next week, i swear

Things are picking up. Routines are being honed. Structure is appearing. I'm trapped in the illusion that everything must be in order before I can start my crafty magic. The idea of adding bits of thread and snips of fabric to an already cluttered home doesn't appeal to me.

Another thing, my life is a little less bland these days. There is some sweet and some savory making their way in. I know I mentioned it before, but it doesn't look like it's going away. I have people to talk to. Literally "to" not "with" because after a year with nobody, I have a hard time shutting up. (No comments from those of you just itching to mention that I've ALWAYS talked too much, thankyouverymuch.) I promise I'll get better about the listening (see previous comment for those of you naysayers.) I have to, it's going to be part of the new me. You'll see.

After a year of super frugal living, an indulgence of various memberships have helped us get out of the house more. In meeting new people I've learned there are things to do here, even if they aren't advertised. Remember, I live in an area that was the landing strip for Katrina. There are still a lot of overgrown lots and mis-information about what is or isn't open and operating.

I hope to be back, in full swing, perhaps with a new twist on things, next week.

one project down...

Many, many more to go. The big kid has been asking about sewing for a few weeks now. I kept putting it off, waiting until we had the time to fill on weekends, while the wee one napped. This was a simple way, to teach her to stitch, where the imperfections added some character.

Basic heart shapes cut out of cheap craft store felt. These would be super special out of nice wool felt, but I have a lot of felt from my days of making hair clips.



Tiny uneven stitches...

This shot is blown but I don't have time to retake. The wee one is up from her nap and I'm being bellowed at by the big kid.

falling asleep in church?

Take a 20 month old and let the fun, begin! We went to mass* with the big kid's school today after a 4 month hiatus. The wee one would fuss and squirm to an extent I wasn't willing to endure. With the Baron's recent departure to the European continent, I told the big kid we'd give it another go. She's missing him and needs all the extra support I can muster.

The difficulties begin with a drop-off time that is 20 or so minutes prior to mass. I need to keep the wee one content that much longer. No small task, I assure you. As soon as we enter the absolute soundless church, my anxiety begins. This silence won't last long. As if on cue, the lights are raised. The wee one takes to announcing the brightening of each of the 20 or so hanging light fixtures. "Liiight! Light! Liiiggghhht..."

Then, the silence is broken again by the charming guitarist. Apparently, the wee one isn't a fan of soft strumming as she announces, "Noisy!" a dozen or so times. Through all of this, I'm smiling and nodding at the turning heads. Once her sister enters the sanctuary, with her class, everyone is introduced, fifty times over, to "Big Kid!" The big kid sheepishly lumbers over to sit with us.

The entire congregation is then treated to the wee one's rendition of "O, Holy Night" (which she is still singing, as I type this.) She babbles through most of the service. Something sparks a series of "Eeewww!"s and "Nuh-Uuuhhh!"s that can not be quieted. At one point, the big kid NEEDS to go to the bathroom. I am almost certain the priest waited until we were back in our seats, on the other side of the room, before continuing.

Because she is talking, loudly, through the Holy Gospel, I try to reason with the wee one by explaining everyone else is being quiet and blah, blah, blah. She screams, "NO, Mama!" in my face and then goes about chattering some more.

As a grand finale, the entire bag of cereal I brought to keep her busy, is dumped, on purpose, all over the floor. It kept someone busy, but it wasn't the wee one.

*I am not Catholic which is why we sit in the back. I try to avoid sticking out because I don't know all the "stuff" Catholics do during their mass. So much for being inconspicuous.

bitter sweet

We decided to play the Baron's last night state-side as normal as possible. That meant a trip to our fav-o-rite pizza buffet for a school fund-raiser. This place was our first stop when we arrived back on the coast, over a year ago. The wee one was a tiny four month old blob.

We normally carry the wee one in and out because nobody likes a baby underfoot with a plateful of precious pizza cargo. Last night, the restaurant wasn't very busy so I let her walk through the dining room on her own, over to the Baron and the big kid. Our favorite server came over and commented on how cute the wee one looked toddling around the tables and chairs.

She went on to reminisce about the wee one being carried in, strapped to her bucket seat. There were the memories of the first time she ate baby food from a jar, her first saltine cracker, her first plain pasta from the buffet, and her first piece of pizza.

This lovely person can recall more about our baby than most of our friends and relatives can. It was sweet. It was also sad. Either way, it was a funny little trip down memory lane.

