Geesshhhh

New dog

new dog

hubs out of town

new dog

food poisoning?

sick kid

sick kid

back to school

4 hours in the ER

Strep, ear infection, possible pneumonia

sick kid

new dog

Spring break

Rain, rain go away and let us enjoy Spring break

Please

Prom Dress

Underwear for prom dress.....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

When can I get my permit?

sick kid

new dog

No...no...no...

sick mom

Lil' China Love

For those of my readers that also follow Tonggu Momma....you all have heard the fab news that they finally received their referral.

It was like FOUR YEARS in the waiting. Is that not crazy???

A wait like that really deserves some recognition. Way to hang in there guys!!

And this fall or summer (excuse the brain damaged memory) my mother sent me a box full of the left-over material from Mighty Mouses 100 Good Wishes Quilt. I used some of it for a charity quilt, but still had so much left over.

So of course I had the brilliant ideal of making a Referral Gift for TM and Co. out of that stash.

I had one piece that was a decent size and had a scene on it that I really wanted to use for the middle. And I had a decent size dragon piece for the back border. So I started playing with it and this is what I got... Lil China Love:

As there is no absolute guarantee that the baby will be a girl I did not get too girly. Bright yellows and blue and reds are the dominant colors on the front...

With a green waves pattern on most of the back. See the dragon piece in the light blue? It is the coolest fabric.

A close up of the children on the center front. I love this fabric. It came after we had MM's quilt already cut so I didn't get to use it. Then I thought I'd make a dress out of it ... but I never got around to it. So glad!

This was my first serious try at a free motion quilting pattern of Leah Daey's. Its called bamboo forest or something like that. I did it on the outside borders. It was a real good one to start with...not REAL easy but not excessively hard and it is very forgiving.

The green waves backing.

I struggled with the border. Finally I found a bright red with a vine pattern on it that worked well with the other reds....and helped keep the quilt from being too girly "just in case".

And there she is. I am auto posting this on a date they should have the quilt by...so I hope they already do and this is not ruining the surprise. Its been very hard to keep quiet as I LOVE the way it turned out ...and its been done since December!

Congrats friend!

(Better pictures)

Wherein Autumn Earns A Camp Name

This was a crazy weekend of Girl Scouts gone wild. Spring Break had nothin' on us.

Ok. Not really so -- but it was a very full and fun weekend.

Friday we headed to a nearby town with the Juniors and Cadettes for a night of Science fun at a College. We did lots of really cool stuff and ended the night with a bang...literally...in the chemistry lab. College chemistry is way cool. We got to see things set on fire, frozen, shattered -- some really really cool stuff. And girls this age? They LOVE this kind of stuff. I think we really made the professors night. Maybe even year. They all wanted to come back and go to college there.

Saturday. Oh Saturday. I had adult enrichment/training with the leader of all the ages in the troop and another leader that handles the Brownies. We had to meet early as we didn't do the whole overnight 3 day thing...just the all day Saturday. After a rough start where I discovered that Starbucks doesn't open until 7 am in our area, we hit another place for Liquid Awake and off we drove to the campgrounds. I had hiking lost trails, Journeys and then orienteering on my schedule. Hiking I was doing with the Brownie leader and orienteering we were all doing together.

Weather was in the 60's with scattered showers. (And God was smiling on me because those showers/downpours occurred during Journey classroom and lunch -- when I was indoors.)

So off M and I marched to discover a lost trail that used to be used when the camp had horses.

And it had rained the day before.

Where it was true up and down hiking. (With ropes strung at strategic spots to keep us from slipping into a ravine.)

On soggy ground. Here is where I insert the fact that I have never lived anywhere that has such a spongy ground in the spring. Its kinda gross. Its very squishy. And it eats shoes if you aren't careful. Hence my recent purchase of the only pair of rain boots I have ever owned. Which I was not wearing for hiking either.

Now - before I go any further let me explain a very old Girl Scout tradition. Its the "camp name". It is a nickname you earn while at camp that sticks with you for life at any GS camp you attend afterwards. Pretty important stuff if you ask me.

But I never actually earned one as there was never really anything epic, weird or out-of-the ordinary that happened to me at any of the camp-outs.

