This n' that

Looking forward to seeing more blooms.  This one is my Pink Lady apple tree, and she's be gorgeous in a week or so!

Prettied up my gardening bench.  Now I can see my seeds and actually 

remember to plant them all this year!

Isn't this gorgeous?  The Hubs made me two of these, with three more on order. His own design, and he even hammered the copper himself!  Nothin' sexier than a handy-man with an eye for decorating!  

Worked in the garden, which just had some peas, broccoli, radishes, spinach, lettuce and cabbage added to it.  You can see the landscaping cloth where the pea-gravel path will go.  And right where the path ends, next to the gate, will be the CUTEST little enamel sink I found with plumbing so I can wash my veggies outside!

Sneak peek of the new chest going in Boo's beachy room.

The Hubs has a grandma who passed a while back, and the family has been going through her house. (which is way old and way haunted...I should show you the giant creepy babydoll that Boo brought home)  We go up there with intentions of going through stuff in the house, but naturally I was looking for quirky odds n' ends.  There is this really deep (20 ft+) creek ditch next to the house and when we looked over the edge we saw this really cool kettle sitting in the creek.  I sent the hubs after it, and also had him snag a really awesome wooden ladder that I saw.  The little lantern thingy was in the yard.  Also scored some old windows for painting on!  Seriously, why can my brain not operate like a normal person's?

So what should I do with the kettle and lantern?  I know!  Add them to my already enormous pile of things I need to re-purpose in the garage! (hehe)

Cherry Mania!

I've been MIA!  Visited my little brother, home on leave from Afghanistan, accomplished a lot of yard work, sewed like crazy, and couldn't post any or it because of my camera!  Finally figured out it was the finicky battery charger, but it was frustrating to say the least.
Every year the local spring celebration is the Cherry Festival.  I love making outfits every year for the parade, and this year I had three to make.  I shouldn't wait to the last minute- staying up till midnight for four days is too much!
I really wanted a vintage look to them, so I made peasant bodices and changed up the skirts a bit.  Btw, LOVE portabellopixie's patterns!  I used the "claire" pattern this time.
Beary's dress has a vintage napkin for an apron with pompom fringe.  Boo's has fun cherry appliques on the apron, which is made of an 800tc *gasp* pillow case 'cause I ran out of white fabric! (seriously, how does THAT happen?)  Binks was just a simple little ruffle dress.  I did try two new techniques this time, with the bias tape on Boo's apron and shirring on Binks dress!  Here are some pics! Which are low quality.  Thank you dearest Boo-who-is-two and loves to touch buttons on mama's machines. (camera included)

The "Daddy's Girl" top

When I first saw the Ashton top on Brown Paper Packages (love this blog!) I had to make it right away!  I picked up the men's shirt for $1.00 at the thrift store.  I love the colors on Beary!  The tutorial is really simple, and this top only took ONE DAY!  I say that with enthusiasm because most things around here seem to sit forever waiting to be finished.  Ahh the joys of motherhood. (even the Easter egg Rice Krispie treats didn't get finished until today...) I didn't have any FOE, so I made some simple tie straps out of extra shirt material.  If you're liking the look, I cut four straps at 2.25" x 13" and sewed with a 1/4" seam.

See the matching hair ribbons?  

I used some of the eyelet from this post.

I also stitched down the middle of the back elastic for more support. 

Beary hates when her elastic shifts any!

"Mommy please let me go inside now!  It's too cold for pictures!"  

Yah, it was only 45 degrees and windy, but the pictures are cute! 

And because Beary has requested that you all see her "Post Office" outfit... (that she insisted on wearing to the P.O. today)

And because who can resist a hottie-hubbie holding a baby and a mug of coffee at the playground (where he chased around a busy toddler)...

I'm still here!

I'm still alive!  It's been one of those weeks...sick kids, no energy, gloomy weather (SNOW?  Seriously...it's snowing right now in Oregon) trying to get ready for Easter (Happy Easter!) and attempting to finish one of the million little projects in my head!

Dealing with this (poor crabby Binks):

 She just cut her two lower teeth and has a bad cold.  Being a NICU graduate and the youngest, she's naturally spoiled rotten, so she's spent most of the last week on my lap.  That means no computer time because she tries to bite the keyboard!

Feeling like this:

If You Give a Mom a Muffin

If you give a mom a muffin,

She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.

She'll pour herself some.

Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.

She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.

She'll remember she has to do laundry.

When she puts the laundry in the washer,

She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.

Bumping into the freezer will remind her

she has to plan for supper.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.

She'll look for her cookbook

("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger").

The cookbook is setting under a pile of mail.

She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.

She will look for her checkbook.

The check book is in her purse

that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.

She'll smell something funny.

She'll change the two-year-old's diaper.

While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.

Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.

She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.

Thinking of coffee will remind her

that she was going to have a cup.

And chances are... If she has a cup of coffee,

Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.


~author unknown

And enjoying every minute with this (Say it with me now: "awww"):