What She Shovels

that require wine, chocolate, an awesome community, and frozen dinners.

“They” say kids grow up too fast and you miss this stuff. I will never miss today. I will never miss seeing the side of my kids that makes me wonder, deep down where I’m afraid to go, if they’ll grow up to be Good People or if … the alternative.

I started this quilt over 2 years ago and it’s been languishing on my sewing table while I thought about how I wanted to finish it. Now I’m almost done with it!

“I’m teaching Bob how to build Legos!”

I’m pretty sure the cat is cursing her lack of opposable thumbs.

After another 6 hours of practice, I have improved my free motion skills a bit more,

and tried trapunto.

The cat appreciates my efforts.

It’s hardly visible, but there’s a tiny burr on the needle plate that only became apparent when trying to do something other than straight stitch. Much troubleshooting and frustration preceded this discovery, but I managed to catch up and learn a few things in my free motion quilting class today.

More tomorrow!

I was having a near perfect day. Great coffee, a few errands, a couple of chores, lunch with a friend, finished the prework for a quilt class I’m taking this weekend, kids both had outstanding days at school, they cleaned the bathroom when we got home, we had a snack, watched part of a movie, read books, did a little rough housing, had dinner on the stove when Mike walked in, was doing the 2 minute update and hand off to Mike before leaving to the last tutoring session with my favorite student, when my 4 yo strode into the kitchen nonchalantly with blood red hands.

Suffice it to say, red tie dye is not finger paint, no matter what you call it or how you use it, and I was late for work.

Tweety has been begging me to buzz her head like her dad and brother, and I couldn’t think of any reason other than “you’re a girl” to turn her down. The thought of saying that to her made my stomach hurt, and I dodged the issue whenever it came up.
Recently she has discovered the braid. All hail the braid! The other day she asked for “one pointy tail and one braid.” Done. Yesterday the request was for 3 braids. Done. Today she asked for 4 braids. I’m afraid what tomorrow will bring!

I got to grocery shop with baby W today and he fell asleep on me. So cute and cuddly, and I got to give him back!

Every night I have the pleasure of flossing dozens of teeth that aren’t mine. Today was my turn.