The day I thought I would have nothing to blog about...

...has turned into one of the most jam packed days ever. (And this doesn't even include a secret craft project)

It was supposed to be a day where Dave and I each got 'me time'.

He was going to take the kids and head out to the lake for a few hours so I could clean and then he was going to go to the football game with a buddy.

Well it was just one of those days where the kids wanted us all together and  I just couldn't resist a trip away from the house.

The toilet bowl can wait so off we went.

It was a day not to be missed, calm and balmy, exactly like Mexico. Sticky actually. I guess it is tornado weather and there were warnings but where we were was just hot and humid. 

This trip out was just to have fun. I was wondering what to do when we first arrived so I started going around taking pictures of all my favourite things. Then I started taking pictures of all the gross and yucky things.

I will save that for another post. It involves stains and rust and cobwebs and cracks and dirty yucky house stuff.

I am not in a mood for yuck right now, so we'll skip that and just let you think we have this cute little place this post.

Turns out I have a thing for orange right now. I hadn't realized it till now but the proof is in the pudding.

Found in the garage full of tool stuff.

Also found in the garage was this vintage (I really have no idea how old it really is) roll of children's wall paper. Maybe a playhouse wall someday. Seems kinda wrong to crack that seal after so many years but we'll see.

And again. Possibly my favourite room of the house and it is not even really a part of the house and doesn't even have a lake view.

The shanty of a porch, but it has my treasures there.

This girl is growing too fast right now. Tonight I taught her to read a few words (as suggested by my sweet blogging friend Bethany.) Easy words like, mom, cat and hat. So, Grandparents, for her birthday if you are stumped, beginner reader books should be a great hit.

After just a few times of repetition she was picking them out and reading them back.

Leaps and bounds I tell ya!

Between the boys. A moment no one could steal. No words were needed. A guy thing for sure!

Ahh, another favourite thing. This is an old canister set my mom gave me. It was on it's way out and I couldn't resist but saving it. The memories it holds for me from childhood bring me to tears. Baking and measuring at my moms side. Egg and vanilla stained cookbooks and a faded well used apron, the smells and the giggles.

Funny how a simple possession can bring so much up.

Well then last week my grandparents came out to visit. Grandma and I sat there sipping coffee and painting crafts while grandpa dusted the ceiling fan then crashed on the couch for a snooze.

All of a sudden grandma looks up at the canisters and declares, "I wondered what had happened to that old set. It is still around, imagine that!"

I asked her what she was talking about and told her it used to be moms.

Apparently before it was passed down to mom it was my grandmas. She got it as a shower gift over 55 years ago.

Now it is super special. 

Now this is an odd thing. I am short. Really short. 5'3" to be exact and actually that might be pushing it a little. (and yes that is my pj tank, it was a lazy kind of day ok)

See the counter, how low it is. Ya, it is hard on my back. I need to be a foot shorter for it to be right. It is just plain odd. The old owners were my height...ok, a little taller. Like most people, but seriously were the bottom half of the cupboards not included in the price so they got left out?!

Next. I hauled out the cushions that are for the red rocker. I still have yet to get the new foam cut but thought I could at least start on the slip covers.

This is the fabric.  Intimidating.

I decided to start with the throw cushion since I had never worked with piping before. I pushed the pedal and all I got was a clunk and the machine just whined and the needle wouldn't budge.

I opened the side door. Don't know why because to me it would be like lifting the hood of a car. What would I be able to fix?

Money fell out. I then had to pry a few jammed coins out as well. Hmm...."Kaitlyn, Ethan, this is not a piggy bank!"

Oops, I uploaded the wrong photo here, there was a focused one too but you'll get the idea.

I managed one seam with the piping but then I got stuck. I have no idea how to turn the corner and keep my lines straight and have it fit and look sharp. Piping really messes a simple cushion recovering up. I am so out of my league with this one so I dragged everything into the city with the intension of visiting a certain aunt.

Kaitlyn was quite excited watching me mess around on the machine and decided she really wanted to learn how to sew right this minute.

Everything seems to be right this minute with her right now. It is rather funny like you can see the light bulbs going off and her brain filling by the moment with tidbits of information.

She was determined and steady. She had watched me intently and knew exactly what to do. Right down to lifting the lever at the back to turn the corners.

"A pillow for my babies."

And since my whole cushion recovering was a major bust I asked Dave what I could do with the little piece of scrap I had cut off.

His answer was, "make an octopus."

OK.

So I did.

Turns out he was kidding, but it was a fun little wing it project.

I am all about winging it!

No patterns to screw up, no lines to follow. Perfect.

Meet "Octopus." I would love to say she has a fun whimsical name but they were all turned down  and I was voted out. So octopus the octopus it is.

Later in the early evening Dave traipsed off to his football game. A few minutes in a storm let loose and there was rain and hail and piles of it in minutes.

The game went on standstill till it was over and the kids and I waited patiently at the window for the rain to stop.

The minute the water stopped gushing over the gutters we were out to get a good splash on.

Testing, testing....yup this puddle is ripe for a good splashing.

They splashed till they were soaked and were walking around with the puddles in their boots squishing and sloshing down the sidewalk back to the house.

Bath time!

P.s. The football game resumed and the Riders won. Dave came home soaked and happy.