In Honor of Spc. "Doug" James Lee Bridges

This OPH Comfortghan is being mailed tomorrow morning to the Mother of a young man who was killed in Baghdad while on patrol. This is in honor of Spc. "Doug" James Lee Bridges. I hope she can find a small bit of comfort and peace in this time of loss.

Great Friends

I am very blessed to have some wonderful and amazing people as my friends. Unfortunately, it seems that some of them move away. I guess it is inevitable and part of life, but it is still a big bummer.

One of my very dear friends moved to Alaska. (For those of you that know me, can you see a pattern;)). I would love to see Gayle more often, but am able to keep in touch via email and occasional phone calls.

The other day a package arrived from her that I was not expecting. I opened it and found this beautiful advent calendar she had made. All of the stitching is hand done. She has to have spent hours on this. It is wonderful and I love it! Needless to say, the minute I opened the box and saw it I began to bawl like a big ol' baby. She really made me feel special and important. Thank you so much Gayle for the wonderful gift of your friendship!!!

In Honor of Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker

This OPH comfort afghan is being sent to the parents of Army Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker. I can not imagine the pain of their loss and the difficulty this time of year must bring. I truly hope they find some comfort in knowing others care.

Basketball

We went to the season opening game for the Idaho Stampede basketball team. Well, I use the word team loosely as they really seem to be a bunch of guys who want to shoot the ball, but not play defense or follow through on any of the shots. They have some potential, but the game we saw was a bit sad.
My youngest son had a fantastic time and I think this is going to turn into a good family activity for us. With the age gap of the boys and that the whole family (except me) is boys and all our varied interests, finding things we can all enjoy is a bit difficult. This one seems to be a winner!

Got Flowers?

I love, love, love the Prima flowers. I know, you are wondering what I do with them with a house full of boys. I have gotten pretty creative about using flowers, ribbon and sparkle on my scrapbook pages. I also have two (soon to be three) nieces so that helps :). For cards they are always a welcome addition.
I have found it a bit hard to use entire bottles of colors though. I like the assortments, but they don't always have a new mix of combinations. I am so excited to share my recent find with you!

Cafe Prima!!!!

She has free shipping on minimum orders and you can literally order one flower at a time. I you only need six leaves, then order six! How cool is that? She has some neat assortments as well and even better, a monthly kit club!!!! Look at the past assortments and you can see she definitely has a knack for combinations. What fun!!!!!! I think this is a FABULOUS idea and hope she is extremely successful! WTG Jennifer!!!

What does a word mean?

Especially if the word is "clean"? I have been reminded, once more, that the definition of a word is sometimes situational. In general, I keep my house clean. It is by no means spotless, we definitely live here and it shows, but the general cleaning is kept up. Dishes done, floors swept and vacuumed, etc. This is day to day clean.
Then there is friends and family coming over clean. The run around and pick up some of the lived in look. The toys on the floor and magazines on the edge of the couch (2 months worth that I keep meaning to finish reading).
There is however an entirely different level of clean when company is coming who is not as familiar. People who you doesn't know well, have never been to your house before and may never be again. That requires the assistance of the entire family and a room that you know the door will stay closed for a bit of dash and stash :). Your eyes suddenly see things they have never noticed before. You become aware of the fact that just because you keep something on the floor in the corner, and the same place all the time, it is not the same as the item truly having a home. That is not really a "place" and you currently don't have a "place". Hence the dash and stash!
Now, I have to admit that things look pretty great cleared off. Until I bring out all the stuff that has been piled in the room with the door closed. Now what? Well basically, there is just too much stuff and some things need to go! This is the real project and what requires the real cleaning. So, my ongoing challenge is to reduce the amount of stuff in our house. Then the family level of clean will be pretty much the same as the unknown company level of clean. Wouldn't that be fantastic?

