Back to School...

I love "back to school" time each year. And yes, no one in our house even goes to school (right now!) But I love the idea of fresh notebooks, crayons, and folders and getting it all set with your backpack. It has always been my favorite part of the school year... and if that and bulletin boards were all there really was to being a teacher, I'd be there (but if you know me... you know I'm not the teacher-to-children-other-than-my-own type).

Anyhow... I was reminded of Mr. Sketch markers today as I was thumbing through a back-to-school craft magazine. Almost instantly, I could smell the blend of mint, chocolate, apple, and licorice markers. Its one of those things that I'm still amazed are still around... was it actually safe for us to inhale all those together??? :)

Confession Time

I have a confession... I love houseguests. Really I do. I realized this today as I was getting out towels, swishing the bathroom, stocking TP, etc for some last minute houseguests. I really do love it. I love trying to make my home as comfortable for friends and family as it is for me. We use to joke about our house in Minnesota being the McGregor Inn, because of the frequent guests we had when we first moved in... my MIL had even bought me a guest book to keep track of our visitors. And now that we're in Ohio and we don't have as many guests, I really do miss it and truly cherish the ones who do come!

So, if you're in the neighborhood... please feel free to stop by. The McGregor Inn is open!

Feelin' like Martha... again!

So here was the dilemma. We have 2 wonderful westward facing windows in our formal dining room that allow in the wonderful breezes (especially on day's like today, sunny, 75F, no humidity- did I mention its august?!). But my dilemma has always been, how do I keep the very light-weight (and totally for fashion, not function) panel curtains from blowing all over my dining room and people, if you're trying to actually use the room.

My brainstorm (aka: Martha Moment!) today: Napkin rings!! They are the perfect tie-backs for my curtains. They are heavy enough to keep the curtains from blowing and yet light enough they don't just fall off! Who knew!!

Slowly, but surely

Life is returning to normal around here. And thank goodness.... I'm not sure how much more of the random side-dishes of life I could take. K seems to be over UTI numero dos, this time a little quicker than numero uno. Of course, its still a constant battle to drink enough fluid, take her medicines, get rid of the fluid she drank, etc. But, I'll take it. I'll take same old rountine any day of the week over a very sick child who isn't herself.

I know, I know, I know...

Blogs are meant to be UPDATED! So like my Mama Friend, I will be trying harder to keep my blog up to date.

Life has been CRAZY! With a Capital everything. There have been so many happenings, positive and negative, it would take me hours (and giving up my mornign shower!) to give you all the details but since my last blog, here's what we've been up to:

1. March for Babies - a huge success in Clark County! Thanks for all your great support (PS- if you meant to donate and forgot, its still not to late!)
2. Mothers Day - which was a wonderful day with my husband and daughter
3.Trip to WI to visit with Cousin Avery and Auntie Kya who was home from Seattle for her college graduation (WAY TO GO KYA!)
4. From LaCrosse WI to Minneapolis for a day visit with the McGregor Clan (Happy belated Birthday, Uncle Michael) and to see good friends!
5. From Minneapolis to Annandale MN to see the Princess Pigtails and her Mama. We had 2 great days filled with 2 1/2 year old fun and then...
6. A trip to the Buffalo Urgent Care for Kelsey - her first UTI.
7. A trip back to Kohler to get Kesley well - it worked (for a while)
8. While in Kohler, Mom has unexpected surgery (turned out to be okay and she's doing well!)
9. Trip back to Springfield (with Scott!) and HOME, aka: my own bed and house!
10. We enjoy a quiet week at home, get the sailboat out with sails up, enjoy some great weather, some great stormy weather and then...
11. BAHM! Kelsey has a UTI, again. Forunately, we're home this time. Now we begin the process of getting her well again and then traveling to Dayton Children's for some tests.

Its been a crazy couple of weeks, folks. So I hope you can understand my lack of blogging (not tomention my husband doesn't think I NEED a laptop! - any help on that is appreciated!)

A Martha Moment...

I occasionally have what I call a Martha Moment... one of those moments when you actually do something household or crafty, right. Just like Martha would do.

Yesterday, I put in a load of laundry, random light colored things. My good khaki pants, a few light colored shirts, some pj's, etc. I emptied the pockets, added the Cheer, Downy, hit "Warm/Cold" and GO! You can imagine how surprised I was when I opened up the washer and every item had red spots on it. Now, there was nothing red in the load, and it was only little 1/2 inch spots, usually 1-2 per item... on every single thing. I quickly thought "don't dry these - it will set the stain (what ever this is!) and got out the shout gel, and went to work. I dotted and rubbed each little red dot on every item, but it all back in the washer, did the soap, downy, water, ON thing again and said a little prayer. After all those are my favorite khaki pants!

And 30 mins later when the washer was done - VIOLA! NO RED SPOTS! I know it wasn't rocket science... but I was so glad to have saved a load of laundry (and my favorite pants!) I declared this an official Martha Moment!

Come out, come out wherever you are!

I am referring to SPRING!!! After 5 glorious days of sunshine, 60's and 70's, yard work, trips to the park... spring is hiding. And I want it to come back!!!! Now, I must say, we could have had the days, upon days, upon days of rain that my parents were having or we could have had snow like our Minnesota friends were having. But I am tried of clouds and drizzle. I WANT SUN!!!!!

So, if you know where its hiding, please send it this way. I will be forever grateful.