I don't mind getting dirty or bugs. Rain isn't a problem. I've never set myself on fire or burned up dinner or anything fire related. Its just been camping.

Back to the hike.

It was muddy and wet and steep in places. Many of the women were afraid to fall. We all slipped and slid here and there. There was lots of fear and complaints of how they got stuck in this class and would never hike on their own...etc.

And then it happened.

Oh, I didn't just fall. Oh no. And I didn't just slide....way to boring. No.

I fell AND slid....on my um....chest....like a fat kid on a slip-n-slide.

Oh yes I did.

And I made this FANTASTIC loud ker-splish sound when I hit the ground! Movie sound effects had nothing on me.

And to make it better, the reason I was on my..er, girls...was because I had the hands thrown up and back to keep myself from bracing my fall and hurting a hands or wrists, AND my feet up to keep from injuring a knee. Great, great posture for a full frontal slide.

Oh. Yes. I. Did.

And after the stunning discovery that I was COMPLETELY unharmed (but covered in mud) we were all able to relax as I took one for the team and got the required fall out of the way. Totally totally unharmed. (Still in shock over that.)

But you don't have to feel too bad for me. See, we took a couple of steps and then BAM. M's nose blew out in a gusher to beat all gushers. Yes, by the time we reached the top of the ravine we had to get the instructor to pull out the tp to stop that sucker. Kleenex just weren't gonna do it.

Now - another thing you have to realize is that our big boss wasn't with us because she was giving the lodge camping training the first two sessions. Yes. Our leader is not just ANY leader...she's a name at our council. She's been a scout in this council as a child and then became a leader and she knows it all. Really. Not being funny or anything.

So now I'm snickering cause her underlings have just shamed her.

And when we confessed our shame to our fearless leader she did laugh. And I told her I never ever expected to earn a camp nickname of Mudslide. And she shook her head and laughed.

Mud and Blood.

Yep - that's what she called us.

See - so my name really IS Mud!!

And to wrap it all up...on Sunday we had WAGGS day to celebrate the 100th bday of GS.

And I got my first sunburn of the year.

Because it was in the 80's!!!!!!! I am ecstatic!!!!!

Never have I been so happy to have a burn!!! Come on hot weather!!

And so there it is. Can you top it? (I know Andie can because she went to the big quilt show in Cinnci.)

I'd really love to hear how my friends spent their weekends and did things that make me look good -- or at least better.

Anyone?

(crickets)

My Baby Is 7

And I'm feeling it.

This is the last one. No more for me.

And I'm one of the lucky ones as I've stretched this mom thing out for years -- 6 years between the first two, 10 years between the second and third.

And I really did want to adopt one more from China. But hubs said he was done. So, done it is. (Which is even harder when someone else gets their new referral info the day before my baby's birthday. Go TM!!!!! So excited for you!!!!!!)

And this weekend we celebrated Mouses 7th birthday. She eats pizza now and requested Chuck E. Cheese. (I thought I was done with that place!) So off the four of us went to the strange smelling kid mecca of games and noise.

And that was after an overnight with 70 girls at a Children's Museum. Sleeping on a concrete floor. With children that would not go to sleep. Or stop running up and down the stairs. You really never realize just how well your Girl Scout Troop behaves until you combine with others for something. And ear plugs? Worth their weight in gold.

For Mouses cake she wanted Kim Possible. Leave it to my kid to come up with a character that was popular 10 years ago. And all I can say is hat's off to Eba*.
Of course Mouse loved it so much she kept tracing it through the plastic and totally destroyed the top of the cake before pictures or eating. But, being a third child, we just shrugged and moved on. LOL. I would have been so mad with the first child...and maybe even the second. But she saw it was what she wanted and its not like it tastes any different all scraped onto the top instead of pristine. So, whatever. Oh - and Jamie....the jam layer in there? It was great. The teen even commented on it.

And my little 7 year old? She has changed so much in this last year that I don't even think her nickname fits her anymore. She is just like many other kids her age now.

Do you know how shocking and amazing that is?????? I am pinching myself. She talks on the phone to people. She eats more foods and can be convinced to try something without throwing up all over the place or gagging. She interfaces well with other kids and adults as often as not now. She pulled her first card at school. She has put together her own little cheerleading team in our back yard...complete with cheers she made up and taught the other kids. She doesn't listen. She breaks the rules. She yells and gets loud.

