Dreamflower Knitting

Willow

2010-06-07T15:33:00.003-06:00

Here's Willow's birth story:

I had reached 42 weeks, nothing much happening. I had finally started having some B/H contractions sporadically over the last few days. I had passed being scared of the pain. I'd really struggled with that over the last few months. Don't know why, just did. Not like I haven't done labor before, I was just really struggling with it this time. Finally, starting Memorial Day weekend, having spent a lot of time in prayer, I was really not fighting the idea of working thru the labor pains. So, my prayers shifted off of the pain, and onto going into labor spontainiously (I've had to kick start some help before), low pain level (ok, so I wasn't totally off the pain thing) and a short, not drawn out, labor (silly me... sheesh).

I doubt it made any difference, but I had bbq on Memorial day, 'cause I wanted it and it was yummy, and had Taco Bell tuesday night, 'cause it was yummy. I also went out walking during dh's softball game on tuesday night. I had my oldest son with me to run for help should anything happen... and nothing did. LOL When I took a bath that night, I checked dilitation, and there was no change from where I had been for about the last month.

Wednesday morning (42w3d), I was still having some random b/h contrax, very high, very light, nothing low or powerful. About 9:15am I really had to go to the bathroom.... and, for politeness sake, let's just say, bowel and bladder emptied. I figured that was a good sign, but not necessarily expecting it to kick off labor, it hasn't in the past. Just a few minutes after that, I had my first contraction that signaled to me something was happening. It was in my back, and in my legs. ok, no problem. Let's see if I have any more and if they hook up to a pattern. (My last totally spontainious labor started with the same back pain, and labor took a total of 5 hours). I had another light one, in my back, so I called dh (@9:21). I told him this felt like labor starting, and that he needed to come home, but it was just starting and should take a little while. (yeah, I was very wrong... LOL) I called my labor support girlfriend too (@9:22), and told her the same, so she was grabbing her bag and heading over. One more call to another friend(@9:25) to come pick up 6 of my 7 children. I walked into the livingroom, and told Natasha (12) and Michael (13) that I thought labor was starting and they needed to get the littles ready. This all took maybe 5-7 minutes? and I was having contrax about every 2-3 min? I know they were close, but not curl my toes, have to stop and moan contrax. (love my cell phone for keeping track of times :-) and helping my time sense... LOL ) I had one real good contraction that I had to stop for, while I was still in the livingroom giving directions to the kids, and posting to FB that I was in labor (@9:29). While I was posting to FB, I told Michael and Natasha to get in my room and uncover the birth spa, and managed to miss a phone call from my dh.. LOL

Once the top was off the spa, I called dh back(@930 he told me he was on the interstate, just minutes away) and remember that my legs started shaking a bit, and I started feeling a touch sick to my stomache. Somewhere in the back of my brain, I remember thinking that I was in transition, and needed a trash can (in case I threw up) and to get into the spa. Back to the toilet to disrobe, and potty one more time, and noticed I finally had a touch of bloody show... and I mean just a touch. My labor support friend called (@9:35) to see if I needed anything, I said no, and that I was getting into the tub. She asked if I wanted her to stay on the phone, and I said no, just to come straight over. I hung up @936ish, yelled for Natasha to bring in a trash can with a bag in it.

She walked in and closed the door just in time for me to feel a pop of the waterbag, to look down and register light menconium in my brain and then my body to start to push. LOL She had actually asked what I needed, and I said something along the lines of "nothing, hang on right there, roar... " LOL I remember thinking 1. I need to remind her that this is normal, my body is just delivering the head (which I did say to her out loud) because I didn't want her to think anything was wrong since everything was happening so fast. and 2. this is happening really really fast so I need to relax and totally go with it, not push it harder, just to relax into it an let my body open. Self supported my perinium, and talked/growled while her head emerged. I remember rubbing her head, saying (as much to Natasha, who just stood by quietly, as to myself) the head is out, everythings fine, totally normal, the head is out, that was the hardest, just relax. I have the distinct memory of rubbing her head and sliding the membrains off her head and feeling her hair. I just relaxed for a minute or so, talking and waiting for the next contraction for the shoulders. I remember the shoulder contraction being really light too, as she slipped out into my hands. I rolled her over underwater to unwrap the cord, which was very lightly draped around her neck, and to make sure she had no menconium around her face or mouth. While unwrapping her from the cord, I noticed she was a girl, and lifted my new daughter out of the water to say hello. I told Natasha she had a sister, and had to look at the time on the phone- 9:39, less than half an hour from when I had first had to go to the bathroom, and about 20 minutes from when the first contraction hit.

I felt both wonderful (it really was a very peaceful easy birth) that she was here, and sad that my dh missed it. This is the first birth my dh had missed.. LOL I told Natasha to go tell Michael and the other children that they had a sister. When Jim walked in to the house a couple of minutes later, Michael turned to him and said "I have a sister!" LOL Dh was stunned that I had already delivered... he had talked to me less than 10 minutes prior. While dh was walking in, I had Natasha calling my labor support friend, to let her know the baby was here and it was a girl. The only name I had been given for a girl from God was Willow.. I didn't even have a middle name, and wasn't really sure that I had heard her name correctly. About an hour later, I asked dh if he was ok with the name Willow Anne, and he said he loved it. :-) Willow Anne she is.

Pachelbel Rant

2009-04-16T22:07:00.000-06:00

God's Busy

2009-03-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

God's Busy

A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments.. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan . One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU.

One day the professor shocked the class when he came in he looked to the ceiling and flatly stated , 'God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes.'

The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed , 'Here I am God. I'm still waiting'. It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him, knocking him off the platform.

The professor was out cold. The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked, stunned, and sat there looking on in silence.

The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked , 'What the heck is the matter with you? Why did you do that?'

The Marine calmly replied , 'God was too busy today protecting American soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like an idiot. So, He sent me.'

HOORAH!!!!

WE'RE DEBT FREEEEEEEEEEEE

2009-02-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

HOLY MACKERAL!!! WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE DEBT FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

I'm so insanely excited. Our last payment cleared today, Natasha's 11th birthday. We now only owe our mortgage, but all our debt is gone! I'm sooooo stoked!!!!!

Snarl!!!!

2009-02-11T11:21:00.004-07:00

I am more than slightly irritated. I participate in an online knitting/crochet community, and had found political refuge with a group there.... Well the powers that be have decided that to ease their lives, they're closing that group. They are blaming us for trolls and other of such unsavory character sending to much work their way. The group on the whole, apparently did nothing wrong, except exist.... I'm not happy....

driving

2009-01-29T15:15:00.001-07:00

ROFLOL!!!!!!!

Woot!!!

2009-01-07T10:08:00.001-07:00

only $6091.82 left in debt!!! we'll be under 6 grand before income tax refund comes!! WOOT!!! It's almost gone!!!

Noah's Birthday

2009-01-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Noah!!!!

He got a bike for his birthday... I think he likes it!

New Years Eve Pizza Party

2008-12-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

So, tomorrow is a new year, and Noah's birthday. I decided to try making homemade pizza for the party, 1. because Noah loves pizza, and 2. because I love pizza, and 3. because pizza is now expensive. Really easy, I took my normal bread recipe, guessed that it would make 2 pizzas, and doubled it to have 4. Ok, each bread recipe made 3 pizzas, so we had 6. We'll be eating leftovers for a while, but it worked really well!!!

I have perforated pizza pans I bought at Walmart, rolled out the dough, stretched them on the pan and pre-baked them at 350 for 8 min.

Then top them, using the pizza peel, and slip them right on the oven rack (I don't own a pizza stone...) for 13 min at 400. Bingo!! yummy pizza for what I figure is $2 a pizza. Not bad, and very yummy!

