Craft Basket Wednesday: Hand-Me Up, Down or All Around!

Blossom has a favorite shirt. She would wear it every day if we'd let her! But, the sleeves are stained beyond belief on the forearms and the shirt is just too short anymore... her cute little belly wants to hang out! But, the shirt's graphics... fit her to a "T"!!

So, I decided it was either toss the shirt or make it more acceptable to me in terms of all its problems!! Blossom was crushed when I said it had to go... so, I contemplated how I could fix it!

She is pleased that it isn't going in the rag bag or the trash! I cut off the sleeves and pulled them tight while I stitched around the edges and that created a ruffly edge.

Then, I dug out some pink/heather grey knit that I had stashed in my fabric closet and cut off a piece to make a tube the same circumference as the bottom of the t-shirt and attached it and made the same kind of ruffled edge bottom as the sleeves.

I think that it turned out well and I am pleased to not have to put this in the hand-me down bin as a mess! I had so much fun doing it... I'm going to dig around for more t-shirts that need some love!

Go visit Amy and see what she or anyone else is up to and crafting these days!

My Daybook, Entry #27

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, March 30, 2010...

Outside my window... A mix of sunshine, clouds, rain, rainbows, snow... what a strange day! It is 53 degrees, so the snow line is creeping back up the mountain.

I am thinking... of a story to share with Branch. That can be harder than it sounds, you know.

I am thankful for... having all of our basic needs met. We have food, clothes, shelter and love for and from each other. The sun shines, the clouds pour out rain, the plants grow, the cycle continues!

From the learning rooms... we had a nice spring break last week with the rest of our county... it was a nice breather and we are back at it, now, and ready to finish up with 1st and 2nd grade!! Wooo Hoooo!

From the kitchen... my "big meal" plans

Tues: BBQ Chicken, steamed broccoli,

Wed: Manwich Sandwiches, potatoes,

Thurs: Chili!!

Fri: Grilled Salmon (if Pops brings some home from the coast, today!) OR Veggie Stir-Fry

Sat: We'll have to figure this one out with our company here!!

Sun: Smoked Turkey Breast, Mashed Spuds, Corn Casserole, Sweet Potato deliciousness,

Mon: Something EASY like a crockpot roast or grilled something or other, or breakfast! (or, maybe left over Easter dinner!)

I am wearing... A knit top that is a pretty shade of green - but I haven't a clue what to call it to explain it. There is some blue-cast to it but not turquoise... hmmm. It is soft and has a BIG wet drool spot on my shoulder. Someone is DEFINITELY teething these days - there is drool everywhere!

I am creating... a "book" with Branch. More on that some other time...

I am going... to be "company cleaning" this week

I am reading... back to "Child of Mine" by Ellyn Satter

I am hoping... our very special neighbor has a full and speedy recovery. He has been in the hospital for just over a week after having a heart attack. Would you please join me in praying for a FULL and speedy recovery for our beloved neighbor? Thanks!

I am hearing... Bark! Bark! Bark! - someone is ready to come in the house!!

Around the house... In the words of a strange purple dinosaur:

Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody everywhere,

Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody do their share!

OR how about the snappy from a strange furry bear who lives in a big and blue house:

Come on everybody, let's clean up the house, let's go!

Come on everybody, let's clean up the house!

Clean up the house! Clean up the house! Everybody clean up the house.

Come on, you too!

Clean up the house. Tidy it up. Tidy it up.

Clean up the house. Tidy it up. Tidy it up.

Everybody clean up the house.

Let's take it upstairs!! Wooooooaaaahhhhh

Clean up the house.

You've got to clean it up. Clean it up.

That's right now clean it up.

Everybody clean up the house.

You tell 'em, Ojo!

Clean up the house. Tidy it up, Tidy it up.

{Giggle Sounds} Tidy it up, Tidy it up.

Everybody clean up the house. Oh, baby, baby!

Everybody clean up the house. Let's clean up the house!!

One of my favorite things... baking spontaneous treats!

