Sad Days...

     For some reason, I have been unable to create any posts. Hopefully I have it fixed now. It has been a hard month for me, especially after having to lay my grandfather to rest this past week. My family is thankful that his suffering has ended, but it is still hard to lose someone you love. I have always tried to view death in a positive light, the beginning of another cycle, but sometimes it can be hard. Now he stays forever in our hearts through memories. May he rest in peace.

     It has also been a busy month with the engine. My friend had taken over the rebuilding of it, as there was much work done to the case and I am thinking he wanted to make sure it all went together well. Although I was really hoping to do most of it on my own, I appreciate the work he has done and have complete faith in his abilities - that, and he is a total perfectionist. LOL Hoping I haven't driven him too crazy during the times I was there. With the amount of work on the engine, there is no guarantee as to how long it will last, just trying to keep positive thought that all will be well - and if nothing else, I will still have one that is at least serviceable if I need to throw it back in. Lucky for me also - the bus stop is just a few blocks from the house.

     Lately I have been busy trying to prep the car for Winter (yes, still), with patching the heater channels on the list for today. A whopping 60 degrees is expected, so working hard to make that happen. Believe I may be foregoing the earlier plan of fiberglassing them over, for a metal and tar patch that should make it through to next year. Hoping to have the 73 bus up and going by then, so that I have the luxury of stripping down the bug and getting her all straightened out in good order. New floor pans, heating channels, seals, wiring, and paint will be on that list when the time comes. Plenty to do to keep me out of trouble I suppose!

     For the rest of my time - still working on finishing up a few commissions needed for Christmas deliveries, also hoping to be able to knock out another 1560's Italian Renaissance dress that will be needed in mid-January for an event taking place here in KC. Problem is with the mass amount of weight loss, I am needing to start from the bottom (corset and underdresses) and work all the way up the layers. Should be fun, but a great deal of work with all the handsewing involved. Looking forward to the challenge! Here is a shot of the dress I am using for inspiration, along with the fabric that will be used...

Will try and keep up with the posting a bit better, as hopefully this is now remedied. Oh, and here are a few pictures of projects I have been working on, on the side. The blue hat was finished, and I have started spinning new yarn for a knit Viking torque project. Always something going on - some days it is best to keep the ADHD side of me busy!

Blue Ritenour Hat

Icelandic Wool & Silk  with a sample of the finished yarn.

     Hoping this finds all happy and healthy through the holiday season, may you find your hearts desires this Christmas.

Beautiful Days!

     I absolutely love the Autumn colors! With all of the rain we had this year, the color has been outstanding! One of the great things about Kansas City also - all of the green space. It has really come alive this season, and enjoy spending my days finding any excuse to run errands and see the fall color! Though having a hard time getting to the yard work that needs to be done at my place, as I really love the color all over the ground! LOL This weekend will be beautiful and a great time to get it done - but for now, I just appreciate all the beautiful leaves scattering on the ground. Definitely going to be a chore to get them all cleaned up, mulched, and put down around the hosta garden! I always leave a few bags on the side of the yard to mold up and add as a Spring soil amendment.

Looks like yesterdays winds took down most of the dogwood leaves out back!

Such beautiful colors! 

     It has been a pretty quiet week around here, goodies baked and given as seasonal gifts to friends. More baking is on the calendar for this week. Somehow mixed up my days for the VW gathering, so will make a fresh batch of everything again this week - at least it all turned out well and was able to share the previous run with very appreciative friends. 

     The engine block is still be worked on, so nothing new on that front. So much work has been done, I really need to find some ideas for giving back for this, even with a cash reimbursement! So incredible the work that has already been done! Perhaps massage is a good trade? Talking with a few of my guy friends to see what they would appreciate in such a circumstance, all came back with the same intriguing answer, but will keep this family friendly (at least for now!). LOL 

     Loved the hat pattern so much, I have made a couple more - the first out of alpaca, which I have decided is just too fuzzy for a great guy gift (though would be extremely warm!), and one more I am making again out of the Malabrigo Arroyo. Absolutely adore this yarn line! I really need to keep away from the yarn store...though it was mentioned that they would have another shipment in at the end of the month! Time to start saving those pennies!! 

Royal blue alpaca sock yarn (just too fuzzy)

One more in Malabrigo Regatta Blue. Adore this - will be perfect!

      So cold outside today, I am thinking it will be a good day for a hot cup of tea, catching up on a bit of HAVEN, and finishing up this new blue hat. I would love to get to the recipient within the next couple of days! Brrr...only 20 or so more weeks until Spring! Can't wait to get back to the kind of weather that allows me to drop that convertible top and enjoy the sunshine!

