Live from Tormville!

Brian's Quilt

mmmmmm.  Yesterday I spent time with Brian's quilt.  It had been sitting, not too far from my computer desk, taunting me.  Sometimes I just need to wait these things out a bit until the time and the mood is right.

For me to lay a quilt, I have to move the kitchen table, sweep and scrub the floor, and block the main passageway to the backyard.  So it does require some deep breathing techniques on my part.

Yesterday, with Allan still gone and Wendy without friends or neighbor kids around - seemed to work perfect.

Even then, there were a few stressful moments.  I pricked my finger and had to hurdle over the corner and crawl over the table to get a bandaid.  Mark got his first nosebleed ever and wanted to come close for consolation (of all things).  And I had spaghetti sauce in the crockpot and the dinner table was precariously close to where I was working - I finished up nervously - keeping a close eye on Mark (our food flinger) as they just sat down to eat.

I couldn't resist starting the quilting on it right after dinner - well, after I did the dishes.  (My night - grumble grumble) But I had to then remind myself that the boys needed a little attention too.  I had done this layout a few years ago already -

it's about my daily goal.  Four C's - Create, Cook, Clean and Crawl.  As in - get down and play with my kids.  I've added an E to that, as in exercise - but it doesn't flow as well, so I'm not redoing the layout for it.  *wink*

Anyway. Sometimes I get a little bit caught up in the Create C, and have to remind myself to give time to the other C's as well.

With Allan still up north and Wendy and Dad at carving class - it was a lovely night for the boys and I to exercise myself all the way to Dairy Queen. 

funny note:  A block from home Brian yells out (I honestly don't think he's capable of non-yelling communication)  Hey Mom!  Did you remember Mark's Beano, cuz I want ice cream! 

Last time we went to town we forgot the Beano and therefore, didn't get ice cream.  Brian was ready to throw Mark under the bus.  I normally use a different enzyme (and they do seem to help) but bought some Beano in an emergency up north (ie: on a Jilbert's run) and we've been using it since.

Now you know.

Now to wake some kids up and shine them for the dentist.  We've canceled this appointment twice due to strep throat - I think we have to make this one.......

Oh - and I did get about 6 rows quilted total before I went to bed - and I have no clue who that backing fabric is from, only that I love it..........

Happy Friday!
be good

funny moment of the morning

Sometimes you just have to laugh.

Okay - picture this.

We're getting a late start over here today - I woke up at 9, two kids woke up at 10, Mark slept until 11.

After going through some morning paperwork, I proceeded to do my exercises.  And when I do my exercises I get extremely sweaty.  I love a sweaty workout.

But a sweaty workout does require shower taking. 

Off to the shower, I put Wendy in charge of answering the phone, minding her brothers, and making sure nobody comes in the house (ie: neighbor kids)   She was to play with the boys downstairs or in their room.  I left the bathroom door unlocked in case of an emergency.

Anyway.

Shower done, I realized that I forgot my robe in our bedroom.  Now that we traded bedrooms with the boys, we are no longer attached to the bathroom.  And I'm NOT a fan of dressing in the humid bathroom.  Never was, never will be.

So I cracked the door open, peeked to make sure the kids were nowhere to be seen and I bolted, streaking, to my bedroom and shut the door.  Mind you, I could have done the towel thing but I was pretty sure I was safe.

I wasn't.

As soon as I shut the door I was surrounded by giggle fits.  Turning around, somewhat stunned, I saw those three giggling monkeys pointing and busting a gut right there on MY bed. 

They'll never be the same........

The story behind the photo

This photo makes me smile.

I was taking a picture of Wendy (in the polka dots just to the left of Mark) and her playdate.  I had on my 50mm lens which is really a close up lens - I could only get their faces into the frame. 

But these boys didn't know that.

They were lined up next to the girls grinning ear to ear thinking they were in the picture too.

When I put the camera down, I noticed this - and, well, I of course had to snap their picture too for all their efforts. 

Fresh out of the kiddie pool and feeling fine.
The cute little stinkers. 

Our house, right now, smells like this......

mmmmmmm.  Last batch is in the oven right now.  (for those with the Heinonen cookbook - it's the recipe on page 80 - but as per Marijane's suggestion - I added a cup of flour and a tsp of cardamon)

Also right now....

