The Picture

Here's what I came up with. I decided not to make fence-shaped cookies, because I didn't have a fence-shaped cookie cutter. If anyone knows where I can get one, I'd still like to... Anyway. I did have a fence stamp, though. So I made the card in the shape of a house, and put the fence across the bottom. It can open up to read the rest of the letter. I decided on chocolate chip cookies because everyone likes chocolate chip cookies, right? They do look good, don't they? Mmmmm... Hopefully it's enough of a peace offering. I know, I went totally out of my way. But it was kinda fun to make everything. I haven't had much time to be crafty lately. Feel free to click the picture to see the words. And yes, they both say different things at one point. One of our neighbors has an in-ground trampoline and a treehouse-type play area with a slide, and the other one has a pond with a bunch of goldfish in it. Hence, the fence. We don't want any tragic drowning accidents this summer with four little ones who don't know how dangerous water really is. What do you think?

Lame.

I have been a lame visiting teacher lately. It's not often that I find myself having to make apologies and excuses for why I haven't fulfilled an obligation. Usually, I'm hard pressed to call someone to fill in for me, or to stay home from a meeting or obligation. However, in the month of February, I neglected to do my visiting teaching. It was the first time in probably 6 months I didn't physically go visit my sisters. That's pretty good considering we only moved into the ward 7 months prior, and I started going the first month I had an assignment. All boasting aside, I did not make it out in February. I felt badly, and still felt the need to at least drop by a little note. Here's what it said (and I wish I had a picture of the little card I put it on, because it was actually kind of cute):

"Because this month has been insane,
We know we have been really lame.

We didn't come to visit you,
Although we had intended to.

We hope this message helps you start
To find forgiveness in your heart.

We promise now, to never more
Neglect to show up at your door.

Please accept our apology,
And do enjoy this yummy treat!

Love, Your Visiting Teachers"

I pasted a snipit of the VT message to the back of the card, and left a cute little bundle of heart-shaped Rice Krispy treats in red wrapping on each of my ladies' doorsteps. At least I could invoke a smile, right? Even though I wasn't completely fulfilling my responsibility? Feel free to copy the idea if you ever need to apologize for missing an obligation.

Now. On to another challenge that needs similarly addressed. We've decided to put up a fence in our back yard. From the moment we moved in, we were fully aware that both our neighbors disliked the idea of us having one. I think they like the openness of the three yards, and the freedom of not having a boundary in view. However, I have some serious justifiable reasons for wanting one in, not limited to the fact that I have four small children who neglect to follow the rules of staying in our yard on their own. There is a pond in one of my neighbors' back yards. 14 inches deep. Not fenced. The other neighbor has a too-tall makeshift treehouse with no railings and way-too-steep slide right next to their in-ground trampoline. That same neighbor also has an outdoor cat that tends to make our yard it's litterbox (don't even get me started on how unsanitary that is around young children), and a dog that is seldom attached to it's tie that is supposed to keep it in it's own yard. She also finds it fascinating to relieve herself in someone else's yard or driveway (mine). Less bothersome, yet still compelling reasons for getting a fence, would be privacy, containment of children and property, and being able to grant more complete access to the yard for a dog. Plus, we plan to plant a garden this spring, and having one of the sides of our yard fenced would provide perfect and non-awkward, out of the way bed placement. So, any great suggestions similar to my visiting teaching poem/treat for a peace-offering to break the news that we're going to be putting an eyesore in our neighbors' yards?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I seriously think I have this. To a degree, anyway. This past week, I've stayed up until the wee hours of the morning because I couldn't leave a project unfinished. In the past two months, I have done so many projects around the house that I really think I'd forget some if I tried to count them. I've covered two chairs, stained and covered two footstools for said chairs, refinished my dining table, refinished and covered the piano bench, sewed a curtain for the back door, painted hardware for cabinets and door knobs for interior and exterior doors, made a couple of skirts for myself and my girls, cleaned the kitchen cabinets with wood cleaner, expanded my cooking and baking skills, found new ways to include squash and zucchini in everyday meals without anyone noticing (I've done this quite a few times, and my family has been none the wiser!), and many other things that I didn't know I even had energy for. When I start something, I work all the way through until it's finished, if possible. Last night, I went to bed at 1:30am because I couldn't just cut the fabric for the footstool and leave it. I had to sew it and tack it to the stool with upholstery tacks. Then I had to iron the pleats of the skirt on it so it looked pretty before putting it in the room with the chairs and going to bed. I also did the same thing on Friday night finishing the first one. I went to bed at 3:30am the day I did the first chair cover. I know! I'm crazy! But I seriously can't leave it unfinished! When I start something, I just get too excited to see what the finished product is going to look like.

It's not all bad, though. My OCD doesn't always lead to sleepless nights and tired mornings. It transfers over to other aspects of my life as well. Some good for me, even. For instance, I couldn't go to sleep last night until I had read my scriptures. Yes, at 1:30 in the morning. I've been doing so well reading them every day lately, that I couldn't skip yesterday. You see, I didn't do it yesterday morning like I normally do, so I couldn't go to sleep without reading last night. So it happened at 1:30am. Also, when I start cleaning the kitchen, I don't stop until everything is put away and off the counters. Then they get a good wipe-down. Most of the time, I do stop short of sweeping and mopping the floors, though. But the counters and sink are always empty and clean. When I pick up the laundry from upstairs, I don't just pick up laundry, I pick up blankets and put them back on beds. Shoes go back in closets. Stuffed animals go back on beds or in cribs. Pacifiers go on the beds. Towels get hung back on hooks in the bathroom. Toys go back in the tub. And everything is done in a few minutes. It just makes me happy, I guess. I like everything organized. Even if I am a little OCD. It's not so bad, right?