Not to brag or anything

but I designed this. That's A Capricious Perspective's (my dear sister) gorgeous family.

I'm for hire. I'm cheap too.

Instinctual design?

My friend sent me this quiz to help me along in my color palette selection. I think I always think of interior decorating (do they still call it that?) as something that takes creative juices and a knack for, well, decorating, but what if it's all instincts? My results came back "Sun-kissed," and the one color I have chosen for our house to go in the great room, dining room, and kitchen (that one big open space...see floor plan) is Harvester. It's something between a Yellow Strength and Golden Burma.

Take the quiz yourself and see your color personality. I can almost bet you've already surrounded yourself with these colors.

Oh, and if I never write my novel, I want to be a paint namer. How fun would that be?! Jessaca, paint namer at large. That has ring.

House update: shutters?

We're told dig will happen tomorrow. It's been freezing around these parts, so I'm not holding my breathe. And we're really in no rush. We want it done right, and our inspector told us that a foundation shouldn't be poured in certain temperatures.

In the meantime, Jonathan and I have been contemplating window treatments. I never knew window treatments could be so exciting and sexy. And that's just talking about them! So I've been Googling. Good ol' Google. I don't really know what I like when it comes to decor. If I probably had to pick anything it would be a cross between something in Pottery Barn and Coastal Living magazine, which is how I came to shutters. Plantations shutters. But shutters can be expensive, so we can't afford, and wouldn't really want to, to outfit all the windows in shutters. So here's my thought:

You remember my floor plan, don't you? You've probably printed off your very own copy that's now creased and scraggly with little paths ran along the "floor" imagining yourself in the space. Uh huh. I thought so. Me too.



I think the different window treatments in the open floor plan will breakup the space. The only question I still haven't answered is what drapes will be in dining room. I want something dramatic.

What do you think?

No eff bomb

My gloves are almost done. Almost. I realized I got a little carried away and bound off too soon on my first glove, missing a cable row and five knit rows. Reading directions? Very important. Actually, though, if I had wanted I could have made the second glove in the same fashion. It's less bulkier without the extra cable and rows, but I really wanted that last cable row detail. The end result isn't as satisfying considering my yarn is bulkier and doesn't lay flat, but my co-worker Lucy had an excellent idea to make the edges not curl back, exposing the sensitive skin you're wanting to cover, and make the gloves more secure when typing: knit thin strips between the fingers. Why didn't I think of that?! I haven't ripped out and reknitted the first glove yet, so I need to do that first, but I'm already thinking how I can execute my modification. This whole process has me thinking about other modifications, like using a seed stitch (my fave stitch of all!) detail, and maybe even some matching leg warmers. For yoga you know.

Oh, and my post title, I actually handled my oopsie instead of getting beside myself (i.e. dropping some bombs and giving up). I know how to go back and fix the problem. I'm saved. Or rather the time I invested is saved. I think I'm a real knitter after all. I'll post picture soon, and I'll be taking orders: I have lots of this gray yarn to get rid of. Comment me if you want a pair. Price: Love and peace.

Have sweater boots, will travel

Okay, maybe not travel but be oh, so happy (and warm) looking at my feet. Bought these beauties and cuties online at DSW for $30(!). Knitting for my feet. Happy feet!

Etsy Fave Friday: cupcakecutiees

Cupcakes. Check. Funky damask patterns. Check. Cheap and fun. Check. Cupcakecutiees digital designs are cute and funky enough to eat. I think we just might have some elements to purchase for Miss Sassy's first birthday invitation. Hmmm, momma?

Gimme

One of The Purl Bee's posts this week was about the new knitting book Reversible Knitting. It's hard to not get a little impatient to be ready to knit the kinds of things in her book. I might have to get it for inspiration. And motivation.

Highly recommend

Pumpkin curry from Williams Sonoma. I could probably easily make it. But can I just say: This stuff is sooo good. And if you can't afford to go out to a $100 dinner, then maybe you can have a dash of something special and tasty. I wouldn't mind if Santa left this in my stocking.

To knit: Owls

I saw this sweater (It's a free pattern on raverly.com or you can download it at Kate Davies' blog.) and I can't stop drooling. There's even a children's version you can buy. I'm not ready to knit something like this just yet. Need more experience in the sweater department. But I have her saved in my libraby to one day cast on and love. Not sure what brought about my return to knitting, but I'm loving it.

