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Showing posts from 2015

Supper Plan for January

What's for supper? I love being able to answer, "Look at the schedule!" It makes my life soooo much simpler. I always know what we're having because I already decided, days or weeks ago. I know the ingredients are in the pantry, fridge or freezer. And I know the food budget won't go over because by having a plan, I can stock up when the basics are on sale. I can keep some money back and buy a large, inexpensive, locally raised piece of meat and have it cut into pieces the size I need for my family. But how do I write a plan for the whole month?  I use a few techniques. First I set themes to each day of the week:  Monday - leftovers, Tuesday - beef, Wednesday - chicken, Thursday - pork, Friday - pizza, Saturday - soup, Sunday - chicken/fish. But of course, this is just a plan and isn't carved in stone. Sometimes I'll slip in a meatless night, sandwich night or whatever else comes to mind. But generally, the themes point me in the direction to go. And from h

Thriving while being Thrifty

Browsing the thrift stores regularly - this way I can keep an eye on stock, keep my finger on the pulse of prices, and occasionally pick up great deals like over 25 pounds of fabrics for just $25. Yards and yards and yards of calicoes, solids, knits, and pre-quilted fabrics to build up my stash. So far I've made nightgowns for Daughter, curtains, hot/cold rice bags, and gift bags. The stash has barely felt the loss. Meal planning  - (by the month), and then using the same plan for the next month, with only minimal changes. Knowing what is going to be on the menu in the upcoming weeks allows me to stock up when the basics are marked down. And I'm rarely caught off without the ingredients I need, but even on those days, I always have ingredients to make something. Dining out is a rare event for us, and it is an event, not just a slack-off. Putting out a garden - soon the holidays will be over and it will be time to plan next spring's garden... vegetables for the table, v

So Much Stuff

We live in a world of SO MUCH stuff. It's overwhelming just how much stuff there is in our world, at least in the US part of the world. Yesterday, I had a couple of hours to kill, and because my husband and I have decided we would prefer to furnish our home with antiques, I decided to take a walk through the local antiques mall. The antiques mall is in an old building downtown that used to be a JCPenney, so if you're familiar with the JCPenney stores of the 1970s and before, you'll know what I mean when I say it's big, really big, as in 3 floors of stalls of antiques. And the antiques range as far as they can from crochet-edged hankies to pyrex bowls to cast iron hand pumps to hoosier cupboards. Truly, if you're looking for a specific item, and you're willing to spend the time, you'll find it in this store. So much stuff.  Most of it just sits there, collecting dust. Like wall-hanging thread holder which I first spotted the first time I w

Creative Juices are Flowing

Crochet Dishcloths, Rice Bags Sewn, Socks Repaired (not darned - I don't do darning) Creating things makes me feel better. I mean really, a lot better. So I've dusted off the crochet hooks and the sewing machine, and I've gotten busy. It's not a lot, not really. But it's a start. Some variegated green crochet dishcloths And some variegated bright pink crochet dishcloths And some rice bags, using up some leftover frog fabric - ribbit ribbit. I'll tell you that I've always used these warmed, but learned recently that they can also be stored in the freezer for when an ice pack is needed. I love multi-use, don't you? On the marker board in the dining/sewing room, I've been making notes of other projects I'd like to make in the near future. Ready? Set. Sew!!

Crochet Pretty Dishcloth Pattern

Crochet dishcloths made from Sugar & Cream yarn Using a medium, 4, worsted, 4-ply weight yarn and a G hook, I made these dishcloths -- This photo shows how the chain end will look after crocheting the SC into the back loop of the CH. It creates a finished edge without having to back and finishing the edge. CH 17, turn. Row 1 - Skip the first CH, then SC into the back loop of each CH across. Turn. Row 2 - SC in first SC. DC in next SC. Alternate SC and DC all the way across. Turn. Row 3 - SC in first DC. DC in first SC. Alternate SC and DC all the way across. Turn. Row 4 thru 16 - Repeat row 4 eleven times. Turn. Row 17 - SC in every stitch across and tie off.  This photo shows the texture created by alternating SC and DC in each row. Note: I used no turning stitches at the end of each row. Doing this, squared up my dishcloths to a 4" x 4" size, and kept the edges tight. If you have any questions about my pattern, please ask in the comme