The kids were excited to have all the pizza they could eat. Lets see how they feel about it after we have pizza tomorrow too, for breakfast and lunch... LOL

Cool Rise Cinnamon Rolls

2008-12-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite holiday memories is having cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Alas, on Feingold, the Pilsbury dough boy and I have parted ways... But, my darling friend Marye at Baking Delights posted a recipie for cool rise maple pecan rolls. So, presto bango, I change it up a little and POOF! My cool rise cinnamon rolls! I would have taken more pictures, but they disappeared too fast...

Christmas!!!

2008-12-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

Christmas went ok. The kids had fun, and that was the most important part.

He's here!!!!

2008-11-21T22:10:00.001-07:00

Judah Samuel was born at 6:35pm after, believe it our not, a half hour labor! He's my first unassisted birth... and it was beautiful! He weighs 8 lbs even, and is 21 in long... he looks just like Michael. I'm so thankful he's here....

Sewing a tier skirt

2008-07-17T08:26:00.004-06:00

I made a denim tier skirt for Natasha to use during Frontier Days for her youth symphony performances. It was insanely simple... so here's how I did it!

I cut out rectangles of denim. They are stacked top tier, middle tier, bottom tier. They get a little wider with each tier also. The top and middle tier have 2 pieces, the bottom has 3.

Then I serge the rectangles together to make loops. The bottom tier I also serge the bottom edge for the hem, and the top tier gets serged for the waistband.

Serging done!! That was the easiest part...

ok, so this part isn't hard, just time consuming, and invariabley, finger poking. Pins.... lots and lots of pins. I run two basting lines on the edge that needs to be gathered, pull to gather, and pin in place. Now, on the cotton dresses I make for the girls, this is insanely easy.... I discovered I should have used a heavier weight thread for this denim... my thread groaned, but didn't break. A major shout out thanks to Ingrid for helping me gather the bottom tier... I was mega-procrastinating...

Now its' all gathered, and I stitch a 5/8" seam between my two basting lines. Easy as pie. I have Michael remove the pins, then pull the basting threads, then serge the seam, nice and secure.

ain't that nice?

I iron the seam up, and top stitch it so it lays nicely.
I don't do this for the cotton skirts, but I thought it was really needed for the denim or Natasha would have those seams rubbing her leggs all the time. How annoying. I know the stitching barely shows... that's the point, isn't it? ;-)

turn, iron, and stitch the hem. This only needed a 1/4" hem, so that was nice and quick.

Almost done!!!!

Turn, pin, and iron the top for the waistband. I did a 1 1/4" casing, since my elastic was 1".

sew.

Don't forget to leave a hole so you can insert the elastic!!

Cut the elastic to length. I run it thru, then pin it so she can try it on before I finish...

this helps it not move, so I can pull it out and cut any adjustments...

ok, so it was 3 tries and 6" of adjustments...

I use a vertical stitch so the stretch isn't compromised by my stitching. Tuck it in, stitch closed the hole, and stretch the waistband to even out the fabric around it.

Last thing I did was to put in 4 verticle seams, one at each side seam, and one middle of the front, and middle of the back. This will help prevent the elastic from rolling, and from shifting the skirt around too much.

And here we are! One finished tier skirt or prairie skirt!

More sewing

2008-07-13T16:18:00.002-06:00

Natasha needs a denim skirt. Ok, well, she could wear a pair of jeans, but we'd prefer a denim skirt. She and Michael have performances for the youth symophony next week during Frontier Days. So, I'm making her a denim skirt! I have to alter the pattern to make it longer. That's waht I get for having a slim daughter and a conviction to stay modest. So, here's some pictures! I also made a tutorial on how I made it.... lots of pictures....

catching up on knitting...

2008-07-13T16:09:00.003-06:00

Believe it or not, I have been knitting. Nothing looks like much now, but I have been doing some. This is the pi shawl I've been working on. It's on size 4 needles in a laceweight from a hand dye yarn shop that I can't remember... I bought this wool nearly 2 years ago...

This is a maternity shirt for me.... or at least that's what it's supposed to be when it's done. LOL I have about 5 more inches before the bust decrease. It takes a lot of yarn to cover this growing belly!!

I'm also planning on starting little one's dedication gown soon. We're about to become significantly broke for the next year, so I'm ferreting money away. I wanted to make the gown out of an exotic fiber... but it looks like it's going to be made out of plain wool. It'll be stunning none the less. I can't wait to start it!

some of Michael's shots

2008-07-13T16:08:00.002-06:00

Seems the shutter bug has hit Michael too.. not bad for an 11yo playing with mom's camera without instruction.

Weekly belly shot

2008-07-11T08:53:00.001-06:00

24 weeks. Baby is about 1 lb now. I'm feeling all those lovely kicks and rolls. Sometimes, I can even see little ones movement on my belly. Jim hasn't felt anything yet, but I know he will in time. This seems to be a much quieter baby than the others.... could be interesting. LOL

24w0d

24 week stats: weight gain- 14 lbs; fetal heartrate- 155/bpm; fundal height- about 24 cm. movement- felt daily

weekly belly shot

2008-06-27T10:11:00.002-06:00

22 weeks!! I can't believe it's past halfway... wow....

22w0d

No heartrate stat or fundal height or weight. Those will now be recorded every 2 weeks, so on the 24 week shot...

wimper...

2008-06-17T19:28:00.002-06:00

I am massively craving spagetti.... massively.... mega.... big time.... wonderful yummy spagetti, sweet sauce, angel hair pasta, chunks of tomato...

wimper.....

I'm the only one in the house that can eat it. It makes everyone else sick. I have nothing here to make any.....

wimper......

I want spagetti......

Birthday!

2008-06-16T11:23:00.000-06:00

Well, Liberty loved her birthday presents. 6 new dresses by the blessing of God!

She looks pretty happy, don't you think?

Happy Birthday, Tia!

Weekly belly shot

2008-06-13T11:31:00.002-06:00

Definatly grown a bit over this week! Jim needs to get my maternity clothes out of the shed, and I have plans to sew some for myself. Hopefully they turn out well! I'm halfway there... scary!!!!!!!

20w0d

20 weeks stats: weight gain- 12 lbs; fetal heartrate- 155/bpm; fundal height- about 20 cm.

sewing up a storm

2008-06-12T22:24:00.000-06:00

man, I haven't gotten much knitting done... it's coming, I promise.. LOL This, however, is what I've been working on. We're pretty bloomin broke this month. (bad planning on my part, oh well.) So, Liberty's birthday is Monday. No money for presents, but a desperate need for new dresses. I was searching for material, praying that I had enough for 3 or 4 dresses for her. God provided enough for 6!!! Jehovah Jirah!! How weak my faith is, and how strong and loving He shows himself to be!!! So, I've been sewing up a storm for the last week. I have 3 more days till her birthday, and the dresses are almost done! Here's some pics!

This last one is after just getting skirts on. I now have all 6 skirts on, and the hems done. All that's left is the zippers and collars! Thank you Lord!!!!

Weekly belly shot

2008-06-06T22:37:00.003-06:00

ok. so we're reaching the time when I just feel gross... I'm in that transitional belly phase, where most people looking at me are going to think, eww, lady, get to a gym!!! I mean, my upper belly is puffy and fat.... bleh. oh well..

19w0d

19 weeks stats: weight gain- 11 lbs; fetal heartrate- 155/bpm; fundal height- about 20 cm. (still, normal for me...)

rain....

2008-06-04T07:45:00.003-06:00

it is raining..... bleh.... rain means mud and it means the children cannot go out to play.... bleh....I prefer snow, much prettier. So, I guess I need to come up with something fun for the kiddos today once they get school done...... ::sigh::

Yes, I know, rain is a blessing, it turns the grass green (well, that would be if I had grass) and it's great for flowers, trees and gardens. It's also dreary, cold, and depressing....

whee...

