Six. November 23, 2009

Rainbow’s big day was last week. She reveled in her “Birthday Girl” status.

One of the great things about Rainbow is she gets so excited about opening presents–even when it’s something she’ll have to share with her siblings (like a Wii Motion plus adapter thingie).

Her own set of markers! (Very exciting, especially because Mom won’t share hers.)

“The box just meowed at me!”

“CCCCAAAANNN IIIII OOOOPPPPEEENNN IIIITTTT YYYEEEETTT?

Lulu was a big hit. (With the kids, anyway.)

Colby loved the balloons. He walked around the house, looking at things through them.

(Extra points if you can do it with a dolphin in your mouth.)

Have I mentioned that Colby plays piano for probably an hour a day? Look at that picture–he’s playing CHORDS. Time to find a special-needs piano teacher. (Or, someone who teaches piano to those with special needs. Whichever.)

No cake this year–the birthday girl requested donuts. They were delicious (and easy).

After spending hours making dog clothes, I almost forgot to give them to her.

I didn’t even wrap them, since the “party” was almost over. I just held them behind my back and said, “Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”

Later that night, she asked when I could make Blackie some pajamas.

 

(At least she didn’t request clothes for the cat.)

 

Happy Birthday, Rainbow! We love having you in our family.

Fur-reaky November 16, 2009

Madame Rainbow’s birthday is tomorrow–a much anticipated event, to be sure–and I made the mistake of taking Zack and Eden with me when I went shopping for a gift.

Had I not had them with me, there is no way in the world I would have bought this:

It gives me the shivers. I honestly don’t know how they talked me into it.

Witchcraft?

Maybe.

Anyway, I’ve also been busy making dance bags for the girls (I’ll post a pic later because they turned out spectacular) and dog clothes for Rainbow’s stuffed dog Blackie.

I’ll let you know tomorrow if cat clothes now make the request box. (Except I’m already certain I’ll refuse. Seriously, I don’t think I want to be in the same room as that thing. [shiver])

 

P.S. The “cat’s out of the bag,” apparently. Zack “accidentally” let it slip yesterday when Rainbow said something, and Eden cried and whined so much about it there’s no way Rainbow could have mistaken it for a strange coincidence. Also, I wrapped the cat and stuck it in the corner of the sewing room; last night, after dislodging dog clothing pattern ideas from my brain, I left the room and must have jostled something. It meowed at me. Ugh!

Good Thoughts on a Rainy Day November 7, 2009

I was speed checking blogs this morning, and was blessed to read this blog post by my sister-in-law (la?).

I love it.

Thanks, Lady La, for changing my perspective this morning.

 

 

P.S. I can’t get into Facebook today. It’s driving me crazy. Less than a week, and it’s already altering my life!

Journal Dive: 13 December 1995 November 6, 2009

This journal dive is dedicated to Ina, who requested it. Just as some background, I was in my first year at Ricks College. We named our apartment “Smoo” and decided that for one week, each of us living in our apartment would wear the same outfit on a different day to see if anyone noticed. (No one did.) Also, I had a tiny crush on this boy that I played with in drum line. I think that’s background enough.

[Drawing of a regular outfit--shirt, cardigan, pants.]

“This is a rough drawing of SMOO’S OUTFIT OF THE WEEK. Today was my day to wear it. Don’t ask how we thought it up. We were just being silly and it happened. I got 2 compliments on it today, though. Probably because it’s a lot preppier than I usually dress. Ew. I’ve got to stay away from that trendy business.

Tonight I accompanied Ina Jane to the ‘Women’s Glee and Percussion Ensemble Concert.’ It was quite good. I enjoy listening to the percussion ensemble–probably because I have friends in it. Jared–yes, he was in it, too. I should’ve talked to him after. [A few more sentences of self-recrimination. Et cetera and so on.]

While the rest of our roomies were at the movie, Ina and I stayed home to study. Laura and Melissa came over from next door with 6 hot cookies. Yummy! They were so scrumptious. They had one walnut on top and a chocolate mint hidden inside. Fantastic! They were so delicious, Ina and I ate them all up. But SHHHH! Don’t tell my roommates. They might be upset.

School is winding down–HOORAY!

Christmas is coming–HOORAY!

But there isn’t any snow.  [Drawing of a frowny face.]“

So . . . the cookie-stealing story sounds a bit lackluster here. This is more how I remember it:

Ina and I sat across from each other in the living area of our apartment. The lights were off, except for a string or two of Christmas lights that were dangling from the half partition leading to the kitchen. Carols played softly on the stereo, and I’m pretty sure there was even a scented candle burning. Ina, as usual, had the heat turned way up, so it was nice and cozy and quiet while we studied for our finals.

Tap, tap, tap.

Someone was knocking on the door.

Melissa and Laura (gosh, she was so pretty) from 106 stood there. “Merry Christmas!” they sang, holding out a spatula with two piles of cookies stacked on top.

