Lucy's Tales From Home

here

I'm still here, just quiet. I have walked by this little box several times with the intention of putting something in this space but instead keep giving it an unintentional cold shoulder. I have felt like things have been sort of repetitive lately, same stuff different season. When my life is chronicled here month after month I see what a creature of habit I am. Thats ok with me, just a bit boring to write about. I feel a tad uninspired. My Christmas Spirit is still lagging a bit behind me just yet too.

 
 

I will throw a few of the usual tidbits out here anyways.  Thanksgiving was nice. My turkey turned out to be the best ever. We brined it, didn't stuff it and kept the oven closed! I wrote down everything so I won't forget what I did next time.  The above picture is taken the day after.  This turkey sandwich is actually my favorite part of the meal :) with lots of hot sauce and mayo of course.

Yarded out all the decorations. Before its all said and done it looks like Christmas barfed in my living room. Too much too much! I need to do some serious thinning out this year when I am putting stuff away.

a few of my favorite spots...

 

 

 
 
 
 So now the tree is up and the halls decked, the lights are on the house and I have done most of my Christmas shopping on line, love doing that. We aren't doing the advent calendar this year. I'm sort of sad about that but relieved at the same time. I thought I would choose a few small but fun activities to do together throughout the month instead.

Tomorrow we are going on our annual girls shopping trip to Portland. Its more about getting away, and having fun instead of shopping but you knew that already. 

Thats about it. I'm doing all the usual stuff and going through the motions. Maybe my Christmas Spirit will catch up with me this weekend.  

A boy in middle school came into my office this week. He was trying to explain to me that he didn't feel good, but nothing hurt. He said, "I know it sounds weird, but I just feel like I'm not here."  I kind of know how he feels. 

♥

getting ready

 

This really means nothing without the "before" shot but somehow I could not bring myself to take that particular picture. This is much nicer. I haven't cleaned house for two weeks because, well, cuz I just haven't. Maybe knowing I was going to be doing the real down and dirty cleaning for T-day (its at our house this year) had something to do with it.  And because we jump right into Christmas the day after, decorations, tree, lights, everything.  I have so much more fun decorating and enjoying the holiday atmosphere when the floor isn't covered with enough crumbs that we leave footprints, or everywhere you look or touch there is just a little bit of schmutz, (schmutz = any unknown sticky, lumpy, gross, dried on substance, can be any color).

You get my point. Last night the girls and I cleaned and cleaned and I finished up this morning. Now if we can just keep it that way until Thursday. Right. 

 

I have also been working on a few new decorations. Got these really cool felt balls from Etsy. (I need to make own, next time)

 

Making a garland out of them for my new little tinsel tree I got for Christmas last year.

 
 
 I strung them on fishing line so they will look like they are floating. Thats my thinking anyway.

 

Hope you are warm and cozy tonight and the cleaning fairies came to your house and cleaned it.

♥ me
 

 

Saturday...

 

My little girl kitty Dinah, a new box, oh a new toy! Today I decided to make my new Christmas wreath. Last Spring I bought some Christmas glass balls from my favorite junk store. 

 

Many of these wonderful old boxes and another huge box filled with these oh so cool glass balls in all colors, for like $20 ☺

 

 

 
 

I wasn't quite sure where to begin so I just started grabbing and gluing.

 

All done and I am pretty happy with it. Definately a fun 2 hours. So its on the shelf for a few weeks. We deck the halls the day after Thanksgiving round here.  Yeah baby, gotta soak up every little bit.

Going to make dinner now, goodnight.

♥ me.
 

 
 
  
 

Friday night.....again.

Here I am again, Friday night. I didn't mean to let a week go by but didn't feel I had enough to tell you before now. Day to day, work, activities, appointments, errands, that has been my week. Not bad, just the day to day. Friday night is when I start to be me and not the "week" girl. She is consumed with getting from "A to B" until finally we are at Friday and all her peeps are together with no other distractions. Well, except the distractions I love.

 

I have been busy sewing this week, lots! 

Fun Christmas goodies. Normally this time of year I have been listening to Christmas music since like mid October and watching Christmas movies too. But not this year. Not sure what is quite wrong with me, but my Christmas spirit is taking a while to show up. I feel it coming though. I have always jumped into Christmas waaaaaaaaaay before the normal person. I have Christmas tunes churning on Pandora right now. This weekend I am going to ask Honey to bring up the Christmas decorations up from the shop so I can look through them. Its like a present, I love doing it every year.

