Blue Yonder

Purple Haze

My guys and I have been slowly working our way through the Story of the World. We're not very far along in it, about half way through the first book I guess. Their interest kind of waxes and wanes and I've not pushed it. I mean really. They are 3, 6 and 7 years old, just how much ancient history do you suppose they will retain? 

Here lately though, they've asked about it again. They think it's kind of interesting with all the funny names and wars and such.  So I got the book out, thinking that I'd be really organized and look ahead a bit... skim the pages for fun go-along activity ideas and make sure that I had the supplies on hand, should we get the itch to delve into the past. 

I read as far as "something something Phoenicians something something snails... something something purple dye something something wool." And thought, "Tie Dye!" (read yesterday's post to familiarize yourself with our other hippie tendencies.)

The book said that you could boil purple cabbage or blueberries to create a natural dye, and as I was not about to sacrifice my precious blueberries for the sake of higher learning, I added purple cabbage to the grocery list. 

The smarter ones among you know where this is headed. Don't you? 

I didn't. Didn't even think about it. 

In fact, I proceeded to tell my boys that it was officially purple day! We read Harold and the Purple Crayon and we made purple popsicles. We played games with purple baloons, we danced to the Purple People Eater! We had ourselves a rip roarin' royal purple time! Then, I sat down to read them the bit about Phoenicians gathering multitudes of a certain little purple snot-making mollusk and boiling them to make garments so expensive that only kings could afford them, and that, children, is why purple is considered the color of royalty. 

So far so good. They found this riveting. I mean really, does it get any more fascinating than purple snot-making mollusks? I don't see how it could. 

We read on, and learned that the smell of the simmering snot snails in the city of Tyre was so bad that it was a common insult, in ancient times, to say that someone "stank like a man from Tyre." 

That, friends, is when it hit me. I'm going to boil cabbage for an hour and then soak clothing in it. 

Um, just why had I thought that would be a good idea? Why had I not actually READ the passage and considered the consequences? What's that they say about those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it?

I went ahead with it. I had already told the guys that we were going to be purple cloth-making Phoenicians, so what could I do?

I want you to know that my house stinks. It stinks really badly. It stinks like a man from Tyre.

When we go outside and then we come back in, having forgotten about the stench, all my fellas make the most horrendous, dramatic, gagging, throat-clutching scene that you can imagine.

 My husband left altogether, claiming he had some extremely urgent errands to run. I think he said something about checking the air pressure in the tires and getting a jump start on his Christmas shopping. 

Fine. Go. 

 But, when finally the rubberbands came off, and the shirts were hung, there were grins all around. Gagging, throat-clutching grins. 

 

My Luke wanted to know if cabbage smells worse or better than the boiling shells in Phoenecia did. "Worse," I told him. It was so bad that you could smell it all over the city, and since it was their livelihood, and not something that they did just for fun on one day, it was a smell that they lived with, day in and day out. 

My guys stood, and stared up at their purple shirts in wonder. 

Something tells me that this multi-sensory lesson, albeit unintentional, will ensure that they never forget the Phoenicians and their purple cloth.  Of course, it may also have some unsavory Pavlov's dog-ish side effects - I'm envisioning watering eyes, uncontrollable gagging noises and phantom puking gestures at the sight of purple. 

Oh well, a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. 

Adventures of a Modern Hippie

So for those of you who are following along, you know that I've been on a make-your-own quest of sorts. 

I'm not really sure what drives this do-it-yourself desire. 

Is it a concern over all those unpronouncable words on the ingredients labels of everything from shampoo to granola? Is it nostalgia for a simpler time? Is it that I'm a control freak, show off, do-gooder who, like a certain three year old I know, must prove that I can and will do it "BY MYSELF!" thank you very much? 

Maybe it's all of that, to some degree, but I think mostly it's that, well, I just find it kind of amusing and contrary and hippy chic-ish to make my own stuff, and frankly a mama to three boys has to get her kicks where she can. 

