What always amazes me about this house (besides the lack of upstairs closets and the colour scheme which is not to my personal tastes) is its ability to seemingly swallow up items… but only when you NEED them, otherwise you trip over them everywhere you look, find that particular thing instead of the one you are currently on the hunts for… today’s missing item – actually ITEMS – the automatic air pump for the air mattress and so in turn for the new pool! We actually have TWO of the battery operated items SOMEWHERE in the magical house of missing stuff. So Ken in turn had to head off to Home Depot – after an extensive search of the bowels of the house (aka the basement spare bedroom)… this time to throw off the shackles of battery operated to purchase a PLUG IN version.

In the wake of a totally FLAT and unfillable pool the kids resorted to eating their light lunch of sandwiches, apples and pretzels outside at the picnic table (have I mentioned how badly I want ADULT patio furniture!! Desperately!!). In fact, I think this is our first relatively quiet and relaxed Saturday in over a month! No craft sessions, parties, travelling… just our backyard toys, sunshine and fun.

We also did some follow up on our zoo trip using the trays we bought for our extended drives down to Minnesota.

And then… at last… THE POOL!

I can finally post my newest completed stitch – a piece for Ada to give her mother. This is based on the Chinese characters for Fortune and Luck. It is to be hung upsides down (I think that has something to do with keeping the fortune and luck) on the door of their home. I did it up on 14 count ecru aida and REALLY hope her parents like it!

I also was able to send an picture of the completed “quick stitch” to my friend who requested a pattern she could do up in a shorter period of time. This one is of the Inukshuk. I am VERY happy with this one and have a stitched version done up (prototype) I am willing to part with for a price so if you are interested be sure to drop me a line!

Now our stitching focus really HAS TO move back to that June wedding sampler… with a minor sidetrack on the design my Cousin David requested back at Christmas (sorry it is taking so long!). A friend of Ken’s off WoW just gave birth to her first child (a wee bit premature) and I am determined to find the time to do up something for her as well if possible… BUT there IS the matter of a wedding present from LAST August that will now (hopefully) be completed as a one year Anniversary gift instead to another cousin. When am I ever going to find the time to learn how to knit or crochet???

For some reason today I have been feeling a little bit of disconnect from my extended family. Not my mom but the other side. I guess there are moments where it feels like consistent contact is a lifetime away and so much added pressure on my plate. I actually do not hear from people as often as I would like and thought that they were keeping up by checking in occasionally here on my blog, only to be alerted to the fact that they were not reading it at all. Of course this is all accentuated by the pregnancy hormones for which I take full responsibility for. Well to that effect I am working on getting the envelope of way belated events out in the post this upcoming week. I finished the grad card this afternoon, and hope to have each of the kids finish up a piece of their art work to include. I think it mainly comes down to an increased wish of having some sort of semi consistent reaction or check in with this particular pregnancy. It does feel like, to some extent, because this is Baby #5 or pregnancy #4 people are looking at it as same old same old and just not so excited. I mean I know *I* am excited and KEN is excited (and many of our friends and family) but the bulk of those people in our lives seem… less so. (again pregnancy hormones)

Grad card

On the topic of this pregnancy… we are starting our more minor purchases for the baby… though I have my wish list at Babies R Us (see the link at the right with the registry number if you are curious). Though we are not getting OFFICIAL photos done until July Ken and I are racking our brains for ideas to play around with with our own camera.

I did try a new recipe for pancakes this evening using the applesauce we made with our Braeburn apples. A huge success with the whole family! I switched out the regular sugar for brown sugar of course!

Cinnamon Applesauce Pancakes

12 pancakes

Ingredients

2 cups flour

4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tblsp sugar

2 cups water

1/2 cup cinnamon applesauce

1/4 tsp  vanilla extract

Directions

Combine dry ingredients, then add remaining ingredients and beat together.

Pour the batter onto a hot, lightly oiled griddle or skillet. Cook until pancakes have a bubbly surface and slightly dry edges. Turn pancakes and cook for additional time

NOTE: for waffles add 3 tblsp oil to the batter.

Not a single pancake left, and definitely one I need to make as a triple batch at the least!

Here I am, the end of the day and my train of thought… derailed… so I think I will end it here! Fun in the sun has been had though!

Apple Blossoms already!