A few plans for the rest of the week... school work, house work, library, groceries, POST OFFICE, Grandma & Grandpa are coming from Nebraska on April Fool's Day and staying through for Easter dinner, etc...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Artists in the Making

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

Focus Pocus Friday :: Carnivorous Child

Spending a little time every week looking back through old photos has become a real treat for me. I hope that you can enjoy this magical trip back in time, too!

This is Blossom in the summer of 2006. She was 1 1/2 years old. She was learning to love a good hunk o' meat!

This particular evening, Pops had grilled Porterhouse Steaks for supper and it looks like we had salad and egg noodles with those steaks. Pops is the meat cutter around here and cut off little bite sized pieces of steak for all the kids. Blossom gobbled hers down quickly and shoved her plate back to Pops and said "moo-er!" - which was how she said "more" back then!

Pops cut her some more pieces of steak and gave her plate back. She shoved them into her fat little cheeks and pushed her plate back to Pops... "moo-er take, peeeees." Pops cut her what was left of the steak and put her plate back in front of her.

Blossom quickly finished the last of the steak and asked for "moo-er, peeees!" Pops told her, "Sorry, all gone!" She was infuriated, enraged, crying. Tears this little girl cried over the end of steak for the evening. She didn't believe Pops and kept asking for more. She could see it sitting there on the plate. She insisted that she wanted what was left.

Pops was beside himself. There was no more steak to cut of the bone, but Blossom was insistent and kept pointing at the bones. So, he picked up the bone and put that on her little plate.

The tears stopped and as you can see... she was thrilled, smiling and dug in with her itty-bitty teeth!

So, in making all that felt food, I had to be sure to make her a nice porterhouse steak... just in case!

Soaring High

A beautiful sight over our house this past weekend. . .

I am hoping that this beautiful Bald Eagle comes back for another visit and soars over our house for a while, again. We watched for a while until it appeared that he/she (I didn't get the census count on the local eagle population) found something for dinner and dove off out of sight.

It was a real treat to see. Thank you Bud for staring off into the clear blue skies!!

Craft Basket Wednesday: More Felt Food

BEEF! It's What's For Dinner in Blossom's play kitchen! She likes corn on the cob, too!

Go visit Amy and see what she or anyone else is up to and crafting these days!

My Daybook, Entry #26

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, March 23, 2010...

Outside my window... Overcast. Some fogginess. I cannot see the mountain top this morning. It is a chilly 44 degrees at 9:30am. I wonder what the temperature will be when I finish this post. I never seem to get one of these daybook posts done in one sitting! I'll revisit this question before posting... It is now 11:30 and 56 degrees and the clouds are blowing away, the fog is burning off and the sun is shining!

I am thinking... that I need to re-teach my girls how to wash their own hair. Too many tangles getting out of the bath or shower means we need a beauty-salon-at-home day!

I am thankful for... spray in conditioner/detangler!!

From the learning rooms... a used set of Encyclopedias from the reference shelves at a local library are now ours! Yippeeeee! (Hardly used and full of beautiful pictures and only $30 for the whole set!!)

From the kitchen... my supper plans

Tues: meatloaf, potatoes & carrots

Wed: HELP!! I need a new recipe suggestion!!! REALLY - please help me!!

Thurs: either something in the crockpot or something from the drive-thru! (Little Flowers an hour away, ending at 5 pm)

Fri: Sturgeon for Pops and I, Fish Sticks for the kids??

Sat: Ground Beef and Cabbage stir-fry

Sun: Cornish Game Hens (Any idea on how to prepare these? They are already purchased!)

Mon: Breakfast!!

I am wearing... Too strange to mention, but I will. I should have thought through my outfit better. Anyway, a pair of capri length leggings that are blue with a lime green stripe up the side. I have on a hot pink t-shirt. My hair is back in a braid. I am hoping that no one comes to the door today - or, maybe I should go change my clothes!

I am creating... children who love to ask me to make something and expect it will be available for their use the next morning. Ooops! I need to make that promised baby sling for Branch to cart her dolls around in!!

