Domicile Energy Ball has been dropped...

1. Did the dishes
2. Gave Eyes a much needed bath
3. Fed Eyes more gruel.. um baby cereal
4. Completed number eleven bog coat
5. Picked up black twill for cloaks
6. Washed 10yds of black twill to take to Raven's
7. Clipped Eyes ferociously long claws... um I mean fingernails
8. Blogged

So this is a positive reinforcement for today and yesterday since I was way more productive yesterday than today - hence the header. Last night at Raven's I sewed the trim onto my burgundy bog coat which I am very happy with. I almost wanted to keep it but I have cloaks which suit me fine and besides I want a hood. Where did that come from? Okay I am tired and should go to bed but wanted to update a few things here first. (Of course I will probably watch some Anime before I actually go to bed) I mostly wanted to post to let Pixiestitch know that yes we are doing things and maybe this way I can goad Raven into posting the pictures we took up on her blog. After all I feel like I really didn't do too much last night since I only sewed trim on one item.

But you see I did also go through the cloaks and price them, semi sort them and had the rest photographed. I will be the first to admit I can not take a picture if my life depended on it. You would be lucky if I got all of your head in the photo. Still I think I might be getting better. At least I have a better feel of how I want hold a camera. Enough blathering. There were other things I wanted to say but have forgotten most of them (typical). The one thing I did want to say was that my mom found a dress for Smiles for Queen Pet and Big Bear's wedding. It is not cotton alas but it is silk and chiffon and has a tiara. Smiles loves the dress and thinks I am cruel for forbidding her to even touch it before the wedding. I just do not want to have to dry clean it that's all. Anyway that leaves Bear still not dressed for the wedding. Of course with him I just might resort to simple black pants and a white shirt. And the ball rolls on...

TEN!

So I have officially completed my ten cloak items for the month of April. I also have two more bog coats that just need trim and I was able to cut out (but not sew) a small Clinton style cloak. So yes progress was made at my parents place. Too bad sleep always seems to elude me.

On the Eyes front she has started to figure out rolling. At least from her front to her back. Which usually entails a small bonk on her head when she flips over. She also impressed Grandma and Grandpa with her ability to put her soother back in her mouth. And she has definitely mastered the backward push on the hardwood at home. I have had to rescue her three times (and counting) from underneath the couch while typing this blog.

I think I will just conclude with my mundane Positive Reinforcements. I won't even do my bad poetry today. I just can't think (even badly) for it.

1. Completed my bog coat for Number Ten.
2. Sewed 2 more bog coats.
3. Repaired another fleece hoodie, Bear's backpack and Smiles swim bag.
4. Have fabric waiting for pick-up at the wholesalers.
5. Smiling as I watch my daughter trying to crawl forward and failing(or even flailing).

Off to do some sewing...

Last night I went over to Raven's to do some sewing. I did not get as far as I had hoped but I at least got Number Nine (my green wool with plum lining) done on the Ten Cloaks in a month Challenge. Now I just have to finish the bog coat that I started last night. It is a gray with light gray lining and a really cool green griffon with gray trim. So far it is looking good. Lady Mike was over last night and amused not only Eyes for me but baby S for Cosmic as well. It was funny watching the two babies (they being one month apart) and Raven even got some pictures of them being cute at each other. But boy did they both want the duck. It almost came to blows! I even think Eyes pulled Baby S's hair at one point! Yikes! She's going be a brawler.

The other thing I had to mention - Auntie Ski you will be proud of your niece! She found the vampire soother and gave it to Eyes. So most of last night Eyes was seen with big blue eyes underneath these enormous VAMPIRE FANGS! I am not taking that Soother to my parents place this weekend! Nuh uh! No way! I do not think they will see the humor in it like you do! Anyway Raven laughed and so did most others so I will tolerate it. I suppose!

So here's my selection of bad poetry for the weekend...

Spur of the moment I always regret
I lack the imagination nay wit
to complete the comeback needed.

