Tadpole Quilting Doodle

Taylor was playing around on the computer in Paint and after watching some of my quilting dvds...came up with this. I am raising quilters after all! How cool!

If you haven't tried drawing in Paint, especially with wide chalk as she did...then give it a whirl. It is difficult to do. Oh...and the title of this drawing is "FOR MOM". She is so sweet.

One of Mine and the Tadpoles' Favorite Songs

Superchick - Stand in the Rain 

Enjoy.

Tadpole OUCH!

After coming home last night from dinner out for Madeline's birthday...and getting out of the car...I heard a loud scream...ear-piercing actually! Cheryl had closed the car door on her finger. Fortunately, it is not broken...but smashed and she will most likely lose the fingernail! She refused at first, then finally conceded to let us ice it for 20 minutes or better.

Well, here is a picture of her this morning after finally dressing the wound. She is smiling and is feeling much better!

She really likes the smiley face on her covering.

Here is Cheryl tonight. Much happier...and she seems to really like the frog finger puppet that is protecting her little finger.

Tadpole's Birthday Jewelry!

Wow...Madeline made out like a bandit for her birthday! What do you get a 12 year old girl...new sterling silver jewelry...that's what!

She got a beautiful, dainty SS Cross Necklace from friends of ours. Thanks Jeff and Linda.

Also, a Black Hills gold leaf over SS ring with a locket/key design from Dad and I. She loves it all! Can you tell by the beautiful smile on her face?

Happy Birthday Sweetheart.

A Tadpole Turns 12

Happy Birthday Madeline!

You are intelligent, beautiful and much loved by your family and friends.

Tadpole Tattoo!

Taylor is part of the Middle School Drama Club and she went to a Drama Workshop. She learned about lighting, stage setup, makeup and lots of other fun stuff. They even had a Glow-in-the-Dark Dance!

Well...she came home with a tattoo! And one that I thought was pretty kewl! What else but...a frog. 

Snow Dog

Look what these two built...a Snow Dog! Isn't he adorable! But then...so are they!

Some Cutie Patootie Tadpoles!

What cuties! Getting ready for Valentine's Day fun.

Tadpoles' Socks!

My dear friend and I were talking the other day about life with 7 tadpoles. We started to discuss laundry...and the distaste we both had for doing it. And the discussion of SOCKS came up.

The turning inside-out of socks for washing, the sorting of socks, whose socks are whose...and so forth. I told her we have a fantastic new system for dealing with socks with such a variety of sizes and types. And NO, it does NOT mean throwing them away and starting over every day with a new pair. Although, that might have seemed easier!

We purchased nearly 4 dozen long skinny socks in every color/pattern available in 2 separate sizes...then some wool socks in one size for the older tadpoles...then white crew socks for the younger tadpoles. Then...we dumped everything into an 18qt container and placed it in a convenient location for all of them to get to. Now...when we (read "I" here) wash and dry socks...I just have to sort mine and Dad's out...and the rest get thrown in the sock tub! Easy Peasy!

When the tadpoles need socks...they grab 2 from the tub and go. No more wasted time sorting socks. Even the boys have been known to wear one pink sock and one brown. For now...it is working. And I have time for other things in my day. Who wants to spend 2 hours a day sorting someone else's laundry anyways?!

Look at all these feet. And yep...mismatched socks. But, you know what...their feet are dry and they are happy.

Just so you understand how many socks I was dealing with...imagine 2 full loads of laundry a week dedicated to socks! Now you understand why this new system has simplified my life!!

I am happy now too.  ;0)

Superbowl XLIV...New Orleans Saints...WIN

31-17 against the Indianapolis Colts!

What an amazing game! I was jumping up and down and screaming like a banshee when they WON! Go Saints! You did it.

Originally being from New Orleans..and still having family there...I have never forgotten my roots. The Saints have always BEEN and will always BE...MY TEAM!!!

QB Drew Brees and the entire Saints team and Coach Sean Peyton are a fabulous team and played well.

The Glory Bound and Who Dat? Saints made me proud. What a fabulous birthday gift too. The best one yet! Even if it is only my Birthday Season.

Go Saints! YOU DONE GOOD!!

What a Hoppy Burfday it was!

I am blushing!! My friend Shannon..aka doodlebug...posted this awesome cake on the APQS forum for me.   Thank you Shannon for such a thoughtful Birthday wish.

New Styles for all the Female Tadpoles! and a Happy Birthday!

All of us girls to a new hairdresser in a salon we had not ever been to...scary thought, I know...but guess what...we WILL be going back. We are all very pleased and love the results.

We are all trying to grow our hair out...some under protest...but none the less, we are going for long, manageable locks.

Three of us also have new eyeglasses. My girls did great, not only picking their new frames...but helping me. We all like the new look.

Here is a closup of me...I turned 38 yesterday and I feel great!

It was a crazy sort of day. Started out my morning cooking breakfast for 14, running errands, visiting with a friend and her kids, receiving a few phone calls, then we dropped the tadpoles at the moviehouse to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks..the Squeakquel" with Grandma, so Bryson and I could have a quiet dinner out for steak and scampi. After the show..we went home for cake and ice cream. What fun!

I did something special for my day...I ordered flowers for my Mom thanking her for being my Mom. I sure do love her! Aren't they pretty?! You are the greatest Mom and I love you bunches!

Carolina Christmas - the Nevada Way!

I pieced this Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville Carolina Christmas Mystery quilt back in December and it was on my frame for a month!!

I chose to do all scrappy for the piecing except for the Kona Black bacground to tie it all together.

I wanted to do something artsy with the quilting...but quickly realized that it was such a large quilt (90x90) that it would take me a month of Sundays to ever get 'er done.

However, once I started, I knew I had to keep the density consistent throughout the entire quilt. So...I trudged forward...begrudgingly. ;0(

I used black Isacord thread on top, black SoFine in the bobbin, Winline 60/40 cotton/poly black batting and the backing is solid black. Gee...do you think I like black in my quilts?!

I am pleased with the end results. ;0)

I now have a completed Mystery quilt. Thanks Bonnie for a fun pattern. I will enjoy this one for a long time to come! It is soft and cuddly and incredibly warm and fits my King size bed!

Visit http://www.quiltville.com/ and look up Carolina Christmas for the pattern.

Pavement Drawing!

by Julian Beever...

Anamorphic illusions drawn in a special distortion in order to create an impression of 3 dimensions when seen from one particular viewpoint!!

Excerpt taken from http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm

Way cool!!