Lilly's Spring Pictures

Every now and then, I hand my camera to a child. I am always surprised at the different perspective.

It was spring.  Lilacs, asparagus and dandelions...

Rock Creek Marina

I've talked about this place before. Rock Creek Marina, Camanche, Iowa.  But it is exciting to have something this wonderful SO CLOSE TO MY HOUSE (6 minutes).

I never knew about it. Really...discovering it last winter (when the leaves were all of the trees) was quite a shock.

The first week in June, they ran a Critter's Camp for 6-8 year old children. And LILLY LOVED IT...

Here are some pictures I took in April (before the trees were green)...

This is the front of the new building (taken from the dock)

S

Side entrance -- you can see it sits right on the River

8000 gallon aquarium inside.

Several rooms full of live animals and taxidermy friends...

In the early spring, they were just putting the docks out...

Memphis, Lillian and a friend

They have these adorable little cabins people can rent.

This week, I've got us signed up for a Eco-Tourism boat ride. I AM SO EXCITED..!!

Another Shower Curtain Reno

I cannot imagine what my life would be like if I did not sew.

Hey -- not every project works out.  And  many of the things I sew are WAY TOO BORING to blog about.  I shorten pants, make nightgowns out of t-shirts, put new edges on worn out blue jeans, make a pocket repair (I do a lot of jeans mending), restyle a long dress, add side gussetts to accommodate my fat body...sheet extenders...well, you get the idea.

When we built our house, John put the shower head a little higher up on the wall.  Consequently, I have always had to add six inches to the shower curtain.  Otherwise, it just whips out of the tub and water gets all over the floor.

I found this pretty floral shower curtain at a thrift store (duh).

I always use a liner.

At the bottom, I added a print from a Hawaiian shirt (I used the bottom of the shirt, so I didn't have to hem the fabric)

Of course, there was some signature t-shirt fringe.

I love the blue and yellow together...

And -- oh, yeah -- there's ANOTHER shower curtain on the back wall.  But that's a post for another day...

My first Poem (thanks, Mary)

I interviewed Mary Fons last year.  So I became a huge fan and love following her blog. Her writing is just as much fun as her quilting.

Recently, she wrote about a children's book with the A is for Apple, B is for Boy letters-of-the-alphabet format. She decided to write a poem using that form, and I loved it. Her poem was called She Money: Here's the link:  recent post called She Money.

It seems so simple, but it is harder than you think...

Addiction

©Rita Farro

A is for Addiction

B for Behavior

C is for Cyberspace, a stand-in for Savior

D is for Digital

E is for E-mail 

F for Friends calling, but to no avail

G is for Google

H is for Hashtags

I is for all those Instagram Douchebags.

J is for Java

K is for Keyword

L is for smartphone Love most absurd

M's for Mozilla

N is for Network

O is for Obsession — and being a jerk

P is for Pinterest

Q is for Quickbooks

R is for a million Recipes that nobody cooks

S is for Suri

T is for Texts

U’s for Ultimatums TO GIVE IT A REST!

V is for Virus

W is for Webcam

X is for Xerox (but nobody gives a dam)

Y is for You Tube, which we cannot resist

Z is for Zuckerburg, who should meet my fist.

6/16/15:rkf

Scavenger Hunt Game

If you're doing a version of Grandma Camp this summer, I highly recommend SCAVENGER HUNTS.  I make up silly rhymes for clues -- but you don't have to do that if you don't want to. 

The fun part is THE HUNT.  One clue leads to another...with little finds along the way, and a big payoff at the end.  Hey -- the big pay off could be a Twinkie....

Games, people.  That's the secret.  KIDS LOVE GAMES...

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This card is Clue #1…(HAND LILLY THIS FIRST CLUE)

For the special Easter Treasure Hunt for Warren and Lilly….
Grandma made up some clues that are very silly…

The first gifts will be near the chair that is black…
Look underneath, inside the plastic sack…..

(Place Clue #2, PINK AND WHITE bunnies with candy)

The Easter Scavenger hunt this year

There were six clues in all, with a gift for both Lilly and Warren at each drop.

Emily had to read the clues.

#5 You did a good job with the game, which means you are smart…
The last gift of the day is to help you make your ART…

Go find the suitcase that says Monster High…
Look inside to find the last gift for you and the little guy…

I often put "treasure" in this chest in Lilly's room.  So, of course, it's an obvious drop spot for the Scavenger Hunt.

Warren is two.  He could care less....

Good Advice (thanks, Sandy)

Ever since I was a child, I've always had a fear of someone under my bed at night.  So I went to a shrink and told him: 

"I've got problems. Every time I go to bed I think there's somebody under it. I'm scared.  I think I'm going crazy."

"Just put yourself in my hands for one year, said the shrink. Come talk to me three times a week and we should be able to get rid of those fears." 

"How much do you charge?"

"Eighty dollars per visit," replied the doctor.

"I'll sleep on it," I said.

                               

Six months later the doctor met me on the street. "Why didn't you come to see me about those fears you were having?"

                               

"Well, Eighty bucks a visit, three times a week for a year, is $12,480.00. A bartender cured me for $10.00. I was so happy to have saved all that money that I went and bought me a new pickup truck."

"Is that so?"  With a bit of an attitude he said, "And how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?"

"He told me to cut the legs off the bed. Ain't nobody under there now."

Forget the shrink, have a drink, talk to a bartender and remember it's always better to get a second opinion!

Pinterest Is Great for THIS

As much as I object to the ADDICTIVE behavior of Pinterest and Facebook...they both have a place in my life.

ALL THINGS IN MODERATION, RIGHT???  And I'm just saying -- there is an appropriate time and place.  BE IN THE MOMENT...if you have other real, live people in the room, and you choose to go on Facebook or play an internet game -- you are sending a message.  Loud and clear.  They are not important to you...

Ironically, I'm going to make my point with a Pin from Pinterest...

I never posted really personal stuff on Facebook.  I want to live my real life, not a fake Facebook a one with people I don't REALLY know...

And I can't remember the last time I wasted two hours scrolling Pinterest. I decided that was valuable time I would never get back.

But I do use Facebook to share pictures, and Pinterest is great for finding new recipes, quilt inspiration, laundry room remodel ideas.

And, every now and then, if you need a lift or a laugh -- SURE....go there....