Truly, madly knitting

Ahh knitting. I love you. I hate you. I don't really understand you. But alas! I prevail. Fetching, you have met your match. I'll knit you little thumb ring. I'll knit you in the end.

I apologize for the horrible picture, but when a knitter is in the zone, she shall not waste time on photography staging. If you look closely, you will see a white line of yarn on the upper right. That, my friend, is waste yarn. The pattern read: Using waste yarn, k7; slip these sts back to left needle and k them again using working yarn. Say what?! Translation: Instead of using your working yarn, grab a piece of any old yarn and just knit as you would your working yarn for seven stitches. I swear the hardest part of knitting is translating pattern directions. You literally have to do research on it. Luckily, we live in a modern age and you can just Google the directions in question and almost always you will find someone with the same question you had. I wonder what knitters did before the modern age. Gave up is my guess. Maybe one day I'll write a book Truly, Madly Knitting: A Book of Pattern Translations for the Sane Going Insane Trying to Read Knitting Patterns. I think it would be a bestseller.

Juicy photography

Web Design Ledger's recent post "100+ Photoshop Actions for Amazing Color Enhancements" has me banging my head with wanting a new camera. Can't wait to try some of these.

Almost famous

I was quoted on Yoga Maendy's blog. I'll try not to let it go to my head. That would be very unyogi of me.

Christmas card sneak peek

Designing a certain someone's Christmas card. This is only the beginning, and knowing this person, it'll go through more lovable revisions until I come to a perfect final.

Weekend knit project

In serious need of these at work. Guess what I'll be making this weekend?

Get my ornament on

Next year I think will be the year I venture down the make-your-own-ornament path. I have my dear co-worker Lucy to thank for this idea.

Last night, I went shopping for some ornaments for my sister (we do a yearly ornament exchange). And I really don't get it: What's up with all the fugly, crappy, and cheap ornaments out there. I even went to a Christmas store and I still wasn't impressed all that much. I guess I expected to be blown away. I still managed to find an ornament for my sister and my niece Abby, but I'm a little disappointed in them. I saw an ornament that was perfect Abby (aka Girlfried, Miss Sassy), but it was shoddy in craftsmanship. When you're a crafter, it's those little details that get you and make you think, "I could do better."

So next year, I'm making my own. I think I'll start with something simple like glass balls with rub ons. But I have a whole year to come up with my master plan.

P.S. I broke an ornament in the store too. I've always wondered what it would be like to be the person who broke something in the store. Now I know. It wasn't my fault, but still embarassing.

Etsy fave: Neena Creates.

I love shirts with inspiring, whimsical messages, especially those that inspire love, hope, and faith. Neena Creates creates organic or upcycled t-shirts (among other things) I'd want to wear everyday. A wearable pass it on card.

Buffy Kills Edward!

For the mantel

I'm not decorating for Christmas this year due to the move. I don't want the stress of unpacking a tree and Jonathan's stash of one million ornaments (not kidding, our tree leans because of the number ornaments we have) and then repacking it all up. Even more: I can't even get to the closet where the ornaments are stored. Hello, we're getting prepared to make the biggest move of our lives! So of course I'm already prepared with lots of empty boxes.

But even though I'm not decorating this year doesn't mean I can't day decorate dream for next year. The year I will have a mantel. But I know nothing of decorating, and less of decorating a mantel. But when I saw Pretty Ditty's post on yarn trees, I thought: Well, that's right up my knitted heart alley. Can't you picture it?

House update

Digging starts soon. The builder says we can expect our foundation to be in place by next Friday. After that, everything moves quickly. Strange how the longest part of the process could just be waiting to get started.

Pixels & Ice Cream

It's like the digital world's Amy Butler, only for free. Can't wait to see what I'll design next. See the freebies for yourself.

Bird's the word

Pie tip

Forget smearing your work surface and rolling pin with messy flour. Just tear off two sheets of wax paper wide enough to roll out your pie dough to the necessary size. Your dough won't get those tears that seem to just keep tearing no matter how hard you try. For the dismount (this seriously is the hardest part of making a pie: getting your crust to your pie pan. I opt to wind my dough around my rolling pin), you can either peel your disc of dough from the wax paper, fold in quarters or wind it around your rolling pin. And then just unfolding or unwinding in your pie dish. Or do what I call the pop and drop. With this method, you only peel of one side of the wax dough and then flip it over (wax paper side up) and drop it on to your pie pan, and then peel off the remaining sheet of wax paper. Which ever method you choose, move quickly and efficiently. It takes some practice and patience.

