Stove Top Stories: What Not to Do and How to Fix It

In the event that you should have two stove top disasters in the same week, this posts for you.

I guess I should confess, I have thorn in my flesh; a constant issue in which I never seem to learn. In spite of my mom's advice to never set things on the stove, I have a tendency to burn things that shouldn't be cooked. Exhibit # 4583.

It all started one summer after sixth grade while making Crispy Treats. I placed a large plastic cereal container on top of a wrongly set coil burner.  When I lifted the container to pour the cereal, it all fell out of the bottom instead. I was so distraught I called my friend in a teary panic to come help me clean the burner. She saved the day, and I hid the evidence  my mom never knew.

Our microwave sits above the flat-top stove. On Monday I accidentally overcooked my eyebrow wax (which I also use to remove the mustache and chin whiskers that magically appeared on my 40th birthday.) When I pulled the cup of hot wax out of the microwave it spilled all over the cook top, leaving a big puddle, and lots of splatter. I don't know if you've ever used this wax, but it is stickier than tree sap, and is four-times as thick. I was worried.

The first thing I did was... wax my eyebrows, one has priorities when it comes to unsightly facial hair. 

The second thing I did was the phone-a-friend of the 21st Century: I Googled "How to remove eyebrow wax from cook top," which didn't bring anything up. Amazingly,  I couldn't find another blogger who was silly enough to make the same mistake, and then post it to her blog. But I did find that most facial waxes can be broken down with a little oil. So I took some Canola and poured it right on the cook top. Then I took my heavy-duty, non-scratch, scrub sponge and scrubbed like my mother was on her way home. I did have to use my fingers to rub down the parts that were really thick. Then I wiped the oil off with several paper towels, sprayed the top down with cook-top cleaner, and everything was good....

Until... I decided to make chicken for dinner two days later.

The Girl had decided she was going to make herself an omelet for breakfast. As she was finishing up, I decided to defrost some chicken for dinner later that night. My thawing method has always been: take a few pieces out, place in plastic freezer bag, add marinade, cook later.

Amazingly, plastic bags burn very quickly, and its hard to clean up a scorching stove. After it cooled I thought I could just peel the plastic off, but it wasn't so easy. I used a combination of scraping with a butter knife, scrubbing with the sponge, and turning the heat on for a second or two to soften, but not melt, the plastic. It was considerably more elbow work than the wax, but after I used the cleaning spray, it was as good as new.

Hopefully this will be my last post on burning plastic on the stove top... but we all know it won't.

And, if you've found this post because you are in the same situation...Good Luck!

Coveting Thy Neighbors Front-Loader

When our dryer went up in smoke last week I was thankful my home hadn't burned down.

Today I have an issue...

When things in my life have ever broken down (or spontaneously combusted, as it may be) my gut-reaction is to replace it. Out with the scorched. In with the new!


I'm slowly learning when things go awry in life (or the laundry room) there is often more than one solution. The best part? In the process of the final solution, you may pick up a skill or two.

Or at least your husband will.

For instance, The Mister could write volumes on how to repair a washing machine when it goes out. Or how to replace a sink. Or fix stucco when your wife backs her car into the side of the house.

He might call it : Fixing the Mess She's Got Herself Into.


I'd call it: Helping him see his Mr. Fix-It potential.

He's handy around the house... especially when I give him the time to figure things out; when I give thought to what might be another (less expensive) solution.

When my dryer set itself on the path of a slow burning inferno I put this lesson practice. I wasn't going to rush to the department store, I was going to let my man handle it! Wasn't that amazing?

Well, no, actually it wasn't.

Enter the front-loader.

This morning, after a laundry-lapse of 84 hours it was time to call on the kindness of our neighbor.

Mrs. E is a wonderful lady who I've written about before. She loves on my kids, is kind to my man, and has generously treated us as family. She gives treats to my dog, cuts fresh flowers from her garden for others to enjoy, and she has the most beautiful front-loading washer and dryer I have ever seen.

This morning I walked across the woods, arms straining to carry a basket full of laundry, with school-girl giddiness. I had been there a couple years back when the delivery truck pulled up Mrs E's driveway and unloaded the precious metal machine duo. I've been eying them ever since.

I'm just gonna spill my guts to you this morning and admit I made a wish right then and there, that my machine would die... so I could get a match-set too.

