Sailing

I've heard that people live on their sail boats. Sailboat living is cheap. Many people retire early to live out the rest of their days sailing. At first it may sound like an adventure but I'm not sure I would love living on top of the water...especially during hurricane season in the south.
I have always been curious about sailing. It's something I associate with retired people who have nothing else to do. I've only had it on my bucket list because I just want to be able to say that I've been sailing...find out for myself what all the hype is about. The guy who took us out on his boat is one of Paul's co-workers. How he makes friends with these random people at work I will never know.
Now that I have been I would say that everyone should take the opportunity. I thought of my Mom as I sat there and watched the sunset with the wind in my hair and a light spray of the ocean on my face. I knew that only my Mom would appreciate something so relaxing.
Siting there was almost as awesome as getting to sail it for myself. I was determined that if Bill asked I was not at any means going to touch the wheel of that boat. I thought for sure I would be the one to capsize his hand crafted sailboat. After he told the story of how it was his fathers project and together as father and son they had built it themselves there's no way I was going to touch anything but my butt to the seat.
After much insisting I took the wheel and he talked me through it. It was pretty much awesome...and I didn't even crash it!
Paul kept talking about how relaxing it was all the way home. Who knows someday in the far distant future we may have the bright idea to join the rest of those retired folks out there....but probably not.

Thanks Bill for showing us more of the beautiful side of Texas!

Refining My Skills

I used to watch my Mom sew. She has an amazing talent to make something out of nothing. When I got into high school I was determined to take a sewing class and become an expert. I'm pretty sure I failed miserably. My sewing teacher was far less impressed with me...I was not my sisters!
My problem. I had not an ounce of patience. However it was going to come out was good enough for me. That was until the finished product was a disaster. Then depression would set in. Since then I have put a lot of time in with my Mom, and have watched my sisters over the years. I know now that it's not as hard as I was making it and quality is always better than quantity.
After Paul bought me a beautiful antique sewing machine for Christmas (it runs like a dream) I started making things. At first I had to get over that voice that was telling me that my skills weren't refined enough.
My first project was a quilt that is almost done! This was the second project. If I can do it....you can do it! These cost between $35-$40. I did two for $7.
This is the tutorial I used...the internet is my best friend! It was so easy.

Nursing Cover:

http://madebythemamamonster.blogspot.com/2008/04/nursing-cover-tutorial.html

PS I used a 12 inch piece of boning on each of these because the 16 inch was way too big. I'm a little more private than that!

Simple Things

I love the simple things in life. The things that make you forget about everything in the world around you and help you to focus on the important things.
Paul and I had the opportunity to help teach with the missionaries a couple of weeks ago. I had the opportunity to share with one of these people what makes me happy and gives me the most joy. If I had a little more time to think about it, I would have said that nothing brings me greater joy than being in the temple.
I love this place. This one's a little smaller, but it's beautiful and has become my sanctuary in this not so small town.


Side note: I hate that I can't get a really great picture of both of us unless I ask a random stranger to take one.
Hence the awesome awkward close up! It was really bright.

Names

Everyone keeps asking me about names. Everyday we think a little bit about it and everyday we make a little bit of progress. We were looking at five different names, and now we are down to two. I think we like them pretty equally. So I have come to ask your help....although you may not sway our decision I think it would be nice to get some opinions.

I like the idea of naming her after one or two of the amazing women in my life.

Audrey Lyle (Lyle is my grandmothers name. We would like to use one of the grandmothers names but we haven't decided which one yet. Lyle, Nola, Eleanor, or Mary.)

Elizabeth Anne (Elizabeth, and Anne are our Mom's names.)

Please don't say you like both....that will not help in the decision making. I need honest answers here!

I love things that come in little packages

I love mail! I love taking a little stroll out to my mailbox to find something inside. Anything is welcome...although bills aren't the most exciting. At least I feel happy when I can send them back to where ever they came from and not have to worry about them for the rest of the month.
Yesterday I was particularly lucky when I received three envelopes, and all of them contained happiness inside. The first was a gift card from our electric company to Subway. No strings attached, free food...just how I like it! Then there was a graduation announcement from my cousin on Paul's side. Shannon is one of my best friends and I'm so excited for her and her upcoming college debut. Lastly I received the cutest birthday card from my Mother-in-law. I'm sure she is one of the most creative people I know. I think this plays a part in the fact that Paul is such and awesome engineer. Thank you for the card Anne! It made my day!

For all the rest of you...go check your mail. Who knows, you might find something there waiting for you.

Getting me some new skills

Have you ever met or known a women who is obsessed with crocheting or knitting? It seems like their hands are always crocheting and their mouth is always doing something else. I admire that these women seem to have something to do where ever they go. You can be sure that they are always prepared with a skein of yarn and some hooks or needles depending on what they are doing. Well I've never been interested in this skill before. I think the last time I tried was in our Young Women group at church when I was 12. I was really terrible at it because I was so impatient for it to become something. Hopefully I have grown a little more patient since then...because after seeing these beauties I'm looking into developing a new skill.

You Tube here I come!

I had to say goodbye again

Kimberly and Tamara,
You were a much needed visit from home. I know it was cramped because my apartment is hardly large enough for four people, and you had to be woken up by Paul every morning. Maybe next time someone decides to visits me I will have a home...or at least an extra bedroom. Thank you girls for making my mornings brighter, my days full of sun and laughs, and my evenings full of dessert and chick flicks.
I swear I am still recovering from eating so much ice cream. The amount you left is still in the fridge, and I have a filling it's going to be there for a while. Above all thanks for bringing a little bit of home with you! I'll see you again soon...

PS. Thanks for the note. I would never forget you two!

Exhibit A:
This is my calendar...I think the Kimberly and Tamara had claim to the lower portion.