Family

I am the worst Aunt in the world.

My brother-in-law and his wife had a little girl in August and I haven't seen her yet. My excuse, they live an hour away, so evenings are out with dinner and homework. Saturdays are soccer days, and we bought a fixer upper rental this summer and Sundays have been dedicated to working on that. We did little playing in the last 5 months. Any way I feel bad about not seeing her, but I didn't even send a card, gift, or anything. My hubbie is worse than me, when his Mom came over and asked if he wanted to see a picture of his new niece, he replied " It probably looks like the other ones." (it's their fourth) Which totally cracked me up. He was trying to be funny. We are awful people.

So I get the opportunity to see her this coming up Saturday only because she is less than 10 miles from my house and convenient. I AM TERRIBLE! So I want to bring something.

I love the free downlaodable puppy pattern from Jenny B. Harris from allsorts. (just don't sell what you make) I wanted it bigger and don't have that feature on my copier so I just sketched the pattern larger and hoped it would turn out ok.

I like to mix up the fabrics and colors.

I started at 7:30 am and went on a 3 hour grocery/errand trip with my sis (we carpool often since she is only 2 miles down the same road) and still finished by 12:30 and even put all the groceries away.

The other side.

Next to an un- altered pattern pup to see the size difference.

I just stitched on eyes and nose so no choking and best of all, its made in America and no lead paint! I hope she likes it.

help

All of us moms at one point or another have gone through the blues, varying degrees, various reasons. Sarah at Sara+h is deep in it. I don't know her personally, just her post really was touching. I feel she needs to know she isn't alone. If you have any personal experience that can help her, please go to her blog and leave a comment. You can scroll down on my sites I love column and link to her blog. We moms need all the support we can get, good times and bad.

much love

michelle

room with a view

We are lucky to have a home where there isn't a single window with a bad view. This is the view from my sons window.

Our front yard and fire pit. We spend most of the summer camped out here.

My daughter has a a Guinea Pig named Rascal.
I thought he looked cute napping in his little wicker ball that is too small. He's got the ol' leg hanging out.














I got more bags done for the Giant Show that's in only 3 weeks. I'm trying not to panic!




I hope you all have a great weekend.

I wasnt going to post...

....but I was taking a little break from sewing and looked to see what kb over at http://apatchworkworld.blogspot.com/ was up to and I glanced over and she has me on her links. This thrills me to no end!!! She makes these amazing things out of old needlepoint and such. And that I am one of the people she has on her blogs I love list is so exciting.

I love this community!



I was telling my hubbie how I used to feel so alone. I didn't know anyone who even had a sewing machine let alone sewed who wasn't much much older. I would go into these quilt shops with my daughter and the older ladies treated me like the Golden Child who was going to be the only one to bring sewing to the next generation. Other moms at the school would look at me like I was growing a second head when I talked about making, baking or creating anything.



I felt like the only sewing, baking, chicken lovin, SUV driving, tomboy girl in the world. Now even though I don't know any of you personally, just knowing you are all out there makes me feel less alone.




Ok on a seprate note:


I went to the local quilt shop yesterday for some size 14 sewing machine needles and came home with the needles and $84 worth of fabric. Yikes!

I do have that giant show coming up and justify the purchase that way. i made 2 more bags and have 2 more started.

I'd better change out of my pj's because the bus is coming. A bra might be good too.

I love you guys! And thanks kb.

ps. We let Flutterby go on Saturday, it was nice and sunny and saw other butterflies in the yard.
Best wishes little friend.

Halloween decor

I rarely decorate. I do the Christmas thing to my living room, but never other holidays. Just to busy or lazy or I don't really care. I love to see others holiday displays though.


My Mother in Law decorates for EVERY holiday, even holidays that you didn't know about, like flag day, has been giving me things to decorate for years. Like cute little Easter bunnies and snow babies. Just not me.


Well she passed the decorating gene on to my daughter. All the stuff my mom in law has been giving me for Halloween and I have been faithfully shoving away in Halloween tubs has now exploded all over my house.


We live in a rural area and no one comes over for Halloween. We go on our Halloween hay ride and visit a local subdivision that goes gangbusters due to the limited number of kids. It's a blast.

So my girl hung up this Halloween wreath I made (at my Mother in Law's) way before kids. So at least 15-20 years ago. I do have to admit, I still love it. I love the fact that the grapevine is black. I love the pumpkin faced ribbon. The ghosts. I especially love the flying bat and the witch on her broom with her sweet face and her stripey socks.


Ok so having a daughter who inherited the decor gene from her grandma isn't so bad.

Blah humbug

Yesterday I was sitting in our den, at the desk, on the phone with my sister. There was this goop sliding down outside on the window. So I go out to check and one of my hens( Blackbeak) was out on my front porch bleeding from her mouth. Not a little. Every time she shook her head, more goop.

I tried not to freak, grabbed an old towel, wrapped her up, got a syringe and gave her water. I ran to the yard to see where the other girls were. I found a couple, got them into the pen, checked Blackbeak, ran around looking for more.

I eventually found all but one, Lucky, my favorite. She and Blackbeak are from the same spring and always hang together. I was so internally freaked and wanted to bawl but my kids were getting off the bus and I always tell them not to worry until you have something to worry about.

I got more water into Blackbeak and she was ready to stand, so I blocked her in the doghouse on the porch and proceeded to start dinner. The whole time angry and guilt ridden about my girls.

I took some recycling out, heard a noise ran to the woods and saw my Lucky, she was fine just freaked. If she would have let me I would have hugged her, she is too dignified for that.

I figured Blackbeak was probably hit by a hawk. They strike their prey HARD. Luckily got away and came to the house. She had that rattly breathing, but drank water on her own and I gave her soft bread. I put her in the coop overnight next to her best bud and she seems fine today.

I have a hard time when we have lost some girls in the past. They want to roam the yard and woods and the majority of the time they are fine. I keep them penned up in the winter because the predators and weather are worse then. But I feel so awful, torn between them wanting out and their safety.

Now its a rainy gloomy day and I cant shake the dark funk creeping in. I have been feeling so tired and negative and that ready to cry at any moment feeling.

Looking for positives. There is a little chipmunk out the window right now looking cute and my kids are getting off the bus soon and I have barley soup simmering and a bread in the bread machine. It feels good "talking" to you.

Blog Action Day

I understand that today is blog action day and we are supposed to discuss green issues.
My tip is to buy used whenever you can. You are reducing manufacturing as well as resources. If you wont do that (why not?) at least donate used items instead of throwing away.