On Hiatus

Do you ever feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish all the things you want to? That's where I'm at right now. In the last week alone, there've been evening work events, school performances for the Granddaughter and I've had dental surgery. What I haven't done is knitted, sewed or really even cooked.

I have some big projects on my list of things I'd like to do that just keep getting pushed further and further onto the back burner. So I've decided to go on hiatus with the blog -- at least for the summer.

I'll be around to visit your blogs, but I probably won't be posting again until the fall.

Have a great summer ...

Wordless Wednesday - The MIM (Musical Instrument Museum)

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

To wish its Mom a 

Happy Mother's Day

of course!

Okay, I know that's lame, but I had to get the chicken potholders in here somehow!

My Mom is a wonderful seamstress and quilter and I'm always on the lookout for fun pattern ideas to send her. When I received an email from Interweave Quilting Arts that this new book, "101 Patchwork Projects + Quilts" was for sale, I bought one for Mom and one for myself.

Mom has decorated her kitchen with chickens and roosters, so when I saw these adorable chicken potholders (page 106) ...

I knew I had to make her a couple of them to go along with the book. Had a great time buying fat quarters of fabric at Jo-Ann ...

I even got some heat-resistant quilt batting for the insulated layer (that's the shiny white stuff on the left side) ...

I am a sloooooooooooooow and methodical sewer. I think Mom could probably have made an entire quilt in the time it took me to crank out two potholders, but I do love the way they turned out ...

I used a polka dot fabric for the backing that's very cheerful ...

This is the very first time I've quilted anything on the machine and, believe me, it's a little trickier than it looks. One of the cute details on the potholder is that the chicken's (rooster's?) comb sticks up 3D with frayed edges ...

So Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Love you bunches and hope it's wonderful!!!

Allergic, Sex Ed, Movie, Music, Un-Birthday

#1 - I Am Allergic to Myself

Here's the scoop. A few weeks ago, my dentist took a biopsy because I've had a sore/raw inner cheek. The results are back and I have Lichen Planus which is an itchy rash on the skin or in the mouth that is likely to be related to an allergic or immune reaction. It's definitely annoying and somewhat painful, but not life threatening, and we'll be treating it with topical steroids and some dietary restrictions. I was told to lay off anything containing cinnamon, red sauce or red wine. Red Wine? Whaaaaat? Looks like I'll be skipping book club!

#2 - Sex Ed

Conversation with the 8th grade 14-year-old Granddaughter ...

GD: We're studying sexual reproduction in Science.

Me: Ahhhhh, the birds and the bees, huh?

GD (after looking at me for a long moment): Yeah, it's pretty disturbing.

And then I just laughed ... couldn't help it. =D

#3 - Ramona and Beezus

Have you seen this adorable movie? I signed up to receive a code for a free Redbox rental on the first Monday of each month and I rented this to watch with the Granddaughter. Still had it Tuesday when the Youngest Daughter came to visit and watched it again with her. Hubby says that's really getting my money's worth. Especially since it was free.

Anyway, this is one of those cute, sweet, makes me yearn for my childhood days movies. Loved it and will probably buy it. Just sayin'.

One of my favorite lines in the movie: Beezus (the older sister) is having a meltdown and cries, "Who would love a girl named Beezus?" Ramona replies to her in kind of a whisper, "Jesus?" Cracks me up!

#4 - Music Rules & Regs

So here's a question for you. When we bought my MacBook over a year ago, it came with a bunch of music already downloaded. A few weeks ago, I made a slideshow using iPhoto for Miles' birthday and set it to a song (Linus and Lucy) that came with the laptop. I uploaded it to my YouTube account so I could post it on my blog the next day. Then I received an email through YouTube that I was in violation of the rights to the music and they removed it from my slideshow. So I went back and simply chose another song that came with the computer (Doxy by Miles Davis) and reposted it to YouTube. No problem this time.

What I don't understand is if I already own the right to use the music by virtue of it being part of the laptop I paid for, why was it a violation? The way I look at it, I paid for it with everything else that came on the computer. Am I missing something here?

