Saturday, April 25, 2009

Sewing on the Island is getting to be a difficult thing to do. On Thursday Avery finished off two skirts that she had in process. When you finish projects you start planning the next, only logical. But there is no place to purchase anything other than cotton fabric i.e. quilting materials, on the South end. Heck, I don't think there is anything more than that on the North end either. We have become a total "Island" when it comes to fabrics. One has to venture across the water to construct anything at this juncture in time. That just seems wrong....but I am not offering to open a store to fill the gap!

So today when the urge hit to sew I decided to sweep instead. Mind you, the sweeping was necessary but the sewing was what I wanted to do. And it is unusual for me to want to sew, then to have to plan so far ahead. When with Emily and Michelle I purchased several new patterns and one of them had my name on it....but it takes interlock or something that has a descent amount of give. Next trip off Island I will try to remember to get fabric and then see if the urge comes again.

And are the floors beautiful....not so much, I sat down and am writing this as an avoidance.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Utah Family

I decided to get off the Island and head to Utah for spring break. Most of my piano students were canceling so why not, I wouldn't have income even if I had stayed home. And there was this little grandson that I had never seen! A major incentive as if I needed one to hit the road. Anyway, arrived at the Campbell/Godsey home on the 4th of the month. had the usual breakdown complications that just seem to be a part of my travel plans...but I have had the resonator go out enough times that I know what it feels like and I know what to do about it. Frustrating at best, but it is something that I have faced before. It delayed my arrival by several hours and caused a lost night of sleep, but not too much more. Part was still under warranty so the cost was in time and not money.

Master Garret is a very pleasant young man. He is full of conversation and loves nothing more than to lock his baby-blues onto someone or something and then just study it at length. He really responds to being spoken to, you talk to him and he talks back with his little goo's and all. He had some skin issues but Michelle has those well under control now....I remember those with Emily, annoying but something that you can control. He remains rather angular but 100% a charmer. Lawrence and Michelle seem to have divided up the work/fun of taking care of him really well. Lawrence's awful work hours puts him getting home from work around the time that Garret takes a nap, so the boys just nap together. It is really sweet.

Emily is down to 3 days of school left before her B.A. degree and she is more than ready to have this phase behind her. They pull together really well but this has been one very long, hard pull. Kids are all well, I am constantly impressed at how well they all read. Stuart is only in the 2nd grade but reads scriptures as well as I do! And little Claire is learning to read too, she starts school in the fall. Amy, well, she is just busy and bright but reading is not in her day to day plan right now! They should be getting news from the U of W on the Ph.D. program as early as this week. Everyone has their fingers crossed and prayers wafted on high.

Stopped down to Cedar with Kristin to see the Oliverson portion of the family. Jace had to work the night shift but joined us anyway, heck, who needs sleep anyway! They are both well and looking good. Jace has lost a descent amount of weight and Nancy has lost some too. She really didn't need to loose but is supporting her husband and has lost too. Her exercise routine keeps her firm and thin, and adding some good eating habits has made her a little more thin. She is the only girl in the family that plays with being too thin! Nancy has had a couple of really tough weeks but she is in good spirits and is doing a great job learning all the home skills that she needs. That girl may learn to be a good cook if she keeps trying like she is!


And now I am headed back to the Island. I am settled into a park, got the piano down and played some Beethoven that I need under my hands when I get home, and then some stuff that I just enjoy. Not everyone has a piano in a 23 foot RV but I do, and I really love it. Practice time at home is always hard to come by, too many interruptions and complications, but on the road I have minimal of both. I could become a very spoiled girl if life allowed me to live like this more!