jump up and down

refashion: jumper to skirt

Thanks to those of you who have given advice and info about North Carolina.  The interview is in a month and we will just go from there I guess - fingers crossed and prayers sent.  And while we're waiting, I think I will try to be here a bit more often to keep myself distracted.  I have reminded myself of all the hard things about moving in the last day or so (like packing - I hate packing, waiting for the kids to adjust and helping them through it, making new friends which can be great or just difficult, etc.) and that has helped curb some of my anxiety.  

So, it's time for catch-up around here.  A few weeks ago, I was on the hunt for things that I could refashion - it's slowed down a bit now because I have a bit of a backlog.  Anyway, of course as I was browsing through racks of denim jumpers and ill fitting early 90's dresses (how did we convince ourselves to wear those sacks?), this 80's number really stood out.  Even better, it was the 50% tag color!   The white graphic flower and polka dot on red are a little much to wear all up and down your body, so I cut it to a skirt and used this tutorial to give it a waistband and then hemmed it up a bit.  This one was super easy because it was already the right size.  I did have to do the waist band twice because I made it a little too big the first time.  Maybe it's a little out there, but I think it's perfect for summer days when you just feel like having fun and being in a light-hearted mood.

It's definitely coming out a few more times this summer, even if Ryan does give me funny looks when I'm wearing it!

work in progress: new quilts for the boys

In an effort to give the kids more room for playing, we bought them bunk beds a couple of weeks ago. I decided they needed new matching quilts for their beds, especially since Ned only has baby quilts as he moved from a toddler bed.  I was first thinking of something really simple - just blocks/squares of my striped sheet fabrics.  Then I decided to browse Flickr for quilt ideas one day and came across this one that I loved.  It's a little more work than just blocks, but not too much.  Here's what I've done so far...

Cut it out - I think I did enough for both of the quilts.  I guess we will find out for sure when I get a little further.

 A stack of blocks in progress.

 And a couple of strips.

And I need to get motivated on it again.  But my mind is in other places.  Ryan got an e-mail last Friday inviting him to go for a job interview in North Carolina.  So all I can do is think about it and scour the internet for information on the Tri-Cities area.  I've really got to work on re-directing myself though - the interview is still a month away and then who knows how long after that until we will know if he gets the job or not.  Any tips for distracting myself?  Or maybe you can just fuel the fire and tell me if you know anything about the area, LOL.    

how does your garden grow?

Last year, we moved in so late and then it rained for the first month that we lived here that by the time we could get out in the yard, the flower gardens were pretty out of control.  I did get out there in July, but there were just some things that couldn't be helped at that point.  This year, I am trying to stay on top of things and there are signs of improvement all around.  Now, I'm not claiming that my yard is worthy to be shown in Better Homes and Gardens or anything.  I'm just saying that if I could do some before and after pics from last year, the changes would be significant.

I started the hanging pots myself this year with plants that only had one flower on them.  And I haven't let them dry out once yet.

 

The bleeding hearts have multiple blooms and have been at it for almost a month - last year they bloomed for about a week before they gave out.

 

The sunflowers that I started from seed (with help from Peter) are getting so big that they are having a hard time staying up - I need to find something to tie them to.

 

These pansies came up on their own.  Last year I had two plants and this year their are about a dozen.  Next year (if we're still here), I'm hoping they will just blanket the entire front flower bed so I don't have to plant anything in there!

 

 And I'll admit that this rose bush is still pretty out of control, but if you look closely...

 

There are blooms - last year it never bloomed and this year it is covered with buds just waiting to pop open. I can't wait! 

 

How does your garden grow this year?

i'm back

 

Hello everyone!  I think I'm ready to be back here.  Thank you so much for all of your kind words and sympathy.  It really meant so much to me.  I've never had anyone close to me pass away before.  I think it's one of those things that you just don't really know what it will be like until you experience it.  So, I spent the week after the funeral just kind of taking it all in.  I think it helped that l had such a long time to anticipate my grandpa's death and come to some sort of peace with it before it happened.  I'm grateful for the good influence he was in my life and for the good things he did.  

Then, I spent last week with the young women from church at Girl's Camp.  I had't been camping in a long time (since the weekend before we found out we were pregnant with Peter), I'd never been to Girl's Camp as a leader and I never spent more than one night away from my boys, so I was a little nervous.  I had fun though - I'm glad I went.  I did miss my family a ton, but the girls were wonderful to us and each other.  It was nice to get to know them better and to bring that happy spirit from camp home with me.  

And now, the summer is before us - it's finally warm here and we have made our first plans to go to the pools with friends, we have a couple of road trips planned, the clothes are on the line for drying, the boys are enjoying lots of time outside, and I'm just hoping it doesn't end before I'm ready for it to end.