A Wedding, An Airvent, & A Dance Interrupted

The two older girls were in a wedding recently, and throughly enjoyed themselves. The most fun they had, however, was while photographs were being taken at the front of the church. They were in the back of the church and discovered an air vent that transformed their dresses into huge bells, or maybe parachutes.

Excuse the poor quality of the pictures. They were taken while holding a baby, but maybe they give you just a taste of the fun that was had.

During the couple's first dance Sweet Cheeks circled the couple several times wondering just how she could get in on the fun. She couldn't quite grasp that this was not Ring-Around-the-Rosies, and she was not invited to participate.

Good-bye Rusty

Today we said good-by to our dog of 16 years. This little guy attended more tea parties, parades, and dress-up sessions than any canine ought to have to withstand. He has worn tutus, garlands, hats and anything else the kids could think to put on him. He was a fierce protector of the children, and even this week came between Sweet Cheeks and a water moccasin on a berry picking excursion. He had another severe seizure or stroke last night and had to be put to sleep. It isn't often you see a grown man cry, but my husband was brought to tears several times today.

Little Rusty Iron Will will be missed greatly, especially by the grandkids who often left little treats in his bead. He had a little house in the living room for a while, and after the grand-kids went home I would find a movie or some of their toys they left in his house for him to play with while they were gone.

Modkid's Frida Pattern, Alexander Henry' Willow Grove Fabric

I bought Alexander Henry's Willow Grove fabric while on the shop hop in Atlanta earlier this year. I knew I wanted to do something for one of the girls with it, but wasn't sure what. I also bought this great pattern from Modkids. It finally dawned on me this weekend to pair the two together, and I think it turned out darling. This was a birthday dress I made for Angel Eyes, Sweet Cheeks fell in love with the dress and wanted to try it on first. She kept walking around saying, "I'm a princess." So now I think I may have to order more to make her a dress.

Just finished a second dress for the other birthday girl. I made this one with three different fabrics as suggested in the pattern. I'm not sure which one I like best.

Keep checking back because sometime this week I will have a giveaway.

My Sixties Looking Dress

I have worked and re-worked this dress and finally decided I would venture out of the house in it. I love the retro feel of this style, but I'm not so sure it's something I can pull off (I look pregnant.) It sorta resembles a tent on me but I still like it. If I try this pattern again I think I'll color block it. Make the dress white and the pleat maybe black or red.

Stay tuned tomorrow I'll share a dress I really love on a much cuter model.

My Mom

Oh, there are a thousand things I could say about my mom, most all of them good. She is loving and kind, patient, a good listener, generous, a wonderful cook, she does beautiful embroidery, she sews, she's a hard worker, a fervent prayer, a loyal friend, and I'm so blessed to call her Mom. I have so many memories of her from childhood, some funny, some tender.

I'll never forget one time my brother was in trouble, and instead of taking his punishment as usual, he decided to run. My mother chased him, even when he scampered to the top of a tree she was right behind him switch in hand. (no, we were not abused.) Numerous times when I woke up scared in the night she would come into my room and hold my hand until I fell back to sleep. She did this even though she had four younger kids to care for, and probably needed sleep much worse than I did.

I remember when I brought my son home from the hospital and found out just how little I knew about babies. I called Mom and asked her, "When is it going to happen?"

"When is what going to happen?" she replied.

"When am I going to be a mother, you know, and have all of the answers like you do?"

She howled with laughter. "You think I have all of the answers?"

"Well, you seem to. You always seem to know just what to do and what to say."

"It doesn't just happen, in fact, you never have all of the answers, but with time and experience you learn more and more what to do. You make a lot of mistakes, but with prayer and persistence you'll learn to do your best, and that's all anyone can ask."

Good advise........and she keeps giving good advice...just one of the reasons I love her so much.

Now lest you think she is perfect I will share one little flaw, she has been known to burn the bread a few times.

family gatherings

Being part of a large family has added such joy to my life. Some of my favorite moments in life are when we all or any sub-group of us get together and just hang out. With us there is always food involved, and there are many great cooks, (just one of the reasons I have a weight problem.) As our family grows we are having to cut back on birthday celebrations. Instead of an individual party for each person we are combining several birthdays and celebrating together. This week we had one of those special celebrations.

