July Finished Objects

July finished objects

3 swimdresses
TJ's discipline dress for AJ
Anklet socks for me

Drat

Lost my Scheduling Kit. That means it's time to register my MOTH book and order a new one. Goody, I get to look forward to receiving some mail!

Why do I need a schedule? Well, it's a long day while Ben's away (13+ hours, usually) and I don't know what I've accomplished by the end of the day right now. When I have a schedule, the children and I know what happens next. I can get basic maintenance done and still vary activities within reason regularly. We can plan goals (get so much done = go do fun thing). Perhaps, I can start to really live again, not just pass time until I see my husband again.

Basically, I'm worn out and tired of it. I need something in a day. I picked up my MOTH book and started with item 1, schedule time with Him each day. Now that I've added in Cow's basic schedule I'm even more tired, but we'll get used to it - and if I would rest when it's time in the afternoon, then I wouldn't be exhausted by now.

Ben should be home in at least 2 hours, maybe I'll have some good report today.

*Dredged through schoolwork with TJ.
*Went to the bank and store today.
*Exercised.
*Worked through lesson 4 with AJ.
*Fed baby. (she's not sure about this whole schedule thing.. I'm hoping that gets better as Mommy gets 'regular' nights - and the midnight thing may not work, we'll see, last night she was almost constantly up, so I might switch to the 3AM thing that was so popular, but we'll give it a few nights first.)

Gleaming

My dear husband cleaned the living room carpet. I've erected a baby gate and the children are no longer allowed in there without proper supervision. Ben didn't argue when he saw the glue and specks of peeled off construction paper on his laptop. I hope to finish cleaning in there eventually... At least, I want to clean the desk tops.

I pulled the crib from behind the shelves in the garage. When I find the floor in my room, I'll vacuum and place it near my bed so that Cow can nap there -she's rolling and will be pulling over the pillows soon, so they won't keep her on the bed well enough shortly.

I also pulled out my MOTH book. She's six months old now. When we're out and about, Cow will happily wait 2-3 hours before nursing. It's time to get her interested in a like manner at home. She nursing from boredom at home (doesn't help that I don't find infant-play super interesting, but there are 3 others closer to her age who do!).

Nana (AJ) has been asking more for school. Tuesday, I borrowed from the library How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. We're through 4 lessons and she's so excited about it. Last night, she asked me to teach her. She asks specifically for her Math lessons, and is eager to learn to read so she can do more. (sigh) I was hoping to wait a year or so to teach her to read, but I can't protect them from the world forever.

So, anyway, I pulled out my MOTH book because I was thinking of starting by scheduling Cow. I know she's fine with nursing less frequently, but has been nursing at least hourly. I think this week, I'll try to spread it out to every 2 hours and when that works well we'll move to 2 1/2 and to 3. Knowing how my body works, I have to keep at least 1 night nursing.. I'm planning on starting the day by 6AM (I've been doing that all week!), so she needs a nursing at midnight to suppress ovulation. That should work out with a 9PM last feed. She'll still have that 6 hours from midnight to 6AM, so we'll both feel rested. I definitely have to work at going to bed when I put her down though or I'll be my usual self: tired.

Now that I have a goal, all I need is determination.

The noise!

We woke up this morning to a horrible pained sound. At the first 'call,' I counted children that were in the bed and immediately started wondering if AJ was okay. The 'call' sounded again, and I knew what it was.

Ben got out of bed to check the children. I looked up and said something like, "We can have it for dinner tomorrow." Which really confused him.

The big chick is finding its voice. And, honey, it needs lessons.


(Here's AJ chasing the Big Chick last week)

But, we can't have crowing in the city, so it must get its new home.

We went out back and I let it out into the yard while filling the water. They're hard to catch in an open area, but they run in circles around the chicken run to find a way back in, so we stood each at a corner of a side and let it run between us a couple times before he caught it.

Now, Big Chick is in the garage so the neighbors can sleep.

