Thursday, February 25, 2010

Quilting Bee...I Mean Bug & Pea

Through conversations with my grandfather (Dad’s Dad), I learned that my great grandmother was quite a gifted seamstress. Apparently the wealthier ladies in the eastern part of Kentucky (during the 1800’s) would hire her to create dresses. These ladies would describe the type of dress they desired, and my Mamaw would design the dress and sew the fabric to fit perfectly. She never needed a pattern.
My grandmother (Mom’s Mom), Nanny, creates the loveliest quilts you’ve ever seen. She learned from her mother, who was a quilter. Sometimes Nanny pieces together scraps of material to make crazy quilts, or a log cabin pattern, or wedding ring pattern. Sometimes she takes a single cream colored fabric and quilts designs with thousands upon thousands of stitches. I have always been in awe of her gift.
About 10 years ago, Nanny taught me how to make a quilt. How to sew fabric pieces together into squares, how to assemble the squares, how to weave the tiny needle in a rocking stitch. I must admit, I was an amazing disappointment. Several moves, and several children later…I’ve begun several quilts, but have yet to finish one. Sewing is apparently NOT my gig.
My Mom could tell you that. She’s a wonderful seamstress who made clothes for me and my brother when we were younger. Mom made a valiant effort to teach me how to sew by hand, and on a sewing machine. I can kind of sew on a button, but that, unfortunately, is the extent of my practical and artistic ability.
I’m watching my daughters and wondering if this great gift has skipped a generation. I have my back propped against the wall as I type. The girls are each on a corner of The Bug’s bed. Scrap material is spread out between them. (From my former…non-successful quilting days…) They each have a needle and some thread and are working on doll clothes. A snip here and a snip there and a stitch to sew the fabric together into a contemporary dress for Barbie. The Bug is weaving in some beads and a pipecleaner trim on the clothing.
The kids are learning about the Appalachian Mountains in school…preparation for Appalachian Night next month. The Pea is telling me about instruments used in the mountains, spoons and washboards. She stitches some more on her project. I’m wondering if this is what winter evenings were like for my family in the mountains…in the 1800’s, 1900’s, now? Stitching and chatting after supper.
I realize I’m being a technological hypocrite as I type on my wireless laptop…but I love that the television is off. I love listening only to little ones discussing the day as they create clothes for their dolls. Maybe someday Nanny will teach them how to quilt, and they’ll create art of their own. I love that, in a few minutes, as we tuck the kiddos into bed, they’ll be snuggling up under the quilts passed down generations.

Friday, February 19, 2010

In Which The Bug & The Pea Design A Dream Home...

The Bug has an assignment. She is to design, to scale, her very own Dream Home. She has been talking about this project all week. She and The Pea have brought extra chairs into the bedroom, they are brainstorming furiously. The Pea is jotting down on a dry erase board her ideas, The Bug is sketching on various sheets of typing paper. Calculating footage, perimeters, sketching furniture, windows, doors. Here are some of the ideas incorporated into the Dream Home:
1. Candy Hallway (with jars of all types of candy lining the walls on ledges)
2. Relaxing Hallway (me: How do you relax in a hallway? the Bug: you sit in one of those way-back chairs and get massages)
3. Indoor Pool and Spa (nice)
4. Art Studio with lots of windows
5. Science Laboratory (OK)
6. Barbie Room (the Bug: it doesn't have to be all Barbies it can be boy action figures too)
7. Garden Room (maybe on the roof with solar panels?)
8. Classroom (for playing 'school')
9. Stuffed Animals Room
10. Kids Only Fun Room
11. Holiday Room
12. Mad Libs Room (what?)
13. Pet Room
14. Ice Cream Room
15. Old Fashioned Game Room (you know Mom, like board games and stuff)
16. and my most favorite was suggested by The Pea: The Peace Room! (You know Mom, like where you can go read your Bible and be happy!)

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Yippee-Ty-Yiii-Oh-My-Stars!


Ever since the commercial aired, the Bug and the Pea have been itching to see the Rodeo. So, for a Valentines Day treat (albeit non-traditional), we 'bit the bullet' and purchased 4 tickets.
The husband took the kiddos last year, so they knew what to expect. This was, quite literally, my "first time at the rodeo." I must say I had a blast. My dearest friend, LTP, had hoped to join us, but wasn't able as her sheep were lambing. (Although, as she will tell you, I adore all cows... my most favorite cow is the Holstein. No Holsteins at the rodeo, but it was still quite lovely).
The events were spectacular! Folks of all ages were roping steer, lassos were thrown over the necks of the animals, and their feet were tied. (The Pea worried that the cows were in pain. However, her fears were allayed as she watched the cows kick off the ropes, bounce right up and trot off toward the gates.)Some of these fellows would ride in on a horse, slide off the horse onto a cow, grab it by the horns and wrestle it to the ground. Which, in itself was a feat...and yet the events were timed! All of this took place in a matter of seconds.
The kids liked watching the ladies lasso the cows. Some of the women were the size of my girls. It was wild to watch as these teeny-tiny ladies in pink cowboy hats trotted off on these giant horses and threw ropes around the necks of steer.
Intermission was certainly fascinating. The radio station called several couples from the audience to the participate in the: "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" contest. WOW.
The most stunning part of the rodeo was the bull riding. I found myself involuntarily screaming "OH MY!" as the men were hurled off the backs of these bucking bulls. (I bet the teenagers in front of me were texting each other, that clearly it was my first time at the rodeo!)
As we walked through the squelchy mud toward the car, we passed the section of the exhibition lot where the trailers were parked. The horses from the rodeo were tied to the trailers to keep them safe from the passing cars. The horses munched on straw and their owners congregated around, trying to stay warm in the 30 degree weather. The Bug complimented everyone she passed who looked to be a part of the event. "You did such a nice job today!" "I loved your horse." (The Pea was riding piggy-back on Daddy all the while announcing LOUDLY what she saw, "Look it's a white horse! Look it's a brown horse! Look it's a muddy puddle!")
As we loaded up the car, the Pea affirmed in her best 'I told you so' voice: "See, Mamma, we knew you'd have fun at the rodeo!"
And I must admit, she was right...

