Samurai Mom

Starlings' Sky Scarf

2012-01-20T02:19:00.000-08:00

As I was thinking about what to share with you this month I thought "What am I doing right now?" and the answer is Conceptual Art. More specifically conceptual knitting and it is all I can think about right now.

Photo from whipup.net

I found this post about the Sky Scarf a while back and I loved the concept but wasn't sure what I would do with a blue scarf, but last week I realized I live in Portland, Oregon, I wouldn't have a blue scarf, it would be grey, my favorite color!
And so my friend Paula and I are impatiently waiting for our order of grey and blue yarn to arrive so that we can start knitting. In the meantime we have begun diligently recording the color of the sky each day.
Paula is knitting a sky shawl and is being a bit more methodical than I am, she has a palette of 6 colors, plus white for snow (which will be MAYBE one or two rows) and has specific criteria for what weather merits what color. She will decide the color for the day at 12:00pm.
I, on the other hand, am knitting a scarf an have a palette of 9 colors, plus white, and will be mixing the colors as well. I will choose the color of the day when I wake up in the morning and will sit and knit the row after I say my morning prayers and wait for my eyes to "wake up." I don't have a strict criteria for the colors as I prefer a combination of matching the actual color of the sky as well as the mood of the weather.

Not everyone will knit this project but wouldn't it be fun to do this with your kids to record the color of the sky each day, or record the mood of the day, or the color of sunset or the sunrise? One gal I read about is knitting the high and low temperatures of the day. How about using a box of crayons and some lined paper? Just color in one line each day. Or color the box on the calendar? You could cut out squares of colored paper and glue or tape them on each page of the kids journal or daily school workbook. The possibilities abound.

To learn more about the Sky Scarf and Conceptual Knitting visit Leafcutter Designs. Watch the video too!

Santa Lucia Day

2011-12-05T21:02:00.000-08:00

St. Lucia Day is coming up and I found this darling St. Lucia Day paper doll printable last year but I can't for the life of me find out how to link it to the original source. Have fun with it.

http://tpettit.best.vwh.net/dolls/pd_scans/xmas_morning/200dpi/kirsten.jpg

I am spending the day making a Lucia Dress for Nutmeg since she has outgrown all of our white things.

Blessings

2011-11-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

Like many I have been thinking of things to be thankful for every day this month. I have been posting them on Facebook and thought I would record them here as well.

Nov 1:I am thankful for the Glorious weather we have had the last few weeks. Kind of like an apology for the non-summer.

Nov 2: I am thankful for Downward Dog, it really is a rest pose.

Nov 3: I am thankful to for everyone who made last night an enriching one, for my awesome committee, Robin and that my feet aren't sore this morning. Thanks to our touching speaker and beautiful singer and accompanist. I am thankful for all who attended and brought food and decorated. I am thankful for Gratitude.

Nov 4: I am grateful for Kelly's Sock Class!

Nov 5: I am grateful for Netflix

Nov 6: I am grateful for my daughter.

Nov 7: I am grateful to know WHY I have felt so miserable for the last 5 weeks and grateful to Donnalee for helping me figure it out. (allergies)

Nov 8: I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, I am overwhelmed with love.

Nov 9: I am grateful for Yoga (I really like Yoga I was grateful for it twice!)

Nov 10: I am thankful for my sisters.

Nov 11: I am grateful for wool coats

Nov 12: I am grateful for the washing machine and electric dryer. Greatest inventions ever.

Nov 13: I am grateful to know Sarah who happens to be the reason I got out of my warm slumber this morning. She is a delightful soul and we are going to miss her deeply.

Murmuration

2011-11-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Just a little bit more pleased that we named our house "Starlings."

Murmuaration...how lovely.