     

What A Wild Ride This Is!

     Spent most of the week with Clarabelle (she really refused to change her pound name - so Clarabelle it is...), she is recovering from her spay surgery (Sun), and has been doing everything possible to show she is not happy about something. Sigh. Beginning the training has at least helped to pear down the destructive behavior.

This really is my bone...

Unfortunately, she works quickly. This is what the place looked like after a quick bathroom break for me!

Yep, a dirt trail all through the kitchen and dining space. The rubber tree isn't faring well either. Sigh.

     Just have to remember plenty of patience. She is growing and will grow out of it soon. Thank the gods!

     Also made some time today to get back to organizing and getting things accomplished. I spent the morning oven canning some extras I had. Keeps them wonderfully fresh, never have issues with bugs or mice, and can hold for up to 20 years or more! Granted I usually get around to it much quicker than that! Love the look of the jars all stacked throughout the pantry too! Today, I was able to process 35 jars - a mix of oats, dry beans, instant pancake mix, instant spiced oatmeal - set up for single servings, white rice, and all purpose flour. Absolutely adore my new oven, as this was all processed in one go! Woot! Little tight, but worked beautifully! 

This is what 35 jars in a 6 cu foot oven looks like! 

     I always purchase my flour in 25 pound bags, as they cost under $10, while a 5 pound bag ranges $3-$5! Save a ton of money (even cheaper if you have a Costco or Sams' account), and find that I use it pretty quick. Usually pick one up every month or two depending on how much baking I am working on. Also, I like to keep baking mixes and batches of instant pancake mix to keep in the pantry.

     Next week I have plans to make up biscuit dough - enough for four or five dozen - and freeze them after cutting out, for quick dinner compliments. I love hearty soups in the Autumn and Winter, and usually make them a couple of times a week. Great too if company comes, as just pop out of the freezer and onto a baking sheet, then into the oven! As company here is often unannounced, I also make sure to keep a few frozen loaves of artisan bread handy too! Just a few minutes in the oven for a home made masterpiece!

     Thursday will bring the crafting of a pumpkin cheesecake - a cheesecake social is scheduled with friends on Friday, and Friday afternoon I will be working on coffee cakes, scones and biscotti for an event with the VW group on Saturday morning. I know the guys always appreciate that not only can I work on engines, I can whip up one hell of a coffee cake too! 

      For more information on oven canning, check out The Prepper Project - Long Term Oven Canning for Dry Goods. Although I have no plans for preparing for a zombie apocalypse, it is a great site with some great information and I do like having food storage available for emergencies. Not to mention the instant oatmeal is often great to pack along for camping trips!

Another Project Finished!

     Another day of being busy on very little sleep! Training is going well with the Eshe, and she is quite an intelligent little girl! Already settling in very nicely!
     Finished another project last night - a wool hat for a friend. I enjoy giving back when I can, and know that his hat was looking well loved and well used. LOL Love the crown on this one, although the photo doesn't show it well. Will have to get a better photo up later. This is based on a free pattern from Ravelry, with a link below, this was a very quick project and has a wonderful feel using the Malabrigo Arroyo wool yarn.

Free Pattern: Ritenour Hat

          Have to keep it short today and get out to run errands. Helping out at a friends' shop today, and Eshe will be tagging along. Great chance for her to meet lots of people and other dogs, working on getting her well socialized, which will be a bit harder with the cold weather upon us. Now if I could just make a bit more time to get the yard work done... 

A New Family Member!

     I wish I could say I have been overly productive this week, getting things done and such, but no luck. I have been taking down time to try and dump some of the stress that has been piling up over the past couple of weeks and working on getting a few spaces reorganized. With the news of the kidney issues, and the problems with the engine, I just needed a break - just a small one! Actually got to closing up the engine case, and had the first stud pop out with just 10lbs of torque. So back to square one with that project. All torn down and getting reworked. I am blessed to have a very talented friend helping out with this, truly a hero to me, as I would have had to scrap the project were it not for his metal working skills. So heads are getting resurfaced so as to be salvageable, the studs are getting helicoiled into the case, and he is now working on creating a flywheel cutter that will level out the cylinder seats. I have been so amazed at what he has been able to accomplish! What I would give to know more about how things like that work! So now just waiting to see if it will all work out. Just have to have faith that it will at this point~!
     We also just adopted a rescue puppy from one of the no kill shelters here in KC, this evening. She is a beautiful 5 month old Pharaoh Hound we are naming Eshe (E's pronounced as "eh") which in Egyptian means "life". Our little girl is a parvo survivor, and has such a wonderful disposition. Settling in well and is already a great source of joy for my son and myself. Looking forward to the years passing and watching her grow!

