Weekly Quilt Update

Just look at this quilt top (just not too closely) - week three and I'm still loving this hobby!

Quilting Update

We were welcomed back to the quilting store last week with a cheery, "Here the travelers are!" It was wonderful... and we spent the morning quilting and chatting. We each have our four big blocks and small sashing done and on Tuesday we'll put on the 3" sashing and then be ready for the backing. When it's all done I'll post a picture of the finished product; but in the meantime here's a pic of Anna's busy hands.

Less list guilt...

Yesterday Mary had a wonderful brainstorm - rather than make to do lists, make to done lists. She explains it all here, complete with her to done list for the day. So, here's my to done list for today:
-reminded Sophie to take a snack to school
-was rewarded with a smile and a thumbs-up sign
-called Kay at school to tell her Lucy was still sick and would be staying home with me again today
-pushed the button for oven self-cleaning
-scrubbed oven racks clean
-make tofu chili for lunch
-made homemade bread using Charlotte's recipe (see recipe and bread above)
-made parmesan noodles for Lucy
-took some chili and bread over to Charlotte to have for supper
-cleaned the microwave
-spent 45 minutes on the phone trying to get people paid for writing project stuff
-spent 20 minutes before the phone call fretting about it and trying to figure out a more efficient system for getting people paid
-returned a phone call to one of the teachers who hasn't been paid
-spoke to the librarian's assistant about the fact that fourth graders can only check out books once/week (silly rule as far as I'm concerned) and asked about policy to not let kids check out books if they talk during library time (another silly rule, my opinion)
-made note to myself that I need to talk to the librarian about this on Monday
-confirmed parents who will read to K-3rd graders every morning before school, shared the list with the teacher at the school who is in charge of this
-thanked Anna for picking up 16 cool glass snack plates/cups for $25 at the Arc
-took those same 16 snack plates/cups to Theresa's for her desert night next week (she'll have to wash them - ha!)
-emailed reminders to writing project book club members
-shared a bakery caramel roll with Theresa
-dropped off Sophie's violin to be restrung
-just remembered that I need to pick up the violin
.... to be continued later (after I pick up the violin!)

Music to Hug By...

On Saturday night Dave and I were in the kitchen doing last-minute prep for dinner company. I was in the mood for some music and asked him to put in the Archies CD a friend burned for the kids. I was a little surprised (knowing Dave and all his conservative Republicanness) when the Dixie Chicks started playing instead of the Archies. I didn't tell him of his mistake - just enjoyed the music and the little joke played on him.

But when my favorite song came on, the one that makes me think of Dave every single time I hear it, tears came to my eyes. The refrain is just so perfect for the two of us:

and i come to find a refuge in the
easy silence that you make for me
it's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
and the peaceful quiet you create for me
and the way you keep the world at bay for me
the way you keep the world at bay

So, I went over to where he was cutting up some cheese, wrapped my arms around him and told him that he put in the Dixie Chicks instead of the Archies (he stiffened at that) but that this particular song reminds me of him. He laughed, turned around and saw the tears in my eyes. He didn't say a word, not a single word, just kept hugging me and the moment was perfect.

The entire lyrics can be found here, but really, you need to listen to the whole song and then go out and buy the CD because it's just that good.

Dog Crazy

We almost came home with a dog on Thursday - the closet we've ever been. It all started with a visit to the pet store while Lucy was in ballet. Once there Sophie and I fell in love with a black and caramel English Springer Mix - she was absolutely beautiful and cuddly and so happy to be held. The minute I picked her up she started "talking" to me in the way only dogs can and it just felt like this dog was ours to take home. After a call to Dave he reluctantly brought John over so we could "rub" him down with the dog dander and saliva and watch carefully to see if he broke out. All was looking well - after 15 minutes there was a little tiny redness around his right eye, but not much at all. At that point I spoke with the owner of the pet store, explained our situation and John's allergies, and he agreed to let us take Cora (that was her name) home with us until Monday. If John broke out we'd bring her back but all fingers were crossed that he'd be fine. That took another 10 minutes and while we talked John and Sophie picked out a leash. Lucy danced away not knowing that a dog was so very close to our future. Then I noticed John rubbing his neck where Cora had snuggled. He insisted he'd been itchy before. I, of course, chose to believe him but still talked to him about allergy shots and promised I'd go with him every week if we needed to get them; I'm allergic to dogs too.

We picked Lucy up from ballet and walked her down to meet Cora - she was thrilled. Everything was confirmed with the owner - I'd drop the kids off at school on Friday and then come pick up Cora. It was set.

But then we got home - approximately 45 minutes after John first rubbed up with Cora. I looked at John and one of his eyes was almost completely swollen shut and he was itching away. With tears in my eyes I rounded the kids up and said we couldn't do it, we just couldn't do it. Sophie, of course, sobbed and sobbed. John said, "Why did God make me like dogs so much if I'm allergic?" Lucy, not as involved in all the original drama and anticipation, looked sad but then danced away. I called the owner back, full of apologies for wasting his time and for getting so attached to Cora already. He was very understanding but I don't know how he'll act if I ever enter his store again.

So there's our dog story for the week. Sophie's still upset about it - yesterday she told me she's going to get two dogs when she grows up, one for every dog we've looked at and hold and think about buying. I told her we'd better stop doing this to ourselves - more importantly, I better stop doing this to the kids. I told her I thought it best we don't go into another pet store for a really long time and that I better quit looking in the classifieds for the perfect dog. You see, I think we already found the perfect dog but we're just not the perfect family for her.