Live from Tormville!

A great way to wrap up June

There I was, in the kitchen just microwaving the last cup of coffee and I heard it.  That *woooooosh* sound that there's no mistaking.  My coffee not even done nuking, I grabbed my camera and ran outside.

And there it was - just across the street going down behind the trees.

The neighbors all agreed it looked like it was going to land. 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNN, I yelled.  WHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTT??? He yelled back.   YOU'RE BABYSITTING!!!!

And I took off.  Barefoot.  Looking like I hadn't run a lick since I ran my first 5K last month. Through the brush that wasn't quite that high the last time I tore through it about five years ago.  And I left my coffee at home.  (I nuked it again and I'm drinking it now) You see, I've chased down balloons before and some pilots get those balloons down awfully quick.  I was determined to make it in time.

And I did. It was a bit of a children of the corn type moment to see people coming out of the brush on all sides of the field, but I made it.  *happy sigh all over the place*

To go up in a hot air balloon has been on my bucket list since 1983, so to get up close enough to touch one and be able to photograph it so closely with that awesome sun flare - it's a great way to wrap up my month.  I'll reward myself with a balloon ride when we're debt-free, and that's a promise.

For now I think I'll print all these off and put them on my goal wall. 

Yep - that's what I'm gonna do. 

 

Bring it, Thursday!

• It appears that with Wendy gone for five weeks, and a sleepy teenager in the house - these two will be the focus of a lot of photos this next month.  I can live with that.
• We're debating going garage saling again today - but not sure how many there are on a holiday weekend. I'll figure it out when the boys wake up.
• One load already on the line - but I cheated and put it there before bed last night.
• This weather has been absolutely spectacular. No complaints from me if we continue this for the next two months.  No need for a/c, but warm enough for the kiddie pool and great sleeping at night. Perfect.
• I've been working on trying to get wedding pictures finished up before the weekend.  I fell asleep at the laptop again last night. 
• Wendy called yesterday, but not because she's lonesome - but rather, because she wanted to know if she could spend the 'need' money I sent with her on just anything, because she checked, and she doesn't 'need' anything.
• We used the car wash for the first time yesterday. The neighbors all came running to the fence to watch.
• I'm rethinking that garage sale idea already. It might be a good day to just wrap up June, work on wedding photos, pay the bills,  makes some lists, get ready for July, make some layouts, cut some fabric, and make a couple more confirmation cards.
• Yeah - I think that's what I'll do
• Happy Thursday!

reminder....

The Gatorade Sweepstakes and a chance to win a $100 gift certificate from Dick's Sporting Goods ends tomorrow, 6/30 at 8pm EST.   Details over here on my review blog.  

Also, during my conversation with Gatorade we were told that their G Series Natural line (free of artificial dyes) was available at Whole Foods in select markets.  For those interested, we were excited to also find it at our local Costco. 

*wink*

 

 

sand

I decided at about 9:30 yesterday morning that, Today would be a good day to order that sand.  And I did. I had been calling around randomly for estimates the last couple weeks and compared the price for bags the night before, and finally - ordered it. It was delivered within the hour.

Brian, when we started hauling the sand back to the sandbox:  Dad is going to be so surprised! We've been waiting for this moment for so many years! 

It took quite a few Tonka loads to get it all back to the sandbox.

And a few borrowed wheelbarrows.
And a couple of great neighbors.
And a 'shoot, you caught me' teenage son

But we got it all moved.
And we all slept well last night.

 

A day in the life ...

... of my little boys.

I was all geared up to take some daily photos again yesterday, but a few pictures in I soon realized that all my pictures were off these two. I decided to stick with that.  These two bring me so much joy every single day. I love watching them together - even if they do shake my walls.

I woke them up yesterday.

And I brought them to the juggling/magic show at the library.  Brian:  Mom!!!  He really IS Magic!!  

Home again, they puttered from one thing to the next all day long and I tried to sneak photos of them as they rotated from one activity to the next.

