Whoa. Today was the last day of school. So that means I’m about to become an even more hard-core late night quilter.
There will be very little time to steal moments during the day for my quilting. I won’t be sneaking upstairs at 11 am to cut one more strip of binding before making that pile of Pb&Js. And I can’t hide in the closet to press that last seam before rushing to the bus stop (yes, I’ve been known to iron in the closet. What? Don’t you?).
It’s going to be all kids, all the time for awhile around here.
And if you know me, and know where I live, you know that I am not kidding. Here’s how we greeted the kids as they got off the bus today. In my ‘hood, we’re serious about fun.
On the weekends (and when you’re a kid, summer is really just one long weekend, right?) there are often 10 plus kids at my house at any given time. We have a wild neighborhood where the kids flow from one house to the next, bouncing on one trampoline then another, in an endless circle of fun.
It’s time to break out the light roast coffee and the Dr. Pepper. When you see me double-fisting them, you know things have gotten bad. I don’t care what I have to do, I will quilt from 9 pm to 2 am.
I just have to. It’s part of being a balanced mom. A tired, but balanced mom.
Speaking of a tired mom. Guess what we won at the school festival last week?
You guessed it… another living creature!!
We collect living creatures at the Palmer Household. Right now we’ve got four kids, two bunnies, a dog, two birds and now….
A new Beta named Bluebonnet!
So I tried to do something inspiring with this lonely little Beta. We gave him a huge, sparkling new condo, topped with a Peace Lilly so he can hide in the roots.
I think he’s pretty happy hanging out in our entrance way.
Despite the week of school parties, carnivals, last minute homework assignments, and my parents packing up and leaving blazing hot Austin for the summer, I did manage to quilt and bind this pretty little thing.
It’s a simple patchwork quilt (you know I love me some squares) pieced by Pam Howland, and I quilted it with my Boxcar design.
The quilt will be donated to the charity called Friends of Annie. The charity focuses on bringing awareness to the issue of depression, and it was founded by my lovely friend Jessica Darling and Linda Thune.
I’m linking up to Link a Finish Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday, Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday, Finish It Up Friday, Fabric Frenzy Friday, Sewjo @ My Go Go Life, and Show Off Saturday @ Sew She Can and Inspiration Friday @Nini and the Sea.
Happy Summer!
10 Comments
A progressive trampoline party sounds like fun, even for adults!
Your neighborhood sounds great … now I just need to find the same thing for adults. Great finish on the quilt and what a good cause.
Your neighbourhood sounds so fun!
You’re my kind of mom! I loved doing things like that with my kids. Heck they are grown and we still love doing things like that. Enjoy your kids and I’ll stitch with you late into the evening.
Sounds like you live in a wonderful place to raise your kids! Congratulations on the finish, and good luck getting some sleep over the next few months!
Are those your gold shoes? Love the way you roll!
Sounds like the perfect neighborhood in which to be a kid!
Congrats on a fab quilt finish!
Sounds like every kid’s dream vacation is about to begin! Good luck getting some quilting, and some sleep.
I’ve got to say, I know having 4 kids must be hard work, but it sounds like fun in your neighbourhood – swap you my day job in rainy England for your summer??
Great quilt and a cause that is very close to my heart.
Your neighbourhood sounds lovely, safe and friendly. I love the idea of open homes that kids are able to move between. I live in a small town in Australia where it is still safe enough for our kids to brought up like this too. Hope you’re getting some quilting in? Your school holidays are so long in the States! We get six weeks summer holidays.