I am going... to find out if the heat is even on!?! I am COLD! Maybe I will change my clothes today by adding warm socks and a sweatshirt!! The pants are still pretty bad, though!

I am reading... the backs of cereal boxes at breakfast. Not much, in other words!

I am hoping... that I find time to deal with the black bananas hanging on the fruit bowl. Banana bread sounds tasty to me, how about you?!

I am hearing... Branch and Bud talking to Bump and playing a music box for him. Blossom asking me what I want to eat (she's playing restaurant!). Bark is snoring.

Around the house... I want a maid. My birthday is coming. I want a maid service for life. But, I want that maid to do more than a normal "maid." I want mine to make decisions on all that general paper clutter and the like, too. I want her/him to clean all the normal stuff like bathrooms and floors and kitchens and dust. I want all the cobwebs taken care of. I want laundry washed and dried and folded and put away. I want a dream for around the house.

One of my favorite things... daydreaming!!! I have to put TWO today. I also LOVE how my kids take care of me... When I said, "I'm cold and my feet are Freeeeeeezing!" My kids come to my rescue with socks. First, a pair that they like, I say it isn't warm enough. They run to go get a different pair. Again, not a favorite of mine, so they race to put those back and bring a different pair! I now have a thick pair of soft warm fuzzy socks on!! Woooo Hooooo!

A few plans for the rest of the week... school work, house work, library, Little Flowers, groceries, POST OFFICE, etc...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

St Patrick's Day 2010

I "bribed" smiles out of them with these simple cookies!!!

PS - I think that this is the 3rd year for these "green" shirts from Target!!

I am definitely getting my $5 out of each of them!!!

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

Police Logs

Do your read the police log in your local Sunday paper?? We do... to make us feel GOOD! Why, you wonder?? Well, before we lived here in Southwest Oregon, we lived on the outskirts of Memphis. Just imagine the police logs there... we had a murder less than a 1/4 mile from our house. So, let me just share our local paper's Police Log from Sunday's paper... without city and street names, anyway!

I will bold and underline the times of the incidents that are particularly "interesting" to me.

Friday

9:45 am - Attempted theft of fuel from a home in the 300 block...

10:59 am - Criminal mischief to a vehicle in the 77200 block...

11:11 am - Tools and a camera were reported stolen from a vehicle in the 2700 block...

1:00 pm - Vehicle was stolen from a home in the 600 block...

2:44 pm - Hedges were cut down without permission of the homeowner in the 4100 block...

4:54 pm - Criminal mischief to a door in the 1600 block...

7:33 pm - Two juveniles were reportedly shot by pellet guns in the 300 block...

8:07 pm - A man reportedly rode his bicycle to a home in the 9700 block..., threatened the resident with the butt of a gun and demanded $3. The victim refused and the man left.

Saturday

1:53 pm - Mail theft reported in the 1000 block...

9:16 am - Theft of medications in the 1100 block...

11:16 am - Theft in the 3400 block...

I realize it would be best if there was no incidents to report, but since we have some incidents around here... I guess I am "glad" that this is what we read for our county!

PS: $3? Really just three dollars was all he needed and used a gun to get it? Once he was told "no," he left? And, someone was willing to say, "No you can't have $3" when the person asking for it was standing there with a gun? I guess I don't know what I would have done if that person rode his bike up to my house! I am stunned over the $3, though!! Maybe I should put a $5 bill in an envelope and tape it near the door... just in case!!

Has it really been 4 months??!?

Already, our little Bump is getting so BIG!

He sucks on his thumb, fingers, wrist, fist... any thing to get something into that mouth of his!!

He is blowing bubbles and making spits at us all the time. And he cracks himself up doing it!

He loves for me to make lots of little kisses on his jaw and kind of tickle his collarbone area with my chin... he will LAUGH and giggle when he is wanting to play. He is also VERY ticklish in his little armpits! His feet are fair game for tickling, too - but watch out!! He WILL kick the tickler's hand!!