Young Love

I was only going to post once today but this tidbit was too funny not to. My friend K who is in Newfoundland (I think I will start calling her Newlander since it sounds better than Newfie - some people get offended by that one) was on facebook same time as me. She may be coming back to Edmonton!! SQUEEEEEEE! Okay just for the summer but still I eagerly await her arrival. Anyways we were talking how Smiles commented that B Newlander's son (I think I'll call him Crush and you will soon see why!) was the one that she was going to marry. Apparently there is a boy in her class who thinks she'll marry him. So I told this to Newlander and she said that if Crush is asked if he has a girlfriend the one he has in Edmonton is best. Apparently for him there is a girl in his class that likes him and he (in Newlander's words) just won't go for it. Ahhh young love!

Gruel has been tasted!

I went swimming with Raven late last night because Hubby was doing snow removal due to the late in the season snow storm! Still I was able to go and thoroughly enjoyed myself. When I got home there was a very hungry though sleeping baby. Who I then promptly woke up and fed! Then I decided to break out the gruel (aka rice cereal) to see if she would like some. Eyes had half of the small bowl that I had made up and I think it helped her sleep better. You see she has been incredibly fussy every night for the past week and moving all over her crib meaning I get little sleep. Also I have been noticing that she watches everyone very intently when they are eating. So I experimented and voila success. All the Experts say to wait until the baby is six months old but meh! Both of my other children started solids before they were six months and you know what they are not very picky eaters. Oh I should clarify that MOST days they are not picky eaters! Of course I am a cruel mom who insists that if they want dessert they have to clear their plate.

On the sewing front I have been expecting to be able to go over to Raven this Thursday and sew up the things that I need left to do. Last night she informed me that she has a date that night! A Date! A Date!!! How dare she have a date! Doesn't she know that I need to finish those trims or I won't get my ten cloak items done! Wait a minute I know what's going on... Sneaky conniving Raven! You planned for this friend to come into town and set up the date with him on the one night I can come over and sew on purpose! Just so you can get ahead of me!!! Sneaky Sneaky Wench!

Okay maybe that's going overboard but I am glad that Raven puts her friends first. After all we did reschedule for Friday night despite the gamers that will be in her house that night! Oh so yeah Raven I can make Friday night Hubby does not have anything happening that night like I thought he did. Heehee. Also today was a product fabric hunt. I got not just one trim but two trims that are beautiful and may work on my green wool with plum lining. I found a twill which may or may not work with some of my materials and I also called the salesman at the wholesale fabric place that we want to buy a bolt from. He wasn't there but I left a message!!

Anyways I still need to do positive reinforcements and some bad poetry. I think I'll do the good before the bad...

1. I had a good long nap this morning!
2. I got trim for my wool cloak.
3. I picked up twill for another lined cloak.
4. I taped up the parcel to be sent to Rat (who's baby will be born next week - C-section planned) but haven't sent it yet due to confusion over address.
5. I have blogged.

Okay here's the bad...

Eyes hurt from the glare of the snow.
I glance behind me only to be blinded
by the sun glinting off the slush.
My tulips have died!

Pirate Socks Day

On Friday morning Smiles decided to go outside for a bit while I was stilling getting things ready before school. Next thing I know she runs back into the house yelling "Jack Frost's goblins are here! Jack Frost's Goblins are here!" This being the day that the snow started falling once again - this SPRING! I couldn't help but laugh. As well we have been reading the Rainbow Fairies series again and Jack Frost's goblins turn everything cold and icy whenever they are near. As noted then Smiles' first reaction to the frost was that the goblin's are near. Man was that a hearty laugh for us. Alas we still have snow falling two days later and it looks like it will continue all week.

Which means I have fallen slightly ill and been sleeping most of this weekend. So this morning I decided it was time for Pirate Socks to come out and make a showing. Nice and warm and comfortable. Though I still may need slippers it is turning that cold out.

Eyes has still been awfully fussy at night waking up several times. Luckily she'll take her soother and go back to sleep but that means I need to get up and give it to her. Which is not good for my sleep which is probably another reason why I am under the weather and needing naps. Eyes is also getting more mobile and I usually find her in a totally different spot from where I had laid her down at night. Last night she kept kicking her blankets off and this morning I could only find one of her socks. (I know she had both on when I put her down last night! I did eventually find it by the way) It is a good thing babies are cute! I really adore Eyes' smile.