Before you judge, just remember, that was before I was using my powers of messing-things-up for good.

Honestly, this pearly white, energy-efficient, super-capacity, intelligent-timing, moisture sensing, with 9-cycles and 6- temperature settings might as well be my neighbors ox or donkey.

Have I mentioned how quiet it is? How it practically folds the clothes for you? How I have done four days worth of laundry in less than four hours because of its amazing ability to dry a load of laundry in less than hour?

I want  am enjoying that machine.

The Mister ordered the new parts he's replacing for our old dryer. They should arrive in the mail today or tomorrow.  I'm pretty sure its going to fix our issue.

The question is: Will it fix mine?

Happy Monday!

Birds of a Feather

Weeks ago I read a blog post that solved my Great Dilemma.

I have a daughter who is cultivating a two-year fascination with mermaids.

Two years ago we saw a movie called Aquamarine about a mermaid of the blonde persuasion who had a lovely blue streak in her hair.

This little blue lock of tress made quite an impact on my (then) nine-year old and the campaign for azure adornment was born.

For two years she was denied.

Just when she had nearly worn me down I came upon this post and instantly I knew: Feathers were the answer.

So I did what any mom of a tween-ager does: I Googled it.

Within days I had The Girl sitting in a posh salon where, for three-minutes and twenty-bucks, you could have your blue streaks... and your feathers too. It's quick, and easy, and best of all not permanent.

I watched the stylist put this thing in her hair and the mantra I have on a day-to-day basis began to chant in my head: I could make do this!

All it took was a feather, some hair, a small crochet hook, a pair of pliers and a special bead to attach it with...I had everything but the feather and bead.

So I came home and ordered some.

They've been sitting on my bathroom counter for a couple of weeks.

One of the great joys of my life is to think up things to do and say that will make my kids laugh.

Yesterday morning after drying my hair I had a brilliant idea: put one of those dark feathers in your hair and see how long it takes for the kids to notice.


(This was going to be WAY more fun than that time I put googly eyes on their toothbrushes.)

As I was putting in my purple plumes I had a flashback to my college days when I had come home and was searching for snack in my parents kitchen. My dad walked in and asked about my day, when i looked up he had a small gold-ball piercing... in his nose.

In the moments that passed (that felt like hours) I contemplated my response... this was the man who told my brothers that if they ever came home with a pierced ear they better be wearing a dress. This was the man who had long let us know that his preference was that we keep our tattoos and piercing down to a minimum... but here he was with a ring in his nose.

But before I could say anything he started to laugh in the quiet way my daddy does... laughing, laughing laughing... while I wondered if he was having a crises. Oh, he was tickled with himself.

Turns out he had found a magnetized earring and bought it. Hours later I was in my room studying when I heard my brother walk in the front door and say, "Dad! What is that in your nose?!?!"

And the laughing commenced... still makes me laugh today.

All feathered and ready I ran downstairs waiting for someone (anyone!) to find it.

They are subtle...

Nobody noticed until late in the night and by that time I had forgotten.

They laughed (a little), and declared it looked "cool."

I guess for big laughs nose-rings are best.

I had decided I would take them out, but The Boy said, "Why mom? I think they look nice." So I am going to keep them for a day or two... or at least until co-op starts in September.

