Earth Day

I know that Earth Day was three days ago, but I still wanted to write this post.

First HAPPY BELATED EARTH DAY! [/end of using undesirable all-caps]

And secondly, I thought it would be nice to show a picture of the cute cake Quinn made for the occasion! It was really yummy...

So, that's about that!

Ttyl,
!caroline!

It's Not Luck, It's a Choice

I hear your pain, girls. It's very maddening when someone finds out you're a stay-at-home mom, then says, "You're lucky, I wish I could stay home with my kids." Do you want to scream?

Where does luck come into this? I didn't just wake-up one day with the lucky-card that said, "You May Stay Home Now, Pass GO and Collect $200." No, staying home, or otherwise known as "not leaving the kids & home for 40 or more hours a week" was a decision.

Now, maybe you could say that our family (my husband's) income was somewhat a luck-of-the-draw since his chosen career turned out to be unreliable and frustrating in terms of pay and advancement. So, we had to make do with the hand we were given.

Oh, there were times during the past 26 years that I wished I was one of those moms who could quietly slip out of the house to go to work; do something interesting and important, get paid for my efforts, know that someone else was caring for the kids (feeding, educating, and referring), then go home to appreciate their sweet faces for a few hours before they went to bed.

Okay, there were years when that sounded good.

Thank goodness I'm a stubborn person. We decided when Sara was a baby that I/we would raise our children, ourselves, and that was that.

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cheryle

Recycle Those Briefs!

Ever wonder what to do with undies the family has outgrown, or are a bit worn out? I've never known what to do with them; can't give them away, and tossing them into the trash bin seems sinful.

So, I came up with a solution. A recycling solution.

[photo]

I made door stoppers by stuffing undies into a sewn cylinder. Works beautifully!

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cheryle

Protecting The Gift -- Book Review

Finally, Protecting The Gift came in at the library, so I've quickly read a few chapters. I can tell already, this is a very good book. Thanks, Amy and Melanie for the recommendation, I wish I'd known about this author years ago. ;-)

So far, I'm happy to say that I've used my intuitive brain, or "wild brain," throughout my years of parenting. I thank La Leche League for building the foundation for my intuitive parenting skills; they're true masters of the philosophy.

I'm going to continue reading, then write more about this book; what, why, how, when.

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cheryle

O! the Cacophony!

Hi there.

We've been woefully behind on blogging lately, have we not? I would like to formally apologize to... whoever reads this? Mother and I have been busy working and watching movies - very tiring cycle, you know, because we are forced by our inner selves to watch that old television set until 1:30 am every night. Or should I amend that and instead say that I am forced by my inner self.

Of late we have been watching season one of Alias. *GASP CHOKE* So GOOD! Lots of kicking and punching and killing and plot twists and scandals and lovely gadgets. And outrageous costumes. It's like eating potato chips. You obviously know what they say about potato chips. I don't like to spread their tagline, so I'll keep it to myself. :)

There really is so little to say that I know exactly why we haven't been blogging. I mean, I'm going to have to work off of random thoughts, such as the fact that "blog" is one of the most cacophonous words I've ever heard.

Cacophony and euphony. I learned about these in my English book last week, so you probably already know all about them, but see, cacophony is words or a group of words that displease the ears. And euphony is just the opposite. Random fact: the words "cellar door" are widely known as the most euphonic word combinations, especially if pronounced with a British accent.

I find that very interesting.

Well, anyway, I'm going to toddle off about now...
Arrivederci!

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~caroline

Reusable or Disposable Diapers?

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Choosing how to diaper a baby is simple, really. I remember when I was faced with this decision 26 1/2 years ago, everyone just assumed I would use disposable diapers. After all, they were the most amazing things since

sliced-white-bread-in-a-plastic-bag-from-Kroger's.

Just buy a bag of diapers, tape one to your baby's bum, then (here's the best part) toss the smelly thing into the trash bin. Never to think about it again.

