Weekending 2/21-2/23

Ray took Friday off so that we could have a family fun day.  We were going to go to the zoo, but there was a change of plans and we went to the children's museum instead.

O was very excited-He LOOOOVES to look at the Dinosaur bones.  I was disappointed because I did not realize that there was no big exhibit open-just the regular museum-which is fine, but it was not a small amount to get us all in and pay for parking.  I am considering getting a membership-which would be less than twice what we paid for one visit.

We DID have a good time-saw an astronomy show, a barnett shale show, dinosaur bones, an Edison light bulb, an Einstein letter.  AND, there was a Lego room.  Here are the boys with their lego creations.  Otha built a dark tower, Liam a space ship, and Ray a very tall tower,  I built a square!

Got up Saturday and hung out with Brunhilda

We all went on a nice family walk and then, I went to a new grocery store in town called Win Co.  It was huge and very full of people.

I made a salad with my Win Co purchases.  It was yummy!

I also spent many hours at the cutting mat in prep for the bags I am sewing for DFW Fiber Fest coming up the last weekend of March.  Still have a few things left to cut.  This is one of my favorites.

It was a good weekend-and probably the last 'relaxing' one I will have until the Fiber Fest is over.

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Weekending, 2/18/2014-Constant Vigilance!!

We are homeschoolers and we are trying out a new schedule for our endeavors.  We are doing 6 weeks on/1 week off.  This is the first cycle that we are trying it and I really think that it is gonna work for us.  This week I am really working to get a thorough clean and reorganization of the house.  It is hard when you are in the throws of school to keep a tidy house, and this session started with the house being in pretty rough shape-and it stayed that way the entire 6 weeks.  Oh, I would occasionally muster up the energy to clear a surface or vacuum the rug, but that was about it.  Things would fall on the floor and just sort of stay there.  Until they were needed.

So, This past weekend, I started on the house.  I started in the back corner of the kitchen and worked my way forward.  After 2 hours, I had a corner of the house thoroughly cleaned and organized.  Ray helped by doing the pile of dishes.  Another 2 hour session and the kitchen was done and the path in front of the kitchen, with the office started.  Another 2 hour session and the office was half way done.

I am not exaggerating when I say that my house was a wreck.

Sunday starts and a 2 hour session means that now the office is done and the Brazen Cabinet is being put back together.  The next two hour session included the little desk and the corner where the foos ball table is.  Ray was working on the mountain-and I do mean mountain-of laundry at this point.  Then, all that was left was the seating area-which wasn't too bad comparatively.  I challenged myself to get that done in an hour and with Rays help-I did!

It feels really nice to have the front of house done-but I am also planning on the bedrooms-because they are bad too.  I do not know whose bedroom is worse-Ours or the Boyo's.  They certainly have more little things strewn around, but ours has more big things.

Yesterday, I got up and spent a 2 hour session on the laundry room-the smallest room in the house-It was ridiculous.  But, Now, you can actually see the floor!

I am hoping that with starting off this busy season of school and preparing for DFW Fiber Fest with a completely clean and tidy house means that I can keep it that way with daily maintenance and Constant Vigilance.

Wish me luck?

Workin' It February 14

Trying to get back into the habit of blogging after being pretty silent in January.  So, 2 blogs in one week!  WoooOOoooo!  Goal achieved.

I am working on one crochet project that is destined to be a granny square blanket when it grows up...

I got a mill end bag of this yarn from Jo-ann's a few weeks ago and have lamented over what I wanted to turn it into-I think it looks pretty great in granny square form, so that is what it will be.  And Plus-I looove me some granny squares.  And Thank goodness for you tube or they never would have happened.  My goal is one square a day.  I got 3 squares out of one skein, so I should have 24 squares when all is said and done.

I also finished this scarf as a gift.

It is from my own handspun with fiber by Two If By Hand over on Big Cartel.

I spun it into a 4 ply and I think the pairing of the yarn and the pattern went together nicely.