Are you smitten?

I'm pretty sure than Jonathan and I don't have what it takes to pull off these "couple" mittens aka Smittens, but they're so cute. Perhaps a good prop for a winter photo op with your true love?

They say

buying a house is as stressful as getting a divorce. If that's the case, I'm never getting a divorce. The builder has yet to break ground, but they did break ground on the spec house next to us. I thought money talked. If so, why am I in line behind no one?

I'm getting ready to bake pies tomorrow, and all I can think about is my island. This time next year, I'll be mixing and rolling out on. my. island. I get little shivers of excitement thinking of all the cooking and crafting I'm going to do there. I'm picturing the people who will sit at the other side and talk to me while cooking. Maybe with a glass of wine in hand. I heart you kitchen island. You literally are my oasis of dreams.

Learning the hard way

Moms don't let kids chew on power cords.

New Moon music

Had some time to listen to the soundtrack, but no time for a review. Lykke Li's "Possibility" really stuck with me on first play.

Free and cute

My latest issue of the Mibo newsletter included a link to make your own advent calendar. Can't go wrong with that.

Our house: Just the beginning

My sister came up with this fabulous idea of taking pictures while our house goes up and eventually creating a photo book. Here's the first set that shows our little slice of staked land. Stakes in the ground mean that property is already sold. It's not much, but it's enough to get me excited. They should start digging this week.

Random

ust because.

Channeling Candice Olson

never ever in this world thought my first home would be brand-new, or for that matter that I would want it to be brand-new. I like things with history. But apparently history in a home only means one thing: old. Old AC, old appliances, old roof. Old, old, old. Yes, most of it I figured we could pay to update. But when you're married to Mr. Dose of Reality, why buy old when you can buy new for the same price if not less? You get peace of mind and the opportunity to pick out everything yourself. And pick we did tonight. I felt like I was in a Crayola store of patterns, textures, and colors. In a dizzying number of choices. I tried my best to think about the things I'm attracted to in magazines. And then I did my best to channel Candice Olson.

Here's how my house came away:

Kitchen: It's pretty damn close to my dream kitchen. I got my white cabinets. It was an upgrade (if you're keeping track, that's upgrade number two). Just a small amount to get what I really wanted. On the walls: Sherwin-Williams Harvester. We didn't even explore granite right now so we could stay within budget. We were able to find a Formica pattern we liked called Sand Crystal. Our appliances will be white.

Dining Room and Great Room: I stuck with the Harvester color throughout just to save time and to create flow from this one larger space. I realize that I could have done variations of the same shade and still made it work, but better safe than sorry. My fireplace (upgrade number one) will have a raised hearth (no buried fireplace here! it's going to be a great focal point) with a stone-looking ceramic tile with mantel that's trimmed in beige.

Through the foyer, dining room, and great room will be Kenya oak hardwood floors. Hardwood floors. Another dream come true.

Bedrooms: Only the bedrooms and the stairs will be carpeted. We chose to stick with the standard carpet in Fossil, but upgrade the carpet pad to an 8-pound pad versus the 6-pound pad. (That's upgrade number three. Our last upgrade. Not too shabby.) The rooms will be painted in Beige, which we can change later, choosing to play it safe for now.

Bathrooms: Again, we stayed away from the upgrades. The vanities will be chestnut oak with a stone-looking vinyl on the floors. The master bathroom has a shower so we opted to go with the clear glass door. (Hello peep show.)

Exterior: By far the hardest choice was the exterior. This is permanent decision. Luckily none of the selections were too crazy. (Except for maybe the light china blue color, which one of the houses our our cul de sac has already selected.) I stuck with a gray-brown color called Tuscan Clay with trim in Colonial Ivory and gutters in Pebble Stone Clay. The stone work will be Centurian Castle. (Doesn't that sound fancy?) Our front door and garage will be white. The hardware will be Venetian Bronze.

Add in a little love. A lot of waiting for this moment and you get a dream home made for Jonathan and Jessaca. How divine.