After much deliberation we have decided who is doing what this year. I am doing Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. GREAT! I asked Avery to come up with an appetizer, one that is her idea and one that she can execute on her own. It has kept her busy all afternoon. She is sooooo excited to have her own "dish". (good idea mum, pat on back)!

Honey brought home REAL smoked ribs from a REAL meat smoker guy and some FRESH crab. I am not keen on the ribs, that is Honey's and Avery's deal but I am totally down with the crab, along with Taylor. So its a feast of meats for dinner tonight :))

Happy Friday Night Ya'll

♥ me

 

Status report...Friday 10pm

 I have not had a lot of time this week to check in. That is not exactly right, I have had the time but just not the spark. I don't know how you regular bloggers do it. I just can't put together something worth talking about everyday. Wish I could. Takes me too long to think about it. Maybe that is my problem. Too much thought, haha. err maybe its not enough thought. Anyways here I am a little after 10pm and this week is behind me and the weekend is laying like a giant present in front of me waiting to be unwrapped and savored and believe me that is my plan! 

(oops picture removed due to author's ridiculous self consciousness)

It was conference week so the days were only half days. Avery was sick one day, thought she was coming down with the you know what, S _ _ N _ flu. But no, just a short crud bug. So far so good as we navigate through this weird flu season. I don't know about where you live but the vaccine is in very short supply.

I talked a few days ago about the middle school woes of my youngest.  Tonight was the first middle school dance of the year. She wanted to go and totally earned to go if you were judging by her grades and conferences. But, I was reluctant to let her to save her from any troubles or hurt, but she wanted to go. So I dropped her off and her dad picked her up. She had a great time and hung out with some other very nice girls. She is happy inside and out and silly and funny and carefree. Seems for now as though the drama is behind us. Thank you Lord. Thank you for giving my girl such courage and strength. BUT, the lesson learned: You know what it feels like to be treated badly, don't repeat it. Be kind, generous, forgiving, even to those who have hurt you. Never intentionally hurt anyone by making them feel left out or like they don't fit in.  Be happy because you are HIS and that is all that matters.

Ok, now its like 10:56pm and everyone has gone to bed. I sit here alone at my computer with some good Pandora tunes going, I am drinking a Thunderhead beer. Its hubby's and sort of strong but not bad. A little relaxing and quite nice at the end of a week. 

I have been thinking about work. (actually I am always trying to figure out how to NOT work :) However, this is my 5th year at this job, WOW, but I have finally gotten in agroove,  I know and like the people I work closest with and I think they like me too. That is quite something, it feels good to go to work and enjoy being there, to be comfortable.  Again, I'm thankful because God put me there. I need to focus on that more and realize that I am REALLY working for him, no one else. I work to pay the bills, but all the while honoring HIM. (something by big girl reminded me of the other day after her bible study, something I forget easily when I want to complain about work instead of remembering why I am there)

  
 (pictures from trekearth.com) 

I guess I will sign off now. I will go read a bit. I have some really fun ideas of trying to make my own cheese after reading my current book. You can actually make small batches of really good cheese at home. Did I ever tell you I wanted to be a goat cheese farmer for the longest time. I did, until I realized how much actual milk it took to make even a small batch and that I would be the only one there everyday to do that milking at goodness knows what hour in the am rain or shine. Still just for home use it would be fun. Homemade goat cheese, on my list of stuff to do for next year! 

Happy beginning to your weekend!

♥ me

10 to Eight, Its a date!

                                              

 I have a date with my hubby in the hot tub at 7:50pm. Right now it is 7:21pm. Thank goodness for Fall Back! It is one of my favorite days. Set your clock an hour behind and enjoy a loooooonger day. I have! So right now according to my calculations I have about 25 min for this post. Ok Ok, get to the serious stuff.

Hmm. What did I do today. Ate a yummy omelet prepared by my wonderful hubby who always makes breakfast on the weekends. Its just his thang. Then I got on the treadmill, yah! Followed by nagging Avery to do her chores before she went to play B-Ball with the neighbor kids. Taylor volunteered to make dinner, so I just watched movies and sewed, perfect!