Toes and Totals

I finally started the Baudelaires last night. I bought the yarn last year (I printed the instructions on July 28, 2006), but put off knitting them until my gauge was more even. I'm glad I did. I'm using the 64 stitch sock on size 1US needles. The color is a lovely purple that's hard to capture on camera, "Blackberry" by Lorna's Laces.

This morning, while Ben slept in, I ran to the store to pick up some essentials:

I'm all for healthy foods, but at these prices I'm going to be cooking beans! For the 3 items, the total was $21.97. I use raw butter ($12.99 for that little tub! and that's the bigger size, half that costs $7.99 at the store!) and raw milk because there's less tummy trouble when they eat that versus the processed kind, and I use the unrefined coconut oil in my cooking (which actually wasn't too bad a price).
I miss you Becky, and your reasonable prices for fresh (same day) raw milk!!

Tired

That's my whole excuse for not blogging lately. That, and when I spend time actually doing things, I end up with little time to write about it.

Nephew Z's birthday party was Saturday. We had a great time at the river! Then, we drove up to Papa's house (FIL) and had a pleasant visit. It was so cute, Friday the children got up and packed their suitcases and were watching the clock like hawks waiting for Daddy to come home and take them to Papa's for a sleepover! They had to wait a day, but they were so happy!

This morning, I started the Queen of Diamond Gloves from Knit Picks. They're coming out cute and would fit great in the right gauge.. and if I had distorted fingers.. Apparently, I missed something when I placed my markers and the back of the hand side grew, but the palm side grew more slowly. There's no reference in the directions on how many stitches end up between the markers, so I had hoped that I hadn't really blundered.. Then it became more obvious. The thumb seems okay, but the pinky is using half the palm stitches instead of being on the end... I'm half tempted to just finish it as is and let the children have it for the dress up box. I haven't taken any photos yet.



Barb gave me some Bamboo yarn when she was here last. I think it's Regia Bamboo (I'll have to get up to look, but at the rate I'm going, I won't make it back to actually post this today). I used knitty's Widdershins pattern again. I should have gone up a needle size, so I used a k2p1 ribbing and made them longer to have enough fabric to stretch. I started the first from the outside of the skein and the second from the inside and knit till there was just enough to bind off. They fit fine, I'm getting used to the color.


A couple weeks ago, we went to the LYS. TJ asked me to make a sweater from "Gold, Silver, and Copper" for him. He drew me a picture so that I do it right. We've discussed it and I've begun.


I've got a few repeats of the stripes done. Each stripe is 1 inch. I wonder how long I should make it..


I started the Summer Garden Socks on our drive this weekend. Turns out that I'm starting to knit more tight than I used to, so they're a little snug. Will have to rip and reknit. I may just rip and use on a different patten, but this is a neat knit!

Sweet Beginnings

I've been shampoo-free for almost 2 months. For those that have asked, start slowly! I worked from every day to every other day over several months, and it took me a couple years to do once or twice a week. Most days, I love how my hair is now. It does seem a bit heavier from the natural oils that stay in it. Because of those oils, I have to wash my comb more often -lint sticks a bit, but I've found a gentle combing in the shower gets most of that out as well as massaging my scalp.

I was asked, "Would you start washing again?" Yes, and no. I don't plan on using the regular bottled tonics ("shampoo" and "conditioner") any more. I do plan on trying out some natural homemade recipes.

For example, it's been some time since I bought any facial products. After this insane outbreak week, I was blog hopping and happened to read about someone harvesting her honey. Of course, now I can't find the post. Anyway, I remembered telling Ben that I wanted to take care of my skin better (haunting voice in back of mind, saying of his spouse, "(specific person) has aged well, but I wish she'd taken better care of her skin." He had enjoyed his wife's beauty in her youth, and hoped that she would continue aging well, but she'd not cared for her skin and now he was losing something he had enjoyed (the rest of the relationship tells the story that the looks don't really matter, but it would have been a bonus). Perhaps, if I start now, I'll save my husband some of that heart ache.

So, tonight I put honey on my face and let it sit (like a mask), then washed it off. It was weird, it tingled. And, it dripped off my nose, but that's my fault. My skin feels softer already. I'm sure if I ever slept that would help, too. Hmm.. yeah, bedtime. Good night!

