You Go Girl!

Firecrackers Aren't For Sissies!

Happy 4th of July!  We will be spending the holiday and the rest of the weekend with family at the lake.  It is always a good time...lots of yummy food, lots of family fun, and lots of children with matches and small explosives!  Is this really a good idea?  Two years ago, I finally let the triplets participate in the madness. The day was such a  BLAST (pun intended) that it made the annual Christmas newsletter.  Here's the excerpt:

Suffice it to say, it is always lively and lovely at the lake, and never more so than on the 4^th of July. I love the 4^th of July. Family, friends, parades, swimming, boating, picnic food...what’s not to love? I’ll tell you what’s not to love! The fireworks. Not the big ones that are professionally manned, but the little ones that are put into the hands of mere amateurs. Since when is it a good idea to let children play with matches and experiment with explosives? I thought I was going to have a nervous break down this year! At one point, I counted 14 children, ranging in age from 3 to 13, dabbling in fire cracker wizardry. The kids seemed to set up in three different camps. One camp was trying to light 50 smoke bombs while simultaneously sending a chicken that shoots fire out its hind-end hopping through the smoke. One camp was lighting firecrackers and quickly stuffing them down a manhole in the road to see if there was any flammable sewer gas down there. And the third camp of kids was exploding a bee hive with a complicated set-up of firecrackers laced together with a long fuse. To add fuel to the fire, Uncle Chris Tucker, who should never be allowed to play with combustible material, was parting my hair with bottle rockets. Enough already!!! When Becca came up to me to complain about a punk burn, all I could say was, "Firecrackers aren’t for sissies!" I didn’t comfort her like I should have. I didn’t help her ice it like a good mommy would. I didn’t even pat her head and say, "Be tough, little girl." Firecrackers aren’t for sissies...this is "Mother of the Year" material.

Now you know my shame!  By the way, that is my favorite line from the movie NIGHT AT THE MUSUEM.  A close second is, "I'm gonna shoot you in the dang eye!"  Hey, I just realized that shooting someone in the 'dang eye' could happen on the 4th of July, too.  Yikes!!  I just might have another Calgon moment here!

Wishing you all a safe and happy Independence Day!

Cassie

By the way,  it's not all wild at our house on the 4th.  This was momentary madness.  Be assured that we are usually smoke bomb and paper popper people.  Really,  it's quite safe. Child Protective Services need not be called. LOL

 

 

 

Moose, and Bison, and Bear...Oh, My!

The June snow has melted. Summer is here!  My family decided to spend the first official weekend of summer vacation in Yellowstone National Park.  We always have a good time in the Park.

The geysers and hot pots are intriguing.

 

The wildflowers always put on a glorious display. 

 

 

The vistas are amazing.

My favorite part of the Park, though, is the wildlife.  I am a complete NUT for seeing animals in their natural environment.  We saw lots and lots of animals this weekend.    Yellowstone has a huge herd of elk and bison. 

 

This time of year there are lots of babies...very cute!  We also spotted some cranes, a few bald eagles, a moose, three coyotes, an owl, a badger, and BEARS!  In four days, we spotted eight black bears.  All of them were close enough to see without the binoculars.  The most exciting bear encounter happened on one of our hikes.  We rounded a corner. A mother bear and two cubs were standing right in the middle of the trail. 

We backed away slowly and gave her plenty of space!  She was kind enough to walk out where we could see her.  Eventually, she took her cubs down an embankment and into the river to play.  Bears are way cool.  I was over the moon, I tell ya. I am thankful it was a mild-mannered black bear  standing in the trail. (I know she looks brown...black bear can be brown, cinnamon, or black.  Go figure!)  We've seen a few Grizzlies on our Yellowstone trips.  I fear this story would be a lot different if we had crossed paths with a Grizzly and her cubs!  

Last, but not least, I had some time to doodle stitch in the car on the way to and from the Park.  I have doodled something for you!  I am giddy with the excitement of my very own giveaway. Stay tuned...

Toodles,

Cassie

Birthday Girl

My first baby turned fifteen on Wednesday.  Fifteen...I remember fifteen.   Somehow it doesn't seem like that long ago. 

I treasure this girl.  Well, I treasure all my girls, but today it's about her.  To mark her special day, I think I will share a letter I was asked to write by her English teacher. Here it is:

Dear Ms. _____,

I am Cassie Jones, Hailey’s mom and friend. I know lots of things about Hailey. I know how tall she is, how much she weighs, and what color her eyes are. Beyond the outward appearance of Hailey, I know a lot of other stuff. Here is a slice of what I know...

