From Dread to Smiles

Our dishwasher broke a month ago. The second dishwasher in 5 years. To fix the problem, we need a water softener/filtration system so seditment doesn't collect...to the tune of $4000.00. I was sure the plumber added an extra zero to that estimate by accident, but nope. This isn't in the budget now. So, we must wash the dishes by hand. This completley stinks because of the sheer amount of stuff I do in the kitchen creates a monumental amount of dirty cookware. My little one is down for a nap. I have a list of projects to do. And the last thing I'd like to be doing when my little one goes to bed is wash dishes.

But you know what? I've gotten so I sort of like doing the dishes by hand (gasp!). It slows me down, gives me a chance to reflect and appreciate all that I have. I was looking around me today and had to photograph what I was looking at.

A huge single basin sink and new faucet in the new kitchen we remodeled ourselves; a vase with black eyed susans, picked fresh from my flower beds; tomatoes we grew ripening; another large bowl of harvested herbs, that we grew, looking and smelling delectable; a load of laundry hanging to dry in the beautiful sunshine of summer; and a photograph of the first family adventure we took when our little one was born, to Portland Headlight.

How could I dread dish duty when I have so much to be thankful for?

Quilt 19

Quilt 19-2000-Twin size

Five Bucks and a Thrift Shop

A brand new bread box, in the box with the plastic on it. A brand new Richard Scary numbers game. Brand new package of wooden clothes pins. An Animal Puzzle book, the puzzles not even out of the package it came in. Two other random books. A yard of truck fabric. A wooden bowl (which I collect for organizational stuff).
Cost: $5.50.

The storm door...and moments captured.

When my little one is missing, I know where to find him (most of the time).  His new favorite hangout.  Perched against the storm door, a watchful news reporter, watching whatever is going on outside. Given you cannot see the road from our house, a squirrel, butterfly or flowers may be that which is capturing his attention. Or catching his daddy coming home.  That's pretty exciting too. 

And there often is a pet or two by his side. No matter what is going on, these sites always make me stop.  And smile.

What's been making you smile lately?

Contributing

How marvelous is it to watch the tiniest of life enjoy the flowers I grew?  We eat just about every meal on our farmer's porch over the summer.  I could spend all day watching the bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc.  enjoying the blooms of my labor.  Not only are those flowers beautiful, but they are a peaceful way to contribute to the wonderful world in that we live.   

I was big into entomology as a kid, hoping my son will be excited about insects too.

My New Craft Room

The crafting has been minimal in recent weeks.  Why?  Because my husband's gym moved to the garage, which opened up a section of the basement for a craft space for me.  Wahoo!!!!  The deal with setting it up...it had to be free or next to nothing.  I had to search around the house to collect things to set up and organize.  Shelf unit left from previous owners. Brackets and boards removed from the shed/soon to be chicken coop to create a shelf.  The folding tables I got for free.  You get the idea.  It's not what I'd want if I was going to pay for something in particular.  If I wasn't in such a hurry to set it up, I'd like to paint it.  Regardless of appearance, it's a space dedicated for my crafting.  And I'm pretty darn excited about that.

Some misc. $.50 wooden bowls for storage.

A basket bought for a buck at a thrift shop.  Plus the pottery I made...which is terrible up close, but it's functional.  (As a side note, I stink at pottery.  I took a class two years ago and completely stressed out the kind instructor.  She says you have to relax and go slow to make pottery.  Well, those two verbs are not in my vocabulary). 

Here's some of the wooden boxes I pick up for storage.  All were $0.50-$2.00 and are great for many purposes.

My fantastic husband swiped (with permission) this desk chair from a man's trunk at the transfer station.  Nothing wrong with it...it's clean, functional and works great!

These are soap/lotion holders.  I just saved food jars that would fit them and they work great for holding things you may need to grab quickly.

My challenge to you:  Is there a table, closet or space somewhere in your home that you can create your own craft station?  Doesn't have to be fancy, as long as it does the job.

home sweet home...

