Living, Loving, & Creating Our Happiness

School Choices (Past Tense)

2011-10-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

My friend C just wrote a introspective post on school, personality and environment. It's pretty cool and I suggest you read it. Short background: I've known C since I was five or six and I'm sure I knew her by seven. We went to the same elementary school for seven years and played soccer together (not always on the same team) for six or seven years. Trust me when I say she's cool.

I really enjoyed reading her take on high school because mine is different and I think when we can each look back and maybe now figure out what we liked, didn't like and what we each benefited from in our respective environments. A disclaimer to some of our decisions is also this: M town was building schools and rearranging a lot when we were growing up, so our class, the ones before and after, were shuffled around quite a bit.

I went to public school from kindergarten through the first two days of school in tenth grade. I have no problem with public school: M town has exceptional schools and teachers and my dad and aunt went all the way through these schools. After seven years at one elementary school, I was shuttled between five different schools between sixth and tenth grades. Ninth grade was a little tough on my psyche - not sure why. MHS (the real high school) housed tenth through twelfth grades, totaling at about 1500 kids in a school that was too small (C mentions being a number).

I attended two days of my sophomore year, came home and told my parents I wasn't going back. I don't remember all of the reasons I gave them, but I told them I wasn't happy and that I was going to get lost in the crowd. I told them that I could go to the country school (the district C's family moved to), the private Christian school (two blocks from our house), or we could home school, but that I was not going back. I didn't realize at the time what a slap in the face that might have been for my parents: my dad graduated from MHS, my mom worked in the school system AND they paid taxes! Also, important to mention, nothing happened to drive me away - I had friends and I was smart - I just felt out of place and didn't want to feel that way for the next three years.

For some reason, my parents let me leave MHS and I enrolled at the private Christian school (FHCS) up the road. They paid tuition so that I could change schools. I went into my sophomore year there not knowing anyone. I came out with friends. There were positive and negative aspects to a school so small (about ten students in a grade, forty in the high school), but for the most part, I excelled and it was a good choice for me. Do I think all fifteen-year-olds can or should make that decision? Not at all, but in this case it worked.

Why was it good for me? Teachers knew my name and they knew my parents. They had my sister in their class as well. It's difficult for anyone to be on the fringe if there are only ten kids in your class. We were close, very close. I was able to play soccer on a guys' team (only lasted one season :-) and cheer (which was so much fun) and work on yearbook and be a teacher's aide for preschoolers. I taught myself calculus (I was the class). I took three years of Spanish and excelled at English. I made friends for life and didn't even think that was possible. And this is so corny (please forgive me); I became a nicer person when I wasn't so scared of losing part of myself. It was far from perfect or idyllic (oh, senior year was ROUGH), but I felt at home and like I belonged - what I was studying for, cheering for, playing for - it was mine.

I'm the same age as miss C and this year is also when my ten year high school reunion should occur. I may have planned a little get-together in July. It may have involved many of the kids (total = eleven) from my senior class. We didn't call it anything fancy. They were excited. We spent time with each others' kids and spouses and had some dinner, hung out at the pool, sat by a bonfire (funny enough - at the house of an alumna a few years ahead of us). They are my people. Some of us are close and some had a lot more catching up to do. Everyone really just turned into better versions of themselves and it was so fantastic to see. We missed a few of our classmates and made sure to spread salacious rumors about them, but mostly it was chill and very good. That's what I wanted in tenth grade that I somehow knew I wasn't going to get at MHS. [However, I would like to interject that over the holidays, what I have come to call my "public school" friends get-together to see one another and catch up - which leads me to believe that I might have been okay if I'd stayed :-) ].

Ironically, I tried a small private university after high school that was a horrid fit. I went there for all the same reasons I went to FHCS initially and it turns out that KSU in M town was a much better fit. It still felt like home - like it was mine.

Really, what I think I can get out of this is that every schooling option isn't right for every kid. Parents do the best they can and hopefully listen and work out solutions (that are within their means and capability) that are the best for their kids. I was lucky to have options and parents that considered what I had to say. And not be melodramatic, but my life looks incredibly different than it would have otherwise. Have I mentioned that I met my C through a high school friend at FHCS? How was that going to happen some other way?

Two Important Memos

2011-10-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

There are two very cool things I wanted to bring up with whoever reads this blog.

The first is a link to K's new project over at Orange Peel Photography. Please support her and spread the word. My admiration for anyone who keeps seeking that which brings them joy is HUGE, and there is a very special place in my heart for K & T. If you are debating clicking through (you should), K is opening her photography business to expecting moms over the next two or three months to get a handle on birth photography. This is a woman who has brought two wonderful boys into the world and in addition to being a talented photographer, has a wonderful heart for women and their experiences. Go look.

The second is another example of a woman playing to her strengths. You all know my friend AM? Or you've heard me speak of her awesomeness. A very small part of her awesomeness is her innate ability to find and develop style with fashion. This woman has dressed me (and countless others) AND explained style to us in a way we can understand (yep, even I kind of get it now). She is always eclectically and perfectly dressed in her own style and when you ask, you find that she mixed a $3 thrift store skirt with a $10 top over $200 boots (that she's had for YEARS - can you say investment?), and made her own one-of-a-kind necklace with a scarf or tights that were a gift. The woman is not impractical at all - either in her spending on clothes or the pieces of clothing she wears (she runs after her darling son and daughter most days!). Anyway, this impressive being has not yet decided to open up a personal styling business (which she could in a second - she has the skill, talent, and the uncanny ability to find things and put them together JUST RIGHT), but she has decided to make some of her finds available to the public. You can shop her at Etsy, store name HandmadePrairie. Check it out.

The W List: September Books 2011

2011-09-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

I don't think the September tally will even compare to previous months, but I'm taking it easy and really only reading what appeals to me, discarding that which cannot grab me. This has been a difficult lesson: to give up on a book. I still haven't learned it properly. But if the book I'm reading isn't a) going to make me a better person: more well rounded, informed, engaged, and/or b) outright captivating or amusing, I need to put it away until it is one or the other. And, my excuse, as always, is that there have been other happenings this month that have limited or distracted from reading time or interest, which will make sense when revealed.

Skinned by Robin Wasserman ~ I trudged through the whole book just to find out that it really didn't matter. It's an interesting premise: downloading the entire brain to a mechanical body (after a mortal injury) in order to retain the "person," but the teenage play out is whiny and unsympathetic. Not going to read the rest of the trilogy. F YA

Carefree Clothes for Girls: 20 Patterns for Outdoor Frocks, Playdate Dresses, and More by Junko Okawa ~ Highly recommend to EB and AM for their daughters. Don't know about the ease/readability of the patterns, but the designs are timeless, lovely, simple, and well styled on a little red headed child. NF

Lingerie Secrets: Sew a Perfect Fit for Every Body by Jan Bones ~ Don't think I'm going to sew lingerie anytime soon, but I did want to know if there were any secrets. This book wasn't good or bad, as it just didn't seem important at all. NF

The Seven Wise Princesses: A Medieval Persian Epic by Wafa Tarnowska ~ Not quite a children's book, this is a awesome story about wisdom and all other morals and values (also a focus on seven colors and why each color is a specific princess' favorite) - very much enjoyed. F Older children's book

Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work by Tim Gunn ~ More of a simplistic memoir. I can't say that I loved this book, although the few times I've seen Gunn on TV, he has amused me. He seemed more petty in this book and many of the stories are about either himself or his interactions in the fashion community, so have your who's who available. NF

Little Green Dresses: 50 Original Patterns for Repurposed Dresses, Tops, Skirts, and more by Tina Sparkles ~ AM might like portions of this for ideas, but most of the refashions aren't into tops or dresses that have the "coverage" that women in the Midwest prefer. Does that make sense? I live in the Midwest and that comes with a certain style that is considered appropriate. NF

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher ~ Oh, young adult fiction, I've missed you. Wait, with your angst, burgeoning sexuality, and drug usage, no, no I haven't. I made it through this novel and it had some very important things to say about teenage suicide. Unfortunately, the girl who committed suicide in this novel implicated others and seemed mostly unwilling to let others help her. In fact, in addition to the final act of suicide (pills), she "lets" something terrible happen to her so that she can really leave it all behind. Uggggg. F YA

House Beautiful: Decorating with Books by Marie Proeller Hueston ~ Some nice pictures and creative ways to work massive amounts of books into your decor. Nothing that book lovers already didn't know, but there are some ways to decorate that book lovers would never utilize as well. NF

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson ~ This novel was actually interesting as it played a story between a burn victim and an eccentric woman who claims that they know one another from Germany six hundred years past. The details about recuperation from intensive burns, carving gargoyles, and how to build a lopsided relationship out of curiosity, dependence, and maybe even love were captivating. F

House Beautiful: Lighting: Inspiring Ideas for Lighting Effects from Simple to Spectacular by Judith Gura ~ Good ideas, especially about natural light during the day and lighting choices in the evening. NF

Books I've tried to read and can't finish:
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes ~ pg 30 out of 80 [too much angst and too many expletives] F GN
Swans and Pistols by Leon Bing ~ pg 180 out of 227 [this close to the end, I'm just done with her train wreck/bad decision life] NF Memoir
Into the Wild by Sara Beth Durst ~ pg 119 out of 260, didn't open Out of the Wild [interesting, with fairy tale characters injected into real life - might read at a later date and time] F YA
Three Junes by Julia Glass ~ pg 65 out of 353 [no, just no. Good title though] F
The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls by Joan Jacobs ~ pg 71 out of 214 [very good book - descriptive, informative, great explanations - just can't handle right now. Would be excellent resource for any type of report/paper on women in America] NF

Hopefully this isn’t categorized as a failure of a month with only ten (10) books read. Plus another 465 pages in books I cared not to finish. There might be a few books of my own that I read and have forgotten, and if so I will add them at a later date and time.

- Posted from my mobile phone

Mourning

2011-09-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite cards for the appropriate circumstance says:

"We are all creatures of this great earth - interconnected in ways beyond understanding.

Take elephants.
So big.
So strong.
And yet,
when a member of the herd passes,
even elephants mourn.
They gather around,
extend their trunks,
and gently touch
the tusks
of their fallen friend.
It's their ritual.
It's how they heal.
And it's sad.
And it's beautiful.

So maybe
what we're trying to say
is that the world
doesn't expect you
to be fine with this.

Be how you need to be.
Mourn how you need to mourn.

And know that you're thought of with love."

To my dear friends, you are held close in prayers and closer still with love. Mourn how you need to mourn.

- Posted from my mobile phone

The W List: August Books 2011

2011-08-31T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo ~ A china rabbit with furry ears is lost at sea, then in trash heap, and finally in a doll shop. In the meantime, Edward learns to love and he learns that it is a painful, if rewarding, emotion. Enjoyed this! F (Children's?)

Readymade: How to Make (Almost) Everything: A Do-it-Yourself Primer by Shoshana Berger ~ I'm going to count this book as read because I looked at the pictures. And because I have very little interest in a lounge chair made out of recycled plastic water bottles, no matter how green it is. Many visitors to our house picked this book up, flipped through it and commented on the strange things within, so that makes it an interesting conversation starter. NF

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley ~ Really enjoyed this one! This novel contained many of the classic fairytale elements in graphic novel form. Loved the story of the circus and then the order of the bearded ladies! When I had some time to think about it, there were some impressive subtexts woven into the storyline regarding faith, love, friendship, protection, fairness, and the realized power of those others consider weak. Very cool! F GN

De:tales: Stories from Urban Brazil by Fabio Moon ~ Not as awesome as Daytripper, but the artwork was full of talent and promise. I am often impressed with what graphic novels can leave unsaid (unwritten) and still obviously convey to the reader. F/NF GN

Hush by Eishes Chayil ~ I gave up on this book 1/3 into the story. I am done with novels that have this hidden mystery agenda in revealing sexual abuse. This abuse took place in a heavily cloistered Jewish community and from what I read, I assume that the victim killed herself and then nobody spoke of the abuse or the death again, which, just so you know, can cause some trauma all around. I don't intentionally choose these types of books, but they seem to find me as there is this rape/incest/molestation/abuse topic floating through what seems to be a large quantity of young adult fiction. Yuck. YA F

Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Houses by Alan Hess ~ I looked at the pictures and they were pretty. The stained glass and woodwork were incredible. I didn't read more than a paragraph. NF

Contemporary Quilts (Quilt National 1997) ~ I'm beginning to figure out that Quilt National is not my thing right now. It's a little too conceptual and fantastic in an unattainable and currently unappealing way. The talent and creativity is undeniable, but most of these quilts are not functional beyond wall hangings and that is not for me. NF

Sew Charming: 40 Simple Sewing and Hand-Printing Projects for the Home and Family by Cath Derksema ~ This is a fun book for a beginning sewer and printer - there are bright fabrics and colorful, modern designs (think a bit retro 60's mod) and the how-to on creating everything from hand printed tablecloths to little boy pajamas. NF

Simple Contemporary Quilts: Bold New Designs for the First-Time Quilter by Valerie Shrader ~ Maybe "first-time quilter" is pushing these designs and techniques a little far. This was a comprehensive book, but nothing special. NF

Simplify with Camille Roskelley: Quilts for the Modern Home - Use Pre-Cut Jelly Rolls, Charm Packs, Fat Quarters & More by Camille Roskelley ~ Again, I saw this book and thought that I would get a lot out of it, but it really just slid on past my eyes. Her quilts were, as always, a bit of happy eye candy and appreciated. NF

Stash-Buster Quilts: Time Saving Designs for Fabric Leftovers by Lynne Edwards ~ This lady has some neat ideas; I think I've read more than a few of her books now. She utilizes color and her quilting is incredibly complementary. Good book. NF

Patchwork: 25 Sewing Projects for Fabric Lovers by Cynthia Shaffer ~ Cute projects and great ideas for using small scraps (think mere single-digit inches). Nothing jumped out, but this was a colorful, well-articulated book. NF

Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch ~ A London copper that can speak with ghosts and solves paranormal crimes. He is also introducted to magic. It was an okay read, but it isn’t anything on par with Harry Potter or the Sookie books. I think it develops into a series, but this novel really got bogged down in archaic British terminology and London locations – there comes a point when I really don’t care where Armetishire is, okay? F

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi ~ This was sad, in a way, as a commentary on what humans have ultimately done to the earth. But really it’s about a boy trying to figure out family, loyalty, honor and love in despicable circumstances. It took me awhile to figure out what the “half-men” were and while the story followed the traditional, the context was futuristic in an engaging, curious way. Read it. YA F

The Last Train by Kazu Kibuishi ~ Daisy Kutter is awesome. She is real and terrible and wonderful. Just read this graphic novel in an afternoon and you’ll be convinced that graphic novels are bigger than comics and contenders with novels. Surprising, touching, and talented, I am a fan of Kazu, no doubt. GN F

Mugglenet.com’s Harry Potter Should Have Died by Emerson Spartz ~ Well, not to ruin the book for you, but the conclusion is not that Harry Potter should ha died. I hope any HP fans out there have checked out Mugglenet.com – it is a well operated HP website with fanfiction (of course) and lots of extras. This book was okay, possibly meant for a younger audience (in the list of debates, one was Who would you rather kiss? Voldemort or a dementor?). NF, based on F

Three Wishes: A True Story of Good Friends, Crushing Heartbreak, and Astonishing Luck on Our Way to Love and Motherhood by Carey Goldberg ~ Well, I guess this book is what happens when you decide to pass around seven vials of sperm in the quest to become a mother. I take no issue with taking action to become a parent, spouse or not (and I know some do), but this non-fiction story remained trite and may have been best kept an anecdote told at social functions. NF

House Beautiful Small Space Decorating Workshop ~ This is a great book for pointing out all of the little places (in an already small environment) that you can create storage and encourage light to peer in. For example, in smaller kitchens, cabinets are great on the bottom, but open shelving (if it works) makes the entire area more spacious looking and even allows display of dishware/tools (red toaster, Fiestaware, pretty glass, etc.). Very cute book! NF

Quilting Line and Color: Techniques and Designs for Abstract Quilts by Yoshiko Jinzenji ~ I really enjoyed the visual of some of these quilts, but do not understand the teaching aspect of a “random” or “improv” quilt. Introducing a measured method to something that is supposed to grow out of a creative mind just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe you can encourage creativity and spontaneity, but I’m tempted to write that you can’t force or calculate or write instructions for the same things. NF

The Radleys by Matt Haig ~ A vampire family story and I quite enjoyed it. The family dynamics and the hows/whys of vampirism are well explained and the book is a quick read with very short, quick chapters – would recommend (and it was recommended to me, by AM). F

Tattoo Machine: Tall Tales, True Stories, and My Life in Ink by Jeff Johnson ~ I read this for the stories and there were some stories for sure (the one about the serial killer still creeps me out). Not especially talented writing or continuity, but I’m betting the author is a talented artist. NF

Adventures in Bookbinding: Handcrafting Mixed-Media Books by Jeannine Stein ~ This is an example of an art/craft that I thought I would be interested in because I love books. And while I have learned a little about bookbinding, I don’t think that I am going to venture down that crafty path at this time. This book, however, is very enlightening and instructional and for someone who is interesting in creating mixed-media books, I think it could be an excellent resource. NF

