Sea + Prairie

red+yellow (YOC2)

::color+color::
A quilt I bought for my bed in the first little rent house I lived in after college, rediscovered while unpacking this house, and now living on Wyatt's bed...still perfect 10 years later.

Bring On the Fall

Thank you for all of your well wishes regarding our bout with the stomach virus.  Luckily it seems to have been a 48 hour bug.  Zane is back at school, although I think he enjoyed watching movies, sipping ginger ale, and generally having most of mama's attention entirely too much.  This morning on the way to the bus stop he made the comment he thought he still might be a little sick.  Which was quickly followed by a request to stay home to watch Swiss Family Robinson and eat donuts.  Ummm...no.  Sorry dude, you are going to school. 

Ian and I have evaded the bug, thank goodness. And Wyatt is on the mend and will hopefully be feeling a bit  better by this afternoon.

So, back to our regularly scheduled programming...fall is here! And I have some clothing to remake!

My good friend Maggie and I have found ourselves sharing the previously vacant position of craft coordinator for our local MOPs group.  When the mother who was supposed to bring the craft for Tuesday's meeting had a sick child, we were asked if we could get something together in less than 24 hours.  ????  Sure, I said.  And then quickly called Maggie to see if she was near a Michael's or an AC Moore.  I had remembered seeing some wonderful felt leaf garlands last year from Blair and Anna.  And this project was was already on my list of fall decor to make this month.  So it seemed like this would be the perfect last minute fall craft for some strung out mamas.  It was!

Thirty or so women, who's kids are being lovingly watched down the hall, all drinking coffee, chatting, laughing and cutting felt.  Heaven!  Everyone seemed to enjoy it and many commented how nice the felt was that we had chosen.  Luckily Maggie and I know...there is GOOD felt and then there is the cheapy stuff from VBS.  This was the good stuff my friends.  Luckily, there were enough leftovers to make one for myself...since that was the original idea.  And the boys and I have already started our season of "thankfulness" as we have started writing small words on the leaves that represent things we are thankful for.

Yesterday between the 7 loads of laundry I did, I was able to finish one of my wardrobe makeover projects.  My favorite pair of brown cargo pants had a pretty significant run in with some red fingernail polish right below the knee.  And I just couldn't bring myself to pitch them. 

So, using this tutorial, I cut them up and made a cargo skirt.  Now here at the beach we wear flip flops pretty much all year long, but I think this skirt would look equally good with tights, boots and a sweater.  Don't you think? 

 

Executing Plan B

The wardrobe makeover has been temporarily postponed as the t-shirts and a half finished skirt are scattered in various stages of completion in separate locations all over the house.  We must have needed some quiet downtime because, I am sad to say, we have been hit with the sickies. 

When I picked up Zane and Ian from kindy on Tuesday, Zane said that his head hurt.  So I gave him a little Tylenol and he took a nap (which rarely happens anymore).  That night, about 1:16 a.m. to be exact,  the vomiting started and continued most of the early morning.  Yesterday, Ian went to school by himself.  I wasn't sure how he would do, but he was a real trooper...later confessing he didn't mind going to school by himself because Giovanna (a really cute 8-year old) sat with him on the bus.  It starts early I tell you.

Wyatt went to Ms. Alice's for the morning, and Zane and I went to find out what was going on.  I am not one to rush my kiddos to the physician, realizing that most of the things we get are viruses and have to work their course.  But, I was afraid it was Strep as almost everyone we know around here has had it in the past few weeks.  Only complaining of head and stomach issues, no throat pain as you would expect.  But after a strep swab and a thorough exam, we think it is just the stomach flu.

Plan B kicks in immediately...

:: a quick run in to Walgreen's on the way home for Gatorade, ginger ale, and saltine crackers.

:: call the soccer coach, tell him we will not make it to practice.

:: call the school to let them know we have the flu.

:: find the coloring books that were ordered from Dover Publishing's sale last month which had quickly been put away for a rainy day, or in this case a sick day.

::  pick Wyatt up a little early from Ms. Alice's and thank her for the Berenstain Bears movie she lent us, knowing we were going to be down for a few days.

:: pick Ian up a little early from kindy, being very glad that their Scholastic book orders came in, more reading material.

So, yesterday was spent coloring, reading, popping echanacea, eating peanut butter and crackers, and sipping clear fluids.

Today, Zane is on the mend, but now Wyatt is sick.  Looks like more of the same for us today.

The Big Finale...X, Y and Z!

X-rays - Zane still had copies of his x-rays from when his mama broke his arm proudly displayed on his side of his room.  His mama needs to reminder...really.

