Saturday, June 25, 2011

Life in My World – Soaking Up What Little Time We Have Left with Ty and Michelle


1.  The Fort of forts


I’ve mentioned before that I loved to build forts as a kid.  It was my favorite summer activity.  Well, I have the fort of forts now and it’s just in time for summer.  Ty and Michelle took our water heater closet and made it into a fort craft room just for me.  It is so wonderful.  I’ve never had a private space like this.  (I don’t know if you remember, but a few months ago I cleared out the water heater closet and put a table in there and dubbed it my space for projects.  A week ago I asked Ty to cut a board for me and when he saw the set-up said, “This is pathetic.  You’re just making do.  We’re going to fix this and make it nice for you.”)   Ty and Michelle hung lots of shelves and made a desk that wraps around two walls with enough room for sewing and scrapbooking.  We puttied and painted.  It is cute and organized and it gives me that same giddy feeling as the perfect fort with mud pies on a summer morning.  I can't wait to use it.

2.  The Cedar Chest


Ty and Calvin are finishing a cedar chest for Michelle.  They pulled an all-nighter last night trying to finish it.

3.  Supper and a New Recipe


Michelle cooked a Tex-Mex supper the other night.  I loved it.  The recipe is from Michelle’s grandma, which makes it even better:

 TORTILLA CHIP DISH
from Carole Applegate

2 lbs. ground beef, browned                 4 TBL sugar
1 onion, chopped (2 TBL dried)           2 tsp. chili powder
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce                  2 tsp. oregano
3 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste                  ½ tsp. salt
48 oz. water (6 cans)                            2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. Accent                                        2 cups rice, cooked

Combine and simmer all ingredients (except rice) for 40 minutes.  Add rice.  (At this point it could be frozen for future use.)  Serve over tortilla chips (Doritos).  Top with grated cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped onions, sliced olives, sour cream, etc.

4. A T-Shirt Quilt  


Michelle made a t-shirt quilt from Ty's old t-shirts . . .  just. like. that.  She is really good with measurements and figuring things out; she also learns quickly and isn't afraid to experiment and improvise.  She whipped this out in about a day.  I was impressed.  She was impressed.  Ty was impressed.  Calvin was impressed.  It was fun working on it with her.

5.  No Baby Yet

Ray and Calvin were trying to decide which side of the cradle should face the wall and
which side should face out (or in other words, which side had the prettiest wood grain pattern).
I said, "I promise you, once a baby is in that cradle no one is going to notice the grain on the wood."
They both looked at me like I had carrots growing out my brain and said, "Men will notice the wood."

Ray and Cali’s baby still isn’t sure it wants to sleep in the cradle yet.  Maybe tomorrow.  We’re going to drive over to Seattle later today to celebrate Ty’s birthday with Ray and Cali and Joe and Ande.  Maybe the baby will change its mind and join us when we get there.  In the meantime, I am excited to see the cradle now that it is stained and oiled and has little sheets and a quilt that Cali made for it.  

And that's life in our world this week.  We're really going to miss Ty and Michelle when they leave next week.  Christmas seems so far away.

10 comments:

Myca said...

Jane, when you left your recent comment on my blog I am sure to you it was no big deal, but I just have to tell you that it absolutely made my day. For YOU to tell ME that I am a good mom is the biggest compliment! I admire you so much and appreciate your example more than you know. I think you are an amazing wife and mother...but even more just an all around amazing person (teacher, sister, friend...I could go on). Thank you so much for your kind words. It put a smile on my face and gave me a nice little boost of confidence. And like I said before...I am sure it was no big deal to you ;).

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...

We hope you have a new addition SOON!!!

Jill said...

How wonderful of Ty and Michelle to make you your own scrapbooking fort! I am so happy for you to have a space like that. I think it's a great boost to have a space like that and to be able to have your supplies around and easy to get to. Woohoo!


The cedar chest and cradle look amazing! The quilt is cool (I want to make one of those some time), and the Tex-Mex looks tasty. I'm excited for Cali's baby to arrive.

Deidra said...

Christmas is too far away-- I agree.

Alisa said...

Everything about this post makes me smile. It is a post full of creating and service.

The quilt, the cradle, the chest, the craft room, a baby on the way? What's not to love?!

Deanna/Mimi said...

I love your world. Oh how I would love to live in it as your mother, your daughter, your friend. I see the huge amount of love, being creative, the energy, the fun, the learning. You make your world so wonderful. How blessed you are to have a craft nook, a cradle for the new grandchild, the ability to surround yourself with the moments that come to you and give you and your family a touch of what eternity is going to be like. You are an example to all of us. Love, Deanna

Becky said...

Wow! That's a lot of goodness in one post :)

P.S. I completely have to say "ditto" to Myca's comment. I have archived many of the e-mails that contain your comments on my blog. Thank you for all your nice comments!

Julie said...

I love your new fort! It's about time you had a craft space! Good for Ty and Michelle! Looks like your world is full of love and fun. What is it about wood and men? That cracked me up! I love to paint wood but I'm sure they would think I had carrots growing out of my ears too!

Rachel said...

Oh boy! You may be sad to see them go, but I am so excited for Ty and Michelle to come! You'll just have to come to them (us) I guess. Keep us posted on the baby! Love you.

michelle said...

Holy cow, that is a lot of good stuff in one post! Hooray for your new fort! Hooray for Michelle whipping out a quilt! Hooray for a beautiful new cradle! (I'm with you, no one will notice the wood with that beautiful boy inside...)