Start where you're at.

I am learning to "start where I'm at".
It has been difficult for me to reconcile myself to so many wasted years. To know where blame lies, if blame needs assigning at all, and then to have to say to myself, "You have to start from here" and have that be okay!
No, it doesn't seem fair that I was raised the way I was, but no violins right? Everyone has their own story. I am learning that I need to be incredibly grateful that the Lord got ahold of my heart when He did. Because he didn't in the rest of my family and they are where they are inclined to be, of course.
I spent the first half of my life spinning in one direction barely making progress (divine intervention? I remember on the day I was leaving NYC to move home I got two calls. One from Tavern on the Green, I had gotten the job...Great money and daytime open for auditions, and one from a casting agent for a soap opera. I let them both go and came home...)and now I am spending the second half racing full throttle in another direction- covering tons of ground but surely never getting as far as I COULD have.
But, true to the Lord's character, He is loving me, guiding me, forgiving me and being patient with my regrets knowing that I am His regardless. I like that He KNOWS that I am His even when I am not acting or feeling like I am.
I like this new life. (I've been living for some time now!) It feels substantial somehow. Glory to God in all things but homeschooling has definitely been a serious tool of His in my life. I need to remember that it is ok to enjoy learning new things instead of lamenting the fact that I don't already know them so I can teach the girls. So we learn together. Alright. What else can I do?
The Lord stands in the gap!

Good Angel, Bad Angel

Today was a good day! Anytime I get to spend time with M is good. The added benny of stopping by T's was a great beginning to the day! She has a bright spirit. With her permission, I have to say she had me cracking up talking about her and M being the "good angel" and the "bad angel" of sewing. At least they're both angels! Honestly though, (and I know they both are reading this but it's still my blog and I can type if I want to!) they both bring such a benefit to my sewing. T says, "YOU CAN DO IT! EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT TWICE!" Woohoo says me!
M says, Yes, you can do it, but we will be doing it right. Ok, my motto in my home to the kids is the old "a job worth doing" motto, so I really do like to do it right. Though I may be a little lazy or impatient. Not sure which really. (Don't answer that)

I wish I were a better finisher though, and if I didn't take on such difficult projects (as M keeps gently reminding me that I do) I would probably be better at it.

She has such skill as a teacher, I truly feel blessed by her in my life. I like that I can revert to childlike behavior with her and she just patiently nods or laughs. (lips pursed)
(In whiny voice) "But your colors are prettier than mine. This is too hard. What if I can't do it. What if I mess everyone's up. I want mine to be the best." Lol
I hope she realizes I am just doing that for effect. I really DO know how to be mature.

She is probably like, I already have two children.
I had such a fun time choosing fabric with her. We joked with the check out lady that we were doing a friendship quilt but we weren't sure we'd all still be friends in the end. HaHa

After even lamenting to T that I was linear and didn't want to have too many different blocks, she brilliantly explained that this could be an "instructional quilt" for the girls. To point out different block styles and even use to help them choose blocks for their own projects.
Hmmm, that is a GREAT idea! Now it makes sense in my head that they don't have to be just so. My Mom always said that I needed things explained to me and then I would adjust.
Probably why M and I work out so well together. I like things just so. Done right. Looking good. But I have T's spirit! Let's do it!!Yeah! Right now! Who cares!!!
Good angel, bad angel...
Ah, diversity. Ain't it great?

No worries M, I am already preheating the iron. ;)

New day

Well, the start of a new day. Some warm whole wheat toast with butter and honey and a cup of joe and I'm raring to go. I can hear Kate half giggling/ half fussing upstairs. I know she is just hoping someone will come get her before she has to "cry". Lol She got a new baby pool yesterday and LOVED it. Until of course, she toppled out of it face first and face plant right into the dirt. Poor baby. She needs to learn to stay on her bottom. I wonder what the day holds...I give it to you Lord! Do with it what you will!

Here comes the Quilt...

Oh say can you sew, by the dawn's early light?
What so proudly we hailed, at the needle's last gleaming.
Whose brought stripes and bright stars,
to the quilting block theme
and though we are new
we are gallantly scheming
to aspire to sew welllll,
only M will soon tellllll,
if we've hemmed and we'ved seemed,
in a manner esteemed,
oh say can this quilt project
poss-i-b-ly work ouuuuuuut,
for if it dooooeeeees,
we shall sew what weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, reeeeeeeeeeap.

