Happy Birthday, Jesse

Baby girl is 4 today. In a year's time she has grown so much yet stayed the same. Quite the little thinker. At times she lets James take the lead and talk talk talk for her, other times she shushs him and explains things exactly how they are. Just last night, she helped me clean the kitchen, from putting away dishes to loading the dishwasher to clearing off the countertop, she is quite the homemaker. I can't tell you how humbling it is to see this child of mine and dodge the missteps and see this wonderful little girl develop who has an opinion all her own, a humbleness that is lowering, yet a security in who she is that her spirit shines and you know that even if life isn't all roses for her, she will be fine and those around her, she will take care of them and they will be fine too. She is such a little caretaker. She is growing so fast.


Just this morning she was showing some love to Puppy:

Happy Birthday, Jesse!

Flag Football and Gardens

Ben is dodging an attempt at grabbing his flag. He's mid-spin to miss the guy. I think it looks like he's gonna do a backflip. See the guy in the background smiling? He is tall and smiled smiled smiled the entire game.

I call this "Penguin Feet". Waddle waddle waddle.

Zack is running the sideline. See the half guy with the sliver of blue in his hand to the left? Yeah, one pant leg up Zack got caught.


Did you know strawberry plants have these adorable little flowers on them? Jon tells me each of the flowers show where the strawberry will be. If the little flowers are any indication, we will have a bumper crop of strawberries. Come on hot weather!

The strawberry patch. After my success last year at making strawberry jam, the patch has become "mine" and my in-laws are excited to get their jam. I'm excited too. It was some good jam.

We are putting in the garden this weekend. What you see above is just the strawberry patch, the garden is to the left and we have been allotted a section for our stuff. I'm so excited! Thank goodness for great Grandpa's who let us use his garden to put our stuff out. Last year we did a small town garden in the flower bed and had success with tomatoes and onions and abysmal failure with cucumbers and beans.

These pictures were taken the same day, between gardening, visiting, flag football, work, party planning, cleaning, mowing the yard and all the minutia that goes into daily life, I have been busy. What this means is that sometimes the blog gets missed and I wanted to make sure ya'll all know how much I appreciate your visiting and commenting. Comment moderation is off, since I can't babysit it too much any more, so if you see something funky, shoot me a message, I'll take care of it.

Check out my 365 day picture blog for updates on the indoor growing we have been doing.

Peace and Happy Healthy Eating!

James Rock Purse

Sunday I had a desire to make a bags for James and Jesse. It just so happened I grabbed this color first, so James got a bag Sunday. Isn't it pretty?!

It is a rock bag. Jesse's birthday party is at "the Dam playground near the fossil beds." Yes, I worded her invitations exactly like that and didn't realize how bad it sounded until after I had put postage on it. So, hope our guests know where the damn playground is that I am talking about.

Anyway, the rock bags are for the kids when we go fossil hunting.

Jesse made off with the bag, though. So no pictures of James admiring the usefulness of the bag. Okay, I'll confess. He looked at it, turned it over in his hands and tossed it down and said, "That is cool. Come on, Sissy! Let's go play."

I used a nylon thread special for fishing nets, bags, macrame and handicrafts. I love this stuff!

Peace and Purses Rock!

Three Things

My brothers are punks. Headbands and tag football rawk!

Jon has the best smile wrinkles. My second favorite part of his face. :)

This greeted me at the door when I got home last night. I think J&J were preparing forces in case of a dinosaur invasion through the front door.

Peace and Good to Be Back!

Word Learning

I have learned two new words this week...somnolence and gaulded.

Somnolence (or "drowsiness") is a state of near-sleep, a strong desire for sleep, or sleeping for unusually long periods.

Gaulded/Galded click to get a description.

Somnolence was in the book Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon each time she described Claire's wee cheetie, Adso. I stopped counted after the fifth use of the word, but the author really really liked the word. Me too.

Galded was said to me by a coworker. I had never heard of the word to describe that particular painful condition. It was just a wee bit disconcerting to be made aware of the condition.

