Running Stitch

He loves to be ‘wif’ me. A preschool graduate, he is now home when Grandma comes over for Art with Brother. And so I knew I needed to prepare a much needed ‘wif me’ craft. He wanted to play in flour on the counter, but with the sink not so much working and Egyptians coming later in the day we compromised with making playdough.

Naturally by compromise I mean, I made playdough while he watched nursery rhymes and not so much nursery rhymes like Eric Herman”s here I made Lucky bean’s playdough.

Luckybean’s recipe found here.

This comes together really well and by the time I was adding color (just a few drops in the center then knead until it’s the color you want) he was back in the game. As for the dinosaurs of ill repute, but had to nix the transformers. Have you ever tried to clean playdough off transformers…sigh.

After the meteor hits. And several hours of playing. It’s always amazing to me how he can play in flour, or clay for hours. Guess he gets that from his dad.

*Scarecrow’s song-The Wizard of Oz

Yesterday, I had had it. Had it with the grey skies dumping rain on us. Rain, Rain, Rain. Grey, Grey, Grey. Blech.  I feel like Summer is teasing us, taunting us with its sun/rain/drizzle/grey cloud repertoire.  On top of it we are out of jam. Well we are out of the jam the kids will eat. We still have plenty of plum rhubarb, because apparently this is not good? Too tart?  I don’t know.  I love the plum rhubarb, but it tends to mold when I open it because I’m the only one who eats it and apparently I don’t eat that much jam.

And while I love the rhubarb/plum.  Strawberry is my favorite. My most favorite jam. It’s true,  and I save it the longest for the Grey times when we need the color and spark of Strawberry.  The time for strawberry jamming has come and gone (mid May to June) but the strawberries have yet to show up on flats at the farmer’s market, the local U-picks have yet to open. And as usual The Burrow’s own strawberries, lack…..berries or even blooms.

I know it looks like there is sun in this picture, but it is a lie. Lie. Lie. It rained, rained, rained after I took this picture.

But behold! The freezer! It yieldeth 2 quarts of  frozen berries.  Even those who love to jam like me, get a little tired in the jamming months of jamming and I have found from year to year that jamming during the Grey time is just what I need to lift my spirits so freezing a few quarts of strawberries is a go to move.  And so it did yesterday.  I dug through the canning shelves, full of empty jars this time of year, for my favorite jam jars, and got to work.

Colors!  Ruby Red, so pretty, and yummy looking and the bubbles are warming me up as I write this in a house in the Valley where I still have the heat on! The heat!  sigh.  But look warm, and pretty and oh so tasty.  I was even able to convince someone else to help me in the endeavor with some new labels (card stock and crayon   high-tech labels).

Pretty labels for our jam, although I’m not sure how long we will need the labels, as we have already popped the first of the five jars open for toast and sandwiches today.  But look another picture of warm water, oh to be a jam jar in a warm bubbling bath.  I’m almost warm…nope. Still wearing my uggs and sweatpants and sweatshirt, with the heater on! But then, I do have five glorious jars of strawberry jam on my shelves now.

Okay I have four jars on my shelf, and one in the fridge.  Yummy! and almost Warm.

*Strawberry Fields forever-The Beatles

We studied Steam Engines last week, particularly Mike Mulligan and you really can’t have a discussion about Steam Engines without the Island of Sodor coming up. Well not in this house. This house that has seen the wane of Sodor themed days. However I brought out the packed away tracks and much engine pushinjg enused.

This went on for hours, I was impressed, it involved some gentle re direction at times because everyone loves Cranky the Crane! or the same troublesome trucks but I was wowed by the staying power. The trains have been a favorite with all these kids for years, and last week it helped bring steamies and stinky diesels together in our understanding.

Of course we didn’t limit ourselves to the island of Sodor, we also went up and out and built some robots.

Some of us got 3D and some of us got a little help from our dinosaur friends.

*I get by with a little help from my friends-Joe Cocker

Our Spring is over, a whirlwind week of destroying the basement and making The Burrow into a destruction zone. While my laptop is not an actually casualty of the cement dust that has settled over out lives, I’m fairly certain that the dust may have dealt the final death blow to My Sidekick. But we will persevere. I’m almost positive.

Lola’s chicken

With the end of Spring Break comes the end of Spring Break Camp. Our Christmas Camp was such a success that my ho-mama-mies and I planned a Three day Spring Break Camp. The Theme? Birds.

Mrs Q’s camp Shirt

Legolas-Chickens complete with chicken dance
Miami mama-Ducks-complete with duck races
Me-Angry birds (It’s a real thing!)

Shirts were made, plans were finessed, mud was administered. Yes it rained everyday and my youngest son was returned each day to me, with a bag of muddy, mucky clothes. Other child? Spotless. It’s amazing really.

