Outside my Window… a teensy bit of snow. I can’t say that I don’t mind! I’m tempted to plant some seeds with the weather we’ve been having!  Planning my garden.

I am thinking…What am I not thinking about? Food sensitivities, New mascara (need a good, non-flaking one!), new writing projects I’m working on, the future . . .

I am wearing . . . black yoga pants and black sweater.  Bare feet. Drinking a glass of wine. Cheers!

From the learning room…Lloyd is all about numbers and early math and Luke wants to read and read and read. Stella has just learned how to sit up without toppling and is starting to grab at everything.

I am thankful… for inspiration.

From the kitchen…we are about 90% Primal these days. Eating very little gluten, and pretty much no dairy.  Lots and lots of vegetables and some fruit. For the boys, we do have more “safe” starches happening including rice and potatoes, but it seems that whenever I think they’ll crave/want more carbs they surprise me and they end up leftover for ever in the fridge!

This blog is kind of “old” in terms of blogging.  You’ve seen me through so much, from simply switching to whole grains (brown rice!) and then moving into more of a WAPF lifestyle for a while.  So much of this journey has been documented.  It’s being documented now. So many of the “blogging friends” I’ve made over the past few years have been very WAPF focused, especially in terms of fermented dairy, sourdough,  soaking grains and legumes etc.,etc., and I feel torn between being a good “blogging friend” and supporting their work (via links or e-books or courses) and supporting who and what we are eating now. How can I support, as an affiliate, with e-books and recipes that I wouldn’t use in my own kitchen now that we are not eating dairy, gluten, and most legumes and grains? But how can I deny those “friends” my support, when I believe that they are only doing what is best for their family? It’s just not in the best for my family right now… sigh.

I’m torn.

And in our garden . . .hoping for some good compost this winter! And enjoying dreaming over three or four seed catalogs and my favorite gardening books!

I am creating…love.  Memories. And better habits. My new favorite? Blogilates.

I am reading…. a lot of everything. It seems that I’m constantly reading and/or browsing through four or five books a time. Currently? I just finished reading C.S. Lewis’ space trilogy for our book club.

And on my nightstand?

What are you reading these days?

I am hearing. . .a crackling, cozy fire.

Around the house…just catching our breath after the holidays.  Re-organizing, de-cluttering and moving around furniture. I think I’m almost ready to get out the paint again!

One of my favorite things…spending time with my T. after the babies are in bed. So peaceful and great conversations about the future!

A Few Plans and Prayer Intentions For The Rest Of The Week …

• Pray for guidance, wisdom, patience and grace
• Please pray for a friend of mine and her tiny baby niece that needs so much love and prayer.

Thank you to Peggy for hosting! Please go visit other daybooks here . . .

Merry Christmas from the Warren family!

Thank you for sharing a part of our life, we wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

See you in 2012!

Sarah

I know we’re four days away, but, after a few years experience hosting Thanksgiving under my belt please heed my advice – now is the time to start to ensure a relatively calm Thanksgiving day!  Here’s what I’m doing. . .

Sunday before Thanksgiving

I went shopping yesterday and bought ALMOST all of my Thanksgiving ingredients.  Of course, as always, I forgot a few and realized this morning that I have far less garlic than I thought I had, but that’s nothing I can’t pick up at my local, very small, grocery store in the next day or so.  Over the past few weeks I’ve been planning the menu and compiling recipes.  Sunday morning, with a cup of green tea in hand, I made a meticulous list – going through every recipe – and wrote down all the ingredients in all of the quantities I needed to buy.  Then, I went and did a marathon shopping.  Literally from wine to olives, cream cheese to celery, I bought it all.

Tip #1 – Clean out your fridge a few days in advance to make room for all this food!  And don’t forget to buy some food to eat Monday through Wednesday!

Tip #2 – If you bought something that you normally eat (like, say cheese) SPECIFICALLY for a recipe – put a note on it alerting anyone else who raids your fridge NOT TO TOUCH IT!  Really.  You must. It works.

