who wins, well, lately it's been play. So today I kicked into high gear and swept and mopped all the floors this morning and made bread. Still working on laundry and bathrooms. Needed a break to play :) The pic of the front yard is the work that awaits us every fall, but I'm a bit excited about the leaves this year. Yesterday I splurged and got a leaf blower that has an attachment to suck, grind, then bag up the leaves, making an awesome mulch and compost. I was disappointed it rained and I haven't used it yet. Hopefully the excitement will keep with me a few more weeks! I don't think I'll ever get thrift store shopping out of my blood, guess we were in college too long. And still now, not out of necessity so much, but just fun, I still like to scour the stores in search of those hidden treasures. And believe me, they are hidden or in some cases, non-existent. I think what I like is having to look for something I need or something worthwhile. Going to a regular store doesn't give me the same satisfaction since-let's face it- everything looks great and sure I could use it at say a place like Macy's. But, most times there's a lot of junk and I go away with a few laughs at the stuff that was actually for sale. I found this cool fabric this week and liked in a funky, retro-ish way. I bought with aprons in mind. But back to the whole work thing. I promised myself before I jumped in with anymore 'fun' sewing projects I would finish my temple dress. Yes, the sad story is somewhere between here and San Diego, I lost my temple clothes. I still feel sad about it since I loved the dress so much. I've been trying to finish a current one for several months. And I don't feel it's coincidence that things keep coming up and stalling the project. Two nights ago, my junky iron burned a hole in the slip, aahh, at least it wasn't the dress right?! Yeah, the same iron that burned Noah, it has bad karma or something. So work before play, I'm needing to get some more slip fabric before the aprons get back on the table. Well, kind of long post about nothing in particular. Lauren and Chloe are posing in their new church dresses, they always want their picture taken on Sunday mornings. Guess they feel like they are looking their best! They were looking pretty cute this time. Till next time, love from our leaf covered home to yours, stay warm.
work versus play...
skeletons, scarecrows, and red shoes, oh my...
Every year it seems Lauren and Chloe lament the fact that I hardly to anything to decorate for Halloween, blow-up lawn decor and tombstones just haven't been a priority I guess. So this year I tried to redeem myself. We made this skeleton out of eight milk cartons, it was a pain, but turned out kind of cute, in a skeleton-ish sort of way. I only sustained two cuts from the box knife I used. Not thinking I will do anymore of those little devils, plus it took the entire afternoon. I've always wanted to do a scarecrow, so I found the perfect use for one of the twenty Vandal t-shirts Cody owns. He has so much U of I sports gear, no load of wash is complete without something sporting the logo. Not that I mind, I mean I'm a proud Vandal too. The pic is a little fuzzy, but yes his 'head' is a little out of proportion with the body. We just kept stuffing and stuffing, he's a little on the chunky side, but Chloe found him to be quite lovable. It freaked Noah out a bit. A first it was "Daddy?" Then as he reached out to touch him and found he was crunchy and soft Noah kept his distance. Here's Noah with his "There's no place like home" look. He loves these red Dorothy shoes that actually belong to Lauren. Poor fella, he's going to have all these pictures with girly shoes, barrettes in his hair. He just spends too much time with us ladies. Hope L & C feel a bit better about the decor and hope Mr. Vandal doesn't get rained upon too soon!
hip hip hooray....
So I was reading the free newspaper we get every week (which I never used to read when we got the REAL paper-need to renew that :) And on the front page is an article about a food co-op coming to downtown Idaho Falls!!!!!!!! I'm so excited! In my opinion that's one of the few things this beautiful city needs. It's right next to Great Harvest Bread on A St. I loved the Moscow Co-op, hope this one has as many good things to offer. So go check it out and buy local!
ahh fall time...
