Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Happiest of New Years to all


It's been a interesting 2009.

Loss of a special friend, not through death, but circumstances. Employment for me. A new lease on vision for my husband. Another year older for all. Learning new crafts and revisiting some old ones. And becoming inspired by some absolutely amazing artists of all kinds. Just to list a few things.

I truly hope that 2010 will be a year that finds us all safe, secure and happy.



Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

As some of you may notice I have gotten into the holiday spirit by creating a new playlist, just for the next couple of days. I hope you enjoy the music. I also hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and enjoy spending it with friends and family.

A big holiday hug to all of you and Cheers!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

The Wee Ones

the youngest Wee One

loves to sing along with anything. Of course he doesn't pronounce the words correctly but he doesn't care

loves to hum along with Daddy, even after Daddy stops humming

loves to ask you the same question over and over and over. I guess just in case you didn't hear him the first 20 times.

must think himself part ant because he is forever picking things up that are either too big for him to lift or should be too heavy for him. Yet he does it anyways just for entertainment.

will hit first and ask questions later



the middle Wee One

loves to act out the movies he is watching

loves to taste and try anything that you are eating

adores his older brother

will lay in bed when he's supposed to be taking a nap and yell for his younger brother who is taking his nap on the couch downstairs.

will cry first and ask questions later


the oldest Wee One (well, really, The Boy)

stays up way too late

is a really good guy, for being a teenager

has a wicked, quick sense of humor

can get filled with righteous indignation when he sees greed or inequalities in the world

surprises me with just how much he has learned in his 15 years of life

listens and then asks questions


All in all I've got some really neat people as children

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Inspiration struck

Well I'm not sure it struck or was just tempted(grin)

I was reading through the blogs the other day I ran across this post, at maya* made. if you haven't ever poked around her blog, I seriously suggest that you do. Well I saw these little gift boxes that she urged everyone to try. I loved the idea of recycling and the idea of the "gingerbread" look. I thought about the milk carton I had in the fridge that was almost empty and remembered that I had seen some brown paper recently. Was it under the stair storage? Hmmmm? Gripped with the idea that I wanted to try this small project, I set about getting started. I prepared the carton as described.

When I went to get the brown paper, I discovered the Minahounies had obviously decided to use it for something. Heck, maybe they mailed off all of my socks that have gone missing. Minahounies? I hear you ask. They are the little mischievous house elves that move things or take things when you are looking for something. You know the ones. Anywho...

Since I couldn't find the brown paper for a gingerbread look I decided to go with white butcher paper. Luckily the Minahounies hadn't gotten to that yet. But to be honest I could hear a small snap of fingers and an aggravated growl when I picked up the paper. While I was planning how my little house was going to look I began to try and figure out what I was going to put in the box after it was finished and who would get it. I decided I would surprise my dearest and oldest friend with a hot chocolate gift box. I can't remember if I have mentioned about Our Best Bites recipe for the Ultimate Hot Chocolate. I love this recipe. What better gift box for hot chocolate than a converted milk carton? So here is my version of Miss Maya's gift box...

The front

The side

The back

And the other (that's a chair at a table and a light above it in the right hand window)



And then the items to go in the box. Sans the marshmallows, yup I am going to send those along as well. I created the the packaging for the ingredients, so that it would be coordinated. Yes I know very Martha Stewart of me. Scary, I know.
It's not perfect but I am proud of it and how it turned out. And it was actually wicked fun to do, as far as drawing the house details and such.

Give it a try and see what you can come up with.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

A little cooking post

Ok, so the Brown Eyed Baker is hosting an amazing giveaway. And I want to win. To enter you create a post on your favorite holiday recipe. Well, during the holiday season I usually bake more cookies. So that will be the recipe I share today.

The recipe is for my all time favorite cookie. It's different and unusual. It comes from a cookie cook book my mother has used for years, ever since I was a wee girl. It calls for one ingredient that I can no longer find. If anyone knows of how to get a hold of it please, PLEASE, contact me. Even though you can't find the exact ingredient you can substitute. Curious? Just read on.....

