On My Mind

one
I know I told you everything that was on my mind just last week, but I’m feeling a bit ADD today.

.

This seems to be the best format for posting today.
Wait. Did someone say pie?

two
Hoooney, I’m hoooome!
After nearly three weeks at the hotel, we moved home on Saturday. We still need to put down new wood flooring in the dining room, hall and entry and tile in both bathrooms, but plywood covered with throw rugs will do until we get our DIY on.
The bedrooms and living room have lovely, luscious new carpet, perfect for making carpet angels.
New Carpet Angels

New Carpet Angels
The brown trim around the windows will eventually be replaced with something pretty. Walt installs; I paint.  Floors first, though.

three
Still not ‘pooing. It’s been four months and my hair has never felt better.
No'poo - 4 months
Usually when it gets this long, it starts to get all snarly and annoying, but I’m loving it right now.
Updated to add: Scroll down to the comments for my best tips. Please add your own if you don’t ‘poo either.
No Poo - 4 Months

four
We picked up Pepper from the borders today. The lady behind the desk got a little teary-eyed when she said goodbye.
Say it with me: awwww.

five
Yesterday, my real-life, lovely friend Annie emailed me about an awesome project she’s been working on. Since she is a great writer, even in a mere email, I’ll let her tell you about it herself:


Dear Friends,
As many of you know, our family experienced a shocking loss earlier this year. From the Mountain Democrat:
“On [February 2nd, 2011] principal Sam LaCara was shot to death in his office at Louisiana Schnell School in Placerville. That’s the reason Sam LaCara, 50, is in the news today, but there are other reasons he could have made the front page.

One reason might have been the heartfelt interest LaCara took in the 411 students at the K-5 elementary school. LaCara became an educator in 1988 after graduating from California State University, Sacramento. He worked in the Placerville Union School District for 21 years, as a teacher and coach, an assistant principal and as principal.”

Sam LaCara is my uncle. I lived across the street from him and could walk on over any time (especially if there was a ballgame on). There was always an open door policy, and Sam was always ready and willing to take his nieces and nephews out on the boat down the Feather river. I remember where I was standing, what time it was when I got the call that he’d been shot. My first thought, before my mom finished telling me the details of what had happened, was: “I wonder how long his recovery will take.” It never occurred to me that Sam wouldn’t survive.
This holiday season will be incredibly difficult for my aunt and her daughters. It will be their first holiday without their husband and father. I wanted to do something for my family, but what? I live 3,000 miles away now, and my ability to help felt so limited.
I’m not sure when the idea of sending them a storybook for Christmas hit me, but hit me it did. I asked for friends and family to submit stories, letters, poetry, and drawings. I gathered up the contributions and set about trying to get them ready for publication. I thought about just printing four copies, one for each of Sam’s “girls”. Then the idea came along to actually publish and sell the anthology, with all the proceeds going to the girls’ college funds.
The end result is Christmas Wishes: A Collection of Holiday Tales and Truths. Christmas Wishes is filled with stories that alternate between off-beat and giggle-inducing, to inspirational and moving. There’s a story about two little bear cubs, a letter from a soldier, as well as tales geared more towards teens and grown-ups. I am so proud of the results of everyone’s hard work. I think Christmas Wishes will be a wonderful gift for my aunt and her daughters.
It could also be a wonderful gift for you or someone you love. By purchasing a copy of Christmas Wishes, you will be helping to provide the LaCara family with opportunities to further their education and pursue their dreams. Sam made education a huge priority for his girls, and making sure they have every chance to pursue that education would be the greatest Christmas present I think we could give them. Not only would it open doors for the girls, but it would also honor Sam’s legacy.
It would be so easy to give in to the grief of reality, to despair. However, I believe if we try to reach out to those who are suffering, it will help them, and us, to see there is more in this world than darkness. The Christmas season is a constant reminder that with every blow to the human spirit, there is also light, love, and the warmth of human kindness all around us.
You can find Christmas Wishes: A Collection of Holiday Tales and Truths for sale here (Amazon). You can also go to any bookstore and request a copy by using the following information:
Title: Christmas Wishes: A Collection of Holiday Tales and Truths
ISBN: 978-1467975087

I’m heading over to buy my copy right now. Something for me that does good for others? That’s a Christmas wish come true.

six
Seriously, did someone say pie?

What’s on your mind today?

Handmade Gift Ideas

“Well, now Thanksgiving this year is safely past,
More turkey eaten this year than last,
More stuffing stuffed, more yams jammed
Into our mouths, and using both hands,
Coleslaw in slews, biscuits by twos,
All of us too fat to fit in our shoes.”