    

Here is a funny picture of Avery as a dude and her cousin Sam as a girl. (They traded clothes, although Sam was enhanced with some baloons I think:) Love this, so funny.

Taylor, after taking her fabric out of the dryer for her new headboard. Its orange, but not that orange, a nice shade. 

 

Taylor, her dad and Lucy trying to figure out this headboard thing. Doing the buttons. I think it looks waaay cool, but what do I know.

 

Please take into account the bad lighting, and the bad lighting.

It really did turn out so nice and way cheaper than the one in Ballard Design for like $600. I will have to get a picture in the daylight.

 

 

after several tries, this is what I came up with for the beard on my gnomes. What do you think?? Still need something...

Happy Sunday Night, I'am now 6 minutes late for my date, gotta go:)

♥ Me
  

Middle school is like fashion...

 

or as Heidi would say, "One day your in, and the next your Owwt"!

I keep trying to figure out how to start this post and organize my thoughts. This topic is close to my heart. Close because it kills me to see one of my kids hurting, just like any parent. It makes me nauseated quite frankly.

Avery has always been so eager to do and try everything, she likes to be busy. Her M.O. is just to forge ahead to the next new thing and have fun doing it with zest. Nothing gets her down. Like most kids she just wants to be happy! She carries none of the hang-ups or insecurities that her mother does. She can make a speech in front of her peers without a minute of worry or doubt, she charges headlong into new situations where she knows no one else just to participate in a sport or activity she wants to try. (One of the things I have always loved and been in awe of about her).

She has loved and looked forward to school everyday since Kindergarten. Yesterday was the first day she came home in tears. She has had a group of friends that she hangs out with since about 3rd grade, but things are changing, they are changing, but why do they get mean? I know Middle School is or can be a horribly difficult time for lots of kids. I don't know any woman who hasn't experienced this, including myself. I don't understand that about women in general. Not everyone, but you know what I'm saying, women are just plain mean sometimes and enjoy nothing better than picking each other apart, and when somebody is down, then tromp on them!  

I/we have been praying about this. It hasn't helped that we changed churches in hopes of finding a good youth group for her and just has not felt right since we made the change.  But, God is faithful. Last Wednesday I decided to go back to our old church and try the youth group. She is old enough now that she can be in a youth group and not little kid classes like Awanas. (although she did Awanas all through elementary school and loved it. Its a great program for littles). She agreed to go, wasn't thrilled but didn't put up one fuss. Like always she walked right into a room full of kids with no fear, well maybe a little. 

Turns out they have a new youth pastor and he and his wife are young and cool and I really liked them. She came out after I picked her up and was so happy. She liked the girls and even knew a few, and said it was so much fun and couldn't wait to go back. Amen!  We are going again tonight.

This is what I wanted for her, I hope it grows into a strong group of Christian friends that she can grow in the Lord with and be the foundation of her social life as she goes through high school. I'm not expecting it to be perfect, I know there are mean girls at church too, but its not the norm and being in this setting I believe is where He wants her. After all she is His, she knows it and has declared it, she is stronger than I give her credit for, I think because I am view this situation through my own eyes and know how I would feel.I Need to stop doing that, she does not need to carry my baggage too.

It is funny because as all of this was coming to a head the other day as I was sewing my little pouches :

 

The tutorial I used among others was from skip to my lou. In her tutorial she had this image with this verse:

 

So wonderful and prophetic. I shared it with my girl and prayed with her. 

This is a time to learn and realize that you need to rely on God, not people. It is hard, but He has a plan for you and this is part of it. 

She just looks at me, I'm fine mom, I get it. 

I thank God for my blessings, my family, my friends, my faith. In the end it is all that matters, PERIOD.  
 

 

full

 

This weekend, although fast, was full. Full of time spent together, whether working or playing it was filled with us being "US".

My Sis stopped by to bring Avery home after spending the night with her & her cousins at her house and she brought her new little fluff ball, Abby.

 

Lucy just wants to eat her up and Abby just wants her to go away. But, in a few weeks I am sure they will be best friends.

 
 

I had an urge for horribly cheesy, gooey, crusty homemade mac -n- cheese.

 

Obviously not finished, but so much fun to make. I have to make a stop at Joann's tomorrow to get a few bits to finish him up.

 

I have officially made friends with the zipper. I don't think it can scare me anymore. I hope. I whipped out 7 of these little zipper pouches this weekend. FUN!

