Mayfly

First, let me thank you ALL for visiting, for leaving such nice comments, and for sending get-well vibes when I needed it! I'm feeling so much better.

I was among the winners of a drawing Molly had to honor her own birthday. She's sweet like that. In the mail came this wonderful vintage curtain panel. Thanks, Molly. And congratulations, dear.

Angela is one of my first blogging buddies. She's generous and talented and a GREAT mother. She's also been named the Thrifting Queen. So when she ran across these cowboy sheets, she offered them to J. I immediately wanted to cut them up and make something else, but he is just tickled with them. For now, they'll be living out their destiny as... sheets. She also included some lovely little fabric scraps in the package to fuel my patchwork obsession. Thanks, sweet Angela.

I only recently started getting to know the very talented Leslie through her blog. I won another drawing and received these note cards. Aren't they just the cutest?! You've got to visit The Paper Princess and check out all of her stationary. So flippin' good. Thanks, Leslie.

I told you this blogging community is generous!

Posted by Alicia at 7:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

They are cute, aren't they? You'd never guess they are incubators of the plague.

Ugh. Must collapse in a heap now. Thank you's will have to wait.

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A lime green photo this morning for Amy and her Year of Color group.

A weekend full of thunderstorms has perked up my plants. We used to fantasize about cuddling up in bed at night while a storm rolls through. But now I tend to lie there waiting, waiting for a little one to cry out frightened by the noise. I'm not really complaining. It's still a lovely way to spend a few hours awake. And the babes made it through without incident.

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I'm plugging away on the slipcover. It's progressing nicely, although it is hard to sew very quickly when you work like this.

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Please visit Shari's Compound Word Project. Shari has such a talent for finding beauty and peace in everyday life. And this new project of hers has that same relaxed, earthy feel. My photo is in the middle set. Can you figure out the word?

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Have a wonderful Monday, friends. I'll be back tomorrow to say some belated thank you's...

Posted by Alicia at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

(and a peek for Angela.)

When Angela requested that we flash her a quick peek of our living rooms, I didn't play. Our living room is a disaster. Brian is starting to make progress on the hole in the wall, but it is still not quite done. The wallpaper is semi-torn off the walls. Plus all of the extras (sink, plumbing parts, tile, grout, drywall scraps) for the bathroom remodel are still stacked in there by the fireplace. You don't want to see it. Trust me.

So instead here's the sun room:

I posted a picture of this room a long time ago on my old site. (I took this picture last winter. Look at the snow in the yard!) This is where we do most of our living. The television is in there in the corner on the right, you can't see it from this angle, and the cabinets below the shelves on the left hold the kids' toys. The door to the back patio is on the right, and it opens and slams shut approximately every 30 seconds. This is a high traffic room.

So my w.i.p. is the couch. Purchased second-hand at a consignment shop, it is perfect for us. It's 9 feet long, super sturdy, and so comfy. We call it The World's Longest Couch. One of us can lay flat and there is still room for two more of us at the other end! The problem: the fabric is bad- 1970's garage sale bad. So I have a big project; I am going to sew a slipcover for that couch. Now's the time. I'm going to tackle it this weekend. I've had the fabric quite awhile- a heavy, washable, light khaki fabric with a nubby canvas/linen feel. How long do you suppose it will take me to finish? Wish me luck. Please.

Have a great weekend everyone. And may your projects go smoothly as well!

Posted by Alicia at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

One of the real joys of staying at home with my kids is sharing meals with them. But every once in awhile it is just so good to wait. With one stashed away in her crib for a nap, and the other cuddled up watching the Polar Express for the 437th time, it is such a pleasure to eat lunch alone. In silence. With a book.

Posted by Alicia at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Celebrating with rootb eer floats (so cute!); the root beer was brewed with this kit. Brian and J timed it perfectly. Ten days later, it was ready to drink after the first day of school.

What are we celebrating?

•A fun first day of Kindergarten- truth be told, he was more excited about getting to try the root beer.
•Mommy keeping her composure through it all- one of my goals. (Actually, it was much easier than I anticipated.)
•Finally, a little rain over the weekend and a small break in the heat this week allowing a dinner on the patio.
•N and Mommy getting a little quiet, alone time every morning.

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My niece Jill just turned two. I made her an apron with a patchwork pocket. With plenty of growing room, it should last awhile. Heaven knows with two older sisters, she doesn't need more toys or clothes. My reluctant model looks quite fetching, I think.

Hannah got me thinking about gift-giving and how it has lost some of its charm. It seems that sometimes we give gifts out of obligation not thoughtfulness, and I want to change my approach. It's not that I don't appreciate store-bought gifts from others. I do! But I have always enjoyed the thought and work that goes into making something for someone; I ought to do it more. I'm going to try to make nearly all of my presents or support fellow artists and buy their handmade items. I'm guessing most of my friends and family will appreciate this more anyway. The only wrinkle in this plan is that I can think of very few 6 year old boys who'd appreciate a handmade patchwork apron, or a painting, or cute little bag as a birthday gift! So I predict I'll be buying some rockets and Transformers along the way too.

Of course there will be oh-so-much planning and making to do for the winter holidays. I better get started soon!

Posted by Alicia at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

Sorry there are no crafty works in progress today. Although I have several things brewing, they'll have to wait. Today is J day- his last day of summer vacation. (Well, there's the weekend, but there are always weekends.) Kindergarten starts Monday, so we're living it up today, doing whatever J chooses. So far he has picked making a stepping stone, playing in the hose, making popsicles, watching a little Yogi Bear, and after N's nap, going to the pool.