Egyptian Rose Leaves*
(and yes they taste like a rose)

1/3 cup of shortening (I use real butter)
2 eggs
1 tsp rose soluble liquid (this is the ingredient that I can no longer locate. So if you have any ideas let me know. Rose water, cooking quality, is what you will need to use as substitution, but I would increase it to 1 1/2 to 2 tsp depending on how strong your rose water is)
2 cups of all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
red or pink or green decorators sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix shortening, sugar, eggs and rose soluble until fluffy.
Stir in flour and salt.
Mix thoroughly.
Chill for several hours or overnight.
Using 1/3 of the dough at a time (keep the rest refrigerated) roll into 1 inch balls.
Place on lightly greased baking sheet.
Flatten with the heel of your hand to about a 3/8 inch thickness.
Cut two slits 1/2 inch down at the top.
Pinch the bottom to form base of leaf.
Sprinkle with decorator sugar.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until very light golden brown.
Then enjoy!

You will note when eating these cookies that at first you will not note really any strong flavor. That is until you breath in. Then you will find that your head will fill with the most delicate, lovely rose scent. Ahhhh, heavenly.

If any of you happen to try these I would love to hear what you think of them.

Good luck to anyone else that enters the Brown Eyed Baker's contest and wish me luck too!

* This recipe comes from the Betty Crocker Cooky Book. My mother received hers well over 40 years ago as a gift. Here is the modern version. Whether it contains the same recipes, I'm not sure.

Monday, November 30, 2009

One thing leads to another

Well I'm back and I'm not alone. Ooooo doesn't that sound sinister? It's not I assure you. I've come back to show you the completed project from that last post. The project didn't take all this time to finish, I'm just bad about getting photos to post here.

So without any further ado... Here's Flora the Hedgehog.





She's not your typical hedgehog, as I'm you sure you can tell. But I'm happy with how she turned out. I created her to be a pincushion, although she hasn't been used in that capacity as yet. Mostly she coyly sits on the shelves above my sewing machine and watches as I sew. She's such a sweet young lass of a hedgehog. It's nice to have her keep me company.

Miss Flora was kind enough assist in showing off the fabric that I used for my next project. I will admit that I already finished this project as well. It is a fabric bunting/garland using Patty Young Mezzanine fabric, that I purchased from Fabric Closet on Etsy.

I didn't use any specific pattern. Just sort of winged it. I'm going to use this one as part of our Christmas decorations this year. I had a lot of fun making it, and already have my eye on some other fabrics that I would love to use. Maybe a garland from either this fabric or this one. I'm really drawn to the second one since those are the colors that are more prevalent throughout my home. Yet the first one, Paula Prass' Flights of Fancy collection, has had me intrigued for some time. I love the Air Mail print in the collection. I have so many other projects on the horizon I'll have to just move those to the bottom of the projects list for now.

I'm already starting on another Christmas geared project, another decoration. Here is a glance at the start of it...
Yes it's another wee creature. The fabric is just serving as a background and won't have anything to do with the actually creation of the wee thing. Although the fabric might be used as an accompaniment to it. Again nothing is finalized. Yes, I'm just wingin' it, as usual. ( grin)

Along with this I am going to work on some hooded cloaks and fabric light sabers for the Wee Ones for Christmas. I just have to buy the fabric and come up with a pattern. Another wingin' job. I know there are patterns out there for cloaks, but I already have a picture of one in my head so why not just use that idea. And the light sabers are the same way. The Wee Ones have one light saber that used to be The Boy's when he was small. All the Wee Ones do is fight over it and then end up hitting the other one with it. So I thought I would make them two soft ones so that they hopefully won't fight and they can still hit each other with relative safeness. At least that's my plan. (snicker)

Anyway I'm off to work on the new wee creature. The Wee Ones are upstairs in "Daddy Land", terrorizing their dear father and The Boy. (sigh, smile)

Till next time
Ta Ta for now.....

