Setting Priorities

Today I feel both disappointed with myself, and satisfied with myself.

I'm disappointed because I did not help with the ballet studio's Winter Open House and Rummage Sale.  During The Nutcracker performances, I'd made plans to help out (despite my own misgivings of planning & organizing a rummage sale 10 days after Christmas.)  But then, as evidenced by yesterday, life caught up with me.

That, and I needed to reassemble my dryer vent.

So the dryer vent is one of the banes of my existence.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH IT!
(1)  The inadequate roof vent is clogged with 10-year-old matted lint.
(2)  And we don't own a ladder tall enough to reach the lowest eave.
(3)  The conduit from the floor to the roof is about 20 feet.
(4)  It slopes the last 9 feet.
(5)  The interior conduit is, I believe, repurposed rectangular downspout.
       Because that fits within the framing.
       As opposed to making the framing fit round conduit.
(6)  So. Not. Code.  (Wait!  The county has no codes!  Ha-ha!)
(7)  I need to fit a 12.5 sq.in. round peg into a 6 sq.in. rectangle hole.
(8)  That's off-center.


A few visuals:


This is the vent opening, and the repurposed downspout.

This is my dear, sweet, up-to-code, UL certified dryer.

Quite the mis-match, eh?

I bought an arsenal of things that might make a connection that can easily be removed & cleaned, that would be less likely to catch lint.

And I ended up using what I had removed.  It had been cobbled together by the last tech to work on my dryer.

I don't work by the hour or by the job, so I was able to take time to securely reassemble the parts and to use vent tape to smooth it all out.  After I had to cut the connector piece in order to make a truer 90-degree bend, the round conduit fitting was more of a 3.5 than 4 inch diameter.  Luckily, I had a true duct connector (both ends crimped, a pair of tightening belts included,) which created the transition I needed.  It made the unit stick out an extra 3-4 inches, but Carley was able to figure out a way to get back there and gather up the slack on the flexible conduit so it could be back in its original position.

So I'll see how it holds up, and how soon I'll need to clean the conduits.

Someone said that charity begins at home.  I believe the intent was that charity is first modeled in the home.  Mrs. March took it a step further when she entreated her girls Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy to concentrate their efforts at care and helpfulness with each other first.  Or as my husband reminds me, you can't pour from an empty bucket.

I truly missed spending time with my fellow ballet-moms.  I consider them friends, not co-members.  But I do need to take care of myself and my family first, so I can give more of myself when I do have the time.

Another Countdown

We began the Advent Wreath on Sunday.  On Tuesday, December 1, we'll start the countdown that all kids and kids-at-heart can relate to.

This days-to-Christmas hanging was made by my mom when I was DLG's age, about six.  She also made a tree skirt from felt.  Every now and then, when I'm looking for something in her crafting stuff, I run across the patterns she'd pulled from "Good Housekeeping" or "Ladies' Home Journal."

I haven't seen that tree skirt in years (miss it,) but when my mom was "down-sizing" her Christmas stuff (mostly getting rid of the tatty things I grew up with,) she found this and offered it to me.  I am a sentimental fool. The original bells were half-inch brass, tinted either blue, red, green or gold.  They seemed to glow.  But now they are faded and fewer than two dozen.  The small glass candy jar we'd deposit them in is long gone to some garage sale.

But I have accumulated exactly twenty-four 1" silver bells over the many holidays. A small candy tin will catch the bells now.  A bit of Modge-Podge to stiffen the yarn tips, and we're ready for another December!

Getting Crafty, Maybe?

Mary A. Ramsey-- someone whom I see more on Facebook than in real life, but someone I do admire for her energy and vision-- put up a fun repost the other day.

Quote:  "I will make something for the first ten people who comment on this post with something along the lines of "Yes, I want in." A 'like' alone is not enough. It will be delivered unto you by the end of the year.

You must in turn post this as your status update and make something for the first ten people who comment they want in on your status.

The rules are simple: it has to be made by you, and the recipient must receive it before 2014 ends.

It sounds fun, so I put in my "I'm in," comment.  I'm surprised;  I'm the only "I'm in," comment.  Maybe the other interested folks have private messaged her.  She is C R E A T I V E.  She acts.  She sings.  She directs.  She up-cycles.  She makes STUFF.  She crafts business plans.  She is the Interim Director at JA (you know, teaching young people to bring a business plan together from product conception to getting you to buy it?)  She also cooks. And that is just what I know about her.

