tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55447923217367525592024-03-14T03:49:15.733-05:00Sikes Family BlogSikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.comBlogger737125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-19643446533606506522021-08-17T08:02:00.003-05:002021-08-17T08:51:36.975-05:00Tales from the Tank August 14,15,16, 2021<img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1V-1H1Npt_4g_dfqn7R7UTClSEZ2CLLpv" width="100%" /><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">August 14. 2021 Another episode of Tales<br />from the Tank – <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Hi, I am Comet and I am a Blood Parrot Fish.<br />I am a Cichlid fish and I live in a large glass box of water. I sometimes take<br />a nap in the afternoon and hide near the spongy thing which spews out bubbles<br />which supposedly helps to encourage the oxygen to move into the water. I was<br />minding my own business and all of a sudden there was a large shadow outside of<br />the tank. The Mom walked near the tank<br />and dropped a big giant water bubble bag into the top of my tank. What on earth is going on? There is a large bag floating in my water.<br />Why oh why is this happening? Should I go<br />see what this is all about or should I stay in my nice hiding spot here near<br />the spongy thing? <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Oh no, the top of the bag fell over and<br />there seems to be something inside the bag. <br />It looks like a swirling bit of dinner. <br />Oh, oh I hope she brought me some fresh food. This pellet food into the<br />tank everyday are so boring. I just swim up to them and gulp the pellets<br />down. Oh wow! What is going on here? The Mom is putting my<br />water inside the bag. Now she waited a<br />bit. The Sophia person was looking into my tank seemingly very excited. I<br />wonder what is going on. Oh, oh my<br />goodness! I am getting some food. Here I go, I am going to jump up and grab it<br />before another fish around here gets my dinner! <br />Here goes nothing! Up, up, and away! I think I am going to get it. Just one large morsel of fresh<br />yumminess! What! What? How did I miss that fresh fish? Where is my dinner? I was sure they brought me a fresh fish to<br />eat. I think it got away. I am going to<br />look around for a bit. Oh, there it is! What is that? What kind of fish has a mouth that attaches<br />to the glass. What on earth is that<br />weird fellow? I heard the mom person<br />tell the Sophia person that she got her a Bristle Nose Plecostomus (AKA Pleco).<br />I am not sure if I should eat it or not. They say it looks like a tiny catfish.<br />It is by far the smallest fish I have ever seen, if it is in fact a fish. Sophia was convinced I ate the fish but I<br />totally missed it when I jumped up to get it. <br />I guess I have a new tankmate now. The mom said it will eat the algae and<br />help clean the tank That’s good because I don’t like to eat green vegetation. It is happily swimming around watching me and<br />sucking on the gravel and the tank glass. <br />How odd to be attached by the mouth to the tank side. I guess I will leave it alone for now. It<br />doesn’t seem to want to play or compete with me for dinner so I won’t pester it<br />for now. <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">A few hours later… I have been looking<br />all around my tank for the Pleco. It seems to have disappeared. Did I eat it? <br />I am not sure. It was here and now it is nowhere to be found.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;">August 15, 2021 Another Episode from<br />Tales from the Tank</span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Hi, my name is Comet and I am Blood<br />Parrot Cichlid. As of yesterday, I had a new tankmate but it seems to be<br />nowhere to be found. I don’t think I ate it, but maybe I buried it in the<br />substrate. I like to dig and pick up rocks in my mouth and move them around<br />like a human rearranging furniture. I hope<br />I didn’t bury it alive. How horrible would that be? It was a Bristle Nose pleco<br />and they like to clean the tank so I don’t think it will get in my way at all. In fact, it would be nice to have a live-in<br />housekeeper. This place gets pretty<br />nasty with green algae when my owner leaves the light on too long. I heard the mom say that she put the light on<br />a timer to prevent the light from being on too long.. I am not sure what that<br />means but suddenly my light is coming on at a certain time each day and goes<br />off at sleepy time. I suspect that is<br />the culprit, the timer is now deciding when it’s day and night in my tank.<br />Comet signing off for now. Just keep swimming. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1M0xEEcFJMInS542ftOz6dZ8ffoh_Osp3" width="100%" /><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">August 16, 2021 Tales from the Tank<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Hi, my name is Comet and I am a blood parrot<br />Cichlid and this is my tank. Yesterday I<br />mentioned I had a new tankmate a housekeeper, per se. The mom brought it to Sophia and called it a Bristle<br />Nose Plecostamos. It likes to attach<br />itself to the back wall of the tank like a picture hanging on the wall with its<br />suction mouth. It’s cute and funny how it happily wiggles it’s tail as it moves<br />along. LOL! It’s so funny looking but<br />cool that it cleans my home. <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Something weird happened late yesterday<br />afternoon. There was a bit of commotion<br />outside the tank and then suddenly lots of bubble bags filled with water<br />appeared in the top of my tank. I was<br />feeling curious and came out of my hiding space behind the spongy thing. Then,<br />I quickly retreated back as the mom put these bags into my tank. I am not sure what was going on here. There were bright colors and what I thought<br />were rocks but they seemed to be ever so slowly moving, creeping. I just<br />cautiously sat behind my spongy thing watching. <br />About a half hour later when the mom said the fish were acclimated, she opened<br />the tops of the bags. I am still unsure<br />of what was going on, but I watched from the safety of the spongy filter thing.<br />The mom told the Sophia person that although our tank seems very stable on water<br />parameters with the addition of new tankmates, we will need to watch to see if<br />we have any spikes due to something called Bio-load. Whoa! That’s some big fancy words. The mom<br />said we should be okay based on the fact that this filter has biological,<br />mechanical, and chemical filtration and she has maximized the efficiency of the<br />filter to work at optimum capacity. Whatever<br />all that mumbo jumbo means is fine with me. She shared that with Sophia so she<br />could understand the hodge podge of chemistry and tank husbandry required to keep<br />me and my new pals safe. <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyway, the bags were opened a short<br />while later and the mom put some of my water into their bags. She also built this weird contraption she called<br />it a breeder net/acclimation box. She put it into my tank. She said she has<br />used these before when introducing new fishy friends to a tank to let the current<br />resident fish acclimate or get friendly with their new environment and the old<br />inhabitants to not feel as threatened by the newbies. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">This gives everyone a chance to look around and<br />feel comfortable in their new surrounding without the added stress of being<br />nipped at. The problem with us fish is we don’t like change. If a newbie is<br />added to our tank we tend to nip at it a bit just to let it know who is boss.<br />It is my tank so I tell it in fish language that I am at the top of the fish hierarchy<br />here. I am the grand marshal and I rule<br />the tank. With the netting in place I<br />can’t hurt the others but still show them I am here and ready to whip them into<br />shape if they start invading my territory. <br />So, she carefully removed the brightly colored rocks with a foot and some<br />super bright glowing neon colored splashes of color she called tetras. I am wondering if I ask Sophia if I can get<br />some shades down here. Those new Glofish Tetra fish she brought in here are<br />just too bright and some sunglasses just might help me to not be blinded by their<br />brightness. Maybe she could lend me a<br />spare set of her swimming goggles that are tinted for the sun. The future is so<br />bright I have to wear shades. <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=10BRp4iZmIVeD1j01myhZlME_vVALDtup" width="100%" /><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px;">Back to the story, the mom very carefully removed the community safe tankmates into the netting box she had placed in my tank and the Glofish Tetras began swimming about happily enjoying MY water.