She's finally FINALLy....so normal. (Which isn't to say she is totally normal...no kid is...which makes her normal. )

And I think I'm just a little bit shell shocked by it all.

Because I just don't know how I feel about all of this.

You Might Be A Bad Parent/Redneck/All Around Bad Person If.....

.....your 6 year old writes out Kesha lyrics from memory as her 1st grade daily journal writing...

(and just for clarification...she writes her b's as d's)

Just Wow.

So I've been on a quest.

I decided at some point that I was interested in a Kindle or a Nook. I have the Kindle ap on my phone and I love having it at my fingertips. I don't like the size of the screen on the phone for reading a book. That is annoying. Not standing in line waiting annoying....more like two hour lay over at an airport annoying. So anyways, I got it into my head that I would like a reader.

So I started researching and asking everyone what they have, what they like and what they would recommend.

When I got closer to buying, the hype started for the new iPad2. So I think to myself that maybe I should get a first generation when the new ones comes out since I should be able to get one at a discount with the new model out. And you can do so very much more than you can on a reader. And the screen is bigger for reading -- and my eyes aren't getting any younger.

Right. Anyone that knows Apple knows two things. One - Apple controls the prices. Two - Apple under produces the new product for a significant amount of time while slightly dropping the price on the older model so they can move them out quickly. Because human nature says that once you've made the decision to go get that iPad2 and you are told there is a four plus week wait on the new one...but here's the old one at a great (hah!) discount..... well, there are a significant amount of people that will buy the first gen and not wait.

So the first generation iPads are really not that discounted. Not in my opinion anyways.

So I start looking at the differences between the two. The changes are kinda significant. Better speaker - which is good for watching Netflix. Two cameras - which I am not the least interested in. Mirroring to the tv - which is AWESOME. And its faster. Significantly faster. Plus its some percentage lighter and smaller. But let me just say that percent is not impressive when you consider the size you start with -- that's just hype really. So, is it worth the extra two hundred for the speed and the mirroring? Yes.

So I make a big big decision that since they are not fire saling the first gen, I might as well buy the new one.

So I scrape up all my cash I've been saving and the hubs even throws in the difference. And I go to buy that new toy with cash.

And nobody has them. I'm stuck waiting.

Redirect....

I get a phone call telling me that I am a winner in the referral contest at the Ortho's office.

We won a 42 inch flat screen tv.

And I should be excited. I mean, we have never had good tv's since we got married. Until we moved here. Because the moving company broke the access doors on both dinosaur tvs and had to pay replacement costs. So we actually have 2 nice tvs for the first time ever in over twenty years.

And why am I telling you this?

Because even though its a fantastic prize -- we don't need or have a want in that direction. So so so sad.

And I just had this feeling.....

Yep.

We went to pick up that tv and have the picture done and all.

And what is advertised as the next referral prize???

You know it.

The iPad2.

THERE's Murphy!
(Just so you know I'm not unhappy about the new prize....the 32 inch from the bedroom is going on the wall over my quilting table so I can watch Netflix on a real tv instead of a laptop while I'm in there. I'll probably never come out.)

The Pink Thing

So I freely admit I am NOT a girly-girl.

I totally skipped all those female related classes in life. Fashion 101? Totally flunked.

Complimentary Colors? Whatever.

Hair Styles with Pizazz! Not.

But my girls are very much girly-girls. Maybe that's why my son was my most fun tyke. (Ummmm...did I just say that out loud??)

Recently I was drug to Kohl's by the teen for yet another "NEED" in the clothing department. It is beyond amazing how many needs she has. As in -- she eats 90% of our clothing allowance. No wonder she can go 2 weeks without doing laundry.

Anyways....I'm off on a rabbit trail. Redirecting.

On this particular trip the Mouse saw a pink, girly, pom-pom on the zipper even....sleeveless vest/coatish thing.

And she loved it.

She HAD to have it.

I was horrified and actually laughed thinking it was a joke. But it wasn't. And she was rather insulted and not happy with me and informed me that she HAD to have it.

