Works for Me Wedensday* Making Dish and Pot Scrubbers.

Using netting that I get for around 89 cents a yard more often 59 cents a yard...In this case free... (Yes I had told God I needed some soon and Yes, My sister when she moved had a brand new bolt of ?15 yards gave me this stash.
So here is the process....
Good tools Girls and Gents!Invest in good tools.

I use the hand rotary and rule and cut squares, stacking the yardage several layers thick.

This was completed (in 20 minutes)
I use up old bobbins with partial threads or spools of thread with little left on them. It uses up the old so I have room in for the new. I also get threads that are on clearance bins and such for very little if it is a strange color. I don't care what color the thread is for these disposable things. Now if I give them as gifts of course I match the thread.
I sew them up one after another without even clipping them apart until I am finished the clipping goes much faster that way .
Use a zig zag with a back tack.

Wordless Wedensday *junk mail*

This was in my mail box today!
I had not retrieved the mail for three days.

Individual Education Plan Meeting for Dash

Individual Education Plan for Dash was at 8a.m. this morning. What a rushed morning with the children. Dash was ticked off about the new molds we have on his hearing aids they fit tight. The old ones had gotten very loose. So he started out not so happy.
I got Hubby off with lunch in hand ofter waking up so tired...Beloved and I indulged in 2 eppisodes of "the Office" in his office. That show is so funny! We watched it on the computer commercial free. It is so hard to stop. We got to bed around 11pm a bit late for the 6 a.m. "make lunched, feed the crazy dogs, and do breakfast routine. I was really dragging. When I hit my poor foot on the missed place foot stool I woke up God when I called out hiw name in pained frustration. I know...I apologized to Him.
The meeting was to take place at 8a.m. and that is normally when we leave the house for the drive to school. At the last moment I had beauty with a massive rats nest knot in the back of her head of beautiful blond hair that would just not do. So with every patient effort and a lot of disentangler I worked it out to the screeched tunes of a very upset uncooperative kid! Sensory integration the scourge of the morning hair comb out. Good Lord help me! That child was not well...easy oh no! not easy...
So running late for a meeting and accomplishing a very careful gentle knot removal we proceeded. I worn out emotionally by this point just felt like pulling my own hair! Thinking de-tangle that!
Got to the school well folks do you want the long or the short of it? OY!
When we did the MET meeting to confirm eligibility I was sent home a note about Beauty that showed a vast discrepancy between the graph that I had based my decision on agree (I had no real choice it was being denied) to forgo intervention and her real scale of disability. Entered the meeting this morning a bit (mildly stated ) miffed and defensive feeling betrayed. Now having after the morning I just had and was still untangling faced a round table of professionals. So true to my form I laid me out on the table and told them so. I was defensive and told them flat out I am not signing anything without full knowledge and understanding.
They covered Dash's needs and services they were going to provide. Then having to face the ushers syndrome issues at 8 a.m. sent me to meet up with the tears behind the veil of my eyes. We spoke about the possible loss of CRS (the clinic) funding and I explained that I had to come up with 9000 in medical deductions to of set the income due to hubby working overtime. I asked about Dash being able to get hearing screening both neuro and auditory testing more than once a year. Our Insurance covers the kids only once a year. Dash is supposed to have hearing test 4 times a year. The woman from the audiology came through for me an d added to his IEP the issue we had covered and it had been neglected in the IEP about having Dash checked on once a month to see if his teacher needed anything. Then new player was introduced. She would be taking over that role. I liked her a lot. (After the meeting her and I went over to Dash class so he could meet her).
Dash's speech therapist thinks that he will not be in speech long. The help for him with his off the charts IQ will have to come to his class room. The teacher will have to give him extra tasks. This high IQ is a double edged sword. He told his teacher that her scratchy voice was bothering him yesterday and asked not to wear the amplifiers (we did not have his hearing aids on!) He had left the house on the bikes and I could not ride the bike again to him. Hubby had the car. He is also using them turned off and letting the battery run out on purpose. (so I stopped by the nurse...every Monday she will call him in to get new batteries, show him who is smart!)
So after the meeting...walking to Dash's class for the intro and getting Beauty's backpack out of the car, I had to go back and talk this thing over about the discrepancy in the forms sent to me.

