Spring Things

Yes, I know the fabric resembles something worn by Blanche Devereaux on a spring date with a white haired man, but I found it enduring because it not only screams old lady from the 80's but spring, spring, SPRING! Can't you hear her drawn out southern voice saying it seductively? I was hoping that this project, like the wallet, would be easy like the front of the pattern stated. I found it to be more of a challenge then I had hoped for, and had to get help from the hubby who, thanks to years of playing with legos as a child, has the talent for visualizing how to create certain shapes. If I have a daughter she will play with legos. I hope she doesn't feel as crippled as I do in these situations. Next on the to do list is an apron for mom which I hope to give her for mother's day.

My two weeks of spring break are almost here. I have so many projects that I want to begin. First off is baking lots of homemade bread! I recently purchased Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day which promises dough that will last two weeks in the fridge. You make a big batch and scoop out what you need, shape, let it rise for twenty minutes, then bake for 30 minutes. If that is the case, I might be finally won over to the idea of baking my own bread. Before I saw this book, I was never really tempted with all the rising and kneading and TIME. You need rhythm to knead and I have none.

There is a hill at school that is covered with tiny blue flowers and the students and I can't help but comment on them every day on our walk back from recess. Anticipation for more blooming is almost overwhelming. No seeds have been sown in my garden yet. Tomorrow I have some time off and I hope I remember my camera.

Hobbies

I don't like the word hobbies. That word makes the learning process sound always enjoyable and easy. You don't call school a "hobby." Is a hobby something that isn't necessary, or something that's less important? Pursed for pleasure? Point is, I didn't like it when Matt referred to my sewing/crocheting/etc as hobbies. I told him Div School was a hobby. He shakes his head.
I do think that it's pleasurable, but I have other motives and reasons. Reasons that include not making the highlight of my week a shopping trip or only tasting culinary magic at a restaurant. Creating is a powerful thing. Power to the people.



I'm pretty excited about these two books. I heard about A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg from several of the blogs I follow, but also because she writes baking articles for Bon Appetit that I look forward to reading every month. Her and her husband just opened up a pizzeria. I think this, like Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, would be a great book to read with a book club. I don't have enough friends close by, but maybe Kerri would be interested in it or Whitney. That's an idea...
Embroidered Effects looks to be full of valuable information for someone who knows nothing about the subject, like myself.

Today in class I played soccer for approximately two seconds with the boys. I thought I was cool running down the gym towards the unsuspecting goalie, boys screaming behind, at my very heels, when I go to kick, miss the ball and send my shoe flying right at the goalie's head. There's no one cooler than Mrs. Ballard. Same thing happened with the shoe during science. I didn't realize how much kicking teaching involves.

I went to the library in search for gardening books. I'm pretty obsessed and I'm thinking about naming it or something. I've already called Dad asking when will I get a chance to come over and feed the soil some cow poop. I feel like it's a pet or child or something that needs my love and attention. As if the plowed patch of dirt is lonely all by itself, feeling unloved. By the way, Matt went back on his word and is so excited about our baby garden.

Obsession

Quickly wanted to post a few blogs that I waste hours of my life reading.
Posie Gets Cozy
Joy the Baker
Smitten Kitchen (this place is packed full of some of the most delicious meals/sweets I've ever seen!)
Shutterbean

Happiness

Today was all smiles. It was a time to sketch down images, comments, and thoughts deep into ones memory and keep them in a special place. Warmth and sun arrived.


Good memory #1: Starting the garden

Dad and I walked out to the over grown plot where he had once planted watermelons, but had recently used the area to burn branches and what not. Matt and I removed the rocks and sticks, along with old pottery and glass from decades, maybe a century ago. Dad informed me that the tractor didn't have breaks and since there was a dropping slope at the end of the garden, he should do the driving, not me. I tried not to seem too disappointed. Already more help then I wanted. I wish I had brought my camera. It was the prettiest dirt I have ever seen. Red clay was present, but Dad said it was a special kind of red clay, and lots of dark, almost black soil. I picked up earth worm after earth worm, bigger than the last, feeling sorry that I had disturbed there winter slumber. So that's all that was accomplished today on the garden. Next week, after the soil has dried Dad will have to use a harrow to "hare" the garden. Then I have to apply tons of composted cow manure to it. A good couple of inches worth. Then I can sow cilantro and lettuce since they can germinate and grow in cooler temperatures.

