Things I have done are bold. I got this list from Bethany of bethanyactually who got it from KJ of Where my boys at?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band I played in the orchestra
4. Visited Hawaii–Brion proposed to me there
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland–several times, I want to take my kids now that they are older and can remember the trip.
8. Climbed a mountain–with my son to 8400 feet to a glacier lake
9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris–wasn’t invited on that trip
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing–tried to climb a rock wall
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling–snooba diving in Hawaii
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud–I’m sure at some point I played in the mud as a child
54. Gone to a drive-in theater–wish they were still around
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business–my etsy store
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies–with my daughter and Campfire candy as a kid
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy–a very sad looking pink bear
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone–4 arms and a collarbone before age 10
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle–
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car–the car I am still driving 13 years later
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox–age 10, Christmas break, didn’t miss a day of school
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous–the martian from “My favorite Martian” at a grocery store during the filming of “Paint Your Wagon”

92. Joined a book club–hosted several book clubs at the kids grade school
93. Lost a loved one–Grandma at age 93, nephew at age 22, sister because of our stubbornness
94. Had a baby–two in fact
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee–stepped on it
100. Read an entire book in one day –the first Harry Potter

I could had a few things to this list…I have lived 50 years.

Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments, and I’ll respond in the comments.

The Jr Olympics Cross Country regional meet in Seattle was a mixed success.

Becky’s team qualified to move on to Nationals. She had a good race by placing 6th on her team, but was only behind the 5th place runner by half a second. It was close.

Mitchell’s team did not qualify, although he did run his fastest race at this distance.

Nationals are in two weeks in Virginia and will cost about $2000 for us to go. How do I justify this expense for a 18 minute run if they don’t have a chance of winning. They were both stars at their Middle school, but at this new level they are not.

I want to say THANKS to all of our supporters.

You bought enough wallets to pay for our hotel room in Seattle.

I want to say a quick thank you before we head up to Seattle for the Regional Jr Olympics Cross Country race. I sold enough wallets to pay for our hotel room. That is wonderful.

I’ll take lots of pictures and give an update on Monday.

Today is Veterans day. I went off to my part time job and the kids stayed home to play video games. I did ask that pictures be taken of all the hats…forgot to ask for the dishes to be washed.

Yea, at least B and the bear had fun. The weather was cold and a bit rainy. She said it took 30 minutes. It was very cold…but when editting the pictures I noticed she didn’t bother to put on any shoes. I’d like to thank Mr Bear for his patience.

You can find more hats on flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluejayecrafts/3022933749/

The hats are only $10 and the shipping is free.

After work we went to the video store, downloaded and edited pictures and made stew, then I drove the kids clear across town for cross country practice. This new group is so much more intense than regular Middle school practice was. Tonight they ran at least 5 miles. But what is a mom to do…drop everything and do what you can to make their dreams come true.

Okay, here’s the thing…kid stuff is coming before my craft show season.

So, the big delema is do I go to our local craft show and maybe sell some merchandise or do I drop everything and drive my kids across the mountain to run on the same day. (bjc edit…I cancelled the craft show and drove the kids to the cross country race.)

My kids have qualified for run cross country in the State Junior Olympics. If they run well they could qualify for Regionals in Seattle. ( they did qualify for Regionals.)And then it could be off to Nationals in……Virginia. Yes, I said clear across the country to Virginia.

So, since I will be missing my craft show I am going to set up a Virtual Crafts Show.

First, I am offering my favorite Grab and Go Keychain Wallet. I use mine every day. I used to drive without my license because it wasn’t with my keys. Now I have my license, debit card, credit card, library card, business cards and a small pill container. 

Find your favorite on Flickr.   

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluejayecrafts/sets/72157608656169634/                                      

$12 /free shipping (30 to choose from)   E-mail me for details.

bluejayecrafts@yahoo.com 

Thanks for helping me make a dream come true for my kids. I’d hate to tell them no.   Jaynette

That’s right homemade Split Pea Soup. Granted I will probably be the only one to eat it, cause I know the kids won’t and my old man only eats half the time. That could be one reason he weighs 40 pounds less than I do. Anyway…..here’s my recipe today. The way I cook is that the recipe will change according to what I have on hand.

Split Pea Soup

1/2 onion, diced

3 ribs celery, diced

1 cup baby carrots, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dry thyme

salt and pepper

Sweat in large pot. Add…

1 pound package dry split peas

1 quart of Pacific brand french onion soup

1 quart of  water

1 large bay leaf

2 cups ham, cubed

Bring to a boil and simmer until peas are tender, about 2 hours.

If it gets too thick, add more water.

This comfort food should go well with the Vice Presidencial debate tonight.

Maybe I’ll put some bread in the bread machine. I think I have just enough time for a speedy loaf.

Time got away from me this week.  The one thing I did accomplish was to go through every box that contains fabric and match a some together to make totes. I thought I would get a few sewn, but life got in the way.

So…here’s the plan. I took pictures of what I want to sew, but can’t decide which to do first. If you love any of these let me know and I will make one for you and list it at my store.

This one is ready to go. Be like Gumball and take over the world.

These totes have lots of pockets on the inside. So…what do you think?

These are the ones I want to make first. Wouldn’t it just be a kick in the pants to tell the old man that these were already sold.

I joined OMSH blue/green for summer swap.

I am swapping with smocklady. I sent her a new tote that I am designing. Thanks for being a test subject. Your input is alway welcome.

I made 2 extras. They are in my etsy store. I find it is almost as fast to make multiples than to just make one.

Bright blue stretch denim tote bag. The outside features a simple patch pocket.

The inside has a pocket to store a box of travel wipes. The front of that pocket has a slot to carry your phone or camera and a zippered pocket for a secure hiding place. The other side of the inside has two pockets that are deep enough to hold water bottles or sippy cups.

The strap is 45 inches, long enough to wear across your body for hands free shopping or you could tie a knot to shorten.

I have lots of fabric. Contact me to pick your favorite fabric for a custom tote.

The blog goal for the summer is to document the projects I’m working on.

Why make just one, when you can make 3 almost as fast.

This week I have been working on a tote to send to my swap partner. The theme is blue/green summer. I spotted the paisley fabric a month or so ago at JoAnn’s. It has been calling my name ever since. I think it is a fun surprise when you open your tote. The outside, body of the bag is a stretch denim in the most beautiful, bright blue. I made three bags at the same time. I’ll list the other two in my store, www.bluejayecrafts.etsy.com. The tote is quite big, with 2 large, gusseted pockets to hold water bottles, a stealthy zipper pocket and a slot to put your phone. There is another spot to store a travel wipes box. The strap is quite long, to be wore as a shoulder bag or across your body. I’ll take pictures this afternoon.

I will be introducing a new line of summer totes. They will have a variety of pockets. I think they will sell better if they have clever names and I don’t want to copy anyone…..so help me design and I will name a tote after you.

First in the series is the Brenda.

This navy blue denim tote is top stitched with rows red.

It is disguised as an ordinary tote, but lurking inside are 2 pockets deep and gusseted enough to carry a water bottle or sippy cup. The other side features a pocket long enough to conceal a box of travel wipes and a secret zipper compartment.  There is a patch pocket on the outside ready for instant access.

If your cover is blown you could turn it inside out and show off the cream and blue striped ticking.

So…what do you think? Do you need a new tote?