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This week’s *8 Things is all about coming home. What 8 things make you feel like you have come back to that place where you grew up or the place you call home?

I grew up in Green Bay. Actually, I grew up in Allouez which is the village (yep, it’s called a village) right next to Green Bay.

1. The doors to my parents house are unlocked. I don’t ever remember needing a key to get into our house.
2. The neighbors come over to say “hi” when we are in town. And if the food in my parents’ fridge is not good enough, we can raid the fridge across the street.
3. It’s loud. Really loud. People in my family talk. A lot. And it starts when the first two people wake up in the morning and ends when the last two go to bed.
4. Board games. There was always pictionary or trivial pursuit or scategories.
5. Generic, fudge sandwich chocolate cookies. There are always one or two packages in the cupboard and I can’t get the same generic brand here.
6. English muffins. I never seem to remember to buy them for myself but there are always some at my parents’ house.
7. The really hard bed. Nobody likes this bed except me. I slept in that bed as a kid, Lexi had it for a while and now it’s back at my parents’ house.
8. Some type of gathering. I can’t remember the last time I went home that there wasn’t a party for some occasion. There were always parties when I was growing up as well. Graduation, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Easter, Birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Just Because People Were Bored. Usually, it involved grilling something, board games and loud, loud story telling.

Every Thursday Magpie Girl posts a topic for *8 Things. I’ve decided to play along. (Note: It’s supposed to be a Thursday post but she was late posting the topic so I’m late posting my *8 Things.)

From Magpie Girl’s blog:

*8 Things is a little game I made up for myself in an attempt to quiten down my monkey mind. I tend to be a little bit bipolar when it comes to creativity. Either I have a million ideas and passions, or none at all. In the times when ideas are flowing, I rely on lists. *8 Things is a way for me to keep collections of ideas, thought, quotes and quanderies on-hand for later exploration.

Songs for the Soul

What *8 Songs connect you to the Divine? Songs that aren’t classically “religious” or “church music” but create a harmonic bridge to all things holy. Songs that soothe the soul. Songs that encourage and shore you up. Songs that connect you to something bigger and beyond, or more deeply and truly to the here/now. What songs are just Good Medicine? Do tell…

My *8 Things - Songs for the Soul
1. Flower Tattoo - the W’s
2. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
2 1/2. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers as performed by U2
3. Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
4. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For - U2 (live, from the Rattle & Hum DVD)
5. The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
6. Somewhere Over the Rainbow - as performed by Keb’ Mo’
7. Luckiest - Ben Folds
8. Gracie - Ben Folds

I haven’t been doing much sewing this summer, I’ve been doing a lot of knitting but I think I need to switch and start sewing because I’m going to run out of days when sitting in the cold family room will feel good.

I was buying a bunch of yarn for my latest project and by chance I found this yarn. (It’s the color “summer fields if you’re really curious.) Okay so this may not seem that exciting but about 4 or 5 years ago my sister-in-law made me a scarf for Christmas using this yarn. And I’ve been wanting a hat to match. Now I can make one. I’m going to make this one or http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kwetq-scarfHat.html or this one…what do you think? Oh, I forgot the best part. It usually sells for about $5.99 I got it for a $1. It was on clearance. Score.

I also came up with the idea of making ring slings from old bed sheets. Cotton bed sheets are nice and soft, they breath well and hold up to being washed. All good qualities for a baby sling. They are also hemmed on all four sides so if I cut them right, there is much less hemming for me to do. Another bonus. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Carrying 5 gallons of water 2 miles from the Mississippi River back home.

Milo is just over 7 months old. And it’s amazing how much he’s changed in just the short time he’s been home.

• He’s learned how to grab on to toys and shake and bang them around.
• He thinks that blowing raspberries with a mouth full of food or milk is pretty funny.
• He can roll from back to front and front to back. But only one direction so he’ll roll across a room and then we have to turn him around.
• He can give high-five if you ask him.
• He’s ticklish. Really, really ticklish.
• He knows who Mom and Dad are.
• And he likes us better than other grown-ups.
• He recognizes Lexi and thinks she’s a great source of entertainment.
• He’s almost figured out how to sit up.
• When he takes a bath, he splashes out most of the water.
• He’s also figured out his own way of holding a bottle.

Today we had our family pictures taken. Speak has done some modeling in the past and his agent is also a photographer. So we had Barbara O’Brien do our family photos. And it was a ton of fun. If you are anywhere close enough to drive out to her farm, do it. The farm is great. She’s got horses and a pony. Sheep, chickens, ducks, kittens, ducklings, chicks, and dogs. And all of them are friendly. We spent the evening following Lexi around as she chased the birds, fed the horses, held the kittens and ran around. And as we were chasing Lexi, Barb was following us with a camera, occasionally posing us or moving us to better light but mostly just taking pictures.

I don’t have any of her pictures yet, but Kevin got some fun ones on his camera so here’s what our day looked like:

First we met a few cats - then all the cats came to see us. When we got there Lexi asked Barb to see the cats. Barb said “Sure, we can call the kitties” and went “Kitties! Come on kitties!” I expected 3 or 4 cats to show up. Oh no, about 15 cats came pouring out of the barn. Lexi was thrilled.

Lexi checking out the sheep and then holding the kittens.

Finn the horse was really interested in what I had the sling. Milo was asleep at the time. Dover the pony was just the right size for Lexi.

Lexi getting a lesson in picture taking. They took pictures of a chicken and daddy.

Remember that movie? I loved that movie. Anyway…May 27th was Give Away Day over at Sew, Mama Sew! and so I’ve been checking out a pile of blogs (hundreds actually). And in a few places I’ve seen people doing this pay it forward thing so I thought I would join in.

Here’s the rules

(I found my idea here: Bec Clarke)

I am entering into the following contract with the first 5 people who comment and then commit to do the same on their blog.
Just read below and if you feel up to the task copy the following into your blog and leave me a comment. I can’t post overseas, so it’s for US residents only.

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. You get what you get and you don’t have a fit.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? (okay, I probably won’t bake anything because shipping that is a huge pain.)
5. I reserve the right to do something strange (but probably won’t)
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.

Welcome to everyone. I will however, make an effort to do something that you like based on what I see on your blog, BUT there are no guarantees.

I’m not giving stuff away but there’s a great give away for sewing/knitting supplies here.

Oh, and a good fabric give away here.

Like buttons?  Try your luck here.