Tip of the Day

Here is a little tip that I picked up since I have been cloth diapering. (Many of you may already know this.) I never use fabric softener.  It just creates build up on our clothes (especially towels) and some of us have really sensitive skin.  Instead I use vinegar in the rinse cycle.  Because I don't hover over my machine and have the ability to catch the rinse cycle, I have relied upon this little downy ball to do the job for me. (Find it in the laundry soap isle next to the Downy that you are supposed to put in it.)  I just fill it up to the line and drop it in.  Through the magic of symmetrical force, the vinegar is released during the rinse cycle.  It works great, you don't have to mess with those dryer sheets hiding in your clothes, and no- your clean laundry will NOT smell like vinegar.  It it passed the smell test with Carl, I can assure you it doesn't.  Happy washing!

"Alone Time"- Together

The rhythm of afternoon time has been changing around here, feeling different because Hannah is slowly giving up her naps.  Selfishly, I have really dreaded this...I've seen it coming.  My first thought was, "Great, there goes my nice little quiet time that I could bank on each afternoon."  But we are figuring out how we can each have some "alone time" together.

This was our afternoon table.

Me with magazine, her with her puzzles, Barbie lounging by the pool, and some chocolate zucchini cake.  We had a conversation that went like this:

Me: So, um Barbie is just hangin' by the pool huh?

Her: Yep, sometimes she swims.

Me: Does Barbie have kids?

Her: Nope, you never bought me that one Skipper doll...we don't have any little Barbies.

Me:  Does Barbie have a job?

Her: Mmmm, uh-uh (shaking her head no)

Me:  Wow! So how does Barbie afford food and stuff?

Her: Duh, Mom she has a husband.  He works.

Me: So let me get this straight.  Barbie has no children and no job.  Her husband goes to work to earn the money and Barbie stays home and just lays by the pool all day?

Her:  Well, yes mom- like you do.

Me:  Pfffffft! Spitting out the coffee I was drinking and choking on a piece of walnut in my cake.  Where does she get this stuff?

Obviously she doesn't really have a good grasp on reality.  I feel so appreciated when I realize how she thinks I spend my time.

I don't exactly see it her way, but it gave me a good giggle.

I made this sun hat the other day in anticipation of being down on the waterfront Saturday.  The pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter's book.  It was fairly simple.  I did end up taking at least an inch off the height of the crown.  Without doing that, I wouldn't have been able to see.  I just made it from some plain off-white linen, the lining was also cream (sateen).  Now that I have the pattern down I see more exciting color combinations in the future.  If you make it, just make sure that you keep trying the hat on while it is in process. The circumference fit me just right but only because I fudged the seam allowances a bit.    It really kept my face and neck protected and I was glad to have it.  Actually, I think Hannah might look a bit better in it don't you?

I also made the backpack from the same book.  I wanted to have free hands to use my camera.  Also, my current bag didn't match my dress (this is important when venturing into the big city.  Matching bags help you look more urban.  I definitely needed help looking more urban) 

Again, I made it at 1am in the morning...so embroidery, buttons and all other decorative touches escaped me.  I just needed to finish it.  I made it with some lightweight denim.  Hannah has taken a liking to it and I may pass it onto her and make a jazzier one for myself.  This was a pretty straight forward pattern...until I got to the straps.  I think it took me almost an hour and three attempts to get it right (at least I basted- see I am learning. After ripping a few "real" seams out, I caught on.) .  The pockets in front were designed to hold my keys and phone in one pocket and my water bottle in the other. 

So, that is all for now.  Typepad has changed the buttons around here and this post has taken WAAAY to long.  Anyone other Typepad users notice the snail's pace?

Plan B

Well, I certainly did not intend to abandon this space for as long as I did.  I found myself with a few computer glitches (Thank you husband for sorting things out for me:).  And the weather...the weather has been beautiful.  It is so hard to be inside.  Then, on Saturday I took a bit of a getaway with Emma Girl.

We drove over to Seattle and caught a ferry that took us to Tillicum Village on Blake Island.  Emma's first grade class has been studying Native Americans and we went with a few of her classmates to see the sights.

Personally, the boat ride was my favorite part.  The seafront was simply stunning.  Even amongst all of the other travelers, there was something quite peaceful about being out on the water.

The girls were hanging out the windows, mesmerized by the waves and other vessels passing by.

When we stepped off the boat onto the island we were greeted with an appetizer.  Clams in nectar.  They were um, well, lets just say the best thing about the clams was stomping on the shells adding to the others on the pathway (we were encouraged to do this, and the girls thought it was so fun). I think clams taste like rubber bands, but I tried to be a good sport. 

We watched a man give a demonstration on how the totem poles were carved.  Then I made the girls pose for an obligatory souvenir-ish photo.

I had hoped that Emma and I would have more time to explore the island.  The beaches looked so inviting.  Alas, the time went by so quickly. It wasn't long before the horn sounded and we were called back to the boat.

The day turned out to be a bit of an adventure, not unfolding entirely as planned.  In the end, we had to give up Plan A and move on to Plan B.  It was a bit disappointing, and we spent a few minutes sulking.  Emma and I are "planners" and letting go of what we had intend was tricky.  It is always good to be stretched in those kinds of ways. We reminded each other of the enjoyment that the day had already brought us, and  pronounced the day a success in spite of the change of plans.  We also decided that we are truly not "city people".  All the noise, all the people, all the waiting in line was overstimulating. We giggled at the way we must've stood out as obvious out-of-towners.

Home sweet home. 

Off we go full speed into another week.  Recess duty, piano lessons, childbirth classes, 5 days on call, end of school year activities...buckle up!  Good thing that we are in the home stretch. I am just counting the days until summer vacation.  Only two and a half more weeks to go. Praise God!

Thanks for checking back in on me, I hope to be here more often this week.