More than a Blog

A taste of summer worth waiting for

 

I love the summer garden.  Probably because I usually get to reap the rewards with minimal work.  My mom and grandma always have a huge garden, and growing up I thought I worked so hard snapping those green beans.  Man they were mean to make my sister and I help.  Little did I understand the tilling, planting, weeding, and picking process -then the washing, and canning.  But you can't beat a jar of home grown green beans in the winter time - it sure brings back the taste of summer.

So my mom sent me home a mess of green beans to put up.  It was kind of fun to stand at the kitchen sink, working up the green beans and feeling like I was participating in history.  Years of women (not standing in an air condition kitchen of course) working with their hands, doing their part to keep the family well nourished during the long cold winter months.  (I'm also sure they didn't snap pictures of themselves working so that other people would realize they were productive and have something to blog about.)

 

And you can't beat a fresh pot with bacon and potatoes.  Can't you just taste that summer goodness.

 

I can't wait for the tomatoes...

 

 

A work in Progress

For a recap of how I truly feel about my pink carpet....

 

and my brick planters... 

 

Read this blog post.

This past week we had some fun with that pink carpet.....

 

And my personal favorite

The next shot was the one I wanted to show you, but we didn't manage to get.  It was me with the sledge hammer breaking this thing apart - I just took out a little aggression on it - not much.   I guess I was too excited that it was finally leaving my living room to stop and let Matt take a picture.  That or the fact that my husband and father-in-law thought I was a dork laying on the ground for the perfect angle of a smashed up brick planter and pulled up pink carpet.  What can I say, anything to capture the emotion of the moment!!!!

 

No more Pink Carpet and No more Planters!!!!.  However if you look very close at my beautiful new floors you will discover my new love-hate relationship with them.  They do show dust.

So I will introduce you to my new best friend.

 

How lame am I to take a picture of my dust mop and photoshop it.  If you think this picture shows how OC I am about pictures, just wait... it gets worse.

So this is what I'm running from

The mess in my bedroom caused by the remodel.  And yes, I photoshopped it too. 

Stay tuned for more insane photoshopped pictures of our house remodel.

P.S.  I haven't had a TV, washer or dryer, or sanity in over a week.

 

  

April showers bring May Flowers

But what will the heat of July bring?

We will see! 

The Luckiest boy in the world

We've entered in to a new phase of parenting - the early stages of taxi cab parenting where you find yourself running children to all kinds of activities.  We started this phase with t-ball.

 

Braden's team played their first game last week and I have to say I'm thankful to our coaches - they realize this is a team for 5 and 6 year olds and not a bunch of professional athletes.  The coach we played against had signed up for the wrong team.  Such wisdom spewed from his mouth to these young athletes all night including - "You're going to have to hold it...go to the bathroom before the game starts next time".  And my personal favorite "Get over here and stop screwing around."

Well this brought out the competitive nature in my dear husband and the other Giant's coaching staff and we pulled off the victory!!!

An adoring Giant's fan...who goes everywhere with his glasses these days.

First time a bat.  And while he runs like his mama (I hope he out grows that)  He has a pretty good swing on him.

But the best part of the game came at the end -no, not when he found out we had defeated the other team, nor when he got to line up, shake hands, and tell the other team good game. 

 It was the free Popsicle.  He'd play every-night for a free popsicle. 

     "I'm the luckiest mom"  "Every-time I play I get a free popsicle."

Will we make it through tonight's game with determination to hit the best, catch the ball, play hard, or just get the game over so the good stuff begins?  

 

 

 

Why is photographing your own kids so hard?

 

Yes, it looks nice, but we had a nightmare of a time trying to take these pictures.  It was more fun to pick up rocks, and crawl through the grass.  We had also just finished the church easter egg hunt, and so they wanted - candy, but it was all melted chocolate from sitting out in the sun during the church service.  Anyway... this was the look I was going for, the look grandparents swoon over.  The smiling faces, happy and looking at the camera.  

PS.. When Gabe saw this picture he said in his sweet little voice 

    "Braden hold my hand."

THIS is the picture I'm in love with.....

Anyone who has watched my boys together know they can not keep there hands off each other.  They are all ways all over each other.  I love this shot.  The sweetness, their heads together - those freckles!!!

 

 

Yes I did let them have some candy.

     How could you not to a face like this...

 

 

Quilt project update 4; still working on the first one but I have finished a quilt.

So... what has it been 3 months since my last quilt update.  I've been having more fun quilting than I have been blogging about it.       

Update on the circle quilt, on my last post, it looked like this....

 

It is all pieced together.....YEAH!!!

 

I even managed to match up the center of MOST of my circles (key word - most, not all!!!) 

 

Since these pictures were taken, I put on a border and pinned the backing on.   Haven't done much quilting.

