Sew Free!

I'm not sure if it a genetic predisposition or due my encouragement, but my kids love to create.  I try to offer them many different mediums.  We seem to especially gravitate towards art that makes a mess.  And we seem to crave this activity in the cooler months coordinated with whatever subject we are studying at the time- picture a Shetland pony sized paper mache horse complete with internal wire armature.  I didn't really think this one through.  Do you know how many layers it takes, added one day at a time, of flour and water sodden newspaper to complete a horse?!

The kids also like to paint.  In the warmer months, and when they were young enough to get away with it, I would let them strip down to nature and paint outside at their plastic picnic table.  When they were finished I hosed down the table and filled the wading pool with dish soap and water.  They were happy and I was happy.  Now that we have learned about modesty, and since the dog water is frozen over they have set up a studio of sorts in our unfinished basement.  It is a great space for them to spill paint and practice cleaning it up without me having to come behind them and complete the task.  The only problem being that they tend to spill paint all over their clothes.  This even after the younger set were told to strip off their outer layer.  I guess I should have checked up on them if I really expected them to follow instructions. They were subsequently banned from the studio after the last session.

For my own sanity I needed to figure out a way for them to regain their basement privileges.  Turns out I like it when they are underfoot, one floor underfoot that is.  My sewing machines are right above the studio space and I can keep tabs on them by listening through the HVAC registers.

Today as I was sorting through some unused clothing I got a bright idea.  Easy no sew smocks! Everyone is happy once again...

I will not incriminate our household by indicating how many denim shirts we have or how long we have had them.  Two of the shirts were missing all their buttons as I dug them out of the discard bag. I sewed the front of them back together before I started cutting. We scalp all buttons before clothes are thrown out.  Yes, one day I will be that crazy old lady with the mason jars full of buttons!

Cut the back off the shirt.  If you are lucky enough to have a loop on the bottom of the yoke seam leave it intact so your progeny can throw the smock on the floor and you can remind them to hang it up.

Cut away the sleeve leaving it intact at the armpit.

The strip you have left becomes the tie.

2 minutes after you started you have a smock!

My adorable model in what looks like a dress...

From the look of his pants I just might have to make him an outdoor smock as well...

Proof I Did Get Something Accomplished Last Summer...

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just spinning my wheels.  I have to continually remind myself that my husband and 6 dear children are daily on the top of my to do list.  Those of you who know me best know that I occasionally obsess over a project idea.  There is even an acquaintance of mine, with whom I shared many years of lodging even letting her use the same womb in which I was nourished for 9 months, who declares subjects taboo after I have dwelled on them overlong. One of the reasons I take so many photographs is that I need to review where I have been visually.

Upon reviewing the over 1,000 pictures I took over the summer months I came across a project that I especially enjoyed creating.  It is a quilt I made for a friend's new baby.  Those of you who have recently reproduced know that in my heart your sweet babe is already wrapped in something I have created just for them.  My mind is so far ahead of my hands!  If it makes you feel any better I put this particular project on the front burner as this was my dear friend's 9th baby!!  I think that number nine deserves something especially fine!

For Fletcher Kale.

His name and some blocks are in brown and green minkee on the herd of turtles.  The mint green blocks are ribbed minkee.  The brown blocks are dot minkee.

Psalm 145:3 is quilted in the sashing around the herd of turtles block in the middle.

Here is the quilt from the back. I like to use a dark color fabric so I can see the quilting.

Side view of the pinwheel blocks.

I had such fun making the pinwheels!  To make them I took the same 6'' blocks I used throughout and folded them in half diagonally to make a triangle and then folded them in half again to make a smaller triangle.  I then cut a 6'' block in half horizontally and vertically to make four squares.  I sewed the triangles (I think they are called prairie points when all folded up) to the squares and the squares back together again.  Then I was rebellious and randomly placed them throughout the quilt.

 With some coordinating fabric I made him some little tie shirts.

I ironed wonder under to the back of the tie then ironed the tie to the shirt.

If you don't have any commercial stabilizer on hand use a coffee filter to keep the fabric from stretching.

Tear off your improvised stabilizer.

Here is the finished product!  My friend uses cloth diapers and I've found all my old standby snap crotch onesies  don't work as well as shirts with cloth diapers.  Just in case you were wondering why I didn't use snap crotch onesies :)

Welcome to the planet Fletcher!!

I Cannot Come To You, But You Can One Day Join Me!

This is how I remember my dad, sitting at the table teaching.

"But do not let this one {fact} escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:8-9

One year ago today my dad went to heaven.  Seeing as how God is not constrained by time, those worshiping in His presence have no need of a wristwatch.  The last year has not moved ploddingly forward or raced onward by turns for Dad as it has those he beat to the finish line.  There has not been one day in the last 365 that I have not wondered with whom Dad was spending his time surrounded by the glory of God. I'm sure  Dad has spoken to Barnabas to confirm his part in writing Hebrews.  Maybe he chatted up Elijah concerning what it was like to ride in a fiery chariot.  Perhaps he even spoke to Peter about Christ’s  imminent return to take up in the clouds all who believe and the amount  of earthly time our patient heavenly father has waited until this point to allow for more of His creation to come to repentance.  

