Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound...

My parents have lived in the same house for 32 years. During that time, the neighbors changed very little. The 'next' door (just a hop, skip and a jump through the pine trees) neighbor's son and his wife recently adopted a little girl.

Let me back up. They were married about two years ago and just a year into their marriage were pregnant. It was all fine and good, until they lost the baby. I'm not sure how far along she was, but I think it was far enough to classify as a stillborn baby (versus a miscarriage). They were devastated.

A bit of time goes by, and they register with a local adoption agency. The kind where they fill out a profile and the mother chooses.

They waited three months and were chosen.

Three months.

Some people wait three years.

There must have been something in what they wrote, because they got a call there was a baby at the hospital for them a month and a half ago.

They met her when she was four hours old, named her Grace, and have been her mom and dad ever since.

Needless to say, they are over the moon.

I asked my mom what they 'needed,' as I immediately started picturing a quilt in my head. Mom said not much, as they had most everything from the baby they lost, but what they really needed was money. Cold hard cash. Adoption is not free, and I'm sure they were thinking they had a little more time to save up some money.

On my seven mile jaunt yesterday, I had a little time to think.

What if I auctioned a quilt? Or better yet do a raffle - with tickets for $5 each? Would anyone be willing to pimp it out for me? Or just go for an outright sale?

This would go to the winner...
It's just the top, I'm going to try and get the quilting done tomorrow.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Anyone want to buy it?

I named the quilt Amazing Grace.



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T.I.R.E.D spells tired

I have been busy. Aren't we all.

The last 48 hours have been like a very busy vacation.

It has just been two of us - my Big Girl and Me.

Let me step back. Several weeks ago, before the broken arm, we discovered that she had the state qualifying tourney the same weekend my husband has a golf tourney with his dad six hours away. We compromised that he would take The Boy and The Toddler there, and I would keep the Big Girl here. Then she broke her arm. He wanted us all to go, I insisted that she made a commitment to the team. After taking a week off, she's been to every other practice and game, in her uniform, cheering her team on.

They left Friday at 1:15 pm. We scampered in the house and after giggling for five minutes, left at 1:20, only to get back home at 7 pm.

It was her call. What did she want to do with only me?

No others to whine and nag.

No others to suck up all the oxygen.

Just Us.

First, it was a pedicure for me and painted fingernails and toenails for her. We now sport matching blue-green toenails with white flowers. Then, off to find a new Webkinz. After that, a couple dishtowels for a cute purse pattern I found for her to make. A late lunch - she had mini-cheeseburgers, I had a BBQ chicken pizza. Then off to the craft store for purse handles, then the fabric store. We finished up at Target, then home to order pizza delivered.

Yesterday was the first day of the tournament. The first game was at 9:30 am, coach wanted them there at 9. The field was 45 minutes away. We rode with our neighbor and her daughter - it was nice to be chauffeured around.

The girls lost a close game - by one in extra innings. The second game went much better - they one by 3. By the third game they were beat - the day consisted of off and on showers - and by showers I mean pelting cold rain. The lost the third game, but rumor has it the teams that went 0-2 in the double elimination tournament do not go to state - everyone else does. That means in two weeks - the girls are going to the state tourney.

We got home last night, after pizza with the team, around 8:15. But. But one of the coaches said, "Come on over" and we (and nearly every other girl) did.

I corralled her in, and we picked up ice cream for the ride home.

We still have two more days.

What to do... Oh, what to do...

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Just Another Day in Paradise. Alternately titled: Me, in a Swimsuit

Yesterday I promised the kids a trip to the pool. Now that the big girl has her waterproof cast, we can do things like that.

They started out slow. The Toddler requested a life jacket, which made us both breathe a little easier. No worries, she was always within arms reach.



The big girl? Not so much. As you can see, the cast isn't slowing her down.



With the Toddler wanting to rest on her chair that left The Boy. For the most part, he was content to jump off the edge repeatedly. That left me to contemplate a new pedicure.



On thing I love about the toddler - she's not afraid to help me hold down a lawn chair. And yes, that's me in a swimsuit.

All was well and good. Keeping a close eye on the Big Girl jumping, and the Boy jumping, and being at the Toddler's beck and call... Until. The boy wanted to jump off the diving board.

