a skirt

At 10pm last night I got this crazy idea to start a little sewing project.  Why does that zest and inspiration come to me so late at night ? (perhaps because that is when it is quiet around here)

McCall's 5430

Black_linen_skirt1

A simple wrap skirt.  I chose to sew it without the optional ruffle, pockets or trim.  Black linen, plain and simple.  I am not used to wearing a waist that is so high...it took me a while to figure out that I would actually have to tuck my shirt in.  Does anyone ever do that anymore?  It was weird, I felt a bit frumpy at first.

I was glad to have a black slip to wear under this.  I was wishing that it wrapped a bit more (maybe if I lost a few inches of my non-existent-boyish-waist that would help :) The overlap portion of fabric was only about 8 inches, on a windy day that can be dangerous! Other than that, I really like it.  The waist band puzzled me for a while, I kept thinking I was sewing it on upside down.  And yes, I had to rip out a seam- twice.

Black_linen_skirt_activity1

This viewpoint makes me smile.  I am glad to have captured (by accident) the little bodies of motion that are constantly whizzing around me.  Even Sophie The Cat got in on the action.  So, if you need a quick spring/summer skirt this is a pretty easy pattern.  I am thinking of making another one, only this time I would make a contrasting waistband and matching bias trim around the edges of the skirt...no hemming that way.

Bits and Pieces

There is no way that I would ever be clever enough to find a way to tie the following things together...so I will just slap them together and you'll just have to be okay with that.  Alright?

First off, let me just say that the warmer weather is so great.  It does, however, require that I shave my legs more than once every two weeks and paint my toes so that the bruise on my big toenail doesn't show. (I dropped a 15lb hand weight on it- at home thankfully and not at the gym. I don't swear very often....but that moment definitely warranted some serious profanity!)

Navy_sandals1

Laurel Baby and I were matching in our navy sandals. You can't see her toes very well, but our polish was the same color. Try and ignore the dirty floor. And how come squishy soft legs are so much cuter on her?

Jcrew_dress1

Yes indeed, it is so nice to be wearing lighter weighted clothes.  I have been waiting to wear this dress since I bought it at and end-of-season sale at Jcrew late last summer.  It was like torture passing by it in the closet each frosty April morning.  I must say that it is easier to dress the kids too- especially girls.  Dresses and sandals all the way. No more looking for matching shirts, pants, socks or anything else!

Garden_in_may1_2 

The garden is coming together.  Actually it has been nice having a few extra weeks to prepare the ground.  I wasn't as ready as I thought I was.  Obviously it needs a bit more mulch around the borders, and I still need to dig up some space for corn and squash (the squash will grow on the ground beneath the corn stalks)  Oh yeah, and just out of the frame to the left is a slope up to the back fencing.  That is where the watermelon will go.  Any gardeners out there?  Do I have things laid out right?  Do any of the neighboring plants hate each other? 

Zucchini1

The zucchini is really ready to make it's journey outside- flowering already! I get so nervous putting my starts out.  You nurture these little plants inside for months,  watering, feeding, coaxing growth...it would be so sad if they didn't make it!  I think I'll wait one more week.

Carls_new_car1

And this is new (the car, not the husband :)  Laurel is begging to be let back in her new favorite play place.  Carl has been such a long suffering man when it has come to vehicles in this marriage.  He has always taken my "automobile hand-me-downs" (meaning that when I am through trashing it- he takes the old car and I get a new one.

Pacifica1

With temperatures over 90 degrees most of the summer and deep snow in the winter, we felt it was appropriate that he have air conditioning and all wheel drive (two things he has never had- I told you he was long suffering).  When I first met Carl he was driving a beat up old Chrysler New Yorker. For our first date I prayed that he wouldn't come pick me up in that thing.  Thankfully he borrowed his mom's.  You've come a long way baby.

The many faces of Hannah

Not much to share other than a few funny pictures of my funny girl.  Hannah is always faithful to make us laugh.  Sometimes without even knowing it or trying very hard she can absolutely crack me up.  So very entertaining she is...reminds me a bit of my brother. Her sisters are so lucky to have her- she is always up for having fun. Growing up with someone like that makes for lots of happy times.  We find that she demands the attention of a room in a "non- annoying sort of way" (which is more that I can say for her older sister at the moment) almost as if you can't help but love her.

She made this face when she saw the camera pointing her way, (not just accidental timing). We call it her "Zoolander with a sucker face" pose.

Crazy_hanbanan1_2

And here, she had no idea that Carl was taking her photo.  I guess the excitement of being at the park on a sunny day, moments away from feeling the wind on her face as she flew down the slide was joyously overwhelming to her.  How can you not smile with her?

Googley_eyes_hannah1

The weather has been so nice, and so my sewing machine is collecting dust.  There is much work to be done both inside and out around here. I am definitely behind everywhere I turn.  Hang with me for a few days and I hope to have more to show!  Enjoy Spring...it is finally here!