tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88961829510036562362024-03-18T21:47:50.385+04:00CyberbonesDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16073374770589343507noreply@blogger.comBlogger792125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-10497245033536987142017-05-25T01:31:00.000+04:002017-05-25T01:31:30.935+04:00Impact!As parents we usually don’t know the impact our kids have on others. It is not until they are gone from the environment they affect that we truly find out. When people, which as parent, I have little or no interaction with come up to me and ask, “Hey where is Grayson?” Reply with the same answer each time, “He has gone back to the States for the summer.” The expression on their face turns to one of disappointment or sadness. Apparently when Grayson goes out to play during his free time from school, he interacts with just about anyone he can find. There is not a single person on the housing compound that does not know Grayson. After seeing the expression on their faces I quickly reply, “He will back at the end of summer.” The expressions go from one of sadness to one of relief and then back to being happy. I don’t really know what kind of interaction Grayson has with the people he meets, but it is clear through my interactions with them, that he clearly has an impact and it is clear it is a good one that brings joy to another life. As a parent, I cannot be more proud of him. But it does make me question what impact I have on the people I meet? I can only hope that when I am gone people we have the same reverence for me as they do my son. I hope he never looses his ability to interact in a positive manner with the people he meets. Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16073374770589343507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-23494391438635243182016-03-03T10:24:00.002+04:002016-03-03T10:24:56.470+04:00Jennifer's Wildlife Challenge: Oman day 1A few weeks back David posted this little picture of shells on his FB page.<br />
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Which led to this exchange:<br />
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Our niece Jennifer wants to see more wildlife pictures. I argued there isn't much wildlife here in the Arabian Desert. Since then I have been paying attention and noticing more and more wildlife. Turns out there is a lot of wildlife here. Not much big showy animals like the elephants, giraffes and hippos we saw in Africa, just the occasional camel or donkey. But there are lots of lizards, birds, crabs, and bugs. Little creatures you have to pay attention to notice, like those shells. The crab shell is about 3/4 of an inch across. So tiny but look at the patterns on it. Pretty cool.<br />
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I rarely post pictures on FB. I don't know why, I just don't. In fact I rarely post much of anything on FB. Mostly I just read what other people post and occasionally comment on something. I do miss blogging though. So Jennifer, here ya go, a brand new blog column inspired by you.<br />
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Day one. Flamingos! Spotted by Colin (of course) near the America's Cup Races last weekend. Pictures by your Uncle David.<br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-1083851441530252792015-11-18T21:10:00.000+04:002015-11-18T21:10:25.790+04:00Happy 45th National Day Oman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-80450673283987381712015-11-09T15:52:00.001+04:002015-11-09T15:52:59.368+04:00HandshakeWe have our handshake. In non-foreign service speak that means we found where we are headed next. No I'm not going to tell just you, that's too easy. If you can figure out which country's flag this is then you will know where we are going.<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-65053417669209508842015-04-27T15:43:00.003+04:002015-04-27T20:20:47.578+04:00To David with Love<i>This post is dedicated to my awesome hubby. He bought us our house for our 15th anniversary, and then gave me the time by myself to go home and redo the kitchen, alone. He had faith I could pull it off even though I had never ever done anything like that before. Thanks Honey!! (Also he has been nagging me for about 8 months to get a finished kitchen post up on the blog. Here ya go Babe, one long awaited blog post.) </i><br />
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Today I was looking through all the pics of our little house in the 'hood that I took last summer. Oh, how I miss my little house. Don't get me wrong I love all our adventures living overseas, but just as much I love having a place that is unequivocally MINE. A place that is quietly waiting for me to come home, unlock the doors, throw open the windows, and breath life back into it. With summer coming up soon my little house has been on my mind a lot lately.<br />
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Last summer I went back well ahead of the kids and Dave to give the kitchen a facelift and make it the house just a little more ours. <a href="http://cyberbones.blogspot.com/2014/06/kitchen-update.html" target="_blank">I blogged</a> the <a href="http://cyberbones.blogspot.com/2014/06/its-starting-to-come-together.html" target="_blank">early stages</a> of <a href="http://cyberbones.blogspot.com/2014/06/tape-miles-and-miles-of-tape.html" target="_blank">the renovation</a> but once Dave and the boys caught up with me in Texas I sorta quit blogging. Ooops! Sorry about that. <br />
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I did eventually finish the kitchen, or more accurately I finished painting and put the cabinet doors back on then David showed up and put the finishing touches on the kitchen. Little things like lighting, new shelves, and door handles. <br />
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A quick review since I haven't blogged in forever. Here's the kitchen as it was when we bought the house.<br />
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There was nothing essentially wrong with the kitchen. The cabinets were in reasonable decent shape. The appliances are old but still in good working conditions. I described it as builder grade ugly. Boring cabinets, no door handles, cheap light fixtures. Just blah.
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I decided I could fix builder grade ugly with a little paint and creativity because Pinterest! Dave and made arrangements for me to head home without him or the boys. For the first time in 22 years I found myself on my own without kids. For a while I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Most of May and into June the house looked like this.
