The Little Green Frog

fabric

2009-04-30T11:05:00.003-07:00

all right all my crafty friends. I'm on the look out to find this fabric locally. I would love at least a yard of it. I saw it on a white background also. either would be devine!

Worms

2009-04-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

My Eastside mama friends, C's school is having an Earth Fair next Sat. from 10-4 at his school on Hwy 26 and Hillyard Rd all are invited to attend. Some games, prizes for the kids(seeds) and a raffle among other things.

Anyways, my request.......

Does anyone have a worm bin that I could come and get a scoop of your yummy compost from? The school just got thier bins in this week, so there's nothing exciting going on in them. I would care for your worms and get them back to you when the day is over.

Sewing Feliz

2009-02-22T15:11:00.000-08:00

I finally did it, I traced the pattern and started sewing it. Not sure why I waited sooo long to do it. It's a day project with kidlet interuptions.

I started off by making a 98/104. which would fit, and be a little big. But I should have read and if I did, I would have seen that it would fit a 24" chest. There's no way Miss Mad has a 24" chest. She's barely 20". For the first dress, I used some fabric from a Sewingmama, littlewillow. I didn't have enough fabric to make the straps the length they were suppose to be, but they work.

At least I know that she'll be able to wear this dress for a long time. :)

Here's the back of the dress with all of it's ruffles.

Since this one came out so big, I thought I'd try it again and this time work with the smallest size 86/92. I didn't include seam allowances, thinking it would fit better. It's still big in the chest. and the length is almost too short. Don't ask about the fabric combo. she picked it out. and being 3.5, well I guess you can wear whatchya want to wear and it doesn't matter. Just not the combo I would have choosen, ya know.

New Do

2009-02-02T16:57:00.000-08:00

Miss Mad thought she wanted a pixie cut and started doing it herself. She was left with Gma and Gpa when I ran to Home Depot the other day. And I came home to almost all of her hair in a bag. At least she cleaned up that mess. I picked her up and put her in the car and to the salon we went. She sat perfectly still for the lady. She liked it.

Until bed, she didn't want to have pixie hair any more. She wanted pig tails.

I did get my hair trimmed while there.

oh my....

2009-01-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

Rebekah reads my blog!!!

in other news.....

E got word yesterday that he got off of work early for one thing and that he had today off. Luckily he has like 7 weeks of vacation time so it's paid.
Mad and I had already made plans to go to the indoor play park at C's school with our mama friend Kathy and her son D. Her other son I, goes to the school too but he's in kg. Anyways. I got a phone call from Allison asking if I wanted to come up and help build a chicken tractor. I called E to ask if he wanted to go help, he said sure. So instead of running to the 'Couv and trying to make it back to East Gresham in time to pick C up, I made a mama decision for him to leave school early. He didn't have all of his work done, so he needs to write down 10 nouns for Monday, but woohoo, we all get to go and the mama doesn't have to be rushed. (side note, on the way to school, C out of the blue asked if we could go visit M &M (Allison's two oldest) on his next day of no school. I would have been a bad mama if I went and not taken him.

So we ate lunch, E packed the car with tools, and we headed to the 'Couv. The kids had a blast! and no major fights! Not even between Mad and the third M. And the mamas got to talk cause E did all the work!!!!!

Allison did send us home with 19 eggs. I should take the post office box and peanuts back to her so she can hand out eggs to the next person. E was happy enough to just take eggs since this mama said she'd hug a tree tonight.

it's been a long time

2009-01-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

C-man as Ben 10 Alien Force. Jacket is a Kwik Sew pattern made with JA blizzard fleece.

Since brother was Ben10, sis had to be Gwen. Farbenmix Zoe pattern made with JA fleece.

Mad in her hippo dress with Aunt Sharon. The story behind the shirt is from this song . I wasn't able to find a hippo for her, but I knew the JA had this hippo fabric. I bought the last 2 yards they had and made this dress and pants/leggings. The dress is Farbenmix Olivia and the hood is lined in the same red that I made the pants. And you don't see the two rows of ruffles that are on the bottom of the legs. Maybe I can get another shot of the complete outfit. Oh and her uncles found a mama and baby hippo for her that she carries everywhere!

Snow storm 08. Those are rose bushes sticking out on the left. and a half burried snow man in the yard.

The chicken coop in the snow. do you like the drifts up the left side there? sooo glad Eric brought home some plywood, that I franticly painted in the garage with the left over red and white paint we had. (I personally didn't want to go buy more paint, so we ended up with some pink boards. and the "inside" didn't get painted, oops, maybe I should have gotten more paint.)
Another shot of the coop. We had to put a tarp over the house portion of it because the snow would find it's way in under the hinged portion of the roof. Also glad that we put cardboard up in the "upper" windows. There was also a couple of heatlamps in there and an electric tape to keep the water from freezing.

C-man's snow cave. He thought of it after it snowed a ton, guess it was a place for him to sit. very awkwardly but hey, he had fun doing it.

Anyways, that's all the photos that I have thanks to a computer crash.

Save a Sack

2008-10-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

Save a Sac
Save a Sack
Creative name? I need a name for the little sacks/bags that I'm making. I'm in the process of making 30 for Carson's school. For his birthday snack, he wants goldfish. And instead of sending plastic baggies or paper cups to put them in, I thought I'd make little sacks for them.

They aren't as detailed as the ones that I'll have at the craft fair in Vanc. There's no "handle" on the school ones. I'll get pics up as soon as they are done. like tonight. cause well they have to be done for tomorrow!

The great thing, they can be used for other things, like collecting treasures!

School Pics Update

2008-10-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

So I asked for retakes. Knowing that she was going to use the same background. I thought I would try and offset the color with a bright shirt. And I asked Carson not to squint. We practiced "opening" our eyes when taking pictures. And I asked him not to do a cheesy smile. I thought that maybe, it could have been the fake smile and squinty eyes that really didn't do the photo justice.

So retakes were on Friday. I had to go into the office before picking him up to let the school know that he wasn't going to be there on Monday because of a doctors appt. Gosh I need to remember that we just can't do middle of the day anymore. It interferes with school time. And the secretary said that the photographer took him and another redhead out and did pictures next to a tree and with the new brickwork as the background on a couple of the pics. I was really excited to hear this!!!!
The photographer sent 3 proofs:

So I really like the first one, but he's squinting. The third one looks like he's got a structure growing out of his head.
Eric and I agreed on the 2nd picture.

Soooo much better than the first background!

school photo woes

2008-10-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

Carson had his pics taken at school and I got the proofs emailed to me.

Is it just me or is there a face coming out of nowhere?

Needs a different background color for his hair?

Do I need to look at it on a different screen?

Ugh I want to support the photographer as she's local and not a big company that usually does school photos.

But I'm not happy with them.

Will I grow to love it?

Should I just buy the smallest package and call it good?

sewing Anna

2008-10-04T19:00:00.001-07:00

while I loved how easy it was to sew Anna, well except, you really need to make sure when putting the shoulder straps on the second side, to make sure that the fronts are together and the backs are together. I had the misfortune of putting the straps on backwards on the second side, and well it wasn't fun having to rip it out.

Also I made the 98/104 size and it came out too big for my skinny minny. I should have known. I did add SA, so maybe next time I won't. Or I just might make the smaller size.

The front fabric was in a ffs box from a SM mama, Mad picked it out and just had to have the big flowers at the bottom. The back fabric I've had since before Mad was born. I used it to make a fitted crib sheet. That she never slept on. The crib was used to hold the wild cloth diapers. They liked to be into everything.

I'm not sure why her hand had to be on her head. She thought she was posing? Her shirt...it says "little miss trouble" and it ohhh soooo fits!
So I have a couple of snack sacks for the kids, but they are too big. especially for quick outings where they don't need a big snack. So today, I got a wild hair, and made my own. I'll let you know how it works. It's made from an old flannel receiving blanket, so probably not the best to test. Mostly wanting to make sure size is right. It is lined again with the flannel. The wrist holder has a snap so that it can also wrap around a stroller, or onto a bar, or on the strap of a carrier, on the car seat, possibilities are endless.

If the size works out, I'll post a tut for it.

WooHoo! I'm a winner!!!

2008-09-29T08:41:00.001-07:00

I was surfing the web, looking at purchasing the newest Studio Tantrum Feliz pattern and I came across this blog. And what to my wonderful eyes did I see? A giveaway! For the Feliz pattern and for Farbenmix Anna pattern!

It's to help celebrate the beginning of Farbenwiki!

So go on, visit Sarah over at the her Jinjur blog, she'll be giving away three more copies of Feliz and Anna on Fridays for the next 3 weeks! All you need to do is leave a comment and you too could be a WINNER!

Farbenmix Olivia turns into a waterproof fleece hoodie

2008-09-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

So as the weather is changing here in good ol' Portland, I realized that Mad hardly has any long sleeves.Especially ones that she can wear over a shirt out in the rain.

