kidding around

We have lived in our home for nearly 5 years. Nathan and I were fortunate to buy our house and practically every day I am grateful we had an opportunity to buy something we could afford. It’s not my dream house- honestly, the price was right and we took the opportunity. But, it IS now home and the only one my kids have been in/memories. Now that we have been in this house we need to start tackling projects.

We started off with tons of energy to get things accomplished. There were many obvious reasons WHY we needed to…Winnie-the-Pooh wallpaper in the dining room, stinky carpet, and much more wallpaper! So once we moved in and we had freshly painted walls we took a break…kind of a long one, actually.

But to be fair, we had another kid…Nathan working full time, received his Masters, coaching track, and I was work part time as well. This Spring and Summer I am claiming it to be “start it and get it done!” season.

So- I am keeping track of all the work and hopefully I can get all giddy seeing the process and you all can cheer me on. Plus if it motivates someone to act, then even better.

We actually have quite a bit of yard. The previous owner did a marvelous job with plantings and adding her own touches, but now everything is overgrown or tired. This past weekend I totally tackled this corner in my side yard. It was covered in weeds and peppermint (EVIL! never ever plant in the ground or it will take OVER!).

I had the thrill of discovering little plants poking themselves through like echinacea, shasta daisies and my lavender getting bigger. I am hoping to plant a sunflower tent in the corner with more echinacea and zinnia…this coming weekend is promising to be nice so hopefully I can do a bit more “tackling”.

By the way, on the other side of the fence is another huge plot of land that we have used in gardening. Everything from pumpkins, to tons of sunflowers, to tomatoes. This year it will be a mini barley field for my husband and his beer making antics. We already grow hops along the trellises.

Below is some beautiful “lamb’s ear” I uncovered.

Over Spring Break, my husband built these great raised gardens (You can see my corner in the distance). Each of the kids will have their own plot to care for…Ellie asked if this was a lesson in responsibility and I was quite impressed with her receptiveness. Although I was wanting them to experience the wonder of nature, but sure, responsibility it will be…maybe this will help the kids to remember other chores around the house.

I’m excited to get the yard projects I have in mind done AND some interior ones as well. I am partly motivated because now I no longer have a baby that needs my attention- instead, she is wanting to help!

Happy Friday!

Today I looked out my window and saw the Fed Ex guy at my front door.

To my surprise, I received a sweet treat complete with the cutest birth announcement. It also was quite ironic since the babe that was being announced was also in my arms.

As many of you know, I work for my sister and brother-in-law as a baker and I am on their catering staff. They have the greatest retail space- freshly prepared entrees, salads, and baked goods…I believe the surrounding communities are really lucky to have an independently business making great food.

ANYWAY- I thought I would give a plug for a contest they are running on their website. Check it out and enter!

Okay- I must go and eat dinner and then some chocolate…yes!

My machine has been just humming along in this corner of the world.

First off, when I saw these skirts I just new I wanted to make a few. I was even more intrigued to see how totally different they looked from the images on the pattern cover. I am a firm believer that one needs to look beyond the bad colors and cheesy models to truly find a workable design. I bet companies would sell more patterns if they changed their look, but then again I enjoy the “hunt”.

So what was SUPPOSED to be a one hour sewing job turned into a weekend thing. Not that I sat at my machine the whole time- the weather really was too nice to stay inside. But when I found some down time I would pick up my project.

What made it a long ordeal? Button holes. I tried to figure out how to put the foot on and it just was not working…and remember how in my previous post my husband was camping? I was totally focused on figuring it out all by myself and I actually came really close, but I needed a translator and a second brain to troubleshoot. I really can be so dumb! ANYWAY, once Nathan came home and adjusted the foot we were humming along and I finished the skirt in like 20 minutes. So I guess it does take an hour, just make sure you know how to make buttonholes and now I do! Hurray. I even took a photo of the way the foot should look for next time…I really am happy that I no longer need to avoid pattern with buttons.

Oh, and another reason why it took me forever to make this skirt is that I made a bad judgment. At the fabric store I was deciding which length of skirt I wanted to make and wanted to buy some fabric. I definitely knew the longer style would be a “no”…I risked it and figured the shortest one would be my choice since I am relatively short and didn’t want to have a “dowdy” length.

I was totally wrong.

While cutting out the pattern I realized it could potentially not work. I did not want to risk being disappointed. So I found myself short on fabric. That’s why there is the chocolate brown strip of fabric and I like it. A happy mistake. By the way, I liked the length.

I plan to use some of my larger pieces of fabric and make a few more, bring on the buttonhole challenge! I just realized some may be wondering where the buttonholes were needed- I needed to make 2 for the drawstring. I know- only 2, you would have thought I made a shirt with 10 to make.

I also have been making a lot of these shirts from the Simplicity Dummy pattern for my girls. I really like it and have a few more ready to be sewn. Plus who can resist making a girl with green sandals some cute shirts? I know I can’t. (She also has the same pair in yellow- I imagine my machine will be humming a lot more!)

