new cupboards...

There are certain perks to having a husband in the home improvement business. Of course a lot of the time, it's rather like the plumber with the clogged drains and leaky faucet, but when he comes through it's especially nice. Will got a bargain on these oak cupboards. He was disappointed that the ones on the end weren't the same size, but I have really low standards. I think they look just fine. And it leaves a little headroom to put my vintage sewing box.

Sandy was the one with the brilliant idea to hang cupboards on my wall in the quilting room. She's full of brilliant ideas. And an organizational wizard. Me? While I'm pretty good at getting rid of things and letting them go, the getting around to it is a challenge. I have no real inspiration on new ways of looking at the same old space. She's one of the most orderly people I know. Not my forte. I seem to work best in chaos, but I suppose there's such a thing as too much of a good thing. I like neat as well as the next person, I just really hate to stop what I'm doing to achieve that neatness. And a blank canvas can be ... well, a bit of an inspirational downer. Kinda overwhelming, I suppose. The whole, "now what?" feeling. And I'd hate to get all that neatness and orderliness messed up. 'Cause I know it won't be returning to its former state any time soon. Neurotic, I know. But I never claimed sanity as one of my stronger character qualities.

Sandy then helped me sort through all the boxes of cast offs other people had passed onto me. See? I hadn't gotten around to it- didn't even know what was in those boxes. While I may find much of it unsuitable for my needs, I'm also happy to help those people incapable of letting things go unless they imagine those things are in a safe and loving environment. I have no such emotional attachments. Or if I do, they don't last long. There comes a point when blessings can become burdens and its important to know when that point has come. Otherwise you'll end up on that TV show about people who are being buried alive by their stuff. Of course, none of those poor people think they have a problem. And we all have problems we're blind to.

Sandy and I organized my projects. I just hadn't bothered with putting them in a specific place. That would have taken time. So now all the projects are in their own bins. Yes, two bins. But honestly, don't you ever just get tired of working on the same thing, day after day? I know I do. I don't know how people start and finish a project all in one long stretch. The thought simultaneous exhausts and bores me. I love the thrill of starting something and finishing it. The middle part? Well, I enjoy the process, but it doesn't have the same excitement, does it? And finding these stowed projects brings back all the old feelings of anticipation I originally had. Always new and exciting. I like that.

Maybe I should cover that quilt on the frame with a sheet- that way it will seem new when I uncover it. It's a thought. Ah, the games we play. It's been sitting there for a shameful amount of time. Really shameful. Good thing it's one of mine, huh? I could unzipper it and try something else. Nah, I'll get to it when my muse returns. You can see how close I am to the end. The thrill of finishing it is right in front of me. Still ain't feelin' it. Love the quilt, though. The antique blocks were given to me by someone who needed to give them a good home. So glad some one knew when their blessing/burden ratio had been reached!

Ridiculous...

but adorable.

I have no idea how or why they decided to wrap Bekah's hair around a hanger!

Cabin fever must be setting in.

It snowed, again, yesterday. It was a beautiful wet snow of fat fluffy flakes- which we rarely get- we tend to have the powder sugar variety that's so dry it sqeaks when you walk on it. But when the children saw snow, their little shoulders slumped, heaving big sighs. I am still wearing my coat and scarf around the house and sleeping under five quilts. I can tell you, rolling over is a chore with that many quilts- but what's a girl to do? By morning I'm usually toasty warm, and that makes it getting out of bed a chore. I'll heave my own sigh, now. I'll try to store these moments away when the summer heat keeps me awake at night. And for now I'll daydream about going around barefoot, sitting on my swing and crocheting, my arms bare. I'll feel so light, won't I?

Pretty Cool, huh? John and Bekah made this amazing little lighthouse for me while I was sick. Who wouldn't feel better seeing how ingenius and creative her children are? It really is an engineering wonder. They duplicated my favorite lighthouse- West Quoddy in the Bay of Fundy- even down to the little house next to it. Bekah collected some rocks from the driveway and washed and dried them all carefully so that the glue would hold them down to the cardboard. The lighthouse is made from cardboard- carefully wrapped in paper they had colored the red stripes on- and foam- the light is encased with the plastic from a 2-liter bottle. Such imagination! I couldn't even begin to guess how the light is rigged up- I think a flashlight bulb with some kind of battery in the lighthouse tower- you just have to touch the two wires on top of the pole together and voila! light! They are always surprising me. And you should have seen their faces- they were so excited about it- knowing how much I love this particular lighthouse!

Officially Spring...

Of course, we don't actually believe it-usually snows even in April. But there are warm days- and not so warm days. Which certainly makes one appreciate the ones that are warm. Does that make any sense? I am sure I could make that sentence more concise if I were so inclined. Can't say that I am. Now aren't I just the little rebel? Cabin fever. Yeah, I'll blame it on that. Nothing to do with me just being bratty.

