Reclaiming The Home

Holiday Hoopla

About this time of year it really settles in on me that the holidays are just around the corner.   My mom and my husband both just celebrated their birthdays and for me that means it is time to start prepping for Christmas as I have never prepped before. 

I'm working hard to have a handmade Christmas this year.  We have agreed to get a few new things that we need, like underwear, and some things for the house.  The kids may get a couple of books or movies.  But 99% of what we do this Christmas is going to be from our own two hands. 

I've been gradually working my way through the gift list that I made up a few months ago, but there is still a lot left to go.  With a little elbow grease, and some Christmas music I know I can get it done in no time flat. 

I don't have any photos to show from this past week because I have been down with the flu, but I will update with some that are waiting on my camera just as soon as I get a chance.

In the mean time, here's a photo of a dress I refashioned for my daughter last spring.  It is one of my favorite refashions.  When I took this photo I hadn't yet trimmed off some of the threads, so my apologies for that.  Hopefully you can get the idea from this photo though. 

Blessings!

Refashioning & Sustainability

Who would imagine that a post about refashioning would derive from rubber tires?  Still, I woke this beautiful fall morning to the smell of Goodyear burning in the air.  Every week the tire plant here burns their excess rubber (and I think maybe has something to do with the asphalt manufacturing plant as well here - at least they smell similar LOL).  Ironically, this smell greeted me with a slap in the face when I went out to my driveway only to find a flat tire on my truck.  Not one to be easily discouraged, I determined that we could make do with what we had in the house today instead of heading to the grocery store as planned.  And that we did.

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about how I live and what my ecological footprint is.  There are so many amazing ways that we can take small steps to stop adding to the problem of degrading resources and pollution.  Toxins emitted by energy waste and man-made chemicals not only effect the environment, but us individually as well.  From tire plants to car exhaust to the number of paper towels thrown out in a day, we all make an imprint on the land we live in. 

I spent a good part of the day making clothes for my children and for children who would otherwise be cold this winter.  One sustainable way that I do this is to only use second hand clothing, fabrics, or bedding to make clothes.  Some may lift their noses at the idea of "hand-me-downs" but truly there are so many benefits to giving new life to an old garment or sheet.  If you don't mind, I would love to share my love for this amazing craft with you too...

I am a member and regular contributor t the blog Wardrobe Refashion. 
I took a pledge not to buy any new clothing for 6 months, and to
instead make items from my own two hands, reusing, recycling, and recrafting to create my own garments.  Not only is this fantastic for my budget, but it is also wonderful for clearing out my crafting stash.  In addition to that, this continues to sustain myself and my family.  By honing my skills at fashioning clothes for my family, I am helping us gain independence.  I give the gift of love to my family through every moment I spend working on items for them.   

This also saves SO MUCH in terms of the global impact that I have on the sustainability of the environment.  By using only second hand items I am saving manufacturers the energy required to make a new garment.  Because almost all second-hand clothing is donated from locals, it also doesnt have to travel much, if at all, to get from "the store" (the thrift) to my home.  If I were to buy new, I would be using a great deal of energy in the delivery of the materials to the manufacturer, then the delivery of the final product to the retailer, and finally the delivery from the retailer to the individual local storefront where I would then go and pick up my purchase.  Even storage of these items is often more expensive retail than in a thrift store, which very often does not use air conditioning or heat.  Ours also uses natural light from the windows as much as possible to save on the energy bill. 

I am always floored at the beautiful items I can find.  I am currently working through a stack of natural-fiber sweaters that I picked up a few months ago from the thrift store, that I am trying to recycle back into yarn to use.  One sweater I did not look at closely enough when I purchased it originally and it turns out that it is one that cannot be unraveled.  Rather than re-donating it, or trashing it, I turned this 100% cotton, Ralph Lauren sweater (originally 75-cents) into "new" sleeve-pants for my youngest daughter.  She was so cozy running around in our yard tonight in her new sweater-pants.  I hope to make a matching jacket from the body soon.

Do you create your own clothes?  If so, share a link or a few pictures with me.  I would love to see them, whether made with "new" or "old" materials!! :)

Knit One, Purl Two

So... I'm relatively new to knitting.  Crochet is more my craft (could have something to do with the last 16 years I have spent practicing).  True, I have been knitting for almost a year now.  True, I have knitted over 15 projects.  Still, it was not until tonight that I had ever purled.  Let me tell you, changing the way I move those needles after spending the past year adjusting to the basic knit stitch was quite a scary challenge for me.  Still, I am proud to report that I have achieved success in my purling endeavors.  More projects soon to come!

In other homey discussions, today we celebrated my husband's birthday in a sweet, low-key way that worked wonderfully for our little family.  When I asked the mister what he wanted to do to celebrate, he told me that he wanted me to cook his favorite dish, and to spend the evening snuggling together as a family.  Wish granted.  We ate Chicken Alfredo for dinner with garlic toast, and all curled up on the couch to watch Nightmare Before Christmas on the Disney Channel tonight, one of his favorite movies.