So, as I said, I'm surprised that no one else has chimed in.  I'm excited!

Ah, but to get, I must, in turn, give.

Maybe THAT is the deterrent.

Not here.

Y'all, if you haven't noticed, I'm pretty crafty, too.

Thus, the purpose of this post connected to my FB repost:  the rules don't specify if the giver or the receiver has the greater say in the crafted gift. Maybe it's all on my part; I can chose how to spend my time and energy; I can have a single-day craft-tan-aganza; I can tailor my gifts to what I know about the respondents; obviously, delivery methods will count towards limitations.

Then again, I think those who will respond to my repost should have a good idea of what I can do:  crochet & knit (short projects,) needlework (cross-stitch preferable, needlepoint under duress,) scrapbookking (is too a word,) up-cycling (like candles,) simple beading, simpler sewing, glue ANYTHING.  Oh, and cooking.  There's probably a few other things I can do (oh, I can write, duh,) but I don't see them spread out on my craft table to be done or put away.

A few photos, if you're curious....

Not much, but there you go.

Friday Favorites: MY Space

No, not that one.  I'm pretty much settled in to FaceBook, and use Google for everything else except social-networking.

And Netflix.  Learned the hard way that Google + Silverlight + Netflix = Really Pissed Off MacBook

I'm crowing about a space in my house that is all my own.  It's only about 21 square feet, but it's all I actively need.  I'm rather efficient and effective at storing my "raw materials."

Ta-Da!!

I can thank Hazel for my little area to craft & sew & blog & scrapbook & correspond.

Until early December, the area off the kitchen (aka "breakfast nook") was used as our dining space.  Hazel had her dining room suite in here.  The hutch held all of her wonderful stuff, but we would only eat every now and then at the table.  Sometimes one of us would use it as work space (craft, computer, homework,) but it wasn't ideal for that.

Fun, but not ideal.

The room that most would consider a "formal dining room" we used as a "library."  Lots of lovely bookshelves filled with books.  Since there was no other furniture in the room, I'd set up a table to do some sewing & crafting. Again, useful, but not ideal.  We couldn't enjoy the view of the books and nicknacks.  My work table in the middle gave me room, but no access to electrical outlets for things like my sewing machine or glue guns;  using extension cords or moving the table to the only accessible wall outlet created a walking hazard.  That room also got blinding morning sunlight; in the evening, the overhead lights were too dim.  (Sorry, no photo.)

The more Hazel thought about our spaces, especially with the kids over here and playing all over the floors, as well as a place for the Christmas tree..... Well, Carl had mentioned that the previous homeowners had used the tiled "breakfast nook" as a play area for their toddler.

One of Hazel's passions is rearranging furniture and updating accessories.

Thus, one morning, she, Zoe (in the mold of her grandmother,) Carl and I moved it all around.  Moving things isn't half hard when you have sturdy backs and uncarpeted floors.  We got all but the reloading of nicknacks done before I had to leave to get the kids after school.

I got home late and was very surprised to see the work table up and in position.  (Didn't I fold it up and store it in the garage???)  Carl told me it was his mom's idea to create a work space for me.

I LOVE IT!  I can store stuff.  I can work on stuff.  I can have a kid (or two) beside me as I work.  Or at least do "my thing" in the same room as they are doing "their things."  It's wonderful.  Although I have had "my stuff" with me wherever I've moved, it's been years and years since I've have a space to call "MINE."

Thanks, Mama Hazel.

A Willing Victim to the Whirlpool

Got sucked in again.

Kinda wish I could have spent all week eddying around the Green Room.

Ah, community theater! I love it.

Weeks and weeks back, I was contacted by the costumer for Theatre Huntsville's production of "Arsenic and Old Lace."  She needed some period hats and the "Abby Brewster" actress recommended me.  (Gaylen is such a dear!)  As if I could refuse, even if I wanted to; most of my hat collection is courtesy of TH's rummage sale last fall.  When they need, I gratefully lend!

In between my other obligations and Suzi's schedule, I didn't get my offerings out to her until the first night of tech week.

