Do SomeTHING: Day 13

My boys and I got some fresh air.
My boys got some exercise.
My hands got some exercise.

I finished the base of the clutch.  I did my research on the anemone and am still processing it in my head.  Trying to come up with the best way to execute so that it looks like an anemone and not a knot.

Tomorrow, I think it's time for a touch of embroidery.  Who's with me?

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 12

There is nothing better than a comfy, down filled-flannel covered comforter.  Sam has graduated from the Power Rangers comforter that was a hand-me-down from a friend.

We had a white down comforter that was okay, it just didn't look finished, and it was WHITE.  Sam is an 8 yr old boy with a white comforter?  I think not.

We went to (I forced him to) Joann's to pick out a fabric for a duvet cover.  You know what he picked? 

Yellow.

Plain yellow.  I coaxed him into a blotchy yellow flannel just for a little something something.  I only bought the amount that was left on the bolt, so was a little short for the bottom.  And since I am a fabric hoarder, I had this to piece together and cover the bottom. 

Maybe someday he'll switch it up and go green.

I will say that it felt good to be back at the machine, doing something other than taking in the waist of a gaggle of pants for this 8 year old boy.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 11

We did it.

Sam and I worked on the puzzle last night and I left the very top for him to complete this morning.  As interesting as this was, I still like the plain old flat puzzle.

Today, Tom is running a 5K in Delaware Park.  I had every intention of going, then started to think about parking and walking and waiting with two boys in and around Delaware Park.  Tom...we are rooting for you!  Run Tom, Run!

As I type this, the services for the 9/11 Tribute are being shown on every channel.  I want to remember and support, but I wonder if getting all sad again and reliving the tragedy by hearing every name is the best thing for me today.  After all the names are read, I'm moving on.  Those young children reading the names is just tearing me up.  They are so strong and eloquent, much unlike me at this moment.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 10

The hook is moving.

I had one ball left of this rusty orange color, so I just started going square.  It's going to be a clutch.  I'm thinking anemone. 

I've been watching Tanked, the show about the guys that build these cool custom fish tanks in cars and as boats and as reception desks, pretty cool stuff.  Anyway, I was thinking this is the same color as some of the coral they were using.

More research to come.

An update on that chart I made...working like gangbusters.  At least in day one.  Sam even brought his homework home on Friday.  Nothing like a contest to motivate these boys.

That, and money.

I'm not ashamed to bribe with money.  If it makes my life easier, I'm down with it.

Don't judge.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

{this moment}

 

No words, just a single photo that I want to savor and remember.

P.S. Back to Do SomeTHING tomorrow

Do SomeTHING: Day 8

Yesterday was a bad day.

I talked and yelled so much, I was totally sick of my own voice.

I have been (trying to) getting the boys ready for school in the morning.  They have been unruly. 

The boys and I had a family meeting after school, when they still weren't behaving appropriately.  It was as if they were being constantly prodded with a poker to make them jump and scream and run.

We decided that we are going with no television on school nights...unless they behave during the day and do the things that are asked of them.

Which got me thinking, as I was drinking my Red Bridge Gluten Free Beer that I serendipitously bought that day on my lunch hour, why must I ask?

Why do I have to ask them to get dressed?  When does the reminding end?  What can I do to make MY life easier.  We have all heard the adage "Happy Mom, Happy Family".  It's time.

So I created this chart that we will start on Monday.  Since my boys love competition and rewards, I'm going to allow them a treat.  Every week that they complete this chart, they will get one dollar.  That dollar, added to their allowance, will get them a fat wallet.

So, aside from helping me, this will hopefully push them toward independence and a little lesson on the value of money and saving.

Now, I'm really hoping to do something creative tonight.  Been a lot of "mothering" this week on Do SomeTHING.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 7

I live a glamorous life.

No really, I do.

Seriously, how many of us fortunate peeps get the privilege to spend all day traipsing up and down the basement stairs switching loads and adding to the enormous heap of clothes waiting to be folded? 

Glamour.

Pure glamour.

Yes.  I did laundry yesterday.  Almost all of it.   Until I got to the lip of the basket and started smelling the faint, yet often potent smells of sweaty clothes.  Somehow, I managed to bring up a dirty basket from the basement.

Fortunately, this glamour nose smells all.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 6

I finished Kevin yesterday.

Although his glasses are testing my patience while exploring glue types, I really do love the specs!  I bought a pair of doll glasses at the craft shop and disassembled them.  I had to make them much wider across the nose and shorter to the ears, or in this case, embedded in the side of the eyeball!

