My world

Clothing storage

March 11, 2009March 11, 2009 darcee1 Comment

What do you do with all those wonderful things that your older child has outgrown, but that the next child probably won’t need for 2 more years? Or what about the hand-me-downs, consignment store and garage sale finds that are too cute to pass up but you won’t need until next summer?

My super easy storage solution is Banker boxes. You can purchase them in 10 packs from any office supply store. They are sturdy, stack well and have their own lids so you aren’t having to tape them shut. If I am out shopping and see a too-good-to-pass-up deal for next season I can open the box and add the item without having to re-tape it. I write the size, gender and season(if needed) on the outside of the box and store them on a basement shelf of in the closets.

You can see more of the Works for me Wednesday ideas at We Are THAT Family
wfmwbannerkristen

Parenting

Parenting – a land of confussion

March 11, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

Every once in a while I stumble on something that makes me say “well, duh” then I think about it and it sort of frightens me that I can understand how much that needed to be said. The most recent case of this was at the tail of this arcticle: Are we creating a generation of teenage-timebombs. It is full of frightening quotes like. “My friends, battling with the issue of discipline, find it almost impossible to impose on their youngsters at any age; the naughty step is all very well, but what the hell do you do when the reach the age where they realize they can just stand up and walk away whenever they like?”.

The article concludes with five points for parents to take to heart: Love, Discipline, Play, Communication, and more vaguely a warning about not starting formal education too soon (until six or seven.) I generally agree with all that and even thing that the priorities are generally correct, but there is also something that seems to be missing. It seems ghastly in a way that parents seem to need the permission to actually discipline their children. As illustrated in the article “Perhaps because we were ourselves brought up with strict – sometimes overly-strict – codes of conduct, as adults we are in grave danger of veering much too far in the opposite direction. The biggest mistake we can make as parents is to want to be our children’s friends. Yes, they may like us more, their classmates may think we’re cool, (Really? Gosh, isn’t that lovely!) but the truth is they also see us as weak. And weakness in those who ought to be powerful will always invite contempt.”

Personally I wasn’t brought up in a “too strict” household. My mother’s attempts at discipline were somewhat wobbly, but I really don’t remember the causal disrespect of parental authority that seems so common today. But that could be the classical problem of really thinking today’s youth is going to hell in a hand-basket — a motto as old at civilization it seems. So what is it about the five little tips that seems lacking.

Two things: First is environment and the second is expectation. I do not think you can raise children who have a good sense of “respect for authority” in an environment that has no respect for any authority. When every television show for young teens and older children is stuffed with examples of disrespectful teens who out wit, out smart and out moral the adults in their lives something is seriously wrong. When a older child’s entire peer group runs the home from the get go it is going to be much more difficult to lay down any rules and have them met. Sadly environment once the child is in school is almost impossible to have very much influence over.

The power of expectations is something I see a lot of parents missing. I have never had even the slightest problem getting the children to sit in their car seats or stay buckled in the car because the car doesn’t move if they aren’t. From their first ride in the car they are buckled in, nothing else is an option. One of those moments that made me stop and think was when an acquaintance asked how I managed to get my five year old to mass every Sunday. She was having a lot of trouble convincing her little boy to go. I don’t think I had a very good answer for her, “Well, we just go to mass.” The expectation is just there for my children that they will do what they are told because I am the parent and they are the child. I guess it really goes back to that consistency thing.

40 Trash Bag Challenge — Day 13

March 10, 2009 darcee1 Comment

40trashbags

Today is Tuesday, March 10, 2009

This is the thirteenth day of the 2009 40 trash bag challenge. The challenge is an opportunity to remove the excess clutter and “stuff” from our lives. The excess can be given away, sold, donated or trashed. The first goal is to let go; the second goal is to bless others.

Today I am going through the dishes and the knickknacks. So many things end up in our homes, souveniers, gifts, things we picked up here and there that serve no purpose, are not enjoyed and are just around because we haven’t gotten to the point where we are ready to let them go. Today is a day to let go, let those things we care little for go to some charity we value so that they may bless others.

Today’s Scripture Reading

Quote for the day: “Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?” – St. Gerard Majella

Reading poems from “A Child’s Garden of Verse“.