Yarn - Sweet, but creative, 2 1/2 year old little boys and yarn do NOT mix...EVER.  If they do somehow make direct contact with each other, the above photo is what happens.  This WAS a sock that I began a few weeks back as a little fall/winter treat for myself.  It WAS about half way done, but has NOW been reduced to about six rows and a huge mess.  Wyatt was very proud of himself and said he was making a bird's nest.  It DOES look like a bird's nest wee one.  It does.  (mama now throws up her hands in the air in surrender).  This yummy, and gorgeous yarn was purchased from Amy.  Just looking at it makes me want to place another order.

Zelia - my long time blogging friend from Portugal who sent me the sweetest fabric and trim last week.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Z!!!  You are the best!

Zinnias - For some reason, I always plant these in my garden.  Maybe just so the basket of freshly picked veggies looks that much prettier with the bright color or zinnias included.

Zane, Ian and Wyatt -  these three little monkeys are really the reason I continue to blog...not only to give them a window into what their family life was like when they were smaller, but also because it makes me a happier mama.  And a happier mama means (lets say it all together) happier kiddos.  Journaling is my way of venting, celebrating, rationalizing, and processing.  Love you, my little men!  You are my sunshines everyday.

Wooohooo!  I finished!  Thanks Bella Dia for a great writing exercise!  It was a challenge, but a very welcome one.  Now, back to our regularly scheduled programing.

U, V, and W are for...

Uniform - My usual "uniform" is jeans and t-shirts with cute shoes and a jacket if needed.  With the house in WI not selling, the budget is a little, well...tight.  So instead of going out and buying a new fall wardrobe (like I do this anyway),  I have decided to take some of my long sleeved t-shirts, a denim skirt and a pair of brown cargo pants from last year and give them a bit of a makeover. But that is another post entirely.

Underwear - I did several loads of laundry today and I have exactly 4 pairs of decent underwear to my name.  I have no idea where the others have gone, but I need to do a little shopping I think.

Uncooperative - I was hoping to get a shot of the three boys together for a project for S.  He misses them like crazy and was hoping to get a good one of the three of them.  Well the little monkeys couldnt keep their hands off of each other even though I was bribing them with peanut M&Ms and twizzlers.  Needless to say, they did NOT get the candy.

Van - I needed one of these the past few days after watching twin 3 year olds for a few days while their mama (and my friend) tended to an emergency.  Five kids and five car seats in my Envoy...I needed a van.

Veterinarian - What I wanted to be when I grew up.

Vinegar - My favorite cleaning agent...I remember my mother using this and all of us heading for the hills because it smelled so bad.  Added bonus - it also gets you 10 minutes of alone time in the room you happen to be cleaning.

Vitex -  This photo is of the vitex tree blossom at my parent's house  It is one of my most favorite plants...ever!  We have  smaller one in the backyard at our house, but it is currently recovering from being mowed over by the people who rented our house before we moved back in.  Its a fighter though!

Vices - Mine include decorating magazines, dark chocolate, vintage linens and coffee.

Waitress - One of my most favorite jobs ever was waiting tables here in college.  Love, love Joe's.

War - I'm not sure what all I should say on this...another word that could be a post on all its own...But, I will say that I will find it difficult to tell my children that their papa, or any of our good friends who are in the service, died because of our country's gluttonous hunger for oil.  Is it possible to support our troops and oppose the war...absolutely!

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One more encyclopedia of me post to wrap the alphabet up and then it is back to regular posting!

Bias Tape/Ribbon Pillow Tutorial

I have been trying to wait until the end of the encyclopedia of me to post this tutorial.  I have had it done for a few weeks now and just can't stand not to post it any longer.

My mother's ribbon and trim stash was extensive and oh so much fun when I was a kid!  She and I used to make ribbon pillows as gifts for friends and family.  My good friend Margo said she still has the one I made her in college.  So while unpacking I noticed I had a rather large collection of vintage bias tape.  Hmmm, the wheels started turning and I didn't see why using bias tape for a pillow would be any different than using ribbons and trim.  This is a great way to use up odds and ends of ribbons/trim/bias tape from previous projects.

For a wee minute I thought about trying out Erin's new zipper tutorial, but there was not enough time today before going to pick Ian and Zane from kindy.  And I am all about trying to actually finish things these days instead of creating more half finished projects.  So, another time, another pillow for a zipper.

The weaving of the strips reminds me so much of the Thanksgiving place mats we all made in school by weaving orange and brown and yellow construction paper together.  Older kids could really get into this part I think.  For us, it would be a disaster waiting to happen.  But I can see this being done with lots of pink and print and foof like my mother and I used to do.   

