The BROTHER that gave me the MONEY that bought the HORSE from which the PATTERN was made

THE HORSE

I spent a few days at my brother Jessy's house this week. He has two sons under 4, and my 3-year old had a blast playing with all their toys. A huge hit were two horse swings they had handing from a big tree in the front yard.

Now I've seen horse swings before, and honestly, not that impressive. But these horse swings were the Rolls Royce of horse swings. They seem to cradle the children, allowing them a sense of freedom. They were also adorable. They had manes, provided back support way beyond the height of their heds, had stirrups, and so much more. It's just hard to explain how cool they were. But this post isn't really about how cool they were . . . so much as where my facination ended up leading.

The last 4 years I've been making patterns for hard-to-afford baby items. I started doing this for my own use and it developed into a way to make extra money and give other moms the say opportunity to provide for their children. The result has been that every time I see something child-related that I know someone would like for their child, but probably wouldn't be able to afford, I want to make the pattern.

It didn't take me half a day to start speculating on how the horses were made. First I started "joking" about taking one apart to trace it. Apparently, my husband started getting nervous when he noticed me looking in the garage for a wrench. Hey, I would have been happy with a pair of plyers. And he told me, "You are not taking those Horses' apart." Really, what could I say? I told him I was just joking.

Really, after bed time, who would even know? Well, assuming I managed to get them back together correctly by the next morning. Things don't always go back together the way they come apart. Go figure.

THE BROTHER

Not to be discouraged, I borrowed a ruler the next day and set out in the front yard taking measurements, drawing diagrams and instructions, and taking tons of photos. By this time my brother is watching me with the most confused look on his face.

I haven't lived near my brother in over 13 years. He probably couldn't even tell you where my website is, much less 2 items that I sell on it. (By the way it's at http://www.makethemyourself.com/, go buy something.) He's definately never been exposed to me in deep consentration as I setup a new design. He told me at least 4-times where he bought them at; just up the road, open until 7, lots of designs to choose from. And he seemed really confused when I didn't run right up and get one.

I told him I was going to make one. And every time he'd see me making notes on my diagram or showing it to someone, he's just shake his head. I was showing it off because I was very excited about getting home and making one up. Planning on having a working prototype by Christmas for my son and having the pattern available shortly afterwards for others. I even had my husband show me how to identify the tire size.

Next thing I know, my husband is telling me that Jessy wants to buy Will (my son) a horse swing.

THE MONEY

If you've read my earlier post, you know this week we buried my sister. That's why I ened up visiting my brother. It's also probably why I fixated on the swing so much. It was just something non-painful to think about. Besides, I was really shocked that people paid $70 for these things made from recycled tires. I would NEVER pay $70 for a swing I could make myself. I'm financially-challenged, as well as penny penching. I just can't make myself pay for something I can make myself.

My brother is usually doing better than us. He has a contracting company that does pretty well. But his shop burned down a few months ago and it was grossly under-insured. Not to mention his new Harley was parked there; only one payment ever made. Then my sister died without insurance. Jessy took out a loan to help pay for her funeral and he feed all the family for 3-days while we congregated around our home town.

There was no way I was taking money from him for a horse swing.

Today as we were packing up to leave, Jessy's wife left to run an errand. She made it back just in time to walk us out to the truck with the rest of her family. After we say our goodbyes and get our hugs, Jessy tries to slip some money into the truck. Steve immediately tells him we don't want it. Jessy's response was, "It'll be easier for her to make a pattern if she has something to take apart first." And I wanted to cry.

He may not have understood my point of view, but he was trying to understand what I needed and give it to me. I decided right then I wouldn't fight him about it. Jessy gave the money to my son and told him to buy a horsey. After we drove off my husband asked me what I wanted to do with the money and I told him to stop at the store. And we bought a horse.

THE PATTERN

I may, or may not, ever get the pattern designed. It's way different than the type of thing I normally sell on my site. But hanging it in my back yard was the first thing I did when I got home. And every time I push my son in it, or watch it sway in my back yard, I'll feel love and think of my brother.

Thank you Jessy.