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px;">What the heck is going on here?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px;">Wait, the mom took another bag and very gently lifted out a rock with foot on it.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px;">What is that? How odd? I have never seen rocks with feet. She called these peculiar shaped rocks, snails. </span></div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BDF57CvxxL8XiXBvb9MBfWn71dkhA6LC" width="100%" /><div><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">She carefully put the golden mystery snail on my<br />front wall.</span></div><div><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1cajOro_RU-q8EoV8DbM4BlWijJXgCAwB" width="100%" /><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Then, she opened another bag and took a<br />greenish colored snail and called it a Nerite Snail. Sophia exuberantly exclaimed<br />that she will need to name these strange almost alien-like fellows. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ivh8bhVTfUqLMQ27D8TA-MLkFY-kZmfP" width="100%" /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then, she took two long conical horn shaped<br />dudes out of the bag and placed them in the tank ever so gently. She called them rabbit snails. What? I don’t believe Rabbits are supposed to be in<br />a tank. What’s up doc? Was heard all around the room. I sure hope they aren’t<br />really rabbits. The mom stated that it isn’t a rabbit at all, but rather a<br />snail also scientifically known as a gastropod of the invertebrates referred to<br />as phylum Mollusca. The rabbit snail poked it’s tiny head out, and it’s face,<br />no kidding, looks a bit like a rabbit head shape. Whoever heard of that? There are two in here now. There cone shaped<br />shells are very unusual and colorful. One’s body is bright yellow.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=11z0p5C6EUvEeFHUWbMQ_IGSGzd19tKFf" width="100%" /><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The other is somewhat of a charcoal<br />shade of grayish. You can see a bitof dark gray peeking out of the cone shaped shell here. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1TWOUWw8PslqKrgiuFabeJbreLxqIJBbf" width="100%" /></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lastly,<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she took the fish net and got another<br />friend out of the bag and placed it gently into the netting box. It was a pure White<br />/ Platinum Parrot. It is a tiny baby compared to me so hopefully I won’t have<br />to show it who is boss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’ll know.<br />It began swimming around with the tetras. They seemed to be playing as I watched<br />from behind my spongy filter thing. I slowly emerged and swam around the<br />netting asking why they were there. I want to know why but they just swam over<br />and looked me in the eyes pleading with me to let them stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The Glofish tetras are neon pink, neon<br />yellow/green, and a silvery blue. They are not naturally occurring fish in the<br />wild. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">They are man-made and by that I mean man-altered. They have been<br />engineered and are rather new to the hobby. I believe they came into fashion<br />around 2017 but may have been created as early as 2001. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, true aquarist tend to not care for<br />genetically modified brightly colored fish like me as a hybrid or my new pals with<br />neon colors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">These fish are injected<br />with a substance taken from corals or jellyfish that make them brightly glow<br />and therefore making them more enticing to the customer who happens to wander<br />into the aquarium side of a pet store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People<br />just can’t help themselves wanting a beautiful glowing fish or several for<br />their freshwater tank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On<br />the other hand, while Blood Red Parrot Cichlid is a hybrid, we are a cross between<br />two species of fish which makes us attractive to the customers when they come<br />to buy. Stores like them because people like Sophia insist we are super cute with<br />our smiling face. Blood Parrots mouths are actually deformed from cross-breeding<br />but luckily for us we look like we are smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span>People can’t resist a smiling animal. So, with that being said the<br />Glofish are also genetically modified</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> to glow but they are still similar in needs<br />to their original ancestors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when I<br />say Tetra Glofish, they are a tetra with water parameters and food required for<br />a Tetra fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glofish come in several<br />varieties including tetras, danios, tiger barbs, sharks, and bettas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia chose tetras because they are a fuller<br />looking colorful fish and are very docile community fish to come and live with<br />me. I think she likes the bright colors and her mom said she can’t have a saltwater<br />tank until she learns the basics of running an aquarium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saltwater tanks involve a lot more detailed<br />chemistry than even a freshwater tank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span>So Sophia can learn the basics and if she is still interested in a saltwater<br />reed aquarium she can look into that in the future someday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The colorful freshwater fish are a good<br />learning process for her. It also helps her understand why learning chemistry<br />is so important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there you have it. I have new tankmates<br />whom my human specifically told me I should not eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told me they brought friends to me but not<br />for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure I wanted friends,<br />but I was a bit lonely in this big old box of water all by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am feeling more social now that I have<br />tankmates, the 3 Glofish Tetras, 1 White Polar Parrot, a Bristlenose<br />Plecostamos, two Rabbits snails, a Nerite snail, and a Golden Mystery<br />Snail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That seems like a lot but they<br />are all tiny for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia was told by<br />her mom that by adding more than one fish at a time in this case would be better<br />so I would not torture one new guy to death. Most of the time it is recommended<br />to add fish slowly like one every two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span>Why two weeks, well, that is how long you should quarantine them in the<br />hospital tank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is especially important<br />when buying the more expensive species of fish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I might like having some pals and am<br />swimming around with them a lot today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This<br />is Comet signing off for now so I can go play with my new tankmates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TTFN! <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /></div><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1EQbLRNa43YMAPvyMaA6ZSn-j4_UY-h_5" width="100%" /><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_78gBzGbTRaeAXN60zvle1Hmlz9HuwPJ" width="100%" /><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18F5GdSFXx24lc4kT9rdeX0sWY99NtZcV" width="100%" /><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1w8UWFWT0L3rAuE3uwzCPLFKiHV4i1U-B" width="100%" /><div><br /></div><div>The Green and the Blue hanging out with me, Comet.