Running TiMe!

So it is official. I just signed up for TWO races. The first is in March in a little town near here. It's only a 5K. (I laugh at myself for putting only, because 10years ago it would have been 'only', only now... 3.1miles might not feel so nice). The second is a big ol' Half Marathon!! I am super excited about it too!! It's not till Aug. which gives me nice spring/summer training time.
Here's the link
Bridge of the Gods Half Marathon

Jason's cousin is supposed to do it too. She is doing the full triple crown, which is 3 halfs over the course of 5 months. But it's a bit of a drive, and well, let's be honest, one might just be enough. Of course if all goes as 'planned' (brahhhahaha) I should be planning a half near here in October too. But one little 13.1 mile run at a time.

We might have 6more weeks of winter, but shoot, spring is coming and I need to get running!!

Anyone want to join me? :-)

Lists and such

Hey y'all! So I am in the midist of mid-winter restlessness. The past three days I have made lists, checked things off lists, and tried to get caught-up on a LOT of things.

I had totally forgotten how hard it was to make butter, so that got put off for another week or so. But otherwise things have been going well. I have tried to make an effort to make dinner the past few nights. Tonight was a bit of a bummer deal though. I had "planned" for smoked whole chicken. Yeah. The man of the house didn't make it home in time to get said chicken in the smoker though, and I had to make a quick run to town. I could have scrapped the entire idea, but instead went for roasted chicken. Hopefully we are all not so cranky that we can actually enjoy it (2hours later than planned).

As for that list, I have been wanting to do a Quilt-A-Long. And I think I found one to use up a few scraps from another quilt. I will post pictures soonish. But here is the link if you are feeling 'quilty' and want to try it with me.

http://happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/p/quilt-longs.html

YAY!

See ya soon. I've got a baby yelling at me :-)

M

2013 the year of Isaac.

Well there are a lot of "end of the year" blog post going on out there. Really cute ones with slideshows of all the things you have made and how much your kids have grown. I should probably do that, however it would take a while to compose, so I think I'll just stick to the highlights and my goals (gasp!) for this year.  Above is a short little clip of Isaac at 9months, and his photo. That's pretty good right??

I did a LOT of sewing before Isaac was born. I think I did 5 or 6 quilts. A few for friends, a few still in a box waiting to be quilted. I was bored and needed (as in almost ready to have a baby, and NEEDED to finish some things...anything to distract me from actually getting worried/nervous about the up-coming baby). Some were big (like Keely's) others were baby size (actually a LOT were baby size, hahaah, i guess I had babies on my mind). At any rate, Isaac came in March, and I think I quit blogging/sewing/cleaning/cooking/ etc around about then. I coached Aug-October. And slowly got my head above water in November, when I started buying fabric again. Jason thinks I've gone crazy the past few weeks. But with all the 'end of year' deals, a quilter cannot help but try to cash in on the bargins (right?).

Today was the first time in about two months that I have pasteurized milk. I am hoping to try to make a bit of butter or mozzarella cheese out of some of it. Since I cleaned yesterday it's all in my order of things to get the house all messy again today :-p Does anyone else do that? I have been making a lot of bread lately too. It started as Christmas gifts, but out of need I've been making us a few loafs too. Not sure if they go faster because they are smaller, or if it's because I seem to snack on fresh bread/toast all day. That's about my extent of craftiness/homemaker mode. Even though we have eggs coming out our ears, I am not real keen on cooking the things. I think I am phasing out of cooking mode. For some reason quick and easy triumphs over 30min meals, and other than eating scrambled eggs, there's not much that sounds good with them that doesn't require an hour of prep/cook time.

One of my favorite Great Aunts passed away just before Christmas, and another earlier in the year. Both were highly influencial in my craftiness. Audrey taught me how to crochet, and though I don't make a lot of things this days, the fact that the craft is known is an amazing gift. Aunt Dot (or Dorthy) taught me how to cross stitch, and the joy in perfect applesauce. I learned from both the beauty of handmade gifts, and the hardiness needed to do the things that need to get done and to find joy in the things you want to get done.
 
So in a way that's my goal for this year. To focus on getting the jobs done that need to. And keeping the joy in the things I want too. (And not to get too worried over the things that stay in the 'to be done' pile).

Right now I better get lunch on the table for two little boys, and see if a little bit of 'joy' sewing can happen today :-)

Full/Queen Zebra Quilt- 90x90

We used a dark variegated thread that would let the quilting pattern POP!

New fluff

A few days ago I ordered some new diapers for Isaac, and they came today!!! Look at the pretty or should I say handsome colors. I hope he likes them. They are bum genius newest colors and the new freetime diapers. Yay!!

Garden and babies

Well trying to get a garden in the ground with a newborn is about as easy as it sounds. However Jackson was actually a big help and we got peas (3 varieties), carrots ( purple and orange), onions (red) , lettuce, and spinach!!! If nothing else that should be enough to last us for a while:) Isaac liked being outside, so that was a lucky break, even if I do only get an hour and a half of work/ fussy time.

I will try to post pictures once veggies start popping up.

In other news we are getting chicks today!!! 50 cornish cross broiler birds, and 12 golden sex link pullets ( hens). Yeah, it's going to be busy around here for sure!

New baby...new delimas

Hello! For all those interested we are now the proud parents of TWO little boys. Jackson, whom most know by now is 3.5, and baby Isaac Charles born March 5th!! He is officially a week old now, and it's pretty exciting/challenging. Luckily my mom is here...not so luckily she got a flu like bug just after she got here. I just pray (literally) that we all don't get it. She's on antibiotics now and I hope we are over the worst. Of course having a newborn is the true challenge. Especially with my very LOUD 3.5yr old. That's the biggest challenge yet...trying to get him to use an 'inside voice'...one he has never had to use before. It's our own fault. I never really noticed before until I had a sleeping newborn. All in all though we are surviving. I keep thinking I would like to sew a little, but alas no luck yet. Too busy holding a baby, quite-ing Jackson, and eating/sleeping. Maybe in a month???? or year???

Till then I'll try to post a few pictures of the baby, when I get them uploaded!

Mary