Soaring

Here it is! The photos you've been waiting for.....projects that I have accomplished. I actually started and completed a few things that I was otherwise afraid to even start because it looked too hard and I didn't know where to start. I'm so glad that I decided to use those wings because soaring is great fun!

Denim Tote Bag

I didn't realize until after everything was finished that adding a liner might be a nice addition. I'm still trying to figure out how to do that by researching on the web. This bag actually took me few months of putting it off to finish.

Blue Hawaiian Print A line skirt

I freehanded this skirt, I had no pattern, just another skirt that I kind of tried to replicate, at least the style. I actually wore to church on Sunday. Does the material look familiar to some of you??

Pink paisley print girls shorts

After several mistakes and a couple hours I was determined to finish them for Olivia ( she was patiently waiting) Turns out that they might work better for Tori.

Gardening Adventure Spring/Summer 07

Luke and Tori planting seeds

Cody and Olivia hard at work

With the help of the whole family we finally completed the first of our gardening. After tilling, weeding and taking all the rocks out of our plot we added extra soil from atop of our little hill. We also added a little compost soil with other nutrients from a bag that we bought from the store with a little added chicken manure. There's nothing like a nice long afternoon of digging in the dirt. Cody and I were left to sow the seeds.

What did we plant?

* Manoa lettuce

* Anuenue lettuce

* pak choy (a type of Chinese greenery, good in stir frys or soups)

* broccoli

* green peppers

And in separate containers we started seeds such as: baby watermelon, marigolds (Seth's Pick), lavender (Olivia's pick), and sunflowers. We still have corn to plant on our hill and more peppers and I can't remember what else, oh beans and...uh...I can't remember. We tried to stick with the things that we eat a lot of. We eat lots of salads and stir fries, so we stuck to those types of veggies. I didn't get cucumber, but wouldn't mind trying to grow them. We have grape tomatoes growing on the other side of our yard. Cody found them and transplanted them into our yard. Yes, I did make sure they weren't someone else's plants. Along with our garden that we started, Cody has a Taro (Kalo) garden that is doing really well. It's so much fun to watch things grow.

Paintball Fever

I have not been in the middle of the game yet, but from what they say it's a blast. While in the kitchen I hear the faint paint ball gun shots from a distance. All I can do is imagine what is going on. An hour later they head toward home over the field with sweaty faces and all stripped of all the padding that they started with, exhausted, but ready to share all their stories accompanied with excitement and laughter. And me, I am totally stoked to hear the stories and all giddy that my boys and their dad were having a blast. It has been the latest buzz around here. You know, boys and their toys?! There's always something new, but this one they can all take part in at the same time. The only thing, when there is something that these guys are all into, it means that somehow and some time soon mom will be taking part in the fun including the girls. I'm still not too sure about that. I just can't imagine getting hit by a really fast paint ball aimed at me. Ash says Olivia can play and she can shoot all she wants, but nobody can shoot her. Second thought, I'll get into the action if I can play by Olivia's rules. Let the game begin!

The Best Restaurant in Town

It's a hit! It's located right here in Papaikou, Hawaii. It's a little cottage type building, painted with the nicest color green paint I've ever seen, topped off with a beautiful white trim. It has a super view of the ocean. The service is awesome and the food is the best I've ever tasted. And it has been frequented by a gentleman named Seth and a lady named Olivia. Yep, you guessed! The best restaurant in town is 'The Kanahele kafe'. And you've gotta try it! You won't be sorry!

On the menu:

Ahi Pasta with roma tomatoes and capers and whole wheat broiled bread topped with parmesean/mozarella cheese

This has been Seth's and Olivia's favorite pastimes during the meal hour. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner is when they eat at this most popular restaurant. If you decide to go, you will find a candle to accompany your meal with the most beautiful table cloth (a faded blue baby blanket!) They would love to bring you along someday! Let them know when you'd like to make reservations. They know the ins and outs of everything.

Oh, I forgot to mention.....the chef....is the best in town, hehehe!

Olivia's own words when she see's the photos, "Ohh cute!! It's like a date! ( I've been telling her about how daddy and I go on dates like once a year and what it's like). She will be going on one of her own dates with daddy in about a week. They plan to go to a nice restaurant and then will go see a 'Cinderella' play together. I plan to be ambitious and make her date dress, but I'll probably end up buying one for her. Olivia can't stop talking about it. By the way, she says she's going to marry daddy :o) It makes me all bubbly and happy inside when I think of my daughter growing up having one of the best daddy's in the world. And she's totally in love with him and I am too!

Mother's Day Treasures

I hope you all had a beautiful Mother's Day!

As my gift for Mother's Day, I was able to go to the fabric store and buy material. You're probably wondering material??? Yes, material has been on my mind and what I can create with it, if I can even get to that point.

I ended up at the fabric store on Monday afternoon and here is what I found....

I found all of them reduced in price, some for a 1.99 a yard, some at 2.50 a yd. Most of them, I got just a yard or two because I still don't know what I'm going to make. I know the possibilities are endless.....handbags, dresses for the girls, coasters, place mats, fun aprons...the list can go on. I've been searching on the internet for ideas, browsing etsy, and inspiring blogs for ideas. The tricky part is to try to find decent time to actually sit down to sew. Late night hours has been the only option lately. I can't seem to figure out how all these other mothers who still have children at home find soo much leisure time. I'm lucky if I can get a half hour of uninterrupted time. Today my littles were back to their nap schedule. I hope the nap time might give me some time to get my creative juices started or even to put my hands to the machine.

So far, I've experimented by making a tote bag, not realizing until almost done that I needed a liner. Learning how to insert the liner and the handles is yet another hurdle I have to get over. I know it must be quite simple once I get over these hurdles and then hopefully, I'll be soaring because my little girl here is counting on me to sew her a dress and real soon. I completed my very first one for Olivia earlier this spring. It's time for the second one.

This afternoon when I finally had a little time, I set out to cut out a pattern for a girls dress. I completed that and then I was ready to pin the pattern to the material. There was a problem! I didn't quite know how to place it on the material with the folds and selvage and all. These patterns still look like french to me. I convinced myself that I either need to ask lots of questions from someone who is more experienced in sewing , borrow books from the library or find a sewing class.

In the mean time, I am growing impatient because of course I want to be awesome at sewing in less time than it really takes. I wish it could be that way for everything!! I still have a garden plot waiting in the yard for me. The plot is marked off, the soil is tilled and rid of all weeds. It's just waiting...my bell pepper plants are waiting for me too.

I think a big part of everything and even other people waiting on me is fear. Fear of failure, trying to do something and not having the right outcome , not having confidence that I can do it! I am tired of this fear and I will not let it take the place of possibilities and hope. With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (2Timothy 1:7)

So, this day forward with my material, with my garden, with my home school and God on my side I will soar to different places and I will experience a life of freedom and liberty. And I will create beautiful things upon my sewing machine and vegetables will grow in abundance, and my home school will flourish. Who wants to join me?

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31