Monday, January 25, 2010

Does it really have to be this hard?

Sewing...

I learned the basics in high school.

Rarely use this skill except for sewing pillows, window valances etc.

Before this weekend I hadn't sewn in 5 years.

At that time, I had used my mother-n-laws machine.

I remember pure frustration.

Especially the first hour during my intro with the sewing beast.

Last year I inherited a 1987 Singer with monogram cartridges from my husband's grandma.

It had been in the closet for over a year.

The monogram instructions looked intimidating. So there it stayed in the closet.

Until.....

last week when I pleaded on FB for a sewing lesson and a sweet friend obliged.

I took the Singer out of the closet to get acquainted.

No frustration, sudden outburst occurred when my friend sat beside me to help learn the machine.

Two things we realized:

1. The monogram attachments were broken.

2. We had no idea how to wind an empty bobbin. (I did not have an instruction manual)

*

Fast forward to Saturday without the help of my patient friend.

I printed off directions for winding the empty bobbin.

Here's a quote from the instructions: "The wind-in-place bobbin under the slide plate winds quickly and easily without having to be removed from the machine."

Ha- winds quickly and easily- yeah right.

After numerous attempts (maybe 15) and many adult tantrums, the bobbin was finally wound. For some reason which I still have no idea how, the thread kept winding underneath the actual bobbin.

*


So here is proof that I actually sewed something.


Hand me down tank top and skirt, material from last years Valentine's photo backdrop.
I think it turned out pretty cute.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Boo boo head

This is one of many names my children have been calling each other that end with "head."


I sat down with them one afternoon to discuss


eliminating name calling from their daily activities.


I began by stating that calling each other names is not nice and hurtful.


My son with a tear in his eye, exclaimed "but you call us names."


Horrified, I asked what name I had called him and my son replied, "sweetie."

Sweetie, huh. My son doesn't like me calling him sweetie.
Deep Sigh.
*
Yesterday out of nowhere my daughter exclaimed,
"You can call me sunshine."
Sunshine it is.
She is my morning dose of sunshine.





Kudos to the home school moms out there.
I don't know how you do it.
Trying to show my little sunshine the correct way of writing letters is an impossible task.
Her way is the best way.
And getting my son to stay on task with his weekly math homework is killer.
Later-Jen

Thursday, January 21, 2010

He Loves Us

Love this song by the David Crowder Band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FxaUYjRtkc

Investment 2010


Monday, January 18, 2010

Grateful

In 2009 I was blessed by so many people
who referred their friends and family to my
photography business.

*

As a thanks.....
I'm going to be giving away $25 gift certificates for each referral someone makes. For example,
Krista referred 3 families last year so she has a $75 credit that she can use for a photo session, purchasing pics, etc. Just make sure your referral mentions your name so that you get the credit!
Thanks so much! I am grateful - Jen

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

My snow bunny





This kid loves to get out in this stuff.
My girl on the other hand...
"I like snow, just not when it is really cold."

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Drifts

Notable fact: Half a life-time ago when I was looking at colleges,

I literally took the map of the states and cut it in half.

Any universities that were further north of Kansas did not even get considered.

It was too cold.

Today I look outside.

Snow drifts 3 -4 feet tall.

Wind chill factor -15 degrees.

Something is wrong with this picture.



I shoveled the back patio so my dog can do its duty without snow drifts falling into the kitchen.

I then felt ambitious and opened my garage door to shovel the driveway.

3 feet drifts.

I began shoveling away and then noticed that the wind kept blowing the snow back.

I then noticed that the tracks of my hubbies car had vanished.

No where to be seen.

I went back inside.

I will tackle that job later.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Frigid beauty

Trying to see the beauty of these frigid temps.
More snow expected to fall with blizzard like conditions tonight.




Monday, January 4, 2010

Arctic blast

Did I miss something?
Did we move to a northern state without my knowledge?

Friday's forcast: High 0 degrees
Brrrr.