Many Hands

Many hands do make light work. Isn't this beautiful? What I love most about this is that the whole family helped with the chopping, loading, hauling, and stacking. My lumberjack husband had a hard time keeping up sometimes. There is even more than this so we will have enough to share with our parents also. I look at this and see cozy evenings by the fireplace or comfy days homeschooling by a warm fire (if I can get it lit!) and yummy hot dog roasts too! It has been so cold here still and I refuse to turn the heat on again until fall. Sorry family. I call for a fire in the fireplace tonight. The children will start placing bets as to whether I can get a fire lit or not. Have a warm cozy evening wherever you are!

They're Back!

Itttt MMMMust BBBBe SSSSSSummer (teeth chattering). We put on all of our layers, winter hats, blankets, and grabbed our lawn chairs and got down to the beach last night to hear the municipal band kick off their summer series. This is one of the highlights of summer for me. No, we weren't the only ones there. There were other crazy folk there too. And like other summers, I trust it will get warmer. I don't understand how their fingers could fly through those notes. It had to have been painful. I love the conductor. He tells corny jokes and gives historical backgrounds to each of the pieces. I love a good corny joke.
The girls and I are going to head to Menard's with my husband's gift card to buy some plants for our garden. I guess I get a garden after all. Never say "Never". I asked the children yesterday what they would like to put in the garden. All I could get out of them was "Venus fly traps" or a "pitcher plant". I think that I will have to do all of the work in the garden too. Happy Planting to you today!

Proud

I am so proud of the wonderful young man that my son has become. I have been laughing this week. In the past I have been busy with managing everyone's various activities. Now I am busy keeping up with my son's work schedule. I asked him if I could get a percentage as his agent. That would only leave him with about $1 an hour so we might have to think of something else. :) His Grandpa's have been keeping him busy with work. He is a big, strong, hard-working boy with a great attitude. (That sounds an awful lot like his father BTW. ) As parents we want good things for our children and we want them to become good people and as J's mother, I really love the direction that he is headed! I love you my fine young man!

A May Finish

I finished this little stitching called "May Day Freebie" from Betty of primitivebettys. I loved the blue and olive green together in this. I don't know if I am crazy about the pillow. I might have preferred it in a frame but I am crazy about a little finish.

I had a enjoyable Mother's Day, a good full day of family and fun. Thank you family! I love you!

Happiness is...

duct tape and tracing paper. Duct tape for my son and tracing paper for my daughters. The transformation in this house over the last 24 hours has been monumental. Happy, happy, happy, happy, joy, joy, joy. Who knew? :)

A Spring Break Finish

Years ago I had tried to get my daughter started sewing. She had seen a boy get his finger or hand caught in a factory's sewing machine on the Samantha movie so she had no interest in sewing with me. I was a little annoyed because my house is full of fabric and that is just about all I know how to do anything with. I am not that creative. I can't do anything with paint. I am all thumbs with a hot glue gun...etc. So I didn't push it and I was happy that she did a few cross-stitch projects last year.

This spring break we are kind of grounded at home. I asked the girls if they would like to do any sewing. I was shocked when said daughter M suggested making some pillowcases! We cut them out this afternoon and she did the sewing...on my machine. It was an enjoyable afternoon. She did a great job!

I should mention that at the end of last year I read the book Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine. This was the second time I had read the book. Even though there is a great chasm between what Judith and I hold near and dear to our hearts, I enjoyed her documenting her year long experience/struggles with this topic. I thought I would try to put it into play in my life this year. In early January I stumbled a little but got back on track. I know that this is not a good plan to help our economy but it is a good plan for my family and myself. On the other hand though, is consumer debt good for the economy? It is not good for families. I am not apologizing for what I am trying to do. It is absolutely essential with all of the medical bills, job uncertainty for my husband, etc. My point with all of this is that as far as my crafting is concerned, I am trying to just use what I have for this year. No new purchases except maybe just to buy what I would need to finish something, but I still am not certain about that. So today's pillow cases were made from only what I had on hand and they are cute and the girls love them.

I am also trying to go with Dave Ramsey's list of goals. We have no household consumer debt. (AWESOME!!!!) We have $1,000 for emergencies. I am trying to save 6 months worth of income in case it were to be needed. After that I would try to start chipping away at our mortgage. God is so good to us. He has provided us with all that we need. Thank you Lord!!!!

Awww...she does care.

Yesterday I asked my husband if I need to start looking for a job. I was a bit shocked that one of my DD almost had herself a little heart attack. I was very shocked by which daughter this was. Maybe she was more concerned about how this would affect her, but I will take it as the fact that she really does love me even during this "difficult age". :)