You're Going To Hollywood!!!!!!!!

Well, after a pretty down day, I am finally feeling better at 9:00 P.M.!!!
The kids did an entire American Idol audition performance and it cracked me up. Some passed through to Hollywood and some were rejected and did the whole tantrum on the way out scenario.
Then they broke into High Shcool Musical song performances, replete with choreography from the movie...I was SO wishing my friend T was here so she could see it. I know it would have cracked her up (Get your head in the game, Get your head in the game) but when asked if theywould do it for her on Thursday, of course, they freaked.
Sigh, They would be good in the theatre, but like Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, they are thespians in the quiet, prefering to maintain a more ladylike decorum in public. I guess that is okay with me! This audience of one (or sometimes two if Daddy is home) is completely thrilled with their amazing ability to memorize, sing, dance and act and generally crack me and themselves completely up.
We are missing Daddy this evening but are looking forward to goings on in the week.

Movie Time Follies

So, on the movie thing...we talked about it some more today.
And we realized the kids got their very first taste of submitting to their higher authority over their earthly one! This has never happened before, their having to override our decision for what their spirit tells them is right. PRAISE THE LORD! We told them that they would probably be more stringent that we were with some things. Not legalistically, but by spirit, how they've been taught.
Interesting that they would sit through the movie just because they had permission when they were uncomfortable with it! What were they thinking? They said it was because they wanted to stay with Lauren. (who we originally got the movie for anyway as she saw a piece of it on TV and liked it)
I don't feel bad. Actually amazed and thrilled!!! That our children's moral compass would point more North than our own?? As it should be! Kids should always do better than their parents!
You go girls!
(Funny that the name of the movie is Adamm's FAMILY VALUES) Lol

Family Values?

We belong to Netflix and we rented Adamm's Family Values for the kids.
BIG mistake! They were traumatized and I admit I was a little annoyed.
I mean come on people! It's the Adamm's Family! *hear music*
"Well", says S, "we weren't raised like that Mom."
Um, What does that mean? I'm the one raising you! I am not some wayward Aunt that came along and exposed you to some horrific secular thing.
"But Mom, they fed the baby Vodka!"
Yeah, and?
And they dropped the baby out the window and dropped and anvil out after!"
So, what's your point?
Ok, so Lauren's new favorite line is now, (deadpan) "So I've decided to scalp you and burn your village to the ground." I thought it was funny.
After WAY too long a discussion on this and after putting away my defensiveness about this stupid, albeit totally harmless, movie, I realize they haven't been raised that way, it is true.
MY lens of experience is not THEIRS. Duh. They didn't grow up with the sitcom Adamm's Family like I did. Or watching things I NEVER should have been allowed to see. My gauge is broken if using my upbringing as my compass, I must always rely on the Lord to be my compass or I shall fail!
They just could not see the idea of the "monsters" being the good guys.
Hope I haven't scarred them for life.
These are kids who lived on Lord of the Rings! Now that's scary!
But a little hand running around and Uncle Fester???
The truth is we have followed scripture pretty closely about only letting lovely things into the eyes and thereby into the mind and heart.
Images do stay there forever mind you. We prayed about it and I said I was sorry and to come and get us the next time their spirit convicted them of something I allowed them to watch. (We were upstairs watching our own Movie: "How to Ruin Your Kids in One Fail Swoop")

Cookies anyone?

L and I made sugar cookies from scratch today after many promises. I refused to buy store bought dough or mix after tasting some from scratch brownies that Sloan made from a Reader's Digest recipe a month ago.

Poor Little L, (as we call her) Mom didn't read the recipe first and we get all the way to the dough and read that it has to chill for 3 hours!!!!!!

"Three hours!" says the Dad, "What kind of cookies are they?"

Thanks honey. A little support for the seven year old please. Lol But they came out. Nothing to remarkable I am afraid. A little salty, a little flat. Not that they noticed considering they frosted them with vanilla frosting. Rolling them out and cutting them out of course was the best part. She sure does love to do all things kitchen! She even washed her first load of dishes today! Little Mama!

Dawn has arrived!