I was going through my patterns and knew that Olivia works well for a shirt/hoodie with just a knit fabric. (see previous post of Carson wearing his knotted hooded shirt)

I figured why not make one for Mad. I did cut the hat down a bit (about 2" off the top) and rounded the back of the hood, taking off the knots. I also used a long sleeve that I knew I liked the length of. So off I went and took the Olivia pattern 98/104 and chopped the "skirt" portion off and instead of curving the sides, I straightened them out. I also had to cut the neckline larger to fit her head. (did this before sewing on the hood, good thing I checked, I would have hated to have to rip the hood off!)

If I were to do it again, I would make it a size bigger, as the fabric stretches, but not too much and it's kind of tight on her.

Pics to come, need to charge the camera.

eggs and tomatoes

2008-09-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

So I don't think I ever mentioned that Tonks (the americauna) started laying eggs. Her eggs are a green color and darken up when they go in the fridge. We've probably gotten a dozen or so eggs from her since she started laying.

Honestly it could be more, I've lost count and we've given some away already.

Well this morning, Luna layed her first egg. It was a peachy color. Very different than Buckbeak, as her's are brown speckled.

I'm excited that all my girls are laying and can't wait to start making more then scrambled eggs with them.

We planted 4 tomato plants this year, 1 beafsteak variety and 3 regulars. One of the regular ones is now over 5 ft tall, closer to 6 feet and the other 2 regulars are around 5 ft tall. The beafsteak is a short guy around 3ft. The tomatoes off of the tallest plant are actually bigger then the beafsteak.
I think because of our wierd summer, most of the tomatoes are still green, but we do get about a dozen tomatoes off the plants a week. And they are still blooming. I think I need to cut the flowers so that I can further along the fruit that is already growing. Anyone know? I really don't want to have a bunch of green tomatoes before fall hits. I've heard that I can cut off the green ones and put them in a bag in a dark place to help ripen them? What about fruit flies? what if I forget where they're at? Okay I'd probably remember where cause there'd be flies everywhere.

Anyways, this morning we are having tomato omlettes with homegrown eggs and tomatoes :)

It's all good.

All sold ;)

2008-08-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

Ooga Booga, Blue/Green version prewashed measures approx. 34" x 56". Miss Mad was "helping" me measure. $45 sold

Later Gator knit. $7/yrd, have 2 yrds sold

Heather Ross Fish in a Bag, prewashed, was 1 yrd. $15 sold

Prices don't include shipping. I do have a dog, but she doesn't play with the fabric, but there might be a stray hair.

Will try and get pics later as the camera battery is charging.

Baby Carriers for Sale

2008-08-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

Well the time has come. Mad doesn't want to be worn and would rather walk :( And I have stepped down from co-leading the PDX babywearing group.

Here's what I have, prices aren't set in stone and shipping is extra. Just want them to go to a loving family.

Gypsy Mama water wrap. 2nd owner. I only used it a couple of times. Black I think a 5, maybe a 6. I can measure for sure. This is an older version. I don't believe that there is an SPF with this fabric. $20 pending for April

Suse's Kindercoat. 2006 version that is black outshell and periwinkle fleece. This has only been tried on. size small $140 or could do a partial trade for a maya wrap mt xl straps or ???? sold

MamabyDesign MT with XL straps. Tan straps with fairy sparkly print. Truely a work of art. This is one of the first carriers that Rebecca made! $80

EllaRoo Mei Hip carrier. $30 Black straps with Black sakura print. Straps are faded where washed. Used for demos at meetings. sold

my bei bei. Velvet straps and yellow brocade.

Dream Carrier MT. Brown wrap straps and one of a kind tie dye panel. Dyed by the Color Farm with orange, purple, green, blue. Now that I type it out, I'm not sure if I want to sell it.

Mei Tai Baby Zippy. Black straps. Comes with two panels. A brocade for mom and a fish design for dad. $50 used for demos at meetings.

Hotslings Sweetpea size 5. $25

Kozy carriers. Yes plural. I have 4. But you see, I spread the love because 3 are out on loan right now. So as soon as I get them back I'll list them. Gwen, Norfolk, and Grant. all on natural straps. The fourth will not be for sale.

Babyhawk old style camo carrier. regular size. no "hood" $40.

Mom and Me Creations Greens and browns. I believe it's a 4.8. Need to double check. A nice, not to stretchy wrap. There is a pin hole by the seam that I will mend before sending out.sold

Also have a MaMC eclecticos in greens in brows. regular size 2.7. not sure if I'll sell. On hold till she comes back..sold..

Maya Wrap blue and green stripes, silver rings. $5.00

One of the reasons for no pics now is cause 1. camera battery is dead and I need to find the charger. 2. if I wait to find the charger, then I'll change my mind. And I really need to let this stuff go.

If there's no price , then I have some sort of emotional value that I've put on it, but realize that the carrier isn't that valuable. lol make an offer :)

carriers haven't been washed. I can wash them if you want. they usually sit in a very large suitcase for all but one day a month.

I do have a dog, but I don't carry her and she doesn't hang out in the closet with the suitcase.

Top: Donna Kozy NFS, Gwynn Kozy Bottom: MTB in lending library, MTB Zippy panels and Zippy
Ellaroo Mei Hip
first two in lending library, Mom and Me Creations Hot Mama 4.8, Bottom: Hot Mama Eclecticos and GM water wrap
inserts for the kindercoat

Kindercoat with insert.Kindercoat with fleeceliner and insert.

Win a Free Beco

2008-08-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

check out this contest. It's going on until Sept. 30th.

Win a Beco Butterfly Baby Carrier and Beco Toy Carrier from Along for the Ride.

Our First Egg

2008-08-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

We got the girls two months ago and it's been a waiting game ever since.
Yesterday what we suspect to be the oldest, Buckbeak, was walking the fence line, like she didn't know what to do or where to go. I let the girls out and they all were fine. After a while, they all went back into the coop, so I shut the door on them. (When the girls are out of the coop, the dog has to be on a leash. So trying to get anything done with a dog tied to you is nearly impossible, especially with the two kids running around you also.

So back to Bucky, she started pacing again. I went into the coop to try and calm her down, and when I would reach down to pet her, she would stamp her feet and then crouch really low. I just knew her time was approaching.

I opened up the nesting box. I took the divider out cause she looked soo cramped in the space. She would walk in and out of it. Not quite sure of it. I did prop the door open a bit, she seemed more comfy with a little bit of light.

All day nothing. This morning when I let them out of the house, I opened the nest box back up. And sure enough, Buckbeak was back in there. She was in there for most of the morning. When I just went out to check on here. I opened up the hatch, and laying on her left foot, was an egg. Light brown, long, cylindrical, not so rounded egg.

C-man is all egg-cited. If he hadn't already just eaten, he would have had the egg for breakfast he says. So maybe lunch. A scrambled egg sandwich? A "sloppy" egg with toast? He still has a while before he has to decide.

Harry Potter Husband Test.....

2008-08-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

Your result for The Harry Potter Husband Test...

Mrs. Lupin

Your perfect HP man is Remus Lupin.

Harry Potter Husband Test

Oh Happy Day

2008-07-31T07:12:00.000-07:00

So the kids had dentist appts with Dr. Pike yesterday and on the way back to the Eastside, the girl needed to pee. So we stopped at the GW on Grand to use the facilities. And well it was almost noon and I really didn't want to head all the way to Gresham and then turn around and go pick up E.
Anyways back to the story. I took Mad to the bathroom and then of course they want to "just look" at the toys. So I said okay, I've got time to kill, right?! Well on the way to the toy section is the craft section. And I see bags of yarn. The knitter I am, has to look to see what kind of yarn. Oh it's WOOL!!! and the next one, WOOL! and it goes on. There are 11 bags of almost all wool yarn. And the bags were priced at only $3.99! One bag was priced at $2.99. So for a little over $50 here's what I got:
a pirate flag (the kids said we needed a new one, cause the other one was starting to tear.)
wizard tattoos. Okay I couldn't deny wizard tattoos.
Okay on to the yarn:

Patons Classic Wool in brown, forest green, 3 sk denim marl, tree bark mix, and black
Nature Spun 3 sk roasted coffee
TLC Cara Mia #2376, #2402, and 3 sk #2801
Sublime 3 sk #4001
Frog Tree fingering Alpaca wool #96
Frog Tree Sport Alpaca/Wool 4 sk #56, #204, 4 sk #31, #46, 4 sk #64
Plymouth Indieata Alpaca #2924
Misti Alpaca RJ2105, RJ2302, NT100
Dale Ull Dalegarn yellow, red, orange, pink
Patton Brilliant Gold Glow
Shaphard Baby Wool #91, 2 sk #51, 3816, 2934
Mill End lime green, 4 bright pink, 2 bright orange, 2 Swirl
Cascade 220 #9462, 4 sk #824, 4 sk # 7827
Brown Sheep # 551 5 skns 1 ball(could be a full skein)
Lamb's Pride Superwash 3 sk purple haze, 2 sk onyx
Patons UpCountry #80935
Rowan Summer Tweed 6 sk #507
Galaway 2 sk #13
Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool 2 sk #24, 5 sk #23, 5 sk #25, 4 sk #14, 3 sk #17, 2 sk#04 and 3 unknown colors (no tags)
Austermann Scarlet #10
Unknowns:
5 tapes
2 fuzzy acrylic
1 mohair-ish,
2 lion brand chenille
5 hvy worsted weight possibly wool
1 large undyed sport weight skein.
and 5 or so smaller balls of worsted weight yarn, looks to be patons classic wool and then possibly 2 sock yarns.

