Mommy, Mommy, Mommy

That is what Billy said and signed for me on Friday afterschool. He needed a little prompting, but I finally heard him say it. He said and signed it for Clark last Saturday at a church sale...I was using the little girls' room and he wasn't happy. I am so happy. Last week was so long. I got two swaps done and mailed on Saturday. I worked on another one, but it has gone to the wayside (Clark had a four day weekend). We had a get-together to make goody bags for the guys and gals in the S-2 shop on Wednesday night. It went pretty smoothly...we didn't have to make too many.....not compared to hundreds that I've made before. :) Oh, wait...I'm still making hundreds of goody bags.....just not for soldiers. :) I got part of my super secret SB goody bags.....I will give you a hint....I was working with my Bella Buddy, Judi of PinkPersimmon.com. She is a doll and I think she has enjoyed it as much as me. :) I'll be putting together goody bags this upcoming weekend....I need to use my husband before he leaves. :) We got fall flowers for the planters in the front yard yesterday and had family time while planting. Even Billy helped...he put some dirt in pots and watered whatever he felt like. It was nice and the weather was beautiful. I started cutting up some vintage trims for SB today.....I got it cut up, now I just need to finish "packaging" it. Hopefully, I can work on my swaps tomorrow...at least the ones due to others by the 15th...all tags. :) It is hard for me to craft with a full house....people always needing or wanting something....oy...I'm not talking about the four year old.

Just One More Swap

I've missed out on all the other Halloween Swaps and this one sounds like fun. You decorate a store bought (or handmade) tote bag in a Halloween motif and fill it with treats. If you are interested sign-ups are until 23 September (this Wednesday) and aren't due until 17 October. Head on over to www.joli-paquet.blogspot.com and check it out. They are getting ready to show off their new kits and fun seasonal crafts.

Days full of walks, trash and crafting

I have taken a walk everyday this week. I actually started the walks last week....Thursday and Friday. The last few days I've taken a bag with me and collected trash as I walked. I am happy to say that the amount of trash has dwindled.....unfortunately, the weekend is coming up. I craft a little bit in the morning, eat and then take my walk...all before Billy comes home. Very, very proud of myself. I used to be a walking fool in Germany.....there are just some areas here in the States that is just not good for walkers (one I can name...Birmingham, AL). I probably won't be as spry as I used to be (that little boy f-uped my joints), but anything is better than how it is now. :) Back to crafting.....I finally came up with an idea for the "Sugar 'N' Spice and Everything Nice" ATC Swap for SB. I cut out 12 sweet, little ballerinas from some cloth I got back in AL. It now has twelve holes throughout the fabric...looks like moths got at it. I used vintage sheet music for the background. It needed a little something, so (for fellow Bella...Jodi) I used a little glitter on the background as well. I Mod-Podged the ballerina to the ATC. It still needs a little something...words..I don't know. We are supposed to use two thicknesses of card stock or base material. I have some fancy pants cloth that matches the color of the toe shoes the ballerina is wearing. I'm going to use that on the back of the ATC. I'm really happy at how they are coming along. Don't worry...I will get pictures before I send them off. I worked on my Saint Tags as well. I'm at a stand still on my "Playing From A to Z" cards....I need to practice my "J"s before I can finish those up. That is about it....Clark has had crazy hours this week, but has been home in time to sit in front of the tv with me. We saw "Glee" last night for the first time (it is in the same time slot as "Leverage") ...it was cute. I am so upset that Frenchy went home last night on "Top Chef". I always root for the foreigners. I wanted Stefan or Favio to win last time. Well, "Project Runway" is tonight. So more sitting on my tush time. :)

The Tail End of Block Leave

This was the last week of Clark's leave. I took advantage of it and worked on my swaps a little (the gazillion tags I have to make...oy), got some things together for the shop, listened to my Billy freak out and just enjoying the weather. Billy had to get his hair cut on Thursday (Friday was Picture Day at his school)...he kept his hands over his ears the whole time and was so unhappy. He is such a happy boy that it breaks my heart when he isn't happy. He had a good time Friday afternoon though. We had a unit picnic thing to attend. They had one of those big bouncy tent things. He had more fun going in and out of it. I made ambrosia as my side dish contribution. This is a rather jumbled up post.....I am so tired and I just got done listing things in the shop. Lots of things.....mostly trims. I added 21 new trims....all non-stretchy. :) I was in a Halloween mood, so they are mostly black trims and laces. They would look great on all kinds of craft projects. You could even get some and get all "Project Runway" on yourself. They are sold by the yard. I did do a trim grab bag with over 20 diferent kinds in it. The pieces range from 6" to 36". So you have little bits for stitching onto things and larger pieces to use on edges and such. Theya re all white, cream and black. I said I was in a Halloween mood. I added some paper punched critters...bats, spiders and MICE. :) I offering up the Halloween yo-yos again. I think that is all the shop news. I did hit a book sale today and just have to decide if I want to put them in the shop or save them for Silver Bella. I know I'm going to bring some books to SB....it will be nice to sell something there that is offered in my shop. I do enjoy offering up the small things that aren't cost effective on Etsy as well though. Now that Clark will be back at work...I really need to get moving on my swaps, goody bags and vendor night things. But right now...I just want to eat....I am so hungry and the thirst is creeping up, too. Hey, listing stuff is not easy....it can be hard work sitting on my ass.....it hurts and my legs fall asleep. :)

