MommyCoddle

Another brain dump/cleanse

1. Over the long weekend Dan skim-coated the kitchen ceiling. I don't know who ever though this was a good idea but at some point in history this textured ceiling must have been THE thing because they're all over our house. The kitchen ceiling was a particularly aggressive form of this texturizing. Curls and whips of plaster big enough to house small spiders and their webs. So now, after scraping it down (thankfully before we moved in) he has put a few layers of mud on the ceiling to smooth it out and in turn highlight our sloping old-farmhouse ceilings. I'm not ungrateful though--it's really an improvement. But, I do NOT do well with a torn-apart kitchen. Especially on New Year's weekend when my resolve to clean-out, clean-up and get organized is at hyper-levels. Usually, he does these kinds of things when I'm out of town. I'm thinking for my own emotional well-being, it would be a good idea to leave town when it's time to tackle the next step in the process--sanding the newly mudded ceiling.

2. Emily and I are beginning our fourth(!) year at habit. We decided for the month of January, to post as we began--just the two of us. I know, it's only January 5th, but sharing that space, just the two of us again, has been pretty magical. 

3. I've been revisiting the Camp Creek Blog lately. So much good thinking and inspiration there. 

4. This is one of my favorite resolution posts of the season. 

5. My mom asked me the other day why I wasn't blogging anymore. It's been months, she says, since I've gotten an email notification that you posted! Ummm, still blogging mom, but apparently, my email subscriptions are broken. Turns out when I deleted an old domain name for this blog, I also deleted all those email subscribers. So, if you're a subscriber, you hopefully got a little email from me this morning with instructions on how to subscribe again. Otherwise, the box in the sidebar should be working now, or you can subscribe by clicking on this link. 

6. I'm all for resolutions despite the trend to pooh-pooh them. I have a running list in my head of things to think about for 2012. I need to write them down.

7. Speaking of things on my mind, Amanda's Squam story really resonated with me in some way. Oh Squam, how I'd love to see you....sigh.

8. I've been writing this post since 9am this morning. It's now 3:52pm. And I have no plan for dinner. Oy.

xo.

molly

 

the profound stuff is hiding

Hi.

I decided last night, that even when I feel like my brain is too full to put together any kind of profound or coherent words, I still need to show up here and write. 

This weekend, I'm heading to New York City representing the Babycenter blogs for the premiere of War Horse. I found a dress (In black. And no, I didn't pay that much!). And I ordered some tall black boots with a kitten heel. "Kitten Heel" being terminology that is both new to me and now used regularly in our house because it's just fun to say. And a ridiulously large and dramatic glitzy necklace. I tried the outfit on for my kids and they said I looked like somebody else. And the boots weren't my style. My dear children, I try not to make a habit of wearing knee-high black boots around the house, but mama can get a little funky when she needs to. 

So, I'm sandwiched between still recovering from our Thanksgiving roadtrip last weekend and preparing to leave the brood behind with my husband for three days this weekend. I'm trying to make everything a little easier this time because on my last jig away from home, one child almost died and they survived on hotdogs at every meal. (The hotdog part possibly an exaggeration from my oldest child.) And just on cue with my imminent departure Elizabeth has an ear infection, and the baby is going through another phase of scream-only communication. Not to mention her uncanny ability to sniff out EVERY marker in this house (despite my attempt to HIDE every marker in this house), color both her cheeks, inside her ear, between her toes, and on any flat surface. 

Today I made a brain-dumping to-do list in my journal. It was simultaneously cathartic and overwhelming. 

But. BUT. Despite all this craziness, I'm pretty sure this weekend is going to be amazing. In a last minute exciting change of plans, my mom is coming too--riding the train up to NY with me, spending our free day Sunday together and lounging around in the swanky hotel with me (and without me). My husband, despite my attempts to drown myself in guilt for leaving, has been nothing but encouraging and all "everything's under control". And the stuff will get done. And some won't. And my house will probably be messy still when I leave. And there'll be laundry to do. But there will be meals in the freezer. And grain for the chickens and food for the barn cats. 

The End. And that's all. That's my brain dumped out for all to see. I promise, there's some good stuff hiding in the back of it. But for now, this is what you get. In all it's un-profound glory. 