The phycoligist talked me into leaving my copy of the form...( I told her...I WANT THIS BACK)
She was very upset when I returned and began to spill the beens as it were...
She told me that she was not in agreement about Beauty not getting the help. That she was so bothered about the scores that after the MET meeting a few weeks back she went to her authority... She told me the chart I got that showed Beauty so very needy of services was processed on another scale that she was told she could not use. The form was supposed to have been destroyed ( think how God kept this truth for me to see). Well the discrepancy was so profound that she told me she even made comment to her LD teacher that I was very sharp to have caught at that MET meeting those points were just too close for comfort. I was assured that in March it was going to be reviewed. This is all because Beauties teacher is of the "name it and claim it" phylosify. I told her about what the teacher had told me about Beauty having problems because I WAS NOT BEING POSITIVE ENOUGH" are your jaws dropping?!
Those of you who know me....ME NOT POSITIVE ENOUGH! YES SHE SAID THAT TOO ME!!!!!

Well then this lady said to me that if Beauty had been in school all this time she would of already have placed her in LD and that she wants her in it now. BUT they need a year in system to prove it!!!!! Well now we waiste three more months to prove what we all know!!!!!!!!!!

Folks my sword it hot! and my arm is so tired that I cam home. I took a shower because as I was standing there the STUPID automatic air freshener sprayed me in my hair YUK!!!
I took a hot shower and fell asleep for two hours! I have done nothing for two hours but sit here in a jacket and just rest. That was a ride.

NOTE:
God made sure I saw the very document that was supposed to be distroyed. I even have a copy of it!:)
I'll rest my arm and sharpen my blade and swing it another day. For now I need to go get the kids.
Love you all. Thanks for enduring such a long post.

Tails from the scales Weel #10 -1

193 starting

191 week one

191 week two (at 189 on Friday) First Synvisk Injestion

193 week three Second injection

190 week four (189 peeked at me) Third Injection

192 week five

188 week six

189 week seven

192 week eight (most of it lining my colon)

189 week nine

188 week ten

Lost on pound this week.

We rode the bikes to the school Monday and Tuesday. That is an hour of riding
,a day for me. It is going well however my knee is a little fussy. I drove this morning. I have loosened up a little . It has been a rather stressful week again. I think that the stress plays a big part in my response.
O.K. some goals.
1. Drink more water and tea Now I love having a cup of tea at my side all the time.
2. Do my knee exercises and core strengthening. So so on this a bit hit and miss
3. Walk or ride bike every day. Doing real well hear.
4. Stay away from avoids (wheat,dairy, corn and candy) Doing better here,yet when I get those avoids I don't like how I feel that is an improvement to really care about how i feel.
5. rest better set myself up for a good nights sleep. Except last night this is much better. I do however love staying up with beloved and watching old episodes of "The Office" with him on his computer. That show is so funny the writers are just amazing.
6. Pray for all of you and myself that we all resist the temptations that would so easily take us off course. The importance of this is really becoming so paramount. I see how essential this part is.

I am not doing the intake thing well enough, I must spend more effort on my meal plan. No plan lately just grab the best thing I can find at the moment. That is not working either.

Paula from NaProBloMo

Good Morning. I received your note on the NaNo site, Rushed this morning sorry, I have a morning IEP for my son.
I have a hard time remembering the sign in for my account .
In answer to your questions.
Yes I make time to do crafts. They are a part of who I am and what I do for family and friends.
I am not sure of what you are referring to as "stash", for an award. I have so many different projects this month I just finished the two part series on pants for kids. Feel free to use that if it is for such a purpose. An award... first thing in the morning to look forward too..Wow what a way to start my busy day.
Blessing s to you Paula, and may your day be vibrant and full.

Serger lesson on Making pants assembly line style part 2

After reinforcing the crotch,hem the legs.
Turn under the waist band and stitch around leaving and opening for the elastic.
Now stitch again 1/4 inch from edge to give them body.

The elastic is pre-cut and just laying there. I measured the elastic once on her then just cut the seven sections. Assembly style sewing is like that do a job once and then you go to town and just do the work over and over again.

