Mayfly

for the growing girl.

N and I spruced up her room last week. Nothing drastic, just small changes. Since it was so tidy in there this morning, I thought I'd share. I got the little side table for a couple bucks at a thrift store and she picked the color- sweet pea pink. She really needed something by her bed to keep her class of water and a lamp. This entire room is thrifted or second-hand, even the bedding. And so frilly, happy, girlie! The little desk and vanity chair are from Good Ju Ju. Local friends, go there- it's really fun. The vanity mirror was my great-aunt's freshened up with the same pink.

I included the photo of the stretching pup because it gives you a good idea of how small her room really is. That rug is 5 x 7 feet. We have to be diligent about cleaning up toys in there or it becomes overwhelming very quickly. Actually, most of her toys moved out which instantly made her room look so much more grown up.

She loves it, and that's all I wanted.

Posted by Alicia at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

I'm single-handedly trying to keep economy in the pooper. Just kidding. Sort of.

I've started making my handmade gifts. I keep hearing on NPR about how spending is up a bit and consumer confidence is rising, blah blah blah, but I don't get it. I'm certainly no economist, but isn't that how we got into this mess to begin with? All the overspending? I want my friends who have lost their jobs to find great new ones, and I'd love things to improve for my own small business. But as a simple (also cheap) girl in a very consumer world, I'm just going to keep doing my thang this holiday season and cross my fingers for the economy.

The biggest blessings are not things. No one can argue with that.

My kids get three gifts each year- one from Santa, a purchased one from us, and one Mommy-made gift. I have a great idea for N's handmade present. And J says he just wants me to make him some warm jammies. Sweetie pie. With all the toys from cousins and grandparents they always get MORE than enough.

We've started thinking about simple family activities for our advent calendar. N has requested making gingerbread men because she says "gingerbread tastes sooo good in the winter." She's right. And I want to make some more lanterns around the solstice.

On the 5th we'll go get our tree from here. We got a cedar last year, and although it's not the most traditional species, it was just fine for us. We really had fun with it last time.

It's our year to stay here at home this Christmas. I look forward to a slow and easy holiday season, full of love and good food with friends and family and enjoying simple pleasures. And I am wishing the same for you too, my friends.

Posted by Alicia at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Good morning! We are back from our camping trip, and everything is washed and put away. My son says no one in the world loves camping as much as he does. This may be true. He took his first camping trip when he was four months old. It is our vacation of choice, so I thought I'd share a few thoughts on camping today.

I think if you're not a camper, you're just not. You can't force it. You have to be okay with the possibility of ticks and spiders galore and the occasional snake. For those of us who love to camp, there is just nothing like it. Are you a camper? Would you like to find out?

First, I think you have to consider to what level of "roughing it" you're willing to go. We were never backpackers, but my husband and I have always camped. We used to rough it a lot more- a little tent, a couple of sleeping bags, a lantern and the camp stove. That was plenty. But two children later, we pack up tons of gear. And we're fine with that.

We have a big Coleman three room tent. Tip #1: Invest in a quality tent and take care of it. We made it through a couple of decent thunderstorms this time with very minimal leakage. We take air mattresses (Tip #2: Air mattresses make all the difference) with real sheets, a canopy for over the table (so in the rain we can eat and play cards), a three burner propane camp stove, a camp box filled with kitchen necessities, the list goes on and on. and on.

Tip #3: If you're going to camp a lot- keep your gear packed up. We have several Rubbermaid tubs we keep it in. After the trip we clean, sort, repack and stack it all in the basement in the tubs. These are what we call our camp boxes.

Tip #4: Be prepared. Make a list and do all your thinking at home, so you don't have to worry while you're there. You can click HERE to download a pdf of our list for ideas. Our camp boxes are where we keep our dishes, cooking pots, silverware and knives, cups, tea towels, dish scrubbers, cutting board, matches, camp hammock, plastic tablecloth, clothesline, etc. You'll have to make that list based on your preferences. And of course this list doesn't include personal clothing items.

