Aidan - The Designer

I just had a good little laugh with Aidan...and thought you might enjoy one too. Here is the image that greeted me as I looked up from the computer keyboard. Aidan looks like a sausage in the casing...as she got herself wrapped into this piece of scrap flannel fabric. Note the beaded evening purse to complete her outfit!

But, the ingenious part is how she did it...

 it took her 60 pins to make it work!  Shows a lot of determination and creativity I think. Made me laugh...

Simple is Complex!

I just spent two hours moving my desk (15 minutes), re-routing all of the cords (10 minutes)...and trying to get my large monitor to talk to my laptop and be visible as my main monitor (1 hour and 35 frustrating minutes).
Geez, it should be simple...now, I just want to go take a nap!
But, I have more baby blankets and burping cloths to make...so, will have to settle for a piece of pie and a glass of milk to calm my nerves (and my stomach...which is surviving today on coffee alone so far.)
Technology is wonderful...and horrible at the same time!
My eyes were getting so tired from viewing the laptop monitor that I decided to move my desktop flat-screen monitor over to the desk so I could use it most often. It does help, and that means that I can do more writing as I need to so badly.
Now, to go and move one of the old dinosaur monitors from the garage back upstairs...so the desktop will work. Mostly, we play Clifford the Big Red Dog on it...so that does not need a flat-screen style. With summer on top of us...Aidan will want to do her own "office work". I think I shall teach her to type this summer...ffff jjjj ffff jjjj...wish me luck.
Oh...wait...I want to show you what Aidan has been working on. Let me go get a pic for you...

 Not bad for 8-years old! And, I'm no longer having to stitch the "spokes" for her...she is doing the roses and the leaves ALL BY HERSELF! I'm one proud Nana!
She still has a ways to go on those detached chain stitches...but, I'm happy with her progress so far. :)

Crystal Ring

A dear friend contacted me yesterday, to see if I could make a beaded ring for her...from a book that we both have. I just love this book...and had wanted to try a project from it...so, sure I thought...why not. Well, some supplies have been ordered...but I had enough to try a small version of the ring...in plain crystal (but really, there just is no PLAIN crystal)...

 This one will go to Aidan...as a present for her completing the second grade with such good grades...and only two trips to the principals office all year! Ha!I'm sure it will mostly get to live in her jewelry box...but, that's okay.

 The band is beaded as well as the front.Oh, the book is Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski by Laura McCabe if you want to check it out!

My muse is happy...and I'm going back to stitching something tomorrow...not sure what yet, my list is long...but something will have to get done.....before I start stressing over deadlines. Hugs!

Warning: Proud Nana Alert!

Yesterday, I went to Aidan's 2nd Grade Christmas Play...walked 5 blocks to get there because my daughter would not answer her phone...but, that's a different story. These photos are blurry...but I think you'll get the idea anyway. I was sittting in the second row; but was still about 30 feet from the stage...with my cellphone camera! So....considering...they aren't so bad.Can you spot my little brown reindeer?

She is explaining to Santa...who has a broken leg...and was just given some advice from his reindeer friends...and thanked them..."That's what Friends are for!"

If you have any children's plays to attend this year...and have not done so yet. One small piece of advice "Bring Cotton Balls for you Ears!". I'm sure that the teachers advise them to "speak up"....which translated in an 8-year old's mind means: "Talk Really Loudly...directly into the microphone.". I'm not sure why they also talk fast...but most of the time I felt that I was either "twitching" because a child was so loud that I jumped out of my chair...or confused because they mumbled and I had no idea what they just said.

What does translate well...is their obvious pride to be performing...and sheer relief when it's over! Ah....life lessons so early! Here is my precious Aidan...she also got the honor of being the last to speak..."Thank you all for coming to our 2nd grade Christmas Program. Have a Merry Christmas!". Nana was so proud!! And, still is....had to share...blurry photos and all! Merry Christmas to all the Nana's out there....and my condolences to those that are not...cause you are missing one heck of a ride! Hugs!

Cuddles...

Yesterday was an especially good day for Aidan, even if I could not get her to smile in these photos. The boys next door had four puppies to give a way...a small breed mix...the family took three of them. One to my sister Anna, one to my niece Celeste, and one for Aidan.

 ..and "Sara" will be living at my house.

We also did a little baby sitting yesterday...and Aidan got to feed the little one...for auntie Celeste.All in all...a pretty good day for an eight year old.

I Was In the Hospital...

eight years ago today...sitting by my daughter's bedside. We were waiting for the arrival of my darling grand-daughter, Aidan. I can hardly believe that she is eight years old today! 

 Time sure is flying by!This past week we've been busy dying lace and now, I'm trying to get more cabochons beaded. Here is what I have so far...

And here is what I have remaining to do! 

 But, there won't be much accomplished today...cause it's a special Birthday!! Hear me singing?...Yeah, it's pretty off key! Ha!