Eshe with her piggy ears - first night in her new home!

   

A Great Day for Catching Up!

     Had a great weekend, getting a chance to shoot down for a quick trip to Buses at the Brewery down in Springfield, MO! Great day talking with friends and meeting new ones! Making it back, I ended up taking a little bit of down time, enjoyed just getting things done at home and spending a bit of time with my son.
     Finally grabbed a shot of the finished crocheted pineapple vest, thinking the color is just not doing it for me though. Believe in the next few days I will be dying it to a darker brown or even burgundy. After wet finishing, it left it a little large, but thinking the dye process should shrink it up just perfect. Other than that, fairly happy with it and look forward to getting a chance to wear it out. My camera help is not so experienced, but you can at least get an idea. I am a size 14/16, but this pattern on a G hook would easily have suited up to a size 20.

     Update on the engine rebuild - got a bit further, but not by much. Had an issue with the cam shaft not lining up well with the gear, but I am lucky to know some wonderfully talented people! A friend was able to get it to line up and we are keeping our fingers crossed that all will be well with the timing. Should be fine! Last I was at the shop, was able to get the crank and cam shafts in the case, still fighting with one of the cam shaft bearings, so still need to do a bit of adjusting before it is ready to close up (more grease needed on the center crank bearing and gears as well), but went in well for a first shot. Looking forward to getting back to work on it tomorrow! Not the best pic, but this is what it looks like now. Trying to take my time to double check, but sometimes it is hard. Nice to have someone checking behind just to make sure I got it right - it has been a good 20 years since I have messed with engines, and have had a few too many hits to the head to remember much! LOL

     Will have to make sure and post some photos from the event this weekend, had spaced on grabbing the XD card before heading out, so only able to take a few photos while I was there. Looking forward to getting more done on the new sweater tonight - will be helping out in a friends' shop for a bit this evening and figure will be an excellent time to get some knitting done. Looking forward to getting far enough along to have a photo to post on it! For now, time to get moving on some pumpkin bread I have promised for my son and a few others. They adore my mad baking skills! 

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly....

     What a week! Glad it is almost finished. This week has been busy and filled with not so good news, but suppose that is part of life. Finally back onto the engine rebuilding project. I have been blessed to have many talented and wonderful people in my life, and pray they know how much I truly appreciate them! One in particular has been wonderful about letting me rebuild the engine in a shop that he owns, and being available to help with guiding me in rebuilding it. There is much I have forgotten since my first one - twenty years previously. LOL So far, the case is clean and ready to be put back together, which is on the list for today. Figured here would be as good of a place as any, for chronicling the project.

Not much, but a clean case is a great start!

     The crochet vest is completed (wet finishing and drying now - photos soon!) and I have begun working on the new Tapestry sweater pattern. Only a few rows in and already very happy with the progress and pattern. Turning out easier than I had originally had thought it would be. Very happy about that! Was hoping to take it with this weekend for a quick jaunt to Springfield (Buses at the Brewery 2013), as I will not be driving, but thinking a small and simple hat project may be a better idea. Less chance of making a mistake on a complicated pattern! Really looking forward to the trip, though will only be there for a few hours, I can really use a bit of time to recharge, make new friends and see old acquaintances.

     Yesterday was a fairly hard day for me. I received the news from my doctor that my kidney is indeed failing. Granted, this is something I have dealt with for the past twenty years (complications after a severe trauma), but hearing it and seeing it in writing really made it hit home. They had told me I would probably be on a recipient list by the time I turned 22 years old, but it has hung in there. Turning 40 years old come January, I think it has held up well. Thankful for that. Just a bit shaken by all of the procedures, tests and solutions they may come up with now. Working on finding holistic and natural fixes, but I may have exhausted all of those - still trying to find hope and stay positive. It is what it is, and I can only try and be strong and deal with the issues as they arise. I am also thankful for having such wonderful people in my life. I have a great support network, and many  have already sent offers of assistance - even some in other states! Crazy how life goes. Just have to hold on and enjoy the ride (or try to)! 

A Different Twist on Leftovers...

     Had a conversation with a friend earlier looking for ideas on meals and meal planning, and figured I would share what I have been up to this week, in hopes that it might inspire others.
      I have a rule at my house, waste not - want not. Saturday evening, we enjoyed a meal of beef roast (slow cooker), baked potatoes and fresh carrots with a butter dill sauce (Not so normal for us to have a full meat course, but on occasion it is nice...). As always, I plan on leftovers with most meals, using one base to make another meal completely. Now after cooking the roast, I had stock and left over roast to put up. The stock was set into muffin tins, to freeze into smaller portions, leaving easily usable disks of beef stock to add to recipes in the future (one less thing to purchase from the store and I keep it sodium free!). All kept in a wonderful little labeled bag in the freezer - without taking up too much valuable space. (The little floating bits are just fat. I skim most of it off, but happy to leave a small amount). This is also a great thing for leftover gravy, as I often add a disk or two to soups and stews to give it a little flavor.