</div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-73378711948475499322014-04-26T21:30:00.001-05:002014-04-26T21:38:53.172-05:00Kaylee playing golf with the pink golf clubs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hWohtxOXN-w/U1xrn_osRAI/AAAAAAAC8jw/yW1QWryAa5Q/s640/blogger-image--1494952767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hWohtxOXN-w/U1xrn_osRAI/AAAAAAAC8jw/yW1QWryAa5Q/s640/blogger-image--1494952767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gysDgS89cBw/U1xrp3M4G8I/AAAAAAAC8j4/rqjKVFiySq8/s640/blogger-image--545240920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gysDgS89cBw/U1xrp3M4G8I/AAAAAAAC8j4/rqjKVFiySq8/s640/blogger-image--545240920.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I took Kaylee up to the driving range at Winghaven. While Sophia was taking a break from swinging, I taught Kaylee how to play. Then daddy came and helped too. As I look at this picture I can clearly see this kid's driver is taller than Kaylee but that didn't stop her.</div><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hWohtxOXN-w/U1xrn_osRAI/AAAAAAAC8jw/yW1QWryAa5Q/s640/blogger-image--1494952767.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We just choked up on the club when I showed her how. Daddy had her stand back farther than I did. It didn 't matter at all to her. She was golfing.</div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-8479468555928020512014-04-26T21:26:00.001-05:002014-04-26T21:35:27.044-05:00First time Sophia swinging her brand new pink golf clubs<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m_ziGujoT_U/U1xqrcJo0wI/AAAAAAAC8i0/yYO8tG5rkc4/s640/blogger-image--1843766846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m_ziGujoT_U/U1xqrcJo0wI/AAAAAAAC8i0/yYO8tG5rkc4/s640/blogger-image--1843766846.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mommy took Sophia up to Winghaven Country Club to learn how to use her new bright pink golf clubs while it was sunny out today. I set my old beat up putter at her feet and demonstrated to her how important foot placement is in driving the ball. I haven't played in more than 7 years but it all started coming back to me as I taught my both my daughters today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a5r9Ud2TSk8/U1xqs9HBG4I/AAAAAAAC8i8/3qOZ7ZJPkYo/s640/blogger-image--914662996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a5r9Ud2TSk8/U1xqs9HBG4I/AAAAAAAC8i8/3qOZ7ZJPkYo/s640/blogger-image--914662996.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I taught my little girls how to grip the clubs and foot placement. They were surprised mommy had tees in my golf bag. (It is sweet how they are so surprised at the simplest things like mommy having a supply of wooden tees in case we broke one.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oySskccrZyk/U1xqge2TiYI/AAAAAAAC8iE/NIBKaHGAMq8/s640/blogger-image--1882685066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oySskccrZyk/U1xqge2TiYI/AAAAAAAC8iE/NIBKaHGAMq8/s640/blogger-image--1882685066.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I told Sophia to put her toes behind the putter just like putting her toes on the line in dance. I told her we had lots of time to learn so no need to rush. I couldn't take pics of me showing her how to swing obviously. These photos show how I let her start taking a few swings on her own. I gently coached her into cleaning her swing up as we went along. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OwLYUHviWB0/U1xqj8_uG1I/AAAAAAAC8iU/3T9slmNzY34/s640/blogger-image--896504688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OwLYUHviWB0/U1xqj8_uG1I/AAAAAAAC8iU/3T9slmNzY34/s640/blogger-image--896504688.jpg"></a></div>With each swing she got better at not turning the club face and controlling her swing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OmgZeo2xSDA/U1xqiO6sNzI/AAAAAAAC8iM/IEvz2-ck99M/s640/blogger-image--634867010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OmgZeo2xSDA/U1xqiO6sNzI/AAAAAAAC8iM/IEvz2-ck99M/s640/blogger-image--634867010.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At times she missed because, well this photo shows it all. She bent over too much reaching out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--J_maPdsmJk/U1xqlvn1U5I/AAAAAAAC8ic/44Hz2tc9GZ0/s640/blogger-image--1825312519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--J_maPdsmJk/U1xqlvn1U5I/AAAAAAAC8ic/44Hz2tc9GZ0/s640/blogger-image--1825312519.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then she made contact and wham! The golf ball flew. She was SO excited! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_D3lwK4nGnI/U1xq1SU0fcI/AAAAAAAC8jk/kuop54pcg6c/s640/blogger-image--842919407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_D3lwK4nGnI/U1xq1SU0fcI/AAAAAAAC8jk/kuop54pcg6c/s640/blogger-image--842919407.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mommy, I am ready to try again. Line up and.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2nbgA56ixhw/U1xqzyWLTUI/AAAAAAAC8jc/HNoDBRpN8c4/s640/blogger-image--1262637746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2nbgA56ixhw/U1xqzyWLTUI/AAAAAAAC8jc/HNoDBRpN8c4/s640/blogger-image--1262637746.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hcFokWf3xio/U1xqyODc6XI/AAAAAAAC8jU/r3qg8O-tBFM/s640/blogger-image--2132309101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hcFokWf3xio/U1xqyODc6XI/AAAAAAAC8jU/r3qg8O-tBFM/s640/blogger-image--2132309101.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Swing </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jfg8I9ZFGlc/U1xquvDOHXI/AAAAAAAC8jE/eqgvX0zCnPU/s640/blogger-image--842277785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jfg8I9ZFGlc/U1xquvDOHXI/AAAAAAAC8jE/eqgvX0zCnPU/s640/blogger-image--842277785.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Line up and backswing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tsBxYg29X3A/U1xqnYPbY9I/AAAAAAAC8ik/FmnuDu9aeCI/s640/blogger-image--1717120356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tsBxYg29X3A/U1xqnYPbY9I/AAAAAAAC8ik/FmnuDu9aeCI/s640/blogger-image--1717120356.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then her daddy arrived and helped too. I actually caught this one on her backswing with her dad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gpLc77trxFg/U1xqpZsj8eI/AAAAAAAC8is/tvq8RCsdbes/s640/blogger-image-653613264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gpLc77trxFg/U1xqpZsj8eI/AAAAAAAC8is/tvq8RCsdbes/s640/blogger-image-653613264.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Daddy placing the golf ball on the tee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HzTIhPssGF0/U1xqehSNE9I/AAAAAAAC8h8/R7xcUHko-RA/s640/blogger-image--2103242978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HzTIhPssGF0/U1xqehSNE9I/AAAAAAAC8h8/R7xcUHko-RA/s640/blogger-image--2103242978.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Daddy helping refine her swing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yb6MIn7CKvM/U1xqwv2n3FI/AAAAAAAC8jM/lV8lTBtEXHM/s640/blogger-image--287921899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yb6MIn7CKvM/U1xqwv2n3FI/AAAAAAAC8jM/lV8lTBtEXHM/s640/blogger-image--287921899.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-76545548253310944912014-04-26T19:18:00.001-05:002014-04-26T19:24:41.784-05:00Painting smock designed and made by big sister Sophia<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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What is a little girl to do when she doesn't have paint smock like big sister? Ask big sister for help. "Mom, I will just make Kaylee a paint smock so we can paint with watercolors." Sophia ran into the kitchen and recycled some grocery bags by cutting the bottoms out. She grabbed the stapler and stapled the skirt to the top and then stapled the back so it wasn't too wide. </div>
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She stapled and stapled.</div>
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All the way around she stapled.</div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-un_Obvr_9ps/U1xMtmHznjI/AAAAAAAC8hM/0xc3rHbdAzo/s640/blogger-image-426416982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-un_Obvr_9ps/U1xMtmHznjI/AAAAAAAC8hM/0xc3rHbdAzo/s640/blogger-image-426416982.jpg" /></a></div>
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She told Kaylee put your arms through the bag handles like sleeves and then she grabbed some plastic gloves and put them on Kaylee's hands.</div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qORyuMRGRHc/U1xMvS8upjI/AAAAAAAC8hU/URBW_YKskZU/s640/blogger-image-748035945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qORyuMRGRHc/U1xMvS8upjI/AAAAAAAC8hU/URBW_YKskZU/s640/blogger-image-748035945.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here Kaylee is modeling her proud smock dress made by her sister Sophia. </div>