I am doing two spinning projects right now-One is a custom spin for a 2 ply worsted.  This person loved my eat crayons handspun so much and wanted some for herself, so asked me to do it for her.  We worked out a trade/payment for it and this is the second bobbin.  I have less than an ounce of singles left.

And, this one is hibernating while I spin the other one-because it is destined to be a 3 ply sock weight and switching back and forth between two such different weights and fibers would have been really confusing to my hands.  This fiber is from The Droll Eclectic on etsy.

I have also been sewing bags for the shop and making up lists of what I want to get done for DFW Fiber Fest.  I am so excited to get to do this show again!

Weekending, February 12

A day late, but you'll forgive me, won't you gentle reader?

This past weekend was a pretty good one.  On Saturday we took the boys and one of O's friends to the movies to see The Lego Movie.  It was cute-and very definitely right up my boys' alley.  Here's a money saving trick-Take cups or containers with you-then you can portion out the popcorn/soda to many little hands with out having to figure out the best way to hold a popcorn bucket for 5 people.  I also stopped at the dollar store for candy and grabbed R and I water so that we didn't have to pay 4 bucks each for water.  So, 5 people went to the movies for less than $40.  Not too bad!

After the movie we went to a couple of goodwills-O said his shoes were too small-and we have hand me down sandals and dress shoes for him, but no plan tennis shoes in his size.  R's work jeans were looking pretty worn too, so I was on the hunt for those.  We ended up with 3 pairs of jeans and a pair of Van's for $22!  Gotta love goodwill-when you can find a good deal it's a great deal!

Then we were hankering for an out to eat meal, but I am really trying to avoid that for budgetary and dietary reasons.  So we went to a local grocery store that sells fresh tamales and had those for lunch.  Bonus-this grocery store also has free soft serve for their customers.  So we got a dozen tamales, clearance Hebrew National Hot Dogs, and a huge can of refried beans for less than $20-plus 'free' dessert.

Sunday, I spent the day working on a couple of custom orders.  I did one DPN roll up case.  It uses a minimal amount of fabric, but is rather fiddly to get together.  I think it turned out well and I hope that the recipient likes it-I was told 'Blue' when I asked what kind of fabric to use.

 I also worked on another custom order for a repeat customer.  She asked for bags with Peanuts and Despicable Me themes.  I have some of the fabric left, so these fabrics will show up in the shop for general sale as well.

All in all, we had a pretty good weekend.

Weekending February 3, 2014

Well, really this is more of a 'month-ending' since i was pretty absent in January.  This most recent weekend was spent doing errands, swimming, knitting, and watching many episodes of 'Don't Trust The B in Apt 23'.  That show is hilarious and a good way to while away the hours of knitting.

The other weekends of January were mostly consumed with being part of a hilarious play called 'Cash on Delivery'.  It's a British farce and what ever ridiculous thing that could happen, did happen in this play.  Men in drag, mistaken identities, people wearing their underpants on stage, people hitting other people with underpants, mistaken death, a running body bag.  You know, a day in the life of your average London Bloke.


Chilling out during intermission.

Hanging out between shows.

I went to CVS in my show makeup.  And no one batted an eye.

Dressing room antics.

We got a dog in January.  We got him the day he was scheduled to be euthanized.  His name is Clarence and he is a funny guy.  I am still adjusting to being a 3 dog house, and so are the girls.  He has a couple of unofficial names like 'Thunderbutt the Magnificent' and 'DumDum Little Brother'.  He is a very sweet boy and loves to have scratchings and walks around the block.

Ray and I went on a date and decided to thumb wrestle.  I lost...

The Hardest Month

I always have a hard time emotionally in January.

It's partially the relief of the holiday season come to an end but it is also the month that I gave birth to and then less than a week later placed a baby for adoption.

So, January is the hardest month because of the child's birthday.  I try not to have regrets and woulda shoulda couldas, but I miss her.  Every day.  My heart is not a whole one because my arms do not have her to hug.

Time heals all wounds.  But there are always scars.  And this one is a particularly deep one.  It sometimes opens and festers for a while.

But.  I know she is loved by her parents and wants for nothing.  It doesn't make it much easier, but it helps a little.