That's when I got sucked in, so to speak.  Poor Suzi!  A friend of hers had offered to help her sew up vintage-style costumes, but then had her own issues to preempt her time.  Luckily, the woman playing "Elaine" (the delightful Sonja) is a talented seamstress and sewed her own pieces, and Sonja's mom was able to complete a complicated blouse; but, well, otherwise Suzi was alone in her efforts.  When I arrived, I was not just hats and gloves, I was company.  I was an extra pair of eyes to say yes or no if something worked.  I was a receptive set of ears to bounce ideas around.  I was a bonus resource to complete costumes with lace, jewelry, slippers, clutches, notions.  I was a spare pair of hands to pin hems, fit pieces, trim bits, or throw a stitch on the machine (or take one out.)  I was there.

And I liked it.  I like being useful, creative, social.  Suzi believed she was so far behind, but as I helped her tidy up and think out loud, it turns out she was almost there.  It was just a matter of finally getting the costumes on bodies, reviewed and in motion to know exactly what was needed to complete each thing.  And someone who could get in the car & fetch-n-step while she kept her foot to the treadle.

Suzi has been a delight to get to know; an interesting woman with an interesting life; gracious, but no-nonsense.  It's been good to hang out at the Playhouse-- I've been away too long.  It's been good to see so many familiar faces and to be seen.  If my time had been more free this week, I wouldn't have minded spending all of tech week there, helping to tighten things up.  I adore the art of theater; on stage, back stage, audience--- something about it is "home", I guess because it is one of the few things in my life I have sought by myself, for myself and have made my own.

Speaking of making, check out these hat pins to give a "splash" of color to the cream hat Elaine will wear with two different dresses:

Coral Casual

Evening Aquamarine

"Martha Brewster" (Linda) needed her own, distinct, Victorian hat.  I mean DISTINCT. Let my own DLG model:

Oh, my.

Cooking Something New

Remember those "Low Country Cookies" I mentioned in "The Wrap"?

I gave them a try, and my women's group really liked them. Like me, they were all amazed that the filling had coconut-- all except Barbara W. who said she noticed it right away. ("Oh, I'm sorry. that's a bad thing, " says Christi; "No, no! I like coconut, that's why I noticed it." Well OK, then, it's all good.)

I should have made them a day ahead of time, and let them set over night. I also should have gone with my instincts and lined it with individual cracker rectangles since I was making it of a morning. (Also decided to add vanilla to the filling; might ought to have stirred that in with the coconut, but it's only because I'm worried it might have interfered with the soft set.) If you use mini chocolate chips instead of chopped pecans, definitely sprinkle them on top (hot mix, got it?) I also wasn't sure if non-canned coconut would be acceptable, but since I couldn't find canned coconut, I used a bag of coconut pulverized up with a can of coconut milk-- worked well.

If I'm going to talk about it, I guess I'd better share.

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Low Country Cookies


Ingredients:
Cookie part
1 (16 oz) box graham crackers
reserve about 13 -15 to create cookie
crush enough to create 1 cup crumbs

Filling
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup shredded coconut (or three 1/2 ounce cans)

Topping
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
3 tablespoons milk


Line the bottom of a  13x9-inch pan with whole graham crackers.

Melt the butter in a saucepan and add sugar. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and milk together, then add to butter mixture. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add nuts, coconut and graham cracker crumbs. Spread over the crackers in the pan. Top with another layer of whole graham crackers.

To make the topping, beat all of the ingredients together and spread over top layer of crackers.

Chill until filling is firm and then cut into squares.

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Yep. Coconut that escapes all but the most discriminating palates.
Bring on the yum.

Prop-erly

As I've mentioned before, I "do" community theater because I get to be creative.  Some of my handiwork from two of the latest shows:

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This is "mom's work space."  No kids or husband allowed.

 The big trunk o'props. More rehearsals=more stuff.

When your space is limited backstage,

a "props shelf" is better than a "props table."

A jug.  A jug of whatever you want it to be.  For "Frankenstein," it was first water, then wine.  I assembled it for "The Women" seven years ago; the handle was severely broken and it had no cork, but the price at the antiques booth was right.  A good condition jug was about $60. This one was about $15, not including $3 in supplies from Dollar Tree (supplies of which left me with extras.)  Not bad for a jug of "hooch."