We're (almost) homeowners

e went and looked at a couple of houses today, and ended up purchasing a home yet to be built. Come February I will be the proud owner of a brand-new home. It has my fireplace (it was an upgrade), and Jonathan gets peace of mind knowing that everything is brand-new. Now I can do some serious home decorating daydreaming.

Happy three year anniversary, baby!

Three years ago tomorrow, I wanted to freeze time. Three years ago, I married my best friend. How cliche. How very true.

Honey, thanks for three amazing, blissful years of marriage and 10 years and 7 months of happiness. Through thick and thin, you've been my constant. My rock. The person who turns my frowns upside down and lights my life with laugher. With you, I'm truly blessed. With you, I know only happiness. I can't wait to celebrate many more years and laugh like I have never laughed before. Happy Anniversary!

Dream home

Day two of house hunting, and I in love with the first house we looked at during day one. It has a family room with fireplace with a white mantel. A mantel I can decorate for every holiday. I can buy those Christmas garlands I'm always longing for in the Pottery Barn catalog. It has a formal dining room that could hold a buffet and a table comfortablely (at least in my head. No measurements have been taken. Yet.). It has a mature tree in the front yard that I got to witness changes to a beautiful yellow in the autumn and fills the yard with an abundance of leaves I don't even want to bother with raking because they look like they belong there. There are already planters that I can fill with flowers. Right now all I can see is autumn, so that means filling the yard with deep red, pumpkiny orange, and bright yellow mums. The kitchen is updated, and I can easily see my Rosanna vino plates decorating the wall over what is a kitchen island of sorts. I see the cookies and pies I want to bake in that kitchen. I see the fires I'm going to learn how to build in the family room. I see the family and friends I'm gong to have over. I see the family I want to raise there. I see my home. My dream home.

In the back of my mind, I keep hoping that none of the other homes we look at will top this one. Because I'm in love. Utterly and absolutely.

Heart disease

Conversation 1,660, 900 with hubby.

[At the Melting Pot, after having eaten way too much fondue.]

Husband: Oh, man. [Staring at a plate full of dessert dipping items.] I think my hear is racing. What do you think that indicates?
Me: [Dead pan.] Heart disease.

[Cue laughter.]

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Well, not really, but I am designing some stickers to put on packages. If I find a house this week, I'll be thinking about where my tree will go and if the kitchen is war-ready for gingerbread men baking. Do you like my sticker design? Now I just need to get a cartridge for my sticker machine.

I want

to grow out my hair now. For hair tinsel. That's right. Hair tinsel. I saw it today on a yogi. Have you heard of such a thing? It's so subtle, but really fun and pretty at the same time!

I'm ready

to move. No we don't have a house yet, nor have we started even looking. But I'm sure we will find one. So I've been grabbing boxes from work and I've started packing. I hate hate hate the packing and moving process, and I've done it enough in my very short life to be skilled at it. I've done it the dead of winter and the heat of summer. I done it in the rain. Somehow, though, there so many last-minute things that you don't think about. I plan on jumping the gun this time. Just to be ready. I'm getting excited about this move just thinking...it won't be another apartment. Do you know how long I've waited for that?

For jon jon

Girlfriend has something to say about those Rams. It's quite important.

When at the park

It's necessary to make going down the slide a family affair. There must be hugs, high fives, and pound its. Unless, in Abby's case, you're too young to give a proper high five. As AJ said, "Abby didn't open her hand for a five." Give her time lil buddy. Give her time.

Old man toothpaste

Conversation 1,660, 899 with hubby.

Me: How was the dentist? Did you get a free toothbrush?
Hubby: Yeah, but I think they changed my toothpaste?
Me: Did they give you old man toothpaste.
Hubby: [Looking incredulous] Yeah, I think they did give me old man toothpaste.
Me: Did they give you Sensodyne?
Hubby: Yeah! I think they did give me Sensodyne. That means I am an old man!

Sexy chocolate

A typical conversation between my husband and I.

Me: I don't want to watch Jurassic Park.
Hubby: When the dinosaurs come, I'm going to take you to them.
Me: No, they'll eat me. I'm quite tasty.
Hubby: What about me?
Me: I taste like chicken.
Hubby: Well, I taste like chocolate.
Me: Dinosaurs don't like chocolate.
Hubby: I'm sexy chocolate. They like sexy chocolate.

