Rose Coloured Curtains

Spring Cleaning....

2009-03-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

It has been brought to my attention that it is time to dust off my blog -grins- and I agree. Winter months can be so rough for me, the shit always seems to hit the fan and I always seem to withdraw to combat it and clean up the mess. Today is a beautiful , over 50 degree day out, sun is shining and... I do believe spring is forcing her way in inch by wonderful inch. That means it is inevitably time for me to come out of hibernation. Each year I tell myself I am not going to withdraw to the degree I did the year before, and each year I do a little better. Who knows? By the year 2018 I might sail right through a winter with nary a nod to it.

This winter I learned... it doesn't matter how much you want to help your kids, if they don't want it... you just have to sit back and watch the train wrecks happen. Ugh.

A fun blog post on family nights...

2008-12-29T11:41:00.001-08:00

along with a fantastic contest can be found over at Sunshine & Lemonade.... she has many recomendations for a fun filled family night and a giveaway to completely set you up for a few family nights.

This week's weekend winner prize pack includes: Blokus, The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer, dvds of "The Goonies" and "The Princess Bride," and snacks.

Around here we are learning a new game, which happened to be the family gift I purchased this year..

Spending time with the family over a board game is so very much fun, I urge you to take the time to explore this with your own family, if you do not already.

2008-12-29T10:33:00.000-08:00

Tagged my Melly over at Miscellany ....

4th folder, 4th picture....

Diana Love, writer and speaker extraordinnaire... from a writing conference I attended in June... amazing weekend.

Also teaching a workshop was the charismatic and wonderful Sherrilyn Kenyon,there are not words enough to describe her energy, passion and intelligence. The back of the woman you see there is my pretty darn incredible herself writing partner.

Pioneer woman was right...

2008-12-27T14:08:00.000-08:00

You NEED to make THIS cake.

I thought the batter was too thin... I poured it in the pan anyways. I thought the temperature was too low... and after a bit realized it was. I baked mine at 325. I thought the 'frosting' was way too thin... I poured it over the cake.

I waited a few minutes. I cute a slice. I marvelled at the beauty. I took my first bite.

O.M.G.

Grandma Iny’s Prune Cake

Cake
1 cup prunes
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup canola oil
1 ½ cups flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Cover prunes with water. Bring to a boil and cook until soft and mashable, about eight minutes.
Remove from heat, drain water, and mash on a plate. Set aside.
Sift together dry ingredients.
Mix together oil, sugar, and eggs.
Combine wet and dry ingredients, add buttermilk, and stir gently until just combined.
Throw in the mashed pruned and stir gently to combine.
DO NOT OVERMIX.

Pour batter into buttered baking dish (9 x 13 or so) and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE OR INY WILL PADDLE YOUR BOTTOM.

While cake has five minutes remaining, make the icing:

Icing
1 cup sugar
½ cup buttermilk
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon white corn syrup
¼ cup butter
½ teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a slow boil. Boil without stirring for 5 to 7 minutes, or until icing starts to turn dark. Do NOT allow icing to reach soft ball stage; icing should be caramel in color, but not sticky like caramel. Icing should be easily pourable.

Remove cake from oven and pour on icing immediately.

Allow to rest on the counter. Serve warm.

NOTE: There is absolutely zero “prune effect” associated with this cake. The end.

After the holiday rush....

2008-12-27T07:21:00.000-08:00

The calm. Ah blessed relaxation. No gifts needing to be finished, no long list of things to bake. Instead, new jammies to curl up in, new cookbooks to peruse, new scents to slather on ones body. Bliss.

I didn't manage to take any pictures on Christmas Eve, when all the family gathered here. Instead, I simply soaked up the happiness that is all of us together. I love how my family is growing as my kids get older. Becca's SO is family as surely as my own kids. He fits in so perfectly, friends with my older boys, a wonderful mentor and role model to my younger son, polite, funny, treats Becca beautifully. Lots of laughing, visiting, talking, eating ... and playing of Rockband 2.

Yesterday half of us went on a shopping spree to spend gift cards...I was surprised the stores were not as crazy as I expected. Happily so. I bought a PUR water filter, part of my oath to stop drinking soda. I figure that alone and I will lose 10 pounds and cut my caffeine headaches out. Our water is so disgusting. Several times a year we wind up with a boil water ordinance... the rest of the time it tastes like swamp water. I was amazed at how wonderful the water tasted with the filter. We opted for the stage 3 version, given that whole swamp water taste and all. Brilliant. I actually drank 3 glasses of water last night.

A few pictures of holiday baking ...

the nameless cookies... that aren't cookies at all... but ritz crackers sandwiched with pb and dipped in chocolate.

Split seconds... we make ours with raspberry and apricot preserves... family favorite

Not loving...and loving....

2008-12-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

When I woke this morning... it was to more snow....

So I grabbed the camera..and ran to the back window to shoot a picture of our sure-to-disappear picnic table....

And a few hours later..I did it again.....

And then it was too dark...but I did snap one out the front window. See how HUGE the bank in the median is?

So what am I loving in the midst of all this snow?

Hot Cocoa... made from this recipe... a favorite for years now after finding it on a Christmas email list...
Warm and Toasty Hot Chocolate Mix

about 20 cups mix (forty 1/2-cup servings)
Ingredients

* 1 25.6-ounce package non-fat dry milk powder
* 1 16-ounce jar powdered non-dairy creamer
* 1 15- or 16-ounce container presweetened cocoa powder
* 1 13-ounce jar instant malted milk powder
* 1 cup sifted powdered sugar

Directions
1. In extra-large bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Store tightly covered.
2. To use, combine equal parts mix and boiling water. Makes about 20 cups mix (forty 1/2-cup servings).