Who knows? Maybe I'll start a trend with all the other housewives and home-educators. You know what they say.....birds of a feather.

~~~~~~~

PS: It was recently brought to my attention that I make a "funny scrunchy-face." When I asked The Mister if this was true he said, "Oh yeah, that's classic Kellie."  So Becky, this is for you:

Never Smile at a Crocodile...

The words to that old Disney song are true: 

Don't be taken in by his welcome grin, 

He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin.

But my Crocodile is the friendly-sort of crocodile.

I'll prove it: 

He does dishes...

He folds laundry...

He keeps me company while working-out and surfing the net...

The best thing of all? He's agreed to do all my lesson planning for the rest of the year.

No crocodile tears here...

Oh yeah, and he's a vegetarian. Good thing my tomatoes are a-plenty in the garden these days.

Would YOU like to have your own friendly crocodile? 

Of course you would! 

Click on over to the Cult of Crochet. I found this post yesterday and immediately started to work. She has written an excellent tutorial for a Crocodile Scarf. This was my "prototype". Which is fancy way of saying: The compulsive crafter that lives in me had to make that crocodile ASAP!, so I started without any thought to having enough yarn to complete it. (Which is why he is only a foot and half long and has a different colored snout)

Instead of scarf he's just a friendly crocodile...

SUPREMELY Calm

In a cleaning frenzy I found an old spiral-bound notebook from a Spanish class in college.

Its filled with lots of verbs and spanish sentence structure and all the obvious things (as well as an unfinished love note to my then boyfriend (The Mister). But my favorite parts of looking back are the pages where I had obviously copied notes from the board. Notes that were in English.

Although I don't remember this class, nor taking these notes, its safe to assume my professor believed in the power of positive thinking.

The first is dated 1/13/94:

Recognition for Super Learning


I can do it. 
Now I am achieving my goals.
Learning is something I highly enjoy.
Learning and remembering are easy for me.
My mind moves efficiently, effectively.
I am supremely calm.

On January 20 it was test time...

Affirmations for the Test: 
I recognize the right answers at the right time.
I remember all I need to know.
I am supremely confidant.
My memory is alert my mind is powerful.

This just makes me giggle. Not because I don't believe in thinking positively. (I do!) Mostly because I know these weren't my thoughts... nor has my verbiage (then or now) been so harmonious and tranquil.

Today I am choosing to bake some highly enjoyable Mexican pastries... not just because The Boy is sick, making staying home to bake easy for me, but because I can do it, I am achieving my goals, and carbs make me supremely calm.

10 Minute Post: GO!

3:32p

I just brushed my teeth.

My schedule is wonky, and it makes me ambivalent.

I should have shipped all my kids off to everywhere before the craft show or after the 2011-2012 curriculum came in so I could use this time to focus on getting a project done.

Instead I have folded all the laundry, cleaned all the house. Had coffee with a friend. Read a book. Started 10 games of Words with Friends (LaVidaCoffeeGal - if you'd like to play)....and brushed my teeth.

Oh, and I finished off the box of chocolate covered almonds...thank goodness they're gone.


Of course, I have no idea what's for dinner.

But, it doesn't matter because now I am headed out the door, picking up The Boy and headed to the pool...Oh! I'm so excited to see people!

Times up! Gotta go!

3:42p

Just Another Post About Bathing Suits and Chocolate

Will someone please tell me to back away from the chocolate covered almonds?

Seriously, who bought those things anyway?

I'm not talking a small-packet that makes one look dainty. Oh no! Its a big box, the kind you see at The Costco's (as they call it around here.)

It's that same two-pound box of candy I've spent years looking at telling myself we didn't "need" them.

I didn't "need" them, but I bought them anyway. Because I could.

Until yesterday the container sat virtually untouched. 

But SUDDENLY, the Chocolate Covered Almond Monster is awake in me and they're the only sustenance that will see me through. 

Anyway, I didn't call you here today to talk to you about my dietary habits, as wonderful as they are...I've called you here today for reasons that... illude me.  

Yes, I have settled in at this shiny screen and keyboard and my thoughts have dashed from the room.

I blame it on 14 years of trying to have a conversation in the presence of children. I don't believe I've had a conversation that included a complete sentence, much less an entire thought, since that first home-pregnancy test showed up positive. 

Speaking of positive (and since I've forgotten what I've come here for) let me tell you about my new bathing suit. 

Every year I fret and worry about the bathing suit dilemma. 

