When your dog eats an entire package of sugar free chocolate chips...

Don't panic! Called the vet and she said to expect tummy distress from Daisy, but actually Daisy did pretty well. Note these cookies were sealed in plastic, in a sealed cardboard box, inside a larger cardboard box. Of course it might have helped that Daisy is a large dog, but still I was predicting a messier outcome. Most of the girl scout cookies should be out of the house by this weekend.

I guess this incident, combined with the gingerbread house incident, proves that Daisy has a tough gut.

Erinisms and Laurenisms

From Erin recently:

Clouds are like nature's sunglasses. (How very Jack Handy of her.)

"Lauren, your artwork is abstract. That's just another way of saying it's scribble scrabble."

Lauren reciting the pledge of allegiance (that she hears at Erin's brownie meetings):

I pledge allegiance
to the flag
of the United States
of brownies
and to the ocean of America,
for brownies and girl scouts forever.

Inside mess, outside mess

The inside mess is due to GIRL SCOUT COOKIES! And lots of them. 864 boxes to be exact. As cookie mom, I get to pick them up and store them. And they are here!





The mess outside is due to the ongoing yard work. Today they are putting down sod. I took this picture two days ago from my bedroom window.

Visit with Kara

Kara and family came to visit Saturday through Sunday. We went to Fort Discovery on Sunday and took a walk by the river (that would be the Savannah River) Sunday morning. Kids played a lot, grownups got to watch Walk the Line (ie the Johnny Cash movie).

Here's some pictures:

Garden overhaul

We have a large yard. A large front yard, and a large back yard. It's a lot of work, mainly for Rene. The backyard came with a charming, but slowly decaying vegetable garden, complete with 16 raised beds. And while this might be a dream for some, we just don't have the time to maintain it. On top of that the wood from the beds was rotting and the fence was starting to fall apart. It was becoming an eyesore. In other parts of the yard grass wouldn't grow and there were drainage issues.

Which leads us to our garden overhaul. Hopefully by next week I will be able to post the "after" photos. For now, you can view the before and demolition photos.

Note: I'm testing out embedding a Flickr slideshow with instructions from here.

Inspiration link roundup

Teacher's quilt from Pink Chalk studio.

Mini quilt featured on Sew Mama Sew.

How to make a new ironing board cover.

How to make a rice pillow at Wise Craft. I need to make some of these. When Erin had an ear infection I put some rice in an old clean sock, tied it up and warmed it up in the microwave. She drew a face on it and calls it her "Socky". A pretty rice pillow would be nice.

Cute bunny pillow pocket tutorial. You could adapt something like this for the tooth fairy. I was lame and didn't create a cute tooth fairy pillow or pouch for Erin's first two teeth, but we've got lots more to go, so there's still time.

The bunny pillow reminded me of the cute felt mice I had seen a while ago at Molly Chicken. Mine came out a bit funny as I was very new to sewing, I used "fake" felt instead of wool felt, and I probably should have enlarged the pattern a bit. Here's a cute version done at Pink Chalk Studio.

How to recycle old crayons. Just got one of these silicone mini heart pans at Michaels. Read the comments on this one. These would be cute birthday party favors.

Portrait of Lauren in her monkey pajamas

By artist Erin.

Inspiration link roundup

Too many creative people out there. I'm not worthy (bowing in submission).

I Heart Linen posted a checkerboard mini quilt with buttons as checker pieces!

Fabric pinwheels at Chickpea Sewing.

Fabric balls at Grand Revival Designs. Pattern and tutorial here.

Finally. Bunting flags tutorial from Whip Up. These would be fun for a birthday (hmmm, we have one of those coming up, don't we?)

I think the bunting, fabric balls and pinwheels would be fun for a girls room. I have done a poor job of decorating Lauren's room, and maybe it's time to put a little effort into it!

February is quilting month!

Sew Mama Sew will be posting about Quilting Month and Block-Along Kickoff!. I may be inspired to make a doll quilt. Maybe.