Where I am these days

Okay, I haven't been here, I am absolutely hooked on this blog, not only do I want to live on the ranch, (preferably in the remodeled guest house) but I am determined to win one of her fabulous giveaways (entries usually top over 8,000). Check it out if you have a week with nothing to do.

Feeding the Family

I never got around to posting photos from our garden last year. I wish I had taken one at the end of it's life, truly it had a life of it's own. We had the usual tomatoes, squash and peppers (the grasshoppers ate all of our pepper plants). Logan sprouted some beans from the pantry and we planted them too. He loved working in the garden with his dad ( I know I have pics somewhere...) I am excited to have an even bigger garden this year. All the kids like to help out, the evenings are so nice and cool in CO, makes for a great family time.





Yesterday we picked up our year (?) supply of beef. I am not much on red meat mostly because I was an animal science major in college and visited a few meat packing plants. We tend to only use buffalo because it is what I can get that is hormone and antibiotic free. Anyway, this beef was grass fed close to home, raised with out hormones or antibiotics, and came to us without the outrageous grocery store mark up. We will be having steak tonight, I hope it is good. Fortunately we still have some fish in the freezer from dh's trip to AK last summer, to balance it all out. I love the idea of eating more locally (not counting the fish). I doubt our family could ever accomplish what this family did but I will do my best.

Busy Weekend

Friday was such a fun day. The Varsity basketball teams at our daughters school got to play their game at the Pepsi Center in Denver. That was great in itself but the fact that they won made it all the better. After their games we went out to dinner at Old Chicago, my first time there, not the greatest place to go on a diet but the food was wonderful. Then we went back to the Pepsi Center to watch the Nuggets vs. Pistons. It was a very interesting experience. The last 20 seconds of the game were intense and, after being ahead for the entire game the Nuggets lost.

It was a late night for us (we got home after 1 am) but it was nice to spend the day with just Miranda. I also went to her game on Saturday, their team won by 1 point. I have got to find a way to watch the games without stressing out so much. I love watching her play but it makes me crazy when the scores are so close and the refs keep making awful calls. We have about 2 games a week between now and Feb 20th, hopefully I don't have a stroke.

Tonight Julia came down the basement stairs (there are 17 of them with concrete at the bottom) carrying her 4 babies, each one in a bag, (yes they are my grocery bags). How she managed not to fall is beyond me. She is such a little mommy, she has found the bags much easier to handle than the sling.

I have many projects I hope to complete this year. My main ones are to make a quilt for the three youngest kids. I have finally found fabric for the two girls. This is Naomi's. She really wanted something with horses but their room is yellow and tangerine, horses just don't come in those colors. I think I will look for some sheets, she can have whatever under the quilt. She does like the fairies, really, what's not to love about them?

These prints are for Julia's quilt. I am not sure what pattern I am using on either quilt yet, I imagine it will be some random, wonky kind of quilt. I search all over the internet yesterday and then ended up dreaming about quilts all night. If you have any suggestions please let me know. I am thinking about something like this one.

Any of my long time readers (ha ha) might remember my first quilt, I promised to post it as soon as it is done. It still isn't done. I really don't like it at all. I will finish it and I will post a picture, I haven't forgotten. The main reason I don't like it is because I made it with clearance fabric. I will never make another quilt out of cheap fabric (you get what you pay for).

I am still looking for fabric for Logan's quilt. He said he likes this one and I do too, I am just worried that it will only be used for a year or so. He will be 8 this year, will he out grow it soon? I am thinking I could make a reversible one where the back side of the turtle fabric is just different prints. I feel bad for him, I get so excited when fabric comes in the mail and he keeps asking when his is coming. Again, suggestions are needed here.

I will have to post about my other major project soon, I need some pictures first.

New year new body

I am not one to make a resolution for losing weight, I have tried that and it didn't work. But I am making a commitment to get healthier, if I lose weight in the process (duh) then that is great! My goals are to be able to snowshoe this winter, hike this summer and fit into all those clothes I have stored in the basement (and the ones that I have loaned out ;) gonna need those back friends, later). Anyway, there it is in print, I am going to get fit. I have found a few sites for inspiration, when I join one I will post here.

Back in the swing of things

Lately all of my post seem to start out with how sorry I am that I haven't blogged, how busy I am, blah blah blah. Well, never mind all that, here I am. Hummm what have we been up to? I will start with the most recent. Oldest dd got married. Yep that is right, I am now a MIL (no she isn't pregnant so I am not going to be a grandma, yet). I am very happy for them and only still a little mad that they eloped.

We spent a week in OK for Christmas. It was so good to see everyone again. My Grandma is still having a rough time, she had multiple back surgeries since July, and is having another soon. I can't imagine not having her in my life. I know we don't live forever but I am still hopeful that she will recover and eventually walk again. At the very least I pray that her back pain goes away.

Matt's brother also came up from Houston. My in laws house was quite over flowing, we had 4 kids and one dog with us, and bil brought his two little dogs, I am sure it is quiet there now. This is the first year we haven't been home for Christmas in a long time, although the kids thought it was great to open presents 5 times I hope to never do it again. I had to arrange to have someone play Santa (ok, that was the best part of all) Santa aka Christina, my very dear friend, not only watched one of the dogs, filled stockings, wrapped presents and set up the doll house she also CLEANED my house for me, I was very sick the day we left and basically threw a few clothes in a bag and left the house looking like a tornado hit it. I hope everyone has a friend like her in their life. Thanks Christina!!

I did get the dolls made for the girls (finished shortly before 2 am on Christmas morning). Julia has kind of taken over both dolls, but at least they are loved.

I really didn't get as many homemade presents finished that I wanted to, a few went to a special friend, she blogged about them here (good thing since I didn't take any pictures), and you can also see the fingerless gloves she made me if you just can't wait until I get a pictures posted, I love them and they are the most beautiful color. Some presents are being carried over to Mothers day (in that respect I am way ahead now) and some will just have to be moved to next year. I know I won't quite get it right but on Sunday our Pastor said something to the effect that the past is the past and the only way to make it better is to do your best today so tomorrow 's past will be what you want it to be. (sorry for the butch job on a great sermon but hopefully you get the point).

One of the blogs I read talked about having a word of the year. I have decided on patience. I need more in all areas of my life. I think a lot of times I don't finish a project, diet, organizing, etc.. because I run out of patience. We have such an instant now, microwave mentality that we don't have time for things that take time. I didn't really make any resolutions but my word represents what I hope for 2009. To take the time for all the little things, and have the patience to appreciate the beauty around me everyday. My dh always says it is the journey not the destination, so true. Here's to many wonderful jouneys in 2009.