Warning: Vent

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If you do not like complaining or whining, be forewarned, I am about to do both. I don't feel I have much of a place to do that anywhere else. So here goes.

I love my daughter. I love my husband. Please understand these things are true. But this also is true. I am frustrated.

We are in the midst of potty training our daughter. I could let it go, but there are people who seem to think that she HAS to be potty trained just because we have a baby on the way. Sure it'd be nice, but I don't want to push it on her. We are still trying to figure out a good way to do it. We cloth diaper, which means we also have cloth training pants. They have to be pulled off. It is really hard changing those when she has a bowel movement in it. And really gross. How do you convey to a child to put her poop in the potty? I thought we had a way to do it. Keep the diaper on her till she poops, then put the 'underwear' on. I do that, and then she has a second bowel movement. I am so frustrated.

Then on top of that, I have one day, nay, one morning a week where I can get together with the other ladies of the church to pray. One hour, once a week, that's all we do. And we pray for the church and each other. It's a time for refreshing for me. It really helps to set my head straight when I pray with others. We moved it to Tuesday because of hubby's schedule, it seems most of his meetings were on Wednesday morning and I wouldn't be able to go. Well, wouldn't you know it, he has a meeting this week, ON TUESDAY!! I don't mind what he's going to, he's actually going to a pastors prayer breakfast and then a subsequent meeting in the same place. But it's like my schedule gets bumped around without even being asked when his changes. He doesn't think of these things until after he's agreed to it. It's ok to change my schedule because I am the stay at home mom, I can change anything. I don't go anywhere. I don't do anything outside of the house, except hang laundry and work in the garden. What do I do all day?

I'm just a little frustrated.

Life is more than sewing....

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Although you wouldn't know it because all I've posted about is fabric!! But I did post a boat load of stuff beyond the latest giveaway, so check it out. Pregnant bellies, being green...

Tomorrow, I want to post about what hubby did for me.... I love my hubby.

Fabric Giveaways Part 4

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Alrighty, this is the last of the giveaways. Kind of a mish-mosh of stuff. Here ya go:

Set #1:
These are pillow panels, or I guess they could go on quilts, at any rate, they are panels. One is horses, enough to make two pillows, the next is hunting dogs, enough to make three pillows. Added in with that are yellow roses used for applique.

Set #2:
This is the children's gift stuff. There is a pattern for a boy or girls outfit. My aunt gave this to me, cut out, I have no idea what size. I think it's for the girl, something says a 5? But the fabric right next to it, yes, that's right, the farm theme, is what's cut. Pattern size is 5-6-6X. Also with this set are some fabric books/toys. A Bible book, a Christmas book and a Christmas puppy in a box, all fabric, with instructions on the fabric. I'm sure there are other things you'll need to buy to finish it. Then there are some other misc. fabric peices that are children themed.

Set #3:
This is the true scrap bags. One bag has slippery, liner type fabric pieces, the next bag has moleskin, nicer fabric pieces, and the last one is a hodge-podge of fabric.

Set #4:
This was my well intended, supposed to be, I'm going to do it, cotton braided rug. It didn't happen, well it sort of did, but it ended up more like a bowl. I dunno, that might end up on here too. At any rate, these are cotton strips, that have been hand torn. I have no idea what someone else could use them for. But y'all are crafty, I'm sure there is something you could use them for!!

14 Weeks

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I did take pics the past couple of weeks, but I just looked nasty in them. Easter really did a number on me. Oy. But this one looks much better. Hubby says that I have popped. I believe so.
I have been feeling the baby move a lot. Mostly down low. Although there was one day he popped me and it shocked me because it was such a big jolt. He likes tomato products. If it is a boy, we've chosen a name that will fit. But we aren't telling. Neener neener. Just kidding.
I am feeling much better, although I do have some days where I don't feel so good, but they are few and far between. Other than that, baby is fine, I am fine and so relaxed with "We don't have to buy anything for this baby!!!" I hope to post every two weeks with pics, it's nice to sort of document my progress. Check out my 11 week pic.