This is a "crash box," believe it or not. In the second scene of "Frankenstein," the servant Fritz brings in a tray of tea before he is physically upbraided by his master Victor.  I hadn't been paying attention to the pantomime accompanying the dialog/blocking, so when given a tray, "Fritz" startled me by dropping it.  Made character sense, but I wasn't expecting it.  SO, those two china cups & saucers? Nix. And forget a teapot with liquid. Back to the drawing board. Came up with some plastic "coffee cups" from Party City that I sprayed a flat silver, a large metal potpourri holder that I also sprayed to resemble a sugar bowl, a smaller metal tray to set the bowl on, three teaspoons, and one "napkin" for "cleaning up."  Yep, it made a racket. We only lost two small chips out of one cup.  That's some sturdy party ware!

I'm proud of this. We needed candles that looked real, wouldn't break and wouldn't catch anything on fire. Being a pack-rat paid off. I have saved the heavy "cardboard" center rolls from my Costco plastic & foil wraps. They're too heavy for cardboard, but I don't think they're true pressboard tubes, either, even though I required a small saw to cut them down to size. I cut two short "candles" from one tube, making sure each had a machine-cut end for a base and my own crooked cut for a "melted" top. A battery-powered tea light fit inside each tube. I used a glue gun to create wax drips on the outside and an interior rim for the candle to rest upon. Then I painted the whole thing white to match the tea-light. To help the "candles" to stay put on their holders, I added a dixie-cup inside for packing material. Turned out well, and at about 50¢ each, we could afford to break a tea-light. Not that you can break an LED, but why tempt Fate?

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The props table space says what it is, but not how & why. This is from "It's a Wonderful Life." Brenda had already acquired all of the props she could find available from the Theatre Huntsville building. A few still had to be acquired or made, like this one for the maid Annie who gladly pitched in to help the Baileys in their time of need, "I was saving this for my divorce, if I ever got married." Since Marcie, who was playing the character, was about seven months pregnant, and feeling it, I didn't want her to carry a real & heavy jar of coins (which begs to be stolen, broken or filched for the coke machine.) I always have an empty Classico jar around, and toy coins aren't very expensive. To add some realism, I got some gold-foil chocolate coins which would be about the size of the gold coins of the day. Boy, did all the kids beg to have just one candy!

This is the "it's a miracle" basket of money. Brenda had found a peach basket and some bubble wrap to fill the bottom, while her husband, who coincidentally played Uncle Billy who loses the money, used their printer to "make" money for this basket and other scenes that needed folding money. To give it realism, I found some green felt and glue-gunned it over the bubble wrap and around the edges. I then bought some pale green paper & cut it to the size of the fake bills, and glued to them to cover the felt. On top of that I glued my allotment of fake bills. With everything thus glued down, they would not fall out of the basket, no matter how it was carried or put down. It would also be easier to remove the individual "donations" put there in the closing scene. I made sure the papers & bills were folded/crumpled to seem randomly thrown in. Brenda said the basket looked good. She would sit out in the audience every night for a few scenes (especially the ones her husband was in,) and she told me that no matter where she sat, THAT looked like a basket full of money.

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Fun stuff, isn't it? And you couldn't pay me to do it.

Muffins

Got busy and made some muffins.

Yummy! Want one? Make your own.

This recipe is so easy, I've got it memorized.



Choco-Pumpkin Muffins

Beat 3 eggs.
Cream in 1 cup oil and 2 cups sugar or sucralose.
Add 2 cups purée pumpkin and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.
Mix well.
Mix in 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda,
     1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt,
     1 tablespoon cinnamon and 1/4 to 3/4 cups cocoa powder.
Mix well but do not over-mix (adding them in thirds helps.)
At the end is a good place to add things like nuts, chocolate chips.
(This batch used too-small-bits-of-Frosted-Flakes for some crunch.)

Temp 325°F
Cook muffins for 25 minutes.
Cook 2 loaf pans an hour.


Enjoy!

A Bowl Full of Yum

I was pretty proud of myself the other day, and just had to take a picture of my just-made salsa. I like fresh salsa in the summertime, and so do my kids. Chips optional.

After posting, a few friends wanted to know my recipe for salsa. Sure! It's easy!

Chop up stuff you like, stir & enjoy!

Really, it's not much more complicated than that.

