skip to main |
skip to sidebar
This is the morning To-Do slate around our house, which I write out the night before. It's an attempt to give fewer reminders verbally, or in the worst cases, what we call nagging. Jonas, a reader now, has words---some of which may need explanation, like "girls," meaning the chickens (not all girls, we have some roosters, but we used to have only hens and it stuck), and "drainer," meaning the morning chore of emptying the dish drainer. Sylvan, a pre-reader, gets pictures (and a couple of words because I didn't think that even 3 years of art school would result in a realistic-looking pile of clothes to be put away, using chalk), which left to right are: lunch, putting the silverware away, rainpants, and toothbrush.But the real headline of today is:
Sylvan lost his very first tooth!In Blog News...You may have noticed a new Favorite Stop, over at the right: Miss Smith at Home. I feel like I have encountered my Southern Hemisphere soulmate down in New Zealand! Yay Miss Smith, for leaving a comment and letting me discover your wonderously fun blog. I have been parceling out the archives, trying not to consume too many, too quickly, to make it last! I was inspired to try this delicious sugar-free recipe for Muesli bars, that I first saw here. I overcame the celcius to farenheit conversion, as well as deftly adapted grams to cups, thank you very much. Sweetened with a combination of dried fruits and freshly squeezed OJ, full of yummy oats and cinnamon, they were deliciously sweet enough to satisfy everyone here. And no one was wound up unneccessarily before bedtime. (Susan and Matthew S. and Jenn, if you're reading, you better try these at home!) Perfect with my tea tonight!Playing Book TagSo then Miss Smith tagged me in a Book Tag. Here are the rules:Go to the closest book to you, not necessarily the book you have just read, or your favourite, but the closest. Turn to page 56 and copy out the 5th line, followed by the next 2 to 5 lines.
This was hard, I did so want to cheat, for something fiction-y. But honestly, here is what was closest:
Life Lists for Teens by Pamela Espeland, subtitled "Tips, steps, hints, and how-tos for growing up, getting along, learning, and having fun." It's awesome, so full of great information for teens to have, like "Top Ten Reasons Why You Look Hot," "7 Ways to Tell if You're Flirting or Harassing," "Twelve Reasons to Tell the Truth," "12 Ways to be a Great Guest," "10 Reasons Not to Get a Tattoo or Body Piercing" followed by "...And 10 Things to Do if You Decide to Get One Anyway," "25 Quotes on Goal-Setting," and my librarian's freedom fighter heart goes pitter pat, "10 Books Some People Don't Want You to Read." I plan to leave this book lying about in a few years, hoping that some teen in my house will find something in its pages.So, page 56, 5th line followed by the next few (more than the suggested, I couldn't help it), in the section "If You Live with Someone Who Drinks Too Much or Uses Drugs:""...the help you need to feel better and to have a safe and productive life.
Remember the 7 Cs:
- I didn't CAUSE it.
- I can't CURE it.
- I can't CONTROL it.
- I can take better CARE of myself by COMMUNICATING my feelings, making healthy CHOICES, and CELEBRATING myself."
Pretty great advice even if you aren't living with an addict, just as general rules for living with other people in a complicated world.So, Chris (Muddy Puddle Musings) and Heather (Beauty That Moves) are you up for playing along?And one last P.S.I have just been accepted to graduate school to continue my library science passion; since I am almost done with my bachelor's at very long last, why not keep the fun coming? I will be studying online at San Jose State University beginning in January! Hooray...and GULP!
Wow, fortune smiles... I entered a comment at the Share and Learn portion of the website at UrthChild and I won their October giveaway! The folks here are all about providing carefully-selected products that are non-toxic, organic, and made to last: a cool, eco-friendly, kid/mom-friendly web-business that specializes in great toys, natural body care products, and my family's favorite stop for kids' wool long johns. The question I answered was about how to reduce the use of plastic in our daily lives. I like it that UrthChild is connecting folks who care about living sustainably. Here's what I won:
Lovely Druide body care products! And since some members of this family have winter eczema, the lovely lady who runs this company picked out some products to help out. And she threw in some extras:
Thank you, Anthia!Their November Giveaway is perfectly timed for the holidays. All you have to do is write a review of one of their many products and your name is entered to win three Holtziger wooden animals. Each time you enter a review, your name gets entered additional times! Take a minute and check them out.
Tea and a scone, apple cinnamon (made by Husband at Home, while I lazed about in bed).A few days at home and I am feeling so full again, ready to face the next few days out in the world. Today there is a lot of subtle straightening, laundry (all parts of the process), putting away of random items, hanging pictures that have languished too long unhung (or in the wrong place on the wall), etc. I have one Alewives Fabrics Vinyl Shopping Bag almost done, pictures soon.The busy autumn nature table, by Sylvan:
I washed and hung up the wool items, in the warm dining room. Kids' woolie long johns and my favorite hand-knit socks:
I spent a lot of time trying to locate sandpaper to make the edges of this heart smooth, for a newly-turned (today!) 2 year old. Still haven't found any.
