Swap Goodness and a Concert

I signed up for a couple of swaps in August, and I'm now happy to say that I have sent and received both!

The first one is Shawnee's Flirty Apron Swap. This time the theme was What I Wish I Did Over Summer Vacation. One vacation that I have been wanting to take for years, is a nice drive down Route 66. My partner, Jennifer, did a fabulous job on my apron. When she posted a sneak peak of her fabric, I had my fingers crossed, and was hoping that she got my name (this swap was anonymous)! You can only imagine how happy I was, smiling from ear to ear when I opened my package. The third picture above is of the apron I made for my secret partner. She hasn't received it, yet, so I don't want to say too much, but I hope she likes it! I used McCall's pattern 3979, and plan on making one for myself, too!

The second swap was a reusable grocery bag swap on Mary Jane's Farm. I recieved my bag from Marsha last week. She used beautiful vintage fabrics and a vintage hankie. The bag I made was out of some fabric that I've had for a few years. It's very sturdy, and I used one of those black grocery bags from Wal-Mart as a template.

Yesterday afternoon, the Hastings Symphony Orchestra held a concert in the Chataqua Pavillion at Chataqua Park. It was a beautiful day, perfect weather. We sat at a picnic table at the back and laid out a blanket for the boys to hang out on with some quiet toys. In the second half of the concert, they had the kids come up and help conduct the orchestra. Landon was a little too scared, but Taylor went up (he had broken his flip flop - making it completely unwearable - about 30 seconds before it was his turn, so he went barefoot...I was so embarrassed!). He loved it! Everybody laughed because the first thing he did when he got the baton was wave really big to my uncle (1st chair clarinet)! This concert's theme was Sousa Spectacular, and it was the perfect close to the summer. It was one of those concerts that left everybody feeling happy, without a care in the world.

I did get teary-eyed (like I always do) when they played an Armed Forces Salute. They asked audience members to stand during their song if they were in the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines, or Coast Guard. I always get choked up when I see these men and women stand up, accepting the applause and appreciation they deserve. I start thinking about what they saw, what they lost, and it makes me just want to give a big hug to each and every one of them.

Vintage Thingies Thursday - Veggie Tea Towels

This is a set of tea towels rescued from the family farm. The veggies & tea pots appear to be ironed on as there is no stitching. I folded over the tomato towel to show the strips that line the sides of the towels. When I saw these in the bottom of a drawer, I knew they needed to come home with me.

For more vintage yumminess, go here.

Weekend Wisdom

"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water."

~Eleanor Roosevelt~

If you've never read about Eleanor Roosevelt's life, I strongly recommend it. There's no doubt she's a remarkable woman, but knowing her history makes her even more so.

September 11

7 years. It's hard to believe it has been that long since that horrible day. Taylor was almost 10 months old, I had just quit my job at the hospital the Friday before, so we were sleeping in. We got up, I fed Taylor, then sat down to watch the Today Show. Taylor was on my lap and I remember being so annoyed that channel 5 was showing a movie so early in the morning, and if they were going to show a movie, couldn't it at least be a happy one that early in the morning? I'll watch Good Morning America instead (we didn't have cable, so my choices were limited). Channel 13 was showing the same movie, as were channel 11 and 17. What was going on? I remember looking at these images on the screen, not being able to comprehend that this wasn't a movie. It was real. What a horrible accident.

I had plans to go into town, so we shut the TV off, got in the car, and started our 20 minute drive. I had the radio on when they announced a second plane had hit the 2nd tower. I call my mom, and while we were trying to figure out what was going on...were these just 2 bizaare accidents? suicides? surely not an attack on America - who would do such a thing?...the radio announcer comes on and said they've attacked the Pentagon. My God. I don't remember anything from the time I got to HWY 6 to the time we got back home a few hours later. I turned the TV on again to learn about Flight 93, and just couldn't quit watching and holding Taylor as tight as I possibly could, wondering what kind of world I brought him into.

We didn't know anybody in New York, Washington, or Pennsylvania. We didn't know any of the passengers or flight crews. But I cried just the same. I cried for our country, for those who lost their lives, for those who lost loved ones. I cried for those who were at Ground Zero looking and hoping for survivors. I cried and held onto my baby.

This is what we talked about this morning before school. Remember 9/11.

Little Miss Busy Bee is SICK!

I have been uber busy these last couple of weeks, but I have yet to take any pictures of what I've been working on. Labor Day weekend, Jeremy and his dad got started on fixing the bathroom floor so the boys and I went and stayed at my parents' house. Before we left, I was able to finish up :
2 pillows
the top of our new picnic blanket
4 burb cloths
4 bibs
1 receiving blanket
1 jingle bell flannel block (this, as well as all the other baby stuff is for my expecting sis-in-law)
Put together the outside of a reusable grocery bag for a swap

At my mom and dad's house, I:
Started attaching the 3 layers of our picnic blanket
Cut out 2 clothespin aprons
Cut out our felt advent envelopes
Cut the lining for my swap bag
Made about a million yo-yos

We came home last Wednesday night, but I haven't gotten much accomplished since I've been here. Thursday, my mother-in-law and I went shopping for bathroom and other things to finish the bathroom. Friday was my day for grocery shopping, and I tried cleaning up some of the bathroom mess before Taylor and Logan (Logan is a little boy I started watching before and after school) got home. I spent most of the weekend and Monday painting the bathroom and working on a few other painting projects around the house. Then, Monday night something hit me hard. My sinuses were so full that my whole face hurt. It kind of came and went yesterday, but I did manage to get my mums and my asters planted! Today has been good, so far, and I'm hoping it stays that way. I need to get my bag and my apron done for my swaps!