Time is precious!

Yup;  Wednesday zoomed by too!  But everything on the list was accomplished!  AND I even fit in a two-hour visit to the Beach!

Friend of Candace, Candace and Caitlyn

It was another late night of ball;  arriving home around 9:30;  ate a late LATE dinner and shooshed everyone to bed by 10:30.  The girls are starting to run on empty, that's for sure.

Sunday will finally FINALLY be a day of sleeping in;  until then Friday = Summer school;  Saturday = EARLY softball tournament game.

And this morning already, in order of events.....

* 5:30 AM - drove Paul to work
* made banana bread (YUMMMMM! My hat off to the brilliant person who came up with this delicious way to use up old icky bananas!)
* emptied/loaded/started-up the dishwasher
* washed up all other dishes
* washed a load of laundry
* took garbage out for Garbage Day
* woke up girls and drove to summer school (THEY WERE TIRRRRRRRED!!!!!!!!)
* hung load of laundry; started another
* fed/watered all animals (pigs, ducks, chickens)
* unexpectedly hoed the 70 hills of potatoes (BEAUTIFUL overcast 70 degree morning! Couldn't pass it up!)
* wrote and mailed application letter

And now;  it's 9:00!  TIME for some relaxation with quilting.

Tuesday zoomed!

First off, I finished the quilting of Seven Shirts Monday afternoon.  I even cut binding.  But... that's as far as I got.  So, it will SOON be a finish...

BUT... 

with Paul having the day off yesterday (Tuesday);  his only day off for a stretch of time here;  that meant for a day outside!  His manly skills were needed for jobs I couldn't do, but I needed them done in order to DO the jobs I needed to do.   He fixed the tiller (so I could till);  he fixed the lawn mower (so I could mow); he set posts to stake up the tomatoes (so I could stake them up).  LOL.  

I find myself thinking about the 80s Salt-n-Peppa tune "Whatta Man".  Yessiree!  

Having to pick up girls from summer school at 2:00, and then having to be ready for softball most afternoons by 4:00PM, lasting until 9:00PM, it certainly makes for days of "going-going-going-GONE!"

Cailtyn plays at the 3/4 level and she tried out the catching gear the other night.  This is her first year playing ball;  at this level, they are still learning the game;  forgetting that they can overrun first base, and then making the mistake of overrunning other bases only to be tagged out...  It's a cute level to watch, despite easily being able to "tune-out" due to the lack of action.  I guess I can blame my ADHD.  Easy to lose focus at the slower pace.  LOL.

On the other end of the spectrum;  Cassie's 7/8 game last night was a MARATHON of a softball game!  5/6 and 7/8 levels play 6 innings; however no game is allowed to end in a tie.  Last night, the 7/8 team Cassie plays with was an AWESOME game to spectate! Definitely jam-packed with continuous edge-of-seat action.  HA.  At the end of the 6th, it was tied 6-6.  So, out came the rulebook to know how to proceed.

"The last girl out will start the inning on 2nd base.  The batter directly following her in the lineup will begin batting.  Inning will start with 0 outs."

The reasoning:  the runner at 2nd has a good chance of getting home in order to keep the score moving and hopefully end the game.

WELL!  That certainly happened.... for both teams!

End of 7th inning:  7-7

End of 8th inning:  8-8

End of 9th inning: 9-9

Being the visiting team, the 10th inning lead us to our 10th run.

Sadly, though, the home team had the ideal lineup going into their 10th inning.  Top of the lineup!  First batter started at 2nd;  2nd and 3rd batter walked and singled to load up the bases, and their 'cleanup' 4th batter hit a BEAUTIFUL hit over the head of our left-fielder to bring in all three base runners.  

Game over:  10-13.

BUT.  Hands were shaken.  And congratulations were extended.  In fact, the congratulations even continued at McDonalds when we met up with a few of the players from the opposing team.  It was a LATE (away) game, ending at 9PM!  With summer school schedule in my mind;  McDonalds was simply the most convenient plans for dinner in order for us to get home and in bed at a not-crazy-late time.

Okay, the details got a bit lengthy there;  ah well.

Today:  

** wake up girls; get them to summer school by 8:00

** run (??) upon dropping girls off at school.  (Maybe?  The terrain is flat near the school.  My knee is still upset with me after my STUPID sprint racing again Candace on Saturday!  We'll see what it can handle)

** finish tilling garden

** rake lawn with yard raker  (Maybe my dad will be interested in doing this??) :D

** mulch tomatoes with raked grass

** few loads of laundry (CONSTANTLY washing softball gear with games everyday!)

** pick up girls by 2:00

** drop off Caitlyn by 4:00 for pictures

** Caitlyn's game at 5:00;  Cassie's at 6:45

** Day over.

Nopers...I don't think I see any quilting fitting in today's schedule.

