Grandma Mary Krile

At a week shy of 99 years old, my Grandma passed away last week.  She was a strong, faithful, and humble woman.  There's a joke I heard the other day that a Catholics worst nightmare is that they die, get to purgatory, and Mother Teresa's still there.  That's the way I feel about my Grandma.  She had unwavering faith and solid convictions her whole life.  While we weren't extremely close, there are few memories that I hope to share and pass down to Clare someday.

• Grandma was raised by her Grandfather in Wisconsin, while her father worked 6 days a week. 
• At the age of 22, she came from Oshkosh, WI to Pisek, ND to care for a relative.  She was then asked to become the priest's housekeeper and stayed in Pisek from then on out. 
• My grandfather courted her by giving her Holy cards.  Even though there was a 17 year age difference between them, they got married in 1940 when she was 27 years old.
• She worked at the Post Office and became Postmaster in 1973
• My Grandfather died in 1961, while my Dad was still in college.  Grandma never re-married, and lived way more of her life as a widower than a married woman.  I can't imagine living that long without your husband's support and love.  There meeting in heaven must have been a beautiful sight.
• She lived by herself in a single wide trailer in Pisek till she was 91.  She never drove a car and would make daily trips to the grocery store down the street.  She knew how to survive the harsh winters of North Dakota.  I've heard stories of getting a bowl of snow from outside and waiting for it to melt to get drinking water. 
• She used to have a beautiful orange cat that was a great companion.  When the cat died, someone gave her a fish.  The next winter, the fish froze in his bowl.  Winter's were harsh!
• In the summers, Grandma would have massive gardens on either side of her trailer.  Corn, dill, cabbage, peas, and beans sprouted everywhere.  The best memories were snapping green beans on her huge two bench swing in the back. 
• Grandma was an avid gardener, talented crocheter, cook, piano player, card player, and reader.
• The last time I visited her in 2008, my Aunt Rosemary kept insisting she play canasta with Kevin and me.  Grandma kept going on and on about how she couldn't remember how to play and that she had forgotten everything.  Her memory was starting to fade then, and she had good and bad days.  Finally, we talked her into playing.  We gave her 2 minutes to get her cards straight, and then she whomped us every round.  We didn't even have a chance.
• I want to say thank you to my parents, who drug all us kids on the three day drive, one way, every other summer trip to get to visit Grandma in Pisek, ND.  I know it was a hard trip to make, but I'm grateful for every memory we made. 

At my cousins wedding in California.

The last time I got to see her, and Kevin's first time to meet her.  I was just finishing my 1st Trimester with Clare and got to ask her a lot of advice.





Scrappy Sewing

Ever since I got my sewing machine last year, I've been drawn to simple small projects that mostly can be done with scraps.  I wanted to create a list of some of the things I've sewn, and now I see that they are mostly kid related.  I'm a very novice sewer, and I can promise you that if I can do any of these projects, then so can you.  Just click on the links below to find the blog tutorials!

Quilted Patchwork Baby Bibs

Great for showing off those little scraps of fabric you love. 

Very simple tutorial, and just requires batting and Velcro as extra supplies.

Super Hero Cape

Super Clare to the rescue!  This was Clare's "Santa" gift this year.  His elves were very proud of it.  We decided to come up with Clare's own shield instead of just copying superman, so you can get creative.  The cape does require buying more than a fat quarter of fabric, which I never like.  The Shield was made with felt sheets and double sided fusible web.

Magnetic Fishing Game

My very first sewing project, and a big hit with the kids. 

It can help with counting, color recognition, and fine motor skills for toddlers.

Square Pin Cushion

Okay, this project really doesn't revolve around kids, but I really loved it.  While it's not the best pin cushion in the world (pins stick out the bottom and stab you when you pick it up), it's a great way to always be able to see some of your favorite fabric scraps in use!  You could be creative and turn it into a ring holder for a wedding or pillow for your kids favorite doll

Toddler Tee-Pee

I had the most fun with this project, and the best part was that it cost around $10 to make!  The fabric is a twin sheet you buy at a Goodwill, and the polls are cheap PVC.  The best part about this is that when the kids are done playing hide and seek it folds up and can easily be hidden in a closet to get your floor space back.  I spray painted the PVC just to give it a more white color and used simple acrylic paint for the grass and stars.  I adapted the tutorial to fit my own aesthetic a bit, so go with what moves you.

Crayon Roll Up
Great beginners project and great Birthday present for kids!

Twin Boy's Onesies

No tutorial on this one, because I came up with it on the fly.  Clearance sale onesies tea bag dyed light brown.  Then use double sided fusible web to attach cut outs.  Lastly, zig-zag sew around the outer edges.  These were made for my friend having twins, but the options are limitless.

At Your Name

Coincidences are never just coincidences.  At least that's how I've always viewed life.  Today in the middle of my hum-drum monotonous housewife life, I was stopped in my tracks and reminded of my purpose.

Thursday's are my day off.  My Mom takes care of Clare during the day, and I normally fill my time off with hours of television and roaming around store after store with little a care in the world.  Today though, I've been deep cleaning the house in preparation for my in-laws visit this weekend.  I filled my hours with my usual glamorous duties; scrubbing the toilets, cleaning cat litter, laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, and moping.

Having a 3 year old normally attached to my hip, I fill our house with Christian music that praises God.  There is nothing like hearing your little angel start singing Lady Gaga explicit lyrics to make you change your listening preferences.  So normally when she's not around, I love to clean to every top 40 station I can listen too.  But today is part of Lent, and continuing a tradition that started in college, I'm only listening to Christian music as part of my sacrifice.  And yes, I consider not getting to rock out to Adele a sacrifice. 

As I was sweeping around the kitchen table, Phil Wichham's song, At Your Name, began to play on the radio.  I was only half way listening and more concerned with the odd colored sticky blob stuck on Clare's booster seat when I was stopped in my tracks. 

Lyrics for At Your Name

At Your name  [I heard a loud vibration sound come from the entry hall]

The Mountains shake and crumble [Vibration stopped so I went back to sweeping]

At Your name [The loud vibration was back and I could tell it was coming from on top of the door]

The oceans roll and tumble [The vibration stops again]

At Your name [The loud sound comes from the Crucifix I have hanging over the door]

Angels will bow, the earth will rejoice, Your people cry out  [I stand on top of a nearby chair and feel the vibrations from the crucified Jesus as the song plays on]

It was an extraordinary moment where God stopped me in my tracks and reminded me of my closeness with Him.  It was a moment where I felt God telling me that the annoying and menial tasks that fill my life as a stay at home Mom do matter.  As St. Therese wrote, "What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love."

So for everyone out there stuck cleaning out the work coffee pot, picking cheerios out of the carpet, or balancing the your tight budget, know that even though this will not get you loud praises, it will make you a better person in the end.