resolution

Early this year I came across MCP Project 12, a photo challenge with one theme each month.  I am excited to participate because I've been interested in doing something like this for a while, but most challenges like this seem to have weekly or daily assignments, which I just can't do at this point in my life.  One a month is just perfect, though.  January's theme is "resolution."

resolution

the act or an instance of resolving

The boys practiced good conflict resolution by
deciding to share the coveted coloring book.

resolution

the condition or quality of being resolute; firmness or determination

I made the resolution to finish all the the sewing projects

that I have already cut out before beginning any new ones.

 resolution

The progression of a dissonant tone or chord to a consonant tone or chord.

Baroque music tends to have distinctive resolutions.

monday menu

Well, I think we have finally settled down into our post-holiday, Narnia-like always-winter-never-Christmas stretch of the year (that's what we get for living in Montana...).  Don't worry, though, we still have Valentine's Day to look forward to, and I have a magnificent stack of projects to prepare for summer vending. : )  On the food front, I'm thankful that everything seems to be returning to normalcy.  Here's what I'm planning to make this week:

M-stew and bread (Seriously, try this bread recipe; it's revolutionary.)
T-linguine and meatballs (I'll make a giant batch of meatballs and freeze the leftovers to use in the future.) with green beans on the side
W-crock pot chili and bread (didn't get to it last week)
Th-sweet-n-sour chicken and rice
F-chicken cacciatore

What are you making this week?

custom

Right before Christmas I received an order

for a custom I Corinthians 13 heart calligraphy

for a wedding gift for Erica and Joe.

I was able to finish and mail it off before the end of the year.

I hope the both the giver and the recipient will enjoy it!

(By the way, encouraged by the success of this, my best-selling piece, another custom love calligraphy is in the works.  I'm so excited!  It will be available for order soonish.)

five months

Last Saturday was my Sweet Pea's five month birthday.

She brings us all so much delight;

we are so enjoying watching her grow and develop.

Right now Sweet Pea...

seems to be teething

is not being the good sleeper she was before the teething began
still likes to be swaddled while sleeping

has decided that around 4 a.m. is an excellent time to play

eats apple sauce (she loves it)
and has tried sweet potatoes (still trying to figure that one out)

is having an easier time adjusting to eating from a spoon
than her brothers did
sits in a booster chair with us at dinner time

loves sitting up in her Bumbo chair, observing the world

is pretty much obsessed with her toes
is getting much more finesse and control over her limbs
can pick up light toys with ease
likes to examine her swing and booster seat buckles
is fascinated with rattles
loves tags
can roll from her stomach to her back (tummy time is history)
and from her back to her side
has tried playing the piano with Daddy
listens intently to music

tries to get her hands on any cell phones or iPods she sees

sometimes talks in this funny, gargly voice

has distinctly said "Ma-ma" more than once

as well as "Da-eeee"

and something that sure sounds like Little Man's name

lights up when her brothers come into sight

loves it when Brother hugs her

finds Little Man's antics positively hilarious

is still my sweet snuggler

upcycled heart crayons

We got new crayons for the boys for Christmas.

It was time

since their old ones were mostly broken and icky.

I didn't want to just throw them away, though,

so we upcycled.

First we (okay, mostly I) peeled them all.

Tip: If you slit the crayon paper with a paring knife,

you will save your fingers much pain.

(Unless, of course, the knife slips and you cut yourself...that would be painful.

I didn't have any problems,

but if you use my tip and have to get stitches I'm not liable, okay?)

Then we separated the crayons into color families,

broke/cut the crayons into little pieces,

and put them into this heart-shaped ice cube tray from Ikea

that I picked up for a few cents at our local Bargain Basement.

I improvised a double boiler type thing by

putting water into a frying pan,

placed three spoons in it (to lift the mold off the bottom of the pan),

set the mold on top of the spoons,

and heated the water on low.

Nothing like working with what you have on hand. ; )

Then we let the crayons melt, melt, melt.

When the wax was molten,

I took the mold out of the water

and popped it into the fridge

until the wax was cool and solid again.

Then we popped our new marbled heart crayons out of the mold,

and I compulsively took photos for the blog.

Last of all

we sat down and made some art.

monday menu

[Brother's clementine segments, all lined up]

Here's what I'm planning to make this week:

M-macaroni-and-cheese with leftover, diced ham, broccoli

T-tacos (I'm going to try making my own refried beans this time! It doesn't look like it'll be too hard.)

W-grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup

Th-twice baked potatoes stuffed with ham, cheese, and broccoli (no recipe here; I'm just winging it)

F-crock pot chili and bread

What are you making this week?

my treasures

I <3 them.

another tuesday menu

[caramel sampling]

I feel decidedly "off" this week.  My house, cooking, and menu planning are all suffering because in addition to the usual holiday craziness, I came down with a nasty, nasty stomach flu Christmas night.  I spent all day yesterday in misery, feeling rather half-alive. I am thankful that today I've been able to eat a little bit and am hoping that no one else gets sick.  I'm pretty sure that this week's menu will be more flexible than usual, but here's the tentative plan:

T-chicken, orzo with parmesan and basil, and green beans

W-breakfast burritos, fresh fruit

Th-scalloped potatoes with ham and green beans

F-crock pot stew and fresh bread (I'd like to try the no-knead 5-minutes-a-day bread.)

What are some of your favorite ways to use leftover ham?  I have a lot. : )

handmade Christmas 2011

I have a hard time figuring out what kind of gifts to make for Benjamin.  He doesn't love cluttery, purposeless items, he is picky about his clothes, and hobby-related items can be hard to make.  Happily for me, though, over the past few years he has added golf to his list of hobbies (music, gaming, writing, golf).  I can't build a guitar, amp, or piano, code a computer game, or plant inspired phrases in his brain, but I can make golf towels!  Perhaps the best thing about golf towels is that they'll look pretty grungy after one season of golf, so if he likes them, I can make some more next year! And the next, and the next, and maybe even the next. ; )


I found a tutorial (which I followed pretty exactly with the exception of the corner pocket which I left out), gathered supplies, and after less than an hour of sewing, I had two terry-cloth-and-corduroy golf towels.  I even installed grommets in one of the corners of each towel, which was a first for me.  They look nice, and I hope he'll enjoy using them next summer!

handmade Christmas 2011

As one of my friends said: "Having a little girl is everything it's cracked up to be."  It's true.  Having a little girl is so much fun.  I have so many pent up girly projects fermenting in my brain that I had an exceptionally difficult time deciding what to make for my little Sweet Pea for Christmas.

After much contemplation, I decided to make a little doll.  One that (just for fun) would coordinate with her nursery nook and red knit cap girl art.


Honestly, I was a little disappointed with how she turned out and almost made a second one.  However, upon further consideration, I decided that she's going to get drooled and chewed on and that peace (as in not cramming my schedule with unnecessary tasks) was more important than perfection.  She did turn out pretty cute, and I don't regret my decision.


I also made a little dolly blanket to go with her.  I used some of the last nursery-nook fabric scraps and the red fabric I had left over from the dolly to make a very simple top which I embelished with coordinating ribbon, rick-rack, and fancy machine stitching.  For some inexplicable reason I get a faint Scandinavian vibe from it.


The back of the blanket is pale, buttery yellow flannel so that the dollies who use it will be extra warm and comfortable.


It's a bit of a gift for her to grow into, but then, at four months old, most gifts won't be fully appreciated for a while.