Weekly belly shot

2008-05-31T12:10:00.002-06:00

ok, so I didn't take one last week. I was in bed with a NASTY head cold. So, here's my new pic:

18w0d

18 weeks stats: weight gain- 11 lbs; fetal heartrate- 135/bpm; fundal height- about 20 cm. (still, normal for me...)

Some zoo pics

2008-05-29T13:22:00.001-06:00

here's some of my zoo pics. I really enjoy photography. I hate my camera... it's way too slow. Oh well, it works as well as it can, and I get some decent shots.

Denver Zoo

2008-05-28T22:33:00.001-06:00

Ugh... we are home... finally. I wish I could say it was a fun day.... ::sigh::: not really..

We drove down there, early, but none of the children went back to sleep. That may very well may have contributed to the day. The morning was exceptionally foggy. Now, in some places, that may be normal. Here in Wyoming, it's not. We got on the interstate and you could see about 75 ft in front of the van.... oh joy. Dh used to be a professional truck driver, so I trust his driving... it's all the other dingbats on the road that worry me. He told me it was supposed to clear and Denver was supposed to be sunny and warm.. but believe me, I was very doubtful it would. Well, he was right, and I was wrong. It started to lift at Wellington.. our first bathroom stop. By the time we made it to Longmont, it was nice and sunny.

We got there just as the zoo opened, and I'm thinking this is a good sign.... until I start noticing various groups of children in matching shirts start showing up. Not a good sign. I really don't like going to the zoo, library or parks when there are masses of children there. Oh well, such is life, and I'm not going to turn us around over that.

We get to the window, pay our $50 to get us all in (2 adults, 6 children, military discount) and dh begin to wonder what the cost is for a family membership pass. I tell him to go check it out real quick. He returns, and says, "they will credit our $50, and charge $30 for the year pass." I'm thinking, cool!! $30!! Not bad at all. So, he goes in, sets it all up, comes back and hands me the receipt for $50. I ask, where is the one showing the refund? There isn't one. Miscommunication, big time....:::sigh::: They didn't give us back 50, they added 30. So, now $80 later, we finally enter the zoo.... :::WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA::::::::::: ok, it's only money, and I guess we'll have to fill up and go back down to make up the difference.

So, now we're in, go change the baby, and we're off. I take pictures (love doing that) and we walk around. Ok, well, that was the plan. Notice nothing has gone according to our plan yet? The boys and Liberty are off like a shot. Now, if this had been a normal day, and half of Denver's elementry school and day care population hadn't been there, it would have been annoying, but not a huge deal. Since all those other children are there, keeping track of my kids becomes a nightmare.... ACK! Between Rowan screaming (she was not enjoying herself, for the most part), and the other four running off constantly, I was rapidly developing a headache.

I had taken the time last night to make 5 1/2 dozen muffins to take with us. Whole wheat apple muffins... they are very filling. Well, at this point, the children start plowing thru them. You'd think we hadn't fed them that morning!! So, they manage to go thru all the muffins I had, and the 6 apples I brought along. Ugh... So we decide to stop for lunch. I know this is going to bite me tomorrow, because it is highly doubtful that the Denver Zoo will be serving high quality foods containing no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors to their customers. I am going to pay for this lunch for the next 3 days.... oh well. Prices are expectanly high, so I get everyone a corn dog (something we haven't had since going on Feingold) and a couple of large french fries (something else we don't eat)to share. Everyone starts eating. Everyone, that is, except Natasha. She decides to throw a rare fit, and lie to me & dh. She says the corn dog sitting there is Michael's. Its not. Then she tries to say its Liberty's... nope. So, while everyone is enjoying a meal, I get to engage in the battle of, I got it for you, you will eat it. Would you believe it took her half an hour to eat that STUPID corn dog?! By the end of this, the boys are bouncing off the walls again, and, to top it all off, Liberty decided she didn't have to use the bathroom we took her to, 10 minutes earlier.... she'd wait and pee her pants in front of everyone!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's it, we're done. Once Natasha was done eating, we hightail it out and head to the van... much to the dissappointment of the children. (bummer!!) We finally get to the van, get children loaded, and I realize, dh needs to pull the van out to get the wagon in. My lovely and darling dh already realized this, and was in the van, to back it up. Well, he comes around, and I mention he needs to back out, I can't get the wagon in. Then those lovely words everyone enjoys so much. "I'd love to, dear, but the battery is dead."

:::thud::: can I curl up into a sniveling, whining, crying ball? It's just not fair. My dh, being the safe and responsible driver that he is, had turned on the lights when we left the house because of the fog. Well, when we made it to Denver, he didn't realize they were still on. And since our van is ancient, it doesn't have 1. an ring/alarm/notice that your lights are on, or 2. the ability to turn off your lights automatically. So, we have a dead battery..... very very very dead. No click dead. No dome lights dead. Nothing.

Remember what I said about nothing going according to plan? yeah....

So, dh runs back to the zoo's security office. They bring over this little portable battery recharger. yeah, like that's going to work. So, we sit there, plugged into that for like half an hour. Meanwhile, said security dude is talking to his supervisor (which we can overhear, because it's on speaker) saying it's not working, what should he do. She say's, oh, it's probably not their battery, they should call AAA, they can call for a tow. Um Hello!!! All we need is a jump from a battery stronger than one required to run a golf cart!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dh finally gets them to agree to bring over a truck from the security office. So, while 2 security people stand there, another goes to get the truck. They start talking amongst themselves again... You know, if you are going to have a private conversation where you are trying to make someone feel stupid, you should at least do it out of earshot. It went something like this. "well, how are we going to jump them? you can't reach the battery" Dh says, I'm going to let the van roll out into the parking lot lane so you can reach it. um, DUH!!! So, we roll backwards, with the security guys white-faced panicked that we are going to hit a car.... It's been a long day, I'm trying to bite my lip... ARGH!!!

Security truck pulls up, we hook up our cables, let it run for a minute, and, whadoyaknow, it fired right up!!!! We were finally off and running, headed home.

it was a very very long day..... But, I got some good pictures. I'll share them tomorrow.

Group Hug

2008-05-27T12:24:00.001-06:00

So, we're supposed to go to the Denver Zoo tomorrow. The children all know that they house has to be cleaned before we can go. You'd be amazed that, dispite how messy our house is, we actually clean it about 2 times a day. Six small children can make an amazing amount of mess on a daily basis. Well, add that to the fact that I am most assuredly not related in any way to Martha Stewart, and so therefore, my house is not expecially neat and tidy to begin.

So, back to the point, Jamie got up this morning, before I did (I've been ill) and picked up the boys bedroom, the living room, the bathroom, and swept the kitchen. All without being asked! Very sweet of him, don't you think? Here's all his siblings thanking him. Jamie would be the middle child in the group of the three biggest ones here.

French Puff Muffins

2008-05-22T12:14:00.001-06:00

Ok, so here's another cooking post inspired by Marye at Baking Delight. She's such and awesome cook, and she does so much other fun stuff!! I just want to hang out at her house...

Anyways, these are the French Breakfast Puffs. She posted these before I had made breakfast... had to have them. LOL That's what a pg woman gets for reading a baking blog before breakfast. On the upside, they were really really worth it!!! The recipie was so simple, and I had everything on hand. Gotta love recipes like that!! I didn't finish them the way she suggested, by dipping the cooked tops in melted butter and then in cinnamon sugar. I just sprinkled cinnamon sugar on the tops before I put them in. Very Very yummy!!! A definate must try! Unfortunately, my dh didn't get to sample them... even though we made a double batch... somehow, they all dissappeared within, oh... about half an hour! But it was very good!!!

another yummy baking day

2008-05-16T14:37:00.002-06:00

So, Michael's been bugging me to try and make pretzels. We have a recipe from the Taste of Home Baking book. I haven't let him try them yet.... Have I mentioned I hate trying new things? Well, I relented today. It's been a really rough week. Rowan has been ill since last Saturday (finally better!! YEA!!), and the kids got into some unapproved foods on Sunday (spent three days climbing the walls detoxing), and Michael got into some vanilin, (we ain't going there...). So, the fact that we survived the week, got all of our school work done, and the house is semi-clean, I told Michael that as long as he cleaned the kitchen last night, he could try the pretzels this morning....