I love pizza.
I love homemade pizza.
I love it so much that I want to share the crust recipe I use.

In the beginning months of my regular blogging, I shared my affection for my family’s pizza night. We still have it, although not as often…

This past weekend my husband and son were off camping. I thought I would take the girls to a pizza place that many have recommended. It was pretty good and the excitement of the girls was well worth it, but I like my own much more! So here is the recipe…easy peasy.

You need:

425 pre-heated oven

1/2 cup water
2 1/2 t. active dry yeast
1 t. sugar
4 cups flour
1 1/2 t. salt
2 T. olive oil
1 1/4 cup warm water

First, dissolve water and yeast in mixer bowl (above).

Then add flour, salt, olive oil, and water and mix with dough hook on your mixer.

Knead dough until the lump is nice and soft…put in a bowl sprayed with cooking spray and flip dough around so that the top has oil on it (this prevent the dough from sticking to the plastic wrap).

Let the dough rise for at least an hour. I usually place my dough in the sun or on the stove top and forget about it for 2-3 hours…just make sure the dough has doubled in size!

Press dough into a pizza pan or baking sheet. Be sure pan is sprayed! I also like to make individual pizzas…but one big pizza is fast.

I like to pre-bake my crust, it makes it nice and crunchy! I bake the crust for 10-12 minutes or just take it out when I like the color. A hot oven really makes this pizza great.

Yum.

This is usually the time I round up Simon and he helps with the toppings. We like to use Trader Joe’s Marinara sauce (in the can) and sprinkle with a little garlic salt (I am a huge fan of salty sauce).

Obviously any toppings you like make your pizza tasty. I like tapenade, red onion, and pepperoni…

Yum, again.

What I like about this recipe is that you can make the crust as thin as you like and it bakes really well. You can make 2 pizzas with this recipe for a thin crust. You can also freeze it and when you want to use it, just take it out and let it thaw on your counter. Genius.

It’s also great on the grill.

Let me know if anyone tries out the recipe!

This week has certainly slid by and I figure its the warm, sunny weather that has occupied my time. I love it. But I also love sewing and there is so much I want to make! Especially since this morning I did some sandal shopping for the kids and just browsed for me. There are some cute things out there- but I have decided to make myself whatever I want…and what I NEED (like running shoes) will have to wait. I was really overwhelmed with all the sales and the huge amounts of clothes just waiting to be consumed or put on clearance.

ANYWAY, when I was posting regularly with my “loot” for China, a reader commented about a project she and her daughter were initiating. Her daughter is going to Africa and would like to give all the girls she is visiting a skirt. I immediately knew I wanted to help and the above images are from my week’s project. I love each one and want to keep them- this is a good thing, I am so excited to send my skirts off knowing that they are what I would want Ellie or Peppy to wear.

I also had a clearer joy of how it feels to give up some time and personal projects for a greater effort. This made me think of everyone who gives of their time freely. It has also been a nice meditative time to think of the world, my family, challenges I am facing, and of course the little girl that will be wearing my skirt.

Happy weekend!

The merits of going about the day without your “sippy cup” explained by Ellie.

I swear this was not staged.

I know I live in the suburbs when graffiti looks like this…not that I am complaining, especially since my 2 older kids can read!

Who would have guessed that my “family values” were fed to me on a recent walk along the river.

P.S. My family actually does eat together on a regular basis, quite an accomplishment in today’s world.

Someone is experiencing a new sort of freedom…

A few weeks back, I saw this “smocket” posted and I was smitten over its’ simplicity and EASY factor. Last night, I forgot about the snow and slush accumulating outside and spun my Peppy her own “smocket”. LOVE it. I need to make a few more and adjust the size, but this style is too cute. The pattern was originally posted on this blog- and so the idea/inspiration/creativity wheel keeps on spinning…

and the gratification of making something for your kid and they are happy keeps going too…nice.

So my sister is safely back home in Ohio, Lulu was happily reunited, my parents are home too and all of your gifts are happily with a child. Can you believe it? Thanks again friends for your time and talent. All of these children are so precious.

It was very overwhelming to look through her photos and see all the children’s faces-the reality of it all really hit me. As we went through the photographs, Susan told me of some of the immediate needs of a few kids. Simple medical procedures that are not terribly costly for many “Westerners” and then, of course situations that ARE serious. On a personal note, my family has decided to give up a Christmas exchange and will be sending our money to some of the kids in need. I am really thrilled about this…

I have added a “Page” to my sidebar. Please feel free to browse the photos- a few are a bit more heart wrenching, but I wanted to show all of you how your kindness has touched a child. Also, this is just a sampling of the many photographs that were shot over her trip. Some orphanages would not allow photographs at all- so unfortunately we can’t see them, but you can be sure that they were happily received.

Both Susan and I will be writing each of you personally within the next month. A more detailed account of her trip will be included. Again- thank you.