Monday -

Today’s chore is to make your desserts and bread (if you’re eating/making bread*) in advance. I am also making chicken stock to sip on to make sure none of us get sick before the big day!   Any leftover stock will be used for gravy, stuffing, whatever you need it for, on Thursday.  For desserts we’re going with pecan pie (NOT gluten free, but a special request from my husband and I had a pie crust in the freezer!) and cheesecake (using this gluten and grain free crust).  The two desserts will be baked, cooled, and then wrapped and frozen.  I’ll be removing them from the freezer Thursday morning to defrost on the counter; they’ll be ready to eat by mid-afternoon.  If you want to make fresh rolls Thursday, may I suggest prepping the dough today while you have the flour out anyway?  Form the rolls and freeze the dough in their greased baking dish or on a cookie sheet.  If you freeze them on a cookie sheet, once they’re frozen you can place them in a freezer bag for storage and take out however many you need the evening before (to defrost and rise in the fridge) or morning (to defrost and rise on the counter) of.  While I’m at it, thanks to Leila’s advice, I’m cleaning my room and washing the sheets for the guest room bed today.

Tuesday

Prep the bird.  I’m still debating between going for a 36 – 48 hour cider brine or using a dry-rub a la Alton.  I guess I have another day to decide!  Meanwhile, bake your sweet potatoes for your sweet potato pecan casserole (my recipe is similar to this one, but includes dabs of butter on top, of course!) and stash in your fridge once cool.  Vacuum and clean up any last minute little messes.

Wednesday

Guests begin to arrive today and we dub this day “veggie prep” day.  Cut up the onions, celery and garlic for your stuffing and store in your fridge in a gallon-sized Ziploc.  Slice up your mushrooms and store in a glass mason jar (thank you, lovely Judith!) for your wild rice with mushrooms – this one needs an onion chopped too.  Might as well do it now and store in a clearly marked sandwich bag.  I will also be making this buttermilk broccoli slaw today and allowing the flavors to develop overnight for something cold, green and crunchy on the plate!

 Thanksgiving Thursday

We are high-heat roasting our turkey again.  Yum.  Our turkey is just over 21 pounds (to feed 12 people, plus leftovers) and will take just over four hours to cook at 425.  I want to take it out of the oven at 1pm so it can rest and we can carve and serve by 2pm (plus make gravy during the interim), so the bird will go in the oven at 9am.  Take it out of the fridge by 8am to come to room temperature.

Meanwhile, at my in-laws (where my parents are staying) they are baking a ham and I am going to give them the task of peeling and making the mashed potatoes there, and then transporting them to my house in a slow-cooker on warm.

Sometime between the time you take out the bird and put it in the oven (say, between 7:30 and 9:00am) make a hearty breakfast for all.  We are going to go with scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and capers, some seasonal bread my mom is bringing and fresh fruit.  Allow someone else to do the dishes for you. Better yet, use paper plates.  Just this once won’t hurt!  You can even burn them in the wood stove.  Makes sense to me.

Once the bird is in the oven and breakfast is enjoyed and cleaned up, start cooking everything else!  Wild Rice with Mushrooms on the stove, sweet potato pecan casserole, stuffing and rolls in the oven (oh, I should state, I have two ovens so the turkey is in one and everything else is in the other!).  Clean off the counter, set out your serving dishes and have someone else set the table with pretty chargers and napkins. Go upstairs to get dressed and freshen up.

Around noon to twelve-thirty-ish set out the appetizers. We’re going super simple with just mixed olives, salted, mixed nuts and a crudite platter along with my mother-in-law’s deviled eggs.  Nothing that I need to cook or barely prepare.   Just dumping tasty bits into pretty bowls.  Perfect.

At one, remove the turkey to allow it to rest before carving, then make the gravy (with cornstarch) and toss the green beans in the oven to roast.

1:45 – set everything out in it’s serving dishes and turn off the ovens.  Accept a glass of champagne.  Call everyone in to pray and enjoy your wonderful meal with your family and friends!

Friday

Leftovers!  Along with a batch of queso while we watch the game(s).

Happy Thanksgiving!

*Since we’re hosting Thanksgiving for both sides of our family, we have conceded to make a few traditional Thanksgiving dishes, including pie, rolls and stuffing, gluten and all!  However I’m also changing several dishes over to gluten-free varieties (Sweet Potato Pecan Casserole, and Garlicky Green Beans with Shallots and Almonds - previously good old green bean casserole was always served) along with some naturally gluten-free dishes, like Wild Rice with Mushrooms and Buttermilk Broccoli Slaw, along with all of the appetizers, so that everyone, those avoiding gluten and those enjoying it, have plenty of options.