Mouse has NEVER had to have anything outside a toy store before.

So I took a step back. And discussed that it wasn't real practical (what idiot discusses that with a 6 year old?? One with a teen and a young adult apparently).

But she would not be swayed.

And daddy came around the corner and she had to show it to him also. He was not impressed either.

So I told her to let me see the tag. Luckily she is very well trained in "too expensive" and does not fight that battle.

So I look at the tag....and its on clearance for $10.

Shoot.

So to make a long story shorter, we ended up buying that fuzzy pink thing that makes my teeth hurt just to look at it.

She's worn it a million times the last couple of months. She wears in under coats....over coats...instead of coats. Whatever. So I definitely have seen my money's worth of wear.

And lately it has kind of grown on me.

Even if it is pink.

And fuzzy.

But I still have serious issues with the pom-pom thing on the zipper.

Somebody Buy That Girl Some Perfume!!!

I don't know how well this story will translate on this blog....but you know it had to be really good for the Hubs to turn to me and say......"sounds like good blog fodder to me".

So the other night Hubs and I are in the living room when Mouse bounces in. (Because she's very much like Tiger around the house....can't walk, must bounce.)

And Hubs and I both did that snort thing. You know, where you blow hard out your nose because you just got a whiff of something? And not necessarily a stinky something so much as an OVER ABUNDANCE of smell from an unidentified chemical source.

It had to be Mouse.

And it wasn't a smell natural to Mouse. Heck, it wasn't a natural smell at all.

But when did she get perfume? She doesn't have perfume. No body spray.

Nothing that I can think of.

So we asked her if she had on perfume.

Yes. She needed to smell good.

But she doesn't have perfume! And really, neither does mommy since she has so many skin issues....and daddy hates perfume anyways.

And as we sat there with perplexed looks on our faces, it finally dawned on me what that was.

"MM? Did you spray yourself with the bathroom spray??????"

"Yep!! I smell GOOD!!!!"

And you can imagine the horrified gasps and the lecture on the poison that is bathroom spray...blah, blah, blah that followed.

Really?

Air Freshener???

And when I went to tuck her into bed a few minutes later.....her whole room was saturated with that smell. (Insert second lecture.)

And I thought to myself.....you know this is all because you laughed so hard at Wendy and the baby powder incident. I so asked for it.

Busy Season

I promise I'm still alive and kicking. And there are no major disasters happening. This is just a busy season for all of us so I'm not on the computer as much. And that can only be a good thing -- right?

Right now is Girl Scout Cookie time so we are knocking out booth sales all this month. Mouse is doing surprising well with it all. She doesn't want to ask people if they want to buy cookies, but she wants to hand them the cookies, collect money and give back change. I'll take it.

We bought a new van. We were starting to have to put money in the Chrysler every couple of months. We were literally on the way to the mechanic and pulled into the dealership because of a flyer we received. They still had some 2010 vans they were very serious about unloading. So even though we weren't really in the market for a car....we drove out in a new vehicle with the same car payment...and an upgrade. We did trade from Chrysler to Dodge but with significant extras with the Dodge...and the passenger windows roll down in the back. And Mouse is loving the dvd player. (If Santa only knew this was coming he could have skipped the personal dvd player at Christmas.)

Songbird is in concert season and state testing in school. Can you say fun...

Hubs is always flying out to somewhere it seems. It is short trips though so that is really not a complaint.

Sleep has become an evasive thing. Seems like if anything wakes me in the least bit from 3 am on...I cannot get back to sleep. And I'm the queen of sleep so this is NOT good. I feel grumpy and tired almost every day. I don't like it. And sleeping aides? Not. Mouse still wakes up with massive nose bleeds, is in a screaming nightmare phase and just generally wakes up at night...and once the hubs is asleep he doesn't wake up ...so no sleep aides for me.

All our things seem to be breaking at once. Replaced the washer and dryer. New Van. This computer is ready to be retired (with lots of flames and smoke...or maybe a pick-ax). Some big dollar thing keeps coming up and ruining my run on trying to get all the bills paid off. But, having said that, we aren't adding to the bills yet either...we are just not being able to funnel all those funds and pay things off. I shouldn't complain.

