Ramblings

I'm going to ramble while I listen to my Media professor do the same. Oh! So boring today! All about the news. I don't watch or listen to the news and only read what I want to know. sigh* 

I was so sad to see that my stats for this blog are completely wrong, and doctored if you will. Spammers send out feelers to blogs and boost the numbers, but really, they aren't people reading the blog. Sadness. Oh well. This is for me, right?  Onward and upward!

I am so in looooove with Burda Style!  Lots of patterns, some free, but tons of really good instructions about sewing like a pro!  One feature I wish I could take advantage of are the webinars. I really seem to do everything electronically, so these seems perfect to me. The latest is:  
Simplifying the Serger: Getting the Most From This Specialty Sewing Machine.

The crazy thing is that Hughesnet, my internet service provider, actually blocks BurdaStyle!  Can you believe it?! Bunch of commies.  So, the only way I can view the website is on the teeny-tiny screen on my phone. more sighing*

Virginia Field Trips

I really love field trips! They break up the monotony of schooling from textbooks. This site:

Virginia Field Trips - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling in Virginia

has some great suggestions for trips! We have done most of them, but this is a short list. There is so much more to do in Virginia, so much to see!

Linen Napkins

I found the prettiest linen napkins at our local Habitat For Humanity yesterday!  Well, they were pretty to me.  Anyone else would have shunned them because of their yellow stains.  Every napkin was plagued with them, like a litter of yellow Dalmatians, but if you know why antique linens stain you've just fought half the battle in fixing them.  So, I bought them for $.25 a piece and began the process of removing those uglies.  They are caused by poor storage and they absorb the yellow of boxes and wood.  So don't store your linens in boxes or wooden furniture.  "One Good Thing by Jillee" had superb instructions on removing the stains, but my husband had an even better idea.  He said, "If you boiled fabric in cleaner and water in the old days to remove the stains, why don't you just use the sanitize cycle on the washing machine?"  Well, that was just a big DUH!  I took the linens out of the pot and put them in the washer for a 2-hour cleaning cycle (not 3 days). Then I laid them out in the sun for about an hour, ironed them and I couldn't be happier!  There is not a single yellow spot on them!  Take a look:

12"x12"

Close up of detailed corner and lace

Spa Party Invitations

The invitations are complete! And, they didn't take very long to make. I drew them up in Microsoft Word, chose my papers and printed them with a laser printer. Assembly was a cinch 'cause I cheated...I used hot glue for everything. What else could I do? I promised my 5 year old that I would camp in the backyard and apparently, I was taking too long. ♥

Craft of the day

I am so excited to be planning a (scaled down) Spa Party for a few friends who have worked so hard all year, tirelessly for others. They deserve a special day and I'm going to give it to them. I have found some great inspiration on the 'net, especially the simple, yet beautiful party by "Marigold Mom".  I like her idea of keeping it small and intimate. I am going to make the facial masks and the scrubs, but purchase cleansers and lotions. I also plan on incorporating three stations, a pedicure station, manicure, and facial. Each will be equipped with the items necessary and warm towels in a crock pot for the hands, face, and feet. Ooooooh! It's going to be decadent!

I will serve white and red wine with cheese and fresh fruit. Fruit dips, vegetables and dip, hummus and Pita chips plus chocolate covered strawberries. There will be icy cucumber/lemon water to hydrate and refresh my friends as the evening progresses.

I am really excited! I know I already said it, but I am! It is my hope that everyone will pitch in in taking care of each other, hand or foot massages, etc. I'll top the night off with a hot rice "scarf" to go over their shoulders and melt all their cares away!

Here is the beginning of my party, the invitations. They will be on handmade paper, from the closed business "handmade-paper.com". {They had such beautiful papers. It's a real shame that she had to close her doors.} I will decorate the invitations with these pine cone flowers that Isabelle and I just made.

This next photo is a conglomeration of how we tore down the pine cone and what you are left with. I first cut of the butt end of the pine cone so that I could get to the bigger, less fragile scales. Then we basically lifted, twisted and pulled off the rest. Some were more difficult so we used the shears, but not many. A tiny circle of fabric and a bit of hot glue and they were all assembled. I had a lot of fun making these. Maybe I'll paint the next set, oooooh, lots of bright and cheerful colors!

Check out my Pinterest Board: Spa Day for my Sisters for the ideas I've pulled together for this party!

Sew Inspired!

I found a tutorial that I LOVED because I start preparing for school hardcore in July and I want to get the most bang for my buck. That being said, the cutsie folders out there are expensive, especially when you need 10, and then 10 of everything else too. Composition notebooks are hideously boring. We can't be having that.

