A Glimps Inside the Man

I have this strange being living in my house and sometimes I wonder whether or not the teenage years are all worth it. They are. Although Jake is only 15 1/2 and it's been pretty easy so far I see bits of personality and humor and that tells me he's likely going to turn out okay.

Not long ago we were sitting down to eat hamburgers and tater tots. (I love junk food night!) I was opening this jar...
Well, as I'm reaching in to get a pickle, Jake looks at me and says in a very serious tone, "Careful you don't puncture your fingers." I stopped and had to think about that for a few seconds, then it hit me... Dill SPEARS, SPEARS! He was being funny! Oh did I laugh! I love a dry sense of humor.

I Heard The Post Man Honk...

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I Heard The Postman Honk...

I live out in the country. When the postman has a package too big for the box he comes zipping down our lane, honking and dirt a' flyin'!
Well, yesterday, I was sewing away in my studio when I heard the joyful sound of the mail trucks' horn.
"Is that for me? Is it the apron from my swap buddy? Oh, I hope so, I really do..."
I went out to greet him and it was a box for ME!!!
"This is it! It has to be. Where are the scissors?"
I ran back into my studio and opened up the box and there it was...My new apron for the 4th of July.
Of course there is no way I'm going to wait until the 4th of July to wear it. I will wear it with pride tonight.
If you are wondering about how I got into an apron swap, I'm glad you asked! I found this web site, I don't even remember how.
I just really like aprons right now. They make me happy.
Lately, with the price of gas going so high and food prices too, I've found it challenging to try to save money and be green at the same time. It's sort of a sick little game I've been playing with myself. I read blogs and more blogs about how people are saving money and making their own shampoo and laundry soap and sewing clothes and repurposing things. I love it! I've been hanging out my laundry on a clothesline for years. My mom always did it so it was the normal thing to do.
So where does the apron come into play? Well, to me they are a picture of a life that is useful and not lazy. It says, "I am using my time wisely and running my household efficiently" Don't get me wrong, my house is not super duper clean or anything. I do have 1 husband, 3 kids, 4 small dogs and myself living in this house and I'd rather sew than clean any day. That is why I like the apron, because of the image it puts forward. Then I CAN sew all day, and I look incredibly busy and hard working. Now you all know my little secret, but you are welcome to use it to, I won't tell anyone. Promise.

As Comfortable As An Old Chair

I was at the youth garage sale at my church, when I noticed this old chair. I knew right away that she was to be mine! Maury gave me that patient look and said nothing, I knew that was as good as an "O.K. Honey, I love what you love and you have my blessing!" Tee hee!!!
So I brought her home and began my search for the perfect fabric. I went to Joann Fabrics twice and didn't find what I was looking for (surprise, surprise). I've always loved the fabric line by designer Amy Butler and recently she started making a heavier fabric for home decor. I found what I was looking for and bought it online here. I used 1 1/2 cans of spray paint and I really like how it turned out. I may still add a skirt or some other embellishment, but I only bought 2 yards of the fabric so I'll have to piece something together.

Today is Maury's 45th birthday. He is looking better and better each day. I don't think that it's fair that men just look more distinguished with the passing years and I just look older. He is such a wonderful husband and father. You wouldn't believe how patient he is with me. If I were him I would have given up on me a long time ago. He works so hard to keep us fat and happy. I'm trying to change the fat part right now with early morning walks, a heart rate monitor and protein shakes! But you know what, he'd love me even if I did weight 200lbs. Let's just hope that doesn't happen! Happy Birthday Maury, you are the love of my life and I'm so glad you called the "wrong" girl.

Super savings!

Did you know that you can make your own laundry soap? Yes, that's right! It's super easy, very cheap and well worth it. You only need a few items like these...








You'll need to grate the bar of soap. You can also use Ivory or any other pure soap. (I've found a fun pink Mexican soap called Zote that I've heard works well.)







Okay, this is the hard part. Add one cup of Borax and one cup of washing soda to the grated soap. Mix.

You use 1Tbsp for small loads, 2Tbsp for large loads. That is all and it works great!


Here is an artful picture of the finished product.

Now I'll admit, I'm a bit a texture nut, so I gave it a quick run through the food processor so that all the texture was uniform and I figured that it would dissolve more easily too.


I have read about people making a liquid form of this but it is much more complicated, like you have to cook it on the stove! I have a hard enough time just getting dinner together! Then they say to store it in a 5 gallon bucket, have you seen the size of my laundry room? I don't have room for a 5 gallon bucket. This dry mix just fits the bill and I have been using it and it really does work! I have no complaints.

Now, if only there were an easy way to get all that laundry folded and put away....Good news! I have three kids on summer vacation that always seem to be bored.


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Life's sweet little moments

7th grade girls watching the 8th grade graduation. Excited to go to the dance afterward. They really do grow up fast! Is that eye shadow I see on Christy and Lacey? Yep. Wow, I can remember what it was like being in the 7th grade at Hill Jr. High School. The drama, the crushes, the cat fights! What fun it was! Looking back there was so much I learned, and so much trouble I could have been in, but somehow The Lord was merciful to me and kept me safe. I pray that these girls will be kept safe too.
They are so young and yet old at the same time. The things they have available to them makes them so much more advanced in some ways, but not in others. They aren't very good at entertaining themselves without a computer or cell phone. They are still innocent and easily swayed by the world and what it has to offer. But then they have so much more to deal with than I did at that age. Sure I was thinking about nuclear wars, but now our kids have to add terrorism, global warming, high gas prices, lots of different kinds of drugs, the list goes on and on. Yet they still smile and laugh and enjoy the lives they know.
Will it just keep getting more complicated? When they are parents will they be wondering the same things I am wondering, only the list gets longer and more depressing? It is a wonderful and thought provoking time.