When you come to a stop. use a pin to push down your knot that you pull through.
knotting is very nice and creates a polished garment. Back tacking is acceptable but...if your doing all this loving kindness do a job you can feel good about.

Inserting the elastic is easy. just anchor the elastic with a very large safety pin and then use another pin to pull the elastic through. Stitch the elastic, then the casing closed and thats that!

I use a scrap of ribbon at center back so as to mark the front from the back. It also softens the bump of the seam allowances. My kids are VERY tactilely sensitive. They both have sensory integration dysfunction and suffer anything that touches them the slightest bit wrong.

Well I left at 2:25 and had five of the seven done. They still need a good pressing. A cover stitch is a nice choice for the hem work but I am short of time so I just used my dear old Phaff.
The red ones (her favorite, have a pulled hem where you just serge and pull the knit out snug it give a great frill. I may frill the last two pair. I have cookies to make.
I rode the bike to get the kids.
Rest time is over. :)
I get to go play with three of the greatest women in only 2 1/2 hours!
I am tired.
Cookies?

Tackle It Tuesday *home made scrubbers*

Good Day to all of you!
After I got home from riding bikes to the school with the children I had cold hands.
As I was "drawn" to dishes and the thought of warm (hot) water in the sink...

I realized I was out of these...
I make these and have for well over twenty years. I think we were newly married when I made our first batch.
Using netting that I get for around 89 cents a yard more often 59 cents a yard...In this case free... (Yes I had told God I needed some soon and Yes, My sister when she moved had a brand new bolt of ?15 yards gave me this stash.
So here is the process....
Good tools Girls and Gents!Invest in good tools.

I use the hand rotary and rule and cut squares, stacking the yardage several layers thick.

This was completed (in 20 minutes) while I visited on the phone with my Sister, Thanking her for the gift.
She is "Iced in" back East with a dog bite (to her poor nose) . Her own pup interrupted in its sleep bit her. Pray for her will ya...

Every year at each holiday end I invest in clearance things for the next year.
This year as I empty the holiday cupboard's I find the treasures from the year past. It is so much an adventure for I seldom remember what I got. It is sorta fun. I get the things pennies or dimes on the dollar.

I got out all the cutter for todays great tackle is...
TIME WITH MY CHILDREN BAKING!

I invested in a lot of "give away" bags and containers, plates and big bags that cover the plates too. I got the cute little tree boxes at the lot store last week for $1. each and the little tubs at 4 for $1. These will make a way for a bounty of gift giving on a budget. Even using paper plates covered in foil can be beautiful Or paper bags as gift wrap when stamped and ties country style with twine.

Little snack bags are fun to have the children gift their friends with. Use baggies too with ribbon . Not just the zip kind, with a bow even the fold over type,they tie nicer.

Dash wants to make some rock candy.
These are some of my baking books . The ones for kids are needing to be pursued.

After searching for some recipes I found this...

Now the family has not had these for several years . I have just been too consumed.
Grandma Lola's Santa's
I carried on this tradition years ago. I make one per guest and then they would be hung on the tree. Well with Willy in the mix I would have a tree fell in the night so we will keep them safe in refrigeration.
This will be the batch for the kids today ...Like a quadruple batch :)

Ye haw!

Now if I get board...hahaha

I still have several more pants to finish. I have two of the seven done and it is 12:30 now.
With the kids to bike too I will not have much more of a lunch break so see you on the other side.

I still want to get these started and do a Christmas yearly letter written and printed. Oy! I am not going to get to overwhelmed though in the doing of it.
Got to go get back to task.
My boss should give me a great big raise or a bonus...
Oh ya! I get to go out with the girls tonight( giddy and to the tune of a happy child at heart)

Click here to get the banner code and start tackling.

Serger lesson on Making pants assembly line style

This Wonderful tool that was so challenging to operate via the written manual, was a dream after I watched the well done educational video! Wow!
I spoke with my MILove and she came over today to teach me some well needed knowledge to time saving skills and techniques (This woman sees a garment sketches it makes the pattern and has it from her own had by the next day at the latest, One of those very highly skilled seamstresses). Wow, did it help! Thank You.

