I've been working on large sewing projects lately, so there hasn't been much to update. I have seven days of work yet to do on a quilted duvet cover I started a few weeks ago, and, when I'm too tired to stand over the cutting board or sling the iron around, I work on my little tapestry.

But I wanted a few new summer tops before vacation season begins.

( Something Simple )

News and events in the order experienced.

1. My brother, sister-in-law, and niece started their long move back to Bellingham after a brief visit with us this morning. Some tears on our end after their van pulled away.

2. Called Mom. Dad's tests came back clear and they brought home a new puppy. Dad, who's always been a bit standoffish toward pets since BruunHildegard, the Norwegian Elkhound we had when I was a kid, actually suggested that the puppy spend his nights in their bedroom. Jaw-dropping, that.

3. Phone call from my Mother in law in Montana. Grandma, the one who's had issues with suicide and diabetes, has been in a coma since Thursday. She had a minor stroke a few weeks ago, and suffered an aftershock seizure Thursday morning. Doctors expect her to wake up soon. We'll see. They had trouble diagnosing her at first; thanks to her prior history, they assumed she'd OD'd on something, so they wasted some time trying to take care of her stomach first. :sigh: Oh, Gran...

But, oh, I'm so very, very glad that Dad's okay!!

Thanks, all. :) I hope we know about Dad soon...

On a more frivolous note... I'm "the minister's stylish wife." When I heard that today, I about died laughing. Oh, how things have changed!

I remember listening to a sermon where the pastor described a girl dressed "very scary" who walked by a specific greasy spoon in Bellingham during the previous week. He described the outfit. Um, yeah. I'm pretty sure that was me. It was a pretty unusual outfit. :sigh: I wasn't even rebelling through clothes, that's the sad thing. But I thought the sermon was funny because the guy was urging people to reach out to people who dressed in ugly tights and combat boots while I'm thinking, "Totally not necessary, Dude," and feeling very surly indeed.

I'm not ultra stylish, though. Still can't abide booties on anyone other than gazelle-like women, and it will be a cold day in Ecuador before I think a jumpsuit should be worn anywhere other than the military or prison. Or on a baby. Babies can pull off jumpsuits. Grown women should not wear jumpsuits, no matter what they're calling them this season. And those necklaces that are just strips of fabric wrapped around strands of beads? Um, WTF.

There's been sadness around here, lately.

Remember years ago, when we lived in Sequim? In Sequim, I found out I was pregnant, gave birth, and officially caught the crafting bug, and with me that whole time was a woman who'd been a family friend from our California days. She taught me how to spin wool into yarn. She loved campy Science Fiction, shared the same faith I have, and was always cheerful no matter how much her body ached. She was the mother figure hanging around during my pregnant days while my mother was hours away.

She died last week. Cancer.

I'll miss you, Leah.

I'll miss George, too. He was the family dog, the sweet lab who loved and was gentle with everyone. He died on Sunday. Cancer.

And then there's Dad. The doctor removed a cancerous growth from his knee on Friday. We still don't know whether the growth was benign or malignant. 3 1/2 inches. I'm torn between feeling scared for Dad and annoyed as heck because it let it get that big before he went in.

It's been over two years, but I can officially say that I again write daily for extended lengths of time. I gave up on the idea of one to two hour slots and instead declared that every non-kid related minute between waking and 11:00 am is for writing. No laundry. No dishes. No e-mail checking or "quick trips" to the store.

I wasn't sure this would work, but it has. I have more patience when the girls need stuff, so I'm not barking psychotic nonsense like, "Shut up, Mommy's working," or any of those other phrases we're all guilty of when under extreme time constraints. So, on Wednesday my productive stretches were no longer than fifteen minutes each, but I still managed to accomplish an hour's worth of work between 8 and 11. Monday and Tuesday I was hardly interrupted at all and was able to edit, plan, and draft missing scenes without losing any thought trains to wipe bottoms or refill water bottles. Today, I put in an hour before anyone woke up since the usual time slot was occupied by Bible Study.

