the sky is pink

What's the cardinal rule? Moms don't get sick. Especially when Dad's away. Right? Shortly after yesterday's post, I discovered I had a wicked case of mastitis. I have never gotten mastitis with a baby this age. It's the second time I've had it since Sawyer was born. I had the full package deal again. Body aches, chills, fever, extreme fatigue, and a very sore mastitisy-area (which went up into my armpit as well). My toes even ached. I ached in places I didn't know could ache. Luckily I was able to take ibuprofen and get an antibiotic. I feel slightly better this morning, but I'm far away from being well. (Although losing 4 pounds in one day can make a gal feel better.) Spenser kept monitoring my condition. She would come over and touch me (as I laid on the couch) and screech, "Oh, Mommy! You're hot!" Nothing like being reminded. So what's up with the picture of my hand? I bruised my palm. I'm not only sick, I'm injured as wel...

The other night when I was sewing the pillows , I sewed an outfit for baby. I made a pair of shorts from that faux-vintage fabric that I love and appliqued a onesie. The onesie was one I found in the drawer that didn't have a tag. I'm hoping it fits him. He's a chunky 19.2 pounds (as of Monday). It's almost patriotic looking. He's going to wear it today when we go to: Mason's preschool graduation. How cute is he?!? I could eat him up. Time to think: Are you smarter than a second grader? Apparently I am not . I have the answer now, thanks to Laura and Aaron . This is from Carter's homework last night. Find a compound word using this clue: Something exciting to tell + something you write on

It's been something else around here the past few days. A lot of bickering, quarreling, arguing, and bossiness. With Joe being gone, it's starting to take its toll on the children. The school year is wrapping up within the next week. The children are getting burned out from school, karate, and scouts. Everyone needs a break (including me). This morning two boys were fighting over the same cereal bowl. One had it. The other wanted it and took it. ( A cereal bowl for Pete's sake!) Things like that. But it's been constant for two days. Yesterday it was Legos (I think). The same two boys. The Legos were confiscated and they were sent outside to play. This kind of stuff happens at the end of every school year. It makes me wonder what the summer break is going to be like. Makes me scared, too. Anyway, after getting them to bed around 9:30 last night (their bed time is 8:30, for my sanity and it was an hour past), I was just in a bad, kind of funky mood. Dinner dishes were s...

My sister, Emily, found a jar of her husband's grandmother's buttons. She sifted through them and pulled out all the ones she thought I'd like. She was right! I like love them all! There are some very cool ones in there. And I think grandmother's buttons are always the best. Even when it's not your own grandmother. Yesterday my friend, Kim, stopped by with a gallon-sized ice cream bucket full of freshly picked strawberries. YUM! The smell is unbelievable. And, lest I forget, I was a Free Fabric Friday winner! Lucky, lucky , me! Gee. I could start getting used to Joe being gone ... (just kidding, dear)

I thought this weekend was a bust until I just uploaded my photos from this weekend. On Friday was Jackson's kindergarten play day. And, boy, was it hot! Racing (in the green). Giant ball rolling. Tug of war. (His green team won both times.) Swimming in pool and having water battles with sprinkler. A trip to the carnival for a few games, cotton candy, candy/caramel apples, and chats with friends. Playing in the creek for five minutes (during a birthday party) before a thunderstorm. We had rain this weekend. A thunderstorm on Friday night. A little bit of rain on Saturday. Rain all day Sunday. We desperately needed the rain, so we welcomed it. Plus, it gave us a reason to stay inside and take it easy.

He's gone. For two weeks. He's two time zones away. I'm going to miss him. This is the progress on last week's quilt WIP . The top is all sewn together. The backing is almost there (I did that last night after the children were asleep.) The planning of this quilt has changed so many times. I can barely remember what I originally had in mind. I think I'll start to get panicky when I start the quilting part. I'm not looking forward to that. I don't think I can do it. And, finally, here is the Memorial Day skirt I made last Friday. I wore it on Sunday to church (with a white blouse) and then on Monday (with a white tee) to the first parade of the week. It's from Simplicity 7229. While it was a very simple pattern (although not as easy as Simplicity 5505), I have to say that I am not loving the yoke. It was supposed to be cut on the bias, which makes it lay funny above the drawstring. It's okay, though, and when I make it again, I will prob...

Last night was the carnival parade. It comes right down our street. We live on a dead end, so we have to walk to the corner to watch. Let the festivities begin. This first picture is for Kim and Nikki. They couldn't believe I was trying to take a picture of it. A roach clip, anyone? I did not know these things were still around. Or legal. We used to want them when we were younger. Until our mother told us what they were used for. Taylor and Carter "in position" to run after the candy being tossed to the children. My favorite part of any parade is always the marching band(s). Apparently Kallie and Spenser thought so, too. They were dancing to the music. Another favorite? This band in the back of the wagon. See all the stuffed animals at the top? There is also a large animated dragon on the top of the van pulling the wagon. It is in every parade in our town. It's all fun. Tomorrow I will post some of my sewing projects. I have been a teensy bit crafty this carnival w...