This is what I came home to after work today.  This image just makes my heart smile and reminds me how incredibly blessed I am.  . 

This picture also reminds me of how the house was so blah when we moved in.  It was a house awaiting to be transformed into a home.  A structure craving loving touches to make it cozy.  Although always a work in progress, now our house is definitely our home. 

Our home when we first moved in....in need of a little love.

Oatmeal Wheat Rolls

I have made these oodles of times.  I can't believe I haven't blogged about them yet, especially since they're a Jackie original..  Most who eat these want the recipe ASAP.  Try them out...and let me know how you like it. 

Oatmeal Wheat Rolls

1/3 cup warm water with 2 packs of yeast and a pinch of sugar dissolved in

1 cup oats

2 cups hot water

3 T softened butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oat bran

1/4 cup flax seed meal

3 ish cups flour

Combine hot water and oats in bowl.  Add butter, sugar, yeast mixture.  Add salt, whole wheat flour, oatbran and flaxmeal.  Knead in flour one cup at a time.  Knead for 5 minutes or so...or until dough is not tacky.  Let rise in greased bowl in warm place for an hour.  Punch down.  Form into rolls and place into a 9x13 square pan or 2 9inch round pans. Let rise for 1/2 hour.

Bake 350 for 25 minutes.

Quilt 18

Quilt 18-2000-Twin size

Five bucks and a thrift shop

I drove by a thrift shop on the way to run an errand.  It said "Sale".  And boy was it a sale!!!  The loot was:
A swim set (shorts, swim shirt and hat) from gymboree
Three other hats from the Gap and Old Navy 
Two pairs of overalls from osh kosh 
Four Polo Shirts from the Gap 
A brand new phonics book that still had the original pricetag from the store on it that said $6.95
Another DK book (we love them)
Another wooden box that I collect for storage 

All for $6.00

Five Bucks and a Thrift Shop?  What's this all about?

I am a big fan of thrift shopping.  It's not because I can't buy things new and I'm dragging myself to the thrift store out of necessity. Instead, it's for the find, the score, the excitement.  The "I can't believe I found this...and I need this" moment. It's amazing the stuff you can find. It sort of gives you a high.  And then I come home and set up a little display for my husband to gawk at.  Okay, so "Yup, that's nice" isn't quite a gawk, but I'm sure his non-nonchalant, monotonous mannerism is a cover up.  Surely, he's silently just as enthusiastic and excited as me!  How could one not be?!  I mean, isn't this pile of treasures what you've always dreamed of having?  He must be secretly busting at the seams with excitement.  Okay, maybe not. But one can hope. 

What's with the five bucks?  Well, I saw some sort of article somewhere about a woman who goes to the drug stores with coupons and records what she can get for five bucks.  Five bucks is usually what I end up spending at a thrift store anyway. Instead of spending $5 on a coffee, might as well see what you can get elsewhere.

Won't you play along?  If you are a deal seeker, post a link with pictures or describe the awesome deal you got!  I promise I will be just as excited as you!  If no one posts, I'm going to assume no one cares about my treasures.  It will be simply heart breaking to think I'm the only one who gets outrageously giddy over a brand new set of navy plaid cloth napkins for only $0.50. For a set of six, none less!  Certainly, I must not be the only one, right?

2010/2011

I was smiling as I was checking out our pictures from last year's trip to the BOG's house (Bald Old Grandpa) and comparing them to this year's pictures.  What a difference a year makes.

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Gift for New Professional

As a part of my professional role, I do quite a bit of graduate student supervision.  Most of the time, a semester with me is the last requirement before my students are officially graduating and beginning a their year doing paid clinical fellowship position necessary for licensure.  A huge milestone!  I like to give them a little something as they leave.  A little decoupage and a clip board and you get a personalized clipboard (I tried to x out her name).  Not only is it a useful gift, but to see one's name with an official title for the first time is pretty exciting.