Boutique at the Barn Reprise

2011-10-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

I was not going to do any craft shows this year, the time and energy that goes into a show is not proportionate to the profits recouped at a craft fair. However; a friend said she would do it if I would do it...pressure. I started thinking along two lines of thought; first, The Boutique at the barn was really fun last year, I enjoyed the experience thoroughly. If I had gone this year as a customer instead of a vendor I know that I would have been looking longingly at the vendors wishing I was there. Second, there might be repeat customers from last year who will be looking for me this year and I really want to keep the Miss Moss Demi-millinery in people's mind as a place for fabulous, custom, handmade hair adornment.

So this year I approached it differently. My goal is not to make money (but I do hope to pay for some Christmas gifts) but to keep up exposure and to show what I can do in the fabulous world of millinery. My goal is to get at least one (hopefully many) custom orders.

I didn't do much other than order supplies until after Boba Fett's baptism and then I worked every day for a few hours. Last year I worked for 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 3 weeks. Instead of volume I concentrated on a variety of hats. I finished 2 days early and now I am just sitting about waiting for tomorrow. Nice.

The Miss Moss Demi-Millinery will be at Boutique at the Barn , tomorrow Saturday, October 29th from 10am -4pm at Fallbrooks Farm on Jackson School Road in North Plains, Oregon.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Ordinances, New Baby, Vew Crafts and 2 Fairies

2011-10-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

Boba Fett was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last weekend. It was a good time to spend with my family and get a great family photo.


See how I got Moose to wear a tie?

Boba Fett requested that we go out for ribs at Applebees.

Blech.

I have been spending a lot of time millinering getting ready for the Boutique at the Barn.

But I have had time to make a Halloween wreath that I found here.

I also managed to make a nightgown for Kristen's sweet adorable new baby girl who is the most beautiful baby ever.

I had to make it, the baby was 2 weeks over due and I was going stir crazy waiting to discover if it was a boy or a girl!I am so happy she is a girl.

Today we had sweet Bella over to play with Nutmeg and they were awfully cute.

I need to re-enact this up at the Gardner's place in the woods.

Aren't they the cutest pair of girls ever?

Today was a glorious autumn day. I hope we can get a few more weeks of weather just like this as payment for our awful rainy and cloudy summer.

September Stuff

2011-09-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

Have I really not posted since The Gnoming? I am trying to figure out where the time went and I can't account for it.

On the 15th we went to our annual Homeschool Field Trip at Kah Nee Ta, a full day in the pool and 6 hours of driving always wipes us out but we did enjoy a stop at Timberline Lodge.

Boba Fett started Cub Scouts a couple weeks ago and lost a tooth.

The 20th was my 33rd Birthday and it was an absolutely perfect day. The weather was glorious and I did just what I wanted all day long. I knit, I watched North By Northwest, I went to Sushi Town with Boba Fett. Dinner was the Surf Side at Benihana.

The most fun gift I received was a plot by Paula where everyone who stopped by brought me some yarn! Two of my favorite gifts were a hug from Zac and a hug from Brock. And as it has turned out the most thoughtful gift was from Moose, he downloaded a bunch of Relief Society podcasts for me to listen to while I sew.

I sewed 2 dresses, one because it had to be done before the end of summer. I am calling it "The Diner"

The other was for the train excursion on the Mount Hood Railroad that was a really fun double date.

There was dancing in a very unstable car

The fellows refused to take a serious photo

and our conductor was named Roman.

Tomatoes are being harvested and the sunny days are at an end. Soccer season is in full swing and I am getting ready to do the Boutique at the Barn again.

My sweet friend lost her husband to cancer this month and we have loved her, served her and held our husbands extra close with a prayer of gratitude for them on our lips.

The Gnoming

2011-09-13T17:33:00.001-07:00

The Gnoming happened this morning.
As I had planned, Boba Fett was blissfully sleeping while the gnome watched over him, it was strategically placed so he would see it when he awoke.

He came down to me (asleep) to ask me why a "idiodic dememted dwarf" was in room. I asked him what he was talking about. As he headed back through the house he saw that there were gnomes everywhere. For example this guy was having a bowl of cereal on the table.