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Kaylee informed me that her smock was white with red polka dots and a blue skirt. </div>
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I better be careful. These two might get dangerous if they get into my fabric stash in my sewing room. Yikes! <br />
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<br />Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-92092946947419864252014-04-24T12:56:00.001-05:002014-04-24T12:56:49.994-05:00Kaylee painting a Doc McStuffins picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WJ7pYh5fxyA/U1lQUYTHaCI/AAAAAAAC8gM/dLK7BpATp0E/s640/blogger-image--405109727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WJ7pYh5fxyA/U1lQUYTHaCI/AAAAAAAC8gM/dLK7BpATp0E/s640/blogger-image--405109727.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GMokU6HVms0/U1lQWIbmvvI/AAAAAAAC8gU/NJf-stmkIf0/s640/blogger-image-1966866369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GMokU6HVms0/U1lQWIbmvvI/AAAAAAAC8gU/NJf-stmkIf0/s640/blogger-image-1966866369.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jMTxyhLu_NQ/U1lQXxp0peI/AAAAAAAC8gc/ZP2d8KdBrGg/s640/blogger-image-1375297048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jMTxyhLu_NQ/U1lQXxp0peI/AAAAAAAC8gc/ZP2d8KdBrGg/s640/blogger-image-1375297048.jpg"></a></div>I let Kaylee do some painting today. She was having a blast. Paper towels all around her to clean paint brush and messes up. She is having so much fun.</div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-36654414576166168982014-03-18T19:40:00.001-05:002014-03-18T20:10:48.335-05:00How do you catch a Leprechaun? -build a trap<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U0wIRWKwJCU/Uyjth3lg4mI/AAAAAAAC8fg/T-2nnMgz8w8/s640/blogger-image-921824594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U0wIRWKwJCU/Uyjth3lg4mI/AAAAAAAC8fg/T-2nnMgz8w8/s640/blogger-image-921824594.jpg"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4xEzEIrDbRY/UyjngtEnZ8I/AAAAAAAC8fA/m_NJGIRCva4/s640/blogger-image-249689941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FyFTHiawW4U/UyjniHHZXMI/AAAAAAAC8fI/Z1G09snmPac/s640/blogger-image-1199619954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FyFTHiawW4U/UyjniHHZXMI/AAAAAAAC8fI/Z1G09snmPac/s640/blogger-image-1199619954.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Making a leprechaun trap. The girls told me they were going to snag the Leprechaun's pot of gold and keep him as a pet. Sophia even drew and colored and cut out fake gold to lure the little Leprechaun into her trap she set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QTSFat1GLD8/UyjneyNqH0I/AAAAAAAC8e4/c8vJi8snvG8/s640/blogger-image--642037606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QTSFat1GLD8/UyjneyNqH0I/AAAAAAAC8e4/c8vJi8snvG8/s640/blogger-image--642037606.jpg"></a></div>My girls snagging the goods that the Leprechaun hid in the trap. He got away this time and left some stuff in his place. Better luck of trapping him next year girls. I serged some Leprechaun plaid skirts and some little shamrock hair bows for my girls. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-our2NCJGVo8/UyjtgHF7rOI/AAAAAAAC8fY/e8eammOw_s0/s640/blogger-image--1009264561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-our2NCJGVo8/UyjtgHF7rOI/AAAAAAAC8fY/e8eammOw_s0/s640/blogger-image--1009264561.jpg"></a></div><br />Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-76852649904919818022014-01-07T07:36:00.001-06:002014-01-07T07:36:37.140-06:00Piano Bag for Piano Books<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="margin: 0px; position: relative; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Piano Bag for piano books</span></h3><div class="post-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-67516871478493198" itemprop="articleBody" style="width: 300px; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--T0rYCh3bnE/Ust-01Be7MI/AAAAAAAC8d8/YASL8Z2u5cI/s640/blogger-image--329673316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--T0rYCh3bnE/Ust-01Be7MI/AAAAAAAC8d8/YASL8Z2u5cI/s640/blogger-image--329673316.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); position: relative; padding: 5px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;"></font></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I made this piano bag for Sophia to carry her piano books to piano lessons. She wanted a backpack. <br></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CCFC6mAtWFw/Ust-y0j0LuI/AAAAAAAC8d0/a6PdxAGKPYQ/s640/blogger-image--2006137275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PsO88D7T1Bc/Ust-2nkOngI/AAAAAAAC8eE/Kklg16guMxY/s640/blogger-image--2010064235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PsO88D7T1Bc/Ust-2nkOngI/AAAAAAAC8eE/Kklg16guMxY/s640/blogger-image--2010064235.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); position: relative; padding: 5px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;"></a></span></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I decided to make it a backpack which converts to a cross body and or tote bag. She absolutely loves it and can't wait to take it to her lesson.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ABgJAi1Ksws/Ust-vFLL99I/AAAAAAAC8dk/EK9r4uLH6Zg/s640/blogger-image-1739004489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ABgJAi1Ksws/Ust-vFLL99I/AAAAAAAC8dk/EK9r4uLH6Zg/s640/blogger-image-1739004489.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); position: relative; padding: 5px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;"></font></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I had to figure out how to secure the single strap but provide enough support to carry the weight of all the music books she has. This was the result. Here the strap is fully extended for a tote bag,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c0Xg7RgL5LQ/Ust-ttaosjI/AAAAAAAC8dc/KAxK3BgAj1w/s640/blogger-image-682128062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c0Xg7RgL5LQ/Ust-ttaosjI/AAAAAAAC8dc/KAxK3BgAj1w/s640/blogger-image-682128062.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); position: relative; padding: 5px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;"></font></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here the bag is slid through the support strap which changes it into a backpack.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BlqZUuarC_w/UsuAOCO4mMI/AAAAAAAC8eQ/ztfu730DTXY/s640/blogger-image-1186895498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BlqZUuarC_w/UsuAOCO4mMI/AAAAAAAC8eQ/ztfu730DTXY/s640/blogger-image-1186895498.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); position: relative; padding: 5px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;"></font></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The inside is fabric printed as sheet music.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VoQ70qfGScM/Ust-wx36V-I/AAAAAAAC8ds/gRAJEvbpGRc/s640/blogger-image--1281425930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VoQ70qfGScM/Ust-wx36V-I/AAAAAAAC8ds/gRAJEvbpGRc/s640/blogger-image--1281425930.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); position: relative; padding: 5px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;"></font></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here is another view of the tote bag piano tote I designed and sewed. The tote is large enough to hold piano books which are larger than a normal book or notebook. No pattern was used in this design. This is my own original design.</span></div></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1" style="margin: 10px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="post-author vcard" style="margin-right: 1em; margin-left: 0px;"><span class="fn" itemprop="author" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252" rel="author" title="author profile" style="text-decoration: none;"><span itemprop="name">Sikes Family</span> </a></span></span><span class="post-timestamp" style="margin-right: 1em; margin-left: -1em;">at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://debssewingjournal.blogspot.com/2014/01/piano-bag-for-piano-books.html?m=1" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link" style="text-decoration: none;"><abbr class="published" itemprop="datePublished" title="2014-01-06T22:13:00-06:00" style="border: none;">10:13 PM</abbr></a></span></span></div></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-55438243451733824102013-11-06T19:26:00.001-06:002013-11-06T19:34:51.998-06:00American Girl Store<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ohc9Toa0k6M/UnrsLl4VSvI/AAAAAAAC8Uk/QJvKc0dYT8U/s640/blogger-image-617926897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ohc9Toa0k6M/UnrsLl4VSvI/AAAAAAAC8Uk/QJvKc0dYT8U/s640/blogger-image-617926897.