Related to yesterday’s post:  I’d also like to share the youtube video that we watched over …and over…..and over…..and over…… so much that when Owen sees the computer he says “Boo UhOh Yeah!” It’s actually a pretty cool video.  It would be so wonderful to take the boys to see the Harlem Globetrotters someday.  It’s worth your 90 seconds to watch, I promise.

I don’t really know what to say about this.  I’m still trying to figure out if I like him wearing it. But after his unrelenting nagging, I went ahead and made him an ascot just for fun.  He found the tutorial here.  This particular one was made with two vintage neck ties so it is reversible.  Andy is very exited about it.  He plans to wear it to a preaching conference and then to smoke pipes with friends tomorrow.  He’s a strange bird.

The word on the internet is that ascots (also known by their British name, the day cravat) are for old men, rich men with yachts, or young men who are jerks.  Of course the guy from Gilligan’s Island is frequently mentioned.  Andy can’t see why this particular piece of neckwear should be considered any more silly than a bow tie.  Even neckties are pretty odd when you step back and think about it.  

Since this ascot is made out of neckties, it’s not made to the same specs of a genuine store-bought ascot.  It was less difficult to make than a bow tie.  I don’t expect the orders to come flooding in from all over the world, though—do you?  But the reality is, he begged me to make him a seersucker bow tie, and I did.  And now I have the coolest job in the world.  (The difference is, of course, that I actually thought the seersucker bow tie was cool.  This, well…) 

Today I made up a few little patch madras things. I bought this fabric before I went on vacation but haven’t had the chance to work with it until now. I have quite a bit of this fabric so I should be able to make as many bow ties as people want over the next month or so. I also made up a belt and children’s neck tie just for fun. I’ll try to put them up on my store soon…once I get my computer up and running. I’m learing that it is tradition to leave our charger in Nashville. It’s leaving me rather unplugged but I’ve been surprisingly productive this week so go figure.

As always, if you see something you like, e-mail me or leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.  Bow ties are $23 and belts…well, what do you think I should charge?

And the winner of the give-away is James Pavlic!  Congrats.  I’ll get in touch soon.  

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubts.”
-Mark Twain

Amazing how time flies.  One day you are holding your newborn with aspirations to be a wonderful blogger, songwriter, crafter, mother etc. and another you’re sitting in your living room (after 2 moves) while the 1 year old and 3 year old are napping thinking, maybe I should resurrect that old thing.  

I’ve flippantly wasted away my afternoon reading online articles, researching 10K running training schedules (which I will start training for next week), and watching tutorials on how to smock children’s clothing.  I’ve decided to pursue the 10K and scrap the smocking idea.  I’ve finally ended up back here at ellielaveer.com in one last effort to avoid the lunch dishes waiting to be cleaned in the kitchen.

I think I’m over my “coolest blogger ever” complex and am just hoping to share stories, links, recipes and pictures with those I love.  

I hope to take you on a voyage with us as we fix up our 1950’s brick ranch on the cheap and maybe even share before and after pictures as I try to get each room into a bit more order.  I’ll share new songs that I’m working on and ideas.  I hope to even show you some of the finds that Andy and I grab at thrift, consignment and antique stores.  And of course, not to be forgotten are the sweet pictures and stories of the 2 most beautiful boys in the world, Deacon and Owen who are growing up all too fast.

Yes, it’s true.  Yesterday, my mother called me to tell me that her mother, my Nanny, had passed away.  Now all of my grandparents are with the Lord.  My nanny died only weeks after her twin sister and only days after her husband.  I’m sure that she is so glad to be reunited with them.

Nanny, here are some of my fondest memories of you:

-Your gifts were always never-ending and original.  You liked to shop at garage sales and send me the collection of eclectic treasures that you would find.  They were so fun.

-The 5 dollar bills that you sent to me in my birthday cards were the most crisp and valued pieces of paper I ever owned.  5 dollars was a fortune to me.

-You were so crafty and loved to make things for us.  I still have the doll quilt that you made for me so long ago.  It is well loved.

-Some people say that I look like you, and I think that is really special.

As I think about all of these grandparents (3) that have passed on to glory within the past month, I was comforted by the words of this song.  We will miss them all dearly, but are so glad that they are no longer suffering in their old bodies.

Our family has been SO busy the last few days. Here’s a few highlights of the things we’ve done over the past few days.

SATURDAY

Played music at a park for an event called “Pickin’ and Piggin’”. There was music provided by local musicians and BBQ vendors from all around the state. After I was done playing music, I tried so many different kinds of barbecue. I never knew that it could be so good until I moved here. I’m a big fan of the vinegar-based BBQ. I’m embarrassed to say that before I moved here, I thought Barbecue was synonymous with cooking hamburgers and hot-dogs on the grill. Boy, was I ever wrong

SUNDAY

I got a double-dose of my husband’s preaching. He preached in the morning at a church about 45 minutes south of here and then in the evening at our home church, First Presbyterian. I thought he did a great job. If you’re interested, you can hear the sermon on our church’s website: http://firstprescolumbia.org/Media/Audio/Audio_Evenings.asp

MONDAY

I tried to catch my breath yesterday, but that didn’t really happen. The boys were quite a handful. They were probably so exhausted from the big day on Sunday. Church is a big event for such little people. In the evening, we all went to the SC Musicians and Songwriters Guild. It was great, we got to hear about different events that are happening in the area that I can possibly become a part of. Also, there was an open floor where musicians could share their songs with us. I would have liked to play, but Owen was sleeping so soundly in my arms and I didn’t want to disrupt that. Deacon enjoyed the music too. Andy didn’t get to hear much of what was being said because he was too busy drawing cars and trucks for Deacon.

TUESDAY

This morning, I woke up and got both kids into the car by 8:00. We went to the food Co-op that I am a part of. I am the nursery worker, so I watched the kids while the other ladies sorted and bagged the food. I really regretted that I didn’t get up a bit earlier to make a cup of coffee. I needed it! I was watching 11 children and 8 of them were little boys between the ages of 1 and 3! Needless to say: it was a madhouse! We got home and I’ve been trying to fit all of my fruit and veggies into the fridge. We are so excited to have such yummy food available to us at such a reasonable price.

I’m hoping that things slow down for us soon. I can’t believe how big the difference is from 1 to 2 children when you have a full schedule.

I’m off to enjoy some yummy pineapple. I’ll have to save some for tomorrow’s breakfast though. One of my new favorite things is pancakes with fresh pineapple and cool whip on top. Andy always makes fun of me because Cool-whip is such an artificial food with no real substance. But I just love the stuff. It’s so girly and light. There is nothing like it. Besides, I am terrible at whipping cream. I can never get it right.