I used papaw's old work pants as the border around the woven panel and an Alexander Henry print for the back.  I love how it looks with this thrifted lemon tree pillow backed in soft velvet.  I wouldn't say these new pillows exactly scream fall, but I love the greens and browns.  Hey, they're way better than the completely flat and stained despite many, many washings throw pillows we had been using.

So, here it is.  Slightly modern and abstract.  But colorful and soft and vintagey!  And finished in just over an hour!  Perfect.

Not that it is a difficult project, but a tutorial has been added to the sidebar if you are interested.

T is for...

trees - I think by far, climbing trees is our most favorite past time.  At least it is my most favorite thing to watch my boys enjoy.  We need to find a new "enchanted forest" in this area...we miss climbing higher than our little front yard sapling allows. 

transition -  One of the things I am finally learning (and being OK with) is that life is a series of transitions.  Transitions from one season to the next, transitions from one childhood milestone to the next, transitions from one life space to the next.  They are sometimes difficult for me, but I am actually welcoming the changes now that I know they will surely come...that nothing is ever set and settled.

twins -  This could be a post of its own, but yes my first two boys are twins...I don't know for sure if they are identical or fraternal (we have never had them tested...the only way to know for sure), there is no good twin or bad twin, and yes, I most certainly have my hands full.  My hands, my arms, my lap and my heart are full.

talking - I remember going to Ian and Zane's two year appointment and the pediatrician asking me if they were saying 10-15 words.  And I honestly had to count on my fingers how many words they were saying.  I asked her if signs and Spanish words counted and I think with those included they were speaking maybe 10 words at the time.  I was worried about them and asked if we should get a speech referral.  Needless first time mama worries, I tell you...all three of my boys never, ever stop talking and sometimes I have to get very creative to find quiet non talking activities so that there is space for me to think.

tank - In the "Texan" dialect, this word means pond.  Every time I use the word tank in a sentence like..."Boys, do you remember when we rode in the back of Omah's pickup to take a look at the tank on the back of their place?"...Sergio just looks at me like I am the biggest hick there is.

toilet training - Wyatt and I are back on track in this department finally after a little break through all of our summer transitions.

S is for...

Sewing - Now that all of the boxes are unpacked in the sewing room, I have been able to find most of my tools and have started sewing again...first up was a couple of market bags made from an old canvas laundry bag.

Self - One of the major challenges of being on your own so much is learning to take care of yourself.  With S so far away, I am working on a list (yes another list) of things I want to do for ME. 

Socks - I started my first pair of crocheted socks this past week.  For me.  I am working from this pattern.

Squash - Picked up at the farm stand down the road using aformentioned market bag...filled with lots and lots and lots of yellow squash, some for cooking this weekend, some for freezing.  Yep, its that time.  Time to think about what fruits and veggies I want to hord in the freezer for winter.

Strawberries - My favorite fruit and a good choice for someone who is watching their sugar intake.  That is as long as you don't drown them in sugar after they are sliced.

Sailor - I guess I have a soft spot for a man in uniform.

Sushi - Love it...and I still don't think my red meat eating Daddy can wrap his head around why in the heck his daughter would want to eat raw fish....but loving on the coast with so much great, fresh seafood available...mmmm....love it.

School - Ian and Zane started school this week and it went very well even though I was finishing their registration the morning of the first day.  I got them officially enrolled and the boys are adjusting to being in separate classrooms.  Yesterday the teachers said during PE the boys spotted each other in their respective lines.  And it was all they could do to keep them still and in their own lines until the classes were released to run.  Z and I made a mad dash for each other, embraced immediately and told the other one they missed his brother so much.

Science - I was a biology major in college...love, love the sciences, and love that we live so close to the Virginia Marine Science Museum...we go at least once a week to see what they have caught in the bay that day.  On Wednesday, it was lots and lots of blue crabs.

Seasons - The evenings have finally started cooling off here...a sure sign that fall is on the way.  This is my favorite season here at the beach, because the water is still warm from the summer sun, and the tourists are gone leaving the beaches to us alone again.

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Apologies for the relatively boring post after all of the wonderful comments on the new rag rug in progress.  I need to learn that with every season change, with every major routine change, I need to take the week off from everything else to just make my way through the process.   But I think we are now full into fall.  Someone, please remind me of this around November/December when I need to take the week off to allow myself time to adjust to winter.  And again, I can not thank you enough for the memories you shared in the comments section below.  I have read, and re-read each one of them over the past week and I am still trying to get through them all to respond.  But it might take me awhile...adjusting to fall and all *wink*.  Have a great weekend!

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The crochet sock pattern link is back up.  Sorry about that.