Spring Flowers

My crocus flowers usually bloom the end of March. This year it was the middle of April before they finally bloomed!

This is all the Forsythia blooms we have so far!

On April 17th, the Daffodils are about to bloom.

As are the Hyacinths.

The Tulips are just peeking out.

On April 22, after a few days of rain, we have more Forsythia blooms...

And the Hyacinths are blooming

and the Daffodils,

and a tulip is starting to bloom.

We even have some of these flowers growing already!

On April 27, we cut the tulips that wer blooming and brought them inside.

A Bench Seat for Blueberry

We went to the junk yard on Tuesday to look for a "new" bench seat for the back of the van. A couple of the vans the right style had "Stow and Go" seats which didn't work for our van. The only other one left had a split bench. It was listed for $85 for each side, but we got it for $100 total. I washed them on Wednesday and now we're good to go!

The seats look a little blotchy from being washed/wet.

The original seats are more gray and the "new" one is more tan. But they work for a place to put the butts!

All ready to go!

Blueberry

With the soon to be arrival of Andrew, we needed to get a larger vehicle as we can only squeeze the 3 carseats into the Stratus we have. We have been keeping our eyes open for inexpensive vans and when my sister, Amy mentioned they had gotten a "new" vehicle at an auction, we started looking into that option. We went to a State Surplus auction on Saturday to try and get a vehicle. They were going for more than we were hoping for and bid on 2 different vans, both of which sold for the next bid after we stopped. We decided to go a little higher and won the next van we tried for.




It is a 2002 Dodge Caravan. It has been dubbed "Blueberry"













It is a very basic model without power locks or windows. The only way to open the rear liftgate is with the key.











It does have a cassette player and cruise control.



















It only had the middle bench seat, so it currently only seats 4.
















The middle seat can be all the way to the left or to the right. Since the tracks are the same in both the middle and rear positions, we assumed that the middle seat could be moved back the same way that we had seen some vans with the rear seat moved forward. (we were wrong!) We are going to try and get a rear seat at a junk yard.

Extreme Tatters Round Robin-part 2

I mailed out the 2nd installment of my round robin. I tatted these for Wally. These will also be in my new tatting book, although I think I need to tweak the 3rd one a little as it is too round.

Easter 2009

Here are some shots of the kids with their Easter baskets.

A portrait of the kids

A family photo

Here are the girls and I in our matching dresses

Me singing in the choir contata

Closer shot

Dad doing the narration

What I've Been Up To Lately

I had an OB appointment on Tuesday. I was 21½ weeks along and was measuring 24 weeks! I've never done that before, and when they measured at the ultrasound, Andrew was measuring exactly as far along as I was. I've gained 5 pounds so far.

I have been working on some more tatting designs for my new book/Extreme Tatters Round Robin. I have a sand bucket and shovel done, but wanted to send Easter eggs in the next round as it is due right at Easter. My 2nd egg turned out weird, but I think I know how I can get it the right shape. I did want to have a 3rd design to send also, so I think I better get going on that!

I started sewing dresses Monday for the girls to wear to church on Easter. (I know, nothing like waiting to the last minute!) I didn't have a pattern for the style of dress I wanted, so I used the bodice from one pattern and ad libbed the rest. I got their dresses done Wednesday night and started on one for me on Thursday. I also didn't have a pattern for mine, so I winged it, too. I got mine done this morning. Sarah thinks I should sew a shirt for William, but I don't think I want to make a purple floral shirt for him! (I probably have fabric downstairs that would work, but with only a day left to work on it, I don't think I want to add the stress! Maybe next year!)

Extreme Tatters Round Robin-1st received

I received my first item in the exchange. This is designed and tatted by Camille. It is called "Alexis" and tatted in Valdani Hand Dyed thread (Violet Meadows M 40)

I really like the cluny leaves in the center!