Eyes Wide Open

Yesterday my family and I visited an exhibit that was very sobering. It is called Eyes Wide Open and it a visual display to represent the National Guardsmen who's lives have been lost in the Iraq War. Regardless of your thoughts or opinion of the war, this is a powerful exhibit. There are a pair of combat boots displayed for each soldier. Locally they also included a pair for every Idaho soldier that has been lost. I was emotional, but holding it all together until I found the boots for 3 of "my soldiers". These were three different Idaho soldiers that I assembled OPH comfortghans for their families. At that point I lost it and the tears began to flow.
As I walked around I was reminded of a comment my oldest son made several years ago. We visited a traveling representation of the Vietnam Wall Memorial. As we walked the memorial and read the names on the wall and the letters left by loved ones my son turned to me and said "Mom, I think that anyone who is looking at sending people to war should have to write all of these names first. Maybe then they will remember what happens during war." WOW! If only the adults could be as intelligent as the children.
If you get a chance, do visit this memorial. Eyes Wide Open is a wonderful tribute to those who have paid such a high price.

Mailing some comfort

I completed assembling and mailed two comfortghans for HeartMade Blessings. The fall colors is for a gentleman who lost his father and the pastels is for a young mother who has been widowed.

Boy layout about friendship

I guess it doesn't have to be for boys, but I like the idea of a friendship theme that could be used for boys. We think about this with girls, but friendships are just as important for the little boys as well :). The colors in this are so beautiful. A deep red and turquoise blue. The chipboard coasters by Gin-X are soooooooooo fun!!! The one between the "U" and "I" has an & in red in the center and the outside ring has friendship things like "friends always", etc.

More Auction Items

Here is another layout for the auction. I am pretty please with how this one turned out. I wish the photo resolution was better, but........... Anyway, this is in black and tan and the paper is by Diane's Daughters - love this stuff!!!

Auction items

The local scrapping group I am in holds a Charity Crop each year. As a group we decide on the Charity we want to raise money for and then get busy :). Members donate items for silent auction. There are also raffle items available and then a day full of fun! The crop is in Nov. and I have been working on some layouts to donate. Here are a couple of the ones I have completed.

The best thing............

Do you know what the BEST thing is about being a stay at home mom? It is those mornings when your child wakes up and they don't feel good not getting the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach that you are going to have to juggle everything. It is not feeling like you are going to have to decide between work and your child. It is not convincing your child if they are ok, but just don't want to to go and see how they do so you can get a few things finished. It is not wondering everytime the phone rings at work if it is the school and they are worse than they were this morning. It is not sitting awake all night wondering if you are working the next day and how to juggle things if you aren't.
If IS being able to be there 100% for your child on the good days and the bad.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

I spent two hours last night in tears. They were happy tears and sad tears. Some were selfish tears as well. I watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition which always makes me cry. However, last nights episode (2 hours long) was guest hosted by Marlee Matlin and was for a family that had several members who are blind as well as a son who is deaf. My own son got very excited when he saw Marlee signing and watched intently. I am excited to see she will be on next week's episode as well just for the opportunity for him to see her again.
They profiled a device call the "I Commuicator" that a friend and I have been interested in for the last couple of years. There was also a section that followed two members of the design team traveling to some Latin American countries with the Starkey Foundation to fit children and some adults with hearing aids for the first time. Anyone who knows me, knows why I was in tears the whole time. I am sure my being emotional going into the show didn't help matters, but I would have bawled regardless :).

WOW!

So, color me surprised! Lukus won not Toby. WOW! Now, my 13yr old son was so excited he literally jumped up in the air. You remember the Toyota leap? That is what he did. So, not a bad thing, but evidentally I can't read Tommy Lee's mind. THAT is not a bad thing, LOL!

ROCKSTAR

So, I have to admit that I am hooked, AGAIN! I so despise reality shows, but this one, Rockstar SuperNova, just completely reels me in. I swore I wasn't even going to watch one, but then there was nothing else on the first night and now..................
Anyway, my predication is that Toby will win it all. I just think they believe he will be the best for ticket and album sales. Tommy Lee just doesn't have the same "squeal factor" he did 20 years ago (has it been THAT long!?!).

