Resurection Sunday

Our Easter Guest.
We got quite artistic with coloring eggs we did stripes

and dyed some in red onion skinsWe tried some two tones and of course the plain colors are still pretty.

While I was supervising inside Todd thought he'd see how our fish are growing. They were easy to catch, but still need a couple years to eat.T had a nasty cold so she didn't make church but still wanted to put on her Easter finery and have fun.I think I forgot to change the camera settings so it's a lousy picture, bit they are cute aren't they? After all the fun the little ones and I took a rest. When we got up J and Todd had a lovely Easter dinner ready . All that was left of our artistic efforts earlier was this....

And THIS....

First swim of 2010

Believe it or not it was over 80 on April 2. I considered it an April Fools trick that it was so warm, there fore I am expecting more snow.

For some strange reason Todd actually put on his suit. He waded in a few inches and decided that it was too cold. But G overcame his rational thinking and got him in...

For a few seconds.

I'm back/ Sewing room

Sorry I haven't been here in a long time. My keyboard is acting funny and to be honest, I'd rather be sewing.

A tiny update: The basement is done...well mostly. I should have pictures soon.

With the basement done I have more room for my craft/desk things in my "Annex" (a cheery corner in the basement) and an opportunity to get some things of my mom's from the barn. So today my project was organizing and rearranging my sewing/laundry room/office. For the time being you can see the top of my sewing table AND the top of my desk.

Organizing my sewing things has been a bit of an emotional experience.

This year I have acquired the sewing collections of three dear ladies: my mom, Todd's Grandmother and a dear friend and mentor from church. So as I went through things I came across many items, tools, and etc. that belonged to each of these special ladies who each contributed a great deal to who I am today. I stopped and pondered often as I organized.

The largest item was the table my dad made for my mom for a specific place in the house I grew up in. I moved it into my sewing room and arranged my machines and toys/tools on and around it. Fun and hard at the same time.

My desk wasn't as emotional as the sewing stuff, but I did run across a number of things (pictures and cards) that made me stop and think and be sad and thankful.

After I took pictures I also got the leftover carpet from the basement. Now my toes won't freeze while I serf and sew.

Just for fun here is a recent sewing project:
M picked the brown with pink flannel. I added the pink blouse and pink trim to the jumper...there is also a pink band on the bottom, my photographer missed that.

Things that made me cry this week...

I finished 2 outfits for Christmas gifts. I tried a new pattern. It didn't turn out exactly like I thought it would, but they are very cute.

I wanted to call and tell mom about them...the issues I had and how they turned out.

I went to bed crying missing her.

Tonight we hosted a piano receital for D and N. They played on the piano some one in my family bought in NY around 1900. I usderstand that my great grandmother was an exceptional pianist. My grandmother I am sure had soem training. My mom knew enough to play the music she enjoyed, but would never perform for an audience. I didn't even learn enough to play more than a melody. As Brittany (the instructor) played I thought of how happy Mom and Grandma and even Great Grandmother would be to know that the piano is still being played. And I cried.

Taylor, Brittany (teacher) Paige, D and N

Christmas preparations are in full swing. School is done for the calendar year. The sewing of gifts certainly is not done, but fairly close. I am not giving anyone a box of fabric or an unfinished project...Mom would be proud of me and envious that there were very few years she could say that.

Tomorrow we wrap and bake and roll candies.

Tributes

My brother, Greg and I each came up with a tribute to share at my mom's Memorial Service.

I introduced my reading with the thoughts that the biggest thing I valued and learned from my mom was the freedom we were given to follow whatever paths we desired. She supported us regardless of what direction those paths took big city or coutry, lots of children or not, religion or not. She loved us and encouraged us regardless of our choices. She didn't always agree or understand, but she did not judge and she did love.

