Simple Joys

Big Sigh. I just finished washing the dishes (from today and last night). While I will admit that washing dishes is one of my least favorite responsibilities, probably from doing them so often during the day, I have to add what a pleasure it is to wake up to a sparkling clean kitchen. My day seems to progress so much smoother when my kitchen is clean first thing in the morning. I think I resist getting out of bed when there are dishes to be done instead of making coffee.
Don't you agree that this makes a much better start to the day?
So my joy tonight is a clean kitchen first thing in the morning.

Working on it

I feel that this should be my new theme phrase. I am constantly telling myself and others that I am working on it. It has been a variety of things lately. Today IT included picking up a check from one of Hubs customers, talking to The Mama on the phone, visiting the library, chatting with Dad & Col. My favorite IT was working on the embroidered napkins for christmas. I have 2 & 1/2 done. The best one is the one I am working on right now. I found a little more inspiration at the library and love using french knots as a filler stitch. So cute. Time consuming. But cute. Pictures when I have all 4 done (tomorrow?)

Furniture Musical Chairs

In preparation for the Montessori Method being introduced into our home (in January) Hubs and I have made a few furniture decisions. A dresser was purchased recently at a yard sale for $20. This will allow our little guy to have access to his clothes and be able to start down the path to clothing independence. (Won't that be a joyous day?) I am also thinking of doing a little spray paint and drawer front decoupage. Anyone have any thoughts on painting veneer?This also freed up the armoire to become our new entertainment center. (Can you tell that I am jumping up and down with excitement?) Once the to do list becomes more manageable I will be giving this piece a little Rehab a la Kimba. I have some stain, hardware & fabric in mind. Just wait and see what happens to it next spring.











Now I only want to repurpose 1 nightstand (by the backdoor for a landing zone) and a printer stand (into a nightstand in A's room), another dresser that needs some gorilla glue, paint & decoupage and remove all traces of fans to our storage (this may be a battle as of yet since my guys have hot blood while mine must be ice water). Oops, I almost forgot that I would seriously love to make covers for the gun safe and filing cabinet. Something that would make me smile at having large metal boxes hanging around the house. Who knows, maybe the filing cabinet needs a coat of spray paint and drawer front decoupage too.

Another gift done

The Mama taught me how to make a doll while I was there visiting. I like the finished product but the tinyness of it made me very frustrated. Thank goodness The Mama was there to bail me out in my times of frustration otherwise Giggles would not have graced this world.

This little dolly is temporarily named Giggles until GG decides differently. Isn't she just as cute as can be? Too bad I will most likely not be making anymore of them. The only exception may be if I ever have a daughter of my own.

A little Collyer in them all

I see a little Collyer in each kid. It's mostly the eyes. Ok, so the ears too.

Cant. Get. Back. To. NORMAL.

My real life has been on vacation for the last month (at least). Now I am having the hardest time getting it to within reason.
Hubs has been home and wants A and I to go with him almost everywhere he goes. Most of the time I would be happy to accompany him but I am desperate to get my house back under control and get cracking on my crafting projects. Oh Hubby, please let me stay home so I can get back to my regular routine.
Well tomorrow may not be the best day to get back in the saddle. We (A & I) are supposed to help MIL cook a turkey tomorrow. AND we have his 18 mo WBV. Did I mention that I need to get some crafting done? Oh yea, my desk is covered in randomness that is seriously throwing me out of balance. Plus I haven't gotten around to my filing in about 3 months.
Maybe MIL will take A tomorrow morning and I can take him to our Ped and be home to serve up a crock pot dinner. Continental Chicken. Sounds interesting.
I am done ranting about the last several days. There would be no point since they are over.
Positive thoughts for tomorrow... 1) I will get things done. 2) We will have a peaceful day. 3) I will take a little time for myself too.

Planning for a homemade holiday

I have decided since we are getting close I need a plan of attack on this home made holiday.
Things I need to get in RED
Things I already have in YELLOW
Next Actions in GREEN

DH - wool beanie, if I still have time I may make a lap quilt Need material. Lots of material.
Little Man - rag quilt, (crayon roll, colored pencil roll, marker roll) if time permits I will do these (we are also going to get him a big boy bed so the quilt will need to be more substantial than I was going to make.) Need material: 2 yds x 3 colors, batting, thread. Need TIME!

Sister - handbag (3 compartment, small, black, zipper and snap) I have the material for this. Pattern Complete. Cut material.
Princess V - rag quilt need material: 1.5 yds x 2 colors, batting
Jay Bug - rag quilt need material: 1.5 yds x 2 colors, batting

Uncle Doug & Aunt Phyllis - Embroidered napkins (4-6) Done!