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd ~ I’ve had two different people try and explain to me why it was so terrible for a Jedi to be friends with a Klingon and I think I might understand, but I’m still not sure. I watched some Star Trek (the Next Generation?) with my dad when I was little, but apparently that in no way prepares me for the nerdiness of the stories in this tome (see, I use words like “tome” – how does that not make me a nerd?). But I am still enjoying them. Even if I hate Star Wars and read a book through all three movies one night. Or were those the Lord of Rings movies that C tried to make me watch? Either way it was painful. F Anthology

Paper Quilts: Turn Traditional Quilt Motifs into Contemporary Cards and Crafts by Sandra Foose ~ Well, my interest is waning in both quilting and papercraft books, but this one seemed very straight forward with easy-to-follow directions and clear photographs. There were some three dimensional/origami type crafts in the back that I would love to devote more time to. NF

Simple Printmaking: A Beginner's Guide to Making Relief Prints with Linoleum Blocks, Wood Blocks, Rubber Stamps, Found Objects & More by Gwen Diehn ~ Too deep and too detailed for me – practically a definitive history of printmaking. But from that aspect, it was comprehensive as far as printing objects, medium, surfaces, and findings through archeological findings. NF

Creative Wildfire: An Introduction to Art Journaling Basics and Beyond ~ More of a bookbinding instructional guide, but still pretty cool. NF

Better than Running at Night by Hillary Frank ~ Nope, don’t recommend at all. It might have been personal preference on my part, as I enjoyed the art school portions of this book, but strongly dislike the relationship portions. I’ve read better. F YA

Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media by Heather Jones Smith ~ This book is cool and if I find time to pick up my watercolors again, I might need a copy of this to guide me through paints, techniques and the very important paper choices. It covers the basics in a very modern way. NF

What He Can Expect When She’s Not Expecting: How to Support your Wife, Save your Marriage, and Conquer Infertility! (exclamation point part of the official title) by Marc Sedaka ~ I skimmed this book since it wasn’t really written to me, BUT it is awesome for men. I read parts out loud to C and he got it. There are many a lot of funny scenarios, realistic situations, advice and it’s presented in a way that most men can respond to: through sarcasm. Nothing is off limits, from the collection room to the details the author’s doctor adds. Very comprehensive and slightly dated (only because technology, science and medicine are racing each other in this field). I highly recommend – better than many of the books geared toward females that want to hold your hand instead of telling it to you straight (i.e. the test called an HSG HURTS! A LOT! and the ART process is expensive, NO JOKE!). NF

The Repurposed Library: 33 Craft Projects that Give Old Books New Life by Lisa Occhipinti ~ Neat crafts, but I'm still uncertain about walking that fine line between expression & art and the actual destruction of books. Granted, not all books are fit to be read (in anyone's opinion), so the crafts are utilizing old, unwanted books in a fresh, creative way. Interesting. NF

Whip Up Mini Quilts: Patterns and How-to for 26 Contemporary Small Quilts by Kathreen Ricketson ~ Actually rekindled my interest in small quilts as wall art or table runners, or, as my first quilting project went, a doll-sized quilt. Very simple and classically designed small quilts with little tricks to make them easier and more streamlined. EB - check it out. NF

It feels like the book reading petered out a bit this month. I’m still in a place where I don’t care all that much for fiction, not even my well-loved young adult fiction. I haven’t been able to go to that fictional place and care about those characters when there are real people telling real stories. Does anyone else ever feel that way? And I’ve put some hard prep work into my sister’s giant quilt, which is no small feat and a huge time killer. But for me, more design, house, style, dress books with a side of biography, memoir, and other assorted non-fiction. Surprise, surprise, 31 books this month. At least 20 can be classified as non-fiction and if you read the reviews, I was not fond of a lot of the fiction. September may prove to be sweeter.

- Posted from my mobile phone

Manholes

2011-08-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

C does this all the time, but I did it for the first time and there happen to be pictures.

Of course there is a story, but there is also patient confidentiality, my own privacy (and commitment to customer service, I might add), and the purported illegality of climbing into a manhole. So that leaves you with pictures, enjoy!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Something to do with Sister B

2011-08-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

She never reads this blog, even though C's brothers occasionally do. So I could say a lot of things about her and start all sorts of rumors. But I won't because I dearly love sister B.

Below is something that's a little more about me. I've needed fabric labels for my quilts/projects that go off into the world. I didn't care for any of the predesigned ones, so I set out to design my own. I should have just paid someone uber talented to get them right, but instead I spent five hours in the simple Paint program (no, I can't figure out Photoshop or GIMP, or any other complicated program). The cool thing is, once you have a design, you can upload it to a custom design fabric place (I adore Spoonflower.com) and have them print it. Your cost/label drops significantly compared to the fabric label sheets you can run through your printer. Pretty cool, right?

These are what I came up with for now. The blanks I can fill in with a fabric pen/marker (I prefer Micron). Might have one of those talented people clean it up and color it in for future printings.

I found this fabric someone had designed on Spoonflower. I'm going to try and work it into the following project. It's got sister B's name written all over it (she's a hippo kind of girl - I can say that because she doesn't visit here)!

This is going to be the coolest thing ever. It's a quilt for sister B, who might have asked why I make quilts for other people's children, but not my only sister. Probably because babies don't have opinions on color, fabric, design, pattern or thread color. Oh, and baby quilts are smaller than the larger-than-queen-size quilt she wants. But sure enough, I took the challenge and have all the blocks pieced, cut out and need to find the motivation to cut all the sashing. I think it's going to be a beast, but spectacular.

Sister B will definitely get a "Made with Love" label. Unfortunately, this quilt will be nowhere near complete by her birthday in September. Happy birthday anyway, B!

- Posted from my mobile phone

The W List: July Books 2011

2011-07-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

Early July thought: If I finish two quilts this month, then I might forgive myself for the paltry book tally.

Mid-July thought: A tally which was looking rather paltry half way through July, but doesn’t look too terrible now. But only one quilt is complete-ish. That’s how it goes.

Last day of July thought: I read 29 books this month. Wow. And I have both quilts pieced and quilted. All that remains is different stages of binding for each. Yay for July!

The Match: "Savior Siblings" and One Family's Battle to Heal Their Daughter by Beth Whitehouse ~ This book, title alone, reminded me that we all need to withhold judgment without either much more information or without walking in someone else's shoes. This book offered so much information along with the personal story of Katie's family. Read it before you go saying things like "I would never" or "How could they?" Becoming an informed human being is really the least this changing world asks of us. NF

Flight, Volume Two ~ I did not find it as good as the first volume (which I own), but only because of my own taste in comics. I am a big fan of Vera Brosgol and Kazu Kabuishi and neither were heavily featured in this volume. The covers are always amazing though, because Kazu is a stunning artist – you can actually buy his prints (and Vera’s) at Nucleus Gallery online. GN F

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith ~ A poignant read actually. This book tricked me into learning more about Lincoln's non-vampire life than any other could - it is sprinkled with true quotes, dates, events and deaths. I even enjoyed the vampire parts because they added a dimension to Lincoln's legacy. I recommend. F

A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass ~ This book has been on my reading list for so long and it was very good. The main character sees colors for sounds and unconsciously assigns them to letters, numbers and words. She is strong and real and Mango is her beloved cat. Read it. YA F

Haven: Cozy Hideaways and Dream Retreats by Allison Serrell ~ Is probably a good book, but it isn't speaking to my aesthetic. I am going to finish looking through the pictures and call it read. NF

Daytripper by Fabio Moon ~ I highly recommend this graphic novel! It said so much about the course of life and the possibilities of people and situations through both the pictures and the words (seriously, AM and LB, pick it up from the library or I’ll force it into your hands when I someday own it). I wanted to quote the last letter that is written in the novel, but I returned the book too quickly to the library (others deserve to read this as well) and it gives something away. Love this. GN F

Give it Up: My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less by Mary Carlomagno ~ I must have thought this book was going to be helpful or interesting and it is not. From the first chapter alone, I judge Mary as a flippant, self-involved woman looking for the next thing to shake up her dull life. Her idea of living with less is going without alcohol in January and without buying shoes in February. I did not get any further. Her vapid, shallow ideas were not what I wanted to adopt, when, in fact, they disgust me. NF

Blank Confession by Pete Hautman ~ I’ve read Godless by the same author and RH mentioned that Pete was coming to speak at a conference she was attending, so I wanted to pick up another novel by this author. It was a little heavy-handed in the way that young adult novels can be: drugs are bad, people are bad and good, you be the change, etc., but it is a good message nonetheless. YA F

The Baby Business: How Money, Science and Politics Drive the Commerce of Conception by Deborah Spar ~ Wow. I know of many people that would not care to read this because it thoroughly discusses that those people who cannot have babies (in the sex + pregnancy = baby way) are left with only one other option: to purchase a baby. And being in my position, I agree. Whether you are considering adoption or ART (assisted reproductive technologies), you are buying a child or a chance for a child. This concept only gains momentum when you consider how much a couple pays to adopt a child ($15K-$50K) or the dollar amount needed to procure donor eggs ($3K-$50K), sperm ($200-$1K), or a surrogate ($20K-$100K). If anyone does read this book (and though it is a little dry, the information is unequaled and I do recommend it), I would ask that they keep an open mind and investigate different perspectives relating to this issue – especially if infertility is not an issue that affects you directly. NF

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures by Amanda Blake Soule ~ I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I thought I might, but for a different person, I can see how wonderful and transformative it could be. Good ideas and sufficient explanations. **AM really enjoys this author’s books, so like I stated, it’s just about your personal crafty goals, aesthetic and what you’re needing instructions for! NF

Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Sun by Kaffe Fassett ~ Beautiful quilts and photographs. I looked through the patterns and decided that they were all a little bit not my style. There are seemingly clear instructions on assembling each featured quilt in the last half of this book (complete with specific fabric notes). NF

The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld ~ A follow-up novel to Peeps (very much enjoyed and gifted sister B with this Christmas). This YA novel hops around the five perspectives of would-be band mates as the stealthy vampire apocalypse has arrived and their music has everything to do with it. Not as good as Peeps, but a delightful addition to the vampirism-as-a-disease genre. YA F

Mind-Rain: Your Favorite Authors on Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Series ~ Thought-provoking essays on all sort of undercurrent subjects running through the Uglies series. There are a few essays towards the end that really shine the light on “pretty” vs. average or “ugly” that are a reflection on our society. Definitely an awesome companion to the series – possibly to pull essays to discuss alongside the series in an English class? NF, as related to YA F

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley ~ On loan from my parents, this book showcases what actual millionaires buy, spend, and how they build their wealth. It's not what it seems. “Millionaire” is used loosely (a person with a net worth of at least $1 million), but most of the practices are spot on. Not sure I can truck through the remaining pages (I have the message – live within your means/frugally = big pay off someday), but I will attempt to! NF

Haven by Kristi Cook ~ A good young adult read that continues with the vampirism-as-a-disease theme. Throw in some other paranormal, a boarding school, and BAD vampires and it is a great read (for you, sister B!). YA F

Denise Schmidt Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects by Denise Schmidt ~ I’ll be honest – some of the quilt books are starting to run together. This book features 20 projects and 10 quilts in the back, and since I’m less of a project girl and more of a quilt girl (for now), my interest lies solely with the quilts. I loved an orange and white triangle pieced quilt, except for the part where I’ve sworn off anything remotely triangular (due to the disaster of the still unfinished quilt that needs to be finished and go home). Her quilts and projects are definitely modern and utilize wonderful colors, patterns, and quilting. NF

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo ~ Heart breaking with a happy ending – is that how Kate always rolls? The love of family, honesty, and helpful spirits collide with magic and one homesick elephant to create a better existence for everyone involved. F (Children’s?)

The Party Dress Book: How to Sew the Best Dress in the Room by Mary Adams ~ Adam’s had a shop in NYC where she designed and sewed beautiful party dresses. She oscillated between differing trends of the last three or four decades: pleats, ruffles, overlays, quilting, bright colors, etc. This books sets forth some of her influences and tricks and tips that she has used to achieve her quirky, yet feminine party dresses. NF

Twinkle Sews: 25 Handmade Fashions from the Runway to Your Wardrobe by Wenlan Chia ~ This designer published her first few books on knitting and switched over to fabric in time to develop Twinkle Sews, which is packed with classic garments that always have a twist, but can remain in one’s closet for years. Her ideas are spot on and this book pushes the designer in all of us to higher levels, tweaking Wenlan’s classic to make it our own. NF

Print Workshop: Hand-Printing Techniques + Truly Original Projects by Christine Schmidt ~ A book that is so chock-full of information about setting up a print workshop that it is almost overwhelming. Schmidt outlines all of the tools, how to use them, numerous projects and offers that you can take all of these techniques and use them wherever you’d like. Very cool book – considering a copy for reference for my own library. NF

City Quilts: 12 Dramatic Projects Inspired by Urban Views by Cheri House ~ The quilt and skyline on the cover made this a book I wanted to peruse, but while I enjoy the quilts inside, the skyline is something beautiful and not for me. While I’m not highly allergic to downtowns the way that C presumes to be, I still appreciate the countryside more; especially the farming squares as seen from a low flying airplane. House styles some awesome quilts – getting into quilting software and the different uses of sashing to create diversity within the same pattern. Also seems like she is mother to Lizzie House (google her fabric). NF

Schnibbles Times Two: Quilts from 5” or 10” Squares by Carrie Nelson ~ This book is great for a person who is making their first quilt! When you purchase charm packs, you have a selection (usually solids or a designer line) of pre-cut 5” or 10” squares and their uses are endless, while you’re time spent cutting is almost non-existent. These charm packs (and jelly rolls, but there are other books about jelly rolls) make designing a quilt somewhat easier and this book offers creative uses and designs. NF

Word Play Quilts: Easy Techniques from the Unruly Quilter by Tonya Ricucci ~ Word quilts are a whole other beast in the quilting world – figuring out which words, how to contrast, whether to piece and appliqué or piece or whatever other method you want to use. While my interest isn’t with word quilts (yet – I am considering one for my sister that states “My Sister Loves Me” or “My Sister Knows I’m Smart” in huge bright letters – just so she never, ever forgets those two facts, but I digress) at this moment, I am thrilled that there is a very well-written and detailed book out there for when I come around. NF

Quilts Made Modern: 10 Projects: Keys for Success with Color & Design, from the Funquilts Studio by Weeks Ringle ~ Full of great suggestions – from fabric to color to design. Also showcased the 10 projects in different color ways so that you could figure out what an alternate version looks like. Easy construction instructions and love the quilt on the cover. NF

Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson ~ I enjoyed a few key projects in this book, especially the stuffed elephant and the simple pillowcases. The author also displayed a beautiful quilt made from log cabin blocks. NF

Modern Log Cabin Quilting: 25 Simple Quilts and Patchwork Projects by Susan Beal ~ This book detailed many many ways that you can utilize the log cabin (simple) block to create stunning quilts. NF

Sewing Bits & Pieces: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps by Sandi Henderson ~ Full of great ideas to use up all those bits and pieces discarded from larger projects. There is one photograph that sticks with me - a fun tiered patchwork skirt over leggings (my winter outfit of choice) that have three rows of ruffles attached. Very sweet and cool. NF

Ape House by Sara Gruen ~ Began this one because of how much I loved Water for Elephants. Whenever you personify an animal, make them more human, you create a character (in this book six characters) that people can empathize with. Honestly, I was a bit angry at the book from the beginning for this set-up (think literary version of the new Planet of the Apes movie) and have only continued reading for the happy ending that I'm not sure will happen. F

Flight, Volume Three ~ About 1/3 into the book on July 31st, but still going to include it on July's list as it is an anthology of graphic stories. Sitting next to the bed, a little more will be read each evening. I am enjoying this one more than the second volume - probably just due to the stories and graphics appealing more to my specific aesthetic. GN F

As always, ask me any questions you have on these books or recommendations!

- Posted from my mobile phone

The Function of the Space

2011-07-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Mine first because it is inside and easy to photograph (with the phone). This is the room you will sleep in, should you have the honor of bunking with us. It is called the orange room, but the paint color is as close as my dad would let me get to creamsicle (my dad is a paint man, so I respect his opinion - and he painted most of the house!). It used to be called the library, but there have been some functional/crafty changes.

The spectacular desk/work station that C made me. Still needs to be painted (by me) and it has a metal base, wood top, and measures 7ft x 3ft x 3ft. It seriously rocks. I could start listing all the cool stuff on it and under it, but that would take forever!

Fabulous quilt rack made by the talented C for my birthday is UP! The bright green is totally growing on me and despite it's huge girth, this rack is such a space saver! Would like to point out the ironing board (for quilting only) and the stacks of fabric just inside the closet. We'll be working on feasible, yet visible fabric storage soon - any ideas?

Just had to show you because it is that cool - the roly-poly sculpture/thread hanger doing it's job on the wall. I'm beginning to see the colors I gravitate towards: bright oranges, pinks and yellows, anyone?

Poor Athena has been wearing this barely unfinished dress for almost a year! And she's in the corner. Not to mention I think I know what she did to get those beads. One of these days I'll hem the bottom of the dress and the sleeves and wear my first (decent) dress.

A block from the quilt. That. Just. Won't. Play. Nice. Thanks to AM and EB, it might be finished soon, but not without anguish on the creator's part.

