I'm back

it's been forever and the main reason I kept up the blog was so that my mom could keep in touch with pictures of our life, but when she passed it seemed kind of pointless.

I've been Christmas crafting. Knitting and other things. The DD is a freshman at college (home for the holidays). I expect some growing pains on both sides over this break.

This next week will be crazy busy at school and home. Especially with all the things that need to be done in preparation for the holiday. It's like I'm cramming all of Advent into one week. We lost power today, so I started a craft that I could start in candlelight. I went into my messy craft room to find a star and stumbled on some jewelry wire which worked better than the hanger I was going to use to put the parts together. I decided to form a star out of the end at the top. It's for my secret Santa person at work (my boss). I think it turned out OK.  I'll leave a picture of the final product here:

advice

always sleep in bed!

Friday night I fell asleep in MY chair because DS2 woke up at midnight. When he wakes up in the middle of the night, he always has this thing that he pitches a fit if I take him back to his bed right away. So he laid on the couch and fell fast asleep. I of course was getting together my package for my Love2Knit Dishcloth exchange partner... last minute details, weaving in ends, adding ribbon, gluing on magnets, finding a box, etc. So when I was done, I sat down to knit a bit more and promptly fell asleep in the chair. I must have held my head funny cuz my neck is so stiff even a full day and very hot showers later. I think it's time for the warm rice bag.



Instructions (the easy version):
Cut 2 equal rectangles of cloth. I used a soft chambray flannel and cut mine about 19" by 7". WIth 1/2" seam allowances, sew the two rectangles right sides together, using very close stitches, leaving a 1 1/2" opening on one short end. You can use an old tube sock if you don't sew.

Turn rightside out and fill with rice (I think you could use barley as well) Sew the opening closed with small stitches. If you want you can mix in some dried lavendar or add a few drops of EO. I use mine just as and it works great.

Heat in Microwave for about 2 minutes and you have a nice warm pack for yourself to apply to achey spots. Mine was made for birthing DD and it has come in really handy in the past almost 9 years.

To make a really nice one to be used as a gift, I would make the bag from muslin and then make another removable washable cover for the outside. Maybe some year that will be teacher gifts! hmm..

I saw on Martha Stewart site how to make bath bombs she called them snow balls I think. That's going on the future teacher gift list too.

Today Dad would have turned 87. Happy Birthday Pop.. Not a day passes when I don't think of you. Hopefully someday that won't make me cry as well.