My theme really was Angry Birds, my HM assures me that Angry Birds is teaching my children angles and trajectory, but I threw some State Birds in as well. (Get nuts.)

Campers watch the Scrambeled States movie

The Spring Break Campers watched the Scrambled States of America, my son loves this movie, I don’t know why, but it’s true. Then we talked about the states we live in Oregon and Washington. The birds in those states.

And then we moved directly to building Angry Bird Towers. Because that is how we roll.

Notes the ‘line’ of rubber boots to seperate individual areas.

*Chicken Dance-silly weddings everywhere

As alarming as it looks, it’s really just the Valentine’s Day Card Assembly line. With birthday party planning and Valentine’s Day so close together, we have to get a head start on it all.

But it’s not all hard work and slave driving around here. We take breaks to smell the roses and observe our surroundings.

Lady Oliver, still life by Moo

A ‘wainbow’ by Wah

The Rainbow, might be a bit wishful, the rains are back with their buckets and buckets. But when you have boots, and rain gear. And you are almost five. Eh…what does it matter.

*Mr Postman-Diana Ross

Lest you be fersnooked into thinking that I am in anyway organized, I am currently surrounded by boxes and half finished projects and behind me ranges some sort of saga between Buzz LIKEYEAR! and Spider-man.

It’s an easy give and take this game the boys play as they coach each other in their separate simultaneous game. “now you say this,” “then you fall down, and do this” “no, it’s night time!!”

Like many homes as the holidays approach the Burrow is bursting with an energy, that is sometimes bordering on frantic, as the excitement of the season creeps slowly in. This morning, the boys followed their advent clues to a pot of gold, or chocolate coins wrapped in gold paper.

Tomorrow their treasure hunt will lead them to handkerchiefs that I embroidered for them. Handkerchiefs are always in use at The Burrow. Each day leading up to Christmas presents us (if we choose to see them) with opportunities to talk to our children about thoughtfulness and giving.

Tonight as we worked on stockings together, we watched Mickey’s Christmas Carol, a story that while more age appropriate then most versions, still tends lead to big questions, and conversations about new concepts. One of the most unanswerable questions of all “but why are people mean?”

Finding the time to have the conversations, even if it is around a table covered in buttons that are raining on the floor, while you are re threading and re threading their needles, is worth the time. It can be hard to stay focused on the Christmas Spirit and those that bring it out in us the most sometimes.

Making lists, helps me feel organized, especially this time of year, when there are so many things to keep track of. So many things I want to do, and so many things I don’t want to forget.

There are many sites ready to help you plan your Advent calender and Holidays. My top favorite place for Advent list-y-ness is Uncommon Grace She has lots of fun ideas, crafts and small family moments on her Advent calender. Read through hers for fun ideas.

And leave a comment for the rest of us with a favorite Advent idea or craft.

Step into Christmas-Elton John

It’s a picture of Mt Vesuvius erupting. Of course. Don’t you have one?

Barbie Girl-Aqua

The sewing machine is whirling again!

Plans for the 17th are in full swing.

Complete with another story from our author and a homemade Leprechaun ‘trap’.

We’ll keep you posted.

It’s not his first novel…

and certainly not his last…

*Telling Stories-Tracy Chapman

I have to admit that I don’t mind the boys being sick, other than the boys being sick part. I enjoy staying home, not running from school, to school to doctor’s apt to school, etc. Among other things, the lack of running around leaves me more time to sew. And to drag the boys outside (fresh air! it’s good for you!) to take pictures of their new pants.

complete with handkerchief pocket and handkerchief

Fabric look familiar? Don’t forget to leave a comment on yesterday’s post for a chance to win Murray the tote.

It looks like everyone’s doing a giveaway this week! Yesterday I talked about Zoot’s half marathon for Leukemia, and today I see that this week she is giving away an IFLIP! for those who donated. I planned on donating again, as our budget allows, but this is a fabulous incentive. And it all goes to a Great cause! So head on over there! And take your chances!

Felt board frenzy

Over at Cagey’s site (a blogger I met through Miss Zoot) she is also hosting a giveaway. She is giving away gift cards at Snapgifts.comI am not sure what they are but I am nothing if not helpful in the ways of getting everyone free stuff. (Also Cagey explains what they are if you head over to her site! Convenient!)

Jack and the Beanstalk in progress

Another project I finished up this weekend, was this felt board. I’ve been meaning to upgrade their felt board and I finished it up Saturday. Moo went straight to work on Jack and the Beanstalk, (his version) also there is a scarecrow (not pictured)…who knew?

*Quietly Making Noise-Jimmy Buffet