Sarah's New Trick

It seems Miss Sarah does not like to lay down (or recline) in her bouncy seat anymore. You see, she's much too big for such babyish past times. Some friends passed along an excersaucer and a johnny-jump-up for Sarah to use until she walks (Yikes!). Though she gets tired and wobbly fairly quickly right now, I'm sure this will be her most favorite activity in no time.

Notice Sarah's sweater. It was actually chilly enough this morning to warrant a sweater. This is one that my Grandma made for me (I think it was for me, at least).

Ta Da: It's Finished!

A close-up of a square. Don't look too closely.

Front and back view.

Full view.

Taped down, trimmed, and ready to quilt.

Oh golly. This was a project, but fun too. This is a log cabin quilt. Tutorial is found http://stitchesinplay.typepad.com/stitches_in_play/2009/06/easypeasy-log-cabin-tutorial.html.

There are 40 squares, each with 9, pieced strips. That's 360 pieces. Each one of those 360 pieces was stitched, pressed, trimmed, fitted, and then stitched some more. Then each of those 40 squares was stitched together. Then the entire thing was laid on top of batting and a backing (a perfectly coordinated thrifted sheet), basted together with safety pins, and ultimately machine-quilted in squares. It took an entire spool of thread to finish.



The plan is to use the quilt as an outside blanket sort of thing. Like for picnics and baseball games and such. It's just so cute that I might have to come up with an excursion this week so we can actually use the darn thing!



If I was old and had no babies to feed, children to teach, and various other duties to tend to, I would be a quilter. I have a huge appreciation for those who pursue this craft--it's not easy. And I did mine all my machine too. My Aunt does all of her quilts BY HAND!



Just enough squares left over to put together a couple of matching pillow covers. Won't we be the coolest looking picnickers ever?

Someone, leave me a comment and tell me how impressed you are. Please?!

Oh, The Complete Chaos

This is how my dining room looks right now, with no end in sight.

There are little, bitty scraps of fabric everywhere. The table is unuseable. The floor is covered with fibers and threads. But, I am having fun.

Michael's Birthday Cake

This is the cake that is affectionately referred to as Michael's Birthday Cake. It's really just angelfood cake with buttercream frosting, but it has always been my brother Michael's choice at birthday times. I think I've eaten too much of the frosting today though.

1 baked Angelfood cake (I NEVER make this cake from scratch as it requires a full dozen eggs!)

Now for the best part--frosting.

Cream together:

1 stick of butter

Zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon

Add:

1 lb. powdered sugar

Juice of lemon and orange
Enough cream or additonal lemon juice to make a spreadable or spoonable frosting.

You'll know it's a success when there are many finger marks in the frosting!

I Know What's Been Missing In My Life

It's Goodwill. Haven't done any GW shopping since moving to Virginia. While living in Oregon, I would get together with a group of girls on a regular basis and peruse not one, but two, local Goodwill stores. I've been known to "shut down" a store or two in my time. (That means be the last person in the store at closing time.)

Last week, out of complete desperation for something to do, Madeline and I went thrifting. That included our local Goodwill. Yes, it is a smaller venue than what I'm used to, thrifting snob that I am, but we did fairly well with our finds. Providentially, we found a Beatles t-shirt just at the point where Madeline said, "This place is gross and there isn't anything here that I would possibly want." Now she's a convert.

Today, I took Jon and Madeline with me on the hunt. Jack could not be convinced to join us, even with the promise of Sonic afterwards. Bill and Sarah were sleeping. Oh, and what a haul we made. Two new movies, a new Levi jean jacket for Jack (what he's been wanting FOREVER), 3 sweatshirts for Jon, baseball pants for Jon (tball, Heaven help us, next year), a book for Bill, and new cargo pants for Jack (he likes the pockets for knives and such). Oh, and a Talbot's sweater for Jon too. All of this for $13.00!

After a necessary swipe with the anti-bac. wipe, we ran to Sonic for tots and soda. Whew. What an eventful day for us fast-living Pennicks. We really know how to have a good time.

Here Is What's Happening

Anyone remember that from local TV when we were little? Maybe it was on channel 2? Anyway, we've been trying to keep out of the hot, humid weather as much as possible.

We had a nice evening swimming in the lake on Wednesday, followed by the worst thunderstorm I've ever seen. The lightning was incredible! (Thank you, Jayson, for recognizing the misspelling of lightning)

Yesterday, I highlighted Madeline's hair RED.

Miss Sarah has started turning over and will hold her head steady when you pull her up by the arms. That description sounds sorta bad, but you probably know what I really mean. I swear we are not abusive.

Jack has been bemoaning the hot weather, just chomping at the bit to get outside and cut firewood to sell.

Jon has been writing and drawing maps to a myriad of locations. There are maps all over my house.

There will be a baseball game in Danville for Bill, Jack, Madeline, and Jon on Sunday (with Jack's baseball team from earlier this summer).

Some unfeatured Sarah pictures

Mobile

Once again, we decided that Sarah needed a homemade source of amusement. So we spent last night making this mobile:

The funky felt owls that we both worked on:

The cute felt trees:

Sarah's take on it:

And her reaction to having her picture taken:

New toys for Sarah

A few days ago, Mom decided that Sarah's nug could contain toxic dye. OK. Anyway, the following freaky, Waldorf toys from Nova came today.
100% silk nug:

Weird, all natural, crinkly teething doll:

Another video

Spazzy Sarah:

Another Sarah video

This one shows her very talktive side:

This One's For Heather

This is one of the onesies the Hofmanns sent from Oregon. It is so cute with the matching pants--too hot for pants today!

A New Fairy Tale

This one's called "The Turtle and the Fur." Can you guess which fairy tale Jon was talking about? It would be "The Tortoise and the Hare." Pretty funny what comes out of kids' mouths.