Happy Birthday!

Two birthdays here this month. Seems like we've had cake or other treat almost every day (mainly because I have been on a baking kick, but I like to blame the birthdays and Stephen, who brought home skittles for everyone the other day). We finally finished off with Ammon's lemon meringue. Have any of you made this before? Involved recipe! I doubt I would take the trouble to make this more than once a year (it did turn out delicious though). Maybe we will have to try the jell-o version. Oh, and the recipe in Mom's book doesn't tell you when to add the butter or vinegar - appears I guessed right or it doesn't matter - and in the meringue directions it says to add soda, but I believe it meant the salt (guessed right again), so, heh, if any of you try this just call me and I'll share all my secrets (umm, if I remember, which is unlikely). Was this Nanette's recipe or one Mom had or did Megan add? Anyway, very good. Good thing I only made one because I don't think I would have stopped eating it if I didn't have to. I think I never tried it before because I love banana cream so much that when it was available I didn't try anything else. That may have to change....

Anyway, here are pictures of Ammon's hat I finished on his birthday about an hour before he got out of school.

[Do you recognize the yarn Megan? Same that I used on my Bubby, and still some left.]
He's so good about humoring me, wearing homemade items. Including a wonky sweater I made him.
The body is getting too short (o.k. - was always on the short side) and the arms are still really long (that's how he likes 'em), and when I commented that he and Adria hadn't worn their sweaters he wore his the next day. What a sweety, eh? I'm thinking, if he'll let me, I could shorten the arms for Tanner to wear (thankfully shorter, I wouldn't attempt longer I don't think).

Reflections

A halo of silver hair, and though wrinkly,
her face always beautiful with a smile.
She seems to glow like an angel.
Her aprons - always with a tissue handy-
warmth, food, order, love.

Her eyes glowing she tells me a secret,
(even if it is just about liking peanut butter),
as if it were one she would share only with me.
She takes my hand and gives me a gentle pat,
her hands curled, wrinkly, softer than velvet.

I learn of love and concern as I watch her
worrying about each she loves as they depart,
panicky at the sound of sirens,
smiles, hugs - a word for everyone,
no one left to feel lost in the crowd.

Stooping, a hug goodbye,
her cheek feathery soft against mine.
"the flowers are beautiful this year.."
stretching out the goodbye, waving,
we finally drive away.

Comforted, knowing I'll see her again.
She must be joyful now
knowing she left behind a legacy of love.
Resting, and waiting,
for me.

--mr

I've finally been working on my mystery quilts again (McCall's 2005). I had stopped because I messed up on some quick-piece triangles, but when Mom asked me how I was doing on it I got to thinking about it, and I figured out the mess. Now I have decided to dive in and sew the blocks, and I will just add borders if I need to make them bigger.
Here is a picture of a finished block (different colors) on the one I have already assembled (I was working on two at the same time, but got stuck on one because I had to buy more material, and money was lacking, so I forged ahead on the other one):

Of course this all depends on time. Seems for a while I had a lot of time, but I wasted it, now I have very little time free (I think it has something to do with the 2 year old), and I want to do everything I didn't do before.

Oh, and the duet went o.k. I can't breath in the right places, for the life of me, and I totally dropped out at one part near the end, and worst of all at the very beginning when I did one verse as solo I got my face up in the mike (it was low so I was scrunched over- can you just picture it?), it would have made a great scene on a Saturday Night Live spoof. When I messed up I couldn't help myself, I shook my head, and Ammon said he heard me laugh a bit in the mike at my first breathing mistake, ugh. Singing in front of a microphone sucks. I don't even know if I did other things wrong or not. We practiced, agreed on technicalities, but once I started singing I stopped thinking. However, after it all I didn't feel bad about it until I got home and started stewing......it's worse than the nervousness before hand! I do love to sing, though. Guess I might have to stick to singing in the shower for a while.

Curtains

So I finished one tiny curtain in my bathroom!
I was pleased with the result (not to mention it is the only room in the house I consider completely decorated - I do love things to be finished), so from there it ballooned.
I went out directly and bought curtain rods and this great fabric for kitchen curtains. Now they are just sitting there.
I have a vision. I am just very unsure of my ability to achieve it. I knew I should have bought that magazine I spotted with tips on making curtains - but overconfidence at that point in time stopped me. I knew I could do it, they are similar to the one in the bathroom.......hmmm, wait a minute, maybe I still can. Tips on ruffles anyone? Do I actually gather them first or do they just look gathered after they are hung (that is just lazy hopefulness talking I know)? How about ease? How much extra fabric do I allow for the curtains to be bumpy enough but not crowded (is more really better? - oh, wait, yes, to answer my own question, because I can always cut some off, but if I have too little I may have an unsightly seam down the middle. Of course, then I have to go by how much fabric I have or I will run out)?
It goes on and on. If I listen to myself too much nothing gets accomplished (as per quilt post coming soon).

