A Quilt for 2011

With colder weather drawing in there was need for another quilt to drag around and cuddle in.

I am not a quilter so I like to keep it simple with no plan of an expected end result.  I simply cut and sew and let the quilt become itself.  In this case I got to do it along side of Peter outside on the most beautiful day of Fall.

Most of the fabrics were from a pile of scraps from my sister in law Eva's mom.  We then used a lofty wool batting, Quilter's Dream from alewivesfabrics and an old sheet as the backing.  But well before that Peter added his own special touch of hand embroidery to remind us of the year we made it.  What I enjoyed most was the quiet focused conversation we had as this quilt came about.  Hand embroidery may be just the thing that very active little boys need.

This quilt is sure to see much use so machine quilting was the most durable (and quickest) way to finish.

I think one simple quilt a year will be just enough to keep these growing kids and this growing family cozy.

At the end of a long day

There is so much to be thankful for.

Warm fire, sleepy kids, and a belly round enough to excuse me from picking up everything scattered from a full day of work and play.

At the end of a long day I am thankful for the many ways my children made me smile...................

I am thankful for time alone, for the quiet of nature, endless sky and fresh air that fill me,

I am thankful for the faithful animals that surround me..........

and the cozy home that draws me back in again.

I am thankful for time well spent with those I love.

I am thankful for helping hands.

I am thankful for the man who dares to live shared dreams,

and the way he works to make it work.

At the end of a long day I am thankful for life, to laugh, to love, to cry and sweat; to lie in bed at the end of it all, the days that I thrived or when I've simply survived, there is always so much to be thankful for.

Lockers Up

The one thing our new home is lacking is a mud room, all that was available were 5 hooks next to the back door.  I wish I took a before picture of these hooks over loaded with stuff, and even worse the mess that was left as coats and bags were tossed to the floor in search of the one favorite hoodie.

I've been nagging Paul for a solution since the weather is quickly changing and snow clothes are sure to complicate the mess.  I designed in my head all sorts of functional beautiful pieces and even sketched them out with dimensions.  Paul laughed them off reminding me he lacked the tools, time and experience to build such a vision.  Instead he got really lucky at the UM disposition center and found this set of 10 barely used lockers from the business school.  They fit perfectly!

They are finally anchored to the wall and everyone has their own locker.  No more excuses for lost shoes, hats and coats, and no more excuses for a messy back door area.

Our homeschool kind of does look like school now.  It sounds like one too with the distinct sound of slamming metal doors. 

Paul and I had lockers not too far from each other in the English hall in high school and it was always a treat in between classes to meet up for a few minutes there (and even steal a kiss).  So it is now, just before I'm running out the door or Paul's coming in from the barn office we can meet up at our lockers and "catch up".

The kids honestly have more fun climbing inside them (don't worry they are anchored securely), it actually is kind of cute to see them all lined up poking their heads out.  I'd have taken a picture but we set the rule no hiding in the lockers.  Instead I got a little action shot of them cleaning up.  

How we celebrated William's birthday

I don't know what is moving faster, the weeks or the years - how can it already be William's birthday?!  How can he already be 10?!  This boy loves bacon so continues the traditional birthday chocolate bacon bar.  

Another fun fact about William is he loves cherry flavored frosting, but he doesn't love the color pink.  I like how he got creative with his birthday cake.

William also loves to make small piles of burnt cheese - so I thought it was time to introduce him to fondue.  This is the old fondue set my Dad got in Switzerland over 25 years ago, I remember using it with my family as a child and now the thrill continues with my own children....... and there is nothing more thrilling than sharing fondue with a big hungry family.

Here is one of his favorite gifts that Peter picked out for $2 at the PTO thrift shop, it was a buffalo trophy kit from cardboard safari.  And here it is now assembled and hung proudly in our home.

And since this was a year of birthday parties we pulled something together with a handful of his cub scout friends.  It doesn't take much to entertain young boys outside, the party plan was simple:  toilet paper dodge ball, pinata and campfire.

William helped make the pinata the day of the party and it was still drying as it hung up on the tree waiting to be hit.  Apparently we didn't make the hanging wire strong enough because it only withstood a few hits before falling flat on the ground.  It didn't break though, so the kids took turns going at it with a stick on the ground, it reminded me of that classic scene from Office Space where the employees were hitting the computer with baseball bats.  The pinata finally split and this activity ended in a pig pile and pockets stuffed with candy.

I had also planned for cake filled campfire oranges but it was getting windy and cold and the kids seemed happy enough roasting hot dogs and marshmallows along with their pinata loot - tooties rolls, starbursts and candy bars.

Instead of gifts the party guests contributed small amounts of money that William will donate to Heifer International to buy a flock of chickens for a family in another country.  

After the party we were left with bags of oranges and a bowl of unused batter so the next day we continued the birthday celebration as a family and made the campfire cake filled oranges.  They are simple, scoop out an orange, fill it with cake batter, wrap in two layers of foil and place in coals for 15 - 20 minutes.

Carefully open and enjoy!

Not everyone loved this combination but William did. Maybe we'll recreate it for his birthday next year, or maybe we'll just try roasting some bacon with our hot dogs and marshmallows instead.

Painting Day

So many weeks have passed without a field trip, but this stop at Uncle Dave's store, Creative Art Studio in Royal Oak, is an annual favorite so we made it happen.  Living way out in the country adds just enough driving time to wear me out even before field trips begin so I was very grateful to Paul's parents who said they'd be happy to join in and give a hand.

This was George's first time painting on his own.  Last year we simply stamped his hand onto a bowl and he spent the rest of the time wrapped on my back.  He picked out both the little hedgehog and paints on his own and I was impressed by his concentration and he seemed thrilled about a new found independence.

Henry painted a new bank since his frog bank got busted in the move.  Just like George he was independent in choices and work.  But I have to say it wasn't always so, even last year I was still hovering over how and what they painted.  And I also have to say that this year's pottery painting day was a lot more fun than any others in the past.

Clara chose a fairy sitting on the moon.  She was especially careful in her painting choosing a fine tip brush and waiting patiently between coats, she was the last one finished.  

Maryanna picked out a cupcake box.  She wasn't feeling very well that day because earlier in the morning she hurt herself.  I don't know exactly what she did but I heard a scream from the stair well and she could not straighten up her head.  On the way to Royal we made a quick stop to see Linda Diane Feldt and she gently adjusted her neck back to normal.  It still took her couple of days to be bouncing around like normal and nothing seems normal until Maryanna is bouncing around with her boundless energy and spirit.   

Peter painted the base of a gum ball machine.  He plans to store some of his tiny treasures in there and in scripted "reserved for Peter, do not touch".

For the love of chickens William could not resist this hen tea pot.  He painted it just like one of our Rhode island reds using three shades of red.   

James painted a football snack platter and he was careful in painting it just like one the many footballs that decorate our playing fields. 

After painting the kids practiced lining up (they always joke about not being good at standing in lines because of homeschool).  At this station they got to make wax dipped hands.

I'd say it is kind of creepy and kind of cool.

Here they are, my five biggest helping hands.

Thanks Uncle Dave for once again treating us to such a fun outing!