(unless the trash bin sits too close to the house)

But, I didn't want to use disposable diapers on my baby. First of all, I couldn't imagine having a chunky plastic and paper thing taped tightly to my waist and bum. ACK, that sounds seriously uncomfy. So, why would I tape this plastic thing to my tiny, soft newborn baby?

Oh, that reminds of how I went crazy when I heard that La Leche League International agreed to take $$ from Proctor & Gamble? Yeah, it was extremely horrible. P&G made these butt-ugly (of course) plastic (of course) bags with their sickening information plastered all over them, then stuffed the stupid things with some of their sickening pamphlets. We were expected to give these horrid bags to new mothers! I thought I would die.

Anyway, plastic diapers were not happening for my baby.

Besides the uncomfy-factor, I was pretty creeped-out by the chemicals used in plastic diapers that turned to a heavy, stinky gel after it got wet. More fun for baby.

Then, I was extremely weirded-out by the fact that plastic diapers sit in landfills (full of human feces, full of disease, leeching into soil/water) for more than 500 years! Didn't think I could handle that responsibility.

Oh, that reminds me of the time when I wrote to P&G about their horrid products and what they're doing to the planet? I was pretty upset. This was way before it was popular to worry about our pitiful environment.

So, when my sweet, little (6lbs 11oz) baby girl was born, her soft little bum never felt those nasty plastic and paper and chemical diapers. I can't imagine.

We used reusable, breathable, cotton diapers.

Sure, we had to learn how-to use cloth diapers, how-to pin them onto baby without poking a finger or the baby, and how-to clean dirty diapers.

It was worth it.

All five babies were given the same gift.

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cheryle

etsy etsy

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ladies and gentlemen, monsters, children & margie!

i am delighted to announce to the whole world (or whoever reads this blog)

that i made an new etsy shop! i decided to make a separate account for graphics, photographs & telegraphs. just joking, the latter was a joke. let us replace it with "paper goods." i think that "paper goods" sounds like diapers and toilet paper, but i guess i just have a primitive mind. :) i won't deny it. but i don't mean hand-made, hand-designed, hand-painted toilet paper & diapers (doesn't that sound like something Chinese emperors might have?). i really just mean boring things like greeting cards & calendars.

here is the link to my shop:
www.barbiegraphics.etsy.com

and here is a sample of the greeting cards...

this is a blank greeting card. i have a whole series of animal cards, call "All the Wee Creatures." i already have some photos up, and i'll eventually upload a calendar, more cards, stuff like that. :P

so yay!

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i have something kind of funny to post, though. huzzah, because i think we've been kind of monotonous.

as you know, mother and i started obsessing over old movies back in november, and we're still on a roll. we've been borrowing them from the library, which is so convenient. mom can just go online and put holds on movies that are in the same region, so we have like twenty libraries to choose from. then the movies are sent to our library here in town, where our lovely librarians then deal with them. (we love you for it too!)

well, the other night, mother went on a movie reserving binge and ended up reserving about nineteen movies.

nineteen.

the maximum amount of movies you're allowed to check out on a single library card is six. :D they just kept coming in, first eight, then three, and now we're waiting on eight more. hehehe

anyway, it was all very amusing and we laughed more than we probably ought to have (habit), and that's about that.

thanks for reading another adventure of....
the one who commits
DISCOMBOBULATION!
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arrivederci!
~carikubo
(i'll have you know that name there is a typo that just grew on my heart, and so i couldn't hit the backspace button...)

The Story of My OLD Stuff

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Are you familiar with the cool little video that's going around called, "The Story of Stuff?" Well, it's wonderful. The video reminds us to think before purchasing and discarding stuff.

Take my soup ladle for example.

Okay, so the kids ask me why I still use the same old soup ladle? It's an ugly brown Tupperware soup ladle. Remember the days of brown and green Tupperware? Probably not,
you're all too young.

It occurred to me the other day that I've owned, and used, this ugly brown soup ladle for more than twenty years! YIKES!