Here they were sitting on the deck railing, discussing their options.

Option number one: They made lunch. Clover and banana soup.  

As soon as they let each other out of jail, they could eat.  Their rules, their game.

At one point they came running into the house.   Mom!!!  The grass is growing, come and see!!!  One of my projects last week was to clean out behind the garage (the canoe used to be here, but we sent it back to Minnesota with Brian & Mari) and plant grass.  Fun to see it starting to come in.

Freezie Break!

Another run into the house..... MOM! These two wrestling birds came into our yard and they wrestled right under our feet on the swing and they rolled and they rolled and they went right through the fence while they were wrestlling and they never even knew we were there!  They were reenacting the whole thing with these little chips of wood. 

 

 

I ran some errands at this point, and they took their computer turns. 

Bedtime stories.  We has also gone to the library after dinner and picked up some new books.  Yes - we went to the library twice in one day. That's not unusual for us.

One last wrestle before getting tucked in for the night.

They slept well
They are still sleeping

Here's to another fun-filled day 

Let me just say....

.....that I'm pretty sure when Ali was designing Technique Tuesday's July Studio AE set....she was thinking of me.  I can't wait to share everything I've created with it.  But they won't let me - until the 1st. Until  then - just a peek.  

go climb a tree
not to be confused with go jump in a lake
I don't think..... 

monday

view of last night's launch from my backyard 

Randoms

• I love Mondays
• I didn't make it to the balloonfest at all this year. I know that sounds simply awful and tragic, but it's true.  If I'd had the double stroller (Burley) still, I would have gone - as it was a beautiful weekend for walking, but I just couldn't get myself to drive and pay for parking when it's so close - and I just know (from prior experience) that the boys would have begun begging for rides that are out of my budget (because my 6 year old, in his own words has never been on a roller coaster in my whole entire life) the second we got near.  It was easier to stay home. 
• I love that we live near enough that I can enjoy the view from home.
• Greg and Allan made it home at 8 pm. Their trip took a little detour through Cheboygan, and the nearest hospital, on the way home when one of the boys ended bringing home a souvenior of 50 staples in the head.  Greg describes it as one that will wow the ladies for sure. 
• Wendy, our wanderer, spent two nights in Illinois and should be safely planted in Minnesota now. I've been enjoying updates by way of facebook photos from her Illinois auntie.
• I realized that I putter when all my birds aren't in the nest.  With three birds gone all weekend, I did a mad crazy amount of puttering.  
• I have a real hard time keeping track of dates and days in the summer
• This is the earliest I've woken up since school got out. It's because it's Monday. I couldn't wait to dig into it.
• My 15 year old is not impressed with our new computer desk. There isn't room for my legs, my wrist hurts - the mouse is weird.  Wah wah wah.  I told him tough, he can buy the next one. 
• I'm putting my sewing machine cabinet on freecycle this week if anyone wants it.One wheel broke off during one of the shuffles - but we still have the wheel and I imagine one could pop new wheels in - but we just always put a block under that corner and it worked swell.  It's not a fancy pants one, but it definitely does the job. I just don't have room for it.   Email link in the upper left of my blog if you're interested in it.  eta:  Spoken for.  
• I've been very much simplifying lately.  
• As for today - library this morning, some card making this afternoon, and a sneak peek on the blog this evening.   Oh - and lasagna for supper.
• I love knowing what's for supper at 7am in the morning - makes the day run so much smoother.
• Happy Monday! 
• be good

June Garage Sale Finds

I don't garage sale nearly as much as I used to, but already I have garage saled more this year in one month than I did last year all year.  My garage saling is very weather fickle. No a/c in either vehicle means we are very fair weather garage salers.  *ha*  It's been a beautiful June temperature wise.

I love when I find something at a garage sale that I never knew existed but that we definitely need.  We're huge Curious George fans in this house, so while my twitching side would love to have all one type of glasses in the cupboards - my love for seeing the kids so tickled outweighed that.  For 10 cents per glass, I've got some very happy boys in the house.  There are two on the table right now and they keep running back to sip their water.  

