Fun Giveaway!

Prudy over at Prudence Pennywise is holding a giveaway to celebrate her 100th post! She's giving away some books and a really great cake pan...that's the one I want to win. Go check out her blog...it's one of my favorites. I just started reading her blog about a week or two ago, and I can't wait to try out her creamy tomatillo dressing...supposed to taste like Cafe Rio's!!! I'm pretty sure all of her recipes would taste amazing, judging by the comments and the pictures...I need to print some off and get cooking!

Look What I Got!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day! Rick and I spent the day boating and fishing with my parents on Strawberry. I got two things...a bad sunburn and two fish (so, I guess I really got three things). Here is a picture of me with one of the fish I caught...

You can't really see my sunburn in this picture, but just imagine lobster-red skin on my neck and arms with some pretty white skin everywhere else. It still hurts and burns today. It's amazing what a few hours in the sun can do to you...I guess I applied the sunscreen a little too late. I didn't get to keep either of the fish I caught, since they were over 15" but less than 22"...they have to be smaller than 15" or larger than 22". Maybe I'll have better luck next time. I was hoping that I could take some fish home so that I wouldn't have to think about what I was going to make for dinner. Speaking of dinner...what am I going to make today...?

Binding update: I am making progress...yeah!!!! I'm hoping to have four of my quilts finished by this Wednesday, as a bunch of us are getting together for a binding party Tuesday night. I'll post pictures of my completed quilts then! =)

Discoveries...

I have been finding all sorts of wonderful things searching through everyone's blogs! It's like a whole new world has opened up to me...a world full of creativity and imagination. I am so impressed with all of the unique and beautiful creations that I see people posting about on their blogs. You all make me want to dive right in and try something new!


As I was jumping from blog to blog to blog the other night, I found a whole new style of quilt - cathedral windows!!! I don't know where I've been over the years, but I've never heard of this pattern before. I immediately fell in love with the design and knew I had to try it out. I grabbed some scraps and here's my first attempt...

I am somewhat of a perfectionist, so it's going to take some more practice to get it down, but I really love it and I am excited that it's a quilt as you go kind of project. So, when it's done it's done...no taking it to the quilter and no binding. The tutorial I used I found at Hyena in Petticoats....another neat blog.

I also came across a recipe for "Death by Chocolate Zuchinni Cake" on my friend Crystal's blog. Since I had the day off today, and I was feeling quite domestic (doing 6 loads of laundry, cleaning out the fridge, etc.), I decided to try it out. I even included some berries that I picked from my garden. The best part is the cake tastes even better than it looks!!!

Yesterday was Pioneer Day and I got to spend some time with one of my cute little nephews, Logan. We went to 'Taste of Utah Valley' yesterday and stuffed ourselves sick...the food was so delicious. A couple of weeks ago he broke his arm playing on a bunkbed...the kid has no fear! He picked a light blue cast, as you can see, and it stays on for about another month.

I Want to Win This!

I just found out about a new giveaway! It is for a vintage apron, fabric, bag, and book, and I really want to win. I mean I REALLY, REALLY want to win! I stumbled across this blog, Sew Take a Hike, when I was visiting my friend Erica's blog Polka Dot Quilts - both of which are wonderful blogs - you should check them out. They are listed in My Favorite Blogs on the side bar, or just click the links in this post. But, if you want to enter and maybe even win the giveaway, you need to visit Sew Take a Hike. I hope I win, but if you win instead...well, I guess that's okay too. =)

Hugs to all my blogging friends!