I know I have no earthly reason to worry. I know all the "right things" to think about myself when it comes to body contentment, but if I am honest (and you know that I do my best to be) I am THE MOST self-conscious person known to women when it comes wearing a bathing suit. (Or anything else that risks the exposure of bun's and thigh's.)

My answer to the dilemma this year was to find a suit that covered the areas that cause me the most grief (be it rational or not) and be D-O-N-E with it. 

So I did.  

Of course I delayed this task by putting off the bathing suit shopping spree for several weeks - and I mustn't fail to mention that when deciding to take on this monumental project, I found knee-jerk pluckiness and decided to take my kids with me. 

I'm telling you, bathing suits make me c-r-a-z-y, with a hefty portion of CRAZY.

While The Boy tried to keep a low profile and texted his friends of the unfairness of being trapped in the ladies department, his sister tried on every old-lady hat that sparkled and shined -and then knocked on my dressing room door every two minutes so I could "see". 

Which made for fun times. 

But with relative ease (in spite of the circumstances) I bought this top and this bottom both from Lands End on sale. 

Y'all its a lot of suit. 

And, in a GREAT turn of events, (are you sitting down?) I bought this bathing ensemble in the cool color of Pool Blue - stepping out of the black-on-black box I've lived in since I was 16, when the Sassy magazine (do you remember Sassy?)  told me that black will make you look skinny. A "guideline" that I hadn't quite realized had become law in my life.  

Yup. I bought that big'ole Pool Blue bathing suit and figured I'd just put it on and enjoy the pool (and the people in it!) and not worry one-bit about what I looked like. 

Can I tell you this is the best decision and purchase I've made all year? 

Not only did my already-so-vain-ego get a boost by all the sweet compliments I received, but it felt SO good to not be worried in the slightest about all that garbage that fills my head when I am running all over the pool in a suit that makes my thoughts run amuck and puts my focus on the wrong things. 

Instead of worrying about buns and thighs, I just chased kids and had fun.   

There is a first for everything. 

Now, where are those almonds?

The Summer of the Reptile

I had to rob Peter to pay Paul so I could post today.

My wireless keyboard wouldn't type and I desperately needed two AAA batteries. So I robbed the TV remote to pay the keyboard.

But this is not what I've come to tell you today.

I've come to talk to you about reptiles (and maybe an amphibian or two)...

The summer is a plethora of slithery animals here in the piney woods of North Carolina, and I wouldn't mind them so much if they didn't seem so intent on invading my life. Of course, some would argue that it is I that have invaded upon the space of the fork-tongued reptilians, but I say tom-ay-to/to-mah-to...who pays the mortgage on this acre in the woods?

You may have guessed that I am not a fan of things that slither and crawl.

 I have managed to produce not one, but two, offspring that think lizards and snakes are amazing creatures that must be caught.

Case in point:

Meet the Blue-Tailed skinks.

Or the brown lizards.

There was much worry about one of these lizards due to the unfortunate loss of his back leg.

The Girl was particularly concerned and wanted to keep him in a lap of lizard luxury for the loss of his lower leg.

Uh, that would be a negative.

Stumpy's stump had already healed over. He didn't need our TLC. Plus, that bowl they were keeping their tiny treasures caged in is one I really wanted back.

After the lizards we had three visitors on the same afternoon:

A turtle, bigger than a dinner plate, wandered into the street in front of our house. We live two houses down from a pond. At this time of year the turtles come out from hibernation and forget which direction the pond is supposed to be. We took this guy back to the water, and he immediately swam to safety.

We also had frogs:

I don't really mind these critters as much. Don't get me wrong I'm not going to hold them or invite them over for tea, but the kids enjoy catching them and looking at them for awhile.

What I do mind is when a four foot snake is climbing a tree...

 Did you know snakes could climb tree's?

Yeah, me neither.

They can. And they do.

I know these guys are good for the garden. But seriously, I do not like snakes that climb on trees.

I do not like snakes that help in the garden.

I do not like snakes.

Oh, it's gonna be a long summer.

Storms

Sleep was elusive last night.

I lay in the bed while the wind howled around the Little Yellow House on the Hill.

Tornado watch till 2am the weatherman said....

I looked at the clock: 10:00p, 11:00p, midnight.

I tossed and turned.

Something kept bumping down the hall. Noises that were strange filled my ears.

2:00a, - Tornado watch pushed back to noon.

3:00a.

With the windows open the wind pushed back and forth on my son's closed bedroom door, making silent thumps. I got up to close his window.

4:00a - thunder and lightening. More wind.

I checked my iPad all night to make sure there wasn't a tornado headed our way. I tried to figure out a plan to reach the kids should we have to run to safety downstairs.

