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Armanda No Poles

This is David's sister Amy. We call her "Armanda No Poles" because she skies with no poles. (You have to watch yourself around us...one small seemingly insignificant decision could land you with a nickname for a lifetime.)

You can't tell it because of my shotty camera work, but in this picture, she's launching herself into the air off of David's mid-section.


Then, in this picture, she is sticking her finger up David's nose. Classic.


I have about 10 other pictures of her doing this very same thing. Fingers up the nose of an unassuming Dave.
Gotta love it.

And finally, here we have Doctor Dave and Armanda after being asked to smile for a picture by their mother. This is what they both did at the same time.


Brothers and sisters.
They will always be putting their fingers up each other's noses.
They will always make that face when you tell them to act like they like each other.
Even when they are grown folks.

Embrace it.
mel

Cherry Blossom Festival Part II

Hi friends.
We finished up this year's Cherry Blossom Festival strong. We did all that the weather would allow. There was a little tornado action here in Middle Georgia, so some of the fun weekend plans were canceled.
Wah waaah.

Here's a peak at some of the blooms around town. These are some tulips that have opened up.


Here are some beautiful dogwood blossoms...not to be confused with cherry blossoms...of which I have no pictures. Someone really dropped the ball there...oh wait, that would be me.


Check out these cotton candy pink Geraniums. Geraniums just may be my favorite summery flower.


In addition to taking in all of the lovely local flora, we went to a few more Cherry Blossom fun-tivities. On Saturday, David ran in the Cherry Blossom Road Race. He ran the 10k and did an awesome job! Way to be fast and focused on a Saturday morning, Davester.

Look at him passing this tall guy on the home stretch!

 "Don't underestimate my man Dave, tall guy!"

In other Cherry Blossom news, we went to the craft festival downtown and saw so many interesting and exciting things. We saw beautiful art, yummy food, crafts of all shapes and sizes...

We saw people with all sorts of puppy dogs, most dressed in their pinkest Cherry Blossom garb.

We saw this guy...

'Cause if you can bring your dog, he can bring his parrot. Well played, sir.

We saw this sign...
 

After all of that craft fair excitement, we had to take a break. We decided to have a little mini-picnic in the park with Kettle Corn and Coke.


Cherry Blossom 2011, you treated us right! We thank you for instilling in us a sense of community and togetherness with our fellow Maconites and for giving us an excuse to tiptoe through the tulips with our kettle corn. We eagerly await your return.

Mel and Dave

Fancy Pants Makeover


Check out our new look!

That's right. We're all fancy and new over here at Greener Grass now. Many thanks to my design guru, Danielle Moss. She was completely patient and kind when dealing with all of my indecision, ridiculous requests, and lack of interweb-knowledge.
This new site is not only easier on the eyes, it's easier to navigate and find what you're looking for. All the old stuff is still here, but there are a few new things that I'd love for you to notice:

First: Do you see that last tab up at the top of the page? It says "Sewing School" (YAY!) In the next few days, there will be information about the classes that I offer and a schedule of when each class is available. Hooray for organization! I'll let you know when I've got it up...start dusting off your sewing machines!

Second: Way down on the bottom of the side bar, you'll see a lovely new Greener Grass blog button. If you've got a blog, and the Spirit moves you, grab the code and spread the love! No pressure, though...for realzies.

Third: Greener Grass now has a Facebook page for updates about Sewing School, getting connected with you awesome folks, and probably for some stray pictures of Paper Dave that I have lingering on my camera. You don't want to miss that, do you? If you have a minute, go "like" Greener Grass on Facebook. It'll make all of your wildest dreams come true.

Now I feel like an official social network pusher.
...And kinda nerdy.
If the shoe fits, right?

I do hope you like the new design! We are really happy. Jumping for joy...thus the picture.

Check you on the flip side.
mel

Hot Air Balloons: A How To

At the Balloon Glow, I was baffled at how the balloons went from a pile of nylon in the back of a trailer to beautiful glowing sky-mobiles. Let me show you how it's done.

Step 1: Unfurl your balloon and spread it out on the ground. Don't be distracted by all of the onlookers.


