This is just to give you a taste of life around here with a very pregnant wife. Ignore gender-specifics and apply to a female. Additionally, replace “Dante” with your name of choice.

Mark recently asked me if I’d ever want to go back to school. Thoughts of papers, lectures, supremo expensive art supplies and 4 hour classes immediately flooded my mind. No way, Jose! It would be rather fun to take a 6 week single class on something, but get another degree? I don’t think so. I’m too happy being a home maker and I already have a BFA in ComDes, thank you very much. Just the thought of it all brings these words to mind (I’ve always loved this poem):

Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!
I wish I could wash you
away in the sink.
If only a bomb
would explode you to bits.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You’re giving me fits.
I’d rather take baths
with a man-eating shark,
or wrestle a lion
alone in the dark,
eat spinach and liver,
pet ten porcupines,
than tackle the homework
my teacher assigns.
Homework! Oh, homework!
You’re last on my list.
I simply can’t see
why you even exist.
If you just disappeared
it would tickle me pink.
Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you! You stink!

(Written by: Jack Prelutsky)

I am now going to return to my wife and mother duties and rejoice in the fact that I’m done with school, hooray! Haha.

I like to think that my sweet husband makes the best cup of hot cocoa in the world. He’s always the kind-hearted servant at night, making me a cup and delivering it with a smile and a kiss. It doesn’t get any better than that!

I tell him his hot cocoa tastes the best because he makes it with love. Well somehow lately the word “love” is synonymous with real whipping cream and sprinkles. Mark will ask if I want a cup of cocoa and I’ll say, “Yes please, and put a lot of love in it!” Well tonight he’s delivered, folks. Things got a mite crazy in the kitchen. As you can see from this picture, my cup overflows. I love you, honey! You bless me.

Tonight I’m finally posting pictures from one of the other vintage-styled aprons I’ve completed. I made two versions of this one (one with red bias tape, and this one with blue). I am loving the Michael Miller collections lately. This yellow fabric is called “Mrs. Perfect” and has sweet little homemakers all over it, cleaning and serving food and chatting on the phone, ha! And it comes with an equally fun coordinating print with jello molds and percolators on it (which will make an appearance on future projects).

I also made a half apron, scalloped on the bottom edge, with a hand towel on one side (which I fastened with velcro). The apron was ivory with black ticking stripes and little red apples on it. With that pattern I learned how to make my own bias tape, which was much easier than I thought. It’s been really fun to try all these neat patterns and experiment with crazy fabric I’d probably never use on a skirt or dress. I would have posted a picture of this one too, but gave it away to a friend already.

For my next project, I think I’ll make a mother-daughter pattern of some sort. We’ll see. Lots of little girl dresses are calling my name too! The winter months bring more hot meals to my table, and with these aprons finished I’m ready to get cookin’!

Well, it’s been an entire month since I’ve posted anything.

Things are still pretty much going as they were.  Renée, Sammy and I had a lovely Thanksgiving in Houston with her family.  I can honestly say I haven’t been at that large of a table with that many family members before.  In addition, Sammy learned how to scale the slide at the playground and say the word, “Momma.”  Big news from this little boy!

I only have two more weeks of work until the winter break.  I’ve been trying to figure out what my break is going to look like this year and I think the word “break” describes it perfectly.  I’ve been working a lot as of late and I’m ready to do nothing except be with my family and relax.   (And, of course, I’m sure the occasional house project will creep up.  It always does.)

I’ll write more soon about a specific topic rather than this general one.  This is just to get this thing refreshed a little bit.  Until next time…