The pictures had been replaced with pictures of gnomes.

And all of his photos had been replaced with gnomes.

As well as other small gnomes in other places.

I told him I heard someone at the door and when he went to it he saw this terrible act of flamingocide.

Fleeing from this terrible scene he saw the Starlings' Chalkboard had been tampered with

In the back yard he was confronted with an army

Whilst other kept watch from the foliage

There were also a dozen parachuting gnomes which were genius but were tangled in knots within 30 second of landing.

Which was too bad because they were really good parachutes.

There were also a bunch of gnome tattoos that doubled as stickers.

It was a sucessful gnoming and I think a cure for Gardengnomeaphobia.

Not What We Had Planned

2011-09-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

It started out so well. Boba Fett's birthday was on a Sunday this year so we spread out some of the fun stuff to Saturday. I was the Boba Fett wrangler while Moose took the other kids to their 3 scheduled soccer games.

First, we went to a friend's bowling birthday party, then Boba Fett and I headed to The House of Reptiles so he could pick out his gift from my parents. He was really excited.

He chose a baby crested gecko and we headed home to get his habitat set up.

His name is Glacier.

As he has been planning for more than a year, he and I went to Sushi Town to get his free birthday sushi plate.

After dinner we went to catch the end of Commander C's second game of the day. It was a long walk from the parking lot to the field but it was a nice day and we were all healthy at the time. Moose and I were watching the game while the kids played by the stream and berry bushes.

They were trying to get to a cattail when suddenly they BOTH came running and screaming. I thought some one had been killed, there certainly had to be blood and lots of it from the way they were screaming but it turns out Nutmeg disturbed a wasps' nest and Boba Fett went in gallantly to save her. Boba Fett really freaked out, he ran franticly to the car where my first aid kit was wailing all the way. Parents on several fields were alarmed to see a freaking out, running boy trailed by a sobbing, crying girl and 2 bewildered parents.

We got to the car pulled out stingers, counted bites, distributed apis and headed home where more remdies were applied. Once we were in the car Boba Fett seemed fine, certainly better off than Nutmeg. He had only 2 bites to her 3 and he was acting fine like a regular boy.

By morning on his actual birthday his ankle was all swollen and he was acting very subdued for a birthday boy. He stayed home from church and watched movie, I made him dutch puff, lego cakes and we opened the gifts. He was barely even pleased. He was just not himself yesterday. He couldn't even ride his new bike and he doesn't spend every waking minute looking at his gecko. This is not normal.

Today he is much the same, swollen and melancholy.

The gnoming didn't happen because my package of parachuting gnomes didn't arrive in time so we are going to have to do it another time. It is probably just as well since he wasn't feeling very well and I think that all parties need to be in a good mood for a successful gnoming.

I just feel so bad for him. This kid looks forward to his birthday more than any kid I have ever known. He is so animated and seeing him like this is so sad. I can't help but wonder along with him why he with 2 bites in different places is doing so poorly while Nutmeg with 3 bites on the same arm is doing just fine.

I just wonder why he always has such a hard time with everything; his eyes, his speech, bug bites, reading, chores, sports, anything involving coordination.

Aurora Glorialis

2011-09-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

I started this dress 5 years ago. It was meant to be for Nutmeg but it never got past the cutting stage and it sat in my scrap bin until just before my niece, little Aurora arrived! (P.S. I made the darling head band too.)

In its former life it was a ladies' blouse. I LOVE that the buttons and button holes are the original holes from the blouse

and what was the collar is now the bow. Isn't the fabric divine?
The sleeves are the caps of the original sleeves and the skirt, oh, the skirt hemmed with the original hem. Making reconstructions and trying to keep as many of the original details as possible intact is one of my very favorite things. It was a blouse, now its a dress! I just love that.

Oh and it has pleats.

