I like to hide things.

Not just normal things like a secret candy stash or special gifts for someone living in this house.  (well, those are items that I do hide, but, that's not what I'm referring too)

 No...I like to hide everyday items that I might need at some point in my daily life.

You know...

a measuring cup
a shirt that I planned to wear that day
an item I bought to do a project
keys
purse
wallet

You get the picture.  Basically everything you can think of is probably something that I have hidden at some point.

Some items are hidden on purpose.  You know, so others that live in this house can't find the items (i.e., candy, chocolate, presents, etc.).  And then there are some items that I "hide," or put away so they aren't out in the open.

The problem with my hiding places is that they are so good that I can't even find them.  Nothing like hiding something (or putting it away, which, seems like hiding because I can't find it when I need it) and then tearing up the house trying to find that something.  And, of course, it always happens when I'm trying to leave the house.

Does this happen to anyone else or am I the only crazy person one?

Funny Search Results

I like to see how people find my blog.  I'm amused by what people type into a search engine and how it brings them here to my blog.

Here is a list of searches from the last few months that I found amusing:

Someone stole my swim goggles *

blue garbage truck

Shrunk my dress to fit my daughter**


*Thanks, RT, for that line

**What?

Bronze Award - (1) No Sew Blankets for the Homeless

Our girls are working on their Bronze award.  In order to earn this award, the girls must complete a journey.  We are in the process of doing that and I will post about those meetings when completed.  This will be a series of things that the girls want to do in order to earn this award.  They have chosen to help others.  "Others" is defined as people and animals.

The first thing we did to help others was to make some No Sew Blankets to give to a church that hosts people overnight that do not have any where else to stay.  They provide food and shelter and sometimes other necessities.  We made some blankets so they could have them on hand if they are needed.

There are two ways that you can make these blankets.  You can go the easy route and purchase a kit (they can be found at stores that sell material).  The kit provides you with the material and some instructions.  Or, you can purchase the material yourself and make them.

For an adult blanket you will need:
2 fleece pieces 72" x 60"*

For a child's blanket you will need:
2 fleece pieces 48" x 60"*

*you can have both pieces with a print, or one piece with a print and the other a solid color

Other items you will need:
scissors or rotary cutter
mat ruler

Tip:
Cut both pieces at same time

Place fleece layers with the wrong sides together and cut 5" squares in all four corners (on both pieces of fleece).

To make the fringe:  Cut 5" deep at 1" (or 1 1/2") intervals along each of the four sides.

Knot the fringe pieces together by taking a piece from the top layer and tying it with the bottom layer.  Do this all the way around the blanket.

Just a little note:  1" can be quite tedious and time consuming, especially on the larger blankets.  I did 1 1/2" slits and they seemed to work out just fine.

Deodorant

RT told me that he needs deodorant.  Apparently, he has been without deodorant for a couple of weeks.  (not sure why my family waits so long to tell me that they need me to get them something...)

Oh, he also said that he isn't in a hurry to get a new one because he has been using my deodorant.

The Side Yard (Pt. 2)

If you aren't up to speed on the side yard, read this post.

RT spent another full day measuring and cutting boards to attach to the fence on the side yard.  He spent the previous day putting up metal chicken wire (all on the inside of the fence).  This is so Pippen doesn't chew the wood boards on our fence and try to escape.  He then lined the bottom of the fence with some wood boards to make sure Pippen doesn't pull of the wire and chew through the wood.

Yea.  Ha ha ha.  Like your dog will really chew a board on your fence and try to escape.  Ha ha ha.

The board that Pippen chewed and squeezed through to make his last escape

The securing of the side yard is a success!  Pippen has sniffed around and tried to find another escape route but, RT made sure all spots were covered.

Now the wait is on.  Pippen refuses to use the side yard (go potty).  We are currently at a stand off.  He's pretty stubborn but, I'm sure he will give in at some point and go.  The kids think he will end up exploding.  Will keep you posted.

The Side Yard

We have a fenced in area on the side of our house (aka the side yard).  I'm sure I have blogged about it in previous posts. It's an area that we usually put the dog when the back yard is muddy.

Pippen hates being on the side yard.  I'm not sure why he dislikes it so much.  He used to hang out there with Newton.  I guess, even then, he didn't like it.  Newton, on the other hand, was pretty laid back and would just hang out there and enjoy himself.

Lately, we have tried putting Pippen on the side yard.  I say "tried" because within minutes he has escaped.  Thus the nickname, Houdini.  He's pretty skinny and has fit through some tiny areas.  He's destroying our fence (that was installed a couple of years ago because he was breaking through our old, rotting fence).

