Sometimes you just have to know when to call a plumber. I think the dishwasher flooding into the kitchen sink, the washing machine outflow pipe overflowing and a strangely slow draining toilet and bathroom sink were all good clues. Really don't bother with draino or ridx, you can try to snake it out yourself but be warned didn't work here. It was time to call in the trained professionals. What are you seeing here? Roots...escaping from the drain under my toilet. There was a veritable forest of mold, roots, and even a worm under the toilet. So when you see roots like this coming out of your toilet it's a bad sign. Our plumber's rock! We had Brent out from Mr. Rooter Plumbing...he's told me not to worry we'd jet out all the old roots and things would be fine. I chuckled and explained that in my world this was just the beginning of worse problems. He told me to be optomistic. Really?
So when he jetted out the main line we started to have mud coming back up out of the toilet drain. Not muck, not sewage, soil! Mud puddle in my bathroom. I know I'll dream about the black mud coming up out of the floor and the bathtub for quite a while. Nick who was outside running the jet..."So you're going to tell the homeowner right?" See who wants to deal with a crazy lady? I saw the mud...I knew it meant my main line was ruptured. Brent and Nick were waiting for tears, denial, anger, not complete calm. Really it's not their fault I did hire them to tell me what was going on. Verdict they would be out Tuesday after we had the septic tank drained again. Shouldn't have been full I had it emptied in January. Apparently when your main line leaks water into the ground and floods the leach field things don't work exactly right. Here are Paige's version of events today..."Mom why's there mud puddle...big mud puddle, uh huh, in the bathroom? You say Oh Man? uh huh." Bleach it's my new best friend.
Ran away to Laura's for dinner...Thanks sister friend appreciate it muchly.

I love...

that Christmas is coming. I love creating gifts to give. I love the plotting and planning. I have been busy canning away so I'm stocking up on jellies, dilly beans, and more. I'm crafting in the studio. Photos, paper, fabric and more being put to work. I love to give the people I love something I've made. It means so much more than something I buy. Don't worry Miss Kathryn I will still buy you a few presents.
So today I was inspired by this very fun artist her blog and store go by knock, knocking...gotta love that, here is the link to her etsy store and her blog. So here are a few of the beautiful wreaths that she specializes in. Hello who knew orange and blue for Christmas... miss decorating Skrappaper. But I will get busy on my studio this year.

Girls on Sunday

Today was the primary program at church. The children all have a part and teach us about what they learned in their classes this year. I love primary. I get all choked up and teary eyed when they sing, some of them very, very loudly. So today's program was excellent. Kate played a violin solo. She's only been playing for twelve weeks and taught herself a song by ear. Yeah some musical talent in that one. Sydney's entire primary class was to shy to speak. I thought for sure she would refuse but her teacher called on her and she hopped right out of her chair. Her question to answer how do I help my family be closer to Heavenly Father? Her answer....remember Sis Schaeffer was so relieved Sydney was speaking right..."I help my family by playing baby tag and hobo tag." Yep leave it to Syd to make me laugh out loud in church. Here's photos of me and the ladies today. See Jennifer I really can make sure to photograph myself.

Life after shots...

These are the faces of three very happy Rapplings.I had an appointment this morning and took the girls with me. The plan was quick appointment then we could go to the health department for the H1N1, hear after to be known as the Huswavian, shots. The appointment well that took a one hour wait then 45 minutes appointment. So far so good, the girls had snacks, crayons, MP3 player and a book for Kate. Not a short appointment by any means but they girls were good. Onto the health department next.

Sydney doesn't like shots. Not at all. I had to keep Kate from saying Huswavian and the s-h-o-t word. This worked until we were in line and another big sister was teasing her little brother about his shot. The tears started. First they were tears of quiet desperation. About an hour into the line as we drew closer to the front the sobbing started. She wanted to get the Huswavian. She didn't care how sick it would make her. There was some serious bargaining going on. By the time we reached the desk to log in she was flailing around like a fish out of water. Good note of the entire Huswavian event...we knew through the garden and Mr. Matt the lovely Miss Gehring who was checking us in. It was nice to recognize one person in the mass of humanity I was in line with. It was driving me a little crazy that Paige was fine and Sydney was having a complete panic attack. I was T-I-R-E-D. Kate was a big help and kept hold of all the paperwork and cards since I was carrying a flailing Sydney and trying to keep a hand on a very confused Paige.

The woman administrating the shots announced, "Next." and took one look at Sydney, shook her head and rolled her eyes. I asked her if she thought she could handle this? Said nurse was a little offended to be asked that particular question. But yes she could handle this. Then she told me that the girls could only have the live virus intranasal vaccine. I was miffed and worried since I had planned on the shots not wanting a live virus to spread on to John. So I started asking questions. That made my nurse sigh. You know the sigh. It's the one you give the 50th customer who asks the same question about if you have the hardest to find item the day after Thanksgiving. Okay, really, I know I'm allowed to ask questions. "Mam, I can't tell you what will happen. Here's this sheet you can take it home and read it, but do you want your turn or not?" This nurse and I are definitely not on friendly terms. Sydney proceeded to act like major surgery was being performed without anesthetic. Finally girls all done. Mom got her shot and I was beyond relieved to be leaving. Syd was fine. Now Paige was mad and kicking at every inanimate object and family member who got in her way. It was a long, long walk back down the hallway to get out.

The magic promise of a Happy Meal and a visit to see Cyggy, the not so little baby swan, at the Botanicals was what kept Paige on good behavior. So off we went. Kate announced once we arrived that I must just require nature. Yes, yes I do. I need to be outside. I love the sun, the clouds, rain, snow, whatever, just please let me out. Lines in the department of health or crazy crowded rooms with no organization are a particular torture aimed to send me to a mental institution. I had done both for the past four hours and was so happy to be free. The girls had fun visiting with the swans...Martha and Cyggy came up for a visit. Miss Martha has bold streak in her when it comes to little girls and cheeseburgers. Mr. Phillip stopped to talk with the girls about the swans and gave the girls a bagel to feed to the swans just this once. Okay, so really don't feed the birds at the Botanicals. They don't need food and my girls know that this is not allowed. They also know Mr. Phillip is the boss and serious about the rules. To the girls this was magic. They got to feed Cyggy. Times like this makes me remember that behind every cloud the sun is still shining.

Side note... when you leave a beach ball out in the yard it becomes art at the Botanical Gardens.

Art on Central

My former neighbors, and owners of Meant to Bead, Julia and Les have a Art Gallery on Central Avenue. Where? In the former location of Skrappaper, 6540 West Central Avenue next to Speedway, after the fire station but before Central Park West light. They've actually had the location since we closed Skrappaper but I've never thought to blog about it before.

So I took in a few of my fallish photographs after I spent a day in my studio. I'm also going to be taking in a few more fun projects later this week. They have an amazing selection of photography, paintings, jewelry and my favorite, blown glass pieces. I especially fond of the pumpkins and glass coasters that they are selling. Please stop by I know they'd love to see you.