Missoula Childrens Theater Presents, 2 Chameleons!

Our grand children's school has been blessed this week with the Missoula Children's Theater presenting a loosely based story about Robinson Crusoe. It has been a hectic week .

Monday - Auditions, the girls got parts and poor Jonathan didn't. He was quite upset, but maybe next year.

Wednesday - Practice for the play, Awana's and then shoe shopping for the play.

Thursday - Practice for the play, Brownie Meeting

Friday - Practice for the play and the show

Today - Practice and the plays final show

This has been a very busy week and one in which the extra hours at the end of the day and business wears on my Fibromyalgia, but I try to grit my teeth and get through it. The two end chameleons (top and bottom) belong to us and when they first came out, I actually didn't recognize them right away.

They did an adorable dance called the Missoula Hula and stood quite awhile for their pictures to be taken. You can see most of them were pretty exhausted after all day at school and then the play and then posing for pictures around 8:30 last night.
I am not sure what this post-play actress was so focused on, but she really looked very deep in thought and I just love the big green cheeks they painted on them. If you ever get a chance to bring Missoula Childrens Theater to your town or school (even if you don't have children), I would suggest it highly!

In less than a week, they had put together a production with over 40 children in it, they had 4 production assistants who helped with the make-up and costumes and it just amazed me at how well put together this was in less than 5 days.

The productions are free of cost to the children who participate and to the audience and you just cannot get a better form of entertainment than children in a play. It simply kept me laughing and kept my attention which was hard when my pain level was at around a 9 last night.

You can actually go to their website here: Missoula Childrens Theatre
and check out all they have to offer. No children or grandchildren/ That is okay, you can still be a sponsor for your local schools and get so much more back from their production than what you put in.

Well, today is another busy day!

Giveway From Crazy Shortcut Quilts

I received my package yesterday from Marguerita at Crazy Shortcut Quilts and here is all the fun fabric she sent for me and the children. Looking at all these fun fabrics with the frogs, lizards and bright colors, it is no wonder the kids are fighting over which one they like best or which one gets a quilt with these prints on them.

They are perfectly bright and cheery just as childhood and children should be. I love the lizards but then I love the frogs and the tye died reminds me of the 60's and beads and peace signs and love.

Marguerita really outdid herself with these picks!




These golds, beiges are just dreamy and creamy!

Thank you Marguerita for blessing my family!

Check out her blog at: Crazyshortcutquilts

Handmade Picks For February

Here is the diaper bag I ordered from DSChicBoutique on Etsy. I thought the fabric was bright and cheerful and I liked it because it didn't look like an old tired diaper bag!

It came today and it is simply beautiful and very well made. It also reminds me of the inside of a Bee's hive with all the holes filled with honey.

Dawn is the shop owner and this bag is just perfect for a young mother the age of 24. Dawn also graciously without any extra charge, made a matching check book cover and card holder which will come in handy for bus tickets they kids use to get around Phoenix.

Dawn's handiwork is amazing and I wish I could sew like she does. The cost? For everything including shipping was less than $32 and well under my $50 allowable handmade budget each month. The print is by Amy Butler and I think it is stunning.

So, if you are interested in a handmade bag, please go over to Amy's Etsy shop and let her know I sent you her way.
DSCHICBOUTIQUE.

If you miss her here, I will be listing her shop on my sidebar so you can check her out in the future.

Mother Nature Blessed My Socks Off Today!

If there is one thing I know about living in Washington, Mother Nature is always busy (hence the saying, 'if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it will change.') keeping me in a state of surprise and awe! For example, during the first recess of the day, the weather was beautiful and sunny. During lunch recess it was cold and blustery. When living near the coast in Washington state, the weather is what it is.

The girls are at rehearsal for the play they will be in later this week and normally the youngest jumps out of the van when we are safely parked in the driveway and gets the mail. It has been her job since we moved here, she just likes bringing in the mail out of the box and any packages that may have been left and rain or snow, she doesn't miss a day.

Today however, with rehearsal, I decided to pick up the mail and this is what I found waiting for me as I came down the driveway, these beautiful purple flowers and I am not sure what they are, but each year that we have lived in this home, a different flower has popped up in the area near our mailbox.
This one is set apart from all the others and I just love the colors and the fact that something woke these beautiful flowers up from their slumber and the dressed up just to bless me today!

We have not planted these or any other flower seeds, these have come up on their own!

It is simply Gods way of letting me know that things are going to be alright!