Listology. What can I say... I have a thing for lists. (Thing sounds so much better than saying I have an obsessive compulsion, doesn't it?) And because of that obsession... I love this too...

This paper snowflake. I think that is the project Adrianna and I will do tomorrow... not that we are snow deprived mind you. See above.

This guilty pleasure... kind of like... paper dolls for grown ups. (Or so I like to tell myself!)

And finally... the new blog that I stumbled upon... that had many of these goodies amongst their links. And so, so, many more.

For all you YA reading lovers.....

2008-12-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

Lisa Schroeder, author of I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, is celebrating the release of her upcoming YA novel, FAR FROM YOU, and hosting a contest with LOTS of great prizes!

For three days leading up to the book’s release date of December 23rd, you can watch VLOGs and hear some excerpts read from the book. The VLOG schedule is as follows:

Sunday, December 21^st – Liv’s Book Reviews - http://livsbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Monday, December 22^nd – What Vanessa Reads - http://whatvanessareads.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, December 23^rd – Lisa Schroeder, author - http://lisa-schroeder.livejournal.com/ AND http://myspace.com/writerlisa

Help spread the word, and you might win a fabulous prize!

Copy and paste THIS entire blog entry into your blog between now and December 21st, then come back to Lisa’s blog at either Livejournal OR Myspace and leave a comment with the link to your blog and you will get TWO entries to win a number of prizes.

Wondering what you might win? Here is the list (there will be multiple winners):

~ An Advanced Review Copy of THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, by Carrie Ryan

~ An Advanced Review Copy of SOMETHING, MAYBE, by Elizabeth Scott

~ Young adult novel GIRL, HERO by Carrie Jones

~ Young adult novel, THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD by Donna Freitas

~ Young adult novel, UGLIES by Scott Westerfield

~ Pair of YA fairy tale retellings by Cameron Dokey (BELLE and BEFORE MIDNIGHT)

~ TWILIGHT movie soundtrack

~ $15.00 Barnes and Noble gift card along with some Harry & David’s chocolate moose munch

~ And of course, a signed copy of FAR FROM YOU

For more chances to win, watch one or all of the VLOGs and leave a comment on that vlogger’s page, and you get another entry. That means if you post the schedule on your blog AND comment on all three VLOGs, you can have FIVE entries for the contest!

A live drawing with winners announced will be done by Lisa Thursday morning, December 24^th, in a special holiday VLOG.

2008-12-18T16:41:00.000-08:00

Miss A doing a bit of welcome home crafting for our neighbor who has been gone for a year. She was very excited to see him tonight.

Some wee felt folk in the making for a friends daughter. Miss A and I are working on them together. An Epiphany gift I am thinking.

The afghan I am crocheting for Chryssie for Christmas.
It won't be done by then.
She loves it anyways.
This yarn is made form recycled plastic bottles, pretty cool stuff
and amazingly soft for synthetic.

2008-12-17T09:11:00.001-08:00

Winter's arrival.....

2008-12-12T18:15:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T05:40:00.000-08:00

Just wanted you to know I was thinking about you, especially this day. May your day be filled with lots of love, happiness and the joy of family.
Know you are thought about with much affection.
S~

From under the overwhelmed...

2008-10-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

Now that homeschooling is well underway and with the holidays approaching far quicker than I would like, it seemed a good time to return to blogging. Sometimes you just have to pull away from the wonders that is the online world, and focus on what is around you. And so I did.

Adrianna is quite thoroughly enjoying homeschooling and all the extra Mama time it gives her. Andrew has grown into an amazing young man. He is nearly (okay, maybe he already is) as tall as me. Chrysten has slowly been putting weight on, and has reached a wonderful 105. Do I think the struggles are over? Not by a long shot. But you know? We are making it. And will continue to make it. Even the older kids are doing great. Matt is staying with us for a bit to get his life together. Ryan has gone to Job Corps and likely heading to the Army after. Becca is having a great time with her first semester living on campus. So glad she took the extra step this year, she is absolutely loving it.

With the holidays approaching and money limited it was time to start perusing the net for some homemade gift ideas. I started at some of my favorite 'stomping grounds' such as Sew Mama Sew , Soule Mama, and as is usually the case, one blog leads to another and another and a fine rabbit hole it can be. I found myself at a new to me blog Vanilla Joy just in time for this That happens to include this Zen Mozaic mp3 player in pink. Exactly what Adrianna has asked for as her one store bought gift for Christmas. Fate? -grins- Could be! All fingers crossed, toes too, and there will be one very happy little girl.

Contest aside, this website truly is a treasure trove. Scroll through her anniversary giveaways and find recipes, craft ideas, holiday ideas including games for Halloween, organizational ideas and so much more. Be sure to stop over and bookmark it. I know you will go back again and again.

Take action against eating disorders....

