I haven't done the kitchen table yet -- That won't be finished until we get the outside beds done and can plant our seedlings.
We are planning on using Square Foot Gardening (more info here) since it requires so little space and uses that space to the best advantage.
And - once the counter was cleaned off, look what happened!
What a treat!
Camping was great! We packed up the car and went to a nearby State Park for three days and nights of adventure/planned boredom. Which brings a thought to my mind - How come at home, the cry of "What is there to do?" is often heard. Yet these same children outdoors either find a million things to do or can sit quietly and read or play a game for an endless length of time. One of life's little mysteries, I guess.
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Dinner that night was our traditional Camping Chili Stew which cooked over the fire while the children played on a nearby hill. As night came, the wind picked up and the temperatures dropped. Thankfully we were snug-bugs in our new sleeping bags. We bought them on Sale a few months ago and are as pleased as can be with how comfy and warm they are! They're mummy sacks rated for 0 degrees. Wow! Get in and zip up and you're instantly warm, especially if you zip it all the way to the top! While these are great, I can forsee that during our later spring and summer camping excursions, the bags will simply be used as a sleeping pad with a simple sheet on top.
After our dishes were cleaned up, the wind was still blowing and blowing. It was hard to get going, so we finally gave in and did the only reasonable thing we could do - got back in our sleeping bags!
On our last day, older son corraled his brother into a game of chess and that kept them busy most of the morning. Fishing was on the agenda for the afternoon. A nice, quiet spot was found and the gear all brought out. You know what I like about fishing? All of the children, under 16, can fish and fish (without a license) and I cannot help them! I don't have a license and California says if I'm holding a pole, I'm fishing. So, older son helps sister with her hook, but other than that, they do everything for themselves and I get to sit in a nice shady spot and crochet, and crochet, and crochet! I've been following the No-End-In-Sight-Ripple-Along for weeks now and wanting to join in. But I have three WIP's already and so don't want to add another. What to do? Finish my WIP's! I got quite a bit done on one of them the past few days. Of course I'll take a photo and post it when I get it done - in time to enter in the County Fair?
By that time, we were all ready for home. We packed up the car, and headed home for a smoke-free dinner, real shower, comfy beds, and surprised Dad, who's been working all week. We'll certainly be planning our next campout. Hopefully for someplace new, and hopefully for sometime soon.
Yes, yes, I'm a little late with this. If I didn't do something because it was late, I wouldn't get anything done! Get it? In other words, even if it's late, it is still worth doing well. ;-)
I really like the theory behind Get Real - on the web, we choose the perfect items with the perfect backdrop and the most enhancing lighting, possibly leading to the impression that we have a perfect home and/or life. NOT true! We are all human, some have it a bit more organized and together than others, but we all have a weak spot. Or two. Or five.
For my "Get Real" spot for Randi's Spring Clean Edition I had to choose my kitchen. It is the most used room and the room that seems to 'catch' all the stuff from anything that goes on in the house. And I will admit that the biggest offender (read- owner of most of the stuff/clutter) belongs to ME!
This is a picture of my kitchen table. Obviously we don't eat in the kitchen. We couldn't. When Husband first brought this table home, it was perfect, beautiful, and endeared visions of sitting by my window and reading, studying, or sipping Chai. Let's take a good, close look at reality.
Okay - going around clockwise from bottom left corner, we have: apron, sweater, sweatshirt and purse hanging from chair; other chair is piled with sewing box and dresses that are still in progress and a loaf of bread (??); on that edge of table are various scraps and WIP's from my felt stuff along with a punchneedle project that I bought and opened but don't have time to do yet; my lovely flower pot which is supposed to brighten the table, but which is lost amidst all the clutter; a bag of patterns that are in line to be used and our poor little knocked over scotty dogs; an empty box of Cadbury Chocolate Eggs with a bunny inside; and in the middle of the table all of our little greenhouses for starting our garden seedlings. Also, in the big picture above you can see our ice chest and box of foodstuffs still waiting to go camping, alongside husband's soda and the remains of the chicken feed in the sack which wouldn't fit in our bin.
This is what I face everytime I walk in my kitchen. Reminders of projects that need finishing, projects past that need to be cleaned up, and the promise of summer bounty - along with the reminder that we need to hurry up and get the outside ready for these little guys that are fast outgrowing their greenhouse.
My other spot is also in the kitchen. Kitchen counters seem to be a great Hot Spot for collecting clutter. We only have three small squares of counters in our kitchen, you would think I could work a little harder to keep them clean, but this one is at the edge and is where everyone puts everything just because it is near the traffic lane - the busy spot of the house.
Pencils, markers, stuffed animals, packing tape, bible, treasure box, wrappers from our greenhouses (see photo above ;-), pitcher, miscellaneous Tupperware, cups, empty water bottles, napkins, picture frame, used cilantro (i.e. stems in a bag), sunglasses, Tootsie Roll bank, solar reflector, bookends, and more that I don't even want to think about! I will get it cleaned up. I will. I WILL!