See? Lots of boring and busy stuff that just isn't worth blogging about.

I Want

My on-line friend....okay okay that is stretching it but she did turn me on to the best quilt shop in my area AND she does amazing work...and she's in a Modern Quilt Guild...and she lives not that far way......

Anyways...

Andie did a "I Want" post because she is sick of winter and a million other things. Are you feeling it? I know I am. And at the end of her post she says: What about you - whattaya craving?

Which gives me the perfect reason to blatantly rip-off her post ideal.

So Andie....here is what I crave...

Although the Maldives are an awesome choice...I'm feeling Greece right now. Since I'm not beach material I need more than just the sea and sand. I think Greece covers that with some of the most fantastic food out there. And the statues. And the history. Yes. I'm feeling Greece.
30 Days at a Thai Detox and weight loss resort. I'm feeling so Anna Nicole....and not in a good way.
Like Andie...I could really use new shades. Since I've never had expensive ones I have no clue what I'm missing....and intend to keep it that way. As it is I have 4 pairs of damaged pairs in my new car that were all dug up while emptying the old one last weekend. Man I'm tough on shades.
A snake massage. Okay, okay. I'm lying. But I would like my own personal masseuse and chiropractic visit once a week for the rest of my life.
Like Andie...a three day nap in a nice little room would be heavenly. But my room needs a few books if I'm going to be in there for three days.

A day hike with my family in the nice 70 degree weather. Complete with a picnic lunch. And NO ONE complains until its time to go home and they are disappointed that its all over. (A girl can dream right?)
I was going to put a home of my own next.....but even that is all about the kitchen. I want a kitchen. I want to be able to walk through the kitchen without having to touch anyone else that might happen to be in the same room. I want to be able to cook. Our favorite foods are done in the wok or sushi/nori rolls and I can't even make them in this house because there is no counter space and prep space. So very very tired of that.
I can't wait to get started gardening. We are thinking about giving the straw bales a try this year. Have any of you tried this? Our tomatoes didn't get very big last year in the pots so I want to go a little bigger if we can.....and the ground isn't an option.
2012 Charger. Oh yes. The Jag has always been my fav car....but I'm thinkin' American now. Even though we did just buy a new van and it will be another 7 years before I see a real car. Being a mom does have its limitations.
My own quilting/sewing/reading/office/room. But I might not ever come out...especially if I have my own
reading nook......

And finally. What I am really craving. Is a weekend. With my girls.

So what are you all craving?

That's Why.

Because you are not replaceable.

I know you don't understand that.

I know you don't get all of our limits and restrictions.

They really are for your own good.

Because you are not replaceable.

There is no second best.

There is only you.

Always you.

So when you fight back I hope you know.

Its for you.

Even though it seems unreasonable.

Its for you.

Because you are not replaceable.

You hold a very important place in our hearts, minds and souls.

And you are not replaceable.

That's why.

If I Don't Show Up For Work....I Get Fired.

With no benefits.

With no unemployment check.

Its time our elected politicians get the same. All parties. All issues.

Why do they not have to do the job they were elected for?

(And who is paying for the mass exoduses that are going on? Unless they have a second job or inherited money...that would be US.)

America's politicians are the dirtiest employees on this earth. Power corrupts completely.

But its still the best place to live on earth also.

The question is.....for how much longer?

Tweetie-Pies and Flutter-By's

I saved the Bitty Princess' quilt to show last as Kylie had only been shown a portion of it. You know I can't send big brother a quilt after making little brother a quilt and leave her out. Besides, I had all this left-over material from Songbirds quilt, the wedding quilt I made and Blessings in Blue. Perfect opportunity to do some more destashing. Since I know we are not done moving around yet, I'm trying real hard not to collect a lot of fabrics because the stuff weights so much....and we were already over our limit when we moved here.

Anyways.

I was very excited because I was making the quilt completely from my scraps. How frugal! So I pulled out what I had and then started searching the free stuff I've pulled off the internet until I found a pattern I knew I could pull off. And here she is:
Of course I got to use my Go! cutter for the squares and all of the inside 2.5 inch white sashing. that means I had this quilt cut in no time at all. I think I did it all while watching a Netflix movie on the laptop.