Little Baby Feet

I just love blogging...it not only gives me a creative outlet, but also a therapeutic outlet for thoughts and feelings that I have, even if I'm the only one that ever reads it. I just read an article in AJN American Journal of Nursing (Volume 108, Number 1, pg. 88) entitled "What Remains" by Susan Perry, MSN, RNC. In the article she writes about an experience she had with a woman who had to have an emergency D&C (dilation and curettage) because of a miscarriage and profuse bleeding. The woman was just over 12 weeks along when she lost her baby. Susan writes that the woman shared feelings that her body had 'let her down' again, and that she felt like 'she wasn't really pregnant'...'there wasn't really a baby in there'...'it was all just a bad joke'. In an effort to try and ease some of this woman's pain (as well as the woman's husband's pain), and also to prove to her and remind her that she really was pregnant, the nurse went to the lab and with the help of the pathology technician found the little tiny baby feet, each of which were only about 1/3 of an inch long, wiped them dry, and carefully made imprints of them with black ink on an index card. In the article, the nurse shares that as she presented the tiny footprints to the woman and her husband that the woman clutched the index card, holding it tightly to her chest and just cried. She was so grateful for this memory...proof forever that there really was a baby in there...she really was a mother...this really was her baby.

As I read this article, I was deeply touched. What a wonderful gift this nurse gave to that woman. It also hit me that even at 12 weeks a baby is formed enough to have litle feet and hands..it is a little baby, a litle person, a part of you and your husband....something that you made together. Through my miscarriages and D&Cs, I have felt the same emotions as that woman...you feel like your body let you down or wonder if it was something that you did, you really do start to question whether you were really pregnant...you don't feel any different, you don't look any different, you don't have any reminder except the empty, lonely feeling inside...you feel as if it was all just some bad dream.

I am so grateful for this article and the wonderful, happy feeling that it gave me. It proved to me that I really have been pregnant, I really have carried babies, babies with tiny little feet...little feet perfect enough to have made an impression on an index card...a little part of me and a little part of Rick. Even though I don't have any living children on this earth, I am a mother. I like to think that I have three little tiny pairs of baby feet waiting for me in heaven and I hope to live my life in such a way to be worthy of them when I leave this earth. How grateful I am for the plan of salvation and the fact that families can be together forever. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and that He is aware of my trials and struggles. I know that He would never purposely deny me a blessing and that even though I may not be able to be a mother in this life...I can in the next. I am also grateful for my loving husband and his patience and understanding. I know that he will make a great father and I look forward to the day when we can be parents, even if it's not in this lifetime.

To any of you that have experienced pregnancy loss...I'm so sorry. I hope it gives you comfort to know that you are not alone in your thoughts and feelings. It will hurt for a while, and it does get better over time, but it will never go away completely...and that's okay. Everyone deals with loss in their own way, and that's okay too. Just remember that you're not alone...your Heavenly Father loves you and feels your sadness and pain, and like that 'Footprints' poem (if you haven't read it, search for it online) when we feel at our lowest and most alone, those are the times that He carries us.

Well, I have many more feelings and thoughts on this subject, but that's all for today. Thanks for 'listening'. Go out and make it a great day! =)

Winner, Winner, Winner!!!

Last Wednesday, Rick did another mountain bike race at Soldier Hollow. No, he didnt beat the '8-year old' yet, but he did come in right behind him...he's getting closer! But, he did win this great jersey...way to go Rick! Here he is in his new jersey getting ready to go for a morning ride on his awesome Fuji bike.

Take the Quiz here!

I'm So Excited!

Last night, as I was browsing other quilting blogs, I stumbled across All-Stitched-Up by Linda. What a fun site! She does all sorts of different types of sewing swaps with people from all different countries. I signed up for her latest swap...a bag/bucket swap and I can't wait to get started. She had such cute picture examples on her site, so I got lots of great ideas. But, before I start I'll need to find out the preferences of the person I'll be stitching for - Linda will send me that info when she gets everyone matched up. And, it's a secret - you don't know who is stitching for you, only who you are stitching for...I love that - kind of like a secret friend/sister!

To those of you who read my blog from a few days ago, I know I said no QUILTING allowed until I finish some binding, but I don't count this as quilting...this is sewing, so I'm off the hook!