Craft: We are working on our eggs.

Lap book page: Poland and Lithuania packet. St Casmir, maps, coloring page. (this will span over for several days. This will be our last day on this.

Other great ideas: (if you stumble on something that should be linked here please comment or send me the link)

Jesus Tree

A Meaningful Lent

Sewing

The First Communion Dress Project – part 4

March 9, 2009March 9, 2009 darcee2 Comments

This is the forth article on the First Communion Dress project. I am sewing my daughter’s first Communion dress using my wedding dress.

The embroidery on the back needed "repaired"

The seam had caught some of the embroidery so I re-embroidered across the seam to fix it.

After I had the embroidery repaired I sewed the side seams and shoulders according to the pattern’s directions.

Hannah was excited to try it on:

Now comes the wretched part: the zipper.

I am not good at setting in zippers. I get impatient with them and they just drive me batty. To make things more interesting I really wanted to put in an invisible zipper.

There are a couple nice tutorials online about invisible zipper insertion.

I like this one: Sewing Invisible Zipper.

I did a couple things slightly different. First I put a bit of lightweight interfacing just inside the seam line on the wrong side.

zipperinterfacing — The pink line segments show the edges of the interfacing

The next “deviation” was to put lace seam binding tape on the right side just over thee edge. This lace serves two purposes. First it gives me a nice even line to sew the zipper against and second, the lace finish give a bit of grab so the zipper isn’t sliding around against the satin while I am trying to sew it in. It also edge – its primary purpose.

Then I followed the normal procedure for putting the zipper in. It went in like a charm, but there was a problem.

crap. I hate zippers. So I had to tear the whole thing out and do it again. And this was a perfectly amateurish error that I shouldn’t have made in the first place.

The cat was amused at least:

So I carefully lined everything back up and did it again:

I double checked it once the zipper was half in.

Perfect! I pulled the zipper closed and everything lined up, the zipper lays flat without any puckering or bulging. Joy!

I loved the little covered end on the zipper over at Sewing Divas, so I incorporated it here:

You can also see how the layers work together here. The interfacing and seam binding giving just the right support for the zipper. The sad things is all this is covered by the lining in the finished dress, but the most loving stitches are the ones that never show.

40 bags of stuff. · Lent

40 Trash Bag Challenge — Day 12

March 9, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

40trashbags

Today is Monday, March 9, 2009

This is the twelth day of the 2009 40 trash bag challenge. The challenge is an opportunity to remove the excess clutter and “stuff” from our lives. The excess can be given away, sold, donated or trashed. The first goal is to let go; the second goal is to bless others.

Today’s bag of stuff for our family will come from the laundry room -again. This seems to be the room where everything ends up that doesn’t have a “real” home.

Today is a busy day for us with homeschool enrichment and CCD this afternoon.

Today’s Scripture Reading

Quote for the day: “Men invent new ideals because they dare not attempt old ideals. They look forward with enthusiasm, because they are afraid to look back.“ – G. K. Chesterton

Reading poems from “A Child’s Garden of Verse“.

Craft: None for today

Lap book page: Poland and Lithuania packet. St Casmir, maps, coloring page. (this will span over for several days.

Other great ideas: (if you stumble on something that should be linked here please comment or send me the link)

Jesus Tree

A Meaningful Lent

Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – March 09, 2009

March 9, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

The Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at the Simple Woman.
Thank you Peggy.

FOR TODAY : March 9, 2008

This week I am deep in my 40 trash bag challenge. I spent a good deal of time working on Hannah’s first communion dress. The zipper went in perfectly; I am so happy

Outside my Window – Oh, my. There is snow coming down in big fluffy wet flakes.

I am thinking – The whole daylight savings time has kind of tossed me off. I am not a big fan of time changes.

From the learning rooms – We are talking about eggs, the Aneid, drawing, music and the basics of course.

I am thankful for- Tea, My husband bought me the sweetest tea-kettle. It has a lovely steam whistle, deep, full-throat, two tone whistle that the kids all call “happy sound”.

From the kitchen – Crock-pot night.

I am reading – I have the next Honor Harrington book on my nightstand.

I am hoping – That this snow clears up quickly.

I am creating – Hannah’s first communion dress. This is the big project for the next few weeks.

