We are alive!

I have been getting many requests to update the blog. I have yet to figure out the pictures on this new computer...we haven't even put the software on for the camera to download them. But I do want to give you some highlights of the past few months.

• Steve is still working at Microsoft as a contract worker. The contract ends at the end of January. At that time...who knows...
• Stephanie is in 7th grade and is currently a straight A student. She even was skipped a grade in math and is in the 8th grade class for that.
• Scott is in 4th grade, getting the same teacher that Stephanie had for 4th grade. He is in running club and Cub Scouts. He also joined another club at school, "Kids Making a Difference". He too is doing very well.
• Me? I found myself a gem of a job. I get to work at home, on a computer provided by the company, doing their on-line customer service. I spend a few hours every day on it. Which means that I still have time for volunteering at the schools when needed. I'm also the fundraising chair for the PTA this year. That can be crazy at times!
• For Halloween, Stephanie was Mary Poppins and Scott a black cat. Isabel did not like that one bit! Only one cat allowed in this house!

Stephanie's First Campout

Stephanie went on her first overnight camping trip with the Young Women in the ward. When she left I wasn't sure if this was going to be something she would enjoy...but she came back quite happy!

Waiting for the truck with all the supplies and luggage to arrive...

Unpacking...

Stephanie brought home a stick that washed up on the shore...I told her she had to keep it in the garage... :)


They all did art work on painters hats...as you can see...she did horses. What else? :)

Boomer...the Bomb Dog!

Meet Trooper Chatterton and his companion, Boomer. Boomer is a "bomb dog" and he demonstrated to us how well he does his job. Trooper Chatterton also showed us that Boomers favorite "treat" is to play with is toy...a long tube of green rubber.

We have to thank the Cub Scout Pack138 for inviting our Pack to see this with them...it was that special!

They also have the advantage of having Trooper Chatterton live in their ward! :)
Here is Boomer just after he finished finding the chemicals placed on Grandpa's truck.

This picture shows the tail of Boomer and you can see Alaric in his Scout uniform and standing next to him...with a big grin on his face...is Scott. Boomer is running around like crazy with is toy in his mouth avoiding Trooper Chatterton like you wouldn't believe. He knows that if he goes near him that he looses the toy. :)
Scott saying hello to Boomer.

Scott posing with Boomer...where is the smile???

Sitting in Trooper Chatterton's patrol car. Oh...did I mention that he is with the State Patrol? He also gets to search for bombs for people like President Obama, Britany Spears? Yep...

Music Bag

This bag was ordered to be used for a Church Bag and she picked out this musical fabric. It's hard to see in the photo, but there in the front is a long pocket that goes all the way across the front with lines sewn on the sides for pens and two in the front to put things like keys and cell phones. Then on the inside, there are two patch pockets in a simular colored fabric. It also sports two handles that would go over the shoulder easily and still be able to carry the heavy scriptures and all the books that go with Sunday. :)

The tassel I made as the bag seemd to need a little 'bling'. There is also a flap on the top that closes with a magnetic snap. Oh...the bag is also big enough for a binder.

Soooooooo...if you want a bag like this for your books and things...let me know!

More Bags for Sale...

I have been busy at the sewing machine and wanted to let you see some of the results.

This pink one has already been listed on Etsy.com and you can find the link to my store in the side bar.

The pink bag is made from a linen type of fabric with a deep pocket on the outside. There is a button loop closure. It is also fully reversible with a darker pink for the strap and interior. (See details in my store for more info).

This little blue Hawaiian bag was fun to make. One of my girlfriends had ordered a Big bag for her to use while riding the bus and I used the leftover material to make smaller bags. She also bought one of these in the picture, so I only have one of them. It will be listed in Etsy sometime this afternoon...I need to get an individual picture of it. :)

This Pansy bag was fun to make. Again, it is big! I made a similar one for my friend (who rides the bus). The exterior has BIG pansies...they are about 6" across! The interior was made from satin found in my mother's attic. It also has a big pocket on the inside made from the pansy fabric as shown here...and on the other side, the pockets go all the way across to hold things like pens and magazines. The handles are perfect to hold on to your shoulder and there is a magnetic snap to keep things closed.

See the big pansies! I love this bag and really wish I could keep it, but to be honest, I need to help our budget more.

A better view of the long pockets.

Ok...this is the bag I started and finished yesterday. I'm really pleased with it too! It's fully reversible and I have pictured it both ways. Here you see the silk on the exterior and the weave of the silk is purple and gold, so the sheen is quite fabulous. It needed some embellishment, so with my stash of leftover yarns and such, I made the tassel. The tassel is just tied on somewhat loosely so it can be removed when the bag needs cleaning.

The other fabric has an Oriental feel to it with fans floating across it.

The silk was a wonderful find at a garage sale in a free box. It was a discarded throw pillow cover that I picked apart. Pretty cool.

This is Scott's hand showing where the pocket is. :) The bag is big enough to easily hold a regular sized binder, or a few books. Or just a great bag to take shopping. I opted to not use a magnetic snap as then it wouldn't be reversible.

Isn't it beautiful! I will be posting this one too on Etsy this afternoon. After pricing silk fabric at a quilt store the other day at almost $30 a yard, I'm hoping to get a good price for this.