He has mostly good nights where he sleeps for 7 hour stretches (I LOVE this!) and is getting a tiny bit more regular on a napping kind of schedule. Although the naps are still kind of sporadic, I know that when he is awake it will normally be for one hour up to two and a half hours.

Bump loves to interact with his siblings and Pops, too... it isn't an "All Mommy, All Times" show around here anymore! He likes to listen to Blossom sing... when she finds the right song. He likes to watch Bud cross his eyes and stick out his tongue and say, "whatcha doin?" (He probably thinks in reply... "uh, just laying here kickin' and chillin' like the last time I saw ya.") And, Bump LOVES to laugh with Branch. They smile and giggle at each other. Branch's hair is fair game for pulling, already!!

With Pops, Bump likes to play "3...2...1... BLAST OFF!" and shoot up into the air and drop drool bombs on everyone! Great fun for "all"! Pops has been quite instrumental in helping Bump learn how to do the bubbles and spits... Thanks for that! HA. However, once Bump started spitting now and then, we have all taken the opportunity to spit back.

I am not sure of his weight, length, etc... as his 4 month appt is on the 31st of March. BUT, I will take a guess and say that he will weigh in near 18 pounds or so... Give or take several ounces! I'll keep you posted on that front!

Focus Pocus Friday :: Bibbity Boppity Boo, I'm Starting Something New

Over the past few weeks, I have posted several pictures from the buried treasure files from days gone by. I found that I got a real kick out of seeing these old pictures and enjoyed sharing them here. I am sad in these days of the digital age that I don't have the same kinds of photo albums that my mom and dad had with those cute small round corner photos. I can still remember the smell of those photo albums... (Hey, mom and dad - maybe you should bring that old white album with you when you come out next month!!)

Anyway, I know that I could scrapbook - I tried. Really, I did. Then I had a second baby. I could NEVER get my supplies out, a page finished and everything put away before nap time was over. So, I put away all my supplies and hoped to one day have a special craft room where I could leave things out if I started on a scrapbook. Then, I had another baby and my hopes for a room all for my crafting was put up on the top shelf of my closet. Maybe SOME day... but no day soon!

So, I looked into digital scrapbooking. A GREAT idea, yes? But, I now am chasing three kids and homeschooling them and now another baby, to boot! So, this blog is as good as it gets for keeping track of the growth of the kids and the stories that might otherwise be put into a scrapbook (and I don't have to learn to write scrolly fancy letters!). But, I have all these pictures that haven't made it to this place I call a family journal. So, today I begin a project of "focus pocus" and sharing a "magic moment" from the past. Join me on my journey into the past!

First up:

Winter Formal 1996

Isn't this an OLD picture! Pops and I look like such baby faces!! Here, we had been dating for a year and several months. I don't remember much about this particular "date" other than it was a formal that was hosted by Pops' Fraternity. It was probably at some fancy place since we were all fancied up. But, it makes me think back to those days of dating...

One of our first few dates sticks out in my mind - Pops might be a better story teller at this, as my memory fades some... But, we were riding along in Pops' Blue Chevy Beretta going - who knows where... dinner, movie, party, who knows. The part I remember is being a freshman in college, fresh "on my own," sitting in the seat, next to this cool guy I'd recently met, riding along listening to some country station (probably Froggy 98 or 96 KX, you Lincoln-ites!) when out of nowhere, one of my pet peeves surfaced.

Pops was popping his gum.

Pet peeves of mine tend to be noise related it seems and once I recognize one of my pet peeve noises, I can NOT shake it. So, no matter if I would have turned up the tunes, rolled down the window, got Pops talking, the popping gum would continue to annoy me. So, I sat there gritting my teeth. I wondered if this relationship could go anywhere with him being someone who would pop his gum. I wondered if I should just have him take me back to my dorm. I wondered what I should do. Was this a make or break "thing" for me?

Before I knew what I was even doing, I reached across the car and swiped my finger through his mouth and pulled the gum right out of his lips. I pulled my hand back quickly and stared at my fingers. I couldn't believe what I had just done. I was holding a wad of chewing gum in my fingers. What was I thinking?!! Wow. Uh, what do I do with this glob of chewed gum, now? I turned to Pops and said "Don't pop your gum." I felt really really really dumb. I figured he'd never call again. But, at least I wasn't annoyed for the rest of the evening, I figured. Apparently it was a make or break issue for me!