Muffin tins with beef stock ready for freezing.

     Next, I shredded the leftover roast (had two teen boys for dinner that night - so not quite as much left over...), added some frozen peas & carrots, some onions, herbs & spices, and a bit of the left over gravy - all dumped into a pie crust, and topped with mashed potatoes. A quick and easy meat pie! Completely different meal, but using all the leftovers I had. Even the water that I boiled the potatoes with is set aside and fed to the plants. They love the starch boost from the potato water!

Meat pie before the potatoes. The little white pieces are garlic and dehydrated onions.

     Then I added the mashed potatoes and gravy just before going into an oven heated at 350 degrees for approximately 40 mins - just long enough to get everything heated through and a bit of browning on top of the potatoes. Came out wonderfully, and even my picky son ate it. Always a grand thing!

Finished meat pie - fresh from the oven!

     Now whenever I cook, I try and use whatever I can so as not to waste. Vegetable scraps are chopped coarsely, thrown into a labeled bag in the freezer, and boiled down to make vegetable stock, frozen the same as above. I also do the same with chicken stock, and find I no longer need to purchase extra from the store. After the veggies are boiled down and sifted from the stock, they go onto the compost bag, which when full, heads out to my rolling compost bin. So nice when everything can be used!
     Sunday was a casual dinner night of chicken quesadillas (left over single grilled chicken breast from Friday was cut up and used for them -perfect size for a couple for each of us), along with some single serve cookies in a cup for dessert. Finished off the last bit of cheese, the grilled chicken breast, and some pico di gallo I had thrown into the freezer. Thinking my son also finished off a couple of other small veggie leftovers we had in the fridge as well. Tuesdays are my cleaning the fridge day, as Wednesday is trash day. Nothing worse than something going foul in the trash and stinking up the house! Luckily, it is a rarity that I have any food that needs to be emptied out of there though - lets' get real, I have a teenage son and he LOVES to EAT! Luckily he has a mom that is a great cook! LOL

     Also, most days I bake small batches of all the bread we use (check out this site for Artisan bread in just 5 minutes a day!), but sometimes it still goes stale. When that happens, I end up cubing up and throwing in the freeze for bread pudding or making croutons later on, the freezer halting the oxygen from damaging it further. If I am really not paying attention and a tiny bit gets a little mold, the critters that live out back get a treat. LOL Though I usually am fairly good at keeping it all under watchful eye. 

     Too, if your family has a great deal of left overs and not really a good thing to try and make another meal out of, try freezing single portions into smaller zip lock bags. We have a bin in the freezer just for that, so on nights that I am busy or unable to cook, the kiddos can fend for themselves. A much better "frozen dinner" option. Many times we have left over soup, and it too is frozen into muffin tins and then transferred into zip lock bags, as you can heat up as much as you wish to eat. Makes life much more convenient! 

     I know as busy parents, we are always looking for useful tips that are tried and true. Perhaps just trying to shave down a bit on the grocery bills, etc. Always good to save as much as possible in this economy! If you are single and tired of cooking for one, the freezer portions work great! Or find some friends and get on the same style of freezing, and host a meal swap. Each of three friends cooks three separate meals, then freeze portions. Get together and swap out, so as to have variety without having to cook every night. Saves a ton of money and is always a great way to try other foods! 

     I always love great tips and ideas, please feel free to share some so that we may all benefit from the shared knowledge! Thanks! 

Yea For Relaxing Weekends!