This Week's Goal

Well, I started on my two-color green & white quilt this last weekend - got all of the squares cut...boy, did that take some time...I ONLY needed about 600 squares! But, as I was getting ready to start sewing them I was reminded of my huge stack of quilts to bind, so I have decided that will be this week's goal. I am going to get as many of my quilts bound this week as possible. Hopefully, I can cut the list in half! Wow, wouldn't that be great. Some more things that I can check off the list! I don't mind binding but it's definitely not my favorite, which is why I always put it off....it's just so time-consuming, especially for a larger quilt. But, I am ABSOLUTELY NOT ALLOWED TO START SEWING ANY NEW QUILTS until I have finished binding...we'll see how that goes. Have a great week and happy quilting!!!

Two-Color Quilt

Back in April, when it was supposed to be Spring but still felt very cold, I was in the mood to make a bright quilt - since it was so dreary outside. I went shopping for fabric and saw all of these really great green ones! I love how bright and cheery they seem, not to mention that they run the whole spectrum of light to dark. I especially love the green and blue paisley one on the right end, so I bought extra of that one.

They have been sitting in my sewing room for the past few months patiently waiting for me. I am now ready to get started...yeah!!! Better late than never, as they say. I think I'm going to do small half-square triangles in a scrappy look with three borders. The total size will be about 60" by 60", give or take a little as I haven't figured out all the measurements yet. I have a white-on-white fabric that I bought for it too, but it's not in the picture. So enough blogging for today...time to get sewing!!! =)

Itchin' to be Stitchin'

With it being summertime and all, life tends to be a little busier than usual, which is good, but I'm really craving some sewing/quilting time. Every day that I walk by my sewing room and see my sewing machine sitting there all alone, I really want to leave everything else undone and just go sit and sew for hours. It's like my sewing machine calls out to me...it misses me too, I think. =) Most nights when I go to bed, no matter how tired I am or how late it is, there is always a part of me that says 'go sew; you can sew now!', but I know that I really need all the sleep I can get, so I reluctantly ignore that voice - no matter how badly I want to sew.

I really love to sew and quilt and I'm so glad I stumbled into this hobby about 7 years ago! I love that it gives me a creative outlet and lets me relax while sorting out the events of the day or just thinking about things that are going on in my life. It is also a great connection with people and keeps me in touch with old friends and neighbors. I love the satisfaction of knowing that I took some pieces of fabric and with a little creativity, stitching, and proper placement made a beautiful treasure.

I'm sure every quilter has their favorite quilts that they've done. Most of my quilts I've given away as gifts, but at my husband's request I'm starting to keep more and more of them. Probably my most favorite quilt that I've ever made was the one I made for my cute little niece, Mila (picture of quilt on left). The pattern is called Hugs 'n Kisses, for the X's and O's in the quilt blocks. The quilting on it is absolutely beautiful (I didn't do the quilting, only the piecing, backing, and binding - I sent it out to be quilted). I love the colors and the way it turned out, even without borders - it looks somewhat old-fashioned to me. I have mixed feelings about borders - I like them, but only when a quilt really needs it, and I don't think this quilt needed them.

Well, the weekend is coming up and I'm hoping to get in some well-deserved sewing/quilting time. I've got lots of quilts to finish! =)

I'm Surrounded by Athletes!

It's official! Everyone is athletic but me! I am just not a runner...I've had people tell me that I can walk faster than I can run because when I run it's pretty much an up and down motion instead of forward - almost like when you run in place. But that's fine by me because I don't really enjoy running that much - I'd rather walk, or bike, or swim.

Last month on June 20th and 21st, my dad Gary, my brother Erik, and my sister-in-law Cheryl (Erik's wife) ran in the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay, with 9 other people on their team. The relay consists of hundreds of teams of 12 who take turns completing legs of the relay. It starts in Logan, goes down to Midway, and doubles back to end in Park City, for a total of 180.5 miles. It really seems to be a fun event - people decorate their vans (you're allowed two support vehicles), wear funny costumes, and then they have a big party at the finish line.