I told her she had a lot to look forward to; we are stuck here for almost three more years.

the next two weeks

I'll be scarce around here and many of my other favorite online hang outs for the next couple of weeks. The Baron is leaving for deployment soon. It's been six years since our last separation and in that time the big kid has grown to an age where she'll realize her daddy is gone. The wee one will have a rough time with it because she is a big Daddy's girl. If he leaves her sight, she is constantly asking where he's gone.

The big kid has a special bond with her father. They generate more crazy creations and useless doo-dads than I can discretely throw away. It's a unique situation when a father with my husband's job doesn't leave his child for over 5 years. We were blessed.

I'll need some time for myself. Time to be sad. Time to adjust. Time to create a new routine. Once that's all happened, I'll be back. My first order of business is to finish those projects I posted about and get my PIF items sent to their new owner.

Take care.

fabric ban

I was motivated this morning. The big kid and I went through my fabric tub, sorting the remnants from the scraps from the half finished projects. I shouldn't be allowed near a fabric store. I shouldn't be allowed near my cutting mat. I have enough cut out projects to keep me busy for a while. I found one half finished mei tai and enough twill to make at least one for a petite friend. Shameful!

In the picture I have three novelty (not big enough for many gifts) stockings I cut out two years ago, two reusable bottle carriers I started sometime last year (sorry Jessica), five old diaper soakers from all-in-ones that I'm going to repurpose into Swiffer WetJet pads, and a fabulous blanket idea I came up with for the big kid a few years ago.

Stay tuned for photos of the completed projects. To be sure you are actually reading, the first three to respond to this post will be added to the PIF project.

i heart tutes

I may not follow through on the many tutuorials I find online, but I do enjoy seeing creativity exhibited in simple, easy steps. This goes along well with my passion for fabric. You'd never guess I have a eye for such things, considering how basic and not-trendy my wardrobe is. My uniform of the day is usually jeans/khakis and a v-neck/polo shirt.

My craft drive is a hot or cold thing. I'm either sewing night and day or I scowl and curse my machine everytime I pass it in the laundry room. I have a hard time doing certain things in moderation but that's a conversation for another day (or never.)

I found several online tutorial lists and decided to compile my own. Here's my dream list of things I'd like to start and complete.

Pincushion/Thread-catcher
Tea Wallet
Sewing Kit (baby food jar)
Sandwich Wrap
Journal Cover

I have my own idea, swirling in my head for an over-night toiletry bag. Something both cute and functional to hold a small shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, and razor. I want this for our quick getaways when we evacuate.

I've played around with reusable bottle carriers and pint ice cream cozies but would love to perfect these patterns.

For kids, I want to try:

Crayon Roll
Felt Food
Fabric Concentration

I've made felt hairclips and have a ton that are half done. Shock!

I found some 2ml Pul on ebay. I picked up a few half yards of fabric from The Fat Quarter Shop. I couldn't resist a bundle of remnants from littlefishbigpond on Etsy.

Wish me luck. I hope I am still feeling inspired when it all arrives.

toddler amnesia

Except that's not what it is. The big kid was, I can now admit, an easy toddler. The terrible twos weren't that terrible. Our home was easy to baby proof, only requiring a couple of gates and some closed doors. We experienced more of a terrible threes but that's not the point. The point is how out of our minds we are with the wee one. She's clever. She's cunning. She's resourceful.

To you and me, it's a decorative pillow for the sofa. To the wee one, it is all she needs to plunder the kitchen. She'd been out of sight for 10 seconds, which is cause for alarm. I get up to check. What's that she's dragging off the counter and bringing to me? Ah, yes, my expensive (even though it's no longer new) dSLR that I thought was pushed back far enough.

It was cute when she was 15 months old and wanted an eating utensil for every piece of food. (Try explaining to a persistent child, you don't need a spoon to eat goldfish crackers.) It's not cute when she's running away from us with a fist full of forks. Who needs storage bags, foil, and plastic wrap stored in their convenient packaging? Not I! The wee one delights in yanking them free and hiding them around the house. Sure, it's okay if she gnaws on that stick of butter. It's not my day to change the "fun" diapers. Perhaps the big kid did something to deserve being beaten over the head, by her little sister, with a miniature rolling pin. It's possible.

I just placed an order at One Step Ahead. If anyone has any favorite baby-proofing products, I'd love to hear about them. Our major problem is the not-square, irregular opening to the kitchen. On one side, there is a door we can close. The other side is a challenge. I have a gate coming that is similar to one we used with the big kid. I also ordered drawer locks, a fridge lock, an oven lock, and a stove guard. All of those are in case the gate doesn't work (or as back up.)