My son to the left and the two grand-daughters on each end were the ones we were celebrating.

Isn't this cupcake butterfly made by my daughter-in-law beautiful? I can't even tell you how delicious it was. So was everything else.

There was lots of witty conversation,

some impromptu ballet,

a little ring around the rosy,

a nap or two, an alligator incident, (I'll leave that to your imagination) babies being passed around, cuddled and kissed,

and just an all around good time. I am really blessed to be related to so many great folks!

Sibling Love

Just a few pictures of a little brotherly/sisterly love

Happy Birthday

This sweet little grand-daughter turned three this week. We enjoyed a little birthday celebration at the pool between the showers that have fell off and on this weekend. I think my gift of rain boots came at just the right time. It has been a nice week-end so far. I haven't gotten any house work done, but I've enjoyed lots of laid back family time.

I Found it! Also an Upcycled Skirt, and a Monster Cookie recipe

I found my camera cord, right after I stopped looking for it, of course. I had a weekend filled with precious grand children, the weather was awful so we baked a little, had a tea party, and played indoors.

Here is the recipe for the Monster Cookies we made:

1 stick butter

1 cup each white and brown sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cup pnt butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp maple syrup

4 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup wheat germ

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup M&Ms

1 cup craisins

1 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350

Cream butters and sugars

Add eggs and mix until blended

Add baking soda, vanilla, syrup and blend

Stir in remaining ingredients

Drop by rounded tsp onto lightly greased baking sheets

Bake 12-15 minutes until edges start to brown.

Some where in between I made a skirt from three jeans pants legs. The photos of this are not great, and I haven't decided if I'll actually wear this out of the house or not, but here it is anyway. I still plan to embroider it or applique something on it. It needs a little doctoring up, but I had fun just playing around with something that didn't cost me a thing.

Blog Laryngitis

Can't find my camera cord, so you know I can't talk without my hands or my camera.  I guess it's sorta like blog laryngitis.  Here's hoping I find my "voice" soon!

Bombed

Well, no pictures today.  You should be happy about that.  I had a day of leisure today so I thought I'd try a couple of new recipes, both bombed.  Okay, there was plenty of day left and I was still feeling ambitious so I tried to make myself a new dress......mistake! After making major adjustments and taking up 2 inches on each side, you could still hold a small circus in that tent of a dress!  I finally put the dress aside,  maybe I'll work on it another day.  I'm thinking on my next day of leisure I'll just stay in bed.

I Won Again!

Wow!  I can't believe I won another giveaway!  Look at these great gifts!  (picture from Nicole at 60 Piggies. To see the full photo click on it.)  I've been looking longingly at Sarah Jane prints for quite a while.  My problem is I love them all!  So when I saw the giveaway at 60 Piggies I got really excited.  Along with the print are these amazing raindrop earrings.  The print is so appropriate because when my daughter was a little girl a friend of my parents pegged her the Rainy Day Girl, and every time he visited he asked about her.  The first time he met her she was singing "it's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring..." so she was forever the Rainy Day Girl to him.  Those raindrop earrings are just perfect for the mom of the Rainy Day Girl don't you think?

You really should check out Nicole's blog.  She is a photographer, jeweler, seamstress, mother, whew, I get tired just listing all she does!  Check out her etsy shops here and here, and her photography here.  Be sure to read about her family's plans to give a needy child a home.  If you'd like to be a part of that all of the proceeds from her etsy shops will go toward their proposed adoption.  How's that for Retail Therapy that you can really feel good about?

Thanks so much Nicole!  

I went for a little walk in what used to be a boggy area near where I live.  It hasn't been burned off in years and is more woody overgrowth than bog at the present.  I wanted to find some pitcher plants to photograph and paint.  They used to be plentiful around this time of year.  I didn't find any, but I did find these miniscule carnivorous plants instead.  I don't think I want to paint them, but I'd love to know more about them.  Anyone out there have a clue?

There were some lovely ferns, and some other feathery greenery along with a few little flowers.  I'm constantly amazed at the vast array of creation, so much to delight the senses.  Here are just a few photos I took.  The grandkids are fascinated with these crayfish or crawdad chimneys, at least that's what I've been told that they are.  We have never seen the little critter that builds these fascinating little structures.   Anybody know how to get a glimpse of one?