Good memory #2: Spending time with the family


My great aunt Helen brought over an old eight millimeter video filmed back in the fifties. We all watched the children riding around on ponies, my Nanny dancing and acting silly like she always did, Little Granny shacking her head, Big Granny sweeping the porch, Charlie Beal, my great grandfather, wearing a woman's hat and a blanket pretending to be an old lady. My aunt leaned over and said to me, "That's what I liked most about Nanny. She always had a good time." That is still a big deal to everyone in my family. You always need to have a good time. I couldn't get over the flowers in the video. Giant red roses growing up the side of a building, rows of huge irises in pastels. It was inspirational. Once I get this vegetable garden down, I'm moving on to flowers. Less practical, but more beautiful.

Good memory #3: Getting to chat with Whitney whom I haven't seen since May. So excited to learn that she also got a sewing machine for Christmas and is getting frustrated with sewing. Kindred spirits we are! Plans are in the making for spending time together.

So, nothing is especially unique or rare about today, but everything has made it a day to remember.

In like a lion...out like a lamb...

Thoughts on Valentines Day (which is over and done with):
I don't place any value in Valentine's Day as a day to celebrate love. As hard as it might seem, you have to do that daily. I do love red though, and hearts, and cards. So in some ways I like being reminded that I should cut my cookies out into heart shapes (though I wish I did it more often), and use red sprinkles. I made these delicious cookies from Everyday Food for my class. I was scared they wouldn't like the deep dark chocolate flavor, so I added a buttercream icing and sprinkles. Yum. I knew I would barely have enough dough to make the 19 I needed. I miscounted ate two that night, and as I was putting them up to take the next day, I counted and only had 18. I had just enough dough to bake a round cookie about the size of a silver dollar. I was thinking of all the excuses I would have to give the next day, how I would make it up. Luckily, a student was absent and I got stuck with the little sad cookie. I have this one student who always saves any candy or baked good I bring in to take half to her mom. I think that's so sweet.




I cannot wait until spring. I think I've said that a thousand times this week. I took this picture last year when spring started to creep up around my parent's house. This year dad is going to plow a small plot for me (since Matt has declined to participate in the garden project) to attempt to grow my own vegetables. I could mooch of their garden and help out here and there, but I want to try this out on my own. I want to to learn all I can, and do plenty of hard work. I can't let all the knowledge my parents have stay just with them and go with them. It's valuable and useful. I want to have that knowledge too. I want to do it all. Which is why I'll start off very small. I want to have three varieties of tomatoes, including romas, beefsteak, and a heirloom variety, two zucchini plants, two squash plants, three bell pepper plants, and a row of cucumbers, two basil plants, thyme, cilantro, parsley, and dill. Too much for a small garden? Probably. I'm not a huge fan of beans, so I left those out. Dad will plant an obscene amount of hot peppers and corn, so there's no need to plant any of those.
Watermelons? Cantaloupe? I don't know yet. Still pondering.


Reasons to pine for spring: dirt, skirts, birds, noise outside, sun, green, buds, flowers, spring break = time for projects.

I get five weeks off for summer since my school is year round. My big project for summer is a quilt. Researching patterns and how to. Luckily my mom and Matt's mom know tons about the subject.

To Do:

A Dime a Dozen

I'm sorta feeling like my blog is like a million other women who keep themselves busy with arts and crafts, baking, and buying cute stuff online. I don't think any of these things are invaluable, but I still feel a little like a copy cat. I have no idea how to make this more my own, but the question is on my mind.
Thought on Walmart: I shop at Walmart. I tried to boycott the place in high school after doing a paper on child labor and reading Nickel and Dimed, but I find it hard to keep away from the low prices that are driving countless small business out of business. I go into Walmart for a few quick items and walk out completely depressed. Walmart is the perfect place to go to see people at their ugliest. Aisle after aisle I hear parents shouting at their children, setting the perfect example of how not to treat a human being. If the parent isn't shouting, then their the children are screaming, demanding stuff, angry and annoyed. Why Walmart? Why don't I see this when I enter the Weaver, a local co-op? Climbing off my high horse now.

I got two of my favorite birthday gifts from the husband and the bff:



I love small jewelry, especially jewelry based off nature. The pine cones are from Light Years (thanks Kerri!) and the olive branches are from Urban Outfitters.

I've also found a lot of older pieces that I'm falling in love with. I can't remember where this broach came from. It was either my Nanny who gave it to me for my tenth birthday, or my Great Aunt Irene for a birthday years ago. I love the way it looks on a chunky scarf.


Bad things about today:
cold rain
hyper students
long staff meeting
exhaustion
5:45 ending sleep

Good things about today:
warm classroom
warm apartment
hugs from students
chicken pie
sweet tea
husband's smile