Line up of Jeeps in the driveway. Ugly blue house with accompanying cars not included. Grey & yellow and black Jeep are ours, the second yellow Jeep is one C is working on for a friend. Soon to be joined by another friend's reddish Jeep. It's a rather full driveway.

The garage, or, the reason we bought this house. Deeper and wider than a traditional two-car. C's domain. More driveway fans in the foreground: military Dodge, work Tahoe, and the black Dodge.

Inside the lair. Lots of stuff being moved around to make space for the Jeeps C is working on.

Another angle of C's workspace. The Jeep doors on the wall crack me up because they're still muddy. Many cool tools and pieces of equipment in here.

Really, it's a relatively small house on a piece of land (in town), so I figure we're lucky to have the space and resources to pursue the hobbies we enjoy. Which, is what we're doing today.

- Posted from my mobile phone

My Birthday!

2011-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Presents were not a big deal this year - I just wanted to make sure that C knew I wanted a birthday card. He broke down and got me a very un-lovey card.

My parents were able to come up for a fabulous birthday dinner and they brought me the best present ever: my SISTER! It was such a nice evening to have my family together and we ate some tasty steaks Mom & Dad brought. Mom had to remind us all that we needed to remember that it was a weeknight, they had to get home, and we all had work or school the next day! Did I mention that Dad and B went to the grocery store and came home with Oreos, lactose free ice cream, rainbow sherbet, and waffle cones? Best low-key birthday ever! Thank you all!

As I said, presents weren't a big deal this year. Until I arrived home Monday evening and C was working on something in the garage for me. I wasn't allowed in. When he was done, he came to show me because he never can wait to give me things (have you heard the proposal story?).

It was this:

I bet most of you can't figure out what it is, so I'll explain. It's twofold really. I had mentioned to C that I would like him to make me a thread holder thing - something to hang on the wall to display and let me see all the different types of thread I have. I wanted it to have dowels or spikes that could hold two spools each and mentioned that metal medium was fine. So that explains the spikes - to hang spools of thread.

The second part is in regards to C's grandpa V. He used to weld metal creatures out of old coffee cans (I think) and C's mom and I know C to be very talented and creative as well, so we've encouraged him to try his hand at it. At the top of my thread rack is a sculpture of a roly poly. Painted with the same paint used on the candleholders C fabricated for our wedding.

So here's the sum: C made me something for my birthday. It is functional, artistic, and meaningful - I think it is the coolest thing ever. Absolutely love it.

But there was more. I arrived home Tuesday evening and C was working in the garage again and I wasn't allowed in. He told me the gift on Monday was just a distraction and now he was working on my real birthday gift.

On Wednesday evening I arrived home to find C and my parents & sister there, with this huge quilt rack on the dining room table. He painted it green because he knows how much I love green. The quilt I had been working on was displayed on it - so sweet!

This quilt rack is every bit of four feet across and will hang on the wall in the orange room.

C is so sweet and talented and his presents to me even showcase how supportive he is of my quilting! I'm lucky.

Been reading this quilt book.

And this quilt book. Maybe one of these quilts will hang on my quilt rack someday!

The W List: June Books 2011

2011-06-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

Modern Cabin: New Designs for an American Icon by Michelle Kodis ~ So, I'm fairly certain that while C and I like cabin elements, that a cabin is not the right abode for us. This book showcases traditional and modern cabin elements with beautiful photos, details, materials, and even floor plans. NF

Inconceivable: A Medical Mistake, the Baby We Couldn't Keep, and Our Choice to Deliver the Ultimate Gift by Carolyn and Sean Savage ~ Heart wrenching to read about the Ohio couple who faces the devastation of achieving a pregnancy through IVF, but with another couples' embryo. Follows their journey through something that shouldn't have happened in the first place and has heightened medical protocols so that it doesn't happen again. NF

Double Helix by Nancy Werlin ~ I had not intended to read two books about reproductive issues in one day (at least 500 pages for whoever is counting!), but this is a fiction novel by an author that I plan to read more from (loved and own Impossible). Surprising issues raised in an almost YA fictional read: genetics, reproductive freedom, ethics, human testing, genetic superiority, all sorts of things. YA F

Rooms for Living: 126 Home Plans with Fabulous Great Rooms, Kitchens, and Master Suites: Simple Design Tips for Creating a Comfortable Home ~ Not really the type of book I was looking for. Some of the floor plans had ideas we could utilize while more of the plans were grander than anything we will ever need from a home - think one story topping out at 2500 square feet. NF

Dawn & Adulthood Rites both by Octavia Butler ~ (Read because I love Fledgling) I enjoyed these books that dealt with an alien species mating with humans and all of the intricacies bound therein. Definitely science fiction - more so than I usually read, but crafted by a talented author. I think there is a third book titled Imago. F

Cabins: The New Style by James Grayson Trulove ~ Love this book because it showcases some beautiful homes, but also details each cabin enough that you can figure out the parts you might want to recreate. NF

The New Wood House by James Grayson Trulove ~ Okay, I finally like this guy. Another fabulously photographed book from my friend James. I might be requesting a few of these for Christmas. NF

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin ~ This was a creepy read, not unlike Impossible, but the weakness and then the strength exhibited by the main character wasn't compelling enough for me. She still just seemed like a weak person. YA F

Trickster's Choice & Trickster's Queen both by Tamora Pierce ~ Highly recommend to YA readers. Has a wonderful young female protagonist who is strong and constantly weighing wrong and right, as well as protecting that which she sees fit. Other characters are deep and telling. Bits of magic, but more brute. YA F

Anyone But You by Jennifer Cruise ~ Light trashy reading. The Bassett hound/Beagle mix, Fred, steals the show! F

Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Cruise ~ More shallow reading, was going to quit partway in, but then someone died and it turned a little mysterious. F

Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard ~ I read this because I truly enjoyed the Mouse Guard books (graphic novels). This was more of an anthology of stories from different authors and artists. It was okay, but I prefer the regular Mouse Guard that's about specific mice and how they protect their community. F GN

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner ~ I really enjoyed two other books by her, Good in Bed and Certain Girls, but this novel was lacking. While definitely in the chicklit genre, there was very little in this novel for thinking chicks. F

Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds by Amy Bryant Aiello ~ Very cool book; awesome ideas, pictures, and explanations. Perhaps I'm not a terrarium type of girl, however, if you are a terrarium type of person: check this out! NF

200 Quilting Tips, Techniques & Trade Secrets by Susan Briscoe ~ Interesting and informative quilting book, covers both the basics and some little known (to me) tricks. Not perfect, but good for it's purposes. NF

Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics' Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams by Jennifer Sey ~ I'm thinking that if all elite gymnasts are like Jennifer, that they torture themselves with their own dreams. Very interesting read of what it takes to make a high caliber gymnast. NF

The Burn Journal by Brent Runyon ~ I realized too late that I've already read this one, so I flipped through it, but did not read it again. It's written by a boy who doused his bathrobe in gasoline, stood in the shower and struck a match. He lived and his story is incredibly telling. NF

Dare to Be Square Quilting: Block-by-Block Guide to Making Patchwork and Quilts by Boo Davis ~ this was an easy to read and understand guide to quilting. What makes it special is the way Davis both simplifies and makes grand the art and style of quilting. I'm seriously considering adding this book to my library! NF

The Practical Guide to Patchwork: New Basics for the Modern Quiltmaker by Elizabeth Hartman ~ I really enjoy this woman's quilting blog online, so I wanted to get my hands on her book. It covers a lot of great techniques and ideas and I think that I may need to read through it again to get the full effect! Really well put together! NF

Small Stash Sewing: 24 Projects Using Designer Fat Quarters by Melissa Averinos ~ I like to flip through these books to get ideas, but smaller projects usually underwhelm me. Surprisingly, there was a belt and neck warmer that both called out to me, so maybe some of you will get those for Christmas. But I didn't say that! NF

Arms Wide Open: A Midwife's Journey by Patricia Hartman ~ I've also read Blue Cotton Gown by Hartman and both books have their strengths. I enjoyed what AWO explained more than anything: women having babies outside of hospitals, community living, living off the land, and sentiments of those against the war in Vietnam. It was almost more of a perspective of what life was like for these people at this time; very eye opening. NF

I have also currently started:
Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews (probably won't finish, since I'm already fed up with the main character - will try again another time)
Flight, Volume Two - graphic novel
Haven: Cozy Hideaways and Dream Retreats by Allison Serrell
Must Have Been Something I Ate by Peggy (Greek last name, don't have it with me)
Will and Abe's Guide to the Universe by Matt Groen-something
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

I'll be sure to let you know how these are at the end of July. Which brings my total of actually read books in June to 22. Wow. Twenty-two books. I am a nerd.

- Posted from my mobile phone

The VPW Rally / IA / June 2011

2011-06-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

*Working on getting the videos up - right now they're just stills! ar 6/26/11

We spent June 8-11 in Fairfield, IA at the 24th Annual VPW (Vintage Power Wagon) Rally. This is really more of C's thing, but he likes me to tag along and it's nice to see him so excited about it all. Since the rally we attended in 2009, C has been keeping in touch with all of the PW guys through an online forum and they were really excited that we'd be able to make it this year (C also told me that they all appreciated the family pictures that Kami of OrangePeel Photography took last year that included the old Dodge).

I've included some videos below that really show you what the rally is all about. Keep scrolling down for more posts after this one for some big project news and other assorted details and stories from this year's rally!

Below: C is the first one down the hill and watch the others' slide - see if you can even see tires turning! Also, check out some of the changes C made to his truck!

Below: I wasn't with C for this outing, but this corner with the deep muddy ruts looks like a lot of fun!

Below: Just a trail ride. I hopped out of our truck to ride in the back of another so I could get a good shot of C going through. Those are our new friends, E&W, and their dog, Ox.

Below: This is a long video (>5 minutes) of the parade that we were in of all the Dodge Power Wagons through the town and square of Fairfield,IA on Saturday morning. The town seems really happy to have all of us there for the extended weekend.

Keep reading about our trip below!

Parade Favorites

2011-06-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

Just a few Power Wagons for you all.

We quite liked the following one. He went on a trail ride with us and just seemed to push all of the mud away from himself. Kind of reminded me of To'Mater from Cars.

C has an ambulance front end at home, but it is the earlier, more rounded style. This is pretty cool though - we definitely looked at some of these bodies at VPW.

The cream & green truck next to the ambulance won Best in Show. It was a very nice looking truck - don't ask how much he's got in it or could sell it for.

A Town Wagon. Lovely. Very cool. Why do I think so? Stay tuned for more information about Jill's PPE and our recent acquisition.

This is a good example of the iconic Power Wagon. Very nice.

Kerr Farms Mudding

2011-06-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

C made some friends at the VPW Rally this year. He found the guys that live to mud, and since C really enjoys some good mudding, they invited him out to Kerr Farms to join them in a run. [I stayed at the campsites and read a book. I thought C might have more fun with just the guys.]

C did some upgrades and modifications before we left for IA, including, but not limited to: roll cage the length of the truck, canvas top (cut & stapled to fit), and a temporarily bolted in backseat borrowed from a Jeep. I think he did other stuff with carburetors and brakes, but I don't pay attention to that stuff.

Now, the guys weren't sure C could hang in his Dodge because it isn't built to be a mudding vehicle (that's what we have the CJ-7 Jeep for), but he held his own (as you will see if I can load some of the video footage he shot).

The mud crew. I think those other two are M-37s, and I'm sure C will correct me if I'm wrong.

I just want to point out how this truck was built for the mud. Note the tires. Which probably have disk brakes instead of drum brakes (like C's Dodge and yes, important in the mud). And the clearance height. And ask him what type of motor he's got in there.

I know that C had a blast hanging out on the muddier trails with these guys.

I Drove This

2011-06-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

This part means a lot to C. He goes to the rally in IA to see all the Dodge Power Wagons, talk shop with the guys, mud a little, but another big component is getting advice on some of the quirks of these vehicles (you'll hear talk of the conversion of drum brakes to disc brakes all over the fairgrounds). So when C can catch up and engage guys that have been rebuilding these trucks, there are some awesome moments - feedback, advice, tricks, brainstorming. It's a very cool process.

This truck belongs to Bob. Bob builds Power Wagons for fun, and as far as I know HE BUILDS THEM - it's an important caveat, because that's opposed to paying someone to rebuild a motor and then paying another guy to do some body work. Guys that build their trucks are more useful to C because of their intimate knowledge of how these builds go.

C found Bob. They started talking, throwing around ideas, spoke of how Bob rebuilt this beauty and how C rebuilt his. Then Bob asks, "Want to go for a ride?" And C replied, "Sure."
C came back and told me that Bob let him drive it.
Oh, dear.

This is the front of Jill's Purple People Eater. It's a Town Wagon and so very cool. I can't believe that we didn't get a better picture of it, but we love it. Not just because we're KSU fans! Jill was nice enough to give us a ride to dinner on Saturday evening and afterwards we were itching to get on the road (I missed our dogs desperately, so we came home a little early), so Jill's husband, Jon, threw us the keys. I think C about choked. So we drove the PPE back to the campsite (all of a few blocks) and C said it was very similar to driving an old five ton grain truck.

PPE in the background. Keep reading in the following post to catch the another reason that it was so cool to drive the PPE.

Our New Project: The Carryall

2011-06-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

The guys warned C not to go to VPW (located in Fairfield, IA, sponsor of the rally). He just needed some seals for something and we walked all over their acres of Power Wagon stuff, through their warehouses of parts and spoke to all of their guys LAST time we were here. But by Saturday afternoon, C just wanted to swing by and grab those seals. So we took a few guys with us and drove over. Mistake #1 was heading to VPW. Mistake #2 was bringing enablers.

Mike (oh, you thought I wasn't going to name you?) was looking at some windshield frames and we were wandering the lot(s). C was looking at some boxy ambulance bodies that I was not a big fan of, but not seriously. We visited the yellow crew cab/utility bed truck that I love. And then C started digging around some Carryall bodies. I didn't think twice because he does that. Mike decides to get some price quotes on the windshields and grabs a VPW guy (very nice - his name is Matt). Then the boys start talking about what C could do with a Carryall body. Okay, not good, but talk like this still doesn't mean much. Except, Mike asks how much they might want for this Carryall body. You know, for C.

Yes, it's sitting between two other Carryall bodies. The VPW guy doesn't really know - could be anything from hundreds to thousands depending on quite a few factors, so he grabs the boss so he can look at it and give us a price. You all that know me know that I said no way to thousands of dollars, right? But we wait awhile and during that wait, C gets a little more serious.

See, he bought this 1940s Dodge PW ambulance front end (back of the cab forward) a few months ago. His idea was to pick up a 1990s diesel Dodge and make a cool crew cab frankentruck out of it. It'd be a lot of fabrication and body work, but it'd turn into a really cool and usable vehicle for us (modern drive train, diesel motor, modern frame, modern brakes, etc., but classic style). But if he bought a Carryall body, it'd cut out A TON of that work because he'd have more to work with. Not to mention, we love the Carryalls/Town Wagons/Panel Wagons. Just look at the light blue one in the parade post and Jill's Purple People Eater. So we wait.

Inside view. VPW has their eye on window mechanisms because they are rare. Most of the body is there and in pretty good shape. There is no floor because it was something akin to a piece of plywood even when the truck was made - much like the roof cut-out where there used to be canvas - just saying that it's not missing any metal body in those areas.

The boss came back out and made C an offer of hundreds, not thousands. I said yes, we'll take it, and go put some money down. Yes, that might have been foolhardy on my part, but it makes C so very happy and he really wants to make us this truck that we can use. Oh, and it will be massively cool - that part I'm totally on board with. It will be a lot of work - in fact, all C's PW pals said they didn't want to see this truck back for three to five years - so C would take his time and do a good job on this. So we bought a Carryall body. To graft with an ambulance front end. And place on a modern Dodge truck frame. Officially, this will not be called a frankentruck (my word) - it will be called a resto-mod (a restoration modification), but I will just refer to it as the Carryall. I get to choose the paint colors. Should be a fun ride.

If you look really close, you can see SOLD to C. R. above the door and first window. After I okayed the purchase, the VPW guys gave me a paint pen to mark the Carryall. And I did. We'll be back before the first snow to bring it home. What I didn't realize was that everyone at the rally was going to pile through VPW in the few hours before supper and see my artwork - and congratulate C. Or pity him. Or pity me. I'm not sure. :-)

Baby Quilt No. Four (In Progress)

2011-06-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is going to be cool {insert squeal of glee}! Very excited for the little boy that gets this one! He's such a sweet baby and a blessing to his parents.

Sneak peak of the progress:

I can't even wait for this one to come together! Considering hand quilting the whole thing, but scared of time commitment, my ability, and the durability of the completed quilt. We'll see. I'm sure he'll love it all the same. I already love him!

*Posted from my mobile phone

The W List: May Books 2011

2011-05-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

When I was ten years old, I had a wonderful teacher named Mr. Wolters. My family knew his family from church and he mentioned at a parent-teacher conference that he had shared with his wife that I was a voracious reader, which led her to continually ask what I was reading. Mr. Wolters told my parents that he would walk past my desk to see what book I had on the edge so he could report back to his wife. I remember how flattered I was upon hearing this: that my teacher noticed me and placed value in my taste in books. Even today, I hold this memory dear.