Oy.

Now what? Do I say no? Do I let him try?

Ok. Fine. Sure. Give it a shot.

I stood by the edge, prepared to go in after him.

Now I'm left trying to figure out what I was so worried about.

Until. The 'high' board.

Not quite as much panache, but he was pretty proud of himself.

Today I'm off to the US Women's Open. A neighbor had an extra ticket, and so we're going to spend the day (much like my husband) on the golf course. The kids are terribly excited to have a sitter, and I'm terribly excited to have a few hours to myself!

Have a great one. Friday's a heartbeat away...

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Odds and Ends for Hump Day

First, and most importantly, thanks for all you kind words for Monday's post. My weight is something I've struggled with my adult life, and for the most part, I can accept it. I can not accept it if I'm going to be running 26.2 miles in October. Weighing this morning my scale showed a 5 pound weight loss. I'm doing WW in the comfort of my own home - as I've done it before and am pretty confident with it. And I'm cheap.

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Last Friday, the Big Girl got her new cast:
Sparkly and orange, this one is also waterproof. Waterproof like take a shower and go swimming. The only thing is she needs to be sure to rinse it in clear water as the pool chemicals and soap can be skin irritants if left on too long. So far, she is thriving with it.

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Yesterday we took advantage of the 'end of the season' sale and picked up a small pool.

For the record, I do have a rather high powered device that would have blown that pool up in less than a minute.

I needed them to be busy for more than a minute.

They managed to persevere.
What is it about being a kid that the cold water doesn't bother you? I mean really.

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Monday I managed to make some jam out of the strawberries the neighbor left me.

The tedious part - hulling the ice cream bucket of strawberries.

Adding the strawberries to the rhubarb - not terribly exciting, and how disgusting does the rhubarb look...But well worth the effort. As you can see, this is freezer jam, and I ran out of containers. Because this is freezer jam (versus canned) I didn't worry too much about the ratios. I should have, because it's a little runny. I guess that means we just have really good ice cream topping.

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Joansy and Tree, the check's in the mail... Um... Your Monthly Drawing prizes. I didn't get a picture of Joansy's because I'm still digging out my dining room. When that's done, I'll be able to find the stuff I made you. Tree, here's yours...

And one other precious... I know she reads this drivel, but I couldn't wait to share it. Mitzi, congrats on #2!

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Heavy thoughts for a Monday

Another great weekend. What can I say? We met some friends and their two little girls at my parents - the boys did their thing (golf and an Indy car race) and the girls? We did a lot of relaxing. With the exception of the six miles I put in Saturday, I did not leave my parent's property.

There is something satisifying about just hanging out. The kids were able to romp on several acres, and not once did we hear, "I'm bored" from any of them.

Which brings my to my point. Six miles. At this point in marathon training, it should have been fairly easy. It was not. Yes, my foot is still bruised from the bag of ice I dropped on it a week ago, but it's more than that. I'm still 'heavy.'

I hesitate to say 'fat,' even though by technical defination I am. Fat. That is.

Exhibit one. And there will be only one...

We're at my mom's retirement dinner. I'm sitting like Jabba the Hut by my boy.

Rather than bitch any more about it, I made a couple decisions regarding my training:

1. No more hard alcohol. I know this one's pretty severe, but it had to be done. Originally I was going to cut out any alcohol and Diet Coke, but I figured that might kill me. So save the occasional girly wine cooler, I'll be laying off the booze.

2. Cut down on Diet Coke. No more Super Slurpers from the convenience store, and it won't be kept cold in the fridge. Maybe a can every other day. Maybe.

3. Weight Watchers. I had wonderful results with this after #2 was born - If you consider losing 50 pounds wonderful. I'm not looking for that, at least not yet, but 20 pounds or so would be nice. I simply can not run another marathon at 200+ pounds. Wednesday marks the end of week one, so it will be interesting to see where I'm sitting then.

Otherwise, today's an off day for running, so I'm going to clean out the dining room and catch up on laundry. Hopefully I'll have before and after pictures. Of the dining room, not laundry.

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Just call me Ma Ingalls

Been a bit busy here...