December 1 st.
I cut out seven pair with the wonderful industrial rotary cutter that my Sister passed on to me (she is a professional seamstress). This is the cutter that grows hair on your chest and makes fabric turn into butter under the blade.
Now listen up...Do not do what I did in the next picture there is no need.(I learn this after the fact) the way to do it is to leave the front pairs together, as well as the back pairs and just sew the crotch from there (IF IT IS KNIT). Then sew up one side...

December 2 nd
All these pins had to be removed and the process reversed back to the cut out lament...Just leave those pairs together after cut out. It is so much easier.

December 3 rd
These were done the old way front to back then crotches NO NEED FOR ALL THAT WORK!

This is how to do it when they are matched un match them (undo what I did wrong.:)

Sew the crotch of the matching sides!

lay face to face. (call this image above, blue) Do the flat seam to reinforce the crotch now.

See how nice and flat this is
Opposed too...
This is that same process after all the inseam and outer seams are finished. It is a lot fussier

This is how I'll need to do it for a few pair. Thats alright though because each one needs a different thread color. Just a little more time consuming no biggie. MILove is just teaching me efficiency to help me manage my time better.

Now down one side ...up around the inseam(crotch)
then down the other outer side seam.

Now here is one I figured out It is easier to do the additional flat seam to reinforce the crotch before joining (see blue above!)

I have tried them on her and had to take them in (ONLY at the outer side seams!). Then over lock the waist band edge and the hem edges.
One a red pair I stretched the hem as I over locked it and created a frilled look.
All of them have waist bads needed yet. Elastic placement (I got all seven measured elastics cut now and one placed). I Will continue the lesson on the marrow.
All pair are about at this stage.
I am with a quiet house and do not want to disturb the kids, they have just gone to bed.
You know I have many other tasks at hand as well so I think these will be completed tomorrow except the ornamental details that I will get with Beauty on.
Seven pair of paints for the winter. I think all of the fabric was given to me and the thread was here and I did get some needles the other day. Invest in the tools of life and good ones if you can. Don't bother if used or new. Just make them available to task. Ask God for what you have need of...
Seven pair of pants (that fit her that she choose the fabric for) for $3 worth of thread and needle.
The investment was in the machinery.
It has well paid for itself many years over.
Funny story the pattern...Well one day I was in the fabric store and I was thumbing through the patterns drooling and I said "God these are so amazing I wish I could just have one of every pattern that would be so cool..." Patterns are expensive now $10-$15 for good ones...
Well there was this family in crisis... They had to move out NOW fast, so I was helping this young mom to get boxes. We were looking in dumpsters. We looked in a dumpster behind a fabric store...OVER 300 new patterns. They disposed of them incorrectly by only tiering the envelopes a bit. they just needed a little taping. We have them and some went to a Sewing guild project where ladies make clothes for a boys and girls club. Some went to help a family earn more from there yard sale. But one of each of them came home to me...
The pattern for Beauties pants...FREE
Ask and it will be given to you.
Good measure,
pressed down
and running over!

Menu Plan Monday

"I'm an organizing junkie" hosts this great motivator! Go check it out and get some great ideas.


Doing the chef's work ahead of time will save your energies. Some things do not do well pre-cut but other do!

Monday:
The basmati rice is left over. I made two nights back with the turkey/vegitable broth I rendered. I use it in place of the water great flavor. Diced red/yellow and orange peppers cadent' added color and a crunchy texture to the rice. I'll bake the turkey breast in the convection Microwave.( great utility saver) Use sage it is a great spice with turkey.
Tuesday:
I will steam a spaghetti squash as a vegetable With some left over tomato sauce; to go along side a London broil, adding garlic and onion salts or powders as I broil it. Sliced at the diagonal to the grain and very thin this is a great meat for kids. I'll sauté' a bok choy diced with a little onion that will be caramelized in olive oil. Perhaps toss in some of the fine diced peppers.
Wednesday:
Baked chicken whole( Lean ,salt cavity and add an onion studded with clove very savory) will occur with the oven being multi purposed with Butternut Squash( sliced in half ,face down with a little allspice and brown sugar. Steamed French green beens.
Thursday:
This is an easy one for the oven . Prep... for individual foil 10x10 squares or just make a large one... then have a base of diced potatoes ,cabbage red and green corn peas and carrots, top with pats of butter and salt spices of desired. Then add burger patties. Bake 350 for an hour.
Friday:
Mom and daughter night out.
Boys will have hot dogs.
Saturday:
Sunday:

Marriage Monday *What Makes a marriage Christian?