Gardengnomeaphobia

2011-08-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

Gardengnomeaphobia is a rare but serious condition that affects...Boba Fett. Boba Fett's "fear" of garden gnomes will come to a head on his 8th birthday (a phobia like this is just begging for a prank.) If you feel compelled to help us treat this serious condition known as "Gardengnomeaphobia," please deliver your gnomes, gnome artwork and gnome accessories to Starlings by the 10th of September.

Coming September 11th, 2011

The Gnoming

Washcloth

2011-08-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

Today I washed her face tenderly and worked the marshmallow out of her hair. Her moist cheeks shined like the blue eyes in the mirror and I realized there will not be many more times when I wash her hands or face. She chooses her own clothes, does flips on the trampoline and reads books with chapters. She is so smart, and independent and her legs are so long.

An Oregon Summerlet

2011-07-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

While most of the country is sweltering, we here in Oregon are enjoying 60 degree temperatures! Occasionally we get a sunny day and a couple of times we have had 2 in a row but for the most part still cloudy, still chilly, still rainy.

I really truly believed that after last year's disappointing summer we were in line to get a nice one this year. This just goes to show that no one asks me when planning the weather.

We have had a busy month none the less.

On the 4th we went to the ward pancake breakfast, the Oak Hills Parade and the Oak Hills fireworks display. Springville ward had it's own mini fireworks show while we waited.

On the 9th we traveled to Salem to visit our dear friends (who moved in May) for a birthday celebration.

I promise, she really has 2 perfect eyes.

On the 14th my niece Aurora was born, she didn't want to nurse so there were 5 anxious days but now she has the knack. We were to visit the weekend after she arrived but Moose is busy doing the work of 3+ men at work and so we postponed our Montana vacation and baby snuggling.

On the 16th we went to the Portland Highland Games and it was awesome. I love kilts!! All of the mooselings participated but Boba Fett was particularly excited about tossing the caber.

On the 17th our ward was split and a new ward formed in our stake. We were sad to lose some very dear ones including our entire Relief Society presidency to the "Tomahawk Ward."

Monday the 18th is the day I became mentally ill and began taking yoga classes and seriously considered joining a gym. The gym illness has passed but I will be continuing with the yoga classes.

Last weekend we celebrated Pioneer Day at Fallbrooks Farm, and on Sunday La Keira was called as Relief Society President.

I'll just let that sink in for a few moments.....

Being the "besty" of the Relief Society President is weird, really weird. We are still trying to figure out how it is going to work. I can't imagine how she managed to keep it a secret for a week! It is just surreal and it will take time to sink in.

And all month long I have been preparing for the 5 night, 50 mile hike that Commander C, La Keira, Jonah, myself and assorted members of the Hanna family are taking next week. I have been planning meals, shopping for gear, borrowing gear, breaking in boots, and training.

I just have one thing to say: I am going to DIE.

Someone Should Take Away My Pie Pans

2011-07-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that I am pie crust challenged. I make tasty fillings but the presentation is bad, bad, bad. No matter what I do my pies are UG-LY!

Lately I have tried buying pre-made crusts already in the pan. No improvement.
Today I even bought the Marie Callender's crusts for my marion berry pie.

Fail. Please, someone put me out of my misery. Why do I have to like pie so much?

Spurious

2011-07-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”Genesis 3:15

This passage has been running through my head frequently of late. For the last several months my right heel has felt like it has been bruised and over the last few weeks I started to think "Maybe this is an actual 'thing'" and today I googled it.

Ignorance is bliss. It is probably (based on my googling 3 or 4 phrases and my non-existant podiatry degree) those ugly words you sometimes hear on foot ailment commercials but never know what they mean and are too grossed out to find out.

Doesn't this look awful?

"Heel spur" and/or "plantar fasciitis"

Great, because I didn't already think that being in your 30's is lame. Now it is literally.

