My book of days

Click the title to check out my newest project, My book of Days. I also added it to my links.

I used to have this neat little book that had a space for every day of the year like a regular day book but it didn't matter what the year was. When something memorable happened in your life you could just write it in on that day with the year. As time went by and the book got filled I had this neat little book of wonderful memories. It's around here somewhere still but it was packed up in a box when we moved and I never unpacked it. There wasn't enough room to keep adding to it anyway but it was neat to read back through. I remember after my father in law died and I was so terribly sad. I came across that book and was just flipping through it and read the entries about the birth of my son Jared and then some of the cute little things he did thoughout the first years of his life. I was amazed to see how many times I wrote about Jared and his grandpa together. Jared was only 3 when his grandpa died but they did so much together in that time! They called each other "Pard" for partner as if they were cowboys on a ranch. When Jared was just shy of one year old he would hear a big truck drive by and would say "pa-pee come-ing" or Pa-pee go work". Sometimes Grandpa would come by and take his little "pard" for a ride in the big truck. After reading through all of those entries I wrote a poem that covered that whole time and in the end I realized the time really is of the essence. We need to treasure each day because we are not gauranteed tomorrow.

Here is the poem I wrote for Jared and his Grandpa.


When the wind blew

The wind was blowing
When you were born in the spring.
I watched the treetops swaying
from my hospital bed as you lay on my chest.

It was blowing when you were one,
Running though the grass,
Picking dandelions for Papa.
Papa always smiled when he watched you play.
Sometimes you made him smile a tear
And he would rub it into his calloused hand.

The wind was blowing when Papa died.
The rain poured down with our tears.
You drew Papa a picture to help him get better,
but he never did.

Yesterday, the wind was blowing.
The dandelions blew like snow in the air
And swirled above the soccer fields.
You taught your brother how to kick the ball
And how to run faster than the wind.

I smiled as I thought of Papa smiling at you,
That first day when the wind blew.

Copywrite- Donna Capps

I did it!

I just finished my first sewing project! I love my new funky pajama pants! They are pretty wild with swirvy rainbow striped circles on a brown background. Ry thinks they look like easter egg pants even though they are circles not eggs. Now I want to make a top for them in one of the colors in the stripes. I'll post a picture tomorrow. Right now I'm heading to bed in style ;O)

Update

I have been very busy lately with my classes so I haven't knit anything new. I did learn how to weave in the ends of my green washcloth and it turned out so nice. I have many knitting projects planned but I can't do much right now since I really need to be concentrating on my classes. I have several gift ideas and I've been using my 40% off coupons to get up a stockpile of yarn. This winter should be very productive!

I'm starting another washcloth called the "Garter Stitch Lace Facecloth". I'm using some yarn I found on clearance at JoAnn's called Bellezza Collection Smania in "Berry Multi". I can't find my size 6 needles right now so I'm using my 7's and not sure I like how loose it is. We'll see if this thing gets very far without getting ripped out.

We had our first snow so now my garden is mush ;O( Now I need to go out there and clean up my beds before we have a snow that sticks.

I joined a new bookclub called Paperback Swap. So far I'm really enjoying it!

My oldest son is doing great in school this year. He tested really high at the end of last year (6th grade) so he will be taking the SAT in September. He may qualify for a scholarship! He could also take some college classes duing the summer if he passes the SAT. He's been working really hard to keep up his grades since I told him I would buy him a laptop ONLY if he gets all A's and no more than 4 B's this year. The more A's the better the computer! He's missed getting in a couple of assignments on time so he's trying to get all the extra credit he can. It's nice to see him try so hard. I'm hoping he will like the recognition he'll get for getting in the honor roll and will keep it up. I can't always buy him something big like that but there will always be upgrades and accessories for the darned thing.

I have a hair appointment on the 10th and I'm thinking about cutting it short again. I'm thinking of doing another Faith Hill haircut.

My newest hobby

Earlier this year I learned how to knit. I'm not that great at it yet so I've been looking for some nice (small) practice objects. I have this scarf pattern that I got for a dollar at the the little craft store close to my house. I made one for myself in nice rich warm tones of red, orange, purple, and yellow. It turned out very nice but I think I probably goofed up on the pattern in a few places. No one notices but me. Now I haven't knit anything for a few months since I was very busy with classes and work so I'm ready to give it another try. A friend of mine bought some Moda dea ticker tape in blues and pink and so far it is making a very pretty scarf.



Look how long it is! I only worked on it for a couple of hours and that includes the times I ripped it out and started over! Too bad my friend wants it to be 7 feet long!!!!!!!



My rows are a little wavy but if you screw with it a little bit it staightens up.

Today and yesterday

Wow, it's only -22° today. The sky is clear and bright. I almost feel like breaking out the swimming suit! It's so nice to see what my neighbors house looks like again. I couldn't remember what color it was. The ice fog was so bad that it was impossible to see the back of the car in front of you. Now it's so bright and clear that my eyes are watering so bad I can't see. I'm like a vampire that disintegrates in daylight! I better get out more....or go to a tanning salon!

Yesterday I refinished my kitchen chairs. My husband helped me (thank God!). I don't know what I would have done without him. After the seat is recovered you can't find the original screw holes so he had to make new ones. It really looks so different...... which is not so bad. I really liked the way they looked before but this is good too. Now they have a pattern to them that shouldn't show stains as bad but they still look classy. I think I'll make the kids eat under the table as an extra precaution. Now that I know how to do it.......I never want to do it again!

Ahhh vacation...

I have been having a wonderful time just kicking around at home with my kids for the last week. It is so nice to finally have some time to get some things done that I just haven't had the time for. I've cleaned and organized... I've ironed a lot of stuff. I got a sewing machine for Christmas so I've been tinkering around with that. It's been really peaceful too since the kids each got their own computers and some new video games also :O)

I'm in the middle of making of a fun project right now. My youngest son had a bunch of those wooden crates (like you can buy at craft stores) stacked in his room to hold his books. I planned to buy him one of those tall book shelves after Christmas. But of course, we had to rearrange his room to accommodate his new computer and desk. We managed to get a nice small desk (less than 3 feet wide) from a friend and it fits nicely into a corner of his room but we still have to work around the upright piano in this room... that thing is not moving. I turned his bed and moved everything around but he still ends up without a wall space for a nice shelf. So I'm back to the crates again. I stacked them at the foot of his bed in an arrangement which would allow him to have books on both sides. When he is in his bed he will be able to access the books on the top of the shelf which is over his mattress. The other side will have open area's for books on the bottom portion. I even knocked out some slats on one crate so he can access books from both sides. Now that I have a nice arrangement I'm painting them. That's the fun part :O)

He has a really nice tropical fish bed set with matching curtains that we got from Domestications. It is like someone took a picture under the ocean and printed it on the fabric. We wanted something to match that set so we took the pillow case to Lowes to get some paint mixed. After it's all painted I'll stack them up and fasten them together. His bed is a garage sale find that I plan to refinish later one. It has the drawers underneath which saves space in his room. When I finally get a sander to help refinish it I know where to go to get the paint colors I need. Then some nice tropical fish knobs and he'll have a very cool lookin room!

Well I better get back to painting!