Helping make beer

My mom and Lily helped Corey with part of the beer making process.

New wheel design

I finally got around to wood burning my spinning wheel. I found cute sheep and fence clip art for inspiration and based my design around that. I really like the way it turned out. An added bonus of the design is that I can easily remember which direction to spin my singles because it is the direction which makes the sheep move forward. Now I want to wood burn everything in sight. So fun! Next up, my lazy kate (something that holds bobbins for plying when spinning). I"m hoping to put an angora rabbit design on the lazy kate.

The hoarder

Hopefully this is a cute phase an not a budding psychological disorder ;)



In recent weeks Lily has decided that before she can nap, she needs to put every possible object she can fit into her crib. The top of the list is Jake, then her balls, next are her bear and monkey, other random toys, books and an article of clothing or two. There is barely enough room for her but that is the way she likes it. Whatever it takes for her to get a good nap, I'm all for it!

Garage sale season

I'm so happy garage sale season is back in full swing. This past week, my friend Shannon and I took our girls on a garage sale-ing trip. It reminded me of when I was little and my mom and her friend Jean would pile my brother and I along with 2 of Jean's kids into an old woody station wagon (with the "way back" seat) and we would head out to the sales. I remember those days quite fondly, although now I see what hard work it is to keep up with kids at a garage sale. Sheesh!

Anyhoo, last week I scored a bunch of summer clothes for Lily, a big wooden bowl (which I will use for spinning fiber), snow boots for Lily, a practically brand new Cuisinart toaster oven, a free set of funky old luggage for photography, a chinese paper parasol (also for photography), a illustrated print of McCormick's Creek done by a local artist and I'm sure there are other things that I forgot to mention. Oh yeah, brand new Teva flip flops for me! Just in time as mine were wearing out.

Possibly my favorite score was this funky 70s needlepoint of an owl. It obviously needs a new frame, but I am in love with it. Old crafty stuff gets me every time.

A little glamour whilst checking for eggs

Cute

Yep. She has him wrapped around her finger.

Illinois

I wanted to share a few pictures from when we visited my parents a few weeks ago. The evenings were some of the prettiest in recent memory. The temperature was perfect. It was too early for bugs. The grass was lush and green. Just lovely.



Did you notice the gun in Corey's hand? He was trying to shoot pigeons that keep roosting in my parents barn and wreaking all kinds of havoc. Even my super animal loving mother says it is time for them to go. He didn't actually shoot any of them though. They are sneaky little buggers.



Lily had fun playing with grandpa and the big ball my mom uses to train her horse.



We found these pretty little eggs in a tree in their yard.



Good times.