tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44230070267425741392024-03-05T14:50:33.151-05:00Sproutsalaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-33872855033705107852011-09-19T16:06:00.001-04:002011-09-19T16:06:14.466-04:00For My Sister...This post is for my sister... who faithfully checks my blog to see what I've been up to... who is always there for me whenever I need her... who knows just when my day has turned sour and comes through with a pick me up email...<br />
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What have we been up to? It's been quite busy here. We got ourselves a rescued hive of bees for our new farm, where the walls that came a crumblin' down are being built back up. Our garden has done amazingly well this year despite the lack of care it generally gets. I'm up to my ears in tomatoes, apples, peppers (sweet and hot), and zucchini. I've got apples drying in the dehydrator, and apples being sliced for a tasty delight. I've got tomatoes cut up and ready for the puree machine hopefully tonight. I've been purging ourselves of unneeded or unwanted items in this house to make the move as easy as possible (did I just say easy?!?!?!). And homeschooling and dance classes have begun in earnest around here.<br />
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The spirit of fall is already here. We are all doing our best to keep up with the winter preparations. There are a bunch of things that need to get done in the new house before cold weather hits. Not to mention a ton of things here to make sure we are comfy and well fed this winter.<br />
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I'm doing my best to tackle what I can and not let the rest bog me down. Trying to remember to take time out of the busy day to enjoy myself and spend time with those I love.<br />
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Wishing you all a lovely Monday evening! It's chilly and raining here. Fall weather to be sure. My favorite season of the year.<br />
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And, sister, thanks for being such a wonderful person!alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-51500262055810265082011-08-30T13:06:00.000-04:002011-08-30T13:06:11.320-04:00A Little Kindness...Goes a long LONG way!<br />
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I had some errands to run today. And I had to take the kids with me. At one of our stops - a small health food store - the owner complimented me on my children and how well behaved they were. And then complimented me on how I was handling them during our shopping there. (And we were there quite a while since I was searching for a new vitamin...) The feeling his friendliness gave me was overwhelming. I really needed to hear something like that. Lately, I've been feeling quite stressed with the harvest and the new house and school starting and fall coming... I have been feeling like a less than adequate mother. The little encouraging pat on the back was just what I needed to help keep me going. <br />
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The kindness of a stranger is a powerful thing. Spread the kindness.alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-10932894200593021302011-08-25T17:41:00.000-04:002011-08-25T17:41:34.911-04:00Summer Corn SaladWe've been having lots of yummy local corn from our favorite organic farm and also from our own garden. Living here in the corn belt, I've become kind of a corn snob. I don't like to buy corn if it was not picked that day - as it should be for the freshest, sweetest taste and texture! I always buy extra ears, but boil them all at once (only for 4 minutes so they retain the sweetest possible flavor and crispest texture). The next day, with what was leftover, I like to make this salad:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Summer Corn Salad<span> </span></b>(serves 6 – 8)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 cups corn off the cob</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 large cucumber, diced</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 large bell pepper, diced</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 cups diced tomatoes</div><div class="MsoNormal">¼ cup chopped fresh parsley</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 T olive oil</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 T apple cider vinegar</div><div class="MsoNormal">Salt and pepper to taste</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Toss everything in a bowl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">These are just basic amounts. Feel free to play around with it. The key is a light apple cider vinegar dressing. Just enough to meld the flavors of the veggies together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Happy eating!</span><br />
alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-63331293288854013342011-08-09T13:10:00.000-04:002011-08-09T13:10:34.987-04:00Chocolate and Zucchini CakeI have an abundance of zucchini right now. If you garden, or have neighbors who garden, you may be swimming in it too. I've been making copious amounts of veggie burgers (my recipe <a href="http://missalayneoussprouts.blogspot.com/2010/06/veggie-burgers.html">here</a>) for fresh eating and for the freezer. And lots of zucchini breads. Yesterday, I felt like something chocolaty. <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/">SouleMama</a> linked to a <a href="http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2004/04/chocolate_zucchini_cake.php">Chocolate and Zucchini cake recipe</a> that sounded super scrumptious to me. So I made it. And I loved it!<br />