He will be in the shop today!


Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 5

As we approach the ten year anniversary of the horrible events of 9/11, I find myself attempting a 3D puzzle of the Capitol Building.

These puzzles are HARD!  It looks small in this picture, but trust me, it has substantial size.  I've gotten the base complete and have started on the first floor.  I'm thinking about taking off the walls and working on them flat, then adding them to the structure.  So many windows, and no help pages or guides.  My only saving grace?  I bought this at a rummage sale for $2 and it was still in the plastic shrink wrap - all the pieces are there.

Hopefully I'll have a final photo for you in a couple weeks.


Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 4

I made a new dinner.

I came up with this one on my own:  Tacosanga.  Gluten Free and delicioso!  Well, if you like soft corn tortillas.  Tom's not a big fan of the soft corn shell.  If you are not gluten free, the flour shell would work well, too!

And watching your brand spanking new milestone birthday present while making dinner makes is so much more fun!

The only other problem is if you don't live near a Wegmans, you will have to improvise on the meat.  I used over 2 pounds of chicken tender pieces.  Cooked them in Wegmans Brand Fajita marinade with some added water to keep them soft.

I chopped the chicken into big chunks and added half can of black beans ('cause that's all I had in the fridge) and a bag of frozen corn. Mix 'er up!  See the can of Old El Paso enchilada sauce?  You could use that, but after smelling the sweet gold of the Fajita sauce, I tossed the whole can of enchilada sauce down the drain.  Just wasn't right.

Then the layering began.  I put a bit of salsa on the bottom so the shells wouldn't burn/stick.  Layer with shells, add meat, top with cheese and salsa, repeat.  The top layer I cut the shells into strips and made a messy pile.  Messy piles on top, mean crispy spots.  Then poured cheese all over that because that's how we roll.  If there isn't enough cheese, it isn't worth it.

 I had it in the fridge since the day before, heated it at 375 for 40 minutes or so.  Add a dollop of sour cream.  I enjoyed it.  I think it was a hit for others, as well.  Sorry, no final picture.  We were too hungry and it was so dang hot that in order to hold the camera to my head, I would have produced a litre of sweat.

I know you are thinking...but you just had the oven on for 40 minutes!  I know...I was a hot kitchen!  Luckily, we spent most our time outside in the sprinkler.


Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 3

Vintage Wooden Village from 'Soviet Zone - Germany'

I took pictures.  I've been sitting on a pile of vintage goods that had poor looking photos.  I've meant to take the photos two weeks ago.  You know, things happen.  

Sometimes, it's REALLY hard to walk to the basement, grab the light box, and climb back up all those stairs.  Okay, that's not really it.  I was just waiting to finish the monster purse to take all the pictures at once.  

I suppose that would fall into the lazy.  I never finished the purse.  So, now instead of walking to the basement, getting the light box, and climbing back up all those stairs, I'll have to do it TWICE.

Vintage Twin 8 Galvanized Bucket

 Pathetic, I know.

But the photos today turned out pretty well.  I just love this Twin 8 Bucket from Wheeling.  Not sure I can really part with it.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

{this moment}

No words, just a single photo that I want to savor and remember.

P.S. Back to Do SomeTHING tomorrow

Do SomeTHING: Day 1

I wrote letters.

Thank you letters.  Thank you for gifts.  Thank you for thoughtfulness.  Thank you for love.

But the hardest one to write was the Thank you for life.  A dear friend, whom I haven't talked to in many years, is dying in the hospital.  I wrote all the things I wish I would have said to her while she was healthy.  I guess I didn't realize how much she has affected my life until I learned that she may be gone soon.

We all call her "Momma T" and that is just what she was.  Our Momma.  She took care of us, she made me laugh, she helped me realize how fortunate I was, and she gave my son the greatest expression.  I'll never forget that day.  I brought my son to visit the office.  He was just about a year old.  We went up to the office and since Sam was the first baby in the office, there was a bit of a huddle around him.  He was sitting on the floor and Momma T came up and he just looked at her.  He had never seen anyone with skin as chocolaty as hers.  His already big eyes grew larger and his mouth hung open.  He was mesmerized by Momma.

We all were.

She didn't have it easy, but she always made us feel like life was for living loudly.  You just get out there and do it.  Even if your foot hurts.  Or you walk with a cane.  Or you've been down on your luck. Or the cancer is back.  Or you fought the cancer in one place and now it appears somewhere else.

I know she will fight.  I will fight for her.  I love Momma T.

I'm glad I wrote this letter today.

Even if it is too late.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.