So the blog is "Stitched In Color". She gave a GREAT tutorial on how to make Journal Covers (i.e. Composition Notebook Covers).  Lots of pictures, on par measurements. I had no problem with her instructions and it led me to this for my youngest daughter who is starting First Grade this year:

I got to practice new-to-me techniques of reverse applique, crazy quilting, and some embroidery running stitches. My daughter thinks it should be her dream journal, like in the movie "Shark Boy and Lava Girl". I would love to see her dreams in this journal!

Today's Funny

     My girls and I get into these conversations and before you know it.....BAM!....something like this comes out and cracks us up:

School For Everyone!

I am positively giddy over the educational status of everyone in my family! It makes me so happy to see everyone learning something new and expanding their minds! I am ready to turn in my first 2 assignments for this semester. Nervous? Yes! One is a short (2-page) essay on media literacy and the second is a memorandum about the Supreme Court's ruling in 1962 that a person cannot be charged for a status, i.e. being drunk or under the influence of drugs; they can only be charged for illegal acts.  Very interesting stuff. My brain is fried and I'm sleepy all the time from reading so much....lol

It pleases me very much that Stephen, the education director (who used to be my professor), has given me an "A" (and 3 credits) for work I did in 2010 AND graded incomplete work from that whole mish-mash mess that resulted in me having to leave the school in 2010. Not sure if he's going to give credit for it, but I certainly hope so because that means I am only 6 credits away from my CERTIFICATE! Yeah me!!!

So, that's my excitement......My oldest daughter will be skipping 8th grade and moving straight into a college preparatory high school correspondence course. She is super excited and I know she can do it! So proud of her!

My middle daughter is returning to public school in 6th grade, which starts Middle School here. She is something else! She just dedicated her life to doing God's will and wants to use him to the fullest in strengthening her faith in Him. She amazes me! ♥

Check out this beautiful artwork (below) by Billy the artist (David Bill). Click on the picture to go to his page.

My youngest will be starting 1st grade at the the tender age of 5. (so small and yet so smart) She will also be homeschooled. I am having a blast coming up with her curriculum. First grade is such an exciting grade and the kids are like sponges. There are a lot of ways to incorporate incentives at this age, too. One in particular that has always been fun is the "Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program" . I never knew they had it for homeschoolers, but you better believe I just signed up! The funny thing about incentives and homeschooling is the need to make it pretty spectacular.  My kids LoVe to read so they really don't need to be encouraged, it's just fun. The departments they need rewards are the subjects that are more like drudgery. Anyway, I am really looking forward to teaching this year!

So, today I plan on writing two papers for my school. I need to get more of my daughters curriculum written out and planned. I have started sewing two Asian style tops using sewing pattern "New Look 6203" for my two oldest daughters and I'd to get farther on that project.

 Not to mention all the usuals of cleaning, exercising, cooking, taking care of a sick 5 year-old, etc., etc., etc............

Thanks to my kids and Adventure Time, this is the song rolling around in my head this morning........all morning.

The Twinkies are back! The Twinkies are back!!

After months of despair, and finally acceptance and all the stages of grief in between, 

TWINKIES ARE BACK!

The kids and I cheered as we checked out the ad from Walmart (since we aren't into watching the news as we should). Don't you agree that the ad photo of the box of Twinkies should have been much larger, much grander, perhaps at least a half page ad? ;-)

We trotted straight to the store for our own new box (and some school supplies). So excited!!!















Finally, I can do my homework in style....old school, if you will.  I'll be buzzing on Twinkie sugar for a couple of days now, thanks to the monumental return of this great classic!

First day of morning jogs with my husband, for him to get ready for police academy, for me to lose medication induced "inflation".

It was humid and very foggy but that made it so much easier to see the thousands of intricate webs on the fences and in the fields. I was stunned by their beauty!

Wardrobe Malfunction

My middle daughter has decided that she would like to return to public school after home schooling for 5 years. (me: silently weeping) She will be starting Middle School and, of course, needs a new wardrobe. I've been collecting clothes for her as I can, but have run into a snag. Two of the button-down shirts I bought from Plato's Closet (LOVE that place!) pucker and cause a gap right in the middle of her shirt, exposing her bra and looking just plain sloppy.

 I'm going to fix that right up for her today (after a quick run to the store for supplies). I've heard lots of suggestions on how to fix this: (1) Pin it with a safety pin. (2) Sew it closed. (But wouldn't that make it nearly impossible to get in and out of the shirt? Isn't that why it has buttons?) (3) Only buy shirts that are too big, then take them to a tailor and pay them to alter the rest of the shirt. (Ummm, why don't I just buy her clothes from Barney's?) (4) Sew snaps. (5) Velcro.

