Scenic Route

I've been sorting through my digital pictures (7 years worth!!) lately and it tickled me how my holiday and just-because notes and gifts for my Munchkins have went from a few to 8 within those 7 years (! ) resulting in quite the assembly line of giving.  After all, I couldn't do for just 1 and not all 8 for goodness sake.  Here's some pictures of just a few projects--without the countless fun pillowcases I make most every year and the set of Bitty Baby clothes for each granddaughter when she turns 2 (receiving the Bitty Baby when she turned 1).  Before I leave the US in the fall, I always have books and jammies/nighties sewn or purchased for Christmas; but still, we like to send cards and icecream $ to mark all the holidays :)

...or, in my case, in the air again. Re-entry into UB was a bit bumpy this time--the jet lag hit me up the side of the head.  The result:  I spent about 2 days as a giant Whine-y Butt.  Yuk.  Poor Randy.  Now, it could be due to the fact I've been on 6 international flights and one domestic within the last 3 1/2 months.  It's worked out to every 3 weeks within that time--plus one Mongolia-US trip on the horizon in, yes, 3 weeks!  Still, no excuse for sin, hmm? Stars or Bars?  Randy says perception is reality.  Do I whine and complain about the stresses and strains of this kind of travel/life or do I embrace the incredible adventures I've had for the last 7 years?  My choice. All that said and out of the way...here's some things that make me smile: My travel buddies--my Travel Pro Walk About (#2 for me--my 1st just plain wore out.  I gave it to Randy :).  This is technically a carry on--but I just don't.  However, i...

Just when I thought my sewing space in the loft was perfectly brilliant--the beautiful trees, the birds, the clouds--I improved upon it!  We had a boat anchor in the basement:  an absolutely HUGE desk we bought at Costco 10 years ago (isn't everything  huge at Costco?) that I have tried to give away for a year.  It simply would not fit in any interested party's space --and I don't do Craig's List because of the Strangers in My House Thing.  ...but I kept thinking it would make an amazing sewing space, but got arguments from all. Well, recently, I asked my son-in-law and his dad to help me move it up 2 flights of stairs and assemble it.  (OK, I mostly watched and carried up the small parts.)  They graciously obliged (with minimal grunting and Christian cussin' :)...and, yes! It is  amazing!  We scooted the Mongolian ger furniture around and here are the results: Yep, every surface you see in the above picture is   one unit!  ...

I recently made a quick trip to Spokane to see Jana & Ben and Hannah and Abby and Elijah and Julia and Andreas :)  It's taken much longer to blog this than intended as I brought home more than hugs and kisses:  sniffles and sneezes.  I really think I'm becoming allergic to flying. Anyway, the day after I landed was Grandparent's Day and Elijah invited me to his special program at school where I got to see his class and everything.  We enjoyed a yummy lunch afterward.  The whole weekend was grand:  we worked on ( and  finished!) a great puzzle, watched "Nanny McPhee Returns" (with popcorn) and Julia treated me to an impromptu Irish step dance--though she insisted on wearing her new shoes, which cramped her twinkle toes a bit.  Oh!  ...and we had a Girl's Day Out and went shopping for complete Easter outfits:  dresses, shoes, hats, the works.  Followed by lunch of course. --Repeated with the Girlsies in Denver :D

We just finished celebrating Natalie's 6th birthday--beginning with the family dinner on her actual birthday and ending with a bash with peers at the local ice skating rink (Natalie loved skating, Layla hated it, and Kelby went with me to scope out the hunky hockey dudes ;) By the end of the weekend the family (the other grandparents came to town for the festivities) was pooped and I could see signs that Natalie's siblings were a bit done with Natalie's birthday.  I think the pictures speak for themselves, so I'm going to let them: --oh! Except to point out that the art goodies were from Papa & I--and I made that little jumper :)  --oh!  and the videos are for you, Papa. A Myer tradition carries on:  pizzas in individual cast iron