Catching Up

I've been avoiding my blog like I avoid my sewing areas after big projects!  :D  Seems like the weekly homeschool posts were too much for me to keep up with.  Since I keep up on my Homeschool Tracker software as well as a yearly binder, I just find it to be a lot to post about it too.  I may find another way come fall...maybe a highlights vs. a log.  We're about 1/2-3/4 done with the ITBS (our standardized testing) for the year- hoping to finish that up by Saturday.

Onto the pics!  Mostly some of my most recent projects.

This is a sketch of a chicken I made for Mother's Day for my mom.  The frame idea is from Pinterest.  If you are curious, I can dig up the pin and subsequent tutorial.  Otherwise, if you follow me on Pinterest, it'd be in the house and home section.  After J cut the frame, I taped to paint the inner border white, then painted the outer area black and the inner frame with the black boxes to make it checkered.  I sanded a bit to rough it up and then coated with a couple layers of sealer after modge-podging the sketch on (which I'd sealed prior to that as well so it wouldn't smudge).  I'm very pleased with the final result and now we have a way to frame our own artwork at home in a very cost-effective way!



J participated as a delegate at the GOP State Convention this year.  He got to meet Ron Paul- the reason he got so involved this time around.  Met up with some people he knew and was able to have some good conversations with new folks as well.  
 

I made a few things to welcome my new niece, Imogin, who was born the end of May.  I made her 2 outfits, then had to make big sister Romi matching pj's and a little doll outfit too.
Here's a pic of her in the hospital:
 
Ooga Booga monsters:

Little frogs:

Romi's pj's with her doll:

The doll outfit looks huge here, but Romi's doll is bigger than the ones we had here at home:


Following Imogin's arrival was Emily's 9th birthday!  My sister Cassie made an awesome Perry cake!:  


We had a nice birthday.  A family party at the farm, and a good time out with a friend at the Mega Mall- rides, treats, Build-a-Bear, and the Rainforest Cafe.  

I participated in a charity dress sewing group online in May/June.  I took some of the older girl sizes and sewed up these two dresses to send to Haiti with some missions groups that were going.  One of the groups left a little early, but we're hoping to catch another group the end of June.  Both dresses have ties a the shoulder so they're more adjustable.  The grey one has ties in the back as well, with a flower and hummingbird appliqued on each pocket, size 10.  The printed dress is a typical 'pillowcase' dress, with pockets, size 12.



Also participated in a doll clothes swap on my favorite sewing board.  Sent them in yesterday and will hopefully have outfits back in a couple weeks!  I made 2 ballerina outfits, plus one for E:

2 tunic/legging sets:

And my favorite- a woven wrap dress with a belt a matching headband.  I made 2, but we kept one of them.


Out at the farm this year, if you're lucky, you'll spot some really cool hummingbird moths!  We thought it was a regular hummingbird at first, then saw the antennae and proboscis.  He wasn't afraid at all...this is a cellphone pic- nothing fancy.  We were able to get really close and he kept coming back.


I turned 29 just a couple days ago, so it's my last year in my 20's!  J's started back at school and it's been a grueling month.  We're hoping July will be a little less so.  We're shooting to get all of his pre-requisites done by the end of fall so he can apply for a master's program in Jan that starts Fall 2013.  He's going for occupational therapy.  It's a pretty competitive program, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  That field would be a dream for him- very fitting for his personality, skills, and work history.

Phew- hope I'm caught up now!  :)

Nana and Papa's Center Garden

I meant to upload these pics early fall but time got away.

Enjoy the slideshow...none of the pics were doctored. It's really that gorgeous! :) I will have to get pictures next summer when more of the flowers are blooming- these were taken late summer.

This is becoming THE favorite place to be from early spring to mid-fall. The kids love splashing in the stream and dipping their toes in for the fish to nibble at. The biggest of the koi is named Joseph and he will even let you pet him as he swims by. Especially if you have food! The raspberry bushes have taken off and Nana, Papa and the daycare kiddos love to pick a bowl for breakfast...and whenever they're out enjoying the day. :)

Lower Garden

This is the garden down by the chicken coop- the mostly vegetable garden. I do this with mom during the summer- we're always on the hunt for new ideas and ways to make gardening easier. New to the garden this year are the hog crates for the vines and the bean teepee for the kiddos. We tried the hog crates for the tomatoes as well...last year we ran twine from posts on the ends of the beds, the year before we staked. Each year we end up having to stake some more and this year was no different. Still searching for a favorite method there.