 Today I have chosen to close those gaps with Velcro. My daughter wanted snaps, but I'm afraid with all her jittery, pre-teen, spazzed-out movements that the snaps will just pop open. She'll really have to work at the Velcro to loosen it.

Weavers

By some miracle I have managed to *not kill two weaver spiders on the corner of my deck. I am completely petrified of them but enamored by their beauty at the same time. They sit like sentries until something sails into their web, sending vibrations like a dinner bell. Then they move with lightning speed, wrapping their catch for a later meal. I've got to hand it to them. If I sat around for hours, not moving, I would NOT be able to move that fast. I might have to do some stretches first.

Here is a very informative link about these spiders: WEAVERS

So in love with Richard Herman's paintings. They remind me of growing up next to the Blue Ridge Mountains, so peaceful and serene.

Click here to view my favorite painting of his on his blog.

And HERE for his biography.

Rain

We have had an exorbitant amount of rain here in central Virginia. I woke up to its pitter-patter this morning so I don't think I will get to the hole today. If I do, I have to brag about our Fiskars Shovel. I'm not paid by Fiskars, but I am a huge fan of theirs. We had a long handled digging shovel made by them that broke! I know, crazy, right?! Those sorts of things happen to me. Thankfully my husband called Fiskars customer support ( Fiskars Brands, Inc. at 1-866-348-5661) and they shipped us a replacement for free, that day! Unbelievable! So here is a link to buy your own. You'll thank me later!

Rain Garden Update

This is the rain garden site. As you can see, the front half is mostly complete. I've transplanted a Yucca (with the help of my oldest and youngest daughters).  Also, a red maple sapling and some clearance decorative grass I bought at Lowe's, clearance, for $1. All it needed was a little bit more room to stretch its legs.

The back half continues to be excavated by me and anyone I can bribe get to help me. Thankfully, a friend has loaned me her pickaxe!!! I couldn't be happier! Progress today for sure!

Rain Gardens

I finally had a chance to check out "Rain Gardens" from the library. This book is fantastic! So much information about natural water redirection that anyone can implement and the benefits to your yard are immeasurable. Plus you get a more attractive yard and help restore water. Good stuff!

Here's an excerpt :
General principles of a bioretention facility. These typically consist of shallow depressions of different shapes and dimensions that drain surface water run-off and encourage its infiltration into the soil. Where the natural soil is impervious, an engineered sandy or gritty soil may be substituted.

 

Just another day in the life of a Master Level Mom! 

Busy, busy, busy!

Today has been another busy, fulfilling day. It started with getting my daughter off early in the morning to teach about the Bible. Then a quick run to the Post Office to mail my son's CAT test for 11th grade and a History test. My husband had to light a fire under him last night, but I'm glad because he's moving forward.

My husband and I spent an hour at noon digging out my rain garden site. It's very hard work digging through clay. I am thankful for any help I can get to dig out this 3' deep by 10' wide hole. It is a necessary evil to keep the peace with the neighbor. It's her structure that causes flooding on our property. We could easily sue her, but why, when a rain garden is so beautiful, and peaceful? I'll have to post photos of the project. I've actually forgotten to take some!

After lunch and a cool break, I relaxed with my latest school book, "The Media of Mass Communication". I am so proud to say that I am FINALLY "going" to college! I am taking an online Paralegal course for an Associates Degree.

Currently I am taking two classes: Media and Communications, and Criminal Law. http://nationalparalegal.edu/ I have nothing but good things to say about this school and Stephen Haas, education director!

So, light reading over, I continued to sew my youngest two dresses based on

Her tutorial and pattern are all really quite fantastic and just what I needed right now. My little one had outgrown nearly all of her dress clothes and was in sore need for new ones NOW. Budgets being what they are in single income large households, her clothes weren't coming from the store. So, I dug through my stash of fabric and found 2 perfect crinkle gauze materials. Check 'em out!

This first one is actually not complete. I still have to add straps for the halter tie. I ran out of fabric and had to dig like a miner in my fabric boxes.

Can you tell that this one is her favorite? Love hearts.......

So we were off, my girls and I, to the library. Psssst.....don't tell them but I accidentally threw a book away! Oy! Long story, but I've got to figure a way out of that one. smh

Came home to hungry bellies so we whipped up Chicken Fried Steak with gravy and mashed potatoes with some fresh corn on the cob on the side. We LOVE Cracker
Barrel....can you tell? yummmmmm

Hubby has decided to prepare for State Police physical readiness. Bonus for me because I LOVE working out with him! We jogged, did situps, pushups, squats.....Good stuff. Makes me smile.

Just another day in the life of a Master Level Mom!