I take some kind of smirking, half cocked, "take that" pleasure in not buying something that I'm supposed to have to buy. And, it's kinda nice too,  showing my kids that jelly comes from fruit and yogurt comes from milk and, oddly enough, bread  and toilet cleaner alike come from baking soda. 

I just think it's kind of fun that maybe, some day far from now, when other people are waxing nostalgic over the cookies Mom once made, mine will say something like, "Remember how mom always made our deodorant? Those were the good ol' days. They just don't make deodorant like that anymore."

It's like an insurance policy of sorts. My children, in all their do-it-yourselfishness will be so hopelessly dorky that when they do find a girl to marry them, we will be certain she is in love with the man himself, and not just his swarthy good looks.

I feel a certain responsibility to you though, dear readers. I feel I must spare you some of the harsh realities of homemade, or at least arm you with as much information as possible, before you go plunging half cocked into the vast chasm of "Things To Make and Do."

So, today I will share with you some things that have worked, and some things that now reside in the Hall of Fervent Flopitude.

1. Shampoo - I was truly excited about the whole baking soda and apple cider vinegar approach to hair care. Firstly, these things are cheap, simple and readily available. Second, I tend to have a testy scalp that gets greasy in the summer and irritated and flakey in the winter. Attractive, right? 

After lots of reading, I thought maybe the trouble was that I'd thrown off the natural, preordained balance of my hair, and that simplifying my routine would work miracles. 

 Alas, after six solid days of earnest effort, I was a complete and total wreck. My roots were greasier than a diner hamburger and my ends were the stuff scarecrows dreams are made of. 

I tried. Really I did. I knew that there was going to be a "detox" period. I knew that I was going to have to pony-tail it for a while. But friends, it was bad. BAD. 

You will note that there are no photos here. None. Oh no. 

On the seventh day, God rested and Stefani used shampoo. I lathered up THREE separate times in one shower folks. It felt SO good. You know those old Herbal Essence commercials? Yeah, it was like that. 

Not to be deterred though, I ordered up some shampoo bar samples from Chagrin Valley Soap, and so far, I'm very pleased. They lather up nicely, and do a good job of cleaning my hair, plus they smell really good. I'm still having to use a bit of conditioner, but I'm hoping that after I've tried a few varieties of their shampoo bars and found the right one for my hair, or just by using them for awhile, I will eventually no longer need the store bought rinse. 

2. Deodorant - 

Okay, I'm going to preface this discussion with some information that may fall under the "too much" category. Brace yourselves. 

I'm a sweaty individual. 

It does not matter the season, or the locale. I sweat. A lot. 

I don't glisten. I don't glow. I sweat.

I near about jumped over the moon when the clinical strength Secret came out, but, for me at least, it didn't work one wit better than the regular stuff. 

So, when I came across Amy's homemade deodorant recipe, I thought, "what have I got to lose?"

I never in a million years expected it to work! I'm telling you, all these years I've been looking for the toxic chemical that would finally, FINALLY do the job, and lo and behold, I find that a simple mixture of shea butter, cocoa butter, baking soda, corn starch and some smelly good oils would do the trick!

You know what? Even though it's a deodorant, and not an antiperspirant, I actually sweat far less using this than the CLINICAL strength deodorant. 

Fabulous, right? Amazing, right? 

Yes, accept for one sorry little side affect. My underarms have turned brown. 

What. The. Heck?

They don't itch or feel different at all. The skin doesn't seem irritated, it's just brown. What is THAT?

So here's my dilemma: sweaty and smelly or disturbing brown spottage? 

Why can nothing be simple? 

3. There are a few bright spots in all this, though unfortunately, many of them are in the running for July's Blue Yonder First Monday Contest, so I can't gab too much about those yet. 

