looking for normal

Well, my dear bloggy friends, May 1st has come and gone. May 1st was my big fat manuscript deadline for book #2. I wish I could say how relieved I am and how much lighter I feel with the weight off my shoulders, but it's more of a gradual awakening. Of course, there are many straggling loose ends that didn't quite make the deadline, so I wouldn't dare use the word "done" quite yet.


I am starting to look for normal. Not perfection, just some kind of sane, regular rhythm around here. Like perhaps a few evenings spent on the couch knitting and talking to my husband instead of working until midnight. A shower every other day would be nice (for everyone). If you're a regular visitor around here, you know that we moved across the country (WI to MD) last summer right before school started. I took 2 weeks to unpack than dove into this book head first as soon as the school bus pulled away from the curb on the first day of school. I have been sitting at my computer, drawing table, or sewing machine ever since. Practically.


Now there are five weeks left of the school year. Five weeks before I switch to summertime mom-mode. Five weeks to catch up on all of the things I should've taken care of for the last nine months...finding a dentist, start exercising again, answering long over due emails, maybe get my Maryland driver's license...but I'm going to take it slow, one thing at a time.

Funny story...the afternoon before my big deadline, a neighbor kid rang the doorbell. I heard my oldest son answer and tell his friend, "You can't come in, my mom has a deadline." The neighbor kid said incredulously, "What? Your mom has a DEAD LION????!!!"

Ha! Love that. I sure did...I had a big fat dead lion and thank goodness it's gone now.

(hey, and thanks everyone for the anniversary wishes! That photo was taken by my sister-in-law one weekend in Chicago, 1990. The roll of film was forgotten, went undeveloped for years, then was rediscovered and developed. What a nice surprise! It is my favorite photo of me and the hub.)

happy anniversary, honey!

photo of us, 1990

B + D = TLF
xoxo
ojbw

from me to me

This past week I totally lucked out and caught wind of new stock available from yarntini. Ever since Susan introduced me to this yarn I have been dying to get my hands on some. This stuff gets snapped up fast and now I know why. Yummy to look at and yummy to touch. Is it wrong to snuggle a skein of yarn? I bet Susan does it. I mean, look at it. It's adorable!

Just as I was finishing up the last "Mom's Day Special" cupcake orders to go in the mail, my yarntini package showed up. Aren't they delicious together? Neapolitan goodness. As I send so many of my own handmade creations into the world, it's nice to be the recipient sometimes - even if they are gifts from myself!

Steel yourself for more cuteness. These amazing woodland pins are from Pinks and Needles and they came with their own little coordinating pincushion pot.

I know!

(You might ask why I would buy myself a pincushion, since I am surrounded by them. Well, I can't actually use one of my cupcake pincushions while I am making more cupcake pincushions. That would get mighty confusing on the ol' sewing table wouldn't it?)

Ahh, I sure needed these little pick-me-ups. Last week was a bugger for me, trying to stick a fork in that pesky manuscript. The bulk of it has been tamed but there are a few lingering odds and ends I hope to take care of by mid-week!

i'm it

I have been "tagged" a few times recently and feel that is my blogful duty to participate in the trivial, yet ever-popular "7 Random Things About Me" post. Here goes...straight off the top of my head:

1) Family nickname: Boop (as in Betty)
2) At one point in my life, I had counted how many times I moved to a new home. The number matched my age. I was 31.
3) When I was about 7, I accidentally hit my brother in the head with a golf club so hard he needed stitches. He forgave me.
4) I have a habit of putting used kleenex in the door handle of the car when I am driving.
5) I had a best friend stop being my best friend and I never found out why. I was 40.
6) I once ate spaghetti out of a ziplock bag while sitting on the floor of a train station in Pisa, Italy.
7) I don't have a history of being very politically active, however I once wrote a letter to President Ford asking him to grow a mustache. I was 10.

so there you have it...

good times!

sweet tweets!

As I careen towards my May 1st deadline, I thought I'd take a minute to update my etsy shop with a few "left-overs" from the show last weekend. (Do you like leftovers? Mostly I like dinner left-overs for lunch the next day. That's the best.)

These little zippered bird pouches have been a shop and show favorite in the past...but I never have the time to make them anymore! I'm considering putting together a downloadable pdf of them to sell in the shop...would there be interest in that? A project for me in May or June perhaps. Well, for now these two cuties are ready and looking for a home...
***UPDATE: Sorry! Birdies SOLD OUT.***

...in addition to some fresh and fruity looking cuppys!

TTFN :)