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What's your favorite thing to do with zucchini?!alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-41491293176831361012011-08-08T14:31:00.001-04:002011-08-08T14:32:50.300-04:00Bedside CaddyA friend of ours asked me to make a bedside caddy for her daughter. They had a bargain store version that just didn't hold up to the amount of use it was getting. I was also given a stack of cotton batik fabrics to go crazy with.<br />
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So I measured and thought and measured and drew and measured and dreamed. And then I measured and added and measured and cut and sewed and swore and ripped seams and sewed and ironed... And eventually came out with this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimB4alax5wOUmde6nTLm3wufn6HDWPzCr7dtJpjNbVlhWWz24sSF7nw7jgH8diW6DGCO-MqQg17KGQRrqj2DAX8Dw0AZC3jAcj-CxvBUeAYwLUuIOAWXwsX6I8sNjAOTCE4Im2ktnmFRH/s1600/caddy1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimB4alax5wOUmde6nTLm3wufn6HDWPzCr7dtJpjNbVlhWWz24sSF7nw7jgH8diW6DGCO-MqQg17KGQRrqj2DAX8Dw0AZC3jAcj-CxvBUeAYwLUuIOAWXwsX6I8sNjAOTCE4Im2ktnmFRH/s400/caddy1.JPG" width="393" /></a></div><br />
The original version had those fun mesh pockets that I salvaged for the new version. The finished bucket measures about 4.5" in width, 12.5" in length, and 10" in depth.<br />
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Each piece of the outer bucket - pieced together front, sides, back, and bottom - is lined with a medium weight fusible interfacing for durability. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGClsAPSWnXyF9wyE1SiHA9f1V9wIdtoC31KDpWGO8kGAlgVTspHA_JE0yXziQ4oCcOOr73lKVlfk0xQmQYGOlwUAXLa7zX8UlY0cfDl6mHgYJfH5yCiewxKpQNj-vuJDWcN_AGxSqEIs4/s1600/caddy2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGClsAPSWnXyF9wyE1SiHA9f1V9wIdtoC31KDpWGO8kGAlgVTspHA_JE0yXziQ4oCcOOr73lKVlfk0xQmQYGOlwUAXLa7zX8UlY0cfDl6mHgYJfH5yCiewxKpQNj-vuJDWcN_AGxSqEIs4/s400/caddy2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMZW8ZteMPLb233JYUiJUtcoyG3tIsNGlH4_2GqIjjtjSX0mQrtusrsadl6WX3zaSxZh4fchIbsVChC-h878K_MR1oGvnAf1yHBUAZ22nXgPWk4U9CoO93hn8m6hYecWGR1l4HW_scwsf/s1600/caddy3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMZW8ZteMPLb233JYUiJUtcoyG3tIsNGlH4_2GqIjjtjSX0mQrtusrsadl6WX3zaSxZh4fchIbsVChC-h878K_MR1oGvnAf1yHBUAZ22nXgPWk4U9CoO93hn8m6hYecWGR1l4HW_scwsf/s400/caddy3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Inside, there is a large flat divider that can be used to hold a book or two, and a smaller divider that separates the remaining space in two sections. Both dividers are sandwiched with medium weight fusible interfacing as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mgc72gbhoNS6OQZjVLOotyVxHZLooKazLGY2eannU3OJ2x43kvnJxkU5M9pe5WPmbfLBlbS1YsxGmRguP8WBbZQ7k_ynCcg9EZKrUz4AYzRgJvvemxNIZPQ1orFgjIIycpI0JYhBU2ze/s1600/caddy4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mgc72gbhoNS6OQZjVLOotyVxHZLooKazLGY2eannU3OJ2x43kvnJxkU5M9pe5WPmbfLBlbS1YsxGmRguP8WBbZQ7k_ynCcg9EZKrUz4AYzRgJvvemxNIZPQ1orFgjIIycpI0JYhBU2ze/s400/caddy4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Boy, this fabric looks pink in my pics. It's really a lovely shade of deep purple...<br />
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I made a pocket to slide under the mattress that will hold a piece of cardboard. This way the whole thing can be washed when you remove the cardboard. (Shown below is the original "under the mattress" part I cut off the old version and used in the pocket of the new version.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-ADpQreaBkq1nbsUH0Jm1O_FwxpFzk-tt6F0jSzkE0Kp8vMREYL83E1Jk9ZK7A6nHP4Nc3wf8QoqiMqy74jnHYFph-7l3sMLvRH2GIyuiGe8dnYJ54KqphdNciFY3g_eyZ4wbWajSw5g/s1600/caddy5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-ADpQreaBkq1nbsUH0Jm1O_FwxpFzk-tt6F0jSzkE0Kp8vMREYL83E1Jk9ZK7A6nHP4Nc3wf8QoqiMqy74jnHYFph-7l3sMLvRH2GIyuiGe8dnYJ54KqphdNciFY3g_eyZ4wbWajSw5g/s400/caddy5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSK5y2SASCPAKpmO6H22EN8YmFfyipnwc7fyWBbk9lp4wscIkgnSiqnlDQwto7bhwhFzF7FXjh5Shd2POM6PJPd28Oxw7XSsBIAfg-khWLMWbg3SKN_M_dcNQwXSDLqsFGhPsC6hWaX6u/s1600/caddy6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSK5y2SASCPAKpmO6H22EN8YmFfyipnwc7fyWBbk9lp4wscIkgnSiqnlDQwto7bhwhFzF7FXjh5Shd2POM6PJPd28Oxw7XSsBIAfg-khWLMWbg3SKN_M_dcNQwXSDLqsFGhPsC6hWaX6u/s400/caddy6.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6c6In4D54XSYeEyryKDpS5MuFVpHYeSav7qT6Z7uZPbTW73fOzGDLekHjZhWxSTUoIzsOy9pNyHL8ORUzdnd-kfToEy6Y9HtMu5vOljvt3eh8LSVZt2vG6j5C8HNTcrbwBp8rUxSPzpz/s1600/caddy7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6c6In4D54XSYeEyryKDpS5MuFVpHYeSav7qT6Z7uZPbTW73fOzGDLekHjZhWxSTUoIzsOy9pNyHL8ORUzdnd-kfToEy6Y9HtMu5vOljvt3eh8LSVZt2vG6j5C8HNTcrbwBp8rUxSPzpz/s400/caddy7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Then it's just a matter of sliding it under the mattress.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa8c6dpxwCI61Oy2A4TKONHaCf5xA_rWBaYk9e9whX_hl7tcWTE3ebNhISIp_mIQ2OVES5_au85aLN7q8FNRa5L35XI65bAsyJW25VcR4fLAeZ-EQf2fFlJenO65zJV_SlK-X9Hb9jE-V/s1600/caddy8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBa8c6dpxwCI61Oy2A4TKONHaCf5xA_rWBaYk9e9whX_hl7tcWTE3ebNhISIp_mIQ2OVES5_au85aLN7q8FNRa5L35XI65bAsyJW25VcR4fLAeZ-EQf2fFlJenO65zJV_SlK-X9Hb9jE-V/s400/caddy8.