We ushered them in, set the cookies on a plate on the table, thanked them profusely. “This is so sweet,” we said.

They had other deliveries to make, so they left right away. Laura turned back at the door, saying over her shoulder, “They’re best when you eat them hot.”

After the door closed behind them, Ina and I again murmured about how sweet it was of them to bring us Christmas treats. We mutually agreed that a study break was in order and sat at the table with one cookie each.

The thing about these cookies was they were so unexpected. They looked innocuous–white with a walnut on the top–like some sort of meringue, perhaps. When I bit into mine, though–WOW! Surprise! A soft, gooey, melty Andes mint was inside.

They were so good.

Ina and I each got a glass of milk. We sat back down at the table, still savoring the chocolatey-minty goodness sticking in our mouths.

We each took a sip of milk.

We looked at each other.

We looked at the cookies.

“They did say the cookies taste best when they’re hot . . . “

“How would everyone else find out, anyway?”

Our agreement was silent. We fell on the remaining four cookies like ravenous wolves.

They still tasted good, even though they were ill-gotten.

And the others didn’t find out until we eventually* broke from the guilt and ‘fessed up.

Isn’t that about how it went, Ina? And didn’t we deserve it for staying home and studying instead of going to the movie?

Yes, I thought so, too.

 

 

*Three months later

Halloween Recap November 3, 2009

I don’t really feel like doing this right now, but I promised my mom I would do it today. Everyone knows you should always do what your mom tells you (and you should also always do what you told your mom you would).

So–

Don’t be looking for any scintillating prose.

Pictures.

That’s pretty much all you’re going to get out of my scrambled brain today.

Guess who loved his costume? If he knew how to speak, I’m sure he would have been yelling, “Get it off me! Just get it off!”

 The fairest Fairy Godmother.

Mulan has taken up meditation.

Watch out for that wand! He can really do some damage if he sets his mind to it.

Despite their grouchy mom, everyone seemed to have a

By the way . . .

. . . just in case you didn’t already know.

 

Facebook Arguments October 31, 2009

I’ve been invited to join Facebook.

I can’t decide if I should or not.

So, all you Facebook-ers out there, what do you say? Is it worth it? Will I waste too much time on it? Will I feel bad rejecting someone (virtually) if I really don’t want to be their friend?

I already spend a lot of time online, what with blogging and Merriam-Webster’s word games. Not to mention library stuff, Goodreads stuff, and research stuff. Oh, and email (although someone sent me an article [via email] that said email is on its way out).

How much time do you spend on Facebook? Will my blog wither and die–if not from neglect, then from jealousy?

Please advise.

Journal Dive: 30 January 2003 October 30, 2009

(At the very top of this page, seemingly unconnected with, well, anything, is this:)

There’s just something about bias plaid.

(Food for thought today. Then there’s a “Visitor” sticker/nametag stuck on the page. Now, the actual entry.)

30 January 2003

I’m sitting by Angelie, again, but this time it’s for Relief Society. She’s so hilarious. I hope she doesn’t make me be irreverent. It’s a concert sort of thing. The nice thing is, you can’t read a book in a concert without seeming rude. But if you write, everyone just thinks “Oh, she’s taking notes. She must be really spiritual.”

[Six pictures are drawn in right here, of a shoe, two people, a chapel light fixture, and a couple of other things.]

their last song was the best. that’s how it should be.

Beware the Blender October 25, 2009

I was pureeing the stock for some chicken noodle soup this evening (we’re feeling sickly ’round here), and overfilled the blender.

Bad bit of judgement on my part, especially considering the recently boiling temperature.

You’d think after using a blender for 20 years, I’d know how to do it without injuring myself.

Journal Dive: June 28, 1990 (or 1989) October 23, 2009

In my first journal, I wasn’t very consistent (meaning I never did it) in writing down the year when I dated my entries. Apparently, I thought I would never forget the great year 1990 (or 1989) . It’s kind of a shame that I’m typing this out, since the handwriting is one of the best parts. I even used upside-down triangles with dots underneath for exclamation points; as you’ll soon see, I was quite fond of using them. Here’s a peek into my 13 (or 12) year-old brain:

 

June 28

I missed a couple of days [writing] because I was at Sarah’s.

We went to the sand dunes a couple of days ago. It was fun. We rode 4 wheelers. They brought 6 of them. The dunes were HUGE! It was a blast.

That night I stayed at Sarah and Emily’s house. So did Kathleen, Jeanette, Jennifer, and Kim. It was fun.

Then Kathleen and Jeanette went to their other grandma’s to stay.

We rode in the hayfeilds on the 4 wheelers turning bails. If the bail was turned wrong, we’d turn it so it was sitting up straight.

The next day (today) we turned bails again. I burned my leg on the muffler or radiator or something. It’s in 3 stripes like this on my knee:

[expertly drawn picture of three diagonal stripes]

It hurt dang bad. Then I rode back with Uncle Carl because he had to go to court for something.