my favorite season...So after the first big snow of the season!?!? it's finally back to 'real' fall weather. I was NOT ready for that, give me another two months of fall please. I had to post a bunch of pictures to make up for the past month. And because they're awesome since the fabulous Lisa took them. I love the colors in this first picture. By the van I was trying to show Chloe how to bend her arms and knees and look like she was racing by, I needed some skates myself. I haven't skated for a LONG time, kind of miss going around the rink with all those bad 80's tunes blaring in the background. Anyway, back to fall-we got about 4 inches of snow on the flowers, vegetables and our two huge maple trees who had not lost their leaves yet. Streets in downtown were closed because so many tree branches were randomly falling everywhere. We lost quite a few as well. I felt so bad to hear that cracking sound and see another one hit the ground. I've had a love hate relationship with those trees. But I definitely love them now. I didn't grow up ever having to rake leaves and so inheriting these trees was a bit of a shock, not to mention a lot of work. I hated how our grass always looked littered. And my flowers would have appreciated a bit more sun, they are just so efficient, shady, and huge. But in a strange way their largeness is comforting to me, almost like a shield for our home. I know it would feel naked without them. And even the leaves are great compost, and I'm all about compost :) I think what I appreciate about them the most is how looking out the window keeps me in the here and now. If it's fall they are turning beautiful colors, in the winter they are laced with sparkling snow and ice. And when Noah was born in the spring we took a lot of naps together on my bed and I watched as new leaves emerged. And summer, wow, they're gorgeous and cool. The pods split apart making a sticky decoration for the nose as well, fantastic huh? Too bad I couldn't market those like the snore strips or something equally bizarre! I always think of those when L & C do this little trick. And I have to give thanks for my overgrown apple tree as well. I dried some slices, made applesauce, and pie filling. Fruit trees are so fun, wish I had a couple more. Thanks for funny kids who always keep me laughing and remind me that leaves fall on the ground for the sole purpose of being jumped and played in...happy raking!
four funerals and a wedding...
I never did see that movie, Four Weddings and a Funeral, but for my life it's been reversed lately. My cousin is getting married next week, but it's in Utah, so I won't be able to swing it, I'd really like to go though. I've been to four funerals in the last three weeks or so. Our ward has a lot of older folks and I usually get some of the action by accompanying musical numbers. It's been interesting to me to go and hear about their lives. I can't say that I have known them well, a couple I hadn't even met. I always seem to get a bit emotional seeing the families though, and it gets me thinking of my own. I'm not ready to bury ANYONE in mine, of course, who is!? I'm glad to be able to offer a bit of service too, I think music brings such a great feeling to a funeral service, I hope mine consists of few words and lots of music :) Lately, the constants seem to be me and Emmy Collette, a great organist, I really love this lady. She came from Austria in her twenties and I always love talking to her. She has had cancer twice and was joking last night about how all her older friends keep asking if she'll play at their funerals and she said, "I'm the one who's had cancer, I should be checking out!" I told her she's off the hook for my funeral :) She's funny, wise, and incredibly strong. I love knowing all the older folks in our neighborhood! She offered to give me some organ lessons, which I plan on taking her up on. I wish I had taken organ lessons in college, but I was so into all things piano-teaching, accompanying, and performing, that it didn't even cross my mind. So here's to a new chapter in my musical life, maybe I'll get to play at all my friend's funerals!
a good investment...
Wow, just when you think that maybe what your kids hear and listen to doesn't make an impact, a dinner conversation like this one occurs. Last night I was talking to Lauren and Chloe, they have a mutual friend in first grade who they run with at each recess. She belongs to a Christian church and Chloe was pointing out our church adjacent to the school playground. Anyway, they got in a discussion about Heavenly Father, Jesus, and prayer. Chloe quoted the first two Articles of Faith to her and then told her friend... "the Pearl of Great Price tells us that Heavenly Father's work is to help us learn to be like him and help us live forever." She quoted verbatim these tapes and CD's- Scripture Scouts- that L & C listen to almost every night. Cody and I sometimes poke fun-they do have a singing dog, but the messages are great. And they teach so many gospel concepts through music, which is so effective with kids. Lauren informed me that the two of them along with two of their friends had formed a club where they would share their beliefs. They were both so nonchalant about it and I was glad they felt they could do that. So after this encounter I'm realizing at what a young age kids form their beliefs and really start to internalize them, it's neat really, that they know what they believe in well enough to share it with others. They need something to believe in at such a young age, how grateful I am for Primary and all the great resources we have to teach our children, even if it is Scripture Scouts :)
somewhere over the rainbow...
Totally unrelated to anything, but it must be brown-recluse spider season. The girls and I rearranged their bedroom furniture and must have shoe-smashed, vacuumed, or otherwise killed close to a dozen of these humongous spiders. They gross me out, just because they grow so big and healthy in our basement. The final straw was when Noah came out with a live one in his hand, "bu, bu?" Yes, it's a bug, drop it immediately, only it came out as more of a "aaaaaaaahhhhhh, drop it, drop it NOW!" I've never actually known anyone who bitten by a spider, but better safe than sorry I say. On a different note, I'm having mixed feelings about fall coming. It has been downright cold and I feel a bit sad as I see the droopy, frozen plants, and no more sunny afternoons in the backyard playing in the water. But a good bowl of soup and piling on the blankets and snuggling close at night cures my wintertime blues. I told Cody that when we're 50-something we can be snowbirds and head to Florida in the wintertime. After so many Idaho winters I just might be ready for a warm Christmas, who knows. I'm off to fold my warm laundry, have a cozy week, stay warm...