2008-06-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

Embrace Your Genes is more than a rallying cry, it is a fashion statement. We support healthy bodies of all shapes and sizes! And that’s the goal of embraceyourgenes.org, a public awareness campaign created by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and TrueJeans.com. We have joined together to encourage you to embrace your genes, be comfortable with who you are, and support the programs of NEDA by purchasing jeans that fit the TRUE you.
SAVE 20% ON DESIGNER JEANS THAT FIT THE TRUE YOU

TrueJeans.com, the online jeans store that matches shoppers to jeans that fit each person’s unique body, has partnered with the National Eating Disorders
Association (NEDA) as the exclusive jeans retail sponsor behind NEDA’s Embrace Your Genes campaign. True Jeans is supporting NEDA in this important work and working to promote healthy body images so that people of all shapes and sizes can embrace their genes and find jeans that fit their true body shape.
For every discount redeemed, True Jeans will donate an additional $20 to NEDA to join in efforts to prevent and cure eating disorders and promote a healthy body image. Visit truejeans.com and enter promo code: MYGENES at checkout. Min. order of $100. Offer expires July 31st, 2008

Please help support the fight against eating disorders. I don't have words to express the heartache you feel seeing your daughter on the scale at 16 and having the weight read 96 pounds. Or for the frustration trying to find care that isn't easily available.

RWA is coming up...

2008-06-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

the big event in Romance novel writers. It's National Convention, where the big awards are given out.... and the trash talking has begun

Laughed myself silly over this, enjoy.

A beautiful blog I stumbled upon...

2008-06-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

If you have younger girls, or a fondness for simpler times ala Anne of Green Gables or Laura Ingalls.... you MUST visit this blog. Seriously. I insist. Especially you Lily.
The Cottage at Frog Creek to use her own words about the creation of her blog

"I grew up with Anne of Green Gables and Laura Ingalls Wilder, with my grandmother’s snickerdoodles and my mom’s old Singer sewing machine. I believe there is more value in the old than the new, and often more wisdom in the old, slow way of life than in today’s drive-thru existence. The introduction of my 1949 Singer Sewing Book says “A person with a hobby is a person whose life is interesting. When the mind and the hands are occupied with the creation of something useful and attractive, there is no room for discontent, boredom, petty worries, fears and jealousies…” It is my hope that Tevis might inspire a few of today’s girls to put their hands to better use than pushing buttons on the remote control and the mobile phone"

Oh yeah, there are recipes and sewing tutorials there, if you need still more reason to visit.

pasta with caramelized onions and blue cheese

2008-06-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

this was tonights dinner, so quick to make and omg so delicious.

1 pound chunky pasta (we used barilla mezze penne)
1 tbsp olive oil
6 cups chopped onions (we sliced into thin rings)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1/2 cup cooking sherry
1/2 cup vegetable stock or water.
4 ounces crumbled blue cheese (we used 7)
bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the pasta and cool el dente.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, add the oil and cook the onions until soft and golden. Add in the cooking sherry, salt, pepper and vegetable stock. Stir with a wooden spoon to get all the yummy bits off the bottom of the pan. Drain pasta and put into large bowl, pour the onion mixture over the top and toss to mix, then add the crumbled blue cheese and toss until melty and coating the pasta (it will not completley melt) add hot cooking water from the pasta if needed to thin it out.
Serve.
I'd have had a picture but it was devoured.

Home!

2008-06-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

It was an amazing weekend and I am exhausted. Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love are both incredible women and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to meet them. Will update the post tomorrow with all the details of the weekend. =)

Playing in photoshop...

2008-06-11T05:22:00.000-07:00

My beautiful daughter Chryssie,she was sitting by the lilacs and took this picture of herself. It's one of my favorites. I did a very simple, but lovely, trick with this.
Open the picture in ps, right click the layer and select duplicate layer, gausian blur (15) the duplicate layer, then in the layers tab, where it usually says "normal" click the drop down menu and pick overlay, thats it. It gives a wonderful softened, brightened, ethereal quality to the picture.

Too hot to do anything but....

2008-06-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

read -smiles- I am currently reading

I am on a Highlander kick still for the most part. I am really enjoying Melissa Mayhue and her fresh take on the whole Highlander/Time Travel/Fae thing. The sex scenes are not as explicit as Karen Moning's.

I'm melting....

2008-06-10T03:28:00.000-07:00

Man has it been hot here. Last Saturday was the town Bike Rodeo so me and the kids walked over. It was the first day of our current 'heat wave' but the kids had a lot of fun. There were games, a cookout and a 10 bike giveaway. I was really hoping Andrew or Adrianna would win a bike, but it wasn't to be. They had a lot of fun though, and if I can figure out how, I will post pictures.

Adrianna with the 'Alternate' Dairy Princess

Andrew getting his face painted, he kept letting other kids go until this girl was done so he could have her do his face -grins-

Adrianna getting her face painted, a butterfly.
I have been getting ready for the CR-RWA Conference
so very excited it is in just a couple days now! I think the first chapter is nearly ready, with a bit of editing. I am meeting up with my writing partner, so I am doubly excited!

Recently Read...

2008-06-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

I have been on quite a reading streak the last month. It all began with not one, but two friends, who were absolutely shocked I had not ever read a book by Karen Marie Moning. After reading a review of a couple, I went to my libraries website and ordered as many as I could lay my hands on.
Beyond the Highland Mist (The Highlander Series, Book 1)Kiss of the Highlander (The Highlander Series, Book 4)The Immortal Highlander (The Highlander Series, Book 6) and every other one of her Highlander's I could lay my fingers on. I love the mix of time travel and fae. The books have me longing for my own Highlander. I also read the first of her new books Darkfever (Fever Series, Book 1) and while I will likely read the rest of them, I was a bit disappointed that there really was no conclusion with the end of book one.
Another recent read, and very happy find, is a young adult book by Melissa Marr... Wicked Lovely Incredible writing. This woman knows how to world build. I was completely pulled in from the first page. These are not your pretty fairies of girl scout days. Fair warning. But if you like things a bit darker, this book will keep you spellbound to the last page, and leave you hungry for more.

Two weeks from today.....

