alseep

The Kiddo is passed out on my lap after watching Doctor Who and insisting on wearing the skirt I just made her for Pennsic.

She's too cute when she is sleeping on me. She may be 7 but she's my baby gir

planning

For you Mom, since I don't update this often enough. And Sam, I know you read this too.

Pennsic prep is well underway. This will be the kiddo's first vacation away from Tim and no TV on top of it. No DS, no radio... It will be interesting. I think we'll need to find a kid friendly drum circle to let her wiggle a bit.

My clothes are mostly ready. Once more check of garb and I should be good. Then I just need to add in the mundane essentials. And shoes. I will forget shoes. For Erin, well... we are working on it. She has 3 tunics, a viking, jammies, hood and a cloak (that needs to be hemmed a lot). I am making her 2 more tunics, 2 skirts... I'm almost there.. I think. 3 weeks.. I can do it.

Not to mention I have an AOA to do as well. NO FREAKING GOLD THIS TIME! and a Knighting and another AOA... ok. Sew first.. then scroll. Food and Packing and then I can focus on the 2 out of kingdom scrolls.

Yep, I am rambling. What more do you want from some who has a pile of fabric cut and pieced sitting in her living room. And a tent and popup in the dining room.. and a tote of food that is marked " DO NOT OPEN 'TILL WAR!".

The sewing for tonight has stopped due to hand issues. I've been hand sewing to stay cool. Big mistake. 2 coifs and a skirt, lining in a coat ... and teaching Erin to hand sew.

Now I have cat next to me, so typing is a challenge. So there is where I am and where I am headed. Crazy.. as usual.

in a hurry

There is a woman whom I often run into during the morning rush in. She must live near me because I have been behind her or she's driving in front of me... very fast. I do believe she is trying to read my bumper stickers but need new glasses if you know what I mean.

So this morning she was right behind me and weaved her way in and out to get ahead. With all that hurried driving, her parking spot was... one away from mine.

I stroll into the building and she's impatiently waiting for the elevator. I opted for the other one. Hmmm.. Mine arrived the same time as hers. And she pushed her way onto the elevator first (no doubt she stood right by the floor buttons).

Sigh... I've seen her do this on more than one occasion. I've given up rushing in most cases. Its not worth it. She never smiles.. never seems happy. So with that, I am going to enjoy my drive this evening and get there when I get there.

elevator antics

I truly dread the elevator in our office. There are 4 on our wing - 2 go to our floor and up. Now.. we are on the 5th floor and the top in 10.

Morning - The regulars know the routine... let those who need to scan their cards scan them and then press the button. While that is happening, you wait. Patiently. The others see it fit to push their way onto the elevator and push you out of the way while you try to press your floor. Not to mention the fact they don't move to the back of the elevator. For heaven's sake.. if you are on floors 8, 9 or 10.. do you really need to stand by the door? And when I am shoved to the back of the elevator, don't glare at me when I try to get out.

4:30 pm- Good Luck. This is the prime GO HOME time for 10, 9, 7 and 6. There have been countless times when, as soon as the door opens on 5, the mass of groans and complaints surface. Not to mention I'm lucky if I can get on the elevator. There is either no room or someone is button happy and closes the door on me.
This is not your personal elevator folks. Manners, please.

And before anyone says "why don't you take the stairs?".. we can't. The stairs are emergency exits only. This is total suckage.

The only bright side is that a few gentlemen actually will allow the women on or off first, hold the door and are polite. But only just a few.

rag curls

I bit the bullet last night and tried rag curls. Needless to say, with my hair being so short, I have accomplished a very tight curl. I only tried the back of the head so I think tonight I will try the rest of the hair. I used the soft foam curlers and well... can we say curly?

Yes Mom.... I am crazy and tried rag curls. Now, if I can just get the kiddo to sit still...

skipping rocks

I never mastered the art of skipping rocks. She was trying and then just wanted to see how far she could throw.

tgif

This week has been.. well.. interesting. I am convinced someone once said to me "May you live in interesting times". This week proved it.

I can't give much detail but I had to do something this week that I really dreaded doing. But it was something that had to be done. Kind of like going to the dentist (that's next week) or going to the Girlie doctor. You just HAVE to do it. Well, I did it. I was prepared. Concise. And passionate. I channeled my best friend who happens to be a lawyer to make sure I stayed focused (and looked good too). And I lived.

Along the way, I have gotten to know some people as well. People I never intended on knowing.

So to lighten the mood.. here's a shot of me and kiddo. School held an International Food fest and our country was Sweden. ABBA was playing in the room. yeah.. ABBA. thus the Viking helmet and braids.

helper

More on the hedge saga (i actually just forgot this bit as my arms are still killing me)

While I was outside mowing the lawn on Monday, the Kiddo comes out and asks if she can make some Pink Lemonade - you know, those little single serve packs you add to a water bottle.
I said sure.. told her how to do it and off she went. Not 5 minutes later, she returns with a water bottle for me. Hands it to me...I was for me.

