Showers of Blessings

I had to add this cartoon afterward. I'm so glad I don't have to live up to these standards!I want to thank my mother, Carol & Megan Comstock, Barb & Anna Takahashi, and my aunt Kathi for all working together to make my baby shower so wonderful. The setting was so beautiful, the games were fun, and the food was yummier than it should be. Thank you everyone for making it such a special day for me!

More of Summer

Saturday was our third trip setting up shop at the farmer's market. I have really enjoyed it, now that I kind of have the hang of how to set up the canopy and tables. Ridge has been making prints of his pictures, and we've sold a few so far.
What I really enjoy is all the people watching I get to do, and the time I usually spend knitting. Since the market is in the parking lot of Kalispell Center Mall, Ridge lets me go and shop for awhile, on the condition that I bring him back a soft pretzel.
Then, we sit and just enjoy the morning, drinking coffee, meeting friends, and talking with other vendors. This last time, the gal next to us was selling organic produce, so we got some strawberries & snap peas to munch on.
The market ends at twelve-thirty, which means we can escape the heat and maybe catch a few yard sales before going home. We usually run a few errands, then come home, make iced tea or lemonade, and kick back until Ridge heads off to Rosa's and I prepare for Sunday.
As much as I'm looking forward to meeting our little man, I've been savoring these last few weeks of Summer busy-slowness we have of just the two of us.

8 weeks (+/-)

My goodness! It's hard to believe that I am "officially" eight months pregnant! Of course, I think all women would love to throttle whoever said pregnancy lasts nine months, because human gestation (approx. 40 weeks) is really ten. So, even though eight months sounds like reason to pack my hospital bags, it really isn't that urgent, after all.
I'm not too antsy, but I will say that I am fondly looking forward to wearing my prepregnancy clothes again. At this point, spending a bunch of money on maternity clothes seems pointless, so right now my wardrobe is a little meh. Not to mention that it's too hot right now to really care what I look like (with one exception: my feet. I am still doing my pedicures, and I will never, ever wear Crocs, no matter how comfortable people say they are).
In the meantime, I've been enjoying my knitting. I looooove Caron's Spa yarn; it is soft and springy and perfect for making baby goodies. Socks, beanies, and little mitts.

Pregnant, Petite, Peeker

*the woman in the above picture is not me. Ok, glad we're clear on that.
Well, I'm almost to the half way mark in my pregnancy, and am finally approaching that dreaded point that every expectant woman reaches: facing the prospect of spending a good amount of money on clothes that you think are cute now, but inevitably you will hate by the end of your term. Add to that being petite, and it's become clear that finding comfy- yet stylish maternity wear is going to be a challenge. Am I up for it? Do I pledge to avoid polyester tent-like dresses like the plague? And to keep wearing my (modestly high) heels? And to eat (mostly) right, stay active, and exfoliate regularly? Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
One of my main concerns has been my weight. When I was fourteen, although I never developed an eating disorder, I went through a phase of constantly weighing myself (3-4 times daily), and I know that I don't want to be neurotic like that again. I've always been slim-but-not-skinny, and given that and my healthy BMI, height, age, and maternal history, my goal for pregnancy gain is 20-25 pounds. So far, I'm right on track.
I'd say secondary to that is the concern of clothes. Right now, I finally fit the pair of CK sz 2's that were my too-big jeans prepregnancy. I already have a pair of maternity capris, and I plan on getting one or two pairs of jeans, three or four dresses, numerous tops, stretchy skirts, and the holy grail: a modest and relatively inexpensive swimsuit.
Ridge and I have finalized our choice for a girl name, so now we are prepared for either/or. My next ultrasound is next week, and we *might* find out the little M.'s gender. It's getting pretty tempting, and to be perfectly honest, I'm rather alarmed and appalled at the fact that we've succumbed so soon to the seemingly universal urge parents develop to check out their offspring's privates. Shame on us. Pervs.

