New Item for Store - Need Help

Hello dear blog friends... I have been thinking about making these for a while now and finally broke down and bought some materials. The first try is not perfect as I'm having trouble keeping the clear vinyl from slipping while sewing, but I still like the idea and will try again. I have three different fabrics (including the one shown) that I liked from Hobby Lobby (yes Hobby Lobby - wait till you see the others).

Where I really need help is figuring what kind of backgrounds to use to photograph the tags. Starting with this one, any advice? I quickly found that anything pink doesn't work, so I tried this cream with flowers and I just don't think it makes the fabric in the tag pop as much as it could. I kind of think of this one as a Parisian theme.



Also, is this something you think you would like? I think it is nice so that you could identify your bag easier at the airport and just to give it a little more personality.

Friday

The biggest news today is that Jason has an interview in the Chicago Loop today. We will see if it is a good fit for both he and the company. I am so confident in him that he will do a great job, and the company would be very lucky to have him. I will not talk any more about that...

Today is Ella's second to last day of school. This is significant to me because it is her last Friday. And even though they didn't really have a full week (Memorial Day on Monday and a class picnic on Wednesday) it seems like her last "full" week because it is her last Friday.

A neighborhood that has great stuff at garage sales is supposed to be having its garage sales today and tomorrow. I wonder how many will close down due to the raininess. Though I am trying not to spend money, I might just take out a couple of bucks from the bank to accompany me on a visit to these sales. :-)

Tomorrow it is set for Jason and I to go to a Cubs game with his brother and his brother's girlfriend. I've only been to a few Cubs games, but am a fan despite the fact that I rarely watch them, don't know much about what is going on with their business and don't own any Cubs merchandise. There is something about being in Chicago around Wrigley that just instantly can make a person a fan. There is a feeling in the air. And being at a game makes it that much stronger. Plus I know more about baseball than I care to admit.

Next week is my garage sale. I just placed the add in our local Advertiser paper. It wasn't a bad price but I wonder if I will even make enough to cover it. I just don't have a TON and I've priced things pretty cheap. Lots of work ahead for that!

Here is a question... Are ages 3,4 and 5 too young to have athletic competitions? At Ella's school picnic they had "Olympic Games" and had the kids competing in running and throwing contests. Mostly the Kindergarteners won. And some of the younger kids cried when they didn't do as well as they wanted. Even Ella got a little down (BTW she rocked the 50 yd dash - she does not get that from ME). So do you think that age is too young to handle that type of competitive pressure, or is it good to start getting them used to it?

Well I'd better scoot to the garage sales as they open in 15 minutes!!!

Scone Day

Beautiful Bouquet in Juice Glass

I like scones, good scones that is. Last year I think in March or April we stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Cambridge, Wisconsin and the couple who owned the house were wonderful cooks. One of the items they made that was excellent was orange current scones. Later I requested the recipe and she gave it to me!


I made them quite a bit at first, but haven't in a while, until today. Because I needed something to bring to my daughter's preschool end of year picnic. I took some photos while making them so I could present the recipe to you today. Though for the first time I made a different flavor, cinnamon and chocolate chips and I also used whole wheat flour since my daughter can't have white flour at this time (long story) and I doubled the recipe.

Oh, by the way, these are the BEST SCONES EVER!!!

Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine:
2 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt


Blend in 12 T. cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes.


Add 1 c. dried currants
1T orange zest
1 c. heavy cream, cold


Divide dough into two balls, form each into a circle about 6 inches wide and 1/2 inch high. Divide circle into 6ths with a knife (like cutting a pizza)


Brush each wedge with an egg blended with 1 T water.

Sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake for 20 minutes. Cool briefly and serve warm.


SUBSTITUTIONS (instead of currants and orange zest):

1 cup blueberries and T lemon zest

Replace 3T flour with 3T unsweetened cocoa powder, omit zest and add 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Use 1 cup mini chocolate chips instead of dried fruit. Omit zest and add 1/2 tsp cinnamon

***TIPS***

Combine all ingredients up to zest, cover and let sit in fridge for 12 hours, this lets the oils from the citrus infuse through the dry ingredients

FOLD the cream into the flour, folding is preferred over stirring, just until blended

Bake on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

Leave room between each scone as they do rise during baking

Adjust baking time to your oven sometimes 20 min is too much, sometimes not enough.

ENJOY!

Here is a peak at our weekend visitors. To see more of our fun, you can look here.

