Mama Made: Halloween Costumes 2014

Remember last year's Halloween Costumes? I made them coats that were costumes.  Turns out to be a fab idea, as Halloween is freezing in Maine and a homemade costume that is a coat gets repetitive use.

Decided to do it again.

This time, bear coats. We decided together they each would be a bear and when they hugged, they'd be "Bear Hugs".  I'm seriously loving this.

Now, the coats...you're going to love this.  The basic coat pattern was purchased for a dollar at the thrift store. The fleece fabric was purchased for a dollar at a yard sale. My aunt gave me one of the zippers and all the binding. I did buy a new zipper for $1.15.  Total price? $3.15 for two Halloween costumes/two fall coats.

His is on top (front/back). Hers is on the bottom (front/back).

 Here's his a bit closer.

 Here's hers.

Here's my models:

 "Take my picture, mama!" Gladly.

 (Did you know bingo dots aren't very washable?  Someone had an orange nose for a whole day or two after she checked to see if it smelled good.)

 And here they are living up to their costume name, bear hugs.

I just love the big floppy hood for a costume, which is why I picked the particular pattern.

 

They cannot wait to wear them for Halloween festivities. I'm pretty excited that they'll be able to wear the coats for oodles of uses after Halloween. There's lots of good things about mama made Halloween costumes/coats. Thankful they'll still let me dress them up.

Creamy Potato Cabbage Soup

I got this recipe from my neighbor. Only I adapted it so much that I forget what I do. I wanted to record my adaptations so I don't have to remember anymore. I do that in this space. So, if you want a good recipe, here ya go! If not, go to the recipe tab above and find something you're craving. There's good stuff there!

I also need to share the biscuit recipe. This was last winter's project...getting a biscuit recipe that fits in a half pint jar so it's quick to whip up when you want it most.  Remind me, I keep forgetting to post this recipe.

 Back to this soup.

Creamy Potato Cabbage Soup

3 cups chicken broth
2 cups diced potatoes
1 cup diced carrots
2 cups shredded cabbage
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp dill weed
Salt/pepper

Combine potatoes, broth, carrots.  Bring to boil, simmer
 until potatoes/carrots are tender. Remove 1/2 cup of liquid. Set aside.  Add shredded cabbage and bring back to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, place liquid broth you just set aside in blender with flour. Blend and add milk.  Place contents of blender back in soup. Add dill weed.  Salt and pepper to taste. 

Farming.

Just as an FYI, if you see the flag, keep your eyes open. It means there's farming going on and you should go slow.

 May your weekend include some unscheduled time to do that which you love.

Fall

Good things about this fall.

Breakfasts to warm our bellies.

 A tractor with a wagon full of pumpkins all hitched up stops to let Adrian pick out his favorite.

 And one for his sister.

 Farmer soccer players.

 Pears.

 Cats, who once are kicked outside, decide they do not hate one another as much as they previously declared.

 It's been a good fall already....

 more goodness to come.

Thrifted

Behind in these posts, catching up from mid summer....

1)

 A radio flyer wagon (For under the Christmas tree). A pitcher for flowers. A lamp shade that fits my summer thrifted lamp just perfect.  $8.50
2)

 Vintage patterns. Vintage fabric.  $3.50.

3)

Books....including Usborne rhyming books...I think we have 9 of them. We love them. Shapes. A whole bunch of them. Stuart Little. And random things my kids picked out: a dump truck, pooh puzzle and those plastic bath toys (which proved to be the best toy ever!).  A splurge at $10.00

I'm always showing you pictures of my "junk" (as my dad calls it).  What's the last thing you scored?

 

BOG Made: New Barn Door

Well, the BOG arrived in August with a plan. He never shares his ideas, he just does them.  Needless to say, we were quite surprised with his plan.  Here is what our barn doors looked like before.  The wood was so rotten that many of the boards we could snap in half with our bare hands. Here's the before.

And here's the after:

 Definitely a different backdrop from before..

 But I love it.

 I think I might eventually paint it. But then I don't know. I can't decide. Regardless, I love the detail. It's beautiful during the day...

 At dusk....

 And even in the middle of the night. (Thanks BOG and my brother for helping!)

Today.

This time of year always brings along a to-do list longer than I'd like.  I find myself rehearsing my list in my head again and again. I feel frenzied as I try to balance all the things I feel I have to do before fall, frost, freezing, snow, winter with all the things I want to do for my kids for the holiday season, with all the things that are not really wants or needs, but things I hope to accomplish just because. I start out the day with great plans. Then something happens, my attention gets diverted,it's dark too soon, etc. *Poof*. There goes another day.

As I start today, with my list longer than daylight hours, and my hours at home not enough to even make a dent in said list, let me remind myself that it's okay. Whether it gets done or doesn't get done, I need not worry. For worrying isn't going to get me anywhere. 

Certainly, plug through the list, but let my first priority be playing,

 Snuggling,

 

  enjoying our time together.

Today I will remind myself to be thankful for all that I have done today, and push those thoughts of what I have not done out of my head.  The list will be there tomorrow. These times with my littles....well, I need to take advantage of the time I have with them today.  So, that's what I shall do.