If I added right this early in the morning, that's over 90 sk of yarn for $50!!!

E wanted to know when I plan on using it all.

family sticker

2008-06-25T17:33:00.001-07:00

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

New Music

2008-06-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

Our new favorite NW band...

The Recess Monkeys!

We were able to see them "in concert" at Midland Library, thanks P for letting know about it :)

Hen House Names

2008-06-20T12:17:00.001-07:00

Since the girls are Buckbeak, Luna, and Tonks; the kids thought it would be fun to name the hen house after a place in HP.
Here's what they've thought of so far:
Hagrid's Hut
Hogwart's School of Magical Eggs
Diagon Alley
The Burrow
Hen's Head (play on Hog's Head)
Shrieking Shack

Any favorites?

Chickens, Cats, Traps and Neighbors, oh my...

2008-06-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

I was going to write it out but got distracted, had to do the dishes, and have come to not write out my thoughts. I was able to vent to a third party, thanks A. :)

In other news.......

The girls are going into the henhouse easy peasy now. I just have to tap on the side of the house and in they go. I'm excited that I don't have to chase each of them down to go into the house now. The dog still gets excited when they stretch their legs and wings, but for the most part is calming down. I haven't had to put a muzzle on her for a couple of days now. (She was attacking the fence, so I would put a muzzle on her if she wanted by the fence.) Now she'll lay close to the fence watching her chicken TV.

E is trying to figure out how to put a roof on the run. Right now we just have a tarp covering most of it. But I hate ducking and it's not predator proof. So it's a priority right now. (thought the girls are locked up in the house at night, I still worry.)

Uhm....what else?..... MadCars are just that. They're crazy. It's like the sun is spawning new, wild, crazy children for me. All the rain and now the sun to make it grow. Oye vay! It probably doesn't help that gpa buys sugarcicles for them to "cool" down with.

I better get to bed. well the kids to bed. nite.....

month in review pics

2008-06-13T12:58:00.001-07:00

Fishing at Benson Lake. It was in May I think. I can't remember.

Park down the street from us.

I tried to get M to come down just a little so the sun could catch her, but she said it was too bright and wanted to be up higher.

M wearing Farbenmix Yola, was suppose to be for her birthday but she found it and wouldn't take it off for days. C is wearing his picked out space fabric. yucky poly from Joanns. Farbenmix Zoe top and self drafted shorts.
New mama pads for me. my others were getting pretty ragged. And well these are pul backed and smaller and a much better fit. makes a mama happy :)

M showing off her Redondo skirt with an elastic waist, which still falls off her butt if she doesn't wear training undies.
View of garden. The veggies are bigger now.

Free coop off of craigslist, before transformation.
Nugget on the left and Lucy on the right.

Robobug that was on a wooden gate.

S, M, and C at the Jr Rose Parade.
Buckbeak (black and white, barred rock) and Tonks. Luna is in the shadow.

Monkey girl climbed as high as she could to get the scissors and this is what happened....

RIP

2008-05-31T21:20:00.001-07:00

first forgive me if there are grammatical errors in this post.

since getting the Lucy and Nugget,the pullets, my dog has been wound up. I have only been letting her out back when there is someone out there with her. Even when we are out there, Sage would walk around the chicken run, or lay there next to the fence, just watching the birds. I knew she was trying to check them out. She hadn't eaten her food since we brought them home.

fast forward to tonight. one of the kids or maybe my dad, who knows, left the back door open. I went out to lock up my car, and when I came back in, I noticed the dog wasn't in and the back door was open. I get to the door and Sage is coming out of the coop and I notice that one of pullets is on the floor. She jumped the fence (about 3 ft). I'm in shock, disbelief, angry.

I yelled "what are you doing?!!!!!?" She knew she was in trouble, her tail instintly went inbetween her legs. I mean if she can do that to a chicken, who says she won't turn on one of the kids if they start running.

err...must put kids tobed. will be back to finish probably tomorrow.

New members of the H.-D. house

2008-05-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

I was perusing craigslist and a lady was selling 2 barred rocks, 2-4 weeks away from laying eggs. I emailed her and was the second in line. I didn't think that I would get them, but she emailed me back and said that the first person never called/showed, so if I wanted them, then they were mine. wooohoooo! We went and picked them up tonight.

One is a bit bigger then the other but they're the same age. She had just gotten them, but the larger one kept flying over to the neighbors'. Mad was sooo excited, she's now saying that she wants a chicken birthday.

I can't find the camera to computer cord or I would upload some pics. Maybe later I can find it.

More Chicken talk

2008-05-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

On Sat. went over to Zenger Farms in SE to hear about the chicken co-op that they have going on. It turned out to be a really nice day for it. We listened to Holly talk about the chickens and the duties and the ins/outs of the farm in relation to the chickens.
We were able to enter the area the chickens were in, and the kids went into "I've got to catch a chicken" mode. Mad did catch one, by the tail, as I raced to stop her, the hen flapped dust in her eyes so she let go. She wanted to keep after them, but I didn't take sunscreen and her cheeks were getting red, I picked her up and headed for the car. C on the other hand, I think was afraid of the chickens, as he would try to reach down to catch on, but then would pull back at the last minute. He was upset when he still had not caught his "own" chicken and Patrick said it was time for them to head back up to the barn.

He kept asking when were we going to get chickens? All the way home.

Mad fell asleep in the 5 minute drive home, and E and I talked about the co-op. It didn't sound like we would be able to work at the farm each week, which means that we wouldn't get eggs each week. It lit the fire more for us to have our own chickens. So in that 5 minute drive, E and I talked about that we might not even get chickens until next year cause of the cost factor. Building a coop, getting it secure so animals couldn't get in, food, the cost of the chickens themselves, it would just be hard getting it all done in time to get chicks for this year. We also decided, that we wanted our chicks to be teens or pullets so we didn't have to keep them inside while they were young.

So last night while looking at chicken coop porn and wishing I could build a cool coop for the yard, I was over at craigslist and there in the free section, a chicken coop! So I emailed the person as quick as I could, and I was the first person to respond!!!! E and I went over there this morning and picked it up.

Now it's nothing fancy, it's a dog house that was converted into a coop. And there's some chicken wire, 2 waterers, and 2 feeders.

Just that much closer to our own chickens.

E decided that he wants Barred Rocks.

Oh, we saw 3 racoons coming from the neighbors garden last night. As long as they stay out of my yard, I'll be fine.

H Look-alike Meter

2008-05-19T11:03:00.001-07:00

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Yad Vashem research - Geneology

H Look-alike Meter

2008-05-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family history - Free family tree

chickens....

2008-05-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

I got a call from our landlord today about some reciepts, in talking to him, I told him about the garden we planted. He said, wow, you do have a lot! and said all you need now is a goat to get milk from. I said, naw, I was thinking chickens for eggs and compost. He said SURE! I was are you serious, he said YES, He thought it was a cool idea!!!!

Oh my landlord is turning out cooler than I thought!

In other news, we have corn, snow peas, tomatoes, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, cantalope, watermelon, pumpkin, onions, potatoes, strawberries, and baby lettuce planted. we also have rosemary, cilantro, parsley, oregano, and garlic planted in the front of the house, in a planter under the kitchen window that wasn't being used when we moved in.

I think we'll need to plant more letuce and maybe a couple more tomato plants. We love our salads!

Food for thought

2008-05-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

So we are trying to get the garden dug up and ready to plant. I know, we are having a late start with it, but better late then never. The original location was taken over from the swimming pool given to us, so, without blocking the view from the master bedroom, we are doing a long row, maybe two, against the north fence.

I know that we will have tomatoes, strawberries, pole beans, cucumbers, potatoes, and onions. All but the potatoes and onions, I'm going to go vertical with them to save space.

In my researching on the internet about gardens, I came across this site and it talks about the Mittleider method of gardening. I won't be able to use it this year as I will only have one bed of veggies, but next year, I hope to encorporate it in.

just a little vent

2008-05-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

so I have my "chores" all set out by the day. Mon is the upstairs bathroom, Tues our bedroom, Wed is outside toys, Thurs Dining room, Friday Living room, Sat Kids bedroom, and Sund is the kitchen. And it works when I can do them.