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQ17vs-TclB4siZJ_2vzZOyfbetteB443ltFrsFHCx1Ii3STzcJ3UwVdabi-S7VG-_CHebNUzUTU2x7SrhGRYtHrpQlJNylfrKD8_oWSSvUS8YGbdw04wmZHlZSoAHMbRLqxA8GEAyo94/s1600/caddy9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQ17vs-TclB4siZJ_2vzZOyfbetteB443ltFrsFHCx1Ii3STzcJ3UwVdabi-S7VG-_CHebNUzUTU2x7SrhGRYtHrpQlJNylfrKD8_oWSSvUS8YGbdw04wmZHlZSoAHMbRLqxA8GEAyo94/s400/caddy9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1svkbq2_SZ197JtWwLhAm6tuQB7Zc1afsflqrOZZaJyOUnI847ki6SogqlQfvxP3MGqFKjEJiHj9B_g7_ni_oWHhBLtAsrS1PwJs_l6MiE7B_mJZvxtcUtenGgO8wjDQIoKLE0ONK6NL/s1600/caddy10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1svkbq2_SZ197JtWwLhAm6tuQB7Zc1afsflqrOZZaJyOUnI847ki6SogqlQfvxP3MGqFKjEJiHj9B_g7_ni_oWHhBLtAsrS1PwJs_l6MiE7B_mJZvxtcUtenGgO8wjDQIoKLE0ONK6NL/s400/caddy10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And filling it up with your favorite bedtime items.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GgccbGmcAQ-IPDYskiDV4d2eNYjU5QqXULEjZAQZMpegyJbZH4gcE_u2W4dQzsBXo4d96shyoDFOPq_HK16c19_JhJ5ocBLW6i47ZTZ98BBdYcAPwhe52zMjcT6F90gQh5qSVgDlp2c-/s1600/caddy12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GgccbGmcAQ-IPDYskiDV4d2eNYjU5QqXULEjZAQZMpegyJbZH4gcE_u2W4dQzsBXo4d96shyoDFOPq_HK16c19_JhJ5ocBLW6i47ZTZ98BBdYcAPwhe52zMjcT6F90gQh5qSVgDlp2c-/s400/caddy12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
All in all, it came together fairly well. I had a few issues with not measuring properly and cutting pieces that were too small (that's the problem with sewing after you should be in bed!). And only one other mishap involving not attaching the small divider to the large divider, but we won't go into that. It all came out cute in the end. And the little girl I made it for had a huge smile on her face when she realized what it was! That, right there, is the best part about sewing.alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-81955471837739502972011-07-29T13:30:00.000-04:002011-07-29T13:30:42.417-04:00Birthday DressJuly is flying by!! What a crazy month it has been. We've been up to our eyeballs in summer camps, cleaning, gardening, and preserving. <br />
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Sweetpea turns 4 tomorrow. Hard to believe my littlest is going to be 4. For her birthday, I made her a dress.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlCvhicCrh7A3nNpsdH_f1I4RXXw9i24SwqkhS-uqtNvVcYIdrZRS-zAx4GedfUGdwU6luK4KuqP-HKxEA8LdFPSYPchfC9TAhY4eE8dmj6MGNLMFoSbZ45uxyvo6AiQBhPhZ5e1SyrjF/s1600/dress1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlCvhicCrh7A3nNpsdH_f1I4RXXw9i24SwqkhS-uqtNvVcYIdrZRS-zAx4GedfUGdwU6luK4KuqP-HKxEA8LdFPSYPchfC9TAhY4eE8dmj6MGNLMFoSbZ45uxyvo6AiQBhPhZ5e1SyrjF/s400/dress1.JPG" width="293" /></a></div><br />
I'ts Simplicity 4161 and I have no idea what the fabric is. I thought it was a cotton, but it may be a rayon or something like that. It ironed funny... I made her a size 5, but it was way too big at the top. I had to take in the seam at the armhole down to the waist by a good good bit.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzeG94VIhWcqvyV_Tm9F9r_qLd1dTPCBexq7gyX4ImG8ck7Ys7g2r0Glt16bU3NOW9kxj8P42L5rjUWBhUgSjxBWvRl45git7b6Zux2vND2CPRVN-86d-FS1u1JaPjstbWKXibxZ2lvk7/s1600/dress2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzeG94VIhWcqvyV_Tm9F9r_qLd1dTPCBexq7gyX4ImG8ck7Ys7g2r0Glt16bU3NOW9kxj8P42L5rjUWBhUgSjxBWvRl45git7b6Zux2vND2CPRVN-86d-FS1u1JaPjstbWKXibxZ2lvk7/s400/dress2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> (And I need a hook and eye. That seems to be a downfall of mine - not sewing on the hook and eye. So tedious!!!)<br />
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All in all, the sewing went well. The pattern was fairly simple to follow. And... I did my first buttonhole!!! (Thanks, Nick, for all your encouragement!) With such cute buttons, who could resist?<br />
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I'm hooked! Or buttoned, rather, since we all know how i feel about putting hooks on dresses. It was so easy, I can't believe it took me this long to try it out! Way way way easier than lining up a zipper.<br />
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Happy Birthday my lil Sweetpea.alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-21841572518081948442011-07-07T12:00:00.001-04:002011-07-07T15:50:11.861-04:00Spinning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6I6pvUsmEUP5nYi1XBmV7khI0UfhyR3uZbQH-VSNwZET0E55LmU2Sl1YkVWKmf4MOHs8rfX5ujMYgu3PyskeiKbdcIn8qUg3YAJGNF-a6VjvCFTodQn3R-X0pBbbsbvCBnqigJ3rpZqb/s1600/slow1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6I6pvUsmEUP5nYi1XBmV7khI0UfhyR3uZbQH-VSNwZET0E55LmU2Sl1YkVWKmf4MOHs8rfX5ujMYgu3PyskeiKbdcIn8qUg3YAJGNF-a6VjvCFTodQn3R-X0pBbbsbvCBnqigJ3rpZqb/s400/slow1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I keep waiting for life to slow down a bit. So I can do some of the things I've been meaning to do. Like stare at the clouds.<br />
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Play in the creek.<br />
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Take my kids to the park.<br />
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Waiting for life to stop spinning quite so fast and give me a bit of time.<br />
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But life is stubborn. Life plunges along whether you are holding on or not.<br />
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We are responsible for making our own time. For <i>doing</i> those things we want to do.<br />