And, guess what? I didn't even buy it, it was given to me as a Tupperware Hostess Gift! (see it pays off to host those goofy parties)

But, see, I couldn't just toss it out because it was ugly and outdated. The darn thing still works!

And, when I felt pressured to buy another soup ladle because this one is ugly and outdated, I just couldn't do it. [g]

There are many more items in my home that have lived a long, comfortable life with us. Hey, some of the items (a good many) started their lives with other folks first,
before finding their way here.

I like to think they're happy about that. ;-)

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cheryle

just an update

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well, i think our original vow to post everyday sort of...died. :D but that's okay!

so, for the first topicccc of interest, i started a new quilt. when we were looking through all the old stuff from the barn, i found lots of old vintage fabric scraps. a stuffed retail bag, actually. so i decided that if i cut them up into 3x3" squares i could make a quilt. maybe add white at every other print.

la la la

secondly, we watched one of the funniest old movies last night. check out our review at our movie review blog.

thirdly, don't you hate it when your own cellphone scares the living daylights out of you?

fourthly, mum made a cake. she stuck it in the oven, we watched our funny movie again, and then she gets up to go look at it.
then comes a scream from the kitchen.
"oh my god!"
me and quinn look over at the closed doors of the tv room
as if we could see through it.
and so i get up to
see if she had found something dead, or something, in the cake?
"you've got to come see this!"
i untangle myself
and see this:


not necessarily something to
give one a heart-attack
[did you know that it is mother's new hobby to try and give me a fright-caused heart-attack before i turn 21]

but if you suddenly have the strong inclination to whip together this delicious cake and try to then give someone you know a heart-attack by screaming 'oh my god' or any other variation you might like, i suggest trying this recipe.

but you have to love chocolate. like we do.

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Chocolate Bundt Cake

1 (18.25 ounce) box chocolate cake mix
1 small box chocolate instant pudding
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
8 ounces sour cream
4 eggs
1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips and beat for 4 minutes. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into a greased Bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 50 to 60 minutes. Cool, then dust with confectioners' sugar.

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oh! wait a moment. the adventures of the heart-attacker are not over...

after a few moments of watching the movie, i hear a small moan of
"ohhhh crap."
emitting from the kitchen. ohhh dear, i thought.
i got up to look and found that mother was eating broken pieces of cake from the Bundt pan. bad girl.

INTERRUPTING --- mother just scared me just now. again. i have a weak heart. she just screamed about Sydney White to sara on the phone. a ridiculous movie with amanda bynes. O.O

anyway...

look how sad...

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~ caroline

dusty memories

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Since Caroline and I have been sewing lately, she thought it would be fun to look through my old sewing patterns. So, yesterday afternoon we hiked out to the barn attic to dig out my seriously-old box of patterns.

Every pattern is from the 80s, and older! ACK!

Caroline had a good laugh as she sifted through the crazy selection. And, what's even funnier, I actually made clothes from those patterns! Puffy sleeves, jumpsuits, leggings, and long over-sized sweatshirts. Even I forgot how much clothing I made for the kids and myself back then. [those were the days]
Then, to continue on our treasure hunt, we decided to look through every storage box. Again, we found some great memories buried in those boxes. As I was telling Meg, I gave-up the kids' baby/child clothes and toys in stages. So, by the time we moved the fourth time in 12 years, I downsized my "keepsake" boxes for each kid. (small box)

Yesterday, I looked through each box, again.

How sweet.

As I pulled items from the boxes, I was immediately reminded of that child wearing that item. Sara's favorite dresses (she was a dress-girl), Logan's favorite velour sweat-suit (I made), Griffin's favorite herringbone suit jacket (size 3), Caroline's dresses she never wore (not a dress-girl), her favorite overalls, and Quinn's favorite cowboy boots (size 4).

Sweet memories, for sure. Some items are very worn, because obviously it was much-loved and worn often, or maybe constantly. Some are like new. Sara has the majority of saved clothes, as she always had the largest wardrobe to start with. She received lots of nice hand-me-downs from family and friends.