Saturday, November 21, 2009

A small project

Today I thought I would share a small project that I am beginning to work on. It's a pincushion. I won't tell you what the pincushion is gonna be. Suffice it to say that is a small creature. And no the color I chose is not indicative of the actual creature. I have truly taken creative liberties here.



I am using some felt I purchased from The Daily Pincushion. The felt is just lovely and is some of the nicest I have worked with. I want to order this set next. I'm going to use it to make some decorative mittens for the wee ones for Christmas instead of hanging stockings. You know in my free time.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I have been busy. I swear I have, and here are some photos to show you. They aren't the best photos. But maybe if you squint a little and stand back from the monitor in a dimly lit room, they might improve.

This is the second quilt top I have been working on. I read other peoples blog on how they complete these great quilts in a week and I'm lucky if I can sew for about an hour in a week. So sorry for the slow progress.

I realize in this photo the squares aren't sewn yet, but play along and imagine they are. This shows the center square with the blue floral. I also did this layout with green floral square as the center.

Then I did something that was a wee difficult at first. I cut them in fourths, through the center of the block. I know, I know you are thinking that this is very clever, and I will agree with you, but it wasn't me being clever. I found it on another blog. Which one? I'm glad you asked. The Moda Blog.


There again, play along, I know they aren't sewn, but it at least gives you an idea of what I'm doing.

Hopefully I will have better photos to show you soon. Stay tuned!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Oh my good-good-ness

t is not very often that I have the opportunity to rave about something so surprisingly wonderful...but here I go.

Miss Darcy had a cool contest a bit ago for a sampler of some hand lotion. I left a comment, and, to be honest, forgot about it. Well Darcy contacted me and let me know that I was one of the winners. Woo Hoo!
Today I got my little prize package in the mail. I opened up the sample called Hippie Chick. I knew from reading the description that it was patchouli-like. I put a small dollop of the creamy white lotion on my hands and began to have the most wonderful scent drift seductively through my nose. It is sexy, warm and clean without being cloying or overpowering. The lotion absorbs beautifully and leaves your skin feeling .....(sniff, sniff) refreshed and soft. No greasiness what-so-ever. (sniff) I'm surprised I can even type this post. See....


I have to keep stopping to smell myself. How crazy is that! And I have a strange chemical make up. Certain scents go all sorts of wrong on me. Take something like Calvin Klein's One fragrance, for instance, it smells like decomposing watermelon on me. Or Elizabeth Arden's Red Door, decomposing watermelon. Ah yes and let's not forget the wonderful reaction you get when I wear something like Giorgio. Yup you guessed it...decomposing watermelon. So when I find a scent that does not do that I'm thrilled. (snifffff) And you might ask what is this amazing hand lotion that I can't seem to stop singing the praises of called ...... Happy Hands Lotion. And mine are. If you haven't heard of or tried her lotion before, please go over and check them out. You can purchase sample packs to try out. Which I think is a great idea. And if you have tried them before then you know exactly what I mean about the feel and smell of this lotion.

Now I am going to play devils advocate here. Am I saying this is the best lotion I have ever tried? No. Because I haven't tried all the lotions that I probably will in my life. But I am saying that I am highly impressed and very pleased about how this lotion feels and smells. So much so that I am going to go over to Los Gringos and purchase some right now.

Please go and check out her store and really think about buying at least the Autumn Treat sampler. It's a great price and I think you will be really quiet "happy" with the results. (sniff..sniff...snifffffff...grin)

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

It's interesting how a craft can take over your life, kind of sneaky like. I'm talking about quilting. For some reason it seems to be the craft my mind wanders to, when my mind has the chance to wander at all. I'm not sure if it's because I have my sewing machine out now and can see it. Or if it's a visual thing. Reading blogs and seeing the quilts that have been made can be very inspiring for me. Or if it's the newness of the craft. I'm just not sure what it is. But I seem to be smitten with it. I do tend to lean more towards the simpler quilts like this or like this. The more involved quilts are impressive. Yet when I look at them I just end up thinking "I gotta cut all those pieces" Ugh!