     Spent much of the weekend relaxing, I really needed some time to take a break and just get back on track. Often I push myself a bit harder than I should and reap the consequences of doing such. Not always a good thing, but it allows me to see where my limits are and how they have changed. While my mobility is not so much of a problem these days, overdoing it definitely lets me know that the issues are never far off!
     I did finally make time to fix the plumbing issue in the guest bath. I was hoping for just a quick removal of the trap and clearing it, but that was not my luck this time. The clog had moved further into the main line (figure one of my children probably tried the plunger...), so after three separate trips to the hardware store, it is now fixed and functioning once more! Found the leak issue there as well, as the trap had rusted a hole right on the bottom (very odd I hadn't noticed sooner...). Replaced that, snaked the pipes, and got everything working once more. I usually can clear most problems by running 1 cup of salt mixed with 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a kettle of boiling water. Keeps the clogs at bay, and really works beautifully. I usually treat all of the drains in the house about every three months just to keep things running smoothly. I ended up saving quite a bit, as the plumber had wanted $120 for the work, and even after having to purchase channel locks, I still only spent $25. Not a bad savings, though is certainly not my favorite thing to do!
     Today is more painting and remodeling at a friends' home, and tomorrow begins the rebuilding of the engine for my convertible bug! Really looking forward to having that project done and installed, as my current engine is faltering pretty bad these days. Using quite a bit more fuel than I should be as well. Will be nice to just have another item on the list crossed off! Working on getting some time on a lift to replace the master cylinder as well, as there is a crack and it is leaking pretty good these days. Also needing a brake adjustment and to install the new odometer and cable while the tire is off, so figure that will hopefully all get done at one time. Just have to see how much time I can make for it and how smoothly things go. If there is one thing I have learned - as with most things - it will usually take twice as long and cost me twice as much as originally planned. LOL Would be lovely if I could just save back enough to pick up a decent jack... such is life....
     Hoping everyone has had a glorious weekend and had a chance to get out in the beautiful Autumn weather. Looking forward to Winter now - only for the fact that Spring will be here even sooner! Can't wait to see the new bulbs I planted in full bloom! The front island bed has been a major labor of love and really hoping this year will be it's best so far! Working on planting for three full seasons of color - so will make sure and add photos as the changes progress! Also, please feel free to leave comments, ask questions, etc. I enjoy making new friends and getting feedback. Thanks!
   

Which is Better? A Bargain or a Trade?

     I will be the first to admit, if there were a help group for people who time, and time again, habitually surpassed the idea of "bargains", I think I would need to be in it! LOL What's better than a great bargain?! Trades! If you live on a very limited income (such as I do), a trade is like finding free gold. It is a win, win situation - even better when both parties are equally happy with their received trade! Even better than that?! No money needed. Just a handshake and a smile and the deal is set in stone.
     As I had mentioned previously, I needed help getting my floor pans for my 1968 convertible up to par, especially before Winter settled in. With a shoulder surgery last February, it seems that I am still unable to use it quite like I used to and sought out help for the repair job. Just lucked out enough to have a couple of friends that had the knowledge to help me to fix the problem, and that they had something needing done, that I knew how to do! So in exchange for helping getting my car squared away, I had promised to help in the fixing up and (major / minor) remodeling of his home, so that it could get sold as soon as possible. Granted this began a couple of weeks back, and while I am sure they would have been happy with just one week of assistance, I enjoy the company and having something to do, so have continued on. It is something different than my daily routine, I often get free lunch out of the deal, and I really enjoy the company of friends. Beats staying home cleaning all of the time!

     Yesterday, my task was to work teak oil into the closet doors. Now, had you been there to see these doors, you would have seen me give them that look of incredulousness - yep, one eyebrow up and all. But, being me, I didn't say anything, but went about the task asked of me. Never had I been introduced to teak oil, and yet, now I wonder how I have lived so long without it! Those doors looked absolutely incredible (not to mention custom pieced), rather than the tired, worn out and dilapidated state they appeared to be in. I was absolutely amazed. Price runs a bit more than I like, but some incredible stuff for rehabilitating wood pieces! 

     All I could think of was how I was going to pick some up and start playing on some of my antique wood pieces at home. Fortunately though, I have a friend with a full can! For an example, my (recently retired) antique spinning wheel which is figured to be close to 300 years old, was in need of some sprucing. So decided to bring it along to the help day and set back a bit of time to apply the teak oil to it. Granted the photo is not quite the best, you can get the point. Unfortunately, I did not think  to get a before photo, and had left my camera at home, rather than remembering to grab a couple of shots of those closet doors... she looks absolutely stunning now!! Amazing! Yet also, the patina I cherish is still there and even more protected. Love it! Not at all bad for a 290+ yr old piece! And it didn't cost me a dime! Just an hour of my time. How sweet is that! 

Castle Wheel

     Later this afternoon, I swung over to a thrift shop with a friend, and found even better bargains there as well! Ended up with a couple of sweaters (one a beautiful cashmere), and a couple of hats for just around $15. Not bad...but even better was that one of the sweaters was a knee length, cabled sweater that was just a bit snug and looking a little tired. I fell in love with the yarn, especially the way it draped with the extreme cabling design - beautiful wool sweater from The Loft. 