I haven’t read much early this year and about a month ago I discovered our library had made their website much more user-friendly, so I've gotten back into the hang of requesting books that I would like to read. The following is a list of what I have read in May with a brief mention of what I thought of each book or what it is about. This list is especially for those of you who ask what I am currently reading. You know who you are.

Birth Day: A Pediatrician Explores the Science, the History, and the Wonder of Childbirth by Mark Sloan ~ Interesting coverage of the history of childbirth. This pediatrician walks the fine line between the arguments surrounding the c-section rate, circumcision, and midwives. Good read. NF

Found Style: Vintage Ideas for Modern Living by David Butler ~ Too many glass bottles for my taste, but this book did feature an old International Scout. Both the Scout and some of the cool “found” flair made me think of the E family, AM specifically. NF

Great Houses on a Budget by James Grayson Trulove ~ Lovely pictures, but Trulove’s idea of a “budget” is quite different from ours. This book had some excellent ideas that we can take away. NF

Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby by Anna Maria Horner ~ If you look up this book, the cover has a hexagonal quilt in the background of the cover photo and I totally want to make that quilt. Beautiful book and good instructions for making this quilt I’ve been thinking of for months. NF

Tiny House by Mimi Zeiger ~ A small book with a large impact makes you think about the space you really need to live and how close you want to be to nature and what exactly constitutes a building material. Great book to flip through and marvel at. NF

Atlas of the Unknown by Tania James ~ From L, C’s mom, who actually received it from C’s aunt C. Interesting storyline: essentially about sisters and family, secrets and what one has to do to get through. Ended short. F

The Commitment: Love, Sex, Marriage and My Family by Dan Savage ~ All about trying to figure out the marriage thing in the midst of America coming down on gay marriage/civil unions. The story of Dan and Terry trying to figure out if they should be married and what it means to them. Loved it – also own and love The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant: An Adoption Story by Dan Savage. NF

Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene Pepperberg ~ Not perfectly written, but I appreciated the sentiment of this book. Irene has been working with African Greys for decades to see if there is an intelligence beyond their vocalizations. She made amazing progress with Alex and the comprehension his "bird brain" displayed. Great information. NF

Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born by Tina Cassidy ~ Good read that I definitely recommend to anyone curious, pregnant, or you know, wanting to propagate. Some similar information to Birth Day (at the top of this list). NF

Midwest Modern: A Fresh Design Spirit for the Modern Lifestyle by Amy Butler ~ David Butler's (from above) wife. She designs beautiful bright colorful fabric and clothing/items. Again, their taste and aesthetic aren't quite mine, but I appreciate her ideas and thoughts as a talented style-maker. NF

Blankets by Craig Thompson ~ a graphic novel that follows Craig's life: childhood, drawing, church, camp, one special girl, tough decisions, etc. Very cool format and subject matter. I've definitely witnessed similar battles within self that the author/artist draws. NF? Memoir?

Porches and Other Outdoor Spaces by James Grayson Trulove ~ Again, not exactly C and my style, but there were a handful of porches we enjoyed looking at. This book definitely showcases the diversity of porches. NF

Fire by Kristin Cashore ~ Awesome YA literature, a borrowed Christmas present from me to sister B. Also loved (and own) Graceling, by the same author: lots of strong female characters and good endings - I still appreciate those. A little bit of monsters, magic and men, and lots of fighting, while still having a positive message to present. YA F

I finished Fire an hour short of midnight on May 31st, so it counts! I'm hoping to keep us with a monthly list to keep all of you in the know and to have a handy list for myself! It'll be fun to tally the total next May - 13 books this month is a great start. Let me know if you have questions about any of the books I read: as a (hopeful!) future librarian, I would love to answer them!

*Posted from my mobile phone

Thank You for C

2011-05-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

I very very much love this boy.

He is so special. And you know what? More than anything, his mom and dad deserve a thank you today. Thank you for having C and loving and cherishing him, instructing and guiding him, instilling him with morals and values, and for teaching him what it means to be a man, both in strength and weakness.

I highly value his heart, which began with you two. Thank you G & L for this man I so love.

Happy birthday, C.

*Posted from my mobile phone

Saturday

2011-04-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is what we've been talking about all week. Any guesses? D brother?

And how I spend my Friday nights:

Playing with the dogs, yes, but please tell me you noticed Bella's creative haircut! She is fully shaved now, but sported a fauxhawk like her mom did for just a little while.

*Posted from my mobile phone

LittleC's Quilt

2011-04-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

My C and I returned on Sunday from a fantastic weekend with our friends N&A. They moved back to the heartland at the beginning of the year, so we were able to see their new house and definitely follow up with their son, LittleC. He's crawling all over that house and he is such a smiley baby!

I had promised A a baby quilt at her baby shower (approximately a year ago!) and made the last push to finish LittleC's quilt this weekend. [In the meantime, my dear friend M had her baby C about eleven weeks early and one quilt trumped the other.] Apologies for the following cell phone pictures.

I was definitely not done hand stitching the orange binding to the back of the quilt in these first few pictures!

I designed the bar-graph-looking top just for LittleC and quite like how it turned out.

Pretty typical back for a modern quilt.

Close-up of the back of the quilt.

I do not have a sewing machine that actually "quilts" (or a walking foot, for that matter), so I just quilted in straight, easy lines. They are definitely not perfect, but they are getting better and I know the babies won't notice any time soon.

See, it's going to look great wrapped around LittleC!

The front porch of N&A's new house! And slightly better light.

LittleC's daddy, N, holding up his son's quilt.

And the back, again. I really loved this quilt - the lines, the bright colors. But, I've loved each one I've made and I know that the babies will love them and that their parents appreciate them. The next one is already super complicated, so we'll see how it goes!

The Three Bs

2011-04-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

These photographs (all taken by the lovely and talented KV of OrangePeelPhotography last October) will not post in the order of my choosing. I completely forgot that I never showed y'all some of the great shots K took of my family!

While we were attempting to get some great shots of C and I with the old military Dodge in the setting sun, the dogs were waiting patiently in the truck. Boris and Bailey.

Boris loves the ride of an open truck with the sun on his face. He's a happy dog.

Bailey and Bella eager to go wherever it is that we are going! Loadin' up!

Pre-parenting the three Bs: look at the camera, be good, smile big, don't be in a bad mood . . .

Oh, how I love my big girl, Bella. She has my heart.

Bella smiling. Such a beautiful girl.

Bailey's half smile.

Not sure if Boris is smiling, but he sure is attentive!

I'm sure C is trying to get Boris NOT to lick him in the mouth. No worries, that comes later in the session. I'll try and post more of these as I remember - K took so many thoughtful photos that truly capture what our life is about right now.

While these three dogs are our family, we recently lost two dogs that lived with C's parents out at the farm. Read the post below. We've been holding our dogs tighter and enduring more kisses in the wake of their loss.

They are Deeply Missed

2011-04-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you know C at all, you have heard stories about Bubba and Loki. Bubba is a black lab, rottweiler, basset hound mix that C got as a puppy when he was in high school. Loki was one of a litter of nine or ten (depends who is telling the story) that Radar had and she was C's brother J's good pal (Radar was a dirty white Corgi-looking dog that apparently had an affair with a blue heeler, as Loki looks pure blue heeler).

In the last month and a half, we've lost both of these dear members of the family. C has lots of stories to share about both dogs, as do his parents, brothers, and aunt & uncles. I can really only share mine, but I'll ask you all to talk to the R family about these dogs because they were family.

This is Bubba. He was the sweetest dog I've met. He's also one of the funniest looking. Upon seeing Bubba for the first time, my dad said he thought he was looking at a black lab (Bubba was laying in the back of a truck), but when the dog stood on his basset hound legs, the lack of height was startling. Everyone loved Bubba, and as C found out in high school and college (so I hear), Bubba especially loved the ladies and they loved him.

No funny camera work, Bubba was short. He made an excellent pillow for me multiple times. And he just made you feel good about yourself; he was a happy dog, content to sit at your feet and wag his tail. He always seemed happy that you were there.

This is Loki. She is the reason we have Boris, our own blue heeler. That, and there was no finding another Bubba. She was alpha female and pack leader. C has always told me that Loki used to growl at other girls he would hang out with at the house and he found it surprising that she never growled at me. He says that because she and Bubba responded to me so well, he paid closer attention to keeping me around. I guess that means that I can thank Bubba, Loki, and Radar for my husband.

I love these dogs. They represent home to me just as much as C's parents and his home do. I miss them so much. They lived fantastic lives and were adventurous and spoiled and rough and soft and loving and vicious (okay, I never saw Bubba be vicious) and so very loved. That's about all I can say about them without crying. I am glad that one doesn't have to be without the other for Bubba and Loki were dear friends.

Love.

Randolph ORV Park

2011-03-31T10:22:00.001-07:00

Fun times at Randolph ORV Park! We went out with friends D&N, their kids Au&Ad, and new friend R. Thankfully, we found some mud, some steep climbs, and of course, a reason to get the winch out!

Fun mud! Soon after this puddle, Au and Ad wanted to ride in the "fun" Jeep that went through really deep mud holes. Their dad's Jeep just wasn't cool enough. But it did have all of the food!

So, C drove into this puddle. Slowly. And buried the front of the Jeep about up to the doors (which is saying something as it is a climb to get into the Jeep AND it's 2-3 inches higher until the new springs settle). Au was in the backseat and I was watching muddy water slop against my door.

C had to crawl out the door, onto the hood and then the bumper (custom made Fat Kid Bumper - now taking orders!) to grab the hook on the spool to toss to R on the opposite shore. Yes, we all expected C to slip off the muddy hood into the abyss in very comic fashion, but he disappointed us.

C waiting for R to attach the hook to the red Jeep (yes, we hang with far too many red Jeeps - if you'd like to hang with us, we're only taking applications for purple, black, bright green, and orange Jeep owners). It all worked out, but we did have an audience and a bunch of people laughing. Fun times.

Priceless. We were in the lead and came back to find this. R is kinda young and impetuous (from what I know) and he said that he saw the mud puddle (and the tree growing out of it) and thought to himself "What would C do?" Oh, yeah - get buried! Or, not attempt the too deep mud hole at all.

No worries, Au pulled him out in a wonderful exhibition of girl power.

We stopped at Vista for the high class appetizer of corndogs on the way back to C's folks' house. Where we had an awesome dinner, crawled over a wannabe beaver dam, and poked the skin off of a dead, water logged possum (okay, that last one was Au and Ad). Played with some kittens, shot some guns, and Boris did not eat anyone.

That's what I call a successful weekend.

*Posted from my mobile phone

Boris's Fight

2011-01-23T14:55:00.001-08:00

So, Boris when with C over to a friend's house. This friend has a huge chow/golden retriever looking dog named Ranger. Ranger has a new friend - a black and white little female pit bull puppy. Boris is friendly. Ranger is friendly. The puppy has always been friendly. Boris and Ranger have met before and played together, but, when you throw a girl in the mix . . . there's bound to be trouble. Boris LOVES playing with anybody and began playing with the puppy. Ranger didn't care for this and tried to bite Boris's head off. [Let's all be thankful for one moment that I wasn't there to scream and cry when this all happened]. It's an animal/boy thing for sure, so no one is upset about it.

Boris wants to know why I'm bugging him when he really wants to be in the back room with C and Bailey and Bella.

Well, I just wanted a picture of his wound. He's got these nice gouges and some scratches to the back of his neck. This picture was taken after C shaved the area, treated it with iodine, and put some antibiotic ointment on it (C's a great medic in a pinch!).

Poor Boris thought he'd done something wrong and he definitely didn't, so he's been getting lots of love and peanut butter and gravy on his food. Poor baby.

C's Quilt

2011-01-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

Little C is an amazing tiny girl. I met her when my dear friend M came to visit her family in early January. I was lucky enough to spend half a day with M & C (husband S was back home in Maryland), M's parents, grandparents, and aunt & uncle. My C was able to join us for dinner in Lawrence (M's grandma made the best cheesy potato casserole I've ever had!).

C is a little over six months actual age and almost four months adjusted age. Did you catch that? Little C was born to her parents eleven weeks early at 29 weeks gestation. So, M & S were expecting a baby in early September, and C was born one day before their fifth wedding anniversary in late June. It was a shock to say the least. Little C was born healthy and spent eight weeks in the NICU putting on weight and learning how to regulate her temperature. She is a darling fighter and I am so glad this segment of the story has a happy ending.

As M is one of my dearest (& oldest) friends, I knew I wanted to make something for Little C. Since she was so early and unexpected in June, I began to work on an "unexpected" and crazily-put-together baby quilt. This quilt was made with all the remainders and scraps I could find in my stash with pink/orange/blush coloring.

Crumpled in the sun on the front porch. This quilt came with orders TO BE USED.

Some of the aqua backing and quilt lines - still in the sun.

Shot of the back. I had the best laid plans for a completely aqua back with aqua binding, but of course, did not purchase enough aqua fabric. I do love the hodge-podge look though. My second issue was underestimating the amount of time it would take me to handstitch the binding to the back of the quilt. It looks so polished and finished, but handstitching alone took at least eight hours.

The front in all of it's strip quilting glory. I LOVE the colors and expect any little girl will love them as well. So many of these fabrics are tied to another quilt, clothing, or project I (or AM) have made, and I can only hope that Little C will love this quilt as much as I do!

THE Grille Guard/Bumper Combo

2010-12-17T19:05:00.000-08:00

Like I noted, C has been working on stuff too. In the garage, like always. His truck needed a new bumper and grille guard, so he picked up his welder and some left over steel pipe laying around and created, yet another, deer killer. This frontal piece is not something I would mess with. In fact, I think the name brand version of the thing my husband just made (yes, that was pride you detected in my tone) retails for over $1500. So, who wants a new bumper and grille guard?

In profile:

The front shot:

Wow. I am always impressed by what C can create in his medium.
I can understand that we each just work in ENTIRELY different mediums, but that we both create in our own way.

Still at the Quilt Thing

2010-12-17T11:29:00.001-08:00

Assembled top of little C's quilt:

I need to figure out the backing (a lovely shade of aqua), quilt the quilt, and figure out how to really bind a quilt (especially those pesky corners). The due date on this one is January 4th.

Fabric chosen for the next quilt:

This is for a recently born little boy. His daddy loves bright colors - especially orange, so I think it will be a hit. I already have the pattern for the top in my head, so I'm hoping assembly goes smoothly. Tentative due date on this, my first baby boy quilt, is December 23rd.

I have the fabric for one more baby boy quilt that is super overdue. I finally sketched out a design for the top that I like, so on to cutting and assembly. I would love to have this one done by New Year's Eve, but these are all A LOT of work for me. We'll see.

Part of the joy I get out of making these quilts is the joy and wonderment and gratitude I see on the parents' faces. I enjoy the colors of the fabrics and the designs I create for the tops. The assembly and quilting processes are labors of love, as the sewing itself is not my favorite part. That could be why I'm averaging one quilt per year - it takes me a long while to convince myself the entire process is worth it again. Which means, if you don't get a baby quilt from me, please don't be offended. I'm still not sure that quilting is my niche, we've had an abundance of babies born in the last eighteen months, and sometimes, I just hate to look at my sewing machine (over 30 years old, something is wrong with it, and to properly complete these quilts, I need a much more advanced/expensive machine). Excuses, I know. But I appreciate all of the compliments and encouragement on what I have managed to get done! Hope you all keep following along!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Will it be Here in Time for Christmas?

2010-12-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

AnneR,

Your order for 1 Test Tube Baby on 12/06/2010 has been recently shipped via SMARTPOST.

Your tracking number is: 0000

Your tracking number may not show in the online tracking system for a couple of days, so don't panic.

Your order may contain multiple packages that arrive on different days. If you don't receive your entire order at the same time, please wait a couple of days after you receive your first package before contacting us at X.

For future reference, your order number is: 0000.

[This was the email in my inbox about a week and a half ago. C thought it was so funny that I should "post it to your blog where people know about us." I'm sure he wanted you all to see the humor as well. He especially couldn't contain his laughter regarding "Your order may contain multiple packages." This email actually refers to a tee shirt I couldn't resist ordering from Woot.com called Test Tube Baby. Go figure.]

- Posted from my mobile phone

Family Photos/Christmas Card Non-Contenders

2010-12-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

We are spending the weekend with C's parents. Sort of. I'm spending the weekend with C's parents and he's sleeping here when he is not hunting deer. And my parents are headed over in a bit for dinner. So really, we're one big happy family. Minus the percievably dead deer.

Which means now is the perfect moment to post SOME pictures that Kami @ OrangePeel Photography took of my cute little family.

These are the ones that C wants on our Christmas cards. These are the ones that will not be on our Christmas cards:

Boris strikes again. During a photo session, nonetheless.
Which, of course, cracks C up to no end.

Pinks & Oranges: Quilt No. 2

2010-11-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm elbows deep in my second quilt. The first was completed over a year ago and presented to a very deserving pint sized blond who is extremely dear to C and I. As are her parents and brother. Anyway, quilt no. 2 utilizes some of the same fabrics and the same colorway, but is a completely different beast. As in, I should have used interfacing (whatever that is) and I finally watched all sixteen tutorials on binding a quilt (and while I still don't "get" it, I have a better idea what I'm aiming for). And this one is for the darling baby C, born in June, expected in September, and able to meet one of her mommy's oldest friend this January (with quilt in hand - jopefully). So I have to get moving.