• Hailey is a terrific big sister. She has an eleven-year-old sister and triplet sisters that are nine. They think she is cool.
• She is an excellent student. She works hard and gets high marks.
• Hailey has a strong moral compass and is trusted to make good decisions even if the decision is not the most popular.
• Hailey is quiet until she gets comfortable with a situation. Once she is comfortable, you will see her sense of humor and her wit.
• She chooses her friends wisely so that she is not put in a situation where she has to make tough choices.
• Hailey loves to dance, play the piano, and listen to music. She dances at Rocky Mountain Ballet. She went to Italy with the dance company last summer and hopes to go to China this year. I love to watch her dance. She makes it look easy.
• She reads for enjoyment. In fact, she’s been told to put her book down a time or two this past summer...Words we never thought we’d say!
• She is kind and reflects upon situations where someone is treated poorly or unfairly.
• Hailey knows she has our unconditional love and support. We don’t expect perfection, just her best effort.

When I think about Hailey, I wonder how a girl with everything going for her can be a laundry abuser. Couldn’t she just put her clean clothes away? Just kidding...I do wonder, though, what life has in store for her. Where will she live? (I hope it’s close.) Who will she marry? (Big decision!) What kind of career will she choose? (Make sure you love what you do.) How many children will she have? (She’ll be a great mom.) Will she always be able to eat like a pig and still be thin? (I hope so.)

I am so pleased with the beautiful young woman Hailey is becoming. She is a song in my heart and the apple of her dad’s eye. My hope is that she will always seek and embrace God’s perfect plan for her life, that her life will be one of contentment and peace, and when all is said and done she will hear her Father in heaven say, "Well done, my friend."

Thank you for the chance to share my thoughts about Hailey.

Sincerely,

Cassie

Right now Hailey is busy learning how to drive.  I am going to have some serious gluteous maximus muscles by the time this is over.  My bum-bum is flexed the whole time she is driving, even though I try to look like I am completely relaxed.  When I learned to drive, I lived in a very small town.  If you went the wrong way on a one-way street...oh wait, there wasn't any one-ways. If you didn't turn the wheel quick enough in a parallel park...oh wait, wait, there was only angle parking. Ok, if you didn't yield at a round-about...nope, no round-about.   You get the picture. When I learned to drive, the consequence for a mistake was learning.  For Hailey, the consequence for a mistake will be a wreck.  She is doing well, though.  I guess it is like most things.  If the bar is high, you step up. 

For her handmade-with-love-from-mom birthday gift, I made her a key fob.  Seems appropriate, don't you think?

This is the easiest project ever! All it takes is a 3/4' strap, a D-ring, and a loopy-ring-thing to hold keys.  The whole project takes about ten minutes (for one).  I made three and let her pick her favorite.  She chose the Ginger Blossom one.  I thought she might. 

I was quite chatty today.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Later,

Cassie

Afterthought--I just had a revelation.  Eventually, Mr. Handsome and I will have to teach four more girls how to drive.  At one point, we will be teaching three at the same time...aaaaaah!  I guess I shouldn't borrow trouble from tomorrow, should I?

 

Coming Home

Today I am on my way home.  Coming home is always good.  Two weeks is a long time to be away from Mr. Handsome and my little triplet friends! 

When I left, these little Forget-Me-Not flowers were blooming in my flower bed. 

I'm sure all the spring flowers are displaying their beauty right now. Lilacs, Flowering Crab Apples, Peonies... I can't wait to see the riot of color and to plant my window boxes.

I'm also anxious to finish this.  Libbie used her Christmas gift certificate on a sock dog instead of a bag. She wanted me to get it done before I left for China.  Try as I might, I didn't have time to complete it. It will be the first creative endeaver on my agenda when I get home.  All this little dog needs are some arms, a tail, and some clothes.  I wonder how long it will take me to get my life back in order so that I can have some sewing time.  Not long, I hope.

I'm looking forward to catching up on my comments and checking in on your blogs.  I've missed you!

XOXO,

Cassie

Pretty Kitty

My fluffy, long-haired, calico, kitty is now an exotic, sleek, velvety, lioness, princess, cat.  That's what we're telling her anyway.  The white hair puffs on my dark olive colored carpet finally got to me.  So did the occassional hair ball that she would cough up...Ewww!  I didn't want anyone here at home to have to deal with such yuckies while I was in China.  Before I left, I took her in for a hair cut. Here is the result.