FULL ♥

Hope your weekend was too!

Bread ~ Wine ~ Cheese

Besides my family, good books, water, a tooth brush with paste, soap, lotion, and maybe a few hundred other things, THESE are the only things I would need to survive on a desert island. I do crave protein from time to time BUT, in hard times I could survive on bread, wine and cheese...which brings me to my point...

 

A quick and really good read. About sisters, love and making champagne.

 

Follow it up with Cheese. Also with filled with family, love and cheese making of the best kind........

 

And then finish it off with Bread. I have not read this one yet but know it will be just as good as the rest. I love how Sarah Lynch combines several different characters from totally different backgrounds that all come together in the end. Easy and mouth watering reads:)

On this same theme I am sad to say that my library has started to charge late fees. I know that this has been customary really everywhere, but not in my town. I am so spoiled. Greedily grabbing those books and keeping them way longer than I should cuz I just don't have the time to get to them all! Now I will be fined for my indulgence. Pooh! Pooh! 

I love the library though. Truly its the coolest thing ever if you think about it. I love being able search,request,renew my books all online. I even love the "Cyber Space" voice mail with my name saying my books are ready for pick up. We always laugh at those messages, but I don't take this service for granted. It was my sanctuary when my kids were little. As an adult its just amazing to me that I can bring home tons of wonderful books for free!

I Love the Library!!
  

giddy

Yep, I'am simply giddy. Its like a Friday night. We don't have school tomorrow.  Yeah! It is some sort of "calendar alignment" day to keep us square with other school districts. Any who, no work, and no school!  I am getting my roots done in the am, (yuck, but I need to do it) then I am free as a bird till we have dinner with my folks. aka...I don't have to cook, and if my sister comes I get to see her new puppy!!! I have been hankering for some new little fluffy thing to love, but just don't want the vet bills to go along with it right now, so her new puppy will be my "fix".

After what seems like just a huge wave of never ending stress at work I am thankful for this weekend. Seems like there has not been a moment for me to breath and just get stuff done, There has been a lot of sick kids, lice and H1N1 stuff to deal with. Throw in a totally new software that we have to enter all our old data into and you have one frazzeled nurse. But, I love the kids and the people I work with and my school, so all is good, just so darn fricken busy!

Don't pay any attention to the above photo, that is just another "event" that my girls do to our poor, (hahaha), dog Lucy. She really tolerates it quite well, she thinks everything is a game and will end in a treat, which it does. But I thought it was fitting to feature her as she is sporting a quite nifty Fallish look.

 

Been watching this a lot while sewing, like over and over again. Which is what I tend to do. I need something in the background that I enjoy and know what is going on but does not cause me to go to the couch and watch instead of sew. Its a problem, finding that "neutral" movie that will be the perfect background for my sewing. No, I do not like music instead. It is ever changing too cuz, well, you know you just get tired of watching something after 15 times...
  

My big girl actually "let me" have her ipod at work the other day and while I was on the treadmill. Seriously, I am So Out of the loop,I don't even know what the loop looks like.

BUT, I DO know what I like. She had "Pie in the sky" by Andrew Hollander, from the "Waitress" soundtrack on her ipod, (it was in a playlist she calls Gentle Slumbers so of course I loved it), its so happy. 

Well, thats it for tonight. I wanted to check in and say HEY I have a 3 day weekend. I have missed having time to stop by and visit you, I plan on catching up this weekend.

 I have some views on "middle school" coming up. Oh GEEZE, I can't wait for it to be over,...more to come on that. 

Happy Thursday/Friday night friends!! 

Weekend Wrap Up

Life, its so fickle. It is always moving and changing. It never stands still for very long. So I must take advantage of and savor those "slow" moments. Learn to just shake off the crap that weighs me down and does not matter at the end of the day. What matters is, did I let the ones I love know that I LOVE them. Did I treat them well, did I build them up? Did I treat myself well too? Was I true,loving and real to others? I don't know if I was, I hope, I tried to be.

 

Its that "Bob Ross" time of year again. I love it, everywhere I look its like a gorgeous explosion of my favorite colors. This is my backyard, what a blessed girl I am.

I usually try to squeeze in every little thing that happens during the weekend in one post. That is just TMI! So here are the highlights according to me...