Step 2: Find an industrial sized fan and some homies. Get your homies to hold the bottom of the balloon open while you let the fan blow inside. Anyone who has ever blown up an air mattress can calculate that this is going to take quite a while.



Step 3: Watch patiently as your billowy balloon fills with air. Resist the urge to jump on it.


Step 4: As the balloon begins to take shape, attach the ropes to the basket. Resist the urge to rip off your shoes and run around inside the balloon in your sock feet. Trust me...you'll want to.


Step 6: This is the tricky part. When the balloon is completely inflated...


...hop into your basket and get some homies to stand it up, while you simultaneously start your fire-blowing-motor. Be very careful.



Step 7: Take to the skies in your flying machine.

I'm sure this will be helpful in your daily lives.
You're welcome.
mel

Cherry Blossom Festival 2011

Gone are the days of cold toes and layered blankies. Spring is in full swing here Gauw-ga. The trees are full of blossoms and the flowers are blooming. Our garden is growing everyday, and I'm in a constant state of Claritin Induced Coma to combat the pollen in the air.

My allergies are crazy. They call it an "allergy attack" for a reason, friends. They drop kick me in the sinuses, rendering me utterly helpless and unable to defend myself. My only hope is Claritin-D and I have to sign my life away at the pharmacy to get it.

Do I look like I'm cookin' Meth? Really?

It's not slowing us down though. We are fully enjoying the season: eating meals on our porch, working in the garden, walking everyday, and getting our Cherry Blossom on.

What's that, you say?

Our sweet little town has a huge community festival every spring called The Cherry Blossom Festival. So named, because we have a lot of-- wait for it-- Cherry Trees.

Not the kind that grow fruit...these are of an ornamental variety...you know, like D.C.

The Davester and I love Cherry Blossom Festival. In fact, I interned as a Cherry Blossom Event Planner in college. We try to go to as many events as possible. This past weekend, Supper Club (minus a few, who were greatly missed) gathered together to attend the famed Cherry Blossom Balloon Glow.


Dozens of hot air balloons were being inflated all over the park amidabout a ba-gillion people. Some of the balloons were even giving rides. To top it all off, there was a band playing all the hits for some sweet background music.


As the afternoon went on, more and more balloons showed up. They were all over the place.


While all the balloons were being inflated, we had ourselves a little picnic, complete with blankets, barbecue, and banana pudding. Classic.

 

Ashley and Alan.

Tiffany and Chris.

Tiffy and Kyrsten, because Brad is away. We miss you, Brad!


And, best of all, David's Mom and sister came to spend the weekend with us and experience all the wonders of Cherry Blossom Festival and Supper Club.


After supper, the sun started going down. This is where the "glow" part comes in! When it gets dark, all of the balloons fire up their stove/motor/gas burner thingies...


Which made it look like this! Oh. So. Pretty.



The balloons were actually even brighter than this, but Photo-Mel needs a tripod to capture pictures in the dark. She was was shamefully unprepared for balloon glow.


We had so much fun at our first balloon glow picnic and with our visitors this weekend. Hopefully we'll be going to more Cherry Blossom events this week.

Here's what we've done so far:
  • Watched the Frisbee-catching dog competition (which David and Jack will be entering next year)
  • Watched a strong man competition, where men pulled an RV up a hill with a rope.
  • Cheered teams on in the Cherry Street Bed Race (Beds on wheels being rolled up the street at startling speeds...I'm not sure why this happens, but it's fun to watch)
  • Eaten Cherry Blossom Pink Ice Dream at Chick-fil-a
  • Drove our car on the Cherry Blossom Trail to see all the trees in full bloom.
  • Hung a Cherry Blossom Wreath (Thanks, Mama) on our house that makes us feel like true Maconites.
Cherry Blossom 2011. It's serious business.
Mel

Oilcloth Binder Jacket Tutorial

This project is quick, easy, and fun. I use binders to organize everything. I keep one for recipes, one for my calendar and to-do list, another one for sewing lesson information...the list goes on. Because I use them so much, I decided those binders needed to be a little bit more fun.