I thought about the families here that have already lost so much.

I wondered if those 80 ft. Carolina Pines would hold to the ground. Wondered if they would fall through the house with ease.

Yes, fear spun the wheels of my mind and sleep was elusive.

It reminded me of the time 30-years ago as I stood in our enclosed porch in my pajama's. We lived on 19th St. and the desert monsoons were making their way over the mountains. I watched a very tall, skinny, Palm Tree get hit by lightening and go up in flames.

Yesterday on our way to co-op lightening hit a gigantic hard wood tree and a limb of the tree fell to the street below, rendering the road blocked. This limb was so large it could have easily covered a car or two. We were there just seconds before it happened.

ZAP!! Towers of strength reduced to kindling.

I thought of those summers in Texas when the tornado sirens would sound and we'd snatch the kid's bodies from the bed and sit in the bathroom till the storm was over.

Why do these storms seem to happen in the dark of night?

All these scenes moved around with the wind and became bigger than life in my mind.

I prayed and tossed and tried to close my eyes.

I was never so glad for daylight.

Thursday Thyroids and Other Fine Things

The good news is that I feel a little better today.

The bad news is that I sound worse.

This morning I sat in the pediatric dentists office trying to act inconspicuous. I tried really hard to act casual while hacking up a lung.

I felt pretty confident that I was doing a good job until a lady with her adorable 6 year old boy walked in the room. Which is actually a funny story....

The nurse asked this women if it was all right to take her son's bite-wing x-rays. The mom answered in a tone that was highly patronizing and very loud, "Please be sure to cover his..." and then she waved her hand in a circle around the lower portion her own body.

The nurse respectfully replied, "Oh yes, don't worry, we use a lead apron."

The mom condescendingly says, "well, be sure to cover his thyroids."

I began to wonder if she was confusing one body part for the others.

Anyway, this same mom was giving me the evil eye when I had a small coughing fit. Luckily, my kids appointment was quick (no cavities, HOORAY!) and we were able to make a swift exit.

You know, I should probably give this women the benefit of the doubt. Maybe her son has health issues, maybe she's just really concerned about radiation, but speaking kindly to others isn't all that hard.

Since I have had some time on my hands this week I decided to make a couple of Easter Baskets.

I hooked up these super-easy easy baskets using this pattern.

The blue one is done with only two strands of yarn (instead of three as the pattern suggests.)

The pink one was actually an entire skein of yarn that I hooked into one long single-chain. I had seen this technique done one other projects and wanted to try it out (instead of using separate strands). I wouldn't do it again for this kind of project - maybe it was just the wrong kind of yarn for that technique, but it made things difficult.

So that's it, the good the bad and the crafty.

I cannot wait to show you the pictures I took outside this morning of my garden flowers. Oh! they are nice...but until then the picture above is actually from my neighbors yard (every year she catches me taking photos in her yard, and she doesn't even mind!)....spring is in full bloom!

Until tomorrow...

For the Birds

Good mornin'!

I'm feeling a bit giddy this morning. Not sure if its the end of the second (18 oz) cup of coffee, or if its the copious amounts of decongestants I am currently taking....either way, I'm certain this post is about to be wide open and a bit unpredictable.

For instance, my chest is on fire.

Not literally on fire, but I have this horrible cough that has worsened each day. I sound like I've been smoking since I was 10. (And, please mom and dad, lets not go into that story when I tried smoking when I was 10 - the boys made me do it.)

Actually, I was more like 15 and I totally blamed my brothers. But here's the deal, they were 10 and 13 years old, and not smart enough to hide the evidence, so they got caught. Knowing they might rat me out, I confessed.

Plus, I didn't really smoke anyway. I didn't inhale.

I have cancelled all outings for today in an attempt to get well.

I should have done that yesterday, but I had to get the kids Easter clothes.

I love having both a girl and boy. Shopping for clothes is a comedy routine in action. The Girl is going from rack to rack, mixing and matching every combination of skirt and tops. She wonders if she should choose something more dressy, or go with something more spring-like so she can wear it more often.

The Boy walks over to two racks within arms reach of each other. He chooses a pair of cargo pants with one hand and a polo with another. Neither one match, nor are in his size, but he throws it in the cart and says, "This'll work, cuz i can ride my bike in these and not get too hot."

At this point The Girl walks up, her hands filled with 18 items of clothing and begins to let her brother know that those shorts, (although grey in color) has a "green tinge to it and simply won't work with that shirt."

