What's in a name?

If you have been wondering why I named this blog A Calico Life, then hopefully, by the time I've finished this post, you will no longer be in the dark. It will truly be a hodge podge of info and updating as to my life these past few weeks. In fact, there are so many random things to mention, that I hardly know where to start!

GOOD NEWS

The planting has been a success so far. With regular watering, some verbal encouragement, and frequent screaming at a certain Calico, our green friends have obliged us with flowers, leaves, and fruit. I've tasted 2 of the strawberries and they were yummy!

Bad news

We all have been struggling with some sort of ailment or another. Ear infections, colds, sore throats, etc... Not fun at all. However, it does make you grateful for healing. Also, Jim's mom has had many close calls and we watch helplessly as she slowly slips away from us.

GOOD NEWS

The kites from the kids' Easter baskets were a big hit! At one point we had 5 kites up in the air. The children kept saying how fun it was to give the cars on the frontage road something pretty to look at. Even the construction workers from the acreage next door honked their horns in approval. Seeing Ryan fly his first kite was a treat. That familiar pull on your arm as you hold the handle was a delight to him. He was proud to "drive the kite". Even Sushi came to enjoy the goings on.

Bad news

Sometimes life is just hard. Sometimes you go to great lengths to treat your family to pizza. Sometimes you find that someone enjoyed your pizza before you could even get to it. Sometimes you have to call the pizza people and tell them how angry you are and that you don't have lunch for your children. Sometimes they are just as horrified as you. Sometimes they give you a gift card for your trouble. Sometimes, after a day or so, you laugh at the story. Sometimes.

GOOD NEWS!

We are loving the Spring weather here. Last week we spent a half hour chasing the butterflies in the back yard trying to take its picture. It was a well deserved break from all the worries of the day. Even my Nasturtiums have decided to come out and play!

 Now do you understand about my Calico life? :)  Hopefully in the next few days I'll share some pics of my ongoing scrapbooking and crochet projects. I even have a little quilting project to share, but it's a Mother's Day secret. ;) Thanks for reading!

~Erika, lover of all things Calico

When the going gets tough, the tough get growing!

I was in a funk, as my mother coined it many a year ago. You know. That place where even a cold diet Dr. Pepper and the color pink can't get you smiling. It wasn't a surprise, actually. The past few weeks, even months, have been "roller-coastery" at best. Many things were/are going on: Melissa's admittance to BYU and all that goes with planning that from hundreds of miles away, Jim's mom and her failing health, 2 funerals for young people that we had grown to love...

And in the midst of it all, I had gotten to a place where I felt like I was missing it all. My kids are growing up faster than I care for them to and soon the little ones would be filling out their own college admission papers. I wanted to shout, "Hey! Wait a minute! I'm not done yet!"

Enter in, stage left, Blogs. It may sound crazy, but when I get to this dismal existance, I turn to a few blogs that help me remember what's important in life. One of my favorites has pictures of beautiful flowers that she has sprouted and I was instantly calmed by the color and delicate nature of their blossems...Her home shows warmth and love...Her life shows simplicity...Sigh...

Then I remembered the little jars that Rebekah had waiting in my bathroom. They were filled with the most adorable beginnings of butternut squash. Just 3 little plants, but they had been planted by HER and she tenderly referred to them as her "babies" and coddled them just as such. Hmmm....Yes! I believe planting those babies was in order!

Wal-Mart must have seen me coming. Not only did we get a pool to plant her babies in, but we ended up with tomatoes, flowers, squash, strawberries, more tomatoes, seeds for flowers, some herbs, and...did I mention tomatoes?

Jazz hands!

Needless to say, we all planted our hearts out and found that missing piece (peace). Every morning these new babies are tended to with the sweetest of care. I feel more centered. More connected. We are doing something together. We're making memories. It's all good!