Count Your Blessings Tuesdays

I don't know if you've  noticed I haven't done a blessing post in a while.  I am eternally grateful but just can't think of a few to write about.  Between work (a new class that I have to constantly be planning for) and grad school... plus home, I'm drained.  At least I know that my energy is being used for important things!  I'm putting the blog on the back burner for now until I have something to write about ;)  Sorry folks!   

Facebook Drama

So the Facebook Drama that I had mentioned before continues.  Yesterday my nephew posted that he wishes he were dead and that his life sucks.  My brother, HIS DAD, "liked" his status.  There is so much anger welling up in my right now I can't describe it.  I don't care what your child does in this life, you have no right to wish them dead.  The reason my nephew is the way he is now is mostly because of choices my  brother made.  I must say that now my nephew is accountable only to himself  since many have tried to help him... but he did not have a great start in this life.   That post was followed by 21 comments mostly my sister, niece, sister-in- law (nephew's step mom), nephew's girlfriend and niece's husband.  Really... Facebook is not the place for all of this and I am SO glad that I took my nephew off of my Mom's page so she won't have to see all of that.

Pics by C ;)

When we went to the sunflower field, I set the camera up for C to take a few pictures of me there.  I have NO idea what happened but the pictures have an odd "effect" on them... almost artsy.  Anyway... they're not bad.  Check them out!

A book!

My uncle's biography was finally finished and published.  Check it out on Amazon.  You can "see inside" and check out the intro.  Uncle Eugene was an awesome person and I miss him... especially when I hear a piano playing or I read a book that he recommended a while ago.

I Spy Bag

Although I was unable to join Beeps and S on their sewing date, I did do some sewing yesterday after my day with hubby.  I made a few bean bags for some colleagues and then I made T an I Spy bag!  I don't have a picture of the bag because T snatched it right up and SLEPT with it.   It's SO easy to make and I want to make another one for myself ;)

What you need:

sturdy fabric -- I used leftover fleece
thin clear vinyl
sewing machine
clear polyfil pellets (I had a hard time finding this... found it at Walmart in Towson yesterday!)
trinkets (my bag had a google eye, a broken mail key, plastic heart bead, penny, butterfly charm, macaroni noodle, 1 red Mike n Ike, seashell, sequin, pearl, broken cat earring, plastic pink turtle, small plastic tire, blue lego, rubber band, paper clip, silver letter blocks .. I think that's it)

1. Cut fabric so that you have a square or rectangular shape that will fit in your hand easily.
2. Cut an oval(or any other) shape into one piece of fabric... this will be your "window"
3. Cut your vinyl to overlap a bit of the window.. place on wrong side of fabric.
4. Sew the vinyl to the fabric using a zig-zag stitch or other reinforcing stitch.  In retrospect, I would have sewn twice to make sure that it's sturdy enough for the abuse of a toddler.
5.  Put right sides facing each other and sew around, leaving an inch opening.
6.  Turn right side out and place your trinkets inside.
7.  Fill with polyfil then shake the bag around a bit, keeping the hole closed.
8.  Stitch the hole closed... go over it twice to ensure that it will not come loose!

Enjoy :)

Edited to add photo:  (ignore the frayed edges... I wanted a "rustic look" and then I had to fix a leak near the window)