Another thing to think about is where you want to camp. Water is a must for us. We love rivers and streams, but a lake will do, and we swim a lot. Showers are another must. We can skip a day or two, but then we crave a good shower. We usually camp in state, national, or corp of engineer parks. You can find the whole gamut of places out there from hike-in sites to private campgrounds with pools- just do a little research.

Tip #5: Let the kids pack some toys- buckets and shovels, a few art supplies, books, and maybe a few little tent toys- but not too many. They will go from whining that they're bored, to digging in dirt and building elaborate caterpillar castles in a day or two. It's a most important transformation- and my favorite.

Tip #6: Eat healthy while you're there. Your stomach will thank you.

Tip #7: But take treats. We always take those tiny boxes of sugary cereal and s'more fixings. To me special treats like that make for good memories.

Tip #8: Clean up and pack up your food really well at night. Animals can be aggressive (and smart!) when it comes to finding a snack.

Tip #9: Take Benadryl (adult and kid) with you. You may not need it, but it's there just in case someone has a nasty reaction to something (bug, sting, food, etc.) and you need a little time to get into town for medical treatment.

Tip #10: Don't sacrifice your principles for the sake of convenience. We wash our dishes and save our recyclables. It's a pain, but so worth it.

Tip #11: Relax. Don't plan too much. For us the best part of camping is the absolute absence of schedule. Eat when you're hungry, play when you're bored, nap when you're tired, stay up late and watch for shooting stars, wake up early and fish if you want. Ahhhhh...

I hope you found these tips helpful. Let me know If you want to borrow anything to give it a go. ; )

Happy Camping!

Posted by Alicia at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)

You all know how I feel about the local food. I've been wanting to pick blueberries for years, and I've heard a lot about this place. So this morning I checked the picking report, woke the kids up early (8:20, people. I love my late-sleepin' babies.) and we headed out.

Now don't get me wrong. The farm is large and lovely and there's a lot for the kids to do. But oh man. It was crowded. I mean CROWDED. Crowded at 9:30 am. Crowded like 2 bus loads of children and maybe 100 cars. Crowded like if you find a bush with lots of ripe berries, keep your mouth shut, your head down, and pick quickly. More than once I saw people giving each other the stink eye for honing in on their bush.

I suppose I'm just used to the quaint goodness of my favorite strawberry patch, peach and apple orchards. This was a crazy mad house. mad farm. You get the picture.

Anyway, my kids didn't find it very enjoyable, but it was a long drive so we toughed it out and filled a few buckets. And on the very bright side, we're looking forward to blueberry muffins, cobbler and maybe even blueberry ice cream!

Posted by Alicia at 3:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Forgoing the tree from a tree lot, shipped here from who-knows-where, this year we decided to do a good thing and cut a fresh tree from this project.

A red cedar may not be the premium Christmas species, but so far the only disappointment we've experienced is that only two of the bulbs on our old string of C7 twinkle lights still twinkle.

Posted by Alicia at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

We have been watching these apples grow. We've monitored and tasted them. Unsure about the variety we wondered when they turned a bit pink, and now they've started to fall.

We borrowed my mom's old apple picker and filled a big canvas bag. Sounds quaint, huh?

Now imagine the scene with carn horns and gobs of traffic, an office park to one side and a major parkway on the other.

Here's the thing. This tree? This tree is not ours (um, don't bust us, please) and it is on land that probably belongs to the city. No one maintains, sprays, prunes, or eats from this tree. Obviously. It's on an embankment at one of the busiest intersections in our neighborhood. But this family MUST NOT let this fruit go to waste.

And wouldn't you know. Right on cue, the weather today is cool and rainy and now we MUST make an apple crisp. (and when it stops raining, take a walk down for more apples.)

Maybe Fall won't be so bad.

Posted by Alicia at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)

Hamburgers, green salad, grilled potatoes and onions. Fresh strawberry daiquiris for the grown-ups and milk for the youngin's. The not-so-local items- ketchup and mustard, rum in the daiquiris, the hamburger buns. But hey! The meal was super fresh and delicious, so I'm calling it a success.