Remember the black, red and cream quilt that I started with? Well of course you do! Anyways, I'm at the point in which you sandwich the backing on and start the actually quilting process. (Pause, blink, blink) Yeah well it's kind of been at that stage for a wee bit of time now. Yes, I admit it, I'm intimidated by the process. The whole getting the sandwich thing done, that I'm ok with. It's the whole machine quilting thing that kind of makes me pull up short. So right now it sits on the back of my couch waiting for me to complete it. Yet the intimidation I feel about the machine quilting has not stopped me from carrying on creating in this craft. I have already started on another quilt top. And I have about 4 others planned.

Have I given up on knitting? No I haven't. I am still working on my red scarf. I work on it in the evenings when I'm just not worn out (hence the reason it seems to be taking so long). I just seem to be more focused on the whole sewing thing. I have quite a few ideas in my head for sewing. Some of them are the quilts and the others are for garments. I would love to try Amy Butler's new pattern Liverpool. But have a hard time spending that much on a pattern right now. (of course if anyone would like to buy it for me I won't object....grin....just saying...wink)

Oh, oh, oh and before I forget I was reading the Fabric Shopper blog's post about and independent fabric designer, and saw Spoonflower. You really should check out the site. It's all sorts of cool. You can create your own fabric design. I love that idea. The price might seem a bit high, at least for me, but I haven't seen any other place offering this service. Hmmm, maybe I should check that out. Hey I know in my free time. (chuckle)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Been Awhile....

Geez, it's been a wee bit of time since I last posted anything. Sorry 'bout that.

I've been busy chasing children and getting up early to chase trash. Yes it's an exciting life.

I have been doing some crafting. I have a red scarf I am knitting on. I'm using the wonderful yarn I won from Miss Shortly. It's the Vintage Purl in a beautiful red colorway. If you have not had the pleasure of working with this yarn before, you will have to just take my word that it is truly wonderful. The color, the feel and the fabric it produces, WONDERFUL. She was so sweet and kind for hosting such a great contest. The pattern this yarn is being transformed into is from the Double Ewe Yarn Shop, Suri de Arana scarf. It's a very easy and forgiving lace pattern that gives very pretty results.

I have also been trying to work on my quilting. It's been a little harder for me. I really, really have to work on it when the Wee Ones aren't awake and running around. Too many interesting and cool implements (i.e. scissors, pins, measuring tape, rotary cutter) for them to get a hold of and play with. And when they finally do go to bed, and I get done with eating dinner and chores, I seem to find myself feeling quiet tired. Just in the attempt to write this small post I have had to sing a song from the Polar Express movie with the smallest Wee One, scoot in a chair for the middle Wee One, fix the same movie 'cuz it gets stuck in one part, have a chat with my husband (no he really hasn't made it back to the DH status), all the while trying to remember what it was I was trying to write in the first place. In other words the same ol', same ol' . The same thing every other woman goes through in a normal day. (sigh)

Anyways just wanted to touch base with all of you and let you know that yes I'm still alive. I better go otherwise I can already feel this post deteriorating in to a series of nothing but misspelled gibberish nonsense. (cough, cough as though it isn't already grin)






Monday, September 28, 2009

My new old sewing table

As I have said before I love garage sale-ing. Well I stumbled across one garage sale about a month ago and found and old sewing table that had a "Make Offer" sign on it. Hmmm.....So I offered the lady $4.oo. I brought home my little table needing love. Here is what it looked like..

I took the door off the front




Needs some love

This is what it looks like after I worked on it.