I can tell about one thing that is exceeding all my expectations though. You knew that we were making our own yogurt. I love that. A lot. It's fun and easy and cheap and healthy. Plus, since I have one picky little eater who will not let a fruit of any sort pass his lips, the yogurt has become a vehicle for his alloted daily dose of fruit. 

We make a lot of smoothies. 

So, when I saw these popsicle molds a while back, I thought it might be fun to turn our leftover smoothie bits into dessert. 

 

Yogurt + milk + honey + peaches = three happy boys. (and yes, those are feet on the table.)

They think it is beyond fun that I'm willing to let them eat popsicles for breakfast too. I'm like the best mom evah. 

The molds (and also these) are super easy to use, sturdy and worth their weight in vitamin supplements, if you ask me. 

Phew! Is anyone still reading? I do believe that I'll take my straw haired, brown pitted, way too wordy self into the kitchen for a popsicle now. 

The Miraculous Journey

 

We do a lot of reading aloud in our house.

 I like to claim it's for the broadening of their minds, and that's true, of course, but it's also because a) I really like to read and b) I really like how they all sit still and quiet for just a few precious minutes when we've hit upon a really good story.

A week or two ago, we hit upon a REALLY good story. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate Dicamillo. 

This story reads like a fairy tale. It seems old and wise - timeless and classic. It is so beautifully written, and doesn't speak down to children. In fact the vocabulary is pretty rich. Watching my boys listen to this story was like seeing a little one on his tip toes, reaching with all his might for the cookie jar. They were anxious for every last morsel, but stretching themselves to understand words that were just beyond their reach. Perfect. 

My guys loved it so much that they would beg, "just one more chapter," at bedtime, and then bring it to me first thing in the morning to read to them over breakfast. It's that good. 

I actually got so worked up over Edward's journey that I read the last few pages through broken sobs. For real. I double dog dare you to read it outloud to your kids and not cry. 

Of course, once we read about Edward, we found ourselves needing a rabbit to love.

 My boys remembered these that I made for their cousin, and insisted that they make their own. The pattern for the sock bunny is so easy though that they were able to help with most of the making, which means that our rabbit friends are kind of raggedy and a wee bit off, but loved all the more for it. 

You can whip up an Edward rabbit with your littles using these easy directions. Here's hoping all his journeys are miraculous too!

A Little Sew and Sew

 

Hey y'all! 

Just a quick note to say that our beloved Bandana Pants have been featured over at the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog. 

It's the sweetest post, and will no doubt have me grinning ear to ear for some time. 

I was so flattered and excited when the gals over at Sew, Mama Sew! asked if I'd make a quick little "pattern" for these shorts. Now that it's up, I get a little giggly thinking about all the little legs that will soon be running around in bandanas! 

If you've followed the SMS links and are visiting Blue Yonder for the first time, welcome! I'm so glad that you're here! Make yourself at home, and let me know if I can getcha anything, alright? 

The bandana pants pattern is more of a little cheat sheet - some notes scrawled from one friend to another, for you to print and keep by your sewing machine as you churn out those summer shorts. You can find it here. 

You can also find gobs of other neat projects, reviews, contests, inspiring ideas and gorgeous fabrics over at Sew Mama Sew! I could get lost for days in all that goodness! 

Happy sewing friends, and have a wonderful weekend!

Hankie Doodle Dandy

Kids go through phases.

I know this. 

You know this. 

But ARGH!!! Do we have to go through THIS phase? 

I mean it was bad enough when one of them walked around with his hands down his drawers all the time. Oh yes. 

And it was mightily unpleasant when one of my men began licking his fingers. Or rather, as he told me, "rubbing his tongue" incessantly. 

But now, now we have a picker. 

I try not to make a big deal out of it, but really after all the sickness we've had around here, I just cannot stomach the idea of him touching every door handle between here and Oklahoma and then mainlining those germs straight up his nostrils. 

Ew. 