Click on the pics for a better view :)

Progress

On the center garden circle that is at Nana and Papa's. Here's a few pics 4ya with the liner in the pond and it partially filled. Laid out the patio too- it's coming along! Emily absolutely ADORES the stream...she played in it for hours while we worked.

You can a bigger version of the pic if you click on it:





The couple pics where it looks like just patchy lawn are actually of our Little Buddy...see him? Look close! It's our robin friend who stuck around all day flitting here and there and keeping a close eye on us. I think he appreciated Dad grating the lawn for the patio...unearthed quite a few worms I think. Hope he has more sense around Oreo- Ultimate Bird Killer. I found her around back later that evening with a mouthful of feathers...luckily Buddy was still there when I went to check. :)

A nice restful place...wonder if Dad hung his hammock? More importantly (if he did)- I wonder if he's actually laid down in it?! ;)

I'll do a separate post for the lower garden sometime here.

Going to have a photo day soon-promise!

I've gotten lots done that I haven't posted...a few skirts and hats/headbands for E for fall out of some yummy baby whale cord. A green argyle print cord dress...a couple more tees for me. I never did photograph mom's tees, we'll see if she's willing :P I'm thinking there was more, but can't remember right now.

E got a new doll set from her Great Grandma Betty...Grandma had put her name in a raffle along with a few other great grandkids and E won! She's been playing with it a lot...that reminds me that I need to take a few pics to send :) The same day she received a cute hat and matching shoes from Aunt Lyzzy...it felt like a birthday here!

I'm expecting a box of yummy fabrics soon- velour and stretch french terry for some fall sewing...among other things. With school starting back up for E I should be fairly busy...but I love the fall and though school brings it's own stresses I'm looking forward to getting back in the thick of it :) We'll be getting into a few activities as well, like swimming lessons and possibly (possibly!) gymnastics or some other fun activity for E. We'll also be looking into either a homeschool coop or group for activities and hopefully that'll garner me lots of advice on starting out as far as reporting goes...and just feeling more comfortable with it all.

The garden is out of control too...I should have taken pics of our latest cucumber gathering- holy cow! Mom is pretty sure there was only ONE cucumber plant...but at the most it was 2 and it's c-ar-aaazy how many we're getting from it/them! Beans too. Tomatoes are here and there still, but we're expecting those to turn pretty quick and all at once. The squash is coming in nicely. Our last planting of lettuce is fairly pathetic, but hopefully it'll grow a bit more and provide a decent fall picking for a couple weeks. For the first time we seem to be keeping on top of the produce coming though...well except for the crazy cukes. We've gotten rid of a bunch to other people though so at least they aren't going to waste!

Anybody else ready for fall?

Easy Breezy Linen

Last week I decided to take a quick detour and whip up these simple handkerchief-weight linen dresses. I had the linen in my stash already...it's a greyish-blue color and so light! I planned on only my dress, but there were enough scraps leftover for a dress for Em as well...I don't plan on ever wearing them together :P I don't mind a cute matchy skirt to her dress combo thing, though I'd still feel odd. But 2 dresses? Nope. Not gonna do it. I could definitely learn to love dresses though...much more comfortable than shorts. I would have to get over my feeling self-concious in our dressed down society. And find a suitable bra. Nothing I had worked with this...hence the shirt!

Can you see my new shoes?? Target $5.74 :D And yes, I cut off my head :P

A fun little photo shoot at the farm for E's dress:

The garden gets crazy this time of year...you can't pick beans fast enough and the tomatoes are always straining to free themselves from the stakes. We're down there every time I'm over tying a few stray limbs back up! It'll be nice though when the season hits...very soon. We've gotten quite a few early ones already. The chickens dug up our new crop of lettuce (grrrrr!!) but we hope to still have a 2nd round for fall. Yum-yum!

Mom's flowers out front are looking good; I took some pics when I was over just for fun...here's a little sampling of what she's got out there:

I had to include this last pic...as soon as J saw it he said Sammy's expression looks exactly like mine in photos...the whole 'I'm unimpressed by this all' look :)