Biker Chicks

Balancing
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

Spring break brought something new and fun for both girls. Riding a bike! On the same day even.

At 12 Mary Grace finally decided to learn how to ride a bike. Santa brought her one for Christmas when she was 5 or 6 but when it went back down with her to her dad's, they never worked with it. My neighbor couldn't believe she didn't know how to ride at 12, so she pulled on of her boy's bikes out.

It only took 5 minutes and she had it. I was proud of her but she was SO proud of herself. She's never mentioned it, but it was definitely something that bothered her. She beamed for several days after and just could not stay off those 2 wheels!



That same day I got a hand-me-down bike out of the basement, from a girlfriend, and Abi climbed on like it was no big deal at all. Within minutes she was cruising around. In just a day or so it was pretty much mastered. It's so much fun seeing all 3 kids zooming around and laughing.

Me? Sew?

Presser Foot
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

A girlfriend passed on her old sewing machine to me. She gave me some sewing tips on threading and technique. I was delighted that it was enough for me to adjust the straps and put some darts in Mary Grace's dress for her spring dance. We picked out the dress at the mall last week during spring break. Its an interesting job searching for a dress for a 12 year old. I wanted something tasteful and fun, she wanted something fancy and flashy. We compromised and decided on a sundress, and I flashed it up a bit with some clear glass beads on the larger polka dots.

I had to use the booklet to figure out how to fill the bobbin, but I did it! And you can't even tell that its altered. Woowoo! I imagine that my mom is looking down and smiling at me. She tried many times to get me to sew but I never did. Her machine was very temperamental... it had a sweet spot. I never could find it. I always pressed too hard or not hard enough and the bobbin ended up a rats nest on the back of the fabric. She knew just where it was and could make that thing sing. She made lots of clothes for me during my childhood.

Here's the girly, modeling her dress, post alterations:


Bead detail:

Mary Grace is Home For Spring Break!

Mary Grace Home For Spring Break
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

And there is a WHOLE LOT of lovin' going on in this house. Abi and Andrew are both attached to big sis. She can barely take a step! Hahaha!

My heart is swooning, there is never a happier time for me than to have all my chickens in the nest.

Andrew's First Lost Tooth

Andrew's First Lost Tooth
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

It's been wiggly for a while and on Wednesday he bit into a sandwich and it shifted. He worked on it all day Thursday, then lost it sometime in the night last night. We went on a mad search for it this morning and came up with it thankfully, (WHEW!) so we'll be leaving it out for the tooth fairy tonight!

I've made him a tooth fairy pillow case, one we can use on nights when he has a tooth to leave out. I had one when I was little that my mother made. Its a regular pillow case, and I've sewn on a little pocket. I'm in the process of embroidering it as well.

Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

It's my favorite day of the year!

Picot Stripey Socks All Done!

Picot Edge Stripey Sock Complete 3
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

Stripey sock are all done! I was thinking about them for a gift... but.... hmm. I really like them! The picot edging was fun and I am a big fan of the turned edge construction. I'll definitely repeat it in the future.

I'm a bit concerned about the short-row heel and how its going to hold up in this yarn. It looks great but when they are on, its stretched pretty well.

Pattern from Black Dog Design, Picot Eyelet Socks minus the eyelets.
Yarn: Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn Superwash/Nylon in Afterglo

The dye issue still bothers me a bit. One girlfriend says it looks Iike I knitted white socks then colored them with markers. She's right... the yarn really hasn't taken the dye very well. But I think it makes them interesting... and certainly a conversation piece.

Cheesey Twirls

Cheesey Twirls
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

Sometimes grilled cheese gets boring.

The kids always love when I make these instead... Grands biscuits, flattened out a bit, spread of butter, shake of garlic powder, sprinkle with grated sharp cheddar... roll them up, slice each one into 3 rolls (3x8 biscuts fills up my 24 spots) and bake at 375 degrees in a mini-muffin pan with nonstick spray... about 12 minutes.

They are delish with tomato soup!

Carrot Canon

Carrot Canon
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

No one ever told me just how fun it was going to be having a boy. But, let me tell you... its pretty fun around here most of the time. His imagination runs in a way that the girls' don't. Its mechanical and constructive. Truly amazing.

He found the bulb to the medicine dropper this morning and played with it a while. What made him stick this baby carrot into it, I'll never know. But what happened was a whole lot of fun. Daddy and I both had to have a couple of turns launching the carrot... that sucker will go about 8-10 feet with a swift pop out of the bulb.

THIS is fun.

I Need A Class... Seriously.

I Need A Class
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

The fuzziest, saddest "yarn" ever... if you can even call it that.

My girlfriend, Heather, Knittin' Pretty, who spins knows I'm interested in spinning "at some point" as I say... once the children are older. She is SUCH AN ENABLER! and has given me some roving, top and a spindle to play around with.

