Scrappy Happy

This clever little jar holds a great amount of fun for me. When I was a girl, I loved to look through my grandma G's sewing memory box. (She has sewn a thing or two in her life.) She would snip a square of fabric from the leftover scraps of a project, and pin a description to it stating what it was, whose it was and when it was sewn. I fingered through bridesmaid dresses, everyday dresses, vests and skirts, and decided which materials and colors I liked best.

I decided I wanted to sew too. My very first project, done under the supervision of mom, was a handy-dandy potholder. Ooh la la! It was made from extra fabric from my favorite supercool jumper that she had made me. (This jumper I wore at least once a week.) Mom still has that ugly old potholder in her potholder drawer--yes, that's what you put in that skinny drawer right next to the stove. My next sewing project was a pair of--here comes the C-word--culottes.

Grandma G. always encouraged me in my sewing. (I still remember how excited she was over my first dress. We had to take it to her for help with the zipper.) Mom gave technical instructions, but she tended to be more pessimistic. My pinnacle achievement was a lined blazer. Mom said she didn't want me to try it because she didn't think I could do it or something or other, and that was all I needed to cut it out and sew it. I only wore it a few times, but oh the triumph!

Mom and Dad gave me a Bernina sewing machine for my college graduation and wedding. And so I decided to keep fabric memories too. I missed a few things, but in this glass jar I have my little swatches, stapled with neatly labeled cardstock. What a great idea, Grandma!

Ashes to ashes

The newest addition to my compost pile out back is poor Fishy. What's up with that, Jason?! YUK! I asked dear husband to please dispose of the floating fish, thinking flush it down the john or throw it into the field where we'll never see it again. No, he did the convenient thing and threw it out with that day's vegetable scraps to compost slowly with everything else. Such is the circle of life.

Speaking of the circle of life, Bristow had 5 kittens this past week. I knew her time was imminent when she kept trying desperately to get into the house and was meowing very loudly and unceasingly. Owen's heart was so soft toward her--he heard her and began meowing himself. Then he found a way to be close to her. She was pushing against the screen door, and Owen plunked down inside next to the door and touched her through the screen, laughing about the whole thing. (We'll have to teach him to be sensitive to a female in labor.)

Bristow, Wonder Kitty, whatever you want to call her...she is something else. She has birthed more offspring--quite the neighborhood hussy, as Jan says. She has also killed more animals and done unspeakable things to their remains. More times than I can recall have I almost stepped on her fresh offerings of headless meat at the doorstep. And more than once have I, horrified, tried to shield wee children I have been babysitting from watching her devour her latest prey. Yek.

On another note, here are some pictures of the kids with their grandpas. We love Grandpa W. and Grandpa B!

Paw Paw and Great Grandma

Here are some pictures Jason and I love. After dinner on Palm Sunday, Owen went from his daddy to his great grandpa. He crawled up, burrowed in and promptly fell asleep. And O is not the child who can fall asleep anywhere, like at the table or in the middle of his toys--he must be in his bed. We think Paw Paw was pleased.

Living on the Edge

One more post tonight just for good measure. This picture is just a little scary to me, but it makes me laugh. Popcorn/Movie Night: the next generation gets brought up right. Right mom?

And one more thing...

We signed on the house. It is SOLD!!

What makes the world go around

Our lives have been jammed full of stuff this last little while. Mostly great stuff, but it still made us busy. In no particular order:

My parents came down for Helen's dedication.

We hosted family in-laws in our basement.

Uncle Larry B. made a surprise visit.

Owen got a fish named Fishy.

Helen ate peas.

We decorated Easter egg cookies.

We ate them.

Owen's said his first understandable sentence, "I want to go to Grandma's house."

I planted flowers and one tomato plant.

We watched the kids' cousins on Saturday night.

Owen got into an ant pile.

Helen fell out of her car seat.

Owen now has two pairs of camoflauge shorts.

Owen practiced his Easter egg hunt.

I taught 2s and 3s on Easter Sunday.

I'm still not done with the week's typing.

I am baking a giant ham in the oven, and I'm afraid I got it in too late to be ready for tonight.

And the other night I almost cleaned my contacts with toothpaste.