My Dolphins

just didn't cut it last night. They stopped the Steelers at the goal line and then just gave it all back to them. Pre-season I could say that it didn't really "count". Now it does! Come on guys! I don't want to have to handle that level of frustration all season!

Just a couple of hours..........

That is all we thought it would take to put in the new sink in the bathroom. WRONG! Turns out that "standard" size 30 years ago is not the same as standard size in 2006. The sink was too small. We looked at getting a new vanity then realized that would mean the floor would be too short and on and on and on....................
So, DH undertook the massive task of putting new laminate over the old ugly yellow stuff and then putting back on the existing vanity and the sink we had (which was a fine almond color) back in. He did a great job, but it consumed the entire weekend and was super stressful. Starting to look pretty good in there. Now it is my turn to get busy with all the painting.

Welcome Baby!

NO, not me!!!!!!
I have a friend who has a new baby boy. I wasn't able to attend her shower, but still wanted to do something special for her. I purchased a very cute 6x6 album and then created pages to fill it up so that she can just add pictures and have a completed album/brag book. After that she can give it as a gift or keep for herself, whatever does her the most good :). I really hope she likes it. I am going to try to get it in today's mail so she has soon. There are 40 different pages so these are just a few of them so you get the general idea.

In Honor of Jacob Allcott

I completed assembling and am mailing out this OPH comfortghan to the parents of Army Pfc. Jacob Allcott (21).

Curve ball

So, life has a way of sneaking up on a person when they aren't watching. I dealt with some things yesterday that I fully expected to have to face at some point in my life. Did I expect them yesterday? Heck no!!! These are issues that come with age. When did I get old? I don't mean great grandparent old. I don't mean can't do anything old. I just mean basic life issues and health issues old. I see people my age and think, wow, I don't look that old (meaning no longer 24). I probably do, but the person I see in the mirror doesn't. Where does the time go? I need to learn to slow down and enjoy more of it and stop being so wrapped up in the "have to" and relish the "want to".
I am going to share an exercise I am doing if you want to join me. You have to actually write down the answers, not just think about it :).

1. You go see the Dr. and he says you have one year to live. List 10 things you do in the next year.
2. You go see the Dr. and he says you have one month to live. List the 10 things you do in the next month.
3. You go see the Dr. and he says you have one week to live. List the 10 things you do in the next week.
4. Great news, you see the Dr. and you are fine. What 25 things do you want to do during the rest of your life?

Then, take those lists and turn them into goals with dates and specific ideas of how to achieve them. I have been promised that this exercise will lead you to a more rich and fulfilling life. I can see how that would work.

Remember, no one ever is on their death bed complaining that they should have spent more time at work ;).

Gift Exchange

Here is what I promised to share :). If you remember, I was part of a gift exchange that required a "made" item. For the gift I brought, I altered an Altoid tin and inside is a mini album. It all measures 3 1/2 x 2 /1/4 inches. It was super, super fun to make!!! Now I am wondering why I didn't save all those tins over the years..........................

Additionally, the gift for this exchange in addition to containing a made item was to be "creatively wrapped". Now, there are some very creative women in the group and the variety was amazing. The packaging was very entertaining. My contribution was to alter a show box. It was fun to do and provided for colorful packaging.

Goings on

I have made all sorts of projects in the last few days and I can't share any of them until after Saturday!!! It is making me crazy :). I have a scrapbooking crop on Saturday that has a gift exchange going on and the items I made were soooooooooo fun and I am pretty proud of them, but it is a SECRECT and since I am not sure who reads this and when.......................

Anyway, I hope to share after Saturday :).

Got started, and only started, on another of the 6 hour quilts. Now read started as strips cut and the center one put together, so beginning stages only. I also finished another OPH comfortghan for HMB and need to get it washed and mailed out. I will take a picture before I mail it and share, but I am planning to mail on Monday. Time to get it where it is needed.