And I said we weren't

accomplish

ing anything!
It is always darkest before the dawn. Yesterday was dark, today is dawn!
We have been working on this room and it got bad before it got better! Lol The very room we said never to let the baby in is now the room that we say, "Let the baby in!" Hooray! I LOVE to be organized! The scary part? It wasn't even hard and could have been done LONG ago. Thank you Lord for my increasing ability to keep my husband's home properly. Please bless me in my endeavors!


We moved the computer to the rolltop
desk I always really disliked...now I like it!

Gotta love organized bookshelves, my favorite!

What? There was a table under all that junk???

And I said we weren't getting anything accomplished

It is always dusk before the dawn.

Yesterday was dusk, today is dawn! Hooray!

Serenity Prayer

Most anyone can recite the Serenity Prayer. Well, the first verse anyway. It has become almost secular in it's application. It has actually become secular and benign almost, like a mantra. But read the REST of it, appreciate it's fullness and know that He is God...

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Get outta there kitty!

I was wondering why my herbs weren't growing! Aha! I am about to replant some red pepper sprouts from a some seeds I dried and started. They are SO cute but equally as dainty. Jeff wants me to separate them but they are so small I am afraid they will never survive it. The plants at Home Depot are so much more satisfying. Full and lush and ready to replant and use. OF COURSE I have to do it myself. Jeff is so supportive and helpful and tries to "let me" do it when we both know that he is the one with the green thumb. They did get me a beautiful (and already planted) herb garden for Mother's Day. So Home Depot made a few bucks... Who cares?

Problems and Answers

It seems I have been organizing all day and accomplished little. Sigh. The house is endless, I must keep better organized and enjoy it more!

Something I read the other day...some people are the types that look at problems like a way to find answers.
And some are types that look at answers as something with a problem attached.

Wow. I am glad I am the former! Stop complaining! Get off your badonkadonk and DO something about it!

I will, right after I eat this Twix bar...

Off the the Caribbean!

Well, the pirates are going anyway...

Jeff took S,R&L to Pirates of the Caribbean tonight for the (very exciting) 8pm sneak peek show. After making a hearty dinner of bbq chicken, yellow Spanish rice, fresh green beans and crusty french bread, they scooted off and K and I cleaned the kitchen and played. How strange to have just her and I. We looked at each other a lot like, "Um, where'd they go? What do we do now?" We played and laughed and hugged and tickled and now she is down and lo and behold, I can BLOG til' my heart's content!!!

True to form though, some amount of guilt sets in as I know I could be finishing organizing the back room or rearrange R's drawers as a surprise....

Alas, I shall take just a little more time for this.

Right after I put K down I heard the neighbor's dogs barking (again) so I went to the front porch to investigate! They have the property adjacent to ours and their driveway goes up the length of our property to the road. It seems they stop directly at our house and let those dogs bark away! But I know I just am more sensitive to it when Kate is sleeping. Why they bark up and down that driveway I'll never know. ANYway,
I stand, hands on hips to await the fierce predators to pass when I notice that the neighbors are carrying their garbage cans to the road for garbage pick up tomorrow.
Yikes! We have forgotten ours!
Funny how God can be in every detail if we let Him. I was all excited to get a cup of Joe and get blogging but I knew I had to get that trash out. So off I lug 4 cans and a HUGE box to the road just KNOWING my honey will pull in at 11:30 and say, "Wow! I LOVE that girl!"
His love language is acts of service but not all acts, strangely enough. An elaborate meal, clean clothes, a massage evokes nothing but a thank you. But to take the garbage out, weed the garden or help him in the yard with something? You'd think I had climbed Mount Everest for him.
So...what's a small mountain of trash mean to me anyway? More than one would think!

Virtuoso in diapers

My little budding pianist has taken on a new fancy and can't keep her hands off the piano.

She takes it very seriously and has to have her piano time daily. She sings (well, BELTS is more like it) and has favorite songs...all of which are oldies that the kids love to listen to.

Eventually the music will ring through the house. It already does with their laughter and my heart singing for joy of motherhood!

Kate the Great is A-OK

Kate is growing so fast! She has learned to open ANYTHING including a small aspirin bottle we put rice in for a shaker. It's great that she can but dangerous too. Perhaps ASPIRIN bottles are not the best thing to use as shakers. We were just discussing earlier today that we should cover the bottle with something so she doesn't get used to look of a medicine bottle (duh) in case she ran into a real one somewhere but she beat us to it! I can't even open aspirin bottles. She works at everything to get it open. She is putting things "in" other things a lot too. In-out, in-out.