By now everyone in the Rose household has climbed into their cozy beds, and is dreaming dreams of giant mugs of cocoa and piles of crunchy fall leaves (is that just me?).  While they slumber, I sit, and entertain dreams of my own, for this house, my garden, and my little corner studio.  Right now I am looking for any and all ideas for organization and french-country (or rustic) style decorating. 

Any tips?  Inspirations to share?  Leave a comment for me if you do! :)

I think it is about time to tuck  my purly, cozy, leafy, homey dreams to bed for the night as well, and go snuggle under my covers.  That fall weather finally hit, and I am more than ready to go put my icy toes on my hubby's warm feet, like I have for the past 7 1/2 years.  Thank heavens he loves me. :)

Yummy in my Tummy

Something about beef stew just warms a person from the inside out.  Its completely perfect on a chilly fall day like today.  After having been completely inspired by my dear friend, Robyn, who was telling me all about her delicious stew the other day, I woke up this morning with a hankering for this tasty dish.  Unable to go to the store, I used what I had in the cupboard to create a hearty stew, and I am proud to say that it was a raging success tonight!  Here is the recipe if you would like to try it sometime!

~10 oz beef sliced into bite-size pieces (i used a single T-bone steak that we had in the freezer, but you can use any cut of meat)
~1 can corn (do not drain vegetables)
~1 can green beans
~1 can peas
~1 large can whole stewed tomatoes, chopped.
~4 baking potatoes, washed, and cubed
~1 onion, minced
~2 stalks celery, chopped
~2 cups beef or vegetable stock
~dash of salt
~pepper to taste

Pour all ingredients into a crock pot or slow cooker, and turn on high.  Allow to cook for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally.

Best served piping hot with fresh bread (biscuits, bread, or cornbread)

Unwinding at Ravelry

If you havent yet, you should sign up on the waiting list over at Ravelry.   The wait list is HUGE, but trust me my friends, it is for good reason.  Besides, the lovely owners and mods are moving the list along  so quickly that you'll be invited in no time at all.  Truly!  They have been going at a rate of over 800 invites per day, so jump on the Ravelry train - you will not be disappointed!

Once you are in, do go check out the group that I set up just especially for this little blog.  Its called (fittingly) "Reclaiming The Home" and you can get to it by CLICKING HERE.  Join on in and spread the word.  It will definitely be worth while to see all of the wonderful creations, discussion, and techniques our lovely ladies (and gents if there be any) come up with!  I promise I will leave a comment on each and every submission to the group!

Here is a sneak peek of a few of the items I have posted up there.  More soon to come as i bind off and tuck in ends of a project or two I have had in the works. 

Come unwind with me over at Ravelry!  I am certain you will find just as much amazing inspiration and joy there as I do.

The Flavors of Fall

Happy Monday my friends.  It appears that it has finally started to feel a bit like fall around here.  We had a 90* day yesterday, and then a cold front moved in last night, bringing the season's first cold snap to our excited doorstep.  We adore autumn here, and welcome it with open arms, and windows. 

One way that we celebrate this beautiful season is with the season's first loaf of fall bread.  Something about the soft bread, hot from the oven, with the crisp crackling crust tickling my tastebuds, just makes fall set in for me. 

It could also be that my excitement for this tasty treat is also in its beauty and display.  Pictured here is the bread dish we have been using the past few years.  I love it, but I also wanted something with more of a fall theme.  My momma surprised me with a beautiful pumpkin platter that will be perfect for displaying our bread throughout the season.  It is my new favorite dish, and will be used quite often!  Pictures of that to come soon.  For now, here is a taste of fall from our cozy little homestead.

This tasty recipe first appeared in the article The Secret of Great Bread: Let Time Do the Work, by Mark Bittman in the November 8th, 2006 New York Times.

Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery

Time: About 1 1/2 hours plus 14 to 20 hours rising

- 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting [I used bread, also suggested is substituting 1 cup whole wheat flour*.]
- 1/4 teaspoon instant [aka Rapid Rise, QuickRise, Instant Active Dry, Perfect Rise, or Bread Machine Yeast] yeast
- 1 1/4 [1 3/4] teaspoons salt
- Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 [1 1/2] cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees. [I put it on top of my fridge.]

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal [rice flour was suggested as it won't get gummy]; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart [about a 4-quart pot is preferred] heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 [10 or 15] minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1 1/2-pound loaf.

Focus and other things

I woke up this morning to the blue-screen-of-death on my computer, meaning of course that an evil virus of the naughtiest kind had attacked through a sneaky back door.  Thankfully my neighbor is a computer engineer and got it semi-functioning for tonight.  He has promised to come over tomorrow as well and help get it up and running properly.

Finding myself oddly technology-free, I felt prompted to spend more time focusing primarily on other things that have been vying for my attention.   I spent a good part of the day just playing with my children on the floor, ignoring the laundry that needed folding, and the floors that needed mopping. 