I have found that I will have most of Saturday free with no one else home. I am working on what I want to do with this time. I am at a loss. There are so many options, I just don't know how to pick and I don't want to be exhausted at the end of it either. I DO know that going to the gym is on the list. YEAH!!!!!

Well?

What do you think? I am pleased with the results and excited to make more! I have so many different ideas rattling around in my head from this pattern!

6 hours? YES!

I was turned on to this quilt pattern by Kaye Wood. It claims you can make the twin size quilt in 6 hours. I thought, yeah, right. I was told it was super easy and since my knuckles and hands have been giving me such fits making it hard to knit or crochet, I decided to give it a try.

WOW!! Provided you don't count the time I spent selecting fabric :), it probably isn't too far off. Now, this is my first time through the pattern, but the concept is brilliant! I am doing a baby size, not a twin and completed everything yesterday except the binding. Having never done binding before (I always did pillowcase style) I decided not to start the process at 9 pm and saved that for later today. Hopefully it works out as well as the rest of the quilt has. I have LOTS of ideas based on this pattern and am fairly "itchin'" for time to play.

Where have I been?

Pulling wallpaper off the walls in the bathroom! What a JOB! That said, I am soooooooo happy to have those little blue and yellow flowers GONE!! My super wonderful DH took me today to get a new sink so the yellow countertop will be GONE as well once everything is installed. I am so happy. I will no longer have to try to clean around that annoying sink edge. We go a one piece sink and counter top and it is beautiful!!! Although my bathroom is currently in shambles, I am definitely doing the *happy dance* at my house!! :)

Look what I made!!!

That is homemade, not from a mix or the breadmaker with butter (the real stuff) melting on top, bread! And it only required three phone calls to my sister in the process. Well, four if you count the one when I let her know they turned out :). This was really a lot of fun, inexpensive (love bulk bins) and the bread turned out tasting pretty yummy. Will certainly do this again!!!

Summertime

I wanted summer, but this heat is amazing! Not that we have it, but that we have it again this year. I believe that the climate in our area has truly changed and that this multiple days of 100 in July is now normal. Not fun, but normal!
I am looking for additional ideas of activities to do with my kids during the little bit of time we have left. We love the dollar movies and swimming. I also have a trip to the Discovery Center on my short list and some more picnics. Any other ideas?

Motivated Moms

I am so very, very excited! I have a friend who directed me to this site. I LOVE them. I printed out the samples and used them for a few days. I have now decided that they are worth every penny and happily gave them my $4 for the rest of the year. Motivated Moms. What a great name :).

Now I know that for many of you this would seem like a complete waste of $4. Please know that I have tried over and over again to create these on my own and have been completely unsuccessful. I just couldn't get it quite right and was continually starting over. I am very happy to just add a bit or skip a bit with these and they cover the important things :). I still love FlyLady and her concepts, but these lists are a lifesaver (house saver) for me.

Next on my "list" is to delegate some things to my children. I know that I am not doing them any favors by not teaching them how to care for a home and that the responsibilities are shared in the family, but it is also pretty hard for me to let go. Soon, very soon.

Quote for the day

Never give up what you want most for what you want at the moment.


Just think about it :).

Back to it.......

The vacation is finished and the catch up time at home is finished and now it is time to return to your regularly scheduled programming.
It was great that we got to see so many people. We had the opportunity to visit with three different groups of family. They are all wonderful people and were fantastic to spend time with. If would have been nice to spend more time with all of them, but it was just not possible.

I did some self examination and learned a bit while away just because of all the events and surroundings (trust me, this was not planned soul searching :)). Things in life seem to take time or money and occasionally both. There are trade offs for each and I haven't been able to balance them well with the constancy I would like. I also seem to think that I can have both and so haven't made decisions as to which is more important and exactly what that means both day to day and long term. Now I know my "problem" I can get to work on it. Hopefully that will mean resolution on some internal conflicts soon and with that will come peace!

