Time….

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Girls, halloween, Projects, sewing 2 Comments

I promised 2 months ago I’d start updating more and apparently I was telling tales!  I apologize for that.  Life has been so busy around here and the time is slipping past too quickly.  I’ve taken a step back in order to focus on other things but am ready to jump back in with both feet.  I think summer temps drag me down to be honest and de-motivate me.  However, we are experiencing some beautiful Fall weather and it’s time to dust off the cobwebs of this place and get back to business! 

The first order of the day, updating on the girls.  They are doing fabulous!  They both love school and are changing and growing everyday.  Saturday’s are devoted to soccer with the Farm Girl playing double headers sometimes.  She is advancing quickly with it all, as are all the girls on her team.  They are finally playing the way soccer should be played and I see their full hearts in it every game.  I’m so proud of these girls!  Xi is also playing again this year and is our scorer!  She has a determination in that little body that would make a grown man shake in his boots.  She doesn’t take gruff from anyone and has one clear focus, get the ball to the net.  Haha!  She absolutely adores the game and it’s so much fun to watch her confidence building as quickly as it is between that and school.  Proud parents on the farm!

I am finally feeling more motivated as I stated above, and so have been crafting more lately again.  I’ve picked up the knitting needles, dusted off the sewing machine and am plotting the holiday gift making.  I’m a bit behind, but that’s okay!  It always comes together in the end and that’s what is important.  I love that the girls have homemade gifts waiting for them on Christmas morning.  Things I notice that they treasure more.  Makes me proud to see them wanting to  make things for each other too.  Lola just finished knitting a baby washcloth for her teacher as well, who is due with her first baby in about 4 weeks.  I knit some baby hats and made a pocket doll to go with the basket of goodies the class will giving her next week.  I am very proud of Lola…she did a great job!

I am determined to get some long over due reviews up this week, so please look for those!  Thank you so much for not abandoning me in my absence as well.  Sometimes it’s good to step away and gain some perspective again. 

For now, here are some photos of the last few weeks and things we’ve made and been doing.  Hope you enjoy!

 New doll I made for Xi’s birthday…


 Pocket doll.  I LOVE making these and am going to put some up in my Etsy shop soon!


 Harry Potter and Dorothy joined us for the Great Goblin Glow this year!


 Harry practicing a spell on a nervous Dorothy!
 
 A very serious Harry Potter


 And a very sweet Dorothy.


 The Great Goblin Glow!


Some reusable bags for shopping the bulk bins.  I made these from an old sheet.  More to be made and embroidered….
Peace!

Where Did The Summer Go?

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Uncategorized 2 Comments

I swear I was going to be good and keep up with everything here, but the Summer flew by!  School has started and the girls were both very excited.  Xiola was also nervous, but ready.  I can’t believe my babies are both in school now.  They have both come home excited to tell me about their days and what new things they are doing.  Xiola is making new friends and loves her teacher.  I am relieved and also a bit melancholy to see them grow up so fast.  Both are in public school, and while we’d love to have them in a Waldorf setting, we simply cannot afford it.  Fortunately the school here is amazing and does alot of alternative type lessons with their curriculum, so we are happy.

The weather here has been brutal!  100+ degrees for almost 60 days straight.  The veggie bed is toast, we can’t even be outside alot of the time because it’s just too hot.  I am keeping the front gardens going, but will most likely lose a few things.  We do water the oaks and elm on our property though as we do NOT want to lose trees.  No rain whatsoever for weeks now.  Even the chickens have gone on strike.  I hope it ends soon.  Everything is withered and the lake is super low.  Scary….

I have several reviews to catch up on, including some exciting books I was sent so look for these in the next couple weeks.  I am also going to open my Etsy store finally.  Working on getting things made to stock it with.  I will have surprises, giveaways and a specials running so please stay tuned and don’t count me out yet!!  

Hope your summer is coming to a happy close and the next phase of the year brings nothing but joy!  Peace!

Busy Busy Busy!