Not to mention, it makes your house and hands smell like Christmas.

Thieves oil is named as such because it is rumored that the original blend was given to the King of England after a band of thieves who had been stealing from the ill, dying and dead during the plague, were caught. Demanding to know how they stayed well even after being intimately close with those who were infected, the thieves explained that they had been spice merchants and traders pre-plague and had developed this blend of herbs and spices, and rubbed it on their throats, ears, noses and hands before going out on their raids.

You can buy Thieves Oil online, but I prefer to make my own – much more economical and I never have to re-order because one “batch” lasts a long, long time!

I bought most of these oils and supplies last year from a local store, but they are also available via Mountain Rose Herbs.

Thieves Oil

The ingredients :

• 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) Clove Essential Oil
• 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) Lemon Essential Oil
• 2-1/2 teaspoons (12.5 ml) Cinnamon (Cassia) Bark Essential Oil
• 2 (10 ml) teaspoons Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• 2 (10 ml) teaspoons Rosemary Essential Oil
• A carrier oil of your choice*
• Dark-colored bottles with droppers (I have the 1-ounce size, some with regular screw tops and a few dropper tops)

*The carrier oil I tend to prefer is Sweet Almond Oil because it’s easily available, is safe for newborns on up and I always have it on hand for use as a massage oil, carrier oil or just after-bath oil for those sensitive-skinned ones living among us.   It also sinks into the skin easily without being greasy, and can be used at 100% dilution.  Other carrier oils you can use at 100% dilution include grapeseed and apricot kernel or if you want to blend carrier oils, try 10%  avocado or jojoba, mixed in, among others.

In a glass measuring cup, measure out all of the essential oils.

It ends up making around an eighth of a cup of essential oil blend.

But remember, these are essential oils we are talking about.  They are POTENT and are almost never, ever used without being diluted into either a carrier oil or in water.  An eighth of a cup of undiluted essential oil blend is A LOT.  It has lasted me over a year and I’ve given a few (diluted) bottles away.  Just saying.

Then, using the ratio found in my favorite, dog-eared book, The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, you can mix together a little bottle (I carry one in my purse as a hand-sanitizer and keep one in my kitchen) with your favorite carrier oil for use on the go by mixing :

• 12-30 drops of essential oil blend with 2 Tablespoons of carrier oil, or up to 5 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil,

and you can keep a small bottle of it undiluted (clearly marked) and add :

• 1-9 drops in a bowl of just-boiled water or a humidifer for room purification
• 1-9 drops per cup of water for use as a room sprayer, or
• a maximum of 8 drops in a bath or shower (less for children, more for adults)

Make sure to err on the low side of dilution for children or pregnant women**, and on the higher side for adults.

Make sure that you clearly label your “prepared for use” essential oil blends, as well as your undiluted, and keep them away from children. Yes, they are safe to use, sparingly on children***, but they should be administered by the hands of a knowledgable adult.

I’ve seen stories online from people who use Thieves Oil for all manner of things from a foot bath when dealing with athletes foot (due to it’s anti-fungal properties), mixed with vinegar as a mouthwash (do NOT ingest) and even for clearing up mold in the home.  I haven’t tried any of these options, I don’t necessarily support or recommend them, but they are out there if you are interested.  For us?  We use it topically, diluted as noted above in a carrier oil and occasionally as an air purifier.

Hopefully this helps you out as we head into cold and flu season!

Have you ever used Thieves Oil?  What other oil blends do you keep in your holistic medicine chest?

** When I first made this blend I investigated each ingredient to find out it’s safety for pregnant women.  They all came back safe but this year, when I wrote this post, I’m finding differing opinions on cinnamon bark oil.  From what I read last year cinnamon leaf oil and cinnamon oil are not safe for pregnant women (they can cause contractions and potentially induce labor) but cinnamon bark oil was okay.  Depending on the source, I’m finding different information this time and, as I’m not a trained herbalist, I’m not going to tell you it’s 100% safe however I used it while pregnant (diluted with a carrier oil) with no problems.

***Note : I would not use this topically on children under 18 months (and at that age, heavily diluted) and would only use it sparingly on small children.