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sophia requested to go to the AG store after school Monday as a reward for her two shots on goal at her soccer game.. I didn't know she wanted to get her doll's ears pierced but it made sense because Sophia had her ears pierced several weeks ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JDtU9eZ29z0/UnruOqq-BtI/AAAAAAAC8Uw/2AgfvNbCuTw/s640/blogger-image-670751359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JDtU9eZ29z0/UnruOqq-BtI/AAAAAAAC8Uw/2AgfvNbCuTw/s640/blogger-image-670751359.jpg"></a></div>Kaylee took her doll to have a new hairstyle. She chose a sweet little side braid which she is so excited about here. </div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-26085224749566495762013-11-02T19:27:00.001-05:002013-11-02T20:27:01.436-05:00Random sewing projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have been sewing everything in sight lately. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MMZrFlSoqUg/UnWkNo0K6lI/AAAAAAAC8UE/2TO9_cFXFLk/s640/blogger-image-1252489023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MMZrFlSoqUg/UnWkNo0K6lI/AAAAAAAC8UE/2TO9_cFXFLk/s640/blogger-image-1252489023.jpg"></a></div> Sophia insisted on having a tote bag made from the sparkle star fabric above. The only problem with that was it is light sparkle organza which doesn't lend itself well to making tote bags like a nice cotton or duck cloth fabric. So, I lined the tote bag and used the sparkle pink and purple organza as an overlay over a nice cotton fabric. It was super easy to sew on my serger and I completed the whole project in about two hours. I made a braided handle with the colors of the bag. Sophia was really excited about her tote and used it to trick or treat in her Sofia the First costume I made for her below.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M9IeoeH6jgc/UnWkRl_bHUI/AAAAAAAC8UU/gfi1c26j37w/s640/blogger-image--998937786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M9IeoeH6jgc/UnWkRl_bHUI/AAAAAAAC8UU/gfi1c26j37w/s640/blogger-image--998937786.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Fpjb-YMlcD0/UnWkEmq4JRI/AAAAAAAC8Tk/RDN6nsppAy8/s640/blogger-image-473632406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Fpjb-YMlcD0/UnWkEmq4JRI/AAAAAAAC8Tk/RDN6nsppAy8/s640/blogger-image-473632406.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So I have a little cruise coming up next week that I will be dressing up and wearing a few formal cocktail dresses for in the evenings. I needed some fancy wraps to go with the dresses I bought. I have been searching for awhile for the perfect wrap but couldn't seem to find the right thing for each of my fancy cocktail dresses, so I went to the fabric store and decided to sew what I wanted. I serged this iridescent sequined fabric above to complement one of my cocktail dresses.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CA0lHBZ5lKo/UnWkLhN1zpI/AAAAAAAC8T8/RZrBSsE8O8I/s640/blogger-image--978627976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CA0lHBZ5lKo/UnWkLhN1zpI/AAAAAAAC8T8/RZrBSsE8O8I/s640/blogger-image--978627976.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also serged a more casual white scarf/wrap with iridescent thread to use with my less formal dresses. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5vcgX3qhbpc/UnWkPgu2PwI/AAAAAAAC8UM/myCtagPdgcw/s640/blogger-image-329476309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5vcgX3qhbpc/UnWkPgu2PwI/AAAAAAAC8UM/myCtagPdgcw/s640/blogger-image-329476309.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I made it plenty wide so it could be used as a scarf or a wrap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bNdCC9QKgus/UnWkJvoQrFI/AAAAAAAC8T0/Oq69jcOYrJA/s640/blogger-image--803668188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bNdCC9QKgus/UnWkJvoQrFI/AAAAAAAC8T0/Oq69jcOYrJA/s640/blogger-image--803668188.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Scarf</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8012qa74_7s/UnWkHmKNfeI/AAAAAAAC8Ts/PK5x5i4OWHQ/s640/blogger-image-1135357222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8012qa74_7s/UnWkHmKNfeI/AAAAAAAC8Ts/PK5x5i4OWHQ/s640/blogger-image-1135357222.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The last item I serged was a ruffled scalloped edge scarf/wrap to cover up with as well. This picture does not do it justice, but in person, it is so fun and ruffled. What girl doesn't love ruffles? I certainly do and my little girls wanted to know which wraps they could have. </div><br></div></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-18609049091849197332013-10-29T22:14:00.001-05:002013-10-29T22:47:11.102-05:00Sophia learns to sew during ICD fall break<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NX9GYRXflu8/UnB5nHY14LI/AAAAAAAC8SQ/ZsF18XGc1as/s640/blogger-image--866406364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NX9GYRXflu8/UnB5nHY14LI/AAAAAAAC8SQ/ZsF18XGc1as/s640/blogger-image--866406364.jpg" /></a> While Kaylee was at preschool today Sophia and I spent some quality time together shopping, having lunch, and learning a new skill. She asked if I would teach her how to sew when we stopped in the fabric store today.</div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SvwrI2PDEQY/UnB5k5WOIjI/AAAAAAAC8SI/pKaM9fgbdUY/s640/blogger-image-1525328957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SvwrI2PDEQY/UnB5k5WOIjI/AAAAAAAC8SI/pKaM9fgbdUY/s640/blogger-image-1525328957.jpg" /></a></div>
I told her she could pick out a fabric and I would teach her how to make a simple skirt. She chose this whimsical spooky cat fabric. She was SO excited. The photo above is her wearing the spooky skirt she sewed this afternoon. She actually remembered how to thread the sewing machine. I better watch out. She is going to want to play with my serger next. I am so proud of her.<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LMlhWHmXDe4/UnB5icx25qI/AAAAAAAC8SA/Vr50XZkeRTU/s640/blogger-image--1278020467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LMlhWHmXDe4/UnB5icx25qI/AAAAAAAC8SA/Vr50XZkeRTU/s640/blogger-image--1278020467.jpg" /></a></div>
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She chose a fun whimsical fabric for her sister too so as she stated, "Kaylee needs one too so she won't be jealous." </div>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O169U8EjsqQ/UnB6IIuE80I/AAAAAAAC8SY/CEEYfZHfKQ0/s640/blogger-image-364742779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O169U8EjsqQ/UnB6IIuE80I/AAAAAAAC8SY/CEEYfZHfKQ0/s640/blogger-image-364742779.jpg" /></a></div>
I quickly serged a little fun spooky skirt for Kaylee too.<br />
<br />Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-11700928358528366002013-10-27T08:16:00.001-05:002013-10-27T08:38:03.051-05:00The Invasion of Giant Water Walker<div>
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This morning Sophia comes running into my bedroom while we were asleep dreaming of STL Cardinals winning World Series games. Sophia whispers loud enough for me to hear, "Daddy, come quick there something scary in my fish tank! Hurry, I think it already ate a fish. Mom, it is a big scary creature,,,,...called a "Giant Water Walker!" It is trying to drink all the water in the tank."<br />
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Si-kY2MZoE0/Um0SQGo7ZiI/AAAAAAAC8Ro/tgQc97Q-Ezo/s640/blogger-image-1300224861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Si-kY2MZoE0/Um0SQGo7ZiI/AAAAAAAC8Ro/tgQc97Q-Ezo/s640/blogger-image-1300224861.jpg" /></a></div>
( I made Sophia draw her scary Giant Water Walker. it had hair over its eyes with three feet in the front and three feet in the back and a large pink tongue.)<br />
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"Debbie, what is in the tank, you're commander of the fish tanks around here. Did you buy a new creature?" Questioned Scott.</div>
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"Absolutely not!" I exclaimed. "I have never heard of a Giant Water Walker. What on earth is she talking about? I guess I better go see what is invading her fish tank. Sophia show me the Giant Water Walker!"</div>
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"Mom," says Sophia, "Hurry before it eats another fish!"</div>
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I looked in the fish tank and what did I find? Yes, a big black......<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BHgfUNTjyic/Um0SSbKty1I/AAAAAAAC8Rw/JbMOxaKsnfc/s640/blogger-image-1074612001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BHgfUNTjyic/Um0SSbKty1I/AAAAAAAC8Rw/JbMOxaKsnfc/s640/blogger-image-1074612001.jpg" /></a></div>