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The kitchen was torn apart and pretty much unusable, the dining room and living room became a makeshift painting studio for all the cabinet and drawer fronts. I really thought that I had made a dreadful mistake and was never going to get this finished. I kept working at it because what else was I going to do? Then all at once it began to come together. By the time Dave and the kids arrived it looked pretty much like this. </div>
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Not bad, better than it was, but not exactly what I had in mind. David put his skills to work and took care of all the finishing touches needed to finally pull it all together. </div>
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Now our kitchen looks amazing. It's hard to believe it is the same kitchen. It's really all paint and illusion. There are no new appliances, no new cabinets, no new granite countertops, but it looks and feels brand-new and amazing. I can't wait to be home cooking in my pretty new kitchen this summer. </div>
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Drum Roll Please! Here is the grand bloggy unveiling of our new and improved kitchen.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sink side as viewed from back door. It shows perhaps the most important part of the kitchen, the coffee station. </td></tr>
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Dave added door handles, crown molding and a pretty new school house style light over the kitchen sink. The brown thing next to the fridge is my antique 4-drawer card catalog that I use to store tea. One of my favorite things, ever! Eventually we'll replace the sink with a white porcelain sink, the refrigerator with a counter depth European style (tall and narrow) fridge, the dishwasher with a Bosch and add under cabinet lighting. I still have no idea what to do about that fluorescent light. It's practical and gives off lots of light, but it's kinda ugly. I'll figure it out eventually.<br /><br/>
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On the other side of the room you can see the glass shelves Dave added under the cabinets. I use the open shelving for the stuff I use everyday: Plates, glasses, coffee and coffee cups, spices for cooking. The stuff I use less frequently is hidden away in the cabinets safe from dust. I think moving the cabinets to the ceiling and eliminating the dust-collecting, wasted foot of space above them was the best idea I've had in a long time. The kitchen works so much better now.<br />
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You can also see wine rack above the stove. I couldn't move that cabinet because it has the plugs for the microwave inside it. I had originally ordered a wine rack I thought would fit that space off the internet. When Dave saw it, he threw it out and went to work with a jig saw and created this. Amazing! I couldn't be happier.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both sides at once and my gorgeous carpet runner Dave brought back from Oman.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from dining room table, and the only views that shows my tiny pantry across from the fridge and the back door. </td></tr>
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So my big reveal is nearly a year late. At least I got it up before I flew home for this summer. I really don't have any big home reno projects lined up for this year. It's more an assortment of small projects. Nothing very exciting, although for me just going to the hardware store and then doing it, what ever it is, all by myself without waiting for GSO to get around to it is excitement enough! <br />
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</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-90086044059677348212015-04-21T13:32:00.002+04:002015-04-21T13:32:49.698+04:00A Quilt for ColinNow that I have made a few baby quilts for friends with babies my boys are beginning to make noises about a quilt for someone in our house. I have never made a full sized quilt. I made a Dakota's bedding when he was little. He's in the Navy now so that's been a while. Last spring I pieced my first baby quilt in more than twenty years. I have never made a full sized quilt. Here goes nothing, GULP!<br />
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I am starting with a jelly roll quilt for Colin. I LOVE precuts mostly because I hate the rotary cutter, or maybe it hates me. I don't know which, but I do know have ruined a lot of fabric with a sudden slip of that thing. I'm still learning, but I still have all my fingers, so I'm not doing too badly.<br />
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Once I found fabric Colin liked I started on a Pinterest frenzy looking for an idea that clicked. A few hours/days/weeks later this is what I found as my inspiration. <br />
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It's the <a href="http://www.robertkaufman.com/quilting/quilts_patterns/cascade_1038/#color:1" target="_blank">Cascade quilt pattern</a> from Robert Kaufman Fabric. I already have the fabric so I'm not ordering a kit. It looks pretty straight forward though. </div>
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The next step for me was to try and lay out the fabric to see if I was going to like it. </div>
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I do not like the stripes. DO. NOT. LIKE. Also those angled joins are going to give me fits, I just know it. On the other hand I am feeling much better about Colin's choice of blue for the contrast fabric. His rational was blue is opposite of orange on the color wheel. Pretty smart kid, it really works well. I had been thinking black, which I now think would have been too harsh of a contrast. </div>
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Quick note: the contrast fabric is the brighter blue under the lighter strips on the left of the picture. The rest of what you are seeing is the back side of a quilt the boys have had since Colin was 3 or 4. It just happens to be very close in color to the background color so I am using it to play with layouts. That also explains the blue and green triangles, they aren't part of the design, just part of an old dinosaur quilt.</div>
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Next try. More randomness, less stripes, no tricky angles. </div>
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Better, so much better. Not sure that I like the dark to light gradation though.</div>
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Attempt number three. Getting tired of crawling around on the floor, so I hope this one works. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGND2CO_ixU/VTYULNokABI/AAAAAAAAD_E/7iIsHAXOO0k/s1600/stripes4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGND2CO_ixU/VTYULNokABI/AAAAAAAAD_E/7iIsHAXOO0k/s1600/stripes4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is my favorite so far. I'll show this post to Colin tonight and see what he thinks. I hope he picks this one. Oh, and Colin? I'm not sewing that top striped one. No way, no how! </div>
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Now I need to go remake the bed I stole the quilt from before the kids get home. Let me know which one you like best and have a great day.</div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-13700490229625483642015-03-30T10:40:00.000+04:002015-03-30T10:40:12.383+04:00Playing with Half-Square TrianglesI am working on a new baby blanket. I love the fabrics, all bright colors and Eric Carle prints from the Very Hungry Caterpillar. The half square triangles that are the basis of the quilt are fun to play with. I ended up spending a good 45 minutes flipping them this way and that to see the different patterns formed by the white and the bright colors. All the different patterns were made by simply rotating easy square where it lay. None of the blocks have been switched or moved to a different spot. It is amazing how different each variation looks.<br />