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Let’s catch up, shall we?  Maybe in one giant daybook-ish post and then we’ll get back to normal and pretend I haven’t been MIA for the past few months.  Sound good?

I am thinking… The last several months have been  wonderful but . . . exhausting, actually. I mean, it’s the first word that comes to my head.

This last pregnancy was the hardest on me, physically and mentally.  This past delivery was the hardest on me, physically.  Adjusting to having three little ones four and under is NOT easy.  It has been an enormous change for me; I’ve been utterly and completely overwhelmed. We’ve had some growing pains, ones that I’m not proud to admit.

Older ones acting out for attention, younger ones reverting back to baby needs and the baby, well, she’s lovely and wonderful and so happy (thank you, Lord!)  but waking up at least once a night if not more, (like, five times last night, for instance, and four times the previous three nights) depending on the day.

Over the last few months T. traveled out of the COUNTRY not once but twice, for a week each, with only one week in between at home, leaving me at home with a newborn a toddler and a preschooler. Oppressive heat. Messy houses.  Oh, and he’s likely going back again soon.

And then my blog got hacked and I just didn’t have the time or the energy to figure out what was wrong (it’s fixed, by the way. Hint. If your blog ever gets an iframe virus, contact your server host. They fixed it from their end overnight after I tried working on it myself, deleting and changing things hither and yon for a month. I know.)

I still don’t know what the deal is with my pictures that aren’t showing up.  Oh, and the fact that my Spring header is still up and it is . . . November 1st.  Sigh.  Sorry about that.  Still much work to be done.

I completely relate to Katherine’s recent post on seasons of weakness and adjustments.

I feel like I’m just now able to get my head above water.  Starting to function again like “normal.”  Most days.  Some days I’m still just barely getting by. Stella is an amazing, wonderful gift to our family and I’m already so blessed by her.  She is such a sweetheart!  It’s just the adjustment period that has taken it’s toll on me this time.  Thank you for your continued prayers, I still need them, but . . . things are looking up!

Outside my Window… leaves carpet our lawn and my tomatoes are officially toast as per last week’s first frost.  Hoping to get the gardens cleaned up with plants composted and beds mulched lasagna style with ample leaf mould by the end of next weekend.  Tomorrow though? Potential first snow!

I am wearing . . . dark blue denim jeans, black tank top, purple chunky cardigan, bare feet.

From the learning room… I’m so blessed with our preschool.  Thank you, Lord, for preschool.  At home, though, Lloyd is loving art and wants to color with crayons, markers, pencils and then paint, all before breakfast, every day.  Luke loves to be read to and is enjoying play doh the most.  Stella is smiling and laughing and loves Patty Cake!

I am thankful…for new, full boxes of my favorite teas to start the cool months of the year, Jasmine Pearl & Green Tea for breakfast, and Tazo Passion herbal tea for evenings.

From the kitchen…Oh, and did I mention? While we’ve been adjusting to life as a family of five, we’ve also discovered at least two if not three food allergies/sensitivities in our family over the last few months. Sigh.  So we’ve been in the process of . . . transitioning.

Luke is lactose intolerant (yes, even to raw milk) and sensitive to gluten.  We have not had any tests done to confirm an allergy or just an intolerance or sensitivity (hoping to get on that in the next month or so) but as the mama who bathes this baby and changes his diaper I can tell you, removing both milk and wheat from his diet has done wonders for his skin and, ahem, digestion.  I’m an advocate of food being one’s medicine and that our skin, as our largest organ, is often the first place to see illness and, after seeing severe dry patches, bumps and rashes on toddler bodies where there shouldn’t be bumps and rashes, rather than try to fix it from the outside (i.e. through lotions, etc., though we’ve gone through plenty of those) I would try to heal from the inside by adding in healthy foods and ridding those that are deemed intolerant by his little body.

Oh, and guess who else is gluten intolerant?  Ummmm . . . . me.  Yep.  After a few weeks of not eating any gluten (I was semi-trying to do a primal challenge and wasn’t eating any while we were testing Luke for intolerances) I ate half a quesadilla the other day that Lloyd hadn’t finished for lunch.  And within minutes was getting allergic reactions (numb tongue, itchy mouth and eyes) and within half an hour immediate and urgent IBS-like symptoms that I used to have regularly but were inauspiciously absent while on a grain-free diet.  I used to think these “stomach issues” of mine were due in part to eating greasier foods or strong coffee . . . looks like it might have been the toast instead.   Sigh.  So, though I enjoy sourdough baking and all the rest, if it means that I feel better, I guess we’ll be going gluten free around here.  I hope to get several of us in to see an allergist in the near future, but for now I’m just going with my gut (literally) feeling on this.