She keeps putting her face in her bath water to test to see "what happens". Normally pretty benign but tonight was the night. She decided to see what REALLY happens and so unlike the words of a past president, she DID inhale. What a mess! Choked herself half silly.

She can say meow, quack, Dada, Mama, box, ee-i-eei-oh and of course, no. (often in a scream)

She has finally learned to lift my shirt up to access her um, nursey and gets SO mad if she cannot manipulate my shirt. When she finally does, she throws herself, mouth wide open against the breast. It cracks Daddy and the kids up.

I am so glad the kids have been able to witness breastfeeding in the wide open. It has taken the "taboo" out of it for them and it will always seem natural to them! They won't have to get used to it on their own the first time they have to try it, they'll know all about it!

Even my oldest who is bizarrely modest, gets mad at me now if I say "No nursing now, Kate."

"Give it to her Mom", she says, "Poor thing" and all that.

As you can see, I have finally mastered adding a picture! Look out now!

We're home!

Hurray! And that's all folks...;)

Vero Life

As we are in Vero this past week, I got a little mini-affirmation at church. If we have to move back which is still up in the air, I wasn't going to be too happy about it. Well, a few people have encouraged me to change my attitude about it but it has been hard. I am though and the Lord has been gracious and merciful to me. Sitting at church, the husband of a friend of mine stood up to display the QUILT BLOCK his wife had made for their mother/daughter quilt block project. Talk about jaw on the floor. FANTASTIC.
They all made a bunch that are being donated to Carenet here (a woman's pregnancy place).
It may just turn out to be true that they're not ALL bad here. Lol
I just have to find them. They are fewer and further between here, these wonderful women.
I called this friend and we had a long talk about her coming home again, letting go of all the running around, baking bread, sewing, etc. So I guess they are here too but they're are just not YOU. Sigh. It is not like me to be SO unbending. I am realizing though that the thing I always say about having friends is true. In order to HAVE a good friend, you have to BE a good friend. So I am going to try to connect here, find some friends that suit our lifestyle, enocurage others, you know, get plugged in. It is hard to do that in two places but why should I look at it like it is a difficulty instead of a blessing? Two homes, two churches, two places to laugh, live and love. At least for awhile anyway.
Perhaps the people are just different on the outside and I haven't looked deep enough. Which is equally as odd because I lived here for SO many years.
What's that old saying about people staying the same? Probably true.
They just wear a little more lipstick here...
IF we do come back, I am coming back full force!
And ok, I'll brush my hair more. But NO lipstick!

Emergency!

Well, true to form as of late, I ran into a situation that I could not get myself out of!
Lauren heard a bag rustling behind our armoire in the bedroom so I went to investigate.
Pulling the huge thing away from the wall caused the rear right wheel and the front left wheel to fall off! The whole thing started tipping forward. I caught it thankfully, but with the television on TOP of the armoire instead of inside it proved to be a dangerous situation... Plus the top cabinet part just sits on top of the bottom drawer part.
So here I am balancing the thing on two opposite corners, holding the TV and the cabinet from sliding not being able to rest it back or forward trying to keep the TV from falling on my head and the whole top cabinet sliding off it's base!
HOW did I get myself into this mess?
I actually had to CALL someone while balancing to get advice on what to do!
I did think to prop it up but didn't, at the time, know what the problem actually was.
Hope it stays put until we get back....Yikes! Where's a hubby when you need one!

Thoughts on a husband...

Not many people have my blog address... thankfully.
As I continue to post I realize that this IS the diary or journal I never kept. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN??? Ugh.
I never meant to post personal thoughts or feelings and yet somehow this forum has allowed me to do so...I guess I shouldn't try to censor it!

So, here it is. I am IN LOVE with my husband. Yep. Completely and TOTALLY in love. 15 years ago I fell in love with him and I am more in love with him today.

This is the kind of guy he is:

When we first met he wrote me notes, poems and letters. He would somehow find out where I was, BREAK INTO my car, (never could figure how he did that) and leave notes and flowers for me.
Once, on some holiday, when we had plans to meet early, he snuck up even earlier (he lived 1/2 hr. away) and left me flowers to wake up to..only to meet me soon after that anyway!)