Telling him to get a Kleenex does not work. He is unwilling to stop what he's doing and search out a sanitary solution to his itchy nose when his fingers are right there at (ahem) hand. So I had him carry a kleenex in his pocket, which might have worked accept that it gets rubbed and shredded to bits and ends up everywhere, most especially in my dryer. 

Enter the hankie

.  

It's going to take a little bit of training to get him to remember to use it instead of his fingers, but so far so good.

 I even sprayed a little (heavily) diluted peppermint oil on it, which he loves. So, we might just be trading one habit for another... nose picking for hankie huffing.  

Now, if only I could think of a crafty cure for that whole, "mama watch me cross my eyeballs" thing.

Anyhow, If you'd like to make some hankies of your own, you can find my little sewing cheat sheet here. It's nothing fancy, but it gets the point across I guess. (*** and I just realized that I spelled "flour sack" towels as "flower sack" towels on the sheet. Guess I'll have to fix that later. Or not. You knew what I meant, right?)

A couple of notes: 

I just used flour sack towels for our handkerchiefs. You can buy them in big packs of 6 or 12 at your local discount store. 

Also, about spraying them with essential oils - I've listed a few oils on our down and dirty little sewing instructions sheet, that are said to help with cold symptoms, but I'm not in anyway an official herbalist or anything, so take it with a grain of salt. 

And please, never use undiluted oils on children unless directed to do so by someone who really knows what they are doing. 

For our hankie purposes, we filled a 4 oz spray bottle with water and added about 3 drops of peppermint oil. Then, each hankie got a couple of squirts.

The Supers

Who says you can't buy happiness? 

I happen to know that it can be had at Hobby Lobby for about six dollars. We made a little trip down there to pick some up, and spent the rest of the afternoon wallowing in it. 

1 pack of popsicle sticks + 1 pack of old fashioned clothes pins + some markers and mama's fabric scrap bin = hours of entertainment. Meet "the Supers," a rag tag bunch of do-gooders if ever there was one :-)   My guys worked and worked at those capes and hair-dos. 

Then, their heros all had to have names of course, like "Lettuce Man" and "Space to the Rescue Guy."

Every good hero has to have a "mobile" too. So there were lots of popsicle stick flying, submerging, "faster than lightening" creations. 

With the transportation situation covered, they needed some bad guys to fight, and some people to save. 

Then, the boys cleaned out the bottom dresser drawer and divided it up with blocks, creating a sort of superhero apartment complex - complete with beds, a shower, computers and "important equipment" made from Legos. Then, came the crowning achievement, the "Time and Space Portal." 

A Super goes in, pushes a few buttons, and comes out where and when he chooses.  

Oh, and a carwash, because you know how super heros are about cleanliness. The Supers have done a lot of righting wrongs and saving innocents, and some even more incredible feats too - thanks to them, I managed to get my online bill paying done, fold my laundry, and (gasp) SHOWER! Super indeed. 

But... they aren't the only superheros in the house. There's another one, a particularly handsome one, and I'm going to brag on him shamelessly. 

For no reason at all, our Papa secretly planned for my boys to spend an evening with Grandmother and Grandfather. I dropped them off, and then Goodwill-hopped until he called and said he was ready to give me my surprise. 

When I came home, he had transformed his office... moved a table in, laid out a tablecloth and candles and everything. He had brought in dinner, complete with appetizer, a salad course, and my favorite red wine. Even more astonishing, he picked out a chick flick and watched the whole thing with me. The whole thing. Now that, THAT is super! 

And it is only one of the many ways that this man is my hero. 

Our hero.

For all the playing at super heros that my boys do, really, they most want to be like their Daddy - their patient, soft spoken, gentle, thoughtful, easy to laugh and slow to anger papa. 

My boys trail after him, eyes wide, and eager to know what he knows, do what he does. They wonder if they will ever be that tall, that strong. I wonder, do they know how lucky they are, to have a daddy who is present, involved, and in love with each and every one of them. 

