My Only Sunshine

Easter at My House

This is what Easter looks like at my house.  We had such a wonderful time.  The morning started with the girls running out to find baskets left by the Easter Bunny.  After that we ran out with our newly emptied baskets and found eggs hidden all over the front yard.  The excitement was palpable.  There were "shiny" eggs that caused much squealing.  There were also "weird" looking eggs, and even eggs "glued" in places you wouldn't think they could go.  After all of the eggs were found (at least I hope they were all found) we came back in and another round of basket unloading took place.  Must to the little easter girls' surprise, there was another basket for each of them from Nana.  How very very fun.

In her first basket, Bug got a package of gooey guts.  She held them up excitedly and exclaimed, "I love body parts!!"  We all laughed and laughed.  Ofcourse, the Easter Bunny knew that she likes body parts.

My daughters are very fun to hunt Easter eggs with.  They run all around, giggling happily.  When one of them finds something that they already have they promptly run over and give it to the other.

Their Nana, Daddy, and I laughed and laughed.  The weekend was a great success having my Mom down from Oklahoma to visit.  Oh, and while talking about the excitement of having Nana Bob around (that's my mother) I should shoe you a picture of what she gave me for my birthday (which isn't until next month).
It's a Brother CS-100.  I asked for the sewing machine just like this but that didn't have a cover, it was cheaper.  I wasn't all too subtle about it either.  I sent an email to my mom that had a subject of, "this is what I want for my birthday" and then had a link to the sewing machine.  My mother, always being one to indulge me on things like this, just emailed me back and said, "the sewing machine one step up has a cover with it, would you rather have that one?"  Who was I to say no?  Thanks Bob, I love it!

I hope all of you had an Easter even half as good as mine was.  If you did, I know it was great.

Want some yarn?

Have you seen the new drink by Coca-Cola?  It's called Blak.  I picked up a bottle of it at Target yesterday but haven't tried it yet.
That's it in the picture.  Anyone notice anything else in the picture?  Yep, you got it, hand dyed sock yarn.  That is the yarn I am going to give to someone who donates money to the cause I talked about in the previous post.  Anyone who goes to my mother's Y-Me site and donates money (it doesn't matter how much you give) should email me and let me know that you have donated and I will put your name in for the drawing for the yarn.  There may well be more to give away at some point.  My mom is at 18% of her goal, let's help her out.  I'll draw a winner or two on Mother's Day.

How about another pic of the yummy pink sock yarn to help convince you.

So as not to be dealing with only last month's project spectrum, here is a picture for this month's colors.

I got my yarn to make the retro throw pattern from Knit Picks.  I'm not sure how much I am enjoying knitting with the very not stretchy cotton boucle, but it is getting better as I move away from the not quite stretchy enough cast on edge.  I'll show off pics of that tomorrow.

Y-Me

I've been looking around this morning trying to find a picture of my grandmother, Mildred.  With my things still somewhat packed I could not find a picture of her to post here, but I have to say, she looks very much like my oldest daughter, Sierra.

I never met Mildred, she died 4 years before I was born.  She fought hard against breast cancer but it was a battle she couldn't win.  She left a mark on every life she touched in her too short life all the same.

Next month my mother will be walking in the Y-Me walk in her honor.  Y-Me is a national organization that matches people who have questions with people who have answers.  They have a hotline that people who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer can call and speak to a survivor.  They will answer the questions of men who just want to know how to help support their wives as they start chemo.  They will hold your hand as you speak to your doctor about a mastectomy.  They will help a man who thought breast cancer couldn't happen to men get the answers to all of their questions.

My mother has a pretty low goal of just $150 to raise for her walk.  I think she can do even better, that's where I need your help.  Please go by her Y-Me blog and take a look.  Tell your friends and family about it.  If you have a spare dollar or two, give.  If you don't, just remember the cause and where you can go in the future when you do have a little extra money.  It's important to me, to my mother, and to Mildred who never got to meet her granddaughters.

The Happiest Thing About Being Happy...

... Is Being Happy With You.

That Dora the Explorer, she knows what she is talking about.  Today the happiest thing is having a lunch date in my kitchen with my very favorite 4 year old.

She was having more fun than she looks, I promise. You know what else makes me happy? 

Sitting on my new sofa with a pretty red sock that should be ready for a heel any time now.

Leather

This is my new sofa.  We've been needing new furniture for the living room for a while now.  Our last sofa wasn't really that old but it wasn't in good shape either.  It wasn't the best choice when we bought it and hasn't held up all that well.  The new sofa, and chair that match, are leather, very pretty, and were cost effective.  Hopefully they will hold up better than the last sofa did.

I think it needs a throw.  The leather stays a bit cool.  I'm thinking maybe this free pattern from knitpicks.