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Tank Heater which shifted a bit. I reattached it to the glass wall of the fish tank and reassured her that the legend of the Giant Water Walker was now over. No need to be worried or scared and no fish were harmed in this crazy story. Mystery of the invasion of the Water Walker solved. </div>
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Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-80267794212984203482013-10-16T21:55:00.005-05:002013-10-16T22:47:46.278-05:00Rombach's Pumpkin Patch Annual Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This past weekend we went on our annual pumpkin patch visit. We met my brother and let the girls play and check out the pumpkin patch. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd_f4WMXVP0/Ul9GklHjSsI/AAAAAAAC8EA/tUa7IKFVCEc/s1600/IMG_5345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd_f4WMXVP0/Ul9GklHjSsI/AAAAAAAC8EA/tUa7IKFVCEc/s320/IMG_5345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
"Kaylee, look at all the pumpkins!" exclaimed Sophia.<br />
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"Let's wait our turn for the swings. Hold my hand."<br />
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Here little sister let me help you.</div>
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"Do you want to go up high?"</div>
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Fun times sliding down the slide.<br />
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Crawling through the giant tube.<br />
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<br />Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-16893528246073691682013-10-15T15:21:00.001-05:002013-10-15T15:50:33.067-05:00Tutu Dance Shoes Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I serged this little tutu tote bag for my girl's dance shoes without a pattern. Now, she wants one in leopard print. </div>
Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-4101272832240997442013-10-13T22:10:00.000-05:002013-10-13T22:10:22.733-05:00Daniel's Farm Pumpkin Patch Friday October 11 Kindergarten Field trip and MOPS Playdate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Friday was an interesting day. Sophia's Kindergarten class had their first field trip to the Pumpkin Patch at Daniel's Farm. She was so excited to go. She went there last year with her Pre-K class so she knew what to expect. I really wanted to go with her but younger siblings are not permitted to go and I had nowhere to send Kaylee since it wasn't a school day for her. Meanwhile our MOPS group scheduled a playdate to the same place at the same time. I am the MOPS Coordinator for 2013 -2014 at our church and my social planner planned this not knowing that ICD would be there at the same time. Whoa! That was a lot of kids. Luckily, since we weren't really on a schedule like the school kids who have to get back to school for lunch and studying, we were able to hang back and wait until the crowd died down before we went and checked out the farm too. The preschoolers from MOPS were happy just to talk and look at the Koi fish pond and wait a bit. So it all worked out just fine.<br />
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Here is my sweet Kaylee waiting for her friends to arrive. She is wearing a winter hat I sewed for Sophia a few years back. She found it in the winter clothes stash and decided it was the perfect hat to wear for the day. I choose my battles and figure well eventually she will get hot and take it off and sure enough, she did. </div>
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Kaylee checking out some piglets with a friend.</div>
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Kaylee and several best buddies playing in the corn. Needless to say baths were needed immediately after this outing. I am still finding corn in my washing machine.</div>
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Kaylee had to try driving all the tractors.</div>
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A little help from a wise friend. Turn the wheel and you will go that way.</div>
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More corn fun.</div>
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Just swinging around</div>
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Riding the horse cart on the tractor pull train.</div>
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"Mommy, um, I can't drive this big tractor. I can't go anywhere because there are pumpkins in my way.</div>
<br />Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-12625014370233414042013-10-03T19:13:00.001-05:002013-10-03T19:16:40.744-05:00Bird watching with her binoculars<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j7gialgkdko/Uk4IPLCHnAI/AAAAAAAC77U/9l8iEWysMkw/s640/blogger-image-843521635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j7gialgkdko/Uk4IPLCHnAI/AAAAAAAC77U/9l8iEWysMkw/s640/blogger-image-843521635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6UCZGypi4ww/Uk4INv3wAOI/AAAAAAAC77M/9k_3zK0m8vw/s640/blogger-image-310551756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6UCZGypi4ww/Uk4INv3wAOI/AAAAAAAC77M/9k_3zK0m8vw/s640/blogger-image-310551756.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mommy, can you please let me go outside. I want to go bird watching with my binoculars I made at preschool in Mrs. Bitza's class. </div><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j7gialgkdko/Uk4IPLCHnAI/AAAAAAAC77U/9l8iEWysMkw/s640/blogger-image-843521635.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"Hi!" Says Kaylee</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-20670812768717723342013-10-01T20:58:00.001-05:002013-10-01T20:59:44.975-05:00Well that is one way to lose your very First Tooth no pulling necessary<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OOD0k4LyalQ/Ukt9v1kRRaI/AAAAAAAC764/ZaWBBFMW7-I/s640/blogger-image--1877930627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OOD0k4LyalQ/Ukt9v1kRRaI/AAAAAAAC764/ZaWBBFMW7-I/s640/blogger-image--1877930627.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Look who lost her first tooth at age 6 tonight. I am more upset than she is. Sophia</span><span style="font-family: '.Helvetica NeueUI'; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> asked if she could eat a caramel apple as a snack when she returned home from dance class. I didn't think too much about it until I noticed there was a space where her loose tooth had been. I very casually and calmly asked if her tooth was still there because I didn't want her to cry. It was definitely missing. We think she ate her very first loose tooth with the peanuts and caramel apple. She composed a nice letter to the tooth fairy advising what happened. Hopefully, even with the Government shut-down the Tooth Fairy will still visit. Keep our fingers crossed the letter will be enough for the visit.</span></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-90053442516480759602013-09-18T18:09:00.001-05:002013-09-18T18:11:46.654-05:00Ears pierced<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U5C7P2LEctY/Ujoyr0WaK5I/AAAAAAAC76A/agjdvQIBsDY/s640/blogger-image--1751917565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U5C7P2LEctY/Ujoyr0WaK5I/AAAAAAAC76A/agjdvQIBsDY/s640/blogger-image--1751917565.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Z9RnFxRe8k/UjoyqUUXwdI/AAAAAAAC754/so_wEPVpKNU/s640/blogger-image--1386469628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Z9RnFxRe8k/UjoyqUUXwdI/AAAAAAAC754/so_wEPVpKNU/s640/blogger-image--1386469628.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJxgSO1qgSg/UjoynluqfLI/AAAAAAAC75w/moJ6ze-KCd0/s640/blogger-image--1254341990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJxgSO1qgSg/UjoynluqfLI/AAAAAAAC75w/moJ6ze-KCd0/s640/blogger-image--1254341990.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a4LcVs8DReU/UjoytZsCcdI/AAAAAAAC76I/viZUxICa5LY/s640/blogger-image-1644840836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a4LcVs8DReU/UjoytZsCcdI/AAAAAAAC76I/viZUxICa5LY/s640/blogger-image-1644840836.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She took some self photos with my phone.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MAAzHf3nTtQ/UjozMW0yPnI/AAAAAAAC76Q/Fjn_tKdvz5A/s640/blogger-image--1594153005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MAAzHf3nTtQ/UjozMW0yPnI/AAAAAAAC76Q/Fjn_tKdvz5A/s640/blogger-image--1594153005.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Mbx5H59cRbA/Ujoyl4LJkfI/AAAAAAAC75o/CJdF_q4gkhs/s640/blogger-image-1555711848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Mbx5H59cRbA/Ujoyl4LJkfI/AAAAAAAC75o/CJdF_q4gkhs/s640/blogger-image-1555711848.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Sophia was so excited about her 6th birthday present. All she wanted was her ears pierced. She was SO happy.</div><br></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-60379555801390652032013-07-23T14:29:00.001-05:002013-07-27T13:35:59.655-05:00Butterflies and ladybugs are so sweet for my sweet little Kaylee<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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A girl and her best friend her dog.</div>