During the spring and fall months our back yard becomes rather muddy.  Pippen has a tendency to run back and forth in front of the fence and somehow ends up full of mud.  RT decided to put a stop to all of this madness and "secure" the side yard.

RT spent the day "securing" the side yard.  The inside of the fence is now lined with metal chicken wire.  He said there were a few more things he wanted to do, but, first wanted Pippen to "test" it out.  Within five minutes, Pippen was free.

Stay tuned for round two.

Figured out why I got that big hug from Alex.

Apparently the boys ran out of hand soap while we were away for the weekend.  Again with the soap.

I will have to add that to my list of things to stock up on before we leave for another get away.

Make New Friends - Lyrics in Spanish

Haganse nuevos amigos

Haganse nuevos amigos
Pero guarden los viejos
Uno es de plata
El otro es de oro.

Un circulo es redondo
No tiene fin
Esto es cuanto tiempo
Sere tu amigo.

Un fuego arde, brillante
Calienta el corazón
Hemos sido amigos
Desde el principio.

Tengo una mano
Tienes la otra
Juntemosias
Nos tenemos el uno al otro.

La plata es preciosa
El oro también
Yo soy Presiosa
Y tu también.

Me ayudas
Te ayudare
Y juntos
Lo lograremos.

El cielo es azul
La tierra es verde
Te puedo ayudar
A guardarla limpia.

Por la tierra
Por el mar
Para siempre
Seremos amigos.

Make New Friends - Lyrics

Make New Friends

Make new friends,
But keep the old.
One is silver,
The other is gold.

A circle is round,
It has no end.
That's how long,
I will be your friend.

A fire burns bright,
It warms the heart.
We've been friends
From the very start.

You have one hand,
I have the other.
Put them together,
We have each other.

Silver is precious,
gold is too.
I am precious,
and so are you.

You help me,
And I'll help you
And together
We will see it through.

The sky is blue
The earth is green
I can help
To keep it clean.

Across the land
Across the sea
Friends forever
We will always be.

The Girl Scout Way Badge - Juniors

1.  Match songs to an occasion
2.  Read the original Girl Scout Story
3.  Spread the friendship of girl scouts
4.  Leave the Place better than you found it
5.  Enjoy a Girl Scout Tradition



Our meeting took place the day before Girl Scout Day (March 12).

We started off the meeting reading the Girl Scout Story on how Juliette Gordon Lowe started Girl Scouts.  The girls took turns reading the story out loud.  We then played a game.  We had items from the story inside a bag.  We showed the girls the items and explained why they were inside the bag.  Some of the items:  a book (JGL loved to read), a pearl necklace (JGL sold her pearls to start girl scouts), a daisy (JGL's nickname was Daisy), a pumpkin (her birthday is on Halloween), rice (she lost her hearing in one ear when the doctor tried to remove rice from her ear, puncturing her ear drum),  a stuffed animal (JGL loved animals), etc.  The girls got to see the items then we put them inside the bag and had them try to write down all of the items that they could remember.

We sang some cookie songs for the ladies in the office where we have our meetings.  Every year we give them some boxes of cookies as a thank you for letting us use the room for our meetings.

We learned how to sing all of the verses of "Make New Friends" in Spanish.  (I will make this a separate post)

We cleaned up around the outside of our meeting place.  Picked up papers and garbage around the building.

We invited a younger troop (the last part of our meeting) and we celebrated the Girl Scout Birthday by having a party and singing Happy Birthday to Girl Scouts.  (we also sang some other girl scout songs)

Birthday

RT gave me some fun bars of soap for my birthday.   As you can tell, soap is a big thing in this house.  Yea, and either he was impressed with the scents and the fact that the company gives back to the community or he thinks I stink and bought me some pretty smelling soap as a subtle hint that I should take a shower.

He also gave me a card (which he didn't sign)*  I said he can save it and just give me the same card every year.

*It's because he bought it that day.  Yea, another story for another day.

Scary Voting

Overheard while waiting at dance class. 

Man:  How do I get upstairs?

Maintenance Worker:  Press 2 on the elevator. 

Man:  I thought I was upstairs. 

Maintenance Worker:  No. You're downstairs. 

And the "Man" just voted before this conversation. 

Favorite Birthday Card

So, Nick couldn't find a card that had all that he wanted it to say, so.....he decided to make his own.

I guess making the kids do arts and crafts pays off.

So, what did he have to say?

He thanked me for everything I do for him (and everyone).  He also thanked me for supplying soap in the shower.*

*Here are some links to other posts about the soap shortage in our house.
The Disappearing Soap, No Soap, Where's the soap?, Can you please pass the soap?, It makes you wonder .

Nothing like getting a great big hug from your teenager when you return from being away for a couple of days.

Of course, it just might be a way to cover up something that I might not find out about until later.....