Sewing

I have never been much of a seamstress. I made the odd craft or quilt for 4-H in my teenage years. And I wasn't afraid of experimenting, like trying to make my 3 year old's Halloween costume.


*She was going to be a flower & her little sister, a bee. The bee costume came out fine. The flower costume came out looking like a Russian factory worker's uniform. Yes, those are sweats b/c that Halloween was cold in Provo! I didn't see the point in making cutesy fairy things if they had to cover it up with coats!*

But I digress. I have cut out plenty of projects. Just never finished 90% of them. {blame the ADD, whatever} I think I was also frustrated by the frustrations. Like how none of the angles on my tessellating quilt lined up. I truly had a lot to learn. I grew up with my Mom sewing a lot. A LOT. So I just always went on the assumption that Moms had to sew. Even though I didn't.

Fast forward 11 years into marriage. I haven't tried to sew, nor have I felt the lack. I've had a phobia of patterns. I tried one years ago, couldn't even get the thing cut out. For a New Year's resolution, I said I was going to try using a pattern. I've always just made my own patterns or winged it. I got an apron book. Wow! If you can't tell, I'm hooked. I can churn out a simple apron in one evening. So, if you couldn't already guess, my friends & family will be getting a lot of aprons!


And *drumroll* I attempted an actual complete dress pattern. I made my first 'piece of clothing' in March, when I made a church skirt for Jacqui. I had intended to make matching skirts & tie for the kids for Easter. Yeah, you can guess how that turned out. But I did get J's skirt done. I also made matching skirts for Jacqui & her cousin next closest in age, Emily. Aren't they cute in matchy-matchy clothes?

Here is my first 'goal piece', a real dress pattern. Not a complicated sleeve/bodice dress, but a dress nonetheless.

It's like a symphony; the aligning of seams and cloth!

I can't wait to make one for Jacqueline! Sadly, this pattern doesn't go up to Eliza's size, but I think if I make the dress a couple more times, I might be familiar enough with it to alter the pattern & make it for her. Listen to me, don't I sound deceivingly experienced? Ta-ta all, until our next seam in time . . .

Bountiful Baskets

Boy, I sure didn't know what I was missing! Bountiful Baskets is a food co-op that began in 2006. Two ladies started it {i'm not sure what state} but it has spread from a local town thing to 7 states; AZ, NV, TX, WA, WY, UT & ID. And it grew from each state having one or two pick-up sites to many, many towns having multiple sites. Rexburg alone has 16 sites. I just had to remember to sign up. That was the tricky part. There is a time frame of about 3 hours on Monday evenings. And the baskets go fast! I was lucky this week, my friend Rachel called & reminded me. I just wish I'd bought two! I know the grapes & cherries will be gone before the end of the day. And all those veggies are just calling for me to make a killer salad! Bon Apetit to us!

YouTube Tuesday: Rainy Day

I know it's Wednesday. Heck, almost Thursday for some friends! But I had to post this vid. In Idaho, it has been rainy. We're in mid-June and the average daily high is 61F. Last week it was only 54F during the day. It's been freakin' cold, cloudy & drizzly. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm going to the land of sand & heat soon, I'm like a camel, soaking up all the moisture & cold while I can.

Every time it rains, this song comes to mind. Every. Time. I don't think I was a Sesame Street addict as a kid; some things just stick with you.



What is also amazing; how little I remember the environmentalist undertones. Ah, another brainwashing attempt by Sesame Street, foiled again! Not that I'm against saving our water supply, I just don't think our kids need to be fed this during cartoon time.

Sisters

Another folly of the month (of May); I flew to Omaha to go to my sister, Maggie's, trifecta of parties. A college graduation/wedding reception/birthday bash all rolled into one celebration. It was also the first time in about 5 years that all 5 of the Holloway sisters were together at the same time.

L to R: Elizabeth, Hannah, Maggie, Katelyn & Moi.
(sorry Hannah, your eyes were closed in all of them)

What had changed in the last 5 years? How about two weddings & two babies? Of course, not all at the same time or same person, er . . . anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes, change. I mean, can you believe that line-up above? 17 years separate the youngest (14) & the oldest (me. it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the math)

front row: Grandma Charlotte, Katelyn & baby Taylor, me
Back row: Elizabeth, Hannah, Mom, Maggie & Carol (Maggie's MIL)

Here's to hoping it's not another 5 years before we are all in the same town again!

Feeling Alice

"I give myself, very good advice. But I seldom ever follow it." - Alice

Never truer words were spoken.

My fingers are itching to type. All day I have bits & bobs of good ideas bouncing around in my head. One minute I'm sorting laundry, the next I'm having an epiphany on how to phrase the perfect apology. (not that I owe anybody one. but a good line can always come in handy.)

What have I been doing? How could I possibly have a life outside of this computer screen? I'll tell ya, plenty. Rewinding about 2 months, I have ->

- Had PRK Laser eye surgery. Eyes are healed & I am seeing 20/20. Previously: 20/400.
- Waded through more paperwork than I care to think about. Think insurance claims, passport paraphernalia, shot records, school records, and paper for the paper in the paper store with papers, papers, papers. . . . .

*{sidenote}* is it just me or does the word 'paper' look funny? *{end sidenote}*

- Get youngest child's tonsils & adenoids removed.
- Care for youngest child for the next week. Oh, and school just got out three days earlier, so add 3 more children.
- Get international move rolling and all the fun jollies that come with it.
- Take kids to the dentist.
- Get the fence fixed.
- Hire someone to take care of my dandelion farm, formerly known as a 'lawn'.
- Give love & care to each member of my family.
- And think about blogging. Which is really just a procrastination technique for avoiding all of the above.

So please, be patient with me. You have no idea how many 'drafts' I have in my Edit Posts section. Once I get my kids into a school in Bahrain, get my house in order to move, renew 3 offspring's passports and maybe get to the dentist myself, I'll have all the time in the world. And here is where you'll find scintillating stories of substance, essays for the ages and general ramblings of this mentally unstable gal.

Thank you for your time & patience.

*This is Lydia & I approve this blog post.*

Tonsils; Take 3

Today Jacqui had her tonsils & adenoids taken out. A procedure I'm familiar with. Yes, Jacqui is the third of my four children to join the ranks of T&A. Tonsil & Adenoidectomy. Right now she is not coping well, but the first 24 - 48 hours are the hardest. It's hardest when they are in pain but their stubbornness about taking "yucky medicine" is keeping them from feeling better. Just take the medicine! You'll feel better, I promise! It's codeine! We just finished a battle and now, 30 minutes later, I can tell it's working. She's asleep.

Chillin' like a little baby villian at the break of dawn. We had to be AT the hospital by 7am.


How can she still be so cute?


Just coloring on my iPod and waiting for her turn under the knife.


The aftermath. Grumpy and not wanting Mommy's camera in her face.

Home again, home again. Jiggity-jig.

Happy Birthday, Grant!

Well, I can't believe it. My baby boy is 6 years old.