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For finding our own balance.<br />
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<i>***Here is a note added by Nick in the comments. I thought I'd share it with everyone in case you were looking for some clarity...</i> <br />
It's not clear from those pics (thanks to a fast shutter speed...) but that spinny thing was actually SPINNING. <br />
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And pretty fast, too...<br />
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And Munch could stand in the center and move her feet fast enough to NOT spin with it. An impressive feat - both physically and metaphorically...alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-89159471032458758112011-06-22T15:33:00.000-04:002011-06-22T15:33:49.716-04:00Donating!***<i> Warning: If you are one of my sisters, and you want to be surprised by this in person, read NO FARTHER!!!!!!! </i>***<br />
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A couple weeks ago, I was combing Sweetpea's hair after a bath and I said "your hair is down to your butt!" Her response was "oooohhhhh! We should cut it and donate it!" Now, she is only 3, so you can imagine my surprise. Munch has donated her hair twice in her 11 years. But not in the last 2 years. It seemed hard to believe that Sweetpea could <i>remember</i> her sister doing that. They must have talked about it at some time or another. Ya know, as sisters are wont to do even if there is an 8 year difference between them.<br />
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We decided to wait until after the recital was over. So I could more easily pin her hair back.<br />
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Last night after her bath, we downloaded the form from <a href="http://www.locksoflove.org/">Locks of Love</a>, and set to work.<br />
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Sweetpea is having a great time telling how it all happened. Here's her version of it (in her words, but without her little Sweetpea accent):<br />
First, we picked out a rubber band. A pink one.<br />
And mama put it in my hair in a pony tail.<br />
I had to hold really still. <br />
Then mama cut the pony tail off!<br />
[fit of goofy girl giggles] <br />
The <i>whole</i> pony tail!!<br />
[hand motions and more giggles]<br />
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12 inches. Oddly, this was very difficult for me. I sorta felt like i was cutting off one of her limbs. Like it would hurt her or something. Not sure why I felt like that. I'm usually not one to be so sentimental about things like that. But...<br />
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I'm loving the new look!<br />
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So fresh and cute.<br />
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I think she's loving it too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbGLTckl4fnAub6t4HUy-V3Mk70OmT0cCyafQRUmqjmADycYuqmbRyOhBvGVRZNyofDH4dD7HeSuby1ADvnJ0NDO7WRY-3yHTmtxM8EYw0gBaYdsY4W84HF2AUTiM1Zdi_EmDWURFVT25/s1600/donatehair7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbGLTckl4fnAub6t4HUy-V3Mk70OmT0cCyafQRUmqjmADycYuqmbRyOhBvGVRZNyofDH4dD7HeSuby1ADvnJ0NDO7WRY-3yHTmtxM8EYw0gBaYdsY4W84HF2AUTiM1Zdi_EmDWURFVT25/s400/donatehair7.JPG" width="368" /></a></div>alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-18634608353401007482011-06-20T16:35:00.000-04:002011-06-20T16:35:07.985-04:00What Happens When Life Runs Away With You?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov2E0b0stjKShOhQIJ63EMuTj8Onbdfr2s92BtWAwOYAWvBkVIhTghND5CVxh9U1StplosBklFR9zPk2MbawyxYwonDgyLqLyg5fgT_2PDOf2D6rv_NG_ihrUkqnzxsTl4EF1WtXcKRg8/s1600/potatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov2E0b0stjKShOhQIJ63EMuTj8Onbdfr2s92BtWAwOYAWvBkVIhTghND5CVxh9U1StplosBklFR9zPk2MbawyxYwonDgyLqLyg5fgT_2PDOf2D6rv_NG_ihrUkqnzxsTl4EF1WtXcKRg8/s400/potatoes.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov2E0b0stjKShOhQIJ63EMuTj8Onbdfr2s92BtWAwOYAWvBkVIhTghND5CVxh9U1StplosBklFR9zPk2MbawyxYwonDgyLqLyg5fgT_2PDOf2D6rv_NG_ihrUkqnzxsTl4EF1WtXcKRg8/s1600/potatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>This. This is what happens when it is heavy planting season and the recital is coming up and the house falls into a spiral of disorder and... This is what happens when you find your kids saying "salad [or sandwiches or eggs] for dinner <i>again</i>?<br />
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But that's all over now. We're into garden maintenance mode. The costumes have been gathered or made and danced in. <br />
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I've got some po-ta-toes to salvage!<br />
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(Hey, no one can say I can't grow anything!)alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-14689503072855198982011-06-13T11:25:00.000-04:002011-06-13T11:25:08.482-04:00A Sister's GardenI have 4 <i>wonderful</i> sisters. We get together often and have a great time. Last week, while 2 of my sisters went on a trip to North Carolina (welcome home!!!!!!!!!), I got the chance to hang with another one of my sisters twice! Twice in one week! She lives an hour away in PA, so we don't see each other as often as we'd like. <br />