At first, I though she looked comical.  Now I kinda like it.  I think she looks very avante-garde.  She feels just like velvet.  I'm sure that some ancient Egyptian culture would worship her as queen of the universe. To us, she is still just our calico cat, Tinkerbell, who is loved a whole bunch.  Go kitty!

It should be noted that kitty is not real impressed with her new 'do'.  She fakes a shiver every time I look at her.  Since her makeover, she has not slept on the end of my bed at night,  like she usually does, nor has she graced me with her presence in my sewing room.   Maybe my absence will soften up  her heart?   

Qing Bangmang, Wo Buhui Jiang Hanyu! (Help, I Can't Speak Chinese!)

Nihao (Hello). Today I am going to China.  Really and truly.  I'm not even joking! 

My daughters' dance company, Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre (RMBT), was invited to participate in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic's Arts Festival as goodwill ambassodors for the United States.  For nearly two years, we have been planning, rehearsing, and funding raising, and rehearsing, and fund raising, and rehearsing, and fund raising.  Did I mention rehearsing and fund raising?  I can't believe the day to go is finally upon us.

It is my understanding that the Olympic Arts Festival "opens" the Olympic season.  It should be very exciting.  The girls will be performing at diplomatic functions, sight seeing, and soaking in Chinese culture through dance exchanges and other events.  We begin our two-week journey in Beijing, travel to Guilin, and then on to Shanghai.  (You can read more about it here, if you want.) My two older girls were invited to go.  I was asked to go as a chaperone. I am giddy and nervous all at the same time. I have never traveled over seas before.  I have never been away from Mr. Handsome and the triplets for more than a few days.  And last, but not least, I have never eaten donkey tail or seahorse on a stick!

Here is a peek at the front of the T-shirts we will be wearing to the Great Wall, Tian'an Men Square, and the Forbidden City.

I have a few posts ready to publish while I am away.  I'm not sure if I will have internet access.  If I don't respond to a comment in a timely manner, you will know why. 

If you think of it, pray for our health and safety.  I hope we can represent this great nation of ours in a way that makes you proud to be an American.  I will tell you all about it when we get home.

Bao Zhong (Take care),

Cassie

Since I wrote this post, central China has been rocked by an earthquake. Our agenda seems very small in light of the enormity of the quake.  When the details of the earthquake were first surfacing on news channels across our nation, I no longer wanted to go.  But I have changed my mind.  Maybe RMBT can bring some measure of joy to a nation that is recovering from a such a devastating loss.  Sometimes little things can mean a lot. 

Mother's Day

Mother's Day...quite possibly my favorite day of the year.  Not only because Mr. Handsome and the girls always make me feel special and loved, but because I LOVE my mom.  Among my many blessings, I count her to be one of the best. 

This is my mom. Through the years she has shown me how to look for the extraordinary in the ordinary, how to find joy in everyday activities, and how to seek a quiet moment.  It is good to be still.  Best of all, I learned the art of mothering from my mom.  She does it well.  What an incredible treasure she is.

I knew exactly what I was giving my mom for Mother's Day this year .  When I visited her in Yuma, she was wearing one of my dad's old shirts for an apron.  It was endearing, but I made a mental note to stitch an apron for her.  I, of course, waited until the last minute, but I got it done.  No I.O.U.'s this time!

I also picked up Jennifer Chiaverini's new book, The Winding Ways Quilt,  for her.  I love the Elm Creek Quilts series.  It was my mom who told me I would love them.  She was right! Mom always knows best.  I'm betting my mom will pass this book to me when she is finished.  I can't wait.

XOXO,

Cassie

P.S. I am happy to report that I received a new watch for Mother's Day.  In the picture, I am sporting Becca's watch.  My watch broke some time ago (maybe, four months ago??).  I've been borrowing this one since then.  It's quite stylish.  It has a learn-to-tell-time face, a little power flower on the second hand, and a flowered, elastic band.  I told Kevin it was a perfectly fine watch.  He said something like, "Well, ya, if you're eight."  I must confess that Becca quit wearing it because she is too "big" for it. But hey, it worked.  I kinda liked it. 

I.O.U. and U. and U. and U....