Not much to say, so more pictures

I've finally been working on my mystery quilts again (McCall's 2005). I had stopped because I messed up on some quick-piece triangles, but when Mom asked me how I was doing on it I got to thinking about it, and I figured out the mess. Now I have decided to dive in and sew the blocks, and I will just add borders if I need to make them bigger. Here is a picture of a finished block (different colors) on the one I have already assembled (I was working on two at the same time, but got stuck on one because I had to buy more material, and money was lacking, so I forged ahead on the other one):

Of course this all depends on time. Seems for a while I had a lot of time, but I wasted it, now I have very little time free (I think it has something to do with the 2 year old), and I want to do everything I didn't do before.

Oh, and the duet went o.k. I can't breath in the right places, for the life of me, and I totally dropped out at one part near the end, and worst of all at the very beginning when I did one verse as solo I got my face up in the mike (it was low so I was scrunched over- can you just picture it?), it would have made a great scene on a Saturday Night Live spoof. When I messed up I couldn't help myself, I shook my head, and Ammon said he heard me laugh a bit in the mike at my first breathing mistake, ugh. Singing in front of a microphone sucks. I don't even know if I did other things wrong or not. We practiced, agreed on technicalities, but once I started singing I stopped thinking. However, after it all I didn't feel bad about it until I got home and started stewing....It is worse than the worry beforehand I think. Of course everyone was pretty nice about it anyway, and I am sure it is forgotten, and maybe we won't get asked to do it again (bonus!). I do love to sing though. My spirit takes over I think, it is kind of an escape thing-like reading.

Winter and Weddings

It snowed so beautifully today, big flakes, many flakes, yet not a furious blizzard or anything, just quiet.

The boys all bundled up to go for a walk tonight despite the cold.

Lando- came back happy as can be, he wanted me to go with him next!



Here are pictures of one of Melanie's ideas for colors, however, the rust color is a lot deeper and less orange in real life.

Especially this one. My flash totally ruined the color, but I thought it was cool how you could see the texture of the petal.

Arrrgh!

I just pretty much wrote an entire paper about Scarlett, but someone had turned off one of our internet devices so when I tried to post it and couldn't, I checked settings, etc. and inadvertently closed the wrong window, and it is lost. I had clicked 'Save as Draft', but apparantly it doesn't allow you to do it offline.
"Groan, moan, complain." Hey, at least you won't be bored to tears now!

[Good thing it wasn't an assignment, eh? At least I don't have to stay up until midnight or so redoing it, heh, heh. Gotta look for the positive right?]

Pictures

These are some pictures I took while learning to use my camera (Santa brought me a digital camera and a photo printer - whoot!). I thought they turned out cool. Except for my toe in the first one. I didn't notice that until I printed it out and I couldn't take another because it was in CA. Grrrr.
Anyway, copyright mine, etc, etc, blah, blah, thanks!

Life with a two year old

It seems my son woke up one morning with a two year old brain, although he won't officially be two for close to a month. He was suddenly pushing chairs around, climbing on cupboards to get to whatever interested him (attempting to pop his own popcorn in the microwave, play in the butter, dump out the salt...). Here is one mess that had photo possibilities:


Amazing how much made it on the plate (thank goodness- not all over the living room floor this time)!


Of course he always has a "sorry, momma, sorry,clean up" (as he uses a towel - or something - and makes it worse). Truly these are the days...

Aren't these the cutest? They were in 'month of softies' flickr, ummm, pool. (I usually get there through www.loobylu.com). Made by Turtblu. Sorry haven't figured out links and stuff yet.

Have you read it?

O.k. so maybe this means I am a little behind the times (a lot?). I have never read Gone with the Wind. I don't remember liking the movie much. I kinda thought Scarlett needed to get a reality check, a life, some backbone, I don't know, it was a long time ago that I saw it. I just remember not liking her much. Anyway, for whatever reason I decided to remedy my illiteracy and give the book a try, maybe it is better than the movie...
Maybe being older and wiser (ahem) I will get it better.

Wish me luck!

It finally worked!

This is my third try and, finally, after resetting the McCaffee mess I can log in! More later (this will most likely be a late night posting blog - after kids are in bed so I can actually concentrate).