Home

We just got back about half an hour ago. :) We had to go to Texas this weekend. We drove all day Friday to get there. It was a slightly sad trip...we went to drop our dog off for the deployment. Baccus was getting to big for me to handle along with two boys....some women can do all that and more...I just don't have it in me. I think he'll be happy....there are three dogs, two cats, cows, guinea hens, and a loving family. He has more room to run around. He is staying with Clark's adopted family from childhood. They were so happy to see him (and even more to see the grandbabies....none of their children have produced any yet). They spoiled the kids. Jr got to drive the golf cart. Billy got to run around, steal sodas and bananas, and plop down in the galvanized tank of water out front. They had a ball. We hit Canton (big flea market) for a little bit on Saturday.....I was just too tired to stay long. Clark took me to a Goodwill on the way back to the hotel...I found three things. :) We started home yesterday afternoon (we dropped by to say goodbye and take pictures) and finished up today. It was nice, but it is good to be home...until tomorrow when I remember all the things I still need to do. :)

The 1st and 200th

I can't believe it is already a new month....time is dwindling, so I haven't blogged as much. He's on leave right now...so we are hanging out and doing things around the house. I mailed off six boxes of fabric (and a few buttons) to the IBOL guy on Saturday...it felt like a lot, but it didn't make much of a dent in the fabric stash. Most of it was yardage I had for curtains I had wanted to make for the house back in Birmingham. It went un-used when Billy started walking at 10 months and was a monkey baby. He is still a monkey baby and we will not have curtains until he is too tall to swing from them. :) I know we were supposed to make bundles...I asked permission to send just fabric. We loaded up the car with a bunch of stuff for the Thrift Shop. I had Jr go through his bookcase that afternoon and we started rooting around his room (it was nice and we had fun...no attitude....that didn't last long...oy...teenagers). I have so many things on my to-do list (and there are things that should be on the list, but I can't get my mind to stop racing long enough to remember to write them down). Clark and Jr cleaned out the gutter yesterday....when he got back from school....the three of them were soaking wet. More laundry....it never ends here. Speaking of laundry...kind of....Billy actually wore pajama pants to bed last night....that is the first time in over 4 months. Watch it will backfire and that is all he'll want to wear from now on. :) He had a few sips of milk, too. I haven't crafted...it's hard when he's home....it throws me off....argh. :) I don't think I'll get much done this week...it is short...the kids have a four day weekend. Woo and Hoo. I need to go and get my day started (which means waking up the wee one for school). Have a great 1st of September! If you were wondering...this is my 200th post. :) Time really does fly.

Iraqi Bundles of Love

Kaari Meng mentioned this on her blog yesterday and I had to go click on it. My husband has been to Iraq twice and loves the people of that country....here is another way to help crafters a world away...very cool. Go to www.ibol.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/iraqi-bundles-of-love-the-intro/ to read about the program. Go to www.ibol.wordpress.com/building-a-bundle/ to read how to put one together. If you want to participate...all you do is leave a comment anywhere on his blog and he'll email you his address. I am awaiting an email with his address...I hope it comes soon, he'd like all the packages to go out NLT 7 September. I know it isn't much time, but I know how you girls hoard til the cows come home. I think it is a perfect way to use that stash (even if you aren't the one using it).

Mini Art Quilt Swap

I am just full of pictures today! Clark had a four day weekend...no excuse not to download the photos off his camera. :) It is a tad simple, but I really enjoyed working on it. You can't really see it, but there is a tiny bit of lace under the buttons that is sewn on with green embroidery thread (only on the top, so that it will kind of "flap" up and down). I had to put a yo-yo on it. :) The thing between the two bead drops is a little key. There you have it. Sheila got them in the mail last week...sigh of relief. Maybe I can get to work on the other eight....Clark goes back to work. :)

Pictures of humans at the zoo

Here are the promised photos from our quickie trip before school started. Maybe tomorrow I'll show the animal pictures. :)

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

And the head of my crazy four year old. He came back from school and was playing in the front yard and the downpour started and he went nuts. Happy nuts, of course...he looked like he was having such a good time, so I joined him. He ran up and down the sidewalk and gutter. He stepped in some grass clippings and sent them down the gutter and followed them down. So I got some flowers off his tree and we sent those down. Then he laid down in the driveway like he was a fish. Silly boy. It was great fun and I carried him over to the porch and stripped him down...he got away and started playing some more...he cariried his water pitcher over (it had flowers in it) and got down in the gutter again. He is so white....oy. He needs a little sun, not the rain. I tried picking him up a couple of times.....between the spineless maneuver and the baby magic...he was like an eel. I finally got him inside and into the shower to warm up.