Heidi’s back early! I was SO happy! Now she can meet Kathleen and Jeanette! Well, we went to a camp meeting. I’m president of the log decorating contest. We have a mtg. Sat. at 3.

Heidi came home with us and she stayed ’til about 9:30. It was fun. We played on the swings with Elizabeth when she came. Then Heidi left, and we made a play about a girl who falls in a hole and comes out and makes friends with elves. Then the wicked witch comes and gets mad. Then the good fairy gives Alison magic gloves that help the elves and herself turn the witch into stone. Then Alison goes home. It was pretty good. I love doing plays! They’re so fun!

 

 I kept all the original spellings, just in case you were wondering if I know how to spell “hayfield” and “bales” correctly. I do. (Now.) I don’t even know if I should comment about how ‘fun’ my life was, how much being the log decorating president changed my life, and how the favored name ‘Traci’ got replaced with ‘Alison’. I will resist, and let the journal speak for itself.

Wasn’t this fun?

A long-winded, parentheses-filled post about sewing October 21, 2009

Once upon a time, I was in 4-H to learn how to sew. (A special 4-H post has been brewing for awhile. Stay tuned!)

After exhibiting at the fair (I got a blue ribbon!), I used the rest of my skirt fabric–a geometric print with hot pink, turquoise, and black shapes and slashes on a white background–to make a bag.

I’m thinking I was in 4th or 5th grade at the time. Everyone had a bag like this:

Except for me. (Whatever happened to Esprit, anyway? And Guess?? [I put two question marks in there because one of them is part of the title.] Gone the way of Debbie Gibson and Tiffany, I suppose.)

I thought to myself, “I can sew. I can make a cool bag that will almost be as good as Esprit.”

Well, let’s just say that began a long line of sewing visualizations falling short of the actual reality. (The bag was, however, the only thing I made that ever caused me physical harm. I’ve already used parentheses too often in this post, though, so I’ll save it for the future with 4-H.)

Bags are so handy that I can’t seem to get away from them. Twenty some-odd years later, I’m still making bags. Here are two I made for a raffle tonight at my kids’ school:

(Psst. They’ve also got books inside! Please buy a ticket!) (Actually, I don’t know if I’ll even get this post finished before tonight, and I don’t think anyone who is going to be there also reads my blog. Apparently, I’m just going for the most-parenthetical-statements-in-a-single-blog-post record.)

My visions are more closely aligned with the finished products nowadays. Not always, but more often.

This next is probably my favorite bag, though. From this shirt:

(that I wore for my sophomore school picture),

I made this bag for Eden’s piano books:

I am amazed at how gigantic those denim shirts are. Anyway, its second life is a happy one.

I’d been happily sewing, making aprons and bags and Halloween costumes, when one day I saw a show.

I don’t watch much tv. There isn’t really time for it in my schedule, and when there is time I’d rather be reading a book. That’s just the way I am.

But one morning, early, my walking partner bailed on me (see–she does it sometimes, too! Just not nearly as much as I do . . .), so I thought I’d see if they had any Pilates workouts “On Demand” (which is something the cable company does for those of us who don’t have Tivo or DVRs) because I’ve always wondered what Pilates is. I found the fitness section (where there was no Pilates to be found) and while trying to decide between a 3 minute ab workout and a 12 minute ab workout, a preview came on.

 

For this:

 

 

Three minutes later, I watched my first Project Runway Episode.

Ten minutes later, I was completely hooked.

 

Probably only my mom knows this, but I used to want to be a fashion designer.

I had a Kimberly doll (I really wanted a picture of her in her red-and-white roller skates, but I couldn’t find one) that I would dress up for hours on end, using fabric scraps to make new clothes for her. Of course, I actually stuck the fabric into her body by pulling her arms out of their sockets and tucking it in instead of sewing the clothes, but it was still designing! I swear it was!

 

So Me + Project Runway = an insane obsession that has brought up a lot of my childhood aspirations.

 

I have watched (and waited, impatiently, for Thursdays) every episode this season. I have ordered past seasons and have watched three of them already on Netflix. Some of it is a little creepy, and a lot of the designers are full of drama and bad language. Still, I love it.

I love it for many reasons.

Especially when I started noticing this Heidi:

Looks a lot like my Heidi:

(Note the similarities, despite one being a professional picture I stole off a search engine and one being a picture of a picture taken in high school: the lovely brown eyes, the beautiful high cheek bones, the beguiling triangle smile. Heidi, you’re a dead ringer!)

So, where am I going with this? Well.

After 20 + years of making bags, I’m starting to make clothes.

And not just for my kids, either.

 

For myself.

 

That’s huge, especially if you are me and have an irrational fear of looking like you are wearing something homemade. I’m making a dress right now. If it isn’t too embarrassing, I’ll post a photo when it’s done. (If it is too embarrassing, I’ll give it to Goodwill and no one will ever know I made it. Deal?)

I think I’ll ask for a dress form for Christmas.