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Uncategorized 3 Comments

I apologize for neglecting all!  It’s been a busy beginning to summer.  The children I take care of who were in school all year are back full time, so adjusting to new routines and 6 children at once is taking a bit of time.  All is well though!  I have exchange gifts to finish and send that are already a week behind…eek!  Plus projects to do around here to get ready for a big gathering we are having on July 17th here at the house.  Not to mention the children!  LOL  We are having fun trying to find out groove though….I will be back this week with new pictures of projects, kids and gardens.  I promise!!

Until then…Peace!

{This Moment} Lake Fun

Published on: by catballou24 Category:This Moment 2 Comments
 While girls were visiting grandparents, J and I got some time on the lake with friends.  That is not me on the skis but my beautiful friend Claire who had decided to water ski again after many years.  She did great! (That is J in the back of the boat).

  

A single photo – no words (okay, sometimes a couple words) – capturing a single moment in the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.  And to see where this all started, visit Soulemama.

Swim Lessons!

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Uncategorized Comment

The girls are spending the week with Grandma and Papa who were so wonderfully kind to get them swim lessons!  It’s become an annual event for Lola and this year Xi got to go too.  So good for them to spread their wings, try new things and realize that it’s okay to be away from Mommy and Daddy sometimes.  Haha!  My mother-in-law sent these pictures of today’s first lessons.  Being in the pool is perfect for them right now, it’s hot here!

What are you doing to keep cool?  Peace!

The Chair

Published on: by catballou24 Category:DIY Comment

I love Ana White and her designs. I love that she makes the plans easy for a novice like myself to create something functional and beautiful. I love that this project cost me a total of $8.00 for all the supplies, including fabric which was a thrift store score. I love that my Xi loves it. I love that Farm Girl wants one for herself in green. This was a fun project.

What are you creating these days? Peace!

Busy Times!

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Uncategorized 4 Comments

We have been busy around here for sure!  Our nephew is visiting while his parents are in Cannes….yes, Cannes.  They are at the film festival no less!  My brother in law is a film editor and his movie, The Big Fix, is to be specially screened tonight.  It is about the Gulf oil spill and the lies the media and government told us.   (Josh Tickell, the director,  is also the man behind the movie, Fuel which documents the need for bio-fuel use in our country as well as globally.)  It is an exciting time for them to be sure! 

 Director Josh Tickell and his wife Rebecca Harrell in still from The Big Fix

My sister is having a fabulous time and we are having a great time as well with her son.  He and Xi are the same age and he’s such a wonderful, full of energy and light little boy!  The kids are all getting along great.  I am so excited we have this time with him and so proud of my brother in law for his hard work and my sister for being so supportive of him when he was gone for days at a time working.  Go Keenans!

H made vampire teeth out of paper.  LOL!

 The garden is coming along as well.  Everything is growing and changing and blossoming.  I am in-love with it all!  We had our first tomato from the garden yesterday…yum!  Many more to come from looking at the plants!  Cucumbers are starting to get ready and we are picking beans like mad everyday.  I actually want to plant more.  We have had some raccoon trouble again though.  Not only did they destroy one of the raised beds, but we are down to 7 chickens..:(  They are coming before dark now, so if the chickens coop isn’t closed up by about 7PM, it’s curtains for one of them.  I need to restock the flock for sure!  We have plans to gate off another huge section for the goats and chickens to roam in, which will make cooping them easier as well as super reinforce the raccoon problem.  The creatures won’t go around the goats, and with the goats in the same “yard” as the chickens, I think they will be good watchdogs.  We will still coop the chooks for sure and double reinforce all entrances.  Life on the farm is never dull!!

I also had a wonderful gift sent to me from my dear friend Michelle…a new-to-me camera!  My old digi is about 10 years on now, we got it before Farm Girl arrived!  Michelle gifted herself with a newer model and sent me her old one, that is fantastic!!!!  I’m in heaven and trying to learn all the many features.  I’d love to take a class to be honest, but time constraints kind of prevent that.  Maybe something online?  Hmmmm….  Anyway, I am so happy with the performance and ease of this new toy.  Thank you so much my dear!

Hope everyone is having a great Spring.  Summer is approaching fast and I’m looking forward to having Farm Girl here all day when school is out.  It’s nice having them both around!

See you all soon!  Peace!