     I will admit it, I am a tightwad. For me, $7 for a sweater is a bit steep, especially a used one. Granted, this sweater was from a major name brand retailer and a silky merino wool to boot. Can almost see it coming home with me, but not quite. Try it on and it only confirms what I know - definitely not the style for my body type (miracle-gro pear shape). Then it hits me. I really love the fiber....and there has to be at least 2200 yds of yarn in this thing - size L. Sweet! There has been a sweater I have been wanting to make, that would look absolutely fan-tab-ulous on me, but have not had the money to purchase the yarn I would like to have for the project (it would cost me well over $120). Lucky for me - this seems to be the exact same yarn I need - approximately 12wpi or sport weight. So now that $7 is not seeming so bad... LOL Amazing how I talk myself into the piece, but the fiber is beyond words. One of the better merinos I have come across. 

   So it will be written, so it will be done! 

Laid out and breaking down the yarn for recycling...

...and last,but not least...
the chosen pattern for the recycled yarn!!
Tapestry Cardigan Pattern ~ by Carol Sunday

     Not sure what it has been, but it seems like lately I find myself drawn to much more feminine styles in clothing that I normally purchase or make. Actually kinda started when I started working on my car, now that I think of it. Though rarely in much beyond t-shirts and jeans, I have been really drawn to the lace and "feminine" look. Now beginning to wonder if there really could be some correlation. Whatever it is, the pattern will flatter my figure quite a bit more, and with the heavy cabling design of this pattern, this yarn will perform absolutely perfectly! Excellent! Just a bit more to finish off my current project, then onto this one! Can't wait! Not bad for a total of approximately $15 (sweater and pattern price) and a week or two worth of knitting! 

      Ended the day with some great girl time - movie and dinner with a great friend. Love to cook when there are people around to eat, and decided to hang at home and save the cash rather than go out. So grilled steaks on the BBQ, along with some wild rice and southern style green beans. The perfect meal and hit the spot! Though while cooking on the grill, we had a little visitor...

...caught him trying to figure a way to get to the steaks cooking inside the grill. Smart little guy and absolutely fearless. As you can see, gave in to the little beggar and fed him a bit of bread. He was repeatedly coming up and checking us out - often within less than a foot of us. No fear at all. Though of course this young one has seen me taking photos since they were very young, they live in a dead tree in the woodland space just behind our home. Two babies and the mother is all we have seen, though we also have a woodchuck (a very large one), a family of possums, plenty of chipmunks, birds, foxes, rabbits and other such furry critters. Makes me appreciate living in the "city" that much more. Thinking if there were no wildlife, it would make life much more unpleasant. Now if I can just figure a way to keep them all out of my garden! 

Just Keep Swimming...

     Feels like we will be expecting rain soon, hoping so! Taking it a bit easier today, had gotten much done yesterday, but also reminded by my movements today, that I often over do it! Such is life. I am happy enough to be alive to feel the pain! Just keep swimming... (love the little Dora character from Finding Nemo...LOL)

     Update on the crocheted vest - just about done now. Taking a little longer than I had hoped, but it is looking beautiful! Working up quickly enough, but had found a mistake and had to back it out a few rows, and usually only have a chance to work on it while sitting still. Doesn't happen often! Helps that we no longer own a TV or have cable - haven't for some years. There was so much on that I really didn't feel my children really needed to see. I do not think they have been any worse for wear, due to not having one, and the amount of negativity coming into our home dropped immensely. We do have a projection system that is hooked into the computer and use it to watch movies on occasion, but it is not an every day thing. My family loves to read, and an evening can sometimes find us in the living room deep in a book or conversing about a situation the book held. Of course my son also loves his Xbox...

     Here is a photo of the pineapple vest in progress. Have about 11 rows to finish, so hopefully soon I can wear it! Right now it is a little over a yard in circumference. Wet finishing will make it look incredible! Really happy with the pattern and how fast it has gone. I really have not had much time to dedicate to this project, and this is the first time I have actually used a charted pattern. Not too shabby! Have a VW club meeting tonight, so should be perfect for keeping my fingers busy while there! I give it a couple of hours or less to being done. Super quick!

 
      Awhile back I came across a tile grout cleaner recipe, and this stuff was AMAZING!! I used it to do my floors and they came out looking like new! Unfortunately, I never sealed them, and they are starting to look foul again. Thinking it is time to redo the floors and make sure to have the sealant on hand this time, so it will be so much quicker and easier to get it all looking beautiful once more! Not sure why, but 16 year old boys just seem to ooze mud and dirt at an ungodly rate. LOL If you are looking for new flooring, might want to give this a try...it can do amazing things, cheap and pet/child friendly! All natural! Here are my before and after photos with the link to the recipe....

(and just want to make note - this was shortly after I moved in! LOL Not really my dirt!) 

Grout Cleaner Recipe via A Mum 'n the Oven (TOTD #72)

        

Before: just after spraying grout cleaner 

After: Looks like new!! 