2008-05-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

I will be getting off the train in Rensellaer for the regional romance writers conference, and boy am I excited! To think I will be in the very same space as Sherrilyn Kenyon is awe inspiring. Add in the chance to meet one of my very closest friends in the world and it is sure to be an amazing weekend.

So, why do I, a single Mom, the product of not one, but two failed marriages, love the romance genre so much? The answer is quite simple. I want my Happily Ever After, dangit! And I get it, with every single book, no matter the obstacles, in the end, it ALWAYS works out. What could be better than that?

I am painting my own rose coloured future, one word at a time.

Hospitals are no fun....

2008-05-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

Friday saw my daughter Chryssie admitted, she had caught some kind of stomach bug on top of a UTI... with the bulemia her resources are always on the low side, so... this landed her in the ER, then an admittance until Sunday.... we gt home at 1 in the afternoon yesterday, and less than 12 hours alter, my youngest, Adrianna, catches the tummy bug. Hopefully we can avoid another hospital stay.
Sadly this meant no Memorial Day parade for us. Pictures soon!

Still breathing...

2008-05-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

There are times I feel utterly incapable of writing, because it seems the day-to-day of our lives can be pretty monotonous. I know this isn't truly the case, but... it sure was feeling it at the end of winter/early spring.
Miss Adrianna is indeed pumping insulin once again, with her pink pump of choice. We spent a good deal of time between her pediatrician, endocrinologist and the diabetes center at the hospital, coordinating it all. Thankfully, they are a fantastic group of people and it went smoothly. Okay, perhaps a few minor bumps along the way, though nothing that couldn't be sorted out quickly. The Animas pump rep in our area came to the house for the official pump start and everything has been going amazingly well since. I cannot believe how advanced insulin pumps are... just the improvements over the last few years are pretty incredible.
I am going away next month for the first time in several years... okay.. 'away' is for 2 nights..and only about an hour or so from my home..BUT...it is to go to THIS so I am terribly excited and counting down the days. I will be meeting up with a very close friend from PA. So not only am I going to this amazing conference, I will also be meeting her in person for the first time. I know I will want to slow the clock down to a snails pace, and yet the time will likely sail by.

Is spring ever coming?

2008-02-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

Today dawned with an absolute breathtaking blue sky filled with sunshine, so I'm thinking spring IS going to happen. Someday.
So, I had gone out and gotten a domain and was trying to get wordpress set up. I have a vision of the way I want my blog to look. I went around to some of my favorite blogs, to see what themes they used, how they were set up, etc. And discovered one glaring fact. One simple thing that could have saved me a LOT of frustration I think. They all use typepad. Every single one of them. So, I am on a trial period for typepad, and if I can get that sorted out, that will be the new home.
We have an appointment on Tuesday, the Miss A and myself, to see a new endocrinologist, and hopefully get her back on an insulin pump. She has her eye on this lil number

5 years.

2008-02-16T16:39:00.000-08:00

That is how long i have been separated. Only.. last week I became, truly..a single parent. Andrew and Adrianna's father... doesn't want them even calling him anymore. In fact... he called the police , him and his girl friend, because Adrianna called the house to talk to him. Adrianna is 11... and just wanted to talk to her Daddy. Bastard. What kind of person calls the police on his 11 year old little girl? They are better off for it, its something I wish he had done years before. I wish even more so...t hat he would have been the father they deserve. But at least now there will be no more broken promises. No more waiting for a father who has 'better things to do' than keep his promises to his children. I have begun to actively look for good male role models for Andrew. He really needs them. His big brothers are going to have to make more of an effort, for sure... but... there are also some men in the community that canbe examples of what a man should be.
It's... odd thinking of it. I have made many sacrifices over the last 5 years... so my children would have their father in their life, almost daily. Despite our problems. Ok...not problems. Despite the reason I left. And he so easily... walks away.

Talk about a 'duh!' moment... day...week.....

2008-02-15T20:13:00.000-08:00

So..to start off the new year... well, mid December I think, I decided to rethink a few things, baggage I didn't want to carry in to 2008, did some house cleaning, of many varieties, few of which had to do with my actual domicile. Part of that was a new email account. An email account I also used to link to some other new things I was starting. An email account which included the.. login and password information for several of these 'new' things.
Then... I got a new computer... my old one was so close to death with the things I use it for. A 6 year old eMachine. not even a top of the line eMachine back then... but a cheapest i could find variety. One I happily cleaned off and gave to the kids... one that had ALL my password, login and acct stuff...saved. Yeah.. I didn't WRITE this new information on real paper. And.... part of the newness was not using any of the names for these things I have in the past. So yeah. I.... can't remember it. I have tried.... in vain.
Hey 2008.... you are so squeeky clean and filled with glorious possibilities. Can we forget this one... silly little... lapse in intelligence, and pretend it never happened?

-clears throat- Mememememememmeeeeeeeeeeeee

2008-02-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

Blame it on Melly she tagged me. Seven things about me.

1. I was an only child until I was 18, when I kinda got a step brother. It became official another ten years later. I left him on a garage roof once, and had him convinced he imagined it. Two Christmas's ago, my Mom spilled the beans. Thanks Mom. BTW, I kinda like him now.

2. This 'only' child ended up with 6 kids of her own. I think I'd have had a dozen if I had been in a more stable relationship. I not only love my kids, but I like them too. (3 of each, boys 23, 20 and 12, girls 18, 16 and 11) Being a single mom today sure makes me relate better to my own mother, who raised me alone back in a day it wasn't so common.

3. One of my goals this year is reading a little Shakespeare each day. I am reading A Midsummer Nights Dream right now, Macbeth waits on my nightstand. After Shakespeare I will start on other classics.