After we get back from camping. Promise. ;-)
You know how you wake up one day with a plan? And the rest of the day, nothing goes according to that plan? Well, today was just such a day in our house.
Let's start at the beginning . . . . .
Sunday morning, I had the wonderful idea to drop everything for a few days and go camping. The children have been doing well with their schoolwork for a few weeks and the weather has been just beautiful - a great opportunity for a little reward. Besides, one of the beauties of homeschooling is that you can take it with you! Schoolwork is done just as easily in camp as at the kitchen table - with even more chance for real, hands-on discovery.
The Plan: Spend Sunday cleaning up and getting chores done, plan our meals and gather supplies. Monday load everything up in the car and after Piano lessons, head over the bridge for three days of camping. What could be easier? HA!!
Everything went great on Sunday - including all of husband's shirts ironed. Got all of our supplies out, and made our list of meals. We were set to go! The children had even cleaned out the car that afternoon. Wonderful!
I went out that evening to check the car and make sure it was locked, but my little key chain car door locker/unlocker-thingy wouldn't work. (That is a technical, patented term. Please ask permission before using. ;-) Why won't it work? Hmmmm . . . I climb in the car and put the key in the ignition. Nothing. And I do mean Nothing. No dashboard lights, no clicking, no Nothing. Dead Battery.
Okay, all is not lost. We will leave it all in the LORDs hand. He knows when and where we should be. And Husband can take a look in the morning and see what needs doing. Off to sleep we go.
Monday morning dawns and Husband is off to get a new battery with daughter at his side. After a few hours, a voltage meter, some tools, a few choice words, a battery charger, and another trip to the store, the car is well and whole and ready for our adventure. Except that two things have happened in the meantime. Dear son and I are both feeling extremely sluggish - bed is VERY inviting, AND the rain clouds have moved in. Son, who has been laboriously pouring over a weather forecasting book for the past few days says, "Ah, Cirrus Clouds a few days ago. Yup, now it's rain." Thanks. A Lot.
What DID we do? We drug ourselves to piano lessons, picked up a pizza on the way home, and watched the rain fall from the sheltered warmth of the bedroom as we snuggled up and watched "Gus."
All our gear is still sitting and waiting. Maybe we'll go tomorrow. Maybe we'll go next week. Whenever we go, I know that "If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." James 4:15
I couldn't resist adding this photo of daughter. It was taken on one of our camping trips last year.
While everyone was packing up, she found a ladybug which she coaxed onto the stick.
. . . . Denise, and I'm a pattern-a-holic.
I don't mean to be, really. I don't know what comes over me. I can look through all the pattern books and see nothing I really want -- but then let those same patterns go on sale for $0.99 or $1.99 and suddenly I don't have enough paper to keep track of my want list!
And it's not like I don't have a variety of patterns, either. Because I've got it all. From Men's shirts and pajamas, to costume patterns I used to make capes for the boys, to every imaginable type of dress for daughter - except for anything with zippers! I don't do zippers. We just don't get along. I've tried a few times since my dismal failure 18 or so years ago, but it just hasn't worked out between the two of us. Although now even a zipper on a pattern can't stop me since I've figured out how to convert zipper patterns to ones that button!! I have all types of animal, apron, bag, organizer, and puppet patterns, not that I've ever made a puppet, but they're cute and one day I might want to, right? You DO see, don't you? I haven't made a dress for myself for a few years, but does that stop me from buying patterns still? Not on your life! Some day the perfect combination of fabric + pattern + mood will strike and BAM! I'll have another dress. But how can I do that if I don't have just that right pattern I saw 5 years ago?
That's my other reason for collecting patterns - and a good one, too. Did you know they don't care if a pattern is your favorite or not. When they want to, they can just stop making it. No notification, no warning. One day you blissfully walk into the fabric store determined to finally buy that pattern you've been looking at for so long and make something from it - or even worse, it's your most used pattern and you need a new one or a bigger size - only to discover that it is no longer in the pattern book. Not in the drawer. It's been Discontinued!
So, back to my pattern gathering. My newest weakness, problem, brilliant idea is to buy the desired pattern in multiple sizes so that I am prepared for any possibility. You can see how this expands my list expotentially.
At this particular time, I won't go into the patterns I've bought on-line through specialty shops and e-Bay, and I certainly won't mention garage sales! (A memorable one is a box of about 50 patterns for $5.00!)
What do I do with all these patterns? There's the problem of storage. I don't have "A Spot", so they are in this box here and that bag there, patterns I'm currently using and patterns that are in line (that have fabric & notions already purchased and ready to go) - which also means that there are times I buy a duplicate pattern because I forgot I have it already. You know, if you like it once, it is sure to catch your eye again!
Is there hope for me? Am I alone? Will I ever recover? Or should I just give in and relish, delight and dream of all the things I can make "One Day"?
p.s. This isn't all of the patterns I own. Just the ones I could get out without too much trouble. ;-)
Too frequently lately, I have not been seeking the shelter of the Rock that was cleft for me, Jesus. I have been distracted and hurried. I've felt there was no point to my day. I've felt there was no way I could do all that needed doing. Hopeless about our progress with school, swayed and bent by any frustrations, I was just plain tired of feeling not in control and at the whim of whatever circumstances happened to appear that day, that hour, that moment.