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This year, she decided that she wanted to plant a garden. Much to my excitement, she asked me to help her design and plant it. Early last week, I took the kids to her place, had a sleepover, and then planted her garden the next morning. 'Twas really fun!<br />
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Her garden, being her first ever garden, is 3ft by 12ft. She wanted tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, green beans, and onions. We chose 3 tomatoes - 1 Debaro paste, 1 Bellstar paste, and 1 Medford field; 2 sweet peppers - 1 King of the North bell, 1 Lipstick; 1 hot pepper - we had chosen a Hot Portugal, but a lil bunny ate it, so we replaced it with an Anaheim; Provider green beans; Black Eel zucchini; and onions grown from onion sets. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlxmrnLb5uxHs3XFEsyh_NQ4bfdQbC5Nod7qGF8DTNuwlx1BXm7-0hARal_YuSSiSh1LMyvTQY9FhJK5u0Q0wZqSUpFFX8mqmEscwQAoVgICR8NmEsaz2eVcNZ_ofl2PXc00MwEKUIA1i/s1600/aleiasgarden3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlxmrnLb5uxHs3XFEsyh_NQ4bfdQbC5Nod7qGF8DTNuwlx1BXm7-0hARal_YuSSiSh1LMyvTQY9FhJK5u0Q0wZqSUpFFX8mqmEscwQAoVgICR8NmEsaz2eVcNZ_ofl2PXc00MwEKUIA1i/s400/aleiasgarden3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Right after planting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3LF_dhitub2bPXf2ILXaNoL1XanN1-s-j7zsoMIXGI2fULWq9OJL5E2c9EPzYZSUDMLG5zmlk6z7rQjZtlYgKXwTNhmfZRBhMJysbfHiK73vvDYI5VGGGNMqAHQ1-w47IYGSdlAgoesZ/s1600/aleiasgarden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3LF_dhitub2bPXf2ILXaNoL1XanN1-s-j7zsoMIXGI2fULWq9OJL5E2c9EPzYZSUDMLG5zmlk6z7rQjZtlYgKXwTNhmfZRBhMJysbfHiK73vvDYI5VGGGNMqAHQ1-w47IYGSdlAgoesZ/s400/aleiasgarden2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Hurray for sprouting seeds!!! Always one of the most exciting parts of gardening (next to harvesting the yummies, that is).<br />
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Isn't it cute?! I think I'm just as excited about her garden as she is! (Thanks for letting me be a part of it all, sis!!)<br />
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Gardening is a never ending spiral. Once you start, you can't stop. You constantly think of how next year's garden will be bigger, better, different. You learn from your mistakes and from your successes. Happy accidents happen. Losses occur. It's challenging and exciting. Each year is different. Gardening is dynamic. <br />
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This was one of the wettest springs I can remember. We are just now caught up on getting things in the ground in our own garden. Now that things have slowed a bit in the garden, I'm hoping to have the chance to take some pics of it and post them. After all, this will be our last year of gardening at my sister in laws house. Next year, we'll be able to garden at the farmhouse we bought. Hopefully we'll be living there as well! Right now, we are dealing with the challenges of buying an old farmhouse. But! We now have a working well. That's some progress! <br />
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How does your garden grow?alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-70860714750880879392011-05-27T14:04:00.000-04:002011-05-27T14:04:27.370-04:00Totally Hilarious!!!Hi. My name is Alayne. And, I'm a geek...<br />
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There is this website with truly funny comics for the geeky person called <a href="http://www.xkcd.com/">xkcd</a>. Some of them are over my head, but some of them make me howl with laughter. Nick forwarded me <a href="http://www.xkcd.com/380/">this particular comic</a> today. Ohmigosh!!! I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. It totally made my entire day (not that it was a particularly bad one, mind you). I just want to share it with everyone I know.<br />
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Hope you enjoy it! Happy Friday everyone! And, have a wonderful weekend.alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-36394574214232898862011-05-26T11:23:00.000-04:002011-05-26T11:23:08.509-04:00Cinnamon-Apple FairyShe loves apples with cinnamon sprinkled on top.<br />
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She loves to dress up in her sister's old dance costumes.<br />
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I love her little fairy feet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzUCDpogAX98vS8pfVlkI3_EzNXVDaEKwrCsICqrLXYkcPf5jqSdm86fcuEV-unfC7DlbAhczw0gFP8qr_yqYOfRdQgSPrYeo1Gj6_nftr6XuxGpMHJJ19qP0wNkPcqIIzEGyBuf4BoA3/s1600/cinnamonfairy3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzUCDpogAX98vS8pfVlkI3_EzNXVDaEKwrCsICqrLXYkcPf5jqSdm86fcuEV-unfC7DlbAhczw0gFP8qr_yqYOfRdQgSPrYeo1Gj6_nftr6XuxGpMHJJ19qP0wNkPcqIIzEGyBuf4BoA3/s320/cinnamonfairy3.JPG" width="283" /></a></div>alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-80696702537673796812011-05-25T10:29:00.000-04:002011-05-25T10:29:34.849-04:00Inside OutHi everyone!! It has been a long time. We've been up to our ears in stuff to do, and blogging has been the last thing on my seemingly endless things to do. But, today, I thought I'd pop in to say hi.<br />
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Every year, I love to bring all my house plants out onto the back porch. I finally did that on Monday. They seem so much happier out there in the fresh air. <br />