I drank it without thinking and thanked her from the bottom of my heart. She wasn't prompted to bring me something to drink. She did it all on her own.

As it turns out, the drink was supposed to be lemonade... the regular kind. It tasted off so I asked her how she made it. And there I see the empty Lemonade Kool-ade pack on the counter. She used the whole thing in the water bottle. No sugar. She thought it was the same as what she had.

I told her it didn't matter. I like lemon water.. I added a little sugar and it was fine.

My kid... for all that she messes up on...she more than makes up for it when she does stuff like this.

vintage

I have been on a vintage kick of late. Specifically the 1940's clothes. Now, given I am not a small or medium NOR do I have unlimited amounts of cash, I have to work with what I have and go for a vintage style.

With luck, I own several items already that I can use and Old Navy had some dresses I can use. Also, Target had knee socks.. that I can pull to my knee. I know! Crazy.

Hair is easy. I have short style now so Curlers and fake victory roll is in order. Red lipstick. Check.

So far, I can pull it off.. but I would love more. The day dresses are so nice to wear around the house and super comfortable too.

Pictures to come as soon as I charge the batteries on the camera.

woman vs hedges

It all started a few years ago when we tackled the hedges with a chain saw. It was nice for that summer then well, they grew back. These hedges are very tall and wide so getting to middle of them is hard. I usually trim the fronts and Tim does the top.

So yesterday, I was sitting outside with the Kiddo and I happened to look at one section that has been dying. Some weed of some sort strangled the hedge and one section is dead and another is half gone. I made the mistake of making a clean spot. So 30 minutes later, the dead area was cleared and the half dead was pruned. It was 5 pm by now so I got to thinking "why can't I just start trimming the hedges?". So I did. The section along side the driveway is almost where I want it and I rounded off the corner to the sidewalk. There is almost no green on them yet so I was cutting branches and it made for very easy work. If the weather is nice this weekend, I will work on it some more.

There are a few more spots that are dead or dying so I think I may yank them out. It will thin them out just enough. Whoever planted them originally planted them way too close together.

slacker

I am a total slacker with the blog. With Facebook and Twitter, I have learned to condense my thoughts to 140 characters or less.

I promise more posts. really. Things may slow down a bit in life so I may just find a few minutes to post pictures of the kiddo and stories of her crazy ideas.

really... I promise.

April Fools Continues

Its been awhile. But all I have to say is its April 3 and its day 3 of summer like weather. Its 9:30 am and 71 degrees. I am sitting in my driveway with the kiddo. she's playing and I am surfing the net (equivalent to reading the paper I suppose) and drinking coffee.

Ok..so she went back in the house. I am soaking in the sun a little bit longer...

Erin Dancing at Masked Ball

on my honor....

She's offically a Daisy Girl Scout. The ceremony was simple and short. She got her pins and was so excited, she couldn't stop smiling. She's been going every other Monday for 2 months and has worked on 3 badges (which I still have to add to her vest).

Just playing

Just playing with color on an image. She's still a cutie

just to note

rain, gloomy days, depression and ho hos are not a good mix. just saying....

in search of free fabric scraps

In the ever eternal quest to save money, I refuse to spend money on clothes for me, my kid or her dolls. More so, her dolls. I will gladly make the child a Halloween costume and not buy it.

The cost for this was about $15 for the dress as opposed to the $30+ I'd pay at a store. The tights were extra and can be worn whenever (yes, she will, i know my kid). Not bad.. its cute and bright and whimsical.

So, for Christmas, I want to expand the doll clothes collection. I have the patterns but little fabric that is current. I have enough to do a patch work skirt and a halloween costume. I'd like to make some period clothes for her Elizabeth doll ( I found the patterns) but I'm lacking fabric.

Anyone have scraps of fabric they want to part with?

she tried

Erin has been on a "I can braid" kick. She tried to do her own hair. This is what the outcome was. Not bad if you ask me. I did have to redo it but I soon won't have to do her hair at this rate.

Baby Cakes

Saturday was Mary and Barb's baby Shower for Grace. I was honored to make the cake. Its a 3 tier pound cake with white frosting. I used Mom and Dad's recipes and it came out tasty. The frosting didn't come out as smooth and I need to play with the frosting a bit but overall, it was good.

Would I do it again? Not this big but maybe for Erin or Tim's birthday.

Pumpkin Tim

A few weekends ago Erin and I went apple picking at Blackman Farms. I adore this farm. They have wonderful pumpkins, great apple trees and a small area for the kids to run. Its a FARM... with real animals. You can even get a real turkey or side of cow. This picture is of the pumpkins.. they are PERFECT pumpkins. Thank you Blackman farms.