Green Shopping

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I don't really consider myself a 'green' person. I mean, we use Shaklee cleaning products, vinegar as well, cloth diaper, rags to clean, hang laundry, garden, can, among other things. But I feel that to be really considered 'green' one must consider their intentions. We do these things because they are better for our health, and better for the budget. I had a family member, who shall remain nameless, that influenced me in the wrong way about being eco-friendly.
However, in recent years, as one who has studied the creation of the earth from a God who loves His creation and all it's inhabitants, I've changed my tune, in a way. God gave us this earth to take care of, to steward. It is not our own. It is His. Just as our bodies are His creation, so is this earth. Granted, sin took hold and since then things have desperately spiraled out of repair. It is impossible to 'save' the earth 100%. Scripture even says that creation groans with the state of itself. The only person that can 'save' the earth is Jesus Christ Himself. When He comes back in His glory He will make a new heaven and a new earth. However, just like we are waiting for that resurrection body, we are given these bodies, which are fallen, wearing out, to live out our days. We need to take care of them, just like we need to take care of the earth that we dwell in. My philosophy when it comes to things that seem bigger than myself; weight loss, world hunger, world peace, being eco-friendly, is do what you can. So this is what I've done.
I bought 7 canvas bags to shop with. Hee hee. They were a buck a bag and you get a .03 refund for each plastic bag you don't use. I got .21 back!! I know that doesn't seem like a lot. But I have to shop and so every time I save a little on bags, it all adds up. Plus, if your house is like mine, you have an overabundance of plastic bags. We use them for garbage bags, but we still have too much. I'm sick of em. And the canvas bags sit up square, they are stronger, hold a lot more and it is better for the environment. I must confess, though, that's not why I did it. I did it to avoid plastic bags in my house. It seems, though, that a lot of the things we are doing to be convienent, healthy, or cost effective are actually better for the environment. It's kinda neat. So that's my 'thing' that I did today. Yay me.

Fabric Giveaways Part 3

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I've been absent, I'm sorry. Easter just did me in. I've been so busy. Oy. Here you go, the third installment of fabric for YOU!!

Set #1:This set is three cuts of fabric. There is a lot of the tulip and the print fabric. The print fabric is probably poly/cotton it's very slippery. The other two are probably also poly/cotton but more stable.

Set #2:


This set has two light blues, pink, a muslin and a red. They are all solids, some are cottons, some are poly/cottons.

Set #3:
These are all stretchy fabrics, so I have no idea as to the actual fabric content. The green (or perhaps it looks black in the pic) but it's green has this beautiful floral print on it, it's like green on green and it's sort of velvet like. I had so much of it, I made a christmas skirt with it. The light purple and blue are sweatshirt material and the dark purple is just like a cotton stretch.

So there you go. I still have a ton more and will be putting them up this week. I ask that if you tag a set, please put your email addy in the comment so that I can contact you. Thanks a bunch!

Fabric Giveaways Part 2

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Okey, it's time for the Woolens Dept to step up to the plate. Just as a disclaimer; I have no idea how much yardage is in each, some I know have maybe 3 yards, some are half a yard, but most are about 1 yard. They did come from my grandmothers stash, they have not been cleaned, that said, grandma didn't smoke or have animals, but she did have a lot of projects she never got around to, so these may have a storage odor. I suggest using the dry cleaning dryer sheets to freshen them up. No need to go to a dry cleaner for this. I do not know for 100% that all of these are 100% wool. They came from the wool box, they feel like wool and are heavy like wool. They might not all be wool. I tried organizing these in sets, but well, you'll see this is what I came up with.

Up for grabs we have the following:

Set 1:
4 different fabric pieces. A green, blue, brown and a tan.

Set 2:
2 different fabric pieces. A grey brown (this is probably the 3 yards or so, there is a lot there.) and a thinner grey piece.

Set 3: A cream with blue and purple stripes, a tan with tan gradients and brown stripes, a darker brown with red and black stripes and lastly a white and blue striped piece with a remnant of the same.

Again, the first come first serve worked well. So just leave a comment on which one you want and I'll send it out. As before all I ask is that you pay for shipping (and if I need to get a box). I am trying to find the cheapest way to send them, so that might be a flat rate box with some of these.

Thanks for your help in getting rid of this stuff that I'll never use. I hope you can use it!!

Check Back Soon...

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I have all of my fabric giveaways organized, I am just doing the giveaway part in easy to manage parts so that my preggo brain doesn't turn on me and fail all together. But I am so pleased at the turn out of the first set, I am eager to get the others gone too!! If I can get some puter time tonight I will try to put some more on. Not sure what I'll put on. Maybe I'll do the woolens tonight, yeah I know, not a whole lot of people will be thinking of woolens right now, but hey, think ahead! What could you make with this?

Make sure to tell your other bloggy friends who sew or are crafty about this. I cannot stress this enough I WANT TO GET RID OF THIS STUFF. So please tell others....

Time for this mama to take a nap.

Not A Giveaway...

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But too cute to pass up...