He followed the recipe (miracle for him.. lemme tell you) and made the dough without any help from me. Let it rise, and cut it into tha appropriate number of pieces, according to the recipe (another miracle...). Now, I did help him form them into ropes and fold them into the standard pretzel shape. That was fun.

Oh, notice the shirt? My mom got it for him... it is unfortunately very accurate for this particular child... Anyways, back to pretzels..

I helped with this part, too. Each pretzel was dipped in boiling water with baking soda in it for about 1 minute. Not as easy as it seems, the pretzel comes out with a funky texture, and wanted to break. I'm gonna have to get me a bigger slotted spoon or spider.
Michael sprinkled salt on them after I put them on the cookie sheet. Let's just say, he needs practice in the salting area. Some had a small pile of salt, right in the center, some had just the right amount. Live and learn, and this definately counts as learning....

Off to the oven!!!!

three words... OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why did I wait so long? I love love love soft pretzels, and these were amazing!!! I wish I could describe the aroma... oh drool-worthy! you could smell the baked salt in them.. they were crusty on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside.. ok, you know if you've had a really bad soft pretzel, they have that nasty chemical taste, unidentifiable, but really gross? That is not these!! If you've ever had a good fresh pretzel, then you also know what I mean. There was 2 complaints on these. 1: I think they cooked to fast, there were a few slightly soggy spots in the twists and such. I think I'll try to cook them at a little lower temp for a touch longer, see if that helps. And 2: They don't make neough!! ok, most recipes don't, but you know. And I'll leave you with some satisfied customers...

weekly belly shot

2008-05-16T14:30:00.003-06:00

ok this shot stinks, but it's the one I have. I think I need to find a better place to take my pics, but this is my only full length mirror. Anyways, here you go!

16w0d

16 weeks stats: weight gain- 10 lbs; fetal heartrate- 150/bpm; fundal height- about 20 cm. (I have't measured yet, but we're up to the belly button! yes, that's big, no, I'm not showing yet (never do), and that measurement is normal for me.)

bread....

2008-05-13T13:45:00.000-06:00

baking bread... yum... around here, it's not really a luxury, even though it seems like one. It's actually a necessity. We follow the Feingold program. What that is, is removing all artificial colors and flavors, and certain preservatives from our diet. Ok, well, I cheat sometimes, but mostly for the children. We have some pretty energetic kids around here, and I ain't talking about goats... wish I was. Anyways, we have discovered thru using this program that my children are sensative to, or even could be considered allergic to, these additives. For example, our pretty much extreme example, my son Michael. He's a wild bundle of energy, and that's when he's not on any colors, flavors or preservatives... when he is on them, he's dang near unhandleable. One item in particular, we have discovered, sets him off like no other. Artificial vanilla, or vanilin, as its often known. It makes him rebellious, moody, and agressive... very agressive. Our lives are much better having gone on this program.

So, what does this have to do with baking bread? Well, a lot, actually. Most store bought breads contain what we call "bad stuff." There are some breads that we could have, but 1. we can't find them, and 2. we can't afford them. So, where does that leave us? Why, with the horrid task of making our own, wholesome, delectable smelling, warm, crusty bread.... bummer for us...LOL We have also started grinding our own wheat.... why? well, because I think it's better for us. Bread can easily be made with regular old store bought all purpose flour, in fact, that makes a mighty fine loaf. But I'm really enjoying the ability to make our own... and the health benefits.. Well, just turn on your tv or open up a magazine and you'll see the many benifits of whole grains.

So, why this whole shpiel on bread? Well, let me show you....

How's that for yum? Too bad you can't smell it... delish! Now, this isn't our normal everyday bread, although it's close. This is my normal everyday recipe, but instead of using my whole wheat flour for the whole wheat portion, Michael wanted to try our 7 grain mix. Now, I will admit, I didn't expect much of it. I've never used the 7 grain on a loaf of bread. Why? well, because I hate change. I like eating things I know I will like, and I'm scared to spend time, energy and money on something that I might not like. silly, isn't it. Well, my first worry was that there wouldn't be enough gluten to make the bread rise well, so I added some in.

I don't think I should have worried... do you?

My son is well on his way in following the bread baking tradition within our family....

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T14:52:00.002-06:00

Well, Happy Mother's day to all you mothers out there.

No post yesterday, mainly because my whole day went like this.
dh wakes up, notices baby has barfed all over the crib. Clean up baby, clean sheets, baby barfs again, clean up baby, snuggle baby, baby sleeps, baby wakes, baby barfs, repeat for hours.

So, no post yesterday. LOL.

Today went better, no barf. Baby sleeping, however, so I ended up not going to church. My dear darling Jim took all the children, except Rowan, to church alone. And, then he took them to do all of the shopping, too!! he's a dear. I'd be lost without him... Came home, put food & such away. Whee. That's our exciting sunday!

New weekly post

2008-05-09T09:38:00.003-06:00

This is the start of a new weekly post for me, Watch my bump grow! I'll be posting on Fridays belly shots of my growing new child. I'm doing this, 1.- because I want a record of how my body changes, and 2.- because this is really hard for me to do. I have never taken belly picture of any of my other 6 children, and I want to celebrate every moment of this one, instead of being ashamed of how my body looks after having carried 6. So, here I will record baby belly shots. Friday is when my weeks change, so fridays it is.

15w0d

Rowan's Birthday

2008-05-08T20:10:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Rowan!!!!!!!!! How hard it is to believe she's a year old already.. Of course she walks, and has started talking a touch. It s still always hard to believe she's grown that much.

Well, here's some birthday pics.

We had a lot of fun. The cake, is a pineapple upside-down cake from Marye at Baking Delights.

Let me tall you, this is not your regular pineapple upside down cake!! Oh My Goodness!!!!! The cake is a sponge cake, light and fluffy. I left out the nuts (we don't care for them) and the rum flavoring and marchieno cherries (we can't do artificial flavors or colors), but the product was definately not sub par because of these exclusions!!! I cooked it in a 10" springform pan, which worked really well.....well, except for the butter dripping out of the bottom... My bad. I should have wrapped the bottom in foil... oh well, live and learn. The cake was light and fluffy, not heavy and sticky sweet like the upside down cake I grew up with. Jim, my dh, can't stand pineapple upside-down cake. He was very disappointed that I was making this for her birthday.. he wanted yellow cake with chocolate frosting... bummer for him. However, he had a taste of the batter, and had to try a slice. Aroma, intoxicating. He said there was only one thing wrong with the cake.... there wasn't enough of it! LOL I totally agree... We cut it into 8 slices, just enough for everyone to have a piece... yum...... needed more.... yum...... We will DEFINATELY make this again!!

Oh No!!!

2008-05-08T08:41:00.002-06:00

Well, remember the startitis problem? I had cast on a baby jacket in cobweb weight.... well I was buzzing right along, to the armpit increases. I went to take a bath last night... and Rowan got into it! she pulled out the needles.... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa :::sniff sniff::::: So, I have 3 choices...

1. Start over again... sounds like fun but I discovered the jacket won't fit a baby, but a doll, not that Natasha would mind...