"Rose Patch" Bag, My Newest Creation

I set out to create the world's cutest bag and then got the bad news last week. A few days later I finally got back around to it and finished it last night. I don't think I succeeded in making the world's cutest bag, but hopefully someone will like it! I am debating whether or not to wait to make a zipper pouch to list with it. I also am making two more Japanese knot bags to give to the kids' Spanish teachers at their last class this week.

It is a drawstring bag.

side pocket

inside (two toned)

Curtains

We are doing a little better and just taking things a day at a time. We had a great weekend with my cousins visiting from Madison and great weather with lots of outdoor time.

And so with that, I am trying to live life as normal and trying not to worry so much about tomorrow. Thus today I will post about a normal everyday thing in my life.

A while ago I mentioned that I moved some curtains up in our guest room, but didn't know if they looked right because they were so sheer. Since then I made some new tiebacks which go well with my bright quilt that my grandma made me and that means so much to me.

Here is a before pic from this post.

Here is what it looks like after raising the curtains (at this point I had spackled the old holes and since then Jason has sanded and painted those areas).

Here is one of the new tie backs.

Bleak

Our situation is not getting better but in fact news came today that it is going to be much worse, so pardon me if I'm not real present in the near or even far future.

Fill in the Blank for Crystal

I was tagged by Crystal to do this last Friday but just got around to doing it now.

1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to purposely be in the same area as a loose snake!
2. The opening of Tasty Freez reminds me that summer is almost here!
3. I cannot live without my children.
4. Surfing and hot air ballooning are two things I'd like to try.
5. When life hands you lemons eat them.
6. Making up "Broadway" productions is my favorite childhood memory.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to not much, tomorrow my plans include mailing packages and picking up kids from preschool and Sunday, I want to go to the Botanic Garden if it's nice!

I will not tag anyone specifically, but if you want to do it too, here is the form and just let me know you did it!


1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to _____!
2. _____ reminds me that summer is almost here!
3. I cannot live without my _____.
4. _____ and _____ are two things I'd like to try.
5. When life hands you lemons _____.
6. _____ is my favorite childhood memory.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

Dance Recital 2008

Ella's class on stage.

Finale

Most of Ella's Class

With proud Mom and Dad

Proud Grandparents

Proud Babi

Proud Uncle John


The girls that Kristi teaches...

They did a BEAUTIFUL job!

With most of the class...

Us [2] : Visitors [at least 2 more]

Two squirrels have now been caught by the trap, but Jason saw two more in the attic. Hopefully they are not smart enough to figure out not to get trapped like the rest of their family.

Today was a strangely good day. One of the highlights was that I moved some curtains up higher on a wall due to the fact that one of the brackets was coming out of the wall. I have been thinking about doing this anyway, but the fact that one of the holes the screw was in was just too big and happened to be in a stud (can't use a molybolt), meant it was time to move it at least somewhere. I moved the two curtain rods closer to the ceiling to create a feeling of a higher ceiling. I am just a little torn because the curtains are sheer and I don't know if they look stupid that way. I think it looks kind of dramatic in a good way. Next I may make some new tie backs from some leftover fabric I have that actually matches the bright quilt I have in there. And of course I can't show you any of this because our computer won't let me import photos...

Today was the last day of dance classes for Ella and I. I received lots of sweet comments from the moms and some gifts from the girls. One was a flower that I can plant in a pot in the front near our front door. I hadn't bought a plant for said pot this season in order to conserve money. What a great gift at this point in time (or anytime really). I also got a gift certificate for Panera, which I love, another great treat that I wouldn't spend on myself with our own money at this point! Looks like this calls for a date! I also got a handmade card (my favorite) and a card which reads "You are the best ballet teacher ever." Awwww....

This afternoon I was in the grocery store and ran into a mom of two of my former and loved baton students. She is so wonderful and offered to help watch the kids if I need a break and also said she and the girls would put us on their prayer list.

Finally I met Jason at the YMCA for Yoga, which turned out to be Yoga-Pi (Pi = Pilates). I loved it. It is so much like dance. It's like exercises for dance. Very center based as well as movements of limbs without moving the rest of your core. I was embarrassed at one point when we were supposed to go down from a sitting position and stay at the point that it was hard to stay at when going down. I didn't feel that point and was very confused. The good news is that it means I have very strong abs. Guess all that ab work pays off.

Lots of other good things, but need to get the kids to bed now.

P.S. Simply Orange orange juice is the best. Taste like freshly squeezed.

