Hammock, ahhh......

After the yard sale me and my hurtin' feet went for a relaxing nap on the hammock. But when I noticed all the photo opportunities I abandoned all comfort to snap some pics for everyone to enjoy the pure, simple, joy that only comes from lounging in a hammock.

motocycles comiot!

I went to this little antique/consignment store and found this tin print. The actual tin is not antique but the print is from 1899. I really liked the "modern" woman riding her bike through all the geese and the grumpy looking people in the background looking angry at her. I couldn't get my camera to take a good picture without a glare, but I did find the exact same picture on google images.

Pillows

On Saturday I thought my room needed some color so I quickly made three pillows for my bed. The Green paisley is vintage fabric I got at a yard sale, I think it's from the 70's. I "plan" on making two bright blue striped ones to go with them too.

Leather

A few days ago, my mom found a piece of leather in her room and she gave it to me. So right away I knew what I was going to make, a pair of leather shoes! . I know they're weird but they do have practical applications.

1. They are so comfy so I'll just wear them around the house.

2. Costume parties (though seldom they may be)

3. If I ever get invited to Big foot's family reunion!

Sweets

Yesterday we got a package of Japanese candy from the Takahashis! The packages are so cute and colorful and the candy is so yummy too! Isn't the back so fun! I only wish I could read all those lovely artificial ingredients!Also, today in town we got the ingredients to make strawberry Italian soda. yum............. Sorry I don't have pictures of the soda , I already drank all mine.

Caveat Emptor

Last night I read a disturbing fact. It said "some common red food coloring are made from dried insects called cochineal". So I decided to investigate this claim. Way to soon I found it to be true. The shell in red M&M’s, Strawberry Yogurt, fruit punch, pink frosting, most things that are red or pink are made from this female bug! You’ll also find it’s what gives makeup it’s nice red or pick shading. It is labeled under Carmine, or "artificial coloring" what’s artificial about smashed bugs?
But before you decide to vow off anything that is red, Cochineal does support subsistence farmers in poor parts of the world, and is remarkably non-toxic. But just know that next time you feel like putting on some blush, or go to eat that bag of M&M’s you might be using a few dead bugs.

Snake

This is the snake Luke caught the other day.

Muffins

This afternoon the Vestals and us went to Peter's Ridge to go Huckleberry picking. Well, we found out that the berries aren't quite ripe yet, but farther down the hill I found a bush that had quite a few. When we got home I had about a cup, not much, but enough to make Huckleberry muffins! Yumm!

Yokan Wagashi

This is my newest amigarumi creation. She is a baby seal. Her name is Yokan Wagashi, after the colorful, sweet Japanese candy. Because of her monochromatic colors I thought she needed a colorful name.

Camping Big Creek

We got back from camping a hour ago. Over all it was OK. The river was nice and the weather was not to bad. We had thunder, lighting, and rain during the night, it was so loud it woke us all up. It sounded like it was right on top of us, and it just about was! We set up the hammock and it was relaxing laying around on it. The boys and Nora had fun building really neat bionicle traps and fly fishing.

Wagashi!

This is Namagashi Wagashi. She is a rice bunny! I made her last night and thought such a sweet little bunny deserved a very sweet big name. Namagashi is a type of Japanese rice cake and Wagashi is candy. She is only about an inch tall.

Green!

I love all the green color in the summertime. Here are some pictures I took today. Our yellow squash peeking throughGreen beans!zucchini plantPotatoes almost ready!Spearmint plant attack!

We don't have a salad spinner so our lettuce is laying out to dry.

Badminton

If you enjoy, a corny plot, poor acting, and cheesy smiles, this is the show for you. We made it this morning and I still can't stop laughing even when I was done putting it together. It was so fun to make and I hope you like it as much as we do!

(p.s.) You might want to turn the music at the bottom off first.

Clutch

After church on Sunday, I cut out and then later sewed this little clutch. I was tired of all my chap stick and lip gloss rolling around the bottom of my purse. So, out of desperateness I quickly made up a pattern to sew. I will put snaps on the top when I get around to buying some, but till then it will just have to sit their and look cute!

Piggy!

For Anna's birthday I crocheted her a tiny little pig. Anna collects miniature pigs. I took some pictures of him before he was a gift, and I thought he turned out so cute I would share it with you!

Takahashi Visit

The past week the Takahashis came to visit. They are our California "Family" that comes up once a year. We always have so much fun when they come up, and are so sad to see them off. Nick, Anna, Barb, and Sam TakahashiAnna and Eric's birthdays are 2 days apart, so while they were here we had Anna's 16th and Eric's 20th, a double birthday party. We played Badminton a lot, and "eventually" got kind of good at it.

We miss you already!

The Winner!

Congratulations Nora! Here is her joke, I found it very funny, hope you all do too!

Once, a preacher decided to buy a mule (he would rather ride than walk). He went to the nearest town and bought a good mule for a fair price. Although, the mule was quite stubborn. It seemed forever to the preacher to get these instructions in that mule's head: Amen means whoa, Hallelujah means go. Finally, the preacher was pleased with the mule and decided to test it. He rode into the country and galloped for hours, until suddenly a cliff stood right ahead of them. "Amen! Amen! Whoa!! AMEN!!" Finally, the mule stopped right at the edge. the preacher sighed and said... "Whew. Hallelujah."....

Contest!

Since we are all in a contest mode, I thought I might hop on this band wagon and host one of my own. OK, here is how it goes. You e-mail me your funniest joke by Friday, and I'll post the winners! Have fun. And I have a prize for fist place.

Sunday Hike

Yesterday, a few families from our church went to Glacier Park for a picnic thing and a hike. It was a beautiful windy day, and just the right temp for a hike.

Green life with an orange thumb

A while ago I crocheted a tree frog. I look a picture of him and thought it looked cute, so you get to look at it too! He protects my ceiling high house plant from all manner of evil bugs.