Slow Days

Winter seems to go by so slowly! Even with hobbies and animals and monsters to take care of the days take forever to end. I know that sounds really depressing.... LOL! I don't mean it to be. We are so close to Spring that I can almost smell it in the air.... Well, not really but I can hope. One day last weekend the snow was gone and the yard was muddy. The monsters were feeling very cooped up so through on old clothes and play in the yard, "I said". What a mistake that was!!!! Here is the back landing where they came in at.



Needless, to say it took quite awhile to clean that mess up!

Today, Teenage monster turned 15. She got her Varsity jacket with her band letter from us. Then she got books and jewelery from her Grand's. Yesterday we took her to Red Robin for lunch as this is where she wanted to go and her dad was off work for the day. Then today we had an ice cream cake. We all decided that next year she will just get the ice cream as none of us liked the cake..... Blech!!!

I just made popcorn on the stove for the monsters. They are going to be watching the Legend of the Seeker. The popcorn was more for me then them. I have been gluten free since Friday. Before I get to the hows, let me tell you the why's. I read an article about gluten intolerance.... I don't remember where. But one of the symptoms is a red face. That kind of struck me, my face gets very red. Thursday I ate a decent breakfast, then for lunch I ate one piece of pizza about 20 minutes later my face was really red. So that is why I have decided to try and be gluten free. I have done really well, this weekend. Plus, it is forcing me to eat more vegetables as I can't fill up on bread or pasta.

But back to the riggers of winter. I am so ready for spring if no other reason then to get rid of the junk that has accumulated in this house. I plan on having a yard sale and what doesn't sell will go to good will. Either way I will be happy the stuff will be gone! Yeah!!!

We were able to get another tree that was cut done. I think it will be about a 3/4 of a cord, once we can split it. A tree company was cutting it done about 8 house away in the alley. So I had Grim walk down and ask if we could have it. They looked at him like he was crazy but said we could have it. They loaded it up in the backhoe and delivered it to our garage. Now we have more wood and only a fire pit. But if we do get a woodstove this year then we will have split & dried wood to burn.

I have rambled enough!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Closed doors

Ok, I am looking for the open window. I went to ETSY to get the store going and post the pictures. Well, it seems that I need to have a credit card to open an account. I don't have a credit card, so now I have to come up with a plan B. Hmmmm, What to do? I guess that I need to at least show off the work that I did. So here goes!

Small bags approx. 12x12
Front and Back

Front and Back


Medium and Large Bags



Here are the patterns for the aprons



Here is the Aprons.... It has a pocket in the middle



Here are the hats that I have been knitting!

Well, that's it!
Gotta Run,
Yart

Took a Break

Even though it was completely unintentional, I did take a break. I have been resting my foot which seems so much better without the help of the doctor. My MRI showed nothing wrong, but go to therapy and take pills was his answer. I wanted to know if doing these things would make it worse since I didn't know how I hurt it to begin with. He couldn't answer me. So I have been soaking it and doing mini stretches and it seems to be doing better.

I have been sewing up a storm. I have 4 aprons and 5 bags ready to picture and post on etsy. I am nervous about it. But I can't make a million dollars being afraid can I. My model will be here tomorrow ( I hope he is willing ;o) ). I have a ton more material to cut and sew up. Just haven't had the time.

Since I have been resting I have been watching the Olympics. I love the Olympics!!!! Here is my favorite clip of the 2010 games!
Meryl Davis and Charlie White



I had a bittersweet moment last night! Team USA won against Team Canada in Hockey. I was so happy that The US won but at the same time I was really sad that Canada lost! Being that I am a half breed it is hard for me to pick one side over the other.

We got a lot of snow last night. Ours was the only school district that didn't cancel school. But the roads were bad so I kept the monsters home. They are watching some show with Grim. And his truck isn't running well so he will take my car to work tonight. So I can't work Bingo.... big loss, NOT! I really didn't want to work it. I am counting down the days. 5 more fish fries, bingo until June 21st, my presidency until June 20, School out June 18th! Then I can concentrate on the yard.

We went to look at wood burners last week. I almost put the money down to order one. But good thing I didn't. One of the basement walls is caving in. Sooooooo, that will have to be replaced before I can see spending $3k for a wood burner. That doesn't mean that I won't get one before next winter. I just won't have one before this winter is over. Man, I hate when I have plans to do something and the fates think I need to do something else! But it is what it is!

Last night I cooked up a chicken for the broth, 6 yams were cooked and then pulled out of the skin and put into dinner sized bags. I blended the carrots, onions and celery to make for a little thicker broth. I am going to use some to make a baked potato soup. The rest might get canned or I might just freeze the rest for broccoli and cheese soup next week.

