Fill In the Blanks: Late, but still trying...

I'm going to do this Fill in the Blank Friday, even though, I don't want to and it is late.  I"m trying to keep up with my blog, but friends I am struggling right now just to keep up with life.  I hope to take a walk today and get outside and exercising.  Maybe I'll get some good pictures too.

If you'd like to play along with Fill In The Blanks, check out The little things we do blog, here.
 

In the meanwhile, here is my attempt at Fill in the Blanks.  Sorry if this might be a bit depressing.  That seems to be my only way right now.   

1.  Today is a good day because   I'm going to attempt to leave the house.  I need to go on a walk and I am determined not to be afraid to leave and of ... things   .

2.   The best thing I did all week was   take photos that I really loved.  I love taking pictures    .

3.  The current weather is     cloudy/windy      and it makes me feel     blah   .

4. The best thing about spring is    that flowers bloom and trees come back to life.  I love trees .

5. A fashion trend that I'm dying to try out for spring is  wearing dresses again.  I'm sick of jean and am more comfortable in dresses.  Expect to see them on me a lot; except when I'm walking/hiking.

6. A person who made me smile this week was   my doctor.  He listens, doesn't judge and is so compassionate.  Its no wonder I feel better just seeing him.  He makes things make sense (most of the time) and is a little tough on me; but still kind. 

7.  The most delicious thing I ate all week was   ick, eating.  this is not my favorite topic at the moment.  But, on Easter Sunday my cousin made a quiche that was very good.  Also, we had some really good rolls too.  (Now I'm barely eating at all, thus the ick!)   .

Antrim Park: Late Fall- Set 2

Friends, I am a slacker.  I have not been blogging lately like I should be.  And it is not due to lack of photos.  It is, well, I'm a slacker.  Plain and simple.  (This is the same reason why Christmas may not happen this year for me.) 

Anyway, as I posted LAST WEEK, here is my 2nd set of photos from Antrim Park.  Hope you like them!

Sunday Fun with The Girl!

I had plans for tonight.  Do the dishes, watch a movie, get some sewing done, do a new blog post with fancy pictures, etc.  All of those plans were thrown down the drain.  Why?  I itch from head to toe.  What was interesting is that the rash didn't come until about 2 hours in.  Strange.  Now here I sit, 2 showers and 1 major dose of Bendaryl later and I'm finally feeling a bit better.  I think I'll take another dose in about an hour and go pass out for the night. 

Anyway, I wanted to post these great pictures from our fun yesterday.  Saturday was a leaf walk with the boys.  Sunday was 'Trunk or Treat' with Miss Kay.  She is the most beautiful cheerleader I've ever seen.  (And that has nothing to do with the fact that I'm her Aunt and love her more than anything!)  Enjoy the photos and Happy Halloween!!!!

She is so photogenic!  No coaching, just POSE!  Really, isn't she beautiful?

I love this picture.  She kept hiding behind the tall grasses in the garden, then running out.  Its so nice to see her so silly and carefree.  They grow up so fast and can be so serious sometimes.

Digging in the hay.  There were trinkets hidden in the hay.  Kayla found a plastic jumping frog!

Pumpkin bottle bowling.  This was a really cute game.  They used mini pumpkins for their bowling ball.

What is that you feel?  Could it be a bowl of eyeballs?  Ick!

Smithie S face paint.  Perfect for a cheerleader.

Decorating a pumpkin.  Just watching her is enough entertainment for me.  Why is it that at times just looking at a picture of the kids is enough to make you cry?  I never understood how much you could really love someone until Kayla was born.  Now we have three and another on the way.  How blessed we are!

Posing with Red.  Her other grandma loves M&Ms, so we had to get a picture!

Flowers in the front garden at my parents.

This is one of my favorite trees.  I love the shade of yellow it turns in the fall.  Also, on a side note, I walked around the yard with Miss Kay and she was able to correctly identify almost all the trees.  I am so proud!!!!

Some cool fungus.  Kay and I agreed it looked like the entrance to a fairy house.  What do you think?