4. I create and sell virtual products, in a virtual world, for real cash. It's crazy. Old World flavoured furniture, by the way. Not a lot of cash, yet, but.. cash is cash.

5. When I was little I went to catechism with my neighbor friends. When it would have been time to follow through to First Communion, my Mom didn't allow it. All my life, when I wasn't busy being angry with God... I have been drawn to it. I have been Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, dipped my toes in being Pagan... this year... I will find my way to where I started, where I have been drawn to, and will begin the process to convert to Catholicism.

6. I love to read...anything. Magazines, books, blogs. I always have a couple books going and don't go anywhere without some kind of reading material. My favorite part of a new interest...is the research for it, far more than actually 'doing' it.

7. I have lived in the Northeast almost my entire life, and I hate snowy winters. I try, really, to see the beauty in them... I'm not a skier, snowmobiler or anyone else that glories in what snow brings. I suffer from SAD .... but spring, summer and fall keep me here. They are glorious.

Ok, here's the rules if you want to play along. I'm tagging no one just yet. =P
Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
You can play or not. It's all in fun. Come out and play!

Cabin Fever

2008-01-30T18:08:00.000-08:00

I really, truly, entered this winter season with better intentions than my former I-hate-winter-from-the-last-fall-leaf-to-drop-self . I tried. I really did. It lasted all the way until.. last week. Now cabin fever has set in full forced.
I am awaiting spring. Lilacs. Green leaves. Fresh mowed grass. Rainy days.
So yes, I am a bit quiet.
We are also dealing with Adri's blood sugars being completely out of whack. Her ketones have been climbing bit by bit since Thursday last week. Agressive insulin and water not helping. I have opened all fresh bottles of insulin, changed to different test strips, re-calibrated her meter. All to no avail. Dr's tomorrow. I am beginning to think, we are in the beginnings of the wonderful hormone cycles of adolescence. Dear God. I am SO not ready for that with her.

We have been bitten

2008-01-18T20:24:00.001-08:00

By the flu..and the bento bug -grins- Tonight Miss Adri and I scored her first bento box, which should be winging it's way from Japan soon! I detest the school lunches, not the best for her blood sugar, and taking lunch can get so..boring. We have been doing a bit of bento box drooling.. and tonight, finally found a good assortment of goodies.... and here is what she is getting. Along with two egg molds... can't wait to play with those. You put a still hot, peeled hard boiled eg in..close it up, chill it and voila! shaped hard boiled eggs. We are getting a bear and a bunny. Fun stuff, I tell ya!
This..is Miss Bunny... Thumper's girl! Is this cute or what? I also scored three Burda magazines, and one Ottobre. The mail will be fun for the next week or so with all these goodies on their way. The I will be digging in to my fabric stash and playing.
As for the flu... hopefully it is on it's way out of our house. Knocked me in bed for 5 days... with rare blocks of time upright. Chryssie is finally starting to feel better too. Adri... is getting it I think. Her and Chryssie both had the flu shot... sucks they didn't escape this round.
Should be back up and happily blogging soon.
I have added quite a few "must reads" to my blog list. Check some of them out when you get a chance, some wonderful finds out in blogland.

2008-01-03T06:44:00.000-08:00

Chryssie and Adrianna. We had a snowstorm to mark the first of the year and Chryssie went out to get some pictures. Today Chryssie turned 16. Where does the time go?

Chryssie and Andrew... Andrew at 12 is now officially bigger than his 16 yo sister!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

Somehow I managed to get gifts finished... I still have a button to put on the bag I made my daughter Becca. She absolutely loved it and I got several requests from those who wanted bags of their own. It was SO (sew?) easy to put together, I will definitely be doing more of them, including some for myself. This is a wonderfully easy pattern that will be great to adapt in any number of ways. If you have never made a bag before, this is the PERFECT place to start.
Pictures... I had planned to take pictures of the small dolls, bags and other projects before they went out the door, that never happened. I promise to get better about picture taking this year.
Today we will take down the Christmas tree.It is the very first year since 1993, that the tree stayed up past Christmas day. Life is so very good right now. Despite the mountains of difficulties we face still, me and the kids are happy.
I have "big plans" for 2008. ;)
This..is my very favorite gift this year... it is a picture of my Great Grandmother... G.G. to all of 'us kids' She was my favorite person as a child and I spent many vacations visiting her in Portland Maine. It now sits beside one of her antique paperweights I have... on top of her old writing desk my Mother gave me this summer.

to all my friends , new and old...

2007-12-24T21:04:00.001-08:00

Happiest of Holidays.... may the memories made today and every day, last a lifetime.
Best wishes....
Steph

silence...

2007-12-19T17:03:00.000-08:00

The wee miss has developed laryngitis, and per doctors orders, her Christmas holidays have begun early. Poor girl. Somehow, in her snowflake cutting euphoria, I don't think she minds. She has taken to adorning each flake with a single sequin in the center... very cute. I am thinking of helping her create a crafting blog of her own... she is crafty beyond belief for her 11 tender years. She knits! Not a lot...but she does... and she crafts with paper, and anything else she can get her hands on. Perhaps tomorrow morning we will start that. OK...after many tries at striking out that line..and ending up with everything after it struck out... no matter how many times I deleted the html from the end of the post..it kept showing up so.. my baby girl and i got her blog framework up, her first post will be written tomorrow, most likely during a paper snowflake break. Here it is. She has been decorating gingerbread houses ala
Jenny Harris ... so much fun. Okay... so I have been playing too -grins-
Dishcloths are beginning to make a small pile... Mum's request.... some bags from this tutorial are cut and ready to sew.... cloth napkins and placemats are next... not sure the wristlets are going to make it by Christmas... I finally figured out one spot I was making a mistake in.. to being bogged down with meds and not fathoming the next step well.
Some small wee felt dolls are progressing in their assembly as well. A set for the we miss... a set for an friends daughter... to be epiphany gifts... and then a third set fo an online friend whose daughter is having surgery in Feb and will be bedridden for 10 days... I am thinking to make some wee felt furniture for them too... or maybe a tiny fabric house... something she can play with in bed and not hurt herself on should she fall asleep with it all.
I will try to update this tomorrow with some pictures.. it is quite dark and not condusive to picture taking tonight at all.

