Sewing curtains

Here I go, sewing... I really hope that these curtains (extra, extra simple) for my little Buddy's room will turn out!

I am very green at sewing. And actually, I have bought "Sewing for Dummies" a few years ago. This book would be handy right now except that it is packed away in the depths of our rented storage space! We just moved on July 1st and none of our books are at our new place yet...

So, tonight I cut my material (light blue cotton - bedsheet) and sewed my first three tabs, 7 more to go. Then I will sew up my panels (2 of them). It will take me a week to complete, I think... since I only have about an hour to work on it per night (after all the work is done and after Buddy is asleep).

Signing out,

I'm back!

Well, it sure has been a long time! Since December!!! I am in the middle of a heat wave here, it's +30 degrees celcius out there. And we're in it for the week! We have moved to a new place and now have Internet at home...so I'll be able to write out more as we discover...

Talking about discovering, we moved on July 1st (national moving day) to our tiny basement appartement, in the countryside, out here in Québec. I am super happy to be beside the river and amongst the trees because that means lots of birds!! What can be lovelier than being awakened by birds bursting in song? Well, you all have other things in mind...and that's great because that is what makes us a diverse bunch.

Our son was at daycare when we officially moved. And the next day too. That was good because we had boxes everywhere and were frantically painting (actually, DH was painting, I was moving things around, cleaning...) and then when Buddy came home, it was really frustrating because he wanted to get into everything. We called my Dear Mother-in-law (and I love her to bits) and she graciously took him in for the weekend. We have things pretty much under control now.

So, back to discovering...today, Buddy and I spent all morning outside. We took a walk around the block (about 15 houses in our community), went down by the river edge (it's a big drop but there was a ricketty old warf so we went down there and saw that there are tons of lilly pads (hmm....pictures to come) and then played in the yard.

I got out a smallish Rubbermaid container and filled it up with cold water, and Buddy used it as a swimming pool. Actually, it was only big enough for him to dip his feet in and sit in it but it certainly was refreshing! I stuck my feet in too.

I hung up a load of laundry on the clothes line. Boy did that ever feel good! Very satisfying! I have another load ready for tomorrow (since Buddy wet his bed). By the way, we are now diaper free. He wets the bed now hit and miss.

And, we took pictures! Buddy is very much a little photographer! Even though he is only 3 1/2 years old, I let him use the camera and have shown him the very very basics of photography. Here is a picture of a flower which Buddy took today. We also took lots of other flower and random shots, and of course, any bugs that Buddy was able to find were also photographed. That was my favorite part of my day.

It got me thinking, I'd like to make a scrapbook of the trees, plants, and critters we see here. And, I'd like to keep track of the small wonders and beautiful things to be thankful for during this year at this address...(perhaps we will be here longer, who knows) but for now, we have 365 days of countryside living and pioneering... oh! I am no longer Urban homesteading but since I cannot have a garden (due to the fact that we are already half way into the growing season and I havn't been able to get to the ground...and because of my back situation...) I will consider myself an urbanite..

Signing off,

Pumpkins are so good!!! I have found a recipy (as mentioned earlier) for Pumpkin Bread (cake). Well, I also use up the seeds.

I wash up the seeds, dry them for a few days on a kitchen towel and then dry roast them in the oven. Most people add a little oil to them and seasoning (which is super tasty) but I do them without oil sometimes.

They are really good for you!!

my little Buddy

Aww!!! He is sooooo gorgeous!

bread and cake

Last night, no one would have been able to resist cheating on their diet!! I made bread and pumpkin bread (which really is a cake). Here is my bread before I baked it. I started it at 6pm...and when I finally took it out of the oven, it was midnight! My pumpkin cake was cooked in the meantime. It really doesn't take much time (hands on) to make (for either of them). If I could start it earlier it would be better, but when you leave at 7am every morning and arrive home every day at 5:30pm, you start the baking when you can!! I had a chance to look over a hymn book while I waited for the bread to bake. If you were with me, we could have enjoyed some together!

patchwork apron

I am working on making an apron! It is a small project that will take me a while to do, only a little bit at a time! I am glad for the opportunity to make one. I have been wondering what to do with little pieces of materials left over from making my heat bags (comfort bags). So, the process begins: undo all the sewing in the pieces of material. This I am doing when watching little movies with my little Buddy. This apron will be patches of solid navy blue, solid tan, and brown corduroy! I will make a big pocket on the front (to hold the phone)!!

Holding the phone is the main purpose for my apron! I find that if I want to stay in contact with friends and family, I have to be able to talk and work at the same time. I have a headset for the cordless but I still have to hold it in my hands and that just doesn't work for laundry and dishes and Buddy's bathtime...

cooking up a storm

On friday, I didn't have any classes! Wo-hoo! My session ended on Thursay. It was such a hard week. I got the schedule for the next semester and it promises to be a heavier than the one I just ended. I decided to cook up as many meals as possible ahead (to freeze) so that I am not running so much at the end of my days (and spending needlessly) !

I made 3 shepherd's pies, 3 meatloafs, and one huge lazagna. Then I made banana muffins (which are all eaten, already!!). I cut up a container full of vegetables for stirfry and whew! I have a big turkey thawing in the fridge and plan to make several meals out of it (including stock for soup from the bones).

I will start my new semester with some meals on hand and less stress!!