Shameless self-promotion....

It's totally against my nature to ask a favor like this, but I decided to enter a national sewing contest, sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens, "All People Quilt", to try to win a very nice ($2000-3000) sewing machine. I think a work station also comes with it. There are 4 quarterly contests, and the winner of each competes at the end for the final prize.

Well, the bag I made for the 3rd quarter made it to the top 10, and the winner is selected by public vote. So if you feel comfortable registering and revealing your info, please vote for my bag at this link: http://my.allpeoplequilt.com/app/voting/index.jsp?id=/templatedata/apq/voting/data/1282588730058.xml&mediaItemID=/sharemy/08162010/23128073

It's called "Becky's Bag", and it's blue and yellow. It's the only one shown sideways (not the picture I would have picked), but there's 5 more pictures in the "gallery section" that you can look at: http://my.allpeoplequilt.com/photos/quilts-and-more-quarterly-challenge-10/3/2145700019/?photoId=2142100045

You can vote one time per day until Aug 31st (tomorrow). Sorry for such late notice. I was on vacation and just found out over the week-end. I was frankly shocked that it was selected for the top 10, but also very excited!

Thanks for your help!!!

watchful waiting

I want an ebook reader.... I REALLY want an ebook reader... I want an ebook reader because lately I've been spending a large amount of time with my kids at the local pool. Not only are they taking lessons 4 days a week, at the same time, but I also go for fun at least a few times a week. Since my kids are now good swimmers and there's tons of life guards around, it leaves me with precious "alone" time. But since I'm at the pool, there's little there to do while my kids swim. Occasionally I can find a person to chat with, but mostly I do not. As of yet, I don't own any "smart phone, ipad, ipod, or blackberry".

My husband, who is NOT a reader, asked me "Why would you want to ruin perfectly good kid-free time with a book?".

That got me thinking..... In this day and age of all sorts of electronic gadgets that can let you read a book, surf the internet, play a game, talk or text, have we forgotten how to relax, meditate, and truly enjoy our "alone" time? Hubby pointed out that with an ebook that time would be gone in a flash. I hate to admit it, but he may be right.

So for now, I'll continue watching and living in the moment. I won't miss the young girl carrying a dozen colorful noodles to her classmates, or the proud parents lined up to take pictures of their children as they jump off the diving board for the first time. I'll watch as the young adult life guards flirt with each other and notice the perfectly still water of the pool early in the morning before anyone jumps in. I'll watch my boys grow stronger and more graceful, and hopefully catch that moment when my youngest jumps off the high dive for the first time.