I should be asleep...

2007-12-18T21:22:00.000-08:00

The wee miss and I have been ill again...hooray for upper respiratory illness...not. I have slept away most of the last two days, and was feeling blog withdrawal so got up to do a bit of reading.

Feeling a bit ... screwed today. For lack of a better way to put it. Having someone around with an eating disorder that involved binging and purging, is a bit like having a crack addict around., Things go missing. Money goes missing. Things and money that are needed. Badly. -sighs- So I am now the proud owner of .17$ and trying to figure out how to fill holiday stockings for the little two..I have a few things tucked aside, thanks to my Mum, but ... the rest?
Add to that, my second oldest son, the one I am closest to of the boys, called me tonight to let me know that he was going to be meeting with a Marine recruiter. He is my biggest source of support here, the one I know I can count on. And... there is a good chance that fairly soon, he won't be here. I know he has to do what he has to do for his own future... but when his older brother went into the Marine's it was hard as hell on all of us, we are a close family, and having one of the kids 'gone' is... difficult all the way around. I will, of course, support his decision, either way.
Missing an old friend .
Realizing the end of a marriage that has been over for 5 years almost... but oddly this is our first holiday season on our own. Not a bad thing, just the realization of it.
A busy mind and heavy heart tonight.

the spoils...

2007-12-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

of the wee misses 11th birthday cookie decorating party .... the plate the cookies are on? Is a turkey platter...to give a small reference for how many cookies we were left with, lol. And cupcakes, too. Snuck in the gingerbread house we decorated on her actual birthday, what a fun project that was. Next year (we are planning ahead!) we will do miniature gingerbread houses that I will assemble in advance and they will all decorate. She is saving all her birthday money for an American Girl doll. Pardon the pics...they are taken with webcam, but it was that or none, so I am going with being able to have pics... if I can figure out how to post them that is.
Started on some wristlets for the girls (bigger) for Christmas, in a chocolate brown and robins egg blue. -whispers- They are crocheted, not knit, because I can crochet WAY faster than I can knit... makes no sense, one hok instead of two needles being faster, but... I guess that is because I have been crocheting since I was 8 or so... and knitting since err.... recently. A year now? And that has been sporadic at best... hmm..... make that two years. Or so.
I bought the fusible interfacing for these. They will become teachers gifts, our driver's gifts, a wonderful lady named 'Ginny's" gift, and various other neighbors etc.
Another storm due in tonight.... ah winters in the northeast... such...bliss. -coughs- Ok... I am trying to like winter this year, or at least, not hate it. I am embracing mittens and hats and hot cocoa and all things cozy.

Message from the Universe

2007-12-11T12:13:00.001-08:00

so perfect for today, as I look toward the new year and ...hope.
" You can "dance" with the illusions of time and space, Steph, choosing your "steps" based upon things and events as they now are, or you can dance with your dreams, choosing your "steps" based upon things and events as they will be.

And I bet you can guess which steps will perpetuate today's illusions, and which ones will change everything...

The Universe"

Owies

2007-12-07T10:25:00.001-08:00

So, I finally found a pattern or two for the hood/scarf combo... to learn what I want is basically a wide scarf, folded in half... and sewn together for about 10 inches...to create the hoot part. So now my favorite yarn will become something warm to wear for winter walks. Yay! Then... I somehow got a very painful papercut on the end of my left thumb. Right where the yarn runs over it. Ouch. No more knitting today.
A bit late for this year (I am NOT a quick knitter...yet) but over on Soule Mama's blog she made a beautiful i-cord garland. I am so doing that for next year. I think this weekends craft project will be cinnamon applesauce ornaments for the tree. It is also time to whip up a batch...big batch... of one of our favorite hot cocoa's.

25.5 ounces nonfat dry milk powder
16 oz jar powdered non-dairy creamer
16 oz container presweetened cocoa powder (we used nestle quick)
13 oz jar instant malted milk powder
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
To use: combine equal parts mix and boiling water (we just use a few heaping spoonfuls per muc, to taste, and add a dash of milk or cream)
Combine all the ingredients in a large bow, . Package in canning jars, bags tucked into mugs, decorative jars, cannisters and what have you to give as gifts. Save some for home, this stuff is wonderful on chilly winter days.
Enjoy!

Alas, despite ALL my begging....