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I sewed this little ladybug and butterflies outfit on my serger sewing machine. Kaylee was so excited to wear it. <br />
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<br />Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-19554526064701525012013-07-19T05:48:00.002-05:002013-07-19T06:22:43.192-05:00The Invisible Mother<header class="entry-header" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 584.265625px;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 36px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 48px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 15px 0px 0.3em; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Invisible Mother</h1>
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<span class="sep" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted on </span><a href="http://whatcomfamilies.com/2013/05/11/the-invisible-mother/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11:25 pm"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2013-05-11T23:25:57+00:00">May 11, 2013</time></a><span class="by-author" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="sep" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by </span><span class="author vcard" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="http://whatcomfamilies.com/author/mikyns8675309/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by admin">admin</a></span></span></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, ‘Can’t you see I’m on the phone?’</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I’m invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? </em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a clock to ask, ‘What time is it?’ I’m a satellite guide to answer, ‘What number is the Disney Channel?’ I’m a car to order, ‘Right around 5:30, please.’</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some days I’m a crystal ball; ‘Where’s my other sock? Where’s my phone?, What’s for dinner?’</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She’s going, she’s going, and she’s gone!</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, ‘I brought you this.’ It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: ‘With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.’</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the days ahead I would read – no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. </em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, ‘Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, ‘Because God sees.’ </em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was Almost as if I heard God whispering to me, ‘I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.</em><br><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. </em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I’d built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he’d say, ‘You’re gonna love it there…’ </em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.</em></div>
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—Anonymous</div>
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I had to put this somewhere to remind me that God sees what we do each day even when we feel like no one is noticing especially on those really tough parenting days so I am posting it in my blog.<br><div class="sd-content" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px !important; border-top-left-radius: 0px !important; border-top-right-radius: 0px !important; border: 0px; color: #373737; float: right; line-height: 19px; margin: -2px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 479.828125px;">
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Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-25166229146815740012013-07-17T20:48:00.001-05:002013-07-17T20:48:37.669-05:00Do you remember Spanish<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Can you read this page and comprehend what is being said? I enjoyed showing my daughters a small sample of the Spanish language in this children's book. They know a few Spanish words but couldn't understand this book.<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FMLylzOrZQo/UedJdM4lWJI/AAAAAAAC7Bk/OhwZ7PUoiZM/s640/blogger-image-1908133764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FMLylzOrZQo/UedJdM4lWJI/AAAAAAAC7Bk/OhwZ7PUoiZM/s640/blogger-image-1908133764.jpg"></a></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-15379982971979557892013-07-13T21:26:00.001-05:002013-07-13T21:59:12.522-05:00Bikinis tops are fixed<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0gEM3hZuS_E/UeIMY78heDI/AAAAAAAC7BM/ejXN_F8CZ1w/s640/blogger-image--1963781823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0gEM3hZuS_E/UeIMY78heDI/AAAAAAAC7BM/ejXN_F8CZ1w/s640/blogger-image--1963781823.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kaylee's bikini strap hook cracked awhile back and I am just getting around to repairing it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-22hsxdzlkGs/UeIMaJBpWVI/AAAAAAAC7BU/3x1aAoBamOY/s640/blogger-image--965030537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-22hsxdzlkGs/UeIMaJBpWVI/AAAAAAAC7BU/3x1aAoBamOY/s640/blogger-image--965030537.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sophia's bikini top hook cracked just last week. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-22hsxdzlkGs/UeIMaJBpWVI/AAAAAAAC7BU/3x1aAoBamOY/s640/blogger-image--965030537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BJ-ZenWii28/UeIMXVFrEcI/AAAAAAAC7BE/6oPOrPuLDfc/s640/blogger-image--774638144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BJ-ZenWii28/UeIMXVFrEcI/AAAAAAAC7BE/6oPOrPuLDfc/s640/blogger-image--774638144.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Good thing they sell these swim suit bra hooks in packs of two. I was able up repair both bikini tops with one package. They will have tops to their swimsuits once again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><br></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-57531194001234906622013-07-13T11:52:00.001-05:002013-07-13T11:55:05.488-05:00Still learning blind hems on my serger<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ffv9TmDTEVM/UeGF4HEOQkI/AAAAAAAC7A0/-kKrPAfcV2g/s640/blogger-image--1442575987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ffv9TmDTEVM/UeGF4HEOQkI/AAAAAAAC7A0/-kKrPAfcV2g/s640/blogger-image--1442575987.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am teaching myself how to sew blind hem on my serger. Unfortunately, it is taking longer that I anticipated to get the hang if it. The stitching is still not blind but very visible in the crease here. If I can get the settings right, there will be no crease and the stitching will barely show. Just a few more adjustments on the serger sewing machine foot and I hope to have it right. Big sigh....I just want it to look right and I won't settle until it is. </div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-53439588357829966512013-07-12T23:04:00.001-05:002013-07-13T07:43:57.180-05:00Purina Farms<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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My girls were so excited to go to Purina Farms today. They both love animals so this was a very fun day for them.</div>
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Kaylee waving "Hi!" To the "Sicilian" Donkey. My girls don't know they they are Sicilian Italians but I had to smile knowing this animal's ancestors came from Sicily like my family.</div>
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Peaking through the gates.<br />
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Sophia and Kaylee watching the mini horse eat hay.<br />
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"Mommy, look at the chicken."<br />
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Both girls petting the chicken. Photo turned out blurry though.</div>
