Hiya!

It's been close to a year now since I've posted anything, so I figured it's about time for a shakedown on where we're all at currently. I don't have my camera at the moment to upload any fun pics, but they will come later on.

Phew, where to start?

So currently, JT and I are embarking into the unknown with our first vegetable garden expedition. When we first moved into our house last August, our property was totally invaded with blackberries. Being the canner/jam maker I am, I didn't really mind because I was all about the berries! However, things were kinda out of control. So throw together some dedicated friends, a bobcat/tractor thingy and bit by bit we cleared out behind the detached shop/garage to make way for our upcoming garden! (Imagine picture here....Yeah try real hard)
Of course, just clearing out the area and leveling it was just the beginning. We then (with the use of our neighbors tiller) tore up the ground and removed somewhere around a pickup load amount of rocks, some close to the size of our head. Needless to say, it's been a grueling two to three months, but it's finally paid off. This past weekend we got peas (two varieties), corn, onions, green beans, and squash in the ground; with tomatoes, bell peppers (red, green, yellow, and purple!) cucumbers and cayenne peppers (yeah, that's all husband right there) waiting to go in this week. We also have a trellis of raspberry bushes and a strawberry patch of over fifty plants in the works. I can't tell you how absolutely overjoyed I am to finally be able to garden! Now if only I had the same motivation with the flowerbeds...

To be succenct, Mother's Day absolutely rocked. For many that know me, I always struggle with Mother's Day. I get myself all hyped up with silly ideas of how the day will go and my poor husband can't get close to my unattainable ideals (though he tries, trust me) and it just never works out. Well, this year I finally succeeded in an attitude adjustment and everything fell into place. First of all, it was an absolutely gorgeous day. That in itself was good enough for me, being one living in the Northwest. I didn't have to change a single diaper, had a great brunch at my aunt's house with my grandparents (in-law) that returned from their winter trip to Arizona, my kids were absolute saints, my husband treated me to his signature dish of Fettucini Di Mare (he hasn't made it in over five years!) and the gift of Wii Fit. I felt like a million bucks and am incredibly grateful for the wonderful family I'm involved in.

Speaking of pride and joys, my dream of the past five years was to have my own craft room where I could have my sewing machine set up, and room for my beading hobby. The house we moved into is a two bedroom, but the detached shop has an office I have effectively taken over as my craft studio. Not only do I have my sewing machine set up and a table for my beadwork, but it's also outfitted with an additional table for cutting fabric, my ironing board (a MUST for quilting!) and storage cupboards topped off with a stereo loud enough for me to effectively rock out and block the outside world when I deem it necessary. On evenings after the kids go to bed and my husband is out you can find me there until the wee hours of the morning letting the creative juices flow. And when I'm done, I just shut everything off and leave it all where it is, since the kids can't get into the shop I don't have to worry about leaving out sewing pins, sharp items, or chemicals that can be dangerous to little ones. It's great!

Okay, so it's getting a little hard to post because I need to show pictures. I'll get them up as soon as I can!