Fake surfing. Memorial Day parade watching. Bubble popping. A few stolen minutes of embroidering (in my new Memorial Day skirt) while little ones swam, popped bubbles, got out of the pool, fake surfed, got in the pool, played with wooden kitchen foods, got out of the pool, played dress up, got in the pool, rode the mini four wheeler, got out of the pool, jumped on the trampoline, got in the pool, etc. And last night: waiting in line for the first carnival ride of the season. Winning fish. The fish who will hopefully eat the mosquitoes in our rain barrel. (Mason ran into the house this morning screaming the fish are dead. I will have to run down back and check them.) Joe sneaking back for carnival food after the kids are in bed. Look at that Old Bay on the fries. Yum! Did I mention the carnival is a block away from our house? It's closer than our post office. In fact, we can see the top of the ferris wheel from Spenser's bedroom window through the treetops. I love my t...

We had a great long weekend. It felt like a mini vacation. Here is a snippet of it. Riding on the mini four wheeler. Another Lowe's workshop for kids (the Lowe's race car ). A new pool filling with water. And a little girl falling in the new pool filling with water. Painting race car . Swimming in ice-cold pool just because it's ready.

On Tuesday night (after the children were in bed), I cut out a pattern for a new skirt. I'm using some of the vintage fabric that I recently acquired. I think I'm going to call it my "Memorial Day (parade) skirt." It's kind of red, white and blue. Or maybe it's black instead of blue. I'm not sure. I'm going to finish it and wear it to the parade on Monday morning. And here is the start of a quilt. I cut these late one night over the weekend when I probably should have been sleeping instead. It's a stack of 4 1/2" squares and some more fabric to cut. All from the same vintage fabric stash . I was planning to make a quilt, but got diverted and made the doll quilt first. I think I was just testing the waters there. And I know I should invest in a walking foot. (Thanks to all the suggestions!) And I couldn't post today without saying that my littlest man is 8 months old today. Can you believe it? I truly cannot. I am so in love with ...

At the Play Day there was: a three-legged race (Carter); sno-cones (Taylor, Spenser and Mason); toe eating; third place in the 200-meter; (Notice the boy in the very back? He lost a shoe during the race! He kept going.) hill rolling (Spenser and Mason); and Mason falling asleep during dinner. Or actually before dinner. A horrible eye infection or pink eye (?) I started giving him eye drops and antihistamines yesterday, but it's not helping. A call to the doctor might be necessary. They don't open until 11:30 a.m. today. (Jack's kindergarten play day is next week.)

The winner(s) from yesterday's vintage doll dress giveaway : Sara ! AND Heidi ! With only two real entries, how could I pick only one? I will send both of you a set of doll dresses. Please email me with your addresses. (Sara, I know you're in the process of moving, so tell me where to send yours.) And here is the doll quilt I just finished. I use the term "doll quilt" loosely here, as it was really only two panels of fabric, batting and binding. There was no patchworking or piecing involved. Maybe I shouldn't use the term "quilt," as to not offend real quilts. The fabric is from this thrifted sheet . I used some vintage fabric for the binding. This was my first ever attempt at quilting. It's not very pretty. There was some puckering along the way. (See the line across the back? And at the binding? And ...) And a lot of blind-stitch confusion. (If it's supposed to be "blind," why is it so visible??? Am I doing it wrong? I know not....

You guys are too nice . Really. I never knew how many people have had their hair permanently changed due to pregnancy. I smiled with each of your comments. Especially those from my wavy-haired comrades. It seems that everyone, except Beki , had their hair turn wavy or curly after pregnancy. Beki was the odd-woman out. Her hair went straight. Lucky girl. The next time I see a wavy-haired lady, I'm going to "know" she's a mother. I might just even wink and nod at her in approval, like we're in a secret club together. Um. Okay. Maybe not. The real reason for this post is for a doll dress giveaway. Yep. It's time. I was waiting to give some to my sisters and friends, but for some reason, I keep forgetting to drag this big box of dresses with me everywhere I go. I decided to just offer two of the dresses that I have multiples of. First up, one blue floral and one yellow floral vintage doll dress with matching bloomers. These dresses have not been laundered by me (...

and ye shall receive: I really did not expect so many requests to see my new 'do. I posted that WIP because I was unproductive on the craft side last week. My hair is still a WIP. It's definitely not looking like the girl in the magazine (hee hee hee). It's supposed to be choppy and piecey at the ends. Still working on that part. My hair was always straight growing up. Six children later, I have wavy (sometimes curly) hair. (Pregnancy does some weird things to your body.) I have been blow drying it with a paddle brush and then straightening it with a flat iron. According to the last picture, it's more straight than usual, but still not straight enough. Oh well. I can't see that side. My original goal (before getting my hair cut) was to keep it long enough for a ponytail. We abandoned that idea before the first snip of the scissors. I love that my stylist is adventurous and flexible. I didn't take a "before" shot. The only thing that comes clos...