Memorial Weekend and Bandana Pocketbook

Hey All,

The kids are out of school!  Where oh where did the year go?  I swear they just started if time starts going by any faster than it already is there won't be any reason to get up.  Of course the boys are excited about no school and wanting the summer to stroll along slowly.  Colin is not looking forward about the 4th grade but Dale is excited about his senior year. 

Memorial Weekend was a fun filled time.  We spent the long weekend on the go and only came home long enough to eat or sleep. 

We spent Saturday afternoon at the YMCA for the first day of the season of the pool opening.  It was HOT! Colin had a blast.

Sunday afternoon we went to Riverwalk Carolinas which is a new walking trail to walk next to the river.  Sadly part of it was closed because of all the downed trees from the storm we had a few weeks ago. 

After returning home we decided to go to a friend's house at the lake. 

As you can see we weren't prepared to go swimming.  I didn't even think about taking his swim trunks I thought they were going to fish.  But there were so many boats and jet skies out that it wouldn't have done any good.  So they decided to go swimming instead.

Monday we went to Columbia and went to the zoo.  One advantage to having a large family is sometimes it's cheaper to buy a season pass for a year.  That is what we did so now we can go back whenever and it's paid for.  It was going to cost more for us to get in than a family season pass cost.  Duh!  Family pass it was. Jene` even showed up to spend the day with us and she brought one of her friends to hang out with.  It was a fun filled scorching hot day!

 Oh Dale you and your texting!   Colin, Zac, Jene` and Dale

 Oh my this was so cool!!!!!  You got to walk in with the kangaroos.  It was a blast watching them hop along with you. 

 Oh yes there is even a Botanical Garden to go through.  It was beautiful!  I can't wait to go back in late September when it's a bit cooler so we can enjoy it more.

 Crazy kid couldn't wait to sit on the elephant.  Dale won out on that one. 

 Look at the size of this turtle!  If we wasn't standing there watching it eat the grass you would have thought it was a statue because of the coloring. 

 Oh yes then it was time to sit on this little turtle.  Just look at how good they are getting along.  It was a wonderful family day! 

Today we went to a birthday party for my niece.  She has decided at the ripe old age of 7 that she is too old for baby dolls, tea parties, and anything associated with being a little kid.  So I made her a pocketbook out of a bandana and filled it with bracelets, beaded necklaces and silly bandz. 

I cut a bandana in half and folded one half together wrong side facing.  Sewed down the two sides and then turned it right side out.  I took a shoelace and cut it in half and used one to sew each end to each inside seam.  The other half I placed in the middle and sewed to attach it on the inside of both sides.  I then cut it in the middle so I could tie it to close the purse.  So with one bandana and one pair of shoelaces you can make two of these little purses.

I better go see what everyone is doing it's too quiet.

Take Care :) 



HUGG, Freecycle, and Curtain I made

Hey All,

Last week was our elementary school's kick off for HUGG (Help Us Go Green).  They put out bins once a month to put your donations in.  Used cell phone, empty ink cartridges, and egg cartons.  We had been saving egg cartons all summer and was glad when we could go drop them off.  They are given to local farmers.  We also turned in our box tops and labels.  Now to start saving once again. 

The other day I saw a dresser on Freecycle and was lucky enough to get it.

It matches Colin's bed perfectly!

I also for the first time posted a wanted item on Freecycle... Fabric.  A nice lady responded and gave me some fabric, ribbon, and a couple patterns. 

Thank You Judy!!!! 

I couldn't wait to find something to make or try to make.  After doing the cover for the sewing machine I have been wanting to make something else.  After washing, drying, and ironing some of the fabric I couldn't help but think kitchen curtains with this one piece of fabric.  Saturday evening I went and took down one of the boys curtains for something to go by.  Just something easy to do.  Between Saturday evening and Sunday I finally had a pair of curtains.

close up of what the fabric looks like.

Now what to try to make next????????

Got to run to the bus stop it's that time already.