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I did the flowers and I hope they spring up your step as you continue into your day.

What Do You Mean, No Ben & Jerrys?

Okay everyone I confess, I am a sugar mama (no, NOT that kind of a sugar mama)! I love sweets from popcorn to cakes, to cookies and ice cream, I love my sugar and yes, I am aware that it isn't good for me, but sweets are my downfall and second helpings and pasta and breads, oh, lets face it, I am DOOMED!

I saw my Rheumatologist today and we had a really nice visit, except for the end when he told me in three months he would like to see me back and at least 15 pounds lighter. Then he grinned and told me between 10 & 15, but not where I am now or more.

He's right and I know it, I am over weight and it isn't helping my Fibromyalgia or arthritis at all. He also changed my medications a bit by taking me off of one NSAID that wasn't working at all to another that worked in the past but caused me to wake up with fluid retention. He told me to take the new one every other day and if I start retaining fluid to stop and call him and we will change again.

He has me on a muscle relaxant to help me sleep at night and another one during the day, but agree'd it isn't going to help much since I can't take it while I am teaching. Try taking it when you are in more pain than usual and don't wait until it gets out of hand he told me.

I really like my new doctor because he is up front honest. He told me Fibromyalgia is a stumper, what works for one person, won't work for another and unfortunately, it isn't like writing a prescription for penicillian.

My tests came back very good this time. My vitamin D level is great. My RA Factor hasn't changed since last year and my bone density scan remains unchanged. Yes, moving from Phoenix to Washington will cause me to be in more pain on very cold days (try to stay warm and bundle up)...I didn't tell him I still wear sandals in the winter time! Yes, I need to take a calcium supplement (due to having my gall bladder removed) and no, I don't have to drink milk(as hubby says I should), he told me, let your husband drink it!

So, I went out and bought myself some walking pants and a sweatshirt type shirt and some new walking shoes. I am hoping this will motivate me.

I also need all of you to pray for me, send me positive thoughts and keep me honest and motivated. Yoplait did that this evening when I opened a Light Thick and Creamy Cinnamon Roll, oh my! It was the most heavenly tasting yogurt I have ever tried, so that might help me with the Ben & Jerry cravings.

I would love to hear from all of you. If you have any good exercise tips for those of us who don't move very well. I used to walk 5 miles a day, but with plates, pins & screws in my foot and my back pain, it isn't to walk at all. But I am willing to try suggestions & no crunches!

I will begin the Flat Belly Diet in earnest and that calls for giving up my morning coffee. Cigarettes was easy compared to my coffee!

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, keep them coming!

No Sunday Dinner, But More Fabric

For those of you that have been faithful followers of my Sunday Dinner posts, I am sorry, I dropped the ball and should have taken pictures last night of Saturday dinner with a table full of people and since we had the honor of hosting our friend John and I made spaghetti with meatballs and a salad, it would have been the perfect pictures for today.

However, the conversation and dinner were so nice, that it never crossed my mind while we were all chatting and eating. I can tell you dinner was good, conversation was full of entertainment and laughter with 2 men poking jokes at me and had me laughing so much. I often asked them, why I put up with the both of them, but the truth is, they are so much fun to be with together even if I am the target of their wonderful humor! Besides, they are the ones who truly put up with me!

So, once again and for the last post of the day, I had to buy some more fabric. After church I wanted to get something for the new baby and decided I would rather make her something than buy it. So I picked out an infant dress pattern and these 2 fabrics.
I just think they are perfect for a baby dress and besides, I know they will get lots and lots of pink things, so this will break up some of that pink!

I sure can't wait for spring break to come around as I think I am going to need all that time to catch up with my sewing and quilting.

Have a great and blessed Sunday and week!

March Spring Giveaway

I am once again offering 3 prizes to be given away at the end of March and I hope you will not only sign up, but tell others about these three prizes.

The first will be this sewing machine caddy I made awhile back. The top portion sits under your sewing machine while the three pockets hold various notions and the detachable trash catcher allows you to place loose threads, small pieces of fabric, etc. in the pocket and when you are done, detach it and empty it.

It has a polyester batting center and yellow flannel backing. I have never had a problem with it slipping out from under my machine. I think anyone who sews, quilts or crafts will find this a great addition to your sewing table.

Secondly is a quarter yard of this wonderful spring green colored, tulip fabric. This month, I am leaving the fabric uncut so you can use it or cut it to your own project demands. It is just such a happy fabric that when I had some cut for me, I had extra fabric cut specifically with this giveaway in mind. I would love to see what the winner creates with this piece.