Yes, my home is a place that I want to keep beautiful, but what I have discovered most important, is the love that warms it from the inside.   Some days a dirty floor and a pile of unfolded clothes on the couch are simply signs to any who would enter that our hearts are growing bigger and our lives are growing richer with the love we have for one another. 

Now that the computer is back on a bit, I hope to be more vigilant about updating on a very regular basis, but the lessons of this technological crisis will definitely stick with me, as I go about my day taking time to truly stop and smell the roses.

I hope you will too!

Exercising the Imagination

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.  ~Lindley Karstens, noproblemgarden.com

The crisp fall air smells of harvest time and that always gets me to planning for spring's sweet gardening. I have a running handwritten list here on my desk of beautiful and delicious plants I hope to grow up in my yard and share with friends and family next year.

I am also doing a lot of research on permaculture and square foot gardening so that I can maximize the health and production of my plants.  The mister has agreed to build me some square foot gardens before it gets too cold, so that they can start to get ready for planting as we compost and continue to plan.

Gardening is something truly special to me for a great number of reasons.  The first reason is personal to me and something that reaches in to the depths of my heart.  My grandfather was an avid gardener, and produced the most beautiful and delicious fruits and vegetables one could imagine from his little backyard garden.  He shared his skills and his passions with his grandchildren, and it has stayed as fresh in my mind as the  season's first ripe tomato.

In addition to my sweet memories and romantic ideas of a family garden, I also believe that growing your own food is an essential way to make a positive impact on the land God graced us with, even if only in a small way.  By eating food that is grown close to home, we are reducing the amount of pollutants produced by transporting food to the stores and to our tables.  We can also rest assured that there aren't any dyes or chemicals on the produce we eat since we are in control of exactly what goes into our gardens.  As a bonus, the new plants produce oxygen, which not only benefits the earth, but us as well, bringing a little extra fresh air to our area.

On a more personal level, not only do we get delicious, organic fruits and vegetables a-plenty, but we also save money by not buying produce from the stores in the quantities we can get from our home-gardens.  It encourages us to eat healthier when fresh produce is literally delivered right to our house by nature itself.  We also feel a bit of independence and self-sufficiency by having a way to feed ourselves without dependence on outside means.  And as a bonus, we get a beautiful landscape to look at. 

What's not to love?

I am always trying to get a lot done during my day.  This can be a good thing, or it can come to bite me in the tookus.  One thing that I have learned is that it helps me a great deal to have a list to go off of.  Here's an example of today's list. 

When something is completed, I will come in and change it to bold. 

Dont forget to add your list in the comments, or a link to a list on your blog!

MASTER BEDROOM:
~Make Bed
~Search for Clothes that need to be washed
~pick up the bucket of pecans that the kids spilled
~Light Candle by about 3:30pm

GIRLS ROOM:
~Do *something* with toys
~Put clean bedding on beds
~wash any bedding that needs it

KITCHEN:
~Wipe down table
~Wipe down counters
~De-clutter
~Turn on the potpourri on the stove
~Wash dishes (what is in the sink)
~Shine in & around Sinks
~Get dinner planned

LIVING ROOM:
~Move kids toys to their room
~Arrange Blankets on Couches
~Pick up any stray stuffs

LAUNDRY:
~Wash as many loads as i can
~Fold ALL clothes
~Put clothes away!!!!

DESK AREA:
~Clean up under desk
~Clean out beside drawers
~Put books in front room
~Empty Trash
~clear off sewing desk

MISC:
~Start 2 new packages for friends
~Sew at least 3 (hopefully 4) garments for girls
~Make something for mom's birthday
~embroider russian dolls for charity
~get dressed
~get kids dressed

*15 min with girls JUST playing
*15 min with girls JUST playing
*15 min with girls JUST playing
*take them outside to play

Sunshine in the Mornin'

I don't know about you all, but I am NOT a morning person.  I try to smile in the morning, but most days I cant even exert that much energy until I've had my morning latte. 

Today was no exception.  I was feeling like doing nothing more than pouring a bowl of sugar-infested, nutrient-dead cereal for my kids (which of course they love), but somewhere deep inside a little red-headed nag reared her perky head and said "you can do better than that!"  Since the coffee was still in its brewing stage, and hadn't yet made its way toward renewing enough energy to fight the little nag, I had no choice but to give in. 

As a result, the kids got a fun breakfast this morning that I can at least pretend is a little more nutritious than the eat-your-pancreas-for-breakfast puffs we started out with. 

I was actually surprised at how easy this recipe was when I first tried it, and ever since it has been a favorite to hungry kids and husbands alike (i like it too).  Its also very easy cleanup, which satisfies the sleepy part of me. 

Enjoy!

1 can refrigerated biscuits
all fruit jelly or preserves
cinnamon or pumpkin spice

~preheat oven to 400*
~using scissors, clip around edges of biscuits to form a sun or flower shape.  Place on cookie sheet.
~use your thumb to press an indentation into the center of each biscuit.
~add a generous spoonful of preserves to the indentation.
~sprinkle with cinnamon.
~bake for 10-14 minutes or until cooked through.
~let cool 5 minutes before serving as preserves will be very hot