Things Remembered

The past week or so, I have been remembering good/fun things I seemed to have forgotten. Things like walking barefoot through grass, even if it is wet with morning dew. Eating vegetables doesn't kill me and I actually LIKE some vegetables (corn, broccoli, tomatoes). And smells. The smell of Granny's house, clothes, closets. Best smell in the world. So, so comforting to me.

It's kind of funny (or pathetic), but I keep thinking I can kind her again. I go through her clothes and remember how they looked on her. I smell them (all of her clothes are clean). I sew on her sewing machine. I look at her pictures, sleep in her house but I just can't seem to find her. I just want to feel her with me again. Even if it's only for a minute. To be in her arms, patting my back and telling everything will be alright. But she's gone. She is not in her things, not at her gravestone. Gone.

No matter how many things you acquire in life, when you die, you're gone. So it doesn't matter how many "things" you acquire. You leave them all behind.

What you do leave behind is your imprint on those still living. Granny loved me. I know that and never doubted it. Ever. I guess we have all heard how people "live on" through loved ones left behind. That is so true. What she taught me by the way she lived her life has made me a better person. I went to church with Granny until I was twelve years old. Sunday morning, Sunday night off we went. I went, not because I it was exciting, but simply because she went and that is just what we did. I never knew any different. Now I go to church because of what I learned as a child. I serve in the children's department because of Granny. Through her I learned that teaching a child about God is one of the most important things you will ever do. It may take time, but eventually everyone needs God. Those that learned about him as young children already know where to go. There is no greater gift than God's love.

Her influence in this world was great. She touched many, many lives. A life of service to God and others. That's what filled her life. And that's what I try to fill mine with. If she is looking down from Heaven (I'm not sure if you really want to see the earth after being in God's presence), I just want her to know that she is living on through me. I am not nearly as good as she was at serving others but she was an angel sent to earth so we can all get a glimpse of what Heaven will be like.

I miss her. I really, really do. But her life lives on.

Sam Turns Nine (Tomorrow)!!!!

Tomorrow, my baby will be nine years old. I can't believe it. He is the best thing that ever happened to me. I never could have imagined how much my life would change by just having Sam. He is a blessing. I am raising him, but he is growing me. I will go to any length to get what he needs. Because of Sam, I am very aware of the environment and I want to make it better.

Sam and I are so much alike. We both have forceful personalities. We clash a lot because of that. I see so much of myself in him and it makes me love him even more. It also makes me furious sometimes. The things he does are often things I have done or would have done if I had the tools available to me at his age. He is the best mirror I have ever had. And like any mirror, you may not like some of the things but you love (hopefully) the person that looks back at you. And I do.

Still here!!!!

We are going on a mini-vacation this weekend. Jamee and Sam are going to astronaut camp. I will be manning the hotel room and pool (at least I hope I will be manning the pool). Sam was telling me this morning, while we were swimming, what all he needed to pack. DS, DVD player, my laptop, games for the DS, Kitty. I told him Kitty can't go because he gets car sick. Oh yeah, we will also need his mask, my goggles, swim cap, swim apparel. He also pointed out that we should all shower tonight in case they don't have a shower at the hotel.

If you pack like Sam does, tonight's shower would be a good idea since he has not even thought about clothes or clean undergarments (that's what Sam call drawers). At least his unders would be clean. Can't imagine going off and wearing dirty ones....for four days!!!! Clean ones for four days??????

I am planning on packing clothes and toiletries. I will pack those necessities for Sam as well. But what I am really figuring out is what sewing items I want to bring. Oh yeah, and books. And snacks. And drinks. I will toss clothes in the bag. I always overpack on undergarments just in case I have to stay longer than anticipated or I have an accident or something. I can wear dirty clothes but I want my drawers to be clean!!!!

Back to my sewing dilemma. I just can't imagine not sewing for four days. Even if it is a vacation. I need to sew. I have decided to take a machine (just one). No serger or coverstitcher...just a sewing machine. I am going to "rough it." I can't decide what patterns or fabrics to take though. Decisions, decisions, decisions. I mean what if the fabric I bring just doesn't want to be made into the patterns I have with me????? You cannot force these things. I could take a quilt kit. I have several of those. Hmmmmm. I like that idea. I am also planning on taking some magazines and tracing out patterns. I have so many that I want to make up but I so hate the tracing out of the pattern.