I went to pick up Lucy from the groomers on Friday with Taylor and even though we knew she was going to have a cow and bark like a crazy mad dog we stopped by our favorite junk shop, cuz we have not been there since summer.

I love the shop lady, she knows me quite well, and said, "Hey, I found some phones". I asked her a few months back when I was re-doing our bedroom that I was looking for a circa 1970's black rotary phone. Well she had a great one for $15 bucks! These are going for like $50 plus on ebay or even more in town at local antique shops so I was very excited. She didn't know if it worked though.I washed it up and plugged it in and it works like a charm. Love that ring too:) Why on earth do I want the same phone that I grew up with in my house, that I talked to my friends on and my boyfriends in the  "ironing/storage room under the stairs"? I don't know, I just do.

 

 

 I would like to know whose number this was?  Mine was 491-5324. I remember my best friends and my Grandmas too. Crazy. Anyway, this fits in quite nicely in my room, like its been there forever.

 

 Picked these up to for $6 bucks. Need to get some pretzels, chips and nuts now.

 

Had to take a pic of this. Taylor trying to dye 4 yards of home dec fabric that she bought to upholster a new headboard she and her dad are making for her bed. She bought the wrong color and is trying to dye it some shade close to what she wanted. I would not let her use my washer or utility sink, thus the wheelbarrow. Hey, its orange dye okay. I don't need orange clothes.Sort of goes with the time of year thought eh?

 

I am gonna throw in a few pics on how to do this quilt as you go method. I cannot respond to anyones comments right now, or at least I don't know how since typepad changed and I can't just hit reply! Its quite complicated, grrrrrrr.

Anyway as you can see you just cut a center piece and start from there. I cut about a 17 by 17" piece of batting. Stuck my main piece in the center and started building around it. You quilt each piece as you go.

 

 

 

 

 

You just keep going,and going till you cover the batting. At this point you can make a bunch of blocks and sew them together to make a quilt, table runner, or anything you want. I made a pillows.

 

 

Wishing all a great week.

♥ me.

 

 

 

 

 

cats & dogs

It is coming down like crazy this morning, i love it! Rainy and cozy, too bad I have to leave my house today. We turned on the heat for the first time last night, (we have used the gas fireplace a little), but not the furnace. Yikes, I can see my bill already. I kick myself in the rear everytime I think about saying absolutely not to a wood fireplace. I didn't want the dirt and soot. Dumb!

Anyway I got up early this am because Ave has volleyball practice before school on Wednesdays, so here I am with a bit of time before I need to get ready for work. Actually I have an inservice today on our new pc system at school, which I am looking forward too. Its driving me crazy not knowing how to input info correctly. The beginning of the school year is all about inputting info! But that is boring and too much information, right.

I stopped in this am because a few of you have asked about the "quilting" technique on my previous post. It is actually from here.

 

Nothing new, just new to me. If I get around to it I will try and show my finished project this weekend. 

Have a great Wednesday!
  

Sunday Stuff......

 

Boo to you! This is one of may favorite Halloween decorations. This year after cleaning out my flower beds and cutting back the hydrangeas I brought in a beautiful bouquet and stuck my scary hand in the middle.

As usual the weekend disappears before my eyes, so fast I can't even manage it. And manage it I TRY to do! I "MAP" out my weekend so much so that sometimes I just forget to relax and have fun......

Like throwing around Lucy's new toy, a flying squirrel, with her, (which I did) or going on an impromptu motorcycle ride with my hubby, (which I didn't cuz I was immersed in sewing), As soon as I heard him motor down the road I wished I would of said yes.

 

Avery, making a fire in our new fire pit on Friday night. She invited the neighbor girls down and they had hot dogs and roasted marshmellows....good stuff.

 

Lonely, dying zinnias.........oh ode to the Zinnia. I Love You, You make me so Happy and you are still trying to keep on blooming and I do so appreciate it !

 

Perfect fodder for the chickens is carrot tops. They don't like the carrots but love the tops!

 

Give a chicken some greens and watch the fun....

 

On my mantel H for Halloween .........

 

I started something last week so fun. A new way of quilting to me.  Quilt as you go. Start in the middle on the batting and place each piece as you go quilting each piece as you go. I love doing this. I can do a few pieces and then just come back to it a few days later and keep going.