This is where eye rolling commences.

I was dying with laughter, and my hackers cough.

We managed to get The Boy sorted out and purchased everything we needed. I am certain they will both look very nice for Easter Sunday.

Whelp, this post is kind of getting long, but I just have to share with you this new App my friend told me about last weekend: Chirp! Lite

Its a bird calling app and I can't be certain, but I think I may now be in a relationship with an Eastern Townee (or E.T.) He looks a lot like this:

(Photo by PIWO)

I do know that this sweet bird and I are on speaking terms because for the last four mornings I have taken my breakfast outside and used the app to call to E.T., and he flies to the tree in front of our home, and talks back!

I will admit, it feels a little scandalous to be talking with birds during the season of twitterpation (what movie does that word come from?) but the birds really do talk back.

Another free app I am really enjoying (and its also a website) is MyFitnessPal. Y'all know that I have struggled in the past with body image and food issues, but the truth is that I have put on a few pounds and my clothes are snug. It was time to find some accountability and get back into shape.

My friend (and accountability partner!) told me about MyFitness Pal and I have been keeping track for the last week or so and I LOVE it. My goal is to loose 1/2 - 1 pound per week. This is very slow, but I don't want to make myself crazy I just want to get back on track. If you happen to be a MFP user, my account name is: LVCG.

All righty, its time for some oatmeal and to hang out with E.T.

Happy Wednesday!

Quitter: This Time I REALLY Mean It - I Think

Sometime at the beginning of the year I cut out these fabric strips in hopes that I would make a table runner for my formal dining room.

I keep meaning to tell you that I finished it!

It had been on my queue for so long and truthfully, I was procrastinating.

I enjoy making the quilt tops but I have never had a quilt-binding process come out successfully. Or at least, I had never done binding without a great deal of cussing.

My friend (and talented quilter) came over for lunch and (wanting desperately to finish) I asked her to help me. So she WILLINGLY showed me how to do this process the right way. Which included learning how to pin things together correctly. This required being on the floor kneeling over all the fabric and batting.

Did I mention my friend was nine-months pregnant? I felt slightly guilty about that... obviously guilt is not a good motivator in my life for doing the right thing. Especially when it comes to completing sewing projects.

However, now when I look at this table-runner I have happy memories of our time together...so I guess it's a win-win situation - especially for me.

After this project I had decided that I wasn't gifted in the arena of quilt making and that I was officially going to be a quilt quitter. 

Actually I say that after all the quilts I make, and I've made a few wonky looking blankets that are kind of like ugly-ducklings: Loved for their charm and the work put into them, not so much for the outward appearance. 

But now that I know how to bind them correctly (and I have a new walking-foot for my machine) I'm gonna try again.

Exhibit A:

These are Log Cabin blocks.

I have a baggillion scraps from various projects so my hope is to make a scrap-quilt. These blocks are SUPER easy. Here is a great tutorial if you are interested.

I made a practice one (the pink), And then I made another one in browns/greens. I think I will dig through the stash boxes and see what I can come up with... Anyone interested in doing a Log Cabin Quilt over the summer? We could slowly and surely work on it and then have a day (in the fall) when we all reveal our new quilts?

All righty! I've GOT to hit the elliptical this morning. I have continued to eat like I am on vacation since my trip to NYC three weeks ago. If I don't stop I am going to have to quilt myself a new pair of jeans, because the ones I put on yesterday were so-very-tight that I ended up wearing lounge-pants all day.  

Eating sensibly'll have to wait until after lunch though... I've got company coming for lunch, and it is my duty as a hospitable southern woman to serve BALT's (bacon/avocado/lettuce/tomato/sandwiches) without worries of the waistline.

(Oh, and also, there will be homemade cookies. I am not sure which kind of homemade cookie - but I'm leaning toward these: Click here.)

....jeans shmeans.

Happiest of Fridays to you!

Work In Progress: Creative Accouterment

If you sat in the chair that sits behind the work table in my office, this is what you'd see:

Yarn for my current (long-term) project on the ironing board, stacked on borrowed books (on crochet)...for the next project.

Google eyes - because a crafter's studio is never complete without them.

The brightly colored washcloths are for an Easter project. If you look carefully behind that coffee cup you can see it's dark pink ears poking through (tutorial to come.) Also for this project: rubber bands, plastic eggs and poof balls.