In other news, I am planning Jesse's birthday party. We decided to do it at a shelter house at Ceasar's Creek, a local government park/natural reserve/lake area near our house. The theme is ponies and I've yet to come up with a creative invitation (which need sent out today) or favors. Any ideas?

Crocheting and knitting has slowed due to some issues I'm having with my wrists. But I have done this piece of a shawl....

I'm going to dye this shawl once I finish it. I'm thinking green, purple, hot pink, blue and maybe a bit of chartreuse. Too much? Should I do it just a nice earthy brown?

Peace and Hope Your Man Wears Underwear!

Fishing Trip at Grandpa's

One of my favorite parts of my day, besides that moment when I first lay down at night, is this moment...Whiz, my she-male, reaching up on my leg to get some luvins. His claws are extended and he reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaches up and closes his eyes waiting for me to rub his head.

We are on a gravel driveway, not a road, please don't call CPS. I remember "driving" my Grandpa's truck. I'd actually sit in the steering wheel, or rather in the steering wheel with my legs in the bottom and holding onto the top like it was a tire swing. Jesse is learning to steer the car and girl has skills and spacial recognition I didn't realize a 3 almost 4 year old could have. What you don't see is James in the back laughing like a goon cause he farted.

See this froggy? He decided that little people around 3 feet tall are friends cause they feed him worms. He spent most of the fishing trip sitting thisclose to the kids waiting on his worms. I hunkered down and snuck up on him, which in this picture I am literally two feet from him.

Because Momma went fishing with them, they only caught two blue gills. Earlier in the day, Jesse caught a huge catfish? bass?, I'm not sure. But Jon says it was the biggest fish they had caught out of the pond in years. Jon has been fishing this pond since he was Jesse's age, so he'd know. I posted the big fish picture on my FB, but cannot figure out how to get it here.

I have sent my camera with Jon today, in the hopes that he will capture a picture of another big fish with the kids when they go fishing today.

Momma has to work and honestly, I'm not a little sad to miss out on fishing. Like my Dad says, "Well, it is something for their Dad to take them to do and you can get some time to yourself.". I love my Dad, too bad it was with him that started my dislike of fishing and then Jon solidified it into a level of apathy I rarely feel for Jon's hobbies.

Peace and Trucking Tuesday!

Pink Hat Adventure

Like my wabbit ears? Pink hat made from Debbie Stoller's new yarn line Full O' Sheep. I LOVE this yarn. Gorgeous colors and knits up really nice and felts wonderfully. This hat isn't going to be felted, unless some goon accidentally washes it in the washing machine.




I'm making good time on the hat when....


WHAM! The tubing on my needle broke. If you follow me on FB you might remember me whining about the lack of stores in Maysville, Kentucky. Yep, Hicksville, USA has a Walmart and that is it. So, I made an emergency run to Walmart for a size 8, 16" circular needle, in bamboo.


My requirements were too specific, so I had to settle for a size 8, 24" circular metal needle.


It looks like a mess, but I am getting each stitch painstakingly moved to the other needle.

And yes, those are my pajama pants.

The hat got done and I now own a pair of circular needles I do not need. Oh well.

Peace and Happy Monday!

Wandering Wednesday

Life is life. Keep trucking. You are in my thoughts. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Living online is interesting. In the evening while in Hicksville, USA I crave interaction. I maddenly click from one website to another all in the hope of connecting. Click click click. Today I actually had video streaming on my computer and was watching TV at the same time. I'd mute one then the other alternating commercial/uninteresting parts. I's be crazy. Who does that?!

I feel my thoughts are pretty superficial. I have nothing enlightening or witty to say. I'm not well-read, in that I've read these books that provoke in depth persual of my psych. In fact I remember being 14 years old, spending quite a bit of time getting to know my "little girl". We met, we connected, we bonded, then we grew up and have been living life.