 

 

 

I wanted to add a little bit of fun info that I did not know. I thought it was really cool. I love the Beatles but like most peeps I have always thought "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was, well you know the LSD thing. But here is what Love you Up to the Moon says about it. I love it, so sweet and I never new........ 

I will leave you with a blurry picture of my dude. He has this helicopter he "plays" with, I guess sort of like my sewing but not as functional! Anywho, I am just such a sucker for my dude in a baseball cap worn backwards.......just gets me, so cute even if its blurry:)

 

 Happy Sunday Night!

♥ me

 

i don't know

 

I made yummy pizza tonight ala Giada. This taste profile fits my palate to a tee. There is no red sauce, but sometimes that is okay and a welcome change to pizza.  I have made it a few times before, I just love the basic ingredients and the huge yet simple flavors. I use my own dough though which makes it better. BUT, I have used Trader Joe's ready made doughs. They are really good and only $1.29 per bag. One "bag" is a huge pizza that feeds 4 of us with left overs.

So, whats with my title.......I don't know. Actually I do know, but it is so so tiresome to even mention, yet so consuming me. I'm sure it is me and my total lack of social skills and paranoia but here I am, a woman fully grown, STILL letting my self esteem, emotions, daily activities, MY LIFE, be dictated by other peoples moods and how they treat me on a day to day basis. In reality I know everyone feels as I do and are walking around trying to get through their day just like me, and when someone walks by you and doesn't smile or say hi you (or should I say I) just think wow, what did "I" do. "I" must be the reason for their response or lack of response to me. I just pile it on and try to figure out what "I" did wrong.

In reality I have known for quite some time that I am just not a girly girl. By that I mean I don't have a lot of girl friends. I have always had just a few REALLY tight friends. People that know me inside and out and accept me and visa versa.  I just don't do "casual" friends very well. I don't like grazing the surface of life, if its not REAL I just don't dig it. If you don't know all of me and like it and the other way round my thinking is just why bother? Seems like a waste of time. I am praying about this. I think it closes a lot of doors to me. Sometimes it is the "superficial conversations" that bring about real friendships.

Sometimes as I sit in my office at work and if I am there late when parents come to pick up their kids they accumulate in the foyer outside of my office and I hear the "moms" talking and talking about this and that and it makes my eyes roll back in my head. But shame on me. I only wish I could communicate on that level, it would make life so much easier. I just don't get small talk, I am OFFICIALLY no good at it. ahhh, blech! So I laid it out and there it is. The trouble in my soul tonight and many nights actually. I am working on it and praying. What else can I do ☺

 

Sweaty sewing, wishful thinking, & other weekendy stuff...

This weekend was packed, with all good. I wish it would of been 4 days instead of two:) ... but, we made the best of it.

I finally finished the Messenger Bag.  Whoo hoo, I tell ya, I was all step by step and going slow reading a direction a day so I thought I was totally on the ball and no way making any mistakes. Hahaha,

 

The "Zipper" gets you every time. I ended up doing it perfectly only on the wrong side of the bag. Not the top of the bag but the side. Who needs a zipper pocket that opens on the side, mmmm, nobody. So I had to find some new fabric that went with my other fabrics and make new front and back linings but I salvaged the zipper pockets with my trusty seam ripper.

 

New zipper and lining...

 

I'am not afraid of zippers anymore. Easy Peasy :))

 

Fini. and I don't really like it. You know how it is after fussing with something and staring at it for weeks you are sick of it!

 Although I am mighty happy with my zipper. I'll just throw in one more pic of it :)

 

Back of the bag. I had several mistakes making this thing even though I went so slow. I made this the front pocket at one point sewing on the button and everything before I realized it was actually the back pocket. Grrrrrrrhmmm!

 

Not bad for my first real bag.

 

New supplies for my Christmas crafts and Online fun class.  I still need to get some felt balls. 

  

I have been gathering cute fabrics

 

galore...

 

and more...

 I think I am ready to start my Christmas sewing. What do you think ? I spent most of the day sketching and dreaming of what I will do with these goodies.

 

My girl before her game. She is getting sooo grown up right before my eyes, everyday. I see just a little bit more of the adult that she will be.  This year, 7th grade, she is allowed to wear mascara and a little light eye shawdow, NO eye liner or anything heavy.  I don't think my mom was as on my butt as I am on hers.