Off to figure out what to make for dinner!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Finally!!

Finally!!!

This little do hickey is why I can now share really good photos with you. It is called a card reader. It was a bit on the pricey side but well worth it.

Now like I said yesterday, I was heading to the fabric store. JoAnne's had a wonderful sale that I wasn't even aware of when I walked into the store. They have certain Simplicity patterns on for 5 for $5 limit of 10. Well, you know I scoured the book to find 10. And here they are!

Some stuff for the monsters, some undergarments, some bags and of course more aprons! Oh, and a dress pattern for me for the summer. I just love summer dresses!

Then I went to the fabric section. I looked through the whole section and found just 3 that I liked for aprons. Then I found the Debbie Mum section. All of her pattern material is 50% off. I was like a kid in a candy store! I got so many the cutter at the counter was not very happy to deal with me!

And of course I bought another one of those beginner bags to make.


Well, I need to start ironing and cutting out patterns.

Gotta Run,
Yart

Mid-Winter Break

Today is the beginning of Mid-Winter Break! The monsters have a 4 day weekend! I love it. I got to sleep in to 8:30 this morning.... Then when Grim got up we had to go and pay some bills and pick up somethings. I finally got to Best Buy to get the cable for my camera..... Of course they don't carry brand specific cables. So I had to get a card reader instead.....blah! Since I was there I found the dance Wii game that the Band monster was asking for..... An early Birthday present!

I will be going out to Joanne fabrics tonight! Since I got Grim's apron done.... I know have to post pictures..... I am way more confident in my sewing abilities. So it is time to incease my fabric stash!!! Yeah! Shhhhhh, don't tell Grim.

Last night I made a pork roast, delicante squash and corn for dinner. I need to go to the fruit market tomorrow. I think that I need to get more brussel sprouts and maybe some spinach. There is still broccoli in the fridge for this week. I made it to the dairy today. This weekend bread needs to be made. Speaking of bread I looked at getting "Artisian Bread in 5 minutes a day", it was $27. I'm not sure that it is worth the money. With all of the great bread recipes on line.....hmmmmm! Still debating that one.

I might go tonight and pick up the paint for my bedroom. My room is going from a dusty purple to a dark green with rust and cream bedding and accents. It is going to be so nice. I love to decorate and change colors. But I promised Grim that I would wait a few years in between wall color changes. This is the only room that has yet to be changed since we moved in 9 years ago. So it is definately time. Oh, I have an idea.... I want to make one of the bed buddy things that sticks inbetween the mattress and box spring and hangs out to put the remote or a book in. We don't have night stands. More fabric! LOL!

Once I figure out how to use the card reader I will be posting a lot of pictures. So look out!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Snowy Day

The monsters are home today.... Yeah! Snow day!!! But they are very antsy today.... I remember when I had snow days I was always busy doing something...... Because it was better then being in school... But not these monsters, they want to be up our butts..... LOL! I guess that is the curse of being cool parents! LOL! They are in watching some movie with Grim. Earlier they were out playing in shoveling the snow. Then they went over to my mom's and shoveled for her. I was so happy as I think I am coming down with a cold.... You know how you can just feel it looming just at the edge of your body. Well, that is where I am now. If the monsters have school tomorrow that is fine because then they have mid winter break. They won't go back to school until Tuesday! So I will have a ton of time to rest up and get feeling better.

I worked bingo last night. We had 29 people.... What a waste of time and money.... I feel we should have canceled. But I am just a band parent with no say. Really, I'm alright with that as I don't have the time nor the patience to be a chairperson. So I grumble a bit and do what they ask of me. Once I was out of there, Grim and I went up to the one posts to meet up with my brother and my buddy. They were up there playing Euchre. They won 1st and 2nd. Not bad for a couple of hours. Then we hung out with them and headed home. I was so tired when my head hit the pillow I was sound asleep.

I am going to tell you all about a recipe that I make. For those of your that are new to cooking please turn away now, as the following will not make much sense. And for those of you that do cook, please don't judge me to harshly..... LOL! This is what I use:
Ham Goodness
Leftover ham
Leftover pineapple juice & (any leftover pineapple)
2 - 3 tablespoons of butter
3 - 4 tablespoons of brown sugar
pepper (to taste)
a little bit of cornstarch mixed with pineapple juice to thicken ( not a lot as it shouldn't be a gravy just not juice runny)

First add the juice to the pan, heat, add the ham, butter, pepper and brown sugar. Heat to a boil, turn down the heat to a simmer. Simmer until hot then add the cornstarch mixture bring back up to a boil. As soon as it thickens turn off heat. I serve this with rice.