Pretty good choices, kid. Happy weekend, all!

Posted by Alicia at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Can these shoes be back in style, please? I found them at a thrift store this weekend. I LOVE them, and they're surprisingly comfortable.

I wanted these or a pair of wooden clogs when I was in the third or fourth grade, but my mom wouldn't let me have either. She said I'd break my arm. When my friend Wendy Scott got some clogs and tripped going down the stairs, guess what she did. She broke her arm. It didn't help my case one bit.

I found quite a few nice thrifted things this weekend. One is even a big piece of furniture that needs some love. The problem is I love the thrift store a little too much. I find great used things, most of which we need or can use, but I've been going overboard lately. Our fabulous summer is winding down. We've taken several vacations and spent a little too much. Suddenly I'm feeling the need to pare down and tighten the ship. With the arrival of a new season and the beginning of the school year, I want simple. Less clutter. And I'm dying to finish some of the things we've started. Fall cleaning- it seems to be a new trend. Today is the office/workroom.

We've also set some new spending rules and a few of them will affect my blog-life. First, I'm putting a temporary moratorium on swaps. I love them, but those little projects and postage can add up. Next, I'm self-imposing a Use What You Have period for the rest of August and all of September. I have plenty of projects to work on and my fabric stash has been slowly growing. I bet I could cover every surface in the house with patchwork.

And I just might.

Posted by Alicia at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)

...two other little people were jealous.

Z. is here today, and when I asked her to model this morning for the photograph, she and J squawked for their own bracelets. Squawk and you shall receive.

This is an instant gratification project. Quick, easy, cute. I've used a few bits of the fabric I lucked into while visiting one of my favorite sites. Yes, I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

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...she said with her arms wrapped around my neck, "Aunt Alicia, will you make me something pretty and send it to me in the mail?"

...and because she has a shadow.

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We're home. Easing back into our routine and catching up on a few household chores.
And already missing our perfect vacation. Sigh.

There are more pictures here. This is probably the last year we'll head to that resort. The owners are trying to sell and seem to have stopped putting much money into it. Any suggestions for next year? We'd like to stay in Missouri or Arkansas. Luxury is not our priority, but it has to be affordable and clean and have someplace to swim or possibly boat. Anyone know of a good place to try?

Posted by Alicia at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Papa (my dad) took us to the Wyandotte County Fair. I couldn't resist popping in to show you the Flickred pictures. The demolition derby was pretty darn funny. Smoky, loud, cars crashing into each other on purpose- J was in heaven. N mostly covered her ears.

Off to finish packing. Have a great week, friends!

Posted by Alicia at 9:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Our annual family trip to the lake is next week. We'll be there with Brian's mom and dad (Maw Maw and Da) both his sisters and their families, and his Aunt Sharon. Sixteen of us total; it's a small turnout this year. The week will be filled with swimming, cooking, eating, laughing, fishing, relaxing, eating, possibly a little boating, wiffle-ball tournaments, and eating some more. All of these activities will be swirled together with the squeals and squawks of our children and the smell of sunscreen and bug spray. It's always a great week, action-packed and relaxing all at the same time. And the timing of it this year is really making it feel like Summer's Last Hurrah.

When we return, we'll have one week to do laundry, get haircuts, adjust to new bedtimes, pack up the backpack, and unbox the new shoes. It's big time change and excitement- J starts Kindergarten. We found out today that he DOES get to go to the grade school we wanted him to attend! Hooray! So this morning we took his list to Target and picked out his supplies, then went to Old Navy for a few pairs of stiff, dark new jeans. (Second-hand jeans in good condition and in the right size are hard to come by.)

It seems fitting with these two events ahead of us, as suggested by sweet Hannah, to set a few goals for myself for this vacation week and then into the next. I'll let you know along the way how I do.

Have a fun and safe weekend and a wonderful week next week too!

Posted by Alicia at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Wednesday is the day my dad drops off our CSA veggies. We're really enjoying it this year and making a big effort to eat every bit that arrives. We split the subscription with my parents, so they take half of everything.

This evening we had a meal of grilled chicken breasts, carrots sauteed with a little butter and brown sugar, and batter-dipped squash fried in a little olive oil. The kids ate every bit, albeit they both dipped their carrots in ranch dressing. But that's ok. They're terribly skinny little things and could actually use the fat. Tomorrow night we'll finish up last week's green beans and new potatoes with a little onion.

I love our CSA for several reasons. It great to buy local- less energy used and pollution produced from the transport, everything is organically grown, and it's all so darn healthy and yummy. Plus it's cheap, especially since we share with my parents. If I were to buy this produce at Whole Foods all summer, it surely would cost tons more. Mmmmm.

Posted by Alicia at 9:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

For Amy's Year of Color. What's more sky blue than the sky?

I was toiling away in the office/workroom the other evening and looked out the window to catch a glimpse of this beauty. J really wanted to go out to take a photo. (I think it may be time to find the kid his own little inexpensive digital camera.) The sun was just beginning to set, and it was the only cloud in the sky. It was breathtaking.

On a totally unrelated blogging note, I met miss robot jumping rope yesterday at the pool. She's adorable and sweet and it is downright eerie all of the things we have in common. Her kids are pretty darned cute too. We both commented on how strange it is to meet someone for the first time that you already know so much about. Small (internet) world.

Posted by Alicia at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)