Fireworks on the Fourth

I thought it was going to be a Fourth without fireworks.  It rained all day and all the local fireworks were held on the third.  In the almost three years that we have lived here this neighborhood comes alive in the summer and almost every weekend you are bound to hear someone letting off fireworks.  Marley and Brodie’s first memorable introduction to fireworks was last years display.  They both woke, upset by the “storm” they heard outside.  When I told them it was fireworks and carried them outside to see, it was magic.  They never stopped talking about it or asking when they would see them again.  I prepared them that Friday night may be the only night of fireworks.  Because this year the neighborhood has been quiet.  Very few if any fireworks.  Hardly anything on Memorial Day.  The economy’s downturn and a drop in fireworks consumption can’t be coincidence.

As I was trying to finish my laundry last night, with everyone all tucked into bed, the festivities began.  I held off until I was sure there was going to be more than just a couple fireworks set off.  As soon as I walked into Brodie’s room, his eyes lit up and he said, “Mama, there’s fireworks!”  I told him to get out of bed and come down with me.  I woke Marley and we all went outside.

Everyone must have been saving their fireworks stash for the big night.  It was wild.  One neighbor by the lake put on a better show than the village did on the third.  This time I got the tripod and captured a few shots I was happy with.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July!!

Last night our favorite fire cracker got dubbed the “sparkly waterfall”.  This is not a picture of it.  This was one of the only ones of mine that came out.  Matt was using the tripod and I was hand holding with Cale in my lap, so I was pleased I got one that was okay.

This, however, is my favorite Fourth of July fire cracker.  And he was a fire cracker today.  This was just from one trip to the time out bench.

Glow Sticks

are the new sparklers.

Shades

Cale found his sunglasses today.  Well, I should write, Cale found his sunglasses from when he was 6 months old today.  But he loved them.  And he inspired the rest of the crew to put on their sunglasses while they watched Star Wars.  Marley and Brodie soon lost interest.  Not Cale.  He slept with them on at nap time.

The Star Wars Obsession

Spills over into any play materials.

And gets younger and younger…

At Least Someone

appreciates my hard work.

Meeting Michaela

Yes, I got to meet with the great master of the macro herself today.  Too bad I didn’t lug around my macro, but there wasn’t really time for all that anyway.  Maybe next time.

This time we met up at Brookfield Zoo.  Everyone was there except for Matt, who had to work.  I had such a great time with Michaela and her family.  Of course, the kids were shy almost the entire time.  At the very end Marley wanted to tell Sara about the carousel ride, but that was minutes before we parted ways.  Again, maybe next time.

Here’s a few shots from the day. This is one of everyone (except myself and Cale, who was running around somewhere…), from left to right, Melissa, Michaela, Brodie (up against the glass with his arm up), Sara, Marley, and Greg.

I figured I was safe posting a silohette of Michaela, since we all know how she HATES having her picture taken.  I have another shot of her that I really like, but I need approval first LOL.  Here’s one of Sara and the boys. And, yes, Sara is taking a picture

Here’s one of just my older guys and a lazy bear in the background.

And finally, I did get a shot of Cale and of me!  This is on the carousel.

It is still amazing to me how well you really get to know people online.  I felt so comfortable with Michaela.  Matt asked me afterwards, “What was she like?”  I said, “She’s the same person I know from online.”  And it’s true.  I had such a wonderful day and so did my boys.  I hope Michaela and her family enjoyed the visit as much as we did.

How To Make a Pillow with Trim and an Invisible Zipper

Well, Doreen, since you have a pillow project waiting and I had no other ideas for a post today, I decided to show how I made the pillows.  Maybe it will help you decide what you are going to do.  It will definitely help me 2 years from now when we paint again (Lord help me) and I need new pillows and can’t remember one iota of how I made these ones.

First, cut your fabric about 1.5 in. larger than the pillow size you intend to make.

Now secure all your edges, either using a stitch (I used the feather stitch setting on my machine)

Or using a no fray glue.

Pin your trim around the pillow like this.

Sew along the trim using the zipper foot.  I didn’t think I had a zipper foot, but I believe it comes with most machines.  This foot allows you to press the trim right up beside the foot, putting the stitch as close to the trim (or zipper) as possible.

After you have sewn all the trim, it’s now time to sew on the zipper.  You will need to buy an invisible zipper (as I did here) or remove one from an existing pillow, which I did with my floor pillows.  You will want a zipper a few inches smaller than one side of the pillow.  Center it on the pillow and pin it up against the trim like this.

Using the zipper foot, again, sew the zipper on pushing the zipper close to the foot.  Now you will need your other side of the pillow.  Make sure the pattern is going to match up and pin the zipper to this side like this.

Sew on the zipper.  After the zipper is on, test it to make sure it works.  Leave the zipper open.  Now you need to sew the ends of this side.  You will hold the pillow with the wrong side out and feel for the trim.  Sew along the trim (you will see what I mean in the next picture).  Sew until you reach the start and end of the working part of the zipper.  Be sure to tuck in the extra ends of the zipper in so they will get sewn into the pillow.  This is probably the hardest part to explain and there is no way to take a picture to explain it better.  Hopefully what I am describing is enough.

After you get the ends of the zipper side sewn, it is now time to finish it up.  With the wrong side out you will again, feel for the trim and sew along that bump leaving the trim (or the bump) facing in.  In this picture you can see the bump of the trim as the zipper foot stitched along the outer side of it.

Now you are done.  Turn your pillow to the right side

and stuff. Viola! A designer-like pillow but at a fraction of the cost.

Newest Project

My newest project… pillows.  With the new paint came new drapery, which the old pillows did not match.  But we weren’t budgeting for the whole room to be outfitted.  Instead I repurposed the old pillows, removing the zippers and cushions.  I bought some new very expensive discontinued (so therefore, on clearance and not really expensive) fabric and new trimming.  Now I have 3 floor pillows and 1 lumbar pillow and 3 more to go.

I am not a sewing kinda gal.  I have a sewing machine, I know how to use it, but I am not very good with it.  It’s more of an item that comes in handy every once in awhile, then one that I create from.  I am pretty impressed with how well they turned out.  The nice part is that almost anyone could do it.  Really, you could.  With as much information and tutorials that are available online, you can really teach yourself how to do this type of project.

Favorite Part

My very favorite part of the dress, though, is not really anything with the dress itself.  I never had the dress cleaned.  And I never want to.  All the signs of use are what I relish, when I pull it out to look at it.

I cherish each deep wrinkle from being packed away in an army bag and traveling miles and miles away from home.  I search for the dirt that was picked up on the rocks of Whiskey Falls as we said our vows.  I love the unraveled yellow french knots that fell out as I walked down Haight-Ashbury in my “gown”.  It’s these “imperfections” that make it perfect.

As is all the parts of my marriage.  It is all the dirt, unraveled times, and wrinkles that have pulled us together and made us closer.