Collections

Well, I'm supposed to be cleaning and organizing the basement, but instead, I've added one more thing (the table), and found a few other things to sidetrack me.

A recent Craigslist purchase. I was quite smitten with this table, and, no - I will not be painting it.

Hmmm, what can I do with these? I think Scott saved these from a trip to the landfill a few years back and brought them home to his ecstatic wife. Oh, the possibilities . . .

I've been contemplating my pile of vintage skates and want to embellish them a bit before trying to peddle a few.

Happy Halloween, my Friends

These mannequin legs have a bit of history. I rescued them many years ago from a friend's junk pile and "planted" them in another friend's landscaping while they were gone for a few days. Since then they have resurfaced, modeling different attire.

Helping pass out candy at Grandma Patty's house.

One of the fruits of Scott's garden were several large pumpkins that we enjoyed carving the other day. Well, I don't know if I would use the word, "carving" exactly. Instead of intricate tools, we used a reciprocating saw - makes a jack-o-lantern in a jiffy. I didn't see this method featured in the Martha Stewart magazine - ahem.

Papa - Mr. Seed "getter-outer"

Use your knees, boys - use your knees

Let's see, his eyes will go about here . . .

Rednecks R Us

Last night, the High School held their annual car bash, bonfire, and exhaust competition. Sten was eager to enter the loudest rig that we have, and won 3rd place at 103dB. It was a chilly night, so we were glad for the fire. Small town culture, I guess (or lack of).

Maren-ism for the Day

Yesterday, Maren and I were on our way to town and she was chattering in the back seat. Somewhere along mile #8, she mentioned that "her mouth was tired of talking." I gently suggested that she "give it a rest." Aaaahhh, a little peace and quiet, along with a stifled snicker.

Newlywed Bliss

Once upon a time there lived a young bride with the man of her dreams. She went in search of the perfect fabric to make their floating abode feel like home. The above fabric is the one she chose and was thrilled with (imagine it?).

Flash forward twenty years, and the young bride has changed her tastes. (Oh, and she's 20 years older too, but that's a different story). So the middle aged mother of 3 (somehow it doesn't have the same romantic image), has decided that the new curtains will be made of the striped fabric, which just happens to be from a "Tommy Bahama" (impossible to resist) design line. The worst part of this fairy tale is that the old sea hag has to hand sew 182 little plastic tabs that fit into the tracks on the windows. It's a good thing she doesn't have arthritis in her fingers yet.

Our poor sailboat that we lived on for the first 4 1/2 years of our marriage has been sadly neglected for many years. Our lives were crazy busy and the boat just wasn't a priority. Sooo, last week, we decided to peek in on the boat and begin to clean her up. She's a mess, but not a complete loss. Our plan is to sell the boat, but first we have to get her updated and shining again.

Crazy Spuds

We have harvested our odd bunch of spuds and there is barely a normal looking one in the bunch. I'm not sure where they get those perfectly rounded potatos in the bags at the grocery store - they must put them through a strict modification program. Maybe our vegetables are indicitive of the mutants that live in this house . . .

Sten declined to participate in this activity

A Lesson in Culture

The girls went on a field trip to the Symphony today. This is Maren all dressed up in her exquisite fussiness to attend the event. Milah was photographed too, but we don't post pictures of girls with scowls on their faces:(

Season Finale

Since Milah is a soccer fanatic - we re-did her room in a soccer theme. Her team was undefeated this season. Sten informed her that the brand "Adidas" stands for, "All day I dream about soccer" so we need to write that on a wall - it seems rather fitting.

Attacked by Bandits

The kids didn't have school today and we found ourselves with a few extras around here. They decided to dress like bandits this evening among one of many activities. I still hear them up there rearranging the furniture (or so it sounds). I suppose they'll all whine when it's time to rise and shine as we have to be at the soccer field by 8:45.

Jade

Milah

Kylie

Pitiful Parenthood

Hmmm, just the other night Sten knew I was headed to the store and he texted me requesting an item. I was directed to the "shaving" section, and was instructed to purchase a certain razor. Ouch! I don't know if they've ever found a mother sitting on the floor in front of the razors with an empty tissue box in her lap, and a glazed look in her eyes. Once upon a time, when I held that gurgling little towhead in my arms, I never pictured this moment. I'm always grateful when I pass the diaper aisle that I don't have to shop there again, but razors??? It's just one step closer into adulthood and one step further from wiping his nose and sitting on my lap getting "cozy". Boo Hoo from pitiful me.

In other news - Maren came home with a paper full of sentences that she had written that said, "I will follow directions." When questioned a little further about this activity, she responded that "She forgot that she wasn't supposed to talk." I think this frequently "slips" her mind.