Scott's Science Experiment

A few weeks ago Scott said that he wanted to do a science experiment, one that was listed in some of his Cub Scout pin requirements.

So he took a small pan filled with about a cup of water and froze it.

Then, using a hot pad, he brought it in from the freezer and we proceeded to turn ice into liquid and then to gas.
Melting...

Almost all liquid...


Making gas...

Stephanie had to be in on all the excitement...but we had a successful experiment.

An American Day

The morning started off early by getting Scott up to the church so that he could participate in the Flag Raising Ceremony. When we arrived, he jumped in and started helping by carrying out chairs that were then set up in a semi circle around the flag pole.

Scott is wearing his red vest and is leading the procession. This is his first time working together with the Boy Scouts in raising the Flag and was willing to get up early for the opportunity.

I love this picture of all the Scouts saluting the Flag.

Last night I tried to finish my bag, but my back rebelled and so it waited for me to do the ending details today. On the outside there are two big pockets to hold my calendar and journal, and pen and pencil pockets on the sides. Inside I put two patch pockets to hold my keys and cell phone. More importantly, I learned a new thing...by putting in a magnetic snap closure. Yeah...it works!

Just the right size for me. :)

Sure hope you are all having a fun and safe Independence Day!

Tuscan Knitting Bag

A friend of mine wanted a "knitting" bag for his wife. A "Tuscan" knitting bag. His wife had broken her ankle and he thought this would be just the thing for her.

Sooooooo...using some curtain material that was given to me, I think I made the perfect bag. :)


The pockets are all on the exterior of the bag and go all the way across and enter into the side seams. I then sized them for things like patterns, pens and pencils, scissors, cell phone and such. You get the idea.

Then there was the insert knitting needle holder. This idea came from my Mom and I think it worked out really well. I even embellished it with a bow. (Mom thinks that I don't embellish my bags enough.)

It's done and I can deliver tomorrow morning, right on schedule.

Twisted Fairy Tale by Stephanie

Goldibear and the Three Humans

By Stephanie Jensen

Once upon a time there were three humans that lived in a mansion in the forest. They were baby human, Mama human, and Papa human.

Mama human had just finished making pumpkin pie. But everyone thought it was too hot so they went for a walk in the woods.

Then the bear Goldibear came!

Goldibear had been taking a walk in the forest when she came across a meadow with a mansion and a mouthwatering aroma.

She went inside the mansion to find an unusual setting. Down the hall was a long table. On the table were two plates.

There was big plate with a throne chair and a huge piece of pie. In the center was a medium plate with a regular chair and a regular slice of pie.

Now she noticed that there was an awkward high stool with a punee chair on top, an odd shaped plate connected to it, and a small slice of pie on that.

She tried the huge slice first, but it was too hot. The regular slice was too sticky. But when she sat in the highchair to try the small piece…CRACK! BOOM!

“Uh oh.” The highchair’s legs had crumpled. But the pie was just right, and she gobbled it up.

She got out of the remains of the highchair and went upstairs hoping to find a reasonable place to sleep. Upstairs there were three beds. A huge bed, a median bed sized bed, and a very small bed with bars.

The huge bed was too bumpy. The middle bed was too bouncy. The small bed with bars was just right.

The humans came back, devastated at what had happened to the dining room.

But when they found Goldibear in Baby human’s bed they screamed! Then, Goldibear jumped out and ate them all up. And she lived happily ever after in the mansion.
The End

Limited Gardening

Gardening this year is much simpler than usual. Weeding is not an option this year (health stuff), so planting in pots close to the house is the answer. Most of them hold herbs; parsley, basil and oregano. Stephanie has brought home from school some interesting things too, some of them we have no idea what they are, so they got planted in the front yard, and I will report later what they eventually become.

Also in the front, we have planted in the main bed there some cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchini and it is delightful to watch them sprout and grow. We had earlier planted some nasturtiums and they too are growing in the front.

My Dad brought us up some hostas from his yard and they look beautiful beside the back of the house. After they die back in the fall I will plant them into the beds at the side of the yard that gets lots of shade from the maple tree.

Here is Steve and Stephanie putting in more Columbine. The bed under the kitchen window is going to be full of them and I love their different colors!

Cub Scouts, Legos and Heat

Scott is a busy guy and here he is getting his "Leave No Trace" award at the Pack Meeting last week. For the summer, we have already agreed that he will work on three belt loops/pins in Art, Math and Music. There might be more, but that's a good start. He already has two pins, and when he starts the Webelo program in November, having a few pins to start with will be great.

During the school year, Scott was in the Lego Club and built some pretty impressive things. In fact, all the club members did a wonderful job and the volunteer in charge put their latest creations on display in the school hallway.

Scott and his friend Alex built the ferry and all the cars in it.

Here is the helecopter that he built.

Today Scott got his official summer haircut. It is really short around the sides and a bit longer on top. Sandy noticed that his calic on top is in a circle. When we got outside (very hot this week) Scott mentioned that the breeze really felt good on his head.

We have been going to Sandy for hair cuts since Scott was 3, so he knows her routine quite well, and asks for a particular shampoo each time...tea tree shampoo. It smells good and tingles on the scalp. At least, that's what Scott says.