i have to say...

something new

I have been hard at work on a secret project and the time has come to show you what it is! 

A number of months ago I hatched a plan to start making patterns.  Initially I thought I would be working on patterns for adults to sew things like purses or quilts, but as time went on I decided to change course and design patterns for moms and daughters to make together.  Making crafty goods with my girls has been one of the sweetest things about being a mom, so I suppose that I am sticking with what I know by doing this.

My first two patterns are for The Sweetest Sugar Cookies Ever (ages 5 and up) and Big and Little Drawstring Bags (ages 10 and up).  Both are available in my new shop and they will remain in the sidebar of the Me and My Girl blog with links to the shop.  There are also fabric and wool felt kits available so that making these is as easy as 1-2-3!

I know all kinds of new things about my computer due to making these patterns.  I really had no idea that my lowly computer did so many amazing tricks.  Impatience was by best teacher because it is hard to find people to give computer lessons at a moment's notice, and when I want something done, it gets done!  My hope is that my next round of patterns will be a smoother process with fewer roadblocks to conquer!

It feels so good to be posting these as there were times when I thought this day would never come!  Now maybe I can spend some time with my neglected sewing machine who is looking a bit lonely on the craft table.  Poor girl!

Have a great day!

life is sweet...

"That it will never come again is what makes life sweet"

--Emily Dickinson

It occurs to me on occasion that a particular moment in time is precious.  I can feel it when it happens.  Almost as if life is perfect for just a flickering moment.

Ice cream and a kid who hides behind his cone and another one who is oblivious to the fact that I am photographing, not her cute face, but her chocolate mustache, were the makings of a moment for me. 

Once in a lifetime are these tiny snatches of time.

Once in a lifetime...

five things i don't like

1. Mushy-gushy greeting cards.  Cards that let someone know that they are like a "lighthouse in the stormy sea of my life" get left at the store, while something funny will always get taken home. 

2. Halloween.  Decorating with tombstones and spider-webs just seems odd to me.  I just can't get into the spirit of the thing.  Also, my kids talk about their costumes MONTHS ahead of time and I generally tell them to talk amongst themselves, because until one week prior to the holiday this mommy doesn't engage in it!

3. Books by Jodi Piccoult.  OK, I said it.  Reading one of her books is like reading one really long mushy-gushy greeting card.  I just don't think that real people are quite as insightful as her characters are.  I mean, once in a while you run into someone who gleans awesome, philisophical significance out of any situation, but on a daily basis it doesn't happen--at least in my life.

4. Being told what to do.  My dad always taught me to be a "thinker" and a "wary-consumer".  And that I am.  One way to get me riled is to demand something of me rather than treating me like the person-that-I-am and letting me make that choice for myself.

5. Syrup on pancakes.  Butter and jam is the only way to go when it comes to pancakes.  I don't know why, but syrup gives me the shivers, literally.

6.  OK, so I said five things I don't like, but I must add a number six:  I don't like a post without a picture, so I give you this:

Have a nice Monday!

links, links, links

I know this is a weird picture!  It was taken last week at the Duck Park while we were being attacked by ducks and geese who were desperate for our bread crumbs.  All of my kids jumped in the car soon after I took this picture!  ;)

***Write, Mama, Write made an adorable quilt for a boy using this tutorial by Helen.   What a simple way to achieve a great design!

***My Byrd House has an tutorial showing how to make an a cute apron from a pair of jeans.

***Pink Chalk Studio shows you how to master the wavy seam.  As usual, her fabric choices are a treat for the eyes!

***Pumpkin carving with the kidlets?  Click here for a great idea that will keep your kids safe and happy!

***Michael Miller has a bunch of free quilting patterns available here.  Choosing which one to make will be hard!

***Grand Revival Design has a great tutorial for a ruffled skirt.  Please take the time to check out her blog too.   Pure loveliness!

Have a lovely day!

scrabble

Our family goes through phases when it comes to boardgames.  For a while it was Spiderman Monopoly, then it was a vintage game of Life, and now we are stuck in Scrabble-land.  My kids have been playing this for days, and even Aubry is in on the action.

I don't like Scrabble.  I find myself frustrated when I have an awesome word sitting in my tray, but the board has no letters on which to attach it.  In general, words like "bird" and "man" dominate my plays and my points rack up oh-so-slowly.  I always lose.

The other day I was watching the boys play when I noticed that Josiah had the word "toboggan" sitting in his tray.  (The kids like to play with 9 letters, rather than the suggested 7).  Then I popped over to Micah's side and he had "banisters" all scrambled up in his tiles.  Since I had found a great word for both of them, I pointed it out to them and they enjoyed the points that came their way.  It was the best Scrabble game I have ever played.