I added a red measuring tape



It might not be perfect, but gosh, I'm awfully proud of how it turned out. I used a slate blue for the outside and trimmed it with some red paint. I left the wood all stained on the indies part. I felt it added to it's character.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Quilting Book Contest

Here is a contest for a wonderful new book for some great looking quilt patterns. Please go over and check it out. Even if you haven't tried quilting it might just make you want to explore the possibility. (enable, enable, enable....grin)

Monday, September 14, 2009

Fabric Contest

The Fabric Shopper-Melanie, has just opened her etsy store-Modern Organic Fabrics. In celebration she is having a very generous give away. Please go and check it out. Think of all the cool items you could create with this fabric. Oh the possibilities are endless.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Happy, Happy Birthday!



Today it would be lovely if everyone headed on over to my sister's blog and wished her a very Happy Birthday!




Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The time has come....

to talk of many things. Of sealing wax and sailing ships, of cabbages and kings. OK who knows which literary work that is from? Yup, I actually expect to have some one answer. Again, Yup, it's an interactive post tonight folks.

So pull up a comfy chair and get a cuppa and let's begin.

First, the creations.
My middle Wee One and I had an appointment last Thursday. He was supposed to be taking a nap before we left. Of course he was lying in bed playing, but it was fine because it gave me a little time to do some blog reading. I went to the amazingly talented Miss Alicia Paluson, of Posie gets Cosy, and read this post. Which lead to looking through Sew Mama Sew's blog. In which I found these. I got to thinking what a great little item to have on hand when going to an appointment with the Wee Ones. I checked the clock and saw I had about 45 minutes before we had to leave. Yup you guessed it. I grabbed my felt stash and DMC floss and got busy. I was able to get the little cat completed. The middle Wee One was thrilled to have the finger puppet to play with at our appointment. It kept him occupied and entertained for the rest of the afternoon. Of course I made the mistake of letting him see the picture of the other finger puppets. He informed me he "needed" the dog one. Me being the sucker that I am for my boys, did what any mum would do and made him a puppy. That got my mind to working on what other easy animals I could make using this pattern. And here is what happened...

I still need to make the bunny rabbit. I am even thinking of an elephant and a monkey. Who knows what else I might come up with.

Next item I thought of was a needle book. You know the kind a little fabric book that you can stick a needle in so you can easily find it later? I don't know about you, but I'm infamous for losing track of the needle I was using. One blog I like to check in on is this one. I love her art work. It inspired me to draw this little face out.


Yes I know nothing like her work, but it inspired me none the less. That drawing turned into this.




When I was finishing sewing this together the middle Wee One came and sat with me and watched my progress. He does that some times. He comments on what I'm doing and will ask important questions, such as "Is that string Momma?" Or the ever thought provoking, " Are those scissors?" This is usually followed with the sly taking up of said scissors and the search for something to cut. He looked at the little face I came up with and ask me "Is that Sheba?" I'm not sure why and where he got the name Sheba. But it seemed to work just fine for me.

While these little hand sewing projects were occupying some of my time. The other bit of time, not chasing the Wee Ones, was spent trying some new recipes.

The first one was Pumpkin Ginger Muffins.
Which was found on the back of a Canola Oil bottle

They have wonderful crystallized ginger in them

I will admit that I was a bit concerned that my Dh and The Boy might not like these. I was wrong. They ended up being a big success. Try them for yourself and see what you think.

Pumpkin Ginger Spice Muffin
4 Eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Canola Oil (or your oil of preference)
15 oz. Canned Pumpkin
3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tbsp. Ground Ginger
1 1/2 tsp. Ground Allspice
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
1 1/4 Crystallized Ginger, diced (I used about 3/4 of a cup)
1 cup Sweetened Flaked Coconut (Dh doesn't like coconut, so I didn't use any)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit) Line muffin tin with liners.
Mix eggs, sugars, oil and pumpkin together. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, allspice, salt and nutmeg. Stir until well mixed. Fold in crystallized ginger and coconut. Place batter in lined muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until tester used in center comes out clean.

The other recipe I found in a catalog for home decorations. I have since thrown out the catalog and so I can't remember which one it is. I was clever enough though to write down the recipes I want to try in a small journal I have for such things.


This one was called Strata.