I am here.

Which means that I have the strips sewn and just need to arrange them (so that none of the same patterns touch - thanks OCD) and sew them up. I found some great aqua backing to compliment the pinks and blushes. I'll put up a picture when it is complete.

Now, C has pulled the motor out of the yellow Jeep, sold it, and put in a 350 in. It is almost drivable and C is looking forward to busting snowdrifts this winter. I used to be worried about the draftiness of Jeeps in the winter, but I'm not so worried about this one: the floorboards were warm enough this summer to almost melt flip-flops. We'll be toasty, I'm sure. If I get a moment, I'll take a picture of C's new silver motor (thanks, R!).

- Posted from my mobile phone

The Loving Part

2010-11-04T14:05:00.001-07:00

The loving part of this blog includes where our hearts and minds have been for the last two weeks. With AJ and his parents.

Our good friends LL and boss J found out two weeks ago that little AJ needed to be coaxed into the world early due to a few complications. So on October 25, 2010 around 6pm, AJ was born. C and I were delighted to be among the first to meet him, along with his doting grandparents and older sister and brother. His weight and length were awesome, especially considering his early arrival. LL and J did great.

A quick photo of grandpa holding AJ.

Soon after I left the hospital, there were concerns about AJ's breathing and he was whisked off to the nursery and then the NICU, where they could help him a little more. His parents returned home Wednesday as AJ made fantastic progress in the NICU, until he was discharged Tuesday evening. Everyone is doing fantastically and they are quite content and settling in at home now.

We were able to visit AJ, his mom, dad, and grandma last night and it is wonderful to see how well everyone adapts to new life. We can't wait to see more of all of them!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Runnin' Around

2010-10-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

Oh, we've been busy. Notice that you have yet to see any pictures from our Jeep trip to CO in September. C's been working a ton since surveying does the bulk of the business in the summer. I've been working a lot too: I've taught two back-to-back mass communications courses over the last nine weeks in addition to my 9-6 job. Many things are also occurring in the subtitles of our lives.

But sometimes you take a break. We both came down with a killer cold this past week. Feeling better and bought C some new boots yesterday. And today, today we toured in the old Dodge WC. No pictures of any of that. Just some of the dogs enjoying C's friend J's awesome property. I know, we have a lot of J friends. This one builds old Dodges, like C does.

So, three dogs in a field, smiling Boris, playing in the water, Bailey checking on Bella, Boris springing on Bella, and the three mid wrestling. They have a ball out at J's house.

In other news, we had family pictures taken by KamiV over at Orange Peel Photography tonight. Weather and light cooperated, dogs were typically funny, and I'm looking forward to some photos that feature the old Dodge that C built. I'm so proud of what he can do and I think some of his pride comes through in the photos. At any rate, I know our moms will be thrilled with family photos. Can I mention the love we have for K? She is fantastic. Friend and photographer.

- Posted from my mobile phone

Almost Done

2010-10-01T09:08:00.001-07:00

Almost done is the way some things in our house stay for awhile. But this project is at the functional stage, waiting on me for the final touches.

The masterful C working on the desktop.

C remembered that I might need a shelf for my printer - so smart, that man!

Essentially, installed. Can you tell that it is seven feet long? Three feet high? It is so awesome - just needs painting!

Dad sent some paint with Mom last weekend. Oil based semi-gloss for the curious. I threatened to go to H.ome Depot for paint and instead, I get to use some fabulous P.orter Paint. In this picture, it just looks cluttered again, but there is a method AND I have to clear it all off again to paint it anyway. Potential problem: this workspace is the perfect height for leaning over to work on a task, but not for your average office chair. C came home with TWO drafting chairs from work! I was dreading spending the money on specialty chairs!

As of right now, I have a dining room table again and I almost have the guest bed cleared off. I need to find time to paint the top, hang some pictures, and organize a little more, and I am done! C did such a great job!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Whatever Shall He Build for Me?

2010-09-20T10:02:00.001-07:00

So, I have an incredibly talented builder in C. He proves his worth over and over again (not that he has to, after all, he's cute and I hear good looks last forever).

Anyway, I am crafty, which is way different than building, but we don't have the time for that dissection. C builds in his garage - which may or may not be more square feet of space than our house. He also has the back room to hang out in with the washer, dryer, and all of his clothes. I have the Orange room, also known as the library and the guest bedroom. It looks like this right now:

And I have more stuff strung out across the dining room table:

Oh dear, I probably look like a mess! And obviously I need a dedicated, multipurpose, organized area. The beautiful desk my parents bought for me isn't cutting it anymore. So I had a bright idea - move my desk to C's hang out room (he's got an actual PC with a monitor and tower, which is what my desk is built for) and build a huge workspace in the orange room. It is seven feet by two and a half by three feet. Huge. For sewing, stamping, quilting, grading papers, fooling around on the Internet, wrapping presents, etc. If necessary, someone could probably sleep on it. I wouldn't make anyone sleep on it, I'm just saying.

As usual, I remain unable to formulate or actually communicate what my ideas for the giant workspace are. It's a female-male thing, I think. C has his own ideas and a much better understanding of the limitations of material things, i. e. wood, metal, glass, so we go back and forth a bit. My ideas are within the realm of imagination, but not lathe and plaster reality. I also have no concept of the difference between master craftsmanship and thousands of dollars of specialty materials and tools and what C can do for me in our garage with stuff from Home Depot. Once we had all that sorted out and I threw up my hands for the eighth time and muttered whatever, C had free reign to do whatever he needed to in order to build an awesome, uh, functional workspace. After all of my grand ideas were tossed around, I decided that I'm okay with anything as long as it has a smooth, somewhat level work surface (top). So, I'm thinking that is what I'll get. Here's a sneak peek:

Silly readers, C is making it - you didn't really think he wouldn't get his welder out, did you?

- Posted from my mobile phone

Bumblebee

2010-09-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

She is beautiful. I'm blown away by what C built her from. He is so talented! The man can troubleshoot almost anything. This Jeep began as a rusty tub and a front clip. Now, she's trailworthy, roadworthy, and definitely mudworthy - just how we like our Jeeps!

It would take me too long to list the customizations and fabrications that C has done to her. But do notice the F-K-B painted on the front of the hard top above the windshield. Fat Kid Bumpers lives on. Also, the "Anti-Jeff" device on the back - there's a whole story of damage wrapped up in that one. The tire carrier/gasoline can holder is all the ingenious bossJ and C, but all Jeeps are running with them these days.

Sorry, you'll have to wait a little longer for CO pictures and stories - I've got to get back to grading assignments!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Another Trip Home

2010-08-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know which weekend out at C's parents this is, but it was a fruitful visit. Either this visit or the one after, AM's family came out and B, E, and R gorged on peaches and apples. Can't really blame them.

Branch almost touching the ground it's so heavy with fruit.

I think bees are part of the reason for the success of the fruit trees. Pollenaton is never a bad thing. And from bees comes HONEY. Don't be too jealous that C and I just took home a quart of raw honey!

Small apples, but full of flavor! I like playing fetch with the apples and dogs - they are surprised by the sweetness of their "ball."

Loki and Bella wanting to go for a ride.

More apples loading down the tree.

Can you see all the apples on the tree? I was a little worried about branches breaking off!

- Posted from my mobile phone

The Land

2010-08-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

Out by G&L's house one Saturday morning around June 19. Storm moving as we headed to town. Thankfully, we only felt sprinkles and gusting wind as we were in the yellow Jeep.

I love that space. I love that place. I love that ride, journey, and trip. I love the sky. I very much adore the boy I was with and appreciate that he used his time, skill, and ability to make me a yellow Jeep. The wide open country is where we belong.

- Posted from my mobile phone

KanRocks 7/17

2010-07-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

This was the second weekend of Jeeping for C, bossJ, and J at KanRocks. I went along for fun. And for the food - I packed apples and killer sandwiches.

Last picture of the outing. I am very very hot. Have already drank 60ozs of water. Sweated off 2-3 lbs. Not even kidding. Had stayed relatively mud free until five minutes before we left. Thanks, C.

BossJ's Red Rocket did quite well. There are some overheating issues, but he's also waiting on a custom radiator and some other accesories to come in that should fix all of that. Very capable rig - especially with the lockers.

New friend M, with an awesome yellow Jeep. Again, very capable, even mostly stock.

S navigating the terrain for boss J. Having a great time.

Yes, thank you for asking, we DO have quite a few Jeeping clips on video - shot by C, J's daughter L, or me. Yes, if you stop by the house there is a good chance C will force you to watch them.

- Posted from my mobile phone

Anne's Birthday!

2010-06-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

I celebrated a fantastic birthday on Tuesday! The best parts were as follows:

Terrific birthday hair and outfit. A definite fauxhawk with blue streaks. Favorite banana cardigan, purple swirl skirt, pink ruffle tank, silver shoes, and green bead & pearl necklace made by my very own AM. This picture was distributed to various persons via text just to increase their happiness on MY birthday! It was a good thing I dressed so cute on this Tuesday, because Mom and sister B walked into my workplace about an hour before we closed! It was a big surprise - although C totally knew about it! I was beyond excited to see Mom and B for my birthday.

I met up with them over at Home Depot to pick out my birthday present after work. C insisted I get a wheelbarrow with two front wheels, but I found a Gorilla Cart (I think that's what it is called) that will work well for us around the yard. Mom couldn't believe that I wanted a wheelbarrow for my birthday, but after asking her 52 million times, I think she realized that I was serious. I love the Gorilla Cart too - it's like a super duty wagon with tough wheels and a bed you can dump out. My first priority was to pull the wagon into the back yard to see if I could convince Boris or Bailey to go for a ride. That was unsuccessful. But I think the wagon will tote lawn clippings and produce around just fine! Thank you, Mom!

Mom and B stayed for a dinner made by the fabulous C. I know there were potatoes, asparagus, corn, and chicken casserole. Oh, and organic brown rice, my favorite! Not kidding. It was a great dinner! Wait until you see what Caleb made for dessert!

A very very special gift from the one I love. We have a wrap-around porch and it has desperately needed a porch swing since day one. I finally told C that a porch swing is all I wanted for my birthday. He looked all over and found me an OAK porch swing! I needed it hung the very same day he brought it home, so we went and purchased all of the accesories and cable - so I wouldn't get my fingers pinched in a chain. He is so smart - he hung the swing a little bit high so that your feet don't touch while swinging - just the way I like it. C says we'll let it weather naturally this year and possibly stain/protect it next year. My only problem is poop - lots and lots of berry eating pooping birds. Yuck. But really, just seeing that porch swing when I look out the window or pull up in the driveway makes me smile.

Sidenote: I spent at least half an hour with J's kids, L and G - pushing them on the swing. In the outside natural quiet, there were a few great conversations. I love those kids! And they liked the porch swing!

Last, but not least, the CAKE! C made another fabulous cake! It was a yellow cake made with fresh berry juice (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) and then the layers of whipped cream and fruit! Nobody could turn that cake down! It was so yummy! Thank you, C! I love you! And I especially appreciate how special you make my birthday just because you know how much it means to me!

My earliest present bundle came from the wonderful AM, who I can only guess was subtly hinting at her need for me to bake her a pie. Can you even guess? The coolest green apple pie dish and loads of fun accesories! Thank you!

**I did choose to work on my birthday because work is where some of my favorite people are! I styled my hair and put on a cute outfit and headed into work. I wasn't disappointed - my desk was decorated, I had flowers, a fruit tart, lunch, stationary in the mail, and lots more. It all served to make me feel loved and appreciated! Funny enough, the patients coming in guessed my age at 22! I have great genes from my parents! Although, since I've been married for five years, 22 makes me a young bride!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Muddin' at the Pond

2010-05-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

First of all, YEAH BABY! C finished the yellow 1970something CJ/YJ frankenJeep!
What is the next thing that a guy like C does? Pray for rain. And then for mud.
Guess who was listening? Yep.

We've got a friend with a little land out in the country. He's generous about letting C keep vehicles/trailers out there. He had intended to create a pond in the back pasture. Neighbor stole the natural water supply. So he's got a dry pond bed. And when it rains, well, you see:

That is ME truckin' through the mud! It took a quite a bit of convincing for me to drive through the pond bed, so I did it real fast. Boys made me do it. SO MUCH FUN! I'd post pictures of C, N, and J, but you see, I was taking VIDEOS of them! We'll see if we can't upload them here later!

Muddy buddies. The red one still belongs to J! C was able to use his winch - you should have seen the happiness spread across his face as he played in the mud and winched others out of the pond. This guy apparently built the Jeep to see what it would take to destroy it - and he hasn't yet!

Dorky me.

The boys: J, N, and C. This was one picture where they were not trying to hurt one another. When do they grow out of that?

Caleb's Birthday

2010-05-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today is C's 30th birthday. He really doesn't care about it, but I do!

He actually made his own birthday smoked pork ribs and the twice baked potato casserole from the night before. I assembled the awesome salad and brought home a DQ ice cream cake. The cake might have spelled his name with a "K," but that didn't stop him from eating it! And alas, no picture of the cake because it doesn't look as nice with one fourth missing.

-Posted from my mobile phone

When the Wife is Away

2010-05-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

These rugs were white and light green when I left for AM's and my parents' this weekend.

They might have been washed with these bright red overly dyed rugs from the kitchen.

It made sense to get everything clean all together because he was more focused on the fact that this runs and drives.

Yep, there she is. What a fine looking gal, huh?

- Posted from my mobile phone

Introducing Bailey

2010-03-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

This is Bailey. She is our new dog.

Bailey has a story. It begins with C. He works in a town next to ours out of a residential area. He used to go into work everyday and see this stray dog. He would come home and tell me about how he tried to make friends with her and would offer her food, but she would never come to him. He said that if he could catch her, she would come home with him and be our dog. She was a great playmate for the outside dog on the corner and often slept in random yards if the grass or snow was high enough. C had seen her all around town, once she was trotting up the middle of main street with a dead rabbit in her mouth. Someone called animal control because she became more aggressive and defensive - chasing kids and chasing people away from the mailboxes. They set traps. They couldn't catch her - she always took the bait and eluded them. Finally, animal control called in someone to dart her with a tranquilizer.

She woke up in a strange kennel and went berserk. She wouldn't let anyone near her. It was a kill shelter and their only option was to euthanize her since she was not compatible with adoption. The guy that walks the dogs and cleans up the shelter saw something in her and begged for her life. They allowed him some time to work with her. She transformed into a totally different dog. She became calm and docile, and would walk on a leash very well.

C knew she had been caught. He saw the man walking her down the street one day and stopped him and asked after her. He came home and told me the story, ending with - and we need to go see the dog at the shelter. On Wednesday last week, we went to the shelter and they were able to let us see the dog. She was shy at first, then responded to me and began wrapping herself around me and plopping herself in my lap. She was a little more wary of C. The vet tech told us that they all loved this little dog and she was super sweet, good with other dogs, and hadn't show any signs of aggression since her initial reaction to being caught and kenneled. They were all surprised by the transformation. I accused C of setting it up so that the dog would crawl into my lap - he says that he had nothing to do with that. He began asking about adopting her and they told him that they were concerned about that, because since she had been at-large in this town, they couldn't adopt her out here - which is great, because we live in the next town over.

The plan was to get her fixed and microchipped on Friday and pick her up that evening so that we could have the whole weekend to acclimate her to our life and our dogs. When C picked her up, it turns out that she was already fixed (they found the scar), but that she had some broken teeth, so they had performed about $600 worth of dental work on her (pulled broken teeth and such). We were grateful and I had been concerned about that because we could tell she was missing some teeth upon meeting her - it's a rough life to live wild. So, she came home with some painkillers, antibiotics, and soft food.

C introduced her to our crew, which was a little touch and go for awhile. No one was hysterical or tried to bite anyone, a huge plus for our dogs. Bailey (we had to rename her anyway due to the name the shelter assigned her being my mom's name), came in and jumped on the couch, curled up next to me, and went to sleep. We, of course, have a lot of concerns about her past and introducing another dog into our pack, but so far, she has fit right in. I don't think our dogs realize that she is a permanent addition yet, but they will.

C, multitasking, and the two heelers watching for any scraps that may fall. We can't be sure what type of dog Bailey is, but we think that there is a lot of red heeler and maybe some sheltie or border collie? It became clear to us that she was someone's dog previously, because she knows houses: she knows where the door is and how to whine or find us to go outside, she knows how to beg (and is fond of people food as that is what she lived off of for months), knows that the trash is full of yummy things (we are trying to prevent her from getting into ours), knows how to jump up on the couch and bed, curl up and sleep at our feet and knows that she HATES baths. When I was giving treats to Bella and Boris, Bailey came over and sat right down, wanting her treat too. She tends to show Boris some teeth when he gets in her face and Bella has given warning growls a few times when Bailey is too close. For the most part, she is already house broken and is both eager to go outside and to come back inside. She is fairly clingy like Boris - follows us from room to room. I think she is still figuring out her place in the pack, but that she really likes being here. She may have to get used (again) to being an inside dog and that will come over time.

She looks just miserable, doesn't she? We do need to put a little more weight on her!