For one birthday he took me to the beach where we walked for a MILE and then he offed to the bushes where there was "miraculously" a cooler with a split of champagne, candles, cheese and crackers and a book of constellations. He looked mine up and showed me where it was in the clear black sky. This may have been when I realized he was a keeper.

As time went on, he wrote "I love You" in the bottom of the pool with the vacuum.

Last Valentine's day he spun a string from the handle of the coffee pot to out the back door- with little attached notes saying "I love you" and "You're beautiful" only to end up in a big beautiful rose garden that he had planted after I had gone to sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most recently I found a little paper heart inside my wedding ring that I often leave on our window sill.

If I could tear the stars down from the sky, I would do it for him.
Somehow, he has already done it for me...

Soap Box

Well, a different KIND of a soap box....I've been reading up on homemade soap making and it is fascinating.
If my friends could see me now...
My highschool superlative probably would have read "Most likely to live in a penthouse in upper East Manhatten absurdedly thin, witty and RICH.
But this is me! Homeschooling Mom and lover of Christ, 40 llbs overweight sewing napkins and learning to make soap!
I think this life is better.
But I digress...
Soap making may prove more time consuming than previously thunk.
Maybe I could just keep getting M to give me some of hers???? But of course if I know me and I DO, that just won't do at all. I HAVE to make it myself.
Along with all the other things I want to learn to do and make.
I would like to learn how to make a really good wine.
How to cut my kid's hair. Well.
How to keep perfect books. Though I realize this is a discipline more than a learned trait.
How to successfully meal plan and keep a low grocery budget.
Learn how to sew with skill.
Cook a mean duck.
Get the pictures from my digital camera to my computer (done) and then to an actual hard copy. (Where is that polaroid???)
Be more skilled at using the computer.
Fully utilize all of the technology in my home. (Computer, camera, video cam, Etc.)

For now though, I'll keep plugging away and hope that some of this learning soap rubs off on my dirty kids... :0)

Horses Running...

Such Bliss! Sitting on my front porch, facing an acre of green grass with one huge umbrella tree in the front yard, I watch my girls running, like horses across their land.
Their long hair is flowing and they are wearing long, colorful, flowing skirts that seem to float in the air like waves of the ocean.
Their hair is let loose and blowing in the wind...
Rachel has perfected the "horse", galloping like a gazelle, wild and free.
Then to drassage, with her head turned to one side and down as if her bit is being pulled, with her "front legs" tight and prancing up and down with pointed toes...
Then to gallup and barrell racing and trot and canter...
Now all the girls are copying and they are choreographing the whole thing...
AMAZING!
I love these wild and innocent girls...already fighting the good fight against the world with their innocence, purity and honesty.
We shall protect them from all until the Lord calls them to fight!

Bracelet Mania

Bracelet mania last night. I taught a class for a "Titus 2 Tuesday" for another church. We made Swarovski bracelets and it was a hit! The women were fun and easy to work with. One lady was legally blind and tenacious as all get out! She was insistent to make a collar for her dog and when we finally convinced her not to for saftey reasons of all kinds, she finally made a bracelet and necklace for herself. Hmmm, I still wonder if that necklace is perhaps destined for a furrier neck... I found myself at ease, teaching, moving from place to place and realizing that often a group of women are about as wild and crazy as children at times, but I still saw myself in my future doing something with a teaching bent...public speaking is what I always have in the back of my head but leaving the calling of my home and family isn't what God has planned for me so it must be in the FAR off future. Lol
I DO hope the ladies had fun and enjoy their bracelets. They did a magnificent job on them. So creative and non-linear. SO unlike me. It was a hobby I had put on the shelf so it was good to get the material out again and have it put to good use. The idea was to make Mother's Day bracelets for their Mom's but I think more than a few will be staying put on their own wrists! Good for them!
Sloan kept Kate and the girls for a near three hours and returning home is like a fresh plate of warm chocolate chip cookies. It is just, well... right.

Praise the Lord!