Wednesday the kids and I made a trip to the first Farmer's Market of the year. The pickings were pretty slim due to the cool spring, but I did scare up some nice asparagus and new onions. A neighbor dropped off the fresh picked strawberries as well. Need to get some jam made this morning.



I really enjoy hanging clothes on the line. My goal is not to use the dryer until Labor Day, if not later. All those tank tops and black shorts? Training has started for the Twin Cities Marathon on October 5th.



My latest nearly done little girl dress. I ran out of binding, and need to sew it on the front. Rather than pinch the binding and hope to get both sides in one pass, I sew down the wrong side first then zig-zag on the right.



We're in the process of getting a new dishwasher. I say 'process' because there's something wrong with one of our lines and it needs to be replaced. Until that happens, I'm doing dishes by hand. No biggie except we don't have hot water in the kitchen, leaving me to heat water on the stove.

I realize I could walk up stairs, go in the bathroom, and get hot water there, but there's something oddly satisfying about heating it on the stove. And no, we're not using paper plates either.



I'd like to think I would have made a decent pioneer. Ha!

We're headed to my parents again this weekend. Last weekend was the big, blowout retirement bash for my mom. This weekend is the Indy car race in Newton. In other words, my husband and dad will play golf Saturday and go to the race Sunday. Leaving me to lay around my parents house. Sounds like a good time to me!

Have a great weekend, all. Make the most of it!



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And the winner is...

Leeanthro from Soy is the New Black is the winner of the box of Fruit Roll Ups! Shoot me an email (swiperbootsdora at gmail dot com) and I'll send you the code!

There's more rattling around in my head, but first I need a quick run to sort it all out.

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Knee High by the Fourth of July

From my hometown newspaper:
Not much else today.

I very nearly have my last two random drawings done. Very nearly.

Also, be sure to check out my giveaway for a box of My Fruit Rollups! So far, there's only one entry - and the winner will be announced tomorrow!

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Product Review: My Fruit Roll-Ups

Fruit Roll-Ups. Remember those? I certainly do. Now, you can order them personalized with your own message and picture.

The most amazing thing about this product was the ease of ordering - you can start by picking your message or your picture first. There are four font styles, three font colors, and three font sized to choose from. There are pictures for nearly every occasion. It was a lot of fun to try and decide what to choose.

After ordering, my shipment was received in a week. I opened the box and the kids pounced.

They opened them.

They read them.

They were amazed to see their own names on them. "Cool!" and "Awesome!" - they were blown away.

Though not something I'd order for everyday - they make a great special occasion item. I'm already planning on ordering them for birthday treats for school. They'd even make a great gift for a lucky birthday boy or girl.

Swing on over to My Fruit Rollups. Leave a comment with what you'd choose, and I'll be giving away a box* on Wednesday. Randomly, of course - there is no right answer.

Thanks to The Parent Bloggers for another great product!

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*I'll email the lucky random winner a code that's good only in the United States.

In other news...

I spent most of yesterday just trying to get caught up.

Laundry, mostly.

Six loads of laundry were in baskets -

Some folded.

Some not. And yes, there's another load in the dryer.

But all clean and needing to be put away.

I like having clean clothes, it just getting them there that drives me a bit crazy. I'm really good at starting a load, washing it, and getting it in the dryer. That's where I falter a bit. I have a bad tendency to 'not hear' the buzzer at the end of the dryer's cycle. When I go back to check on them, they're dry but I just want to fluff them 'a minute or two' before getting them out. I usually fluff each load, um... more than once before getting them out.

Last night I cowboyed up and got the clothes folded and put away.

Today? Today is a new day.

Viola - my new clothes line. It folds for easy storage (read: it's not sitting out there all the time driving my husband crazy), and I dug the hole for the quick-crete in the landscaping rocks (read: there isn't a concrete circle in our green yard). Also, it's better for the clothes and the enviroment. Go me.

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Other fun stuff, because we know how dazzling talking about laundry is-

Homemade dress for the Toddler...

Homemade whip (a la Indiana Jones) for the boy...

There are very specific rules for the whip - only hit the ground and rocks. No people.

The girl with a broken wing is continuing to get better. She spent most of yesterday doing one of her favorite things...

