A June Mish Mosh

This is a mish mosh post - it includes several things that have happened that I want to record in my journal but that are not big enough to merit individual blog posts.

But first....

And the Winner is...

The winner of the June Give Away is being announced today! Who won the spin-to-win? Watch the video below to find out.

Congratulations! I'll pop your pin in the post promptly. (Ah, alliterations!) And I'll order my replacement pin, too.

In Which I Enjoy People Younger Than Me

Father's Day began with a breakfast at church. All were invited, not just men, 

and there was lots of food. But the men still got a special treat - there were also donuts set aside with a note that said, "Donuts are for men who are over 18." LOL

During that breakfast, Rebecca, the young girl in the picture, approached me with a big smile on her face. Oh my goodness! I could see why!

Twinsies! We shared a laugh and then she asked if we could take a picture together. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't bother her that an older woman was wearing a dress like hers. Thanks, Rebecca. That was very sweet of you.

Alexandra, the young mom below, is a hero mom in my eyes - she has a rowdy bunch of the CUTEST boys and a baby girl. (I wish I could show you her face - she's darling.) The three boys are quite irrepressible (and hilarious) and despite their parents' best efforts, often get up to some escapades at church. 

Adelaide got a little fussy this past Sunday, so Alexandra stood up and took her over by the door, standing right behind Craig and me and rocking Addie in her arms. The baby quickly settled. All of a sudden, Craig and I heard tiny little hiccups. "Hic! Hic! Hic! Hic!" They were soft and just barely noticeable. 

Craig and I looked at each other and grinned. Sometimes we really, really miss having our kids at home, and those tiny little hiccups were a reminder of some very happy times for us. 

The week before, Alexandra's youngest son, Elliot, who is three, was marching around the building behind his father. Really, he was not walking, he was marching. As he approached me, he spied my walker and stopped suddenly, looking at it intently. 

Just as suddenly he resumed his marching, came up to the walker, gave one of the handles a BIG slap, and continued his march down the hall behind his dad. The friend I had been talking to and I burst out laughing. What that was all about?? We had no idea, but once again, Alexandra's kids had made me smile.

Craig's Father's Day

Neither Craig nor I cook much any more, but when it's a birthday or holiday, we make sure there are favorites being served. He asked for potato salad, burgers on the grill, and a cherry cobbler.

I got photos of the potato salad but nothing else. Lisa came over and did the grilling and brought a 7 Layer Salad. Dinner was yummy.  

Craig also got a nice nap with Pepper and Tammo. I love how she cuddled up to him.

None of the dogs steal food off the table or counters, but I think Tammo was wishing he could have some of our dinner, too!

Craig isn't the only one in the family who likes potato salad - it is actually Pony Pal Mila's favorite food. 

And, her dad's, too.

Knowing that, I fixed some extra as a gift and brought Curt a container of potato salad complete with spoon so he could chow down immediately.

Of course, Mila was right beside him, hoping for a bite.

Gus was hoping for some, too!

The 4th of July is coming and I'll make sure Mila gets all the potato salad she wants.

Coming Soon

My BreyerFest volunteer shirt has arrived! And the EOY results from the GLC China Photo Show series.

Stay 'tooned! (Maybe even later today - fingers crossed!)

Happy Father's Day!

 These are the men I love most.

Cole, Curt, Craig, JC, Todd, Kyle, and Andrew at the JC^2 wedding last August.

My dad, Jack Martin with Quigley, a badly abused and then rescued Newfoundland who adored and felt safe with my father!

Cotton, my father-in-love with Craig's mom on their 45th anniversary.

Isaac, the grandson who is no longer with us but is still very loved.

My brother, Steve, who still teases me like only a big brother can.

Rick, Leslie's husband and a man who likes my cherry pie so much, he won't cave to pressure from Nash and Pepper to share it.

Happy Father's Day to them all!

Father's Day, Heat, & the End of the Bolt

 Happy Father's Day!

We are having a quiet Father's Day this year. Lisa is coming here for dinner while Curt will spend the day being feted by his family. Craig has asked for his favorite comfort food  - porcupine meatballs, mashed potatoes, broccoli, salad, and watermelon. To top it off? Homemade lemon meringue pie!

The heat is on here in Indiana. And along with the heat is an air quality warning - the ozone levels are in the unhealthy range. This is expected to last most of the coming week. I plan to head to church this morning and then stay indoors the rest of the day.

Most likely it will be keeping me indoors all week. I'll water my flowers early and get the dogs walked, but then I'll be inside most of the day. That time will be used to sew.

I just hit a sort of sewing "milestone." I came to the end of a 50 yard bolt of fabric!

When that huge bolt of fabric was delivered, I wondered, "What have I done? I'll never use all this!" It took me two years, but I did it. Yesterday I cut three women's caps from it and that was the end - only a few scraps are left.

Me wearing a woman's cap I'd made from that bolt of fabric. (The woman is a teacher I'd taught with in Illinois.)

I also made four chemises (this is a sleeve) from the last of it. There is no more of that bolt of fabric left - it's all gone. It is no longer available to buy, either, but I do have a 10 yard bolt of white cotton from another source ready to go. (Obviously, I use a lot of white cotton!) 

I also finished two wool pockets last week.

In the 18th century, pockets were not set into your clothing, they were separate items of clothing and tied around your waist.

Women wore them under their petticoats which had an access slit in them so a woman could slide her hand inside to get to the pocket. 

Those pockets were made from remnants from the blue wool that I made this cloak out of last winter. 

Well, I gotta scoot - that lemon meringue pie needs to be made sooner rather than later.

Happy Father's Day, Craig!

There is no one I'd rather go through life with than you and our children!