Lastly I would like to add this little bit of wonder we found . If you have On Demand it is on the Sundance Channel starting October 7th, but you can watch the first episode On Demand. It is called Man Shops Globe.  Oh My Goodness!  In another life this would of been my dream job. He gets to go to France and other wonderful places buying really cool stuff for the "backdrop" decor of all the Anthropologie stores. COME ON...what a gravy job. I'm sure he has his stresses too though, right? Somehow I think I could handle them. This is a fun show if you are at all interested in Anthro or antiques or shopping etc.etc. 

 

 

Happy Sundy Night ♥

 
 
  

Mid-week break

Wednesday is one of the only days we do not have volleyball. So here is what I did and am doing this Wednesday ☺

Started:

                   

      I am always sad to finish a good book as I was House of Daughters. But after just a few pages this seems like another great read. 

     Joined:

        

 Betz White Holiday Workshop . Fun Fun. I am not going to have the time to take any classes or do anything fun crafty wise for the holidays for myself so this is it. I am splurging on an online workshop that I can attend on my own schedule, and learn something new and cool from someone whose work I really admire.

Working:

No pictures yet, but the messenger bag I am working on from Montessori by Hand is  challenging me. I have been working on it a few steps each night and am happy to have finished my first really well done working zipper last night!

Listening:

                                                             

To the Love Theme From Spartacus by Earl Klugh. This is such a pretty song, but I especially love this rendition.

Watching:

30 Rock from Netflix. I love Kenneth ♥

Of course I also did a Target and Grocery trip and cleaned the kitchen so the house wouldn't be a total gross out when the fam comes for pizza after Ave's volleyball game tomorrow night. I know you all are just as busy as me out there, whew! Hope you get a goood nights sleep and some sweet dreamin.

Good Night. ♥

 

 

 

     

  

 

fall stuff, sort of, for tuesday

Its raining this morning. Yay! I know I said I have been enjoying the last of the sun and I have, but this really means Fall is here and I am looking forward to turning my focus to the indoors and less outdoors. Last night I went to bed with a huge pile of old Christmas magazines and it enjoyed them just like they were new. I got some ideas, ripped out some pages and made many lists, good times.

I also should be getting some really smokin Christmas fabric and wool felt in the mail this week. I haven't seen the UPS dude all Summer, at least at my house with something for me :)

Ok, here is the reason I am posting on a Tuesday. Taylor showed me last night. Cracks me up, I have videos of my girls doing the same thing, only to Raffi, not Beyonce, hehe.

 

soaking it up

 

Lately I find myself trying to soak up all the remaining sun there is, morning, noon and night. I feel like I need to do this, to "store" it up and have a "reserve" for when those long grey days come. So today I spent a lot of time "soaking" and just enjoying being in the warmth of the sun.

As I said on my list this weekend was to dehydrate our tomatoes, which you can see I did.  They turned out great, took about 9 hours.

Super simple. No special prep. Wash, slice, sprinkle with salt and pop in the dehydrator.

Today we did not go to church as Glen is still sick, I got the crud too, but am already on the mend. Just a couple of days for me. I finished up some school work, sewed some more on my messenger bag and made labels with my new (and FINAL, no more changing my mind) name to sew in my goodies that I make. I made some ribs for Avery. She has been craving them, I don't know why, but every grocery list for the last month has had RIBS!! on it. My little meat eater. I also enjoyed sitting out on the deck this afternoon for some more of that soaking and reading a great book right up my alley my niece lent to me.

House of Daughters. Set on a vineyard in France... I always thought my vineyard would be in Italy, but this would do nicely:) Its full of wonderful descriptions, people, food and love. I don't know why I want to live on a vineyard. I know nothing about wine. I like it, but beyond that I can't tell the difference between a $10 bottle or a $50 bottle. In fact if I am honest, I prefer the cheap stuff. (I have no idea why typepad switched fonts on me mid post, but whatever!) I guess I do know why a vineyard is so appealing...

   

 

  the endless sun, the immaculate rows of pruned vines, the silence, the sound of my bicycle rolling down the gravel path to home with my basket full of goodies from the market, oh yes, the food. That reminds me. One of the descriptions in this little book is of a tastey they have twice a month. Pain au chocolat amande.