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My Original plan:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shcqTNKSBhM/VRjoQcysjAI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/lMYvnyQOe2o/s1600/half%2Bsqare1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shcqTNKSBhM/VRjoQcysjAI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/lMYvnyQOe2o/s1600/half%2Bsqare1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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How about zig zags? I think Marshmallow approves. Oh, if I haven't mentioned it before we adopted a pair of half grown street cat kittens. Meet Marshmallow, he is "helping" me this morning.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYstGoHj7dw/VRjogT5rh2I/AAAAAAAAD9Y/TKAQ7rntS9w/s1600/half%2Bsquare2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYstGoHj7dw/VRjogT5rh2I/AAAAAAAAD9Y/TKAQ7rntS9w/s1600/half%2Bsquare2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stripes? This one turned out to be my least favorite. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBBFXMts9FI/VRjpok7YpjI/AAAAAAAAD9k/oRi1MMGVkPY/s1600/half%2Bsquare3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBBFXMts9FI/VRjpok7YpjI/AAAAAAAAD9k/oRi1MMGVkPY/s1600/half%2Bsquare3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Squares? I think I am leaning toward this one right now. Marshmallow approves. David suggested this one last night and I didn't like it then, so if I choose this one I will hear about it. Sigh. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zoX58g2aUM/VRjq0RjPl1I/AAAAAAAAD9w/dUk87-dJWfA/s1600/half%2Bsquare4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zoX58g2aUM/VRjq0RjPl1I/AAAAAAAAD9w/dUk87-dJWfA/s1600/half%2Bsquare4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The other kitten Orerow jumped in to help Marshmallow check out the quilt pattern. After their "help" a few square may have been moved around. (About his name, there was a mix up the the vet papers and Oreo became Orerow. Sounds like Scooby Doo trying to say Oreo.)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nUXIz3zTqY/VRjq350_-cI/AAAAAAAAD94/KqxtjgWkO-c/s1600/half%2Bsquare%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nUXIz3zTqY/VRjq350_-cI/AAAAAAAAD94/KqxtjgWkO-c/s1600/half%2Bsquare%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I like this pinwheel/hourglass pattern but I had such a hard time trying to lay it out that I think I will wait until I have a little more experience before trying this one. In this pic you can see the coordinating fabrics. The Hungry Caterpillar is the backing and the green numbers will be the edging. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-JHEPH7hM4/VRjshL5QgFI/AAAAAAAAD-E/Dyk0fyU0s4s/s1600/half%2Bsquare%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-JHEPH7hM4/VRjshL5QgFI/AAAAAAAAD-E/Dyk0fyU0s4s/s1600/half%2Bsquare%2B6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the last variation I tried. I tried it two ways, one with a white center and one with a dark center. For some reason I like the dark center better. </div>
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I can't seem to make up my mind which I like the best. I may have to buy some more fabric and make more quilts just so I can try them all out. Darn. </div>
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-38853585260918579602015-01-29T09:39:00.000+04:002015-01-29T09:43:03.432+04:00Project Updates January - I Have Fabric! Let the crafting begin. YAY! <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv9Tax5DdXM/VMm6fGrT7bI/AAAAAAAAD7c/oXIdaA9KXLA/s1600/fabrics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv9Tax5DdXM/VMm6fGrT7bI/AAAAAAAAD7c/oXIdaA9KXLA/s1600/fabrics.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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My favorite fabric company had a bunch of specials over the holidays and I spoiled myself by ordering a few things. Look at all the pretty colors. <br />
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If you look carefully you'll realize they are all tossed on top of the <a href="http://cyberbones.blogspot.com/2014/11/project-update-november.html" target="_blank">project in progress</a> from a few months ago. That quilt top got sidelined while I waited for shipments, but everything to finish it has arrived and I am back on track. The top is finished, the quilt is sandwiched and basted and I am trying to decide how to quilt this one.<br />
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While I think about that, here's a closer look at the goodies I have received.<br />
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Some pretty pink and brown fabrics for the second little girls quilt I have planned. I can't wait to get started on this one. Both the pink quilts, this one and the one on the table underneath all the new fabric, will be going to the same family for their special little girls. I wanted them to be quite different from each other. I hope the girls love the soft Minky backings I choose. It feels like heaven so fluffy and warm, but I am a little freaked out about sewing it. The free motion foot I ordered arrived broken and in pieces. The walking foot is still MIA in the mail system. I hope when it does show up it's in better shape than the free motion foot. All the tutorials I have watched suggest using a walking foot for dealing with Minky and its tendency to creep and stretch. I may just have have to cross my fingers and give it a go with a regular presser foot.<br />
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These three charm pack were freebies. Two were ones I picked out with the quilters cash I collected for spending so much money, The third was the daily deal. I just got lucky that the colors for all three match almost perfectly. I have no idea yet what I am going to make with those, but I think it might be something just for me. I'll figure that one out later. I love free fabric. And spending hours daydreaming my way through Pinterest searching for ideas for new projects. Win Win.<br />
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If you look carefully at the picture above there are two Eric Carle prints from the book the Very Hungry Caterpillar and a matching charm pack. These are for little boy's baby quilt going to a dear freind. I love the bright happy colors. It should be fun to work up. That project is on the to-do the list right after the two pink quilts. Hopefully I'll have it done by the end of February, insha'Allah.<br />
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And finally these fabrics are for my own (not so) little munchkin who loves bugs and I-Spy books. I want to try a quilt as you go method for this one, but will have to wait for a new, and hopefully not broken, free motion foot to arrive before I can start on this one. I think I have enough to keep me busy until then. <br />
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What projects are you working on?<br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-58060777390451302292015-01-21T08:05:00.002+04:002015-01-21T08:05:56.880+04:00New Favorite Word of all TimeBUS! BUS! <br />
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Like magic all fights stop and, everyone scrambles to find what ever they didn't pack. <br />
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There are always things not packed even though Mom -that's me- spent at least 20 minutes last night interrogating various children, "Are you totally packed and ready for school? Are you sure? Do you have your PE kit? Flute/Euphonium/Recorder? Swim suit towel? Homework? iPad charged? BlahBlahBlahBlah...." Lots of eye rolling and "Yessssss Motheerrrrrr" in response. And still, every morning, the scramble.<br />
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BUS! BUS!<br />
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Looks of panic. Fights stopped mid sentence. 2 minutes of mad scramble. Blessed quiet. I can finally drink my coffee. Clean the mess left in the kitchen from 3 kids making breakfast and 1 dad making 3 lunches. Put my feet up and just enjoy a moment of peace.<br />
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BUS! BUS!<br />
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My new favorite word ever.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-13801117980631103532014-12-21T21:55:00.001+04:002014-12-21T21:56:12.807+04:00Making Bread In a KitchenAidThis post is for my fabulous Sister-In-Law who just got a KitchenAid stand mixer. She knows I use my mixer to make bread all the time, so she asked for a how-to. I almost always use my KitchenAid to do the hard part of bread making. When you make all the bread your family eats for 3 years in while living in Africa, you will take what short-cuts modern technology can offer. <div>
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I am making overnight cinnamon rolls using <a href="http://lovelylittlekitchen.com/overnight-cinnamon-rolls-cream-cheese-frosting/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> I found on Pinterest. It's a nice basic sweet roll recipe. You can use this technique with pretty much any bread recipe, as long as isn't too much dough for your mixer.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-klF8t2IkVzo/VJbsGbom_xI/AAAAAAAAD5k/8WC_F7-mC0o/s1600/yeast%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-klF8t2IkVzo/VJbsGbom_xI/AAAAAAAAD5k/8WC_F7-mC0o/s1600/yeast%2B2.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See how it is all bubbly and foamy? Live yeast! </td></tr>
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With any bread recipe I always start by proofing the yeast. This just means checking to see if the yeast is alive. Mix the yeast with a bit of warm water and a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. If the yeast is alive it will foam up. If nothing happens, throw it out, buy new yeast and try again.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batter paddle doing its thing.<br /></td></tr>