Shouldn't things we use everyday be pretty and make us happy? I think so.

With that in mind, here's a new tutorial on how to make your own Oilcloth Binder Jackets. They'll add a little razzle dazzle to your plain ole 3 ring binders.


Oilcloth is awesome. It's a special type of fabric (vinyl with a cotton mesh backing) that is extremely durable. It's waterproof and can be easily wiped clean, making it PERFECT for kitchen projects.

I've been dying to get my hands on some oilcloth ever since I saw Kelly,Miss Modern June herself, at the Country Living Fair. She's the oilcloth expert and she also sells oilcloth by the yard at her other Etsy store, Oilcloth Addict. That's where I got mine.

Look at just some of the selection of oilcloth she sells. I love the vintage look of the patterns and the bright colors.

1/2 yard of your choice of Oilcloth from OILCLOTH ADDICT

This is a great "starter project" for working with oilcloth. Let's get started, shall we?

Here's what you'll need to make an Oilcloth Binder Jacket:
  • 3 Ring Binder (I used a 2 inch width)
  • 1/2 yard of oilcloth
  • Yard Stick or Tape Measure
  • Pencil
  • Painters Tape (Masking Tape would also work)
  • Sewing Machine and Coordinating Thread

First, open your binder out flat and measure from edge to edge. We'll call this the width.
Add 10 inches to the width of the binder.


Next, measure your binder from top to bottom. Let's call this the height.
Add 1/2 inch to the height of the binder.


So, now you will use your yard stick to cut out a rectangle of oilcloth that is Width + 10 inches and Height + 1/2 inch. For example if your binder was 26 inches wide and 12 inches tall, you would cut a rectangle that is 36 inches by 12 1/2 inches. Make sense?


Once you've cut your rectangle for the Binder Jacket, it's time to get ready to sew! Lay the rectangle flat with the wrong side facing up. Measure 5 inches from each end of the oilcloth. 


Now tape the flap down using the painter's tape. Pins would make holes in the oilcloth, so we'll be using tape instead.


Do this to both sides.


Now we're ready to sew! You'll need to make a little adjustment to your sewing machine before you sew with oilcloth. The vinyl is a bit sticky and would cling to the metal of the presser foot.

This is our solution via Oilcloth Addict: Simply cover the bottom of the pressure foot with tape. Use an Exacto knife to cut around the shape of the presser foot.


In the picture, I didn't cover the little toes of the presser foot, but I went back and did that later. Cover your toes. It'll help.

Alright, now let's get sewing.


Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew along the bottom and top edges of  the folded-over-five-inch-flap. The sewing is a little bit tough. I had to push and pull the fabric while I was sewing because the oil cloth is so thick. It's possible, though. Don't give up! Onward and upward!

Here's the finished project. Not the prettiest stitches in the world, but mission accomplished. Trim the string-a-lings.


Now, you can slip the Binder Jacket onto your binder.


Ta-to the-Dah.


Fancy schmancy new binder.


These would be really fun for kid's school binders. You could even use the same technique to cover books. It'd be a great way to protect cookbooks from messy spills in the kitchen.

Love ya. Mean it.
Mel

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Shed a Little Light on the Situation

I've been in the market for some new table lamps.

I liked this little lamp just fine, but he needed replacing. It's actually one of two that David had before we got married. They were part of his dowry. The other one is in the kitchen. Unfortunately, Big A dwarfed the lamp so much that he lost all sense of self-respect. He just couldn't hold his own next to such a character. 


"I don't get no respect." (Pulls collar)

So the other day when I had some extra dollhairs in my pocket, I decided to find something a little more appropriate. Dave-O went with me to Target and supported me as I agonized between short and tall lamp bases...square and drum shaped shades...white paper or fabric covered shades. The poor guy spent an hour holding up different lamps so I could look at them.  Bless his heart.

I'm sure he wished that he could have sent Paper Dave in his stead.

In the end, I pulled the trigger on this tall handsome fella.


Oh-so-much better. The shade is covered in burlap with jute trim, which adds a little texture to the otherwise very simple buffet lamp.