I have to laugh I just received a phone call from Raven (who made it to work despite the treacherous roads) because she had to burble about TD registration. I love her enthusiasm it makes me smile as well. Of course she also has me playing her Tribal Wars addiction and I must admit it is fun. I am just not looking forward to the war that will eventually come.

So I will sign off with another lame poetry selection. It will be not just bad it will probably be putrid and inane because my head's in a fog. So hopefully you can endure it as well as me.

Time stands still when the clock wanders.
The phone rings but the voices are mute.
When sleep is no longer an option
Pirate Socks are your only friend!

Happy progress

What I should be doing right now is going to bed and sleeping but I was still excited about the progress made tonight that I had to gloat... er blog about it. Yeah that's it! Anyways at Ravens tonight I would put my completed items actually at 8 since I really do not consider a cloak done until it is clasped. Whether or not it has trim on it it must have a clasp. Unless there's a specific reason why it doesn't such as being a bog coat! So I clasped my lined fun fur cloak and the full circle green wool hood. My nice dark green wool lined with plum satin is waiting on the right trim. Which unfortunately was already spoken for by Raven. Sigh! So onto to the next best trim means I need to make it to a fabric store and buy some. Which I wish to do before next Thursday.

Why next Thursday and not Tuesday... well you see Eyes gets so fussy late at night and since she's STILL teething (they have popped through her gums but only just a wee bit) that I have decided I can only do either sewing or swimming on Tuesdays. This way it will let Raven have more time to catch up to me. Oops quiet part loud again! hehehe. Love me anyways Raven. Ow! Mental bonking which I know I deserve. lol. I was looking at my calendar and there really is only one more day of cloaking I can do at Raven's this month. Yes I will be going to my parents place for a weekend but I usually do not take any trims or clasps with me. Soooooo if Raven is smart she'll deny me the privilege of taking some along with me to my parents place. But I will probably still be able to complete 10 cloak items in a month.

You see tonight even though I only sewed the trim on to the hood and a clasp onto the fun fur cloak I was still able to cut out not one, not two but three items to sew. Of course one of them is a tunic for Bear but still. The other two items are bog coats which is something that Raven and I really need to make more of. She was able to cut out two of her own and sew one of them tonight. That makes our bog coat count up to four. We want closer to ten but this is a good start. One of the things that makes us happy was that I was smart after the last Quad war. I took an inventory of all our remaining items and a list of all the things that we sold. Comparing the two makes it easier for us to know where to concentrate our sewing efforts on. But that's enough bragging now it really is time for me to go to bed. Just after I read my updated web comics. Yeah that's it!

Oh this selection was actually from yesterday but since I didn't blog your getting it today. Bwahahahaha.

Oh the tragedy!
Oh the calamity!
Oh the horror you say!
I have broken the rake today!
What a frabgicous day!
Now no yard work to lay!
I can go and play!
Until the neighbour lends me his, oh phoooey!


Positive Reinforcements

1. Dishes
2. Did some yard work (I actually got rid of one of the piles from yesterday's calamity of the rake breaking on me)
3. Borrowed the neighbours rake to finish the job tomorrow
4. Made cloaks (YAY!!)
5. Remembered to pick up milk on my way home from Raven's!

Teeth! Teeth have arrived!!! Ow!

Yup not one but two teeth have sprouted from Eyes lower jaw. Since she's almost five months now I am not surprised at this. I just have to make sure I put it into her baby book. If I can find it that is. Maybe that's why I am blogging. Just to make sure I have a record of this monumentous event. She has only bitten once though and learned she gets nothing, NOTHING! I tell you, if she bites the one who feeds her. She has been doing very well otherwise. She has mastered the backward push and has traveled the length of the living room. Since she always pushes away from whatever she wants I am not too worried about paper left on the floor. (Which in this house does happen - gamer husband) If she does get it, oh well, serves the vagrant right for forgetting it there, she'll just gum it to death. Though I do try to make sure things are cleaned up. After all even paper can be deadly to an infant.