Speaking of bunnies....There is another bunny of the white-paper-kind hidden somewhere in the photo. Can you find him? (Origami tutorial also to come)

If you are expecting a package from me...its in the mail. Literally. Whew! I hope its everything you wanted and more, even if it wasn't when you wanted it.

Tucked between the table and the plastic eggs are the chenille stems in pastel colors...I bought them for no other reason than the fact that they were beautiful (and calling to me like a long-lost child). Also, I really enjoying saying the words: chenille stems. Love that.

The pink hat is a commissioned piece and I now I must do the hardest part of the whole project, deciding which flowers to adorn it with...really, its tough to decide.

So that is a snapshot of my early Wednesday morning. Must go wake up those kiddos and get todays party started. Which unfortunately has nothing to do with my office, or art supplies, or crafting of any kind...unless you happen to find some sort of creative inspiration from the Punic Wars and ancient Roman armor.

In that case, you'll need a lot more google eyes and chenille stems.

Happy day!

Spring Fever

I really should be teaching my kids grammar right now.

Obviously, this is not the case.

In my defense, its a beautiful, warm (nearly 83 degrees as I type) and the kids asked to out outside. Honestly, at this time of the year, its really hard for me to motivate them because I am not motivated to stay indoors either.

This afternoon I was in a dilemma. The kids were finished with all other subjects, and this last lesson was dependent on me.

I could make them come in to learn the *whole system and structure of a language, or of languages in general, usually taken as consisting of syntax and morphology (including inflections) and sometimes also phonology and semantics.


Or I could let them play (since tomorrow looks like rain) and hope that when they goes to college they're learned to speak good... in spite of their mom's spring fever.

I'll take my chances. Let 'em play.






*Thank you Google search on "what is grammar?".

Plans Change

Beautiful day.

Worked hard.

Finished school.

Baked brownies.

Threw bikes

In car. 

Drove to

New sights.

Took kids. 

They rode.

I ran.

Set pace. 

Feeling good.

Five minutes.

Chain breaks.

Walk back.

Drive home.

Smell chocolate.

Finish run?

Uh, no.

Brew coffee.

Eat brownie.

Enjoy life.

Try again,

On morrow.

Plans change.

It's Over

I don't want to sound dramatic, but it's over. 

Here I am, on this cold, dark, dreary (possibly snowy) morning and I can't believe that Spring Break 2011 has come and gone.

It feels like I blinked my eyes, and it all went by. I let my guard down and it passed without a moments notice.

And yet...

So may things happened. I traveled. A baby was born. I made dinners and desserts. I planted seeds and crocheted, and finished projects that need to mailed. I've watched more basketball this week than I have since 1997. I hung out with good friends and watched movies with The Girl.

I slept in, I slept in, I slept in.

Six o'clock came early this morning.

There are a few things I managed to avoid this week that are first on my agenda today...folding piles of clean laundry (to empty baskets for laundry currently being washed), getting to the gym, and cleaning out the refrigerator (a chore that I do often but always seems to "grow".)

Its not a glamorous life, but its steady work. What more could I ask for?

Well, maybe longer vacations.

Happy Monday!

The Best Time To Play is With Time You Don't Have

Seriously.

I should not be typing at you.

In between washing towels and sheets and preparing for a slumber party with six choir gals from Iowa, I'm running to orthodontists, Girls Scouts, the grocery store and trying to educate my children.

Oh yeah, and I should probably clean out my mini-van...because something has died in there.

Since time is of the essence, when I unfolded and filled five air mattresses with air we had plenty-o-time to set up for a photo-op.

Who can possibly have that many air mattresses and not take ten minutes to set up a scene from the Princess and the Pea?

Do you see the pea down there?

Of course, it would have been more authentic had we 95 more beds, but this was what we had. So we went with it.

Very often I get emails and comments that say you love seeing snippets of everyday life, and this is it.

I would show you the interior of the mini-van, but pride gets in the way.

And that, my friends is as real as it gets.

(The Boy, not wanting to be left out gave you his best thirteen-year old "peace" sign. I told him to smile...so he gave me the cheesy grin.)

Back to work!


PS: If you are a blogger, and I used to read your blog....I swear there will be a day when I actually READ blogs again! I have been peeking in from time to time but not commenting....which is so sad! Soon summer will be here and I will be able to respond properly...until then please know that I AM thinking about you!

Signs of Spring

I know that spring is nearly here when I see these things...

The Boy just sitting outside in the sunshine.