Santa’s Twin by Dean Koontz

It’s officially the Holiday season. We have a little tradition in our family of giving each other a handmade gift. We generally tack a sheet across the opening to our schoolroom with a sign pinned to it that reads: Santa’s Workshop – Do Not Enter. Then we take turns using the space for our crafting. It’s a lot of fun to keep little secrets from each other and creating something with our own hands is a great way to show each other how much we care.
I haven’t quite decided what to make this year; I’d better get on it! If you’re in the same boat, here’s a list of some simple gifts that I have made over the years.

harry potter freezer paper stencil
Freezer Paper Stenciled T-Shirt or Bag
Hollow a book (and fill with chocolate or other treasures)
Silhouette Portraits
Book Pages Wreath
dino terrarium
Tiny Terrarium
Homemade Snow Globes
Table Top Fairy Garden
A wee fairy garden
Gingerbread Play Dough
A simple apron made from a bandana

Of course a gift doesn’t have to be homemade in order to be handmade. If you are looking for a unique and fun handmade gift but aren’t in a DIY mood this season, be sure to check out all of the talented artisans on Etsy.
If you need stocking stuffers, I have a few things in my shop you might like. Stop in tho view these items and more.

I’m offering free shipping all this week. Use the code CYBERMONDAY at check out, and feel free to share with friends.
Merry Crafting!

How to: Handprint Turkey Thanksgiving Table Runner

All month, I’ve been practicing being grateful.  It has come in handy over the last couple of days.
Example 1:
Saturday morning, we woke up to a flood.
I think it was Confucius who said: A clogged toilet in the night will lead to an unhappy morning.
We had to pull up the carpet and pad from the hall, our bedroom and the dining room. In order to do that, we had to rip off our baseboards. It looks like we’ll have to disinfect and dry the sub floor thoroughly, replace the pads with new, put the carpet back down, shampoo and replace the baseboards. Oh yeah, and a new toilet seems to be in order as well. It’s a big job and I’ll be talking to our insurance agent about it later today.
Reason to be grateful: the carpets really did need to be shampooed.
Example 2:
I always cook Thanksgiving dinner. So far this year, I have done all of the following to prepare:
[crickets chirping]
Um, right… I wasn’t a bit concerned though because I was sure Thanksgiving was still a few weeks away. That is until I actually looked at my calendar yesterday and realized that we only have about a week and a half until the big day. Kindly refer to example number one.
Reason to be grateful: I have a really cute table runner, all ready to go.
Thanksgiving Table Runner
Want to make one? It’s really easy to whip up.
Here’s how:
Measure your table. Your runner should be about 1/3 the width of your table (though you could go a bit wider of you like) and about 2 feet longer than your table’s length.
Cut two pieces of fabric to your desired size. I used muslin; I liked the texture, color and cost. (It’s super inexpensive, generally less than $2 per yard.)
Sew fabric, right sides together using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Be sure to leave an opening to turn runner right side out. Good. Now go ahead and turn your runner right side out. Iron the seams flat, then hand or machine sew opening closed.
Okay, ready for the fun part? Let’s make the handprint turkeys.
Trace your family’s handprints on scratch paper. Raid your fabric stash (or ask your mom for hers) and choose a fabric for each turkey. Pin your scratch paper pattern to your fabric, but don’t cut on the line. Cut about 1/4 inch outside the line, making the handprints slightly larger.
Arrange turkeys-to-be on your runner and pin down. Sew about 1/4 inch from the edge. This way, when you wash the runner, the edges will fray and ruffle up a bit. Hand embroider or use fabric pens to add details like eyes, feet, beaks and those red hangy things snoods. If you like, you could also do a simple running stitch around the edge in a complimentary color. While you are at it, be sure to stitch or write the year somewhere. Won’t it be fun to use each year and see how your own little turkeys have grown?
Another thing for me to be grateful for: making a fun centerpiece is also really easy.
Here’s a shot of what ours looked like last year:
Thanksgiving Edible Centerpiece
I wrote up a little tutorial for an edible Thanksgiving centerpiece last year, if you are interested.
One last reason to be grateful: We may be eating our dinner in an uncarpeted mess, but at least the table will be cute.