I made Raven laugh and curse me today. We went swimming instead of cloaking and I am happy with that since I was not up for both. I had done alot at my parents place this last weekend and am happy to save the trimming and clasping for Thursday. Which when it happens will put me at 9 cloaks in total. (9 out of 10 is not too shabby at halfway through the month, eh! This is what Raven cursed or will curse me for hehe) Anyways we had a good swim and a good chat and I showed her what I worked on. She liked my dark green wool with the plum lining cloak. I must admit I am proud of how it turned out. It looks really nice! Now to only master the art of bog coats!

Positive Reinforcements

1. Went swimming with Raven
2. Did dishes.
3. Cleaned the bathroom (Finally)
4. Washed down the fridge and stove and laundry machines (This is something I almost never do. Egads what I have started - oh yeah Spring Cleaning)
5. Blogged about my baby's new tooth! Yay!

Oh and I really should try to remember to keep up with my bad poetry attacks...

Poor planning doth a whimper make
Poor health is merely an excuse
Poor finances means your BROKE!

Last night after heading to bed I thought of better lines for this poem. So here's my edited version...

Poor planning doth a whimper make
Poor health shalt thou bemoan
Poor finances means thee are BROKE!

A New Tooth?

I can see the hole and I can feel something sharp and pointy poking through but I can't see the white stuff just yet. Eyes though has been doing that whole rubbing her gums, red cheeks and fussy at night thing for the last couple of days. Which of course means that I have not gotten a lot of sleep. Still the baby is as cute as ever and totally wide awake right otherwise I would be napping!!

Anyways on to other things I did get out to my parents place this weekend and was very productive. I completed (note Raven the term completed! Meaning of course that all the sewing for them is done) two lined cloaks, a full circle hood, replaced a zipper in my hoodie and sewed the clasp onto one of Smiles play cloaks. Of the two completed cloaks one was my black fun fur cloak that had been already cut out. I then cut out and sewed (except for trim and clasp of course) a dark green wool lined with a plum twill cloak. The full circle hood was supposed to be a bog coat but I screwed up in the cutting and yet somehow managed to turn it into a full circle hood without any seams. Sigh! I then figured out how I was supposed to cut out the bog coat and had no pieces big enough to test it on. I'll just have to see if I can do something about that at Raven's on Tuesday.

So positive reinforcements for this weekend are

1. Sewed 3 items for sale.
2. Recycled a hoodie by replacing the zipper on it.
3. Visited with my parents.
4. Watched Eyes cut a new tooth.
5. Helped out at my parents place by cooking and doing the dishes.

One cute thing that Smiles did was rush into the house yesterday to excitedly tell me
"Mommy guess what!! We moved some grass and found six baby mice. Then the cat ate them!!" She was so excited about the cat eating the mice that she wasn't sad about the death of the mice. Yes it is gross and some would say cruel but you know what that is life. I would rather my kids know where they're food comes from and why than discover it later to become vegetarians out of shock. If they are going to become vegetarians I want it to be because they know what they are getting into. So I tell them about what happens to cows(they get turned into beef) and even Grandma and Grandpa's chickens eventually end up on the dinner plate. Bear though was happy to help Grandma with the chickens. He kept checking the straw piles for eggs and would find some sometimes. He would run into the house holding two eggs triumphantly like they were his prizes. He also helped out by feeding the chickens by giving them weeds and other scraps to the chickens.

Okay I have been lax on the bad poetry so brace yourself...

Red cheeked baby rubbing her mouth
Teary eyed and crying
Wanting to feed but not actually hungry
Gaaahhh! Not another baby hickey
Time to cut a new tooth
Though I feel like a rug

Second-hand Formal Wear Blues

Last night was another sewing extravaganza at Raven's where we actually accomplished a lot. I was able to sew the trim onto two cloaks and one hood which allowed me to amuse Eyes while I hand sewed the clasps on later. As long as I remembered to put the needle down before picking the baby up we were good! (I never did poke her by the way - though there were some times on Tuesday I wanted to) I was also able to get the lining cut out for my black fun fur cloak that I want to do. (Raven was kind enough to let me swipe the rest of the lining for a green light-weight bog coat I want to do) This should keep me busy this weekend out at my mom and dad's place.