Well, wish me luck. I hope I have a good time. I really don't like vacations very much. I have to get everything cleaned up so I can come home to a clean house. But when you come home, you bring piles and piles of DIRTY laundry. And then you have to unpack EVERYTHING. So you work before you go....spend the vacation thinking about all the work you will have to do when you get home...and then come home and do the work. Vacations were a lot more fun when I was the kid and Mama did all of the work. Hey, Mama....how about going on vacation with me??????

Summer at last

School's officially out for the summer. I am sooooo glad. Sam and I have some fun things planned for the summer. Tomorrow, Sam starts swimming lessons. I am also going to join the aquatic center so we can swim all summer long. They offer water exercise classes as well. I want to sign up for those as well.

Sam is still ice skating. He is in the hockey class now. He absolutely LOVES it. He has his own pair of hockey skates. He wants a hockey stick but I said no. Sam, a hockey stick and my house. I don't think so.

I want to get some sewing done this summer as well. I am up to Season Four in 24. I am loving this show. I never had any interest until recently and now I am hooked. I have started downloading seasons from iTunes and watching them on my laptop. Who would thought a laptop could be so handy. It has a bigger screen than my portable DVD player and I don't have to switch out discs.

The Sunshine State

We are finally seeing the sun again. We had a week of cloudy, rainy weather. We had some rain yesterday but had a sunny morning.

I finished two, yes TWO, shirts for the TyDy duo. Don't have pictures yet but I will post when I get them. I am still mourning my loss though as Dy has dumped me....for an OLDER woman no less. Just know that Pammie better watch out because I want my little man back as MY boyfriend.

Still haven't finished the dress I started eons ago. The zipper is my problem. I think I have figured out how to get it inserted though. Just need to sit down and get 'er done.

School is almost out. I think I am more excited than Sam is about the end of school. So far, I have lined up swimming lessons and ice skating lessons for summer. We also need to work on his multiplication tables and maybe start division (ugh). Long division was one of my weaker subjects. We learned this in fifth grade. I had a lot of stomach aches during math that year. May be that's why I had so much trouble.

On A Roll

I finished a pair of flannel sleep shorts for Mr. Bug. I will post a modeling shot when I get it. They are a Spongey-Bob special. We are a Sponge-Bob loving kind of family. With the leftover fabric, I made a pair of sleep shorts for my nephew. He will probably need to grow a bit more. I made a size 1T for him. I am sure his Mama will be PROUD to put SpongeBob apparel on her toddler. That is two yards down and a bazillion to go.

I am currently working on a dress for my niece. Simplicity 2989. The hem band is not quite as perfect as I had imagined it would be....actually it's not perfect and it's bugging me. If I make this dress again, I will need to try a different approach to the hem band. The good news is that as fast as my Littlest Princess runs, no one will be able to see the imperfections. I still need to put in the zipper. Argh, zippers!!!!! Will update on the outcome of the dress.

I found more dinosuar fabric today. I need to find the coordinates so I can make a quilt for you-know-who. I would also like to make him some summer shorts out of some of the prints. I have a quilt kit (different fabric) that I also need to find the corrdinates for. So I need to make, not one, but two dinosaur quilts. Anything for my baby.

Pants, pants, pants

I finished, almost sort-of, the pants I have been making for myself. I just need to put the snaps on at the waistband. No, I am not going to use a button and buttonhole. Snaps are easy to put on and much faster to undo when you have waited until the very last nano-second to pee. Not that I know what this is like or anything. I mean I am so a plan-ahead and structured person (NOT).

Next on my sewing agenda is a pair of flannel sleep pants for Buggy-Boo. SpongeBob flannel sleep pants to be exact. I need to trace out the pattern first. Alright, actually, I need to FIND the pattern first. This could take a while. My organization could use a little (a lot) of help. I can never find what I am looking for in my "sewing studio" a/k/a the room formerly known as dining room.

I am thinking about switching out my beloved Bernie (you should name your sewing machines to make them feel loved and cared for). I want to sew on Sally (Singer) for a while. Bernie also needs to go in for a tune-up. It has been about two years since his last check-up.

I am excited about sewing on Sally. I have had her for about a year and a half and have NEVER used her. She is very neglected. Obviously. She did have a tune-up right after I got her though so she should be ready and raring to sew. I need to get more feet and attachments for her. Unfortunately there isn't a local place that sells stuff for Sally so I usually have to find stuff on eBay. I can get bobbins locally but I really love feet and attachments. I need a ruffler and gathering foot for sure. Just gives me goosebumps thinking about it.