Since I have never machine quilted before, I decided to make a smaller quilt to practice on.  Matt's cousin Casey is expecting, so she is now the proud owner of my first machine quilted quilt - and I have to say I'm quite proud.  It is by no means perfect, but it surprisingly looks like a quilt.

Like my quilt holder - isn't he precious.  That brings me to an unrelated story.  Over spring break we made a little sewing gift for our new friends.  After I finished 

    I asked Braden "Isn't it precious?"   

        "What does precious mean mamma."

    "Beautiful and girlie."  I responded

    For those of you who know him picture the Braden analytical face.

    "But didn't you use to call me precious when I was little?"

    "You're right. I guess it's doesn't mean girlie."

Now on to more quilting pictures.

 

By the way.  I still have the quilt, even though the baby shower is over.  As I was quilting away, my machine died on me.  Thanks to a wonderful sister-in-law, who gave my mother-in-law and extra machine, I'm back in quilting business (not literally).

 

  

I've even hand stitched the binding to the back as according to my new favorite quilters guide book.

You can find it on amazon.

And I mitered the corners - again, not perfectly, but they are mitered.

And now, a sneak peak at my next project that is a Christmas present, so there will be no more sneak peaks this year.... (Sorry)

But look the points of my pinwheel match!!!  YEAH!

  

  

 

We can't eat this.....

We've been snowed out of school for the majority of the week and I've been spending a lot of time catching up on some much needed craft time.  

 

Here is a view of my kitchen counter....

 

If you look closely, you will see a recipe box sitting on my cutting mat.  Does that count for cooking?

But this is what is on my stove

I love the smell of orange peels and cinnamon simmering on the stove top, the smell is wonderful, but I'm not so sure it is the most tasty thing to offer my family.  Guess it will be another grill cheese sandwich for the children.  Matt you are on your own.  

 

 

 

Quilt project update 2; aka not as easy as it looks

I've finished the quilt.......

 

Just kidding.  This is a quilt that was made for me when I was in Jr. High or grade school.  Braden has been using it on his bed.  For his birthday, we decorated his room in a cowboy theme (project before and after pictures coming soon - as soon as the after is done!!!)  I've been wanting to back this quilt for years and I finally got it done.  

 

I tied the back on and prepared the edges for sewing - then it was a piece of cake from there (at least I told Matt it was going to be.)

Feeling so proud of the progress I was making - I decided to get out the camera and document it.

Then this happened.....

 

Yes that is a broken needle.  I fixed that problem only to discover the stitches on the back of the quilt looked like this...

Needless to say after 3 broken needles and using the seam ripper on the same section of quilt 2 times, I finally had the project complete. I'd love to tell you I had two helpers during this process and that is why I had so much trouble, but they were at Bee Bees.  I just had that much trouble.  We'll see how the whole quilt process goes. 

 

 

 

In desperate need of a craft project

Photography has been my creative outlet for the last few years - since Gabe was born.  I've taken pictures of my boys (very, very regularly).  I've explored photoshop and digital scrapbooking.  I've bookmarked every possible photography blog and spent hours browsing other's work.  BUT I MISS CRAFTING!!!!  

Lately I've found my self with a quilting bug.  I've researched all possible means of obtaining fabric (you see that is my true weakness) from jelly rolls to fat quarters - and yes I know what they are now.  I've even discovered fabric designers names like Amy Butler, Denyse Schmidt, American Jane by Moda.  And I've been stocking this blog Cluck. Cluck. Sew. by Allison - just know her by her first name, but I love her quilting style.  

After spending uncountless hours on her site, I've decided to attempt a quilt - It won't be my first, I've completed 2 and have 2 I've been meaning to bind for about 3 years now (yes that is how old Gabe is).  

So I have my pile of fabric

 

  

My inspiration quilt from my new friend Allison 

And a big helper!!!!

 

Stay tuned for updates.....

Birthday dinner

Braden is 6!!!

I can't believe 6 years ago, he was a little, snugly infant I was so proud had finally made it into my life (even though the nurses did not believe he was coming yet!!!)

Now he is a little man (emphasis on the word man).  I told him I would cook him anything he wanted for his birthday dinner.  He thought a minute and responded - STEAK!

Having no way to cook the wonderful fresh meat in our freezer, that was once uncle Ethan's show steer who was fed better than I feed my children, we decided to take him to our favorite steak restaurant.

the chuck wagon resturant

Where they put a reminder of what your food use to be on the table for decoration...

But doesn't this look mouth watering....

 

Yes this is what my 6 year old boy, I mean man, ordered for dinner

wait a minute - that doesn't look like steak.

That is catfish!

When we got to the restaurant and he learned catfish was on the menu, he changed his mind (that sounds more like his momma than his dad!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my little man!