Its going to take some doing, but I will do it... one of these days. Its crazy how bad I am at this. But I have high hopes of taking a class one of these days, at The Mannings since they are so well known for teaching fiber arts and so close to me. Maybe once all the kiddos are in school.

I think the fact that it doesn't come natural to me, makes me want it all the more.

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken Pot Pie
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

Last night's dinner.

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup milk

about 2 cups biscuit dough... if you don't make homemade biscuits, you can use bisquick or canned biscuits

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C.)
In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.

Roll out half the biscuit dough and put in the bottom of 9x9 casserole (greased). Spread the chicken and veggies out over the crust. Pour hot gravy mixture over it. Cover top crust with remaining rolled out biscuit dough.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until biscuit top is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Socks Of Kindness

Yarn: Regia Nordic Color in blue/tan

At playgroup today I finished off my latest project and I love everything about my Socks Of Kindness designed by Chawne, one of my long-time and super inspiring flickr contacts.

I LOVE LOVE THEM! I think my favorite socks so far.

I like shorter socks so I did 4 repeats on the leg, took 5 repeats on the foot and they are a smidgen longer than they have to be... probably could have stopped with 4 and half repeats (I'm a size 7.5 shoe). These were such a fun knit, I might consider knitting the pattern again, perhaps as a gift.

Playdoh Shrimp

Playdoh Shrimp
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

Andrew is playing with Playdoh while Abi naps this afternoon. He hollared out to me while I sat here considering sock patterns on Ravelry, "mom are you hungry for shrimp?" I told him, "oh yes, shrimp would be great!" I had no idea he'd actually bring me shrimp!

The toothpicks are the "feet." of the shrimp. He said the head had been removed, but I had to peel it.

Funny boy.

Feeling blue-ish....Help me decide!!

Feeling blue-ish....Help me decide
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

I can't decide what yarn to try next... haven't worked with either. Cherry Tree Hill in Blueberry Hill (probably Dublin Bay) OR Vesper in Afterglo (in a picot edge, basic stockinette sock).

What should I do?? Help!

Easter Snack

Easter Snack
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

Our contribution for Andrew's special snack at preschool today... Bird Nests. Rice Crispy treats shaped into little nests using a buttered icecream scoop, topped with 3 jelly-bean "eggs."

These are so fun and a big hit with the kiddos. They are especially delicious with the Jolly Rancher brand jelly beans.

Ballerina

Ballerina
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

This dress has put in some time! I wish I had a picture of MG wearing it, but I don't. :( She used to flit around the house it it too. I've cleaned pudding and applesauce off the front and skirt several times. Still the old thing has held up pretty well.

I passed it on to Abi this weekend. She loves it and has worn it almost constantly since we've been home with a sick Andrew all weekend. She is a vision in it, just as her older sis was for so long.

It was my first ballet recital costume. Its a bit of a mixed bag... yellow satin and pom-poms, gold sequins and leopard printed velour. Egads! I wore it in two dances during the recital. I was some sort of cat... I can just barely remember. But it surely was fun!

This portrait was taken in the wings of the stage at the recital... about 30 years ago. I was probably 7 or 8 years old. In the old Central High School East auditorium.

I wonder how many times I performed on that stage between ballet performances, band competitions and choir competitions.

Off Track

It seems like every spring... or just as spring is getting ready to win out over old man winter, I start getting that feeling that I need to re-evaluate. And sure enough, this March has brought about those thoughts. I've been ruminating about what I'm leaving undone some days and it makes me feel frustrated.

Its an unsettled feeling. Maybe blown in by the crazy winds we've been getting this week. I don't know. But I have that feeling now. Nine years ago when I got that feeling I was standing in my then-kitchen in Alabama. I was washing dishes and I got this sudden feeling that I was in someone else's life. "How did I get HERE?" was the question that ran through my head. I do have a different life now.. and I Know (1Co 13:12) how I got here and that this is the life that God has designed for me.

Yesterday I was reading some knitting blogs and of my favorites, Twisted Knitter, posted about feeling overwhelmed by some overwhelmed by some things on her own plate. I really was in tune with that piece of writing. Then today at the gym I was catching up on some old podcast episodes from Cast On by Brenda Dayne and she featured a song that stopped me in my tracks. Well almost... I mean, I was on the treadmill, I didn't stop moving but it stopped my brain for a bit and focused me on the message of the lyrics.

Lost My Way by Matthew Ebel (listen here)

"If I put off ’till tomorrow what I wanted yesterday
I’ll just sit here ’till the future come and slap me in the face.
If I don’t change my direction and I float out here in space
then you can’t say that I’ve ever lost my way."

And it got me to thinking. I'm not exactly a goal oriented person. I'm happy always letting things rock on by. When we used to sail in my first marriage, my favorite part wasn't the flying down the bay with the boat healed up on it's side, sails full of wind... it was anchored off mixing margaritas with friends.

Is that a bad thing? I don't know. Are we supposed to be striving all off the time? Because I'm not really. I have a different outlook. Aren't we supposed to be thankful for what we are given? That's how I was raised (more on that in an upcoming post).