Take Care :)

Sewing Machine Cover and Happening of the past couple weeks

Hey All,

The past couple weeks have been filled with one family crisis after another.  Get a phone call....  mom my car won't start...  make a trip to Columbia to find it needs a new altenator.  Get a message on facebook...  mom my phone is broke...  get another message... mom lost my debit card.  I call to cancel her card and the next day give her permission to use my upgrade to go get a phone since I was the only one that had an upgrade available.  During these couple days I also had to take one to the urologist and good news he can start going to recess and PE.  Next week he should be able to start back with Tae Kwon Do.  Took one to the orthodonist.  That day after the appointment I dropped him off at school and thought I am going to grab something from Burger King before I finish running errands.  Order my food and gave them my debit card and they said....  you need to call your bank.  I left and came home and called the bank they said you need to call this 800 number so I did.  They informed me that my card had been reported lost not my daughter's card.  No I gave them her account not mine.  I'm sorry we will order you a new one and you can go to the bank and get a temporary card until that one arrives.  I head to the bank and am told we no longer issue those and haven't for many months.  Ok ya all really need to communicate with your 800 numbers.  First they cancel the wrong card and now they give the wrong information.  So he checked the accounts and they still hadn't blocked her card so they went ahead and did that and ordered her a new card.  Then he they have already issued you a new card so we will leave it at that.  Her card came in the mail last Friday and we took it to her over the weekend but I still didn't have mine yet and called and they said give it a few days with the holiday weekend and all.  Yesterday after the mail ran I called them again still no card!!!!  They went in and said ummmm I'm sorry but one wasn't ordered.  Now they are suppose to overnight one to the bank and since it was late in the day it will be Saturday....... I'M HOPING.  Now let's back up to the day I gave her permission to use my upgrade to get a phone.  I have had my phone for 6 or 7 years.  No problems with it and I love my phone.  That night I was talking to my mom and the cat wanted in.  I went over bent down and as I was lifting the bar out of the sliding glass door my phone slipped and hit the floor and the flip top came completely off.  The next day I went and was told I'm sorry you will have to pay full price you don't have an upgrade for 2 more months.  I said you can't help me since there is only 2 months left?  No.  I've been a customer for almost 12 years and have 4 phones and 1 internet service and you can't give on 2 months of a 2 year contract?  No.  I left because I wasn't paying $160 or more for a phone.  One of Dale's friend's had a phone so I am using that one for now.  Anyway my stress level is high from all this.  But I did find some time to craft.

I cleaned out closets and there was a t-shirt of Colin's that he has worn out it won't come white anymore after a few years of wearing non stop.  It's way too small and he was still trying to wear it.  I told him let me make it into a pillow for you and then you can sleep with it everynight.

I had been surfing around for an easy project that was not in a pillow form.  Sewing and I have not worked out well in the past.  I never had it in school and was never taught anything about a sewing machine.  Since getting this little machine several years ago about the only things I make are in a pillow form.  I found a sewing machine cover over on Chez Larsson's blog.  It only took me working on it on and off a day to finally get it cut out and pinned.  The pinning part was not going well and I almost gave up on it.  Finally by 11:00 that night I had it pinned.  The next morning I got up and sewed it and it's not perfect but I did it and it fits.  This is my new cover made from a pillowcase Jene` no longer wanted.

Other happenings around here.... Dale got his number for football...

Go number 8!!!

I think Jene` has lost her room.  The room that NO brother's or animals was allowed to go into.

I see a boy, dog, and cat all in her bed.  While he was in there watching TV he had yelled out...  Hey mom I like the brown walls but this PINK stuff has to go.  She had called and was talking to him and he said... oh by the way I don't like your pink stuff so I'm going to change it.  She said you better be staying out of my room.  He said ummmm......  too late it's mine now I put my toys in there.  I could hear her yelling.... PUT MOM ON THE PHONE.  Ahhhhhhhh  the joys of being mom!

I better get this day started and get something done.

Take Care :)