Crystal - handbag I have the material for this. Cut material.

The Mama - apron Need Emmeline pattern.

Scarlett - tutu Need material, 3 yds tulle, elastic, silk flowers. Need waist measurement.

Susan - apron & hipslinger if time allows Need Emmeline pattern.
Linda - hipslinger if I have time

Matt - wool beanie & scarf, , Need 3 skeins wool in grey.
Colleen - handbag IN PROGRESS!
GG - Doll

Logan - rag quilt Need material: 1 yd x 2 colors.

Silhouette Ornaments- get paper for background and black
Jam - (11)
Banana Bread - (18) Find my recipe. Thaw bananas.

Pretending

The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.
Socrates

I am a pretender. Well maybe not so much a pretender as much as hiding the warts & boils and only putting my best face forward. Is that pretending or only showing my good side?

I'd like to challenge myself to live with more honor by being more like the person I pretend to be. Thank you Socrates for such an inspiration.

Entertaining Simple

My morning wish...
Can I please win this giveaway from Restyled Home?

by this guy Matthew Mead

<- These look so yummy and would be a hit for a ladies night. -> If only I would have had a guide to suggest this when I was registering for our wedding.

If you want to preview the book go to his website here.



If I don't win this book is certainly on my Christmas Wish List. Anyone can buy it here. (Hint, hint.)

Finally feeling better

Oh boy am I glad to finally be feeling better. All I have now is a bit of a cough and the need to blow my nose more than usual (but not nearly as much as when I was sick.
Since A and I are flying to AZ on Thursday I made myself buckle down yesterday and get lots of laundry done as well as scrubbing the tub and parts of the kitchen. Today will include more laundry (I'd like to have it all done so when I get home I only have to deal with travel & hunting laundry), cleaning the rest of the bathroom, changing sheets in both bedrooms and general dusting. For relaxation I should work on the Pleated Beauty Bag. FYI: only 11 weeks left until X-mas. That means my 100% handmade christmas might only be about 70%. Not too bad for a first year and a lesson to really start sooner for next year.
So I was going to tell all about our CA vacation but there is really not much to tell. We stayed in the middle of the desert with no real distractions. Grandma Shirley and I went shopping in town (32 miles away) one day and got the boy a really cute Raiders warm up suit. The rest of the time was spent soaking up as much sun as I could. I really hate how cold they keep their house. I was able to crochet a wool beanie for Hubs and start one for a woman. It is out of the softest bamboo yarn. The color scheme is pink camo. I like it so much I may have to keep it for myself. We shall see.
I am going to revise my handmade holiday post so you might want to check it out.

Sick day, again.

It is a good thing that I don't have a paying job. I would have been calling in sick all week long.
Today I got my new glasses ordered. I got 2 pair at America's Best. The second pair was about half price so I couldn't pass up getting a backup/sassy pair. The main pair are a bronze color and the second/sassy pair are red! When I get them in I will post photos. (It may have to wait until I get back from AZ.)
I also picked up Teach Me To Do It Myself from Barnes & Noble. I am excited about this one. I already read the introduction and can't wait until I get some time to plan the "work" for Alex. Based on a few things I have noticed about him recently I think he is really ready to begin this kind of preschool.

Today was a major test of my patience and I know that I passed but I don't think I got a very good grade. After looking into it further I found a new tooth breaking through, realized that naptime was pushed back and have to concede that he may not have been feeling as good as I thought he was. So he had reason to have a short temper. I think I need to remember that pausing before reacting will really benefit us both in the long run. So noted.

Free Handbag? Sign me up.

I want to win a totally free handbag. Do you? Go to PlanetHandbag.com and register to win your own. There were lots of pretty bags. Go quickly and pick one out.

Thanks Sodeste for blogging about it and sharing.

