package of ground turkey just waiting to be turned into taco meat.

Todays quote: A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. (I'm thinking this must be from Proverbs).

Todays big chore: The bathroom scrub down/springtime makeover (I will not let the snow beat me) and organization of the linen closet.

Todays beverage of choice: Starting with hot black tea, then moving on to Coke Zero.

Today I will say good morning to every person that comes into work with the hopes that they will have a good day and be blessed in a special way that is obvious. The kind of thing that's out of the norm, that will make a person actually think, "Wow, I've just been blessed"!

And I hope you are blessed in some amazing way, too!

Do you SEE where she's sitting??

Death to Bunnies

Happy Easter, my peeps

May you find in Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, a companion for your journey, a sure ground for your hopes, the peace that passes understanding and the joy that life is eternal.

Getting to know you, 4x4

I love meme's and learning trivia about people. So I'm doing this one!

Four jobs I have had: Waitress (lots of times), Sign Language Interpreter, Wedding dress salesperson (eek), Library Clerk (presently, LOVE IT!)


Four shows I watch: Survivor, Lost, The Office, America's Best Dance Crew


Four places I've visited: Hawaii, Vancouver BC, Disneyworld, Washinton DC


Four foods I like: Taco Salads, Chops Americano from Blue Mountain, Burger on Greens from Red Robin, Double Beef Cheeseburgers from Burgerville



Four More:


Four scents I like: Vanilla, Thanksgiving Dinner, Banana Bread, kids who have just eaten graham crackers.


Four sounds: That first snow falling quietness, my kids singing, when hubby laughs really hard, the first time the ice cream truck comes through the neighborhood, but not after that!


Cars I've had: A cute little Honda Accord that my brother destroyed when it was his turn to drive, A Ford escort, a Pontiac 2000 - old and ugly but heated up really fast, and currently a mini-van.


Four things I'm good at: Baking cookies, doodling, knitting stocking caps, french braiding.



Another Four:


Songs I like: Here we go again, OK GO, Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur... (mom's shouldn't like that one, eh?) The Revelation song, The Mom Song


Books I've enjoyed: The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

Food I hate: Capers, curry, divinity... And how sad is it that I can only think of three?

Food that hates me: French Fries, Red Vines, Butter, Chocolate. One bite and I gain five pounds. Not fair.

I should have another four, to finish the 4x4, but it's been a long day and I need a rest.

Everyone is tagged who cares to carry on the meme!

Inquiring minds want to know

Is it rude to ask people about their obvious physical traits?

Can I ask people about how they came to have their crooked noses, glass eyes, limps, smashed fingers, etc?

Or is it only okay to inquire if the physical difference seems to be only a temporary malady, like a cast or crutches or pregnancy or a zit.

I am extremely (EXTREMELY) curious about people, but I rarely ask.
When I do ask, I never ask to be rude or make a person feel bad. I honestly want to know. Come on, it's not like it isn't obvious. Maybe it would put a person at ease to know they are actually being seen and looked at straight on.

There is a very nice gentleman who comes into my work with only one leg. I always want to ask if the cold hurts his stump, or have him tell me his story. But I don't ask. I'm sure I could, he's a very nice person. But I hold back because I don't want to embarrass him if it is a touchy subject.

I consider myself to be a pretty nice person. I like to consider the feelings of others, but does that trait make it harder to get to know people? I don't want to step on toes, or cause someone to be uncomfortable.

I think those bad haircuts, crooked eye-liner, tattoos, painful shuffles, black eyes, scars and missing limbs are unique and it makes me think you must have an awesome story to tell.

So don't be mad if I start asking.

A little spring at the end of winter

I've been knitting hats like crazy.

And I learned how to make little knitted flowers, too.

Do you ever look at your kids and think how lucky you are? I just want to eat these girls up! I love them so.

This makes me laugh

Long time, no post

Weekend away! Yay!

Flu! Ick.

Raising kids is sometimes hard. Sigh.

That about sums up the last few days.

Stuff

The computer is not quite back to being fully loaded, so I don't have any of my own pictures to share.

I thought I would share a couple of my favorite things, though. To tide us over.

Have you used this stuff? It's fabulous. Especially when you live in a place where winter will never, ever end and you are destined to be cold and flaky for all of eternity.
My favorite lip balm is actually called 'My Favorite Lip Balm'. Worth every penny. I keep it on my night stand and use it every night before bed. Also great for the forever winter environment in which I am now dwelling.

