The Bunk Bed Quilts

With an estimated 3 days of pregnancy left last year, I launched into two new quilts.  An insane undertaking until you factor in the hormones of a ready-to-pop expectant mom. 

For some time I had been wanting some kind of bed covering for the big boys' bunk beds.  Something fun but not cute.  Something playful but not childish.  Something not found on the pages of a slick magazine or on the shelf at Target.

In my quest for baby quilt fabric, I came across a fun camper van print.  It just happened to be the same colors as the valance (which I love! love! love!) and met all my criteria: fun, playful, and different.  To seal the deal, there was just what I needed on the bolt.  It was definitely a sign.

Well, the fabric sat in the closet for months because I couldn't decide on a pattern.  Then I remembered a quilt I had seen in one of those slick, expensive magazines.  It was made from randomly sized strips of fabric; simple construction but an effective result. 

This required another trip to the fabric store with all the children, but it's been a year ago so time has been kind enough to erase particular memories of that outing.  Needless to say, I purchased a dozen or so coordinating prints and set to work cutting (I love my rotary cutter!) right across the width of the fabric.

Strips were laid out and arranged until it was just so, and then I began to sew.  And sew.  And sew.  The piecing, in fact, only took about two hours per quilt. I was amazed at how fast it went.  (The boys amused themselves by riding their bikes between the garage and basement).  Strips were added to the sides to make the side drop on the bed.  The quilt sandwich was assembled with batting and backing (in this case, a twin sized flannel sheet) and the whole thing machine stitched. 

Binding was the only heachache, and only then because I was trying to save time.  When I left to go to the hospital, I glanced at my sewing bag: only 1/2 of one quilt left to bind but thankfully reason set in and I simply walked out the door.  I did finish it a week later.

I've been so pleased with the outcome.  It's a pleasure to glance through the bedroom door (that is, when the beds are made and there's no extraneous junk lying about haphazardly), and while I don't have the specifics, the cost was about 1/4 of those pre-made fancy ones.

I was so enamored with this syle that I made up two crib-size versions for new babies:

owls for a dear friend

and playful paperdoll cowgirls for the sweet cousin.

Happy Mother's Day

 Giving thanks for all the special mothers in my life

Photo courtesy of Diana Simpson

and the opportunity to have that name for myself!

School's Out

The requisite end-of-the-year program was a couple of weeks ago

and the boys did such a great job presenting with their classmates.

As promised, there was a celebratory lunch at our favorite local pizza joint.

I am so proud of their hard work this year,

but we're all happy about a break for a few weeks!

Washin' the Swagger Wagon

Keepin' the pride in the ride

with our Swagger Wagon.

Andrew on Math

"I just feel that doing math kind of wastes time that I could be playing."

First Daylily

"Aztec Gold"

Green Smoothies

When a friend first told me about green smoothies a few years ago, I was skeptical to say the least.  I pictured myself slurping cold, slimy spinach leaves through a straw.  Yuck!

But somewhere along the way I changed my tune, decided to grow a spine and try it. 

Try it; you might like it! 

And lo, and behold, I did. 

I do. 

They are really good, and you can't even taste the spinach. 

I promise. 

In addition to all the vitamins and healthy stuff, it's just plain pretty going into the blender (especially when chubby baby fingers are sampling).  The finished product, however, can take on some unusual and less attractive hues depending on the green-to-red-purple-blue ratio.  I won't repeat some of my husband's comments on the subject.

Grab some greens and give them a whirl - you may discover you like it, too.

Green Smoothies

Following in my mother's footsteps, I use no real recipe.

I toss in some or all of the following, depending on what's in stock:

yogurt (plain, vanilla, Greek, whatever)

bananas/strawberries/blueberries/oranges

flax seed (whole or ground)

a handful of ice cubes

a couple of handfuls of spinach

frozen orange juice concentrate

sunflower butter

Process in blender until it reaches the right consistency.

Leftovers can be frozen in ice cube trays and reblended when needed.

Look Who's Ridin'

At 7:30 am on Saturday, Stephen declared he wanted to ride without training wheels.

Of course, I didn't have a camera for that first ride, but he was off and riding immediately.



I asked Andrew if he wanted to ride today.

He replied, " I think I will just run along beside and shout encouraging things to Stephen."

And so he did.

We're so proud of you, Stephen!

Phone Etiquette

Even in these oh-so-modern times, one needs to learn proper phone skills

and it's so much fun to practice with a real, working avocado-green rotary.

If You Give a Girl a Hamburger...

she's going to want some onion rings to go with it.

Josie at 11 Months