A married couple we are friends with came early yesterday from a few hours away to attend church and meet back at our place for fellowship with my Pastor's family.
We blew up the jumpy jump and they brought a blow up water slide for the kids. 10 kids running around, though 2 were 14 including Sloan. We wanted to talk so the older girls TOTALLY managed the kids like pros including the baby mostly and gave snacks and prevented general injury and mayhem. They also managed a chicken soup which needed a little more of my attention for next time, but set the table, refreshed drinks during our meeting and were perfect blessings! Our pastor was able to share the gospel with them in the most straightforward, passionate, yet loving and humble way that I have EVER seen.
So many of their and our questions got answered and the kids had a blast to boot.
Sundays were meant to be this way.
God is God perfectly. Men try to mess it up but no one can frustrate God's plans. The Truth stands alone without all the fluff and is so much more powerful without it too.
Thank you Lord and may you bless this couple!

Zestfully clean!

I never thought that I would have this much thought about a bar of soap but having just tried a homemade one that M. made, I can see I never want to go back. What a delight! I swear, I can almost feel the LACK of chemicals in the thing! Sheesh, I hope I don't become one of those chemical sensitive people. I can no longer stand cleaning products of almost any kind and NO perfumes or strong lotions. The fragrance (which she says there is none added) is sheer heaven to me. She says that is what "soap" smells like!
I am sure if it proves simple enough, that I will be making soap for a long time to come.
I love (and hope!) that my kids will too.

B.T. (bizarre thought)- I wonder how much it would sting your eyes comparitively speaking. Can I really PURPOSELY put soap in my eyes?
And I can't help but think it might be good for your hair. I wonder how far off shampoo making is?????

Near Success!

Well, am I thrilled! My friend M came over on Saturday and helped all day with making a skirt. It is truly amazing what just a little effort can do. Her skill level is advanced and it really pays off! I can see that there is not so much difficulty as there is just plain ol' learning to be done.
I am obsessed with clean lines, matching seams and straight stitches.
Ironing flat, even measurements and proper hemming.
AH, music to her ears, me thinks.
The baby was insane that day of course but Rach helped me tremendously considering Sloan was on a sleep over at our Pastor's house.
I will make more of these skirts to be sure, but am happy as a clam to back up a bit and so some more immediately gratifying work like napkins, pillow cases and curtains. Hmmm, how about a straight skirt? The little girl we were making this one for wore the one she made to church on Sunday to show me...looked easy enough. I'm sure I can do it...oh no! Here we go again!
We laughed and laughed and had a great time. Well, I did. I'm sure she saw exactly how much work she had cut out for her when she saw my first attempt. Lol
I am glad to have tried it on my own though so I could really see the profit in doing it properly. I would never had known just how bad it was. I am not kicking myself though. I am proud that I am trying and have no fear of jumping in.
I especially loved how much I learned about the basics. (Ohhh, you start with the basics! Now I get it.)
Simple tools and ways of doing things that make your life a whole lot easier. LOVE my husband...: "Oh, you have to get one of those" and "Oh that would be good to have." I love how he supports my endeavors though it always seems to cost him money. Lol I think sewing will pay off though if I look for free and/or cheap fabric and am able to make simple things like curtains, napkins and clothes for Kate. Also being able to mend in a less, well, rustic way.
I mean, one can't whipstitch everything!

Amusing and Accomplished

Feeling better after a little sleep and perspective. The learning curve hurts but the good thing about being somewhat impatient, is that I am a quick study and am diligent in learning it if I am interested in the thing. So, I just need to CALM DOWN. Boy I hate it when people tell me that.
I should cut myself some slack though. It IS exciting to have the machine. It IS frustrating to want to do something you cannot do. (See Kate for everyday examples)
I am akin to a baby trying to learn and master a new task. The difference? Grr, here comes the maturity. (hear sarcasm)
The difference is I am NOT a baby so I need not to throw little temper tantrums in my thought life thereby making me frustrated and impatient. I must REALIZE that there is a small learning curve to get started, (Yes, Stephanie you will have to learn to thread the machine, M cannot come each time and do it for you.) But WHY cannot I know it now? Well, I guess it is my own fault for trying to make a three tiered SKIRT before I even learned how to THREAD THE MACHINE.
Yep, perspective is everything. I now find it quite funny.
Great. Now I get to look at myself at 38 years and find myself amusing instead of accomplished.
But shhh, don't tell the kids! They THINK I am accomplished!
And if I have anything to say about it, they will actually be accomplished before they are 38!