1996

Want this button?

Do you love your wife?
For her and for your children are you laying down your life?
What about the others?
Are you living as a servant to your sisters and your brothers?
Do you make the poor man beg you for a bone?
Do the widow and the orphan cry alone.

When you did it not to the lease of these...
You did it not to me.

What makes a marriage Christian?
One man one woman who join in one common goal.
To have good overcome evil in the lives of
"two become one".
By becoming one out of mutual agreement to sacrifice and compromise for the best of the whole.
One Leader taking responsibility for the role.
Not usurping authority but walking in it respectfully and rightly with God being the lead.
One who supports the head or leader in such a way as to stand for what is right.
A trust within the heart of a man that will know that she would never do him harm or evil all the days of her life.
That may, look like a humble loving confrontation, when one is needed or due.
A triadic relationship with the Living God.
Relationship, clean hands and a pure heart.
Never holding onto un-forgiveness.
Giving NO room for bitterness, envy and strife.
Apology freely flowing without having to be right and rub another's nose in the error.
Gains in maturity that stand the test of the trials that gain us that maturity.
A mutual foundation based in biblical principles and sound doctrine.
Not a legalism, religion, subjection or condemnation, no!
It is the freedom of Christ plus nothing except to Love the other as Christ has loved you. Selflessly.
With a great depth of understanding.
Being FOR each others whole heart.
For the restoration that the sacrifices of Christ had intended... That we might have life and life more abundantly.
That is life... not just stuff or pleasure of fun toys, of expensive holidays.
Life.
Eyes Wide open, off the matrix...
Life!
Life more abundantly.
To live and love and be all of who He had intended us as individuals to be.
Coming together in union, in unity to do everything toward that end.

Deck the halls...

We went for a bike ride this evening.
I may try my hand at riding the children to school on our bikes this week.
It will be a good way to exercise and also conserve some gas money.
I think it could be really fun.
I just need to get Beauty to listen and follow instructions.
Sweet baby just hugged and kissed me so hard, that it hurt my neck...
Oh my. Hurts to be loved so hard :)
They are doing story time now.
We worked on the house decorations a little, I needed a little help with putting a garland behind the nativity.
I am not yet done with it yet. When I get it the way I want it I'll take a picture.

Beloved and I got the lights up tonight.
He then asked me if I would like a picture for the blog...How Sweet.
He took the tri-pod outside and shot this for me.
Meanwhile I heated up tamales for all (not part of my meal plan).
We did our "Walton's" movie night.
The episode was "The Bereavement" about a very young newly widowed cousin coming to rest at the home of her aunt (Mrs Walton).
It was very well done. Showing the grieving process with its ups and downs and all of the pains and joys as well.

Beauty and I headed off for her to shower and we had a good time talking and just mom and daughter time. She is a good girl.
Oh my another week ahead. I will do an inventory and listing of all the medical expenses and try to get back over to the city if I can to settle the financial review and reassessment at the clinic.
Please pray for me.
With so many tasks at hand, I had not intended to have to do essentially the tax preparation.
It will be nice to have them done at the first of the year though.
Wow I had not planned on that one.
I must keep up on my knee exercises too! Do you ever just feel like there are so many many things your mind and hand needs to tend too? Inch by inch, row by row... Someone bless these seeds I sow...

Please share with me things your youth gave you that brings experiences of joyful memories. I have so few. I really want to see and experience more of a joyful expectant Christmas. I need fresh ideas so I can give my children wonderful memories for their life time.
Thank you.

Sunday Smiles

Check out "Spiritually Unequaled Marriage" Who host this.

Intimidation with a motor.

My sweet MILove got a new surger some time back (well deserved I might add) . I was privileged to be able to purchase this one, from her, for what amounted to a gratuity (that was very generous of you.) This surger is a challenge in mental and visual gymnastics, but with 7 pair of Beauties knit pants to sew up this is well worth the exercise in focus and in the trial of patience acquisition :)

Sunday Morning revision of the night before post.