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Since I am using my KitchenAid at this point I begin ignoring the instructions as written and do my own thing. I dump in all the milk, sugar, eggs, butter, salt, egg, and 2 cups of flour. Basically everything but half of the flour. Using the batter paddle I let the machine mix everything up for me. You do want to make sure that any liquid ingredients are warm, not hot. Think about the temp of a baby bottle. You don't want to kill all that lovely yeast. </div>
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I let it mix for a good 3 or 4 minutes to get the gluten development going. In yeast breads gluten is what makes it all stretchy, and what you are trying to develop by kneading the dough. At this point it should be about the consistency of a cake batter. <div>
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Now it is time to switch to the hook and add the rest of the flour. At first it will look shaggy and rough but after a few minutes, it will begin to look smooth and start to pull away from the sides. If if doesn't pull away you can add a little extra flour a couple of tablespoons at a time. When the dough is kneaded enough it will be almost shiny and not so sticky any more. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dough starts of a bit shaggy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQ5snd7721I/VJbxWAdqA7I/AAAAAAAAD6E/1RfQZDW7Hz0/s1600/breadhook2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQ5snd7721I/VJbxWAdqA7I/AAAAAAAAD6E/1RfQZDW7Hz0/s1600/breadhook2.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 minutes later and all done. Notice how it has pulled from the sides a bit. </td></tr>
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At this point if you are going to need your mixer for something else transfer the dough to a greased bowl, turn the dough once to coat with oil, cover and let rise. If you aren't going to need the mixer again take a piece of plastic wrap, smear with a little butter or spray with a bit of Pam, cover your mixing bowl and let rise. Why make more dishes?? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6yuom13JMMM/VJbz-c0AWTI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/CW51HqjQQwg/s1600/dough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6yuom13JMMM/VJbz-c0AWTI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/CW51HqjQQwg/s1600/dough.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Covered dough waiting to rise. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGdQobAU7Y4/VJb0BCiSXeI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/SoSaJGgBkwg/s1600/dough2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGdQobAU7Y4/VJb0BCiSXeI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/SoSaJGgBkwg/s1600/dough2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit over an hour later and the dough is all risen.<br /></td></tr>
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Now you can go back the recipe and follow the instructions as written to form the cinnamon rolls. Roll out the dough on a floured surface, smear with butter, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, slice and put in the pan. You should end up with something like this. Cover with a bit of buttered (or sprayed with Pam) plastic wrap and pop in the fridge overnight. <div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qqiIniWQ6Io/VJb1_DFu7bI/AAAAAAAAD6k/sm2o6F4OXCE/s1600/rolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qqiIniWQ6Io/VJb1_DFu7bI/AAAAAAAAD6k/sm2o6F4OXCE/s1600/rolls.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cut it into 16 rolls instead of 12. <br />Sorry it's blurry, at some point I put a buttery finger on the lens. Sigh! </td></tr>
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<br />In the morning pull the rolls out of the fridge, they will have risen slightly overnight, but will still need to rise for about 30 minutes or so. Since the dough is cold you can put it in the oven with the light on, that will give just enough warmth to bring the dough back to life. Or you can just stick them on top of the range while the oven preheats. Either way. Just be sure to take the rolls out of the oven BEFORE you preheat the oven. It's a bit irritating to ruin everything at this point by baking the rolls with plastic wrap still on them. Trust me. While the rolls are rising you can go ahead and enjoy your coffee since you did all the hard work last night. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nnhuVEedlFc/VJb25hAu56I/AAAAAAAAD6w/caPpzRUgCdI/s1600/rolls2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nnhuVEedlFc/VJb25hAu56I/AAAAAAAAD6w/caPpzRUgCdI/s1600/rolls2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Risen and ready to bake. </td></tr>
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Bake the rolls 25 minutes or so. They will be lovely and golden brown. <div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MtFnr6dZAt0/VJb6wZAHSlI/AAAAAAAAD68/SfBYehcU5dQ/s1600/rolls3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MtFnr6dZAt0/VJb6wZAHSlI/AAAAAAAAD68/SfBYehcU5dQ/s1600/rolls3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Actually my rolls should be slightly browner. I was making them for a brunch later in the morning and was going to be reheating them, so I pulled them out about 5 minutes early. I forgot to take a picture after I reheated them and they were browned the rest of the way. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Time to make the frosting, just follow the recipe. Use the whisk attachment to make the frosting. I use the whisk for frosting, whipped cream, whipping egg whites, and making marshmallows. Not much else. You can make the frosting ahead and store covered in the fridge so that the morning is easy-peasy, and nothing interferes with the coffee. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mAyhnmtDF9I/VJb8LNW7R2I/AAAAAAAAD7I/0yRr3izszHc/s1600/frosting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mAyhnmtDF9I/VJb8LNW7R2I/AAAAAAAAD7I/0yRr3izszHc/s1600/frosting.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frosting, so much frosting. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The cream cheese frosting recipe that is included with the recipe makes an awesome frosting but it made a heck of a lot. I used what I needed and tossed the rest in a ziploc and froze it until next time.</div>
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<div>
Hints:</div>
<div>
1. If you are doing a larger recipe you can still use the KitchenAid until it is time to switch to the bread hook, then finish up by hand. It will make kneading go a lot faster. </div>
<div>
2. If you don't want to do this recipe as an overnight don't put the rolls in the fridge, just let rise and bake. </div>
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3. If you are going to reheat the rolls like I did cover them with tin foil until warmed through then uncover just long enough to brown. </div>
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<div>
Teri - If I left anything out, or you have any questions Leave a comment. Good luck! </div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-63886766847289025422014-11-17T20:39:00.000+04:002014-11-17T20:39:52.784+04:00Project Update NovemberI have been working on several different crafty projects, and really enjoying myself, but I haven't taken the time to blog about it. Surprised? Yeah, I didn't think so. <br />
<br />
The piecing on the small half square triangle quilt is finished. The fabric for the border and backing has arrived. As soon as I remember to order a quilting foot for my machine I will get the final assembly done. Yes, I am machine quilting this one.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KItUWhael74/VGmlZX-A9SI/AAAAAAAAD4s/FQyGwqgQ8YA/s1600/pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KItUWhael74/VGmlZX-A9SI/AAAAAAAAD4s/FQyGwqgQ8YA/s1600/pink.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