So what does that mean is changing in our kitchen?

We’re not drinking or cooking with (cow’s) milk but we do have a gallon of coconut milk (the refrigerated variety) in our fridge most of the time instead along with cans of coconut milk.  Luke seems to do okay with small, managed amounts of CULTURED dairy (yogurt and cheese, especially hard, aged cheeses like parmesan) and has no problem with butter (thank you, Lord.)Mama (that would be me) still buys and uses heavy whipping cream in her coffee and in occasional recipes.  I’m pining for a whipped cream dispenser for Christmas . . . coffee is so much more a treat when there’s a happy little puff of whipped cream (dairy, or coconut) on top.

And, I’m no longer baking with wheat. Yes, me of the three-sourdoughs growing at a time will be giving away several pounds of bread flour, all purpose flour, spelt flour, rye flour, rye flakes, rye berries and the like, to a good friend sometime soon.  We will be ordering some almond flour and picking up some coconut flour for the occasional indulgence.  I’m happy to know I’ll still be able to bake treats for my little ones occasionally, and am finding lots of inspiration from Elana’s Pantry as well as Eat the Cookie.  I prefer the idea of baking grain-free with real food without the use of alternate grain flours, xantham gums or other strange ingredients that some gluten-free baking recipes use, but I’m so new to the idea I’m not making any definitive statements and will see where this new adventure takes up.

With all this going on, I feel like I’ve just shut down.  I’ve cut out all the exterior, extraneous stuff and have just focused in on home.  Which is what I NEEDED to do, I know now, but it now makes it harder to put that first toe back in the water to step out again.  It’s become the new normal, during this time of little ones underfoot, to stay home, stay quiet, both here on the blog and in real life, but I know that it’s best for the kids and yes, best for me, if I force myself out a little more.  I’m an introvert and a homebody (did I tell you?  I’m an INFJ).  So consider this my first dip back in the pool.

And in our garden . . . The grass will soon be tilled under and covered in anticipation of pebble paths this spring (mowing the paths of a garden is NOT fun once plants start growing in.  We’ve done it now for two years.  We are done.)  We kept the garden to a minimum in terms of variety of plants this year, due to Stella’s birth in the middle of summer, but were very pleased that it produced tons of tomatoes, green beans and herbs this year.  I canned several batches of salsa and passata plus enjoyed them raw nearly every day.  I’m already planning ahead for next year’s garden!  We’re hoping to get a headstart on some new beds in the lasagna method this fall to have them ready for spring planting!  With the new grain-free diet, I see us growing a lot more squash and next year, for the first time, I’m thinking okra . . .

I am creating…  a gluten-free Thanksgiving menu.  Planning on making this wild rice with mushrooms dish in lieu of stuffing this year, along with this Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake substituting a nut-based crust from the latest Southern Living issue.  Maybe make an apple crisp rather than apple pie?  We’ll see.  Luckily, except for stuffing and rolls, oh, and pie crusts, everything else that is on our “normal” Thanksgiving menu is gluten-free naturally.  We’ll see! 

I am reading…. a lot of everything.  I’m currently in the middle of two novels, The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry, for my bookclub, and Reamde by Neal Stephenson, just because.  Both are excellent.

What are you reading these days?

I am hearing. . . Quiet.  The dryer.  Babies are tucked up safe in their beds.

Around the house… A mess!  We just got back from ten days away in Colorado as T. hunted elk with my dad and we are still in the forays of unpacking, laundry and general day-to-day mayhem.  Working on it as I can but I think it’ll be until at least tomorrow or Thursday before things start looking back to normal!

One of my favorite things…The excited smile on a certain four year old’s face when he saw that I changed his bedding to special flannel Snowman sheets and added our red winter blankets.  Such a joy!

A Few Plans and Prayer Intentions For The Rest Of The Week …

• Pray for guidance, patience and grace
• That we all get back to feeling better after a bout with a little bug
• That no one else in the family gets said little bug!
• And thank you for you!  Being patient with me.  And for your prayers.