When is it they are capable of some impulse control? It's going to feel like forever before we are there.

who needs cable?

Part of becoming a more frugal family included turning off our cable. We spent roughly $100 a month for a bunch of channels and DVR. We would DVR most shows and watch them at our leisure, rarely watching anything "live". It was more fun to fast forward through commercials (boo hiss to pushy or crude ads) and get to the meat of it all.

We have an old TV. No high def or 1080 blah blah blah for us. I ordered our digital converter box coupon as soon as I tired of the snowy picture on the two channels we picked up with our rabbit ears. What a difference! We get our local channel (ABC), Fox, and three public television stations. The best part? They come in crystal clear with out rabbit ears. Right now we are debating the investment into a stronger antenna.

I'm sure most of you reading know about watching TV shows online. I didn't. Okay, I did. However, I was unaware of just how much there is to watch online. Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC all offer full episodes of their popular programming. I can watch House, all three CSIs, 30 Rock, and anything I miss in its regular time slot on ABC.

Bring on February 17th. We're ready.

retreating from a retreat

We were lucky enough to spend the weekend in New Orleans. We stayed at a very nice hotel on the river. The Lobby had a great view. The rooms were clean and modern. The staff was very helpful. None of it cost us a penny. We did have to drive ourselves over but the parking, hotel and food were included. A joint effort between programs on the base made the weekend getaway possible.

We had our time filled with presentations and mini workshops. Family life, couple's issues, and self care were all included. Unfortunately, this was the pilot program and there were quite a few kinks. Mainly, nobody to entertain the children so we could soak up the information. By the time Sunday rolled around, it's hard to say if we were in a better or worse state of mind.

All things considered, it was an eventful weekend filled with ups and downs (the same as any other day.) We became members of the zoo and aquarium. I died and went to heaven at Whole Foods on Market Street. I saw more crazy people between the hotel and Cafe Du Monde than I thought possible outside of an institution.

By the way, do you have any idea how long it can take a giraffe to pee? Like, over a minute! You should have seen the puddle under this guy. It was like that scene from Austin Powers. Crazy.

"your nice!! very nice! and funny!"

We went to America's Thrift Store yesterday. The kids had a blast in the toy aisles. Everything is tossed on shelves and most of the electronic stuff is in working order. The wee one found a baby she liked and pushed her up and down in a sagging, squeaking broken doll stroller. Poor baby doll only had one shoe. After much digging, the wee one exclaimed, "Found it!" She had to come find me when the bitty Barbie shoe wouldn't fit on the standards size baby doll.

After two hours and plenty of my own digging, I found oodles of good books. For example, Classic Books-with-Holes. Six titles at .39 each, including my favorite from when I was a kid, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly.



Even though nobody seemed to appreciate my last book treasure, I found this token of esteem from Richard, to Tracy.




We spent New Year's Eve day at the Discovery Center. I think my frugal shopping has rubbed off on the big kid. She came up with this all on her own.



We've decided to start homeschooling next year. I can go to the convention and pick a curriculum with more confidence. The big kid will have some stability in her life which is important with the Baron leaving for six months in February.

The Baron and I have been on a Boggle kick. We love Boggle. We've always loved Boggle. It's nice to have the big kid playing one of our games instead of the other way around. We bought a pocket dictionary but it sucks. It didn't have "mite" or "roe" which are the kinds or words one needs to back up when playing Boggle. Of course, the Baron and I know these are legitimate words but we're always trying to eke out one more 3-4 letter word the other wouldn't think of.

my mind is a swinging pendulum

We'll homeschool and I'll buy a ready to use curriculum. We'll homeschool and I'll piece together a curriculum. I'll re-do first grade. She'll have a good foundation when we start more difficult math and cursive in second grade. Plus, she'll be at the "real" academic level for her age since we put her in "early." I'll start with second grade because she could get bored if we re-do first. If we can pull her out now, I'll do first grade up until August and then start second. I want to do a classical education and have no problem with the christian-laced curriculum. The Baron doesn't want her whole education full of God. Nevermind that she is currently enrolled in Catholic school and we aren't Catholic. I'll leave her in private school. I'll pull her out now assuming I haven't signed a contract. I'll start next year.

On a less insane note, this was an exchange between the Baron and the big kid in the car a couple of days ago.

The big kid, playing with a tiny stuffed penguin: La, la, do, do... (general noise and happiness)

The Baron: Hey, big kid, how do you sPell penguin?