Specifically, for that bowl, it's


Peach Salsa

2 large peaches, 2 large tomatoes, 1 red bell pepper,
1/4 large red onion, 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
Hand dice everything (I go for about 1/4 in dice.)
Season with salt to taste, and I added some garlic-pepper blend.
Done.


Really, salsa is whatever you want it to be.
* I like my salsa chunky, not saucy, so I hand chop my stuff (yes, it does take time,) but you could use a food processor or blender.
* The kids picked the onion & the pepper to go with a "red" theme. I'm making a bowl for a family fish-fry this weekend, but I'll use a mango instead of the peaches and a green pepper instead of the red.
* The green you see above is from some not-so-ripe tomato tops. Green tomatoes work well in salsa, as do yellow or other heirlooms.
* I like "sweet" salsa, and use either mango or peaches, esp. since the ones in the grocery store tend to be more firm for cooking than eating. Starfruit' pineapple or a firm plum would be good, too.
* I don't mind a mild heat, but the kids do, so there's no hot stuff here. If you like bite, use more onion or a stronger onion, fresh garlic, the hot pepper of your choice (fresh or dried flakes) or pepper sauce.
* Don't like cilantro (gasp!) so use parsley if you don't want to go without an herb. Or use basil (turnabout being fair play & all-- have you tried a cilantro pesto? Very yum.)
* I'm going to bring squash, zucchini & cucumber slices to dip in it. I've also diced those up to BE in it before.

Have I sparked your creativity? Good! I hope this helps you have a tasty summer.

(FYI, this is not a Texasware bowl. It's some other USA-made melamine bowl my mom passed on to me when she got her hands on a real Texasware bowl. This is one of my mom's cast-off that I actually use and adore. Yes, I have THAT kind of family.)

The First Day of Advent

Advent begins today, the joyful anticipation of the incarnation of the Christ. The children will begin their countdown calendars on December 1-- some will be secular, some will be religious.

But for us adults, the four Sundays before the Feast of Christ's Nativity are the countdown.

Some years, I've let the first day of Advent slip past me, even though I store my wreath our walk-in closet. Not this year. I asked MLB what was special in the church today. He was so excited, all he could do was hold up a single finger. One- we were lighting one candle today.

My Advent wreath isn't fancy, but it is special. My parents did not have an advent wreath for us when I was growing up. They still don't. When I moved out on my own, I wanted one, but money was tight.

I made mine.

The candles are store-bought-- I think the last three matching purples discount store had that year. All five are secured in plaster of Paris bases poured into cupcake papers. (I did white candles in plaster for my Sunday School kids last Lent; at their age, I'd had my own "Easter" candle from Sunday School, so I did the same craft with them.)

The plaster is wrapped in green satin and tied with gold cording. Both were bought from the discount bins, and have been used in many other projects. I do not want to light them (they never burn down at the same rate, anyways,)  so I use another twist of the gold cording to indicate which week it is.

The green garland I bought as a personal prop for the first play I was ever in. Bank Street Players in Decatur did "It's a Wonderful Life" in 1995. I got to play "Aunt Tilly" (ditzy & married to Uncle Billy.) I was supposed to be decorating the bank in one vignette, so I got something to deck the halls. I've had it ever since.

The blue ribbon is an after-holiday sale find. I adore that shade of blue, and it is fitting with the season. Instead of using the true purple of solemn repentance that's normally associated with Lent, many churches are using a deep royal indigo which evokes the silent anticipation and joyful song of the clear midnight.

My wreath. We are all excited. O Come! O Come, Emmanuel!

Ta-Da!

Ta-Done!

Pulling Out Carrots

My son is a genius, not to brag. He's also got ADHD and Asperger's.

Doing math homework? Done in under 5 minutes.

Doing his sentences and questions for spelling? Can take all week.

Despite being as skinny as a supermodel, he is getting bigger; if I want him to settle down to do anything after school, I have to use 10 mg of his ADHD meds. That only helps collect his thoughts; the next trick is to persuade him. That's where I've made the discovery that "carrots" work if he's had enough meds. And the carrot's big enough.