Aubry is a pretty slick Scrabble player too.  She plays phonetically and uses words like bil (bill) and truk (truck) when it is her turn.  Being the youngest, she gets away with this.   When she put down the word cat, we congratulated her and counted up her points, but before we were done she excitedly added a couple of extra letters:  M & R, as in "Mr. Cat".

Being the youngest does have its advantages in this Scrabble playing family!

lollipop, lollipop...

I posted over at Me and My Girl today.  If you are in the mood for something fun and sweet you may want to check it out!

visiting

It is good to be back from my short blogging break.  Not only did the extra time away from the computer allow me to visit with my mom, it also allowed me to feel refreshed and ready to get back to posting.  I don't know about you but I have to step away from my blog occasionally or I start to feel stressed over it, as if it is a job and not a fun hobby.   The break did me good.

My visit with my mom went well, better than in the past.  I haven't seen her for three years so I was feeling flustered over seeing her after such a long time.  My relationship with my mom has always been an interesting one, in my opinion, lacking in the normal mother/daughter closeness and bond.

My mom is a very isolated person, not only physically, but emotionally also.   I think that her past hurts have caused her to close herself off from everyone around her as a protection.  Only as an adult am I learning to understand this, and admittedly, it remains a struggle for me.

A phone conversation with my mom consists of talking about the weather and other minor issues.  Even when we talk about my kids, she tends to feel more comfortable when I talk about what they are doing, rather than what they might be feeling or struggling with.  She will ask about my husband's work and homeschooling, but everything else remains untouched.

I would be lying if I didn't say that I have always wanted a mom that I could call and talk to---really talk to.  Someone that I could seek advice and help from and be encouraged by.  Of course my desire would be that I could be the same for her, but at this point in life I know that what I have today is probably what I need to be content and thankful for.

God has provided a mother-figure in many ways over my lifetime.  I remember Melanie and Cheryl from my childhood, and I am so thankful for Alice, Barbara and Jane from my present.  All of them are a shoulder to lean on and an ear that I can trust.  Even here in the blogosphere there are ladies that I haven't met in person, but who provide me with the encouragement and advice of a Titus 2 woman.

I need that.

And I am so thankful.

I miss my mom and I am glad that we had a full week together.  My continued prayer is that God will soften her hurts and her heart and that she will become more open to life.  Also, that we would be closer and bonded together in a deeper way.  If these things do not come to fruition, I continue to ask God to fill me and provide for me as He sees the need.

I love my mom and I am content in our relationship.  I just wish we were closer, like a mom and daughter should be...

butterfly wings

I know that I am supposed to be on blogging break, but my gal wanted to post a tutorial on Me and My Girl.  How could I resist? 

Besides it gives me an opportunity to pop in and say "hi"!

"Hi"!

See you next week!

thank you, thank you

Many thanks for all of the sweet birthday wishes on Tuesday.  I happen to be a ridiculous fan of all things "birthday" and this year proved to be a good one.  This is probably at least partly due to the fact that I have made it over the 40-hurdle and from here on out, it is smooth sailing...until I hit another pivotal year, that is!

Have I mentioned lately what a blessing the blogosphere is to me?  Sometimes blogging feels a little weird, in the sense that I don't usually tell my real-life friends that I do it.  Online friendships seem like a fake-replacement for a real-life to some, but I find the community here in the web to be a wonderful addition to my life.  All of your comments and encouragement are inspiring to me on a daily basis and my heart is made happier because of this little blog-o-mine and your visits to it.  Thank you so much, dear friends.

Next week will be quieter than usual because my mom is coming to visit for a week.  I haven't seen her for three years and I am wavering between being excited but really nervous at the same time.  I keep telling myself that I need to let my concerns go in order to relax and let life happen as it should, but isn't that easier said than done?   

So I leave you with a picture of my cat, keeper of this house.  She has a questionable attitude, but I love her just the same.  That might change when she knocks over the vase of flowers that has become her nibbling-spot.  Along with her bad attitude she  pretends to not understand the word "no".  I guess she is a toddler at heart!

Until next time, have a happy day!

75 days until...

...Christmas!

I know, I am kind of freaked out by it to!

Didn't we just do this?

Yes we did, and it is time to do it again.

This year I want to simplify and focus on the important things.  No going crazy over gifts or spending $100.00 to mail everything across the country.  (Note to self: heavy books are not a good gift idea for faraway relatives).

Is it possible to make almost everything this year?  Maybe something special for the kids, but everything else handmade?

This one is going to take some planning, but I am tired of the commercial feel that blankets the holiday.

I am a lover of Christmas, but I feel burnt out by it.  Is it because the kids are getting bigger?

75 days.

The clock is ticking...