My problem. Some one in the house has a job at night and sleeps all day. So not only am I trying to keep the kids from screaming/yelling/running/ jumping/ any and all noises that could cause one to wake up, I can't fucking do my "chores" until said person is awake. aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggghghhhhhhhhhhh. So while keeping the kids quite, there's only soo much I can do, put dishes away and laundry. Everything else is too noisy. Heck it's a wonder I can do the sewing machine during daylight hours.

I just want to be able to clean the friccking house when I want to. Hell it's not like this person does anything to help clean. I feel like I'm the house bitch. Cooking and doing dishes and cleaning the fucking house. Uhm the kids don't even want to clean thier toys cause no one else is cleaning but mom.

I just want to go on strike but then I know that nothing will get done. The kids will be hungry and we won't have any dishes to eat off of.

It puts this mama in a cranky mood.

groceries

2008-04-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

so with the rising cost of food, E and I started a meal plan when we moved in. We initially budgeted $100 per week for food. We thought we were doing great if the bill was less then $200 for 2 weeks.

When my parents moved it, it was discussed that E and I would do the shopping, having meals planned already to go.

The first time we went shopping, the bill came to $250. For a family of 5 adults and 2 growing kids, it didn't seem too bad. We ended up saving money since we split it in half. (minus what e takes for lunches and his soda pop). That's $62.50, a savings of almost $40!! Two weeks ago, the bill was only $225! That's $56 a week!

I wonder if I started clipping coupons if I could save more.

I'll try and post meal ideas next time, C want's to play video games.....

Salsa

2008-04-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

The family has been on a salsa eating kick for the last couple of weeks. C and M are eating it! So here's my down and dirty recipe. Actually writting it down so I don't forget it.

6 tomatoes
1 onion
3/4 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
a couple squirts of lemon juice
1/4 length wise small jalepeno pepper seeds removed

toss all into food processor until C is happy with the consistancy of it. Or if you don't have a C-man, until you're happy with the consistancy. :)

yields about 45 oz.

Catching up

2008-04-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

We are finally settled into the house. It's a little rough with the kids cause there's more rooms, so that means there are more rooms to tornado through. And the weather has been raining or cold so there has been no outside time lately. Today is suppose to be better with the weather so maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to clean a room and keep it that way... at least for a couple of hours.

I haven't been crafting too much as I'm still trying to organize. I am working on a couple of pairs of longies. Each stratigically placed throughout the house so I can work on them little by little. I do have my sewing set up and have done some potty covers for Milagros and have made a raglan shirt for each of the kids. I don't have pics yet as the camera battery was dead and now I think the shirts are in the dirty clothes.

The only other sewing I've done was this

It's the Round Neck Top Pattern from That*Darn*Cat. I was over at sewingmamas.com and she needed testers. Mad picked out the fabrics and buttons. It's a bad pic as I finished the top last night and she was already in bed. I'm sure she'll want to wear it today and it's suppose to be sunny so I'm hoping to get a better pic of it.

Moved

2008-03-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

The last week of Feb. we got ourselves into a rental. It's 4 bedrooms 2 baths, nice sized fenced back yard. And there are is a separate family room then the living room. I can't post pics yet, A, cause this computer (C's) isn't set up w/ my camera info.
So I will try and describe it as best as I can.
As you enter the house, there is "our" family room. We have it set up w/ our comp, C's comp, entertainment center and my sewing. Right now all my fabric is in rubbermaid totes.
as you pass through, you enter the dining room and to the left is the kitchen. to the right is the "great room" where my parents will set up thier living room.To the right is a hallway and stairs going up. There's also a slider to the back yard.To the left of the "great room" is the door to the garage and the laundry room. If you go down the hallway, to the left is the Harry Potter closet under the stairs, the right is the main bath, to the left after the closet is the master bedroom w/ a slider to outback. After the bathroom, there is a linen closet, and directly in front is another bedroom.

Upstairs to the right is the kids bedroom which looks out over the driveway. the bathroom is directly up the stairs. It's a full bath so it's nice that I won't have to go up/down to shower.There's a linen closet to the left of the stairs, and then E and mine's bedroom.

Everything is hardwood floors except the bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, laundry room (all are linoleum), and the stairs and our family room (carpet).
I love the ease of taking our big broom and being able to sweep so easily and then I cheat and vacuum it all up at the end.

The backyard is nice, it has an area where we were going to put in a garden, but one of E's co-workers offered us an above ground pool that is about 4feet tall. so Garden is being moved to the north along the fence and we will have a narrow but long garden area. C has found a tree that he is able to climb and does so everytime he goes out. there's also a storage shed that right now is full of yard tools that need to be organized. The patio outside is covered and we can fit our table and 6 chairs out there and still have room for the kids to play outside when it's raining.

Hmmmm... A, I hope that kept you busy for at least 2 minutes. C is bugging cause he wants to play games, and since it's his comp he's being a pill. *rolling eyes* and miss M is being really quiet, up to no good.

2008-02-17T14:01:00.002-08:00

Knitted converse like booties for X. I hope mama likes them and they fit.

Tinkerbell Weeke outfit.
Carson wanted a hooded shirt, so here it is. Modified Olivia pattern so that it doesn't do the a-line. It's one of his favorite.
Cupcake decorating at the local library.
The finished product. Mad's is on the left, C's on the right.
Enjoying cupcakes after dinner.
C enjoying his cupcake.

the last month in review

2008-01-26T16:40:00.003-08:00

I think the date is wrong as we just went up to Larch Mountain a couple of weeks ago. Here's Mad in her first real snow experience.Cman in the snow. It was really hard to capture a pic of him as he wouldn't stay still.

This was before Christmas. Mad had to have one last ride on Alice the horse before she went into storage so we could have our little tree up.

Again the date is wrong, this was over at one of E's co-worker's house. She found the girl's play jewelry and had to dress up. You can't see it but she's got on two different "princess" shoes.

I've also been sewing up clothes for the kids. I've found a great pattern that I've altered a bit that fit Cman perfectly and he loves them. I'll try and get pics of the clothes for next time.

crafty linky links

2008-01-25T13:49:00.001-08:00

pencil bag
hand me up
ruffled skirt
easy skirt
wrap dress
morsbag
jeans to apron
labels
felt barrettes

Nomad

2007-12-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

There's a new piercing studio in Ptown.

www.nomadmuseum.com

located at 48th and Division.

will blog more about it later......

Toys and Holidays

2007-12-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

Knowing that the kids won't be getting handmade toys and such and that most of what they are getting from the rest of the family will be plastic, a mama over at MDC posted about a website called HEALTHY TOYS. It's really cool where you can look up toys that are in their database and see if there are high levels of different chemicals.

OMSI

2007-11-04T18:34:00.000-08:00

C decided that he wanted to go to OMSI instead of having a party. So we went. ALL DAY! It makes for very tired kids and parents at the end of the day.

M at the "river".
C pumping water.
My little penguins.
My space man.
Rocket science.

Sewing Time Farbenmix Style

2007-11-04T18:16:00.001-08:00

Another Olivia from Farbenmix. Black knit from a bunch of fabric I got from one of my mom's co-workers. The pink skulls from Cynthia at ZBG. THANK YOU CYNTHIA!!!! This is my favorite dress pattern for sure!

Another Farbenmix pattern. It's Taja. the shirt is suppose to have more of a curved a-line thing going on, but I cut it straight to make it more "boyish". Carson loves his hoodie. I think he was feeling left out since sis was getting clothes made. Fabric is flannel from Joann's via Danielle. THANKS DANIELLE!!!!

Last Farbenmix pattern I have to show. This is Greete. It's a jumper top and bell bottomish pants. The top has buttons in front and at the bottom of the top is little ties. Hard to see, I know, someone wouldn't stay still for the pics. This is the only one I could get that wasn't blurred.

wowsers 2 posts in 2 days!

2007-10-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

So I had an hour yesterday and after getting my pattern pieces cut out, here's what I made of my time.....Farbenmix Olivia pattern. Thin knit that says Little Miss Sunshine.

I didn't have enough fabric to do long sleeves, so these are 3/4 sleeves. The stripes on the sleeves don't quite match but the body stripes do. (insert little banana dancing here, LOL)

And the crocheted Jack Skellington hat I did that came out way to big for Gman. It fit's his daddio so I'm in the process of making a smaller one. I wanted to add that I was inspired to crochet this hat after seeing this over at etsy.

what I've been doing

2007-10-24T13:18:00.002-07:00

Dora dress size 2T one of the big name patterns
Mad picked out the fabric. She looooves Dora.
Cape and pants set for one of C's friends up the street. I made up the pattern for the cape. I still need to tweek some things to it. and I will never sew with satin again! it slips tooo much!
Pants of set. Lined with thin blue fleece, same as inside of cape.
Small longies, Belladonna Designs pattern and yarn. For sale at Zoom Baby Gear in Portland.
Large soaker also for sale at ZBG.

Pants for Gman custom sized just for him. BDD pattern and BFL yarn.
Front of pants.

