Memorial Day Travels

The boys and I packed up and drove to Chicago on Friday, to spend some time with my parents and my brother's family. And a great time was had by all! We got two Harry Potter audio books to listen to on the drive, and it made the time go so much faster, especially for the boys.

Saturday we got up early and went to Breakfast at Arlington Park. We sat in the sunshine and watched the horses train on the track, and ate our breakfast. Then it was off to the Brookfield Zoo. The highlight for Kyle was seeing the baby aardvark. For Kelly and Dana, it was most certainly the petting zoo. And I think JB just enjoyed the whole thing! It is so great to watch JB with his little cousins. They are very attached to him, and he is so patient with them... After the zoo, we all went back to my parent's house to celebrate Laura's birthday. Happy Birthday Laura!

Sunday was just for the boys, and we went to the Museum of Science and Technology. There is definitely some very cool stuff here, and it would be even better if it all worked! The Toymaker was off display because it was broken, and almost every exhibit had hands on pieces that did not work. But the tour of the U505 submarine was the best part of the museum. It is very impressive. And overall the boys had a great time, and that is what we were there for!

And Monday it was back to Ohio. Much laundry to get done so that all three boys are ready to go to Florida for 10 days. A whole week to myself!!!

Time Flies...

when you are busy! What have I been up to over the last few weeks?

1. I have been very busy getting my workshop pieces quilted and finished. I really like to have pieces ready to hang because I am such a procastinator that it is better for me to get this done when I have time. Then when opportunity knocks, I am a little bit prepared!

2. Traveling -- I had a business trip to Boston for a few days and I am getting ready to go to Chicago for a few days too.

3. Outside -- The herb garden needed updated and some new plants, and I am getting my containers ready to plant with annuals. Plus just general spring time clean up.

4. I have been spending a little extra time at the dojo, trying to work out more frequently. Also classes are now 90 minutes instead of 60 minutes.

5. Misc. time with the boys going on hikes and watching movies and stuff like that.

It's All About Me

Check out this post on Danny Gregory's blog. It is SO TRUE!!! I can't tell you how many times I have shown my work to someone, thinking to myself "what if they don't like it" "what if it really isn't any good" and so forth. We let others validate our work, instead of validating it for ourselves, trusting our own eye, not being our own worst critic. But why do we really make art? Is it really for others? I think we make art because we are driven to create -- in whatever medium we have chosen. We really do it for ourselves...

Saturdays in May are for...

1. going on hikes with your children
2. pulling weeds in the garden
3. buying and planting annuals and herbs
4. taking a nap
5. watching a movie and knitting

Enjoy your day!

This Week

has been busy. I can't believe it has been over a week since I have posted!

Last Saturday was Arbor Day, and we spent most of it at the Dawes Arboreteum. This is a beautiful place, 100's of acres of trees, with trails, a large lake, a Japanese Garden, and a Nature Center/Gift Store/Cafe. We always enjoy spending time there, but Arbor Day is a very special day! They offer so many unusual activities that we enjoy, like tree climbing and scooping tadpoles out of the swamp. We also participated in the "tree tasting" and we went on a scavenger hunt. Sunday I had six quilt tops that I fused to batting, and then completed an escape hatch finish on. If you don't know what that is, check out Melody's blog. Anyway, that took me most of the day. And this week has been busy every evening with either karate class or quilting. I have those six quilts to finish the quilting on, plus another quilt (traditional) that I am quilting for my Mom to have for a DAR auction.

Tonight I am going to a gallery opening for a one woman show by Marilyn Stocker, being held at The Works. She is an interesting artist, and a member of the Layerist Society. Tomorrow I will spend the morning working in the yard, and maybe going on a short hike. Then it is back to the sewing machine to get quilting done! And Sunday is the last meeting until Fall for the Art Quilt Alliance. We will be having a pot luck and a fabric exchange. Should be a fun weekend!