Now that I know they exist, I'll have to keep an eye out for a couple more.  I'd toss my plastic Tupperware cups for these. 

Embroidered Linens!  *happy sigh*

The boys and I walked around the block yesterday and there just happened to be a garage sale at the house that I always walk a little slower by just because I love her landscaping so much.  I knew she was bound to have some good goodies at her sale. I only wish I had gotten there earlier.  Sleeping late in the summer months does have its downside.

Anyway. 

She says she has them coming out of her ears since it was a hobby of her mother-in-laws and she was selling them for 25 cents each.  25 Cents!!!  I bought four dollars worth of pillowcases, tableclothes, and assorted other coverings. I'm giddy.  

Years ago I used to collect tins, and while I've gotten rid of all those and put that phase behind me, I still can't resist a tin now and then.  I love this one.  50 Cents.  Underneath is one of the embroidered pieces I picked up at that other sale.   I was lucky to walk out of the garage sale with only the coffee tin - had Wendy been with me (don't tell her) I would have been puppy-dog eyed into taking the free guinea pig complete with cage, food and all the fixing.  It was a little too close for comfort how close I got to taking it home. *shudder* 

When we went kayaking last week, I mentioned to my husband then that I was going to shop for a nice big hat to keep the sun out of my eyes.  Baseball hats have never stayed on my head very well - I've tried. I was honestly about to shop on some of my favorite online stores and spend over $30 on one because I needed it that badly. 

But before I got it into my online shopping cart, I just happened to spot this one at Salvation Army.  I truly think I like it better than any I could have purchased. It's just right.  $5.  I can't wait to wear it out on the lake.

That same trip to Salvation Army I also found this purse. Those of you who know me KNOW that I am NOT a purse person.  I love to look at them, wish I was more of a purse person - but they will not stay on my shoulder and none of them are quite right. I like to have my hands free. 

But I like this one.  It's just the right size, the strap is long enough to go across the body, I can hardly tell it's there and it holds exactly what I need. $4.99. Worth it. I've gotten a lot of compliments on it already so it must suit me.  

Back to garage sale finds - a backpack for Wendy for her next school year. It's seriously like brand-new.  I paid $5 for this because it was in such great condition and we have to get one regardless.  We officially began our back to school shopping.

Another globe for my project - we're up to four of them now, five if Allan donates his to the cause. I got two globes this weekend at different garage sales - 50 cents each.

Funny story here. 

At the same garage sale that I picked up the desk from, I had given the boys each 3 dimes and they were able to pick out three things each from the dime box.  They picked, and paid, and picked, and paid, and picked again, and paid.  I was watching them out of the corner of my eye but wasn't watching what they had purchased - I was too busy filling up my own bags. They weren't paying real close attention to each other either.

When we got home, the fights began.

Who moved my squirt gun?
That's MY squirt gun!
Hey - how did my squirt gun get over here!
I want a turn!

It took us an embarrassing amount of hours to realize that they had both purchased squirt guns, and they were leaving them in places not realizing the other guy had a squirt gun too.  Once we realized there were two, it was like this huge lightbulb over all of our heads. You might have had to be here to really appreciate how it went down, but trust me - hysterical. Especially when it's punctuated with Brian's enthusiasm and hand motions.

Speaking of lights - a new lamp in our living room.  It had $10 on it, and I didn't dicker down because to me it was worth it.  (It weighs at least six pounds, is a style I love and fits the spot I wanted to put it in) But I walked out of that garage sale with the desk, the light, the curious george glasses, a bag of books, three new shirts for me, dinosaur squirt guns (plural), some more books and I only paid $36 total. 

*pumps fist*

Lastly - some fun new shoes for our wanderer.  $1. 