The last item I am giving away this month is a brand new, unopened package of 4 magnetic grocery lists for your fridge. I don't know about you, but I have 2 I use all the time along with a pen holder. One of them is used for items we need now such as bread, milk, eggs and the second one are items we run out of but can wait until grocery time.

You could even remove the magnets and place them next to your telephone for messages, place one in your purse to jot down notes you want to remember, etc. I would just remind you to remove the magnet when you do this in case you set your purse near a computer!

There is only one package of these pads, the two pictures come from each side of the package and then there are 2 more pads in the middle.

Ways to win:

1- If you leave a message on this post, you automatically get entered into the drawing for all three items. I use a random number generator and pick three numbers as winners.

2- If you post a link to this giveaway on your blog and send me the link, you will get an additional 5 entries.

3- Tell me what spring means to you in a separate comment and get an additional 5 entries.

4- If someone posts a comment here and tells me they heard about this from your blog, you will get an additional 5 entries and your friend will get 3 entries.

***Drawing will take place on March 31st, no later than 9:00 pm EST with winners being notified by Email on April 1st & no, I will not play tricks on this day.***

Also, please send me your mailing address as soon as possible after the drawing so I can get your prize out in the mail to you.

Have fun, come back often and Good Luck!

Fabric Crazy & February Handmade Purchases

What is it about quilters that if our fabric stash gets under 2 full closets full, we panic and think we are running short? Well, maybe we aren't that bad, but I have noticed lately that my large stash has dwindled by an entire bin full of fabric because I use my stash for quilts, pin cushions, childrens clothing, curtains, table runners, etc..

Yesterday I had the privilege of purchasing 100 fat quarters for $60, that is less than $1.70 each and with some fabric shops selling fat quarters at more than $2.00 each, sometimes I can't afford it. But this was an incredible opportunity and of being in the right place at the right time. The seller used to own a quilt shop and is in the process of remodeling her home so needed to sell some of her inventory. So, this first picture is of what 100 FQ's look like organized!

John and I sat at my kitchen table and the original plan was to try to keep the same color family together, however, I soon ran out of room in this container and realized I wouldn't be able to get the center tray or lid on. So we tossed the rest in and there are approximately three layers of fabric all nicely rolled up.

I really wanted you to get a better look at this amazing stash I came across, so I took them out of the container and placed them on a pad on the floor and now you can see how much 100 FQ's really look like. There are fabrics for so many different projects, it makes my head spin. Crazy Quilts, strip quilts, coin quilts, baby quilts, table runners, oh my!

Now, you would think that I had enough fabric to last, oh no, NOT me, I had to stop by Walmart (I know, a bad name to many quilters) and was looking for some fabric for the new baby when I stumbled across some wonderful springy/Eastery (I am sure this is not a word) fabric and the bells and lights and whistles began going off in my head.

As much as I love snow and rain, I think my body is telling me it is time to launch into spring fabrics and there were so many wonderful greens, yellows, purples that I had to pick and it was hard.

My diva girl had no problem picking out a fabric for a new dress, she wanted the one with the bunnies, but what shocked and floored me was that the Tom boy decided she really wanted a new dress and she wanted me to make her one with the cupcake fabric.
Since this is a rare treat for me, I gladly obliged and then thought of a spring quilt and how nice the colors would look and then I am getting ready to paint the sewing closet so I wanted a new sewing caddy and picked out the lady bug fabric.

Tell me honestly, could you have just chosen one fabric from this delicious bunch? The Easter eggs are fantastic, the Tulips, the small flower, all of these were just calling my name. Someone, please tell me to stay out of the fabric stores (like that will work) or at least tell me you understand this obsession with fabric.

I think it all comes from when I was a girl and going with my mom and grandmother to old Mexico where there were fabric warehouses and buying fabric after fabric for school clothes for 4 children, or the wonderful Christmas gifts my grandmother made for us such as coats, robes, night gowns, etc.

Just the feel of fabric, smell, look, just makes my mind say, buy, buy, buy! Like I need another project right now! HAHA!! I mean honestly, could you have passed up this adorable cupcake fabric even if you didn't have any immediate plans for it?

I would love to hear how fabric affects you, whether you quilt or not!

The Letter K, Kindness

It seems this week has flown by, my house has become a wreck, I was a mental wreck, to much to do, work all week, busy in the evenings, rain, rain and snow, no time for rest, no time to breath, I am typing this as fast as I can, can any of you relate?