The big kid: You catch him, lift his wing and smell.

The Baroness and Baron look at each other, puzzled. They both realize at the same time she thinks he said sMell, not sPell. Not sure why I would have to bury my face in a penguin armpit to get an good sniff...

is it valentine's day yet?

This year, Valentine's Day will mark our 13th anniversary. Amazing.

Living in the south affords me the luxury of moving from pine trees and lights to red hearts and lace doilies with ease. There is no bitter cold or ice to remind me it's winter. As much as I love having my house decorated from floor to ceiling with green and red, I was tired of tiny bite-marks in the candles and broken ornaments. In the spirit of Christmas I allowed the girls to play, somewhat freely, with the decorations. Without a doubt, the broken-and-super-glued ornaments now out number the still-in-their-natural-state ornaments at our house.

I'm realizing we aren't the total losers we were just a few short months ago. We spent Christmas Eve with a nice couple and their kids. Last night, we had Wii fun night and leftovers at another couple's house. The wee one had a playmate just her size and the big kid fussed and fretted over their new baby. I had a neighborly conversation with the young couple across the street. I've made it my mission to get her involved in the command functions so she stays informed once the men-folk deploy.

I received two packages of books along with a nice, handwritten letter from New York, on Christmas Eve. A couple up the street had his mother, grandmother, and younger brother and sister visiting a few weeks ago. The Baron stopped and asked if they needed help mending their elaborate Christmas decorations after a big storm. He knew the husband from the last time he was on sea duty.

The visiting family were the only ones home and gladly took the Baron's help. They started chatting about this and that and stumbled onto the homeschooling topic. Turns out, the mother home schools this guys younger brother and sister (teenagers) in New York. Later that evening, at her request, the big kid and I stopped by to chat a bit. She was doing crafts with the couples young girls and the big kid joined in. This friendly woman took my name and address but I had no idea she'd be so generous.

Don't worry, I'm sure my life is still sufficiently blah that I can maintain this blog without any trouble. Be warned, though, I do have a glimmer of hope and my need to be thankful for the blessings in my life may shine through from time to time.

christmas memories

We had a nice morning here in the Blah household. Hope everyone has a great day, whatever you are doing.

When I was a kid, we went to 11pm church service. My grandfather would somehow leave church, make it home, put out the gifts, and make it back before anybody noticed he was gone. We grew up believing Santa made an exception and delivered gifts to their house early. With divorced parents, Christmas was always a scramble. One year, we actually SAW Mr. and Mrs. Claus getting into a Model T just two houses down the block. I was older and had outgrown the Santa story but I recall even the adults scratching their heads, that year.

My step-father's family had a fun tradition that I would love to revive if we had family nearby to participate. My step-grandparents would travel around and buy little odd shaped items throughout the year. (This was in the time before kitchen gadget stores or fun specialty shops were in every town. There wasn't an HGTV or Food channel.) They would remove all the packaging. Something like this:


or this:




wouldn't have been as well known as they are now. Usually the gadgets were smaller than these. The adults would take turns guessing the items purpose and have a great time making things up. I'd find better examples, but I have the big kid breathing down my neck to get on www.webkinz.com. You get the idea though, right?

new year's resolution

When I started this blog, the big kid had recently entered private school. In reading past entries, I can see I came off as a little whiny about money. We chose to send the big kid to private school for many good reasons. As a result, our leisure spending was cut. Nobody is any worse for it. We're probably better.

I kept last year's resolution. Be more frugal with our money. We turned of the time wasting cable and have all survived. We got rid of the pointless land-line telephone. I started clipping coupons and paying attention to sales. We asked ourselves if we really needed X, Y, or Z before purchasing. We picked up some fun things here and there. The kids are well fed, dressed, and exercised.

So, this year's resolution is to be more frugal with our time. Those coupons and sales I've come to love can be passed up if they aren't a true, slick deal. Getting papers, clipping coupons, browsing deal sites, flipping through weekly ads, and driving store to store enabled me donate large quantities to charities and single sailors. I will miss that. With the Baron deploying soon, I need to focus on time spent with the kids. Plus, if I home school, we won't have that pesky private school expense.

facebook

Should I have added my blog to my facebook profile? Probably not. I was okay with those of you near and dear to me in recent years seeing my ramblings. I think most of my long lost friends remember that I have a penchant for sarcasm and drama. Hopefully, they make the connection that, while my life isn't 24/7 bliss, I am a happy person with a great family. Military life is challenging. Moving is stressful. Making friends takes time. I know these things but that doesn't make a funny blog.

