The friendly skies?

I actually don't even know what this post is about. Lara is spending quite a few nights awake and she's looking for something to read.  I bet Keely is likely in the same boat.  That's what happens when you have a newborn.  You are awake when NO ONE ELSE is up.  It is hands down the hardest part of having a teeny tiny baby.  That middle of the night pity party.  I'm not saying these two are having pity parties, but I sure as hell did.

I can remember waking up and finding myself changing her diaper.  Or feeding her. Weird.  During one super crazy long night Jason installed The Daddy Chair. He brought a chair in and squished it right beside the rocking chair. I honestly don't think I realized how amazing that was until just now.  He was saying, "you don't have to do this all by yourself".  Trouble is, no matter how many different ways he said it, I didn't believe him.  I thought I did have to do it.  All. By. My. Self.  And that's when it got shitty.  And I thought about running away.  And one day I did run away. I got as far as High River.  Then I turned around and came home.  And Jason kept telling me I didn't have to do it all. He kept telling me I had a partner.  And eventually I heard him. And then it started to get better.  Phew-fers.

As with every time in my life, Jason saved me. (and he's probably all "Jenn, quit telling people this shit). 

ok, so now we know what the post is about.  Good ol' run of the mill, post partum party times.  Fun stuff.


Ok. Well thaaaat was deep, kids.  Jeepers.





Here's some pics of the star of our show to lighten the mood....

 

This is what I saw in grade nine.

 

Maddie took this picture.  I shit you not.

Just some couch time with The Beags.

Group Project

Jason made me my very own foot stool!  (Thank you) He used some spare pieces of MDF to make a frame.  Maddie and I scampered off to Fabricland to buy the cushion and fabric (from the clearance section of course).  Maddie managed to find the  same fabric as the chair, but in green.  Funny story - I found the chair fabric for $2 (TWO BUCKS for 2 metres) at the thrift store in Warman.  It was about $16 a metre at the fabric store.  The pricey bit was the cushion - why is foam so damn expensive?  But in the end, the total for the solid wood chair and sturdy-as-hell foot stool is less than $100.  Pretty good.  In the summer I will spray paint that chair a nice cozy cream colour.  It's now my favorite spot for felting.  I just need a "new" goose neck lamp.  The one I have is lih'rah'lee on its last legs. Oh and the box?  Well, this is cool too.  It's made from cupboard doors from somebody's house long ago (who, Mom?)  Now it stores all of my felty felt supplies.  Perfecto Felty Station!

The future...

She will be your boss some day.

I don't think this is what Raffi had in mind:

Willoby Wolloby Weeber, An elephant sat on... JUSTIN BIEBER.

Perfect

A perfect moment: Sitting in my favorite chair, feet on my brand new ottoman. Working a fun felting project. Listening to Maddie play. All that is missing is either a good cup of coffee or a glass of red wine. I think I'll get right on that.

Road Trip

We spent the last two Saturdays on a family road trip to Indian Head.  Although I'm sure there are MANY terrific reasons to visit Indian Head, I'm gonna go ahead and tell you why we went.  Jason bought a truck from an SGI auction and it happened to be there.  This truck is going to be a bit of a project, it was cheap as chips and he's going to either fix it and sell it or sell of the parts and then donate the leftovers to the kidney foundation (or whoever that is that will take your old car for a tax receipt).  But the trick was, the truck was in Indian Head. 

First Saturday
We woke up early, loaded up the truck with warm gear, a kid, and two beagles and headed off.  Stopped in Dundurn for a bathroom break.  This was cool for me b/c this is where my Grandpa Butcher spent some time training before he went overseas (WWII).  Also a super duper little gas station.  Anyhoo, off we continued to Regina where we stopped for lunch.  Although Allison suggested some really great options, my eye was caught by a blast from the past:  APPLEBEES!  In Minot this was one of two fairly decent restaurants.  OK, actually in Minot (10 years ago) this would have been a "good restaurant".  Minot was not exactly known for its fine dining.  Well.  Apparently either my palate has vastly improved, or Applebees hasn't quite translated into Canada.  Long story short:  Do No Go There. Ever. Jamais.  Grow Dee.    Finally we arrived in Indian Head, only to discover the freaking key did not work in the ignition.  So close, but so far.  And b/c it was Small Prairie Town - no body was around working to help us. 

So we went home.

Second Saturday
Woke up early, packed truck, blah blah blah.  Did NOT stop at Applebees.  Went straight to the truck.  (Jason had a new key made).  Key worked!  YAY!  Cue thrilling soundtrack.  But wait, it's -20.  The truck is diesel.  Diesels HATE -20.  Cue "WAH WAHwah" sound.  Fast forward 3 hours and the truck is running (yes!)  Then we discover the trailer is just a teensy bit too short.  Great.  So I drove the Farm Truck pulling the trailer while Jason drove Cyclops which also reeked of old man cologne (he had to keep a window open).  When Marion heard I drove the truck home and hauled a trailer she congratulated me on the final phase to becoming a true Markosky Woman!  Took about 20 years, but I did it.

And now it is Friday night again and feels a bit odd not to be planning a trip to Indian Head.  But I think we'll manage. Jason is going to start working on the truck this weekend.  Wish him luck.

 Is there ever a picture of Bosco where his nose isn't blurry?

Again, Bosco's nose is in the shot.  Cyclops and Farm Truck are basically the very same truck. Right now our driveway looks like two Chevy book ends with a Subaru in the middle.  A Subaru sandridge, if you will...

A few more Felty Felts

Here are a few of my most recent projects.  The tea cozy is an example of one I've made for Allison.  I also made a basketball tea cozy for Lara (oh yeah, I did).  I need to get a picture of that one b/c I'm pretty stinkin' proud of my sporty achievement there.  I'm working up my nerve to enter a craft show.  You have to submit an application and be accepted.  It's a small local craft group called "Flock and Gather" so I think it might be a good place to start. But then it occurred to me last night that I then have to sit at a table Friday evening and all day Saturday.  Hmmm, not really sure I'm into that.  I wonder if I can do a self serve station? So we'll see.  The deadline is March 1.  Stay tuned. 

The other project on here?  It's a Little Mouse in a Tin House.  Saw it on another blog.  mmmcrafts.blogspot.com  and liberally lifted the idea from there.  Maddie LOVES it.  And I love it b/c I literally (li'-rah-lee) made something from  nothing - my favorite kind of felting.  The green thing?  Mousie's stuffy.  And there's a wee mattress and pillow as well.  Since these photos were taken, Mousie now has a blue dress (more of a tunic really, Mousie doesn't have much for a waistline).  The tin is courtesy of Mom and Dad's valentine's pkg.  I have an Altoids tin I'm working on for a second mouse/house set.

Reader Poll

Ok. Its your turn, kids.

I would like a short list of your favorite authors and books.  You know, those comfort books you like to read when everything around you is too much.

Rules:
1. You must have read a book by this author.
2. If you name a book you better have read it.
3. Books will not be accepted if they are about sad things. No sad things allowed. I realize this makes it tricky since i still cry at the end of the littelest hobo. And i bawled at "UP".  Basically nothing bad about children, animals, and gloomy.  The girl should get the guy. There can be suspense, there can even be a murder (as long as it isnt a puppy). 

I know you all cant comment on here, or if you are too shy (snort, as if) . . . Then go ahead and send me an email.  Y'all dont seem to have a problem emailing me when i havent posted in 72 hours.

Oh, i forgot rule 4

4.  EASY READ. If you were about to email me "Tess of the Dubervilles" well you can just try again.

Thanks for playing.
Night,
J