Many of you might already know, but last Wednesday, our Jeep Cherokee was stolen. It was already having problems, and when it was found a couple days later, the engine was toast. We were able to get a '96 Ford Taurus on Sunday at the Creston Auction. Our mechanic, Mike Shelley, is going to replace the transmission, and then it will need only a few cosmetic fixes. We are so thankful to Jason Ferguson, for finding our Jeep, Dad Vestal, for letting us drive his Suburban while in limbo, Dad Mallery for bidding for us, Mike, for his expert advice and help, and most of all, to God, for making a way for us.
So that has been our life lately.
And now I need to fold laundry and unload the dishwasher.

1/3

Yay!! I'm almost done with the first trimester of pregnancy! Not that it's been all that horrible, just the normal food aversions/cravings, digestive malfunction, sleepiness, mild nausea, and a suddenly way-too-sharp sense of smell. I've been wishing for summer so much, and it would seem that many hold the same yearnings. Mental trips to cherry orchards and peach stands are intervened occasionally by dreams of cool grass and juicy watermelon.
I recently reread Mireille Guiliano's book, French Women Don't get Fat, for about the third time. She includes so many yummy sounding recipes, and lots of practical tips for a healthy lifestyle. One I tried today for the first time was plain yogurt with honey. Yum! And this afternoon, I'm making bagels.
Something else I've been up to is lots of knitting. My latest project is a little lacy pink baby cardigan from Debbie Bliss's book, Simply Baby. My knitting has come along way, but anything with "simple" in the title is automatically a running candidate as to whether I'd actually finish any projects. But why make girl clothes when we could be having a boy? Well, we decided long before that we want to keep our little person's gender a secret until the big day. So, to even things up, I'm planning to make a manly ribbed jacket from the same book, in blue or green.
One of each, just in case.

Insufficient Postage

Sorry for my laziness. I have been up to other stuff, honest. We've been getting the wedding together, and so far, when I have despaired of life, Ridge has proved an able therapist. Decorations are underway, all the attendants' outfits are nearly done, and yesterday we bought Ridge's ring and met with his friend Eric Dye, who will be playing live music for our prelude and reception. *whew!* We've also been planning our honeymoon together, and by all indications, we are going to have a lot of fun.
Last weekend, we all went to Lake Koocanusa to camp. I never sleep well when I'm camping, so I'm usually a grouchy old toad, but I did really enjoy shopping in Eureka and Libby. (yes, we go camping so we can shop- I thought everybody did that?) I found a Betsy and Aiden cocktail dress for the rehearsal dinner, a couple vintage Pyrex storage containers, some gorgeous yarn, and in the thrift store, I got a new /w tags Banana Republic pink silk blouse. Size? Petite small.
So, the trip wasn't so bad after all. Getting to shower & shave can change a girl's retrospect.

Last Sunday

Megan offered to take some of our engagement pictures, so on Sunday, we went to Sliter's park and a little bitty park off the Swan River. It was lovely weather, and a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

It took a minute, but we got this one figured out before too long. Romeo entreats Juliet's love. Juliet laughs.

I like this airy, sun-washed effect.

We also got some funny outhouse pictures, but those are for another post.

A Tube and a Hot Summer Day

After church yesterday, we decided to spend our afternoon floating the Swan River on our inner tubes. We did it in akind of a twosome/threesome style, with Ridge, Megan, and I hanging on to each other's tubes for most of the way.

Our Internet connection isn't loading pictures well. Maybe I'll post more, but I'll be at Grandma's for the next three days. Have a nice week!

How I Show My Patriotism

First, I get some red...then I grab a little white...

and top it all off with a splash of blue!

Wishing you all a happy Independence Day!

I took the GED!

Hooray! I'm so glad to be done! And it really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.
(picture courtesy of OM International)

Finally!

Here's the dress I worked on forever.I'm so glad to be done with that project!! It was fun to have an excuse to get all dolled up. I kinda like my hair curly. And I even got to show off my hot farmer tan. (yeah right) ;-P

I submitted the pictures to JoAnn's prom contest, with hopes of snagging the $50,000 grand prize. Wish me luck!

Other news is that we got a puppy. She's a red heeler/black lab cross, and cute as all get-out. I'm not known for being a dog lover, but Sadie (short for Mercedes) has me smitten.

Awful cute, I say.

