Thursday, July 31, 2008

A day in the past...

We enjoyed a fun afternoon Sunday. There is park near my grandma's house that features around a dozen old buildings from the late 1800s, all of which are set up like houses or shops from that period. Every year this park hosts an "Old Settlers Picnic" one weekend in July. They have a parade, musical performances, and the buildings are open for touring, and they also have a carnival and food and merchandise vendors. I have gone with my family every now and then over the years, and I hadn't been for a few years, so Seth and I took my sisters and went up after church. We looked around in the old buildings for a while. Doing so always makes me think about what life would have been like for the early settlers. When I was a child, I loved to pretend I was in the "olden days", and I sort of wished I actually had lived back then. Although their simple lifestyle still appeals to me, I am thankful for many of the modern conveniences I have that they didn't. The volunteers that keep up the park have done a great job preserving the past, and I always enjoy my visits there! When we were done looking, we stopped by my grandma's house to say hi to her and my aunt and uncle and cousins.

A trip down memory lane - I have several pictures like this of my younger self sitting at a desk in the schoolhouse.

Using an old-fashioned wheat grinder.

One of my favorite houses at the park.

An old wagon - can you imagine having to put everything you own in something like this and traveling thousands of miles across the country to a new home?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Free Things

Who doesn't like to get something for nothing? I was excited the other day when I opened up the mail and received a card good for $10 off any purchase of $10 or more at Office Max. I stopped there today and was able to get a package of printer paper, a box of security envelopes, and a package of file dividers, and only had to pay $1.39!

A Peek at the Progress...


I have been able to get some work done on the baby's quilt - yay! =) I finished all of the nine-patch squares that I'm doing and am now working on the rest of the squares, which I haven't totally figured out yet. I wanted to do some applique on some of them, but the one I tried didn't turn out very well, so I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do. I'd like to get the top sewn together within a week so I can start quilting. It's nice to make progress!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Like a good friend...


Good books are like a good friend...I have several favorites that I have to re-read every once in a while. One such book is called The School of God, by Peggy Arbogast. My family discovered this book years ago, and I have probably read it once a year or so ever since. The copy my family has is old, and the cover is taped together, it is so well loved. =) When I moved out, I decided I couldn't possibly go without this wonderful book, so I had to find my own copy. It is an old book, well out of print now, but I was able to find a copy that was in good shape. I was so excited! It looks a little strange to me every time I see it, still being used to the red cover on the copy my family has, but it just takes turning a few pages to bring the familiarity back. I really enjoy the excitement and suspense of a book I have never read, but there is something about the comfort and pleasure that comes from reading a favorite - again.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Baby Update

We went in last week for the 20-week ultrasound (although I guess it was more like 21 weeks), and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the baby again! We chose not to find out whether it is a boy or a girl - we want to save that surprise! The baby has grown a lot since last time, now at a whopping 10 inches and 15 ounces! I can now feel the baby kicking, which always gives me a thrill!

We went out shopping over the weekend hoping to buy the crib, but unfortunately the only one Ikea had was in a damaged box, so we decided to wait a couple of weeks until their next shipment comes in. We did buy the mattress, though, and a little drawer unit to use for the baby's clothes, and a few other things! I'm hoping this week to get started on the baby's quilt...we'll see how that goes!