Sweetly Parting

A few weeks ago, I decided not to buy any more white sugar.

I love to bake.

Can these two passions coexist?

Last weekend, some friends went out of town. They didn't want to leave anything to go bad and amongst the 'treasures' they left us with was some sugar (albeit white "dried cane juice") and some honey that had granules started. I like to make the most of things, so I immediately worked at making tasty goodies. Ben and Jeremy grated the carrots and we made muffins (honey) and carrot cake (sugar) and started some carrot bread. I made cookies (sugar), too.

Within a day or two, my acne had flared like mad! I've always had some, but I didn't really know how linked it was to my diet! Thinking back, it always changed when my hormones did, but was it because I devoured sweets more then?

I'm continuing my low sugar experiment. I'm still using sucanat in place of regular sugars, but am actively seeking recipes without sugar now.

Christmas in July?

Red & Blue

Originally uploaded by fullofstitches.

A month or two ago.. No, no, um.. in the early spring? I dunno, I think it happened this year... I was at Hancock's Fabric and saw this cute Thomas the Tank Engine fabric. I'm not normally one to buy brand or character prints, but this one had the trains on *tracks*!!! I tossed it in the cart and when Miss A here saw it, she asked if I'd make her a dress from it. Then young TJ sauntered over and read, "Ho Ho Ho," in the plumes from the trains. I sighed, and sought out a coordinating fabric. It was after Christmas (and, I don't really buy into the Santa hubbub), but I'd already said yes (and, one must keep one's word).

It may have been last month, or May, when I was working on another dress and these fabrics were floating near the top. I decided on a simple cut dress, for the summer the shoulders should be protected and with a nice twirly skirt. Well this is about as simple as they come! I cut it out and it's been in the To Sew pile since.

Simplicity 5627
size 4 (lengthened, and skirt widened to full fabric width)
subbed the button & loop with a zipper

AJ's very happy with it and would like to wear it to church in the morning.

Baking Bread

Last night, I stayed up too late. Lately, that makes me depressed come morning. We watched a movie, then Ben went to pick up J.J. at the airport. I got the baby to sleep again (she'd woken during the movie and found T.V. watching fascinating), but couldn't sleep myself at first. Finally, I felt tired and lay down. Shortly after, Ben came home.

This morning, I had trouble waking. I finally got up after 8AM.TJ was up playing Legos, I reminded him to do his chores. I've been organizing the craft room, again - I had to vacuum the later of dust off everything from the birds! The vacuuming was done yesterday, so now a bunch of stuff is in the hallway. I noticed a few things that could be tidied and finished half AJ's blue&red dress.

I realized that we hadn't had breakfast. I hadn't put any oats on to soak last night, there's only 4 eggs. I pulled out the watermelon balls left from making melon baskets on the Fourth and let the children have that for breakfast.

Ben went in to work today to make up for dealing with the cars the last 2 days. I feel so guilty for causing him to buy a new car!

I finally got the nerve up to make bread. I don't know why, but sometimes it takes so much effort to just start something so simple. Comfort zone, I guess. I flipped through the cookbook and was going to make plain Egg Bread when AJ asked for cinnamon rolls. Well, I'm trying to eliminate sugar to some degree, so we compromised with Cinnamon Swirl Bread. I mixed up the Egg Bread and set it to rise. And, knowing that would take 2.5-3 hours to make, I mixed up some Banana Bread (which only takes honey as a sweetener, nice!).While that was baking, I loaded the dishwasher.

Then, the dough was ready to be punched down. I split it in two and let them rest while finishing the dishwasher. Then to the fun part. To make Cinnamon Swirl Bread, I had to roll out the dough, brush it with water, and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Simply roll the bread and set it flap down to rise again.