Our oldest is swimming in Lake Superior
Wendy has a friend over - who I'll be bringing home in about 20 minutes (after that last batch comes out of the oven)
Pa and Brian just got home from a kayak tour around the local lake
It's 74 degrees
The kids just got out of the kiddie pool and did not hang their towels on the line like I told them to
typical
I drank two cups of coffee after dinner, so I'll get something done tonight whether I want to or not
since I won't win any prizes for my productiveness today (altho I think I earn extra points for the rolls above)
The radio is playing - I've been enjoying 94.1 lately - I couldn't get it on our other radio

Now everyone left for a loop around the block on their bikes and scooters
except me
I think I'll go grab a roll, pick up my book and enjoy the few moments of silence........

I was a card making machine yesterday

Good Morning
We're getting a late start over here in Tormville today - my kids just woke up minutes ago and are currently doing battle at the breakfast table.

It's a mossy gray looking day.  It could be a long one.

Anyway.

My sister-in-law called me yesterday and told me she was headed north - and asked if I had anything to send up.

I said yes.  My firstborn and a box of cards. 

My mom's coworkers are my favorite customers and it's been awhile since I did a good replenishing of their supply.

Thankfully - I just happened to have made all the above cards the day before - but I didn't feel like that was enough so I quickly hung up the phone and got busy - told my oldest to pack his bags and I made cards.  All.Day.Long.

When I make a lot of cards at once - I usually start with a set of coordinating papers.  In this case - I was in the mood to start with some discontinued papers that I have from the SEI Citrus Kick line. (sale prices) They were fun and cheery to work with.  For my sentiments - I pulled mostly from my Technique Tuesday Happy Birthday set, as my mom said they were low on birthday cards.

That stamp is not Technique Tuesday, but an old favorite from Viva Las Vegastamps.

And that stamp on the right is another old, but still available, favorite from Hero Arts. I love the small size. I use the stamps from that set all.the.time. 

I just purchased that 'from all of us' stamp this past week from Stampendous.  I love the small size, and I'd been looking for just that message for awhile.

Those cards all made - I began getting bored of working with that line.  I put the remaining pieces in an 8.5 x 11 zippy and will pull from them again at another time. 

I was in the mood for something different.

I happened to have this sheet of stickers from Karen Foster which I thought tied in nicely with this sheet of patterned paper that I've been hoarding for about eight years. 

I was able to make six wedding cards with that combination.  (And I kept that top one for my own stash)

After that it got a little more random as it was the chaotic dinner time/errand time/everyone needs mom at the same time/time of day.

This badly photographed card has a wedding sentiment on the inside.

And this badly photographed card looks much better in real life.  A storm blew through and the light got real funky.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Somewhere between those two cards (that three flower blue one being my favorite of the day) I ran my oldest to Walgreens so he could buy some travel snacks.  It was already past 9pm.

Which still gave me another hour and a half before my sister-in-law came to pick up the box and the boy.

I forgot to photograph this one before I sealed it - and being tight on time, I decided to take it in the package.  I put all my cards in clear cellophane envelopes to protect them.  eta: I buy my clear envies here:  Clearbags

And if they have a message inside - I use a clear envy that opens so that the sentiment can be read.

And I have to laugh - because this last card I was making, literally, as my sister-in-law pulled in the driveway - so I quick snapped a picture, put it in a clear envy, and was sealing the box of cards as she walked in the door.

Whew.

Today - I think I'll work on Brian's quilt......
after I eat and get dressed

Life with Brian

First tho - hello - who stole my morning??  I woke up early enough - 7:30 - but suddenly a glance at the clock tells me it's nearly 10:30?!  How did that happen??

It's a mystery.

But now onto Brian. 

Brian, 4, is our kid who needs a little bit of extra love and attention lately.  I firmly believe that most parents of more than one kid go through this - that there are times that each of their kids need a little bit more than the others - that we as parents have to work a little harder with to help them through that particular stage.

That's Brian - right now. He's been prone to tempers lately and lots of frustration - part of it comes just as part of his age, part of it comes from his place in the family, and probably part is just genetics (not my side, certainly)

Whatever it is - he does well when we give him some one on one time.

