Wool Ball
I made another wool ball for a quick (for sewing anyway!) gift. It turned out super cute and I got some more ideas in the process. A quick how-to:
1. Wash and dry wool sweaters to felt.
2. Make an eye-shaped pattern piece (I used a thick scrap paper) with size depending on what size you want your ball. For this one, the pattern piece is 2 and 1/2 inches by 6 inches. To make this pattern piece, draw the two measured lines to cross in center and then connect the ends with curved lines….see photo. After cutting it out, you can fold it in half to make sure it’s symmetrical.
3. Trace pattern piece onto 6 pieces of wool and cut out. Choosing the colors is so much fun!!
4. With right sides together sew the wool pieces together. Stop short a couple stitches from each end so you have room for all the points. This is the hardest part (for me) to get precise, but you can always hand stitch a wool circle on top and bottom to cover up the points.
5. Leave about a 2 inch opening when sewing the last seam so you can turn the ball right side out and add stuffing.
6. Now it’s time to make this thing look like a ball!! There are so many stuffing material possibilities! I’ve used the standard poly, ultra soft bamboo, small wool scraps, and even the wool lint from the dryer lint trap! You can even add a jingle bell!
7. Close the opening by hand-stitching. Keeping your stitches close together will make it less noticeable.
Makes the perfect little gift for a baby or young child!
Frozen Pancakes
So, Marin ate the previously made and then frozen pancakes this morning. I had a nibble too, and they tasted the same, just a little different texture. They were too small for the toaster (I tried it and one got really stuck!) so we used the microwave to heat them. I will be sure to just freeze large ones from now on!!
Delightful Rice Salad
This was so easy to make for lunch today- a delightful new recipe!
lightly process:
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 T balsamic vinegar
4 T olive oil
1/8 t salt
1/8 t pepper
1/2 c kalamata olives
2 stalks green onion
Mix dressing into 2 c cooked rice. Eat as is or with fresh spinach. Enjoy!!
Pigtails
Marin’s hair is long enough for pigtails and probably has been for quite some time! She leaves them be if she keeps busy. Can we say CUTE or what!?
The Dells
This past weekend we met some friends in Wisconsin Dells at one of those indoor water park resorts. It was so much fun, a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be. You see, it has been almost 10 years since my last water slide adventure! I was really curious to see how it would go with the little one. I think she had the most fun of all and her joy MADE the trip! We will definitely do it again!!
Mini Pancakes
Our pancakes for lunch (that’s right!) weren’t too bad for whole-grain. I made large (adult size) and mini (for mini-me), then froze some minis for future consumption. I’ll let you know how those taste, or rather, Marin will let me know and then I’ll let you know!
Girls Wii Night
Once a month, for 5 years now, my friends and I (we call ourselves the “girls” or sometimes “pseudo sisters”) get together for a special night of fun. This month it was Wii night at my house. I’m not a game person, but I guess because I am into fitness, I do enjoy a little Wii. It was a lot of fun dancing, fishing, playing tennis, bowling…and so much more, right in the comforts of home. I made a video of the girls dancing- it was going to be the first video on my blog!! But, somehow, it got deleted!! It might be a while before we have another Wii night, but when we do, well, keep your eyes open for an upcoming video. Thanks anyways girls for you efforts!
Cloth Diapers
We might have more than a year left of using cloth diapers, but I better get a post done now! Where to start….?
During my pregnancy I spent a lot of time researching and worrying about breastfeeding and using cloth diapers. Don’t get me wrong, like most soon-to-be-moms, I also worried about the usuals- like labor, delivery, and the health of baby. I am happy to report we’ve had no problems with anything and hope it keeps on that track. Full-time parenthood is the best thing ever and I am soooooo glad we are able to do almost everything naturally.
So, cloth diapers…they are great! I am one of those that actually likes doing laundry, and good thing, because that is the majority of the work involved in using them. Every 3rd day they have to be laundered. When Marin was a newborn we had about 10 different kinds of diapers because I thought that experimenting with different brands was the way to find what works best. Well, we have found what works best and I’d have to suggest to anyone interested in trying cloth, to go with the one-size styles. They are a bit bulkier, but they should last the entire time the child is in diapers. Ours are going on 18 months strong. We do have a few other styles that also work well, but they might not fit in a year- we’ll see, because this little girl has a very small tooshie!!
I could say a lot more about cloth diapers and may come back to this post to edit and add. For now, I’ll leave you with some pics!
Lake McKusick Walk
I’m determined to get out there any day I can for a walk, even if the weather is determined to be difficult! You definitely get a feel for the neighborhood area by walking around Lake McKusick. Friendly people who love nature are constantly strolling around and across this small shallow lake. Love that curvy McKusick Road too!
Earthball Recipe
I recently made earthballs for the umpteenth time. No one could ever get sick of eating earthballs! They make a great bring-along quick snack, freeze well, and are always a hit! This is a recipe you’ll be giving away.
1 c peanut butter
1/3 c honey
2 t cocoa or carob powder
1/2 c raisins
1/2 chocolate chips
3/4 c shredded coconut
1/4 c sesame seeds
1/4 c walnuts or pecans (chopped)
Put 1/4 c coconut and all the nuts in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl mix the rest of the coconut and all the other ingredients. Shape into balls and roll the balls in the coconut/nut mixture. Refrigerate for 30 minutes minimum.