Filling his shoes will be no small order for them, but they will, I know they will, and I'm fairly certain that it will happen "faster than the speed of lightening" as they say. They will be super heros in their own right, just like their Dad. 

Happy Father's Day, Papa, and to all the papas out there, building the next generation of heros.

Variations on a Theme

When I was in college, I rode the city bus to classes. There was this one seat that I liked, right behind the middle door of the bus.

 I don't know why that particular seat was so appealing to me. I never gave it much thought, but I can tell you that if someone else's fanny was in my seat when I boarded the bus, it could wreck my whole morning. 

I'm a creature of habit. I find a thing I like, and I go with it.

 If I like a particular author, I read every one of her books.

 I like a certain dessert, and I make it my mission to try 300 variations on the same theme.  

If I like a certain artist, or crafter, I pine for all their pieces. 

I order the same favorite dish in restaurants. Sometimes I think maybe I'll mix it up a bit, try something new, but then the waiter comes, and I blurt out, "Hacked Chicken Salad!" (an unfortunate name, if ever there was one), just like I have the past 10 times we've visited Mirabelle. I can't help it. I like what I know, and I know what I like. 

This isn't anything new for me either. My mom says that when I was 2, I ate pretty much nothing but Cheerios for months on end. 

So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that I found a shirt that I liked, and I went with it. I've made SIX and there are two more on the way. In my defense, a few of them are for my mom. It also shouldn't surprise anyone that my little apples haven't fallen too far from their tree. 

Every morning I hear the same thing from my littlest. He wants Jelly toast, milky, and a PEEP show (also an unfortunate name). We don't have TV, so he watches it online. There's only ONE episode a day, but he's perfectly happy to push play on the same episode as many times as it takes for Mama to snap out of her morning fog and move him on to something else. 

They have their fashion habits too. They want Bandana Pants, and they want them in every possible fabric choice. I think our house now boasts about 15 pairs. Five for each little set of legs. That ought to get us through the summer, right? So, I've decided that I really ought to be setting a better example - exhibiting a more adventurous spirit, really pushing the envelope and getting outside my comfort zone. So, wait for it.... I made a NEW pattern. Welcome to Simplicity 2931! This pattern even included really scary words like, "interfacing" and "gathering". I'm really pleased with it though. So pleased, that I might make another one. Or two. Or three :-)

I Did It!!!

I'm ashamed to tell you how many patterns I've bought, started and abandoned. 

I have, up until this point, been unable sew anything for myself. Curtains, yes, pillows, book bags, tablecloths, napkins, place mats, stuffed toys, quilts, even clothes for kids, I can do, but I hit a wall when it comes to clothes for me. I'm afraid to cut the pattern, confused by the directions and even more afraid to cut the fabric. 

I even took a class where we were supposed make a tailored shirt, complete with cuffs and collar and buttons and darts. It took WEEKS, painful weeks, and then I missed the last class (kids got sick) so I didn't finish it. At that point I was so sick of that shirt that I didn't even care, and it was clear that it wasn't going to fit anyhow. 

So, over the last year, every time I saw a certain shirt pop up around blogland (here, and here, and here, and here for example), I fought off the urge to go and buy another pattern. I knew it would only take up space and frustrate me because it would never make itself into an actual article of clothing. 

This weekend though, I saw that Hancock Fabrics was having their patterns on sale for $1.99. So, I made myself a promise: If I bought this pattern and did not make it, I would not buy another. EVER! So I bought it. I bought Simplicity Pattern 3835. I know, I know, I'm probably the last person in Blogland to attempt it. Guess what??? I DID IT!!! I loved it so much that I made another one too! (Incredibly flattering photos, right? Taking the photos was WAY harder than the actual making of the shirt!) And there's two more cut out and waiting in the wings! It's that good! It fits great. It's light and summery, and best of all EASY! I think it's officially my summer uniform. 