Friday, February 5, 2010

Ode to My Oldest...

I am sitting in the Bug's room, on her quilt. My back is leaning against the headboard of her bed. Which is actually my headboard from when I was her age. (It's a beautiful yellow with the green stems and leaves of yellow flowers...maybe muted Black-Eyed Susans dancing in an understated, delicate way across the top). As I type on my laptop, I'm watching her finish her homework.
She's sitting at her desk, with her back toward the window. The sun is hidden on this rainy day creating my daughter's silhouette,dark and beautiful. Her hair swoops down around her wire rimmed glasses and she works feverishly on a diorama project. "I just loved this book, Mom. You'll have to check it out of the library," she chats. She colors a setting on the side of the giant soup can that is her diorama container. The Bug has already created the doll puppet to go inside. The puppet representing the main character of the book. Using my needle and thread, she sewed yellow yarn hair on top of a white sock. She created an apron dress from some gingham material and puffed it out with some leftover white tulle.
Although it is a Friday afternoon, she is so impassioned by this book she is practically glued to her desk. She wants to make sure her classmates can identify and also identify with the characters.
She's wearing a plaid skirt, a red shirt and white leggings. I know it's incredibly cliche, but Sweet Jesus where have the past 9 years gone? My child is a young lady. She used to fit in the palm of my husband's hand. ("What a peanut!" the obstetric nurse remarked the night she was born). The Bug's still a tiny wisp of a thing, no bigger than a minute. But occasionally when I steal glances her way, I see a young adult. My mind flashes forward and she's home from college for a weekend with art books and sketch pads and paints. Walking down the stairs in her pajamas ready for Saturday morning pancakes.
I suppose on that day, way in the future when she, too, is an adult...I suppose I'll be thinking back to this day. To this moment. When I have her all to myself, on this rainy afternoon, discussing a wonderful book...pondering if it's even possible for me to love her any more than I do right now...

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Snooooooow Time Like the Present...


So we've been together for 24 hours a day, going on five days now. To their credit, the Bug and the Pea have been extremely well behaved despite growing cabin fever. Not too many cross words, not too many wrestling matches, it hasn't been a bad gig. And yet, please...sweet merciful heavens...let's see a little school action tomorrow. The kids are BEGGING to see their teachers and friends. ("Baby doll, BELIEVE me, if school was open we would be there, I promise!")
We rarely have an accumulation of snow this side of Kentucky. I heard on the news that January 2010 has seen more snow (8 inches) in our town than in the past 25 years. Or something like that...my point being, this whole "Snow Day" stuff is new territory for the kiddos.
To preserve the memory of The Great Blizzard of 2010 for my children's future children, I have compiled a list of our activities during this - concentrated - time together:
1. Created an entire farm/zoo/jungle/Noah's Arc of pipe cleaner creatures and reenacted many adventurous scenarios ("Mom, you can play with the skunk and the chipmunk, I'll have the lion and the elephant...")
2. Learned many in-depth details regarding several (hundred) Pokemon characters. ("Mom, this one is Legendary. Did you see the Energy? Would you like to see me draw it? Let's battle...")
3. Used yarn to sew together a teddy bear from a craft kit. Stuffed said bear until the Pea squealed, "Mom, he's gonna blow!!" After sewing the bear shut, we realized the stuffing was intended for several enclosed crafts and not solely the bear.
4. Discovered The Bug is quite a card shark. ("Mom, it's time to play 5 Card Stud...here are your chips....)
5. Previewed several cartoon movies that the girls created caption by caption and set to music on their DSi's. (WHAT? I can't even set my VCR...)
6. Memorized most of The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl (staring a young Taylor Lautner) as it happened to be the Netflix DVD in our mailbox last Thursday.
7. Played Barbie, Hollie Hobby, Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch, "Our Generation" doll party mixing together all of the teeny-tiny accessories which are still strewn from one end of our hallway to the other.
8. Pretended we were stalking prey and located every single snowy bird track/bunny track/next door neighbor's cat track within an acre's radius of our home.
9. Dug out the Husband's rickety old radio flyer sled and zoomed down the only space vaguely resembling a hill in our neighborhood.
10. However, my favorite part of our time together involved an inner tube the Husband purchased last week on a business trip. We tied a yellow rope around one end, had the kiddos plop down on their tummies and pulled them along the main thoroughfare. All you could see was white snow clinging to everything. The Bug and The Pea giggled and laughed and giggled some more. Until we swept the kids up in our arms, carried their frozen selves inside and set them down by the fire.
"Pokemon anyone?" asked the Bug.
(Please, please, please School Tomorrow!!!)