For my new fabric I decided to go with the Disappearing Hourglass pattern after all. I really like the stars in the blocks, and I could make them with 10 inch precuts, which is handy because that is what I have. I decided to not use a solid paired with a print to make each block like the directions suggest, but then when have I ever followed directions the way they are written? I decided to use only "batik" printed fabric. Whoever decided to call this stuff batik has never served at a post in Indonesia or Africa. It's pretty, but it is NOT batik. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CwrPqUyW2G8/VGmmc0AGtFI/AAAAAAAAD48/eJZbTGd5wEc/s1600/so%2Bfar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CwrPqUyW2G8/VGmmc0AGtFI/AAAAAAAAD48/eJZbTGd5wEc/s1600/so%2Bfar.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wasn't sure it would work, but I am pretty happy with how it is turning out so far. I like the way the marbly colors swirl and flow into each other. Trying to match up the colors took some time, for a few days my living room floor looked like this, with me periodically switching fabrics around until I was happy with all the pairings. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bkk2oKoYtds/VGml9HMgLkI/AAAAAAAAD40/Vk9-zf2jusY/s1600/color%2Bpairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bkk2oKoYtds/VGml9HMgLkI/AAAAAAAAD40/Vk9-zf2jusY/s1600/color%2Bpairs.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Some day I am going to have a dedicated craft room where I can set things up and leave them and not have to hurry up and clear everything away in time to serve dinner.<br />
<br />
The piecing process has not been without mistakes. I guess that is to be expected when you are trying to teach yourself a new skill from youtube videos. I have ruined one square beyond help so I threw that piece into my scrap bag, maybe someday I can find a use for it. Other squares I have been able to rescue by picking out my mistakes and trying again. I'm getting a lot of practice at picking out my mistakes. I usually spot them before I am finished with a square, but sometimes I don't see them until I am laying things out to take a picture. Like this mistake. Three of these things belong together, three of these things are kinda the same….can you spot the one that is different? <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-gcDDQBick/VGmm1KP764I/AAAAAAAAD5E/33AcpxdiacE/s1600/3%2Bof%2Bthese%2Bthings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-gcDDQBick/VGmm1KP764I/AAAAAAAAD5E/33AcpxdiacE/s1600/3%2Bof%2Bthese%2Bthings.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Hint: bottom left. My mistake actually makes a pretty cool quilt square on its own, but it doesn't match the other squares. Of course it is the middle section that I messed up on. Lots of picking out on that one, but it is all back together and looking the way it should. <br />
<br />
The kids want to get in on the sewing machine action. I'm not about to let them touch the quilt blocks, but I have a bunch of Christmas fabric I ordered the day after Christmas to make gift bags for this Christmas. Wrapping paper can be hard to find overseas, and my little tree huggers aren't too happy about trees being murdered for pretty holiday paper. So we are slowly moving to reusable cloth bags to wrap presents in. The gift bag idea was just the ticket. Colin got the privilege of sewing the first bag. Very basic straight-line stitching but I am sure we will be using it for years to come. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyL6RiWhzPE/VGmnEjhPYWI/AAAAAAAAD5M/Kv_dQ_WTSas/s1600/kids%2Bsew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyL6RiWhzPE/VGmnEjhPYWI/AAAAAAAAD5M/Kv_dQ_WTSas/s1600/kids%2Bsew.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-70318665579604620282014-10-17T15:37:00.001+04:002014-10-17T18:52:30.631+04:00I've Got Fabric! I have new fabric. YAY! I love new fabric. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5pzQLs4zdTU/VED1iO9FcfI/AAAAAAAAD38/8oPzYsB9pzw/s1600/fabric%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5pzQLs4zdTU/VED1iO9FcfI/AAAAAAAAD38/8oPzYsB9pzw/s1600/fabric%2B2.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric, lots of pretty fabric. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's actually two different layer cakes (a layer cake is 42 squares of fabric, each square is 10 inches) but I love the way the colors from both sets flow together all blues and greens with hints of purple.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9iB3BrKeH4/VED2IVX3KlI/AAAAAAAAD4M/1PuVoJKJoDA/s1600/fabric1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9iB3BrKeH4/VED2IVX3KlI/AAAAAAAAD4M/1PuVoJKJoDA/s1600/fabric1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ohhhh the colors! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now if I could just decide what I am going to do with all this lovely fabric. I had intended to use them to make a disappearing hourglass quilt, but every example I can find has a solid combines with a variety of prints. I had planned to make it with only batik prints for a swirl of color, but now I am second guessing myself. It's never good when I start second guessing myself.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfRx8pBvpBY/VED7OI73WnI/AAAAAAAAD4c/3mN_YzCfILk/s1600/quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfRx8pBvpBY/VED7OI73WnI/AAAAAAAAD4c/3mN_YzCfILk/s1600/quilt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disappearing Hourglass Quilt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now instead of industriously cutting and sewing I am now caught up in Pinterest hell.<br />
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Click.<br />
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Exclaim, "Ohhhh That's cool!"</div>
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Pin it</div>
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Stare at computer, stare at fabric, stare at computer some more. Mutter, "Maybe for a different fabric."<br />
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Click </div>
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Repeat ad nauseum. </div>
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Accomplish nothing. </div>
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Sigh<br />
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At least I have some really cool fabric and an internet connections. What would you do with all this fabric?<br />
<br /></div>
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-30326764905455025712014-10-02T10:42:00.001+04:002014-10-02T10:45:38.566+04:00Current Craft ProjectI really like making things, it doesn't matter if it is redoing a kitchen, cooking, or playing with yarn and fabric. I like seeing it all the pieces come together into a finished form. Currently I am quilting, or trying to anyway. I made my first little baby quilt in 22 years last spring. I am really happy with how it came out so I am trying another. So far I am really happy with how it is looking so far. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TDg4En4XMv0/VCzxW9GCYEI/AAAAAAAAD3c/4kRXGAVebIQ/s1600/quilt%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TDg4En4XMv0/VCzxW9GCYEI/AAAAAAAAD3c/4kRXGAVebIQ/s1600/quilt%2B1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Aren't the colors so bright and cheerful? I kinda wish this were a full sized quilt for my bed not a baby quilt for a friend. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8wzACJeqOU/VCzxcOvoQbI/AAAAAAAAD3k/ed2DAnB3HWo/s1600/quilt%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8wzACJeqOU/VCzxcOvoQbI/AAAAAAAAD3k/ed2DAnB3HWo/s1600/quilt%2B2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is my sewing set up on a lovely Drexel table. And yes maybe I am watching a little KLG on AFN while I SEW. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMnTbZca6BU/VCzxlr2IHHI/AAAAAAAAD3s/YHBgrHVbi0U/s1600/quilt%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMnTbZca6BU/VCzxlr2IHHI/AAAAAAAAD3s/YHBgrHVbi0U/s1600/quilt%2B3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is my hand drawn quilt layout plan. It took me a ridiculous amount of time to find an idea I like then draw out the plan and count squares to make sure I had enough of each color to do what I wanted to do. This is my umpteenth attempt at a plan. I am sure there is an easier way to do this, but it was fun playing around with ideas and staring at the fabrics and ideas on Pinterest before I finally worked it all out. </div>
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-47597636611402303142014-09-12T10:45:00.000+04:002014-09-12T10:45:47.454+04:00I'm Not Dead, and Neither is this BlogBut I really, really hope this guy is truly, completely, and totally dead. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Niz5flxijig/VBKVSN1GdbI/AAAAAAAAD3M/2Gq6892kciw/s1600/skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Niz5flxijig/VBKVSN1GdbI/AAAAAAAAD3M/2Gq6892kciw/s1600/skull.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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He (She? It??) is the boys' newest treasure found tossed up on the beach. It now resides on the book shelf next to our dining room table where it sits and watches while we eat dinner each night. <br />
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The kids swear it is a puffer fish skull. Personally I think it is proof that aliens exist and should be shipped to Area 51 pronto.<br />
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What do you think it is?<br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-51974991030168817412014-06-10T20:59:00.000+04:002014-06-10T20:59:02.642+04:00Big yellow Taxi: You don’t know what you got till its gone!<span style="font-size: large;">It’s been 41 days 22 hours 14 minutes since my wife and
