Tennesseans don't drive in snow.

Wow. I kind of can't believe this is what is actually getting me blogging again. But here it is.

This morning we woke up to big fluffy snowflakes coating the ground. We get ready for school, eat our cream of wheat. Grab our coats and scarves and head out to take Chickie to school. The road is completely covered in one thin layer of snow. Snow flurries are whipping under my tires. I can't help but have a bit of irrational fear over these conditions. I think it must have been ingrained in me from an early age. We Tennesseans don't drive in snow. It instantly reminded me of my first year at BYU. A lot of my family lives in Utah. I have spent many

winters there. So I have no excuse for the story that I'm about to tell. Except that maybe it had been a long time since I had been to Utah in the winter at this point. I think I had spent mostly summers there for a while.

Freshman year. First snow. I look out the window and there it is: SNOW! And a LOT of it. The road, cars, everything is covered in maybe a foot of snow. I'm screaming to my roommates, "SNOW! SNOW! No church today! Just pj's, hot cocoa and movies!" They come out of there bedrooms probably just to watch me in my fit of insanity and not really caring at all about the snow. They were all from Utah and Idaho. Then I see it. People. Dressed, not in snow suits, but their Sunday best instead. Hysterically laughing I yell out, "They are trying to go to church!" More hysterical laughter. "They are trying to get in their cars!" I remember feeling slightly mystified that they were indeed knocking snow off of their cars and getting in. But still, to actually try and drive in snow that was sheer lunacy! Then they did it. They drove off. I was in total shock. Completely crestfallen that going somewhere, anywhere, on what had to be one of the best snow days I had ever seen was sad. Sad, sad, sad. Luckily for me I had the best roommates in the world (that, or the laziest) and they agreed to stay home with me and have a snow day! I may remember one or two of them sneaking off to church for a few hours but at least Mindy, Lora, and Kayla were in it for the whole day. Right? Ah, memories. That was a crazy, crazy year. Super, super fun. Just thinking of it makes me crave a girls day out. I can't find any of my BYU pictures. They must all be in storage. So I stole this one from facebook. Thanks Mindy! You girls are the best!

i'm so lucky!

I'm feeling so overwhelmed today! I'm so lucky. I have these two gorgeous children that I adore. And such a wonderful husband who gave me such a great day. My own mom amazes me. I'm convinced she is the cutest grown-up on the planet. Missed talking to my Grammy today. So many wonderful women in my life! Happy Mother's day! Chickie took this great picture of Bentley and I. She said she wants her own camera and she wants to learn how to edit pictures on the computer.

57

(franklin highlights)

So. I finished my quilt top! excellent! My friend Jill is going to quilt it with her long arm machine when we get back. So I'm going to have to decide how I want it quilted. And she lent me some great books to help with my decision making. I was seriously drooling over them.

I am trying to tackle a massive, self imposed to do list before we head out of town for spring break. My papaw passed away so we will be headed to his funeral first. He was always good to us and we will sure miss him. He had this great tradition at Christmas, he would give all of us a box of chocolates. I think that's one I'll be more than happy to carry on each year and be reminded of him. That makes 3 grandparents in the past year. It is so horrible. I hope all of my remaining loved ones stay healthy and safe for a good long time.

And, what else. I'm a horrible blogger right now. And don't expect it to get better any time soon. BUT...I'm kind of expecting my mood and general productiveness to explode on May 26th. That's the big day when we are moving home. I announced it on my photo blog. And I'm so excited. Sometimes a little nervous, because I will miss the awesome, amazing friends I've made here. I'm sure I'll have some sad moments missing them. But I really am so excited about going home!!! I think we have finally realized that it's where we belong. And if we try to move away again I'm asking all of you right now to stage an intervention.

all better

This was my view for 8 days.

I was sick and it was not fun. However, I am about a month ahead of schedule on my quilt.

So that's good!

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting!

Being a ninja is hard work!

P.S. My kids are impossibly cute!

P.P.S. !!!

pin cushion obsession

I finished one row (of three) from my quilt!

And to celebrate I made a cute little pincushion.

I have been wanting to make this forever and I finally ordered the pattern.

I think I will have to make a few family companions for this pear. And then I may have to make some cousins. Ha ha. Is there something wrong with me that I have a mild obsession with pincushions? Every time I get a new crafty book I want to make the pincushion first. I've been drooling over Anna Maria Horner's pin cushion caddy ever since I got the book. But I have plenty others. So I wouldn't make it. But... if I start a pin cushion collection, then I can make as many as I like guilt free!

Today I'm thankful for collections! I knew something key was missing from my life. This must be it.

things that don't go together, things that do

Nail polish + applique=

not good.

Especially because I forgot my topcoat. Or maybe this new brand is not good. The color is a dark purple. But it looks black, right? I'm probably too old and granny-ish to be wearing dark purple (could be confused with black) nail polish. But I think it's kinda fun.

Snow days + applique=

Very good! Look how much I've gotten done! (More than half of the smallest row.) Chris asked last night, "Is that your last row?!" (NO) Well maybe it would be if I hadn't devoted most of my snow days to sleep. Or if I were faster. But I'm pretty sure I can feel the speed gaining!

And well, I did bring dinner to my neighbors, the Birds. And I probably wouldn't have been up to it if it weren't for all the glorious sleep I've gotten.

sleep+good deed doing abilities= most excellent

P.S. I love that I live in a place that can be completely shut down by 5 inches of snow. It's like a spontaneous gift from nature!

sewing a landscape

As promised, here is what I'm working on for my bed! Chris asked for bedding for Christmas (I know, I'm so lucky!) and I used that as an excuse to make a new quilt for our bed. Of course.

I love that this quilt is called Hills 'n' Hollers. The hills are all applique. I am definitely no expert. I sewed on these two hills last night. I'm pretty sure it took me an hour or more. Hopefully by the end I will become a super speedy applique expert. Otherwise, this could take a while.

wish me luck!

Out with it already

My poor, sad little blog. It kind of matches poor, sad little me. I was just asked to talk to the girls at church about how I use my blog as a journal. Super casual just for a few minutes. Still, how embarrassing. I haven't blogged in like, a decade, in blog years (what do ya think...too many commas?). Truth be told...I have three blog posts in draft mode. I keep wanting to share the sad news about how my fabric line got the ax about a week before my Grammy died (yeah, months ago). But I somehow never found the words. So there it is. bleah.

And we have been wrestling with some kinda tough decisions around here. But I think we are finally decided and clearing the air like that really makes way for life to start happening again. Tonight I'm working on this in blues and greens. I'll take a few pics of the very beginning stages tomorrow.

It feels good to be blogging again.

RIP Magnolia Westwood