Last night I added to mine steamed broccoli. Oh, my was it good. Every time I make it I seem to try and add something new to it. It is a very forgiving recipe. You can use more or less brown sugar for your taste. I came up with this recipe a couple of years ago after Easter when I had all this ham but not enough for another meal. I chopped it up and used everything I had used to bake the ham originally.

Well, I'm off to make mini-burgers called sliders for dinner tonight!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Monday Rambling's

I am still here.... But I am still off my feet. I went for the MRI last Wednesday. I won't know the results until next Monday. I also went and had a physical therapy session. They didn't understand how to bill my insurance so I wouldn't have a $20 co-pay so that is the end of them. If I had paid them the co-pay I would be out a butt load of money. We are talking like $3-4 hundred dollars, and I don't have that type of money laying around. Especially since we don't know what is wrong with my ankle yet. It still is no better actually I think it might be worse. This is why I usually suffer in silence.

Anyways, even though I am off my feet I have been busy. I have been working on my MaryJane Farm's Merit badges. I still have to take pictures but I did manage to make my first apron.... well, not my first one..... My first time making one but it is actually for Grim. That makes sense I think... LOL! Years ago I bought material to make Grim a pair of casual pants, which I never got around to making. With all that material laying around I thought that I would put it to good use. So 1 apron down, and I also finished up that beginner level bag. It taught me a ton about doing what you know is right instead of following the pattern. I know just enough to be dangerous. And that is usually my downfall. But it is done now!!!! I also made the little sewing kit. I think it turned out really cute.

I got a dresser from my mom this weekend. It got put into my room as the old one I had, had to go (today is garbage day). It is smaller then the one I got rid of so I had to go through my clothes. Two garbage bags to donate and I know I will find more as I go through them again. It feels so liberating to get rid of stuff. Now all I need is Spring to show up so we can paint the bedroom and rearrange and it will be good for another couple of years!

Since I haven't been exercising, I have been trying to eat better. I have made sure that I am eating a salad with dinner and eating either broccoli or brussel sprouts. I have cut down on my pasta and bread consumption. I did slip up and have an ice cream sundae. But that's life, right?

They are calling for 4 inches of snow tonight. I am kind of hoping for more. We really haven't had much snow this winter. But then on the other hand I really want the warmer weather to hurry up and get here.... I know I'm fickle... LOL!

Gotta Run,
Yart

It's Offical

I got back to an exercise program last week. I got on the treadmill, you remember the one that I have been avoiding since my ankle started bothering me. I decided to take it slow and only do a mile. Well, let me tell you once the mile was done, my ankle was on fire. So I got off my a** and called the doctor.

He was able to see me this morning. I'm figuring that I have a really bad sprained ankle...... NOPE! He thinks that it is a frayed Achilles Tendon. But he is sending me for an MRI to make sure that it isn't torn. I also now have a sleep stint, therapy 3 times a week for 4 weeks and meds to take. Not to mention that I need to go back and see him again in 2 weeks. The only time in my life that I have ever been off my feet was when I broke my leg when I was 17. I had crutches and didn't care back then. Now I need to be off my feet as much as possible, with all this other stuff. Man, this is going to suck, big time!!!! Yes, I am pouting!!! I'm the one that takes everyone else to therapy and doctors appointments and is encouraging when there is some type of new test that needs to be performed. If I could stomp my foot I would.......grrrrr! Alright, tantrum time is over. LOL!

Like I don't have enough craft ideas to do, I go out and buy one of those pre-printed things on material. You know that ones that you just cut out and sew together. It is a really kewl re-useable shopping bag. *sorry I just realized that this is a rant post* Since I am still very new to this whole sewing thing I thought that this would give me great practice. I sewed wonderfully straight 1/2" seams. Then I realize that the material is crooked.... not my fault but the pattern on the material is crooked and now it is bunched up. I had my mom look at it and even she said it was my fault.... I was ready with the seam puller.... but she said no worries. Once the bag is together I will post pictures!

I will post my fit as a farm hand tomorrow.

My monsters and I found an awesome site thanks to Annette over at The Ward House she was speaking about re-purposing and gave a video from an awesome site The ThreadBangers! We found a site that was making underware...... It is from CLAREBARE.COM. She is the kewlest! When I grow up I want to be able to sew like her!

Gotta Run.... Hobble.... Crawl..... LOL!
Yart