I am hearing – The children are busy with their morning routine. One part whining, one part working and one part trying to get their siblings to do their work for them.

Around the house – This is kitchen day. The trash bag challenge is going along well.

One of my favorite things – My sewing machine. Yes, I covet those beautiful machines with their embroidery features and fancy computer stuff, but my little workhorse is actually a great machine.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week – Taxes, I am starting my spring cleaning plans, a few things here and there.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you –

Hannah took this picture of her puzzle

40 bags of stuff. · Lent

40 Trash Bag Challenge — Day 10

March 6, 2009March 6, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

40trashbags

Today is Friday, March 6, 2009

This is the tenth day of the 2009 40 trash bag challenge. The challenge is an opportunity to remove the excess clutter and “stuff” from our lives. The excess can be given away, sold, donated or trashed. The first goal is to let go; the second goal is to bless others.

Today’s bag of stuff for our family will come from the laundry room. This seems to be the room where everything ends up that doesn’t have a “real” home.

We had Little Flowers today so we are having to do more of our serious study this afternoon which is competing with a very sunny day. The yard work might win “Oro et Laboro” can be our moto for the day.

Today’s Scripture Reading

Quote for the day: “It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction.” – St. Edmund

Reading poems from “A Child’s Garden of Verse“.

Craft: pisanki for kids (this will take about three days).

Lap book page: Poland and Lithuania packet. St Casmir, maps, coloring page. (this will span over for several days.

Other great ideas: (if you stumble on something that should be linked here please comment or send me the link)

Jesus Tree

A Meaningful Lent

Homemaking

Depression cooking

March 6, 2009March 6, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

I love this little old lady teaching you how to make super cheep food while she recounts her life during the depression.

Mary Mary and Martha

Thoughts on Grace

March 5, 2009 darcee1 Comment

I read this over at “In the Heart of my Home” : “I woke up in the morning after a very bad day and was reminded once more that God grants grace sufficient for the day. Every Single Day. My success lies in being open to every last bit of that grace.”

There is something so profound there. It pulls to mind the scripture Matthew 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” God is very much the God of this moment. One thing I used to tell my CCD class was to pray every morning that they would live the day in accordance to God’s will. Lord, lead me today to do your will in all things. It is so easy to get caught up in the milieu of the day and to miss those things God would have us do. Sometimes I get so caught up trying to take care of the stage that I miss the play. Martha takes over and I forget to sit with Jesus.

40 bags of stuff. · Lent

40 Trash Bag Challenge — Day 9

March 5, 2009March 5, 2009 darceeLeave a comment

40trashbags

Today is Thursday, March 5, 2009

This is the ninth day of the 2009 40 trash bag challenge. The challenge is an opportunity to remove the excess clutter and “stuff” from our lives. The excess can be given away, sold, donated or trashed. The first goal is to let go; the second goal is to bless others.

Today’s bag of stuff for our family will come from the office. This is a clutter day for me – while I would love to be able to bless someone else with each bag, that isn’t possible. I am going through my files culling out old and outdated information (that lease agreement form 1994 is NOT going to be needed again) and tossing them.

I suppose in a way this sort of thing helps others, mostly my family, but also those I have made commitments to. I am one of those people who end up with piles and piles of semi-important papers because I am afraid to let anything go until I have thought about it. But my procrastination lets things accumulate as I put off thinking about them. Then I have clutter. Lent is a good time to look at those problems we face with a critical eye, How is this helping my walk with Christ, or is it hindering me. Not dealing with semi-important things in a timely manner hurts. It hurts my peace, my real life friendships and my spiritual progression.

We are missed starting talking about St Casimir yesterday so we are catching that today along with this fine Saint we are looking at Lithuania and Poland, especially their Easter traditions.

Today’s Scripture Reading

Quote for the day: “First, do what is necessary. Next, do what is possible. Soon, you will find you are doing the impossible!” – St. Francis of Assisi

Reading about Saint Casimir.

Craft: pisanki for kids (this will take about three days).

Lap book page: Poland and Lithuania packet. St Casmir, maps, coloring page. (this will span over for several days.

Other great ideas: (if you stumble on something that should be linked here please comment or send me the link)

Jesus Tree

A Meaningful Lent