We're unofficially joining this challenge. (But keeping it low key, people. There's no stress in the summer.) We've been trying to eat more local foods for awhile. You are aware of the benefits, so these detailed posts are for us to record our progress. You may find them quite boring.

Anyway, here's the dirt. I've found local and affordable sources for many of our staple foods:

•milk and butter. I'll never go back. As long as they're in business, I'll be a customer. SO YUM. We're going to go take a tour of the dairy soon!
•I use their milk to make our yogurt and ranch dressing. (um, we eat lots of ranch dressing.)
•beef
•produce. Choosing to frequent the organic farmers market this summer, we've left our CSA. It was a great group but was too much stuff we really don't eat. That makes for pricey compost. I'm trying already to overbuy and prepare and freeze the extras.
•STRAWBERRIES! Woo hoo! It was a drive, but we're planning a trip back. I need me some more berries.
•blueberries and blackberries. I can. not. wait.
•tomatoes. My mom grows gobs of them. (I may have to learn to can before August.)
•cukes. My mom's neighbor is the cucumber expert.
•eggs. I think I have 3 dozen in my fridge right now. Thanks, dad!!
•flour. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm going to call this week to get the scoop.
•tofu. My kids love stir-fry with veggies and tofu. LOVE. It's our standby meal.
•honey. It's called Jordy's honey. I don't think they have a website, but I get it here.
•vodka. Alright. I'm pretty sure they don't use all local ingredients or even make a lot of it here, but it's a local company and that can't hurt.
•beer! The same as the vodka. What? Beer and vodka aren't staples in your household?

The things I'm currently looking for:

•cheese.
•chicken. I've found several sources, but I just can't afford a $12-$15 chicken. We eat a lot of chicken.
•beans. Surely people in this area grow and dry beans.
•rice. Lost cause? I think. Rice (unless it's some creepy genetically modified variety) just doesn't grow in Kansas or Missouri.

Needless to say, growing your own veggies would help. That's another post all together. Making food from scratch is also immensely helpful. I make most of our bread in the bread machine now- hopefully soon with local whole wheat. I make our noodles, pie crusts, rolls, etc. I make our spaghetti sauce in big batches and freeze it in glass canning jars. It works really well.

The Food Circle has been an invaluable resource, but I'm ALWAYS open to suggestions and sources. If you have any, bring 'em on!

So, there you go. More than you care to know? I'm sure. In the wise words of Lauren, another local treasure, "Did you ask? No. That's the point of blogs."

*** Hey, Hey, my local peeps! My friend Jamie just emailed me this link: Merriam Organic Market. That's pretty close to me and Tuesday evenings might be really handy. Plus there's a whole different crowd of vendors there to try out.**

Posted by Alicia at 7:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)

The paperwhites are done blooming. I'm ready for some daffodils.

Here is a short movie starring my very silly, very cool, green-hearted friend.

If you ever have doubts that being green is worth all the effort, read THIS. You won't be sorry. The frogs, the stars, the ponds and trees, the boys with rocks and the poets who document it all. Just knowing you're on this little blue planet makes it worth all the effort we can muster.

Posted by Alicia at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

which, by the way, couldn't have been written more perfectly.

And today is Blog Action Day- the topic is the environment. I hold this topic close to my heart and in the forefront of my mind.

So here's a little nugget from me: I honestly believe the single most important thing we can do (especially as Americans) is to consider returning to a simpler, less materialistic lifestyle. Please, please, please- even you, my sweet crafty friends- before you make any single purchase, stop for a moment. Think about WHAT exactly you are buying, WHERE it came from, HOW it was made and is packaged, HOW FAR it came to get to you, and for Pete's sake, IF you really even need it at all...

You may be surprised how often you put something back.

I know, I know. Some fairly preachy words from a girl who is about to open an online shop! But as we say, Buy Handmade. It really does make a difference.

Love to all- now go hug a tree.

Posted by Alicia at 6:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)

What simple (and dorky) things I wanted for Mother's Day: My breakfast on the patio was yummy. And I asked for a clothesline. We were planning on building a wooden one but hadn't come across the right scraps of lumber. My mom gave us two old clothesline poles she's not using, so Brian put them in the ground for me this morning and I strung the line soon after. This solution was easier though not quite as pretty. But REUSE (n.), baby. It's a good thing.

I'm not kidding myself that I'll line dry all of our clothes. A few loads a week is all I'm shooting for to save a little energy and money. But really, it was so enjoyable that I don't think it will be difficult. Hanging a basket of wet laundry on a warm breezy morning while the kids holler and run through the sprinkler. Ahhhhh.

Now it's time for an iced coffee in the shade.

**quick update: It took me about 20 minutes to download those pictures from my camera and write this little entry. I took my coffee out to watch the clothes blow around and they were already dry! **

Posted by Alicia at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)

I have this incredible husband. More than incredible. He's a great father and my best friend. And get this ladies, he helps around the house. But there's another reason he is so great: he can do anything.

He makes most of our money, he is an environmental activist, he remodels our home, and he fixes appliances. A couple of months ago our clothes dryer stopped heating. He fiddled around on the internet, found information and part numbers, replaced some stuff and Bingo! It's drying again. A few weeks later the washing machine started leaking. The tub kept filling up with water even when it was off. So he did that internet thing again and he replaced some valve, and what do you know? It's fixed too. These are just a couple of examples- He's always doing, making, repairing something. I ask and he says, "Add it to the list!" Now I'm not helpless. I'd almost call myself "handy", but I intimidate easily. This man is fearless. He just figures out what needs to be done and does it.

So now we get to the real reason for this post. Our little N got all kinds of kitchen items (food, pots and pans, utensils) for Christmas and her birthday. I decided she needed a kitchen. I looked around and there are plenty of cute ones out there, but not exactly what I had in mind. This is what I wanted. Amanda showed that kitchen for her very first Corners of our Home post. I showed that picture to Brian and here is what I'm looking at this morning:

Click on either picture to see it a little larger or here to see a close-up.

It's made entirely from salvaged or scrap materials. The ONLY things he didn't dig up in our basement or the scrap metal pile at his store are the two cabinet doors (bought at ReStore) and two bolts with nuts (bought at our neighborhood hardware store). I'm amazed. I painted it white (with paint we already had, of course) an off she cooks. Handmade and well made from materials that would have otherwise been trash- Wow.

Isn't it cute? Brian plays it cool, but he's proud. After one of the MANY times she has said, "Thank you, Daddy" he said, "Maybe she'll want to give it to her daughter someday." See why I want to keep him around?

Posted by Alicia at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (44)

On a trip to a very charming local (to her) farm, Amy found some pretty green eggs. I've been meaning to snap a quick picture of the technicolor eggs my dad's chickens have been laying. Sometimes they are even a little blueish. My mom says they are practicing for Easter- no dying necessary.

J feeding the chickens a few summers ago. This picture always makes me smile. (That t-shirt fits now.)

Well, that's all. Still cleaning like a mad woman here. A friend stopped by last night at 9:15 on a whim and the house was perfectly pop-in ready. No dirty kid undies on the floor. No stacks of junk mail. Toys put away. I was darn tootin' proud.

Posted by Alicia at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

I quickly interrupt this scheduled break: For us Black Friday = Buy Nothing Day. A day to perhaps consider the global impact we make when we spend our hard-earned money.

Hope you all had the most wonderful of holidays. (We sure did!) Now I must lounge around and recover.

Posted by Alicia at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

My niece Jill just turned two. I made her an apron with a patchwork pocket. With plenty of growing room, it should last awhile. Heaven knows with two older sisters, she doesn't need more toys or clothes. My reluctant model looks quite fetching, I think.

Hannah got me thinking about gift-giving and how it has lost some of its charm. It seems that sometimes we give gifts out of obligation not thoughtfulness, and I want to change my approach. It's not that I don't appreciate store-bought gifts from others. I do! But I have always enjoyed the thought and work that goes into making something for someone; I ought to do it more. I'm going to try to make nearly all of my presents or support fellow artists and buy their handmade items. I'm guessing most of my friends and family will appreciate this more anyway. The only wrinkle in this plan is that I can think of very few 6 year old boys who'd appreciate a handmade patchwork apron, or a painting, or cute little bag as a birthday gift! So I predict I'll be buying some rockets and Transformers along the way too.