Yesterday after the "Dinner Diner", I was able to cut out 6 pair of pants for Beauty. I had a very hard day due to a rotten attitude and a grumpy disposition (I neglected to take my hormones Friday night)!

I sure hope she appreciates them and likes them.

I have a U.T.I. and feel worn out! So there I vented! Sorry if it is a bit un characteristic of me (I toned it way down :) but I think I am spent and am falling on my face!

This onslaught all started after we were praying for many others by name, to overcome temptation. Ya think there is a correlation. ?

I am so introspective to task that I do not even know how to play or have fun very well! I want so much to give my kids a joyful Christmas... I will try to bring in some creative resources.

Tell me How do you bring joy into the Christmas season. I really want to be more playful and fun. Do you have any ideas that are not pricey?

Photo Hunt *Red*

Good Morning welcome to the Dinner Diner

Good Morning Mam , May I get something for you?...
Sung to the silent tune of..."I love My Mommie"

I said..."yes Green tea, onion and one egg scrambled...Please sir".

So Dash hired a cook (Beauty) a dishwasher (Daddy Man) and he being the waiter the Dinner Diner was in business. I got he best role in the play...
The Customer.
Order up!

and for desert...

Ezekiel Bread English muffins with lemon curd. OH! man these are ymmy. I dont eat bread because of wheat. These are a treat.

so starts my day...
:)

Bren thank you for the lovely life words this morning on the post on the other blog. It really meant a lot to me.

I took the kids on a walk this morning and saw a neighbor. Out of the blue she said that I looked like I am loosing weight. I was surprised she notice. It felt good to think that it is becoming more visible to others.

We went to the city yesterday at 1 pm for Dashes anointments and we were just doing the last anointment and had all my financial records spread out... and the hospital had a black out! No one had flash lights and so they were using the cell phones to see. I had to scoop up all the paper work and ID cards. and tail it out of there. The kids did well no major panic, but I had been fighting a head ache and two kids that had pushed behavior to the limit wrestling in the hall way at the clinic while I was trying to work with the therapist to schedule appointments. So I was taxed.
The financial review is not too good because Hubby doing the 5 ,10 hour days has bumped our income up just a bit. So I have to come up with several thousand in medical expense to still quality. I will probably meet to goal but I have a lot of adding up of little amounts to do. Then I have to go back to the city again to do it before our date of 12/18 our appointments are on 12/20 so we expire before our next anointment. Because of the black out they are going to try to retro activate the numbers for me.
I had to leave the city away from the freeway. We headed up north and wove our way through the streets that were nuts, to the grand parents. They were very gracious and fed us our evening meal. We rested there until the freeways died down and pulled to our driveway well after 7 pm. We were safe and home.
Living here it is funny that folks are so panicked when we get heavy rains. Our streets get very slick because of all the build up of oils and such. Folks are maniacs on the streets going too fast and no room between cars. I just get off the roads until the rush hour dies down.

I have some sewing of pants for Beauty today.

I hope that all of you get a little luxury today.

The kids were so sweet making me breakfast today. I am so hoping that this bad head ache will just stop! I got the irritable Mom syndrome because of it. :)

Friday Fiest

Fridays Feast #170

Posted on November 30th, 2007 by Christine

Appetizer
What is your favorite carnival/amusement park ride?

I too love the Carousel.

Soup
How do you react in uncomfortable social situations?

Openly honestly and with as much courage as I can muster to over come my fears.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy discussing deep, philosophical topics?

I am a very deep thinker. It is hard for me to be of the surface level. My personality is very introspective. It is very hard for me to just cut loose and have fun.

Main Course
Did you get a flu shot this year? If not, do you plan to?

Yes, the children and I all got ours 2 weeks ago. Dash and I both have asthma. Dash told his daddy "if you don't get your flu shot and you get poops and puke we are not cleaning it up" That precocious little dude.

Dessert
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend watching television?

Very few now that I am blogging. Maybe 2 hours. I am always writing now that I have this outlet. I enjoy it much more and I don't just sit and snack any more.