Spring Snow

2010-03-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring, Everyone!

We got snow. Drifting, freezing, flaking, icy, slippery, cold snow. The white kind, unless you look in the backyard. I was super surprised to wake to the blanket of snow on Saturday morning. Perhaps because it was over 60 degrees on Thursday and Friday. It is the KS weather.

Following are pics of the most recent snowfall.

Which, if you live in this state, you are probably sick of.

From the front door, towards the street. Those are antlers on the bench. Squirrels like to nibble on them. Just sayin'. Oh, and the cream colored house across the street is getting a much needed face lift - which means one eye sore down, only five or six on the block to go!

Front steps with only my tracks. We don't like to leave in the snow. And really, why leave the house if you don't have to?

Pink Christmas pants from sister B, snow boots that I had *almost* put away, and sunk down into the snow practically to the top of said boots. Fun times.

The dog tracks, porch, truck. Lots more snow than I was expecting.

Laudable Accomplishments

2010-03-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

Both C and I have achieved something cool relatively recently. I wasn't sure if I mentioned it or not. I don't have any pictures of these accomplishments, so you'll just have to believe me!

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C received his license in December, which means that he is now an official LS - Licensed Surveyor. This is wonderful because now he is recognized by the state board and can sign off on his own work. He can make more decisions and is actually more useful to his company (not that I am sure that is possible). Therefore, his company is now compromised of THREE licensed surveyors and an instrument/draftsman. What this means when they bid jobs is that, without exception, the hiring clients know that a licensed surveyor will be in the field making on-the-spot decisions - and this is very desirable. I'm so proud of C for taking this step because the testing process is difficult and very inconvenient. He had to have eight years of experience and a degree (which is going to be a problem for future surveyors in our state, as C was the last graduate of the only now-defunct program in our state) before he could even sit for the first part (eight hours) of the licensing exam. The exam is only given every April and October, and since he passed the first part, he was able to take the second and third parts (combined eight hours) six months later. The percentage of people that pass any part of this exam the first time looks to be less than 50%. He passed the second part by a small margin, so he had to wait another six months (and study) before he could take the third part again. That occurred this past October (so it was a year and a half process in all) and we received his license in December. We are all so very proud of him for achieving this goal! I'm still looking for the perfect frame for his license, even knowing that it will probably just go on the wall at his office.

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My almost-accomplishment has been in the works since November or December as well. While I was looking for a new job during those months, I stumbled upon a teaching opportunity, and even though I knew it would be more of a second job type thing, I applied. Since then, I have gone through a phone interview, a group interview, a panel interview, a four week certification course, a certification test, and am now, finally, at the last segment: teaching the course. It depends on how well I teach as to whether or not I get the job, but I have to teach the five week course for them to accept me as faculty or to tell me thanks, but no thank you.

I am teaching an in-person class for a university that is better known for it's online aspect. I am set to teach a humanities course to undergraduates beginning Thursday. My master's degree is what has enabled me to seek this position and I assume that my charming wit and personality are what has kept the hiring faculty's attention for this long. I've been absorbing massive amounts of information about how to teach (facilitate) a class and tons of procedures and policies. I'm also in the midst of cramming the subject matter into my already-spinning brain. I admit that I am anxious and stressed out about teaching, but I think that there will be adequate pay-offs if I make faculty and the intangible rewards will be great.

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So, we are both moving up and around in our fields - trying to accomplish things and always trying to fix up this life of ours!

Jeep Progress

2010-03-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

So, C has been hard at work on the old CJ Jeep. He's got the whole thing painted, inside and out, the dash is back in, and he did the conversion to disk brakes. Which means he's been holed up in the garage quite a bit and online buying parts a lot. Random heavy packages have been showing up at my door and when they are that heavy, I know that they aren't earrings, clothes, or shoes.

Yellow glory - I think C might have already downloaded all of the glamour shots to his PC. It is John Deere yellow, with black accents either in black paint or bed liner. And that is C's wonderful pipe bender in the foreground - he used that to make real nice front fenders.

Disk brake conversion in progress. C says this was a real good update.

Wasn't sure I had this picture - take a close look at that front fender. C bent the tubing that runs right up the inside, did some welding, and painted it in bed liner. They are both super tough and have that open look to them. We're the only ones with those front fenders! You can also almost see the hood detailing that C added for me. I wanted something special, something more custom out of the paint, so there are two super narrow triangles (I call them teeth) that start at the black painted "bug guard" on the nose and run along the bump in the hood. It looks really cool. Actually, the whole truck looks really cool - thanks to C!

Dash is painted and back in, so C's got some wiring left and some assorted other tasks and then, hopefully we can drive this thing. He's got a little money set aside for some good tires and a winch (all Jeeps need a winch). I'm sure no one is surprised by what C has done - he's just getting better at taking nothing and making something cool. Love him for that!

The One About Shoes

2010-01-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

This post may initially seem shallow and superficial, but it isn't. Not completely.

Shoes are important here. We protect our feet from rough terrain, too smooth ice, slippery surfaces, the heat and the cold, and we do so with SHOES!

While it is nice to have the fashionably, pretty shoes, it probably goes without saying that C and I go for function over fashion most days.

So, after months of searching for some good shoes with little results, I finally found some that I love. Which resulted in the purchase of three pairs. A big shout-out to the Tradehome store - I always find shoes that I love there. As opposed to Off Broadway Shoes, where I usually regret my purchases and the pain they cause my feet.

Oh, and I have very, very good taste in shoes, as far as the supportive ones go.

In the montage above, we have Earth Shoes (the brown leather shoe shoes), J-41s (which are shoes made out of Jeep tires and designed by Jeep), and Merrells (the brown leather/suede mary janes). I've done some research into Earth Shoes (popular in the 70s) and they are supposed to be designed to support women as they walk using the reverse heel technology (the heel has less of a sole than the ball of the shoe). They feel weird, but they make me stand up straight and the leather is so pretty and wonderful. The J-41 shoes are more of summer sandals, although since they have a covered toe, I can wear them to work. They have the most comfortable foot bed! And they are made by Jeep, out of Jeeps - so is there a more perfect shoe for this family? The Merrells are just wonderful - I've had my eye on these for almost nine months and there they were - the last pair and on sale! Both sister B and I have Merrell jungle mocs that have lasted us six or seven year - and mine have survived a puppy named Bella's teething (last pair of shoes she ever touched!). We love them. Merrell just makes good shoes.

A very cool picture. My slippers are the ones on the right and they are awesome. They are lined and have a real gum sole. C found these and got them for me for Christmas after I begged for a pair of LLBean slippers. These are so much better! Only one downfall: I can't wear them outside and definitely not into the garage where different chemicals on the floor can eat through the gum soles. C's slippers are on the left and they are almost as cool. They are much cheaper and much more functional because he is really hard on slippers. But he likes his too - especially when he's letting the dogs out at 6:30am every morning.

A needed close-up of the Jeep sandals. So very very cool. I may even wear them with socks just to experience them even sooner that the weather will allow. Don't tell anyone.

Dog Bones

2010-01-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

We visited Tractor Supply this morning. Which is across the street from Petsmart. And we can't ever deprive the dogs of a fun ride. When we arrived at Petsmart, Bella tried to eat all of the other dogs, but her paws have no grip on the tile - if they would have, I would have been in real trouble. We had to watch Boris closely as well, because he likes to mark in the store. We went with the purpose of getting them some bones and treats and sure enough, Boris began sniffing each of the bones on the shelves as if he was choosing his own. Very cute. At least two different couples stopped us to ask what type of dog he is. I am assuming that since Blue Heelers are such a working/farm breed, that they don't usually come into Petsmart. Perhaps the local co-op, but not Petsmart. And Bella, she looks like something (retriever), so people don't usually ask. But if you are a people, it should be noted that Bella is the sweet one.

We picked up two almost two foot long bones for the dogs. Boris wouldn't stay still long enough for me to capture a good picture. He is still so excited, dropping his bone on the floor and banging it into the walls. Maybe these will last more than a day!

The cow femurs always last longer. Most dogs chew on bones this way, but heelers are known to be real "handsy" dogs.

Bella's huge claws and webbed feet holding her bone in place. She was trying to get this one out of my hands before I had all of the wrapping off. Silly dog.

This is much more accurate. Bella and her two bones. She probably growled when Boris went to grab one!

Jeep Update

2010-01-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

Well, C has been working really hard on our CJ (Jeep) lately. He's also been helping his boss, J, fix up his "other" Jeep as well. So the boys have been living in the garage. I don't know what they eat or where they go to the bathroom and I probably don't want to know. Thankfully, C has been really good about managing the time he spends in the garage and the time he spends with me!

This is J's "play" CJ. Which means that this one can get dirty and scrapped up. He is also working on another one that is more restoration quality than rough and tumble. I do think that those are our doors on the tub though.

This is our CJ Jeep. The motor came from the maroon Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the tires are huge, and C had just painted the frame at this point.

This is our brown tub. It is practically rust free, or so the boys tell me. I think that work on this begins any time now.

This is one of C's Christmas presents. He got a pipe bender and one die for Christmas, along with a really cool bench grinder that his dad thought he needed. We'll be getting him more dies (different sizes) as needed so that he can make roll cages, step sides, and bumpers! He's really excited about everything that he got for his garage!

Merry Christmas Sneak Peek

2009-12-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

C's mom was nice enough to take a few pictures of our family for Christmas cards this year.

These are not the contenders.

Perhaps C wasn't super excited about sitting for pictures.

Yes, we are those people who include their dogs in the Christmas card picture. What can I say? We love them. This is a "getting ready" picture.

Everyone look to the left! There is a MAN WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE! BARK AT HIM because he obviously has NO CLUE that this is YOUR TERRITORY, Boris. No clue. Poor walking man. Then we took some more pictures - one of which should be arriving in a mailbox near you (if I have your address).

Merry Christmas!

The Es Came to Visit

2009-11-29T18:00:00.000-08:00

We really enjoyed seeing the E family on their way through on Saturday. We don't get to see them enough, but that's okay, because someday, AM's kids will watch mine on the commune where our houses will be just close enough to set up a sort of red-tablecloth-on-the-clothesline-means-hello type of coded communication. And cell phones, we'll still have those of course.

Anyway, beautiful baby girl and beautiful boy and some of the rest of us:

AM's short hair, and the beautiful Miss B (in pink shoes).

Little E is in perpetual motion, so this is the BEST photo I could get of him. He looks concerned, so I'm betting that he needed his pencil sharpened. He also may or may not have had pants on in this picture.

This is why C thinks having a baby is easy. You just hold it, right? And keep watching your scary alien/war movie. Hand her off to Mom when she gets cranky, hungry, wakes up, etc. Yeah, no, that is not the way it works, C.

Miss B and me. I think that is almost a smile. You'll have to check out AM's blog for her real smile; complete with dimples. She's so much fun and her brother is a hoot. Mom and Dad are pretty amusing too - we love when they come to visit!

The Dogs at This TIme

2009-11-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

We watched Mom and Dad's dog, Abby, for ten days while they were on their anniversary cruise over Thanksgiving. She gets along really well with Bella and Boris, but she can irritate C a little bit - just by being a small dog. There are quite a few things that a small dog can get away with that a larger dog cannot (jumping on your leg, sleeping on your bed, picking fights, etc.). Abby is, through nature (genetics as a dauschund) and nurture (my parents' training) a burrower with a sense of entitlement. What this means is that she likes to sleep under covers. A problem in the R household because C has the tendency to move around a lot and could possibly roll over on Abby, and Abby, sensing an injustice towards her might lash out with her teeth. Not that this has happened before at all. No way. We've solved this by letting her sleep under the fleece blanket at the end of the bed. On the other side of the peoples from Boris.

There has also been a pack hierarchy shift. Abby and Boris are about the same age with about 50lbs difference between them. Bella is alpha female in our family. Abby will place her tiny head in Bella's mouth to show submissiveness. That's not the problem; the problem is that Abby has actually dominated Boris for the last two years and then something shifted. I'm not sure what changed, but Boris has asserted dominance and Abby isn't sure she likes it. I've caught them baiting one another with toys during this visit so that they can snarl and fight a little bit. Really, they're dogs! Am I going to have to call the Dog Whisperer?

Mom, Dad, here is some fuzzy proof that C LIKES playing with Abby. He does. He plays a little rough, but she seems to like it.

Abby is the guard dog. She has no fear. She's charged dogs way bigger than her. She even bit Bella on the snout when she was stressed out. You can just barely see her green ball at the right edge of the photo. Boris, that is HER ball, DO NOT touch it. Just sit there and look like a cute blue heeler.

This is what Bella does. And she is really good at it. Hardly even snores.

Super fun game: Guess who is the rightful owner of the dog bed. Does size matter? Is it the dog that "fits" in the bed the best? The one that looks the most comfortable? Does the bed match one dog better than the other? I thought this was way too funny to pass up!

Thanksgiving ReCap

2009-11-27T18:00:00.000-08:00

We had a very nice, low-key Thanksgiving. Last year, everyone travelled to us to celebrate and the festivities seemed really big and a whole lot of the food travelled to us as well. This year, my parents were in Belize City on Thanksgiving enjoying a seven day cruise to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary (it was in September). So, C's parents and my sister B and boyfriend J came to our Thanksgiving. It was perfect in it's simplicity. C is great with the bird, mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing, I made two pies, B brought a third pie, the rolls, and green bean casserole, and C's parents brought L's seven-layer salad and some other yummies. We all ate too much because it really tasted good! I can't remember the conversation (because it really tasted good!).

This year, for some reason, I wanted it to look Thanksgiving, so I got the tablecloth and cloth napkins. Everything looked really nice with Grandma's china and the lead crystal candle holders C and I received as a wedding present.

J and sister B with the "starters." He asked for the peanut butter - it was not part of my beautiful plan. It's a good photo of sister B's really short hair - J's may be longer at this point! They are so cute!

Food collage: my apple pie (homemade), the tasty turkey, my pumpkin pie (mostly homemade), and L's awesome seven-layer salad. Then my beautiful table again.

The table, candle holders, and three glorious pies. The pies were gone within 48 hours.

C's New Project: Dodge Ambulance

2009-11-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Oy, this is C's new project. His new new project. Not counting all of the Jeep parts in the garage that need to find one another so that we have a drivable CJ-7 by spring break.

Anyway, he had to go to an auction nearby and win this, which he didn't, but he did help drive the price up for the guy who did win this 1942 Dodge Ambulance (WC-54, pre-Power Wagon). Turns out the guy was another Power Wagon dude, though, and he wanted something totally different from what C wanted. So, C handed over some money and got the ambulance. He wants the sheet metal from the cab forward so that he and his dad can fabricate a Dodge quad-cab. It will be another Franken-Dodge, but the Power Wagon guys will love when we pull up to the rally in June 2011 (are you kidding?! It will NOT be ready by this JUNE!) towing our cool Power Wagon with the Franken-Dodge.

Without further ado:

Crappy blue house = not ours, piece of junk on the trailer = ours. Someday it will be super cool and maybe even beautiful. You can't say that about the house; it needs to be bulldozed.

This captures most of what C wants to keep. He'd never say it this way, but I'm sure it is because he "likes the lines of her."

Pretty sure it is not the correct bed for the truck. Not that it matters. But the ambulances of old did resemble the ambulances of today with a big cargo area - someone cut it off behind the cab.

C is stoked about the doors and the dash panel: the doors fit perfectly, are in great shape, and are rust-free; the dash panel is all there and is not cracked. Very impressive for a truck this old that has gone through so much.

We'll keep you updated on the progress and I'll let you know how the Jeep is coming (because right now, it's not).

Pheasant Hunting Out West

2009-11-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

If you don't enjoy some good photos of bloody birds, I'm warning you that C went pheasant hunting. We went out west to LL's parents' place where the boys could shoot their fill of pheasant, which C LOVED doing. Saturday morning was gorgeous for pheasant - a lot of me went out and they were able to cover a large area and bring down thirteen or fourteen pheasant and then blow up some quail. I didn't realize that we came out on the weekend that LL's family celebrates Thanksgiving, so we also tucked in for a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving dinner Saturday evening. LL's mom made creamed pheasant and it is such a wonderful dish over mashed potatoes. You put the right food in front of me and I am the happiest girl ever. C was living a dream: hunting, followed by a giant dinner?! Yeah!

I think C actually enjoys cleaning game. He's good at it. And when he tells the story about butchering a deer with a knife in one hand and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the other, I gag a little bit in my mouth. But I assumed that these birds were going to taste good and they were just as pretty dead as they were alive (and they look a little bit like chicken once opened up), so none of this really bothered me.

More cleaning pictures. I didn't go with them because I really enjoyed sleeping in on Saturday morning after we arrived at 1130pm Friday night. So no HUNTING pictures here.

Ahh, more dead birds. The photo in the lower left corner really amuses me. J is funny. It was nice to see LL at home and J around his soon-to-be inlaws (they really like him).

The meat and the pretty tail feathers. I could have made a hat with the tail feathers, but the snow the next morning got them. Boys went out Sunday morning (I declined again) and were soaked with an hour or two. When C walked back into the house, the only part of him that was dry was his rear.

We had such a nice time with LL's family - they took C hunting and were super nice. They even let us crash their Thanksgiving (and boy can C eat!). LL got some more wedding stuff accomplished while home and we all got to see the beautiful church where she and J are getting married this May. Fun times!