There's more of what I've been up to but I forget to take pics of them before they leave the house. I've also made a peace fleece small soaker, another pair of longies in hand dyed cascade 220 in yellow, reds, and oranges, a double sided kid's mt for an mdc mom's daughter, uhm I know there's more but I can't remember right now. Oh a jack skellington crocheted hat for Gman's birthday. Ah how could I forget HP robes for Halloween. Those pics will come soon.

So I got a couple of Farbenmix patterns in the mail from a coop and I'll probably be mia while I sew up some clothes for miss M.

2007-09-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

It's raining today and the kids and I are stuck inside, which after spending a week camping, we are very stir crazy!

Camping was fun. The kids never napped during the day which made bedtime sooo much easier. C brought a microscope that he found at the Sunnyside Co-op clothing exchange and was mesmerized for hours looking at things under it.

Eric found a huge toad on the road and brought it home to the campsite. As soon as the batteries are charged, I'll upload some pics.

C then found a frog in the creek and tried to catch it. Gosh darn frog was too fast and C got frustrated too easily. It was obviously nap time but he didn't want to admit it.

I think M's favorite thing was roasting marshmallows over the campfire. She is very independent lately and her favorite words were "I get it". She wouldn't even let me try and keep the mellow out of the ash for her. (rolls eyes)

I started knitting a little vest for M while camping, decided to abandon the longies that I started before going camping, cause they were not wanting to "look right" for me so I said forget it and decided to let them sit for a bit, I might frog them latter.

C decided he wants to go to school and talks about it, but we are hanging tough and going forward with homeschooling. Well more like unschooling. He's using the computer for some alpha games, his wipe off board that he practices his letters on, and his leapster games.

M is still learning to use the potty. It's easier for her to go without clothes on and then she'll use the potty. If she has a diaper on she'll use it and the take it off saying wet. She won't go number 2 though in a diaper, she'll find a toilet for it. And since camping, she likes to go potty outside. She's mastered the squat! At least she's not afraid of dropping her drawers and going.

I went with the name MamaHen for my crafty creations. I've also started a new blog for it, I'm still trying to upload pics and stuff for it.

M woke from her nap so back to parenting.....

names

2007-08-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

if anyone reads this, which do you like better

Aspen Sky Creations

or

Mama Hen Creates

or

you got something better? Let me know!

So I'm going to knit some soakers and longies and put them in consignment at Zoom Baby Gear.
A little about the two names; Aspem Sky is the middle names of the two chitlens, Mama Hen well 'cause I'm a mama and Hen is the beginning of my last name.
So what'cha think?

wizard wands and flirty skirts

2007-07-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

The library had a wand making workshop. We went and made wands in honor of Harry Potter coming out. Well the kids made thiers but had no place to put them so got out my Charmed Knits book and made wand cozies for them. I don't have a pic of Mad's yet as I don't know where it's hiding.
Here's C's.While at the coast, I casted on this flirty skirt (pattern from LTK) but I didn't add the undersoaker.
I also knitted these owls. The pattern is from Practical Princess and they are really simple to follow and easy to knit up. Each one took only a day, full of interuptions of course. I don't like the eyes but the kids love them. C's is on the left and Mad's on the right. C named his Thunder, and Mad's is Owl. C was upset that his sister's is bigger then his, but I told him that the smaller the owl, the faster they fly, and he was content with that.
Here's M happily showing off the owls.

Fourth of July

2007-07-17T08:52:00.001-07:00

We took our annual trip to the coast and stayed at E's Uncle Pauls'. They live up on a hill, so peaceful and lots of room for the kids to roam.Paul's House. They put on 2 more bedrooms for the girls.
Here's our tent. Between the garden and the pond. Hummingbirds were there every morning, waking us up with the flutter of their wings.
E wasn't feeling good, so I took the kids to the beach by myself and this is a self portrait.
E and C made a castle with a moat while Mad and I walked on the beach to find cool rocks and agates. which I can't find the bag of them :(

Mad playing in the sand before she went walking into the ocean and got all wet.

Captain Bogg at the Fairview Park

2007-07-17T08:47:00.001-07:00

It was a really hot day so C rolled his pirate pants up.

I didn't get any pics of the band, but C and M love them. Mad does a hook with her finger to tell me "pirate". She'll do her finger hook and dance. Too cute! Our MDC friend Kaden. Mad was trying to hold his hand, but he didn't want her too. :( It was funny to watch the process of him trying to get away, but she's holding tighter. LOL

New yarn store in PDX

2007-07-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

Twisted and they carry Zen String yarn. Oh so scrumptious yarn. Usually it's really hard to get Angela's yarn when she stocks so I'm supper excited to be able to go and pet whats there.

As far as knitting, I need to finish the fingers on E's gloves and I need to put the elastic in the flirty skirty I made for M. I didn't make a soaker for under it as she's starting PL and I figured, she'd be without a dipe or undies in the summer. I need pics I know. Will have to charge the battery for the camera and get pics of our vacation off it first.

The Parselmouths and The Remus Lupins

2007-06-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

The Fairview Library had a little Harry Potter night last night at the Park. The Parselmouths and Remus Lupins bands played and the kids had a blast! For "kiddy" bands, they rock!
C and Mad hanging back waiting for them to start.
Our friends, Madeline, Michael, and Marah (and mom Allison) came all the way from the 'Couv to dance to the wizard rock with us.
Mad up in front dancing to Remus Lupins.
The front man to The Remus Lupins.

A Birthday Party

2007-06-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

Our friend Ruby turned one last week and we went and partied with her.C-man and M blowing bubbles while E looks on.
Mad making a face, we were quick enough to capture it.
The birthday girl with her daddy.
Daddy catching mommy kissing Mad.

Rube with her mama and papa and her birthday cupcake.

skirt pattern

2007-06-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

very simple. Take two bandanas or two pieces of fabric about 22" square. fold and fold again. Mad has a 19" waist so I took 19 and divided it by 4 (4.75). so in the corner where both folds are (the center of the fabric), I made sure that the triangle that I cut was over 4.75. (I did 5"). then I took some left over spandex/swimsuit strips, and binded off the top so that it's gathered and stretchy. Oh I also moved one of the squares so that it was a diamond on top of the square.

Korin, if you want some of my poor man's foe, you are more than welcome to it. The colors aren't that pretty, but it gets the job done. :)

wildlife

2007-06-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

so this week around the house, we have come across some animals that we normally don't see in the backyard.
yesterday, there was an Oregon Red Spotted Garter snake The stripe down his back was deep green like the grass.
We went to the farmer's market in Gresham and came back to this beetle on the trailer hitch of the trooper. The picture's blury, but the rest were even blurrier. It's hard to tell, but the beetle's wings look like they have glitter on them. He was really beautiful!

The company across the street from my parents were mowing the grass along the road with a weed eater. The guy saw this rabbit jump into the road, and then he couldn't get back up over the curb. The poor bunny. So, hearing the kids in the backyard, brought him over for the kids to look at him. The bunny played dead in my hands, as he was very still and didn't try to jump away. I took him down the road to a field and let him go.

Sewing

2007-06-20T17:53:00.001-07:00

I've been sewing more then knitting. I think it's my alone time that I am getting. Sometimes, I just sit there honestly and not sew, but since I'm by myself, it's relaxing. Now I'm not saying that being with the kids isn't nice, it's just nice to have alone time. My version of farbenmix's anna pattern I don't own the pattern so I don't know how off I am, it's based off of what I've seen over at sewing mamas.

A little skirt that I made up for Mad.

Park fun

2007-06-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

We have been going to the park at least twice a week, sometimes more, now that the weather is nice. We've been going with friends from MDC. Last week, there were 4 June birthdays so we partied!

We got there early as we had other errands to run, so we chased the ducks. Oh so cute, with thier fuzzy-new-ness.

Mad walking across the bridge with Tania, who Mad has named Nye Nye.

Swinging with our friends, Max and his mom Ellie.
Our park friends, River and Grey.

sunshine fun!

2007-06-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

Blurry pic but the only one I have of Cman playing with Mad's wand that goes with her tutu.
Tutu was made from a Mama friend as an exhange for a pair of wool shorties for her daughter.
Mad and our friend Gman. We try and meet at the park once a week.
Mama and Mad at the MDC PDX picnic. Mad wasn't feeling well and spent most of the time on my back in our tie dyed Dream Carrier.
Mad was showing off her pig tails. Which didn't last very long.

Random snapshots from the past couple of weeks

2007-05-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

our little container garden. Our tomatoes! the two on the left are from the store, then we went to the farmers market in Gresham and picked up the two plants on the right. We have since transplanted them into larger containers.
My baby pouting because we went to visit E for lunch and I wouldn't let her go over to the play structure.
Simon the wrap came to visit Portland. We are at Mt Scott park with friends here.
C-man wanted to try out Simon, and he loves him too!
a bee holding on to the side window for a ride.

names

2007-05-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of opening shop for some of the crafty creations that I've made. I was thinking cute little tops and knitted shorts or longies, or little bloomers for under dresses. I don't know. I may never do it. Just putting some ideas down, and I know I won't loose them here.

restless waters
kula kids
kula keiki
kula kui
humuhumu
ohana

adding Aspen Skies. This "name" is growing on me as it's Miss M's and C's middle names. Well Skylar is C's but Skies sounds better. :)

more apron tops

2007-05-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

craftiness

2007-05-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the apron tops that I've made for miss M. She loves her horsey one the most right now and I can't seem to get it in the wash enough. She wants to wear it all the time!