In other news, I took Emilie to the ER on Sunday because she had a bad reaction to a bug bite. Yeah. That was fun. I wouldn't have taken her in except we couldn't tell if she'd broken her wrist or was having a reaction. She wasn't in pain, but, well, if Emilie knows a trip to the doctor is imminent, she's inclined to say everything is just peachy. By the time we reached the ER, the bite was more apparent - gray and spreading. Plus side of the experience: I learned a lot about insect venom and how the body responds to it.

Down side: the mosquitoes this year are real bastards.

I've been crazy busy again. After I finished the 4 shirts, I had another custom order. Finished both, mailed them, ripped out more carpet from the house, painted my craft room green, read many books, had a few insanely prolific writing days, and then purchased the new Sims 3 game.

Um. Yeah. After that, the insane busyness stopped, and the game-induced lack of sleep period began. I did not mean to purchase this game. Unfortunately, I was in Hell (Wal Mart) on the day it was released, and there's something about WalMart that makes me buy video games. Maybe it's because I'm so bored when I'm in there, maybe it's because I already feel dirty and sinful just from pacing the aisles. Maybe I'm just weak when it comes to slightly-discounted software...

Anyhoot. Found out a few hours ago that my MIL was arriving today. Um, thanks for the heads-up, E. :glare: Just finished a good scurryfunge - got the house in tip top shape. The good towels were actually clean this time, so I could hang them. And, wow. With the icky old carpet gone and the hardwood revealed, the house looks clean after I clean it. Hurrah!

I have a few projects to share, but I need to take the photos first. Finished a chic top from a very Jackie-O '60's pattern. Totally love it. Wore it straight off and, er, now it's in the laundry, so lord knows when I'll see it again... Woe.

Someone issue me a Mommy demerit.

It took thirty minutes to prepare the girls for playing in the front yard today. I was supposed to tend the garden while they rode their various vehicles along the sidewalks. Ten minutes after exposing ourselves to nature, Emilie spotted a fly. Insert histrionics. On her way to safety (if you grab my leg with both arms and hang on for dear life, there isn't a thing in the world that could harm you. Bet you didn't know that.), Emilie was met by a teensy little sugar ant.

Me (who could probably have been a BIT more understanding): Oh, just squash it with your shoe. Emilie, there are bugs everywhere. We're outside. It's where the bugs live.

She stood in the middle of the sidewalk, red-faced and vein-popping hysterical, and screamed, "I'm NEVER EVER EVER GOING OUTSIDE AGAIN! EVER! NEVER EVER!"

( And, oh, there's more to this story.... )

This is ten thousand times better than her phobia of birds. Once upon a time, looking out the window and seeing a bird in the tree scared her silly.

(Is it wrong of me to laugh about this? I mean, seriously. "SOMEONE PLEASE SAVE MY HAMBURGER!!!" I need to embroider that on her quilt. I really do.)

I'm off to read the second book UPS brought. :)

Project complete! I feel like I leveled-up in a video game; the adrenaline rush you get while fighting the level Boss is fading and I'm just watching the cut scene. The princess is supposed to upgrade my weapon, right?

So, I won't bore you with yet more photos of little boy shirts. Even I'm getting bored of them (time to move on!). Look here if you must.

But! I have something else to share.

Bujold fans. Behold: our new dishtowel.

( No Artificial Shortages! )

I made this for my husband. He does the dishes around here, and this remains our favorite household quote. Hmm. Might have something to do with our waistlines...

I think we got food poisoning at our friend's BBQ last night. It must've been the Caesar salad since the girls didn't eat any and they feel fine today. That's what I get for trying to eat my veggies. ;)

Aaaaaand...this is triggering another episode of whatever the hell is wrong with me. :sigh:

In other news, I'm 3/4 of the way finished with the shirts with two more days to go. I was freaking out about this time two days ago. Much more relaxed about the whole business, now.

Also, I have a new desk-ish surface for my working computer. My old surface was lovely but not very functional. Now I have room for the monitor, keyboard, lamp, and the gigantic beast of a 4 inch notebook that holds the manuscript. No more balancing the notebook on a chair! No more picking up the notebook and swearing because I can't find my place! Hurrah!

No surprise, but things are busy as usual around this house. I'm hard at work on a commission (4 shirts!) this weekend, but must find time for a BBQ, a few visiting relatives, and figuring out what we need to order for VBS. Oh, yeah. And Lizzie still has an accident or two a day, so insert numerous baths, extra loads of laundry, etc.