Where Did All EIGHT of Those Years Go?

2009-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

For your viewing pleasure, I went through the pictures on my computer and found the OLDEST ones of C and me. Why? Because we are celebrating (or, probably not celebrating) the EIGHT year anniversary of when we started dating today. October 27th is the day that I told C that this whole friends-thing we were trying to pull off just wasn't working for me. And then I kissed him. And we were "officially" dating. That's how these things work in my world.

That said, the best pictures are probably film and in a plastic bin in the other room and since I have a newer laptop (thanks, Mom!), I don't have everything on here. We're going to work with it, though.

R, me, and C in the summertime. I'm guessing it was May or June of 2002. Since I basically dated both of them from the get-go, it is fitting that the earliest photograph I can find is of the three of us. Mom and Dad's backyard, on the trampoline, after church. I've got some funnier ones of R jumping if anyone is interested.

July 2002 at the museum in KC. Yes, I love him. Couldn't tell you why I am wearing the same shirt as the picture before though. Maybe I really really liked it? Anyway, C is just so cute. We went up to KC with Mom, Dad, sister, and some family friends. It was a fun time.

I love this picture. This was probably around March/April of 2003. That bundle of fur is baby Bella, if you can believe it. For those of you that don't know, Bella has a story about why we have her and it is part tragedy, and more parts love. She came into our lives when we most needed her. We were showing her off to my parents in this picture and in the upper left corner, you can see an old family picture on the wall featuring just me and Dad. How funny. Mom, how long has that pillow that Bella's wrapped up in been in the family?

This was a little bit later in 2003, not sure when. But it fully exposes you to the ever changing hair and facial hair of the one I love. He's so funny. I don't think I let him wear those khakis anymore, but I'm sure he still has them.

No telling what would have happened if I wouldn't have amped this relationship up a notch eight years ago. But I am sure glad that I did. To put it in perspective, I had a ring on my finger a little over seven months after this October 27, 2001 date.

Taking Care of Fish-ness

2009-10-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

I know you guys just LOVE my collages! Like I said, we cleaned the fish tank on Saturday and I don't think it has been done in a year. Which is actually fine, except some fish have died in there and in case it was an environmental thing, I thought we needed a clean fish tank. We were left with a sucker fish that measures about twelve inches long (can reach two feet) and a tiny little creek fish that had been hiding for so long that we didn't know he was in there. He could have been the legendary fish that survived (without our knowledge) in less than an inch of water inside of a shell for about thirty minutes when we cleaned the tank last. Who knows.

C scrubbing the tank (I helped!) and the living room in disarray. Cleaning the tank means we get to rearrange because otherwise we are not moving that tank full of water (no idea how much it weighs). Mom, Dad, you guys get the exercise machine back. It's great to hang things on.

The glorious sucker fish that I named Pluto. We took the dogs up to Petsmart and got some schooling fish and a few plants. I think there are some Bala Sharks, whatever the stripey ones are called, about five goldfish, and we got a tiny sucker fish (maximum length is six inches) and I named her Plutonia. It's so nice to gaze over at the tank now and see lots of fish! The schooling ones are especially fun to watch as they meander around.

A Saturday in the Sun

2009-10-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

I declared this past weekend a Family Weekend.

Which means that you have to spend time with your family doing family activities (i.e. not Jeep activities with your buddies in the garage for the entire 48 hours of the weekend). C and I cleaned his 55 gallon fish tank on Saturday. The only issue was that the hose (aka Boris's play toy) was used to wash the tank. But the dogs were fine and spent most of the day in the backyard, like usual:

Tug-of-war with a Chiefs football. The neighbor kids are so great about sharing their toys with the dogs.

He may get on my nerves, but Boris sure is a looker. He can be really sweet and calm too, while he's waiting for you to kick the ball . . .

Bella not getting ready to bark at some of the neighbor kids. She never does stuff like that.

Me. Because whenever I see people lately, they keep telling me how long my hair is getting. Which is good, because I plan on donating it to Locks of Love in the spring. Fauxhawk, here I come! Oh dear, I just looked closer at that picture - I look a lot like sister B . . . Fun times!

Surgery was a Success

2009-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in the previous post, I went in for a diagnostic outpatient surgery yesterday. I wanted to let you all know that I am doing really well afterwards and how the surgery went. For those of you that are squeamish or don't care to read about my reproductive going ons, just know that surgery went really well, I am recovering surprisingly quickly, and that the doctor was able to find and fix some things that may or may not have been hindering us in conceiving. For those that enjoy the nitty gritty details, please keep reading.

I found it surprising that October 15th was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (as declared by President Reagan in 1988). As most of you know, we lost our first pregnancy in February 2007 at 11 weeks, and since then have had a lot of difficulty in getting pregnant again. We currently see a wonderful Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. G, who has the task of helping us get pregnant. I wasn't thinking about the Remembrance Day until a family friend sent me an email. I saw it as fitting because none of us forget the pregnancies, babies, or children we lose. And this day came on the eve of a surgery intended to possibly help us get pregnant again.

I was nervous going into surgery because I've only ever had one other surgery and when I went into that surgery I was pregnant and when I came out, I was no longer pregnant, but was gifted with an unexpected raging infection. But, you see, Dr. G is a wonderful doctor: confident, proficient, conservative in practice, somewhat charming, and his goal is help us establish a successful pregnancy. Besides, he's done this surgery hundreds of times and I was and am sure that I am in incredibly capable hands with him. I was scheduled to have a diagnostic laparoscopy and hysterscopy. I actually did not have to have the hysteroscopy (where they look into your uterus with a scope) done because Dr. G had performed a sonohystogram in his office early last week. That procedure enabled him to inject saline solution into my uterus and the solution would highly define any scar tissue, cysts, fibroids, adhesions, or anything else out of place when he then used the sonogram wand to look into the uterus. As usual, my uterus looked fine (and believe you me - both the doctor and I have seen it on the sonogram screen enough times to know when it looks okay AND I've never had anything unusual in there anyway) and the doctor probably saved us some money by doing the different procedure in the office instead of the hysteroscopy while I was under anesthesia in surgery.

A diagnostic laparoscopy (and I'll provide a comprehensive link if that helps) is when the doctor makes two tiny incisions in the abdomen - one in the belly button and another right below the bikini line and is then able to insert a small scope (camera) to get a good look in there. He then fills the abdominal cavity with gas so that he can see exactly what is going on in there and so that he has room to work. For fertility purposes, the doctor is looking for endometriosis, scar tissue, cysts, fibroids, or again, anything else unusual that could be hindering my reproductive health. Almost anything he finds at this point can be fixed by cutting and cauterizing. I am then left with two tiny incisions that have to heal up. Easy peasey.

C was able to get the full explanation (with pictures!) of what the doctor found and treated and I got an abbreviated version as I was coming out from anesthesia. We really went into this surgery hoping that the doctor found something and that it was fixable, but we also knew there was a chance that he wouldn't find anything and that everything would look good - which would still leave our fertility issues unexplained. Fortunately, the doctor DID find some things and was able to treat them! First, there were about six small spots (they call them implants) of endometriosis on the top and outside of my uterus. Since the endometrial tissue is so blood laden, the doctor needed to slice the implants off and then cauterize the sights. He said these implants may or may not have contributed to our infertility, but mostly they were mild to moderate displays of endometriosis - and I was grateful they weren't any worse or in more concerning locations, such as on the fallopian tubes, bowel, or bladder. The second issue the doctor was able to fix was scar tissue (again, no idea why or how that forms) that linked my left ovary to my uterus and in the process, twisted the ovary away from the position needed to deposit a mature egg into the left fallopian tube. C said the scar tissue looked like a spiderweb (like the ones that Spiderman shoots) connecting the ovary and uterus. The doctor was able to cut out the scar tissue and cauterize the connecting sights on both the ovary and uterus. Now this issue has definitely had an impact on our fertility - the ovaries and fallopian tubes are not actually connected in the body, so transport of mature eggs is really more of a baseball game: the ovary pitches and the fallopian tube catches. In most women, there are never any issues with catching because the pitcher is dependable and all he has to do is throw the ball at the catcher and everything works wonderfully. We assume this is the case with my right ovary, but essentially, my left ovary (due to the twisting nature of the scar tissue) was pitching at first base, and in this game, there is no first baseman. See the problem?

Dr. G, C, and I were all very happy with the surgery: how quickly and easily it went, what the doctor was able to identify and fix, and my fabulous recovery. I have a post-op visit in a week or so and Dr. G said he was going to look over my chart again to come up with a new game plan. While we don't know whether or not the small amount of endometriosis had any affect on my fertility, a very real concern is that it can redevelop. Sometimes it is gone forever after surgery and sometimes it can build up again in as little as six months. The doctor did mention that we have a realistic window for an increased chance at pregnancy (with or possibly without treatments) of six to nine months, and then we may need to (non-invasively) check and see if anything (endometriosis or scar tissue) has returned. We'll find out more at that visit.

I am doing really well recovery-wise. Last night I rested and read a vampire book. I was told to take 400mg of ibuprofen every four hours and I've used our handy kitchen timer to keep track of that. The doctor prescribed percocet, but I only took two pills last night so that I could go to sleep. Slept well last night. My only small, minor complaints are a sore throat from being intubated, soreness in the shoulders from the remaining gas rising to the highest place, and this morning some slight pain at the lower incision site. The first two issues have already resolved and I am feeling good today. Just getting around slowly and resting a lot. A good friend brought by a taco lasagna today for lunch, C's boss/friend J is coming over for dinner, as are sister B and boyfriend J. C is taking excellent care of me and he's always so attentive through these things. I should just keep getting better and sometime in a week or so we should have another game plan. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers - we both really appreciate your encouragement and support.

R Family Update (In Words)

2009-10-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

All about life right now:

~ I have an eye appointment tomorrow. Not a huge piece of news, and I understand that, but it is noteworthy for a few reasons: I think my vision is worse than a year ago (and a year ago the nice optometrist inquired why I was driving without glasses or contacts), I think that I am going to join the eye jabbing contact wearers, and I must get my super cool glasses adjusted (because last week, when C FINALLY went with me to see Harry Potter SIX, I knew that the zombies were going to pop out of the lake, C knew they were going to pop out of the lake, and I jumped and smacked myself in the face, while wearing said glasses and now they are a little off). Very exciting all around, wouldn’t you agree?

~ C’s job is going well, although a little slow at times due to the inordinate amount of rain in the last few months and a few projects at a standstill. My job, on the other hand, is not going well. The great big medical center I work for is transitioning to an all encompassing outpatient scheduling system and I was kind of thrown under the bus with the resultant changes. I have a job, which is nothing to sneeze at right now, but it is an unwelcome change to a glorified call center from all the patient interaction I have now. I am in the process of checking out my options both within and outside of this particular medical center. Unfortunately, this change in process brings with it little revelations each day that are disappointing, revealing, and mostly unpleasant. The giant transition to a new location and a new position was recently postponed for the third time to early November.

~ In the midst of the job upheaval, I saw the postponement as an opportunity to get as much out of my current health insurance as possible. It is neither good nor bad insurance, but it does have some coverage for a diagnosis that a) most often goes uncovered by health insurance, and b) I can utilize. Therefore, I have a minor diagnostic surgery scheduled for Friday, October 16. The doctor is fantastic and this type of surgery is the next step on our journey with a few nagging issues I am experiencing. I’ll have the weekend and Monday (Tuesday if needed) to recover and then I should be back up and around.

~ C is sitting for either the national or state specific portion of his LS exam on Friday, October 23. I forget which one. He knows what to expect in testing this time around and the test should go well. We should know in about eight weeks whether or not he passed and is a LISCENCED SURVEYOR! And that is super cool. I am so proud of all C has done within his profession. His LS should only help him in the future, especially when all of the building and rebuilding picks up again.

Truck Time

In other projects, we sold our (my) blue Jeep Wagoneer (1987?) after C spent an entire weekend swapping out transmissions with the maroon one. So when we sold the blue one, it ran, was tagged and titled, and had insurance on it. We also made a nice little profit, since the blue one sold for a couple hundred dollars more than we bought the both the blue and maroon ones for. I find it really cool that the guy who bought the blue one is driving it around town and intends on fixing it up the way we were. We also kept all of the fancy parts and accessories that we pulled out of the blue Wagoneer, since someday we still plan on fixing a Wagoneer up – C would just prefer one that needed a little less work. We still have the maroon Jeep Wagoneer “parts” truck, but that one is not in my driveway, so we really can part it out as the demand warrants. It’s in rough shape, but there is enough there if someone really wanted to work on fixing it up, so that is another option – either for us a long way down the road, or for a sale opportunity.

We are living and breathing Jeeps these days (refer to the three previous posts about our Jeep adventures in CO). Even though one Jeep is sold and a million others are in pieces all over the garage, we still have Jeeps coming out of our ears. The awesome projects that are happening now involve rebuilding three Jeeps – all CJ-7s, I think. One is going to stay fairly stock, and I think that is the one that C’s boss’s daughter (little L) may get to drive when she is sixteen, and C’s boss’s fiancé (double LL) may drive until then (I really don’t know that situation and a lot of this stuff changes each day with new ideas, but I think one of the three CJ-7s is staying stock). The other two are ours (temporarily green) and C’s boss J’s (temporarily red). The boys think they are going to do some serious fabrication and stretch both Jeeps lengthwise about fourteen inches, depending on drive shafts and other assorted parts. They are dreaming big, but are committed to making this an awesome success. C has had drafting paper and pencils out on the coffee table for most of this week just to work up some different measurements and ratios. J was saying last night that on the internet he hasn’t seen anyone stretch a CJ and make it look nice – so I think that is one of the goals. Stay tuned for pictures and stories!

I’m trying to think if there is anything else to mention. I know that C and I are keeping AM, R, and the family in our thoughts and prayers as R is deployed until mid November. We are also hosting my mom and dad’s dog, Abby, at Camp R for two one-week periods over which they are going on vacation in October and November. The three dogs love to rough-house, so both of those weeks should be a lot of fun. The weather is getting colder and that fall crisp is in the air, so it is about time to change out summer clothes for winter gear. I am slowly decorating our bedroom . . . not much else is happening, but I figure all that I mentioned before is more than enough for us.

As always, our lives are busy and full and our happiest times are spent with our families and our close, dear friends. Oh, and we stay amused at the dumb antics of Boris and Bella.

Jeep Trip in Pike National Forest (A Video)

2009-09-27T11:02:00.017-07:00

There are quite a few videos of our trip, but Blogger has decided that it will take four hours to load one video and then it's not really sure that the video is uploaded.

Here's a taste:

I call this one "Steep Hill Up," and I'm hoping it is one of the more interesting ones, as it is the only one that will upload properly.

Jeep Trip in Pike National Forest (The Jeeps)

2009-09-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

Without further ado, the Jeeps!
Roll call:
Green Jeep Wrangler: belongs to JS, called the Green Monstah
Red CJ-7: belongs to J, called the Red Rider
Grey Grand Cherokee: belongs to me (and C), possibly called the Grey Ghost?

**All of these seemed trail ready and worthy with some last minute modifications. For the Grey Ghost, we added some Grabber tires about a year ago, a gifted two inch lift kit more recently, and are a little sad that we ran out of time to add some serious bumpers (could have been nice to have somewhere to attach tow hooks, should they have been necessary).

Someone, anyone, tell me those aren't awesome! Incredibly capable too - the Grey Ghost went everywhere the other two Jeeps did! C is so proud!

Red Rider in her glory. Super steep incline.

Did you really think the guys wouldn't find any mud? Here you go: the mud trails! They emptied most of the mud holes out with their enthusiasm.

Ready, set, stop and snack so the kids aren't whiny . . . and GO!

Jeep Trip in Pike National Forest (The Players and the Camping)

2009-09-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

These are some quick collages of all the players that went on the Jeep trip with us. We did so much in a four day period: we drove out to CO, found a campsite in the mountains, ate really well, went four wheeling for two whole days, played with fire, slept in tents, pooped and showered outside, and basically had the time of our lives. The boys are talking about taking a men-only trip back in the spring. The morning after we drove in, C, J, and JS were telling us their bodies didn't ache and they were not worried about anything.

Let's see, you've got a couple of pictures of C and me up there, lots of J smiling like a goon (he had SUCH a GREAT time, there is JS, getting the hang of this Jeepin' thing. Some pictures of the scenery and of the six-year-old boys, G and B. Some relaxing, some chilling, some playing with Lego's, some wearing our super cool Dodge PowerWagon shirt. These people had a blast, you know!

Mostly just of the boys: J, JS, C, G, and B. Oh, there's T with her morning travel mug of hot chocolate (no one but JS, her dad, thought to bring hot chocolate). JS had to set up the girls' tent. C started most of the fires and the small boys, G and B, had to be told MULTIPLE times to stay out of the fire, stop throwing things in the fire, PLEASE do not start a forest fire, etc. Lots of tents were set up and I'm sure we were setting up our own little compound in someone else's favorite campsite. You know what though? They trashed the place and we definitely left it cleaner than we found it - which merit badge do we get for that?

I know you all were waiting for these: C and A (me!). We had a lot of fun, but I will not consider this my much delayed honeymoon. I would like showers and toilets on that vacation!

