Show & Tell Time: The 74th Circle October 15, 2009

As we enlightened folk know Show & Tell is wasted on children. Welcome to the grown up version, thanks to Mel. Please check out what the rest of the class is showing.

 

G and I have lived in several different home over the last 11 years. We’ve had apartments, we’ve lived with my mom, we’ve owned a house, and we’ve rented houses. The house we’re living in now is the first one on our homes that’s ever had a fireplace. I think all homes north of Lexington, KY should be required by law to have functional, heat providing fireplaces. This fireplace is more of the decorative variety. Don’t get me wrong, a fire can be lit, and smoke will not fill the house (unless you’re a jackass and place a box fan in front of the fire to spread the heat…) but it doesn’t really heat the place. Mostly just the heat from the fire and the furnace fly up the chimney.

 

Even still, I love the idea of sitting by the fire, so I decided to light one anyway. I went to the grocery and bought “firewood” and “fat sticks.” Things I’ve heard my mother talk about in reference to building fires at her house. I crumpled up junk mail and arranged wood and lit 489 matches. My husband started the actual fire that burned through the evening. I was never able to accomplish more than burning some mail.

 

The next night, I was determined that I was going to start a fire. I mean c’mon how hard could it be? So, I went to the grocery and bought firewood, and something else. A secret weapon. I bought a fire garauntee. That’s right folks, I bought a “ready log.” I had never heard of a ready log until that very moment, but it seemed perfect, so I took it home. It was fantastic! I lit the log wrappings and in two minutes we had a real fire. Mind you, it was burning chemically treated pressed wood chips, but hello, I started it myself… and it was pretty.

 

 

So, the next step is learn how to build a real fire

Show & Tell Time: The 73rd Circle October 7, 2009

(I’m showing and telling a little early this week, so the link may not work yet, but it will. )

 

As we enlightened folk know Show & Tell is wasted on children. Welcome to the grown up version, thanks to Mel. Please check out what the rest of the class is showing.

 

I mentioned earlier this week that I’m crocheting again. So, I thought I’d show the hats I’m making for the boys for Christmas. I’ll be making them a hat/scarf/mitten set but the hats are all I’ve worked on so far. Now, Big C’s a first grader, so I’m a little nervous about whether he’ll like it or think it looks stupid…

 

The striped one is C’s and the variegated one is c’s. And, yes that is a stack of mail peeking under the napkins I was trying to skillfully use to disguise the clutter of my dining room table.

 

Close up of Little C’s. After choosing a pattern this one took about 2 hours. I’m debating about adding earflaps and a chin tie… I will definitely be adding a big ass pom pom to the top. He’s a baby and I think it’ll be cute.

 

This is a close up of Big C’s. I’m adding blue ribbing to the bottom. Obviously, since he is a “big boy” (whatever the hell that means) I cannot add a big ass pom pom or chin tie But since I actually want him to use it, that’ll have to be OK. Because of the multiple colors (rather than one string that changes color) this one took about 3 hours before starting the ribbing.

 

 

I have shown these to a couple of people (G, of course) and they all want one either for themselves or their kids. I’m still a little scared that C will prefer something store bought and “normal.” Too damn bad!

 

So, not too shabby for being out of the yarn crafts for several years, huh?

 

Next week I’m going to show the first fire I ever lit all by myself in my own fireplace. It’ll be exciting…

Show & Tell Time August 19, 2009

As many of you know, show and Tell is wasted on elementary schoolers. I’m all kinds of jazzed to be able to live this childhood tradition again, as a grownup who can appreciate it properly. If you’d like to see what the rest of the class is showing (and I hope you do), please pop by Mel’s place.

 

G and I are big on traditions. We have things that we like to do during certain times of each year. For example, during the fall we make a point to visit some local farms with the boy(s). The farm that we’ve been going to for years, and that had the best hayride EVER, sold their land to a grocery chain recently. So, last fall we had to find a new favorite farm. And we did! But that’s not what I’m showing.

 

This farm had a walking trail with little houses set up along the way. Each house belonged to a different fairy tale character. Belle had a castle, Tinkerbell had a tree house, and Snow White had a cottage. In Snow White’s cottage, there was a kitchenette. Snow White’s kitchenette was an exact replica of the play kitchen I had as a kid.

 

I was thrilled. This was hands down my favorite toy as a child. I played house for hours and hours. I washed bottles and bathed my baby dolls in the sink. I loved my kitchen. Unfortunately, we had a house fire when I was 15 and the kitchen was lost.

 

Needless to say the kitchen won me over, we have a new fall tradition to go visit Snow White’s cottage.

Mel’s 65th Show and Tell: Lake Anne August 13, 2009

Yes, I am showing an entire lake. It’s mine…. OK, maybe not mine, but for one week a year, this bit of shoreline is mine, all mine. OK, maybe not all mine, but mine and my family’s. I think you get the point…

 

This is the water as viewed from the little row boat that G takes me out on. Scary, BTW. I love the water, but I don’t like rickety little row boats or canoes. I’d rather just swim.

 

Our lakeside backyard. H.E.A.V.E.N.

We’re going back the week before Labor day (that’s right, I’m milking  a 10 day vacation out of five vacation days). I can’t wait. Just me & G and mother. Literally our first grown up vacation since big C was born. Hopefully, our last.

 

Wanna see what the rest of the class is showing? Of course, you do… check it out here.

Show & Tell July 10, 2009

This is my first attempt at participating in Mel’s Show & Tell. I hope I’m doing it right! If you want to see what the rest of the class is showing, check it out here.

 

I’m showing my Easter eggs. I have a thing for eggs. I love them. Maybe it’s because my body doesn’t make them on its own? Maybe it’s because I’m allergic to the chicken variety? I don’t know, but I adore decorated eggs. I love them when they’re simply dyed, or decorated using complex methods and designs.

I also love to find new ways to decorate eggs. One of my favorite relaxation/arty passtimes is practicing pysanky. Pysanky is a Ukranian egg dying method using wax to create intricate designs on the egg.

So, that’s what I’m showing… my eggs.