Thank you to Peggy for hosting! Please go visit other daybooks here . . .

The tomatoes are starting to ripen. Finally!

If you’re curious about the tomatoes, from left to right we have :

• Green Zebra
• San Marzano
• two large Mortgage Lifter tomatoes, followed by
• two Cherokee Purples

No sign of our Sun Gold cherry tomatoes – my favorite variety – they tend to get eaten immediately in the garden or thrown in a salad.  They rarely hang around long.

Followed by a vase of summer savory, then a flower from garlic chives brought to me by a sweet four year old because it was beautful, a vase of basil, then . . . Michael the Archangel holy card tucked into the last vase.  That’s just how we roll around here.

As I have about 80 more pounds of tomatoes about to turn red (and purple, and green) in the garden, likely within the next week, I’m researching marinara and salsa recipes for canning.  Any favorites you’d like to share?  The jars are ready and waiting. . .

Happy Weekending!

PS – Please excuse the water-spotted window.  It rained last night, and it’s about to rain now.  It’s low on my priority level. . . tomatoes on the other hand?  Quite high!

Let me just start this out by sharing one thing.

I don’t like sweet tea.

I love iced tea, with lemon.

I love lemonade.

And I love Arnold Palmer’s (a mix of lemonade and iced tea) but I don’t like sweet tea.  It tends to be too cloyingly sweet for me; I prefer the sweet-tart bite that lemonade provides.

So when I tell you to add sugar to your tea in a few minutes, keep in mind that basically what you’re making is an all natural lightly sweetened lemonade and iced tea all at the same time.

Because, basically, lemonade is made from lemons and water and sugar, right?  And iced tea is made with water. And tea.  So put it all together, all at the same time and you have the lazy woman’s way to make an Arnold Palmer.

(Oh, and I make it as a concentrate, so that I can add plentiful ice and cold water to the concentrate once it’s steeped to cool it down and drink it quicker than if I had to wait for the entire thing to cool.)

Does that make sense?  Good.  Enjoy.

We had a baby.

We discovered the mullberries were ripe.

We had a first hair cut and now his curls are gone, but his handsome face is much more apparent!

We made strawberry mint jam and strawberry lemon marmalade. And enjoyed our first s’mores . . .

(evidently, pre-haircut)

And some pretty mean smoked ribs.

Which we enjoyed on the Fourth of July, with my parents.

We’ve been spending lots of time playing outside . . .

and relaxing poolside . . .

Luke REALLY loves the pool

We are eagerly awaiting our first vegetables from the garden – zucchini and yellow squash! The tomatoes and green beans are also looking lovely and the French Breakfast radishes are a perfect addition to . . . any meal, including breakfast.

We have more bug bites than we care to count.

We are napping when we can.

We appreciate your prayers and thoughtful notes, and we’ll see you soon!

We joyfully welcome our daughter,

Stella Catherine

born June 18, 2011

7 lbs, 13 ounces

A happy and healthy little girl and already a joy to our family!

Thank you all for your continued prayers!

With love,

Sarah, T., and Big Brother’s Lloyd and Luke

I’m ready to go . . .

We are in waiting mode for D-Day around here.  My due date is two weeks away but both boys were early and I’m measuring large (and, according to my midwives appointment last night, already partially dilated) so I’m just kind of in-waiting mode.  Any-day mode.  I feel a little anxious this time around because I really haven’t focused or thought about the delivery side of things, I’ve been so busy with everything else.  And I’ve been so distracted getting ready, forcing myself to rest, that I’ve been a bit scatterbrained and am having a hard time focusing on any one thing for any length of time.  Which is why I haven’t blogged.  And which is why I’ve decided to join in this meme today . . . because 7 Quick Takes is about all I have coherence for these days . . .

{1}

Nesting.  Some people clean (Not me). Some people cook (Not me).  I, evidently, sew.  In the last few days I’ve been hard at work trying to finish up the last few projects for the nursery.  I’ve made three swaddle blankets and am working on a cache of pretty burp rags.  I’m also just starting (today!) her crib blanket which is based off of the “Follow the Lines” Baby Quilt featured in Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.
This is my kind of “quilting” with a little hand-embroidery thrown in.  One giant piece of pretty fabric (I’m using “Hello Roses” in Cream from the Nicey Jane Collection by Heather Bailey) paired up with all-natural cotton batting and a nice soft back.  Hand embroidered around some of the prettiness of that giant piece of fabric and I’ll be binding it with pink satin blanket binding for a soft touch for baby.  It’s very likely it will not get done before she’s here, but I have to start it someday!