Now Genesis 3:15 has meaning to me, I know that a bruised heel hurts and is really annoying but you can get on with life.

My mom claims to have some essential oils for it and that is good because I am supposed to go on a 50 mile hike in 2 1/2 weeks.

These are to only kind of spurs I want on my feet.

Splitsville Ward

2011-07-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

They are splitting up our ward.

This only can end in tears. I have been in our ward for 9 wonderful years and the thought of losing anyone from or being put into a new ward is just too sad. I look at the map of the ward and I love every single family.

The worst part is that there isn't a readily apparent split, and 3 wards will be affected as they form a new ward, and we have to WAIT AN ENTIRE WEEK to find out the changes. A week? A week of thinking about all the wonderful people our ward family and wondering if they will still be in my ward next week and how much I will miss seeing them several times a week.

Also, La Keira is on the opposite side of the ward from Starlings no matter how you carve it up. This doesn't look hopeful.

I know it will all be for the best and any new ward will be fantastic but it just isn't the same when you don't see someone regularly.

Last time we only lost a handful of families and gained a whole bunch of really awesome people, maybe we will be so lucky again?

I Beg Your Pardon

2011-06-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

I only promised you a rose garden.
We took the kids (kicking a screaming) up to the International Rose Test Garden this afternoon. The rest of Portland had the same idea as the park was jammed and we had to hike up a hill after parking by the reservoir.

The roses were mostly in full bloom but there were a few beds that look like my roses - leaves but little or no buds yet. That made me feel a little better.

Nutmeg had fun posing with the flowers

and enjoyed herself more than the boys did.

I always enjoy looking at the roses in the Gold Medal portion of the garden and this year the

Julia Child (2008) was my favorite.

1941's Neville Chamberlain made me snicker,

I felt it appropriate that none of the blossoms were very lovely

This one had me choked up and then I read the history of the rose and I did cry.

Then we stumbled upon the Holocaust Memorial. In all of our visits to the Rose Garden we had never known of the existence of this monument. It was built in 2004 which was after we did our initial and most thorough explorations of Washington Park so I will let the oversight pass.

As you enter the memorial there are bronze sculptures scattered on the pavement, a suitcase, teddy bear, pair of glasses, a book, a baby shoe, a broken violin, and a doll.

When you reach the wall there is some history of the holocaust, memories of a child, and the names of loved ones who perished in the "Shoah."

We were able to explain some to the children what happened and how evil it was and that we have places like these to remember never to let something like that happen again.

It was a special place and I hope to be able to visit again.

Unwind Week

2011-06-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

We have been taking it very easy this week in an attempt to relax after the weekend's busy pace.

In the sewing room I am working on a shirtwaist dress made from a lovely taupe and coral vintage sheet.

Tuesday was a hot day, Nutmeg and I played in the hammock because she wanted to "do summery things" with me.

Then we turned on the sprinkler.

Wednesday while we were having our Relief Society History Study Group I looked out the window and saw a ladder and this:

I bought a new shirt, I had it on for less than 15 minutes this morning when I got bleach on it and ruined it. UGH!

The ranunculus are in full bloom and I am so pleased. I had planted ranunculus before with NO success.

They really came through this year and everyone comments on them.

That is my blue minivan in the background. Speaking of my blue minivan, last night I was at Fred Meyer, I parked RIGHT in front of the store at the curb. When I came out I was opening my Zours and looking at the Cami Secrets I had just purchased, I saw my van out in the lot and walked over, pushed the button and got in.
As I sat down I noticed something hanging from the rear view mirror which was odd because I never hang things from the rear view mirror, and there was a faint cigarette smoke smell and that was strange because I don't smoke, and then I saw a McDonald's wrapper on the floor and that NEVER happens in my car. Suddenly, I knew. This. Was. Not. My. Van.

I popped out lickety split and looked about frantically for my van - it wasn't in the lot. Then I remembered, I got the best parking spot at the store, right on the curb.