2007-12-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

Mother Nature has turned a deaf ear and we have...snow. -insert long-drawn, overlay dramatic sigh here- Ok. I'll survive. It's just winter, right? Right.
Ugh.
I live in the northeast, have almost my entire 43 years.... and still not made peace with winter. It's the rest of the seasons that kep me here or I would high tail it for warmer climes. Ok... that and my offspring. They aren't all portable now.
So... I have some lovely yarn, bought from Elan two years ago. A few skeins got seperated from the rest in moving, so it won't be what I had originally planned, and now hope to make it into some kind of... hood like from a cozy cape, with a scarf attached. Now to find a pattern -grins- though I am rather tempted to just start knitting and see what happens. The little Princess and Golden Boy have taken up their needles again as well. I don't force craftiness on the kids, but rather leave the materials around for them, and always drop whatever I am doing if they wish a refresher.
Around here there are no longer any wonderful little cozy yarn or fabric shops outside the mainstream. The closest of the knit heavens is in Saratoga Springs, an hour away, and without a car, that doesn't happen often. But... I have found a pattern online that I have absolutely got to have. Sewing pattern that is... for this. I think I am officially in love with Amy Butler patterns. They may in fact be my new crafting crack.
Of to the counselor in a couple for CiCi. She has her good days and her not so good, Thankfully the bad are far and few between these days. I need to begin work on a 504 for a child with an eating disorder. Will google that a bit later. I know this blog is fairly unread right now, but... if anyone out there has thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.
Til later.

Time flies ...

2007-11-14T04:58:00.000-08:00

It's taking a bit to get back in the habit of blogging. I know soon enough it will be old hat again, in the meantime two weeks pass between posts, lol.
I found a wonderful new blog, which has all but saved Christmas gift giving for me this year. Sew, Mama, Sew! She has a ton of wonderful projects there, and this month is posting a gift a day! My stash will be put to good use making placemats, purses, tote bags and all manner of other wonderful ideas, complete with instructions.
While going through my fabric I found a bag filled with partially made Christmas ornaments. What a relief to know a bit of stuffing and whipstitching and we will have a tree's worth of ornaments.
The weather is taking on the feel of early winter, fall was short but beautiful, the tree's are nearly bare here but for a few hangers on.
Sunday we will be having our Thanksgiving meal. With half the kids grown and on their own, significant others and extended family in their lives I decided not to vie for time on Thanksgiving itself and have the whole family here on Sunday instead. If this works we will most likely stick to this in the future. The kids will all be here, with boyfriends or girlfriends in tow, my parents, a few friends and perhaps my ex. It's his family too after all. Trying to figure seating out and table space. The new house is much smaller than the last. I found some fall fabric in the hope chest and will make a table runner for the main table. Along with the fabric pumpkin a friend who still means the world to me made, even though our paths seem to have gone in very different directions.
This time of year makes me appreciate the people in my life all the more. And miss those who aren't in it as they once were. I especially miss being a 'couple' with the holidays coming. I often wonder if the rest of my life will be spent this way. I like to think that somewhere out there is the perfect relationship for me. Somewhere. -smiles-

Inspiration in quiet moments...

2007-10-30T20:24:00.001-07:00

I have come across two things tonight that have struck a chord with me ...
"Real life is the best fairy tale" Ain't that the truth? Life is full of some rough roads, but it sure makes the sweet moments ever so full of bliss.
The other 'thing' isn't a thing at all really, but, a way of life. I think it is what I have been longing for for weeks, no, months now, and couldn't pinpoint. It is called Hygge. Yeah..I made that face too. What the -heck- is Hygge? And why would I want it. I am going to borrow from another site, one I link to in the sidebar, to explain it, as they explain it so absolutely perfectly.

The Danish word Hygge (hu-gah) is a feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary everyday things simply extraordinary; whether it's using real lights on a Christmas tree or breaking out the good wine when friends come over. It's about owning things you only truly love or that inspire, being present in yourself and your life, putting effort into your home without being Martha Stewart or buying a bed in a bag. It's about being conscious and authentic from home to work to friends to celebrations and making all events {no matter how big or small, mundane or exciting} matter. Words like cosiness, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, fellowship, simpleness and living well are often used to describe the idea of Hygge.

Some refer to Hygge as the Art of Creating Intimacy (with yourself, friends and home). Technology and modern day busy-ness has removed Americans from themselves, their homes and ordinary tasks, making them feel as though these things are hard to do, have no importance or are too time-consuming. Danes, however, only like to do things that are fun, nourish the soul and are familiar so they find ways to incorporate that into their daily life. By creating simple rituals without effort {such as brewing real tea with a little china cup every evening to stopping at the farmers market every week to buy flowers} the Danes see both the domestic and personal life as an artform and not every drudgery to get away from.

Taking pride in what you have now and not just what you dream are part of Danish life and Hygge. Think of it as what Chic is to the French; a lifestyle that can explain a table top to a dinner party to a charming house or a personal way of being. Basic, uncomplicated, unexaggerated - Hygge!

So... tomorrow morning I will unearth my Great Grandmothers (I always called her GiGi) tea cups... and drink my morning tea... with her. -smiles-

Autumn rolls on

2007-10-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

A few days back the neighbors had a pumpkin carving party for all the neighborhood kids, some wonderful masterpieces were made with the help of some very brave adults. Pictures coming soon on this, I hope. =P

My sister in law has recently been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Scary stuff, Thankfully this is a very treatable cancer. She will have her thyroid removed and then a dose of radioactive iodine? then a large change in diet and drugs.

CiCi is doing better, she was hospitalized briefly after a stomach virus. Her bulemia has her always on the edge of being low on potassium. Vomiting pushed her over the edge. She went downhill so fast that I was calling the ambulance just hours after she started vomiting. We were there just over 24 hours. IV's for fluids and 4 bags of potassium were all that was needed. All. Funny how I am thankful for that. I am hoping the hospital stay was the medical equivalent of scared straight. She is making great effort to eat small amounts and keep it down.