Worry and Stress

So I saw this saying today that struck home-

"Worry is a waste of imagination"

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, makes you think doesn't it? Things have been a tiny bit stressful lately and I am working diligently to let go of what I can. I am very much looking forward to my upcoming vacation. I am disappointed that I need to go into the office the morning before I leave AND that I need to be able to periodically access email AND take my cell phone so I can be reached. I am pretty sure that it won't happen often, but the thought is just sad.
Enough worrying about it though :).

Superman

Can't do it. I know it is not a remake, but a furthering of the story. I know it is meant to be flattery. I can't do it. Superman is and always will be Christopher Reeve and I can't see the new movie. I hope everyone who does enjoys it as much as my friends who have seen it. It is supposed to be wonderful!

Los Angeles

I spent Friday in LA for a conference related to work. It was a quick trip flying down and back the same day and classes the entire time I was there so the only parts of LA I saw were on the shuttle between LAX and the hotel and from the plane. On the way home it was dark and the sight from the plane window was easily one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. After we had been in the air for about 30 minutes I looked out and it was pitch black with the lights below. It looked like someone had dropped a bottle of glitter onto black velvet. AMAZING!!! I spend a good amount of time yesterday trying to recreate the look for a spread in the altered book I am playing with, but I wish you could all see the picture captured in my brain!

Balloons and more balloons

Once a year the "Spirit of Boise" happens. This is a big gathering of hot air balloons and they launch for four mornings (weather conditions allowing) from a park in town. They let the public down in the launch area and it is AMAZING!!! In the past I have gotten the boys up and we have sat by the rim that surrounds the park and watched the balloons go up. This year we went into the park and were right next to the balloons as the inflaited and took off. So very, very cool. It was worth getting up super early and being exhausted now. The colors were breathtaking. I hope some of the pictures turn out. You can view photos from the event on the website. The 50th anniversary Mickey Mouse with the golden ears was there as well as the Energizer Bunny (HUGE!).

More cards!

I had a great time making these cards from a single sheet of double sided paper. I was so happy with how they turned out and the owner of the store where I purchased the paper had asked to see them when they were completed. She was pretty thrilled with how they turned out as well and asked me to create a set for store display. This exact paper was sold out, so we selected something similar and I had a ball playing with that paper as well :). Of course I forgot to take pictures of those as I was so excited to deliver them. She loved them and that did my creative soul good.



Now, to decide what pictures to trade out for the Trading Faces Swap. I am having a very hard time deciding which to either let someone do or ask for help with. Think anyone else wants to do some of my 47,000 Christmas photos? LOL!
Hmmmmmmmm, must decide soon, the deadline is looming!!!

Father's Day

This is a tough one for me. I am married to a wonderful man who is a fantastic father to our boys. I am so grateful for this and words can't express how blessed I feel. I try to make certain he knows this as well not just today, but everyday.
I also miss my own father a ton. April was 8 years since his death which was very sudden and unexpected. I am glad it was fast and there was no suffering involved. I do hate that I never got to say good-bye. I have many wonderful memories and I am in the process of trying to document some of them to share with my children and others, but it is a long and at times painful process.
So, today I combine my love of both my father and my children's father and try to make certain my husband knows how truly special he is.

"Fathering is the most masculine thing a man can do." Frank Pittman

gowns

These are two burial outfits that I mailed out to TLC today. It has taken me months to get them completed due to some pain issues in my wrist and joints as well as just how crazy life has been in general. I am excited to have them finally done and mailed. :)

ATC

I joined an ATC swap and the theme was birthstones. Basically, just use the color of your own birthstone. This was super fun!!! If you have any interest, I suggest giving ATCs a try. Remember, the only rule is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches and not so lumpy bumpy so that it wouldn't fit into a trading card holder (but dimension is fine). They also can not be sold, but only given away or traded. Pretty cool :).

