Back to Business

Ahhh, alas play time is over and back to being busy with school again. And just when things were starting to get a little crazy anyways, getting ready for our big trip and all. I am taking two classes online over this summer semester. That means I have to tuck away my little lappy into my luggage when we leave for Slovakia so that I can make sure to get my homework assignments in. Now I am also trying to keep our other blog updated with news about our preparations, collecting donations, filing for passports, packing and such. I still have big plans for our garden before we leave too! Last two nights I posted up some comics on eBay to make some money for our trip. I hope to get up some of my jewelry and yarn also and hopefully I will actually sell something.

Today I was productive, yay. I got outside and enjoyed the warmth and sun while repotting my humble collection of orchids. I have a Dendrobium, Catalaya (with lots of new plants on it), two phaeleonopsis, a paphopedelum, and an oncindium. Whew that was a mouthful! I love orchids. Although I am not the greatest at keeping them properly humid like. Did you know that orchids (family Orchidaceaeare) are the largest family of flowers in the world. It's true, check it out sometime. There are even tons native to North America!

Okay so I have a tendency to ramble on sometimes... I also checked on the garden, things are sprouting up nicely, then my sister-in-law came over and we beaded. Fun. The kids all played out in the back yard, all seven of them. We made a really cute hair clip for her neice and then had to make up another one when she sent us a picture of the prom dress and it was a different color than we anticipated. So two nice hair clips actually. Here is my conception of Cobalt Blue, which is apparently different from the dress designers envisioning of the color: mine theirs

and here is the end result after remaking:

modeled by my lovely Susanna.

This is so cool, watch: Bruce Lee playing "Killer Ping Pong"

So here are the adorable dresses that I made for the girls, complete with their escorts.

We had a nice peaceful Easter with just one friend over with her 3 kids. Did I say peaceful? Ha.

So I realized a day ago that I do so many projects all the time that I never even remember them when I go to blog about stuff, also Rasty and I have been so busy with yard work that I think I raked up some of my brain dripping out of my ear... We are in the process of tearing out our old front sidewalk so that we can make a new one that curves around to our driveway. Imagine that, having a sidewalk and front door that we might actually use from time to time. This past weekend we also finally got Thunder (the rabbit) back outside where he belongs. He has been so much happier being able to get out in the yard and run around (except when Rasty let the dog out at the same time by accident. Poor thing couldn't catch his breath for a while but was otherwise unharmed). We even got some gardening done, turned up the soil, new seeds, and made space around the perennials.
Some projects that I have completed since the last ones that I posted: a green cloth doll for my adopted goddaughter, 2 Easter dresses, the hem on a skirt for a friend, a pair of baby booties, a scarf made from my hand spun yarn, and a new blog!!! http://www.petricslovakia.blogspot.com/ this is our official support site for our upcoming trip to Slovakia. Yes we are poor, and always trying to play catch up with our mortgage, and crazy for trying to attempt such a huge trip with the kids but hey, what can I say? Family is family after all and we love them. Check it out!

Some projects that I have started (or am still working on): Jen's purse (more about this later), Clapotis (more about this later), another free pattern thingy I found in the Knit picks catalog (mmm.. with yummy Casbah yarn), a cute baby sweater, and soon to start: some homey type projects for the in-laws in Slovakia. Ciao!

The thing with blogging

Hmm. Maybe it's me, or maybe it's because I am a mom with four little kids... does anyone else find it difficult to keep blogging? Okay I hope I can get better at this. For Easter this year I made two adorable dresses for my girls that I am very proud of. Susanna has the yellow one and Mariana, of course, has the purple one. She was a little disappointed that it didn't look like Cinderella's dress but was consoled with the fact that at least it was purple. They lookes fabulous with all the spring flowers at church and with their brothers both of whom had lovely ties on. Too Cute! Also I have been working on the infamous Clapotis pattern found on the knitty website and have big plans for a new knit along with my friend Amanda. Hahaha, can't wait.