I sharpened some pencils. I know that sounds silly, but I am the only person in this house who seems to think that sharp pencils matter. And it also seems I am the only one who ever thinks about sharpening them:
In blogger news...Ravenhill's Lilly got the tiny purse (remember, that's what started me on the sewing thing?) I sent! And a little Blij Als Mij inspired bookmark.Erna, of Blij Als Mij, posted a teaser picture on her blog of the 100th post ATC project! Here it is in process...Can't wait to get a look in their finished form. Thanks for playing, Erna.And finally, check out this post from PinkCrowStirrings. My girl Carrie in Chicago rocked the Obama acceptance speech last Tuesday, yup she heard it in person. And I love her photo of the swarming celebrants.
Today was my weekend! Mama Time spent with one of my nearest and dearest partners in all things creative, Joanie. We went down to lovely Damariscotta Mills to Alewives Fabrics (a blog also, and soon to be online with their inventory!) to fill up our souls with color and stock up on some inventory for holiday gifts. Gorgeous homemade reusable shopping bags---free pattern! And you can make any fabric spill-proof with this nifty iron-on vinyl:
Here are some bags waiting to be made---you may recognize some fabric from the stash:
The store is so nicely arranged and well-lit, check out this Amy Butler heaven:
These folks have lots of classes, and in one of them they are working on a simple quilt, the Turning Twenty Quilt:
You buy a stack of 20 fat quarters, like this, and you are ready to get started:
This stack, above, had us thinking of Nikki McClure and her amazing papercuts and color choices. And it's the stack I kept going to, even though my bedroom would be happier with a more greeny-blue palette. I bought the pattern and am contemplating dipping my toes into a BIG sewing project like this quilt, since ours is now threadbare and showing its cotton batting. (Now, see, this is just what good retail therapy should be about!)By the time I have grandchildren (and we hope for at least one girl), maybe I will be ready to make things that have to actually fit a person. How's this for adorable?
There were books, too...Sigh. And cute Amy Butler little notebooks and Lotta Jansdotter (remember her from this post?) notecard sets.
Such a great mood in the place, and honestly, who wouldn't be a happy worker, surrounded by all that color, working on sewing projects between customers?! Here are my piles and bolts, getting ready to check out:
I am all filled up and itching to get started, ready to go to work tomorrow, and ready for Sunday through Tuesday single-parenting with kids home from school (conference day and Vet's day).I feel so lucky.
Two men in the kitchen, just what I like to see. One stirs the risotto while the other keeps the mushrooms warm. Chicken with 40 cloves of garlic simmers in the oven.Ack! Not enough time at home this week...extra hours at work, up too late listening to the election, up too late with our special visitor, and dragging a bit in general.
But I made a beautiful pie yesterday which we will eat tonight for dessert night! Recipe is courtesy of Jane R., and thanks to Jenny for sharing it. Sweet pie pumpkin, grown locally, lots of freshly grated nutmeg, and some dark rum...Yum.
This is the morning To-Do slate around our house, which I write out the night before. It's an attempt to give fewer reminders verbally, or in the worst cases, what we call nagging. Jonas, a reader now, has words---some of which may need explanation, like "girls," meaning the chickens (not all girls, we have some roosters, but we used to have only hens and it stuck), and "drainer," meaning the morning chore of emptying the dish drainer. Sylvan, a pre-reader, gets pictures (and a couple of words because I didn't think that even 3 years of art school would result in a realistic-looking pile of clothes to be put away, using chalk), which left to right are: lunch, putting the silverware away, rainpants, and toothbrush.
Sylvan lost his very first tooth!
Life Lists for Teens by Pamela Espeland, subtitled "Tips, steps, hints, and how-tos for growing up, getting along, learning, and having fun." It's awesome, so full of great information for teens to have, like "Top Ten Reasons Why You Look Hot," "7 Ways to Tell if You're Flirting or Harassing," "Twelve Reasons to Tell the Truth," "12 Ways to be a Great Guest," "10 Reasons Not to Get a Tattoo or Body Piercing" followed by "...And 10 Things to Do if You Decide to Get One Anyway," "25 Quotes on Goal-Setting," and my librarian's freedom fighter heart goes pitter pat, "10 Books Some People Don't Want You to Read." I plan to leave this book lying about in a few years, hoping that some teen in my house will find something in its pages.
Posts