I finally got one swap done (I've got eight more to go) and mailed....Clark still hasn't dowloaded pictures for me (He got one of my mini-art quilts before I mailed them). Last week was a little crazy...it was the first full week of school. I get about three hours to work on stuff in the mornings. I just need to get used to getting up early again (we slept in all summer). I worked on another swap this morning until I realized my color cartridge in my printer went out. Eeek. I had to find the new one. I wasted some cardstock....argh. I think I have enough printed off now or it's back to Michael's this weekend for more cardstock. We didn't do much this weekend. Mostly we sat in front of the television and watched "Leverage" Season 1 and "Burn Notice" Season 1.....I got them for me, but Clark has informed me they will be leaving for an extended trip soon. He got "Breaking Bad" for himself.....that is one disturbing show. Well, back to work for me....I had my playtime in the rain. :)

Clark is home

Clark got home on Sunday night and has a few days off. So we ran around on Monday, getting school supplies and looking for crafting supplies that don't exist. He had a dental appointment on Tuesday...so we lost most of that day. Wednesday- I decided we were going someplace as a family (since the boys had no real "vacation" during their summer vacation (Clark had to work a lot during June). I decided on a wild animal park in Albany, Ga. It was small and they and a playground. It was nice (minus the one really obnoxious family). Billy even named some of the animals. He had a good time and he didn't have any blow-ups. We ate at the park. On the way home, we stopped at Mark's Melon Patch (a roadside stand operation) and perused the goods. Billy enjoyed the free samples of watermelon (okay, he didn't really like yellow watermelon)....so much that he went back for another one. Clark took a few pictures, but hasn't downloaded off his camera. Thursday, Clark took Jr to work with him (hee hee). That leaves yesterday...it was the first day of school for the boys. It was so quiet in the house. Billy has preschool in the mornings now. I didn't get much accomplished....I flitted from one thing to the next. I guess if I had been able to find the things I needed on Monday...I could've got some real work done. :) Finally, the winners are........(chosen by hubby)...Jenny and Elizabeth. As soon as I figure out where I hid them from Billy..they will be in the mail. :) I hope you have a great weekend!

The post with borrowed photos and a giveaway

I got fun things in the mail yesterday. I ordered these adorable squirrels for the S-2 shop for my husband (I always get to find the things for weddings/births) . We've had three babies born and no happy baby present given yet...I've been slacking. What really blows..there are three more babies that will be born in the next eight months....argh. I've got it covered....she is working on more squirrels. I wanted something more than the usual baby clothes/diapers. I wanted something special that the families could hold on to from duty station to duty station. I got these (and the photo) from http://www.mykobocek.etsy.com/ She makes the sweetest animals. She is so easy to work with as well. The other two pictures (I borrowed from Michelle of Fairie Dust Dreams and my sister). The first photo is what I made for the "Things with Wings" Charm Swap....I forgot to get pictures before I mailed them off and she took pictures as things came in. She is a great hostess. Well, she mailed everyone their charms last week....I got mine yesterday. They are similiar to what Wendy has in her photo...there are slight differences. Well, there were two dropouts, so we got our two extra charms back. So I am having an impromptu giveaway. Just leave a comment on this post if you'd like a chance to win one. The bird/flower combos on the extra charms are as follows: green bird/blue flower and purple bird/red flower. I will pick two winners on the 7th of August (that is the first day of school here.....a happy day to celebrate and it is also the day I opened my Etsy shop a year ago). Good luck!

P.S. I dropped the prices on a bunch of stuff in the shop.

Oh, Insomnia....

