TreasuresInTerraCotta

Thank you for your comments about my 1001 list.  I agree that it is time to put that list aside.  I think I need it to be finished...what is done is done and what is unfinished can stay that way.  If something is important enough, it will appear on another list somewhere. Never-the-less, there are a few outstanding items that I would like to finish-up...show-off.  Ahhh, the self-indulgance of the blog-world.  Last week I finally submitted my entry form to put something in the County Fair.  Did you know that the book of things you can enter into a fair is called a "Permium Book?"  And there are an insane number of entry options!  I wish I had something really interesting like a sheep or a queen sized quilt or homemade jelly.  Or maybe something I've never even heard of like a Duroc swine, or tole painting or lapidary or tatting.    I settled on two things I sewed and that were Fair-worth...

Almost three years ago I published a big "to-do" list... a list of 101 items to be done in 1001 days .    Today is the 1001st day!  It seems like we should have cake to celebrate!  Or maybe I should make something on my list so I can cross it off...like homemade cinnamon rolls.      It has been good to revisit my list and update it and think about the last three years.  Gladly, a few things have become unimportant...like having my teeth whitened and getting a new hair style.  About a quarter of the items are still "In Progress"...like painting the fence and reading certain books.  There is an end in sight, but I'm not quite there yet.  And I realize that some of my "In Progress" items can and should always be in progress...always trying new recipes, always visiting family, reading the Bible, praying for others, camping, exploring, learning.  Always in progress!  That is life...a...

I had a little project in mind and headed to the craft store for some new fabric!  It's been a long time since I've purchased new fabric because I always seem to be using  left over scraps or repurposed clothes .  There are so many new patterns and prints.  By "new" I mean retro, everything-old-is-new-again prints!  I was really surprised at all the 70's-style large florals, gold and avocodo colors, large paisleys and polka-dots.  I was also shocked at the prices!  It has literally been years since I bought new fabric, but I can promise you that plain ol' cotton prints were  not  $9.99 ten years ago!  Good thing I had a coupon.  I found a pattern for a "Mama's Bag" and decided to attempt it.  I needed two coordinating prints and I wanted one to be large and somewhat whimsical.  Even without my favorite crafty friend Michelle to help, I finally decided on... I washed my fabric and af...

It's Labor Day weekend and we celebrated in the usual way...a Progressive Dinner.  For five years now we've been choosing a theme, searching for recipes, comparing notes and then traveling to three houses, one for each course of the meal.   This year's theme: Cowboy Grub Oh, it was a fun theme!  I was in charge of appetizers and I served: Corn salad/salsa with chips and quesadillas Grilled Stuffed Jalapenos Henry Weinhard's Root Beer  Corn Salad: In Progress Sometimes our themes lend themselves to dress-up!  Cowboys and Cowgirls playing Wii   Main Course: Cowboy Meatloaf Cowboy Beans served in a Mashed Potato Texas Star Dessert:  Peach Cobbler in a cast iron skillet Served with ice cream Two cow pokes all tuckered out!  The proposed theme for next year is Food On A Stick!  Want to join us?  The more the merrier.

My sister is going to school in Boston. Do you know what Boston is home to? Well, besides the Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, the Red Sox, Boston Common, Make Way for Ducklings , Old North Church, a Tea Party, about a thousand universities, the USS Constitution, Cheer's... Dunkin' Donuts! Anyway We have a new Dunkin' Donuts in the neighborhood so we had to take her there.   She had the Boston Creme He wanted a "white" donut. He'll eat anything with chocolate! I think I had one of each!  Fun day! FYI: If you first stuff your boys full of donuts you shop at Target at your own risk.

How many posts have I created about books?  I just can't get around it. I love books. I love to read.  And in fact, I recently found myself feeling frustrated. Tired of cleaning. Bored with cooking. Wearied with the heat. Wandering around the house aimlessly while boys were napping or happily occupied elsewhere.  I repeatedly opened the refrigerator, or wiped off the counters, or flipped through a magazine, or checked email, or looked at my bookshelves. And nothing really satisfied. Is it geeky to feel, "I just need something to read." I finally reserved a few books at the library, ordered a couple new books and looked at my reading wish-list.  So... Since Truman was born I: finished reading I Dared To Call Him Father by Bilquis Sheikh read Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis read The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp read When Heaven Weeps by Ted Dekker read Organized ...

When I created my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days this sounded like a fun idea: #20 Take a family vacation with my sister’s family (other than camping) This week we headed to the J.W. Marriott in Phoenix to take advantage of summer-fun rates.    My sister and I.  Six cousins.  Now aged 6, 5, 4, 2, 1 and 0 (10 weeks).  My mom lives nearby and came over each day.  It was great to have grandma help with the kiddos, eat some meals together and enjoy a little swim time.  Calvin and Andrew ready to swim.  They are both fish!  Fire. Water. Earth. Sky. July in Phoenix provides plenty of each.  My boys! The Lazy River was a big hit. Truman in his Hawaiian shirt.  No swimming for baby this year. Best Cousins! My sister and I were fairly close to our cousins but we never really traveled or vacationed with them.  It's exciting to think our kids will have memories of being to...

Last week Calvin said, "I want to go search for gems." "Where? In the wash or at the park?" I asked. "No. In a cave." "Well...I'll have to think about that." I guess that's what I should expect when the Kindergarten lessons for the past two weeks have been "Rr for Rock" and "Jj for Jewel."  I got on-line and searched for Colossal Cave.  We've been there before and I wasn't feeling very excited about taking two boys through the 45 minute cave tour by myself. Especially since I was doubtful that we could actually find gems in that particular cave. I was surprised to discover that there are a lot of other things to do and see at Colossal Cave Mountan Park !  Picnicing, horseback riding, historic buildings, a butterfly garden.  Most importantly for us was The Sluice where in Wild-West fashion you can pan for gold.  Perfect! Fifteen minutes later we were headed East.  In and of itse...