Be nice to the crazy lady

For those of you that scrapbook, have you ever had a layout that you worked on for days? You wanted it to be just right and it took some time getting there? This one is mine. I spent almost all of last week working on it in bits and pieces. I would leave it on the table and look at it as I went by. As an idea hit me, I would give it a try and then accept or reject (mostly reject) it. I am very happy with my final product. I was shoving it in everyone's face at the crop on Saturday and just telling them to tell me they liked it :). Thank you ISers for your patience!!!

Bird Intelligence

There is this bird couple at my house and I can not decide if they are really stupid, super smart or just plain lucky. I have hanging baskets of flowers that hang from the covered area of the walkway to my front door. Every year I fill them with flowers, attempt to remember to water them and hope they look as good in real life as I hoped when the project began. The last two years this bird couple has built a nest and raised a family in one of the baskets. Since they are high up, the first year I didn't know this until the babies started making noise. I had been watering not only the flowers, but the nest, the eggs and the babies! Year two I knew what was going on and was more careful, but something scared them away from the nest when the babies were just hatched and so no baby birds :(.
To this year-I got lazy and decided I wanted the baskets to look good and less stress so when Michael's placed their silk baskets on sale, I bought some. I have beautiful flowers and if someone has a problem with them being fake, turn around and walk away from my door. The birds are back. I thought for certain the would pick another place for their nest after last year. Nope! And, they are better off than ever because I won't water them and there is this great fake moss stuff in place to start the nest building.
So what do you think, stupid, smart or lucky? My vote is a little of all three!

Recent Comforghans

These were sent out last week. They should be comforting someone by now:).
Thank you square donators! These contain not only squares from members of HMB, but also members of CrochetList and readers of The Crochet Dude.

Completed LO

I have completed two more LayOuts to sell at the Charity Crop. I don't yet know what Charity, but I do know myself well enough that I would do it regardless and that I better make them when I have the time/inspiration!
This does bring up the point of photo quality, however. It is pretty sad when a scrapbooker can't post decent pictures on her BLOG. That digital camera is moving up the priority chain very quickly. Summer vacations are playing a part in that as well. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I do know that whatever I get, it must have a bunch of optical zoom. That is the one thing I don't love about my film camera. The zoom is almost negligible and since I keep the same camera forever I intend to fix that issue the next time around.

Doesn't get better than this

I know that tomorrow is Mother's Day, but today was really a fantastic day! It didn't start out that way and it was about 3:00 before I could move much without feeling sick. Once I felt better though, I was all better and the weather was fabulous! It got to mid 80's, Woooooooooo Hoooooooooo!!!
We went to the garden store as a family, that was nice!, and got what I wanted to get the garden in. Then my youngest actually helped me get it done! So, the garden (not a big one, but still) is in and I got to spend the day outside! GREAT DAY!!!

National Scrapbooking Day

First- My final is FINISHED!!! I am soooooooooo excited. I was so sure I was going to have this on my shoulders and giving my guilt all weekend, but it is DONE!!!!
Since I finished it, I took some time in honor of National Scrapbooking Day and worked on some pages. I have another layout completed for the charity crop (once I get some repositionable adhesive that is) and one finished for my family. It was great fun! I hope you are taking time to play with some paper :).

Final

I am working on my final for my American Sign Language IV class. It is all video taped. We have been given a list of assignments ie: described your first car and your car now and compare them, etc. and then we videotape ourselves doing the assignments. There are 16'ish items. I am about half way through and taking a breather. My forehead hurts!!! For any of you that know ASL you understand what I am talking about. If you don't, then even if I explain it will still seem strange so just trust me on this one :). Wish me luck on this final. I really, really, really would love to get an "A" this semester. I know that whatever I get is what I earned, but I have been doing my darndest so I hope I am earning an "A"!!!

Eye candy

My copy of Altered Arts arrived yesterday. Now, I should be doing a million things but what I WANT to do is look at this. I always find some amazing things to ooooooooh and aaaaaaaaaaaaah over. The articles are nice and short, but full of information. The adds always have neat project ideas and things to look at.