When the boys go to bed at night, I watch LOST on the computer (I think I'm also the last person in the world to start watching this show - what can I say, we don't have TV.) and I cut and sew. A couple of episodes, and voila, a shirt! 

So, if you've been noticing the shirt too, and thinking that you might like to try it but were unsure, trust me! You can do this! 

I think I'm going to find one of those "YES WE CAN!" buttons to wear on my shirts... not for political purposes, mind you, but only to evangelize the reluctant seamstresses. 

I don't know if either of our presidential candidates has what it takes to lead this country. In fact I'm kind of "blech" about that whole thing. I don't know if those Lost folks will ever make it off the island. I don't know what the weird thing in the woods is. But I know this... I can make this shirt, and that's enough, today, to make me feel pretty great. 

*** edited to add: The gorgeous necklaces are pieces that sweet Eva of Green Leaf and Owl made for me. You can visit her shop here. She has some truly inspired and gorgeous jewelry. And stay tuned too, because some of her work just might show up as a prize for next month's First Monday Contest!

Garden View

It is cold and rainy here. In like a lion and all...

No matter, I'm not above making my own version of spring when necessary.

I'm surrounding myself with flowers. There are vintage-y thrifted flowers on my bed and some special ones at my side. That's husband's baby quilt covering the night stand and my great grandmother's pink floral china holding my rings.

There are new curtains made from old sheets on the windows... A little floral cocoon in which to do our spring dreaming.

... And because we could hardly wait to see them up... They are hanging there with little yellow pins where a hem ought to be.

If the cold and wet stick around, that hem will get sewn, but if we spy sun behind those curtains all bets are off. As lovely as it is to wrap yourself in vintage flowers, it doesn't hold a candle to running through the real thing.

The Road to You Know Where

I feel like there is a wake of intentions trailing behind me.

I meant to write that email to tell you that I'm thinking of you. I meant to call you back. I meant to answer the wonderful blog comment that made my day/ made me laugh/ asked a great question. I meant to send a card/a gift/ a thank you note.

I had this great idea for a craft/ activity with the kids/ surprise for the husband. I wanted to send this special little something to a blog friend/ old friend/ person who needs a little cheer. I meant to clean out that closet, inventory the summer clothes, empty the contents of the car. I meant to wipe down the bathroom before the company came. I meant to make it from scratch.

I intended to return those movies/ books/ borrowed this and thats. I had wanted to send your dish back full of something tasty. I had hoped to repay your kindness by sending you a treat/ inviting you to dinner/ calling for no reason at all.

"I meant to..." is my unintended personal mantra.

So, considering the many good intentions that never see the light of day, I hope that you'll forgive me for a little crafty gloating.

I have a new little nephew that I should have properly welcomed a couple of months ago, but we aren't going to talk about that, now are we? We are going to celebrate the fact that I set out to make some handmade goodies for the little guy and his siblings, and I actually finished AND mailed them today!

That last part is key... they went in the MAIL! They didn't just sit in the boxes on the dining room table for weeks on end. They got weighed and stamped and SENT! (Never you mind the 4 other boxes still sitting on said table. Focus, please.)

For big brother Rylie:

Mr. Roboto shirt, stuffed Mr. Roboto, and a copy of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (because robots like stories about magnificent machines).

For big sister Alyssa:

Love bunnies, Rosemary and Basil, Rosemary Bunny shirt, and a copy of the bunnies' favorite bedtime story, The Carrot Seed.

For wee Caleb:

Frank the dog, Frank onesie, star onesie and cowboy bib (from Bend The Rules Sewing). (Incidentally, on a safety note, I ended up taking off Frank's felt eyes and embroidering them instead, just in case a little exploring mouth gets carried away).

Phew!

Now... about that quilt that I had intended to send. It just wasn't quite ready...

... soon baby Cal, I'll finish it soon. I promise!

Oh, yeah, and I meant to say thanks to Erin for being sweet enough to answer my emailed questions about applique and Eren, for turning me on to the Purl Rabbit.