Currently I'm reading Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. I love her. I should be knitting or crocheting, but I'm not. I'm FBing, MSing, BSing, bouncing to all my favorite blogs, checking Ravelry, reading, watching TV. Totally vegging out. It's a lie to say "If only I had the time I'd do this this and this." No you won't. You will totally sit on your ass and let the silence envelope you. The silence, as in the yammering of the TV. Silence means the kids are not yelling and you can actually catch every single line of the show and not have to ask your husband "WHAT HAPPENED?!" during every commercial break because he IS in fact ignoring the chaos and catching every single line while you run after the kids.

That does not happen in my home. *PHTPHT* *googley eyes*

One of my favorite blogs is called Airing My Dirty Laundry One Sock at a Time and Amber has been doing "It's Okay" Tuesdays after some article she saw in Glamour. I love it. I have never read Glamour except if I've caught an article or two at the doctors office in the last 15 years. Rare.

It's okay to yell "Get your ass in here!" to your husband. You must have valid reason. If he yells it and I come running it better not be cause he wants me to see some python puking a baby antelope. That is not okay.

It's okay to let your kid yell at your neighbor. He must have a valid reason. If the neighbor is mowing that foot of grass between your two fences it may be a good idea to reign in the kid when he starts giving the neighbor hell for being in "our" yard. Oh and it's okay to not shhh your kid when he yells "LOOK! He's a loser like us!" while your neighbor is taking his Christmas lights down in April.

It's okay to shut the door in the salesman's face. You must have a valid reason. If the guy says, "Your husband is doing a suck-ass job at maintaining your yard." That is a valid reason. Then don't laugh when your husband says to you two hours later, "I just walked around the neighborhood and our yard sucks compared to theirs.".

It's okay to cry at the end of Armeggedon. Really, it's okay.

Peace and Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Confession about Knee Highs

I cheated in knitting and crocheting and did some sewing. Okay, that isn't my confession, ya'll already knew that because I posted about making Jesse's Easter dress. What I didn't mention is that Easter Sunday morning I decided to make Jesse leg warmers.

Here's the confession: I have an addiction to knee high socks. Every month I buy anywhere from three to six pairs and stash them in a ziplock bag in my closet.

The picture above picture is a pair of knee high socks, scissors, elastic thread and needles. You need these items and about an hour to make leg warmers. They are that easy.

Cut off the heel and to, leaving the arch area of the sock intact.


Fold the arch portion in half with right-side out.


Pin the folded arch portion to the bottom of the sock. You'll have three edges total showing.


Whip-stitch the three edges together.

Voila! A leg warmer, arm warmer, baby legs, dancer ankle warmer, etc. I envision making many of these for Jesse through the years because of the usefulness of the item. Jesse loves to wear them under dresses on cool days, under her pants to play in the snow and as a substitute for pants when she wants to run around in her neekid.

Peace and Love these Things!

Ahem. *Cough* A Confession

I totally cheated on knitting. During my frantic call to Jon to bring my sewing machine home from the barn, I said, "OH YEAH! Could you bring my knitting machine home, too?".

I made a blanket. It took me an hour...if that.

I love my knitting machine. Please keep this between us. I promise to not fudge on telling you it is handmade, if it is in fact handmade by machine. Wait. It is all handmade. *thrums fingers* I may be able to get away with this! Bwahahahah!

In all fairness, it will take me several hours to finish it off with a crochet edging.

Blankets are for my step-sister who has two grandbabies due in a few months. Well, it is for her daughter and daughter-in-law(?). Eh, I can't remember. Two babies are due. I made blankets. End of story. :D

Peace and I'm traveling again for work. Hickville, USA rocks!

What Summer Asked For

Summer, who has written one novella (With a Shake of Her Hair) and almost completed a second (Move along, MacKenzie), won my blogabirthanniversary giveaway. She was torn between wanting wristie thingies or a scarf. She finally settled on an orange scarf. Let me tell you, there is a divine someone cause I had just finished an orange scarf two week earlier. But after taking it for a test drive, I decided that it wasn't the one for Summer. Off to Joann's for more yarn. It was heartbreaking to have to do more yarn shopping. Wrenching. Like pulling my arm off to get me to go.