I chose a song from an album I listened to over and over again as a child. I still can recite some of it from memory. I have sicne downloaded it and the tunes and skits are comforting. Free to Be You and Me from the album of the same name by Marlo Thomas and friends:

There's a land that I see where the children are free
And I say it ain't far to this land from where we are
Take my hand, come with me, where the children are free
Come with me, take my hand, and we'll live

In a land where the river runs free
In a land through the green country
In a land to a shining sea
And you and me are free to be you and me

I see a land bright and clear, and the time's comin' near
When we'll live in this land, you and me, hand in hand
Take my hand, come along, lend your voice to my song
Come along, take my hand, sing a song

For a land where the river runs free
For a land through the green country
For a land to a shining sea
For a land where the horses run free
And you and me are free to be you and me

Every boy in this land grows to be his own man
In this land, every girl grows to be her own woman
Take my hand, come with me where the children are free
Come with me, take my hand, and we'll run

To a land where the river runs free
To a land through the green country
To a land to a shining sea
To a land where the horses run free
To a land where the children are free
And you and me are free to be
And you and me are free to be
And you and me are free to be you and me



My brother was more original, but didn't read his tribute, my dad did (and got through it amazingly well).

What My Mom Taught Me

On December 2, 1971 My Mom went to the hospital to bring me into the world. I guess I wasn’t ready, because I didn’t make it easy on her. But I eventually emerged. On this day My Mom taught me how to breathe.

When I was 1 My Mom left me alone in the kitchen with my older sister. She painted my face purple. We My Mom came back, she took a picture before she cleaned my face and I’m sure she had a chuckle. On this day My Mom taught me how to laugh.

When I was 3 My Mom dropped me off at Habitat for my first day of pre-school. I’m sure I cried – didn’t we all. On this day My Mom taught me how to learn. When I was 4 My Mom and I played Monopoly. She let me be the banker. I’m pretty sure I didn’t cheat, she wouldn’t have let me. On this day My Mom taught me how to do math. When I was 5 we moved across town to a new neighborhood. Our new neighborhood was very diverse both racially and socio-economically. In this move My Mom taught me the value of diversity.

When I was 6 My Mom asked me if I wanted to skip kindergarten or not. I said no. I wasn’t ready. She may have disagreed, but thought it was my option. On this day My Mom taught me how to make decisions.

When I was 8 My Mom dropped me off at my first soccer practice. I’m not sure she knew what she was getting into. 8 years, 500 practices, 200 games later she may have regretted it, but on this day My Mom taught me how to compete.

When I was 10 My Mom was diagnosed with leukemia. I didn’t know what it was, but I was scared. I sent her a baboon so she would get well soon. I guess it worked because she beat it. On this day My Mom taught me how to fight.

When I was 11 My Mom drove me around in the car on the first day of my new paper route. From then on I road my bike – well, unless it was raining. On this day My Mom taught me how to work.

When I was 14 My Mom bought me my first guitar and sent me to guitar lessons. On this day My Mom taught me how to Rock…I since seem to have forgotten.

When I was 16 I wrecked my car. I wasn’t badly hurt, but the car that I had saved for for 3 years was totaled. My Mom was there to comfort me even though I had made some bad decisions. On that day My Mom taught me how to be understanding.

When I was 17 My Mom drove me to 15 different colleges in 10 different states from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Six months later, encouraged by her to take the leap, I dropped my acceptance letter to a California college into the mail. She new I’d be far away, but she knew it would be good for me. On this trip My Mom taught me how to dream.

When I was 18 I left Indianapolis for college and was on my own. I talked to My Mom by phone regularly over my college years. She was always there to support me in whatever I was doing. In these years My Mom taught me how to be an adult.

When I was 37 My Mom came out to California to see me get married. She said to me, “Your friends say such nice things about you. I must have done something right for the first 18 years”. She did. On this day My Mom knew she had taught me everything I needed to know.

Two months later my mom was in the hospital in critical condition and I came out to be with her. Shortly after, she passed away peacefully knowing she had raised her son to be the type of person she admired. On this day My Mom taught me how to say good bye.

We also sang 4 songs...darned if I can't remember them all. Mom would have enjoyed that the most. We sang Can't Keep From Singing by Pete Seger, Lean on Me, ______, and Simple Gifts, in a round even.