Scheduling is not my strong suit

Every day, I struggle with how to plan and execute my day. Crazy, right?  I know.  I'm a SAHM. All I have to do is some housework and play with my daughter. It's a no-brainer.  Well, maybe for you, but not for me. For example this morning, I was sitting here at the table and thinking about my day, all the different things I want to get done - morning routine, daily cleaning, meals/dishes, yoga with Isabelle, homeschooling, my 1 hour walk, mowing (luckily it's raining so this is off the list), sewing/crochet time, 1 hour outside with Isabelle, a big physical activity with Isabelle; and OH MY GOSH!!!  Where do I even begin? Now, I do have a monthly/weekly planner that I keep our activities on, and usually I use that to make a list of my daily activities. But even with that I find myself getting lost throughout the day.      And yes, I did set up a dry erase board a few weeks ago with morning/afternoon/evening sections to help break up my day and make it flo

Parenting and Homeschooling

We have always planned to homeschool; although that's really "we" in the Imperial sense because you and I know it means "I" would be doing the homeschooling. And while I've always wanted to homeschool and my belief that homeschooling is a superior way of educating than public schooling, I haven't always believed I could do it. Because you see, parenting a preschooler has been very very difficult for me. And I just didn't know if we could get through homeschooling. My go-to parenting book I mean there were days when she was just so demanding of my attention. And all I wanted was to be left alone so I could escape on facebook or read a book because I was so bored being home all day, every day. But she was bored too. And it was so unfair!! (We both had moments of playing the unfair card.) All the homeschooling books I picked up at the library. But we just keep plugging away, don't we, as stay-at-home parents because regardless of the

Making Do

The only way to shop at a thrift store is with an open mind.... When I start a new skein of yarn, I wind it on to a toilet paper roll. I started doing this after coming across  this  idea for keeping yarn from running across the floor while crocheting. So while I do have a fair few balls of yarn wrapped on the toilet paper rolls, I hadn't yet found a stand to use. Until yesterday, when I found this beauty. I know, it's not technically a toilet paper holder, but hey...  it certainly does the job for yarn!! For $.79, it will do just fine for keeping my yarn from traveling while I'm working on a project. What have you found recently that makes do? Cheers! Ann

Handcrafting this Week

 There is always a WIP in my basket, and right now, there are actually too many WIPs.  It's time to get some of them done. Yesterday, I focused on some flannel napkins that I've been thinking about making for way too long. So here are the first three completed with my first mitered corners.  I'm quite pleased with them.   On the crochet side, I finished this set of 8 dishcloths - a simple little project. Each one takes less than an hour, so why did it take me 2 weeks to get these done?!  Oh well, they're done now.  I just need to make the scrubbie to go with them and off they go to a friend. So that's two down and 5 (I think) to go, including --  this blanket which I started over a year ago before we left Australia.  and this pretty shawl which I have mixed feelings about. I may end up pulling it all out and doing something different with this cotton. and this project of granny squares whi

Meal Planning

The last couple of weeks, I have totally fallen off the meal-planning wagon, and oooohhhh, it shows. We've been eating a lot of sandwiches and dining out! Time to get this wagon up and rolling again, starting today with pork chops and baked beans in the slow cooker this morning. Closer to supper time, I'll cook up some corn from the freezer. Yum! I've decided since it's too hot to turn on the oven and have found a few slow cooker recipes to make for the rest of the week. Taters-n-Beef Chicken Spaghetti Ham-n-Potatoes Beef Enchiladas Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Beef Tacos Beef Spaghetti Lunches will be the usual - leftovers from suppers and/or sandwiches. Breakfasts are pretty standard too -- cereal, eggs, yogurt. I actually wrote this week's plan on a calendar and am working toward a monthly plan. I'll let you know how it goes. For now, we're off to Aldi! What's your meal plan coming up? Cheers! Ann