joy of my youth. Not really...college tended to suck at times when you couldn't sleep. :) Well, the weekend went by rawther (ode to Eloise) quickly. Jr was a doll and watched Billy for me yesterday. I had to go to the post office and commissary and I just didn't feel like dealing with Billy. That worked out....the candy lady was taking some time off (Wendy the postwoman) . It was a tad lonely at the commissary, but I got things done a lot quicker. The cable was off all morning and part of the afternoon.....perfect reading time. I finished Julia's book....my she did quite a bit and what it took to get that first cookbook published...oy. I have two copies of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".....I plan on sending one to Wendy. I found one at a thrift store and the other at an Estate Sale. I, also, managed to find Simone Beck's cookbook. I plan on going through it....maybe try my hand at something...Clark will be home soon. A small miracle to me. Oy...this has been a rough month. I'm hoping things will go smoother once summer vacation is over.....a little under two weeks....happy, happy. That list for the eighth graders is down right scary. Those lists of supplies just get longer and longer every year. Billy just needs some new clothes. :) He has worn (and dirtied all his tshirts) and needs some more jeans (the only pants he'll wear). He wears jeans non-stop and freaks when you have to change them...the life of an autistic child. Quirks, quirks, quirks....he did have two taco shells of cheddar cheese for dinner. Someday, he'll maybe try the meat. He did come into the kitchen and saw the lettuce and had some "Cookie Monster-style"...it was too funny. That public broadcasting. We watched a show about the honeybees and Miss Marple tonight.....he fell asleep before the murderer was revealed (he missed the murderer last week, too). I washed dishes and cleaned up the livingroom before putting him to bed....he was quiet and in one place....I took advantage of it. Now....I am paying the price....stiff back and insomnia. Good thing there is no school tomorrow....I can sleep in. :)

Happy Days of '47!!!

Not really.....I may be from Utah, but that isn't my holiday. What that should have said was "Happy Anniversary, Wendy and Tom". I still can't believe she picked that day to get married...it just sets her up for ridicule from family every year. I love you, Wendy. I got my swap package from Jenny in England....it was so nice. I'm not quite done with mine....I wanted to make her one more thing....I just have not had as productive of a month as I had hoped....argh. I have one week left to mail her box. I was going to take pictures of what I got, but I'm having problems with the camera my brother sent me...I got it to work for a few minutes, but all I got was pictures of Billy and then it died again. I think the battery positioning is wonky at times. Blah. If it isn't bad enough that this whole digital age scares the hebby jeebies out of me (I'm so a film camera girl), but I finally get one and it hates me. I don't want to buy one if I can figure out what to do with this one. I am so cheap....it is sad. :) Clark should be home in a few weeks...than I can use his camera....I'm so funny....I can have him take my pictures for me. :) Have a great weekend!! Mom and Dad.....I know you got the day off anyway, but I hope your Days of '47 was spectacular!

Today was brought to you by the letter "T"

As in toaster, tantrums, and tired. It all started with the tired actually.....I was cleaning up my room again (an ongoing process that will last until we move). I got all my magazines pulled out, so that I can go through them. I cannot save magazines like a lot of you.....weight allowance. :) So I figured now is as good a time as any to drop some weight. :) I need to start reading my stockpile of books as well....so that I can send them to my sister. I started "French Women For All Seasons" this weekend and just couldn't finish it. I didn't mind the first book, but she just digs into America in this one. There is nothing wrong with Hershey Kisses (disclaimer...I own like two shares of Hershey stock..I, also, own a few shares of Nestle and Cadbury....had to cover all the public chocolate companies)....yes, European chocolate is good, too. I love France and most things French...just not her. So I will pass this book onto Wendy (so she can read it after she reads the first one.....I sent her that on years ago). I am now reading a delightful book about France, "My Life in France" by Julia Child. It is pretty good so far. I've had this one for awhile and had never read it...with "Julie & Julia" coming out soon...I figured why not?? I did read "Julie & Julia" (and sent it to Wendy...I'm using this blog post as a reminder to Wendy to check out her bookshelf for things to read).....it was okay...Julie got a tad annoying at times. I annoy easily. The food parts were much more interesting then her bitching and moaning. Back to today.....worked in the room. I was hungry and tried to toast some bread....my beloved toaster is dead. :( My sister bought me that back in college (92 to be exact) when we lived in a suite together. It has served us well and I had to by a new one pronto....autism boy doesn't understand "broken toaster" just "want waffles now". So I had the bright idea of going to the thrift store to see if they had one. Oy....not good....Billy did not enjoy that. Then we went to the PX.....a few more tantrums in the store and outside....argh....not a happy mommy. Very frustrating. I did manage to work on goody bag things for about 30 minutes. Some progress is better than no progress (which is where I've been for almost a week). It worked out that he went and hung out in his room today when we got back...okay, with the help of a new DVD (Word World). He did sit down and watch "101 Dalmatians" with me last night...two and half times. At first he didn't want to watch it at all...his beloved GPB was on. He woke up this morning and wanted "doggies"....so that was cool..he even yipped a little. We just got back from our walk....where he only pitched a fit at the beginning...he was trying to go into someone's carport and I wouldn't let him....I got a nice headbutt for that. He was good for the rest of the walk. Well, the boys have been fed and I get to eat...woohoo. Hopefully, I can knock out a few more things tonight. It all depends on how fast I can eat.....I think I shall snarf down my food in honor of Mirelle Guiliano. :)