Skirt in the DIRT

Man, am I ticked! Boy, WHY do I insist on taking on things that require patience??? I successfully began a 3 tiered skirt. Got the waist done, the elastic in, the first tier on. Beautiful! The last tier of course...the bobbin ran out. After an HOUR trying to thread the stupid bobbin with baby screaming in arms and then (and still) crib. I give up. I mean, I literally GIVE UP.
(for tonight anyway)
Oh, bobbin threader in the night,
come and save me from my plight
thread my bobbin, thread it quick,
so to my skirt plans, I will stick.
If you don't come before I wake,
shoot me now for goodness sake,
and take my skirt and cut it's seems,
thread the night with my skirt dreams!!!

Ok. I may be taking this a TAD too seriously. But honestly folks, I have worked really hard on this stupid skirt. I just wanted to finish it. But alas, for tonight, it has finished me.
And yes, I threaded the bobbin right. (I think) It just ISN'T working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Strawberry cheesecake icecream, here I come!

Frustrating Follies

Grrr, I am so frustrated. I keep trying to sew a skirt without knowing how and I just can't get it. I keep looking up "easy skirt directions" but they don't seam (haha) easy to me.
I don't seem to speak the language. Though I wouldn't try to operate on someone without being a surgeon either so why I think I can just "wing" a skirt, I'll never know.
Actually, I DO know but realistically, I should just learn a time or two with someone and then give it a go. It really is just SEW (haha) hard not to try something!
M! Where are you when I need you? I need little sew projects on the side as well as the "real" ones that take instruction. Just to scratch that itch, you know?
Time, time, is what it will take. Watching the video and after about the 50th thing the sewing machine could do I realized it might take YEARS to actually be accomplished in all that sewing can be. So much wasted time...
Ah well, I shall perk up and read my manual. Maybe that will help.
Though I bet I could manage a small pillow with a pretty edge... with maybe a little "tooth" pocket and off it to my nephew who just lost his first tooth?
Well, I need M for the pocket, so maybe just the pillow for today.
The plumbing guy is here and has a lovely Irish accent. Let's hope he doesn't need a four leaf clover to fix this thing!

The Good the Bad and the Ugly

Well from bad to worse with the backed up toitey! We noticed the A/C was struggling upstairs and when we opened the a/c closet? Frozen solid! We had to laugh though. Our 40 bucks a month home warranty pays off again. The plumbing people are coming though are painfully not yet here and the a/c will have to wait until Monday. Sigh.
At least I have my sewing machine. Lol
Thankfully, our pastor's family asked our eldest to sleep over after a movie so the "young adult" of the family can avoid the "hose wash off" and have a proper shower.
The rest of us are having a blast outside with some (brrr) water!
Back to my machine! The baby is finally asleep and I have to sew SOMETHING!

Kate's Cry

Kate has begun this deep mournful cry when she wakes at night. VERY effective...
I find myself constantly waffling between letting her cry and nursing her. She is pretty much just getting up once per night which is okay with me. But if she wakes again, usually just an hour later, I know I should just let her get back to sleep but when the deep throaty sound hits my ears, my rationale goes right out the window! She is just so sweet, what do I care anyway? Sigh. I'll just give it a little longer and see if she sleeps through on her own. There is nothing so tight in my schedule that requires a sleep through the night baby anyway...plus I see nursing coming to an end anyway as she finds it impossible not to grind those teeth on me!
Well, off to start the day!

On nursing...

There is much to say about my experience nursing Kate, but right now it escapes my mammory...

What a day!

