Something New and Exciting

Hey there!  Long time, no blog, I guess.  Last week was Spring Break here, so we were kickin’ it camping-style in Big Bend National Park with the kids, which meant a week of backbreaking preparation/packing/shopping/arguing, followed by a twelve-hour drive with the three wee ones (mmm-hmm), followed by a few days of roughing it with no showers and no electricity in the desert with temperatures ranging from below freezing at night to the mid-80s during the day.  Sounds like nirvana, huh?  But really, it was fun.  Actually, the car ride was surprisingly pleasant, thanks to the DVD player and the fact that we no longer have pants-poopers in our nuclear family (always a plus).  My husband and I had remembered the drive being far worse (if you’ve ever driven I-10 in west Texas you know what I’m talking about), but then I realized that our previous treks to Big Bend had been pre-kids, and therefore before we knew what real tedium actually was.  So the moral of that story is:  once you’ve sat up with a croupy child in a steamy bathroom with a nebulizer for the four hours between one and five a.m., well, west Texas driving is a piece of cake.  Anyhoo.  Moving forward.  We had a lovely time, and actually managed to locate this little chunk of history:

To explain:  Mike carved this into a bench on the “Window” hike about 14 years ago, during our first trip there (MH being his initials, SP being mine at the time, in case elucidation was needed for my two readers who do not know me in real life – TWO. WHOLE. READERS!  Btw, I love you guys).  Little did we know that it would still be there for these three little humans to view, a decade and a half later:

I know – so romantic, huh?  But before you decide to hate me for my idyllic marriage, please know that Mike and I had a terrible hissing fight a mere two nights before we left, regarding something idiotic like what kind of jar spaghetti sauce and how many granola bars were purchased for the trip.  We’re a fricking disaster, people.

So, in order to potentially increase traffic on this here blog, I’ve decided to try SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING, and then I promise, back to the books.  I’ve read some good ones lately (omg, Miss Peregrine!  LOVE).  So…it’s a giveaway, people!  Here’s how it works:

1) Leave a comment in the comments section below.

2) For each comment, you get one chance in the drawing.

3) BONUS!  If you are a follower, or become one, you will get an additional chance in the drawing, thereby doubling your odds.  (I know you lurkers are out there.  I know you are.)

4) In a few days, like let’s say, um, Friday at midnight, I’ll draw one name out of the hat.  Wait, let’s say Friday at five p.m., because that’s when I start drinking.  (Plus, The Hunger Games!  So dorking out about this movie, you guys.)  And what will you win?  Well, get ready, because worlds are colliding!  I’m going to sew something for you, of your choice, from my limited (yet fabulous) repertoire of things I am presently able to sew.  (Okay, so this might not increase blog traffic exponentially, exactly, since I’ve only been sewing for like three months, but I promise:  you will like it.  YOU WILL.)  Here are your choices:

                A – a skirt (little girl sizes only)

                B – a cell phone charger case

                C – a fabric cuff bracelet

                D – a yoga mat bag or tote bag

Potential hiccup:  If you’re a dude, well, I hope you do yoga or have a daughter.  Otherwise, I’m not sure this giveaway is actually for you – I’ll just make something for your wife.  (I’m not really that concerned since I think I have two male readers, one of whom is my husband.)  So!  I cannot wait to witness the veritable deluge of comments that await this post.  And…GO!!!

P.S.  Blogger is being an a-hole, as usual, and I'm having trouble formatting my pictures where I want them to go.  Sorry about that.  [Growl.]