Reclaiming The Home

Simplicity.

Simplicity, as I know best, is not as simple as he may seem Like the inner-woven reality that exists within a dream Like words left unspoken, like feelings that remain unsaid Like doubts that aren’t acknowledged and tears that are not shed Simplicity transforms, he is Complications’ kindred soul Two halves, separate expectations, making up a similar whole Complications loom above, casting shadows on all that is clear Seasoning everything in reach with many different shades of fear Simplicity, I know him not, has hidden from my sight Laughing at me from afar, my confusion fuelling his delight He eludes reach with such skill, treating my obscure life as a joke He is as impossible to catch as a bare hand catching smoke ~By Laura Wojcinski

Rag Doll Love

I have been working hard on the projects for the Little House Club and one we did last week was Rag Dolls.  They had to be hand-sewn and made from recycled fabrics if at all possible.  The free pattern is from HERE.

Mine started with an old white sheet.

And quickly became a little dolly for Anna to play with.

She decided it needed a face and a belly button.

And then she got a bit carried away......

I think I will be making another one for me to have to display and make period clothes for as we go in with the crafty challenges for the Little House Club.

Monthly Dreamboards

This is a fun activity that I'm wanting to take part in doing.  Every month you create a new dream board for things you're dreaming of or would love to see happen.  Think of it as an inspiration board or a manifestation board, however you like to think of it.  I'm going to be doing mine on the full moon like Starshyne (aka my inspiration for this idea) because... well... why not? :)  Here's a listing of each month's full moon meaning according to the Farmer's almanac if you're interested in that, to try to make your dreamboard go with it, and here's a schedule of the full moon.

This would just be something fun to create something artsy and full of inspiration for anyone who is interested.  Who doesn't love collages? :) Anyone want to join with me?

Homemade Jerky

I have started a Little House on the Prairie Club on Ravelry (please check it out if you get a chance!).  We are doing weekly read-a-longs and craft-a-longs to get a taste of what life was like back then.

One of the crafts this week was homemade Jerky.  I used a 3/4 lb piece of Top Round and sliced it in 1/4" thin slices.  Then I marinated them in Teriyaki sauce for 24 hours and squeezed them dry in a paper towel.  Then I layed them out on baking racks before putting them in the oven at 170* for 4 hours.

Here is our tasty result!

I think maybe one of the hardest things as a homesteader/pioneer would be to NOT eat all the goodies when you make them to store away for the coming seasons!! Can you imagine being Laura and Mary playing in that attic filled to the brim with tasty treats? Can you imagine what that smelled like, and then having to be so good about not eating things since that would be all the food you would have for the winter? What self-control those kids had!

Anna seemed to really like it!  The Jerky got a two-thumbs up from Kevin as well, and I have been snacking on it off and on.  We really enjoyed this activity. :)

I know I've been bad about blogging, and I do apologize.  The past 2 weeks have been hard for me to blog because I've had on my mind on what to say about the anniversary of my last miscarriage... June 4.  There are no words to adequately describe how it made me feel, but suffice it to say, the experience changed my life.  I couldn't let the anniversary go by without recognizing the life lost.  Our baby would be about 6 months old right now, wriggling and cooing, keeping us up at night, and generally doing the things that babies do.  Even though she's not in our arms, we'll never forget her...

Happier posts will be forthcoming.  I will have a new one for every day of the week this week, so do check back.  I'm sorry for my lag in updates up to now.

Something new

I have been doing some bartering on Craigslist for my photography services.  My most recent trade was with a woman and her horse, Pocket.  Here are a few photos from the shoot:

In trade, she gave me a BEAUTIFUL Ashford Traditional spinning wheel from New Zealand.  Pardon my swooning (and ignore the Xbox keeping her company).

I am hoping to learn to spin on a wheel over the next couple weeks and then have some wheel-spun yarn to show you.

Do you ever do any bartering or trading?

I'm sick. And lunch.

I really did plan on blogging more, but seem to have come down with strep.  For now, here's an example of my lunches while I have been doing the weight loss challenge.

Turkey bacon BLT's:

- 3 slices of turkey bacon
- 1 cut up roma tomato
- 1 whole lettuce leaf
- olive oil mayo (1 tsp)
- toasted rye bread

And, and avocado on the side. :)

This is one of my favorite lunches, and is really pretty healthy!!

A fresh start.

Well, we have been going through a few ups and downs around here, but we've decided that we're just going to look at it as a chance for a fresh start.

I know blogging has been a part of this funk for me.  I haven't really blogged recently (sorry)... I just haven't known what to blog about with all this going on.  BUT, like the rest of the things that have had a bit of a downtime recently, I'm enacting a "fresh start" with it.  So... here goes. :)

Some positive things have been happening lately despite the negative mentioned before, and I can't wait to share more of that with you.  I created and joined a weight loss competition called Reclaiming The Body on Ravelry.  I've lost 3 lbs and fit into a pair of jeans I haven't fit in for quite some time.  

I have also been doing some Homestead Dreaming, and have started a blog to collect my inspirations and plans for my "someday  homestead."  You can see the Homestead Dreaming blog here.

I have also been doing a lot of work around the house to bring a "fresh start" to my space.  I repainted the mantle my great, great grandfather built so that it can be displayed properly, and I repainted our coffee table to match as well.  I will get photos of these items soon to share!