Sounds of Silence

I like to talk.  Its one of the good things about what I do for a living.  I get to talk.  At the Front Desk, with my kids, with parents, staff, at events, in meetings; I do a lot of talking.  So, that said, its really hard for me right now.  I can't talk.  I have a little bit of a 'squalk' but, on the whole not a lot is coming out.  To me its embarrassing.  I am not able to effectively live my life, do my job and function as I normally would.  Even as a single person I'm always talking at home.  Whether its on the phone, talking to myself or normally singing along with whatever music I have playing while I'm doing other things.  So, I'm kind of at a lose.

Its not that I haven't had laryngitis before.  I have.  In the past several years I've had many bouts.  It usually lasts 2 days and then I get most of my voice back.  That is not happening this time.  I suppose that is part of what's frustrating me.  I'm not making a rebound.  I saw my internist on Thursday and he recommended rest and fluids.  We can't do any type of meds because A, they probably wouldn't do anything and B, they would exacerbate my other issues.  We both know where this comes from and that is, to me, becoming infuriating.  I'm not mad at the doctors, that would be silly.  I'm mad at myself, a little at God (sorry, I know its wrong) and just mad in general.  My esophagus and stomach cause this.  Acid corrosion in my esophagus onto my vocal chords, and the raging infection in my esophagus that has probably moved into my vocal chords, are the underlying problem.  Is there no end to the litany of problems that my digestive system feels the need to throw at me?

So, here I sit.  In silence.  I've spent the bulk of the weekend at home, in my room, resting.  No talking.  Communication through e-mail, texts, Facebook and now Blogger.  I'm dealing with the situation and pray that tomorrow I'll wake up and things will get better.  I've been silent and that is 'supposed' to help.  I don't feel like it has but, what can I do but try?  I'll wait it out for now.  I go back to the doctor on Thursday and see no point in attempting to call before then.  I've just gotta deal with it and do the best I can.  (Can you tell I'm trying to give myself a pep talk?)

Anyway, the best thing about this weekend has been resting and working on simple things.  You'll see in my photos below some of the things I've been doing.  Hope you like my pictures.  If you need to get a hold of me, e-mail, text or Facebook would be best for the foreseeable future.  Don't bother trying to call, I won't be answering.  *sigh*

Have a great week!!

I have wanted to try my hand at embroidery and this is my first real attempt.  I like it.  It took a little more time than I thought and isn't perfect, but it's cute.

Yummy vegan chocolate chip pancakes I had for dinner.  Not really 'healthy' but healthier than the alternative.  No milk, eggs, oil, so a little better than usual.  And they were really good!

I had to go to the store yesterday (for medicine) so I took a more scenic route home.  This was along the way and I thought it was a pretty view.

I had to get out today and found this tree trunk.  Pretty in its decomposing state.  Yeah, it was covered with fungus!

More fungus in my yard.  This is on/beside a tree stump in the front yard.  Fungus doing its job!

More fungus that's on the stump.  So pretty.

Changing leaves.  Welcome Fall!!!

A breathtaking sunset.  I almost missed it.  I went to the kitchen and was washing up a few dishes and happened to look out the window above the sink.  I saw this, grabbed my jacket, camera and ran to the back yard.  Glad I did as it was gone in literally 3 minutes.

To end this post, I'll conclude with the lyrics from a song I've been listening to a lot lately.  I travel a good deal, and am several hours and quite a few miles away from the people I love the most.  My heart is spread out in Ohio and the US as a whole.  But, I love this song because as the last lines say, 'don't count the miles, count the I Love You's.'

Miles sung by Christina Perri

Kiss me on my shoulder
Tell me its not over
Promise to always come home to you
Remind me that I'm older
To be brave, smart, sweet and bolder
Don't give up on what we're trying to do

Don't count the miles
Count the I Love Yous

My weekend

This has not been an overly exciting weekend.  However, I feel that I was moderately productive this weekend, so that is definitely a good thing.  Today I haven't left the house at all, which is a very good thing with the pollen count the way it is.  I did get some work done here in the house and watched several episodes of 'Say Yes to the Dress.'  I really think it is a good show to study the human condition and the mess of our society.  So much fuss for a dress.  Unfortunately I do agree that there is some importance to that particular type of dress just not to the tune of 11,000 dollars and smacking someone because you don't like what you get.  People, who knows.