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Kaylee insisted on petting the piglet.<br />
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"Mommy baby piggy is resting," says Kaylee.</div>
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Girls petting a little rabbit.</div>
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We watched the dog show. My girls loved it. Kaylee says she wants to train our dog to do tricks.</div>
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Kaylee told me, "I teach Brandy to catch a frisbee."</div>
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dog flying through the air to catch a frisbee.</div>
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Caught mid-flight with frisbee in mouth.<br />
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Agility training includes going through tunnels and weavig in and out around the poles below.<br />
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My pictures of the diving dock dogs didn't turn out. It was fun to see the high flying dogs jump and land in the pool. Kaylee said she wants up teach Brandy our yellow lab how to swim. I told her Brandy knows how to swim. Her cute little eyes were excited when she realized what I meant. </div>
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Sophia, Kaylee and some friends playing tractors.<br />
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A bunch is the kids from our group watching the littlest people play.</div>
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Omg! Our whole group stood on a scale, all together with adults and kids we weighed as much as a dairy cow. Uh oh!<br />
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My girls looking into the Koi and goldfish pond.</div>
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Kaylee sat down to take a break and enjoy the pretty scenery.</div>
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My girls posing, well sort of, near the waterfall of the Koi pond.</div>
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Sophia and one of her best friends hanging out by the waterfall.</div>
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Kaylee running the Auger that demonstrates how dog and cat food are made.</div>
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Turn that wheel faster Kaylee.</div>
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"Look, I made it go!"</div>
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Now, we have to turn this wheel.<br />
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What a fun day we enjoyed learning about animals, their food, and how some do tricks with lots of friends.<br />
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<br />Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-22722505873774852952013-07-06T07:18:00.001-05:002013-07-06T13:58:25.568-05:00New ideas on my serger using the beading and cord foot.Last night I wanted to try a new technique sewing on rattail cord with the cording foot. This application would be useful to add a decorative cording on fabric. However, I had something else in mind. I had this idea in my head and I just had to try it. Would it work? <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qHuceygaoHQ/UdgLKB5cgdI/AAAAAAAC66k/qL0JnnHOgCE/s640/blogger-image--1288952136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qHuceygaoHQ/UdgLKB5cgdI/AAAAAAAC66k/qL0JnnHOgCE/s640/blogger-image--1288952136.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Of course! It worked. I serged rainbow variegated thread onto rattail cord, added a lobster claw, two crimp beads and two pony jump rings and suddenly I had a rainbow colored braided bracelet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5F_AFyMSzBI/UdgLMk1zAuI/AAAAAAAC660/cXzQuff5dCs/s640/blogger-image-562316959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5F_AFyMSzBI/UdgLMk1zAuI/AAAAAAAC660/cXzQuff5dCs/s640/blogger-image-562316959.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then, I thought let me try yellow and black for my Winghaven Wahoos swimmer Sophia. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MnIAL4ntIHk/UdgLHtGTxyI/AAAAAAAC66U/y_S9ky6DWWU/s640/blogger-image--1553091987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MnIAL4ntIHk/UdgLHtGTxyI/AAAAAAAC66U/y_S9ky6DWWU/s640/blogger-image--1553091987.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As a Stl Cardinal fan my whole life, I thought let me try red and white. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3de-qZYLCvQ/UdgLLWxppRI/AAAAAAAC66s/F99IIVxErgQ/s640/blogger-image--629919153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3de-qZYLCvQ/UdgLLWxppRI/AAAAAAAC66s/F99IIVxErgQ/s640/blogger-image--629919153.jpg"></a></div>The wheels inside were turning and I thought wait, I can make these even thicker. I am going to try Pearl Crown Rayon in peacock blue and white in the loopers. Oh yeah! Love it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WTTphqulC_M/UdgLI8hveqI/AAAAAAAC66c/p5s4CulSbPg/s640/blogger-image-1045089068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WTTphqulC_M/UdgLI8hveqI/AAAAAAAC66c/p5s4CulSbPg/s640/blogger-image-1045089068.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next I pulled the ponytail elastic out of my hair, wondering if I could use the cording foot to cover it in peacock blue. Well, it worked but I may have to practice ending the threads a bit. The girls can wear it though because the slight extra threads won't be noticeable when wrapped around their hair. I am going to try trimming the threads a bit more. I love when I make discoveries of how to make something new on my serger. That is the coolest part of playing with my serger. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2jleCzOK4o0/UdgQ3XV7iOI/AAAAAAAC67U/VxB2sRxuPJk/s640/blogger-image-630157045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2jleCzOK4o0/UdgQ3XV7iOI/AAAAAAAC67U/VxB2sRxuPJk/s640/blogger-image-630157045.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sophia was excited about the bracelets this morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a0T9TkRvDjs/Udho0N1HpHI/AAAAAAAC67k/UWcF3Z9zB_8/s640/blogger-image--714321167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a0T9TkRvDjs/Udho0N1HpHI/AAAAAAAC67k/UWcF3Z9zB_8/s640/blogger-image--714321167.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also tried one more with metallic confetti looking thread. Sophia insisted upon having me buy this thread for her yesterday. Looks even better in person.</div><br></div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544792321736752559.post-54275646699808369552013-07-05T19:19:00.001-05:002013-07-06T06:56:29.930-05:00First tomato of the season container garden 2013<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wF5XAMBZYi4/UddijSRSYuI/AAAAAAAC65c/ieqZMBjNViM/s640/blogger-image-28476447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wF5XAMBZYi4/UddijSRSYuI/AAAAAAAC65c/ieqZMBjNViM/s640/blogger-image-28476447.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am so excited. I found the first grape tomato yesterday morning.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8s9_uX8gIcA/Uddik2L3tqI/AAAAAAAC65k/Q4NgTtH2FrQ/s640/blogger-image-955538907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8s9_uX8gIcA/Uddik2L3tqI/AAAAAAAC65k/Q4NgTtH2FrQ/s640/blogger-image-955538907.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I washed it and ate it. Delicious!</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8aDwmAoDEdk/UddimOPpoCI/AAAAAAAC65s/em7n2gQ2-zE/s640/blogger-image--721590011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8aDwmAoDEdk/UddimOPpoCI/AAAAAAAC65s/em7n2gQ2-zE/s640/blogger-image--721590011.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Later that afternoon I found five more tomatoes although they were cherry tomatoes which I had to share with my kids. :). </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1MKSVtOmpzc/UdgFm0dfKZI/AAAAAAAC658/pR7GRvGXKH4/s640/blogger-image--1201103037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1MKSVtOmpzc/UdgFm0dfKZI/AAAAAAAC658/pR7GRvGXKH4/s640/blogger-image--1201103037.jpg"></a></div>I have lots of sweet banana peppers coming ripe. Yeah!<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KUa2F4oGC_w/UdgFnxxtsvI/AAAAAAAC66E/mByjsrrLKH8/s640/blogger-image-414833394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KUa2F4oGC_w/UdgFnxxtsvI/AAAAAAAC66E/mByjsrrLKH8/s640/blogger-image-414833394.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jalapeno's are looking good too. </div>Sikes Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16489551514210794252noreply@blogger.com0