The fishy one, was the first I made, that came out really big. I'm giving it to another girl from mdc.

The purple dress is a size medium tshirt that I found while digging though the goodwill bins. It says Oregon Country Faerie and has a faery on it. I cut off the sleeves, sewed it up some and then added some lycra across the top on both sides then tied them together at the shoulders. I don't necessarily like the way the ties came out but it works for an around the house dress.

C-man was feeling left out, so I made a tank top for him. It's some thin ribbed fabric that I had, that I left raw edges to on the bottom, around the neck and arms. I serged the top together on the sides and on the shoulders. Not one of my best works, but he's happy to have it. It's so hard to find patterns for boys. I know that I can take one of his RTW shirts and go off that, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

isabooties

2007-05-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

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Easy to put on and hard for babies to take off

Machine washable and dryable

Soft and flexible to mimic barefoot walking

100% animal free

Toughtek souls won't get slick with wear like suede soles

Hip styles that are fun and funky as the babies who wear them.

www.isabooties.com Use coupon code "love236" through May 31st to save 20%

the zoo....last month

2007-04-09T23:38:00.000-07:00

went to the zoo for two buck tuesday last month and I didn't post pics. well partly cause I didn't take the camera. We were with our MDC friends, Allison, Michael, and Marah. The boys had a blast. When we sat for lunch, Madison was trying to climb back up to the table and slipped on her dress and bit her tongue really good, so we left so I could contact the doc. :( She's all betta and it really didn't phase her)
so before we head to the zoo tomorrow, I thought I'd post some pics.

oh and my lil pirate girl all dress up for a party.

Easter

2007-04-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

I finished the pair of capris for an mdc mama. It's the belladonna design. I'm trading them for a mt with wrap style straps with a tie dyed panel. The yarn used is Noro Kureyon 153.

I had some extra coloring left from egg dying and I used it on the yarn. I had to add some more dye, wilton's, to finish the skein. the second pic is it all wound into a ball. it's fingering weight and not a lot of it so I think I might do a little pair of socks for M or maybe a scarf/mini shawl for me.

some fo's and the kids

2007-04-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

I whipped up a little hat for one of Eric's coworker's wife who is do anyday now. It's sock yarn that I found and made a little ribbed baby hat for them. It totally reminds me of a half knitted sock. Or maybe a toe cover if you had a cast.
The dress is LTK Smocked Frock out of some dk yarn that I found at a LYS. From my understanding the previous owner of the LYS hand dyed it herself. I haven't blocked it yet, the bottom is still curled up. Miss M loves it.

And while the sun was out this past week, the kids were able to get out and play for a little bit. That's Miss M all cheesy smiles in the truck. Once Cman realized that I had the camera out, he started posing. eye ya eye. So there he is, sitting on the play kitchen. Where's my rolling eyes smiley?

spiderman visits

2007-03-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

Spidey was visiting a local store when we went to go pick up a prescription and so the kids wanted a pic with him. Little M didn't want anything to do with him once we got close was okay with him. C man was excited to see him and the new toys that are out for S3.

I've been knitting longies for friends and finished the LTK Smocked Frock for miss M but didn't have enough yarn to make it a dress, it's more of a longer shirt length, which is just fine since summer is right around the corner.

We went fishing today and didn't catch anything. There were 3 fish that were taunting us by jumping up next to our line but they just weren't biting.

a little knitting done

2007-02-28T17:28:00.001-08:00

curly purly soaker
Originally uploaded by hendreque.

So I have been busy with life with two kids and haven't had much time blogging.

Shrug made from 101 One Skein Wonders with a skein of 100% American Wool Top Thick and Thin. Not sure who spun it as it was gifted to me. The picture is washed out, the colors are more muted.

Red soaker made with wool that I had in my stash without labels, I think the brick red is bartletts and the body of the soaker could be Henry's Attic Licorice Twist.

The coat is from a pattern at magknits, by Theresa at LTK. Made with Samantha/Katya Peace Fleece. This was a gift for Miss M for Christmas. She looked totally cute with her new coat and her Christmas dress.

The camo green soaker is made from Patons Merino leftovers. I had made a pair of longies for a little man in pdx. I didn't have enough to make the legs on it. oops

Right now I am working on the Quinn Bag. A bunch of us ladies over at MDC are doing a KAL from it. So far I have the band done and I really want to change the bottom of the bag to more of a symbol not the cables. I have a couple of books coming from the library that I hope to get some inspiration from so I can finish it.

I am also working on a pair of longies for Miss M. Same colors as the red soaker just opposite colorwise. Not sure if I have enough for longies so they may become shorties. Now only if the weather will cooperate and the sun will show it's self.

2006-11-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

Been busy knitting. I knitted a pair of longies for a trade and forgot to take a picture.

I also made a couple of hats to match an olaf didy and lille hopp.

A pair of mittens with matching hat and a pair of fingerless mitts for a pdx swap.

2006-10-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

I made an odessa hat out of some yarn that I recieved from my magic ball swap. Only problem was that I was short :( I did finish it so the top isn't how it is suppose to be but it looks fine. I tried it on and it's too short for my liking. I'll probably give it to one of the neighbor girls up the street from my parents' or one of the girls from mdc. I haven't decided what I'm gonna do with it yet.

I also made a pair of longies from the yarn I dyed up. I had plenty of yarn for that so I might make a hat and some booties to go with it. or a sweater since I have about 4 oz left.

right now I'm casting on for a pair of longies for a trade with a mama on mdc for some frog robeez.

I also have otn lionbrand suede in sage for a throw for eric's parents for christmas. I only have 4 rows done. I went to michaels for thier "big" yarn sale and found the lb suede for only $1 a skien! I bought all 18 they had. so far knitting with it is okay. I've got it on my denise set so it slides pretty smoothly.

oh I also have been knitting washcloths. I found some lb cotton at fred's for only $2. a skien so I picked up 5 or 6. the only color they had was black but I thought I could add some varigated yarn with it to jazz it up. I was thinking some mitered squares or something.

hmm I think that's all.

progress

2006-10-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

I've been knitting a pair of mittens and a hat for a local craft swap. I finished the second mitten to realize that I forgot 2 rows at the very beginning of the pattern. So I was going to try and take out from the start but it's a pita so I am just gonna redo the mitten and hope that I have enough yarn left so I don't have to rip it back to the beginning.

I dyed up some yarn and I think I'm naming it rememberance.

camera found

2006-09-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

So the dark blue hat is the LTK cabled hat pattern, it's really hard to photogragh. I made it while camping, it took a day and was really easy pattern to follow that I didn't need the pattern in front of me. The other hat is LTK earwarmer hat. It has "deer hunter" in it instead of a pattern. You can read it better when it's stretched out over the head.
Eric is on a mission to find the perfect yarn, camo colorway, but the mossy oak camo colorway. So in an attempt to replicate it, I dyed up some fisherman's yarn and came out the color of the vest and scarf. The vest is from this free pattern. It was a quick knit. I had just enough yarn left over that I thought I would make miss M something from it. I liked the idea of a keyhole scarf for her so I modified the Toddle pattern from Knitty. I think I did 26 stitches.
The booties are the LTK moc booties. Another attempt to get the "perfect" colorway. This one had too much dark green. I need more lighter green. At least I only used a little bit of yarn. I think I only had about 5 yards left.

I'm still here

2006-08-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

Not much knitting is getting done. We've moved out of our Woodburn house finally. We still don't have our internet hooked up so I'll be mia for a bit to update. I am working on a dress for miss m. but all my other yarn is packed. :(

must go....

The first ever Babywearing Conference

2006-08-07T18:04:00.000-07:00

Was a blast! I had so much fun meeting new friends and pretty new carriers. I bought a Kozy! I'm in love with it and Kristi and Kelly are great! I've also decided that I need a GM Isis or Morgaine.

No knitting was done from me this past weekend.

Pirates

2006-08-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Must remember to do this hat pattern. Oh and this eye patch pattern.

and since I'm all about pirates right now there's these mittens, and there's this cool adult hat. There's also this felted knitting tote.

Best of all that I have found there's Captain Jack that you can crochet. or a pirate panda!

anyways that's all I can find for now. oh I like this site too for inspiration!

She wears short shorts

2006-07-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

All right so they aren't really that short. But they are soo darn cute! I love the way they fit and I love the colors. Thanks to Dadee O who suggested using orange as the accent color. I knew he was good for something :wink

I'm making a pair of felted clogs out of the left overs. Which isn't a lot so I'm hoping that I can make it.