BB loves to help. So, BB wanted me to do it "ghen" with the other half of the dough. I had a bowl of cinnamon sugar and a glass of water. I set out the dough, BB tried to sprinkle, "Not yet, I have to roll it." I rolled the dough, she tried to sprinkle, "It works best if it's wet." I quickly brushed the dough with water, sloshing a bit much on (oh well) and she heaped cinnamon sugar in little piles on the dough she could reach. I rotated the board so she could do the other side and wiped the cinnamon sugar across the dough.She did really well, filling in gaps with spoonfuls and letting me smear it evenly. Then it was done, she helped me start rolling it and I set it in the pan. "Ghen," she said. I took the pans to my 'warm place' in the kitchen (the garden-box window thing) and turned around. She had refilled the bowl and was piling spoonfuls of sugar on the bare cutting board and smoothing them evenly with her hand. Hmm.. Time to make play dough!

We measured the flour, salt and cream of tartar and I let her mix those while I measured the water, oil and food colors. For some reason, the Kids Cooking book that I have calls for 2 teaspoons of food coloring when there's only a cup (or was it 2) of flour and a cup of water. I put in one of red and one of blue and it was so very dark. And, BB wanted to add more colors! So, we made a double batch of super healthy play dough to lighten the color.. I have no plain white flour, it's whole wheat flour. I have no regular salt, sea salt's expensive, so I used the Kosher salt. And, I have no regular cooking oil, so we used olive oil! They've been playing with it for close to 5 hours now. And, yes, BB has eaten some.

The cinnamon swirl bread came out of the oven and looked nice! I was so happy with how easy it was to slice. It's tasty, too.


I feel a bit better. Like I've accomplished something. But, I'm still tired. Someone talk me into going to bed at a reasonable hour?

He just wanted an I-Phone

On Sunday, we had lunch at Buca Di Beppo at the mall. Ben's buddy, Jeremy, let Ben play with his and after lunch they sauntered over to the Apple store in the mall. They happened to have sold out which disappointed Ben.

Later on, he mentioned that he felt guilty that he wanted to buy this $600 phone and he hadn't fixed the car yet. Wednesday, he noticed that the radiator in his commute car was leaking, and in this heat.... So, he decided to work from home Thursday/Friday and get that taken care of Saturday. Yesterday at lunchtime, he came home and picked up the van to price fixing it (which, we had determined would have to include straightening the frame, as well as replacing the A-arm). The mechanic explained how that would happen (basically, slice the frame in half, rotate/straighten the front -side to side and pulling front edge back forward-, weld back together) and by the time it gets added up and mixed with life-expectancy of the van, it seemed like a bit much for a 15+ year old vehicle.

Ben came home, had some lunch and went out again.

He found something that would work and fit his list of necessaries (included on the list: 8 passengers, rear A/C, and tinted/privacy glass). He had a blast with the sales guys, "I'm not buying today. Show me something with these things. If I like it, I'll buy it tomorrow." They kept showing him *new* 7 passenger mini-vans, but they had this one 8 passenger vehicle on the lot that someone ordered last year and hadn't been able to get a loan for it (new, but not new pricing). He came home and researched the one he liked. Looked for deals available, looked in the employee "Rewards Program" from work, sought out ways to cut prices.

He went today with his Rewards # in hand and the manager just sighed and told them to show him anything. In the end, he brought home a shiny Dodge Durango with 8 passenger seating, rear A/C, and privacy glass. It's got a nice engine and will fit us all comfortably, even if more of us happen in the next few years.


The inside is roomy and comfortable. The children are happy with it.

AJ's dress is done. I had TJ do all the big seams and the sleeves and with it taking over a year (something about a pregnancy..), I bargained some work from him and just finished the ruffle and sleeve hems. He started a shirt for himself and a crosstitch and will have to finish those on his own.

June Totals

I haven't decided yet if I'll track the in/out as much as just finished objects.. Many UFOs hang out for months in my sewing room.
In:
5 yards pink solid for bloomers/dresses for girls

Out/Done:
Finished bee dress (added buttons)
Embroidered TJ's writing
miniature chair cushion
3 baby slings (5 yards)
Fixed button tab on Cow's pinafore
4 Apron/Bonnets (5/8 yd each)

I've been knitting/sewing, but haven't finished the rest so that does it.