At a whisper

Hello from foggy Thomas Run. Everything is at a whisper around here, inside and out. The fog makes everything quiet outside. Inside, this round of colds has me almost completely without a voice this morning. Only slightly panic-inducing (understatement), since I have to sing at a funeral tomorrow morning. And whispering with four children isn't very effective. As I croaked to my mother on the phone this morning, she recommended whiskey, hot water, honey and citrus--a hot toddy. 

But, thankfully it doesn't take a literal voice to write a blog post, just a figurative one. And since it's been awhile since I've rounded up some good things from around the web....Here's what I'm pinning these days:

❉ Maybe this will clear my sinuses

❉ I will be the cool aunt who shows up with this for post-turkey play. (Usually, we have family wrestling matches. Oh yes, we do. But my mother may appreciate this slightly less violent activity. I'm seeing some family v. family matches ahead.)

❉ I am all OVER this. Where's my cheese grater?

❉ I used to make salt dough ornaments with my 3rd grade students. But I'm digging this upscale version. 

❉ I want these badly. But alas, I am a poor girl. (I welcome any comfortable every day shoe suggestions in the comments. My Danskos are dying.)

❉ This is an important skill every girl should have.

❉ I have some small fabric scraps that I cherish for various reasons. Maybe this is an idea. 

❉ Some people want a maid. Me? I want a personal knitter.  This is the first thing I'd send her.

❉ With four girls, I must master this simple skill.

❉ I'm over at 4KidsorMore talking about library fines (again). And if you're still changing crib sheets, you'll want to know about this. 

Alright. We have a lot on the to-do list today despite the fact that we're all dragging...There's guinea pig food to purchase. Tights to find for my dress tomorrow. (How do we feel about tights and open toe shoes? Is this cool now? Or totally ugly?), A photo walk to take for Emma's e-course. And ironically, library books to return. 

Happy, foggy Thursday! ( I whispered that.)

 

the week In(stagram) review

Where the noisy kids go during church.

It seemed like a perfect fit, straight from the hand-me-down bin

Guess I should have believed her when she said she was tired.

My suspicions were correct. Both of them. On the mudroom. Eating dog food.

Sneaking in a nap.

4-H meeting. Making natural ornaments for the Christmas tree we'll donate to charity. An elephant. A bird.

The best surprise times eight.

A perfect fit.

My new favorite .

Dinner with Grandpa.

 

 

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I'll probably regret this...

But, it's Friday. And I have a million things to do. And an impending school year breathing down my neck. And mountains of laundry STILL from vacation. And dishes in the kitchen sink. And a messy house.

So, what's a girl to do? Why, make silly movies on her iPad of course! 

And FYI, there's a fan blowing on us (not good for sound quality).

And we are flopped on our tummies on my bed (not good for keeping both faces in the frame of the movie). 

So, with apologies to Adele and Taylor Swift....from the depths of procrastination....

some things you might like

On Monday evening, we packed up the kids and headed out to our town's 4th of July parade. I admit, this is the first town parade we've attended since we moved here. Generally, our 4th weekend is overrun with a lot of family in town, but this weekend was a quieter one. So we had the chance to make our own fun. I swear these parades make you kinda fall in love with your little town. It also gives you the chance to become acquainted with every dance group and baton-twirling troupe your town has to offer. Though personally, I found the cloggers to be where it's at. 

I also spent some time catching up online and on pinterest over the weekend....here are a few lovely things you might enjoy:

Amanda's post this morning : Yes, I LOVE the chair. But I so get that last paragraph, about the need to just make, even when there are so many other "musts" awaiting your time. 

(In)courage : 16 Ways to Find Personal Rest : I really need to be better about number 6. Finding a babysitter. I really don't have a babysitter for my children outside of family....can you believe it? I could use a good, trustworthy babysitter. 

I am absolutely ADDICTED to making these bracelets. They are so fun. If you can finger knit (or even if you can't), you'll love these. I have since passed my addiction on to the girls. 

Homemade mozzarella. Enough said.

Choose a chore. I'm always looking for ways to keep it interesting.

DIY Blue Glass Canning Jars. This is a drop everything and try it craft. 

Love this ring. Thinking it might get caught on everything, but still love it. 

Isn't this the truth??

