undie drama

This week I bought Raine some new panties. She's growing, and the ones I bought at the beginning of the school year are not what they used to be. So new undies. Not a big deal, right? We all like new things. Or maybe, not so much.

Today I washed the new undies in preparation to wearing said undies. The old, ratty ones went in the trash. WHAT!?! Well, I told her, when she found them there and was somewhat dismayed. That is kind of why I bought you new undies, so I could throw the old ones away...

Hmmmm

Cut to bed time, which is late on a weekend, so there's that. I say try on the new undies and see how you like them. Although we had not intended to get the boy leg style, we ended up with it. Silly me, I thought, _boy_ style? Sounds just up her alley. Boy, was I wrong. She does not like them ONE. BIT. And the old ones are in the trash! No, I wouldn't let her go rescue them, but I did promise get new new underwear tomorrow. First Thing. There was nearly a meltdown. Tears were evident. And of course, it was ALL MY FAULT! When you're a mom, I guess you learn to live with that, and even - occasionally - own it.

weekend hopeful

Made it through the testing week. At least the first one. There are still kids testing next week (including Raine, I think) and LOTS of make-up testing, but things will be more normal next week. Well, except that testers are using my classroom, and I won't be. It's good, though, I'll have something for them to do in the computer lab, and that's where we'll be.

I'm hoping, this weekend, to get some sewing done. I know. It IS a surprise. HA. I've been wanting to make some bags. Something like tote bags or shopping type bags. Of course I could use a new purse. Have you seen the one I've been toting around? Shameful I tell you! But that isn't on my list today. Then, if I can remember to take pictures, I want to blog about the bag(s). Or at least the progress made.

Then, there's Easter next weekend. I have some planning to do for that. Some shopping. We'll probably dye some eggs since we enjoy doing that, and eating them afterwards, as well. Ron will actually, coincidentally, have the weekend off, so we might even "do it up" is some low-key way. Have a nice ham dinner or something.

So, sleeping in and laundry, ironing and cutting fabric, sewing sewing sewing... and a lovely weekend. At least until the wind starts bringing in the landscape from Arizona again on Sunday...

get through it

Its testing season in school. You know, the big stakes, the mandated, the SBA. We have sophomores and juniors taking the test, and I'm one of the teachers proctoring it. The group I'm working with have been writing, and calculating and generally giving it a decent effort. It's not the strict multiple choice test it used to be. Now you have to do some splaining as well. For days at a time. # days for the sophomores, and then the juniors get one more test besides.

But it isn't just high school students. Raine, in the third grade, faces a grueling, multi-session, multi-day test too. I believe she will do well. I know she CAN do well. It won't be easy though.

The to-do list for the testing season is one item: get through it.

spring break travel

We got home today from our trip to Tucson. We had a lovely time visiting our friends there. Their spring break was a couple of weeks ago, so their kids had to go to school, and all, but still we managed to visit, entertain ourselves and have a nice get-away.

The visit was calm and relaxing. We did some shopping, and got some cute black and white fabrics for both Ron & Raine a shirt. There was also a very cute fat quarter bundle that was on sale - so we bought two. I think their fate will be to become tote/shopping bags. Cute ones. With embellishment. We ate some fabulous meals, and tried to go to the zoo, but were thwarted when our hostess did not feel well. Not to worry, she's feeling better, and we all survived and will walk through it another day.

While it was too early and too cool for swimming, we did enjoy their hot tub. Raine got a couple of horseback rides. They have a very kid-friendly horse, and a helpful teenaged daughter.

I think the hardest part was coming home today. The driving. It really isn't that long of a drive, but I was fighting tiredness the whole day. I wasn't the only one. Still, tonight, it will be sleeping in my own bed after showering in my own shower. Ahhhhhh.

Is it strange that as much as I love to travel and go places, I'm always thrilled to be home, with my stuff.