I made it to be served as a brunch. I think this recipe could do with a little tweaking. But I wanted to make it as it was listed first to see what I was working with.

Strata
12 Slices of White Bread
6 Slices of Ham
6 Slices of American Cheese
Dried Minced Onion
1 Stick of Butter, melted
Corn Flakes Cereal

Line the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch pan with 6 slices of bread. Arrange ham and cheese slices on top. Sprinkle with remaining 6 slices of bread.

Mix well
7 Eggs
4 cups Milk
1 tsp. Dry Mustard
( I also mixed in a little salt, pepper and garlic powder)

Pour mixture over bread. Cover with foil and chill for 8 hours or overnight. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove foil, sprinkle the dish with crushed cornflakes and drizzle with the 1 stick of melted butter. Bake for 1 1/2 hours.

The dish is actually quite light, but filling. As I said I think it could use some tweaking. I could see this being done with some sourdough bread, Swiss cheese and the ham. Heck maybe even layer some fresh spinach in there. The possibilities are endless.









Monday, August 31, 2009

A little tease

Ok, I have been wanting to write a new post for the last four days. Yeah, I'm thinking that didn't work so well. I've actually been busy. I have tried some new recipes and created some new little creations. Today I watched some good movies, as well. Hopefully, tomorrow I can get my act together and provide descriptions and pix.
Interested yet?

Monday, August 24, 2009

Birdie and a window

About two years ago my DFaN, and partner in crime, were driving around looking for garage sales. We drove by a small house that had some old sash windows on the curb with a sign that said "Free". Yup you guessed it we stop and each grabbed one. We had no idea what we were going to do with them. It has patiently leaned against one wall or another. It has sat being bumped, moved and jostled and never breaking.

Last Wednesday afternoon, I found myself watching the Wee Ones and even their antics were not able to keep my eyes opened. My mum suggested I take a nap. Normally, it's something I don't like to do because I feel like I'm wasting the day, but I took her up on her offer to keep and eye on the busy boys. For some reason when I was at that stage when you are just coming out of sleep and are still in that dreamy state, I found myself imagining a bird pincushion. A whimsical one. Made from calico maybe, something bright and cheerful.

I felt compelled to get up and create such a pincushion. And did just that.

She still needs some black eyes, but she's just fine for now.

Well then came the dilemma of where this little birdie would sit. Hmmmm.... It would look very cute sitting on a shelf next to the knitting supplies. Yet no shelf was there. My mum remembered we had an old wood box and maybe that would suffice. But it didn't look good next to the picture we had hanging. For some reason, the patient window sprang to mind. Yes, but what to do with it? I decided to do this.

I placed cup hooks on the bottom of the window frame

My attempt at translating these four words into French

I can't take credit for the beautiful Celtic star. I found it online. I used permanent marker for the black and acrylic paint for the gold. I'm still playing with the idea of painting the frame black. I'm gonna live with it this way for a bit and see what the window decides it wants me to do.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

An Amazing Contest

The Bloody Bookaholic is having an amazing contest. I read about it on Darcy's Knotty Knitter. I originally just went over to check out the blog because Darcy mentioned it. But when I got there it looked like a really interesting blog.

Here are some of the prize possibilities:

"There are going to be a bunch of books to give away, options:

- Signed copy of Dreaming Anastasia + Goodies
- Hardback Another Faust
- Hardback Prophecy of the Sisters
- ARC Eyes Like Stars + Backstage Pass Bracelet and some Theater-Theme Swag.
- ARC The Dark Divine
- ARC Hush Hush
- ARC Give Up The Ghost
- ARC Ash
- ARC Behind Every Illusion
- ARC Shiver
- ARC The Demon's Lexicon
- ARC Betraying Season
- ARC Any Given Doomsday
- Dead Until Dark
- Gossip Girl 1st Book
- The Black Tatto + poster
- Vampire Academy
- Frost Bite, a Vampire Academy Novel.
- Shadow Kiss, a Vampire Academy Novel.
- Blood Promise, a Vampire Academy Novel."