The letter for today or this week, is the letter 'K' for Kindness. So, what does kindness mean to you? Does it mean being nice all the time? Does it mean going out of your way to help someone else when you can? Does it mean saying please and thank you? Stopping what you are doing to help someone else? Lets examine the word Kindness, but before we can, we must examine the root word Kind. (For those of you who don't like English or grammar lessons, I am sorry for being boring here).

Kind, to be considerate, generous, gentle, loving and benevolent (benevolent - expressing goodwill, desiring to help others, intended to benefit others not for personal profit.) (Taken from the www.http://dictionary.reference.com. On 03/01/2009).

I do my best each day to go out of my way to show kindness to someone I don't know, someone I know and children. We can all help each other without giving money away and most people don't really want your money, they want your time, your company, your compassion.

This week, I have been so blessed to have kindnesses shown to me. All the Emails and prayers for my health (I am seeing 3 specialists this month), I can feel the love and prayers going up for me. My son calling me and keeping me posted almost every minute on the impending birth of our beautiful grand daughter Jeanne. Prayers for her health when she had some glucose troubles (she is home now).

A student at the alternative school where I work on occasion kept asking me to stop buying coffee at 7-11 and come in and give their cafe a try. Oh my! First, I ordered the coffee which made him smile, then I checked my pockets and lost my money and told him to cancel it. Without skipping a beat, with a huge smile, he told me he would cover it. I walked to my car and it was in the seat and had fallen out of my pocket. What a very kind thing to tell me and it blessed me to know what a generous spirit this school has. The same day, I was invited to stay for lunch and enjoy the potluck with the teachers. As a sub, they could have just sent me home. Kindness abounds in places unknown.

I won some fabric from Marguerita this week and she sends me an Email to let me know she was sending a little extra because she had been meaning to for awhile now. WOW! How generous was that and kind! I was humbled.

Letting someone cross in front of you when you are in a hurry, let someone merge into traffic, go first in line, open the door for someone, help someone load or unload their groceries, shovel a walk way when a neighbor is gone, take their trash can in from the street, there are so many little ways to be kind and be sneaky about it. Some things you are in the open, but many times you can do it on the sly and walk away giddy with joy in your heart.

Today at church one of the dearest ladies I know asked me after church if I would like to borrow her quilt frame. Would I! What a generous and kind thing for her to offer me. Especially knowing this belonged to her husbands mother and grandmother and it is a family heirloom that I will be entrusted with.

Yesterday our dearest friend John came to visit and spend the day and night with us. John lives about a two hour drive from us, but he always calls us ahead of time asking if he can pick us up anything from Costco (we are about 50 miles from the closest one) and he shows up with a few groceries and before I realize he is in the house, I find him putting stuff away in the fridge.

My house was a wreck and he starts doing my dishes while I am helping the kids clean up their rooms. He takes things to the basement for me, he helps me clean off my couch, sweep my floors and no matter how much I tell him to stop and he doesn't have to do this, I know it isn't going to do any good, because John has a kind spirit and he knows (I hope) that the things he does is such a blessing to me and gives me time to catch up.

John listens to me talk silly talk about tearing my kitchen cabinets apart and putting new ones (I am looking for that tree that grows money..LOL), he sits with me going through the Penny's catalog to help me find living room drapes, we talk about politics, we talk about family, we are friends and his kindness always touches my heart. After dinner we all went out to look for a new dishwasher for the kitchen and he treated us to ice cream cones.

The kids climb all over him, talk a mile a minute all vying for Uncle John's time and hugs and laughter and affirmations and he never complains.

Kindness is when my husband buys paper plates for us to eat off of because we haven't had a dishwasher since last year sometime, when the living room is warm in the mornings, when he comes home with my favorite yogurt, when he watches a program he doesn't want to because I asked him to watch it with me.

Kindness is simply treating others in our home, at work, in public as we want to be treated. I have had many strangers show me kindness when my sons were in prison, when I was sick or injured. I hope in some small way I have given back what I have received. I hope I have been more of a giver in life than a taker.

To all who have shown me kindness, thank you for raising me up and showing me how wonderful the world can really be. Show kindness to everyone and please know, none of us are perfect, we all are short at times with people we love, strangers, etc. It is when I am unkind that I am reminded I need to be doubly kind to make up for the pain or anger I may have caused.

Being kind is easy, it is when I am unkind that I feel guilty.