2. Start over on a larger needle size to make one fit a real baby.... but I really don't need a jacket for a baby at this moment....

3. Put it away and finish some of my works in progress... gee, I only have like 5 to finish......

Or 4. (yes, I know I said three, but I could keep going if I tried...) Scrap the jacket, and cast on the Unst stole....

hmmmm, decisions... decisions.... decisions.....

long but fun day

2008-05-06T20:40:00.000-06:00

Long but fun day... that about sums it up. The kids took most of the day to do their schoolwork... it was just to gorgeous outside to stay in and focus for too long today. Then, we got to go vote on some stupid special tax session... oh yes, mr elected official, please raise my taxes. NOT!! Then off to Walmart to get stuff for dinner and presents for Rowan...

I can't believe she is going to be one on thursday..... It's been a long rough year.....

Startitis

2008-05-05T21:39:00.002-06:00

Startitis.... I have it, bad. For those of you who don't know, startitis is the annoying habit of starting another project before one is done. Well, in my case, before, like, 4 are done. :::sigh::: See, it all started when I was working on two socks on circs.... well, they didn't go fast enough for me, and I was designing them as I went, so they got put aside. Then, I finally get up the urge to finish my MS3 Swan Lake shawl.... and notice a hole in the wool about 50+ rows back.... can we say frog? :::sigh:::: so, now I don't want to work on it. So, instead of working on the MS3, or the 2 socks on circs, or even on the valentine sock that remains an orphan, I cast on a pi shawl, a la EZ. Then, a week later, while that's buzzing right along, we get to today. So, how is my pi shawl, you may ask? well, it's lonely.... see I cast on a baby jacket in cobweb weight a la Sharon Miller. So, that's what, like 5 projects in the works... and that doesn't count my lone Traveler's sock, that I stopped just after turned the heel.... namely because I turned the heel wrong, and I'm going to have to rip that out. So, I have startitis.... What's to be done? I dunno.... I currently have visions of casting on a fair isle sweater for my dh's twin infant cousins... luckily, I haven't the yarn or a pattern to do that. (of course, if there's any knitting enablers who would like to point to a pattern.... I won't complain! )

Startitis... I have it.... baaaaad.......

trying

2008-05-02T19:19:00.002-06:00

I'm trying to try and blog every day this month..... we'll see what happens.

We had wild weather today... ok, normal weather for Wyoming, but wild none the less. We were pushing 80 degrees on Wednesday... It was beautiful. Yesterday and today, cold cold cold, and today, mega windy and snow. Wyoming is so funny.

There's not much else going on. We finished up school for the week yesterday, so today was a day off.... which would be great if the day was sunny, but the children were just being wild. It can be really frustrating, but whacha gonna do?

ok, so this is a sucky blog.... my life is boring, I have no deep thoughts, but this is my life.....

May

2008-05-01T08:57:00.002-06:00

May.... Wow, I can't believe it's May. This time last year I was wonderfully round and enjoying the last of my pregnancy, not really wanting it to end, knowing that it would. Rowan turns 1 next week. I am once again looking forward to that day. Not only do we get to celebrate Rowan's birthday, but we'll be telling the children about our new little one on the way. I got Rowan a tshirt that says "I'm gonna be a big sister!! November 2008"

Engineers and cats...

2008-04-21T09:16:00.002-06:00

LOVE IT!!!!

oh Killer cool!!!!

2008-04-16T15:17:00.002-06:00

Check out my ticker!!! We're under the 10 grand mark!!!!! WhoooHooo!!! That's $7600 paid off since September!! Oh that makes me so happy.. I really needed that. Our goal is to have that paid off in Feb of '09, then it's on to getting our fully funded emergency fund, and then, ON TO THE MORTGAGE!!!!!! ok, so I estimat that'll take us about 7 years to pay off, but won't that be awesome!?! Hmmm, wonder what a good old fashioned mortgage party should look like... teehee!!!

what flower am I

2008-04-16T10:05:00.001-06:00

I am a
Daisy

What Flower
Are You?

"You are just a sweet person. When a friend needs a shoulder to cry on, you are happy to offer yours with a box of tissues as well. Once in awhile, you wish you could be a little more dramatic but then sensibility sets back in and you know that you are perfect the way you are."

Okaaaay..... Riiiigghhht......

Meme'd!!

2008-04-13T07:38:00.002-06:00

I've been Meme'd! LOL

1.Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

ok, so the first book I grab is "100 Prison Meditations: Cries of Truth from behind the Iron Curtain" by Richard Wurmbrand.

" From the whole biography of a Roman officer, the Bible records only a few minutes in which he showed strong faith (Matthew 8:19). Of the whole degraded life of a Samaritan woman, the Bible retains one day when she was a zealous missionary (John 4: 28, 29). From everything you think, if you have the desire to be as holy as man has ever been, God will retain this one inner wish."

Hmmmm, I really needed that this morning. Thanks God!

If you read this, consider yourself tagged.

Fun saturday

2008-04-12T20:43:00.002-06:00

Today was a long fun day! We took off early this morning to drop the kids off with Ingrid, then headed for Denver. Now, normally I avoid that city like the plague... especially in my van, but this was a special trip! Twice a year we buy grain from Urban Homemaker during their grain sale. Well, today was pick up day!! We left town later than I expected, but the drive was mostly uneventful. There was one accident on the road, but it only slowed things down a little. Once we got down there, it's so much fun! Bags and buckets of grain everywhere, and all sorts of helping hands. When we got our order sorted out and loaded up, I counted just for fun. We had 830 lbs of grain in the van!! LOL Including 50 lbs of wheat that was a free gift that we hadn't expected!! God is generous!

After picking up our order, we still had a little more fun planned. Jim has never been to Casa Bonita! I can't believe in the years he lived down there or since we've been married, that he hadn't been! It was a blast!! It's this huge restaurant that serves not terribly authentic mexican food, but the atmosphere is amazing!! The interior of the restaurant is designed to look like a Spanish village in the evening! The ceiling is black, and there's lights hanging on 'trees' and in the porches and such. There is amazing entertainment in the form of puppet shows, gunfights, high divers (there's a huge waterfall that empties into a 40' deep pool!) and even a gorilla!! ( ok, so it's someone in a gorilla suit, but it's a blast none the less!) There's also mines and caves and even an arcade! it's a kick! The prices really weren't that bad, ($12.00 for an all you can eat dinner down to $5.00 for kids meals) We are defiately going to have to take the kids!

The drive home was long, we ended up having to pull over and take a half an hour nap, but it was nice to just hang out with dh for the day.... especially since he leaves tomorrow for a week....

been down

2008-04-07T08:25:00.002-06:00

yup, its been close to a month since I've written anything. Oh well. I've been really really down. As in I haven't even picked up my knitting needles or turned on my sewing machine for about a month. This years cycle of depression has been really really bad. One of those, it's a good thing I have kids to force me out of bed or I'd still be there cycles..... Hopefully it'll clear soon. I'm just not up to anything. We have 15 weeks of school left, but we're only going to take about a week break at that point. I'm hoping to get halfway thru the next set before the baby comes. I normally take from Thanksgiving thru New Years off, and I'm expecting to have little one the first or second week of Nov, so the timing would be perfect. I know what I'm doing with Michael and Natasha, I just really just don't know what to do with Jamie. He's reading at close to the same level with the older two, as in he's reading the same things as the others. But I don't think he's ready for core 4 in Sonlight. (we're doing core 3 this year.) bleh... I don't want to do core 3 with him again...I could back way back and do a combined core 1/2 with him, and just focus on language arts/ vocab building.. I just don't know. I also need to get Noah started on reading. I could purchase the pre-k core, but I really don't want to. We have plenty of books here for him. I just don't know what to do.... and I have about 10 weeks to figure it out.... ( holy mackeral!! I'll be half way thru my pg at that point!!!)

