So, I made the time and took the effort to put some of the sewing stash my mom gave me to good use.
Firecracker has a million toys.
And I have a son and husband who are allergic to clutter. Which means that at various times, some of Firecracker's toys get boxed/bagged up and unceremoniously dumped in the basement, leaving practically none of her toy sets intact.
So this week, I pulled them allll up from the basement, which made Firecracker very happy, made my husband and son twitch, and made the living room look like a toy explosion went off.
I'm using various fabrics and trims to make draw-string bags to contain sets that no longer have containers anymore. For starters, there's this memory game from my childhood. I loved that game. The box bit the dust at least a decade ago. It's been living in a quart ziploc bag, which is functional, but not fun. I even used an old sheet from the stash to make bias tape for the string. You like its new home?
Currently working on bags for the Noah's Ark, the wood play food, the play dishes, and the bug puzzle thingies.
So, I have trouble remembering things (who doesn't), and I lose my focus as I get tired in the evening (again, you don't?). But sometimes, when I'm tired, if I get interrupted, it's so hard to get mentally back where I was, as to be nigh impossible. Imagine if you had to pull the fridge out from the wall every time you wanted a drink of milk, because the door was in the back. Like that. You'd stop drinking milk, wouldn't you?! he he
I find that if I need more than one thing at the grocery store, I have to write it down. (I shouldn't be going if I only need one thing, but that's another matter.) Often, when I walk into the next room to do/get something, I not only forget what it was before I get there, but I've forgotten THAT I WAS DOING ANYTHING AT ALL, and just sort of come up with something else, because a mother's work is never done, after all, so it's not like I'm wandering aimlessly, without a thought in my noggin. Yet.
So, would you be worried? I'm thinking about having an evaluation by a psychologist, since my insurance will likely pay, for memory and adult ADD.
And I thought you might be interested in why I'm such a flake. Be warned, if I suggest I'll do something or give something to you and I don't get around to it, REMIND ME! HA HA HA I probably just FORGOT! ;)
This is probably one of the biggest "ta-das" ever for me. I finished The Christmas Stocking! My Grandma, who passed away about 2 years ago, knitted these stockings, personalized, for all of her kids and grandkids, and their spouses, and for the great-grandkids that were born before she died. Anyone know how many that is?
Anyway, it took me three years. I have decided that I suck at intarsia, but I'm willing to work on improving at it, so I can make these for any other family members who may want them.
This is the last video I took of my roosters before they went to their new home. I have a feeling that the gray one will be a bit of a bully. Can you hear him growling? I didn't know roosters growled! Good thing he'll have acres to roam!
OK, no more chicken videos for a while, I promise! I will, however, be getting new hens in a week or two. "Light Brahmas," who have feathers on their feet. I know! How fun is that!
Well, we really didn't have a vacation, but since it's back to school time, I thought I'd use that old cliche. What have I been up to?
Giving away roosters, for one. Remember those six cute little girl chickens who were supposed to lay eggs for me right about now? Well, FIVE of them turned out to be roosters. They crowed, and were promptly given away. Three of my neighbor's bedrooms windows face my back yard, so even if I had wanted to keep a rooster (which I don't), I couldn't. The rooster across the street that crows all morning, afternoon and night would have set off quite a phenomema, I'm sure. I miss them. They were all so pretty, and came out when I called "Hi girls!" every day. Even though they weren't girls....
Firecracker also celebrated her third birthday.
I haven't harvested much from the garden apart from the rhubarb and broccoli. The tomatoes are producing, but not ripening. It might help if I remembered to water them. We've had enough green beans for one dinner. Gosh, they're good pan fried in butter with garlic and salt. mmmm
We had your various colds, flus and stomach bugs. Enjoyed the hammock. Started letting the cats outside, even though we vowed to make these cats indoor-only, since the other 3 cats we've had in this house died from cars or poison.... Because we can't keep them in! They are driven to be outside; they love it; it completes their "catness," to borrow a phrase from Joel Salatin. So, our girl cat got herself, well, we're having kittens sometime soon.
My middle-school aged daughter, who has been exclusively homeschooled since second grade, is attending middle school part time. She selected art, guitar and PE. I was hoping that they would not be able to accomodate those classes all next to each other, so she would have to choose, but the school was very accomodating. She's so happy with the situation. So I am, too.
I'll be teaching another class at the homeschool co-op, like I did last year. This time around it will be writing for 11-14 year olds, rather than math/science. Still pulling it together!! It will be a blast, I'm sure. I intend to make it all about fun, enthusiasm, getting the words out and building confidence, and not so much about grammar, spelling and revision. That will come later when they're all fired up about writing!
My oldest got his drivers' license, and oh, my, does he think that we all three licensed drivers should share the car equally. *rolls eyes* Working on that. He's a junior this year, and doing well in school so far. Taking percussion, which is his first formal music instruction, believe it or not. He has natural rhythm, and is driven when something is important to him, so I know he will thrive.
Well, that's my summer in a nutshell. More to come on NVC and whatever else strikes my fancy. See you soon!
Two heads harvested 2 days ago, 2 more yesterday. Eight plants with large heads left, plus all the offshoots we can get until it gets impractical! I love broccoli.
I was going to link to some educational sites, so those of you not already acquainted with vermiculture, or worm composting, could decide for yourselves if I was cracked or not. You can google it. I have gotten most of my information at redwormcomposting.com, but there are a surprising number of places online to learn about worms as pets!
OK, they're not exactly pets. I don't hold them or pet them. But I do talk to them. :) Basically, you give them some kitchen waste (veggie only, no animal stuff, except egg shells are ok, and they don't like citrus, either) and they magically turn it into the best, absolute most nutrient-packed black gold plant food there is.
But how do you separate worms from their poop? You pour the gook onto some newspaper in the shape of a cone, and they naturally burrow to the center, where it's darkest. They hate light. Then you slowly take off the edges and top, and they keep going to the center. They you put the worms back into their house, with some new bedding (moist newspaper or such), and some more food. And you put the worm poop, or compost, onto your favorite vegetabel plants in the garden.