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When we finally get our new old farmhouse in livable condition, I'm going to miss this porch. It's probably the thing about this house I will miss the most. It's wide enough for a table. Our farmhouse has 2 porches - a back porch that wraps around a bit, and a front porch. Neither porch is wide enough to accommodate our table. But, since I'm thrilled with the rest of the house and the property, we will happily figure out some alternative.<br />
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In addition to bringing the inside plants out, I like to plant some annuals in pots for splashes of color.<br />
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Here is where I enjoy taking my tea (or coffee depending on what the day has brought me).<br />
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Notice my bay tree in the dark green pot. I just up potted that into a pot more than twice the size of the original!!! Boy does it look MUCH happier in it's new home. (Although a bit crooked, it seems... Note to self: take care of the crooked tree.)<br />
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And, a view from the swing into the back yard.<br />
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In the way back, by the fence, you can spot our compost bins. We found some galvanized burn cans with predrilled holes in them at our local hardware store. They are perfect for neighborhood dwellings since they keep out the animals. Guess what is hiding in the bush right off the porch!?!?!?!?!<br />
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Yup! You guessed it - baby cardinals. How cute they are!alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-17978923843673973152011-05-11T15:47:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:28:20.324-04:00Rambling OrganizationThere are thousands of things keeping us busy these last few weeks. First, and most importantly, was the purchase of our new old farmhouse. Now making it livable will keep us busy for months to come. Yay!<br />
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It's finally stopped raining enough for the ground to dry up. Bright sunny days mean lots of catch-up work outside. There's laundry to be hung (waiting so patiently in piles and piles and piles upstairs), potting soil to be made and tomatoes to be up potted, porches to be cleaned off, garden work, seed planting, grass mowing, ... It's easy to get overwhelmed to the point where you are just standing in the kitchen with your hands on your head, shaking.<br />
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But, I've made a list. It's miles long, but it's a list. Each day I put the things I think can be accomplished in between the regular schoolwork, meal making, and housekeeping. Today, I'm making soil, soil blocks, and up potting the tomatoes. They are pretty much screaming to get out of their little 1/2 inch blocks. Ok, ok, ... they've been screaming for about 2 weeks now. Tonight we will have some friends over for a music night - fondly referred to as Guitar Night here. <br />
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Tomorrow - garden work. It will be so very nice when we can move into our new home and have the garden right there with us! As it is now, I have to pack us all up for the day and head over to our garden. <br />
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Slowly, we are getting our spring selves into gear. Soaking up the sunshine and wonderful air. Shedding the winter blues. Wiping away the winter grime. Planting seeds of all sorts.alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-206218453685071132011-05-06T19:36:00.000-04:002011-05-06T19:36:32.478-04:00Our FarmWe bought the farm!! No, not the proverbial farm. The farm we have been looking for for 15 years. Our farm. Land. With an old farmhouse on it! We are very excited this is finally coming together for us. Very excited!<br />
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The house we are living in was supposed to be a temporary house. Five years at the most. It's been nearly 14.<br />
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There are some things we need to do in our new house before we can move in. Luxuries like plumbing, electricity, and heating. We plan to knock down a couple walls to make the space more usable for our family. It's going to take a while, but we are excited for our new journey.<br />
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Plans are being thought up for what we'd like to do with our spaces. Chickens, honeybees, fruit trees and bushes are all popping through our minds. <br />
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As is our way, we are going to do the remodel as environmentally friendly as possible. We've begun scouring for reclaimed fixtures and such, recycled materials, and natural things to make our home. Hopefully, I will be able to post some ideas for you in the months to come. <br />
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Right now, we are basking in the fact that it has finally happened!<br />
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Have a great weekend.alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-76053794312731680882011-04-25T10:36:00.000-04:002011-04-25T10:36:23.311-04:00Some Things That Make Me Happyclean sheets<br />
smiling children<br />
coffee<br />
lovely weather<br />
rain<br />
open windows<br />
the smell of dirt<br />
tomato plants<br />