Captain Bogg and the Flirty Skirt

2006-07-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

So I finished the flirty skirt. I am in love with it. DaddeeO wants me to make a longer skirt and a different more lacy trim for the colder months. It was a real easy knit once I figured out what I was doing. My leg holes came out really big but Theresa from LTK was very helpfull and answered my question right away.

The library had a really cool kids band come and play the other day. Captain Bogg and Salty is a pirate band! With Pirates of the Carrabean out, C man wanted to go and watch. I've never seen a library so full before! THey have 2 kids cd's out and an adult cd. We ended up getting the newest cd for kids and C man has been asking to listen to it everytime we are in the car. I think I know all the words to all the songs now. They will be playing at thePortland Pirate Festival in Sept.

So my current project is a pair of shorts for Ms M. The orange top is hand dyed by me and the middle is from a crocheted soaker that hadn't been used yet that I took apart. It has the Curly Purly waistband. I ran out of the middle part and only have orange left. Well I have some of the middle left but I was wanting to keep it for the bottom of the legs. I almost think I should frog it back some and do more orange. hmmm. I'm gonna sleep on it.

If anyone is reading this and knows where I can get a true camo colorway in wool to make some gloves let me know. DaddeeO likes the gloves I knit him before but he's now not liking the colorway. I have at least 5 more ounces of it. I might try and over dye it but I'm not sure if it would turn out.

Off to bed.

Cedar Storage Chest

2006-07-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

I was soo lucky to go across the street to my neighbor who is having a garage sale yesterday and found this beauty! So it's not too pretty as it was made in the 70's and totally looks like it's from the 70's. But it's a Lane chest. For only $25! C ran back to ask daddy for $24 for a box. Daddy came over wondering why a box would cost soo much. needless to say he handed over the money!

A rant

2006-07-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

For the last 3 days I have tried to cast on the flirty skirt.

I actually had it casted on done to the waistband, flipped the band and started the soaker and realized that my numbers were off. Not just a little but a lot! I wasn't going to do the edging and started at the st stitch but I started with too few stitches. AHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Dumb me didn't count like I normally do when I first start.

So now I'm back to the beginning. This time, I'm doing the edging but in black because I don't have enough of the hand dyed yarn I got fromDye-a-Rama on Hyena Cart. It's the Grape Ape Revisited. I don't have anything in my stash that matches it and I don't think I could reproduce anything that would. So I decided to do the skirt part in the hand dyded yarn and then the soaker in black.

Wish me luck. Hopefully I'll have it done in a couple of days.

dream swatch

2006-07-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

I'm posting this so I remember to do it. I want to do it with some of the noro I have left over from clapotis.

dream swatch

Baby Attire

2006-06-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

This was made for dear little W who will hopefully be joining us soon. My friend L is having her second child and I can't wait. I used Lionbrand Cotton. I had some extra yarn so I made a hat for big brother Z and a hat for miss M.

I started crocheting a skirt for miss M. I dont have a pattern so hopefully it'll fit. I've added extra stitches in the bum area so it would fit over her diaper. If it works I'll post instructions for it.

I think I am going to frog Katja and redo her. She is way big on M. Or I was thinking of running some yarn around the top and making a little drawstring for the back. The second option seems so much easier so I might try that first. For anyone else wanting to make Katja I would suggest sizing down.

Reminder to self: I need to start C's wizard hat after the skirt is complete.

I so want to dye some yarn but I've got it all packed away. I'm really tempted to rip open the box and dig through the other yarn just to find it. I don't even know what colors I want. I'm seeing all this pretty yarn that everyone else is doing and I want to do it to!

Better go get the flafel started.

2006-06-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

I finished a couple more bucket hats. One for the newborn due July and another for his big brother. I have extra yarn so I thought I would make a little sweater. I chose the baby yoda sweater. I'm doing it in lion cotton, americana. I'll post pics as soon as I get more done. I've modified it a bit by working it all one piece except for the sleeves. I've never done something like this so hopefully it will turn out okay.

well just a short entry. off to knit.

My Baby is 1!

2006-06-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

Today is Miss M's birthday! I feel so bad because we decided not to have a party. Since we are in the middle of packing and there are boxes everywhere, it's not ideal to have people over to party. We thought about having it at a park but the weather in June during the Rose Festival are not usually cooperative. It usually rains for the week and then when the festivities are over, the sun comes out for the summer. But of course, the weather is great for the week so far.

We did go to the Jr Rose Festival Parade today. It was fun. We were able to see some friends while there and the kids had a blast. Miss M wouldn't keep her hat on so I was concerned the whole time about her burning. I'm hoping she'll darken up like mama and tan.

Mr C enjoyed everything about the parade. Gpa gave him $20 for the street vendors. He got some cotton candy and a couple of yoyo balls. He gave one to sis for her birthday present.

Afterwards, C commented that Miss M had a HUGE birthday party. Why couldn't he have a parade on his birthday. I reminded him he gets to go trick or treating for his.

I forgot the camera so no pix of the event. Hopefully the kids will crash early so I can get some sleep too.

Katja

2006-06-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

I finished Katja. She of course hasn't been washed and blocked but I just had to try it on Miss M. I also worked a little 3/4 sleeve shrug out of the extra yarn I had. It turned out okay since I didn't quite know what I was doing. I casted on one sleeve and worked up to the shoulder and then casted on the other sleeve and worked until I ran out of yarn and then kitchnered them together. Not totally pretty but it works. I'm pretty sure she'll grow out of it by the end of the summer. Oh well.

Can you have too much yarn?

2006-05-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

So we are packing and I packed my yarn :( And Daddio realized how much I have. EEEEKKKKK I have 2 big boxes of yarn. Okay so I didn't realize I had that much yarn. As soon as we move, I think I need to destash....But which do I keep? Oh

On other news I finished Katja. It seems big on Miss M but I haven't washed and blocked yet so since it's cotton, I'm hoping that it will shrink a bit. I did a guage swatch too and my gauge was fine so I'm hoping that blocking it will fit the bigness of it. I'll get pics tomorrow.

I was thinking of making a little shrug to go over katja. I'll the patterns that I've seen are for older kids so I think as my first winging it project, it's gonna be a shrug.

I'll probably start C's wizard hat out of New KNits on the bLock. I think he's feeling left out of knitting world since I haven't knitted him anything in a while.

Bob the Builder dresses up

2006-05-27T00:28:00.000-07:00

C was proud to dress Bob in sis's clothes.

Why did I wait so long to learn to crochet. Both the top and shorts were really easy.
I did it in some acrylic yarn that my mom had. I didn't want to use the "good" yarn on something that I would frog and refrog and refrog until I got it. But I only frogged a couple of times when I missed a stitch here and there.

Don't knit and Drive....Knittersanonymous.com

2006-05-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

I was driving yesterday and I saw the title as a bumber sticker. So I went and looked at the website and I found another bumber sticker that says Friends Don't Let Friends Knit Drunk. :)

Enough dorkyism from me.

I've been knitting instead of bloggin. I finished up a soaker for Lil M. The rise is a little high but that's to make sure that daddee-o doesn't get her shirt tucked in or her diaper hanging out and it keeps her belly warm. The yarn was some that I found at Goodwill in with a bunch of other wool yarn for only $2.99! It's really bright, but it will go good with a tie dye dress that she has. The pattern from a MDC mama.

Miss M and I went to Mabel's in Ptown and while we were there she found some Plymouth Fantasy Naturale. She wouldn't put it down. When I tried to take it out of her hands she would scream! Needless to say I bought it. She wouldn't even let the sales lady look at it so she could read the tag. She carried it around for a couple of days loving on it, while I tried to think of what to make her. I was thinking of making a top or a dress of some sort when knitty posted their suprises and I found katja! Perfect! So I've casted on and got the cups done, just need to do the bodice part. I decided to do it in the round cause I hate seaming.

Alright she's ready for bed so better post this before the

I hate my internet connection

2006-05-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

So I had it all written out last night and when I went to go hit publish, my internet connection went out and didn't come back until this morning. ARRRRRRRRR I hate qwest!

So a short version of what I had last night cause the kids are up now.

I've finished 2 bucket hats, a newbie size and a mama size. I tie dyed them but the dye came out really light. so it won't work for the recipient. The red is pale pink, not so good for a boy. I'm gonna try and redye it but havent done it yet. And if it still doesn't turn out how I want them to look, I'll keep them or I just might give them away. The pict is of the newbie hat, preblocking and dying. I added an icord tie to keep the hat on but Miss M has figured out how to get it off.

I started making a throw for a wedding gift. Well I started way too late and well it didn't get done in time. Partly because of starting late and partly because it's so repetative that I'm just bored with it I think. It's based off of the Curly Purly Scarf Pattern. But I have added a couple more knit rows so that it's sturdier for a throw.

One of the other reasons is because I started crocheting. I picked up some bernat cool crochet in the neoplitan colors and well I wanted to make the skull cap pattern that's on it, thinking it would be quick. Well I started it a couple of times and had to put it down cause I couldn't figure it out. So I started working on a pair of pants for lil miss M. It's done in all single crochet so I thought I would work on mastering that first. So I've been working on that instead of the throw.