Jeep Trip in Pike National Forest (The Beginning)

2009-09-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

For Labor Day weekend, C and I took off with some friends on the First Annual Jeeping/Camping thing (cooler name to be determined). We left Thursday night for somewhere in the mountains near Monument, CO. C and I were in my Jeep (which I reminded him, IS MY daily driver), J and double LL and the kids were towing Red Rider (CJ-7) with the Tahoe, and the other J (JS, for our purposes) with his kids was towing the Green Monstah (Wrangler) with his Tahoe. Got it? At the base of the mountains, we unhooked the Jeeps so that the menfolk could cruise up the mountains. Which left all available (legal and of age) drivers cruising up the mountains in every other vehicle.

This is a collage of the unloading. You've got C, J, double LL, J's daughter L, JS, and A LOT of work going on. You've never seen guys this happy! They were beyond excited to drive their Jeeps up. Double LL and I were, um, impressed with the way the winding dirt roads in the mountains just dropped off the side. Falling over would have been a long roll to the bottom.

This was the first, uh, detour in the mountains. J, our fearless leader, in Red Rider, might have blazed right down a trail that had a huge sign up that said no one should be going that way. A really big sign. That he, in all of his eagerness, might have missed. And JS followed him. And C drove one of the Tahoes right to the edge. Then J's something or other on Red Rider might have gone out (which is why there is a picture of him carrying a toolbox down). We all got out safely. It needs to be said that the next day, there was a huge barricade next to the huge sign, so no one could get down that trail.

Absolutely beautiful camping spot. There were trees and rocks and all of that good nature stuff. Plenty of places to go to the bathroom. Next year, we will not be camping on the TOP of the mountain I hear. Although I will miss the view.

Another gorgeous view off the top.

The Love of B and E

2009-08-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

B arrived on Sunday, August 16th. She was slightly overdue and MUCH anticipated by everyone, her parents most of all. We were able to visit on the following Saturday and spend some wonderful time with many people dear to us.

This is AM, mother to E and B, mother extraordinaire. She is beautiful, fabulous, amazing. She is a wonderful mother, wife, and friend. And here she is, in the sunshine, looking exceptionally lovely. *What I wouldn't give for a porch swing . . .

I think this is AM on nursing duty.

Yes, definitely nursing. Her mom tells us that Little B is a terrific eater and that her weight is going up up up! That is great! I've always loved how comfortable AM is with nursing and mothering and doing everything she needs to for her children. She is a great example.

Little E, who no longer seems quite as little next to his sister, found C a suitable piece of playground equipment. I love the way his eyes light up as he plays and laughs. Oh, I guess I meant that about both E and C! E has also recently learned our names (mine and C's) and will run through the house yelling them over and over. It really does melt my heart a little bit.

No idea exactly what is going on here, but it is similar to how little E watch the demo derby with his ears covered. I also find it funny that all of C's facial hair no longer sends E running and crying from the room. He's overcome all of that and I'm betting that C is just way too much fun to play with to be considered scary anymore!

This one surely has some sort of story. E wants to fly up. His grandma (AM's mom, and E also) is looking up with some sort of concern. And I'm not sure what C is thinking, but he's looking towards me and R.

THIS is how big and charming E has gotten! He looks so grown up and ready to be a big brother!

R, in his fun paisley shirt. I don't have pictures of R, C, or me holding baby B, but we all did and I'm sure she left her sweet baby smell and warmth on all of us. R is just so darn cute and I knew E had to have gotten that charming look from somewhere. That also means that B stands a good chance of capturing her mother's stunning looks. Those dark haired, blue eyed beauties will get you every time.

My favorite, B and AM, daughter and mother.

***AM has more pictures of B and E on her site and I don't think she would mind visitors there!

B's Quilt

2009-08-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

I claim to not be very crafty or artsy, though I admire those qualities in other people. I wish I were more creative, although in certain areas me and creativity are great pals. I have so many friends and acquaintances that are just so talented! What I have here then is a labor of love. I have known B was coming since her lovely parents told me she was coming and then revealed who she would be. And I knew she needed a fantastic present. Jewels or clothing or toys or books were all wonderful suggestions, but I decided to make something just for her. I thought about it and cataloged that her mother, the fabulous AM, is a beach girl somewhere in her heart, and I knew that she was absolutely delighted in a baby girl and probably wouldn't mind some pinks, oranges, and blushes. A quilt was the only answer. And I knew just the fabric: Mendocino by Heather Ross.

So I designed a pattern and bought the fabric and waited. Then I read something about quilting and read a little more and waited. I cut and sewed and waited. B was born! I cut and sewed and quilted and now there was a gift worthy of this special baby girl.

A cellphone picture of the beginning stages. It was a pieced project, although not as intricate as some. The block pattern I designed for the quilt is at the top of the photo, but I'm not sure you can see it.

Since I have never quilted before, this was my starter, mini-quilt, that made me believe I could complete the larger quilt. I also think this little quilt is perfect for baby dolls, stuffed animals, and spit up. It is multi-purpose.

The back of the mini-quilt. I love the mermaids and swimmer girl. So much activity!

This is about half of the quilt with the back folded over. Needless to say, it is a BUSY quilt. But I am sure it is for an exceptionally bright and busy little girl.

More to show off.

The large quilt. I think it came out at 50 x 45 inches, or something close to that. I used bamboo batting because it stated that it was naturally antimicrobial and I thought that was best for a baby - does anybody know for sure?

The quilt did have a planned pattern in the craziness. Like I said, I spent hours designing just what I wanted. But of course, when I went to sew, I rearranged two rows and the result is, well, a beautiful handmade quilt that is a little random. I don't think too many people will notice. And did I mention that it was made with love? I'd take love over design any day.

A close up of four of the five patterned fabrics. We have octupi, sea horses (orange and blush), sea kelp, and the fabric with mermaids, swimmers, octupi, and turtles. I really think B will love it. I know that I do!

CC Demo Derby 2009

2009-07-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

Title got you all excited, didn't it? For those of you who don't click over to AM's site automatically, I'm going to have to route you there for the pictures. I know that I took some of them, and sometime thereafter, I lost my camera. Thankfully, the loss occurred AFTER downloading the pictures to AM's computer. Have to be thankful for the little things!

AM's Derby Post

A few things have to be said about the derby.

a) I am so proud that AM went to the derby to support her husband and to introduce little E to the mud and noise and magic that is a demolition derby. I know that it meant A LOT to R to have his wife, son, and daughter (in utero) in the stands cheering him on. Little E has recently learned his parents' first names and could be heard yelling his dad's name (not yelling "Dad," mind you). AM did have to insulate little E from the noise (think "earmuffs"), but it was obvious he had a great time.

b) In a huge show of support, and love of R and C (who was pit crew) and AM, me, and little E, my parents and C's parents showed up and we all created a little R cheer section. Again, I have a small idea what my parents and C's parents mean to R, so I have to think that it was important to him that they were there.

c) R had some fancy fancy moves in the consolation heat (he struck out in his heat, made it to the consolation, won top two in the consolation heat, made it to the feature, and struck out in the feature). You need to see the video and I'll try and get it up here. Every time he was about to be slammed, he just barely escaped and then laid some crash down on someone else. He did great and really, DDs are only going to get better for him with his type of experience.

d) Sno cones are good for the heart and the soul and the heat and the dust. They just need to put hard liquor in them at county fairs.

e) I caught a huge toad at the fair and showed it to E. He was not impressed.

There's more because there is always more to Demo Derby, but if you really want to feel like you were there, you need to stop by next year.

Laketime Over the 4th and Some Dogs

2009-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

We spent a lot of time at the lake over the 4th of July weekend. First time was a fishing expedition (few fish, no sunburn), and the second time was a tubing/wake boarding outing (small sunburn). Pictures are from the tubing fun with the S family:

J is C's friend and boss and he probably would not like this picture, but there were worse ones of us all, so I figure it's okay.

(Double) LL is J's girlfriend and she is nice, fun, and always helpful - we had a lot of fun hanging out!

We were able to swim a bit - you can see C in the red life vest, J's son G in the purple, and his daughter L in the yellow on the tube. I think it is one of the harder tubes to stay on!

G and C swimming around.

L, G, and C goofing off in the water. We had been playing king-of-the-tube earlier, as well as climbing on the tube and doing flips off (okay, that was me). C and L were the best tubers (funny!) by far. And (double) LL surmised the "art" or "sport" of tubing very well: it's all about seeing who can hold the longest just to spite the other five people in the boat. I tend to agree - it's why I hold on and why I did not go tubing this last time.

The dogs, both of them, have been really clingy and needy lately. Boris is usually like that, but Bella's neediness was a little unusual. So I had her climb up in the recliner with me for some "mom-time." All 90 pounds of her.

PS. I am tan due to all the sunburns. Really, this is tan for me!

Boris in his pool (through a foggy camera). He seems to pee in it, keep playing in it, and then drink from it and puke, so we have to stay on top of rinsing it out when the pool turns green.

Funny dog - loves the hose! Or is it his arch nemesis? I can never tell.

C and I have learned to store the hose on the other side of the fence. Or Boris gets it. And drags it all over the yard. And will probably puncture it sometime soon. But oh how he loves/hate it.

Happy Birthday to Me

2009-06-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today is my 26th birthday and really, my mom deserves the credit. Thanks for all the happy birthdays and thank you all for making me feel special!

The awesome yellow/Jello cake that C made me! He's never made me a cake before and the frosting is just Cool Whip and strawberries and raspberries. It was so tasty!

Me. I'm a goober and still recovering from an awful sunburn. I was also watching a movie (HP and the Order of the Phoenix - which C got me for my birthday) which explains the glasses.

Our Favorites (at the Dodge Power Wagon Rally)

2009-06-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

2010 Dodge Power Wagon, on loan for the Rally, from Dodge. That was cool. Needless to say, it was loaded, you know, just to show us what we too could have for {cough} lotsa money.

We really liked this one. The guy that owned it hasn't done much with it, but it was seriously cool. We were behind him on the last trail ride. So cool.

C LOVED this truck. A modified (obviously) Power Wagon rock crawler. The driver can extend the FRAME by THREE FEET with the touch of a button. I've never seen that before.

I love the town wagons - especially the colors that the owners chose to paint them!

Our neighbors in the campsite - they drove to IA from Ohio (I think). Very cool truck and great color combo. We, of course, sat up late with them one night around a fire (s'mores for me) and talked about what else we could possibly do to our trucks.

I think this was a working truck, as in, not just a pretty restoration. C and I dig the flatbed.

Again, I love my town wagons. This was the only Dodge Power Wagon (that I know of) owned by and driven by a girl (go J!). It is also called The Purple People Eater and has had tons of work to get into the condition that you see here. This was top two favorites for me (and all of the other kids).

A cool run-around, not restored version. I liked this a lot.

One of C's favorites, owned by S, whom I'm sure we consider a friend at this point. He's got a lot of money in this truck and it shows - it is fantastic.

Not only a great photo (or, I took it and I like it), but another awesome working truck. This is what you think of hanging around the farm.

I WANT ONE OF THESE! IN YELLOW! C is working on finding/getting me one. Dodge was apparently one of the original quadcabs!

This is just cool.

Anne & C (Taken by Anne) via DPW Rally

2009-06-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Randoms:

Pictures of feet and torn jeans, because there had to be.

The only picture of Anne not taken by Anne. The ONLY one.

He's happy, we're cruising down the trail, and I am awesome (and windblown).

Again.

He is smiling. He had SO much fun!

Me and the swampy area. Mud coming up . . .

He's thrilled that I took over 450 pictures at the Rally. Really he is. It was just the forced portraits that he wasn't so keen on.

Some love?

Dork, total dork. I know that's what you are thinking. Cheesy grin too.

That's not me behind C, that is Dana (aka Skull Bandanna Guy) and Red Shirt Guy. I named a lot of guys by their truck or what they were wearing. I liked these two: they were funny.

C at the 2009 Dodge Power Wagon Rally

2009-06-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

C had a ball at the Rally. He talked to this guy and that guy and about his truck and their truck and what he's planning to do and what they are planning to do. He loved it.

Our pride and joy had a lot of guys talking. There wasn't another one of these there and it was a conversation starter.

C had to look over the major mud hole to figure out how he was going to conquer it - and he did!

C really liked this truck (fully restored) and talked to the owner, Steve, quite a bit (really nice guy!)

C is the trailer man - he can park anything anywhere.

Talking about his truck. Some more.

Have I mentioned that he was happy to be there?

NOT our next project, although C does want a panel wagon. Save me. Save me now. Do you have any idea how much body work that is? I have a small idea and it scares me.

His hat was a BIG hit at the Rally.

Passengers on the trail ride.

Our Dodge Power Wagon: 1941 WC-16

2009-06-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

The Dodge Power Wagon Rally was June 10-13th in Fairfield, IA, the home of Vintage Power Wagon (the best place to pick up parts).

C's is the first one in a long row that lined three sides of the city's square.

The inside - automatic transmission, some bells, and a lot of fabrication. Saturday was definitely a jeans and boots day.

After mudding - C was so proud, but had to give the WC a rinse off before the parade.

Oh, and it mudded well. It's a great truck and it made us proud through the mud.

More mud and I love the DPW bumpers!

Front end in the mud.

After getting through the worst of the mud! There was a lot of towing and winching, but C made it through after carefully surveying the mud ruts!

End of the mud ruts!

Dirty, but clean. That makes sense, right?

Tough tires, but C wants different ones.

We had a lot of fun (especially C!) and plan on returning (with the dogs) next year!

EIGHT X EIGHT

2009-06-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Tagged by: Haley @ The Olsons

*Since this is an Anne/C blog and I am perfectly at ease with putting words in C’s mouth, the first four of every eight answers are mine and the following four are C’s answers that I derived from the last (almost) eight years of companionship.

EIGHT Things I Am Looking Forward to:
A: Spending three days in IA with C
AM + R’s baby girl entering the world in August
J’s wedding in SC
Reading the HP series all over again. Starting . . . now! Where , oh where, did I misplace book one? Oops, had to buy a new (old/used) copy.
C: The Dodge PowerWagon Rally in IA this weekend!!! (Really, he is very excited)
“Finishing” the Dodge PowerWagon (still needs working gauges, different seats, a diesel, roll cage, canvas top, etc.).
Starting on the Jeep Wagoneer (putting in a 455, I think).
Getting the porch on the house redone.

EIGHT Things I Did Yesterday:
A: Finished Saving Zoe and started Hoot (don’t recommend either book yet).
Received a voicemail from J (but didn’t get the awesome news until today!).
Was told to buy buns: hamburger and hot dog.
Watched a really interesting show about codependent twin anorexics.
C: Ate some tuna salad and crackers.
Watched some creepy show about dumb anorexic girls.
Did some work at home.
Briefly discussed the IA trip with Anne.

EIGHT Things I Wish I Could Do:
A: Heal the sick (including taking the pain away from my friends and family).
Be an awesome soccer player.
Write a book that I absolutely love; in that completely narcissistic way.
Ensure that C and I die at the same moment, but not in a creepy way.
C: Take part in Demo Derby every single year.
*
*
Fly.

EIGHT Shows We Watch:
NCIS
Burn Notice
Criminal Minds
House
CSI
How I Met Your Mother
Dirty Jobs
Deadliest Catch

EIGHT Favorite Movies/Books:
A: Realm of Possibilities/Fat Kid Rules the World/Cat’s Eye/Sexing the Cherry (books)
Boondock Saints/Saved/10 Things I Hate About You/Mean Girls (movies)
C: *You would have to ask him, as I would probably get these wrong*
*But I do know that he really likes strawberry ice cream and that has to count for something.

EIGHT Places I’d Like to Travel to:

A: Hawaii

Israel/Saudi Arabia
Alaska (cruise)
Brazil/Peru
C: Hawaii
Germany
Washington state (?)
Canada (?)

EIGHT Places I’ve Lived:

A: Manhattan
Ottawa
Manhattan
Spring Hill
C: Junction City
Salina
Manhattan
Spring Hill

EIGHT Others that may or may not care to participate in the EIGHT X EIGHT thingy:

Miriah

Laura

Courtney (ha, tagged twice!)

Casie

Anna

Erin

Damage Again? What This Time?

2009-05-21T18:37:00.001-07:00

What is this, you ask? Did the giant green HULK try to bust through our garage door?

No, but this certainly appears that way. And why are C and brother J so unafraid of the HULK-like (almost) break in?

Because the HULK never came. Brother J drove the Dodge Power Wagon into our garage door. In his defense, later, a few weeks later, the brakes went out completely with no injuries to anyone or anything. But imagine, if you will, that you are me. You just got home from work and are talking to your mom on the phone as you pace up and down your side porch. You see the boys, C and J come up the driveway in the Dodge. Your eyes follow the truck and for a split second you assume that J is going to have to stop the truck rather quickly, as it is getting really close to the garage door. Then, the Dodge does not stop and keeps going into the garage door, which did, of course, stop it. You get off the phone with your mother and walk towards the boys in disbelief. They are laughing hysterically.

The only real damage done to the Dodge. C had the paint touched up less than a week later.

Brother J, still slightly hysterical, but mostly sheepish. C and J fixed the garage door that evening, so no harm, no foul, I guess.