Sara wore that cute little swimsuit (above photo) when she was about nine-months-old (and up), and of course Caroline wore it also. You realize that means I saved it for more than 10 years! Those little shoes were also Sara's (Caroline went crazy when she spotted them-took these photos), she wore them until I discovered soft-soled shoes. (of which I have many pairs)

We also found some of my old children's book collection. There are many more somewhere. I found most of these books at garage sales. Caroline and Quinn found them fascinating. (as if they didn't grow up with these books!)

Now, I'll launder all of the clothes I found and ask Sara if she wants any of her items for Baby. And, put away the rest for later.

We had a great time. . .dusty memories and all.

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~cheryle

Homeschooling Thoughts or Vapors

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People often ask me about homeschooling. And, each and every time they do, I experience a brain-freeze. Why?

Because it's impossible to explain, share, or educate in a few sentences or a few minutes.

Homeschooling is a very broad topic!

Educating our children at home is what the word implies. After that, there are as many definitions to homeschooling as there are pecans in Georgia.

Also, I might mention that everything I share here is from my personal point-of-view. Since I'm not very good with spitting back names of authors, titles of books or quotes from notable figures, feel free to surf the internet for that type of info.

Sure, I've devoured countless pages on the subject throughout the years, but first-hand experience is what I know best.
(Okay, my favorite author is John Holt, be sure to look him up.)

First, let me say that I feel all parents homeschool their children from the
moment their baby is born.
(I think you'll have to agree that you've been educating-at-home all of this time.)

After reading John Holt's books, and really latching on (ha!) to the concept that children are always learning, and that they learn best their own way, through play, imagination, music, textures, movement, relating with their family and the world, etc.. . .in other words. . .
provide an environment and let them go, it all made sense.

That was a turning point for me.

I could relax and watch my kids grow-without-schooling. Everything and anything that encourages growth on any level of a child's life, counts. Rest assure, all of my kids, at very different times, learned academic-related skills. That is what most parents want to know, "When did you teach reading and writing and math?"

Well, I prefer the slip-it-in-when-they're-not-looking method of instructing. So, gradually and at their natural pace, those concepts are introduced.

Since I think most of you are mostly interested in homeschooling young children (under 10), we'll save the older-child questions for another time.

I hope this was a tiny-bit helpful. I'm happy to chat further, anytime.

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cheryle

i'm told to be sassy?

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well, mother said to me:

"go post on the blog and get it over with."

i said:
"right now?"

and she said:
"yeah. go post about your quilt and write something sassy."

so, here i am, but i don't think i can be very sassy, honestly. :P

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Anyway, firstly (is firstly a word?) I would like to say that the song "All I Want Is You" by Barry Louis Polisar is so fun. Creative lyrics. :)

And secondly, sewing together squares of fabric is actually really fun.
Last night me and Mother laid out three different quilt patterns on my bedroom floor, which was really cool. We made a vintage/Victorian-style one, an entirely home-spun style kind, and a really small red-check and white quilt.

I was working on the latter until Mother shooed me away to be sassy.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
so i ironed it.
then sewed it up.
(doesn't the word "sew" just look so wrong. it looks like it should be pronounced "sue")

squee!
then I finished the front.

fah la la!
now i just have to cut out backing and we need to buy backing
sew
it up
and
post it on Etsy!

in case you're wondering what you can do with a blanket of such a eensy size (what, like cover one of limbs?), we're going to advertise it as a car-seat/diaper-changing/play quilt for babies and toddlers. :) i think it'll work. i would have made it bigger, but you see, *whispers* we only had 12 red squares... lol

well, toodles!!

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~ caroline

scream!

Well.
I just finished a hat.
a little
soft
yellow hat
100% cotton,
all sweet
and
elfish

so I started to st i t c h
the sides up ^
and then as I came to then end of the row I saw something shocking.

my rows didn't match up.
by about three
inches.

oh fah la la,
diddly da
and I had to rip it out.

:(

But hey, that's what I get for seaming
at
2:00 am.

:)

Good night!

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~ caroline