Nursing In Public Is Not A Crime!

2006-05-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

Nursing In Public Is Not A Crime!

I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream

2006-04-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Miss M's first ice cream. It actually isn't ice cream, it's itallian ice or something like that. I was just going to give her a taste but then she grabbed it and when I went to pull it away, she wouldn't let go. I did get it away but she cried so hard to have it back, I just let her have it. Unfortunately the red is very staining and she's got a red nose and a "mask" around her mouth from it. She's also got red hands from it.

C is just a walking advertisement for it. I don't think he could show the label any better. Too bad I cut his ear off.

Miss M's also standing on her own a lot more. Any day now she's gonna let go and start walking. I was able to get a picture yesterday of her. Oh I can't wait. Well yes I can, it means that she'll be into a lot more faster.

C's been in a funk lately not wanting to listen. Yesterday was his last soccer class and he was there all of 15 minutes and he wanted to leave. I asked him a handfull of times to make sure and he kept saying yes. So I get him and M in the car and start it up and low and behold he wants to stay and play. I kept driving. He started crying saying he changed his mind. I wanted to be firm with him that he made a decision and he needs to keep to it. I'm hoping that he'll outgrow it soon. We've set down and went over family rules, so I'm hoping that works too.

In knitting news, I went to Joann's for thier sale and found the World Of Knitted Toys. I picked it up for $7.50. C has already picked out what he wants from it. I also got some sock needles to make E's socks.

I found a panel of fish and bubbles to make a baby quilt for the july baby. I think I'll make an ltk bucket hat and some felted booties for the babe too.

Off to enjoy the sun.

I love the sun

2006-04-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

C didn't want to have anything to do with modeling this for me. Every time I went to snap the picture, he moved and it was blurry. So Hulk's hand is lending a helping hand so I can get shots.
Which aren't too good. I left my camera at home and I want to give this to J today at soccer so I used my mom's camera. Not very good at getting the pics but you get the idea.

The one thing I would change next time is to not do so many rows for the brim. It seems too floppy to me. Maybe I should have felted it longer but then the rest would be too small. Live and learn with felting. This is only my second project with felting so it'll get better right?!?

Things I need to do:

E's manly socks: short, wool, double layer on top and at heel. I've looked at patterns but haven't found the right one yet.

Gift for July baby boy: I was thinking of doing a hat with fish on it, some felted booties, mittens, and maybe a small afghan. Or maybe a sweater. which seems odd to say but I can't see a newborn wearing a sweater in central oregon heat. Or maybe I'll forgo the afghan/sweater and make a mae tie for her instead.

Sunshiney Day

2006-04-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful weekend here in Ptown. C stayed with gma & papa for the weekend. Papa thought we needed a break from each other. I think he was right. C and I are too much alike. Both very bull headed. He wants it his way and I want it mine.
He had a wonderful time with papa, partly cause papa bought him a Fantastic 4 kite. C's on a super hero kick.

Miss M has a cough but no fever, which is good. She's cruising everywhere and getting into everything. It's hard with 1/2 filled boxes that need to be finished and taped up.

Miss M, daddy-o, Sage Dog and I went fishing at McIver Park in Estacada on Sunday. Daddy-O didn't catch anything and I tried to knit but it was too hard with Miss M and Sage Dog. I was trying to finish the fireman's hat from New Knits on the Block. C's friend J is infatuayed w/ all aspects of fire fighting. He has one of the plastic hats but it's cracked, so I thought he would enjoy this version.

I did get to finish the hat when we got home. daddy-o took m outside w/ him to work on the tent trailer and I got to knit. I forgot to take a picture before felting, but the thing was so big it fit over my entire head. I thought I was mushmouth from fat albert. It's blocking now so hopefully I'll get a picture of it soon.

FOs and a Wip

2006-04-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Here's the progress of my clapotis. Done in Noro Sarubia #13. I think it's a discontinued yarn but I picked it up from a LYS that is going out of business.

This bunny is for Miss M's Easter basket. The yarn is a soft cotton chenille. Very yummy!

Here's the soaker that I made for a friend's daughter. The dark purple is Patons. The verigated is hand dyed by me from an unravelled gw sweater.

Spring

2006-04-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ack! Packing sucks! I am so not motivated to pack.
I have been knitting on clapotis and working on a bunny blanket for Madison for Easter. I'm going to try and make something for Carson but I'm not sure what to make for him.
I signed up Carson for soccer. It starts on Thursdays so he's totally stoked for it. Eric went on a little shopping spree and bought him a pair of shorts and shin guards.
Madison is starting to stand on her own. Crawling even faster, especially when we call her name, she looks back and then goes for it. She's getting faster with holding on to things and walking too.
Not much else on the home front.

2006-03-13T22:25:00.000-08:00

I've been bad about trying to update this daily. Over the weekend Carson was with Grandma and Grandpa. Eric, Madison, and I spent the weekend with GGMa D, so that T & S could get away for the weekend. I tried working on making rabbits for the kids for Easter but the first one turned out more like a bear. I gotta work on the ears I think. So I didn't start the second, I also think I am going to try a different pattern.

Here's one cigar glove:

Here's what $100 will by at the yarn store:

And here's to our movie night:

2006-03-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

We didn't have power last night. A wind storm knocked down a power line in the neighborhood. We ended up going to the store and buying a propane heater and we all slept in our bedroom. Carson "camped" out on the floor. Boy he was lost not having a movie to watch.

So we started the paperwork to sell our house. We will be moving closer to Ptown, closer to Eric's work. In a way I have mixed emotions. I would love to live closer to ptown but I'm not looking forward to packing boxes.

On another note, the yarn store in Troutdale is closing and going to internet sales so everything is 25-40% off. I got some yarn to do a clapotis, Noro for a couple of bunnies, 100% wool for soakers/longies, oh yarn for Odessa now I need beads, a needle felting kit and Fiber Trends patterns for felted clogs babies and adults. I spent $100 and I could have spent more. I so wanted Skye but didn't get any. What would I knit up with it?

I have one glove of Cigar done and am almost to the finger portion of the second glove. I need to take a picture of it. I'll try and do that today and post later.

Past Projects

2006-03-06T17:22:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmerman's baby leggings. Yarn: recycled from a goodwill sweater and hand dyded by me with Wiltons. Finished for Christmas 2005. Added picot edging to bottom of legs. Name: The Hershey Kiss Hat. Pattern: my own version. Yarn: recycled from a sweater. Model: Eric. Recipient: David
Pattern: Holy Sheep Everything Pattern with embellished dog. Yarn: Fisherman's. Yarn for the dog dyed with food coloring. Recipient: MDC momma

The 5 foot long hat

2006-03-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

Eric's cousin, David, asked for a 5 foot long hat that he could wear snowboarding. He wanted a fat ball at the end and a skull and crossbones on it. So here it is. 5 feet from one ball to the other little ones. There's also a secret pocket on the inside. It's knit in wool ease chunky. Not a set pattern. I adapted from a couple of other patterns. I should have kept better notes. Knit in the round. Finished for Christmas 2005.

In the beginning....

2006-03-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

Carson was born 10/01 and I have been loving motherhood since. Okay so it has it's ups and downs but hey that's life ay. I worked when Carson was younger but always said that when I have another that I would stay at home with them. Well in Sept 04 I found out I was pregnant. On Dec. 31 04, my boss laid me off because of lack of work. Very long story there. So I was without a job or health insurance and prego. I wasn't able to find a job before Madison was born but that's okay. I got to spend lots of time with Carson before Madison join us in 06/05.
So where does this knitting and crafty stuff come in you ask. Welll...right before Carson was born, I was into scrapbooking. I have all the stuff. But then we got a digital and well now I scrapbook on the computer and all the neato stuff is collecting dust. Though I do bring it out to make cards and will make little scrap books for friends. Then I started sewing. I started sewing little bags for Carson to hold things in. He's always carrying a bag to hold his toys. Since I had time, I sewed Madison's bedding. (not that she uses her crib or even sleeps in her room.)
I started knitting for Christmas 04. I knitted all the ladies on Eric's side scarves. Each one was a different yarn type. Eric and I decided that we would cloth diaper Madison since I would be home. I started knitting her diaper covers after all the scarves. I have since branched out a little with fingerless gloves, a sweater, booties, leggings, hats, hmmm what else....I have pictures that I need to upload but they aren't on this computer so I'll do that later.
So here I am now. I'm knitting Cigar out of a camo/woodland colorway of bbr from Wooly Wonders By Nada. These will be for Eric for hunting. He actually wants 2 pairs, the other for work. Then my brother saw the pattern and now he wants a pair, but in pink. hmmmm I won't want to do any more mittens/gloves/fingerless anything for a while.

My first post

2006-03-05T22:43:00.000-08:00

Seems silly to have a not have a blog already so here goes.

The Adventures of the Little Green Frog Begins.....