----

I also found a few belts for Allan (I'm going to insist he keep one in his backpack next year - in case he forgets to put one on in the morning)

More books (we kinda like books over here)

Work pants for the husband

sandbox toys

I hope it stays cool enough to go again next week! 

 

We survived it.

*yawn*  Stretch
Markie is the first one up these summer mornings, and he comes into my room and tells me he's hungry.  "Feed me, mom!"

He's a very self-sufficient four year old - I'm not sure why he needs to pull me out of bed, but I do it, because I love him.  After a good 30 minutes of stalling techniques. 

It's been just me and the little boys this weekend, and it's been a little wierd. Wendy gone, Allan gone, dad gone..... wierd.

We garage saled, walked to the candy store, did some chores, played, walked our friend's dogs, moved the whole lliving room around and garage saled some more.

And I was having some serious regrets about getting rid of our Burley last year.  Why did I do that?  It's how I got the boys to the balloon glow every year.  The thought of driving to the balloonfest literally puts my stomach in knots.  I like to walk - last night was perfect for walking - but 2.5 miles one way is a little far for the boys to walk.

I was missing the Burley yesterday.

But the balloons cooperated anyway, and flew right in front of our house.  I didn't hear any fllying over our house this morning, but according to their facebook wall they had a beautiful morning launch. I was too tired to get out of bed but it looks to be a beautiful day, so hopefully this evening. 

Maybe Greg and Allan will be home from their annual St. Ignace car cruise adventure in time to see them too...

 

before and after

It was pretty late afternoon already yesterday when the little boys and I decided to go garage saling. We had hit a few within walking distance in the morning - but then didn't drive around town until nearly 3:30. 

But we filled the Jeep up fast.  We've had a lot of luck lately thrifting and garage saling - I'll have to compile a longer post, but for this post - I'll show you our new computer desk.

We had sold our beast of a rolltop before Christmas last year and since then have been using my sewing machine cabinet to hold up the monitor and keyboard.  It did the job. The plan was to build a computer station when we build a new work area for me. But you know how that goes, weeks go to months go to years and the time and money for such a project just never seem to be in the same place at the same time.

And so it goes.

So

I bought a new desk.  She was asking $30, but she took $25.  I actually walked out of this garage sale with bags of books, clothes, a new lamp. glasses, toys, AND a new desk.  She shut the door after I left - just didn't make much sense to stay open any longer.  Although I am wondering which one of you bought her couch and chair - I'd have bought that too if I'd gotten there before the Sold sign was on it.  Nice!

The desk is perfect for this spot.  I spent all last evening sorting wires, blowing the dust out of the tower, replugging everything back in and hauling the old sewing machine cabinet out to the garage so we can determine its fate.  

This set up makes me happy.

The only worry is the printer being on the bottom - I worry about the kids feet, but I turned it around so that the tray faces the corner. I also plan to make or find a new covering for the lamp/telephone table.  It is one of those little serving cart tables that I bought for a few bucks at a garage sale years ago, and it moves from room to room to room as needed.  Now it is needed here. Underneath the tablecloth are the router, the surge protector, and all that wiry stuff and nonsense. I hate wires. 

I was then geeked to have Finally found a spot for my clipboards.  I bought these a couple years ago at a store closing for 10 cents each. The picture of Brian holding the frog is a 5 x 7, so they are a nice small size.  I knew this is what I've been wanting to do with them,  but I lack wall space here.  This is perfect.  They will be a perpetual changing of images,  birthday cards, announcements, kids computer stuff, and photos.  They will become stacked with smile worthy notes and memories and I can't wait.

To hang them I taped a piece of thread to the wall in a straight line to use as my hanging guide, and then nailed them to the wall 3-1/2 inches apart from each other. 

We're debating going treasure hunting again today.....

I think we should. 
Now I need a nice sewing basket for all the stuff I pulled out of the drawers of my sewing machine cabinet 

eta:  the filling cabinet is back in the other corner again.  It's holding my new lamp.  *wink*