Watching TV in the garage. Hey, it gets her out of the house - right?!?

I don't know how else to say it.

Thank you all so much for your wonderfully kind words the last couple days. They all mean so much to me!

My big girl is feeling much better today. Much.

As far as how it happened - she fell forward out of a swing. Landed on her arm.

Monday we took her off the oxycodone at the suggestion of the orthopedist. For the most part, although it was managing her pain, it made her terribly nauseous. He said that most pediatric patients do well with Advil or if we'd like he could write us a script to Tylenol 3 (w/codeine). Yes. Please.

Yesterday we managed the pain during the day with children's ibuprofen and the T3 at night. Of course, she didn't get up until 10 am yesterday. We also went to her softball practice - she still wants to go and watch.

In talking to one of the other (highly opinionated) parents, I relayed that the doctor had said that after 10 days, they'll take off the cast, do more x-rays and most likely put on another. After that, if she wants to try softball, she's welcome to. The other mother went off- "Well, if it was my child I just wouldn't let her. You just don't want to mess with the growth plates. You could harm her for life." I calmly replied, "Everyone has an opinion. I guess that I'll take the word of a doctor who's seen countless injuries like this and is a specialist in dealing with broken bones. You realize they mold casts to fit hockey sticks, right?" Turned, and walked away.

Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one. Thing is, if this other mother's child broke her arm, she'd try and get the season delayed so her daughter could still participate. Oh well...

Today, she's had one does of ibuprofen and is under strict orders to tell me if she needs more. Otherwise, she's back to picking on/teasing her brother.

Of course, she's still managing to play up her arm for all it's worth! I wouldn't expect anything less.


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Those are the breaks, kid

Fortunately, we have a very good pediatric emergency hospital.

Unfortunately, we had to use it last night.

While I was out for a run, my daughter broke her arm.

Fortunately, we have wonderful neighbors that stepped in and took the other two kids so my husband could take her to the hospital.

Clearly, they don't want her in pain...
Fortunately, they gave her plenty of morphine, so as they were trying to ease it back in place it didn't hurt.

Unfortunately, she threw up when we got home.


Fortunately, the kind of break she has (in her growth plate, by her wrist) is a fast healer and will unlikely have any lasting effects.

Unfortunately, she'll be in a cast for 4 -6 weeks.

Fortunately, we live in a world with wonderful medical advances.

Unfortunately, my daughter has this look on her face...




Any healing thoughts you have would be much appreciated.


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I'm feeling a bit faint...

Earlier today, I had a little episode.

Nothing to worry about, really - but I'll tell you anyway.

Earlier this morning, the phone rang. It was one of the neighbors looking to see if my husband wanted to play golf. Golf on a nice day. One of the first really nice days.

He said he'd call back. He putzed around, and called back.

He turned down golf.

I nearly swooned.

I told him I was having trouble breathing and probably should lie down. Except I was in the middle of folding clothes and the bed was covered.

He told me not to make fun of him.

I couldn't help it.

Really.

My husband almost never turns down golf.

Instead today he mowed the lawn and help me mix up my quick-crete. He brought home lunch.

And tonight? Tonight I'm grilling steak and we'll probably have a bonfire.

Have a great Saturday. I know I am.


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We have a winner

Drumroll, please...

In the interest of fairness, I wrote all the names on little slips of paper and let my Toddler draw one out.

Tree from Trees in OK!

You are the winner of the fabulous Apron, Hot Pack, and Crocheted Dish Cloths.

This was a really fun one for me - and the best turnout I've had so far.

For those of you that didn't win, don't despair, I'll have another drawing next month.

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Today is the first day of 'summer' break. If you can even call it that. High 50's and windy. It stormed enough yesterday they cancelled Big Girl's Softball game and The Boy's Tee Ball.

Last night, the radar looked particularly ominous. I convinced the kids to have a sleepover in the basement. Easier than dragging them down in the middle of the night if it gets bad. They were all over it - we watched a movie, had nachos, and didn't get to sleep too late.

I was hoping to get my new clothesline up today, but I don't think the weather will cooperate.

Soon enough. The weather will turn soon enough.

Have a great day!

