Momwhoknits's Xanga

House repairs

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:18:33 GMT

I have been back home for only one week but it seems as though it has been longer.

We have been doing minor repairs all week. We received the vouchers for the low flow toilets. A plumber was going to charge us $200/per toilet since we had 3 to be replaced. Dh instead watched videos on the This Old House website. He decided to attempt this project himself.

I am happy to report that we have 3 low flow toilets in the house. I hope to see a reduction in our water bill. While at the plumbing store he inquired about the shower head for our bathroom. Back in May we had attempted a water survey for our place but it could not be completed as our watering system does not work. The person did leave behind low flow shower heads and adapter for the faucets. The shower head did not fit on our fixture.

When we went to the big box store, we were told that we would have to replace the entire pipe. At the plumbing store, we were told that the extension would be able to be taken out and it could be changed. The part ended up being quite inexpensive. We now have a new shower head!

Dh also installed the "new to us" dishwasher without a hitch. I will post photos later (once I take them).

The next project will be blinds for the living room and a curtain rod for our bedroom. My children were complaining that there is no door from our bedroom into the bathroom area. I was at a store and I found these "car wash" type curtains. I thought this would be perfect! It is not a solid curtain and light will still be able to come through.

I have decided that I would like the kitchen to be painted a pale bright yellow. Our bathroom is going to be a pale mint green.

Dh has mandatory furlough days from the university. There are a couple of weeks where we will have a 5 day weekend!

Road Trips with Children

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:15:08 GMT

People are always amazed when we talk about our road trips. We have driven to Alaska. We went up the Casiar Highway and on the way back drove the Alaskan Highway. We stopped at Lake Louise and Banf on the way back. I was amazed that Banff is about a 2 1/2 day drive from here. Ds keeps asking when "are we going to Alaska again?".

We have driven from northern California to New Jersey 3 times. When we lived in Indiana, dh's navy reserve unit was in DC. We drove there several times again.

Our van does not have a dvd player. While we do bring dh's laptop along to download our photos, it is used only occasionally for videos. We wait until it is dark. They can only watch as long as the battery lasts.

We play the alphabet game. This is where you find the letters of the alphabet at the beginning of words seen on billboards, trucks, cars, businesses and exit signs. We have found that we usually get stuck on J, Q, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z. For Q, we are on the look out for Quality Inns or Quiznos. U's are found on u-haul trucks or us ? trucks. For X, we usually resort to using "exit". Z are usually skipped until we get to a major city that has a zoo. When we play with younger children(pre readers), they are allowed to find letters anywhere in the word.

We also have cassettes with children songs that we sing along to. Reading or coloring is another favorite activity as is finding license plates from far away states.

We like to bring granola bars, trailmix bars and water drink. Sodas have too much sugar and make for sticky messes when spilled. Apples and carrots are also good to eat. Stopping for ice cream around 4 p.m. is a welcome treat.

It is good to be back home. Now, just to readjust and get back into the swing of things.

Tree of Life Afghan

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:21:44 GMT

I finished this afghan. It took longer than I had anticipated. I was encouraged, however, by one of dh's cousins. She started an events planning business 2 1/2 years ago. She told me the hardest part for her is time estimation.

I used 11.2 skeins of wool ease in fisherman with size 8 needles. I personalized it by adding their names, dates, and 50th anniversary in gold wool ease yarn. I found a letter chart that was 10 rows high. The dividing section was 14 rows. I knit 2 plain rows followed the chart and finished with 2 plain rows.

I altered the tulip border by adding an extra stitch at the far end (the one not attached to the afghan). I slipped the first stitch and knit the last to get the chain edge. I found this helpful in sewing on the border. On the bind off row (for the border), I slipped the first as usual, p 2 together, psso. I then bound off until I had 8 stitches and finished by p 4 and k4.

I preferred this as my leaf then curled under.

Dh joked this has a built in re-gifting deterrent!
I started this around April 6th. I seriously started knitting on it during our trip. By the middle of June, I had finished it to the 50th anniversary portion.

Bicycle

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:47:28 GMT

Here is a photo of the bicycle. The bike shop called yesterday to say it is not worth fixing. The rear tire does not turn. A couple brakes are bent. the de-railers are bent as well. One pedal is bent. the shop will write up an estimate that we can give to the insurance company.

Dh is on the mend. He is not in as much pain. The cast was changed. He now sports a red cast. We did attempt to have it changed to an air boot but they said no. This means we will have to delay our vacation.

Friends have been stepping up to the plate. I have asked a couple to help with rides in getting children to activities. I am just so thankful that it was not worse!

truly blessed

Sat, 30 May 2009 22:18:58 GMT

Well, I have not written in months. I was busy taking a Perspectives class at my church. It has changed my perspectives on life. I still have a paper to write in order to receive my certificate. I was called for jury duty and I did not have to show up. I entered my 100% whole wheat bread in the fair and it won 2nd place. My knitting did not earn any ribbons but I am not sure about the judges.