mother of my children left me… but who’s counting? Me! that’s who!</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I can count on one hand the number of meals I have actually
fix for the kids and me since my wife left. My wife and I usually divide and
concur when it come to doing things around the house. My tasks involve the
morning routine, which includes waking and feeding kids and making lunches and
the nightly routine, which includes doing homework, reading, and chores. The
remainder of the “other” things she does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I say “other” things because I think that is how most of us
see what our significant other does… I do all of this (see above) and they do
the “other” things… hence significant “other”. Right? It sounds kind of bad
when you say it that way, and well, frankly it is! I am not even going to try
and attempt to write all the “other” things that she does… it would take too
long and I am certain I would forget something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Please don’t feel sorry for me though… I am a very capable
person. For any of you that know my wife’s cooking, I can hold my own right up
there with her. I was a product of a single dad with two older brothers and two
older sisters and in that house we had chores and had to learn how to do
everything: cook, clean, and sew. I am not sure how many people can actually
cook, clean, and sew now a day… well I say I can, but in all actually reality,
I don’t! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What do I do? You may ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well… I work! We are a single income family. I like to think
of us as a 1950’s family with all the modern day problems families experience
with kids and technology. Ninety nine percent of the time Shannon makes dinner
and has it waiting for when the kids and I come home from work and school. We
eat at the dinner table and try to pry out of the kids the events of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">How was school?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Good?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That’s it for school. The topic most often turns to world
facts from Alonzo – our very own little Poindexter. We often talk about world
events and see what the kids think about what is going on. You would be
surprised what kids think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since my wife left, less than three percent of the means
have been made and dinner is never waiting for the kids and me when I get home.
But we do still eat at the table and we still have our conversations. It was
tonight’s conversation with Alonzo that brought me to writing this post. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Me:</b> How’s dinner?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alonzo:</b> I can’t wait to see mom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Me</b>: why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alonzo:</b> I can’t wait to eat something healthy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Me: </b>You don’t like what we are having for dinner… you picked
it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alonzo</b>: I know. I just want moms food. She cooks it from
scratch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was at that point that the other two started to chime in
about how much they miss their moms cooking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">*<i>note: the kids chose dinner and it was pizza from Papa
Johns.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">To me this was profound. My kids finally realized that they
missed their mom and enjoy eating healthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I too cannot wait to be back with my wife! She cooks!… from
scratch!… and it’s healthy!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have come to have a great appreciation for Shannon and all
the “other” things she does. I can tell you other stories from earlier on in
our marriage where I learned appreciation, but will save that for another time.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am grateful for my wife and everything she does for the
kids and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so blessed to have her
and a job that allows her to stay home and do what she love to do… taking care
of her family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;">You don’t know what you got till its gone!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16073374770589343507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-4280875617013977012014-06-09T09:14:00.001+04:002014-06-09T09:36:07.737+04:00Tape, Miles and Miles of TapeIt's another kitchen reno update. I know I'm obsessing about the kitchen, but seriously it is all I am doing morning to night right now, so it's all I've got to blog about. And if you've ever lived in government housing where you have no choice in furnishings, curtains, or even the house itself, then you understand how excited I am to be playing with my own little house. <br />
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Today I got up and decided I would knock out the backsplash on the second side of the kitchen, I figured I could do it all in one day, no problem. I already know what to do since I did the other side of my little galley kitchen last week. Yeah, that worked. Either I am an incurable optimist when it comes to DIY projects in spite of being a glass half empty kind person in the rest of my life, or the paint fumes have gotten to me. I didn't even come close to finishing up today. <br />
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10 am blocking in the area to be painted with wide tape to protect the cabinets, counters, window and what ever I can possibly splash paint on while creating the faux tiles.<br />
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At this point I thought I was making good progress. Paint fumes I tell you, paint fumes. I worked pretty steadily until around 2:30 or so when some family dropped by to see the progress. I love being someplace where family can just drop by. We visited for a while, it was great. You never realize what a luxury that is until you live some place where it takes a couple day's travel for family to "drop by." <br />
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After they left I got back to work, but realized fairly quickly that I probably won't be painting today, but I was confident I would finish up the taping at a reasonable hour (paint fumes!!) and have a relaxing evening. Yeah, that didn't work either.<br />
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6:00 still have the part of the area behind the fridge and most of the area around the window to do, plus all the little vertical pieces that make it look like tile instead of stripes. At this point I'm starting to think it's going to be long night, but I was still confident I would finish up before I headed to bed. Yeah, riiiight! It has to be paint fumes, no one is this delusion, I mean optimistic. Yeah, I totally meant optimistic, not delusional. Whose delusional? I don't know what you are talking about.<br />
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9:00 The window. Oh the window. At this point I should probably apologize to my high school geometry teacher. Perhaps if I had paid more attention to Ms. Lange that window would have been easier to tape. Suffice it to say that stupid window was taped and untaped and retaped several times today. There has to be an easier way than the way I did it. I measured, marked, and taped only to find when I got to the top of the window the two sides didn't match up. Starting at the ceiling and working down didn't work either, apparently the ceiling isn't level. The result were even worse.<br />
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10:30 VICTORY!!! The window is finally taped. Whew! I finally taped the very top of the window, and then worked up and down from there. Several rows are a tiny bit wider or narrower than the rest to make it all work. The difference is so small I don't think anyone will ever be able to tell unless they take a ruler to the wall.<br />
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I still need to add in most of the little vertical stripes. I will be spending several hours in the morning doing this. Yay, more tape. I'm so excited. No really, I am.<br />
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I am confident that by bedtime tomorrow I will be done with the backslashes, except for applying the polycrylic sealer in a few days. Please don't let this be paint fumes talking. I really want to be finished with this step. <br />