Why did I not recognize it sooner? Why did I not see that I was being blown and tossed about by circumstances and emotions, with doubts and worries, because I was not seeking the refuge of my Rock, the Lord Jesus. All throughout scripture we are given the promise of shelter:
Abiding in the shadow of his wings, resting within the rock, my days have an order and a peace that passeth understanding.
I have this hymn printed and placed in my kitchen so that I am able to sing and focus on what is true and pure while I go about my chores. It was written by Mary D. James in 1875 at the age of 65 years old. She must have known about hiding within the Rock. She started teaching Sunday School to younger children at the age of 13 years old, and visiting them at their homes during the week also, taking gifts and baked goods that her mother had made. What a life of service she must have had.
If you are not familiar with this hymn, then I hope you are blessed by these words. If you've heard it before, I hope the remembrance of it brings the sweet peace that only sheltering in the LORD can give.
In the rifted Rock I’m resting;
Safely sheltered, I abide.
There no foes nor storms molest me,
While within the cleft I hide.
Now I’m resting, sweetly resting,
In the cleft once made for me.
Jesus, blessèd Rock of Ages,
I will hide myself in Thee.
Long pursued by sin and Satan,
Weary, sad, I longed for rest.
Then I found this heav’nly shelter,
Opened in my Savior’s breast.
Now I’m resting, sweetly resting,
In the cleft once made for me.
Jesus, blessèd Rock of Ages,
I will hide myself in Thee.
Peace which passeth understanding,
Joy the world can never give,
Now in Jesus I am finding;
In His smiles of love I live.
Now I’m resting, sweetly resting,
In the cleft once made for me.
Jesus, blessèd Rock of Ages,
I will hide myself in Thee.
In the rifted Rock I’ll hide me Now I’m resting, sweetly resting,
Till the storms of life are past;
All secure in this blest refuge,
Heeding not the fiercest blast.
In the cleft once made for me.
Jesus, blessèd Rock of Ages,
I will hide myself in Thee.
Done, Done, Done!
It was a lot of fun making these and now they are on their way to Randi.
Please check her site and see all the other great skirts that are making their way to Africa at the end of the month.
Thank you, Randi for letting us be a part of blessing others!
Did you know that with just a few simple tools you and your children can have fun and make some sweet and beautiful artwork?
Quilling is the name of a centuries old paper craft also known as Paper Filigree. All quilling designs are based upon a handful of easily learned shapes. How you combine these basic shapes into a "picture" can be as simple or as fancy as your imagination allows.
These are very simple little designs, easily made with a little bit of care and patience.
The more intricate designs are just stunning -- I stare at them and think "That is PAPER?"
If you are interested in learning more about this great family craft, here are some resources to get you started:
The quilled calendar above is from the North American Quilling Guild Web-site.
This little duck on the water was created by daughter this morning from the Little Critters kit made by Lake City Craft Co. and purchased at Create-For-Less)
And I just couldn't resist putting up this fun "Quill-A-Day" calendar.
Please take a minute to browse through the sites above (and no, I am in no way affiliated with them and receive nothing from them) and even if you don't give Quilling a try, at least you will know what it is, and appreciate the work that goes into some of the beautiful artwork you may see in the future!
Blessings to you!
If you didn't know it already March is National Craft Month!!
In honor of that, I thought I would pass along the link for this really neat crafting site. Create-For-Less.
Do you Knit, Crochet? Yep, they got it. Latch hook and Punch Embroidery? Yep, that too. Felting, Quilling, Scrapbooking, and much more. If you can make it, they probably have the supplies for it.
So what are you making to celebrate?
Hello again, Ladies! Henrietta and I have been busy, busy. We are making progress on our dresses, as well as a few other projects that have found their way to the sewing table! But our focus today is . . . . . Sleeves! Six of them to be exact!
Here we have the sleeve bands all pinned together and ready to be sewn.
They've been pressed and Henrietta has them all pinned in place on the proper sleeves. Back to the sewing machine!
Isn't Miss Hen so sweet? She watches over everything. Here she's making sure that the seam is straight and that the pins are pulled out before the needle sews over them.
Now it's time for the gathering stitches at the sleeve cap. Diligent Hen is there, too!
Pinning and Pressing is the name of this game. Luckily Henrietta is an experienced hedgehog. She learned to sew at her dear mothers' knee - well, little foot. (Do hedgehogs have knees?)
Ahhh . . . there now! The sleeve bands are all pressed and pinned and ready for sewing down by hand. That's a job we like to do in the evening. It's very restful and relaxing before climbing into bed! Is it just me, or does Miss Hen look a bit proud?
Here's what we have so far: Three lined bodices with banded collars, three banded sleeves and one pieced skirt edging.
Tomorrow we (Hen and I) will bring you up to date on all we've been doing -- sleeves, pockets and extra projects, too!
