real life day camp

Hooray! I was finally able to go on a field trip with Kennedy! I'm not sure if it's just our district but each field trip only allotted for a specific amount of chaperones. Growing up I always thought it was if your parents wanted to come so I kind of thought their rules were bullshit 😜. Either way, my name was never drawn or I flat out wasn't available to attend.

On the day of the field trip Kennedy was dressed and ready to go asking if she could get a head start and pack her own lunch before our alarms even went off. 

PURE NOSTALGIA. Well, sort of. When my sister and I were younger we spent a few summers here for day camp but little did I know the barn and the grounds had been completely renovated! All around the camp you could see new neighborhoods that weren't there before and instead of the death trap of a rocky hill leading to the barn we were met with a beautiful brick-pavered getup. 

Every day leading up to the field trip I was bombarded with notes sent up explaining how important and matter-of-fact the departure times were. The parents were scheduled to leave ahead of the buses to be there when the kids arrived. First, the amount of chaperones was staggering. I was only responsible for Kennedy and one of her classmates. Second, the buses didn't arrive for almost an hour after we did? I know they have to drive slower and with more caution, but shit!

Finally, the kids arrive and we are off! The first thing we got to do was head over to ride horses and play on the playground. 

^^ in-between the two orange cones a bird decided to make it's nest and lay eggs. Each time anyone got remotely close it started squawking bloody murder (which as you can see is constantly since it's right on the main path). I'm not sure why it made that life decision.

 ^^ go best friend, that's her best friend!

Next on the list were farm duties. The kids all got to take turns feeding and holding the baby animals and were also able to take a turn milking the cow if they so desired. 

  

^^ why are it's eyes so large and alieny?

 ^^ I have never seen someone enjoy their job so much. 

  

^^ "Mom, what the fuck is in my hand right now."

And have you ever seen a cuter goat? This little guy was about the size of a green bean and absolutely adorable.

 Lastly it was our turn to take a hayride. This was probably Kennedy's least favorite part. 

She couldn't jump and run around, there were no animals, and the trail was through the woods with no entertaining sights to see. While we were on the hayride Kennedy's teacher got a text from one of the groups that was taking care of the baby animals saying that one of the goats gave birth to twins! Admittedly, I am not upset about missing the actual birth, but we weren't allowed to go back in to see the wee babes.

While we were waiting for all the groups to finish they got to play at the park for awhile longer and check out the animals in the fields. Ken even got to help walk a donkey back to the pasture. And then things took a turn for the worse. While she was running around she slipped and fell into a mud puddle. I am SO HAPPY that it happened within our last fifteen minutes because she was noticebly upset. But was that going to stop me from documenting it? Nope. Sorry, kid. I promise, I do love you!

She was cleaned up within a matter of moments and then it was time to head back to school. Even though I was a chaperone they wouldn't let me take Kennedy with me so I felt horrible that she had to ride back on the bus in soggy clothes. She's a trooper though.

 At least we got to ditch the three sizes too big fluorescent orange t-shift, right?

Leia

kindergarten fun facts: weeks 26-38

Holy shit!  Three months or twelve weeks weeks without updating.

In this time frame Kennedy has done a lot. She took the second portion of a computerized reading test where she tells me she scored 187, I was finally able to chaperone one of her field trips, she tells me she hates going to her technology and writer's workshop (and has even faked being sick on multiple occasions trying to get out of either), and we had Spring Break. School is only in session for two more more days! I'm hoping to have a better update as a whole on her kindergarten experience 😆

Until then a snap of Kennedy and her latest obsession. Headphones.

And there isn't even a kindergarten graduation.

Leia

rainbow quilt

You know when you have an idea and you are fully confident in your skills to bring that idea to life but then almost instantly regret the decision to make your idea a reality? Yeah, that was me when I decided to make my friend a rainbow quilt for her baby shower.

During Christmastime I made myself and my two sisters blankets; albeit, they were kind of ugly. The 'quilting' portion I was proud of, but the binding.. yuck. Overall they looked decent but a pro probably would have scoffed at me.

Well it all started with me picking out all the fabric which I had so much fun doing. Twenty-one colors in total for the quilt top. I got it home, washed it all and then began ironing in preparation of all the cutting that was in my future.

Why.

For my birthday my mom got me new sewing scissors and a cutting wheel and I finally got to use them to the fullest. The colors were all so gorgeous but I definitely felt over my head at this point. The amount of cutting was going to be the same regardless of how many colors I picked so this point is moot. But this is the point where I changed my mind from attempting a triangle quilt, to sticking with squares and I think it was a smart choice. I didn't want to risk trying something for the first time on a a gift that I wanted to be (hopefully) a lifelong keepsake.

Laying out the pattern was a little stressful. I wanted it to be random enough without looking wacky. I think I did a decent job aside from one spot which I'm not going to point out because maybe I'm the only one that notices it. Then came down to sewing all the rows, and then subsequently sewing all the rows together. I ironed out each row trying to be extremely precise and do things by the book.

Regardless of pinning and spray adhesive (which I am really excited to try out during Halloween costume time) some of the corners did not match up perfect and the chenille backing got a little stretched in some places. Ultimately I feel that these flaws add to heartfelt quality of a handmade item.