Lion Brand has a new yarn called Hometown USA. It is big. It is bulky. It is perfect for a quick fun project. At a 100% acrylic, it is definitely easy care for a busy mom/mom-to-be, which fits Summer's needs to a tee. She is funk, she is a bit mod, she likes the quirky. Requesting an orange scarf pretty much dialed me into this shade of orange. Who wants modest orange? Not us! We want bright orange!

Summer, I test drove this scarf for you. It is nice! HA! Hope you enjoy!

Peace and Good Bloggy Love!

Brothers

Jesse is saying "Pwease, Josh! Give me my bucket back! I gotta find eggs!".

I've been blessed with nine brothers. NINE. I've lived through those tough years of being beat, teased and now I am enjoying the years of being loved. Pretty sure every one of my brothers love me. Six of those nine are my BIL's. They love me the most. I'm positive of this. This is why I treasure this snippet I captured this past Sunday during the Easter Egg hunt at my MIL & FIL's house...

Cue music...Beyonce Knowles "All The Single Ladies". Ya know ya got it stuck in your head now. :D

He's 24, single, loves kids and likes to eat steak. He's my favorite BIL...meet Josh. Or rather Bucket Head.

The adults...Josh fits right in.

I am praying the swing breaks. BWAHAHAHAHAAH

Addy is saying, "Josh, pwease! Can I have the bucket now? My Jesse weally weally needs it."

Peace and We all Needed the Laugh!

Little Boy Purse

Last summer I made a knit purse during one of my evening 9PM to 6AM shifts. It has sat in my closet for almost a year waiting on handles and to be felted. I felted it Sunday at my MIL's house after the Easter festivities.

James promptly commandeered it and said it was his for his Spiderman toys.

Jon is not happy with these events. His son is carrying a purse. He is not happy. Jon...he will be that crotchety old man who hates change. This is just one small step towards me desensitizing Jon to the reality that Jesse and I will put make-up on James, we will give him a purse to carry, we will dress him in pink. *GIRL POWER!* Then James will head butt us and call us stinky faces.

The purse is exactly like the purse I made this time last year in green and black for my friend Beth. Except this one will be called Spiderman Blue. :)

In other news, how would you propose I tell my boss that my kids called Zimbabwe?

Peace and James' is a Cutie Patootie!

Winner! and Jesse's Easter Dress

Summer! You are a winner! Let me know what you'd like made for you! :) Congrats!


I decided to make Jesse an Easter dress. Found this free pattern on Ravelry. Basically it is a knit top with adjustable straps attached to a fabric skirt. When I saw this pattern I thought to myself, "I can do this AND Jesse can wear it for two years!". It appealed to me on many levels. Then I did the project. What can I say? It was an adventure.



On Thursday, I cast on the knit top and got it almost finished that evening in three hours. Friday, I went to Joann's for my Yarn Date with Natalie and she picked out this fabric (which is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!) and I saw this handy dandy hem sewing thingamajob. It sucked...the thingamajob thingie, that is.


Cue to Frantic Call to Jon on Saturday. "Can you please please please stop at the barn and get my sewing machine and that green tool box looking thing with all my thread in it?!"

Pass one through the sewing machine. Doesn't it look pretty?! Those stitches looked perfect.

Then I turned it over and this is what I saw. Cuss Cuss Cuss

Then this happened.

Sunday morning, it looked pretty darn perfect. Then Jesse tried it on and it was too long. Bzzzzz Bzzzz Bzzzz and a quick hem that when I finished it, was a half an inch off somewhere. I said "Screw it." and put the dress on her where she promptly stretched out the knit top. Threw it in the washer and dryer to shrink it back up....

Voila! Cute girl! Then we went to Meme's house and she promptly busted a button off of it.

Four days of work was totally worth it.

Peace and Hope you had a Happy Easter!