Augh!

 Have I told you that I started the c25K. I'm actually in the end of week 3 - half way to a 5K. I have a plan to run around Monona Bay before doing a real 5K. Those plans are on hold.

I really like the program because it starts so gradually. I've been doing so good - no shin splints.... NONE! I usually get them within 4 or 5 times of running - not this time. While running, I was listening to podcasts of knitting, cooking and running and had a great idea! I should probably listen to some music. Not knowing how to load music that I want to listen to (you see my husband loads the music because I don't want to learn how to do it), I looked into so apps for said music. There are lots of free ones that are good - just go to podcasts and look up running music. I thought to myself that I should kick it up a notch and listen to music that was about 140 beats per minutes. I guess that is close a 9 minute mile. I think I am at about an 11 or twelve minute mile. HAH! It felt so good to do the running yesterday until late afternoon.  I guess along with pushing myself to far that I didn't stretch out enough. Is that possible? I could barely walk. To top it off I went to karate - mistake! I have really agravated my plantar fasciitis.

I've finally got a plan AND am committed to it, to get fit, and loose a butt load of weight (pun intended). It is a long term plan so I will not to get discouraged about having to take some time off of exercise. I'm  giving myself a week off of karate and my walk/run schedule. I may start biking next week. I am getting re-aquainted with stretching and ice. Yuck.... I AM doing a 5K in October. If I have to walk it, I will.

The boys have a new station on Pandora called kidzbop. It has all kinds of current music usually sung by kids. I don't mind it. While cleaning his room, found those funky glasses you get from the eye doctor after dialation and made up a dance to the black eyed peas.

 DJ Simie spinning the virtual discs on the ipad

A summer happiness

This is one of my favorite summer "things" or maybe I should say "end of summer" things.

See that little tan line. Go back, it's ok. I love it when the boys get there back to school haircuts. Don't ask me why, but it's one of my pleasures.

Cat Wrangling

Today was another "boring" day here. Nothing to do. No friends to see. Nothing to eat. No more video games or t.v. shows. Then someone found a cat collar and the rest is probably a kitty that will need some xanax.

(ian was messing with different photo finishes)

 Shortly after this the cat bolted because he didn't like the ratcheting sound of the dog leash - go figure.

Now to figure out what's for supper. Have a good rest of the day everyone.

What does one do when it's too hot for anything??

Well she lives in her swimsuit, for one. You'll have to use your imagination for that - it is a nice suit.

She sews and sews...

 Dresden Plates - I think I have 4 sew to this stage. Each plate has twenty pieces. There will be 24 plates in all - that's 480 of those spears for this quilt. I'm not even going to think about how many times I have touched those little buggers.

 I still have 80 of them to sew together, turn and press. This pattern is a bit labor intensive at the start.

 Then she listens to two boys whine and wheedle about how there's nothing to do..

 She watches one take a nap with the cat....

Then she goes out to the garden to see that something is enjoying her tomatoes....

 And she spies small cucumbers on the vine.

Is it "warm" by you?? What are you doing to stay cool and sane?

So....

The boys watched Nick Walenda walk across Niagara Falls last week. They have been busy in the backyard creating tight rope riggings and zip lines. I suppose I should have stopped them for "safety reasons" but they weren't arguing and no body got hurt.

I have been doing a lot of creating/crafting. Just need to take pictures of all of it.

some days are better than others - today was not one of those days

This morning was another morning when the boys just wouldn't go. If I could be late for work - today would have been one of those days. They just screwed around. AND I needed to get gas in my car.

Then I had a major anxiety attack about Kal's job search. He's applying all over the place, but hasn't heard back from ANY of them. My work contract comes in a couple of weeks and I talked to the business manager today to "inform them of my situation". Which is???

Ian is having friend issues - same old thing. It makes me sad. He thinks that he needs to brag to a friend (not in my opinion) in order to keep him as a friend. What a friend!!

While I was boiling water for supper, I melted the above pan to the burner. That's what I get for walking away to help. I turned on the wrong burner. I have to admit it was pretty cool. I think I got it all off the burner. Now I have to see if the burner still works.

Science Fair

The science fair is tonight. We are almost ready for it....The pictures have to be glued onto the poster board and I have to convince Simon to put on a short sleeve shirt with his camo shorts. As opposed to the sleeveless one, he went to school in this morning. Can you believe that the kid is going to school in sleeveless shirts in March?? It was close to 80 yesterday... He wanted to be prepared for today.

The terrariums turned out great and they do show the water cycle (I'm back on the science fair projects, if you were concerned about the shift in content). The boys like them and understand how the water cycle works so I guess that is all that really matters.

Enjoy.

First fire

The weather has been beautiful for several days. It's supposed to be even nicer tomorrow. Don't know how that could be for mid March, but I'll take it. Day after tomorrow we could have snow (the forecast says no, but weather is changeable).