On My Mind

1. The Candy Monster came. He/she/it had to leave an IOU since he/she/it did not have time to make it to the store. Newt and I went to one of our favorite bookstores today to redeem it. She got a paperback version of one of the Harry Potter books. We have the whole set in hardcover, but Newt thinks paperback is “more comfortable” to read.
2. I finished Newt’s quilt last week:
finished
3. I have the best friends.
4. Confession: I love real food, but while running errands today, I stopped at Taco Bell. I ate two Taco Supremes. I wish I hadn’t done it, but I can’t say that it will never happen again.
5. Speaking of tacos and confessions, I really like Chipotle. No one else in my family liked eating there, so I might have manipulated Newt into changing her mind about them by showing her this video:

6. Newt likes Chipotle now.
7. Another confession: the Candy Monster takes the Halloween candy and gives it to Santa, who uses it to fill stockings. Recycling is a good thing.
8. Newt and I sat on the driveway for an hour today watching a man replace my windshield. We even took photos. He said had never experienced customers like us – I guess he doesn’t work with many homeschoolers?
homeschooling?
9. We ignored a science project in progress to watch said windshield replacement. I was tired (perhaps from the Taco Bell lunch?) and just sitting on the driveway seemed far more appealing.
10. Number 9 was another confession, wasn’t it? It feels good to get these things off my chest.

What’s on your mind today?

Real Food vs. the Halloween Candy Bowl

I’m not crazy about refined sugar, but you probably already knew that didn’t you? High fructose corn syrup is even worse. And GMO soy? shudder
No wonder Halloween is so scary. The candy could kill you. {Look mom! I spy an overly dramatic statement.}
However… I love trick or treating. I went every year until I got married, wearing a ghostly sheet over my head to disguise my far-too-old face.
So how do I reconcile my desire to feed my family well with my love of going door to door begging for free-candy?
I don’t even try.
Here’s what we do: We eat good food, real food the rest of the day. Then we spend the evening feasting on candy.
After graphing it on a bar chart, of course. We are homeschoolers, you know.
Halloween Candy Graph
The next morning, the leftover candy is gone, taken by the Candy Monster. In it’s place will be a new book, art supplies or some other such treat.
You know, the kind of treat that won’t kill you… Mwha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Happy Halloween!

A treat for you:
I’ve added a few new items to my etsy shop over the weekend. Would you do me a favor and drop in? And maybe share your opinions?
Since I love my readers so much, I’ve got a little treat for you. Use the code SIMPLE at checkout for 20% off your order.
Speaking of my shop, I’m working some more nativities, but I keep selling them before I can get them listed. If you are interested in one, let me know and I’ll put you on my list. I charge $40, plus $3 shipping in the US.

A Patchwork of Friends

I am not a quilter. Beginning quilters look at me and feel a smug burst of self-confidence. Even so, I did make my niece a simple baby quilt a couple of years ago, but it was clear that I had no idea what I was doing.
Here’s a little well known fact about me. I like to go big. Instead of going for a jog, I start training for marathons. Instead of moving down the block, we move 3000 miles, practically on a whim, and then move back a few years later.
Knowing that about me, you will probably not be surprised to learn that when Newt told me she’d like me to make a quilt for her bed, I chose one that required approximately 748,000 miles of sewing.
I got the pattern here, if you are interested.
quilt strips
Way back in May, Newt helped me cut hundreds of strips of fabric. And then I got to work sewing up a storm, until I got busy and forgot. However, Newt did not forget. She really wanted to see me finish to have it, and would not let up. So, I made her a promise that I would finish it in time for her birthday. Two weeks before the big day, I got back to work.
Sewing, sewing, sewing…
I might not finish. Crap. I promised.
Sewing, sewing, sewing…
Who needs clean underwear?
Sewing, sewing, sewing…
It’s starting to look like a quilt!
Sewing, sewing, sewing…
I began to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I was going to make it! And then Newt threw me a curve ball.
Mom, I don’t like quilts with knots tied in them. When I use them, I feel like I have to tighten all the knots and it distracts me from my book or tv or whatever. Can you sew it instead?
I was going to need some help. The night before Newt’s birthday, all of my closest friends came over for an old fashioned quilting bee.
Quilting Bee
Everyone brought snacks and we took turns eating and stitching, laughing and talking.

quilting bee

Quilting Bee

We quilted late into the night. By the time the last needle was put away, the quilt was half finished.
It’s huge! And hand quilting takes a really long time!
Newt let me off the hook, but I’m still trying to get it done as fast as I can. Which, in all honesty, might take awhile.
Quilting Bee
The help I’m getting these days is not nearly as productive.

Confidential aside to my quilting bee friends: What would I do without you ladies? Thank you for being in my life. I appreciate you!

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