#5 - The Un-Birthday Party

When the in-laws were in town visiting recently, we decided to throw an Un-Birthday Party for my sister-in-law who we just don't get to see that often. It's been so long since we celebrated a birthday with her at all, that we decided to do it right then. Hubby picked up a cake from the bakery and had them write Happy Un-Birthday on it. I forgot to take a picture of it until after we'd pulled out all the trick candles; hence, the holes.

It was so much fun to do the unexpected. She was completely shocked and thrilled and we had several gifts for her, including this prayer shawl that I knitted ...

I just love this Un-Birthday thing and kept singing in my head the silly song from Disney's 1951 "Alice in Wonderland" cartoon ...

A very merry Un-Birthday to you!

Wordless Wednesday - Moustache or Mustache?

For more Wordless Wednesday fun, click here.

Earth Day, Birthday, Good Friday, Good Grief

We spent Earth Day/Good Friday at the Grand Canyon. The Granddaughter had recently mentioned to us that she'd never seen the 8th Wonder of the World and, since we had a no school/no work day, we headed north.

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and over a mile deep. All of these pictures were taken from the South Rim.

The Canyon was carved by the Colorado River and geologists estimate it began some 17 million years ago.

Other than the Native Americans who lived in and around the Canyon, the first outsider to view its splendor was a Spaniard named García López de Cárdenas in 1540.

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Grand Canyon Game Preserve. In 1908, he redesignated the preserve as a U.S. National Monument. On February 26, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson established Grand Canyon National Park as the 17th U.S. National Park.

There are approximately 1,737 known species of vascular plants, 167 species of fungi, 64 species of moss and 195 species of lichen found in Grand Canyon National Park.

The day we visited, the weather was simply beautiful. In the 70s, not too hot, not too cold, a little breeze, sunshine. Gorgeous!

The Granddaughter mentioned that all of her friends -- every single one of them -- had said to her, "Don't fall in." She was not amused and she kept thinking and talking about it.

Then just as we drove out, we pulled over for an ambulance racing into the Park. The Granddaughter said, "Someone jumped in. I just know it." And when we watched the news that night, it turns out she was right. Apparently, a man who was panhandling was approached by Park Rangers and jumped over the edge to avoid them. He fell 25 feet, was rescued, then arrested. He was wanted in Texas for the murder of his ex-girlfriend. Yikes!

Also in an area thick with pine trees on the road out of the Canyon, we spotted this ...

beautiful Mule Deer. There were quite a few people taking pictures and he didn't seem the least bit afraid.

Last but not least, it was Miles' 5th birthday that day as well. He and Louie went along for the ride. How many dogs do you know get a birthday party at the Grand Canyon? It was a very good day!

All facts and information taken from Wikipedia.

Oh, the Hats!!!

I haven't been caught up in the pre-Royal Wedding excitement, but I did DVR it and just finished watching it. Fabulous!

Kate and William look so genuinely happy. Someone mentioned during the broadcast that they have known each other for 9 years and they've also been living together. Good for them ... no surprises. A girl I worked with many years ago went on her honeymoon and was shocked at some of the things her new hubby did once they were together, like squirting the toothpaste directly into his mouth instead of putting it on the toothbrush. If that was the worst of it, then they're probably still happily married, but the point is, the royal couple must know each other's quirks and habits by now.

I have to admit, I find all of the pomp and circumstance breathtaking. The handsome uniforms ...

Kate's elegant dress and isn't her sister a stunner (love the name Pippa) ...

The bridesmaids and pageboys ...

The incredible Westminster Abbey ...

My least favorite part of the whole thing were the bells ringing prior to the ceremony. I have a hard time separating background noise from talking (I detest loud restaurants and bars) and it was extremely difficult to hear the details being discussed by Katie Couric and the others ...

My absolute favorite part? The hats, the hats, the hats ...

Putting on a fancy hat is just so much fun and we really don't get too many opportunities to do it up this way anymore. That kind of elegance seems to have disappeared with JFK and Jackie O.

As I watched the wedding, I kept thinking about Diana and how sad it is that she wasn't here to celebrate this special occasion with her family.

But they're off to an exciting start. Wishing the royal couple true happiness and long lasting love!