spending time with familyalaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-17802788811963795632011-04-22T11:33:00.000-04:002011-04-22T11:33:17.202-04:00Li'l Bird for SweetpeaI found this great book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cuddly-Crochet-Adorable-Toys-Hats/dp/1564779858"><i>Cuddly Crochet</i> by Stacey Trock</a>. In it, she has patterns for the cutest little stuffed animal creations for your little one. I made this for Sweetpea:<br />
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Isn't it the cutest little bird you've ever seen!?!? It measures about 5 inches tall. I changed the color from blue to green, used a cotton worsted weight yarn, and is stuffed with bamboo stuffing I found at JoAnn's.<br />
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I did learn some things, though, for when I make more of them. The first, and probably most important, is to keep your stitches as tight as possible. In some places, you can see the stuffing through my stitches. The second is to be more careful about how I attach the wings so they are symmetric - not lop-sided as mine are. But, I know that Sweetpea will love it! And I think it turned out pretty darn cute! And that's what matters!<br />
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Happy Earth Day everyone! alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-16036735182723755982011-04-21T16:00:00.000-04:002011-04-21T16:00:48.138-04:00Zippered Coin Pouches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbb5vaiIFi6r4M1G2DwESKAaCTUIv7vRiTcvzzGaVSXuH1QyhIRv6NCI6E9PexnFMlc5F8EWO-yWe2I5JzePbLVUQhU3EFrjxgsC38QsIO9_eqdbq7vUP88hP80KK82zpgdvLIS53ZbNMx/s1600/zippercoinpouches1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbb5vaiIFi6r4M1G2DwESKAaCTUIv7vRiTcvzzGaVSXuH1QyhIRv6NCI6E9PexnFMlc5F8EWO-yWe2I5JzePbLVUQhU3EFrjxgsC38QsIO9_eqdbq7vUP88hP80KK82zpgdvLIS53ZbNMx/s400/zippercoinpouches1.JPG" width="346" /></a></div><br />
Today, I made zippered coin pouches for Munch and Boy. Can you guess which is who's?!?!? Sweetpea will get a different special mama made item in her basket this weekend. Hopefully, I'll be done with that tonight and can show you tomorrow.<br />
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The pouches are nothing fancy, just lined zippered pouches that measure about 5 inches wide by 4 inches deep.<br />
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I did some fussy cutting for Boy's so that the space ships would be front and center. Then I messed up the stitching at the zipper. Oh well... He won't care. He is my biggest fan.<br />
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The periwinkle are blooming! I love those. They remind me of my Grandpa. He had a small city lot that had a big hill that took up all but 3 feet of the front yard. On it, he grew periwinkle. He taught me how to propagate it by burying parts of the runners. He also had a small, but productive, veggie garden behind his garage. I was never allowed in it, but i watched as he gardened behind the little white picket fence. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDgXzLRWwW4DFJDZmSHBtpB616vwYMwpgF5a3EAkYcl4x4-CYqPv6i3Kv_GcBVNo1QM6cohHW3k7eB2EtkOim9IQ08Tn49yGo2gxLXIBtRL7yrMFE3FKXi1sX-uJXymcS9KUvy4Yu2tuB/s1600/periwinkle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDgXzLRWwW4DFJDZmSHBtpB616vwYMwpgF5a3EAkYcl4x4-CYqPv6i3Kv_GcBVNo1QM6cohHW3k7eB2EtkOim9IQ08Tn49yGo2gxLXIBtRL7yrMFE3FKXi1sX-uJXymcS9KUvy4Yu2tuB/s400/periwinkle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-22641609900360468482011-04-20T09:48:00.000-04:002011-04-20T09:48:33.389-04:00Spring Around the HouseHere are some little bits of spring you can find floating about our house...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4FmtHuZfcrp2fV-avG3CnigbZ4O6RlqYnwl3pUzbsQp16GkPiBnaZUVIcYtWtEbSviGCdHhHVIPnyu4F-fsYUBRAqDJYjW9oQXvvH_cs3llcCG31Tz2I4FpMXqwxsyyYTLiKXNsvDNCD/s1600/spring9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4FmtHuZfcrp2fV-avG3CnigbZ4O6RlqYnwl3pUzbsQp16GkPiBnaZUVIcYtWtEbSviGCdHhHVIPnyu4F-fsYUBRAqDJYjW9oQXvvH_cs3llcCG31Tz2I4FpMXqwxsyyYTLiKXNsvDNCD/s400/spring9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-70301071155404870002011-04-19T12:01:00.000-04:002011-04-19T12:01:40.739-04:00Boy's PantsI made Boy's pants yesterday. Since Boy is now 7, I was debating whether or not I needed to try a zipper and button pants, or if I could still get away with elastic waistband pants. I've never done a pair of pants with a zipper and a snap/button. I was terribly intimidated!! So, I opted for something in between - flat front/elastic back.<br />
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(Funny the difference between him modeling and Sweetpea modeling!!!)<br />
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The material was in a hand-me-down bag of material. I have no idea what it is, except that it is woven and unravels <i>fast</i>!!! I did some super duper things to the seams to keep them from unraveling. On the inner leg seams and the seam from the front to the back, i double stitched, zigzagged, and then top stitched the seam down to one side. On the side seams, I just stitched and zigzagged. <br />
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The pattern was just a basic pant pattern (actually a pj pant). I only put elastic on the back waist.<br />
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I double top stitched the front waist for something interesting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8jkMyDSM3d1h8oShygdWd-k3c2CGFGwUcrWhOepGkRGhRfIyi7hVjFxmKgSAplfWqFO5JgmPvGA0dUxPfG0dH_D4pw_a_959isddpWc_61U_Vpt0bAKl2LPxt-wqtIr37wlP8RESqcm9/s1600/boyspants4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8jkMyDSM3d1h8oShygdWd-k3c2CGFGwUcrWhOepGkRGhRfIyi7hVjFxmKgSAplfWqFO5JgmPvGA0dUxPfG0dH_D4pw_a_959isddpWc_61U_Vpt0bAKl2LPxt-wqtIr37wlP8RESqcm9/s400/boyspants4.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><br />