(also the tiles came out perfectly bright white - the lighting and shadows make it look tinted)

I Love Productive Days!

     Winter is on the way and it seems as though I always have large lists, trying to prepare the house and yard. Today has already been a productive day, and still have a few hours to lunch! Few loads of laundry already done and put away, the oil is draining on the bug and will be ready for a valve adjustment shortly, the house has been tidied, bathrooms cleaned and the sink would be unclogged if I could just find my pipe wrench! (It amazes me how items find legs and just find a new place to reside within this house. LOL ) Today was also laundry soap making day and my home now smells amazing fresh and clean, with a full batch setting up now!
     Another way I have found to save on the monthly expenditures, is to make my own laundry soap. No harsh chemicals, no fragrances. Safe for all skin types and sensitivities, and smells absolutely lovely! I have used this for years, and have been happy with the results. My clothing is always clean and fresh, it combats many stains without treatment, and I never have a problem with premature fading. If you would like to give it a try, you can find the recipe below.
     Just remember that this is a low suds formula, so use just a tablespoon...it works like magic! Great for the budget, as it costs under $2  for 128 loads of laundry!! The link also now contains a no-cook recipe, but I absolutely love the way it makes my house smell so fresh and clean while cooking on the stove!
     There are days that I love to slow down, finding serenity in just appreciating and enjoying the process of creating things. Modern life is all about instant results and cutting every corner to create as quickly as possible. Sometimes it is nice just to embrace the process. Try it sometime! I have gotten in the habit of making a new batch when I am down to just half a jar left of the last batch. That way there is no waiting when I am working on a schedule.

Mom's Super Laundry Sauce Recipe!

   
     Another site I would like to share is the flylady website. I have always been decently clean and like to keep clutter at bay, but there is always those times when life gets busy and hectic, and it seems impossible to keep up. Even for those who are hoarders, it gives a bit of hope in using just minutes a day to get a home under control and organized. I absolutely love it! She has processes lined out for combating just about every organizational issues, along with great ideas for financial and home organization. Much less stressful, small amounts of time needed, and works with just about every schedule!
     I often have friends come over and ask if I clean constantly - not a chance! I like to have time for my hobbies, baking, working in the yard, working on the cars or just out enjoying life. This system allows me to keep things tidy in a very short amount of time, making unannounced visitors feel welcome in my home, without a great deal of stress to me! It feels great to be able to get a handle all items that need to be done, yet still have free time! If you have never seen, nor heard of the site before, it is worth the time to give it a peek.

"Progress, not perfection!" Home of Flylady  

or find her site on Face Book

The Fly Lady Page

   

What a Busy Weekend!!

      This has been a crazy and hectic weekend, but it was great as well! Family came in to visit, which was absolutely wonderful! While my daughter came up to attend homecoming, here in Kansas City. Really glad now I was able to get those Mums in - the perfect backdrop for quick homecoming photos! Amazing how fast the kiddos have grown! I really am so lucky to have such great kids! They may not be perfect, but they are definitely showing some promise!

Richard and Rhianna ~ Home Coming 2013

     Also attended a VW parts swap on Saturday morning, and was able to pick up some great deals! Some brand new CV boots for the '73 bus project for just $3 ea, some bumper guards (much better than my current ones!) for my '68 convertible for just $2 ea, and a 2.0L T4 engine for the bus for just $50!! The engine will need to be rebuilt, but for the price, will be well worth the effort. Looking forward to making arrangements to pick that up in just a couple of weeks! Also will be picking up a used center mat for the bus this week, along with a new odometer and cable for the bug! It has been a great month for parts, the odometer and cable are being given to me (actually included in the price of the center mat), along with a brand new back bumper (still in plastic!) for the bug and an oil cooler for the 1600cc engine rebuild, that was also given to me free of charge! I am so thankful for all of the blessings that have come my way lately, nice when the good karmic debt catches up with you!

     Busy day today helping out a friend on the remodeling of his home to get it on the market. It came about as a trade for helping me to get my floor pans fixed in my convertible bug. She is really running great now, much less vibration! Great trade, though I am thinking they are getting many more hours out of me! LOL I still enjoy helping just the same! I really needed the assistance, and they had the tools and knowledge to help. Happy to assist wherever I can to make getting his home sold for offering the helping hand! I find baked goods are also great trades and use trades (usually massage) very often to accomplish what I am unable to do myself, or what I do not have the money to pay someone else to do for me.