So head on over and join in on the fun. You can tell her that either Darcy or I sent you.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

This morning went much better doing the whole cleaning thing. My body actually decided to cooperate with me. Whew, am I glad! I actually was able to finish a little early today. It was great leaving and realizing that my "job" was done for the day. I just had to go home and be a mom.

Now I just have to adapt to the early to bed and early to rise thing. Because when I get home I end up feeling tired and sleepy by about 10 am. Not such a great combination when dealing with the Wee Ones.

I have also been searching for some deep red fingering weight yarn. I want to knit a lacy scarf. It's amazing how hard it is to find the right color red. I want it to have a substantial amount of yardage, over 400. I looked on etsy and found a few yarns that look nice. My only dilemma is that I don't have the money right now. Well actually I do but I need to use it for bills, blast it! So if anyone knows of a garnet, deep red fingering weight yarn for me to check out just let me know.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Kickin' my butt

Well I went to the first day of cleaning the Post Office today. Boy am I out of shape. My lower back is mad at me, my knees aren't speaking to me and my hands are not wanting to cooperate. In my defense I will say that I was trying to play catch up on the cleaning. It appears that small things had been neglected for a little while and so it was definitely taking me longer than it should. Plus I ended up standing in the janitors closet for a good 15 minutes this morning when I arrived, just trying to figure out what the heck was going on with the supplies. I felt completely out of my element, but decided to forge ahead. I couldn't find anything that claimed to be glass cleaner and so I had to ask the Post Master if an unmarked bottle of solution was just that, glass cleaner. He jovially responded to me that he thought it was, but that if it melted something to just try something else. Good answer. I figure it will take the rest of this week to try and play catch up and then by next week I should have a routine. I must admit it was lovely getting done with work so early and being able to come home to the family. I loved the greeting the smallest gave me, just a huge cuddle and was happy to just sit in my arms with his head on my shoulder. The only problem was my back was beginning to yell obscenities at me and so I had to put him down.

Hopefully my body parts and I will be on speaking terms by tomorrow morning. Wish me luck negotiating a truce with them.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Playing with patches and eating cheese

Well we finally got all the fabric cut for the quilt. I have 75 - 5" squares to play with.

I don't have equal numbers in all the squares, obviously. Not too bad of a collection of coordinating fabrics for diggin' through the ol' stash. I will just need to get fabric for the border, if I do one, and for the back.

I think I'm coming down with a bad case of the quilting bug, because I am already planning my next project. Now there is optimism for ya. The are so many beautiful fabrics out there. I have been looking at Charm Packs. These are pre-cut 5" squares. I even found a store on eBay that is selling two charm packs and a jelly roll, this is 40-2.5" strips 44" long, together for a decent price. Then I stumbled across this site, Pikku-Ketta. How cool is that. What I appreciate about this quilt is the fact that it's simple in structure, but striking in look. You want to see something on her blog that literally made my jaw drop? Check out this link. To me that is some serious quilting dedication and talent. So impressive. I ended up poking around her site and found out that the author is on ravelry and appears to be a very talented knitter as well as quilter. Also, while looking around her wonderful blog I discovered this blog. Again what I'm loving about these quilts is the simple cuts to the pieces making up the quilts. While I appreciate intricate quilts, I don't have any delusions that I will do that sort of thing. I just don't have the patience. Seeing these quilts with the simple blocks and use of white really appeals to me and gives me ideas for my own quilt(s).

The eating cheese aspect of the post title comes from the Queso Fresca that my sister, Yanez Farms sent to us. It is so delicious and has fantastic texture. It was great knowing that the milk to create this cheesy goodness came straight from her own cow. I really love it. If she decides to sell this, whoever buys it will be spoiled and never want to buy store bought again.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Asbestos and quilting

I went to training today for my job. It was asbestos and hazmat training. Yes, exciting stuff I tell you. I sat through a two hour training cd for the asbestos. It was something that the Post Office had taped in 2006 and it was just...well...riveting. (cough, cough). It had such helpful hints as don't breathe in asbestos dust. Check. If you see asbestos dust don't disturb it. Check. Most Americans already have a certain amount of asbestos in our lungs. Oh goody! And, my favorite bit of helpful information, Steve McQueen, supposedly died from asbestos related lung cancer. Ok, then. Well now my asbestos training is complete. Woo Hoo. Next.