This is wedding weekend. I'm thinking of wearing my hair in something like this. Thoughts?

And one more good thing that I don't want to forget....yesterday afternoon as Emma was flying out the door to go to the barn she said to me, "Oh, Mom. My room isn't as messy as it looks. I'm just airing out my clothes. Bye!!" 

If that's what "airing out" looks like, than apparently my whole house is "airing out"....off to find some order in the madness. 

Have any goodness to share? Leave it in the comments, if you please!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

 

someday is here

I hope my mother will weigh in on this, but seriously, can we discuss this picture? I found it when I was going through oldies recently.

This picture was taken at a 4-H meeting that was being held at our farm. The memory still fresh in my brain.

There were people present. People outside of our family. I was in public!

I was standing in front of the 4-H club, seething with jealousy that I wasn't old enough to be a member like my brother and sisters.

I knew I needed a way to be part of the night, to draw some of that focus back to me. I needed drama. What I needed was an attention-grabbing demonstration. I remember the topic I settled on had something to do with how to (ahem), remove a horse's head. (My eldest daughter might disown me if she caught wind of this.)

I remember that stainless steel bowl was full of grass, to serve as a distraction for the horse before head removal.

And of course, one needs a knife to handle this job. A butter knife, of course.

I remember gathering the supplies in the kitchen snickering under my breath at what a comedic genius I was. This was gonna be good!

But mom, can we discuss my outift? The tube top? With my white baby belly hanging out? Were you done fighting battles for the day? Did I sneak off and put it on without your knowledge? Was it so hot that night that you were concerned I might sweat through a normal-sized tshirt that covered more than my upper torso?

I was definitely getting attention. I'm thinking it was for the shirt, not the morbid demonstration.

Funny thing is, I find myself in the trenches of this battle, too. Maybe not tube tops, but I've been known to be seen in public with small children in striped skorts pulled up over jeans with polkda-dot tshirts and wool sweaters. Ballet tutus. Tall black rubber barn boots on the hottest dog days of summer. Children who look like they've been pulled from the pages of a Little House story versus the 21st century.

I can hear the "someday you'll understand" refrain in my head. And I smile at my 6 year-old self. And I give a knowing nod to my mother. Someday is here.

saying it out loud

I like to think that I'm pretty honest on this blog. That while I may be guilty of moving the camera ever-so-slightly to hide the toy-strewn floor or blurring just enough so you don't see gargantuan laundry piles, I'm pretty open. At least I hope that's how this place feels. 

With that in mind, I decided over the weekend that it's time to keep that trend going and share a goal that I'm forcing myself to say out loud.

In just a few short weeks, 48 days, to be exact (right, Mags?) I will be a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding. Now I thought that after giving birth to a certain number of children or reaching a certain age, one became exempt from bridesmaid duties, but alas, here I am, happily and proudly standing up in my dear cousin's wedding.

My cousin will be having a beautiful, straight-from-the-pages-of-a-magazine-without-even-trying wedding on my grandparents' farm. (Basically, she's having the wedding I've always dreamed of, but that's another story....) And I am excited to be a part of it.

Of course the first thing one thinks of when asked to be in a wedding is "What will I wear?" and then the second thing they (most likely) think of is how many pounds they plan to shed before the big day. 

And for awhile there, I was really on a roll. Around the holidays I signed up for a "body conversion" class that got me moving in the right direction. The momentum kept up, I loved escaping to the gym to exercise and for the first time in my adult life I was actually enjoying it. 

But, the past month, life has granted me plenty of excuses not to "get in there". Dan working late. Tired kids. Tired me. Work left to be done at the end of the day. 4-H meetings. blah. blah. blah. Really. Those things are always there, it's just a question of whether or not I allow them to get in the way of what I need to do. 

So, I've obviously let go of the fact that I will not be 20 or 30 pounds slimmer come bridesmaid day. But I do know, for the sake of my self-esteem and confidence and general well-being and outlook on everything, I need to get back in there. I need to be moving in the right direction again. 

And so, I'm saying it out loud. Ugh. Here goes:

Between now and the wedding (and beyond) my goal is to GO to the gym to work out a minimum of three times per week.

It's the getting there that's getting me. But now, I've said my goal out loud. Which means that other people know what I'm striving for. And that's good. I need that.