(p)interesting (p)inspiration

I recently joined pinterest. I think I may have one picture pinned there. If I got it to work right. Not sure I did. I keep thinking, well, I should look for some pictures to post over there. I don't just want to look at other people's board and repin what they have. Oh, I'll look and enjoy and even sometimes drool. I just don't want to copy. Well, that and some of that seems so... circular. Pin what x pinned, then y pinned it, so I pinned it, then... pretty soon everyone's pinned it... and then everyone is bored by it. Or something.

Anyway, I think the idea of collecting inspiration, and even being able to share it is fabulous. People find fascinating stuff on the internets and share it freely. Cool.

Today, my friend and I went to a Arts and Crafts Show. It was a juried show, organized by (in part) a local jeweler. It wasn't huge, but a nice size, with over a hundred artists. They even had an art area for kids (probably to help keep them from handling every item in every booth) and had several activities lined up for the kids to work on. Raine had a blast drawing there.

While she made her own art, Cindy and I walked through the booths. Oh. My. Goodness. It was a fabulous show. There were potters, and fiber artists and sculptors, painters and photographers, stained glass, and a glassblower, and a bead maker, and I guy who made cut paper miniatures. I could have dropped a couple hundred dollars there and been very pleased with what I got. I didn't, though. I couldn't. I did come away with some inspiration, though. The creativity on display was awesome. I sincerely hope these artists made the money they need to be willing to come back again next year.

I walked through the show wishing for a camera, and wanting to pin this tile with a ceramic "frame" and that vase with the Asian inspired waves, the texture of delicate coppery leaves. The colors were vibrant, the movement was captivating. Wow.

japan sushi

Once again, I have to rave about this restaurant. This is the place Ron & I went for our pre-Valentine Valentine's dinner. Yum. Sushi. Well made sushi.

Last night, we went again. We took Raine, and we met some of the people Ron works with there. A table of about 10 all together. This time, we didn't go all out with sushi rolls, but tried to keep a budget. So we ordered a total of 4 rolls (for us - this was a dutch treat get together - we're not crazy... or rich) and a teriaki chicken dinner to share. The dinner was described as a bento box, and it had more than just the chicken. Oh so much more.

There was delicious teriaki chicken, with plump mushrooms and a light sauce with sesame seeds sprinkled on top. I love sesame seeds. Then, there were the three dumplings and the three slices of California roll. There were some mixed vegetables, and several pieces of tempura vegetables and shrimp. Oh, yeah, and don't forget the ball of rice. Raine got the rice, pretty much, and a good bit of the chicken and mushrooms, not to mention her own tuna roll, which she loves. Everything was delicious. Again. MMMMmmmmm.

Then, there was a surprise. The good kind. The server brought the table two complementary rolls. Two. Yeah. Last time Ron & I were there, they treated us to ice cream balls. This time, sushi rolls. How cool is that? I'll tell you what, it is just one more reason to go back there. One more reason to look past the dated and sad looking decor, left over from the days that building was a Bob's Big Boy restaurant. HAI!

make a scarf for me... maybe

The cowl scarf I made used about half the yarn that I expected it to take, so I was left with 2 skeins of that wonderfully soft bamboo blend. I finally decided that I would make a scarf for myself. Maybe. Oh, I'll make the scarf... MAYBE I'll keep it. I can't decide if I really want a scarf. Oh, sure, there may be occasions when I might wear one for the cold. You know, if I go visit the snow somewhere. But there are people who would wear it for a fashion accessory. I would like to think I would do more to accessorize, but I'm not kidding myself about choosing to wear a scarf around all day. I just don't see that happening. I'll probably give it to someone who likes the green, and would wear it.

The scarf I'm knitting is pretty plain and simple. I'm knitting every row, and the scarf lays nice and flat. The needles are pretty small, too. This is going to take a while to knit, I'm thinking, with those tiny needles. That was what appealed to me, though, after doing the cowl on larger ones for a lacier effect. I'm almost through the first skein of yarn, and I can't tell if the two skeins will be enough for what I want, though. I'd really like to sew the ends together and make an infinity scarf.  I think it would look really nice that way.

Perhaps on someone else, though. Anyone want to volunteer for scarf experimentation?