**Single parenthood produces radio silence!!**(at least for me) My hat goes off to all those parents out there, going it alone.
Husby took off over the weekend to travel to Nashville for the first annual Hutchmoot retreat. We managed alright around here, but doing it all on the homefront leaves precious little time for blogging. Seriously, you military moms rock. This was for 4 days. I can’t imagine deployments.
Still, it is SO nice to have him home and even better that he had a fantastic time with his peers. I’m so glad he got to connect with so many of these friends who have become a small part of our life over the past 2 years in the Rabbit Room.
Anyhoo, I’m not sure what the next month or so will be like around here. We’re gearing up for school and more home improvements so I’ll be around, but it might be sporadic. We’ll see. How’s that for some certainty? Maybe some links here and there…
By the way, I read this great post about being flexible when projects around the house sort of change all your immediate plans. It hit home for me. I mean, really hit home. (like, where we live–that home) So, I’m prepared to roll with the punches. (Or the sanding of the floors, or the tiling of the bathrooms. This list goes on.)
If you’ve got any traveling left to do this summer, here are a few links to some great ideas for being on the road…
We love these window crayons! There is actually a tiny little note left on one of our car windows from last year’s vacation. We just couldn’t bear to wipe it off. Once your kids are big enough to reach the windows from their seats, you’re good to go.
Check out these fantastic pouches for several different occasions, at Playful Learning’s On the Go post.
I haven’t gotten around to making this lap desk, but how fun! (can you say back burner?)
However, this travel pillow is so cute and simple. I’ve got a couple tucked away in my Jeep even now for snoozing anytime we’re on the go.
Ever looking for games/activities to do with your kiddos while you’re in the car? Mom’s Minivan never lets me down. I love the idea of string figures. When my kids are a bit older, we’ll try it. (I think it would only be a source of frustration right now.) We’re gonna stick with finger knitting for the time being.
Also, depending on the length of your trip, I would not rule out the handy dandy DVD player. We have borrowed one a couple of times for some long trips and I must say it was wonderful. Wonder-ful. Something about watching movies in the car fills kids with wonder. And after you’ve used up all your great ideas and your fun snacks, you’ll be ready for some wonderful.
So many of our bathroom updates are finished! We’re just lacking tile and trim work, but honestly, I’m really happy to have an operational shower and all those eighteen buttonholes on my shower curtain finished. To anyone contemplating the renovation of their only bathroom, just know that these things always take longer than you anticipate. There’s a certain amount of satisfaction, though, when it starts to take shape!
I spent lots of time sewing this weekend. Sewing here at my house is always a little crazy. I sort of have to just spread out right in the middle of things, so the kids are always weaving in and out of all my scraps and threads and chords while they play. So at one point, I looked down at my feet and there was my baby, just playing with his dump truck right under my ironing board. It reminded me of this and I started to chuckle. Oh, and then I rescued him.
Anyway, remember these? I finally made some for myself! That’s right. Selfish sewing. And I’m really happy with the result. (I used the scraps from a vintage apron for the bottom, just to give it a little color.) Now, for a less selfish act: time to go and make something to fill them…and our bellies.
The following was written by a favorite blogger of mine who, after 5 years, is calling it quits here in internets-land. I’ve been so blessed in so many ways by Tonia, and she’s taking down her site, which is the reason I’m quoting a lot of her farewell post. (won’t be able to send you there with a link) I thought the words were so beautiful and the advice, so sound. I love being reminded of truth by someone who has been through stuff. Life is hard, but it’s also wonderful. Who knows how long I’ll keep doing this blogging/twittering/facebooking thing, but while I’m here, I hope to keep these things in mind. Maybe you will too.
after five years, this is best advice i can give to you: when you are online, love. listen. assume the best. speak life. pray. learn. leave nothing but traces of grace behind you. arguing over perfect doctrine, shutting people out because they read the wrong books or like the wrong authors, pointing fingers, pointing out sin, endless discussions over politics and religion, mocking brothers and sisters who don’t see things the way you do, all of it is such a waste of time and i believe it grieves our Lord. please, leave something behind you that testifies to the life and joy of your salvation!
secondly, be gentle with yourselves. remember that no one can do it all. no one. if you see someone online who seems to have it all together and accomplishes everything perfectly, be assured that you do not have the whole picture. all of us choose where to spend our time at the expense of something else. choose wisely as the Lord leads YOU and let other people flourish where the Lord plants them. the temptations to promote yourself, to seek after traffic, to write nonsense in order to be popular, are great. remember who you are in Christ and why you write. please the Lord and nothing else matters.
and lastly, if ever you find yourself drawn away from time with the Lord for time with these glittery screens, i urge you to turn the computer off immediately and go away with your Savior. these words and images, links and comments, traffic and publishing are all going to disappear. Jesus is all that will remain. seek Him first above all else, dear ones.