There is so much I could write here about this topic, but for now, I think I'll keep it to the nuts and bolts of my goal. 

Wanna join me? You don't have to sign on to three nights of workouts each week, but maybe there's some other thing that's nagging you, that needs to be done or picked back up again or dealt with. Maybe saying it out loud will help you make it happen.

As always, thanks for listening friends....(I hope I don't delete this in the morning...... :)

the wisdom of youth

Driving in the car....when I get to eavesdrop on all the good sisterly conversations....

Emma: Mary. When you get older and have a boyfriend do not carve your initials into a tree or spray paint your names on a bridge. Because if the police catch you, you'll go to jail.

Emma: Oh. And Mary. Don't have a boyfriend whose pants fall down.

Emma: Oh. And don't have a boyfriend who has a mohawk. Or pierced ears. Or a pierced nose.

Emma: And don't marry someone who is incredibly romantic. Because that gets annoying after awhile.

Mary: Well. I'm going to marry someone who looks just like Daddy and acts just like Daddy. 

Mary(Later....after giving all this advice much contemplation....): And, it really doesn't matter  what the person looks like, it just matters if they're nice to you and how they treat you.

that's SO last year

First of all, thank you, for all the comments and encouragement and commiseration and "I'm in the midst of it too" on my last post. I seriously still intend to sit down and reply to many of your comments. It has just been hard to find a chunk of time on the computer, or I should rephrase that-- a chunk of "productive" time on the computer. But seriously. Thank you.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Every year just before the holidays, I tell myself that this is going to be the year that I get my act together and mail out a Christmas card. And every year, I'm determined to not go the route of pre-designed, purchased photocards. I vow that I'll design my own unique, creative version. 

That vow hasn't gotten me very far. It has been more than SIX YEARS I'm guessing since I sent out a Christmas card. And even then, it might have been a baby announcement, not a true holiday greeting. 

But this year, I came to my senses and ordered our Christmas card from tinyprints. Hello? Why had I not been doing this earlier?

 

But....I was still determined to add our own "flair" to the whole thing so at the very last minute I whipped up a little "best of 2010" to throw in with the card. 

I have to say, I kind of love it. It was so fun making every one come up with their list. Emma had hers finished in five minutes. Dan and I agonized over ours. 

And let me just say, apparently, I don't watch a lot of movies. Coming up with a best movie title for 2010 was painful. I know I saw some good movies. I'm sure I did. But in the end, 3:10 to Yuma was the best I could come up with. I remember it having a really good story line. And Russell Crowe. That makes a good movie, right? 

Anyway, I've been meaning to share our card with all of you. Since I couldn't possibly afford the postage for a card for each of you. :) 

Next year, we plan to add another category for the girls. But I think I'll keep that one under my hat until the end of 2011. 

livin' on love

I'm singing the same old, tired tune I've been singing on and off for what feels like years, "money's tight". We sit and talk about all the "unexpected" things, the fuel bills that make me cringe every time I hear the thud of the furnace kicking on under my feet in the dark, damp basement, the repairs, the bills...blah, blah, blah. Blech.

We are fortunate though. We are blessed. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

But for now, we are having to cinch our belts so tight, it is sometimes painful. 

As the main spender in this family, the person who basically controls where, when, how and on what our money is used, I've had to step up and tighten my belt the most. 

And so, the grocery budget is the primary place that I've made major changes. 

To be honest, I can't even remember the last time I went to the grocery store and did a major, formerly-typical shop. I think it was sometime around new year's day. I have been forced to get seriously creative in the kitchen. If I've been to the store, I've been able to carry all my purchases in, with one trip. No loading, unloading, unpacking.

I am using what I have on hand.

I am digging deep, very deep into my pantry shelves.

I'm pulling out cans and boxes and bags of things that I usually pass by and am "not in the mood" for. 

I've forced myself to figure out how to cook up cuts of meat that have been sitting in the bottom of my freezer, looking at me with intimidating eyes.

I've found forgotten goodness stashed in bottom freezer drawers, in the backs of cupboards.

I've discovered that if we want it, oftentimes, I can make it from scratch. Soft pretzels? I have a recipe for that. Warm rolls? I can handle that. Cereal? How about a batch of granola?