Anyway, I am working on an extended post that will show you how I spent the bulk of my weekend, finishing my big project.  The blanket for baby Henry.  I feel like a terrible 'Auntie'.  He is already 3 days old and I haven't even mailed out his birthday present!  I just hope he (more specifically his parents) like it.  It is not a great blanket.  But I think I covered up the worst of my mistakes and all I can say is this was my first attempt.  I had no idea how challenging this would be.  I really envisioned this as an easy project that would be done in no time.  That was not the case, but the effort was well worth it for Henry and as a learning experience.  I plan to keep those mistakes in mind next time I attempt something like this.

But, all-in-all it came out pretty good.  As I mentioned above I'll have more in my post tomorrow (actually today) in the evening so anyone who is experienced in sewing can laugh at my work and maybe offer a little sage advice for the next time I attempt something like this.  But for now its on to the next project.  I already know what Henry and my own niece and nephews will be getting as part of their Christmas presents, I just have to start production.  Wish me luck on my next sewing venture!

I'll leave you with one quick snapshot of the blanket just to whet your appetite.  (That is if anyone actually reads this!)  Goodnight and Enjoy!

Busy, but not really

Today there were a number of things I needed to work on.  I did some, others I just didn't.  I know, its Sunday, I don't have to do a lot.  Its supposed to be a day of rest. I just hate getting to the end of a day and I haven't accomplished much. 

But, I did make some progress on a big project I've been working on.  Its almost done, I just have to do some finishing work on it tomorrow and it will be sent off in the mail on Tuesday.  I hope that it arrives in BG before young Henry Howard makes his appearance.  So, here's a preview of the blanket I've been working on.  Its made of cotton fleece.  I cut squares, tye dyed them, washed them, sewed the squares together and now need to attach a baking and binding to complete it.  I'm hoping to use the fabric from the dress I wore in Jenn & Terry's wedding as the backing and binding.  Its a satin dress, so that, combined with the flannel with make it the perfect 'feely'.  (A feely, in my world, is a blanket, stuffed animal, pillow, or t-shirt that a child can feel while they're going to sleep or just need a comfort.  Mine was a t-shirt of my Dad's that my evil Mother threw away when SHE thought I was too old for it.  Meanie.)  Anyway, hope you like it, but I really hope Jenn, Terry and Henry like it.  Enjoy the pics!

White flannel.  I cut it into 9 squares.  I used a sheet of scrapbook paper for sizing.

Mix the dye.  I like this kind that comes in the bottle.  Squeeze dye is the best method.  These are a bit more expensive.  But, once you have the bottles you can buy the dye to add in after the 1st time.

Soak, 'sculpt' and tye your pieces.

After the pieces had lain overnight with they dye on them, I rinsed them and washed them.  Then I pieced them together and sewed them up.  Its not perfect, but I think it will be nice.  I love that it is so soft and so bright.  I am also particularly proud of the heart square.  It came out perfectly!!!

This is part of the pamphlet that came with the dye.  I haven't seen crappier examples of dye patterns anywhere.  These stink and they are supposed to be from the manufacturer.

Sunday evening

So, here I am at home on a rainy Sunday evening.  Laundry is in; I have unloaded the car; and I am eating my "ice cream" for dinner.  That's right, ice cream (well kind of like Ice Cream) for dinner.  Its good, its the weekend and I'm going to re-start my strict diet tomorrow.

Anyway, here are a few pictures, as the theme of this website is pictures, not chatting.  Enjoy!!

Rain on the leaves of the tree by my front porch.  For the 3rd summer in a row this tree is growing back.  It will soon overtake my steps and make entry into my home difficult.  I do not like it.  My landlord has tried to cut it down every year and needs to realize it must be removed root and all or we will just keep doing this every year.  (And its getting a little old at this point.)

My dinner.  Half a carton of Purely Decadent Cookie Dough 'Ice Cream'.  This stuff is addictive, expensive and something I need to cut back on!!!