Still sick

I am still feeling the crud in my sinus. It is times like this that I am so thankful that I rarely get sick. (Knocking on wood of course.) But then I think it makes me all the more pitiful when I do get sick.
A and I spent the morning on our errands that didn't get done yesterday. This included the RV store, the auto parts store, Hobby Lobby & Target. My favorite of course were the last two. Hobby Lobby provided some new Montessori materials to put away for later, some embroidery floss and bobbins to keep them (and the others) organized, lots of beautiful florals and a wreath base to make to celebrate fall. That last project will be put aside until I can recover my living room from the mass of stuff that was our vacation. (Only a little left to do.) Target was uber fun because I got to pick out my birthday presents from Hubs. I also got some new non-leaking sippy cups for our boy, a heat pad since our old one seems to be out on permanent loan, and I looked at the potty training tools that we will need to be purchasing soon. I am hopeful that the Montessori article I recently read is right when it suggests that a child is sensitive to toileting at around 18 months. Wouldn't that be grand? Target had some great eye candy for me and I was reluctant to leave the store. A was so tired that he fell asleep sitting up in the cart. As soon as I saw that he was going to stay asleep I scooped him up and laid him in the seat horizontally with his head proped on my purse for a pillow. It is amazing the places that kids can fall asleep.
Are you watching the ticker on the right side of the screen? My birthday is in just two days, well only one because there is only 30 minutes left to this day. Those who love me know that I certainly feel that my birthday should be a national holiday so I will be taking the day off of most of my domestic duties. I am thinking about taking A, Col & GG to the Art Museum to celebrate. We will see how I am feeling tomorrow to decide.
Well I need my rest so I am off to bed. Clinky with the NyQuil.

Back from vacation

We made it back from our first vacation ok. A got sick on Wednesday and stayed that way even through today. I picked it up on Saturday as we were preparing to leave. Hubs got it while driving home. So our house is a sick one right now. Hubs did go to work today but he is just good like that. I am miserable. A was pushing all of my buttons today. I am ready to call it a day and hope that tomorrow is much better.
As soon as I feel better I will make a real post about the vacation along with the crafts that I completed while there. Until then I'll leave you with a few photos from our vacation.These were taken on the way home at a beautiful rest / view area in Utah called Spotted Wolf. The signs were enlightening and the view was breathtaking.We don't know of any other place in the world that we could have let A run in the road. This is the canyon where Grandma Shirley & Grandpa Gene live.

These kids are getting so big. I remember when she was just a newborn baby.

Of course I feel like I gained 10 lbs from all of Grandma's homemade meals. A liked the spaghetti and garlic bread most of all. There was not a day out there that we didn't have 3 huge meals. Thanks Grandma it was delicious. Oh, I almost forgot to thank Grandpa for the delicious tri tip on Friday night. It was fantastic.

Now for some NyQuil and a good night's rest.

Going on Vacation

Tonight the Hubs, A and I leave for California. It is going to be wonderful to get out into the middle of nowhere (literally) to relax for a week. I anticipate much couple time with Hubs, lots of time for A to spend with his great grandparents, time for friends and even some alone reading and crafting time.
I am taking along several books on Montessori, some embroidery work, and some wool and a crochet hook for beanie making. I hope to have plenty of time to work on everything that I want to while out there. I am also taking my camera in hopes of getting lots of good images for future posts.
Have a wonderful time while I am gone.

Busy Bees

The hubs is not at work today. His projects are all done with the exception of a couple. Those will be taken care of by T while we are in CA. Perfect. If everything wraps up well then we will be off on Friday night, returning next week on Friday or Saturday. I will then have about a week to get it together to go to AZ. We will certainly be busy bees for a while.
Today we got the camper registered, new glasses ordered for N, new lenses put in his sunglasses and some cute fall-esque clothes for A. We stopped at Old Navy and Lane Bryant looking for a cute fall coat for me but didn't find anything I really liked. I will be on a look out for something good.

One gift down, only like a million to go...

Once upon a time... this last February... my mom showed me how to make a rag quilt. So when the occasion arose for a little girl's first birthday I knew just what to make. It was quite simple. I think the longest part of the whole process was picking out the material. I hope GG likes it.

Next up on the list is a Pleated Beauty Bag and a Wool Cap. Both are in process at the moment. Most likely the cap will be done first, even though I just started it last night. The bag is shaping up beautifully though. Want a peek? The stitching is a little wonky but I think it has character. Plus with this being my first attempt at satin stitch applique I think I did a remarkable job. Lessons learned? 1) make sure to use the correct foot when sewing. 2) hand work might be better next time. 3) sometimes simple is better. (I started on the outside decorative stitch and looking back think I should have just left it like it was since the loop stitch does not add to it.)

Once I finish the bag and cap I am going to have to go to the fabric store again. I am thinking I will do the Napkin & Coaster sets for 3 couples.
*D&A need something that will go in their formal dining room... which is a beautiful red. Maybe something in black & ivory?
*C&C have a simple dining room and they love the outdoors so I am thinking green & brown combos.
*C&M just got a dining table and need to have something to adorn it. She loves the big sunflowers outside her window, so maybe something in yellow. Then again this could make lovely napkins and coasters.