All I know for sure is what God’s word, the Bible, has told me.  I know my dad’s eternal address is heaven because he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as the propitiation for his sin. (Hebrews 2:17)  I also know that Dad was prepared to be there.  

Dad sharing the gospel at an Ericksen Christmas gathering.

Dad enjoyed learning.  Both my parents were/are avid readers.  After he came to know Jesus as his saviour Dad became a student of the word. In his free time he didn’t peruse newspapers, magazines, or even much fiction in my recollection.  He could be found reading the Bible or some commentary on the Bible.  

My folks love of reading has worn off on their children.  I was tickled when I found out in college that I could get a degree in “reading stuff”.  It was actually my responsibility to sit around reading all day!  I especially enjoyed fiction.  Since Dad’s death I have had a hard time getting caught up in made up stories and have turned instead to nonfiction.  Reading for me used to be mainly for my own enjoyment, although it is also the way I learn best.  Now I am convicted more than ever to consider what my reading is doing for me from an eternal perspective.  Dad was prepared for heaven because he’d dutifully studied the manual.  His learning curve would be short and he looked forward to having questions answered that were almost 4 decades in the pondering. I don’t want to get where I know I’m going and not have done my homework.  

Dad giving a devotional a couple years back.  He and Mom had taken all the kids and grandkids to Honey Creek Resort on Lake Rathbun for Christmas.

Here he is that same trip playing with a bunch of the grandsons.

It took me the most part of a year to come to this conclusion.  That is just like Dad to let me ruminate.  When approached with a question his way of answering was to see that you had all the information you needed, and then to begin speaking in the interrogative until you came up with the answer seemingly on your own.  

Upon speaking with my siblings he never had any last words of wisdom to impart upon any of us.  I’m pretty sure he figured he’d given us all the information we would need to carry out God’s will for each of our lives and to arrive at the finish line ready to hold our own as part of heavenly discussion.

Studying the word

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  

2 Timothy 2:15

Things Seldom Go As Planned...

Ten years ago today we welcomed our sweet Maliah Joy into our lives.  Last year on her birthday my dad fell into a coma and we mourned our loss a day later.  I had hopes that this year the weekend would be less stressful as we celebrated Dad's first year in his true home.  But things seldom go according to plan.

On Friday Rosie's calf was 10 days overdue.  We weren't overly concerned as she looked great.  Huge but great.  Jersey cows are susceptible to milk fever so we had been feeding her a special additive as a precautionary measure for a month or so.  Milk fever can happen before or after a Jersey calves.  Their milk is very high in butterfat.  When their milk comes in calcium is drawn so quickly from their system that it pretty much renders their muscles useless.  The classic milk fever symptom is staggering.  If treated a Jersey quickly recovers.  Breadwinner had done much research on the subject.  We had gone to great lengths to find the correct additive to feed Rosie preventatively.  We thought we had sidestepped that landmine.  Our greatest concern was problems birthing the calf. 


On Friday Rosie seemed to be contracting.  Starting at about 11:30 I checked on her every 20 minutes or so.  She lay in the pasture where we thought she was laboring.  I took pictures hoping to catch her in the stages of her labor.  We all eagerly waited to see whether she would deliver a bull or a heifer.  When Matt got home about 3:00 we started to suspect something wasn't right.  Soon after this she began to vomit.  Apparently cows don't vomit.  Our 2 Johns, "retired" farmer neighbors who both raised beef cattle had no idea what was wrong with her.  They had never seen a cow vomit.  Upon later research I found that the milk fever effected the ability of Rosie's rumen to work.  


By now Breadwinner was frantically trying to locate a vet that would be willing to come treat our cow.  At this point we hypothesized that perhaps the calf was positioned incorrectly and that was why she was in distress.  We stood around the yard talking with John about making applesauce avoiding looking at Rosie out in the pasture as there wasn't anything we could do for her but wait for the vet.  After a search calling around the nearest towns we finally found a vet in a town 20 miles away.  We greatfully welcomed Doc Stickley, even though his right arm was in a sling from recent rotator cuff surgery.  


He confirmed that she had milk fever and was pretty far along.  He gave her a couple bottles of CMPK intravenously.  He then checked her and told us she was only about 3cm dilated and to expect a calf in the next 12 hours.  It was bout 5:30 P.M.


The prognosis was not good.  It took Rosie a few hours to get back to her feet.  Usually when Jersey's get the CMPK they get to their feet presently.  When Breadwinner checked her at 8:00 P.M. she finally got to her feet and we had hope.  Breadwinner had spoken to Eric Lyon where we purchased Rosie and he suggested she had a 50/50 chance.  Breadwinner spent the night on the couch so he could check on her.  We hoped that if Rosie wasn't to make it she could at least deliver the calves feet, so we could pull and save the calf.  
 