Also, I thought I would take my extra to the next level and do rainbow thread on the backing. It didn't come to fruition as I had imagined. The chenille was just plush enough that it obscured about 50% of the stitches on the back.

^^ Maybe one day I will have all my corners line up this perfectly.

 Loading the thread and switching out those bobbins was pretty tedious. As per usual, the project took me up until the last minute. So far I've put a black and white binding on all the blankets I've made and I ran out before I could finish. Luckily my mom pulled through in the end by finding it at the Joann's near her house. I was frantic and thought I wasn't going to be able to pull it off and have to leave a cheesy note in my gift back.

After scouring YouTube I finally found the best technique for a double sided binding and I only had to back up (majorly) one time and for that I was proud. I have enough fabric to make another one which I have debated about doing and potentially trying to sell that sucker.. that is if one of the kids doesn't call dibs. Kennedy kept saying to me, "I really just wish we could keep it."

And how fun to end a rainbow post on a black and white pic? Now just to wait until I get a picture of ze baby wrapped in ze baby blanket!

He'll be here in July!

Leia

black swan green

I've fallen behind again having just finished #9 for the year. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell is a book I've had on my list for over a year ever since reading Cloud Atlas and The Bone Clocks.

The story is about Jason Taylor in his thirteenth year. One of the reviews listed it as the UK version of Catcher in the Rye and I can totally dig it. Catcher in the Rye is one of my favorite books. I even have a tiny hardback copy that I stole from my high school and I might consider it a prized possession. The first thing I have to say is that the issues Jason experiences are more relatable than Holden's since it is set in more recent history, the 80's to be specific. Holden was stuck in the 40's but A) books are supposed to transport you to another time so ultimately it's a non-issue and B) the internal struggles he's faced with are just the same.

 Overall I really, really enjoyed this story but compared to David Mitchell's other works it was not a favorite. I'm hoping that makes sense. If you enjoyed Catcher in the Rye I would recommend giving this story a whirl and head into Kingfisher Meadows and meet Jason Taylor.

There were tons of quotes I loved, but most need the context or characters to be described or explained and felt like it would just ruin it. And all I'm thinking about is the episode of South Park with George R. R. Martin and how he can never finish a story. BUT, this one struck me particularly.

"People'er a nestful of needs. Dull needs, sharp needs, bottomless-pit needs, flash-in-the-pan needs, needs for things you can't hold, needs for things you can."



Read it before Hangman gets ya.
Leia

recent television

Over the past few months I have been in such a sweet spot for television. I've started and finished so many amazing series.

First and foremost one of my most beloved shows came to an end and in a way I never imagined it would. It really showcased how each of the girls changed (or didn't) and how all their decisions were leading up to their 'fate'. So often I had different mood swings of emotions with all the girls individually. From absolutely loathing them to cheering them on when they were down on their luck. I'm so sad to see this series go but I'm so happy it ended before it ever had a chance to turn tacky and unfamiliar.

Netflix for the win with this one. The Santa Clarita Diet had me in STITCHES. So many fucks and other curse words that I saw coming out of Drew Barrymore's mouth! It was so unexpected and it truly added to my enjoyment. If you like dry humor and unpredictable weirdness I HIGHLY recommend this short series for you.

Shameless. A show I just wanted to try out to fill a void in my television cycle. Everyone is constantly talking about Lip Gallagher this, fucking Frank Gallagher that and I finally had to see what all the buzz was about. Poor, white trash America at it's finest. At times it seems a little too far fetched but nevertheless it is extremely entertaining.

After Shameless came Bates Motel. It was always just lingering under "shows you might like". Brendon had previously watched it when I worked evenings, but never religiously. We started that up and I was so, so, happy we did. Creepy as hell, sketch, dramatic and you never know who to take at face value. Romero is my dude. And no spoilers because I don't have access to the final season!

Then I had full intentions of watching Thirteen Reasons Why after I read the book. Brendon had started watching Sons of Anarchy and I was literally like "ew, I'm not watching that." Somewhere in the middle of season three I caught about half an episode and by the end of it I was in tears; mind you I hadn't even gotten attached to any of the characters yet. I was literally asking names as I'm crying about them. I have yet to watch the beginning seasons but have watched diligently through the rest of the series and finished it off last night literally sobbing my eyes out. About halfway through the episode my mind saw where things were going and I could not control my emotions. It was all too sad for me. So many notable deaths and the amount of tears I shed is on the verge of embarrassing. Side note, I never saw the full on attraction for Jax. He was nasty, greasy, completely absent and had no sense of reality when it came to his loved ones (for the most part). Nice face and bod? Sure, I'll give him that.

Intermittently I have watched some of Bill Nye's new show. The format is different than what I expected, but I like it! I only wish that the episodes were longer and the people who should be watching it were; but they aren't. Ya know the ones that somehow think that a mass population of people are making science up? The show is definitely aimed at the younger generation but the topics discussed are important ones. So far they have ranged from climate change to GMOs to alternative medicine.

Shows I still need to watch include but are not limited to: Thirteen Reasons Why, the new season of House of Cards, and Girl Boss. And there are probably others that I have forgotten about.

Other shows that I've recommended this week? Westworld (still seething that we won't be blessed with season two until 2018), Spoils of Babylon (the most underrated show and was only given two seasons), and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp.



Binge watching powers, activate!
Leia