I can’t help myself. We have a rainy coupla days and I am ready for apple cider and pumpkin pie! And football. And sweaters. And scarves. And seeing my breath in the early mornings. And school. And “bouquets of sharpened pencils…” And mums. And really really really blue skies. And the smell of the air. And leaf collecting.
But she’s right. It’s too soon. So I’m slapping on the sunscreen and heading out to pursue the rest of the summer. I just happened to flip through Martha’s 60 days of summer and got lost for a few minutes. That was helpful in this endeavor…
Okay, this picture is embarrassing. Last week I actually let our fridge get to this point. Absolutely nothing but condiments and a few odds and ends. Funny thing was, I kept putting off my grocery shopping and pulling meals out of nowhere day after day! I utilized my freezer some and we ate egg salad sandwiches and carrot sticks one evening for dinner. (exciting, I know)
Another good thing that came of it: I discovered German Pancakes. Hello. Easiest and quickest breakfast ever. Rebekah had a giveaway and a plea for breakfast ideas a couple weeks ago and lo and behold! As I zipped through the comments, I saw that people kept mentioning German Pancakes or “Dutch Baby.”
Now. Who of you already knew of this and with held the information? Shame on you. I followed the directions of the very first commenter who mentioned it and our breakfast was delish and so easy.
Here’s how she said to do it:
The original recipe (which I usually double for my family of 7 and put it in 2 9×13s instead) is melt 2 tbl. butter in a glass pie dish (in the oven while you are preheating it to 425). In blender, mix 3 eggs, 1 c. milk, 1/2 tsp. of salt, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and 1 scant c. of flour. Pour into pan and bake for 20 minutes. Serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, or all three!
If you try this, let me know how you liked it. It just doesn’t get a whole lot easier…
Before the summer ends, I have a few things on my ‘to sew’ list. Coupla projects shown here, definitely this Beach Blanket To Go, perhaps this…you get the idea. (And this skirt may have to wait til fall. I get carried away sometimes.)
This little project, however, was so easy that I was done and sporting my new accessory in no time flat.
Isn’t it cute? (Despite the grainy photos?)My favorite kind of sewing projects are the ones where I get immediate results. I can’t help myself. I’m so impatient. I need to see progress!
…that when the blogging isn’t happening, the living is.
Here are a few things that are keeping us busy in our spare time:
The bathroom. Sheesh. Don’t ask. (but soon and very soon it will be done! I’m sure of it)
The pool. Overcoming fears and cooling off in the shallow end, chilling with friends and eating picnic lunches. That’s pool day. Once a week.
Menu planning. Well, sort of. I’ll explain later in the week. But check out these sweet planners that my friend Shelly drew to my attention. Surely the pure cuteness of those will motivate me to plan our meals better?
Exploring math games. Fun and education together is my thing. We love playing Blink, which I picked up on a recent whirlwind tag-along-with-your-husband-while-he-drives-to-another-town-for-work day. (sorta fun, but in the end, probably not something I’ll do again in the near future.) What can I say? I try to fly by the seat of my pants, but sometimes spontaneity just isn’t the best thing for me.
Planning our school year. (yes, already!) Apologia has won my heart. We’re looking forward to studying zoology for science this year!
Oh, here’s a website I’m still really enjoying: “a site dedicated to anyone out there who just wants to enjoy the home they have been gifted, the family they love and the career they cherish–blemishes and all. A place where women of all backgrounds and life journeys can share ideas and help support one another in the seemingly mundane endeavors of daily life. A new way of living, inspiring and exhaling–by fully realizing domestic ease.”
I’ll leave you today with a new recipe that my daughter wrote.
Rice Crispy Treets
Wipt cream
Stroberrys
“You cut them out. Then you put the wipt cream on top and a stroberry.”
Ever think about how you might be able to help the helpless? Hubby’s got a great post going on today about that very thing. Check it out and ponder the subject…
