11 September 2012



Peaches, Blood, and Politics
Warning: If you're squeamish about the sight of blood, do not finish this post.

I'm rather behind on our life events. Or rather, I'm behind on documenting them here.  It's not that I don't want to.  In fact, did you remember that September is National Sewing Month?  That's how serious the situation is.  I'm so behind that I'm not even giving a half-hearted celebration for the best month long celebration!  You can always check out my September archives from 2009 and 2010 to learn how to read Japanese sewing patterns or make a scalloped table cloth.  Last year I was celebrating getting a 2 week overdue baby here.
But there is still lots of celebrating going on over here.  My parents came for a few days to be here for Olive's baptism.  More on that later.
They brought us a suitcase full of Allred's peaches, just in season.
My dad took the kids on his traditional dollar store spending spree.
They'll even randomly bring it up throughout the year, The next time grampa comes, will he take us to the dollar store? I think it's the idea that they get to go to a store and buy absolutely anything they want that makes it so fun.  It's always interesting to see what they bring home.
I wanted to get a shot of the 6 of them walking to make their dollar store trip and ran out the door with camera, but without shoes.  I knew the instant I stubbed my toe that it was going to be bad, but didn't look until I could no longer see the baby dills skipping down the street.  Aah, such a die hard blogger, right? ;)
Azure bought some extra locks, which she so kindly shared with my dad, who doesn't have much of his own these days.
Mr. Mitt Romney happened to be in our neck of the woods, so we decided to go pay him a visit.  Except we couldn't even see him.  This was the best I could do:
And friends, this is not a political blog.  I do not try to persuade anyone to vote one way or another, but to vote for whom they believe will lead America down the best road for the next 4 years, so please keep comments kind if you have differing views.  I only try to persuade people to sew more ;)
We donned our red, white, blue, and faux hair and braved the heat, 
some happier than others about the idea.
They were rewarded with chocolate shake, 
and then my mom made her flourless, fat-free(!?!) chocolate morsels of a cookie.  Goodness?  Yes.
I need to get that recipe from her.
Ryan commented how my mom is always serving.  Whenever you look at her and she is quietly doing something for someone else, taking time from what she might prefer to be doing to listen to or help someone else.  I need to get that recipe from her, too.
Grampa, on the other hand, was busy teaching the baby dills to eat cookies with their feet up on the table, making crumbs, the bigger the mess, the better.
But one thing I admire most about both of them is they will keep their opinions to themselves when they're here unless asked for, and I'm sure they could offer countless words of wisdom, and we do beg them to tell us how to be better parents, but it's never pushed on us or unsolicited.  They trust us as parents.  
We miss it all, already.

37 comments:

  1. So happy you got to spend time with your parents - nothing like it!

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  2. I adore your green counters! So fun to spend time with your parents. Especially love your dad taking the baby dills to the dollar store. Sweet. :)

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  3. "I only try to persuade people to sew more." Love.

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  4. as always, beautiful post! that pic with your dad is the best:)

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  5. Love!
    Please share that recipe from your mom.
    Your parents are AWESOME! I wish mine were still here.
    BUT, I have a grandbaby and try to fill that "Omie" role in his world as best I can!

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  6. I love reading your blog, Katy, because I always feel a sigh of relief when the post is over. As eventful as life is (especially with so many baby Dills) there is always time to recognize the little things and you are so good about doing that. :) Thanks for reminding the rest of us too.

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  7. Ah yes, all good stuff. So nice your parents got to visit - Grandmas and Grandpas are the best!

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  8. This made me teary, what fantastic parents you have!! What is your dads etsy shop?? i want to buy some stuff from him! : )

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  9. I love that you said, "I only want to try to persuade people to sew more." So great!

    My kids love the dollar store with the grandparents too!

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  10. Sounds like a lovely visit and very cool parents! Those peaches look delicious too!

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  11. Get both of those recipes and share them please. :) LOVE the family pictures!!!! And the one of Drummer with his foot on the table- I want to eat him. (not literally).

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  12. What a blessing your children must be to you. Mine are grown now and I enjoy every moment of time I can spend with my grandchildren. Bless you and all the little dills.:)

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  13. Your family is amazing! I want to know how you stay in shape- exercise or just running after the kids? I am still working on the last 10 pounds after my 4th.

