It must be a girl thing

Just got done shoe shopping with my oldest. I think I may have my first grey hair. After three stores, and plenty of "meh" later, we came home.

...

I will say my oldest has had plenty of experience in dressing herself. Being the oldest of three kids in four years, something had to give. By the age of 2, she was not only dressing herself, but picking out her own clothes.

For the most part, as long as it was seasonally appropriate and didn't look horrible... Hey, the job was done and I didn't have to do it.

Now?

Now she has an opinion. My only issue is she's apologetic about it. She kept telling me she was sorry she couldn't find anything she liked. I want her to like them (within reason) - and want to wear them.

...

Zappos.com to the rescue. Not only did we find what she was looking for in her size, but customer service was terribly helpful when I made an error in ordering.

She's looking forward to getting them. I'm looking forward to relegating her old ones to the garage...

Drop Doughnuts

Before we get into the boo-hoo portion of the post, I wanted to share two projects I recently completed.

What American Girl doll doesn't need her own sleeping bag?

All rolled up. These were made for a girl's birthday party.



And two quilted pillow cases from outgrown pajamas.



Nice and snuggly.

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Today I managed to put together a quilt. All that's left is sewing the binding on the back. I like to save that for when the kids are in bed. It's relaxes me.

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And now to the boo hoo part. I know there have been a lot lately, but please bear with me.

I can't believe it's been a year. Most days she's a quick thought, a "she would have liked that" with a smile. Other days it is as raw as if it happened yesterday. Friday's passing dredged up a bunch of emotion too. Though not knowing exactly what my husband's feeling, I can't help but empathize with the position he's in.

Which brings me to eating the emotion away. Today, as a sort of celebration of her life, I pulled out the cookbook and made her homemade donut holes for dinner.



Drop Doughnuts

4 eggs
3/4 c sugar
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t nutmeg
1/4 c melted shortening
3/4 c milk
4 c sifted flour
6 t baking powder

Combine and deep fry in oil - 375 F. Drop by 1/2 teaspoon. When brown on one side, turn to brown other side. Drain in basket; roll in white sugar. Refrigerate dough (several days) if desired.

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My husband left this morning for his parents'. The funeral will be tomorrow. Though I wish I could be there, it wasn't in the cards.

I spent a good two hours today sorting through a small part of my fabric, and was able to set aside enough for three quilts. I'm looking to do a couple two (or three) color quilts using vintage flannel for backing.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to put together a quick and easy Irish Chain. Given the fact that it's a two hour late start for my grade-schoolers and my oldest spent most of the day today throwing up (so she'll be home tomorrow), we'll see how much I get done.

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A couple days ago, my husband and I set about looking for houses online. He's taking the list with him and may drive by a couple the next two days. There is one that has me a tiny bit excited. Situated not too far out of town, it's on four acres. A two-story five bedroom farmhouse with a wrap-around porch, the property even sports a barn.

I've always wanted an acreage with a barn.

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The hits just keep coming

We got the call yesterday, though not totally unexpected, that my husband's grandmother had passed.
She was a lovely lady - not afraid of hard work and a wonderful conversationalist. When my then boyfriend (and later husband) would take me to visit, she'd always have lunch prepared complete with dessert. After our children were born, she was always delighted to see us and her great-grandchildren.

Granny, you will be missed.

March 17, 1917 - March 6, 2009

...

And then the pastor said...

If there's anyone that would like to say a few words about Betty, they're welcome to.

And I stood up.

What?

I stood up.

If you know me, I'm not a public speaker. At. All.

But stood up, and walked to the pulpit.

I spoke a little bit about Grandma, and how she inspired me to write the cookbook. Then I read a passage Anon left me the other day:

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone." There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

I finished with, "I know that Grandpa's been waiting for her, and so glad to have her back."

I stepped down and took my seat, legs shaking the whole way.

It was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done, but so rewarding.

Focus. Just stay focused...

Thank you for all you kind words yesterday. They mean the world to me. Anon... If you'd only known my granddad - He's the one on the other side calling, "There she is!" in a loud, booming voice. I take comfort in knowing that her beloved of 60 years was waiting for her.

Ok. Before I get too weepy.

That's me... The Weepy Wife.

I'm working hard to get my outstanding projects completed before we leave Thursday afternoon.

Right now, I'm on my 15 minute lunch break. Then back to the grindstone.

I'll leave you with this. The Boy has been nagging me for a quilt. I saw these squares on etsy awhile back, just begging for a project. There are 18 of them! The fabric has a vintagey look and feel.

Whoot! Can't wait to see how it all turns out.

End of an Era

October 12, 1912 - March 9, 2008

Grandma, you will be missed...