Fabric Giveaways Part 1

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I've gotten around to my messy room and organized even more than before. I have three giveaways for right now. I will have more later, much more.
The only thing I ask about these giveaways is that you pay for the shipping. That's all. Not a bad deal considering all the fabric you might get.

All of these are patterns, here is the first.
This is a skirt pattern that has already been cut out for a size 18, although the pattern goes down to a 12, so you could cut it down further. This is the fabric that I used, it is slippery. It is still pinned to the pattern. Pattern and instructions are coming with it. I can't remember which view I cut, it's either a skirt with a waist band or without. But it is a skirt cut on the bias.











Giveaway #2:
This is a set of 5 patterns all in the small size for ladies. Although one pattern is for making sweatshirts and goes from xs-xl for men and women. One dress pattern. One pattern for easy shirts, one pattern for jumpers/rompers. One pattern for shorts.














Giveaway #3
This is a set of two patterns, sized 12-16 for young girls. Dresses, skirts, pants and shirts.


Ok, this is my first time doing this and I'm not sure how many people are going to want these things, so I'm going to do a first come first served basis. Leave me a comment one which one you want.
Thanks!

My Favorite Whole Wheat Bread

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This is my absolute favorite whole wheat bread. It rises the nicest, has the best flavor, cuts nice and lasts a long time. I don't make this very much because it requires dried buttermilk powder, which can be expensive. So when I make this, it's a treat. I got this recipe from The Bread Bible. I have a lot of nice recipes from that book. Really the best book for bread bakers. It does require a sponge, which is probably why it is so nice. Anyhoo. Here you go:



Old-fashioned 100% Whole-Wheat Bread

Sponge:
3 C warm water
1 C dried buttermilk
1 tbsp active dry yeast
.75C honey
3 C fine grind whole wheat flour (remember I do use a white whole wheat, which makes everything lighter, sweeter and moister)

Dough:
.5 c oil
1.25 tbsp salt
5-5.5 C fine grind whole wheat flour

1. To prepare sponge, in a large bowl, whisk together the water, buttermilk, yeast, honey and the 3C of flour, beat until smooth. Scrape down sides with spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until foamy and doubled in bulk, about an hour. (Mine never takes this long to double, so really watch it, it can overflow) I rise my doughs and sponges on top of my stove with the range light on. The light creates just enough heat to rise my stuff. Gently stir down with a wooden spoon.
2. In another large bowl, or in your kitchen aid, add oil, salt, 2C of the flour and the sponge. Beat hard until smooth. Add remaining flour, .5c at a time, using a wooden spoon if necessary until a soft dough that just clears the sides of the bowl forms.
3. Turn out onto floured surface and knead until smooth and springy, yet slightly tacky. This is important. It must maintain a sticky quality to maintain the moisture. Otherwise you will end up with a brick. It will smooth out during rising.
4. Place dough in deep greased container, turn once to coat, cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in bulk about 1.5-2 hours. Do not let it rise over 2 hours, it will over ferment and have a slightly bitter taste.
5. This is where you can have fun. Divide the dough into two portions. Each portion will be too much for a bread pan. So take an equal amount from each dough ball and put those two portions together. This is too small to be a rectangular loaf, but makes a really nice round, domed loaf, perfect for supper tonight. Form the other dough balls into loaves and place each in a greased loaf pan. Cover all with plastic wrap and let rise about 45 mins.
6. Preheat oven to 375 and place loaves in oven. Bake for 40-45 mins, until they sound hollow when tapped. Take care to not let the tops get too brown. I also made this mistake with these loaves. I forgot to cover them halfway with tin foil. When done, transfer to cooling rack and if you can keep your mitts off em, let em cool all the way before cutting. The loaves do turn out better that way.
7. Enjoy!!
Let me know if you like this one!!

Please Remove Your Bottom From Your Chair

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And GET UP AND DANCE!!! I come from a non-dancing denomination, but have you seen my husband dance? Have you seen my daughter dance? And this is defintely dance worthy.

Here is the story to recap:
We own a home in our former life/town. It is eating a hole in our pockets. Literally. We are putting so much money in that house right now just to keep it alive. Granted it's just the mortgage and a few utilities. But still. And there is the extravagent insurance we have to have now that it's vacant. $400 for three months. It runs out March 18. We were going to close March 19. Things were not looking good for that to happen anytime soon, they were getting a special loan that required a govt inspector, who never says when or who is coming. Well here is what happened. The inspector did come out. He did approve the house. YAY!! And we found out that we can get a 90% refund on any unused portion of the insurance (we had previously been told that wasn't possible, so basically we thought we'd loose $400 for a days worth of insurance. Yuk.) And we found out that if we sent in our insurance premium and we closed on the house before the new policy needed to kick in we'd get 100% refund. Well monday we got a call from our relator, she is overnighting our deed so we can sign it. They will sign friday, or monday, depending on when we get it back. So we will probably be out from underneath this house by the weekend!! Oh YEAH!!! I am so stoked!!