From the initial sign of Rosie's distress I had begun to pray for her.  Cows are very resilient.  I prayed God would preserve her life if it be His will.  When I awoke in the morning I found Breadwinner on the couch.  He just sadly shook his head.  We lost both Rosie and the calf.  She wasn't strong enough after her ordeal to endure labor. 


Lyon's Dairy told us to come back on down to get a replacement if we lost her.  Breadwinner is questioning his ability and what business he has as a bovine farmer.  I'm questioning whether the benefits outweigh the time and inconvenience of a family cow....

Flowing Seas and Lofty Skies

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,

That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

-Isaac Watts

Breadwinner was in charge of one thing on the occasion of our wedding.  The honeymoon.  I supplied my opinion that the local should be one that was warm and involved water and sand.  I might even have mentioned South Carolina.  I love surprises and so didn't dig for info. about where we would spend the dreamy first week of the rest of our lives together.  I had not a clue where we were headed when we flew out of Ohare Airport.  When we arrived at our destination we rented a zippy little red Neon, picked up keys at the local Spanish moss festooned realty, and found our cozy cottage-for-the-week about a block from the beach.  Breadwinner had even arranged for a beautiful vase of red roses to await me upon our arrival?  He had carried out his end of the operation to perfection!  


As we sat on the beach feasting on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and gazing upon the towering beach homes, we declared that we would one day return and stay where graceful porches provided entrance directly to the sand and salt spray.  This seemed all the more a miraculous hazy dream as the very thing that provided the funds for our vacation was an act of God.  Shortly before our wedding a major hailstorm rained down on Breadwinner's fully insured '89 Bonneville.  Breadwinner gladly received a check and left his newly "textured" sweet ride as is.  It served us for many years as a "stone of remembrance" of how our loving God had provided one of our wants simply to give us joy.


15 years later we drove across country in our red 15 passenger van, dodged the Spanish moss hanging from the ancient oaks to pick up another set of keys, passed through the security gate to the end of Inlet Point where we delighted in our grand beachside-for-the-week residence.  


It was the most relaxing vacation I have ever enjoyed.  There were 14 in residence and it never felt crowded.  The one member of our wedding party that was not family and his wife and 4 kids joined us in our adventure.  They were gracious companions and after a week together, about 46 of those hours spent with our collective 10 children in the van, we remain fast friends!  

I think this was the one sunrise that wasn't overcast.  I couldn't help but praise the Creator as the waves crashed upon the shore and the sun swelled over the clouds that marked the horizon.

   

In front of "our" beach house.  I did have a fabulous swim suit refashion to sport until I had to cover my sunburn...

My little beach bums.

On My Calling...

How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one's own children about the Universe? 

How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone?  

No; a woman's function is laborious, because it it gigantic, not because it is minute.

-G.K. Chesterton

What's New on Sunny Toad Farm...

Today is the 6th of October.  I write this and have to check the calendar to make sure I am correct.  How can it be fall already?  I have to admit it catches me by surprise most years.  It is my usual to forget to put out Autumn decorations until the Thanksgiving turkey is in the oven.  It seems we move 100 miles a minute all summer doing what we have been dreaming done while laying all slugabed in winter.

I have another admission, that the first frost often comes just in time to save my sanity.  In early spring we eagerly press seeds beneath soil and await their emergence.  When they appear they need the care of a newborn to survive the chill.  All summer we carefully nurture them keeping weeds and pests clear and adding a cool drink when the clouds fail.  In their maturity they supply us with an abundance of much longed for nourishment.  And more...and more...and more!  While I am greatful I soon become overwhelmed with the amount of food available for my stewardship.  We press on and preserve what we cannot eat.  By the time a killing frost blankets the gardens and orchard the gardener in me is exhausted and ready to let it rest.

You would laugh if you knew before I blathered on so that I just yesterday arrived home refreshed from a week at the beach!  We took a long awaited trip to the beach that Breadwinner and I honeymooned on 15 years ago.  Up until the day before we left I was in the kitchen processing our garden bounty.  We came back refreshed and ready to tackle our to do lists.

This was The View From the Throne Room earlier this summer

First on the list was to sand and stain our new wrap around porch. check and check.  Next thing this week is to harvest our pumpkin and squash garden.  Autumn decorations. check!

Breadwinner used the lift to tear off a most-recent-in-history add on.  He found a squirrel nest and the momma safely relocated when left alone.  

Here is the front of the house sans the concrete porch and peonies.  Take a good look at the last picture.  My hundred year old peonies may not have survived the move.  Although I survived having to prep new locals and digging them out of the hard unforgiving ground.  It would be in poor form for them to die on me!

The porch being added.  I have never understood why they call them wrap around.  It only goes half way around the house...