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  14. oh Grandparents. Where would we be without them? and it's nice to find a place on the internet during an election year where we can be nice to each other despite differing views.

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  15. A while back, you posted an email that your mother wrote to you and your sisters. I cherished those words, and have committed them to my heart. I forwarded it on to my mentor, who taught me to treasure this business of raising little ones.

    Sometimes we don't realize the impact of our words - or of sharing our parents words or actions - on complete strangers. I felt compelled to tell you that.

    "But one thing I admire most about both of them is they will keep their opinions to themselves when they're here unless asked for, and I'm sure they could offer countless words of wisdom, and we do beg them to tell us how to be better parents, but it's never pushed on us or unsolicited."

    I admire that, too. I admire the picture you paint of your parents The actions and words speak so much louder than the pushes or unsolicited shoves, don't they?

    Thanks, Katy.

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  16. Katy, you make me cry--tears of joy for your kind, mostly undeserved words, but also because you two are raising a very good group of individuals, and doing it with such aplomb.
    Love you lots!
    Dad

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  17. ps-who's the scary guy in the bed?

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  18. themissymom--I'll see if she'll share it ;)

    Kelli--why thank you. Your comment really means a lot.

    Bobby Anderson--I've got a link on the right side that says "stars", it will take you there!!

    Martha--I'm not as good as I should be with exercise, but we do like to try to stay active and walk when we can.

    Michelle--exactly :) and thank YOU.

    Dad--thanks :) we are doing our best.

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  19. As a mother-in-law now, and the grandmother of a granddog now, I SOOOOO needed that last comment you made about your parents' advice (whether expressed, asked for, or not). Good advice right there.

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  22. What a stunning family portrait Katy. Sounds like you had a special time together.

    Love the shot of Drummer at the table and the wistful look in the bath.

    When you find the recipe for an organised life, please let me know!

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  23. Thank you so much. So, so much.

    I know that you and I have differing views on stuff. I don't really care 'cause I'm here for the sewing and the insight on parenting.

    I've been wanting to thank you for a long time, and this seems like the perfect time:

    Thank you for being a grown-up! Being grown-up stinks sometimes (dishes and vacuuming? ugh!) but a lot of folks seem to forget that being a grown-up is also about being honest and true and kind.

    You have owned up to not being 100% all the time. You've been honest about chaos, failures, challenges, and fond of orange.

    And now you have just earned my undying gratitude for being honest about politics *and* about our role as voters.

    Also, as soon as you get that second recipe from your mom, share it! :D

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  24. I love your family and I am envious of your parents. It must be like heaven to be surrounded with all those grandkids all at once! Simply beautiful!!!

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  25. Love it!! But not the stubbed toe part :)

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  26. Love that photo of Drummer with his foot on the table!

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  27. Thanks for sharing what you've been up to. Sad we missed Olive's baptism. But glad to hear it went so well. Your family looks healthy and happy. Good job, Ryan and Katy! You must be exhausted at the end of each day, but you're doing beautifully.

    Love Azure's fake hair. Heehee... I love that that was her choice from the dollar store. Oh, I needed that good laugh.

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  28. that last shot of drummer!!!!!!!!!!!!

    and i can't believe he's already one. thought about him on monday!

    sad we missed this party!

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  29. Your parents seem so wonderful. Thanks for sharing them with us!

    A lady saw me and my three girls at the store today and I got the usual comment, "You must be a busy mommy!" I thought of you. :)

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  30. I think you need to isolate the portion of the pic with the beads in (cant rememberthe littlest Dill girlhood name at this moment darn me) that face is just priceless! I knowshe is ina moment, but it is perfectly captured!

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  31. Katy, I think this is one of my favorite posts. Love ya! And I think your dad is such a heart throb! :) We were at the Romney/Ryan rally and we were so close. I got some up close shots of them AND!!! I got to shake his hand. It was dreamy. It would have been fun to run into you guys!

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  32. Your parents are amazing. I was happy to really meet them last year when we visited Jo. I would love to sew more, I will take your persuading :)

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  33. "Sew More" ... now I can get on that campaign bandwagon!

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  34. LOVE your post! Bloody nub and everything, especially loved the baptismal post.... brought a tear to my eye, your pictures conveyed the specialness.

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