What a day! We got our new sewing machine today...YAY! We are so excited and hope that we continue on with a new passion of ours...we ended up getting a better one then we could afford as it was half price and Gram wanted to kick in so.... we did it!
We also had to kill 4 hours, so first we went to the park where the baby had a beyond fabulous time. She thinks she can climb, slide, swing, seesaw and do just about anything she sees her sisters doing! Hello! She is only 9.5 months old! She fell over a little balance beam thing..she tipped over it and balanced there for a second while Sloan and I all but killed oursleves trying to catch her in time...but bam! Faceplant right into the (incredibly soft, padded new material parks use) ground! OUCH! Cried a bit but recovered.
The girls loved to get her under the "mister". A big umbrella where you push the button and mist flows out and cools you off. Kate loved it and screamed for more.
Now picture us, Mom and three girls plus one baby after the park for 2.5 hours in 90 degree weather and having been misted at least 10 times going into Joanne's Fabrics. We all had wild frizzy hair from the mister, black feet from kicking off our shoes and muddy faces from having wiped off the mist with dirty hands. Does the word HILLBILLY mean anything to you???
But they were forgiving. Thank goodness the kids are well behaved or my reasoning for our appearance would never have been believed.
And then the catastrophe...bottom toilet wouldn't flush and clog seems to be in main pipe...which means BIG FIX. Jeff was none to happy but we DO have a home warranty and we HOPE it will cover it. We won't know until tomorrow...His burden seems to heavy sometimes...
For tonight, going but no flushing. Lol This too shall pass. (no pun intended)
Kids seem wild. Sloan said it is like the electricity is off...I think we are just giddy over pretty much everything. They brushed their teeth outside with the hose so no more water would go down the drain. It was dark and I heard a general ruckus of laughing and squealing. "That was the most fun we've ever had brushing our teeth!" they exclaimed. Maybe I should keep sending them out there...Hey! Maybe we should do the dishes out there! Lol
I feel something big coming but don't know what.
I know that we are happy and that is enough for now.

Skirting the skirts

It's good to have the Dad home again. He is off to Lowe's and Sloan is practicing piano....how I love to hear her play. It just blesses my heart so. I used to cry every time she played. Now that's one emotional Mom. Sometimes I still do!
Today we start back sewing and piano after taking a month off.
We tried to make skirts yesterday but didn't get one finished. I did however get a good long run on the sewing machine which gave me some extra confidence. I can see that one could be a sloppy seamstress or a meticulous one....no comment.
I MUST get a sewing machine!!!!
It was fun though and I loved the fellowship with my friend T, who is a light for sure. Her kids are cute enough to squeeze and everyone seemed to have a good time.
It was a riot as I dove right into trying to manage a huge piece of fabric and act totally comfortable figuring some BASIC math skills with a math whiz! Yes, double that, add two inches, oh yes, I was a real pro. (not)
Bottom line? I sure do love talking with people about their lives. People are so interesting!

Daddy's Home!

Well, the Dad rolled in today and I am SO glad! We have never been apart like we have this last year and it has been TOUGH. I made some Tilapia with lemon pepper and tomato basil and it was delish. He is currently watching Spider Man 2 with his girls after watching the babe climb the stairs and get reprimanded for biting Mom while nursing.

When he asked me to come watch the movie I told him I would come in and out like "rainbow sprinkles" (hear lilting harp music)
and he said, "Rainbow sprinkles are there at the beginning for effect and then they're gone."
(Blank stare from me knowing he's right)
"Ok" I said, "then YOU go be rainbow sprinkles, because you know you'll be asleep in ten minutes!"
All is good in the Clunn household....

Craft Closet Cozy

At the encouragement of my friend M, I somewhat reluctantly post about how we put the baby in the craft closet.
Don't panic. We don't lock her in there, but the other day as I was typing away on the computer (who me?) I said offhandedly to my daughter, "Sloan, put the baby in the craft closet."
Now I had to laugh as I realized how it sounded. Or at least how it would sound to the outside ear. The craft closet is 2 feet from the computer where I can fully view the inside. It is lined with shelves and we keep allowable items on the bottom shelves.
One day while the door was open, Kate (9 months) DISCOVERED the craft closet.
She loves to go in and take things off the shelves and generally cause a mess. I mean, "work with crafts". We are homeschoolers after all.
How funny. My daughter just walked in with her and said, "Can I put her in the craft?"
"Yes", says I.
She is smiling BIG and about to uh, "work with some items."

Girls! Girls! Girls!

Ok, so I haven't posted in awhile but I'll try again!

You gotta love girls. We are SUCH a girl family.
(After having purchased some new shampoo) Rachel walked into the kitchen the other day and said thoughtfully, "I don't know whether I want my hair to smell like waterfalls or toasted vanilla."

Words that will never be uttered from the mouth of a son... We hope anyway.

The next day while washing dishes or some other mundane and equally unattractive task, my husband walked up behind me, nuzzled my neck and whispered into my ear, "Your hair smells like waterfalls."
BOY did I marry the right one.