I've learned to make the mundane special. Candles at dinner. Cream for oatmeal (again) in tiny pottery pitchers. Dinner tables set with nice dishes and linens.

I've learned to use less meat. To use it for flavor and protein instead of bulk. 

I've learned to make my grocery list and then examine it again. What really is necessity?

I've learned that flour, sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs and beans go a long way for a little money.

I've learned that we really need a milk cow.

I've learned (again) that soup makes a great meal and can have so many variations it doesn't get old. Especially with good homemade bread or biscuits.

I've learned that if you let your children get hungry enough, everything looks and tastes good to them!

It's funny, when we first were married, my husband was the best person to cook for. He'd moan and groan and 'ooh' and 'aaah' about my cooking. But over the years, his exclamations have quieted a bit. (He forgets how good he has it.)

But these past few weeks, when we are eating on a shoestring, when I'm putting together meals that are made up strictly from the things I'm finding in my cupboard, those moans and groans have returned. When things are pieced together, whipped up with less, suddenly everything tastes really good. And I have to admit, I've made some pretty good meals, I might even dare to say a few of our best. We sit down at the table and say, "Look what we did with almost nothing!"

I've pushed myself. I've changed my perspective. When I go to the store--we still need milk, cream for coffee and some fresh fruit and veggies now and then--I look at what I buy so differently. Before I buy something I think about how flexible it is, how many meals I can get out of it, how far I can stretch it. 

But don't be fooled, it isn't this daily great experience. I don't go skipping into my kitchen each afternoon, ready to tackle another creative dinner. There are days I'd trade my youngest child for takeout. (kidding! she's too cute and she doesn't add much to the grocery bill.) There are days I stand in front of my open cupboard doors and want to scream, "I'm so sick of this!!!!!!" But in general, I've been up for the challenge. 

I don't know how much longer we'll need to live like this. The state of our cupboards, freezer and refrigerator is pretty Old Mother Hubbard-ish. Eventually, I'll need to replenish. But like I said, there is light at the end of the tunnel. But I need to hang on for a little bit longer.

The good part of all this, is that I feel like my perspective has changed. I've learned a lot about my grocery shopping habits. I've learned that I can do a lot with less. I've learned that we can survive. 

And I've learned that we are rich in so many other ways.

thoughts on things

hello! apparently, i disappeared for quite awhile. and just so you know we're still here, still good, a few catch-up thoughts on things that have been happening the past few weeks....

* we had the first--of what i imagine to be many, many more--recitals. mary's teacher introduced her as "mary. she's six. she's only been taking lessons for a few weeks. and, isn't she so tiny??" mary was brave, confident. and unmistakably flawless in her rendition of "sea whale". 

* egg production has dropped off with the darker days. we have no electric at the coop, so we don't simulate longer days for the girls with lights. it makes each little egg a gift.

* i don't think i've seen the inside of birdy's mouth in three weeks. her lips are in a constant, sucking-pursed-state, as we wait, and wait and wait for these painful teeth number three and four to emerge. poor babe.

* soccer season ended with many, many tears when the girls lost their final game in the tournament. lots of tears, except for emma. who packed up her gear and walked off the field. i was okay with that. 

*birdy is army-crawling all over the house. gone are the days of peaceful baby playing on the quilt. this morning, she discovered the little pile of ash in front of the woodstove (the stove was not going) and covered herself in grey dust.

*my mother-in-law came to visit last week. and while she was here, she cleaned my living room and kitchen. not "tidied" but cleaned. i'm not sure if i should accept this as a wonderful gift, or as a sign that my house is a dirty mess. 

*there is a ten-gallon fish tank on the floor of my living room full of pine needles, leaf litter, grasses, dandelion fronds and ONE wooly bear. 

* i am taking a 6 week class at a local gym called, "body conversion". sounds scary, doesn't it? but, each night that i go, i am reminded that there is a big difference between what you think you cannot do, and what you can push yourself to do. those voices in our heads sure like to tell us otherwise. i am loving it.

So, hi! hello! i've missed this place. i make no promises, but i hope to be back here a little more regularly. (famous last words)

 

 

pause

I took this picture out the car window sunday night, as we were pulling out of the driveway to head to dinner at my grandparents' farm. I was trying to adjust the manual settings on my camera just a bit, remembering that my last photographs had been indoors and that any pictures I took on this evening would be outside.

