I'm still here...

Not doing too much of any one thing. The children keep my busy. I am taking an art class on Wednesday night. I am taking it for continuing education for the Master Teacher Program. I have also been doing a bit of gardening to get my yard prepared for the summer. Also trying to get some spring cleaning done. Still listing stuff on ebay for people.

Things are ok. :)

PNB's "Swan Lake"...

I took the girls to see "Swan Lake" yesterday down at Pacific Northwest Ballet. It was lovely... I loved the swans! What a beautiful production. Not at all like this. (Although the girls would have appreciated more humor.) Victoria was pretty sad at the end... although I knew the story once I'd forgotten that he is alone at the end. Barbie did a disservice when they changed the ending!

I did mention I took both girls with me. It was more of a challenge. They're both well behaved but it requires a lot of my attention and I don't think I want to deal with that every time. Victoria likes more contemporary dance, of which PNB does quite a bit, and Madeline liked Broadway Festival (loved it actually). They were both interested in Swan Lake but Madeline did fall asleep halfway through the third act. So, I don't know who to take to the next one. It's director's choice, which is probably code for "Peter likes the unusual", so we'll see.

The music was wonderful. Victoria sang it the rest of the evening. We already have the CD
so I'm glad she likes it!

In the meantime I haven't been doing a lot. I made the girls some spring dresses on Saturday and we went to the zoo Friday. I have a ton of Master Teacher stuff waiting to get finished and mailed. I taught the Iris at our guild on Thursday. Through it all I'm fighting off allergies and waiting for the weather to warm up so I can plant my fuchsia starts. Madeline's favorite book right now is Fuchsia Is Now.

Pat Van Cleve's Iris and Butterfly

This is a charted canvaswork design from Pat Van Cleve. It is called "Iris and Butterfly" and is from the 2005-2006 ANG Chapter Project Booklet. I will be teaching it at our guild meeting this week. Fun!

Bits and pieces...

I've been getting projects completed the last few days. We replaced four of the rotted fence panels on the back fence and hung three mounted baskets on them. I planted some hostas, ferns, a vine maple and a small magnolia tree. I did get out to Flower World a couple weeks ago and picked up the basket starts so I'll do all my pots sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Today I framed Twister. I bought the mats and the frame from Cascade Frames in Mercer Island so I just had to lace it and put it in the frame. It took forever though! I really don't like to do framing but now it's completed. :-)

I also sewed two more little Pick-Me-Ups...

Fabric layered bottom with a cute twisted cording trim. Hand-beaded button accents.

Lavender and white blend with a beautiful woven ribbon.

More of the same...

Victoria was sick, passed it to Travis. He has had laryngitis and last night started getting croupy and having difficulty breathing. I took him to the Emergency Room around 1 a.m. and they administered an oral steroid and a breathing treatment. Yes on croup, and they also think he has asthma. He gets the breating problems every time he gets ill, which admittedly is very rare. SO, I will follow up with the regular pediatrician this week.

Tomorrow I have an art class up in Everett. It's on composition and should be interesting. I printed out the approval form for the ANG MTP and have been looking for my scissors for a while now. *sigh*

Right now I'm stitching on a Melissa Shirley Easter egg when I have time - pretty much only while watching the girls at swimming. It's been a busy couple weeks!

A few more purses...

I think I'm going to call these Pick-Me-Ups. They're fun to make, fun to pick out materials, and fun to buy. I actually sit there smiling as I'm sewing them. :)

Crisp linen with a lime green interior. Trimmed with multi-colored bead trim and printed red ribbon. Natural wood handles with red silk accent.

Deep orange is accented with dogs wearing sweaters to match. Amber beads complement the amber handle.

Teal blue is harmonized with a woven ribbon in teal, purple, and black. Accented with round beads and a black leather strap. 

A lovely ribbon of grey, black and pink really shines with the paillette and bead trim. Fun pink handles. Almost to shiny to photograph! 

Swim Meet - Spring Grand Pentathlon

Saturday the 21st Victoria had a swim meet up in Marysville. She'd been sick all week so we thought she would be slower. Anyway, here are her times from that meet.

Event Time

8 & U 25 Y Freestyle 28:21 *new fast time*
8 & U 25 Y Backstroke 29:64 *new fast time*
8 & U 25 Y Breaststroke (DQ'ed)
8 & U 25 Y Butterfly (DQ'ed)
10 & U 100 Y Individual Medley (DQ'ed)

You can see she gave it her all and then was too tired and got sloppy with strokes, thus disqualifying. She's funny, though. No one has told her what the arm raise means so she just swims her little heart out. Then asks for more peanut butter crackers. :)