Last Monday, I told him he couldn't write a note to the Tooth Fairy until he'd finished his homework. Even though dinner was done & we were winding down for bed, he pulled out his binder and blew through the spelling words. The next day, I told him we couldn't ask our neighbors to come over to play unless he finished his homework. "Not fair!" As usual, I reminded him that it is "fair" and it's not hard, but that the problem is that writing sentences isn't his favorite thing to do. Bim-bang-pow! Done, and done.

2nd graders tie-dye shirts to wear on field trips; I helped on tie-dye day. I wanted to match, but I forgot to bring my family's shirts. So, he helped me pick out a kit at Wal-Mart to use at home.

Today was tie-dye day at home, IF he finished his homework. "Not fair!" He'd written all of two sentences when Scott arrived at 5:30 with the pizzas. "When can I finish my homework????" After dinner. He ate one slice of pizza. "Now can I do my homework?" Done in less than 15 minutes, and ready to dye.

"Can I finish my dinner now?"(nom-nom-nom) Sigh, I'll take what I can get. Now to dig up tomorrow's enticement.

Chore Chart, Line 7

Everybody is creative. I truly believe that when the Bible says that we were created in God's image, that our imagination/creativity was one of His biggest gifts to us. Even people who say they aren't creative, are creative. They might not be eloquent in speech or pen, they might not produce attention-getting graphic arts, but everyone can create. I like to encourage others in this; I don't give false praise.

I have fallen off my "art" wagon, so to speak. I've gone months without blogging. Haven't knit or crocheted anything for a year. My son's scrapbook is stuck at two years old, and my daughter, at two years old, doesn't even have page one. My schedule/family needs don't allow for much time for acting.

I haven't even been cooking the way I used to cook. My kids get randomly picky and my husband has sworn off sweets and heavy carbs. I get very creative, sometimes, with leftovers, but then again, re-runs barely get much notice the third time around.

I miss being creative. I miss making something out of nothing and being pleased with my work, and having others compliment and enjoy my work, too. I really miss amazing myself. I'll look back at something I've written or made or scrap-booked, and think, "Wow. I did this?" Really, I forget how good it is.

I've now blogged everyday for over a week. I don't think I can keep up the pace, but I thought this would be a good start, especially since all of these posts are a series. For the first 3 weeks I've had my chore chart up, this line was a big ol' line of Xs. I made myself do this, and I'm feeling good about blogging again. Next is to get over my fear of the book drive so I can start sorting, culling & labeling all the photos we've taken. Then I'll get back to scrap-booking. Maybe. I've got a slight problem there...... I got the great room rearranged & set up to facilitate scrap-booking, and then started using my table to store boxes of food for the various food pantry drives that happen every month.... AND my alternate storage areas contain all the things I'm slowly culling from the house for the church rummage sale in February.

Gonna' have to get creative with my space again. Hmm.... I think I have an idea......

Chore Chart, Line 2

I am a crafter by nature, coming from a long line of DYIers. My mom does arts & crafts as did her mom, while her dad was a house builder. My dad is a DYI-guy with a fair amount of kludger/plugger with Army ingenuity; his mom was always sewing or crocheting something for the church bazaar and his father, although a mining engineer, ran a bakery with his brothers during The Great Depression. We are always fixing things instead of just throwing them out & getting new. One of the first Girl Scout badges I earned required being able to sew on a button and use a sewing machine, something both of my parents worked with me on. If given a craft kit and a toy, I completed the craft kit first. Some of my favorite books as a child were "The Borrowers" series and Laura Ingalls Wilder's books; I was just amazed at their resourcefulness in reusing objects. (Which is why I had that dresser drawer full of junk anyways.)

It's no surprise that I have a pile of "projects" waiting for my attention. With two kids who play hard and are the glad recipients of hand-me downs, there's always a button or tear. They also have books that need taping, snugglies that need stitching and toys that need gluing. Our chairs and cabinets pop screws and nails. Nicknacks take dings, jewelry gets kid-handled.

There's much, much more that needs cobbling together then there was before kids. It's harder to get around to doing the repairs as well, since kids don't interact well with needles.... or Super Glue. It does pile up, as do the things I have on hand to make some more creative repairs.