Are you the Snack Queen?

If so, we need to talk! I'm always looking for good ideas that are also cost saving. And, I'm willing to share...here are two of my favorites.1) Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...frozen! Yep, you can freeze these babies up to 3-weeks. I dress them up by taking my Magic Chef Pastry Cutter/Sealer and triming off the crusts. 

 Then, I cut them in half and pop them into zipper style sandwich bags. Then, several go into a freezer bag...and I grab one in the morning to put into Aidan's snack bag for school. The sandwich is all thawed out by snack time at school! And, she thinks she has something really special since it is round and without crusts!

I think a biscuit cutter would work too. Or, just trim the crusts off with a knife, and cut into halfs or quarters!2) Muffins! These can also be frozen...just make ahead and you've got dessert with the PB&J!So, what are your favorite tricks for snacks?

Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid...

Aidan saw an infomercial about facials....and they had cucumbers in it. So...she went to garden for a cucumber. I chopped it up for her...and added some creamy petroleum jelly...and voila! We have the ingredients for a facial! It went into the fridge for a few minutes...and was nice and cool! I highly recommend it! My face feels great!!! (Doesn't look much better...but feels great! Ha!!!)

Sometimes She Just Cracks Me Up!!

 Look what Aidan came into the office wearing...my old blond hair clips! She also had oranges stuffed into her shirt...but I had her take those out for the photo! Can you say "My Nana is medicated!" Cause I'm sure I will be before this child is 15!!! She is only 7, and I'm already losing my hair!But, isn't she adorable!

Can't Get To The Beach?

A little imagination...some blankets, pillows...and a couple of umbrellas...and you're there! At least in the mind of a seven year old. This is Aidan's latest "surprise" for me...I had to close my eyes. You might also note that she believes in setting the "mood"...she's in her bathing suit with a slip for her "cover up". 

Nana had to have extra pillows under her back...(and I had to have help getting up out of the floor!!!)

Secret Pal Giftee

I belong to the message board at HGTV.com; specifically the Quilting/Needlework group of that board. They are a great bunch of folks...and keep coming up with great events and swaps. One of the activities is to sign up for a yearly swap...with a "Secret Sister" You are given a person's name/address and some general information about things they like...and you send them a little gift each month (anonymously of course...hence the "secret" part). At the end of the year, you find out who has been gifting you the entire year. I signed up this year...and my Big Secret Sister (BSS) often sends along a little something for my grand-daughter Aidan in my monthly package. So often in fact, that Aidan says "We" have a secret sister. This month, she included some plastic canvas pieces in the surprise...of various shapes. I asked Aidan if she wanted to learn how to stitch these up...and she is working on a set of coasters for her Aunt. She has finished one (the one in the photo) and is steadily working on number 2 right now. Her goal is to complete four. Just thought ya'll might like to see a young stitcher at work...she is 7 years old.

A Little Sewing...

This is a good pattern. I've been trying to use up some of my cottons for Aidan some summer pants and tops. 

 The first top is done, and the pants are ready to go!

 I'm going to hunt up some other prints. She needs a few of these to get her through the hot weather. I need to make a trip to town to get more elastic, but that must wait until after the 1st of the month...but, I should have several cut and ready to sew up by then!

Pure Bliss!

My niece, Shevy has the prettiest eyes and smile. But, ya'll wouldn't know that because all the photos I've taken have been of her asleep! And here's another one!

Celeste brought her by yesterday for me to baby-sit while she went to work. Aidan was wonderful...she kept a good watch over Shevy all day. 

 She played peek-a-boo with her and helped feed her. But, when diaper changing came...she had to leave the room "gagging" for the stinky one. Sure hope she grows out of that before she has children of her own!...of course she has 20-30 years for that! And I AM NOT rushing that day...at least not now. Talk to me in 15 years...and I might have changed my mind!Sorry the photos are dark...but I didn't want the flash to wake her.Celeste forgot her blankie...so we improvised with a bath towel. :) 

School is Out...Kinda!

This morning, Aidan's first grade had their awards ceremony. School is officially still in until noon on Friday; but...after the program they announced that the children did not have to attend these "extra days" if they did not want to...because nothing academic was going to be accomplished. Boy, school is sure different than when I went...back in the stone ages!Aidan got certificates in several areas of study.

 I know it's just the first grade...but I have hopes for the remainder of the grades! About 40% of the children did good in the reading, math, spelling...but only five of the children (about 5%) got the Neat Handwriting certificate. (She did not get that from me sadly...my penmanship is horrible!) (I do take full credit for the other certificates...as far as "genes" can contribute anyway!)Here she is...with her A Honor Roll ribbon...photo is terrible...but you can see she is very proud!

We have celebrated with a fresh strawberry shortcake and a picnic out in the back yard. Didn't get photos of those...but we had fun! Now, we shall retire for a "Granny Nap!"