Another little yay moment, I am now, as of today in the second trimester!! Woohoo!! Morning sickness is just about gone. I have a little bit in the morning and a little bit more in the evenings, but so much more managable. I have my energy back and I've been feeling the baby move for a bit now. I can't believe I've felt it this early!! It's so sweet. It's always in the evening when I'm sitting and usually after I've eaten. I love it. I can't get enough of it. It still shocks me when I feel it.

I am going to be posting my FAVE recipe for 100% whole wheat bread. It is so good. Just don't let it rise too long or the dough will ferment and be a little bity.

Thanks for all your prayers concerning the house. I do appreciate it. I know God hears my bloggy friends when they pray.

And I have been craving chili. I have been dreaming about it. Must be the iron or something. But I found a great recipe from Tammy that I will post after I make it. I hope it's what I've been thinking of. When I am pregnant and get a craving it has to be exactly what I am thinking of or my craving won't go away. But the first bite and the craving is satisfied. I might have to go to the Cozy Corner, if this doesn't do it. Or we'll be eating several types of chili for weeks!!

Ultimate Blog Party

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I soooo need to make new friends. Well if you do too, then you've come to the right place. These wonderful ladies, who I know nothing about have decided to host the ultimate blog party. I still really have no idea how this works, but I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new.

Lemmee introduce myself, I am Kathryn, almost 30 (eek!!), married to my oh so hansome hubby, Andrew for over 5 years. I love that man to death, he is my everyday blessing. We are blessed with a beautifully healthy girl, Nadia, who is so wonderfully two right now. I am almost in my second trimester with our second child, due Sept. (I think it's a boy.) Hubby is in his first pastorate, and we love it. We live in rural PA. I am sort of a crunchy girl, I make my own a-lotta-things (just read the blog, you'll see). I SAH, and I love it. I love the Lord and am working everyday at living in His Joy, His Peace and to be more like Him.

Please leave a comment, I want to meet you!!

7 Tag

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Oooooo baby I got tagged!!! Yeah Yeah Yeah. I like being tagged.

Sandy tagged me (thank you!)

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I am a first time pastors wife AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING. I am secretly afraid of getting my husband fired because of something I'll do, or not do that I'm supposed to be doing. I think I have a poor view of pastors wives.
2. My last three toes curl into each other like three dominoes falling down. It's embarrassing. But, hey, they still work.
3. My grandmother died two weeks ago and I told no one. Except hubby and my best friend. I wasn't close to her, but I keep having dreams about her.
4. I took my internship in 2001 amongst the Navajo Indians in New Mexico. I miss it.
5. I drove illegally through a level 3 blizzard this past weekend in Ohio (and I had two other people with me.) I did not die.
6. My fingernails are so hard that they DO NOT BEND. Instead they snap, right off, leaving sharp edges that need filed but someone forgot to bring a file and instead I scratched myself on my forehead. (how do I explain THAT wound?)
7. I love prayer with the ladies at my church tuesdays. But I don't do it near enough at home.

Ok, who to tag. I have no idea. I need to join that blog party so that I can make more friends. Don't feel sorry for me, I just am an introvert and read all these blogs but never introduce myself. Ah, my problem. Anyway, if you want to do it, please do!!

Since I'm Already Weird

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Lookee what I made!!! I am so excited. You are probably thinking, what in the world do you need with them. Well any pregnant or has been pregnant woman knows you do still need these. The disposables were giving me problems, so I made my own!! And they are grand. I love em. So I thought I'd share. I did a circle pattern. It's a 100% cotton top, with a flannel middle (a lovely brown and blue plaid, perfect place for it) and then some leftover fleece for a backing. I used velcro since I don't have a snap maker. What do you think?

Here is a great article on the benefits of using them. I'm interested though, who has used postpartum cloth pads? I know I probably can't use my diva cup for the pp time.

They aren't perfect, but hey who is going to be looking at them anyway? Me. And as long as they do the job, who cares!!

They took maybe 10 minutes each. I used fabric I already had, so the cost was nill. Just my time and think power.

11 Weeks

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Since I don't feel much like blogging anything else of importance, and my hubby is the one who really does all the work (used to be a pro photographer), I decided a belly shot was in order.

So there you go. It's gettin bigger!! You'll have to check out my 9 week to compare.

Enjoy!!