Happy Wednesday!

Little happinesses!

I LOVE my clothesline!  What a great energy saver; yummy 'out-doorsey' smelling clothes;  what's not to like?

{{Well, I suppose I could admit that I don't like having to re-wash some clothes that get some bird-droppings on them due to the few nests we have under the upper deck flooring, but still.....Psht!}}

 A small update on the bat-capades:

Candace put on her big girl panties the other night and grabbed the net to make sure the coast was clear before heading to bed.  LOL.  The reality... after 20 minutes of being upstairs, she came down by me, scared of the bat.  :)  Ah well... Paul wasn't home, so I didn't mind the security company. :)   No sign of it since my episode the other night.  :\

Monday morning zooming by already!  The girls have started summer school;  dropped them off at 8:00 for that.  I've been working non-stop on laundry since;  folding some older baskets that have been wrinkling up for the past few days (**sigh**) and keeping some fresh loads going in the washer and on the line.  So, finally... I'm CAUGHT UP!  

A little motivation was found at NINE O'CLOCK PM last night to clean girls' bedrooms and the loft.  LOL.  Nothing like summer motivation striking that late, huh?  BUT, we made a GREAT dent by 10:00;  all dirty clothes thrown into the hamper;  closets and drawers a little bit organized of what does/doesn't fit (THAT task will be continued today!!!!).  

The house has been tidied up enough to be presentable for my parents who will be rolling in in a couple of hours.  They'll be spending a few days with us to enjoy a couple of summer days with the girls and to watch them play some softball games.  

So now...

... Seven Shirts!  Yup.  I think I want to set that as my "to-finish" goal for today.  A couple more passes with the pantograph and that should do it.  Then, whip up some binding to mark it as a finish.   We'll see....

Happy MONDAY!

The World needs more Heroes

As the evening sun sets...

....and evil, treacherousness lurks around every corner...

...and darkness settles into tiny crevices....

....the bats prepare for their evening of torment...

HAVE NO FEAR!!!!

{{cue triumphant horns}}

Our fearless Housewives of the World are ready!

GAME ON!

{{And I hope this isn't me when the lil' bugger shows itself tonight!}}

LOL

Gotta have fun in life, right?!?!?!

SB Tournament - Rain Delay

Our weather typically moves NE, and that's exactly what this cell of thunderstorms did this afternoon.  At 3:30, the softball tournament was officially postponed until tomorrow morning; 9:30.

  

The weather was overcast all day, but truly truly pleasant!  70s and muggy, but OVERCAST.  Had the clouds moved out, it would have been H-O-T!  

Cassie's team unfortunately lost out of the tournament earlier in the day.  However, we decided to hang around to cheer on our other team, who still remains undefeated.  When the call was made for postponement, I read the stress and anxiety on the face of our concession leader.   This meant lots of reshuffling of workers (since tomorrow was never planned) IF she could even get any workers to commit. I jumped to her right away, feeling LOADS of empathy.  Dude....we have NOTHING on our agenda tomorrow, so I offered my services RIGHT away.  Cassie piped up and said she'd jump in to help too.

And THEN, as if that weren't enough of a relief for her...all the Shell Lake parents & fans that were in the area jumped into action, packing up the concession stand;  picking up garbage around the fields and bleachers;  ALL before the big rain really hit.  Lickity-split;  things were gettin' done!

As we were heading to our car, thankfully still only sprinkles falling, a BLINDING bolt of lightening struck SO close by, followed by almost INSTANTANEOUS CAH-RACKING thunder!!!!!   It scared us all;  to the point where lil' Candace terrifyingly cried out screaming and shaking.  HOLY MOLY!  I have NEVER heard such a thunder crack - EVER!

And now, two hours later.....sunny skies.   

Dinner has already been made and eaten, and we are relaxing with The Avengers.  I've never seen the whole movie before, so it's nice to be able to have all the parts and pieces put together.

Batty experience!

Ugh

Ick

SHUDDDDDDDDER

Allow me to set the scene for you......

It's dark out.  A beautiful morning moments away.  Windows open in the house, allowing a cooling breeze to blow through.
And she sleeps.
Blissfully in the deep slumber of sleep.
Dreaming of the quilts to be made this summer....light fabrics, plaids (for you Alycia), summery colors, 2" strips, 3" HSTs...ahhhhh....., completely in a state of relaxation....

....to suddenly be BOLTED awake by the light flutter of wings.

It's like my brain asked and answered all these questions in a nano-second......

That's not a normal sound.

What could be making that sound?

At night?

In the dark?