Hubby: 1 Wife: 0

Recipe: candy corn bark

It sounds too good and rich to be true, but I'm going to make it anyway. And you should too. Or buy it!

Signs it's (almost) halloween

Discovered fun Halloween decorations at Christmas Traditions no less. This year, I'm leaning toward vintage, especially signs. Here are some of my favorites.

Little creep

I couldn't videotape Abby and not get her funny little crawl/roll. The girl is mobile! What you don't see in this video is that she actually started out in the living room. Eventually she does get tired and stranded and lifts her hands and feet and yells to come get her. Now. So demanding that one.

Little chef man

AJ announces dinnertime in proper fashion.

And back again

After a major cold, almost seriously passing out from a blood donation, busy work (we had to let some people go), and a trip to visit some family in Colorado, I'm back. I'm inspired. I'm excited! To launch what I hope is a new leaf for this blog, here's a video of Abby (aka Girlfriend) blowing you some raspberries and giving you a couple of her signature grins.

A whole new level of obsessed

Many of you know my OCD, super talented sister. One of the best things about being her sister is you get the fruit of her super talents. Yesterday, she sent me pictures of her lastest creation she was making for Christmas presents while I was laboring away at work. I fell in love. Sick crazy mad kind of love. Because it's a word pillow. Me: editor. Editor=words. Me: yoga obsessed. Put the two together and what do you have? That's right folks! My bestest friend whipped me up a pillow that combines my loves, including her. So not only do I own belts and bags from her collections, I'm a proud owner of my own pillow with just a little bit of, "Oh, I want one." That's all it took. Did I mention how much I love my sister?

About me

Because friends have tagged me on Facebook and then I saw McMommy post her answers to her blog, I thought I'd share mine on my blog as well.

Started today at 8:36 a.m.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
6:28 a.m. and I seriously wanted to just climb back in and sleep til a more reasonable 7 a.m.

2. How do you like your steak?
When I want it, I like it Medium. Seriously contemplating becoming a vegetarian though.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
The Proposal. I laughed my ass off.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Bones! It has David Boreanaz in it. Need I really say more?

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Wherever my husband is. It's not the place that matters, it's the people who count. And I can't live without my husband. Super sappy, but very true.

6. What did you have for breakfast?
Haven't eaten yet. But when I do a granola bar and banana. I'm currently drinking a chai latte, does that count?

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Gonna have to say Mexican.

8. What foods do you dislike?
Shrimp. And yes, Lucy, I've had good shrimp. It's a texture issue.

9. Favorite Place to Eat?
At home.

10. Favorite dressing?
Who needs dressing when there's cottage cheese?

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
A Scion xA aka Black Beauty. I love her to death. I'm terrified of the day I have kids and will need a bigger Mommy car.

12. What are your favorite clothes?
Anything I can do yoga in.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
Italy.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
Always 1/2 full. I'm an optimist.

15. Where would you want to retire?
Some place with a view and porch with a light breeze.

16. Favorite time of day?
The morning, if I can get up.

17. Where were you born?
Missouri

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Whatever my husband is watching, but I do like boxing and, when the winter Olympic are on, curling.

19. Bird watcher?
Yes! I love birds. Have a bird watching book, but haven't really taken the time to just go and bird watch. I don't want to admit that I'm that mature yet.

20. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Both, it's the time inbetween that I want to sleep.

21. Do you have any pets?
No. I work too much so I would feel bad not giving them the attention they need. Plus, I have horrible allergies.

22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
Like what? Anything exciting you know I'd leave on this blog. And Recca, no, not pregnant. I think this question was made just for you.

23. What did you want to be when you were little?
A grownup. When you're the youngest of eight with a a 17-year difference between you and your oldest, you're always playing catchup.

24. What is your best childhood memory?
Catching tiny frogs in butter dishes with my sister Chance.

25. Are you a cat or dog person?
Dog person, but I am starting to appreciate cats more.

26. Are you married?
Yes!

27. Always wear your seat belt?
What kind of stupid question is that? Of course!

28. Been in a car accident?
Yes. But none I've caused, unless you count the time I was first learning to drive and I floored the gas and jumped a curb.

29. Any pet peeves?
Complainers. It's your life. Only you have the power to change it.

30. Favorite Pizza Topping?
Whatever spice is on the frozen California Pizza Kitchen pizzas. I'm in love with it. Oh, and mushrooms, black olives, and tomatoes. Mmmm.

