A Dress to Honor Julia

My hands are full taking care of kids all day, but I managed to carve out a little time to do an activity I enjoy - sewing. I have made a few things here and there when I can, teaching myself from internet tutorials and other bloggers, and learning as I go. One thing I was intimidated by - a serger machine - I have finally utilized. And it is nice. My Aunt Julia had bought it, then never took it out of the box and decided she wasn't going to use it, so she gave it to me. I finally used it to make a dress for Mattie to wear to my Aunt Julia's Celebration of Life/Memorial Service after she passed away on May 31st. She would have been proud of it and happy that I used the machine. But trying to get pictures of Mattie in it are darn near impossible! So we played chase in the kitchen. These pictures were taken with me just holding the camera behind me, snapping away, while Mattie was chasing me in circles.

I followed instructions from this site. I used 2 coordinating fabrics instead of one and added the embellishment at the top. It was actually a piece of scrap embroidery that was in my Great-Grandma's sewing stuff I inherited. (The box of stuff I got from her was mostly pins, a few buttons/needles, old elastic, and scraps of lace and bias tape leftover from projects she made.)

I put shorts with it because it turned out a little shorter than anticipated but still so cute. My button hole was pretty crummy but that's because of my machine. I bought it used over 10 years ago for $100 and it's been a great little machine - but it does not like buttonholes. 

A Bird in the Hand

Is worth two in the bush. Or it just means there's a bird on my hand:

 

 

This female Cardinal flew into our living room window HARD. She lay stunned on the porch for awhile so I went to get my camera. As soon as I was getting it into focus, she attempted to fly off. She went up, then down into a bush. I immediately thought she was hurt so I donned my gardening gloves to scoop her up before a certain dog did. She just perched on my hand for awhile but I didn't see any obvious injuries. I walked around with her, letting Levi see but not touch. This was the same time our tractor was being delivered, so I walked up to the delivery guy like this - he didn't know what to think of me. Was I some hippie who communes with nature and had a pet bird? Did I have a special gift that wild animals just flock to me? Haha, it was written all over the poor guy's face. Right about then, the bird flew up and landed on a tree branch out of reach, so I'm guessing she is alright - just has one heck of a headache!

She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy...

Oh, Kenny Chesney. I can't believe that song came out in the 90's. Those of you who know that song probably just experienced raised eyebrows and thought, "It was? Omg." Yes, yes it was.

But I digress. Our new tractor was delivered today! Justin is now itching to mow. Happy Birthday Justin!

Trying it out at the store:

Levi thought this one was his size:

And here it is in it's new home:

 

And of course, Levi had to try it on for size. Here was our conversation: 

L: Mom! Keys! There's no keys! 

Me: No, Levi, you don't need them. You aren't going to drive it.

L: I AM!

Me: No you're not. Not yet, anyway. One day when you are bigger and you don't want to you can.

L: Vrrroommm.

 

April Showers

Bring May flowers. Supposedly. But we've had an abundance of rain in May this year! There is a dry creek that runs through our property that has not been too dry lately. It has raised the pond level to full with lots of overflow on the other side of our dam.

Levi took advantage of the break in the rain to run around in the wet meadow and be crazy while it lasted.

 

Creatures

Bella has caught 2 gophers now, one of which she killed trying to play with it. The other might be, simply because it was scared to death. But when I last saw it, it was alive. Here's the gopher that didn't make it:

And a turtle we picked up off the road by our neighbor's fence and brought home. I want him to eat the bugs and things around my house! (My size 8 foot for reference.)

Cabin Fever

Between all the rain we have had, and 2 sick kids trading illnesses for several weeks, we have not done too much outside lately. I have tried to keep Levi entertained inside with some fun activities.

He was really unsure about this at first. You mean, you want me to make a mess and get this stuff everywhere? But he really got into it. He even enjoyed cleaning off his cars and toys in the sink afterwards too.

 

In addition to shaving cream cleaning, the three of us had a tea party. Or as Levi informs me, "juice". Apple juice, to be specific, when I asked him what kind.

Pool Fun

After Levi finished the school year, we celebrated by playing in the pool and eating homemade popsicles:

Mattie was not a big fan of the pool. I think the water was a little too chilly for her liking. She'd rather relax and lounge:

Levi loves the water though. I think he's going to be a little fish once he learns how to swim: