Portrait of a Wannabe Domestic Goddess

Summer Recap

2011-08-26T09:07:00.000-05:00

In short this summer has been busy, hot and fun. Most summers fit this description. However, this one has been particularly busy since the arrival of the Fab 5 in early May. Every morning and night there are chores to do. Plus the additional of moving them from one section of pasture to the other and then of course the worry – it’s a requirement of farming, I think. Worry of things that are

Overheard From the Trailer

2011-05-09T18:30:00.000-05:00

I couldn't tweet from the road. Instead, I bombarded my mother and a few choice friends with some random texts. So instead of Texts from Last Night, I bring you: Texts Overheard From the Trailer. It was a fun way to keep folks informed of our progress on the road and to keep me occupied. Friday, May 6 12:16 p.m. Edward, Collins, Knightly, Churchill and Weston say Haay from West Virginia. 12:32

The Fab Five in the Fleece

2011-05-09T11:52:00.000-05:00

I was going to give you a nice long post, with pictures. Then I realilzed the photos I saved on my thumbdrive didn't include all of the photos I wanted to add. In Lieu of that, I give you their offical Iowa portaits. Hi! We like it in Iowa. The brome and big blue stem are so tasty. Weston, the only ewe. Knightly Edward Collins. He's a little trickster, and the most

We're home!

2011-05-08T11:30:00.000-05:00

Knightly, Weston, Edward, Churchill and Collins are settling into their pen/sheep shed. Weston is the only girl. Collins and Churchill are twins, and Weston is the only ewe. We're going to get them turned out to the big pasture later today or perhaps tomorrow. They are hyper vigilant, looking around observing the flat land and listening to the different birds. Apparently Iowa birds are a lot

On the road again!

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

We've nailed down a route, for the most part. We will be leaving northwest Iowa Tuesday evening, after dropping the minions and Baby O off at Grandma's. Then we'll be heading east and southerly direction. This is what we look like when you pass us. Please note the barrel racer. That's what sets our rig with a semi-rusty horse trailer apart from the other semi-rusted horse trailers This is

The Minions

2011-05-01T22:00:00.002-05:00

Life with three kids ages 5 and under is interesting, to say the least. There's never a quiet moment, nor a moment where I feel unneeded. Most times it's great. However, there is a time when all I want to do is just escape for a few hours. A few hours where I can hear myself think, have an uninterrupted conversation with my husband, and knit. The 20+hour road trip will be a most excellent

Travel Knitting

2011-05-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

With a 20+ hour road trip in T-minus 50 hours I am slowly whittling my lists in preparation for the road trip. The kids' clothes are packed. We've rounded up a couple books, a movie and a couple little toys to go to grandma's house, which is where they are staying while we're gone. Today's tasks have included washing what seems like a million loads of laundry, putting down bedding in the sheep

It's a date!

2011-04-25T11:52:00.000-05:00

After much deliberation and finagling with the schedules it has been settled. J and I will leave Iowa on Tuesday, May 3 to go Virginia to pick up the woolies. We should arrive on Wednesday, May 4 in the afternoon/evening and be on our way back to Iowa on Friday, May 6. We have toyed with the idea of taking Baby O with us. At just over a year, he hasn't completely weaned, and I don't want to

Farm Girl

2011-04-15T10:12:00.000-05:00

E-minion asked me this morning if she could borrow my drench gun so she could give medicine to Sarah Jessica, her purple unicorn pillow pet. She names everything Sarah Jessica, including the frogs she catches and the Japanese Asian Lady Beetles she captures and puts in margarine tubs. Apparently the equine version of Sarah Jessica has been pooping all over the minions' room and she needed to do

Update Time!

2011-04-13T09:02:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I updated the good 'ol blog. We've been busy building fence. We got the area south of the barn mostly fenced in. Wires are strung, posts are pounded and everything is clipped down. There are gates to hang.Unfortunately I can't turn anything loose into the area and keep them contained. The problem is our barn. It's a 60 x 120 foot monster that is falling in. Really about

A good mail day!

2011-03-29T21:09:00.000-05:00

Today marks the first time Spee-Dee Delivery stopped at our house for me! Usually when their white truck pulls into the yard they are delivering car parts for my husband. This week they sent a bunch of the stuff I ordered for the sheep came today. Everyone helps unpack the box. It was like Christmas. Everyone was excited to see what was in it. The local farm stores cater to the needs of

Sheep and Death

2011-03-24T17:24:00.000-05:00

We raised sheep when I was little -- like really little. We moved off the farm in 1984, just after I turned 5. I vividly recall my parents joking about one sheep having a brain, and with two sheep you have half a brain. Since sheep are flocking animals, an individual owns more than a couple, you've diminished sheep brain power significantly. Really sheep can't be that unintelligent as they've

Operation Sheep Preparation

2011-03-20T21:25:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a busy one at our Mount Olympus. The family fencing expert, my older brother Dan, came down to help us get things ready for the arrival of the flock I won from Juniper Moon Farm earlier this month. Uncle Dan, Fencing Expert. We haven't come to a consensus about the best way to fence in the total property, but we're getting closer. One thing that we agreed to was that the sheep

A Successful Quest

2011-03-07T13:41:00.002-06:00

Thank you everyone who voted to help me in my quest for sheep. I won! My much dreamed about theoretical sheep will become real sheep -- in the fleece!I haven't worked out all the details yet, but I will be the recipient of a flock of Cormo Sheep and Angora Goats. Guess who will be doing a lot of fencing in the near future?Once I have some things finalized, I'll post them here. Once the sheep

Quest For Sheep

2011-02-15T21:31:00.007-06:00

The next task in my master plan of turning our acreage into a real farm is Mariah's Quest for Sheep. The easiest way to do that is to win them! Recently I entered a online contest at Juniper Moon Fiber Farms to win a flock of Cormo Sheep and Angora Goats. Out of all the folks who submitted videos and essays, I was chosen as a finalist. Please check out my essay, and vote for me here. Contest

Sleeping beauties

2010-10-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

I realized this had been sitting around in my drafts folder for a while, so I've decided to post. This was before the great bunk bed purchase of 2010, but after Baby O was born. March maybe?I captured these images when I checked on them right before I went to sleep.My aunt always put new makeup on right before she went to bed. When I was about 5 I asked her why she did that she told me that if I

A confession, of sorts

2010-10-22T19:00:00.000-05:00

I’m nearly sloth like about maintaining this blog. So folks don’t think it’s gone totally dormant, a post!I am totally a wannabe domestic goddess. It may not look like it, but I’ve been told I’m a pretty good actress. My kitchen floor is sticky. Dust bunnies roam the house in search of vigilante justice. Tori the cat lives in fear. J describes the living room as filled with “rubble.” And Mount

Spring Fever

2010-04-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

Buried under all of that is my garden. This photo was taken on Jan. 30 and the drifts through my garden were about 4-5 feet tall. Today, April 1, they are about 2 feet tall through only a small portion.This winter has been long, hard and down right miserable. I am so anxious to get out and feel the dirt under my fingers and to see things growing once again. The kids are getting

Mission (almost) Impossible

2010-03-30T11:06:00.005-05:00

My friend Victoria challenged me to this way back in June, and I'm just getting to it now -- that's what makes it a nearly impossible task. Go to your sixth photo folder and find your sixth photo in the folder and write about it.Here is mine:This was taken shortly after Christmas in 2006, the kids were just over a year and were truly interested in controlling their world. At 13 months there

Justified hiatus

2010-03-30T10:45:00.004-05:00

The last little while I've been a bit busy.Baby O, officially known as Owen James arrived at 8:43 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1 and he weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces and was 21 inches long. The "little" guy was two weeks early but very, very healthy.From the beginning I have been convinced he takes after his father. While in labor he kept sneaking away from the Doppler they were using to monitor his heart rate.

Hot off the needles

2010-01-31T11:31:00.000-06:00

With the snow and advancing pregnancy, I haven't spent a lot of time outside or otherwise living life in the fast lane. What I have been doing is knitting.Pattern:Zip-up-the-back hoodie (ravelry link to pattern)Yarn: Valley Yarns Superwash in green and yellowModel: Baby Ryan -- I-minions baby that Gramma Caela made for him. This baby wears a 0-3 sleeper -- he's just not as thick as a regular

Is winter over yet?

2010-01-30T11:17:00.005-06:00

It's been a long winter here on my Mount Olympus. We've gotten smacked by major snow storms every two weeks for at least the last six weeks -- that means we've had a lot of snow, and blowing snow. It also means that if and when the sun shines it's blinding.Most of these images were taken Christmas Day -- when one of the biggest snow storms hit. It prompted the cancellation of all Christmas

Projectile Vomit

2009-11-23T10:45:00.004-06:00

Three more sleeps has become my mantra over the last 24 hours or so. J will return from China late Wednesday night.I had two fears while he was gone. My No. 1 concern was a big snow storm would hit and I'd have to plow out the yard. My second concern was that the kids would get sick. It happened.We were 35 miles from home after spending the weekend at Gramma Caela's when Edie started complaining

Precious Gem

2009-11-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

When I bought my spinning wheel earlier this year from a fiber friend who discovered she didn't really like spinning, I volunteered to spin her some roving she purchased with intentions of spinning.I recently got the guts enough to declare I was decent enough in spinning to tackle making yarn for someone else. Let me tell you a plastic bag identifying it as a 1/2 pound garnet, and nothing else. I

A Goddess Improvises

2009-11-18T19:53:00.004-06:00

For the last several days I-minion has been begging me to make "Oatmeal Cookies." I finally relented on Sunday and we mixed a batch of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies courtesy of Grandma Caela.This is the only chocolate chip cookie recipe my mother ever made when I was growing up. I must clarify, that by the time I could make my way around the kitchen my mother declared "Making pie is against her

Self Portrait

2009-11-14T20:50:00.001-06:00

Up until recently I used our small Canon point and shoot camera for my photographic needs. I have a old-school film SLR that was rarely used. Since my bills aren't paid by my picture taking skills, I never upgraded to a digital version of my film camera. Until now.For those interested (and for those not, just scroll down) it is a Canon XSi with an 18-50 mm f2.8 lens. I think I've found a new

The Far East

2009-11-13T20:25:00.005-06:00

From now until Thanksgiving the minions and I are holding the fort down while my husband is exploring the Far East. Well, maybe not the entire country, but the Eastern coast and Shanghai area. J's job is one where he works with engineers and suppliers who are based in China. He is on his annual trip across the Pacific.We've spent the previous couple weeks getting the minions ready for the trip.

I was raised by Muppets

2009-11-10T10:47:00.004-06:00

I learned about life by watching Sesame Street. So many life lessons were learned on the street: Making friends, compromising, and counting in Spanish. Gordon was the first black man I'd ever encountered. Kermit the roving reporter inspired me to become a journalist.We lived in the country. After my brother hopped on the bus, I would eat breakfast and Mom and I would head outside to do chores or

More Conversations with now 3-year-old

2009-10-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Cast of Characters: I-minion, E-minion, Mom and DadSetting: At the supper table[Half way through supper, a new topic of conversation is proposed]Mom: What do you think about a baby coming to live at our house?E-minion: [tilts head to the side and ponders for a moment] That's OK. I'm a big girl now. I have a big girl bed. The baby can sleep in my baby bed because I don't need it.I-minion: [with a

Summer Hibernation

2009-10-05T10:22:00.003-05:00

Based on the temperatures, cloudy skiesand the rain drops filtering through the atmosphere, it must mean that summer hibernation is officially over at Portrait of a Wannabe Domestic Goddess.As good as my intentions are to blog consistently throughout the summer, it just isn't meant to be. This summer has been an unusual one in our little part of Iowa.Let's name off the big news of the summer:My

A Day to Remember

2009-05-25T00:45:00.003-05:00

Today is a day to remember. Remember the people who have sacrificed and given their lives to make sure that I, as a woman, can make decisions regarding my life; vote for who I want – without fear of retribution – and to raise my children to know God. That same sacrifice means another mother somewhere else in America can feel secure raising her children to know Allah or Yahweh.It's on dates like

Channeling the older generation

2009-05-14T22:41:00.003-05:00

Tonight I cleaned out my closet and had several shirts that were worn out. Instead of just pitching them, I systematically snipped off the buttons. I'm sure someday I'll have the need for 1 inch burgundy buttons or 12 5/8 inch light pink buttons, so that's why I saved them.My Grandma Edie would cut buttons off, save them for a future sewing project. The garment was placed in the "rag bag" for

2009-05-13T12:00:00.002-05:00

I made my first major road trip alone with the kids this past weekend. Here's how the trip to Mitchell broke down.5:10 p.m Left day care. The car is loaded. Everyone went potty and we’re on the road.5:25 p.m. Stop to get gas in Orange City, about 20 miles from home. No one has to go potty. I go in to pay for gas and wait 15 minutes for the most incompetent cashier EVER to ring up a dude’s donut,

A Vampy Scarf

2009-05-12T16:45:00.000-05:00

I had planned The Rosalie Hale Scarf to serve as a substitute in the “mindless” knitting rotation after a particularly frustrating sock. The pattern is a free one from A.M. Downs (link to blog and pattern.) This is based on the scarf that Rosalie Hale wears in the Twilight Movie during the grand entrance of the vampires. It’s beautiful, long and elegant. (I'll admit it doesn't look as cool, as it

Outlandish Swap 2.0

2009-04-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

For my part in the Dragonfly in Amber Outlandish Swap, I made a double pointed needle case and a nostepinne. That's a handy tool for winding center pull balls. I rounded up two skeins of soy silk in a teal color. I also found a natulis shaped needle gauge. Recently I discovered the joys of bent-tipped blunt needles for weaving in ends. I thought I'd share. My Celtic themed item included seven

Outlandishly spoiled

2009-04-23T20:49:00.005-05:00

If you haven't guessed, I spend a lot of time on Ravelry. It's where the cool yarn people hang out. We all come to this magical place from around the world because of one thing: yarn. As a way to get to know each other there are different groups you can join. I'm part of a group of fans of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander book series.This spring a group of us decided to do a yarn swap based on the

Boys and Their Cars

2009-04-23T08:00:00.005-05:00

We are a car family, thank to my husband. He's always loved cars and during the 13 years I've known him, he's owned more cars than I am old.We go to car shows. We watch car movies (The Fast and the Furious, anyone?) and we collect cars. We've got five licensed and insured now, plus a handful or two of other project cars on the farm – including a nice little stash of vehicles tucked behind my barn

Restoring the Faith

2009-04-21T15:49:00.005-05:00

I bought a lushious skein of Conjoined Creation's Flat Feet yarn (I don't remember the colorway but it is warm, cozy and very nature-like) I decided to do my first toe-up socks, my first two at a time socks and my first short-row heel (on life-sized socks); all on magic loop. I've knit, to day 10 pairs of socks, so I thought I could handle the multiple facets of new technique.I scurried off to

Gullible

2009-03-23T15:12:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I must tune out the constant noise coming from the mouths of my children. Usually I just listen for the plaintive cries that mean someone is hurt. Those are usually are prefaced with a general scream/screech and in the worst cases a loud thump.Saturday night I was visiting with J as we cooked supper. The kids were playing in the living room and I wasn’t paying a whole lot of attention.

More Conversations with a now 3-year-old

2009-03-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

Cast of Characters: I-minion, MomSetting: In the Garage, after we get home from day care[I-minion picks up a 'Noah and the Arc' lift the flap book up from between the car seats and starts looking at it and identifying animals pictured.]I-minion: Mama, who is this book about?Mom: [Looking at the book] It's about Noah. Remember him?I-minion: So, does this Noah guy, like "know things?"Mom: [Rolls

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Éirinn go brách!As a girl who claims majority Irish ancestory, today is a day to celebrate heritage. Instead of imbibing with a bit of green beer or exciting revelry, I'm marking the occassion with either A) A Guiness or B) A nice glass of Irish Whiskey, neat. I don't know which will be the beverage of choice tonight.Here's an Irish Blessing that my mother taught me when I was a little girl:May

The Weekend by the Numbers:

2009-03-16T11:14:00.006-05:00

42 Hamburger buns munched down24 Eggs served over-easy11 Steaks grilled9 People sleeping in my house5 Naps taken and we’re not talking about the 3-year-olds -- they didn't nap5 Pounds of chicken wings consumed5 Pounds of potatoes baked4 Onions sacrificed for lunch4 Uncles (including a few of the “great” variety and I’m not referring to their status)4 Comments made regarding either A) the need for

One Day After the Time Change

2009-03-09T16:30:00.001-05:00

6:20 a.m. J stumbles out of the bed; questions whether a spot he thinks he sees on the wood floor in our bedroom is blood (from the dog); decides it isn’t and heads down stairs. I'm left questioning what was a blood spot and if there was a spot, why did he leave it. For the record, Rocky frequently bleeds in our room.6:30 a.m. I realize the likelihood of the college calling a snow day are pretty

More Conversations with a now 3-year-old

2009-03-03T08:37:00.003-06:00

Cast of Characters: E-minion, MomSetting: Garage, in the morning while getting ready to go to day care.Mom: Hop in your chair so I can buckle you up.[E-minion jumps in her and Mom leans over to buckle her up]E-minion: Your hair smells good.Mom: Really, what does it smell like?E-minion: Rat food.

Nothing is safe, anymore

2009-03-02T12:30:00.002-06:00

Iminion has an uncanny ability to see and understand how things work. He mastered pounding nails into boards at about 18 months -- that is, if he could find a knot hole, or some other flaw in the board to hold the nail in place. By the age of 2 he could pound in a whole line of nails in a 2-by-4, without any prior holes. To this day, I almost think he is more accurate with a hammer than than I

Proof, I really do knit

2009-03-01T20:24:00.004-06:00

Finally I have proof that I really am a knitter. Last week I started the Irish Diamond Shawl based on Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls book. It was an amazing gift. Leafing through the pages I was instantly taken by this Irish Diamond Shawl. I picked up the yarn, Kraemer Sterling and Silk in the colorway "red carpet." It feels so Old Hollywood glam. The silver flecks are actual sterling silver.I cast

Trials of a Wannabe Domestic Goddess

2009-02-26T15:30:00.000-06:00

I have grand delusions of being a domestic goddess, hence the "wannabe" in the tag line. This week Rocky, my black lab, single-handedly demolished this notion Monday night after I spent 45 minutes cleaning up high-velocity blood spatter off my bathroom walls and scrubbing the blood out of the living room carpet. Rocky has the delusion of being a big, bad dog who hunts critters and keeps his yard

We have yarn

2009-02-25T21:05:00.006-06:00

Tonight I kicked the minions outside with their father. It was 45 degrees, and they haven't been able to play outside after supper since, oh before winter started. So, out they went, and I sat down at my yet-to-be-named spinning wheel to experiment with plying by singles.It worked. I cannot believe that I actually have yarn, useable yarn. While I don't have a handy tool to easily tell how many

A new obsession

2009-02-21T08:37:00.012-06:00

One week ago, I got this:It's a Louet S10.To make:I already have two bobbins full and intend to try to ply it together while the kids nap. I'm in love. So is Tori. She pretends not to be.But, all my wool has a chance to see is this when she's attacking the bundle of roving.Tori has turned from a yarn loving kitten into a fiber-holic much like me. She has taken my nice roving and mangled it to

What I've done - The G-rated version

2008-12-06T15:43:00.003-06:00

Things I’ve Done (In Bold) 1. Started my own blog 2. Slept under the stars3. Played in a band4. Visited Hawaii5. Watched a meteor shower6. Given more than I can afford to charity7. Been to Disneyland/world8. Climbed a mountain9. Held a praying mantis10. Sung a solo11. Bungee jumped12. Visited Paris13. Watched lightning at sea14. Taught myself an art from scratch15. Adopted a child (do dogs count?

Outlandish goodies

2008-11-21T15:14:00.004-06:00

Over at Ravelry I'm part of the Outlander swap, which is a group for the fans of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander book series. In the series a post World War II nurse steps through standing stones in Scotland and is transported to the 18th Century where she ends up marrying a man against her will. He becomes her true soul mate. The book is about their trials and tribulations. Cheesy description, but

For Shame

2008-11-13T13:36:00.003-06:00

Not only have I practically abandoned this baby for two months, I have yet to post anything knitting related, which I claim in my tag line. For shame is right. Instead of a lovely post of my knitting escapades, I'll quickly bring you up to speed, I'll post this popular little gem. It's like a who's done what for the knitting world.Bold means I've done it. Italic means I intend to do it. Plain

More Conversations with a 2-year-old

2008-09-23T10:43:00.003-05:00

Cast of Characters: E-minion, DadSetting: Living room and Dining roomDad: What are you doing?[E-minion has the secretary open and is rifiling through the papers stashed inside.]E-minion: Nothing.Dad: Oh really.E-minion: Just go outside, Dad.

Me vs Vilociraptor

2008-09-18T08:57:00.003-05:00

I could survive for 1 minute, 3 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor For the record I think the estimation is a bit high. My bud Nicole and I went to see Jurassic Park in the theater alone, when we were about 12-13ish -- before we could drive. We thought we were cool since we went to the late show. I recall having vivid dreams in my loft bed that night.

A float of crocodiles

2008-08-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

A new feature of Portrait of a Wannabe Domestic Goddess:Conversations with a 2-year-oldCast of Characters:I-minionMomE-minionSetting in the kids’ bedroom at nightI-minion: Mom, there's a crocodile in here.Mom: Crocodile, please go to my room. [Pause] The crocodile's gone, go to sleep.[Time elapses, maybe 2 minutes]I-minion: Mom, there's A LOT of crocodiles in here.Mom: Attention all crocodiles.

A stolen me me

2008-08-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

What were you doing ten years ago? (1998)The year 1998 marked my freshman and sophomore years of college. I don't recall much specifically about the year. In the fall of 1998, I was coordinating my dorm room with best bud, Kelli, at http://www.teknicolorkelli.blogspot.com/. I vividly remember my father thinking the idea of living with a friend wasn't a good one. A decade later we're still very

During the Hiatus

2008-08-13T15:28:00.005-05:00

Life got pretty hectic for the last month or so. To sum it up using I-minion's favorite phrase we "fixed."1. We hung a ceiling in our front porch, which allowed me to hang my porch swing from the rafters instead of an A-frame like a swing set.2. My father-in-law built floor-to-ceiling book shelves in my hall way and built lockers in my laundry room.3. My husband got his mojo going to get on of

Bad Blogger

2008-08-13T14:36:00.002-05:00

You would be surprised how many blog posts have this title. The month or so have been really hectic at this wannabe domestic goddess' house. With real life obligations, visiting relatives and huge work deadlines prompted me to not want to even look at a computer, let alone type, edit photos or post on the blog. Now things are slowing down, I'll be posting with regularity, again, I hope.

Shhhhhhhh be vewy vewy quiet . . . I'm hunting wabbits

2008-06-03T09:54:00.006-05:00

Jasmine are joining forces. Between the two of us, we hope to strike fear in the rabbit population near our place. Although I'll let her eat anything that we catch. This weekend we've discovered that a rabbit -- only one because there wasn't enough damage to be more than one -- sampled my cherry tomatoes and a sweet pepper. They've still got leaves, so I think they'll make it.I'm going to install

This Takes The Cake

2008-05-29T09:00:00.003-05:00

My birthday was this weekend. I turned 29. Eeek (I really can't be that old, can I?) For the last 23 years I've shared my Memorial Day birthday festivities with my little brother, Alex.My dear husband has a reputation for making "special" birthday cakes for family members. Alex and I agreed we could share a cake -- it wasn't always that way, though. Jeremy racked his brain coming up with a way

I have a garden gnome

2008-05-28T21:23:00.008-05:00

She's almost 2 1/2 and is really quite helpful. She and my brother -- Uncle Dan -- planted the majority of the garden on Sunday.Over the course of the morning she helped planted all of the tomato and pepper plants. Then she planted a row of cucumbers, beans, and a double row of sweet peas before she got bored/hungry for lunch. After nap the minions helped plant the gourds, mini pumpkins, regular

Say a prayer to St. Anthony

2008-05-28T17:00:00.001-05:00

I vividly remember when I was about 4 losing one of my patent leather Mary Janes after church on Sunday and my mother ripping apart the living room in search of this one shoe. I watched in awe -- I'd never seen a tornado in action, but this had to be pretty close."Mariah, we've got to find you shoe. Say a prayer to St. Anthony. He's the patron saint of lost things." My mother grew up in a solid

Three minutes to spare

2008-05-28T09:36:00.004-05:00

There are times in life when you switch to survivor mode even though it isn’t a life-or-death situation. You switch to automatic pilot and go. Get up. Dressed. Wake minions. Feed Minions. Dress minions and head out the door. At work it’s working for survival -- trying to push a gigantic project out the door. We’re talking the size of project that some people spend a year and a half on. Since I’ve

A Cherry Yarn

2008-05-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

I needed something to do the other night when a friend was visiting, so I decided to dye yarn. After a quick rooting through the cupboards I came up with two packets of Walmart brand “cherry” drink mix, one “cherry” Kool Aid drink mix packet and one cherry burst or some other cleverly designed marketing name for a cherry flavored drink mix from Kool Aid. The yarn of choice was a skein of

Peanut Butter Gnomes

2008-05-14T10:16:00.004-05:00

We have hit critical mass. I must. get. groceries. While I have bread, milk, butter and eggs, I am out of peanut butter and cheese. Until recently I’ve been convinced that there are peanut butter and cheese gnomes that keep my fridge and cupboard stocked with these staples. They must be on strike.That means no "peanut sandwiches" – a favorite breakfast/snack for both kids. It also means the

Country Livin’

2008-05-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

There are certain perks for growing up in the country. The kids are just beginning to learn the benefits. The other night we staked out the garden and will till it up in the next couple of days. We planted marigolds in the big planters in front of the house. I’m glad that I had a moment of brilliance to pick up a pair of garden gloves for each of the kids. As soon as

Mudder’s Day

2008-05-13T21:08:00.004-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day. It was quiet warm day that we spent outside. J. cooked, made an angel food cake, my favorite, but J. was disappointed that my Mother’s Day/Birthday present didn’t arrive in time to wrap and deliver on the holiday. But, today, the wonderful brown box arrived in the mail. Inside was the most amazing gift ever -- KnitPicks Harmony Interchangeable

An Owly Experience

2008-05-10T21:13:00.003-05:00

Opportunities abound when you live in the country. You can pee outside, if you want -- I prefer indoor plumbing, but it is still an option. You can see red-tail hawks living in your grove, deer grazing and bunnies frolicking in the sun. The chances of seeing the dogs try to catch the deer and bunnies are pretty good. But, I never expected my dogs to corner an owl in my front yard in the middle of

My Mount Olympus

2008-05-10T21:01:00.007-05:00

OK, OK, I realize that my Mount Olympus is really just a farm house anchored in a sea of corn and soybeans in northwest Iowa. It certainly isn't the highest point in the state -- That's not far, though. This is home. I share it with my hubby and our twins, the minions. Individually known as E.minion and I.minion. We have a pair of dogs the size of small calves and a fat cat who call this seven

Blogging for the very first time

2008-05-10T20:21:00.003-05:00

I've been yearning to establish a blog that will encompass my life as a writer, photographer, wife, mother, chef, knitter, seamstress and wannabe domestic goddess. Tonight's the night. People will tell me I'm a domestic goddess, but really I'm just a pretender. Sure I can sew clothes, whip up a mean meatloaf and sinfully delicious cinnamon rolls and can bake with a pair of 2-year-olds, but I'm an