For all the white sashings I used the three white on white fabrics left over from Tricia's quilt. The larger outside border is a scroll, the longer inside sashing has butterfly's and the smaller pieces in-between the blocks is the same pebble pattern on big brothers quilt.
I quilted a flower pattern on the outer border in aqua and loved the way it turned out. I couldn't bring myself to do the inner sashings like I did on Songbirds quilt and Angels of Summer because I didn't want to cover up the butterflys.

As I was working on this project I ran across them most amazing girly safari fabric. I KNOW! I already had my backing ready to go even. I was already basting it. But I couldn't help it. I had to have it. It just made sense to me to add that same touch of Africa that her brothers had. So I spent money. Full price even. I never do that if I can help it. And oooohhhhhhh I was NOT disappointed!!!! This fabric is so AWESOME!!! (And was well worth unbasteing the first choice and setting the whole project aside while I waited on it to be shipped to me.)



And that was the surprise that Kylie hadn't seen. So much for the piece I was going to use up on the back....but I already have a plan for it since I decided to barter two custom birthday cakes for my girls......
The binding on this quilt has a story. I saw the fabric and shook my head because it was so ugly. This was quite awhile ago. But I thought it could make a very interesting looking binding since you would only see a small strip and it had so many colors I could work with. So I bought a small bit with that in mind. When I put the top of this quilt together and was looking to decide what to bind it with I ran across that piece and was surprised at how much of the green and aqua was in it. So I decided to try it out and it just worked. So if you have an ugly piece of fabric make sure to test its feasibility as a binding. It just might surprise you! Especially if its colorful and you have used so much white on the front.

Kylie was sweet enough to text me a picture of the kids with their quilts. Hey girl - can you email those so I can print them? I haven't figured out how to get it to a jpeg from my text...it ends up being something else I can't open.

(I keep a "quilt diary" at the advice of others and its fun to be able to slip a picture of the recipient in with the write-up of the quilt with their quilt. Oh, and Heather, I could use one of the Boy-o and his also if you don't mind! )

Well....back to my big project. These two little guys were a nice break from it!

A Far Country

I just sent off a box to a couple of very special kids. Last summer I made a quilt for their new baby brother. Big brother really liked the African theme so I filed that info in the back of my brain. Then I kept running into this awesome African panel when I was searching for materials for a big project I'm doing. I kept thinking that if I took the left-overs from the African quilt I could piece another top if I had a back. But my resources were committed in another direction. Finally I could stand it no longer...and texted Kylie with a picture of the panel and told her if she was interested and could get me one of these I'd make a quilt with the fabric I still had for H. And she was interested.

So Kylie and H. went to the quilt shop to try and find the panel. We had determined that we could order it if they didn't have it. But H. was THERE and there was a fabric he did like so he wanted it. Well okay then! I'm great with that! So he picked his own backing fabric (which I think is so cool - not just the fabric, but that HE picked it) and they sent it to me.

I pulled out all the scraps from little brothers quilt and was delighted to be putting them to use as they are quilt shop quality fabrics and just yummy. Love them. Kylie did happen to mention that H.'s favorite is lions. So, I couldn't help myself. I went online and searched for lion pillow panels to make a focal point for the front. I found an awesome one on *bay for less than $2.

So here it is:
My camera would not focus very well with all the different patterns going all over the place. Sorry its not real clear.
This is the back with the fabric H. picked. I added the borders so I could make his quilt a little bigger. The black doesn't show but its a black on black with a pebble pattern. Adds a cool touch when you see the real thing.
I loved the fabrics so much I didn't want to quilt over them. Instead I just did the ole stitch in the ditch and then added another square about 3/8 inch inside each block. Great for not taking away from the fabrics.
Quilting from the back.
The pillow panel. Don't you just love the intent look of the lion? So glad I found this!

So little Mr. H. I do hope you enjoy your new quilt. It was so much fun to make...and helped me destash!

(And just as a funny....the week I was basting this together to complete, his mommy did a FB post about a conversation they had about color. Seems H. likes all colors...except black and white...because he just wasn't sure they were very useful. I'm now very curious to find out whether or not he changes his mind! LOL!)