What my name says about me

2008-03-13T09:40:00.001-06:00

Interesting, I agree with most of it.

What Monica Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable.

You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.

You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.

At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.

You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.

You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.

You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.

You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.

You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.

A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.

You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.

You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

New month...

2008-03-03T16:29:00.002-07:00

It's a new month... wow. It always amazes me how a day in and of itself can seem neverending (especially the bad ones...) and yet you look back and try and wonder where the last month has gone?! March... so close to spring, and yet so far. I have cabin fever really bad right now. We had some beautiful days last week, so I got out and enjoyed them with the children. This week, cold, snow, wind, more cold. LOL That's Wyoming for you. I really don't mind too much. I love the snow, as long as I'm not cold, and I have been blessed to be able to pay my heating bill, so I can keep my house warm.

The children are having a wild day. I'm not happy about it, my house needs cleaning, but I'm really too tired to care. That's a good thing, even though it sounds not. I'm very tired, feeling naseaous, my feet are hot... all good signs that this pregnancy is on track. We still haven't told the children yet, probabily won't until mid to late April or so. We'll see. Other than that, not much going on here. I'm getting diapers sewn for Rowan, socks knit for me, and I'm working on adapting a sweater pattern for 5 lb Lily. Gotta get that done. Patrick's sweater just needs buttons and I can get them sent off.

Well, I'm off to relax.

Well.....

2008-02-25T11:38:00.001-07:00

Well, I got a shock on Saturday.

Chiltonlet number 7 is due on Halloween!!

prayers...

2008-02-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

Jim has a problem wrist. Well, there has been an new ortho doc at the VA here in town, and he's been seeing him. They've done a ct scan of his wrist. He's been having pain in his bicep, so they did an MRI of that, and he's been having shoulder pain. (all on the same arm). So, abuot 2-3 weeks ago, they wanted to do a 'procedure' on his wrist. We found out later, they were trying to eliminate the pain. They injected his wrist with some stuff, (he couldn't really tell me what), and it was supposed to help. Well, he went for a follow-up today. He is still in just as much pain as before. The doc said, well, you have two choices. Learn to live with the pain, or have a total wrist fusion. (sigh) Jim said, Guess I'll wait.

He also went to our Chiro this morning. Sweet girl, about my age, Jim says she has needles for fingers..LOL He was there about his shoulder. She poked, prodded, from his upper back down his arm. And she kep commenting, man! your' muscles are just tight knots!! (yeah they are...) She wants a try. She is not only a Chiro, but also an Accupuncturist. So, talking to Jim, we're going to give her a year to work on him, and see if there's any difference. She says she has had good results before. Our insurance covers both accupuncture and chiro, but they've been goofy on how they work, so we (dr, and us) are going to work on that.

Anyways, would you please pray that things get better for him? I mean, I know both he and I would love God to completely spontaniously heal him, but we would settle for steady improvement. He is always, always in pain. I long for him to not be.

:-(

2008-02-20T21:24:00.002-07:00

I am currently plowing my way thru a box of chocolate covered cherries. Why? well, I'm lonely and I'm sad. My wonderful and amazing dh has a computer game. He is really enjoying it. And he plays it, nearly constantly..... He is just in the other room, and I miss him......

Headed to Debt Freedom!!!

2008-02-20T11:36:00.002-07:00

Well, we got our refund on Friday. I paid off our last cc, and our car!!!! We are down to ONE debt!! WHOOOHOOO!!!! Thank you Dave Ramsey!! We're getting there!!!

Angel Food Cake

2008-02-19T09:52:00.001-07:00

Look what I made!! From scratch!! Marye, you were right, it was easy. Once I get a new camera cord, I'll add some more pictures.... and it was really really yummy too!

Legislative session

2008-02-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the legislative session in WY has begun again. It's a season of prayer for us, praying that our freedoms don't get trashed any more, and expanded would be even better. There is a bill close to my heart, SF 74 Traditional Birth Care. If it passes, it will legalize midwifery in Wyoming again. Currently, midwifery has been erased from the books, without even notifying the public, or asking for public opinion. CNM, which are nurses with specialized training in midwifery, is covered, but they do not deliver at home here. The bill would allow Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) to attend births.

This is dear to my heart. You see, all 6 of my children have been born at home with a midwife in attendance, some after the legal status changed. I never knew it had been made illegal. I had dreams of becoming a midwife when my childbearing years are over, and my daughter has mentioned more than once a desire to become a midwife. (she has attended my last two births) My husband and I have been so distraught over the outlawing of midwifery in WY, that we have seriously considered moving to another more midwife friendly state. Here in Wyoming, we have a shortage of OB care. What a boon it would be to a rural state like ours, for a midwife to be able to take on the low risk patients, freeing up OB time and facilities to the mid to higher risk patients they have been trained to handle! Midwifery has been a time honored tradition, tracing its roots back to Biblical times, and beyond, I'm sure. The Hebrew midwives in Egypt were honored by name in the Bible for performing their duties admirably. A trained midwife provides so much care, gentleness, and understanding to an expecting woman. They are taught, and believe, that pregnancy is not a medical problem, but a normal state in the lifecycle of a woman. There are parameters to follow, and if a woman and her pregnancy veer outside of normal parameters, they refer the woman to a Dr, who is trained to handle the complications that sometimes do arise. Drs should be there, but they shouldn't be a woman's only choice. It bothers me greatly that a woman can choose to end her pregnancy for any reason (ain't getting into that here) but cannot choose a midwife to attend her birth. Many countries have midwives for most of their women, it's considered normal, and their birth mortality rates are lower than here. And as the US pushes once again to a caesarian rate of nearly 30%, it seems like the almighty dollar is making choices for us, not us for ourselves. (not saying Dr's are performing c-sec's for financial gain, but do we all not know someone who was forced into having a repeat section because of hospital policy or insurance restrictions.) I truly hope that Wyoming's legislators listen to all the statistical information that shows midwifery to be a safe option, and allow us to step back into the 21st century.

Please keep this issue in your prayers....

New Mexico trip

2008-02-05T14:15:00.001-07:00

Here's some pictures of our drive home from the funeral in NM. Yes, it was snowing really hard from Santa Fe til Las Vegas, but Raton was clear.

Enjoy eye candy.

Totally Random and Pointless post

2008-02-03T22:55:00.001-07:00

GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008 sock KAL

2008-02-01T22:16:00.000-07:00

I'm part of a group on Ravelry that is knitting socks every month. This is my January sock I finished last week.
These are the diagonal rib socks by Ann Budd. Knit on Knitpicks Harmony needles in size 2, 2 circular. Yarn, Trekker XXL. Alterations- I put in a short row heel. I'm really like how these turned out. I'm a happy camper!

Custom Sewn wedding dress

2008-01-31T10:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, so before the first of the year, I was working on a request from a friend. I offered to make her wedding dress. (yes, I'm insane...LOL ) The pattern she chose was wonderful, easy to make. Thsi was a fully lined a-line dress with princess seams. I think it turned out well, she loved it.
Pic heavy...
this stuff was like cutting a cloud. This is the material for the undersleeve. Beautiful, light, airy stuff.

under sleeve cut out.

This is the main sleeve/over sleeve. It was a long draping poet sleeve. Since the interior of the sleeve was visible, I lined it with the same material as the dress, not lining material.

These are obviously cutting out the pattern. I cut the two layers of satin and the two layers of lining at the same time. It saved my sanity...LOL Actually, it was easy, it was just faster to cut them out at the same time.

An in process shot...

Look at that train....

Finished!! Waiting for delivery. I finished it at about 2 am. The wedding was on New Years Day. (which also happens to be my Noah's birthday!)
This is a close up of the applique on the front. It uses cording, fire-polished Chech beads, and hemitite tube beads. I think it turned out pretty good!

