Okay, wow.

So, I know I've been entirely too long between posts you guys, BUT a ridiculous amount has been going on around here lately, and the "having-time-to-type-it-all-up" just HAS NOT been there. I do have a few minutes right now though, so here we go!

1. After finishing the bridesmaid's dresses I sort of shut down for a few days. I also came to the realization that until both of my children are in school, I won't be able to take on any more large scale projects or commissions. Sad day. Sad face. Sad me. However, it's reality. I have too much on my plate already as a mom/housewife/daughter/friend/alterative that when I add a huge commission or project, there is no balance. I end up procrastinating until I only have a few weeks or days to finish the project, and then I have to neglect most (or all) other duties until the commission is finished. While this allows me to continue to produce beautiful work, and makes me feel creatively accomplished... It's completely exhausting. It's not fair to my children. It's not fair to my husband. It's not fair to my sister, who in her kind and generous self found the courage to come clean our house, cook our meals, and care for our children, while I holed up in my sewing room for a week. SO, despite the gorgeousness of these dresses...

Sorry I don't have a better picture than this yet. Lol! I seriously love this one though, it's super cute!

They are my last big project for about the next year...

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2. We have inherited a kitten. Her name is now Kitty Gir.

For those of you who are familiar with Invader Zim, yes. That's where the name came from. 

I know, I know, I did in fact post on facebook that we couldn't keep her. The truth is, we love her, and we are keeping her despite the fact that we probably shouldn't. Reasons why we shouldn't? Those have to wait. I wanted to tell you guys now, but was told we have to wait till the end of the year to make THAT general announcement. Those of you who are privileged enough to already know... SSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH. It's still a secret.

Now, Moving on. Anyone who knows me well, also knows that I am not a huge fan of having pets. I have many reasons, among those being that growing up we had a zillion pets all the time and while occasionally that was super-cool, most of the time it kinda sucked. I hated having to clean up after them... the responsibility of it all... and well... I was a kid. We had 4 dogs, 2 cats, 3 birds, 2 horses, and a whole freaking flock of chickens. Not to mention the random snakes and lizards that we took in on a regular basis as well. So yeah, I've resisted the urge to have a pet around the house. BUT this kitten was in need of rescue, not to speak too badly of our neighbors (I won't say which ones), but they dumped her in the street because they didn't want her. TWICE. Evie was the one that found her both freaking times. Ridiculous.

Also, we've tried having puppies. I have given the pet thing a try. I'm not a completely heartless bitch. Two different pups in the last year actually. Both of them have been given away to better homes. I don't like to talk about it. Apparently I am not a dog person. Enough said. Good thing Kitty Gir is a kitten, right? Lol! 

Another factor, I have constantly stated that  it's impossible enough to be potty training children, I don't want to have to house break an animal at the same time. Well, Kitty Gir is apparently already litter-box trained. Not a single accident in four days, and my husband is somewhat frustrated that she's not given us a reason to re-home her. 

So then we're thinking, a small petite little 8 week old kitty will never last between our two rambunctious heathens... Right? Well. That was probably the assumption on which we were most incorrect. Sweet Evie treats her like a rag doll, flopping her everywhere, and the damn cat loves it. Seriously she does just about anything either of the kids wants her to, and when she gets tired of playing she goes upstairs and hides in my closet. (SSSSHHHHHH, don't tell Izaak and Evie her hiding spot!) She's an angel with the kids. 

Seriously.

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3. My Nana passed away this week. She was 84 years of awesome. 

This is the woman who was so strict one minute, and the next we'd be cuddled on the couch watching soap operas. She was a pillar of strength, wisdom, and absolute faith. 

She is the woman who taught me how to wear a dress in public, all about the love of God, how to iron my clothes, how to sew, and how to cook bacon without burning it. She was fair, she was a spit-fire, she was so loyal. She got her driver's license for the first time, and bought her first car, at the age of 61. She was comfortable, and solid, set in her ways. Nana was a collector of salt and pepper shaker sets. Seriously, she had 409 unique sets from all over the world. Every time we went to her house we would help her dust them and then sit in the hall and use them to play out fantastical stories. I'll be meeting up with my aunt soon to get a few. I'll show you guys then, there were some really amazing pieces. Also, when she let her guard down she was an absolute romantic at heart. 

This is the woman who moved to Michigan and married my grandfather after her first love went off to war (and had decided to try out some local flavor), they were reconnected by some mutual friends and fell in love all over again. When she was in her seventies. This is, of course, after having laid Papa to rest many years before (he passed when I was only 2 years old.) After having raised five children. After being a loving and proud grandmother of seven, and an even more proud great-grandmother of eleven. Even in her advanced stages of dementia she fell in love with him yet again in the form of a sweet little old man who lived down the hall from her in the nursing home. Ty, even though you weren't my papa, thank you for giving my grandmother some of the happiest years of her life. Especially this last one. You gave her something to hold onto, even though it may have just been a memory, you brought her the greatest joy in her last year on earth. 

I can only hope to be the kind of woman that she would have been proud of. I love you Nana.

Nana with my dad and her daughters on her 84th birthday last month. Rest in peace. <3 

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