Yesterday I was quite happy about finding Smiles a used spring jacket for a reasonable price. The rest of the store was too expensive and after talking to Raven we figure it is probably consignment based. Alas it does have some formal boy's wear which would be good to get for Bear for Queen Pet's (A new Sister in Law. Yay!) wedding this August. She wants my three and her sister's kids to be the flower girls and ring bearers. A total of five adorable little ones walking down the aisle in front of her. The trouble is coordinating with Zarobi because she lives in the States. So I will keep looking in other stores because I honestly don't think formal wear will go that fast. But to be on the safe side I will take Bear there and get him to try it on just to see if any of them fit him. (And then pray he doesn't have a growth spurt in the next three months).

I also found a white cotton dress for Eyes for the wedding which is sized 24 months. Way bigger than she'll need but it has a sash so I can tie it tighter if I need to. Smiles is the only one who I am having a problem finding a dress for. Also I am loath to buy a white dress for her now because knowing my daughter she will wear it and play in the mud before the wedding and then I will have to clean it. Arrgghh! I can just picture the smiling mud encrusted little girl now! Like the one who got her brand new(used) jacket covered in mud playing at Little H's yesterday!I just don't know if I will have time otherwise I would make her a dress. It would be a simple shift style but better than nothing. The trouble would be trying to remember where I hid it so Smiles doesn't find it!

Unfocused Cloaking...

1. Went swimming
2. Got one cloak finished
3. Went shopping (the clasp for above cloak)
4. Modeled finished cloaks so pictures could be taken
5. Had a nap
6. Returned books and DVD's to Raven

Not as productive a day as it could have been but I really needed that nap yesterday afternoon. Plus last night Eyes was very fussy when I tried to do my cloaking at Raven's all I really got done was sew the clasps on one hood! Still Eyes got to model her barbarian fake fur black cape. With it was the Mongol hat that Raven had made for her son last year. The hat was too large but it stayed on Eyes' head long enough for a really cute picture to be taken! Here's my latest bad poetry selection for you.

Unfocused and misdirectional.
Where is the time?
Why am I a fog?
Piercing cry of a banshee!
Nope just my daughter...

A Domestic Engineer

My job? What's my job?
I work in an assisted household.
I have three charges under me
who I need to feed, clothe and bathe.
I also do the bills payable, problem shooter
and warehouse management.
I also work as the maid
for the three are not cleanliness incorporated.
How many weeks is my vacation?
Well I do go on vacation many times in a year.
All at once? Oh heaven NO!
My timetable simply does not allow it.
You see my coworker can only afford
to give me small snippets of time off.
Although it's my coworkers second job
that doesn't help in that regard.
My pay? You ask for my wage?
Well I receive many smiles,
giggles and messy, sometimes, smelly hugs.
The conversation can be truly enlightening
from a perspective now seldom enjoyed.
Money? How much money do I make?
Don't make me laugh.
Why I am a Domestic Engineer.
Otherwise known as MOM.

It is still bad poetry I just made it freestyle. I felt particularly inspired on this topic for some reason today. Maybe because I did most of those things listed.

Here's my positive reinforcements. You be the judge.

1. Grocery shopping
2. Shower
3. Made stir-fry for supper
4. Did dishes immediately after supper
5. Played and read to the kids

On a different note my daughter received a phone call today. Yes you read that right - my daughter. How old is my daughter? Why she's only Five! Five! I say! and yet guess how long she talked on the phone to her friend? That's right it was 40 minutes. And that was this afternoon. After supper the same friend called again. This time I limited the phone call to 20 mins. I honestly did not think I would have to start laying down phone rules for another couple of years. At the very least anyways! Sigh! Still what can you do with youngsters these days, eh?! Except keep Smiling :)