Because I'm SERIOUS!!!!!  I can't believe that such a "whisper" of a sound, made my eyeballs POP open!

The realization of what could be making that "whispering wing flapping sound" lead down only ONE path!  

Cuz there ain't no bird gonna be flying around my bedroom at 3:30 in the morning!

Oh, you cute and adorable little creature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOT! 

So, what'd I do????  

First, I wished that Paul was home.  Sadly, he's working night shift! :\

Second, I just laid there, frozen, quilt drawn up to my chin...listening.....

...afterall, nothing can see you or hurt you when safely covered up by a quilt.  I mean...it's like a bullet-proof vest!

And then the wing flutters sounded again!

CRAP, CRAP, CRAP, CRAP, CRAP, CRAP

So, in stealth-like manner, I slowwwwwwwly reached for my glasses.   Slowwwwwwwly started uncovering the layers of sheets and quilts....

and BOLTED for the bedroom door, slamming it closed behind me!

Of COURSE, I had to post in FB right away.  And text my husband!  So, with the world and house still DARK, while at the kitchen table, typing away, and updating Paul via text messages.....

.....SWOOP!!!!!

The little bleepity-bleepy swooped (there really isn't a better word than swooped!) by my legs. I suppose I could say it "glided" past my legs..... but "glided" is such a beautiful word!  DEFINITELY not a descriptor of this menacing beast!!!!!

You ever see anyone do the freak-out dance?!?!?!?!?!!?    

Just try to get a picture in your head.... (and it's okay to giggle a little bit at what you see), cuz THAT WAS ME baby!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!

How did it get out of my room?!?!?!  PLEASE don't tell me there's more than one!

I then commenced into turning EVERY light on on the main floor, all the while moving in a crouched position.  I suppose I could say I looked like a lioness, ready to POUNCE at the very sight of the next swoop!  

Lights on:  Kitchen, Dining, Living, Bedrooms, Loft, Entryway, Laundryroom, Bathroom.  AND, I grabbed the ever dangerous, but oh-so-terrifying BROOM!  So now, this lioness even had a WEAPON!

Watch out Mr. Bat!

And now.  I sit.  Keeping eyes in lookout mode! Wondering where the little bugger is!  Wondering how the little bugger got into the house!

I have a feeling it saw me grab the broom and decided it should try to keep its life for at least one more day, because I haven't seen it since it flew up into the loft area.

And guess who works the next TWO nights ?!?!?!!?!?!?   Paul.

So, guess who will be sleeping on the couch with broom ready by her side?????????

**NOD**

Yup.  Me!

Forever completed; Seven shirts progress

The finishing touches have been completed on Forever for my parent's neighbors who are planning to share nuptials at the end of the month.  I cut and pressed the binding while my embroidery machine was stitching up the label.

My embroidery machine hasn't seen much activity lately so it was nice to have a little project to do on it again.

So, FINALLLLLLY, another finish can be listed for 2013.  It's only my 2nd official of the year.  Good golly.

About yesterday's goal:  I pieced a backing for Seven Shirts and started quilting it.  I put another hour into it this just a bit ago, and I am almost finished with it, but I hit a wall.  Tired.  So, time to shut everything down and relax a bit before softball again tonight, and ALL DAY tomorrow.  

The 7/8 tournament gets underway tonight;  Cass has been asked to suit for the team since they are low on numbers (she's a 6th grader).  She will see lots of playing time this weekend due to two of the girls needing to be away.  I'm very thankful to hear from the coach that she is coachable and doing well.   Last night, she hit a fly to left field, leading to a double and an RBI.  Her favorite part of playing with the 7/8 team is they are allowed to steal home, which isn't allowed at the 5/6 level of play.

Pineapple Blossom - RWB progress & an OLD UFO

Eight blocks are done between yesterday's and this morning's short sewing sessions.

Four more blocks underway...

But after my coffee break right now, I think I'll shut down my sewing room and move over to my quilting area.  

Angela (soscrappy) and I are trying to give each other some incentive in the form of some kind of award for the person who accomplishes more of her quilting Flimsy/UFOs during the month of June.  Neither of us really talked about the details of this "challenge," neither of us know the award/prize outcome; umm, I don't even know if either of us even know how we are going to determine the "winner" since we each have different numbers of flimsies.  LOL.  (Do either of us even really care about the details??)  :D  ... I simply want this little bit of a push to GIT IT DONE!  LOL.  Seriously, I have flimsies packed away from 2009 (maybe even later!).  I have an idea of which one will be coming out next.....

Seven Shirts, Seven Clues (64" x 76");  March 8, 2009.  Of course, it needs a backing!  :\  My ickiest "B" of 'em all!

But today!  That's my goal!

Happy Throwback Thursday!