In addition to all of that, I have been working on revamping things for the kids as well.  I started with the play kitchen re-do, and then thought I would work on a baby bed for them to play with.  I began the project with an old, dirty, scratched up baby bed with plastic "ribbon" and a plastic bear-liner.   It just looked ratty with the "ribbon" falling off, a lot of scuffs in the paint, etc.  You can't tell how bad it was in the photos below but in truth, it looked like it was <thisclose> to the garbage bin.

(Note our product models: Princess is above, and of course, that's Anna below)

I decided it was time for a makeover.

The first thing I did was rip off all the plastic ribbon and lining.  Then I gave it a good wipe down, reinforced the sides with a staple gun, and gave it a fresh coat of white paint.  I found a curtain in my fabric stash with a lovely ruffle along the bottom, complete with a lace crochet edging.  I thought it would give a sort-of timeless quality to the baby bed.  I added a moon and star motif, and painted "Sweet Dreams" on the headboard. 

Finally, I sewed up a custom-sized mattress for the doll-bed with a sheet set made from the panel part of the curtains.  Then I used a scrap piece of the ruffle and lace to make a matching pillow.

I was really trying to create an heirloom-quality piece for Anna and Abbi to play with, that I might even be able to hand down to my grand-babies someday.   What do you think?

Current Happenings

Thank you all so much for your feedback on my last post.  I am still thinking about what all of this means for me, and what I want to do long term.  In the mean while I have been working on doing some things that I have had on my "someday" list for quite a while, and getting them done.

First up, I finished a painting for a client that I have been working on for some time.  It is best viewed large, so if you want to, you can click on the photo to see it bigger.  This was meant to be a rendition of the song "Paint me a Birmingham."  As with most paintings, its impossible to see all of the tiny deviations in color and texture that make it what it is in real life.  Still, I wanted to share what I've been working so hard on.

I have also been working on a few things for the shop, which I recently updated for the first time in what feels like forever.  I have a goal of always keeping something in the shop now, so be looking for a new "shop" button on the sidebar of the blog. 

This little cutie is over there right now, along with one of her friends.  You can check them out at the shop, here.

They  hope to be joined soon by some fluffy hand-dyed merino and alpaca for the spinner-folk, and some yummy bath goodies for the rest of us!  Keep on checking back to see what I'm getting into next.

Thoughts.

I've been a bad blogger lately.  I'm sorry.  Truly. 

I've been trying to catch up on things around the house lately, like repainting fireplaces and scrubbing down baseboards.

I have also been completely sucked into the vast world of internet comics. I started with Queen of Wands and got hooked right away.  Then of course I had to read the sequel, Punch an' Pie.   I realize that I have stepped into a new level of net-nerd here, but truly the comics are awesome... artistic and fun, and good story lines too (with life lessons to boot).

This of course segues into the next thought on my mind (which fits with the "life lesson" going on in Punch an' Pie right now).  I am wondering where to go from here.  In life.

I have some long-term plans, sure.  I'm happy with my life, sure.  But I feel like maybe I'm in a bit of a rut.  Like maybe I'm not using my time as resourcefully as I could by doing something more meaningful or exciting. 

I have to wonder if that is something that everyone wonders at some point or another (or if you're like me, relatively often).  I think that maybe housewives have this happen more frequently as well, because even though what we "do" really IS meaningful and really does serve a purpose (an important one), and even though most of us CHOSE the life we have - the fact is that sometimes the days mesh together and hours that used to be spent learning or working or socializing are now spent folding 5 loads of laundry to be put into drawers where they will promptly be taken out, unfolded, dirtied, and shoved back in the laundry pile to begin the cycle again another tired day.

I don't think its a matter of "leaving my mark on the world" or a "midlife crisis" or anything like that (I'm 27!).  I just want to make the moments matter.  I want to feel like the things I choose to put my heart and my energy into are things that help to fulfill me and bring me happiness.  I don't want the days to mesh together anymore.

Don't get me wrong.  I do find value in being a housewife.  I don't want to give that up or change that.  I know that what I do every day matters to my family, sustains them, supports them, and is a physical manifestation of my love for them (and it does the same for me too - I live here after all!).  I have been putting more purpose and love into everything that I do around here and I can feel the difference.  My home is a place I enjoy being in.  Its a place I'm proud to have company in.  Its a place I am happy that my children can call theirs. Being a housewife is something I'm proud of and love to do.

Still, in the evenings, when I'm ready to slow down and get settled in, I begin looking back over the day and I feel like I missed something.  I feel like maybe there's something I should be doing... something to use my mind or talents that is getting ignored while the busy-ness of life goes on around me, and I just keep folding laundry and missing it.

But I don't know what IT is.

I've considered going back to school, but really it would just be for something to do.  Don't get me wrong, an education is an excellent thing, and I do love school, but I would have to take online classes (which would mean no socializing and lots of writing, which I can do, but don't relish in).  I could take physical classes in about 18 mos, so if I decided to go that route, I would wait until then at least.

I enjoyed working when I did, and we could use the money, but with summer coming up (with the changes in Abbi's school schedule), and our lack of available childcare, that remains a no. 

I'm going to keep thinking on what I could be doing... what could be missing... or if something even is.

Quite the conundrum. 

Do you ever feel that way?