Visitor(s) and Computer Woes

Yes, we have a visitor(s) and not a welcome one. Luckily I heard a bunch of racket up above the second floor. I took the ladder out and opened the "hatch", turned the light on, looked around and saw... the squirrel visitor trying to escape the trap in our attic Jason bought from Craig's list yesterday. Hey it worked! Now I just hope there are no companion visitors, that this squirrel doesn't figure a way out before Jason comes home and we can figure out the entrance to our attic and patch it up.

We are also having computer probs. I cannot currently upload any pictures at the time (probably the least of our worries). I think this is a job for Dell under our warranty.

Ella had her (and I had my) dance recital this weekend. Working the show was very tiring, yet I was ecstatic to experience Ella in her first dance recital and was so pleased that she just loved it. I was also very proud of my students, they did a BEAUTIFUL job! Glad so many grandparents and an uncle could be there too. Later that day Jason and I went into Chicago to see the Joffrey Ballet performs some American Moderns. Very good, but may I suggest not to work a show and then go to a show in the same day? Very tiring!

Must be off to take Ella to her post recital party!

Bag Idea...

I've been needing a cute idea of something to sew for Ella's dance teacher and found it on my friend June's blog, who found the tutorial here at showyourworkings, by Helen.

Quick easy and cute...

You should try it too!

Fabric Lovers!

Sandi Henderson has a preview of her new fabrics on her blog Portobellopixie. I can't wait until they are available and I am in a place to buy some for a project...

Gulp

Yikes, my dance director has gone into the emergency room and I'm going to cover three of her classes today. The recital is this weekend so I hope the girls really know their routines and can just practice them. I also hope that my boss is ok and it is nothing too terribly serious.

Jason is getting some calls, but one was a no and the others are recruiters. The process is really slow.

I think my email is broken, or nobody loves me ;-), I've gotten no emails since 9 am. Usually I get some ads at least.

Well better get some rest before I go sub.

By the way, thanks for the complements on the blog template. I'm so lucky to have found it for free!!!!

How Does My Garden Grow?

The kids had a picnic! Notice Miles' veggies tossed about behind him. He is actually usually a big veggie eater. In fact we have been contemplating becoming vegetarians (not strict though) and having him join us but still have meat for Ella.

I am very proud of myself for preparing the soil. I'm not sure if I did it right. I pulled the weeds best I could. There were some small trees which had strong roots. Then I turned the top of the soil over a lot, added peat moss and turned it into the top of the soil, then added a substance which prevents germination and also fertilizes what has germinated. I turned that over in the soil as well.

My little helper complete with her own garden gloves. At least hers don't have holes like mine!

At Walmart there wasn't much of a veggie selection and I ended up just getting three cucumber plants for the garden. I also did get some sweet basil, cilantro and a jalapeño pepper plant. Those went in my herb garden container for easy access from the kitchen. I will be on the lookout at other store for other veggies. I'm very worried about our poor beans. Our cat Velvet ate off all of their leaves and they aren't looking real great. The tomatoes I grew indoors are just tiny and I hope they don't get trampled by a small grasshopper outside! :-D

Front to back: tomatoes, cucumbers, beans

Clockwise from left: sweet basil, cilantro, jalapeño pepper plant

The sweet basil smells GLORIOUS!


In reality I've never considered myself much of a gardener. I think my parents are wonderful gardeners and I remember them having a huge vegetable garden out back when I was younger. Both of my grandparents were good gardeners too. I remember my mom's mom's garden. It was literally the size of a large house lot. She worked so hard to tend that garden. They were farmers as well (thus they must have had some talent in the agricultural field).
~
Do you have a garden? I remember C planted some seeds in eggshells. I'd love to see other gardens. Post yours on your blog and let me know that you have!

Investements

The weather today is just perfect to me. I am doing what I can to enjoy it as much as I can because "they" say it should be cooler tomorrow and for many days to come.

Today I prepared the soil in our vegetable garden area. I have started some seedlings in peat pellets inside, but really there are not many to fill up all that space. I thought about buying some seedlings but think of my plan to only buy food and gas. Then I remembered that a garden is food. Hello. So buying seedlings would be an investment in the food department. And so, I will allow myself to purchase such seedlings...

I am also happy because I did a major cleaning of the downstairs and it just makes my head feel clearer and more peaceful. We also got our organic food order, so there is plenty of fresh produce. This company is really reasonable for fruit and veggies (let alone that they are organic) as well as organic dairy and juice.

The day is only partway through, so I'm looking forward to more good times and hopefully a call from Jason with some good news (a callback, a request for an interview... anything!)

Help

For anyone visiting... Could you let me know if you see my header?

