It's THAT time of year again!

In my family it's THAT time of year. Time to make gifts for all of our fall birthday's and Christmas too!

I confess that we purchased many of our gifts for this year at after-Christmas sales LAST YEAR! So I don't have as many to do as I normally would. However the dollhouse we bought for our daughter isn't even started!

This year is an extra special treat because it's an even year! on even years my extended family gathers at the old family homestead and we make applebutter! It's about so much more than that a shiny 50 gallon copper kettle that magically appears from it's super secret hiding place and all the things that go in it! It's about family and seeing loved ones that you haven't seen in 2 years. Reflect on that a little and then think about what your heavenly homecoming will be like if you've chosen the God of the Bible as your God. What a reunion!

I'm also working on my next needle painting project "burgundy rose bud".

It will take a few days. I really like it though. I was hoping to finish it in time to enter it in the state fair but I think the entries have to be in on September 10th and that is too soon, I think. I'm thinking on trying to get it in though.



 I have a  HUGE mass of baby clothes that I'm going through. I have all of Sparrow’s clothes. Because she has reflux they are stained but I've found a way to clean them. It's a lot of work on a lot of clothes. I think it may be months worth of work and all of it being out in my parlor at the same time makes me feel cluttered and uncomfortable but it will be worth it.

I tried to dye a skirt today. Suffice it to say that I will not be wearing it, and if I ever post that I want to dye something with Rit dye - please flood me with posts not to attempt it!

Free Toddler Color Learning Toy

   I'm not sure if toy is the right word there but Sparrow thinks it's a great toy!
     Husband and I went to the lumber yard the other day for some green stain (to be used on the shingles of the doll house we got for Sparrow). While we were waiting our turn to mix the stain I spied the paint chips! We have a bed frame to paint so as I was browsing the colors an idea formed. I gathered paint chips of all the basic colors. When we got home I punched a hole in the top corner of each and used a zip tie to hold them together. You could do this a million ways and any piece of string, ribbon etc. can be used to hold them together. If you are inclined you could also attach magnets to the back and use them on a cookie sheet too. Many ways that a person could utilize this free learning tool! Have fun!!

 

Peace vs Clutter or Too Much Stuff!

As I try to make our home a peaceful, serene, joyful place one thing keeps getting in the way... Clutter. We folded 5 garbage bags of clothes, and household items this weekend. It's not that I wait to do laundry all at once, I do some everyday. So, clearly something is wrong. We just have too much of it. No one needs as many clothes as we have. We've decided to pack up all except 3 work outfits. 2 comfortable outfits and 1 dress outfit. (the baby is the exception to this) I have found that I am much more comfortable in skirts than pants. I actually only have 2 at this time so I'd like to have one more. If that isn't enough, I'll make our clothing pile even smaller.

   There are 3 of us, so we should only need 3 towels, 3 wash cloths and 1 hand towel for each bathroom. With the exception of the day that the dog and cat get baths. We really need only one set of sheets. In the kitchen, I haven't yet thought of a way to eliminate linen in there. We use cloth napkins, cloth "paper"towels, dish cloths and tea towels. The kitchen is a busy place!
   We have huge plans for re-arranging things very soon. the clothes we aren't going to use currently will be packed in plastic bins to be used as our current clothes wear out. Mike and I will share a dresser. Adelaide will have what is now my dresser and the plastic drawers that Adelaide used for a dresser since she was born will be used to organize crafts and office things.

   Books are another area in our home that we are trying to thin. Last spring our library system had a huge book sale. We went overboard! It was without a doubt a blessing. As we take the time to read them we are finding that they don't all capture our attention or, entertain or, teach us. So we are weeding them out. Last night I sold 10 books for $5 on Craigslist.
Ultimately, this is not just a lesson in organization but also frugality, stewardship, and self discipline.
   The peace of not being overwhelmed with things is worth seeking. 

 

books, books, books

Our county (public) library had a book sale last weekend. 450,000 books for sale. Some were withdrawn library books others were donated from private citizens others yet were donated by used book stores. We came out with a total of 8 boxes (I think!). We are just now cataloging them on Library Thing. So far we have found many first editions and even 2 signed first editions, and 2 birthday card tucked inside. It may take us till the rapture to catalog them all and some we will give away to friends and loved ones but no matter what we will enjoy them!