Pops' thoughts:

Definite "mommy" material, here. I was sold.

WHEELS!!

Blossom was so excited to be the big girl recipient of a new set of wheels for her birthday!!

Geemah and Grandpa encouraged her to pick her very own two-wheeler and she was thrilled to find that a bicycle existed with Barbie on it... complete with a little bicycle on the handlebars for one of her Barbies to ride along!

She is awfully proud of herself, don't ya think?!?!

Blossom says, "Thanks bunches and bunches, Geemah and PopPop!!"

Craft Basket Wednesday: Birthday Edition

I am exhausted. I am working on filling in the lost hours of sleep. My project was "fun" but possibly a one time gig! It is partially finished and partially not!

I have finished several items like this...

Breakfast: Bacon, Eggs and Toast

Lunch: Bow-Tie Pasta with Butter

While the main item that I made for Blossom's birthday is THIS...

It is not finished because I didn't have time to get to a big plumbing location where I could get all the PVC parts that I needed to make a "frame" for this to sit on. Since I didn't have the appropriate frame, I didn't make the additional support needed to go on the top to hold things in place. However, it doesn't seem to matter to Blossom, and that is REALLY all that matters! She LOVES it and is always playing! Yippppeeee! I plan to share more pictures of this kitchen later when I have some good up-close pics. I am also considering spending the time to add the other details that I had hoped to add, but ran out of time! Like, cupboard doors under the sink!!

I hope to finish it soon and will take more and BETTER pictures of the kitchen to share! As far as the food... I was given a list of items that need to be added to the selection! So, I will keep making some delicious items for Blossom to cook up in her new kitchen!

Go visit Amy and see what she or anyone else is up to and crafting these days!

My Daybook, Entry #25

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, March 16, 2010...

Outside my window... Sunshine and Warmer. What a difference a week makes! Yesterday the temperature was over 70 and the temp at 8 am today was 60 at noon it was 72 and now (at 2:15) it is 63 Kind of a strange day.

I am thinking... that catching up after a wild week of making birthday preparations is frustrating, but necessary.

I am thankful for... the imagination of children.

From the learning rooms... can't wait for April when Teaching Textbooks says that their Math Level 3 will be available!! When that is ready - we will be "set" for what schoolbooks we'll need for 3rd grade, 2nd grade and kindergarten!

From the kitchen...

Tues: Chicken and rice

Wed: Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes

Thurs: Taco Bar

Fri: Grilled Salmon

Sat: Pancakes, Sausage, Bacon, Eggs

Sun: Steaks and the fixin's

Mon: Cheese Ravioli

I am wearing... Lounge clothes.

I am creating... a more organized and clutter-free home.

I am going... to stay close to home this week.

I am reading... not much right now.

I am hoping... to finish getting my house "under control" this week. It is a hope, not a guarantee!

I am hearing... Bump "talking" in the other room.

Around the house... upstairs is tidy, downstairs needs another "go" and I need to go through with a fine-toothed comb to get more STUFF out of our lives!!

One of my favorite things... going to have my teeth cleaned (yesterday)... now they feel soo smooth and clean!

A few plans for the rest of the week... school work, house work, library, etc...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Several Weeks Ago

This little flower bloomed and now the tulips are nearly ready to show their colors!!

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

Happy 5th Birthday, Blossom!!

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

We hope you have a GREAT year as a "FIVE-er" our most dramatic princess!!!

"What kind of cake do you want this year?" mom asked.

"A cake from the store. I saw MY cake at the store, mom" Blossom replied.

So, this gross cake is what we had. Why does store-bought birthday cake frosting equal gross gross gross??? I suppose that the spray-on coloring doesn't help. Strangely (or maybe not so strange), frosting is her FAVORITE part and she hardly ate any of her frosting from this cake!