Thanks!!

oh yeah

I changed my blog template. I found it from a free blog template blog I found. :-) Hope you like. I also changed our family blog template.

The Wyckoffs

Can you see it now?

Being at a park with Miles while Ella was at dance class I allowed myself to take some time to enjoy the warmth of the sun and look around at the grass and robins hopping around and the beginning of this verse came to me. I looked up the rest:

Matthew 6:25-33

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet even King Solomon in all his glory was never arrayed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which lives today, and tomorrow dies, how much more will God clothe you? Must you have so little faith? Do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' God knows what you need! Seek first the kingdom of God, and your needs will be provided."

Snowy Egret

I love this bird. It is seen frequenting the pond behind our house. This morning it was right in "our" backyard.

A Local Order

I've made a few of these already, but this is the last of my little dancers fabric. I do have some with just the toe shoes on it left. This order came from a "word of mouth." She saw one of my similar bags at her daughter's dance school. It was one I'd given as a gift to my daughter's friend.

The customer is going to come pick it up this week, she is only a few minutes away. :-)

Messenger Bag from Gifted Fabric Finally Done!

Finishing off a bag I had partly done for some time now was great "therapy" for me today. I just had to design and construct the flap and put it all together. I REALLY LOVE how it turned out and hope to put it in the shop soon. I once had a vertical messenger bag I received as a give-away from a scientific meeting and I loved it, so decided to make one. The floral fabric here was gifted to me from Amy of Stinkytoesdesigns on Etsy. She makes gorgeous cards and so much more! She also has a supple store you can find easy on her blog or at her design store.

The bag has a mesh pocket so you can easily see what you have tucked in there.

The inside has one large pocket and one smaller pocket for pens, glasses, cellphone, knitting needles etc...

Enough for Mother's Day

Yesterday afternoon while Miles was still sleeping, Jason and I sat across from each other in the family room talking. Ella came in and lay across my lap tummy down. I played with her pony tail and started to rub her back. She continued to lay there for quite a long time as I rubbed her back. I started feeling really happy and then said to Jason that this made me really feel like a mom. I wondered if this was all I had once though motherhood was all about. Well I don't think so, I remember playing mom with my dolls and there was a lot of "work" involved feeding them and changing their clothes, but the truth is, when I'm taking care of the kids, making food for them (never fast enough or to their specification), listening to the crying and screaming and fighting amongst them (wondering where I went wrong), dealing with the problems (again wondering if I will ruin them for life), I don't feel like a mom, but some kind of unappreciated servent/short order cook/referee/inexperienced psychologist-behavioralist-developmentalist. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good times and I do love being a mom. But that moment with Ella enjoying my casual TLC, stress free, I just felt like I always thought it should feel like to be a mom.

So that is all I really need for Mother's Day. But the truth is, I know I'm getting so much more. Tonight is a fancy Mother's Day dinner at TMC and tomorrow is mother's night at Ella's preschool. So I consider myself very very blessed with more than I ever expected or wanted.

Busytime Coming

For the most part, I enjoy keeping busy. A lot of business is coming up and I am a little fearful of the let down at the end of it all. Tomorrow is a Mother's Day dinner for TMC, Friday is Mother's Night at Ella's preschool. Saturday is class 2 for the Dad's dance for the recital. Monday is Ella's last dance class and the last dance class for the girls I teach. Thursday is a cookout party for the last week of TMC. Friday is dress rehearsal for the recital. Saturday is the recital. The last week of May will be the last week of preschool and the last week of Spanish class. There will also be a picnic for preschool and the first weekend of June I'll be having a garage sale with my friend Gail. And then the lack of things to do, the lack of routine, the lack of things to keep my mind off our our situation will dwindle down. Maybe we'll be able to play a lot outside, maybe I'll get a lot of sewing done. I don't know. Maybe Jason will have found a job. Maybe we will have to be making changes for that. So maybe I should stop complaining and just take things one day at a time!

Hello

Last Thursday S, the mentor who has breast cancer came to the TMC dinner. It was WONDERFUL to see her, she is such a lovely presence. She took some time to talk about her experience so far and brought many of us to tears. She had an operation on Friday to remove her remaining lymph nodes because what they took out already did have cancer cells. We will continue to pray for her.

Jason is starting to hear from recruiters and HR from specific companies. To me this is a good sign. We are doing well these days dealing with this downturn and I think both feeling very hopeful.

It is a beautiful day out today and as soon as I get Ella down for a "nap" (rest), I'm going to go out and clean dead foliage out of some pots outside. I may have to at least put on capris and a short sleeve shirt.

Hope you all are doing well.