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In the meantime I am going to enjoy some beer and brats with a side of salad for a very late dinner. Good night y'all!<br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-60453786681189791292014-06-07T05:04:00.001+04:002014-06-07T05:04:31.675+04:00It's Starting To Come Together.All of my cabinets have doors again.<br />
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Finally I can see how it's going to look when it's all done. The little space above the microwave will be a wine rack which David will install when he gets here, along with crown molding, handles, and shelves. I think it is going to look amazing.<br />
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There is work for me too. The opposite side of the room still needs the backsplash painted, and both sides need to sealed with polycrylic to make protect the faux tile and make it scrubbable. The wine rack needs to be sanded and painted to match the cabinets. I still need to clear away the the painting gear and pack it up for another day. And I probably should mow the lawn before David shows up.<br />
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It looks so plain without the backsplash painted. I can hardly wait to see how it looks when it is finished.<br />
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In the dining room it is out with the sawhorses and in with the carpet, table and chairs. It feels like a house again, instead of a disaster area.<br />
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I am wrapping up another busy day with a celebratory dinner. <br />
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Yes, Oman friends, those are pork chops. Pork chops, baked potato, and salad...Yummm!Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-110070123812997582014-06-06T07:12:00.002+04:002014-06-06T08:22:49.407+04:00Kitchen UpdateI had planned on blogging the kitchen as I went a bit each day. What I hadn't counted on was the amount of work, and the amount of time it would take to do that work solo. It all sounded so easy. Move the cabinets up a bit, slap a little paint on the cabinets add a few shelves and viola a whole new kitchen! Yeah. Not exactly. The only easy part of this was moving the cabinet, and that was easy because I paid someone to come move them for me. <br />
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Just to review my kitchen started like this<br />
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Not bad, a little generic but not bad.<br />
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By the next day it looked like this.<br />
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I call this stage the Oh My Gawd! What have I done?? stage. It is too late to turn back, but there seems to be no end in sight. It just goes on<br />
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And on<br />
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And on.<br />
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And just when you think you are making progress the Mother Nature decides to make things more interesting. <br />
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I am using oil paints even though they smell horrible and are awful to clean up. They give the most amazing hard smooth finish, perfect for kitchen cabinets. I learned something else about oil paint. If it's raining they don't dry. I had all the doors set up in the garage to keep the stench in the house to a minimum. A friend who has done this a time or two told me to move everything into the house and drop the A/C to help control the humidity. It worked like a charm. Of course now my house looks like this. And it smells.<br />
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But I finally started seeing thing slowly come back together.<br />
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At last I could start on the back splashes. <a href="http://www.sawdustandembryos.com/2013/02/out-with-old-painting-backsplash.html" target="_blank">The tutorial</a> I found on line said it took her 2 - 4 hours depending on the complexity of the design. Add 10 hours to that and thats about right. I started at 10 in the morning and finished up at 11:45 at night. By the time I cleaned up and realized I never ate supper (not too sure if I ate lunch come to think of it) it was after midnight. I ate my sandwich while staring at the wall. It makes me smile very time I walk by it.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aej-5cxZH48/U5Ewr1LrpVI/AAAAAAAAD0s/v9M9ERUBFpA/s1600/backsplash+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aej-5cxZH48/U5Ewr1LrpVI/AAAAAAAAD0s/v9M9ERUBFpA/s1600/backsplash+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes that is all painters tape. Miles and miles of skinny tape. <br />
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Paint in progress<br />
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Finished product. I love it!!!<br />
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There is still plenty to do, like the backslash on the other side of the kitchen. Today I put the last coat of paint on the top doors, YAY!! I am waiting for them to dry completely so I can hang them in the morning. Here is a shot of a finished door. <br />
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I love the way the wood grain shows. I can't wait to get it all back together. There are a few things David will take care of when he gets here: new light over sink, shelves at the height of the cabinets before I moved them and of course some cabinet jewelry (handles and drawer pulls). Then it will be finished. And totally uniquely ours.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-79185010702838155652014-05-21T20:40:00.000+04:002014-05-21T20:40:47.025+04:00This and That and the Other Thing TooWell despite my vow to post at least twice a week, it looks more like I am managing twice a month. I could make all kinds of excuses, but why bother? Just chalk it up to being a lazy blogger and move on. <br />
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There is a <a href="http://subjectverbobject.com/2014/05/20/fs-blog-rejuvenation-round-up-week-1-2/" target="_blank">Blog Rejuvenation</a> going on in the FS blogosphere. I signed up for it then managed not to actually do it. Click on the words <a href="http://subjectverbobject.com/2014/05/20/fs-blog-rejuvenation-round-up-week-1-2/" target="_blank">Blog Rejuvenation</a> for a link to those who are a little more on the ball and managed to get their acts together and participate in a timely manner. I am counting this post as my very much belated first entry, and yes i know prompt 2 should already be published. I'll try to get to that tomorrow, and maybe I'll get promo three up on time. Don't hold your breath. I'm choosing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Prompt 2:</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> Do something wonderful for yourself and tell us about it, no matter how small.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">My something nice isn't small at all, it's is huge. Momentous even. It is like nothing I have ever done before.</span> I am currently in the states enjoying my little house in the hood. David is still at post with the kids finishing up the school year. Yes you read that right I am temporarily single. Since Navy boy is 22, (??!??) this is the first time in 22 years I have had more than a few days to myself. And like most domestic engineers I work 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 22 years with no real vacation, I think I'm due. There is nothing in the world I love as much as my kids and husband, but I really needed this break, and I think I will be a better mom and wife for the time to myself.</span><br />
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For a vacation I am working pretty hard. The original plan was to deal with the floor. Remember <a href="http://cyberbones.blogspot.com/2013/10/unpacking-making-progress-and-dreaming.html" target="_blank">this post</a> from ages and ages ago? Yes, we bought a bought a little vacay/retirement house and then the week before we left post the floor exploded. YAY! Exploding floors...how fabulous.<br />
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I had initially planned on stripping and painting the floor. I researched and obsessed and planned. Then after looking at perhaps the 10,000th revised plan for painting the floor David said he thought maybe it would be better if we just held off for a few years and put in the hardwood we both really want, instead of trying to make due with a painted finish. Ummm....Okay? All that planning and obsessing for naught. And really as long as you don't move the carpets who would ever know what a mess is hiding under there?<br />