It turned out that I had a baby on hip most of the time, except for the chance I got to eat hands-free thanks to some helpful family members passing Birdy around among them. And no pictures were taken, but one. On the way out the door to come home. 

But the next morning when I paused to look at this "nothing-special" photograph, I realized how much our place is beginning to look like fall. The warming of the evening light. The garden, bare except for my flowers that hang on until that very first frost and the sweet potato vines tangled at my flower's feet. Clothes on the line again--I confess it was just too hot and humid many days this summer to even think about clothes out on the line. The hostas getting a bit droopy, sad, and pocked with holes. The ground under the rope swing bare to the dirt. A few leaves yellowing and dropping.

I love the changing of seasons. I feel like I come back to life in the fall. Summer often does me in and sucks all the life and creativity and umph out of me. I'm excited to get back in the kitchen. Back outside. I begin to tackle major cleaning projects (ceiling fans, anyone? tub tile? mudroom windows?). 

I hope the changing of seasons is treating you well. I'd love to hear what fall brings to your life. 

i am home.

hello.

I think it is time to return to this space. I had a really, really good break. It was a good thing. And it's good to remember what you love about something you've been doing for (exactly) five years. 

I don't think I'll spend a lot time with what we did. I'll just jump back in with what we're doing. 

While I was away from here, I kept a private space online, all my own. No one knew about it. I shared it with no one. But it was an experiment. I wanted to know what it would be like if I had a space for only me. 

And I learned that I like marking time. I like writing things down. Remembering. I like to-do lists, and favorite quotes, remembering how I canned the tomatoes, and how much drama went in to losing that big front tooth. Sometimes, I like to post without pictures. Sometimes I like just a few words. 

It was refreshing. And I hope to bring a lot of that back here.

So hi! Hello! This is me waving over the fence. Letting you know I'm back from vacation. And I'm feeling good.

many hands

Ever since I began to crack the whip a few weeks before Birdy was born, I've become a huge believer in the power of a chore chart. I can't be stopped. 

The "morning chore chart" has expanded a bit, I've added the obvious set the dinner table and feed the dogs--two evening chores that were requiring nagging. Now? Seamless. (on most days) 

And I've taken my name out of the mix of morning chores. I've got enough on my plate in the mornings and the girls have been fine handling things outside on their own. (Though I have been known to sneak outside during the quiet moments of the morning before anyone is awake to do the chores myself. There's something relaxing and peaceful about those moments that I really enjoy.)

But my newest chart is created with a nod to my own mother. The Dinner Job List. When we were little, my mother had a typed-up list of jobs on the kitchen refrigerator. Each week, each child was assigned one of the four jobs. And each job consisted of a short list of tasks to get the dinner dishes done. 

By the time everyone finished their job, the kitchen was clean. Everyone knew exactly what they had to do before they could be excused. And as long as you did a good job, you could get it done as fast as possible. 

The daunting task of cleaning up the messy kitchen seemed so much more do-able when you only faced a short list of four or five tasks.

Now that Mary and Emma have begun having a major role in dinner dishes, I decided it was time to implement the dinner dishes jobs. 

I'm a big fan and so are they. Emma tells me it's so much easier when you know exactly what you need to do. It seems to keep them focused because they're so anxious to move through their list and "be excused". 

And I love it too, because the nagging quotient is gone and when all the jobs are shared, I can even slip in a few "extras". The floor gets swept every night. The breakfast table is set and the dish drainer emptied every night. Those things may be standard in your house, but not here--with Dan getting home late from work and bedtimes breathing down our necks.

Yes, these things get me giddy. 

I tried to organize their jobs by zones and flow. I didn't want one person waiting on another person, in order to move through their list. For example, I didn't want the "wipe off the kitchen table" person waiting on the "clear the kitchen table" person. So I tried to put both of those jobs on the same list. And each week they switch jobs. Yes, just as they're getting comfortable, I switch things up and make them learn something new. (This was Emma's only complaint to me.)

Now, I'm making a list of all the lists that I need to make. Next up, a bedroom chore chart, I believe....my poor children.