I didn't always like this particular style. The collage style seemed a bit "odd" to me. Over time, I have come to really like it. It seems to hold so much of a person's soul in the work. I even enjoy pieces that are not done in colors or styles I am particularly fond of (the item on this month's cover is a perfect example). I still appreciate the work and the creativity and the vision in the item. I want to create things like this. I am just so intimidated. It all seems like something I should make in a studio with paint splatters on the walls and shelves lined with all sorts of goodies and since I don't have a studio.................

I need to just get brave and start a project. I know if I began one, I would do great things (for me anyway). Sometimes the getting started is what is intimidating. Know what I mean?

Another completed comfortghan

This is the one I just completed and it is heading out to provide comfort to a person in need. Many thanks to those who contributed squares. This contains squares from members of HMB, members of Crochetlist and also those who answered The Crochet Dude's call.

Thank you all!!!

Playing with paper

Last night was a crop with the local group. I had so much fun!!! I knew I needed to play with paper, but I had no idea how much! Thank you to the group for a wonderful time and to Mare for letting us play in her store! She has soooooooooo many new things and they are beautiful. Her store, World Class Scappers, is amazing. I was good and refrained from purchasing much in the way of unneeded (although it was no unwanted) supplies. There certainly is some pretty paper out there. Since I have two boys, it is a good thing I have nieces to scrap and cards to make!! :)
Look at this pretty stuff by Paper Adventures. There is sparkle on most of it which you can't, unfortunately, appreciate on-line, but trust me, it is gorgeous!

Anyone Home?

So, have you given up on me? Guilt is a funny thing. I was feeling guilty that I hadn't posted in a while. So what did I do? Not post! The next day, same thing. Well today, I procrastinate and avoid no more~!!! Nothing witty or adventurous, just letting you know I am still alive.

Oh yeah, I found my stamps!!!!

Most recently completed

comfortghans. These are the two that I have completed most recently. The yellow one contains some squares that were sent in during The Crochet Dude's call for squares. Thank you to everyone who made squares to help make these possible!!

ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance. The word is defined as follows:

acceptance

n 1: the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true; "he gave credence to the gossip"; "acceptance of Newtonian mechanics was unquestioned for 200 years" [syn: credence] 2: the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; "its adoption by society"; "the proposal found wide acceptance" [syn: adoption, acceptation, espousal] 3: the state of being acceptable and accepted; "torn jeans received no acceptance at the country club" [ant: rejection] 4: (contract law) words signifying consent to the terms of an offer (thereby creating a contract) 5: banking: a time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank [syn: banker's acceptance] 6: a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations; "all people should practice toleration and live together in peace" [syn: toleration, sufferance] 7: the act of taking something that is offered; "her acceptance of the gift encouraged him"; "he anticipated their acceptance of his offer"

#6 seems to be where I am right now. I have accepted and resigned myself to working again. Now, I know I am fortunate because I truly love my job. I love what I do everyday and work with and for some wonderful people. I really don't like what I feel I am missing. I had just started to feel like I was beginning to schedule more effectively, make some real progress with my home and housekeeping, spending more time with each of my children on an individual level including time at their schools, and starting to spend some time on myself (I know, I can hear you all gasping now). I have watched all of this disappear. Some of it gradually and some of it immediately. I don't like that, but after 5 months I believe I have now accepted it. The anger and resentment is less than it was even a few weeks ago. This is an improvement. It was only Monday that it dawned on me that I had reached this point. Perhaps I will advance to the next step (whatever it may be) and perhaps I won't. Not being angry all the time is nice.

Your Hidden Talent

Your natural talent is interpersonal relations and dealing with people. You communicate well and are able to bring disparate groups together. Your calming presence helps everything go more smoothly. People crave your praise and complements.

What's" Your Hidden Talent?

Where O Where have my little stamps gone?

Where O Where can they be?