Buy Nothing New

Inspired by Katy of www.thenonconsumeradvocate.com , my theme for this year is "Buy Nothing New", and to hold myself accountable, I've set up a spreadsheet to record what I do buy new. I've already come across one thing I bought new that I wish I hadn't - the electric skillet. And it's not because I don't use it, because I do use it - every single day since the only burner left working on the stove is a small one.  But I bought the skillet new at WM :( when there was a vintage pyrex electric skillet at the antiques store, which I now think about every time I get out the one I did buy.  Oh well, one step at a time. We spent $35 at Once Upon a Child to set up Isabelle with clothes for all summer (5 outfits, 3 shirts, and 2 dresses). While there, we dug in the shoe bin to find sandals for $3.50 when we had just bought new sandals for $18.  One step at a time. Another new purchase was fabric to make 3 nightgowns for Isabelle. That's a splurge for me

Sewing, Gardening, Homeschooling, Crochet, and all the rest...

Homeschooling -- Still waiting for confirmation from the group admin that my sign-up was processed.  I'll follow up with an email tomorrow. My excitement about homeschooling is staying true. Isabelle and I have moved through the challenging time we've been having for the last year or so, which is to say that I've improved my own techniques and methods for parenting so we're not butting heads so much. We already do some informal school time, but it is rather haphazard, so I'm starting to do some research for setting a couple of goals so we can develop a more effective system. I'm sure most of what we'll be doing for kindergarten is learning by doing than actual book/paper work.  But will be nice for the book/paper work to be headed in a specific direction. Antiquing -- The kitchenaid mixer made a loud growling noise when it ran, so I didn't get it.  And surprisingly, I am a bit disappointed.  I guess by the time I was in the store carrying it up to

Goals and Going Forward

Homeschooling:  Made contact today with a homeschooling co-op here in Allen County that I didn't even know about.  We're welcome to join, even at this late date in the school year.  There are only 3 more class sessions, but I'm excited to (hopefully) meet some of the other parents and get Isabelle involved in some activities and play groups. Finding this group has re-energized me toward homeschooling this autumn rather than enrolling Isabelle in public schools. Antiquing:  Isabelle and I took a big stroll through the Antique Mall  in Wapak this morning and saw LOTS of goodies, including 1 Kitchenaid and 4 Sunbeam stand mixers; and 2 Corning Ware electric skillets - 1 with the skillet and 1 without. This is a photo of the Kitchenaid mixer. Pinterest:  I do love pinterest as a means of collecting articles that I may want to come back to at some future date.  But it tends to be a really big collection and not a lot of doing.  So I've decided to actively c

Fingerless Gloves pattern

This is a pattern I have made many, many times.  I didn't create it myself, but took inspiration from  this  pattern with my own embellishments and clarifications. General instructions: Use worsted weight  yarn and an H hook sl - slip stitch ch - chain stitch sc - single crochet dc - double crochet hdc - half double crochet Cuff ch 9 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each across (8 sc), ch1 turn sc in back loops only from here on 2: sc in each sc across (8sc), ch1 turn 3 - 23: repeat row 2 24: repeat row 2, ending with the ch1, no turn Crochet 1sc in the end of each row, with 2 in the last sc (25sc). slst the ends together Embellishments:  The cuff can be made longer by making the starting chain longer, from 1-1/2" - 3" without making major changes to this pattern. Ma in 1: ch 1, sc in the end of each row, slst to starting chain 2: ch1, sc in each sc, slst to starting chain 3: repeat row 2 4: ch 2, dc in each sc, slst to top of starting

How to Write a Budget

Here we are at the beginning of not only a new month, but also a new year.  How time does fly!  Happy New Year!! It's a perfect time for setting new goals in the different areas of  your life -- money, health, fitness, parenting, relationships, job, education. Where to even start, right? For me, since money ties in with everything else in my life, that's where I am starting, and I invite you to come along with me. Now, this isn't the first time I'e written a budget, but since it's a new year, it's as good a time as any to dust it off and spiffy it up a bit with a fresh new start. So, what is a budget? A bad word? A restriction on my fun? Hard? I don't know. (At least that's an honest answer.) Something that always ends up as a fight? (I hope not.) Well, all of these may be true, but truly, a budget is just a plan or a map for achieving your goals. It's easy, after you learn how to do it. It's a tool which takes the fight out of the money in your