What could I be up to?

I hope to have it done this weekend...

sick...

a pit in my stomach that just won't go away...
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1. Bubby decided to pick a fight with our field stone and brick fireplace today....

let's just say that the fireplace won and I spent an hour in emerg so they could "glue" his forehead back together

--not pretty

2. Pumpkin is going to go to Kindergarten in less than 2 weeks.

On a bus.

By herself.

3. It's beautifully sunny and warm but I'd rather be curled up in front of the boob tube eating popcorn and drinking hot chocolate.

My legs are aching and my arms are like dead weights that I'm dragging around with me.

I think I may be allergic to working out.

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What am I going to do?

1. I prayed on the way to the hospital out loud in the van.

While waiting in triage I prayed silently.

Not for Bubby,

he was bouncing on the waiting room chairs,

but for me, that I could stop shaking.

We prayed a prayer of thanks once we got home from the hospital and Bubby had a temper tantrum because I said he couldn't go to the park.

I think he's gonna' be okay :)

2. I think I'm going to stalk her to make sure she makes out all right.

This act will mainly aid in my digestion and rehabilitation from Paranoid Mother Syndrome

also known as P.M.S.

3. Get off my butt and go make supper.

And then I'm going to make another bookmark!

It must be said

I am a little on the plump side.

I know this.

I have known this.

This is not news to me.

But this--

I had NO idea about this!

Who is this woman?


She's awfully pale for starters--

which I think only accentuates the fact that she is...

Well, let's not mince words here--

without saying the "F" word

Ummmm.... overweight?

yup.

definately.

OOOh look at those thighs--serious cellulite!

My poor husband!

I didn't realize.

My mother took these photos.

I'd say she was using a wide angle lens

but she wasn't.

I know this because these lovely shots of my rear were captured on my camera

This morning I joined CURVES.

And I'm dieting as of now--

I mean really--how could I not after seeing this...

this...
catastrophe.

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder

but if you could get paid by the pound?

yup--millionaire :)

So a little CURVES

a little WEIGHT WATCHERS

hmmmm....

weight: 181.4 lbs

size: 14-16

result:

I'm wearing maternity clothes and my baby is 2 years old.

*shudder*

HELP!!

by posting this realization I'm hoping to help keep myself motivated.

Maybe I can reward myself?

When I lose 10 lbs I'll treat myself to a New York Cheesecake...

hmmm....

maybe not :)

While visiting my mom in Pennsylvania,

we travelled to Lancaster

So much to see and do.

I now NEED to go back

for the shopping alone!

(my budget on this visit was miniscule--so sad)

I would call it Ahmish Country

and while there,

I fell in love with this quilt

I love how it's made up of just log cabins but creates the most perfect star

I love stars.

I must try this for a Christmas quilt or something!

I wish I could have seen it all laid out

but the gentleman that made it was

sewing a quilt while I was there and I didn't want to

disturb him more than I already had.

So beautiful!

Tanya had picked me to play in a photo game a while back.

I didn't do it because personal photos

are kind of not going to happen around here for the time being.

But it got me looking at my photos again

and remembering the good times at the beginning of my digital camera days.

---------------------------------------------------

I'm off to visit my mom this week.

I'm feeling quite sad about it.

For a bunch of reasons, really...

but I think mainly it's because we're going to visit my mom.

just my mom.

--no dad.

This is not new.

We've visited a couple of times since his passing

but it's hard this time.

So I leave you with this old photo of pumpkin and my dad.

Her Papa.

From a time when he was still warm and his hugs were sure.

He took in the cool air with pleasure and basked in his family.

Mainly,

he was here.

Now he's not.

It seems simple but death can be so complicated.

Giveaway!

Beautiful!

Need a place to rest your jewelry?

go here and enter to win!

Oooh La La!

Pink polka dotted toesies!
Compliments of Nana.

Dirt Road Frosting

YUM!



VROOM! VROOM!


peanut butter chocolate chip buttercream frosting
recipe here

The Little Mermaid

If you have a little "girly" girl like I do, then check this out...

I came across this GREAT party idea from Living Locurto

that you must check out HERE

Mermaid Party

and you can do it too!

Just check out some of the pics from this party...

Fabulous cupcake cake!

Look at those cute cupcake toppers!

and Mermaid "Sea"food!

Amy gives you recipes and fun party game ideas!

Amy even shares her easy mermaid tail costume tutorial!

Did you notice all the matchy matchy graphics?

check out the invite...

Do you have a "Jacklyn"? Maybe a "Betsy"?

I have a "Jessica"!

Or maybe your girl is more of a "Wendy"?

Want to have a party too?

Then go HERE and download a printable party pack

that most looks like your little mermaid!

It's only $10

and you can print it as many times as you want once it's yours!

Cool eh?!

(p.s. I'm not getting anything for this I just think Amy is super talented

and wanted to showcase this idea!

Her blog is a must if you want party ideas or cool FREE graphics!)

Thanks Amy for letting me feature your mermaid printable party pack and blog!

HMMM.....

Inspired by this and inspired by that

I decided yesterday to be the day I finally put my brainstorming aside and try it.

hmmmm.....

I planned to use Sultry by Basic Grey for this

but wanted a sort of "muslin" first...


Should I pleat? instead of ruche?

Pintuck?

Hubby, no likey

I think because it's not a traditional quilt block.

(like I've said before haphazzard is not up his alley)

I would stagger this type of block in between regular 10" squares

like Floral Parade by Kaffe Fassett

(picture courtesy of Cabbage Quilts)

Thoughts?

you know you're Dutch when....

you have conversations like this with your 4 year old while playing at the park:

Pumpkin: Hey mom, let's play bus. I'm the driver.

Me: Okay.

Pumpkin: BEEP! BEEP! (in a very loud but low growly voice)

Me: Hey, that's quite the horn you've got there.

Pumpkin: yeah. It was cheap.

Me: I see... (snickering)

Pumpkin: What? It does the job.

Yes darling. Of course it does.

*shaking my head*

For the record

I married into the Dutch

*wink*

Did you know that the library is a great source of information

as well as inspiration?

Well, I did...but I didn't...

I'd never thought to look in the craft section before

and looky here at what I found:

Material Obsession by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke

so good!

Quilts in the Sun by Kaffe Fassett

Oh my!

I had no idea this would inspire me as much as it did!

Total must read!

Lastly,

Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

Took this book out because it was pretty.

I had no idea I would actually find so many do-able

and desirable projects inside.

I had to try her bird ornament

and I was really pleased with the outcome...

Giving Julie from djaj-o-blog the credit for inspiring me to

put a bird in my "cage"

this book prompted me to get'r done!

Voila!

Une petit oiseau dans mon cage a oiseau...

um...yeah... that's my francais... :)

So a trip to the library has started me on my Christmas List...

Yeah, I know I can borrow them for free

but now I want' em too!

Random Generator says...

#2

Ariane, that's YOU!

Ariane has won the transportation banner and fabric

Would all my winners,

please email me (top right hand corner button)

and let me know where to send your prize.

Thanks for playing everyone.

Now I'm off to veg...

it was a very big day for us at Storybook Gardens

Whew!

I'm beat!