Seriously! I have two different little alphabet stamp sets. The ones that are perfect for stamping on ribbon or just little generals "things" on scrapbook pages and cards. I have two because they are different fonts. One is pretty generic and one is a bit curly. Well, I can only find the generic one! I wanted to move the storage of the curly one into a bullet holder (yes, a bullet holder) because they are the perfect size. Originally I only had one of these and it currently holds the generic alpha set. This weekend I was given (THANK YOU!!!) a second one and I have spent the last three days looking for the alpha set! I swear I knew exactly where it was, but now, I have searched everywhere I can think of and no alpha so I have this poor lonely bullet box :(.

Here alpha, alpha!!

Cards

I was shopping for items specific to a theme scrapbook I am doing for DH's class reunions when I saw a paper by Wild Asparagus that just screamed "CARD". So, I bought one sheet so I could honor the request and this is what I created. I am so glad I listened :).

Spring Break = Spring Cleaning

I have never been one for much of the whole "Spring Cleaning" thing. Honestly, I have never been much into the cleaning thing at any level, LOL. Seriously though, I have gotten into it a bit this year. Since returning to work I have been feeling like my house is coming down around me and that I just can't keep it the way I like so I decided to take advantage of some of the time I have at home with the boys during Spring Break. In addition to the regular stuff I have managed to do the following so far this week:
clean the oven, wash the fronts of the kitchen cabinets, entirely empty out, sort and replace all the items in my clothes closet.
Now, I know this doesn't really sound like much, but these are projects that just don't get done as part of the day to day. I am most happy with the closet. I tried a new to me technique that was discussed as part of the HGTV Spring Organize/Clean segment. It talks about not being a clotheshorse and gives ideas. Give it a read, some great ideas!!!

Organization

So, I believe this is a skill a person is born with, or born without. I was born without! I try and try and try and it still seems like I am chasing my tail. It is not so much the "where do I put things" organization, although that is an issue too, that gets me. It is the how do I get everything done in the time I have? organization that makes me crazy. I have lists. They DO help, but I really would like to be able to cross everything off just once! Then, I also have those lists that are daily, weekly, just for today, etc. How do you all handle that? I once read that a person should only have one to do list and one calendar. Combine work and home otherwise things go over the top of each other or you forget to look at the other one. This makes sense and is sort of working, but those infrequent but recurring activities are getting to me. ACK!! Please tell me I am not the only one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Marie

A full layette set in addition to so many other beautiful items! Thank you so much Marie. Everyone has been so very generous and I can't decide if I should smile or be brought to tears :). Thank you all!!!

We have an answer..............

and I did not make the design team :(. I am not super surprised, but still kind of bummed. In the message (yes I was dumped on an answering machine, LOL!!) the store owner did say she was impressed with my submissions and encouraged me to submit again in 6 months when they put out the call again. Now, this may be the standard "let them down easy", but I am going to go with genuine and a compliment. It does feel good not to be wondering anymore :).

Thank you Phyllis!!

Phyllis really outdid herself. Not only did she send so many handmade items, but included two diaper bags as well!! Thank you so much for being so generous Phyllis!!!

Thank you Gracie!

She said she was sending five things, this doesn't look like five to me! :). You are a wonderful person Gracie!! Thank you so much!

Thank you Sylvia!

The detail on the little dress with matching diaper cover and booties is super. These are a great contribution

Thank you Leslie!

These are tiny and just adorable! The matching hats are a wonderful touch.

Thank you Valerie!

Beautiful! I believe the caps are made with one of the round knitting looms.

In Honor of Ivan V. Alarcon

This OPH comfortghan was assembled in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Ivan V. Alarcon

Thank you to all the contributors that assist in this project.

More for Stitches From the Heart

More items from the wonderful members of Crochetlist arrived today as donations for Stitches From the Heat. Thank you so much for the beautiful things you are sending. I know that a little one will be blessed by your efforts.

Thank you Anne!

Anne has been emailing me to assist in my being able to make this sweater. Having seen hers, mine doesn't look quite as nice as I was thinking, LOL! Beautiful outfit Anne!