Why was that Dodge Caravan unlocked?

Where is the "I Know You Well Enough to Hug You" Line?

2011-06-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

I hugged an acquaintance today upon hearing some really joyful news. But then as I left the dry cleaner's I realized that I don't know her well enough to be dispensing hugs. Now its awkward (with me anyway.). Good thing I don't see her much, hence the possible inappropriateness. I am just hoping she doesn't think it was weird and just genuine.

In other news the wedding extravaganza went well-ish. By well-ish I mean most people had a lovely time and things went very smoothly with the exception of my Mother in Law breaking her pelvis. It happened here at Starlings and while it wasn't my fault at all I still feel responsible.

Nutmeg was a darling and dutiful flower girl

She ran out of petals by the time she got to the tent so she self regulated to one petal at a time.

She was freezing but did her best to keep warm.

And then at the reception she wiped her chocolaty and bacon wrapped scallop hands all over her dress. I think I handled it very well, which is why I was at the dry cleaner's in the first place.

Rest in Peace Sashimi

2011-06-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

Sashimi

2 years 3 months

Tears have been shed

You will be missed by all.

I think this time it was my fault. I cleaned her bowl just hours ago. After 2 years I thought I had the hang of it.

Boys and the Women Who Put Up With Them

2011-06-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

We are finishing up the final details before the Wedding of Moose's nephew. We are hosting the groom's dinner/family reunion on Friday and Nutmeg is the flower girl on Saturday. The maids arrive in one hour. The maids! I wish I had more time to enjoy this moment.

Yesterday, I had all 3 kids with me while running errands (a rare occurrence) and we stopped at Khol's to get a HAWT skinny tie for Moose. (Dressing him up is SO fun.) The kids were running all over the place, as they are not used to department stores, as I was paying this is what occurred:
I shall used Commander C's words so you can imagine a 11 year old saying this and blushing.
"Boba Fett said to me "Look at this" and ran up to a mannequin and pulled out the shirt and looked down her breast! *BLUSH*"
He still sill can't talk about it without squirming, blushing and giggling.

Later in the parking lot Commander C kept giggling and saying "I can't believe you did that." And Boba Fett was giggling with pride.

Then I realized that I saw him do it. I was standing there and watching him.

There isn't any delicate way to put this so here it is. I spend at LEAST a total of an hour everyday of slapping Moose's hands and trying to get him to STOP doing the same thing. So much so that when I stood there and watched my 7 year old peek at a mannequin's assets it didn't even register. Boys looking down girl's shirts in my mind, completely normal.

Until they were talking about it in the parking lot it didn't even register.

The Refrigerator Saga: Pt. 2

2011-06-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, My "new" refrigerator arrived. I say "new" because we purchased it at the Sears Outlet. The tags on the fridge said "New with Cosmetic Damage" but as I was preparing to put MY food in the fridge I found food smears, crumbs and hairs inside.

Maybe "new" means something different to Sears?

