Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
May 25, 2011

Outside my window...Cloudy. The birds are singing loud.

I am thinking...about White's Boots.

I am thankful for...my husband. There is nobody I'd rather plow through life with, than him.

From the learning rooms...God's creation has been interesting to all of us lately. Little teeney tiny frogs, weird mushrooms, beetles galore.

From the kitchen...chili for supper.

I am excited about...Going to (hopefully) see Penelope next week. I bet she has already changed so much. :)

I am praying...for mercy.

I am wearing...jammies

I am creating...lots of doll clothes and dolls. I have a big doll clothes upload to make happen in my store tomorrow.

I am going...to church tonight.

I am reading...my bible.

I am hoping...the dryer repair man will come today.

I am hearing...the hum of my fan..

Around the house...it needs picked up and vaccumed.

One of my favorite things...Chubby babies.

A few plans for the rest of the week...pick off the strawberries (tons of them), doll clothes upload, chase my youngins' around and hopefully catch up on laundry if the dryer man comes. Hang out clothes if the weather will let me.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing: Felipe (said Phillip) last fall. Going to help the men cut wood.

On Piercings

My sister had her ears pierced when she was quite young. I would have to ask her to be sure but I think she was 3. That would have been in 1967.

I loved my sisters earrings. She had ruby (I'm sure not real rubies) post earrings that represented her birthstone. I love red as a child even and liked to look at her ears.

When I was three my sister generously offered to pierce my ears for me. "They will be just like mine" she promised. At three I didn't understand buzz words or statements like "Now, you have to promise not to scream no matter what" and "You have to promise you won't tell mom until AFTER I'm done." I gladly promised with all the innocence of a 3 year old being led like a lamb to the slaughter.

My sister grabbed a large needle from my mothers pin cushion and a potato from the bin in the kitchen. She then led me by the hand, up the stairs, into our room where she shut the door. Then she opened the closet door, pulled the light string on and into the closet we went shutting the door behind us.

My sister held the potato behind my ear and with confidence that comes naturally to an 8 year old girl, thrust the needle into my earlobe.

The rest of the story runs according to the obvious. I screamed and shrieked bloody murder while my sister desperately tried to quiet me, with no success. My mother heard my muffled screams from the kitchen and came to see what the problem was. Finding a long needle, a stray, very out of place potato and one child cluching the offended ear and crying, it was easy to surmise what had taken place.

I don't remember what happened after that. But to this day I never, ever, ever promise not to scream no matter what. :)

My sister was a stinker and while she grew out of most of it, she still has a healthy stinker streak in her . We are the best of friends these days. I count myself blessed to have her as my sister. I don't let her attempt to pierce my ears and we get along great.

CHARGE!

Early Memories

As children we watched a lot of TV. Some of our best and worst ideas came from the television. My sister, who is 5 years older than me, always seemed to think of the best plans. Those sort of plans that if anything went askew, she would look innocent and victimized, while my brother and I were obviously the evil villains whose wickedness knew no bounds.

One such plan ran this way.

At some point my sister and brother had watched some TV show where the star of the show and several other helpers had used a pole or beam of some sort to "charge" into battle. My brother was fascinated with the idea of "charging" as a means of attaining domination. My sister on the other hand saw an opportunity and with a steely glint in her green eye, hatched the following plan.

Taking the family broom, she placed herself as leader of the pack, holding on firmly to the end of the broom handle. My brother was placed at the middle of the handle as the brawn behind the brains. I, at the young age of 2.5 held on to the bristles and readied myself to run as fast as I could as my sister and brother prepared to take the enemy. Taking off running through the den, we rounded the corner into the kitchen where my mother was working. My sister and brother, not quite in unison, yelled "CHARGE" and before my startled mother could prepare for the blow or defend herself, we had ramrodded her with the broom stick and knocked her flat on the floor.

I don't remember her reaction. I remember hanging on to the end of the broom and trying to keep up. Years later though when my mother would retell the story, she would always laugh at the sight of me holding on to the bristles of the broom, barely big enough to hang on. She was a good sport. Mother never forgot to mention that my sister denied (and still denies) hatching the plan in the first place.

Family Pictures

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
May 18, 2011

Outside my window...A little gray but looks as if the sun wants to shine.

I am thinking...a jumble of things, sons and daughters, grand babies, dolls, doll clothes, finishing up school, friends. Lots rolling around in my pea brain.

I am thankful for...the sweet things in life.

From the learning rooms...I don't think school will be finished for my older boys until JUNE!

From the kitchen...Pancakes and ham for dinner tonight.

I am excited about...new friends.

I am praying...secret things.

I am wearing...long sleeved black tee shirt, denim skirt, black socks and sneakers

I am creating...lots of doll clothes and dolls.

I am going...to church tonight.

I am reading...The Mother At Home. It was written in the 1800's and is very convicting about raising children.

I am hoping...to get all the laundry finished today.

I am hearing...the hum of children, bathroom vent and dryer squeaking.

Around the house...Donnie is building me a clothes line. Its looking pretty good.

One of my favorite things...Sweet baby neck sugar.

A few plans for the rest of the week...work, work, work. Dolls to be made and doll clothes, give my bathroom a thorough scrubbing and cleaning, clean up my sewing area and make the boys clean out their closet.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing: Sweet Penelope. About 8 hours old.

Confessions of a Pattern Junkie

I confess that this is one of my favorite patterns ever. I love the blue dress because of the contrasting bias tape on the collar and pocket. But I like the plaid dress because it has sleeves. The skirt is full with a set on waist. This dress also does not have a zipper or buttons in the back for an opening but instead opens at the side and snaps closed. Although I think it would be cute with buttons for closure.



Simplicity 3297. The pattern does acknowledge that the copyright is held by Simplicity but no date is given. The description on the back of the pattern reads:

GIRLS' ONE-PIECE DRESS: A wide square collar is featured on the fitted bodice. Style 1 has short cuffed sleeves. Pockets, trimming with contrasting pointed flaps, are featured on the skirt front. Style 2 is sleeveless. One pocket is omitted and bias binding is used for trimming.

A sweet lady-like dress for a girl to wear. Good for all sorts of occasions.

Penelope Ella Cora

The sweetest little bundle of love arrived yesterday. Miss Penelope is here and oh so soft and sweet. Weighing in at 7 lbs 13 oz and 21.5 inches long. Momma and baby are doing great.

My son Kevin and Penelope.

Grandma and Penelope. :)
God is good all the time.