I took him to the wedding with me on Saturday - just he and I - and he was an absolute joy to be with.  He was so excited.  A wedding mom!  Really!  A wedding!!?!  .........  Mom.....what's a wedding?  DAD! I get to go with mom to a wedding!

And boy - does he talk.  He talked the whole half hour there, the whole half hour back and the whole time in between.

Mom - where are we going again?
What did you say?
What's a wedding?
Can I kiss the bride?  I like to kiss brides.
What did you say?
Why?
And we get to eat cake?
Why are we going to church, mom?
What did you say?
What did you say?
What did you say?
I get to each ice cream!?!
I like weddings, mom.
What did you say?
Why?
How come?
Can I come with you to another wedding, mom?
What did you say?
What was that called again?  A wedding?
heeee - I kissed the bride!

And then home again, after the wedding and a visit to grandpa's......

DAD!  DAD!!!  I got to go to a wedding!!!!!! 

And then the moment was over and he was back to tempers and feuding with his siblings.....but I think he'll be okay in the long run

keeping the home fires burning

We are thankful.

I mentioned earlier last week that they were going to be doing layoffs where Pa works.  It's the third round of layoffs for this small office and just one in a great many in this state of ours.  It's the topic we discuss when visiting these days - who has been layed off this week, who took a paycut, who's still looking for work, who has had to let their house go.

It's the current normal - we're all in the same boat.

So we are thankful.  While 15 more folks were walked out the door on Friday - including some who have been there longer than Pa - he managed to hold his job.  We are thankful.

Those that did hold their job, however, took cuts. Very much like so many of our friends and family endured months ago already.  We've joined the club.

An 8% paycut (which brings us back to before our four year old was born - two kids ago)
No more 401K match
No more floating holidays

But. He still has a job.  So our first instinctive feeling is relief.

We are also thankful that we began debt-proof living when we did.  The steps we've already put in place will help us to better navigate this current situation. 

But we do need to make changes. 

I spent the weekend scratching notes and numbers, rebudgeting this and that, canceling subscriptions and canceling plans.   While I don't feel any urgent worry, I do feel a renewed need for common sense when it comes to spending. 

I also brainstormed into ways I can help the financial situation at home. 

I can't work out.

If things get tough - I'll have to consider it, but for now it would add more stress than value.  Pa will be traveling more, doing the work of two men now that their staff has been cut.  And with little ones at home and only one sitter in-house - it would just be too stressful.   Add to the fact that my one sitter will be looking for his own job come mid-September - A blessing of living walking distance to so many opportunities - it becomes near impossible.  The time for working out of the home will come later. My family needs me at home.

So, for now, I can help by learning better ways to trim the grocery bill, by working more assignments, by making more cards to sell, by taking a chance and submitting again, by putting some things on ebay and by getting the two year old out of diapers - for starters.

Every bit helps.

So that's where we're at these days.

We're thankful. 

He's a happy boy with a new cozy quilt. Alternate title: I don't think I'll ever prewash fabric again

I can't wait to get the next quilt done! He's one happy boy

The cozy factor of this quilt is over the top!



I honestly don't think I'll ever prewash fabric again - I love how it wrinkles after the wash!



mmmmmmmmm!
Some of you have asked for more details on the quilt -

To make the quilt - I followed Dana's instructions. She hosted a Quilt Along, and if you scroll back through these posts, you'll find her step by step process. I'm not sure if this pattern has a name?

The fabric on the front of the quilt is all Paula Prass from her Flights of Fancy line by Michael Miller

I machine quilted - something I've never done before. It was more fun than I expected.

I'm not sure what the fabrics are on the back - for those I had taken a square to the local quilt shop and matched it to some solids. I love how it turned out.  Brian's quilt will be a little different - his will have a green instead of the blue.  His quilt is also a little bit larger.  He's nagging me to get on it already and get it done. 

Mark's quilt measures 46 1/2 x 74.  It's small - but a good size for him and will work well on his toddler and/or bunk bed.  It will also work well if I'm able to sneak it onto the couch for a couch quilt.  hee!







fun.fun.fun!

Goal met. Hooray!

Boy - that was fun
More pictures after it goes thru the shrink and cozy process.  It's in the wash now......

and tomorrow I'll start quilting on Brian's quilt.  He insists.

Goal for the day:

Finish Mark's quilt
Stay tuned!  (And hope the kids cooperate)