Oh its a good thing I am not there yet because I get lost in the fabric store.

Truth Be Told

I am inspired by Randi @ I Have To Say...

~Today I took the time to put on a dress and pearls. I feel feminine and pretty.
~My new shoes make me smile and I find myself thinking about what I could wear them with. (Part of the reason for wearing the dress today.)
~I love it when my kitchen is clean first thing in the morning. Pure BLISS I tell ya.
~I am anxious for our upcoming vacations to California and Arizona. It will be wonderful to get to the middle of nowhere and just be for a week. It will also be fantastic to visit The Mama and Papa John too. Oh yeah, don't forget the sibs.
~I love to put away my laundry. It is peaceful.
~I listen to many audio books. Lots of romance novels, self help and business books. Sometimes I think too many self help books. But if I don't help myself who will?
~I would love to have a brand spankin' new Jeep like this one. At only $33k I don't think it will be happening any time soon. But if I win the lotto you can bet I will be at the dealership as soon as possible. Isn't she pretty?
~My mom is great. She makes a really good therapist. Thanks again ma.

I am putting these positive thoughts out in the world so that they may come back to me.

A is for Apple, H is for House.

I just finished reading Teaching Montessori At Home: The Pre-School Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock. While this was written many years ago it is still insightful and full of practical ideas for preschooling at home. I have a list (can you tell that I just LOVE lists?) of the ideas that I want to use with A. I have a separate list of the materials that I can make. In an effort to save money I will be making as many (there are a lot) of the materials that I can make at home (or the sign shop). I see several materials that I will have to purchase but I think I will look for them on Craigslist or Ebay before looking at the stores.
I am wondering if there are any other At Home Montessori mama's in our area. I have heard of doing a homeschool co-op so maybe there will be something like this for preschoolers. I will certainly be content to push forward if nothing like this is around but it certainly would be reassuring to have a local source for brains to pick when I am stumped. And I also know that there are a multitude of bloggers out there who are teaching montessori at home and are willing to share their thoughts. (What a relief.)
So first things first. I will begin making the Prepared Environment over the next several months. (As much as I can with seriously limited space.) I started a list (another one) this morning regarding the changes that I feel need to be made in A's bedroom. I will be doing this in the living room and kitchen too. I need to chat with Hubs before I begin on this because it is going to effect future purchases and arrangements too. Although I am certain that Hubs will just tell me to do whatever I feel is necessary.

On a related topic of purchases and space... I may have found a house for us. I walked to see it last Sunday and certainly fell in like with the place. It has a lot of potential and needs a ton of TLC. But the size is good and so is the location. The big bonus... the price was dropped by $10k in the last week. Woo Hoo. This means that it is even closer to our getting it. Want to look at it? Check here. There is an issue with lead based paint (as on almost all old houses) but they are limited to the exterior of the house so I don't think that will prevent us from making a bid on it. With the bid amount we would likely place on this our house payment would be comparable to our current rent. I just can't see us not getting into something like this if it is going to build our equity and cost us the same or a tiny bit more to own. However, since Hub and I have been looking at houses for the last 4.5 years I am not going to get my hopes up too high until we are actually making the bid. Even then it could be rejected so I will reserve most of my excitement until we close on it.

Hello Baseball Fans!

Rain, Rain , Go Away!
This morning it is raining. Not a lot but enough for me to be concerned about the baseball game tonight. I am not sure that A will be able to go.
Yesterday instead of dropping A off at Granny's house I decided to stay for a while myself and get in a visit. When he went down for a nap I did got to Barnes & Noble in search of Teach Me To Do It Myself by Maja Pitamic and Montessori Play & Learn by Lesley Britton. Unfortunately my local B&N does not carry these or other montessori titles in the store. So I had to order them in because these titles aren't available from my library. I hope they call me soon to pick them up. The good thing is that I got a 10% off coupon in my email last night so I will be able to use that to purchase these books.
My library did have a couple of books that I checked out yesterday. (I currently have 19 books checked out. EEK!) The first is Teaching Montessori in the Home by Elizabeth Hainstock. I started this one last night but didn't get too far into it before it was time to go to bed. I can't wait for some reading time this afternoon. I also got Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten, The Homeschooling Handbook, Baby Read Aloud Basics, and The ABC's of Homeschooling. I am not sure how much of each of these books will help me on my quest for home preschooling but it couldn't hurt to give them a quick read.
I am absolutely loving these blogs! Chasing Cherios and Montessori Free Fall. These moms have great ideas and I will certainly be taking their advice and incorporating it into our world.