31. Favorite Flower?
Any. I plan on having a wild flower garden when I finall buy a house. Why appreciate just one flower?

32. Favorite ice cream?
Can I have chocolate instead?

33. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Not unless I want to be sick afterward. I do have Taco Bell from time to time, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite.

34. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
Zero.

35. From whom did you get your last email?
My husband. It had a picture from the 4th of July.

36. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
I don't use credit cards. They're evil. And why buy more than you need?

37. Do anything spontaneous lately?
No. I haven't mastered the skill of spontaneity yet.

38. Like your job?
Most days.

39. Broccoli?
It's my favorite veggie.

40. What was your favorite vacation?
My honeymoon to Kuaui, Hawaii.

41. Last person you went out to dinner with?
My husband.

42. What are you listening to right now?
Coworkers chatting, but during my commute, I had my Pandora app on my iPhone on the Iron & Wine station.

43. What is your favorite color?
Any shade of blue most days. Like flowers, I don't have a favorite. Why do I have to choose just one?

44. How many tattoos do you have?
Zero, but there are plans in the works to someday get one with my sister. We'll hold each other's hand. Unless of course she chickens out.

45. Coffee Drinker?
Sometimes, but I'd rather have a chai latte.

What time did you finish this quiz? 8:46 a.m. and yes, I should be working.

Love and family

Here at last is a compilation of some video footage and images snapped during family 4th out at the farm and during the 3rd annual fishing tournament. Jon and Jamie were sources of my best footage. I'll have to make more of a point to get other people next time. Sorry about that. Hope you like the music (Dropkick Murphys' "Never Forget").

A shoutout to the one above

This time of year always sneaks up on me. Work is busy. It's summer. The list goes on and on. But as time goes on, the pain of losing someone fades. Along with some of the memories. And you forget the exact date your world seemed to fall apart. You find enough glue to put your world painstakingly back together again. Not perfectly, but just enough to go on living and start to enjoy life.

Mom, I haven't forgotten you. Thanks for all the memories. We love and miss you down here.

I'll do handstand for you

Well, with a little help. Just a little leg up?

Today's class included a full handstand with a little help! I held it for like 5 seconds. I never realized how hard a job my legs have holding me up and getting me where I need to go. I'm very grateful for my two strong trunks.

Here's my theme song for practicing handstands. May your handstand find encouragement in Chairlift's Bruises too. Afterall, it's the journey that eventually gets us there. You just might have to take a road less traveled.

Pain in the neck

I had my very first massage last Friday. I was, up until then, a massage virgin. I could never bring myself to spend the money on something that wasn't tangeble. Boy, have I been missing out.

My neck had been bothering me, and I had know from getting MRIs for my MS that I had a slight curve up there. (I think this body model has been recalled.) Recent pain from stress was making it hurt all the time except when I'm practicing yoga.

I signed up for a massage at Massage Envy. I know. A chain. Evil. Makes me think of that Friends episode where Phoebe rips up Rachel's coupon for free massage because Phoebe doesn't want her to know she's sold out. But it was just the quick fix—well, if 1.5 hours is quick—I was needing, and I'm contemplating making it a regular monthly event with some recommended massage therapists through my yoga studio.

Pain really can lead to good things.

In my dreams

George Clooney wants to date me. He gave me his address to his apartment. Only problem was my conscious wasn't completely detached. I was still married. It didn't seem to be a problem for a George though.

This morning I told Jonathan that we have to create a list of famous people we're allowed to date should they ask. Remember that Friends episode?

If only we could live in a dream world, and not be married in it.

Fourth of july recap

This year's 4th was also the 3rd annual family fishing tournament out at "The Farm". It's the first time Jonathan and I were able to attend. Highlights include: making two cherry pies while my sister who taught me how to make pie looked on (student has now become the master), listening to my nephew LB giggle, arguing with my two-year-old niece Jamie about my camera (she wouldn't believe it was mine), watching my other two-year-old niece Jenna splash Jamie, and oh, watching the participating members do battle with their fishing rods in an effort to catch the most fish. Jonathan, true to form, snapped another rod. Uncle Bill beat them all, earning him the title of Fish Whisperer. And then there were some mercy perch points given to those who didn't catch any. Can't wait for next year's tournament!