The boys have been asking for a fire, so tonight was the night. A small fire and roasted marshmallows. The smell of burnt sugar was divine.

Just a little prickly

 The oldest is a bit prickly right now. Homework issues.

We had a little reprieve after Christmas and now the honeymoon is over. We are back to shouting (him) and me trying to soothe him and move him along. He complains that he never gets any free time. And truthfully, sometimes it feels like that even for me. 

We are going to start something new next week. Hopefully that will help his self-esteem and the mood of our house. I'm not sure how much more yelling I can take...

Better

The bridge between Metropolis, IL and Paducah, KY

Today is a better day. Yesterday wasn't so bad either. I didn't find a needle. But to be honest I didn't go looking very hard either. Maybe later in the week.

I did however start sewing on a quilt kit my mom got me at Hancock's of Paducah. Have you ever been there? It is fabric overload. Thousands of bolts of fabric...moda, alexander, butler....you name it.

The first time I went there was during AQS show several years ago. I was on overload looking at all of those quilts and then the vendors. Quilting nirvana. I remember going home (to the camper) at the end of the day and petting all of my fabric purchases wishing that I had my machine with me.

So that means today is another sewing day, if I can get the boys to cooperate.

Ohh and I overheard this yesterday...
S: What are you doing?
I: Looking at this moth?
S:Hmm, it's a big one.
I: slam
S: What'd you do that for?
I: Moth's are not good for fiber. We live in a fiber house.
S: Oh...but we are outside.

Growing up

S: Hey Ian (I know I know we use "hey" quite a bit in our house)
I: What? (Read this with a little bit of soon to be 7 tone)
S: I used your man wash today in the shower.
I: Really... Come here (Ian sniffs Simon). You smell good.
S: Yah, I know. You gotta try that stuff.

Exchanges like this make me smile. The boys are growing up (I know that is part of the process of life) but...

Have a good weekend everyone. I'm off to brave the cold with friends at the farmers market.

Why didn't I think of this before?

One tent in a shady spot in the backyard....

Several trips in and out to get the needed supplies ....

Time to get the painting complete (well almost - the ceiling isn't done - but that's for a different day.)

Tomorrow trip pictures - I know you can't wait....

Hmmm, it just occurred to me.....

Rascal being using as a security scanner

(the picture has nothing to do with the post - I just thought it was cool)

We occasionally use Bach Rescue Remedy at our house. It is a homeopathic remedy that is supposed to calm and center you when things are going haywire. The boys get it when they are out of control crying, so worried about something that they can't focus on other things, and the like. Simon doesn't particularly like it.

Yesterday before we left for E's house, Simon found a dropper and filled it with water. He said,"Here Mommy. You need to take this before we leave." I said sure - I played along thinking that maybe it would make my life easier. I didn't think much about it.

Fast forward to the evening, I was in the bathroom picking up stuff and I began to wonder where he got the water in the dropper from. Was it from the bowl with the expanding dinosaur - also know as the new cat sink. Did he fill the sink (which really, really needs to be cleaned) with water?

I reminded myself that I didn't get sick SO it didn't really matter, right? BUT my job for today is to clean that bathroom!

What do you do?

So, what do you do when it's colder than_______ (you can fill in the blank with your favorite saying).

Today we did all kinds of fun stuff. First we had pancakes and bacon. Then we watched a Scooby Doo movie. It was one I have never seen before, same basic plot with new technology added.


Then we moved downstairs and I cleared off the top of the white shelves, putting "stuff" away, and sorting fabric into the drawers by color. I still have a closet and two more flat surfaces to clear and put away, but I think I may have to start a project or finish a project before that gets done. Anyone for some creating?

After a scrumptious lunch of grilled cheese and tomato soup, it was quiet time. I even got under the covers and continued reading The Thirteenth Tale. After about an hour, I realized that it sure was quiet in a weird sort of way. There was some quiet chatter and whirring going on. I pulled myself away from the book and this is what I found.

They moved their ramps to the living room, so that I could make these.

I wish I had smell-o-vision. Chocolate chip with dried cherries. Delicious- according to Ian.

And what are those two up to right now, you might ask? They are cleaning the bathroom with the Clorox wipes they found in the closet. If you are wondering, they are doing a thorough job. There most likely won't be any wipes left in the container when they are finished. And the bathroom will be "shiny and bacteria free".

Take care and stay warm everyone.

Little Pleasures

Quiet after a day of too much fun.
I heart these little stockings. They have been so much fun to make and a part of the Craftacular "booty".

Simon got a new haircut. It is really, really short. We are hoping it will keep him from pulling out the little bits that he has been doing for a while. He also has to watch any tv or movies in his underwear. When I went out to the living room, he was laying on the couch Fred Garvin style watching Wallace and Gromit.

Now it's time to get some clothes on "Fred" and go outside for awhile.