Being there to watch everyone's great athletic feats really makes you want to do something like that - what a great personal accomplishment! This was the third year competing for both my brother and my dad. For some reason, I don't have a picture of all three of them together (that's my cute little nephew Logan with his parents, Erik and Cheryl, in this picture). Every time I attend an event like this it always makes me want to do something like that, but then I wake up the next day and convince myself I could never do it - I run in place, remember!

Also, Rick has been competing in the weekly mountain bike race series at Sundance and Soldier Hollow. They are held every Wednesday and usually alternate weeks between venues. In fact, he just competed again last night at Sundance. He is in the beginner category, since this is a fairly new hobby for him, but eventually he'll advance to Sport, then to Expert B, and finally to Expert A. Right now I think beginner is pretty good for him. He only had to do one lap last night (which took him about 50 minutes to complete), whereas the Expert A had to do 2.5 laps (takes considerably longer, but not much since they are better trained and have been doing it a LONG time). It's always funny though, because Rick will finish and say something like "That was the hardest route yet...I thought I was going to throw up! It was great!!! I love this sport!" Silly guy! I am grateful, thought, that he has found a hobby that he loves and contributes to a healthy lifestyle.

We joke that his main goal is to finish before the "8-year old", or that's what we call him. Im sure he's really not 8, but he can't be older than 12, and he beats Rick every race, but not by much. I don't think it'll be too much longer before Rick passes him by, though!

In these pictures, everyone is getting ready to start - they race up a huge hill right off the bat and then have to race up the huge hill again in order to finish (after they go through the trail on the mountain, of course). Rick is near the back in the picture on the left, white shirt with blue sleeves, yellow highlight circle around his head (if you can even see it in the picture). The picture on the right is a close-up of him - look for the yellow arrow - that's Rick! The "8-year-old" is in the yellow jersey next to him.

Here's Rick just after he came off the mountain trail and is racing up to the finish line with another racer hot on his heels - go, Rick, go! In the picture on the right, Rick is coming back down after finishing...this is what relief looks like!

Happy Birthday to Ricky!!!

A couple of weeks ago, on June 28th to be exact, it was Rick's 34th birthday! We celebrated that day by attending Young Living Farm's Lavender Days in Mona, Utah. We had a lot of fun and it was relaxing to be out amongst the acres and acres of aromatic lavander. We ate lavender ice cream, enjoyed lavender lemonade and other yummy treats. We also attended a relaxing yoga class, which has inspired both Rick and myself to become regulars at a local yoga class in town.

We also saw a reptile show there, with some of the biggest amphibians and reptiles I have ever seen! One snake they had was 14 feet long and took 10 children sitting down next to each other to hold it. They also had a really huge turtle, as well as a very pretty, and very big, iguana, in addition to lots of others.

They also had professional jousting at the Lavender Days, which we thought was pretty cool and sometimes seemed a little scary...especially when one of their jousting sticks (not sure what they're really called) splintered into a million pieces when it struck the shield of the other jouster, and subsequently made that jouster practically fall of his horse - he was very slumped over when he got back to his end of the line and you could hear them asking if he was okay over and over again. Thankfully, he was okay and went on to joust again. They told the crowd that when the sticks hit each others' shields that it is equivalent to 2,800 pounds of pressure force. That's amazing...no wonder they worried if he was okay!!!

All in all, it was a pretty fun day!

Then, the next day, Sunday the 29th, we had a family birthday party for Rick. Everyone had a lot of fun playing basketball, ping pong, jumping on the trampoline, and just visiting around the campfire pit, as well as enjoying some delicious desserts. It was such a beautiful day and just the right temperature under the trees as Rick opened his presents. It's days like that when I'm reminded of how grateful that I am for families and for the fact that Rick is my husband, not just for this life, but for all of eternity - sometimes I feel like the luckiest girl in the world because he chose me to be his wife. He is a wonderful, amazing and talented person. He is so patient, calm, relaxed, easy-going -- pretty much my exact opposite in those regards, but even still we are also very much the same. I am grateful for those aspects in which we are different - that's what keeps me grounded and helps me to enjoy life. The years just keep getting better and better! Happy Birthday Rick!!! I love you always and forever!