Again, doing this is to cut down on clutter and whittle away at my procrastination. I'm also very proud or my abilities. I do good work. I've made a rolling laundry hamper out of an old round medical stand (it has great metal caster action that they just don't manufacture any more), "hotel-style" shower curtain rings, large grommets & a muslin canvas drop-cloth. I just stitched up the holes in the bottom of my son's old Iron Man backpack so my daughter can carry it, and you wouldn't know that the backpack didn't come as it is now configured. (Hey, it's shiny & it's a backpack like brother's. She wanted it for MMO and I wanted to save money.)

I like fixing things. But I like fixing them well, which means slowing down, making the space and making the time. Slowing down, making space, taking time, feeling good about a job well-done... aren't these the sorts of thing you find in self-help books. Getting that pile done, one or two things at a time, is working. Some things I can do while waiting for my "stupid computer games" to load. Other things take just a few moments, or are portable for when I have to sit around somewhere. So I can do this, and get my smiley star.

And if I ever get current with my fix-it pile, I can always change the line to "Work on a Craft"; I have a few crochet projects I've started but not finished and a sweater I'd like to knit!

Friday Favorites: Carmel Apple Salad

This is actually a "fave" from 2 weeks ago, but with end-of-school picnics & Memorial Day upon us, we could all use an easy-peasy, sure-fire recipe. I got this from Sue C., one of the ladies I knit with (when the kids let me,) and when she made it, I nearly made a pig of myself. So, I decided to make it for the "Appreciation" breakfast that I'd brought MLB's teachers two weeks ago. I understand they all but licked the bowl, too. I hope you like it, too.

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CARAMEL APPLE SALAD

1 (3.4 oz.) pkg vanilla instant pudding

1 cup milk

1 (8 oz.) tub whipped topping (can use fat-free kind)

6 - 8 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into bite-size chunks

6 regular size Snickers candy bars, cut into bite-size chunks

(Optional: colored sprinkles or chocolate curls for garnish)

Mix milk and pudding until blended.

Fold in whipped topping.

Add apples and candy bar pieces, and mix well.

Chill until ready to serve. Garnish.

Serves 6 -10 (you hope!)

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Personal note: Please, PLEASE, remember to get the instant "no-cook" pudding mix. I wasn't thinking & grabbed a big box of the "regular" kind. I added it to the milk & thought, "OK, how is this going to thicken if I don't cook it? And how can I can add whipped topping to sloshy milk, or hot pudding. At 6:30 a.m. With 2 kids to get ready?" So I put the milk & mix into a microwave-safe bowl & nuked it 30 minutes at a time until thickened, and then flash cooled it in the freezer. It was much harder to properly fold in the whipped topping this way, and it took WAY longer than it should, but I got the job done. And it was delish. A different vanilla flavor to my taste buds, but I am somewhat of a super-taster. Consider yourself cautioned.

Another happy installment of the Friday Favorites carnival.

Friday Favorites: Snack-cake ERVs

This week I volunteered to be in charge of the "Special Snack" for my son's autism resource class. Since they were learning about emergency responders like policemen & firemen, I thunk-up some ERVs from snack-cakes. (The hardest thing was brain-storming what to use as wheels.) I have been told that the kids loved making and showing off their creations today. Not that artistic pride got in the way of eating their ERVs. This might not be an engineering marvel, like a space shuttle, but it's also a proud Huntsville creation. I hope you like them, too.

Snack-cake ERVs

(Emergency Response Vehicles)

Ingredients for each ERV:

White or vanilla frosting
1 Twinkie or other oblong snack-cake
4 Junior Mints
2 Reece’s Pieces (or other small, round candy)

in yellow or orange

1 Berry Candy (or gumdrop-like candy)

in red or blue (or two)
Red or Blue sugar sprinkles
(can omit if using red or blue frosting)

Step 1:

Unwrap, then lightly frost top & sides of snack-cake.

Step 2:

Attach 4 Junior Mints to frosting as wheels, using 2 per long side.

Step 3:

Attach 2 Reece’s Pieces to frosting as headlights, using both on one short side.

Step 4:

Lightly sprinkle with red sugar for a fire truck or with blue sugar for a police car; or leave plain white for an ambulance. (Can omit sprinkles if using red or blue frosting.)

Step 5:

Attach 1 Berry candy (or 2) to the middle of the top of the cake as the emergency light. Use a touch of frosting if needed.

Emergency Response Vehicles can be additionally decorated with candy strings, piped icing, alphabet cereal, etc.