Of course there will be oh-so-much planning and making to do for the winter holidays. I better get started soon!

Posted by Alicia at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

Can these shoes be back in style, please? I found them at a thrift store this weekend. I LOVE them, and they're surprisingly comfortable.

I wanted these or a pair of wooden clogs when I was in the third or fourth grade, but my mom wouldn't let me have either. She said I'd break my arm. When my friend Wendy Scott got some clogs and tripped going down the stairs, guess what she did. She broke her arm. It didn't help my case one bit.

I found quite a few nice thrifted things this weekend. One is even a big piece of furniture that needs some love. The problem is I love the thrift store a little too much. I find great used things, most of which we need or can use, but I've been going overboard lately. Our fabulous summer is winding down. We've taken several vacations and spent a little too much. Suddenly I'm feeling the need to pare down and tighten the ship. With the arrival of a new season and the beginning of the school year, I want simple. Less clutter. And I'm dying to finish some of the things we've started. Fall cleaning- it seems to be a new trend. Today is the office/workroom.

We've also set some new spending rules and a few of them will affect my blog-life. First, I'm putting a temporary moratorium on swaps. I love them, but those little projects and postage can add up. Next, I'm self-imposing a Use What You Have period for the rest of August and all of September. I have plenty of projects to work on and my fabric stash has been slowly growing. I bet I could cover every surface in the house with patchwork.

And I just might.

Posted by Alicia at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)

Wednesday is the day my dad drops off our CSA veggies. We're really enjoying it this year and making a big effort to eat every bit that arrives. We split the subscription with my parents, so they take half of everything.

This evening we had a meal of grilled chicken breasts, carrots sauteed with a little butter and brown sugar, and batter-dipped squash fried in a little olive oil. The kids ate every bit, albeit they both dipped their carrots in ranch dressing. But that's ok. They're terribly skinny little things and could actually use the fat. Tomorrow night we'll finish up last week's green beans and new potatoes with a little onion.

I love our CSA for several reasons. It great to buy local- less energy used and pollution produced from the transport, everything is organically grown, and it's all so darn healthy and yummy. Plus it's cheap, especially since we share with my parents. If I were to buy this produce at Whole Foods all summer, it surely would cost tons more. Mmmmm.

Posted by Alicia at 9:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

We are tree huggers. Well, I'd say we try our best. I'd love to shop at Whole Foods or Wild Oats, but we just can't afford it. So when I shop, I try to buy most of the organic products offered at our grocery store. I believe that the more mainstream organic products become, the cheaper they will get. And recently I have tightened up my grocery standards.

I am trying to buy fewer items that have enriched flour (all the good stuff is taken out and a little bit is added back in), high fructose corn syrup (super sugar- who needs that?!) and partially hydrogenated oils (um, yuck). If the first five ingredients include any of these, I don't buy it. And it's hard. Even our favorite whole grain bread has high fructose corn syrup! Now, I'm not trying to overdo it. I don't want those foods to be off limits. J always gets to pick out a "treat", and he always picks out something worthless. But that's ok. Everyone needs their treats. But I'm really trying to make an effort. I need to feel like I'm doing what I can to protect our health, and the health of the planet.

This year we have joined a csa. It is called Rolling Prairie and we get a big bag of organic produce every Wednesday. One year we joined alone and ended up composting a lot of this locally hand-farmed produce. We just couldn't eat it all. So this time, we're splitting it with my parents.

This week we got a big bag of snap peas. I sat down at the table to shell them, and J wanted to eat one raw. Now, there's nothing like raw, garden fresh peas, so I said sure. J and N and I sat on the couch and ate the entire bag, like three peas in a pod. As N wisely puts it, mmmmmm.

We also got a little container of strawberries. They are tiny, imperfect, and melt-in-your-mouth sweet. A little bite of pure summer.

Posted by Alicia at 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)