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Last day - school and giveaway!

Did you ever have a last day of school that included one of these?
Me neither. That's my newly minted first grader in the camo and white shirt...

Also today's the last day to enter my May/June giveaway!

With the number of entries, I've sweetened the pot with three hand crocheted dish cloths! Now it's the apron, a Hot Pack, and dish cloths.

I'll give you all until midnight tonight, and post the winner tomorrow.

Have a great rest-of-the-day.

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Moving on...

Yesterday, I delivered the quilts to the teachers. The first, was a group of us handing it over, the second - just me.

Both teachers were delighted. And teary.

After putting so much time into a project, it's a bit hard to give it up. Mostly, I'm concerned that the recipient won't like it. Silly as that sounds. Lauren's Quilt? I was so terribly nervous she wouldn't like it. It goes with just about anything I make for someone else. But really, starting with the selection of the fabric and pattern, the cutting, sewing, layering, basting, quilting, and binding... It's pretty much consumes me. It's something I truly love to do.

As with anything, it's done and I must move on.

A couple weekends ago, my sister and I were at our parent's house. We came upon a box with two of her unfinished quilts.

Yesterday on the way home from school, I called my sister to let her know that my docket was clear... And that would she like me to post pictures now or wait until I was done? I taunted her just a bit.




Hmmm... We'd laid it out before, so I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do with it.

She does beautiful piecework. Much better than I ever could.



Here's what she stared with:



I can't quite figure out the method to her madness. No worries, I usually can't. She couldn't either for that matter. As I was going through the bag, I came across a receipt for the fabric dated 5/15/1995. No wonder she can't remember.

Free license remember?

A few minutes with my seam ripper, and this is what I came up with:



For now. I can't quite decide if I'm going to leave the points, round them off and scallop the point, or shear them off entirely leaving triangles. Suggestions?

With the end of the school year, I also put together some Market Totes for the "other" teachers... Music, Art, and the like...

I cheated and just used my serger - I think they turned out pretty spiffy.

I used a slightly darker red fabric for the sewn in storage pouch.
Not much else.

Oh, except this week is week one of eighteen for my next marathon.

...

Interesting, very interesting...

Seriously. For what it's worth (probably not much), this guy thinks I'm "bangable." I don't know whether to laugh or cry.


...


As far as the giveaway - What a response!

Since there are more than ten entries, I'll add a Hot Pack to the mix! The winner can either pick the PG-13 Cowboy fabric, or something more G rated. I'll find a nice floral or something.

If we pass 20, I'll add something else.

...


Have a great day!


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May/June Giveaway

I have been very slack with Etsy. A few of my listings have expired, and I've decided to make at least one of them my May/June End of School Giveaway!

I present to you... The pleated "Foodie" apron...

All you need to do...

1. Leave a comment by Thursday, June 5th. That's the last day my kids have school - so for us it's the start of summer.

2. Be prepared to send me your address if you win. I'll post it on my blog, and do my best to notify you by mail.

3. Spread the word. For every ten entries, I'll add another item to the giveaway.

4. On Friday, I'll draw a random winner.

That's it!


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She's a winner alright...

Yesterday was day one of our weekend softball tournament.

We (the other parents) know this will be a tough season. It's a 10U (10 years and younger) Traveling Team (more competition - and they travel more) that's fairly young (like three of our girls are eight years old - including mine). Meaning - they probably won't win a lot this year.

But.

The girls are having fun, and they're making progress. Their coach's philosophy is he wants all the girls to want to play next year. They rotate positions. They cheer each other on. Occasionally, they win one.

The first game yesterday was at 10 am. We played a team that we'd previously split a double header with.

It was a beautiful day. Considering I'd spent Thursday night at a double header in 50 degree weather while it was raining - blue skies and mid 70's was perfect.

The game was a good one, and a close one.

We went into the bottom of the last inning (they play by time, not number of innings) down by three.

My girl walked to first. Ran to second, then third. Two other girls were in. The game was tied.

She was poised to score the winning run...
And she did!


...


The second game we lost, quite handily. This morning's 8:30 game? They crushed us.

But it's ok. They're looking forward to this afternoon's 4 pm game. That's what counts.


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