So I'm going to try quilting. Yes, I know just what I need is another hobby. What inspired me to try a quilt was Miss Posie gets Cosy. Her quilt is so lovely and dreamy. I could just imagine being snuggled under it reading a good book, with a lovely cuppa and maybe a little something to nibble. Yeah I know I live in LaLa Land right next to a quaint place called De-nile. Because we all know as soon as I began to snuggle under any blanket I would have the Wee Ones trying to pounce on me and heavens forbid there would be any hot liquid sitting near by, for I would certainly be wearing it. Let's totally forget having a little something to nibble, because the smallest Wee One more than likely would be walking off with it. But I can dream. So I searched through my small fabric stash and was actually able to find some fabric that coordinated, red, black and cream. I found some black fabric that I had had for sometime. I can't even remember what it is left over from or where I got it. I decided to wash it in case it ran. Well the color did run and so did the strength.




I have never seen a fabric disintegrate like this. It was very strange, but I'm so glad I washed it before I used it in the quilt. Hey maybe this was at some time stored next to asbestos....no, guess not. (shrug)

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Geez it's been a strange couple of days, but I'm cool like dat

I wrote that post about helping a girl out with ideas on how to come up with some extra moola. Remember? Of course you do because all of my posts are so incredibly interesting and noteworthy. Anywho, moving right along....my DFaN called me last Wednesday and told me about a position that was available, cleaning our local post office. (Yes, I know glamorous, but I'm smooth like dat) I went and spoke to the new Post Master, a very nice gentleman, last Friday. I start cleaning next Monday. It's not the grandest job but the hours are perfect and the little (stress little) income will be very helpful and greatly appreciated by this girl.

I then finished the "representational figure" that I started for my DFaN's son. Since he's 9 I call it that instead of a doll. His name is Oliver Graham, or Little OG...

Cuz he's cool like dat



Then last night I get a call from my sister. She has been trying to set up a website for their farm. Being the oh so hip and savvy younger sister that I am, suggested a blog. Yeah huh. Real cool. I ended up staying up to 2 am setting one up for her. I kept fighting with the code for the button to her website. It was mocking me, I just know it. But today between arguing with the Wee Ones, the smallest one growls at me now when he disagrees with what I say, and watching my DFaN youngest, Princess Persnickety, I was actually able to whip that code into shape and let it know who was boss. You all should go over and show her a little comment love. Yanez Farms. It's a simple design, but I like the way that the banner and her button turned out, even if I do say so myself. Cuz, yup you know it, I'm cool like dat. (grin)

Monday, August 10, 2009

A backyard adventure

Today the weather was great. It was sunny and warm but not so warm that the smallest wee one couldn't go out. You see he's just a delicate little flower of a fellow. (scoff, scoff) Actually he does not do well in the heat. He is so fair that he just gets red and does not tan. Therefore if it's too hot outside he can't go out for long. But today was perfect for him.


So out they ran. Catch me if you can!


Well looky dere! It's a tractor working on the road Momma.


Now let's run back.


Look we have a guest coming to visit.


A grasshopper on a string next to the backdoor. He had the coolest back legs. The upper part were black and white stripes with the lower part being a wonderful lime green. He was a very smartly dressed hopper. I kept thinking of Tim Burton every time I looked at him.


I held the yarn the yarn parallel to try and get a better photo. Obviously it didn't work.


Then the boys remembered the tomato plants.


Little tomatoes waiting to turn red.


Here are some more Momma.


My own cute tomato.


Geez, that was some adventure. I think I'll just have a quiet interlude. (sigh)