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Still, I have a house, a little house to be sure, but it is our house and I can paint it pink with orange polka dots if I want to and GSO can't say a thing about it. HA! The HOA probably would have an opinion about polka dots if I put them on the exterior, but inside I can do what ever I want. Enter the new and revised and even better plan. THE KITCHEN!!!<br />
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The kitchen was standard builder grade ugly. Golden oak builder grade (cheap) cabinets, laminate counters, plain white appliances. Very boring. We could, and probably someday will, yank everything out and start over new cabinets, new appliances, upgrade everything, make it totally mine. Someday however, is not this year. This year is all about the cosmetic. A little paint, a little creativity, a whole lot of sweat and tears and I will have a new(ish) kitchen.<br />
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Before Pictures<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTF0rTdP1-k/U3zNC9bCCSI/AAAAAAAADy8/ussBNtcJ8jQ/s1600/kitchen+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTF0rTdP1-k/U3zNC9bCCSI/AAAAAAAADy8/ussBNtcJ8jQ/s1600/kitchen+2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YTUDNaFA9go/U3zM8xfC-sI/AAAAAAAADy0/TSr6gwsNcUs/s1600/kitchen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YTUDNaFA9go/U3zM8xfC-sI/AAAAAAAADy0/TSr6gwsNcUs/s1600/kitchen1.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Looking at those pictures makes me slightly hyperventilate, because that's not even remotely what my kitchen looks like now. I think I am having an "OMG WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?" moment. But I think that is a post for another day. I'll be posting updates on the renovation as I go. Wish me luck!<br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-38640590319405504372014-04-30T10:32:00.001+04:002014-04-30T10:32:32.454+04:00Wordless Wednesday - Getting a little warm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-20756674473098456382014-04-16T22:04:00.001+04:002014-04-16T22:04:54.797+04:00Not so Wordless Wednesday - Dave's New/Old ToyLast week was Spring Break - 10 days of kid free-for-all with very little house cleaning. Sometime during the fun I managed to catch a cold. During the day it wasn't too bad, just the sniffles and the occasional cough, nothing major. In fact I'm still not totally sure it's a cold, and not some sort of allergy. It hit just when the haze rolled back in killing our ocean view. Maybe there is something in the haze my body doesn't like, plus nobody else is sick which makes me think allergy, not cold. So during the day it isn't bad, but at night as soon as I lay down the coughing starts. It's this horrible tickle in the throat that just won't stop that makes me cough and cough. It makes falling asleep almost impossible, and it wakes me up over and over. For more than a week now I have been existing on 2-3 hours of cough interrupted sleep. Needless to say I have turned into a slug. The house looks like a pack of hyenas have moved in. Today I am cleaning the mess. So fun. I hope I don't find any hyenas hiding out in the kids room. Or spiders. <br />
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Ok enough whining. With no further ado here is the Wordless Wednesday photo:<br />
Dave's New/ Old toy.<br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-90231457387752670582014-04-14T16:18:00.000+04:002014-04-14T16:18:22.580+04:00Still HereI'm still here, although I am having a hard time blogging with any regularity, or even at all. I think about writing, them I go have a cup of coffee instead. Maybe having a Starbuck's AND a Costa in walking distance does have it's downside. I'm not sure why I'm not in the bloggy mood lately, and in truth I'm not exactly in the mood today, but I finally decided that if I wait until the mood strikes it could be a really long time before there is another blog post. I guess at this point I have two options: 1. Let Cyberbones quietly disappear or 2. Fake it until the bloggy mood comes back. I'm going with the fake it until you make it option. My new goal is to get something, pretty much anything, up on the blog 3 times a week. <br />
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Things are going along as normal here in Oman. The kids go to school, Dave goes to work, and I spend my days cooking, cleaning, crafting, hanging with friends, and lately taking a few courses on line. A few weeks ago I finished my first ever <a href="https://www.coursera.org/" target="_blank">Coursera</a> course, an introduction to paleontology through the University of Alberta. I really enjoyed it and kinda wish I lived near Alberta so I could take a few more paleontology classes. I'm hoping to take more courses in the future and explore some other areas of interest. I'm also using <a href="https://www.duolingo.com/" target="_blank">Duolingo</a> to work on my (sadly lacking) Spanish skills, mostly so I don't feel like a total idiot when the 6th grader needs help on his Spanish homework. So far all I've proved is I am not smarter than a 6th grader, and I still have no idea how to say that in Spanish. <br />
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The heat has set back in with a vengeance. It's only in the mid 90's today, but the little desk top weather app on my computer says it will be in the 100's the rest of the week. Yippee. That was sarcasm if you missed it. The winter here was so lovely that for a few months I forgot about the heat, but it came back anyway. Yesterday while buckling my seatbelt I accidentally let the little metal thingy hit my arm. It was so hot it left a red burn mark that lasted for a couple of hours. At least Texas is going to feel nice and cool by comparison. Oh, and all you people that keep telling me "But it's a dry heat." No, no its not. I can see the ocean from the 3rd floor balcony. It is a very very humid, walk outside and have to take your glasses off because they instantly fog up kind of heat. It feels like a sauna out there. A very hot and sandy sauna.<br />
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That about covers things here. I'll be back later this week with an update on our plans for summer. Now I think I'll go have a frap as a reward for getting a blog post up. <br />
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-52344703691080272662014-02-18T13:27:00.000+04:002014-02-18T13:28:25.210+04:00Sick Kid, Funny KidGrayson is home sick today. Poor thing is running a fever and has a nasty cough. Don't feel too sorry for him though because mostly he is sitting around relaxing, watching TV and playing with his iPad. <br />
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Every once in around he will say something random and very funny, or at least I think it is funny. <br />
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Grayson was watching TV and playing on the iPad at the same time so I asked, "Do you want me to turn the TV off?" to which he replied "Nah, I'm multitasking." <br />
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Okay then. Multitasking.<br />
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Later he was still multitasking when he asked without looking up, "Can I build a bomb?"<br />
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??!!!???<br />
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You know, all things considered I'd rather he didn't. Thankfully it turned out he was talking about a mentos and coke bomb. Still no. Ditto for the baking soda and vinegar idea.<br />
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After watching some documentary about coral reefs in Micronesia he looked up and very seriously told me, "We need to tell Dad we are moving to Pulau when we leave here."<br />
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Oh, if only bidding were that easy. It does look pretty though, wonder if the schools are any good. Wonder if there are schools. <br />
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On the occasion of me telling him he needs to take a nap because he is running a fever. "Yeah, because you are putting too much stress on me, that's what happens people get sick because you put too much stress on me." <br />
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No idea where he heard about stress, or multitasking. Exactly what is stressful about laying around watching movies and playing mine craft? Oh, and he is still going to go take a nap, I hear napping is good for stress.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-51652919469361496192014-02-12T22:11:00.000+04:002014-02-12T22:11:49.326+04:00Wordless Wednesday - Ruins in the Desert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_900111617"></span><span id="goog_900111618"></span><br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896182951003656236.post-90131693424132941732014-01-29T21:25:00.000+04:002014-01-29T21:25:57.977+04:00Wordless Wednesday - Dave Playing With His Birthday Present<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110115324050851439noreply@blogger.com4