I called Sears and I was hoppin' mad, mad because we had noticed a little "something" on the inside of the freezer at the store and the salesman assured us that is was probably just dirt from the "testing facility." He lied to us. The labels lied to us. I do NOT tolerate lying. The manager was very understanding and apologetic. He offered to refund us some money. I was mollified.
Then I turned to the missing parts. In the store we noticed 2 rubber gaskets missing from the drawer shelves. The salesman assured us that these parts could easily be obtained at the Sears Parts store which was just down the road, BUT, this store was closed at 6 pm on a Saturday and just down the road was the complete other side of town for me. So I planned to make a trip to the store later in the week. After the refrigerator was filled I called the Sears Parts Store to make sure they had my parts in stock. Not only did they not have the parts in stock they couldn't even find the parts list for the fridge that I bought. Not only that but the lady on the phone Did. Not. Care. She was having a conversation on with someone else while we were on the phone and she made ME get online and start looking for parts. After about 30 minutes of this I just hung up on her as she was continuing her other conversation.
Then I called Sears. The central location Sears not the local outlet store or the parts store and the girl was VERY polite but ultimately unhelpful because, as before, she could not find the parts list for my fridge. She will get back to me in about 5 business days.
I spent all of my Wednesday dealing with a fridge that I already spent a week or two buying.
When the Fridge was delivered the delivery man was unable to connect the water to the fridge because "the customer has a leak in the water pipe." I agreed to let him off the hook because he claimed he could not remedy this situation even though I was led to believe that no matter the condition of our water pipe the delivery man could (pardon the pun) hook us up.
He left and I called a plumber. (I love our plumbers, they are top notch. The dissatisfaction in this post should in no way be attached to the awesomeness of Pro Drain. Oh, did you know I was in a commercial for them? Check it out and then call them for all your plumbing needs.) The plumber came on Friday and he just screwed on the valve. There wasn't a leak, it was just loose. YUP. Thanks Sears! So the PLUMBER hooked me up and then I eagerly attempted to get water from the dispenser. Nothing. I looked up the owner's manual online (yeah, the outlet store didn't have a manual either) and did all the trouble shooting and learned that the fridge is indeed getting the water. The icemaker is even making ice but the dispenser is not dispensing. When the lever is pressed there isn't even a sound.
So, I called Sears again! The friendly gentleman at Sears duly read the owner's manual and ran me through all the steps again and made an appointment for the repair man. He will be here on Tuesday.
What do you want to be that the owner of the hair and food crumbs I found in the fridge had this same problem?

I am so beyond annoyed at this situation. I have 50+ guests coming THIS FRIDAY! I should be living my life, cleaning my house, preparing fro guests, serving my neighbors and family not calling Sears all day every day.
At this point I am thinking I would have been better off finding a fridge on Craigslist. I thought that buying a fridge from Sears would have provided a little less stress but it turns out to be the opposite. We chose this one at Sears because of it's size but reluctantly as we gave up the color we wanted and the layout we wanted for the correct size and a water dispenser, the water dispenser that does not work. So, really, we like nothing about this fridge other than the fact that it fits in the kitchen.

I thought that the HARD part was finding a refrigerator that would fit in our little kitchen but still have enough space. Turns out, that was just the beginning.

Wherein I Nearly Lose My Sight and Preform Electrical Acts of Derring-do

2011-06-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

La Keira and I painted the kitchen a lovely shade of grey yesterday. Things went well and then I spent 5 hours painting the trim "Snowy Pine.' I finished the last touch ups just as Moose walked in the door.

Now we are just 2 small armchairs, a rug, a clever side table and a Dala horse away from realizing my decorating vision!

Moose began helping me move the fridge back to it's proper location when SPARK, FLASH, CLICK, Squeal, jump away.

Apparently, when we moved the fridge in the morning we had the power cord was beneath the fridge and we scraped off all of the insulation on the cord so that the copper wire was exposed. As we were moving it back the exposed, live wire connected with the copper water pipe and Blamo!

We have a "new" refrigerator coming on Wednesday but this old fridge was meant to be my food storage/garage fridge. I have been waiting a LONG time to have my refrigeration needs met and I was NOT going to let the dream die.

I spent the night worrying over the food in the fridge, whisking my meat supply over the Keira's Garage freezer and waiting for the appliance parts store to open in the morning.

In the morning I learned that the appliance parts store couldn't help me but Home Depot could. That's correct, I could have solved this problem last night and slept soundly knowing that I wasn't going to lose this month's budgeted food supply.

Moose was still in bed when I left and I said to him "Don't go to work until I get back I will need your help with the fridge."

I went to Home Depot and got supplies and detailed instructions and came home to find Moose had GONE TO WORK.

"Okay, I can do this myself, This will be a great blog post. I will even take a before picture." And I did.