I wanted to give a fuzzy update to why I pick up stray cats. I only do this when I think of it, when the weather is good (rain ruins cats), and if I plan to shop at Winn Dixie rather than the base commissary. A couple of weeks ago I found several $10/$75 cats. The next week, when I went shopping, I had a lot of fun walking up and down the check outs, glancing at people's totals, and essentially, giving them $10. It was one of my good deeds for the holidays.

musing, grumbling, embarassment and a revelation...

...but they have nothing to do with each other.

Really

Any

Just

Even

I really use these words too much. It doesn't make any sense. I just wish I could quit using them. I don't even know how I got to be this way. Now the big kid is using them. Ugh. We're working on it together. She corrects me, which is as cute as it is obnoxious.

Do you consider pesticide and blank digital video tapes exotic? I've gone to the base store only 2 times in the past 6 months because they consistently don't have what I'm looking for. It's very close but not at all convenient. I am beyond frustrated. I want dead bugs and video of our kids at Christmas. Guess that's too much to ask. Bah humbug.

My debit card didn't work today at Winn Dixie. I was that lady, babbling, "I don't know why it isn't working," while trying not to look pathetic. It's payday. What the hell? I've been lazy and have used my debit card more than usual. Apparently checking won't pull from savings if checking is completely empty. This is why, normally, I only use cash. I use the debit card so infrequently, I don't even know the rules.

Why have I spent the last three years putting a flat sheet on the big kid's bed? She never uses it. By morning it has been kicked to the end of the bed where it dangles, inches from the floor. Today, I finally realized I don't have to put one on there at all! Duh! Let's see how long before I go crazy because the bed is incomplete.

fun finds at the library book sale

In The Clinic, by Eleanor Kay, R.N., you get an interesting peek into the 1970's view of health care. The chapter, Clinics of Tomorrow, predicts amazing facilities with, "...whole rooms, that can be lifted in and out of the building..." Wow! I can hardly wait! Lodged in the middle of this gem was a Scholastic Book order form from 1980.



Who wouldn't want to learn all about Farrah's beauty secrets in her unauthorized biography?? Want to know Travolta's dreams and desires? Don't delay! Order his illustrated biography now! You can get both for the low, low price of $1.25. It's a steal.



What the heck is this all about? Scholastic sold soft porn in the 80's?

snow? seriously?

I like moderate weather. California really is my kind of place. If not for the traffic, crime, high cost of living, traffic and traffic; I'd be chomping at the bit to move back. I became an adult there. My own place. My own bills. I met the Baron, fell in love, and got married. It's more hip and cool than my southern experience, for sure. They have mountains and ocean. I'll stop there with the comparisons. I don't want to anger any of those who feel a deep love for a specific region.

There is a roaring wave of nostalgia that overtakes me when I smell wood burning. Bonfires, fireplaces, and even brush piles being burned in fall; all make me homesick. Hot cocoa, chapstick, slippers, and fuzzy blankets are something I want in my life.

However, you can keep your 6+ inches of snow. It's nice to look at. The occasional snowman would be lovely. I think sledding is grand. I just don't want to drive in it. Black ice, sleet, tractor-trailers flipped on their sides on the morning news, and scraping ice are not for me. I enjoyed the flurries for two minutes yesterday. No more, please.

And yet, I want to move to Colorado. Also, did you notice I'm into lists today?

guessing game

We have a few vintage Little Golden Books from the Baron's youth. Frosty the Snowman, The Twelve Days of Christmas, etc. They sit in a pile of other Christmas themed books we put out every year for our reading enjoyment.

What does the wee one chant while jumping and pointing at the stack of books?

A) Tawny Scrawny Lion

B) "Rawr"

C) Mooze It

I am picky about movies. I prefer the kids watch "G" rated films. I find "PG" movies to have too much potty humor. They also tend to be laced with sassy comments and rude behavior. However, while the Baron was gone a few weeks ago I took them to see Madagascar 2. I thought ONE time, at the theater, wouldn't corrupt them for life, right?

Back to the game, if you answered "C" you'd be correct. Why does she chant Mooze It, you ask? Isn't it obvious?? Madagascar 2 has a lion character. The lion character and his friends dance to "I Like to Move It." Therefore, lions and zebras are Mooze It. She doesn't ask to see Big Bird. She doesn't care about Mickey. She just wants to look at the lion.