It is croissant dough spread with almond custard and infused with Valrhona chocolate before being rolled, baked and then sprinkled with slivered almonds and icing sugar. Guess what we are having next weekend! I might never venture to France or have my own little vineyard but our senses can have a little taste ♥

I also was very pleased when after several attempts of trying to get her interested, Avery took a hankering to making some fun hemp and bead goodies this weekend when I nonchalantly set them out. Here is my new bookmark with a cute little fishy. I love it ♥

This week we have not one or two but three! volleyball games. Did I mention my girl made varsity. (a little mama pride plug). We are all very excited to go and root her on!

Have a great Monday all.

♥ me

 

 

C.L.F.

Well, here I am, 6:31 p.m., Thursday night, dinner done! dishes done! big girl at work, little girl homework done! and babysitting at her cousins for a few hours. Sick hubby fed, loved and medicated sitting in lazy chair, feeling better but still sick enough to be in said lazy chair..........grr, (just a little), all in all not a bad situation. I have a bit of free time and decided to post something tonight for tomorrow. Wow.

So what is CLF? Well "Chicken Love Friday" of course ♥ I read so many blogs where the author has chickens, or maybe it is just the blogs that I am so attracted to that have chickens. Anyways, I thought I would start putting up some pictures on Fridays of my "girls". I so enjoy looking and reading about everybody elses feathered friends, I thought maybe you might join me in sharing a picture or a few words about your chicken tales/experiences.

 

  

 "Hey, what are you guys lookin at?"

 I love this cuz the cat is just lounging with the chickens, dog, etc. etc. just a lazy day and some easy farm lovin ♥   

These are from the summer, I have not had time to sit with my girls like I would like to lately.

This is our 3rd year with these hens. Their 3rd summer. They use to produce at least 6 eggs a day. I have 7 hens. Sometimes we use to get 7 a day! Right now and really throughout the summer we were averaging about 4 a day. Not good when you consider how much feed, scratch, oyster shells and natural vegetation that they consume every week. I have asked others who have chickens, but still don't really have any reason for this slacking off in production. I did have a couple of "brooders" this summer but made short work of them, kicking them off the nest every chance I got. Glen has been told by the "chicken dude" he got our chicks from that they start to slack off at about 3 years. REALLY? Come on, I thought it was more like 6 or 7 productive years.  I love these girls but hubby is not to keen on keeping them around very long if they are not doing their part. He wants to get new chicks next year.  I would love to hear anyone else's thoughts or experiences on this.

So I leave you with CLF, hehe.

a lovely friday to you all ...

♥ me

 

 

just your normal Thursday

I wanted to put something in this space this morning. It feels so neglected since school started. So I thought I would just do a little update, short and sweet. Sometimes those are  best.

Glen came home sick Monday after being sick and out of town working for 8 days. Honestly men are such an anomaly to me when they are ill. Tough,(in front of everyone but their family), stubborn,  but with a huge side of cranky and just plain babies. The last two days have been spent taking care of him, missing work yesterday to take him back to the Dr. etc. etc. He doesn't have the swine flu but a bad case of bronchitis with asthma thrown in. Yesterday he got some steroids and after two doses he is like a new person. Now I have a sore throat :) but I KNOW it will be gone tomorrow!

I have had that itchy feeling again. The one where I have been hankering for some new fabric and to sit at my sewing machine again. This change to cooler weather always does it to me. I am going to go to one of my favorite shops after work today and pick out some pretty prints. Yippee! I have started a messenger bag, I will show you that this weekend.

I have made my weekend list, always too much on it to accomplish but I do try. I need to work on not feeling guilty or unproductive if I don't finish it. Who Cares really? the world will keep spinning if I don't deadhead my flower pots afterall.

My tomatos are a abundant and I am going to drag the ole dehydrator out again and make some "sundried" tomatos instead of sauce this year, well, maybe a little sauce too.

I tried to post this the other day. Here goes again. I made this yummy granola for the start of school. We eat it plain or on yogut. It is from here surprisingly. Totally delicious, I think it is the pinch of salt that really makes it pop. 

I also learned how to get the skin off of almonds from my big girl.  Super simple.

 If you don't like skins on your almonds, simply throw them in boiling water for about a minute, but no longer. When they are cool, just sqeeze or rub off the skin. Super easy. I wished that worked with hazel nuts too. They are so messy when you do the roasting method to remove the skins. 

I guess that wasn't so short...

happy thursday.