There was a gorgeous shawl that did not win anything. I also told the monitors that it was displayed backwards--the purl side was showing. The shawl could have been blocked better but the pattern was outstanding.

I have been busy playing nurse to my dh. He was in what could have been an awful accident. He was in the crosswalk riding his bicycle when a gal turning right on red, turned with her looking left. She did not see dh at all. her suv ran over his left foot. As he fell backwards, his right ankle was severely sprained.

Why am I thankful? DD#4 was on the sidewalk watching the scene unfold before her eyes. She attempted to scream but no words came out. I am so thankful that she was not first in the sidewalk. I am thankful that only dh's feet are affected. He is still in a lot of pain. Classes are over for him...graduation was on the 23rd. He had to cancel attendance at one committee meeting. Dd#4 has not had any nightmares.

My nephew graduated from college. The ceremony was very nice. The weather was uncooperative and we nearly froze our tushies off. the college was making a brisk business selling sweatshirts. I had planned on it being hot so I prepared 2 big water jugs with ice water. Hot chocolate would have been more appropriate.

I am on the planning committee for a year end formal for my homeschool group. It is coming along nicely. My dds were able to find nice dresses to wear. I now have to go shoe shopping with them. Actually all dc need dress shoes.

My in-laws are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a big party. All childen have appropriate dress clothes to wear but no shoes. Ds picked out a dress shirt and tie that he keeps wearing. He loves to look nice.

Pictures to follow.

Photos

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:01:16 GMT

These are 2 lapghans or shawls that I made for my secret pals. The pattern is from Filet Crochet Afghans in a Day. They are very easy to make. I used red heart yarn and size J hook.

My son was very proud to lose his first tooth.

I made some strawberry shortcake.

Instead of using whipped cream, I used some cream on top maple yogurt. It is very yummy.

My girls took part in a True Love Waits class with our prior church. I am quite proud of them.

Busy busy here

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:17:26 GMT

I have been super busy taking Perspectives. It is an interesting course. I highly recommend it to all. It is very intense reading. The speakers are just outstanding.

The dishcloth group is going along without me. I am finally getting into knitting dishcloths again. I have the February and March beginning of the month cloths on needles. I am thinking of adding a third in order to get caught up.

I have been reconnecting with friends on facebook.

My hope is to get my xanga updated one a week.

Finally project photos

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:03:44 GMT

I decided to take part in the Valentine bag exchange for the group I am on. I made an angel bookmark, heart doily and heart dishcloth. I also put in some chocolates, free pattern sheets and ginger candies as my exchange partner is battling cancer. I just received news that she is in the hospital. Her husband is going to mail out her exchanges.

I have had the heart doily pattern for years. It is from a free handout. I never could see the hearts until I crocheted it.
I also took a photo of the January dishcloth.

Cooking

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:16:46 GMT

I took part in a casserole exchange last weekend. I made tater tot casserole. In return, I received lasagna, swiss chicken casserole, tortilla soup and barbeque chicken casserole.

The children have been very cooperative with their schooling. It is very satisfying to have them asking to do school and see their enthusiasm.

I have been knitting and crocheting. I forgot to take photos of the potholders I made for an exchange, 2 storage containers given as birthday gifts. I will just have to make a couple more.

I went out on the limb. I asked 2 neighbors to a Pampered Chef party I was invited to. Both said no.

Photos to follow.

Happy Birthday Teresa

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:33:10 GMT

It's my second oldest's birthday today. It's hard to believe that she is now 16.

I woke up early to make bread and then decided to bake a sourdough blueberry coffee cake. It was yummy.

For dinner she requested Spam Masubi. Here is the link to the recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/spam-musubi-recipe/index.html

I used this recipe for the sushi rice:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ming-tsai/master-sushi-rice-recipe/index.html

We will see how the rest of the family enjoys this. They went to a friend's house before Christmas and made these for dinner. We all took part in cooking tonight.

They also requested "brown sacks". I had a time trying to find it at the Asian market last night. I first asked one gal in the bread section. She took me to the prepared food area. I then asked another guy (who helped me to find Mirin...the store did not carry it). Finally, I was walking up the aisle when another gal approached me. She took me right to the sushi section and there I had a choice of 3 cans.

This is basically a fried tofu. You have carefully take them out of the can because they can easily tear. It is then filled with sushi rice. It looks interesting on the platter.

Dd#1 made vegetable sushi. Dd#5 remembered where the bamboo mat for rolling the sushi was stored.

I will post a photo of the dinner after we eat.

Her cake was a delicious cheese cake. A colleague from his consulting work gave him a gift certificate for a cheesecake. She chose Frangelico with a chocolate crust. Quite yummy.