Making Lei While the Sun Shines

A few months ago, I won a silent auction item at the Classified Senate dinner at work. A co-worker who has a degree in Hawaiian Studies (and is a native Hawaiian) had donated a lei-making class.  I finally had a few friends over to take the class yesterday. I was determined to sit outside and enjoy my backyard but the temperature kept creeping up until we were all hot tamales!  Still, we had a great time.

Here is Liko demonstrating how to make a lei:

Here I am with Noodlebug's godmother....I really should have taken off my sunglasses:

And here we all are with our beautiful lei:

We all look a little hot and wilted but we had a good time.

In other news, my mother won BEST IN SHOW at the Sonoma-Marin Fair for her wreath. I'm so proud of her! As soon as I can get her camera, I will download a photo and post it.

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

An Embarrassment of Riches

When I was a little girl growing up in Dallas, I was mad about stickers. I collected them and kept them in a photo album. I never wanted to use them. I just wanted to look at them. My mom's best friend who lived in Austin had a daughter my age and we grew up together. Since she lived so far away, I would sometimes send her letters.  One day, I was debating whether to send her some of my beloved sticker collection.  I was feeling a little uncharitable and didn't want to share. My mom told me that I should because you never know what will happen. So, I reluctantly included several stickers from my collection in the envelope. A week later I received a letter from my friend filled with new stickers for my collection.  It taught me a valuable lesson. If you have a generosity of spirit and try to send good things out into the world, more often than not good things will come back to you.

It has been a hard couple of weeks but I have been surrounded and nurtured by friends far and near. Even friends that I have never met in person.  Not long ago, I joined the Vintage ABC swap. (more on that later)  The moderator of the swap, Marian, surprised me with the above package.  Marian and I have never met before but I have already been touched by HER generosity of spirit.  Her box of goodies have inspired me creatively and given me lots of new materials to work with.  This embarrassment of riches along with the many other moments of generosity and love I have experienced over the past few weeks is a good reminder about how blessed I really am.

VOTE FOR NOODLEBUG!

*UPDATE*--Our photo is currently #273 out of thousands!!!  Keep voting!  We might actually have a shot at this!

Noodlebug is a finalist in this week's PARENTS cover model contest. 

Please go vote for him!

Go HERE to vote.

If the above link doesn't work, here is an alternative one.

Some Good News

I saw this giveaway recently and I entered.

I just got an e-mail saying I won!!!  Most of Envite's items are pretty pricey but I'll be able to get an anniversary gift for my husband and maybe something new for me as well!

What a nice e-mail to get today!!!

By the way, I have almost finished my picnic quilt! Only the binding left to do.  I will post photos soon!!!

For a true story about me and Al Franken, go here.

Leeya Engel Tea in the Garden Guest Giveaway

Leeya Engel Tea in the Garden Guest Giveaway

Wouldn't it be great to win some pretty new jewelry? I am entering all the contests I can find these days. For your chance to win this beautiful ring, head over to link above at GROSGRAIN!

Trying to Accentuate the Positive

Putting on My Big Girl Panties

Deep breath.

After listening to this about 100 times yesterday:





I am pulling myself together and making plans for the future. I'm still scared to death but I can't just sit around moping and worrying. I am a "doer." I think that's one of the reasons I joined Junior League. I will help my husband find a new job and even take on an extra part-time job if I have to. I will keep an ear to the ground about another rental house *just in case*. We WILL get through this.  With God's help and the support of good friends like you!


(photo borrowed from and owned by Mary Phillips Designs....they have the CUTEST stuff!)

Hard Times

See this photo?  This is part of our backyard.  My husband does a beautiful job. We have many raised beds that we have filled with vegetables.  The roses are special Fourth of July roses that we bought when we got married four years ago.  The incessant rain this year has been very difficult because I have been longing to spend the summer outside in our backyard. We got Noodlebug a sandbox and some other outdoor toys. We bought a dining set so we can eat outside. We dream of all the vegetables we will harvest this summer and fall.

All of that may be over.  My husband lost his job yesterday. We rent our house from his [former] boss and I don't know if he is going to kick us out. It is hard enough to worry about losing a job.  We were just making ends meet and I honestly don't know how we are going to pay our bills. What is so much worse is the prospect of losing our home. We moved into this house when we came home from our honeymoon. I brought Noodlebug to this house from the hospital. I always thought when we left this place it would be to move into a house of our own.  Now, I don't know what will happen to us.  The idea of losing our home and never getting to harvest all the vegetables that my husband so lovingly planted.  The thought of leaving Noodlebug's room that my husband painted a month before the baby was born. The thought of saying goodbye to our neighbors and the trees that we love to watch as we sit in the backyard. 

I can't bear it.

I know I need to "hand it over" to God. I know I need to have faith that we are going to be okay. We still have my job even though we lost 60% of our income yesterday. We are all on my health insurance so we still have that. But to be without our home is unbearable. It's just too much.  I'm scared and I'm heartbroken.

Please send prayer and good thoughts.

Update

Hello Friends.

Remember this post?  Well, I am actually making progress!

Shrinky-dink rings.....done.

Hooded towel....done.

Picnic blanket.....almost halfway done.

And I made something unexpected....

I made Noodlebug a pair of boxer shorts using the new Sis Boom pattern!  It took me about three hours from start to finish. Lots of mistakes but he seems to like them.  I used the longest length and I'm glad I did or they would be pretty skimpy!  They are a little poofy on the hips but overall I really like the pattern.

Now, if I just had a few more days off!!!

What I Did This Weekend (and What's Coming Up)

Hello Friends!

Spring finally arrived in Northern California this past weekend and I couldn't be more grateful. I have been longing for sunshine!  It really lifted my spirits!

I did manage to make some Shrinky-Dink rings although my technique could use some fine-tuning. I also made Noodlebug a hooded towel.  Very easy and fun to make. I can't wait to do more!  Of course, I owe you photos of both! 

Besides all of that, we tried to spend lots of time outside this past weekend and even went to the pool. I have such plans for the summer!  Coming up, we have the Petaluma Art and Garden Festival which I always enjoy.  Then, we have the Sonoma-Marin Fair and I have actually entered something!  I entered a hand-knitted teddy bear that I made for Noodlebug.  July will bring the wonderful Fourth of July parade in Sonoma and a firework show in Petaluma.  Then, it will be time for the Sonoma County Fair.  I entered Noodlebug's rag quilt in this show.  The edge is completely uneven on one side but I am still proud of it.

I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my family this Summer. It is time that I made some lifestyle changes and I'm going to work on that. Hope your summer is getting off to a great start!