A happy bride. (yes, I know the exposure is horrid, but I had to bump it way up... I took a lousy picture.)

Many years of happiness to you both!!

2008- new year.....

2008-01-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it down to my MiL's home and had a great stay. I still have to unpack, then I get to update here tomorrow. The wedding went great, and the dress fit (YEA!!). So, I figure this is as good a place as any to post some goals for the new year.

1. Jim and I have given up all sodas and fries.... bummer... they're soooo yummy!
2. One of my big ones for the year. Jim and I are reading thru the Bible in a year. Our church gave out a simple dayplanner with daily readings on each day. We have made it thru our reading each day so far. each day is a step in the right direction.
3. get more consistant with my prayer life. I struggle with this as well. I talk to God most of the time. (He probably wishes I'd shut up...lol)But I really want a set aside prayer time, focused, just being with Him.

Guess I'll check back once a month with my progress on those. Hopefully I'll be more consistant on posting here. I'm starting to go thru a book I got, 'Grieving the Child You Never Met." So validating. I guess my biggest fear is that this son will be forgotton.... and I can't forget. I told Jim on the way home, I guess God called Ferne home so she could rock our baby.... works for me......

On with 2008!

Year end review

2007-12-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

well, it's the end of 2007. I haven't been up to keeping up here the last few weeks. A cloud of depression has been hanging on. But, life will go on, and there's always tomorrow.

2007- the first half, wonderful. Third quarter, sucky. Last quarter, emotionally devastating.

Tomorrow starts a new year. Here's praying its a good one. But even if it's not, I stand in the knowledge that Christ Jesus is with me thru it all, the good, the sad, the difficult, the painful. A lot has gone on this year that I have not posted about, private struggles that I'm not comfortable sharing. But knowing that all things here will pass away, and that my future is in Heaven with God, I will keep plugging on.

Blessings and Hope to you all in the New Year.

buzz

2007-12-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

well, life here, as usual, is insanely busy. Today, I need to get bread baked, sew the sleeves of a sweater I made for Rowan, and pull the sleeves out of the mock up dress I'm working on. I'm making a wedding dress for a friend, and I have to adjust the sleeves to make them fit right. I sure hope it works. I ordered beads for it, and I need to find some ribbon so I can get working on the accents. I'm feeling a little bit of a time crunch because they are getting married in about 3 weeks. Now, this is no problem, except I know I'll be dodging down to NM because Jim's grandmother is dying of liver cancer.

I just had to say, how blessed I am to have Ingrid for a friend. Jim and I were out of town this week, and Ingrid kept all 5 of my younger children. She also made sure they got their schoolwork done. How sweet is that. She is truely a blessing.

sadness and loss

2007-12-03T22:06:00.000-07:00

I lost my baby today. I was almost 7 weeks along.

Christmas Contest

2007-11-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Marye at Baking Delights is having a contest! The winner gets a mega yummy chocolate cookbook...ok, the book isn't chocolate, but it is full of chocolate recipies! Go check her site out. She's an awesome cook, and I do mean awesome! The site is full of yummy things to eat, and I could gain 5 lbs just reading it.

Well, speaking of chocolate cooking, and Christmas. Here's a recipie I found in a baking catalog that came in the mail. The cataloge is called The Baker's Catalogue and dh and I just flip thru it and drool. Anyways, here's the recipie.

Coal Cookies
1/2 c unsalted butter
1 1/3 c brown sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp espresso powder
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
2/3 c Dutch process cocoa
1 1/2 c flour (whole wheat or all purpose is fine)
2 c semisweet chocolate chips (or a mixture of raisins, chips and nuts)

Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly grease two baking sheets, or line them with parchment, or lightly grease a mini-muffin pan.

In a medium bowl, cream together butter, sugar, bking powder, espresso powder, vanilla, and salt. Add the eggs, beating until smooth. Stir in the cocoa powder, then th flour; the dough will be stiff. Mix in the chocolate chips, or the chips/raisins/nuts.

Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls (about 1 1/2"balls) onto the prepared baking sheets, or into the mini-muffin cups; a tablespoon cookie scoop is the perfect tool for this. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes for the baking sheet, or 15 minutes for the mini-muffin pan. They'll look not quite done in the center. Remove them from the oven, and allow them to cool for 10 minutes, or the mini muffins to cool for about 20 minutes. Gently squeeze and shape the cookies into uneven balls, to resemble chunks of coal. Yield: 3 dozen cookies

When this recipie arrived in the mail, we just had to make it... LOL We didn't use the espresso powder ( I hate coffee), and used a mixture of chocolate chips, raisins, and slivered almonds, because that's what we had. YUM!!!!! They did not last the evening. I wish I had pictures, but I don't. LOL I think this recipe is going to end up a Christmas regular.

meme'd

2007-11-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

Marye at Apron Strings meme'd me.... here we go.

4 PLACES I HAVE LIVED

well, my boring life continues.
1. England- don't be impressed, I was born there, left when I was 2. I have no memory of it.
2. Cheyenne, WY- this is where the military moved us when my family left England
3. Casper, WY- mistake. 'nuf said
4. Cheyenne- yup, back here.

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD

1. housekeeper for a hotel
2. cashier at a truck stop
3. customer service for a catalogue
4. babysitter.

4 FAVOURITE FOODS

mmmm....food
1. Crablegs, hands down
2. Sushi
3. french toast
4. hot tea with cream

4 PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON HOLIDAY

1. Dhavefest- it was in Wisconsin... relaxing and fun
2. Devil's Tower -my honeymoon. I think that counts as a holiday
3. San Diego- visiting my brother
4. Disneyworld. Ok, that wasn't a holiday, I was there performing with a children's choir I was in at 13.

4 PLACES I'D RATHER BE

1. a 3000 acre ranch, just about anywhere. Someplace I could relax.
2. in bed... I'm tired
3. some fancy-shmancy all expenses paid spa where I could alternate sitting in my room knitting, getting a massage, and reading a good book
4. Heaven-'nuf said

FOUR FANTASTIC BLOGGERS I'D LIKE TO TAG:

Now, here's where I falter.... I really don't know many bloggers, so if you read this, consider yourself tagged, and leave me a note so I can read it.

Lousy day....

2007-11-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Monday was a very lousy day.... My sweet little cat, Isis, had to be put down. He was 14.5 years old. He had quit eating this weekend, so I took him to the vet Monday morning. They found a mass in his abdomen, and suggested he be put down. I miss him....

Longies

2007-11-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

well, I finished Rowan's longies.... and they're huge on her! Oh well. I learned a lot, and I'll keep working on them. She can grow into them. Know that I know how they work, I can change them around to hopefully fit better. They were really easy. I also just tried to throw together a hat for her. Made up my own pattern... well that was too small. It's a newborn size. feels like I can't do anything right. I'll keep it too, put it in my nb box for the next baby.

I figure I'll keep up with my Christmas plans here. I have a majorly hard time enjoying Christmas. The whole thing just depresses me. Everyone expects the house to get decorated, carols playing in the background, a tree, perfectly trimmed, brimming with presents. Reality is, my house doesn't get decorated, everything I try to put up, the children trash. If I try to put out decorations, they become toys, swings, etc. Christmas carols, I really don't like them, never have. I can think of 2 I like. The Carol of the Bells, and Silent Night. Tree: see decorating. I love the look of glass ornaments, can't have them, they get smashed. I go with the plastic ones, they break them. I try having them make ornaments, it turns into a fight because "Liberty has the purple and won't share, Michael got more glitter than Natasha, Jamie's jealous of Noah's paper." And the presents? highly overrated in my opinion. Last year, every toy we got the kids, or that the grandparents got the kids, all but 2 were broken by the end of the week. What is the point? It's just wasteful. It's depressing. I remember being excited over the McDonald's gift certifcate my grandmother would send me every Christmas, the puzzles I got, and nothing was more amazing than a brand new coloring book and new crayons. Now, there is so much fighting for children's attention and parent's money, it's just not worth the effort. And we try very hard not to focus on things, but it is still so saturated. My children are noticing. When Christmas items are in the store before the middle of Oct, they don't like it either. But then the cataloges come, and the toy displays in the stores, and the whining begins. I will be the first to admit, my children are not up on all the most popular toys, that is by design, but marketing is marketing.