"This is going to be a great post. Look, I even have wire strippers!"

I lined up the tools and supplies

Wire strippers, wire cutters, new cord, wire nuts, electrical tape

See how this is going to be great?


The gross wires coming from the fridge. There was loads of lint and cat food back there. I don't have a cat. EEEW!

I sat down, clipped of the cord and began stripping. This is where it is all Moose's fault because if a strong man had been doing this the tragic event that followed would not have occurred. And then the wire cutters slipped off with all the force I had been applying to the cord and went INTO MY EYEBALL!

This is also where I am glad that I homeschool and that My 11 year old was home to assist me.
I screamed for Commander C while lying on the floor holding my eye and crying because I was A) in PAIN, B) So really mad at Moose and C) utterly defeated. I just wanted to save the fridge and the food and now I was BLINDED! He called Moose to let him know that I was dying on the floor and it was all HIS FAULT. I managed to look out of my one good eye to see blood on my hands, "GREAT, I AM blind!" Eventually I realized that I was crying and the tears didn't hurt so it might not be SO bad. Commander C said that it wasn't so I mustered up the guts to look in the mirror.


After a few minutes of crying and a liberal dose of Arnica

It was all purple and bruised but I took some Arnica and in just a few minutes the bruising was all but gone. My actual eye seems to be un-injured but the eye hurt for a few hours and now if I close my eyelid and touch my eye it still hurts. I would like to thank my cheek for taking the brunt of the blow in order to save my eye.

I dispatched Commander C to the garage for some SAFETY GOGGLES and went back to work. That food wasn't keeping itself cold (well actually it was but it can't keep that up forever.)

Wires were stripped but there was a problem even though Home Depot Electrical Department Man said that they would the wires from the fridge cord did not match the green, white and black wires of the replacement cord. There was a green cord but the other two wires were no color, just brown like the whole cord. I called my Brother in law but while I waited for an answer I just guessed and did it.


If I did this wrong and Starlings is in danger, please, let me know.

I plugged it in and the power was on! But the compressor wasn't running and I was a bit worried and just when I was about to despair it kicked on.

I fixed my refrigerator.

June 3, 2011: The Day the Sun Shone

2011-06-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

There is sun today. No clouds, no rain. The weather men told us this wouldn't happen to until tomorrow!

Since the sun was out I thought I would take a look at my garden bed in the light to see what had happened in the week of darkness and rain. Sadly all of my very, very tiny (think 1/4") lettuce sprouts have disappeared. I have. No. Idea. What. Happened. So, I will have to plant lettuce for the 6th time this spring.

Boba Fett was pretty disappointed this morning when what he thought was a leaf turned out to be a frog and the frog escaped before he could catch it. He is in the market for a frog so if you manage to catch one you know where to send it.

Pretty Purple Chives

And finally, after 2 years of waiting and searching for lovely mums, today, I am going to Kings Mum's in Oregon City to pick up my beautiful Chrysanthemums!!!

Oh, and I had 4 inches of my hair cut off this morning. Thanks Melissa! Grace Kelly Hair, here I come!

hors d'oevres

2011-06-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is a delicious spread inspired by a tea sandwich I had in Seattle on Bettysday. I call it Bettysday Spread.

I have a recipe for you, but you know how I am, I don't measure when I cook I just cook by feel. I don't have a photo because I ate all the spread BEFORE I thought to post the recipe.

When I make this I just carve out a hunk of cream cheese add the ingredients and call it good. I will attempt to give you some actual measurements.

Bettysday Spread
1 package of Cream Cheese
4 oz crumbled Blue Cheese
1/4 cup Pecans chopped very fine (this might be too much put in as much as you like)
Several dashes of Nutmeg
Sea Salt to taste

Mix together and spread on bread or crackers top with thin slices of apples or use as a dip for fruit. This goes well with pears and apples and probably would be nice with grapes.

My friend Kristin does not like blue cheese but she loves this.