I'm Back

Sorry for the hiatus. There will be more as Summer progresses, but I'll try to keep you guys updated now and then.

Last weekend was a blast! Lake Koocanusa really is my favorite spot to camp, and Eureka is the most darlingest little place to comb 2nd hand shops and grab a bite. I had the pleasant hap of finding the perfect skirt. There is a fantastic cafe that we always eat at, the name of which I haven't yet learned because I'm always too busy making a bee-line for the entrance. I just know that they make the most yummy sammich.

On Friday night, my beau got to come up, so that made it extra special.Eric and Tara also got to stay with us.On Saturday, we went to a really dinky Amish auction. I didn't get to take a pony ride, but I did get a ladybug balloon. We also went to the famous swinging bridge.When we got back, we went canoeing.

Megan and Rachel on the beach.

Me with my sweet cuz.

I loved all the mud and slime. Significant other was not so impressed.

We can usually reconcile our differences though. So now I'm home. I've showered, shaved, and gotten a decent night's sleep, but am still enjoying the memories we made up in the Kootenai.

Summer Dresses

I love these festive dresses. Perfect with a white cardigan, straw hat, and iced tea. A simplistic melon-flavored number a la Hepburn, courtesy of J. Crew.

A pretty poppy field by Anthropologie.
Ahhh.....now I'm craving summer. Well, I suppose it will come soon enough.

They Have Arrived!!

Today my new shoes were delivered! They are just as lovely as I expected, and fit as though some dear cobbler had my particular feet in mind. I felt like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly when I slipped them on! Now I am ready for Springtime, baby showers, or anything else calling for winsome whiteness. I don't think I've owned a pair of little white shoes since I was in Sunday School, but now I'd say I'm quite soundly smitten.

Pretty

Just Beachy

Well, Spring is getting hotter, and Summer is knocking at the door. Of course, Summer means swimming, and swimming means wearing a bathing suit of one kind or another. (just a warning to any guys, this whole thing is going to be pretty non-applicable to you) As the rest of the nation gears up to don their -ahem- less than decent swimwear, conservative people (especially women and girls) are faced with the quandary of how to enjoy the hot weather and still retain a modicum of modesty.
I wore the generic "one-piece" until I was about 11, and around that time we (my parents & I) decided that standard bathing suits did not incorporate enough material into their construction. So, we began our search. First, we got one of those stretchy little skirt things to go over my current suit. That was far from satisfactory. Then, in 2004, we discovered the bathing suits offered by the Hopkins family: http://swimmodest.com/ They are Mormons, and I consider their suit to be agreeably modest, and though the price is a bit steep for my liking, it is a good option for those who do not sew.
There are several other companies who make fine suits, but my favorite is Simply Modest Swimwear: http://www.modestswimwearsolutions.com/ Crystal Huyben has made a lovely, easy to follow pattern in multiple sizes, and that is how I make my own suit. Lycra fabric can be obtained at relative inexpense on Ebay, and it is such fun to choose your own materials!
Here is a picture from last year (when I still had long hair!)

These suits offer great ease of movement, and depending on the weight of fabric you choose, they aren't heavy, confining "bags." The length of sleeves, skirt, and leggings are all variable according to your taste. With that, I wish you all a happy, modest summer.
P.S. another benefit of more coverage is you don't get so much sunburn! :-)

Going on a Bike Reich

Those of you who followed my former blog know that ever since I sold my horse, I have been looking for a good bicycle.
First, I looked at the $400 ones, but I don't commute or anything, so it wasn't worth spending that much.
Then, I looked at one that was $225, but it was too small. (honest) Next, I set my cap for one that was $170 and bright pink. I was really wondering about that shade of pink.
Today, I got my bike for $15. We were at the thrift store, and mom said to check out the bikes, so I did. I am now a believer in love at first sight. She (it's a she) is old, greenish (my favorite color!) with fenders, Shimano gears, a stuff rack, a headlight, and a bell. On closer inspection, I found that everything was printed in Deutsch, with a little label that stated the bike's origin: W. Germany.
Yes, I am a German Girl Scout, (inside joke) may I interest you in some cookies? (and could I have a swig of Kombucha?)