Aren't my Spring blooms pretty? Jonquils and lilacs. Two of my favorites. (Of course, I would be hard pressed to say which flower would not be one of my favorite.... I guess gladiolas- 'cause my Aunt Karen always said they reminded her of funerals. I've never seen them grown here, anyway- too windy.) This wreath has been the sum total of my creativity- and yet I am feeling pretty proud of myself. I have been wanting one for some time- they always cheer me up but, wow, can they be expensive- if you want a pretty one. The cheapest I could find was $25 and only had half the flowers I used. Mine came to a grand total of $12- grapevine wreath included. With leftover flowers and greenery to boot. The ribbon was one I already had- from a gift basket sent by my Aunt Isobel. You know, I have some pretty spectacular aunts. She and Aunt Patsy got me a Kindle- all for being sick. That almost made it worth it. Maybe more than almost. I figure I have read nearly a dozen books in the one week that I have had it.

My little sickness is an infection in my mastoid. It's the bone behind the ear. Kinda wraps up and around it. How this happens or how long it takes to happen... or more importantly, how long it takes to get rid of the infection- I have no idea. This is my fifth week on antibiotics. Some so strong that my skin is coming off in big sheets. TMI? And ya know what? The ache is still there. Not as bad as it once was, so in this, I am extremely grateful. Maybe, just maybe, my body's immunities will kick in and I'll be... free. Well, one has to have hope. As an insulin-dependant diabetic, it is more of a challenge. But I have been so very good with my control that honestly, there is nothing more that I can do. It's in God's hands, as everything is, and I know that I am learning a lot from this- otherwise, what would be the point?

I did try to sew a few weeks ago- my arms shook and I broke out into a sweat. And bugger it all, the block came out too large. I copied the directions down wrong- 1/2" is NOT the same as 1/4". No way, no how. Ah well. A block for my nubbin box.

Hope everyone is enjoying a touch of Spring. So sorry Darcie! You will get yours, eventually. You are always warm in my thoughts!

Jacob's Feast...

This is Jacob. He is 17 and quite a character. In the best sort of way. Jacob is very sociable. He is just as comfortable with an 8 month old as he is with an 80 year old. He isn't gabby, but he likes to visit with people. Talking, listening, and laughing. Jacob is an avid outdoorsman. He is going cold weather hiking and camping, next week. Without a tent. He has a survivalist mentality. If stranded on a desert island, I am pretty sure he would take another person with him- to visit with and eventually use as a food source. He is very creative but in a 3-diminsional sort of way. This is one of the knives he made. Jacob is one of the best songleaders I have ever seen- and no, I am not prejudice;) Coffee is a passion of his and he would someday like to open his own coffee shop. Oh I just love him to peices!

*

Jacob's feast had a waffle house theme. He had orange wedges and assorted muffins for his appetizer. Blueberry, lemon poppyseed, apple cinnamon, and banana walnut. He had two drinks- orange juice and Jones Soda. His main course was dinner waffles made with sausage and cheddar cheese served with sausage gravy and hash browns. He then had dessert waffles that you could stuff with vanilla ctream and the fruit of your choice. Strawberries, cherry, blueberries. And of course whipped cream for the top. His gift to the other children was the waffle maker that he made all the waffles with. I never saw so many children so miserably full!

That ends our feast season. We had such a grand time. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Life is like that...

you have to keep your eye on the gorgeous, good things and not get caught up in the telephone wires.

Abe's feast...

This is our "little man." He is 7 years old and a bundle of energy. He flies from one task to the next, forgetting where he was and where he is going. It really is comical. "Abe, weren't you getting yourself a drink?" "Oh yeah, right!" Nothing gets in his way. He is always looking on the sunny side of life. He doesn't blubber over disappointments. Just shrugs his shoulders and says these things happen. Abe is a great problem solver. He likes to figure things out and has his own unique way of looking at a problem. "Mom, I'm not so sure Heaven is gonna to be that great of a place." Now why would he say that? "Cause all of the people there have to wear those round things on their heads to keep the sun out of their eyes." Obviously he's seen a picture with folks wearing halos... that's Abe!

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His feast really tickled my funny bone. His theme was... wait for it...worms. Yep, worms. I giggled all over the place when he told me that one. His brothers and sisters were gonna love it! So he wanted roots hanging all over the place and on the table- which we made out of twisted brown packing paper. He wouldn't even let me iron the table cloth- 'cause that's more like dirt. And it wasn't a problem that the table cloth didn't cover the entire tabletop, because dirt is brown like the wood of the table... See what I mean? Nothing flaps him. When he said he wanted pineapple for an appetizer, I asked him what that had to do with worms..."It's just an idea, Mom." Then he served spaghetti- of course, and he twisted breadsticks up like worms, also. He had punch for his drink and then, finally, for dessert he made rice krispy treats with gummy worms climbing out of them. His gift was those long twisty balloons- 'cause they look like worms, ya know.