There was a time when, as a mom and wife, I was more organized. When Andrew was an infant I was really on top of the house, the laundry, the meals. Then along comes Abi. I haven't done so well balancing two little ones along with all the rest of it. Just the other day I was telling Don about something I'd done and was really proud of. And he said, "yeah, since you got that Martha Stewart Living subscription you're really with it!" Of course he was poking fun at me... but he's right. I really let things go sometimes. I mean, not to the point of grime and chaos, but its not as good as it once was.

Is there a mix of the two that's more perfect? Am I letting too much go? Or if I'm more "with it" will I be one of those moms that misses the small things. Hmmm... gotta think. One thing is for sure, I'm not as focused on the housework thing as I should be. That's got to change. I need to find the flylady again.

I need to change my favorite color

This will probably come as no surprise to those I knit with, but I was just studying my stash of sock yarn for what comes next after I finish my second Sock of Kindness. It dawned on me... every skein/hank/ball of yarn in my sock yarn stash has either raspberry pink, red, orange or brown in it.

I thought my favorite color was green! (scratches head)

I do love green, but I'm coming to realize I don't like to WEAR green. Apparently muted green is my favorite color for decorating (or so I think... I have no green walls in my home (scratches head again)... but I don't often wear green.

Hmmmm. I wonder what this means. My children may be devastated. There are certain constants in this life. Every night they sleep, they wake up to a new day. When they are hungry, there is a meal waiting. When they fall down, there is a hug waiting. And when they ask their mother what her favorite color, she ALWAYS says green.

What do I say NOW?

Falling Apart in my Old Age

My mother used to say laughingly, when some new symptom of growing older showed up... "I'm falling apart in my old age." I am beginning to know what she meant.

My eyes have been bothering me a bit in the last year or so. It could be the hours of knitting but it most likely has to do with the fact that the big FOUR-ZERO is looming in a couple years. In just a few short weeks I'll be 38. I have noticed for a while now that my distant vision, when driving, is not as good as it once was. But that's no big deal, I can still see pretty well, I just have to wait until I'm a bit closer to read road signs but still within a safe distance. However, in the last six months or so I'm noticing that when I'm doing something like reading or knitting, up close, when I glance up at the kids or the TV its taking my eyes a long while to adjust. One day this week I looked up from some mail I was reading, as Andrew was calling me... and he had 3 heads for the couple of moments it took my eyes to adjust. Crazy!

So I made the call. Yesterday I had my eyes examined. Sure enough, I need glasses. And not just reading glasses, or driving glasses. Bifocals. BIFOCALS?!?! Yep. Apparently I have those up close issues and those distant issues. So I found myself in the optical department of Sears last night picking out glasses. And this is not an easy task. Glasses that must be worn all of the time have to be flattering, at the very least, and comfortable more importantly. This is hard!

So I picked them out.... my new eyes so to speak, better eyes even. They will be here in a few days. I wonder how I'll feel... how well they will work. How I'll adjust to lenses with different focus points for my same old eyes. We shall see.

Three Bean Tex-Mex Chili

Ohhh man this is good. Hubby was on his second bowl before he realized there was no meat in it. Hahaha!

Three Bean Tex-Mex Chili...
adapted from a recipe in the Feb 2008 Martha Stewart Living

Ingredients:

1 lb dried pinto beans, rinsed, soaked and cooked until tender
14 oz black beans
14 oz kidney beans
1 tsp olive oil
1 c finely diced carrots
1/2 c chopped celery
1/2 c chopped onion
1 clove garlic
lg can crushed tomatoes
2 ancho peppers, diced (I hydrated 2 dried ones, used the liquid in the chili too)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried cilantro
1 tsp salt (or to taste)


The night before, soak pintos.

Cook pintos (just covered in water) for 2 hrs, or until tender. Add the black beans and kidney beans. Dice and chop your veggies as directed from the ingredient list and sautee them until tender in the olive oil. Add them to the beans with the tomatoes, anchos and spices. Simmer for 1 hr or longer depending on the consistency you like.

You could use all canned or all dried beans, depending your your preference and time you have to prep. All canned would be fast and easy.

12 servings
Calories: 366
Fat: 2g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 219mg
Carbs: 67g
Fiber: 17g
Protein: 23g

Less of me, in more ways than one

50 pounds!!
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

I'm celebrating the 50 pound mark here, and apologizing for being a poor blogger lately. I'll try to do better.

After 8 months of trying to get healthy, progress is really feeling good. I've stepped up exercizing in a big way but its time to make some more changes. Portion control is still working great, but I need to branch out. I'm starting to cook some new things, and in new ways, hoping the changes will be a really good long term step up for me and the fam. For example, I'm making chili tonight... its flipping cold! Instead of eating a small portion of my traditional chili (high salt, high fat), I'm trying a new 3 bean, low fat recipe.

I hope hubby likes it!!!