I don't think I will qualify for the mother-of-the-year award this year.  Dang!  At Christmas time, I was so busy sewing for other people, who ordered totes and purses, that my own girls (and sisters) received an I.O.U. in the form of a gift certificate.  I wasn't proud of the gift certificate. I'm even more embarassed to report that even though it is May, I have only made good on one (this purse was for my younger sister) of my I.O.U.'s until today.  To make matters worse, I made a purse for my middle daughter, Paige, and then sold it out from underneath her nose.  (Gasp!) Is that rude or what?  Now you know my shame.You also know why Libbie was a bit concerned when I didn't have her pencil roll done at birthday time.  My track record isn't so good.  I'm so glad the girls love me anyway!

Here is my most recent attempt to live up to my promises.  This is the purse Emily requested. 

She picked out the style, fabric, and button.  I think she has a pretty good eye.  I told her I liked the purse so much that I thought I should keep it.  I was only joking.  Really. She didn't think it was funny...I probably deserved that.

Well, hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to sew I go.  I'm headed downstairs to stitch up a few more promises. 

XOXO,

Cassie

Finished!

The fourth pencil roll is done.  Yeah!  Now Libbie can stash her pencils in style. 

I think I am turning into a binding nut.  I guess that's better than turning into a nut in a bind. For this project, I used Heather Bailey's tutorial on continuous binding.  It worked like a dream!  A continuous binding is truly easier than what I was doing before.  The results are much more polished, too. I love it when that happens.  I encourage you to give it a try if you haven't already done so.

I just received a little slice of heaven from Fabritopia.  Six yards of fabric that I ordered when Jona had her fantastic sale.  Who can pass up fabric at $7 a yard?  I'm not sure what I will do with this fabric.  I have so many ideas floating in my head.  Hopefully, I will not be psychotic about cutting into the fabric paralyzed by indecision.  Sometimes I have trouble cutting into a piece of fabric because I don't want to spoil the fabric's potential.  It's so fun to dream about what it could be.  Silly, I know.  But I can't help it!

Well, I'm off to dream up something fabbity-fab-fab to stitch.  What a great day.

XOXO,

Cassie

PS-- I want to write a personal email response to the lovely comments some of you left on a previous post.  Until the computer gets back from the Computer ER, I can't.  I don't have access to email messages that I opened up prior to the big crash.  I will be getting back to you soon, though.  I treasure your comments ;-)!  cj

To the Pointe

I am still a gal without a computer.  Today I am working on the girls' computer.  My cursor is a flashing seashell. My background is bright pink.  It is a bit distracting, but totally do-able.  I am just happy to have something that works.  I am a complete techno-goofus. In fact, when the computer technician tries to explain the problem to me, I nod as if I understand. In truth, his words are floating like little butterflies, passed my ears, and into space.  Blue screen error...reboot with DOS command code...press D for duh??  I try, but it is not my cup of tea.  Let's move on to something better.

For two or three days, Libbie's new  pencil roll has been sitting on the ironing board waiting for the binding to be put on.  So close, and yet so far away.  It isn't that I don't want to sew on the binding.  Really.  The truth of the matter is that pointe shoes have been demanding my attention.

Pointe Shoes--They're so pretty when they are new and so hideous when they are used.  The used ones are dirty, sweaty, and very stinky.  It's hard to believe that something so girly that is worn by beautiful young ladies could smell so hideous.  Don't kid yourself.  They really do stink!  They look like this:

These ones are about half used up.  It is my understanding that when a pointe shoe is half used up, you start breaking in a new pair.  It's not good to completely rely on a brand new pair of pointe shoes. It's bad for your toes. Or, something like that??

New pointe shoes are smooth, silky, and a lovely shade of pink. Did you know that new pointe shoes do not come with elastic and ribbons attached?  In fact, you have to purchase the elastic and ribbon separately.    Something about this seems wrong to me.  A sixty dollar pair of shoes should come with all its parts in all the right places. I'm not complaining, mind you, just stating the facts.  Since I am not a dancer, I was surprised to learn that ribbons and elastic are necessary extras that have to be stitched on by the dancer.  Or in this case, the dancer's mom.  It is not easy to sew something on a pair of shoes, especially back by the heel.  The toe of the shoe gets caught on the front of your machine. Not a sewing project I enjoy, for sure. The good news is, the ribbons and elastic are securely stitched on. Ahh...

Now back to that pencil roll...