More Sewing

I am trying my hand at writing my own patterns. I started with something simple like a bib with a crumb catching pocket for Jax. I made a set in an adorable elephant print.

I need to finish them with a Velcro fastener and then they are ready for Mr. Jax to try on!

Our Garden in the city

Who says you have to have a yard to grow a garden? Here we've planted various flowers, cherry tomatoes, spinach, basil, rosemary, and two types of lavender! I love spring :)

The Rare Post by Brenden

I sometimes wonder if the re-post or the copy and paste ability is making our culture less wise and more detached. I have noticed that we have this short cut system that sometimes (in my opinion more often than not) allows people to attach themselves to a system of thought or belief without actually going through the process of explaining why and what they believe, so instead of putting your opinion out there to be questioned or discussed we simply can post a link and add our short one liner to attach a positive or negative opinion of whatever (let's not even talk about the "like button")

The other aspect of this potential problem is the group or party name... now imagine if we didn't have short cuts to explain why and what you believe by simply saying "I'm a Republican" or "I'm a Democrat" or even the religious side of it with "I'm a Baptist" or "I'm a Lutheran".

I feel like we lose something in the cultural or personal relationship when we don't take the time relate our thoughts better to one another. For example my wife and I were talking the other night about infant deaths and aspect of the soul, this was turning into a wide reaching topic of discussion and getting into things such as baptism, predestination, and the nature of sin. I thought that this was a great conversation even though it took time to touch on its many aspects even briefly, it encouraged intimacy of relationship and understanding but also simple art of conversation. This short cut ability alienates and detaches us from one another to the point of not even having complete conversations with each other and relying on or preferring text messaging to actually talking.

Oh the wonders of our modern world... just think how connected we are because of them. We can can play video games with a friend without actually being with the friend. We can actually have multiple text conversation with people without the use pesky things such as body language or even complete words.... isn't tht gr8...LOL. We can find out how people are doing and what they are up to without actually having to ask them... we can be friends without actually knowing them.

I'm not saying all these things don't serve a purpose and a use on a certain level but what referring to is not the occasional complementary addition but more so normal replacement use of these things.

So when the situation allows... sit down have a conversation and try not to sum up what you believe by saying you are a "blank" or a 4 or 5 point whatever... just explian what you believe and why and if you are not so good at putting the words together to explain yourself then that's alright because the more you do it the better you will get at it.

Just some thoughts by Brenden Drew

Placemats and Cloth Napkins

I had made a cute little placemat for my nephew, Jax, and my sister-in-law loved it so much that I made her a set (with cloth napkins). The top is the pretty blue and the back is a bright yellow polka dot fabric. I just love the blue and yellow combination!

When I left

I was 19 when I moved away from home to attend college. My dad drove me from Iowa to San Diego, a city I'd never been, to drop me off for school. I was nervous but ready. My parents were heart-broken and not ready but they encouraged me anyway. They had raised me to be a responsible, capable adult and this was the first test. Would I make it? Would I be too homesick to branch out of the nest? I know a lot of people who would rather keep their kids at home as long as possible. My parents wanted me near them at all times too. But they knew it wouldn't be best for me. I was a growing adult and needed to grow on my own. And they took the hardship, knowing it was best for me. I am so thankful for them.

Flash Mob

Ever the performer at heart, I was shocked that I had never heard of "flash mobbing". Apparently, it has been a very trendy performance art in Europe and here in the States. A flash mob is a large group of people who gather in a very public place (train station, courtyard, etc) and perform a meaningless act and then quickly disburse. There are several various of acts, some flash mobs will freeze in place at the same time (200+ people), some will start one person dancing and then one by one, everyone will jump in and dance. Because it lifts my spirits so much, here is a video of my favorite mob performing a dance to "Do Re Me" in a Belgium train station. Hope you love it!

Easter Weekend

My dad came to visit for Easter weekend. We took him up to Mt St Helen's which was so snowed over, the park rangers pulled us over and advised us not to drive any further. We ignored their warnings (very politely, of course) and had an amazing (and scary) time off-roading through the snow. Later we wondered upon the best bar and grill in Cougar, WA. The burgers were great! We will be returning!

Brenden and Dad smoked pipes outside the barred "gift shop".