yard sale find

Having been through another move I find myself not so thrilled about thrifting lately. We were over our household goods weight allowance (again) and this layers on a nice slab of guilt. As a family we love to collect books, so much so the movers always ask us if we own a library. But the books don't weigh me down (hah), it is the abundance of stuff I have. The stuff that I know will never make again. I like to be organized, I guess my mind thinks if it is all neat and sorted it doesn't mean it's too much.

I went to a yard sale today and found this lap desk. It was still in the box. That's a definite sale, right? $2 and still in the box. I didn't have to deal with any mystery grime . But it didn't give me my usual yard sale adrenaline rush. I will give myself another couple weeks to perk up and do some thrift store digging, if not send my sisters out to do an intervention.

curtains

See curtain. See Dick and Jane themed playroom.

I wish I made the curtain longer, but it will have to do for now. I like to learn things by doing them wrong first. Nah, that's a lie, I don't like it, it is just the way it is. The playroom is slowly evolving to accommodate all the ages of my kids (16-22 months). The older kids are spending less time in there, but is is a nice sunny room to play in. No matter where we live we usually try and sacrifice a room for the kids (oh sewing room, there will be a time and a place for us). It works for us, when the mess gets too big I can just close the door.

household neglect

My blog needed a new face. It has taken several tries and I'm still not sure about it. It has been an investment of my time! Usually when Henry naps I clean and cook and if I still have time I sew. After the long weekend the house is well...messy. And here I sit, tap tap tappin at the keys, like there is no laundry to be done or supper to make or CLUTTER to be picked up. Henry is going through a stage where he'll take the stash of cloth bags from the play kitchen and fill them with anything that will fit. His stash comes from every room he ransacks. He's ruthless! When he needs a bag he empties them wherever he is standing at the moment. But yes he is cute and he's definitely Mama's baby. His curls must soon be cut off as the last three strangers to say hi while out and about have called him a girl.

ironing to be done

clothes to fold (this is two of five loads)

potato salad doesn't make itself, but the potatoes are cooked, I get points for that.

25 freckled chicks

These chicks are pure joy! Well alright, they are very messy scratching their pine shavings through the brooder's wire walls. They poop in their water and feed tray and act insane over a crumb of toast. But yes, to me (their mother hen) they are pure joy. They are on their way to being freckled hens (barred rock), their fluffy soft birth fuzz is slowly being replaced with more grown up feathers. They look a bit awkward actually. But they are so fun to hold, we managed to put a tiny bonnet on one. I have dreams of calico aprons and kerchief caps...just you wait!

I was able to fit in a bit of sewing today. It is strange having the kids in school. My heart isn't used to Molly in kindergarten. The whir of my machine was a comfort. It's hard to live in a new place, I'm trying hard to be happy!

Gingham

Gingham is lovely. It is almost always present in my favorite projects. From aprons and curtains to self made bias tape, I often have to restrain myself from over using it. Maybe it is the clean lines of the check and the crispness when it is freshly ironed. I almost always use a touch of it when I sew for my kids. Even if it is just fabric covered buttons, it always adds the perfect touch.

My project list is long with this house, I am planning and cutting now and waiting to sew until the kids start school on Monday. This is bittersweet as I assure you my house is very loud and the kids are somewhat bored, a change is welcome but I will miss them all day. Their silly humor (Sam's fits of laughter until he has his drink come out of his nose), all those questions like today's, "why do people litter?" Why do they litter? We witnessed a middle aged respectable looking woman get in her car and throw a large fast food drink out her window. Anyhow, I will miss them as will Henry who will certainly be lost without his brood of siblings/entertainment.

Tomorrow will be a little more back to school shopping. The teenagers are telling me they need more clothes, yeah right...they need more clothes like I need more fabric. Oi, oi, oi.

Welcome, horse

Ben, a miniature paint horse became part of our family this week. He is so sweet and cute! Whether he likes all the attention from his new family of seven has yet to be determined. His owner is moving away and gave him to our neighbor who kindly asked us if we would like him. He is 10ish and needs a little TLC. But what better for a horse that needs TLC than five kids who all want to comb and primp him. He is doing very well, it's funny how quickly we fell in love with him. If I stare at him too long I get choked up (No, not because of dander). I feel like I have been waiting for him for years when in reality his arrival was so sudden. His nose is like velvet and he has that yummy (debated by some) horse-y smell.
I think I am forever trying to find connections to my childhood, I am not sure why but Ben definitely quenches a huge part of me. Childhood was too fleeting, with lots of issues we grew up real fast. But one constant for us was my Grandparents and the land. We lived on 200 acres of rolling hills with all kinds of corners to hide...woods full of brooks and wildlife and pasture land to run full speed through. Each season had its perks from sledding to swimming, it was hard to pick a favorite time of year. My brother Mike and I are forever bonded from the times we spent on that land. Our siblings are somewhat older and were in the midst of creating their own adult lives, a notion we scoffed at. Why would we ever want to leave?! But alas, yes we did leave...I left for far away travels and he for a place right around the corner. My heart still hurts for leaving. This is why Ben makes me happy. He touches that sore spot in my heart that wants to sit on the porch with my brother while the frogs "gullurp" their evening symphony.

Wow, I think I was just my own therapist. It's nice to write while the kids are sleeping. My head can actually hear my own thoughts. Now I must order some fabric for the dining room curtains and this to use as a backdrop in the glass kitchen cupboards. I think. Maybe?

Home!

Our house is in the beginning stages of feeling like"home". It is a wonderful feeling to have this move behind us and to be settling in as a family. It has been a bit of a culture shock, as our mailbox states, we are in cowboy country! I find this exciting. It has been a busy summer but now that the computer is out of the box it seems to be calling me to the front room and I must admit I have had the most fun reading all the posts I have been missing out on. Everyone is so inspiring. I still feel humble and weak when it comes to blogging, like a silly child. As a shy person I receive such renewal from reading other blogs. I won't give up yet! And besides I need to share all the decorating ideas that keep me awake at night. Hope you are having a wonderful summer.
PS-- I ordered 25 chicks--they are due to arrive this week. A happy dream-come-true for me!