Boy loves them, and would be wearing them every day from now till they rip apart if I let him. But they are for our Sunday family gatherings. He really is my biggest fan!! (Today, he came home from Breakfast with Grandpa, noticed that I cleaned all the mud he left on the floor on his way out, and said "Mom! I don't know anyone who cleans as well as you do!!!" You gotta love that.)<br />
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Finally, he starts to loosen up in front of the camera...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCkqdmWS976mUFOqmEK9g9wkOCFjomilhTnEXjYMNkajBqsyH2GynP7Z6W7VFZeixzFt8aO2m4QdLGZ8jWCQfLMT4wAAkcS8jZ-Zd6GhnfuclVttR3f51g8pdUq9I0EYJExcbYy7lImWU/s1600/boyspants5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCkqdmWS976mUFOqmEK9g9wkOCFjomilhTnEXjYMNkajBqsyH2GynP7Z6W7VFZeixzFt8aO2m4QdLGZ8jWCQfLMT4wAAkcS8jZ-Zd6GhnfuclVttR3f51g8pdUq9I0EYJExcbYy7lImWU/s400/boyspants5.JPG" width="152" /></a></div>alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-62072731526094262732011-04-18T13:03:00.000-04:002011-04-18T13:03:26.971-04:00Trying to Stay OrganizedThere are a lot of things happening here - out of the ordinary things, and ordinary things. I have been trying to keep myself both motivated and organized. The weather has been nice spring weather (except for the horrible wind we had all day yesterday). With weather like that, it's easier to be motivated.<br />
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Easter is coming up. I still have to make a pair of pants for Boy (been on my list for quite some time now), and a dress for Munch. There are some little things I'd like to finish up before Sunday as well.<br />
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It is the time for gardening. Seedlings have been started. Spinach and onions are growing in the garden. Lettuce, greens, and more onions need to be sown outdoors. Annual flowers need to be sown indoors. I still have 4 pepper plants to up pot. Yeah, only 4! Why did I not do those when I did the other 40? I don't have any idea.<br />
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The chives are growing strong now. Thankfully. I've been out of storage onions for over 2 weeks now. Yikes! <br />
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I will have to do a good job sticking to my list this week. I tend to let other things interfere with my list. Usually. Not always. If I have a major focus, I am majorly focused. It's going to be a good week for inside things - chilly and rainy.<br />
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Boy's pants (for sure)<br />
Munch's dress<br />
little crocheted bird<br />
2 little zippered money pouches<br />
start the annual flowers and herbs<br />
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That should prepare us for next Sunday. Fingers crossed, and off to clean off my sewing table!<br />
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Happy Monday to you all.alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-26898396640989353992011-04-15T11:17:00.000-04:002011-04-15T11:17:29.524-04:00Useless Fact About Me - #4I just noticed that my last post was my 144th post. That number excites me! 12x12. Or a gross. I'm a numbers gal... numbers and patterns. <br />
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Course, I just ruined the gross of posts by posting about the gross of posts. Oh well.<br />
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Hope you all have a wonderful Friday and a fabulous weekend!alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-40472506682018780382011-04-14T09:48:00.000-04:002011-04-14T09:48:23.246-04:00Useless Fact About Me - #3I <i>love</i> mahjong! ...like my mother before me...alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-83083021775337296082011-04-12T09:21:00.000-04:002011-04-12T09:21:40.702-04:00The List Keeps Getting Longer and LongerBut, somehow, with the weather starting to actually be springy, I don't mind as much. Last week, I did not do so well with my list. We had many visitors and many outings that pushed the list right out of my mind. Who wouldn't much rather hang around with people that make you happy than clean out the cupboards?!?! So, some things got half done, and some things fell off the list all together. Not a big deal. We'll just put them on the list again...<br />
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This Week:<br />
up pot peppers<br />
start tomatoes<br />
finish cleaning out the pantry (got half way done with this one!)<br />
sew Boy's pants<br />
start lettuce<br />
finish raking the front yard (no, I didn't do that in the fall...)<br />
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That's probably enough to add to my regular days. It's going to be a rainy week this week. Ahhhh, April.<br />
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Enjoy your day!alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4423007026742574139.post-11976940132978813022011-04-08T16:25:00.000-04:002011-04-08T16:25:14.463-04:00Useless Fact About Me - #2I <i>love</i> to walk in the rain.alaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00496470342905668573noreply@blogger.com1