(Later I found that Kona the Wondermutt had decided to join him for a little time in the sun.)

They then became aware of the paparazzi.

Kona sticks her tongue out to the camera.

Kona asked that this unflattering picture not be put on the internet, but since she continues to get on the couch when we are not home, all bets are off.

Ok, ok, Kona would like this picture posted so you know that she is really excited about St. Patricks Day. (Just between you and me....she thinks she is Irish, and I don't have the heart to remind her that she's Australian. So we just let her think what she wants.)

We are also growing a carrot top for our beloved Penny. (she likes the tops the best)

After-all, what is springtime without a floppy eared rabbit?

Especially one who adores banana's?

Is she not the cutest. little. thing? 

The reason we took this video is that we were hoping to record her 'hum'. When she eats something she REALLY loves, or when you give her lots of attention, she will do this buzzing kind of hum. Its the sweetest thing.

Have I mentioned that I love this bunny?

I try really hard not to show my favoritism around the Wondermutt. 

(Uh, actually, I don't. Sometimes favoritism is just apart of pet ownership. I mean who wouldn't favor "I just went out in the yard and rolled in poop" over  "I'm cute and fuzzy, trained to a litter box and give myself my own baths."

But that's for another post.

More signs of spring?

Daffodils that grow all over the yard. 

But the best part of spring (and also maybe the worst) is that I start to sound silly. 

In case you couldn't tell.

Happy Tuesday!

Crunchitized Capitulation

(Or Another "Never" Bites the Dust)

I've said it before, there are a million-in-one things I said I would never do as a mother.

If I have any advice for a young mom it's this: Never say never.

Case in point...

I never buy sugary cereal.

My kids learned early on that if they wanted sugar-in-a-bowl they better go see their Granny (who will have the Coco Puffs and Lucky Charms ready and waiting upon our visits.)

I have been known to occasionally buy Cinnamon Toast Crunch for road trips, but thats about it.

Last weekend, The Boy celebrated the birthday of a friend at a sleep-over.

He came home singing the praises of Captain Crunch.

I spent the next 72 hours flashing back to the good-ole-days growing up in Southern Arizona.

I'm talkin' way back... when I had to walk to and from school, in the scorching desert, without any shoes, up-hill both ways, through a cactus field. This was in the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth and we had to actually get up from the couch to turn the channel-knob on the TV, and had feathered/permed hair held together with purple cans of AquaNet.

But I digress.....

You see, when I was a kid I had a cereal secret. Occasionally my mom would buy the sugary boxed goodness, but I didn't care for them. Well, I didn't care for parts of them.

For instance, I loved the marshmallows in Lucky Charms, and I loved the berries in Captain Crunch Berries, so I ate them. Yes, I shook the box all around and reached my mitts into that box until every last crunchy marshmallow and berry was found.

To make matters worse, when someone else opened the box to find it void of the better parts, I blamed my two younger brothers.

I know you cannot believe that I would stoop to such deception. It's true that I was a perfect child, with exception of that whole cereal-liar part.

Cereal liar....I crack myself up.

Anyway, when The Boy came home asking if I would buy Captain Crunch, I told him no.

However...upon further thought, this simple inquiry flooded me with nostalgia. I wouldn't buy Captain Crunch, but Captain Crunch Berries? Well, that's a different story.

We got ourselves a box.

His first bowl of Captain Crunch Berries

I ate them in a most civilized matter...in a bowl, with a very sophisticated cup of coffee, with my pinky-finger waving in the air. Actually, I guess the most civilized way would have been to use a spoon...some habits are hard to break.

Back in the day, the only berries were the red ones, and the berry-to-crunch ratio was a lot lower. Now there are multiple colored berrries, and much more of them. At first I wasn't sure I liked it.

But for the record, I do. 

Ten Things That Make Me Smile

1. Kitty trays given and used with love.

My friend Alison received this many years ago as a wedding gift. She loves it, and uses it, and giggles over it.

Her guests do too.

2.  Cozies...with a Zed... that find their new homes.

3. Friends who pray when asked.

4. Preteen girls, who still holds her daddy's hand.

5. Teenage boys who still climb trees.

6. Birthday's and babies...

7. ...and project's in between.

8. My messy recipe box...with treasures from friends far and near.

9. Corn Bread Cake - baked and ready for company tonight (it will be hard not to cut into it)

10. A Texas Dinner Party - tonight we are having dinner with an older couple we have never met with face-to-face...so I'm rolling out the big guns with some Texas Style Brisket, Corn Bread Cake, Salad, and Green Beans... with Berry Cobbler for dessert.

Makes me miss the Lone Star State - (shout out to all my Texas peeps! I miss you!)