No Excuses Thursday

Published on: by catballou24 Category:No Excuse Thursday 6 Comments
No Elf

My friend Michelle has started up a very motivating weekly gathering within the blog community to help us all get off our behinds and get things done!  No Excuses Thursday.  I for one have very busy weeks with the kids and sometimes just feel a bit overwhelmed by all the things that need to get done around here.  Michelle hit the nail on the head with her post on this phenomenom that we all seem to get trapped by at one time or another.  So in order to try and create some more order in our world, I’m joining the growing list over at her site.

My summer project list includes:

  • Building 2 more raised veggie beds for Fall planting
  • Building an outdoor sectional sized for our porch ala’ Knock Off Wood
  • Continuing weeding and maintaining gardens
  • Clearing side of driveway in preparation for a Fall re-do
  • Build another, better big table for the dining room (the first became an outdoor table – it’s not square and looks shabby but is sturdy and the very first piece of furniture I ever built, so I’m keeping it..haha!)
  • Finish Christmas gifts by end of October
  • Jazz up outside of chicken coop with plants and other more attractive features – the link is not the specific plan…just giving you an idea.
  • There are a ton of things on Michelle’s list that are duplicates for me as well…kids will not allow me to post more than this for now though..haha! 
  • Paint and re-purpose glass door cabinet in bedroom into knitting closet – similar to what Michelle has done! (I am beginning to sound like a copycat.  I swear I have original ideas too!)
  • Wash windows inside & out.
  • Go through the kids’ toys– donate & organize.

That’s the start.  I really hope that I can get it all done by the end of Summer.  We will see..hehe

Thanks Michelle for the motivation!

And don’t forget…tomorrow the treat for you all will be revealed.  Check back!

Peace!

WIP Wednesday

Published on: by catballou24 Category:WIP 3 Comments

I am jumping into this with everyone – WIP Wednesday’s.  I usually have several things on the needles, and still do.  But the sewing bug has struck, so the machine has been whirring away in the evenings.  I’ve managed to make quite a few things actually…but those are FO’s rather than WIP’s, so will wait for another post.

So besides the gardens and my children, my latest (and one that I’m really excited about because it’s all for me..muuahahah!), is on the needles.  Mr. Greenjeans, here I come!  I’ve been nervous about really starting a grown up size sweater.  Don’t ask me why, I just didn’t have the confidence I guess.  I’d start one, and frog it.  But this knit up so quickly and was just too much fun.  I’ve got 1 1/2 sleeves and the button band to go.  I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait until cooler weather to wear it, but if I don’t want to die of heat stroke I’ll have to I suppose.  The yarn is from Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.  I love natural wools, but sometimes the price of some of the yummier, premium yarn is just is too much on our budget.  Knit Picks to the rescue!  100% wool and I do love how this knits up, plus you really can’t beat the price.  The color is Tidepool Heather and reminds me of a tropical ocean.  Love it.

Don’t forget about Friday.  I am so excited and can’t wait to reveal the surprise.  I think it will be fun for all!

Peace!

Yesterday, A Birthday Celebration

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Food, party 1 Comment

Yesterday was Xi’s dollies’ birthdays.  Baby Xiola and Phillipa apparently share a birthday but are a year a part with Baby Xiola being 2 and Phillipa 1.  So what do you do when you have a birthday to celebrate?  Make cupcakes of course!  And not just any cupcakes, but these cupcakes.  The best recipe ever!  I found it while looking for some knitting patterns to be honest.  Totally stumbled upon it and when Xi wanted to have a party I was so glad that I did.  We used all organic ingredients, including eggs from the chickens given that morning.  So yummy! 

After the party, I was treated to a fashion show featuring Xi and our little friend A.  It was a great celebratory afternoon for all!  Enjoy the fun…

Peace!

The Love of Succulents

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Gardening, succulents 2 Comments

I have found a true love for succulents and sedums.  I have my darling J and my friend Becky to thank for it.  I never really saw the beauty in the sometimes spikey, messy, unusual features of some of these plants until I really looked.  Now I just think they are the most interesting creatures!  So beautiful in the way they fall and grow.  I have a very small collection that Becky adds to for me every now and then.  Pretty much all my sedums have come from her.  I am doing my best to cultivate them as I have a vision of a rock wall covered in sedums and succulents one day.  For now, I’ll share some of my meager collection (most of which I do not even know their names, so if anyone wants to take a gander at this, feel free to comment!)  I have a couple more, but these are what begged to be photographed today. 

Peace!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day – June 2010

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Garden Blogger's Bloom Day 3 Comments

Everything is in full swing here.  The summertime heat is creeping up the dial, so it won’t be too much longer before things start to wilt, but for now we’ve been really lucky with the rain this month.  Here are the blooms that are decorating our garden today.  After you are done here, go check out Carol’s blog at May Dream Gardens and see where all this began!  Enjoy!

Peace!

Harvest

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Gardening, harvest 7 Comments

Things are starting to really come on now…the only reason I have any green beans in the basket is because the girls were out of town for a few days.  Normally I find them out there eating right out of the garden.  And I don’t mind that a bit!! 

Happy harvesting!  Peace!

Creating

Published on: by catballou24 Category:Crafts, Creating 1 Comment

Yes, two posts in one day!  I just had to share with you my creative streak however.  The girls have been at Grandma and Papa’s since Monday, and yesterday I didn’t have to work.  So what does a mom do when home alone all day (other than laundry, bathrooms and vacuuming of course!)?  I created for both home and girls.  And I made a big lovely mess in the process that still hasn’t been cleaned up because once inspiration strikes, I need to go with it man!  I only have one little charge today and he’s easy peasy, so more sewing it will be…I hope.  The girls will be home this afternoon, then leaving again on Monday for next week.  Lola is taking swim lessons up at her Grandparents’ house, and Xi is finally old enough to feel confident joining in on the trip away from mom and dad.  They are both having a blast, and it sounds like so are Grandma and Papa!  It will be double Grandma whammy this weekend when my mom comes up to visit tomorrow and spend the night.  The girls are beside themselves with glee that they get to have so many slumber parties with two of their favorite ladies.

I will have an update on what went on all week and all they’ve learned.  So far I found out that both girls learned to float on their backs (Lola is in official lessons while Xi is responding to Grandma’s gentle guidance in the pool quite wonderfully.  Not too surprising as she’s inherited her dad’s absolute love for water.)

Hope your weekend is just fabulous!  Peace!

My very inexpensive, and somewhat frustrating machine.  I ended up having to take part of it apart and figuring out why it wouldn’t sew properly.  Internet research!  Love it!  Now it’s sewing beautifully once again.

Summer skirts from the Lazy Days Skirt pattern.  So easy!
New library bags.  Xi’s on the right and Lola’s on the left.
Aw!  Pillow covers!
Scrap heaven.  These will turn into a myriad of gifts and things for the house.
Still a mess, but I’m having too much fun with it (now that the machine actually functions as it should.)