The lamp and shade came from Target, if ya wanted to know, and I'm really happy with them both. I think this small change made a big difference in this little nook of the dining room.

I love lamps. We RARELY use overhead lighting at Casa Dark.
Where's your favorite place to pick up a new lamp?

mel

Well, I Met The Pioneer Woman.

I almost missed this and I'm so glad that I didn't.
It would have been easier to skip this trip all together.
I had other things to do.
Pressing things. Boring things.
Things that I will not remember needed to be done in even a week or two.
I'm so glad my sweet friends and my dear husband encouraged me to do this instead.

On Friday afternoon, my mama, myself, and a couple of my best homies loaded up to go meet The Pioneer Woman. We had a great time. At one point, we were all sitting on the floor in the bookstore, and I was so overcome with happiness that I squealed out "This shiz is AWESOME!!"
The shiz really was awesome.

Mama and I rode up with my friend, Ashley. Another friend, Danielle, met us there. We all love P-Dub.
Danielle got there early and got us all arm-bands (whoop! whoop!). The arm bands were for crowd control. You had to have a book to get an armband. Each armband had a letter on it and when the book signing began, they would call your letter and then you could get in line.

So basically, you wait to be called to get in line so you can wait some more there. Book signings are not for the faint of heart, my dears. We got our wait on... Big time. But the time went by quickly because we were having such a good time.

The book signing was at Borders Books in Buckhead and the place was filled to the brim with ladies waiting to meet the Pioneer Woman. Very few men were on the premises. The waiting lines were filled jeans and boots and flowy shirts...we all wanted PW to like us and think we were cute.There were many many babies in "My mom and I love PW" shirts or onesies...PW says to bring your babies. There were grandmas and college girls...PW spans the generations.

While we were sitting around waiting to get in line, I saw someone who looked familiar out of the corner of my eye. I walked around closer and realized it was someone I knew...It was Layla from The Lettered Cottage! Her blog is my absolute favorite and the first blog that I ever faithfully followed. Then I saw that she was with a whole slew of great bloggers! I was really nervous, and felt a bit stalker-ish, but with a little push from my peeps I went over to meet them. 


They were so very nice. What a great bonus to get to meet some other amazing bloggers in addition to The Pioneer Woman. If you read PW, then you probably recognize Layla from Hycinth's living room makeover and Rhoda got to go spend a weekend at PW's lodge. (Lucky dog!)

Finally after much waiting and great anticipation, it was our turn to get our books signed and talk to Ree. I still didn't have anything clever to say to her. So I just marched up next to her and thankfully she started talking to me. I don't remember exactly what happened. I must have blacked out.


I am happy to report that she had a fan blowing on her and was sipping on an iced coffee drink. If you read her blog, you would expect as much. She was just as nice as she seems in her writing and she acted like she had all the time in the world to talk to us and take pictures, despite the fact that there was a line of people wrapped around the store to meet her.

It was lovely.

We all got together for a group picture after each of our individual pics but I can't explain exactly what happened next.

I sorority squatted right down beside The Pioneer Woman.
We all got ready to smile.
Just as the man was about to take our picture...
I lost all sense of reason and propriety...

And I asked The Pioneer Woman to throw a fist pump.

Danielle, Mama, PW, Me, and Ashley all throwing fist pumps.

I don't know what's wrong with me.
She graciously complied.
Oh, Lordy.

The icing on the cake was that Marboro Man was there. He wasn't "officially" signing books, but he was hanging out and would sign books if you wanted him to.


And believe, me...the ladies wanted him to!

We got in line to meet MM after we met PW. He was so nice, too....but much more quiet. When it was my turn to have my picture made with Marlboro Man, I decided it would be appropriate to do this:

Why Mel?
Why would you do this when you're meeting nice, normal people?
Salt of the earth folks, and you act like this?!
Honestly.


Regardless of my unexplainable antics, our books are signed. We met PW and MM.


The End.
Melissa

PS: 15 Friend Points to Jess and Ryan for hanging out with us at Borders even though they had no interest in PW. 
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