The weather turns cool and I am thinking of the holidays ahead. In a new place. Looking forward to some new memories being made. I am tired tonight, and still not quite up to speed on 'blogging ' again. Give it time and 'you' will be swamped in posts.

May your days be full of sweet memories.

lightbulb moment

2007-10-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

In perusing knitting sites and blogs tonight.... I had the wonderful realization that I can now felt. At the old house...there was no hot water hook up to the washing machine... so felting would have been a huge pain in the arse...here... there is. =) Now to find some yummy wool yarns.
I would love to make ThePrincess a cute little felted purse for her birthday.

Randomness.... also known as 'No Inspiration for catchy post title'

2007-10-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hmmm guess I am not ready to be posting my heart here just yet. -wry smile- I had something posted and ended up backspacing it. I am missing a friend dearly and thought to share, but I can't. It doesn't make sense to someone outside of this. And my friend already knows my heart, so. That is that. There is also an unhealthy relationship that has been painfully slowly ending since March and is in the final stages of fizzling out I think. Not easy.

I discovered two days ago, after emptying storage from our last move, that I have for the third time in my adult life, lost all our Christmas decorations. Things the littlest kids made. Things from a very special online Christmas ornament exchange... that can never ever be replaced. And with money as tight -laughs at the understatement- it will be interesting to decorate a tree at all this year. So, time to get creative. Time to make use of the hope chest full of fabric. I am SO glad this was discovered now, and not when we were ready to decorate for the holiday. I am going to scour the net for some pretty ideas that the kids can help me make. Turn this into a positive. This recent move was a fresh start for me and the three youngest. This will be our fresh start tree too. I think we will bake cookies one day soon, make some hot cocoa and sit down and plan a theme of sorts, and colors maybe? and every week make -something- for the tree or house. Did find a nice surprise though... the materials and some finished dolls from this book...thinking some in natural colors (hmm... natural quilt batting instead of cream coloured felt maybe) would be pretty angels..or pale blues and greens for ice princesses to adorn our tree.

CiCi still struggles with her bulemia. She is maintaining medically, which right now is all we can ask for. It breaks my heart watching her struggle with this. She doesn't want to get better. =( She does however, finally have a counselor she will talk to.

TheGoldenBoy is getting so big! Hard to believe he will be in Jr High next year. Where has the time flown. (said as her 23yo takes up residence in her basement) He is nearly as tall as me now. And still so passionate emotionally. I am glad his older brothers are around a bit more now, being a positive example in his life. His dad sucks..and a guy needs a guy around. He is surrounded by us girls.

ThePrincess is doing wonderful. Diabetes is getting under control again and she is putting on weight and growing. -grins- She is destined to be something artistic in life. That girls imagination has not slowed even one small bit.

Speaking of Artistic MissB is an art major this year. Wow on that. I am so damned proud of her for following her dreams.

RP has just given up being on his own to move in with his dad.. for the chance to go to college as well. Big step. Im very proud of him for realizing small sacrifice for something so life changing. Perhaps his and MissB's lives will affect TheWizard's life as well. I want so much more for him than he sems to have the energy to pursue on his own right now. Being in the marines changed him. And not all for the good. Makes a mom wonder what he saw.

I am rather at a loss for how to form my thoughts today. They are a bit scattered. CiCi is cooking up a nice dinner tonight of chicken tenderloins, rice and veggies. She so loves to cook. Funny... since the move, we fight over cooking dinner. Some nights is a race to see who gets there first. Occasionally we even share the kitchen space ;)

Humpday and hoops...

2007-09-26T04:25:00.001-07:00

Woke up at 5.... I am loving the quiet in the early morning hours when I can go through the blogs I read and see what sales have been made in SL while I was sleeping. I am still small enough to smile over each sale... whether it be a tiny vase or a copy of the Pirate's Nest Castle. Odd to think a year ago..I was going to bed in the morning... and while I refuse to admit I am any sort of 'morning person' -shudders- I am regularly up early... even on the weekends...when sleeping 'in' might be the glorious hour of 7 or 8.
So today marks one less hoop to jump through. It's so good to be on this end of the ordeal..instead of facing it like a mountain in front of us. Our family has made many changes since the beginning of the year. What was once a challenge to look at as positive when it was a struggle to single-handedly enforce...is now comfortable habit for all of us. Clear as mud, eh? I'm really not wanting to relive it all by spelling it out here... so if you are not already in the loop... you shall have to live with your assumptions, wonderings and guesses. -grins- BUT. Life is good. Very good indeed.
Had a fantastic talk with my oldest daughter.. my first child to go to college. An Art major. I am so damned proud of her and excited for her at this amazing opportunity she has. Listening to her voice as she talks of her classes, friends, schedule that is packed... she is happy. It's in her voice. And it makes me smile.
Oh yes..I have 6 children. They are all usually up to something but don't expect something about each of them in every post, lol. That would be a daunting undertaking.
After the kids are in school this afternoon I think I will celebrate both this last hoop and Autumn... and meditate over peeling apples. An apple crisp is definitely in order... and we have all the ingredients right here. Richard took the youngest two...the "A's" apple picking last weekend, so there is a half bushel of crisp apples... picked after the first frost. Perfect.
Im hoping later to figure out how to set up a blogroll... to list my very varied interests through the blogs I read and sites I love. But for now... the house grows busy and there are short folk who need me, so I'm over and out.
Ta Ra
Tally

Hello world...

2007-09-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I have opened myself up on a blog. A -very- long time. I had thought to write here the reasons I gave up my blog... but really it doesn't matter -smiles- I am what I am. What I have always been. A mother... a crafter... an online game player... a baker. And so much more.