{2}

We have a new favorite toy around here.  We’re making sandwiches.  On a daily basis.  Lloyd makes me a tomato and bacon open-faced with cream cheese a few times a day.  If only the kit came with a toasted sesame seed bagel, the sandwich would be perfection.  Too bad it’s just felt, this mama could use the help in the kitchen!

Thank you Nana and Grandpa for this fun new toy!

{3}

Attention any Omaha-locals: I have discovered a new store I’m in love with!  Baby Junk in the Rockbrook Village.  It carries all manner of breast-feeding paraphernalia, baby-wearing gear, eco-friendly toys and cloth-diapering needs.  With the same prices I’ve found online, but local!  I bought three new Thirstie’s covers the other day and got re-excited about cloth diapering again!  That, and I found some neat folds online using “flats” that might be perfect for the newborn stage.  I was gifted with about a million used receiving blankets from my sister (along with several new ones from friends) and think they (the used ones) might be the perfect size for newborn diapers in the first few weeks before she grows into our small pre-folds.  My favorite?  The origami fold.  Check out this youtube video for the quick and easy way to fold them . . .

Speaking of cloth diapers, we’re stripping our size large cotton prefolds today before putting them away until Baby Girl fits them using the hottest, longest wash my washer will do with a few squirts of Ivory Dish Soap in the soap dispenser. Hope it works!

{4}

Oh, and I joined Pinterest.  It’s kind of addicting for the super-visually-stimulated and organizing sort.  Like, ahem, me.  Come follow me?

Unsure what Pinterest is?  Megan wrote a great synopsis about it . . . For me, it’s an easy way to see things that I’ve already bookmarked or would bookmark in a more visual way.  Which works for me.

{5}

I keep coming across this book and think I might need to take a look at it.  Though we’ve worked hard at trying to have mostly imagination-friendly, open toys for the boys, I still feel (often) like we just have too much.  Mostly when they’re strewn haphazardly across my living room floor.  Unfortunately, I suspect that it will energetically tell me (and I will energetically agree while reading it) that I need to be more present with my children and host and directly oversee lots of crafty activities using whatever I find around the home, without me remembering that I am a type-A personality who has a mild fear of glue in the hands of preschoolers, hates to sweep and has a 2-year-old, 4-year-old and newborn around.

But maybe not.

Has anyone else read this?

{6}

If you’re a facebook fan of heartland Renaissance you might remember a few months ago when I mentioned that I was struggling with hard water stains on all of the dishes coming out of my dishwasher.  I seriously thought they were ruined and I’d have to replace them all.  I tried deep-cleaning the dishwasher empty, changing detergents, and on and on.  I felt that they came out of the dishwasher dirtier than I’d put them in after pre-washing them.  It was ridiculous.  I’d read somewhere to use white vinegar in the rinse cycle, which I had tried and didn’t work so hot, and so finally one day, disgusted, I just turned one of the mugs over in the top rack and filled it almost to the top with white vinegar (probably a cup to cup and a half worth), added detergent as usual and ran it.

Lo and behold my dishes are saved.  Everything has come off.  When I don’t use the vinegar, I notice it, but when I do, the glasses, plates, knives, cutlery, EVERYTHING comes out sparkly and clean with no residue.  I love it.  It’s cheap, it’s all-natural, it’s easy and it works.  Just wanted to pass on the little tip . . .

{7}

One of my favorite things as we anticipate adding a GIRL to the house?  Bows.  I’m seriously in love with them.  This little one hasn’t even been born yet but she has a veritable wardrobe of bows just waiting for her, nice and organized in her dresser, and I’ll be bringing a select few with me in my hospital bag.  Pink, of course.  While the one’s I like aren’t quite so enormous as some that I’ve seen on my favorite Southern blogs, I’ll be taking advantage of this trend while I have control of her appearance for the first few years.  And I’m just warning you.

There will be bows.

See you on the other side!