Well, this year is different. I told the children a month ago, that the money we would spend on junk for us is going to a much better cause this year. The $100 we would normally spend on the kids is going to Gospel For Asia. I sat down and showed them how we could give animals to help the Untouchable class in India have something to eat, to raise, to share. How we could give a sewing machine for $80 to provide a trade and income for a family. How for $25, we could provide a water filter to improve their water to help them stay well. The children were enthralled. Now, lest my mom thinks my kids aren't getting anything for Christmas, they'll be getting new gloves, new night clothes, and some new books. Things that will be used, things that can last. I think it's good for them to take from the overabundance that we have, and to keep less for themselves, and help those who have nothing.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

2007-11-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

How completely and totally decadent is this?! This is the Chocolate Pudding Cake posted by my dear friend, Marye, on Baking Delights. You have to try this!! The fact that my oven doesn't work right now has been frustrating. It was so nice to be able to spoil my family with a homemade dessert. I can justify cooking meals in my roaster, but have shied away from anything else. (It's hard to get things in and out of my roaster without burning my hands....)

So satisfied that they totally dug in... I topped it with whipped cream, Jim wanted vanilla ice cream on top. You really have to try this recipe. If you are a chocoholic, then it is manditory. It starts off with the cake batter on bottom, and a hot water/chocolate on top. While it cooks, the cake moves to the top, and the liquid to the bottom to become this amazingly gooey, yummy chocolate pudding. It was insanely easy to make, Michael helped, but he could have easily done it himself. I cooked it in a 9" square glass cake pan. Apparently it wasn't big enough, because the pudding boiled over a bit (but wiped up easily with a paper towel). Not sure what size dish to cook this in next time, but there will definately be a next time!

Rowan's Dedication

2007-11-02T14:52:00.000-06:00

Here's some pics of Rowan's Dedication.

Pastor Shaun Sells praying over Rowan.

Isn't this quilt beautiful? An online friend, Ginger, and her girls made it for me. It makes an amazing backdrop.

Bring the Rain- Mercy Me

2007-10-31T13:30:00.000-06:00

Bring the Rain by Mercy Me. Powerful song and it has always brought me to tears. Just wanted to share this.

Communion

2007-10-28T20:09:00.000-06:00

At church, I was in prayer during communion. As I considered communion, and all that it represents, I prayed, 'how unworthy am I. I don't understand why You would give Your life to me....why You would do this for me.' Then Rowan stumbled, and her daddy scooped her up and comforted her. She fussed again and reached for me. As I held her, she snuggled close, peeked out, and smiled. And I heard, ' How could I not come for you, whatever it took. You comfort Rowan in her imperfection and weakness. How much more do I care for you....'

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me how You see me, as a baby, incapable of taking care of myself, stumbling, hurting.....needing my Daddy.

not a good blogger....

2007-10-24T10:17:00.000-06:00

I'm just not a good blogger. Seems like when I have the time to write, I have nothing to say. When I have something I want to say/show, I have no time.... so tell me, why do I try and keep up? Well, obviously, I don't. At randomly occuring God-ordained tmes, I actually make it on here and post about nothing at all. go figure.

Rowan is crawling... she's 5 months old. She also is pulling herself up to standing. I really hope she's not trying to beat Natasha's walking age of 9 months. Her dedication went well. I have awesome pictures thanks to Christine. I just have to load them... once again the not good blogger thing.... I also have a sweater for her almost done. I hate it. Everyone else seems to really like it, but I don't. Its just for use around the house to keep her warmer so I can keep the house cooler. Don't get me started on how much it costs to heat a home... God will provide.

Liberty & Noah- we're in full time potty training mode... I hate it. I really stink at it.... I wish it was done...

Jamie- he's been writing stories like nobody's fool. They may be only 1 page in length, but he's writing, on his own, and his stories follow a logical path to the conclusion. More than I can say for some adults.

Natasha- as a typical girl, is obcessed with horses. Enjoy. She's also working on knitting her own scarf, you go girl!

Michael- well, he's Michael! He is also enjoying writing stories, and being... well Michael. He has a zest for life I wish I had....

Projects- I have a pair of gloves on the needles for Jim, my MS3 is still waiting for my attention, I have 3 sets of sock yarn calling my name, I have 6 dresses cut out for the girls that need to be put together, diaper covers I really need to get sewn, not to mention Rowan needs more diapers, need to get them cut out and sewn.

Dedication

2007-10-13T22:21:00.000-06:00

Well, Rowan's dedication gown is done. I finished it last night. I'm really happy with how it turned out. I washed it today, layed it out to dry. Tomorrow is her dedication. I hope everything goes well. I have a friend taking pics, so I'll get them posted tomorrow or so.

Blessings!

Puff

2007-10-04T16:08:00.001-06:00

There is a lovely white cloud wafting it's way down my hallway. It is leaving a fine white dust on every surface, completely unbidden. A lovely fresh scent accompanies it on it's trip thru the house.

My baby powder container is empty........

Well, that's one way to make a room full of boys smell better......

moving right along

2007-10-01T08:55:00.000-06:00

Rowan's gown is buzzing right along. I finished the stocknette skirt, decreased for the bodice, and got the right back of the bodice done, including the button facing. I'm now working on the left back of the bodice, which includes the buttonholes. It's turning out really nice. I'll be done thru the shoulders today. I hope to get the sleeve cast on today as well.

I wish all I had to do was knit today, but we're back to school this week. We start 'The Sign of the Beaver' today. I preread it two weeks ago, good book. I also need to call the Old West Museum to see how much it'll cost to take my children for a tour. Seems like an appropriate time.

Projects

2007-09-26T10:03:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm still trying to finish Rowan's dedication gown. It's coming along really well. I've got 9 more rows til I start the bodice back. My goal is to get it done this week. I'll try and get some pics this afternoon and get them posted.

MS3 is on hold until I finish the gown. I think I'm going to pull in back until the cat's paw section so I can add beads to each of the cat's pawa. I can't wait to see it done! The one's I've seen look amazing!

I also have yarn waiting for a pair of gloves for Jim.... never made gloves before, so that'll be fun. I also have 3 pr of socks waiting. I bought this gorgeous pink called Whisper from Lorna's Laces. I'm planning a pair of socks for my mom. My problem is, she has fairly wide feet. Need to take a tape measure to them. I have 2 patterns I'd like to do, but I'm not sure I can alter them enough.... oh well, I'm sure I'll figure it out!

Other than that, we've got school going for the year. We've made it thru 4 weeks so far, and done a field trip, so all in all we're doing well. We took this week off, for the most part, due to a very ill weekend. I figure, we could all use a week to recover, relax, clean up the house, get used to Jim being home, and just enjoy the fall days.

Debt payoff

2007-09-26T09:43:00.000-06:00

well, we're in a homestretch paying off our debt. We finally got all our bills consolidated into one loan, and the car. So, while it looks like a huge amount, it's all in 2 payments! So I have aticker on my sidebar. Full speed ahead on paying off our debt!

Eaten

2007-09-14T19:57:00.001-06:00

my blog got eaten.... oh well, guess that means I get to start over....