Sunday, July 27, 2008

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.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amazing all the fun things you are finding, like the kid's wallpaper! I LOVE the material you bought for the cushions. And well done Kaitlyn on sewing her first "pillow" -- so cute!!
Sounds like a fun (albeit wet) day.

But Anna, I have to tell you ... "me time" and "cleaning toilet bowls" DO NOT go together!! If you get "me time" you should paint, or blog, or go shopping! OK? :-)

Anonymous said...

Great post! Sometimes when you think you have done so little it is a day where you actually did so much. Don't fret the pillows, it will come. For the piping just turn the corner tightly and stitch :).The cushion will make it look more square when it is finished.

Glenda Conner said...

Oh what fun Anna - all your vintage finds are amazing - I love that we can see them all too Ü your right the kids seem to have really shot up lately, they don't look like babies anymore!

Jane said...

Love the octopus, fantastic

SAJ said...

I don't know how to do piping either. Good thing we both have "certain aunts". I LOVE the octopus!

Anonymous said...

So, another blog I read JUST posted this tutorial for piped cushions. Here's the link: http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=527

Hope it helps!

Anonymous said...

I linked over to the Riders post and what did I see but ; Isn't that David wearing the green overalls and the nice hair???? GO ESKIS. Love Ponty

Kristen said...

Can I just tell you how cool I think your tractor sign is?? Fabulous actually!

Love the pics, and just how crafty you are with the kids. You kiddos are lucky lucky kids!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE Octopus the octopus!

Unknown said...

I love your posts. I feel like I am your neighbor and you are just tellin' me how the day went at the end of it!

That "on a whim" octopus is SO cute and i love the mid-air pic of Kaitlyn about to splash in the puddle.

Have a great week Anna!

Anonymous said...

Hey Anna,

I started sewing when I was 4 or 5 on my Mom's old Singer. What fun it was. I made lots of pillows and doll clothes. When I was 13, I took a pair of pants apart and made a long skirt. Was I in trouble! They were my best pants and I didn't get a new pair until school started in Sept. At least I had a snazzy new skirt. Keep letting Kaitlyn sew, maybe she can start making her own skirts.
Miss and love you lots!
Aunty Kathy

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

I love the puddle pictures! Nothing like a dirty kid to make me smile...

Anonymous said...

Those pictures are really awesome :)

Anonymous said...

Love all the pics - especially the one of Dave and Ethan! Grandpa Grumpy has already been getting some books for Kaitlyn - yeah Grandpa not me!The cottage looks great you guys have done an mazing amount of work. Hoping to get down this summer but who knows keepings fingers crossed. I think from the looks of things that the kitchen was made for me - as you get older you shrink - so here shortly I will be a counter height. I love the canisters and how they have been passed down. I will tell GiGi that Kaitlyn is sewing as she will be thrilled as none of us took it up and she has had to wait for you and Kaitlyn.
Love, hugs and kisses to all Grandma Grumpy.

Anonymous said...

love the mid-air puddle stomp :) and so glad you're putting your stamp on the place, and keeping it simple too. it's addictive, isn't it? may you be able to keep it that way! trying to do the same over here :)

Angela Fehr said...

Love your close-ups of all your goodies, Anna! And the octopus! I am such a control freak - not about to let my kids touch my sewing machine. I starting sewing at 5 but it was on an old treadle - loved having free rein in Grandma's rag bag! Great post!

MJ said...

Great octopus! I haven't let K or N touch my sewing machine! I don't want my good machine to get dinged! Am thinking of getting a used machine for scrapbooking and K and N to learn on instead! I won't let them know the pennies in the sewing machine concept either!

Unknown said...

It's been ages since I caught up with your blog (I didn't even know it had moved!) so it feels good to read it again. Wow! Your kids are getting so big! Good luck with your sewing project. I just sewed a dress with piping (man I hate that stuff, but it sure looks nice) so I feel your pain.

Stay away from those tornados!

Heather said...

I share your pain on the inadequate height of counter tops - I'm 5'7" and my counter tops fit nicely under my rear end when I'm standing - they make a great seat, but it absolutley kills the back to do dishes in the sink. I'm very excited about the normal counter tops in our new place - even if there isn't a lot of counter - at least it won't break my back!

Temeculamom said...

My gosh! That photo of your daughter puddle jumping in her boots may very well be the cutest thing ever!!