And the church gave us permission to rip out the nasty carpet and reveal the hardwood beneath. I'm STRONGLY RESISTING the urge to do so immediately.

My poor kids. We played outside a lot last week, and they hate being cooped up while the weather is so fantastic. But, it can't be helped. Can't sew outside. :(

But here's something I managed to make while recuperating from last week's procedure (when the weather was foul)...

( Another skirt I like... )

I'm still recuperating, but wanted y'all to know that the tests (so far) are all negative. My body is having a tough time waking up again, though, so I've done nothing more than sleep since Wednesday. Soooooo tired....

Finally, something new for the shop... Perfected the mini-maxi dress. The girls and I love how this turned out. Emilie wants a red dress, though, and Lizzie has her eye on a different fabric - so I've got this one up in the shop.

Beware. It's cute enough to make you swear. (Or, perhaps that's just me...)

( Picture-heavy... )

I meant to post this earlier today, but life intervened. I ended up out at the doctor's office, and came home with directions for a colonoscopy. Luckiest 32 year old I know? Me. :sigh:

But! Saw Star Trek yesterday. :flails: Talk about amazing movies! Favorite character: toss up between Bones and Scotty.

I'm spending mine sick. At last I caught what the others caught. :P But, around lunchtime, my sis-in-law is showing up to watch the kids. E and I are going to boldly go where most of you have gone already: to watch the newest Trek movie.

It's really wonderful to have E back home. It's odd, though, because we don't spend all hours with each other - I spent all day in my craft room, yesterday - but it feels good just knowing that he's somewhere in the house, most likely puttering in his own creative space.

And then, if he wasn't home, I wouldn't have come downstairs to see this yesterday:

( Fast Asleep... )

And, with that, I'm off to make a pot of Stash's ginger-lemon tea. Have you had that yet? It's heavenly on a sore throat.

Well, Em and I agreed that this dress is perfect, but I still have changes to the overall pattern that I've planned.

We're giving this one to the next door neighbor - it's her birthday. :)

Emilie's modeling this time. And, gah. It's scary how much she looks like I did.

( Finished dress )

Ok. For those of you who can sew a little, or who want to encourage your kids to sew, etc...

I'm really excited about Craft Hope. This is a faith-based, grass-roots organization that spreads crafty love to kids in need. It's a small movement. There are photos from their last project of the kids actually wearing their pillowcase dresses.

Current project: dolls. These will be traveling to Nicaragua.

There are links to free patterns. For those who are intimidated at the idea of making a doll, the project organizer had never made one before either. In their flickr group, I see knitted and crocheted dolls as well as dolls made from cloth.

The deadline is June 13. If you're interested, you can sign up there.

Just a quick note to say...

There are no more diapers in this house. Go, Lizzie!

Ok. Wow.

Bones.

I'm waiting for my heart to stop thudding. Think I'll make a plate of nachos and watch the episode again.

Just...wow.

(:sniff: I wish E was here to watch it with me...)

I MISS MY HUSBAND!

( Passing time so that I'm not so lonely...cleaning... )

In other news, I'm developing on a new pattern. I think those maxi dresses are cute, but I know they'd make me look even shorter than I am. Thought it might be fun to make one for the girls...

( Prototype )

Have I mentioned yet that my eldest daughter is a great artist? Nope. Not boasting. ;) But, truly, Emilie's favorite thing in the world is to draw, whether she's drawing letters or drawing an unflattering picture of Mom (me) standing on the front porch yelling (gigantic O of a mouth) because Emilie is riding a reindeer (with a huge smile).

Emilie's latest triumph: mermaids. I had her draw me an embroidery template so that we could turn her drawing into lasting art (as in...a picture that Elizabeth will not attempt to color in with highlighter pens from E's office). Elizabeth and I stitched up the drawing (she pulls the needle if I poke it through the material) while Emilie was playing next door.

( Emilie's Mermaid )

One Mother's Day gift down, two to go. :)

Yay! I'm so pleased with how this turned out. A few things could have been better, but I'm happy to overlook all flaws.

And now for a day of rest. Might be time to break in the chair with a good book. :)




( The Chair )