Busy Sunday Afternoon

So I think I will start with positive reinforcements... just cause

1. Dishes
2. Took the kids swimming
3. Did laundry
4. Slept in this morning
5. Played with the baby
6. Currently reading to my daughter for bedtime... sigh (big blue eyes are just too much sometimes)
7. Had playdates for both the kids (they happened spur of the moment but whatever I was able to go with the flow for once)

So I have been fighting off a cold all week and therefore did not go swimming on Tuesday as I already blogged. Which means that I am feeling the lack of exercise and desperately wanted to go swimming today. I left Eyes at home with Hubby simply because it was easier on me and he said he would get things ready for tonight. We were supposed to be doing D n D but three people have bailed on us. Oh well at least Bear and Smiles enjoyed themselves at the pool.

I also signed them up for swimming lessons starting next Saturday which will cut into my cloaking time at my parents place but since I don't usually get out there til 3pm it should be alright. The swim lessons are over at noon. Today Bear was absolutely bent on going down the big slide at the pool and so talked to the lifeguard to see what he would have to do. He got a lifejacket on and after swimming the laps that the lifeguard said he had to he was off to the slide. He also loved jumping off the diving board. I was worried at first but I think I am getting better about letting go of control. After all he does walk home by himself from school now. Okay he walks with a friend but still he is walking without a parental overwatch!

Okay here's the bad poetry for the day...

Uninspired am I
Nothing catches my eye
Puzzles are fun

Nothing Meaningful

So pretty and yet so dumb
White haired and mean
Why does this Anime enthrall me so?
Maybe... because it's pretty!

I realized I missed my bad poetry for yesterday so I thought I better make up for it by giving a really bad one today. So yeah I am back to watching Anime again. Sigh. I really should do more with my time but it is either watch Anime or get sucked into playing stupid games on facebook! One cool thing was an old friend called up and said hi! I haven't seen Tavin in ages! He's doing well in California but said he's starting to miss his old haunts up here. Must be something to do with turning thirty. Or at least that's what he said. Me thirty is nothing - having already passed it anyways! Okay almost got philosophical there. This is not the time for that!

The last thing I will do is some positive reinforcements - especially since I have been neglecting them too!

1. Did the dishes
2. Made more banana muffins
3. Made meatloaf for supper
4. Got Eyes to go to bed without fussing! Yay!! (It may be a fluke but I don't care right now!)
5. Wrote some more bad poetry
6. Blogged
7. Called people today! (Believe me for some reason I hate calling people. I do seem to be getting better about it lately. Hmmm)

So later folks!

A Cloaking we will go...

I went to my mom and dads farm this past weekend and sewed mainly. I came back this morning mainly so that I could go swimming with Raven tonight. Who called me up to say - I do not think I will go swimming tonight! She having a bad sinus infection decided she did not want to end up at the side of the pool completely winded after doing 5 lengths. I understand this. Of course the plan was then for me to drop Eyes off at her house and go swimming by myself. Afterwards to return to Raven and the baby to do some cloaking.

As it turned out that did not happen. I ended up feeling feverish and not well this afternoon and Eyes was being cranky and wanting attention (Grandma spoiled her is all I have to say). So I just went to Ravens house to sew some trim on the items I had completed over the weekend. As it turned out I only ended up completing 2 items (three if you count the Eyes black fake fur cape) and that was all Ravens fault. She got jealous you see. Okay not really but she had promised Bird (Big Ds daughter) a costume for her birthday which is tomorrow and so was busy trying to sew that for her tonight! I did at least choose what trims and clasps I wanted to use for the other items I still need to finish. And yes I will cheat and use these towards our 10 cloaks in a month. After all they may have been sewn before April but at least they were finshed in April. That counts right!

Anyways here is my bad poetry for the last three days. I am tired so it will probably be nonsense.

Cloaking here
Cloaking there
Cloaks are everywhere
Where you say
Say right here
Cloaks are here
Cloaks are there
Once again I say
Cloaks are everywhere!

Wow that is dribble. Still it was fun to try. Now to just get my sucky cats claws out of my shoulder. Ouch! She definitely missed me these last three days!