     The current plan of attack is to get the little bug snug for Winter use, then finish stripping the bus, all new seals, new paint, new wiring, new tires, engine rebuild, etc. on that bus and get her running. Once the bus is up and good, the bug will get stripped down for new paint, new wiring, new seals all around, all new floor pans and heater channels (current are only patched), and eventually I will save for the new canvas top. I had decided to switch back to the old VW vehicles, as while they do need more maintenance than modern vehicles, I can do almost all of it myself...and annual taxes are only $10 ea per year!! Woot!  Perhaps I am odd, but I find something soothing about breaking things down and putting them back together fixed (alright, make that most times). LOL Finally have all the parts together (beyond a few small top end bits) for the 1600cc rebuild, and hoping to get started on that next week! Would love to have the new engine in before the weather turns too cold! All in due time. Much on my lists, and so little time it seems these days!

"Serendipity" ~ 1968 Convertible Bug

 

Soup Anyone?

     One of the aspects I have appreciated most about being medically retired so young, was the opportunity to be home with my children and be an integral part of their lives as they grew. One area I have been most strict on is adequate nutrition. I make almost everything from scratch, not cooking from pre-made foods in cans or boxes. We do not have sodas on stock, nor any snack type foods that are filling grocery isles these days. I try to make sure that High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and preservatives are non-existent, or at least kept at a minimum, which means I have learned to make many spice mixes or base mixes, from wholesome natural ingredients.

     One of my favorites is the dry mix for canned soup replacement, which I will be throwing together today. No artificial anything, no preservatives, and is incredibly cheaper and better tasting than Campbell's will ever make! This was a replacement that saw at least a $20 drop on my monthly grocery bill! Super simple to make and very easy to store in the pantry. One batch replaces about ten cans of creamed soup! If you would like the recipe, you can find it here:

                       Condensed Cream of Anything Soup Mix from One Orange Giraffe

                           

     On other projects, just started working on a new jacket/vest for fall (more likely Spring...), which is already looking great!! Will be excited to get it done, hoping I can finish it up within the week or so, as I have a few other projects I am catching up on at the moment. I lucked out and found a whole, unopened box of vintage crochet cotton at a yard sale or thrift store some years ago for a couple of dollars. Still not too sure of the color, but figured I always have the option of dying it later. So brought it home, where it has lived in my stash until now. This will be a great project for it!

     Here is a shot of my work in progress, along with a photo of what it should look like when it is completed (fingers crossed!). If you are interested in this free pattern, it is located on a Portuguese site. Just click on "Grafico Aqui" highlighted in bright red. Very easy chart to read and works up quickly!!

Pearls Crochet Blog - Pineapple Vest (free online pattern)

If you like the recipe and pattern, feel free to check out my Pinterest boards! I have unabashedly become a Pinterest junkie (too bad there is no help for that one)! A great look at just how multifaceted and eclectic my tastes and hobbies are!   

Where to start?!

     So I have been approached by a quite a few that suggested I start a blog...like I have time for that! So, upon giving it further thought, I decided, why not? I have led a very interesting life, learned much in the process and can do many different things. Never know what I may be up to on any given day, be it making something useful, working on my car, sprucing up the landscaping or fixing all and sundry that needs repair. Out of necessity, I have become a "jack" of many trades - master of none.

     For the most part, I lead a simple life. I try to be appreciative of everything - good and bad. For while the good give us reasons to find joy, the bad give us an opportunity to learn (insert "usually" here). Everyone who knows me, knows I am usually optimistic, no reason to waste energy on the negative aspects of life. It's going to be there, it will undoubtedly happen, just learn to make the best of any given situation and have faith that life will eventually get better.

     I am woman - hear me roar! For those who do not know me and may come across this site, I am a single mother of two wonderful teens - only my son left at home now. I have been medically retired for a back injury sustained on the job back in February of 2002, at the ripe old age of 28. At the time, they only gave me 10 years to live - so guess I am borrowed time now, though try to live as though I always am! Life is just too short to waste any of it! I enjoy helping others and frequently do. I also love to learn new things and am constantly seeing what else I may be capable of! I am very self reliant and enjoy the feelings it brings.  Being retired at such a young age in life, has made me become very resourceful...living more than decently on a very small income. It can be difficult at times, but with everything in life - anything is possible!

     So on the list for today is a bit of yard work. A friend picked up some very beautiful mums for my yard, and they have need of a permanent home, along with the 20+ bulbs I picked up on sale last week! Guessing planting will need to be done with them too! Will be looking forward to sharing photos of their arrival next Spring! Looks like I will  have to do a hard pruning on the trees to make these work in the front island bed, but there they will be able to bring joy to the neighbors as well! We also lost a larger branch during the last storm, so that needs to be dealt with as well. As for the grass, it is green and thankfully growing slower. If I don't have to mow again this year (or remind the boy that he needs to, now that his broken arm has healed) - I will be a very happy woman...