I have just a slight lip balm addiction and usually have some sort of lip product in every room. I keep one next to my knitting (lip smacker) One in my purse (aquafina) one in a drawer at work (blistex silk and shine) along with many, many others.

This is the only medium cheddar cheese we like. Yummy! Nice and hard and very easy to grate.

In other news... I am learning a latin chant for my part in the Sound of Music. Very challenging. And I also have discovered I get to sing one of my favorite lines... 'I would like to say a word in her behalf, Maria, makes me laugh'. Makes me very happy.

Hopefully we are coming to the end of the revolving sicknesses around here. We have not all been at 100% for some time.

TTFN, friends!

Cute!

Lost!!

My big list of favorites.

All gone.

It took me a really long time to collect those favorites. Only some I read daily, but lots I check in whenever the mood strikes.

I hope I can find them all again!

Saved!

My fabulous, smart, wonderful, creative husband has rescued all of our photos!

Just in the nick of time too. The computer is on a slow crash, but crash it will at any moment. He's going to wipe the hard drive and we will start again. It's an old thing, and I wouldn't mind a new computer, but, ya know... Money doesn't grow on trees.

Last night we began practice for our local production of Sound of Music. I am in the role of Sister Margaretta. I can't wait to wear a habit. My youngest daughter was one of seven children out of 152 to be chosen to play one of the Von Trapp children.

My two youngest girls are close in size. Actually, my second grader looks older than my fourth grader, which meant they were up for the same part. So sad. To be so happy for one and so heart broken for the other. Ah, well. Life isn't fair, is it?

Off to work! I've been doing lots of crafty/knitty stuff that I'll show you soon. Some with success, some without, but it's all good practice.

Ack!!!

My computer is breaking, or is broken.

If it's just breaking, then there is hope to get three years worth of photos off of it before it is officially dead.

My husband is super smart, so I have faith that he will be able to rescue our photos.

The other stuff on there is mostly kids reports, a couple of starts on about three different novels that I will probably never finish, lots of knitting patterns and my resume.

I am willing to sacrifice it all just to get my pictures off.

Please send happy thoughts! And go burn your photos to a disc right now.

Have you discovered the Pioneer Woman?

If not, please check out this site. This is one of the most fun blogs I've seen in a while. (Not that I don't like yours, too. You know I love you!)

This is my favorite post. Please click on it. You won't be sorry.

Also, look around the site for Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. It's the story of how she met her husband. Serial reading at it's best.

Go over and then come back and tell me what you think.

Homesick

This is a picture of my home town on the Columbia River. This is where I grew up and where my husband grew up. We had two of our kids there.

My mom and step-dad still live there. My mother-in-law lives three hours north of there. My husband's grandparents are there. My brother, his sister. Our nieces. A church we love. An awesome Farmer's Market.

Right now it is 48 degrees and overcast there. Here it is snowing at the same time it is -3. I didn't think it was possible to snow at that cold of a temperature.

I'm mopey right now. Tired of snow. I haven't seen the ground since Dec. 1. And I'm afraid that we haven't even reached our snowiest month yet.

I miss the steady, small trickle of rain. They say it rains so much there, but it's not that it's really SO MUCH, but just a little bit, often. It never stopped us from playing outside when we were kids. Not like this frost-bitey weather keeps my kids in.

Snowy weather was always a treat for me. It would snow enough to make a snowman and then be gone in the next day or two.

Now it's too powdery to stick together and is all gray from the sand sprinkler. With frozen dog poops on top of it. Not a magic winter-wonderland at all.

Of course, there are blessings here, too. I'm just missing the other place today. I'm done whining, now.

Things I know about Vicks

Vicks feels better on the chest if you lay a heated wash cloth over it.

You should always take your contacts out first before using Vicks. It can sting up to four hours later, no matter how much you wash your hands.

I don't know who started this lie, but slathering Vicks on your feet and sleeping in socks does not magically make a cough go away. It's just gross.

Children will do almost anything to avoid being rubbed down with Vicks. I never show them the jar. I just goop some on a finger a hide it behind my back and then accost them with it. Of course, as soon as I lay that warm cloth on them, they are thanking me.

Vicks stains everything.

Using Vicks is not very happy-making. It means that sickness is abroad.

Out on 'tetanus'

He forgot the 'a'

But there were 32 kids out before him, which was a sizeable chunk.

So proud of my spelling bee-er!