Darleen O'Steen's Cranberry Sampler...

is completed! Isn’t it beautiful?


http://www.summerlouise.com/albums/stitching/designers/darleneosteen.html



Well, it is as completed as it’s going to get. In the pattern there is a second cutwork band at the bottom, but it wasn’t a design that I liked. So, the sampler is 2″ shorter. This will be framed eventually.

School's Starting...

Most of the school districts here start up school again on Wednesday. I am looking forward to it very much! All of the museums and parks will go back to being calm and peaceful. ;-) We have some fun things planned for this upcoming year. Victoria is continuing with her ballet and Madeline will be starting ballet at the same time and location. They are also both continuing with swimming and gymnastics. Our homeschool group has park days planned through September, and in October will start back up with book report lunch and Lego club. There are also the monthly free museum days that are always very interesting. We saw a great Lincoln exhibit this last year. I’m looking forward to wandering through museums and having a relaxing picnic before browsing the used bookstores…

I read the Harry Potter series, by the way. Victoria finished up the Lemony Snicket books and told me she wanted to read Harry Potter next. I bought them all at Half Priced Books and read them in about two weeks. They were pretty fun and although some of the volumes were dark (the teacher torturing Harry with the horrid quill was painful to even read) I think since it all turns out in the end it will be fine. Light at the end of the tunnel and all that. Victoria is now on the third one and other than needing help with the names the first time, she’s doing great. I will probably wait until she is done with the series, and maybe for when the last movie is about to come out, before we watch the movies. We saw a bumbersticker at gymnastics the other day that said “Republicans for Voldemort”. What a timely opportunity to explain parody, pop culture, and politics in one fell swoop!

Kidlets are fighting so alas, I must go. Today is the last day of summer swim classes (5x a week in two week sets for a total of 30 lessons) and then regular 2x a week lessons start in two weeks. Whee!

Grand ideas...

This post could also be called “It’s on my list”. In an effort to keep organized (and stop forgetting stuff) I have a mid-sized spiral notebook with divided sections and an elastic band closure. This book is “my list”. I keep my calendar in Outlook, which transfers into my phone, so the list is to write stuff down that I need to do but not necessarily right this minute.

Any time someone says something like “Hey, you need to mow the lawn.” or “Wow, when are you going to have Diana clean the back glass door?” or “Did you schedule the kids for swimming yet?” or “Did you mail my car tab renewal?” I can simply say “It’s on my list.” This doesn’t mean it will get done that day, or that week, or in some cases, ever. BUT, I have written it down and released it from my mind and it now is something I can plan towards. (Thanks to Brad for all those helpful suggestions above, by the way.)

Occasionally I rewrite the list as items have been crossed off to keep it clear and focused. I did this last night. Some examples:

Finish spackle and paint back patch by door
Clean playroom. Repaint small bedrooms.
Look for girl’s choir for Victoria
Call insurance co and see if they mailed check
Mail Brad car emission and tag check
Check dates for ANG Milwaukee, plan route

You can see how important some and how some of them likely won’t be finished until we sell the house in oh, three years. Mainly repainting anything. What’s the point when it’s just going to end up covered in fresh chips and crayon scribbles?

Also in my book I keep a list of finishing as I receive it and when they want it back. This list changes fairly often but it helps to keep things there at a glance so I don’t miss people’s deadlines.

Lastly in my book is an ongoing list with little design scribbles for new needlework designs that I want to complete. All of my recent work has been for the Master Teacher Program so there will be quite the update to my website when I finish in three years! :-)

Today we’re off to pick marionberries. I picked 20 pounds of blueberries last week and hopefully will get lots of marionberries this week! Blackberries should be ready in another few weeks. Very exciting. After that I’m helping a neighbor plan out two new garden beds and also do some decluttering. Very exciting.