Crafting Homestead

Category: Moving

Almost two years ago my parents suggested that we move into their house. It’s big enough for all of us and if we didn’t they’d have to sell it and down-size because it’s too much to upkeep now.

As an only child, the house would eventually become mine anyway, so why not. We agreed and at that point our lives started to change. We realized that the ties we had hoped to make in this town we both grew up in were not really existent. We just didn’t fit in anymore. Town was (is) slowly becoming a city and you don’t have to leave it to find nearly anything you might want. There are many big box stores, gobs of franchises and *at least* four Dunkin Donuts. Not to mention you can buy any make of car – they are all represented in this town. Anyway, during this process to move into Papa and Oma’s house we have learned so much about our plans for the future. We hadn’t really been thinking about it. We knew we wanted to have a motorhome when we retired (check) so we could travel to all the glorious places this country has to offer. We always heard other families saying how they are eager to go to Europe. Yeah, I’ve been to Ireland and Germany, it’s gorgeous there, but HEY NOW, what about *this* country?!? Am I right? I know I am, there is so much beauty right here. So many fantastic things. We want a simple life, for us *and* our children. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the youngest ones flew the nest like the first four, even though they promise they’ll never leave. (There are days I can’t wait for them to be 18…) However, we like the idea of having an estate where we live in the main house and we have two or three other tiny houses for them. Keep them close.

But for now, we have to pack up this place and move. You can enjoy our progress and learn from our mistakes.

  • Summer is almost here!

    It’s quickly approaching one year since beginning my blog. I had hoped to already be moved, definitely further along with being self-sufficient, and having a thriving blog business. However, although it hasn’t happened yet, we are still proceeding in that direction.

    The school year is almost over, just 4 more days, then a wedding, a week to prepare for a little vacation, the vacation and BANG, serious time.

    Things have been going fairly well. The crafts I have been making are selling at Stacey’s shop. Well, actually, I hope, find out today as I pay her rent for the start of my 3rd month with her. Hopefully she has a generous check for me.  🙂  I am about to place a large order of supplies for my stock along with another piece of equipment to help with the process. My husband is always so agreeable. He sees my commitment much more than he has in the past, yes he never denies me whatever I look to pursue.

    The crafts are only a part of the plan. They will provide the fun and peace in my life…and maybe even some cash to pay for necessities.  😉

    Truly the most challenging thing is having teenage girls. The rough daily mental plan I make for myself each day generally gets tossed right out the window as soon as they wake up. Yesterday was the first day of high school finals. One child didn’t get to finish one test because of some issue which happened during the last class under the supervision of a substitute teacher. So, a make up test (??) involving staying after school seems to be in order. The other teen only has one exam so wishes to not remain at school the entire day. Meanwhile, I *am* still working, two schools are on half-day schedule, but the third is not. Both girls attend separate high schools, about 5 minute drive away from each other, but 30 minutes from our home. SO…do I go to work (driving) for 3 hours, drive 30 minutes to school #1, drive her home, go back to work and drive for 2 hours, drive to school #2, drive her back home, go back to work again for an hour to keep them happy? This means that the few moments I could accomplish *anything* would be gone AND I would be driving in the blistering heat of the third day in our heat wave. I hate sweating. Yes,my vehicle has AC, but my large yellow tin can does not. That’s assuming I have “my” bus as yesterday it was out of commission, having to borrow 2 others. Am I complaining? I kind of feel like I am complaining.  🙁 Have I mentioned that I don’t like to drive? I know, wacky that I am a bus driver, but remember, that was  means to an end. So I could drive the motor home coach.

    Sheesh! I have typed a book already and we haven’t even talked about dance. So much more to talk about, yet, no time. I’m going to get ready for the day – STAY COOL and enjoy yours. 🙂

  • Quick Change

    If you have been reading my posts, you know I have three girls living at home. They are now 16, 15 and 7.5. We wanted the oldest to have her privacy and gave her her own room. We only have 3 bedrooms so the two youngest shared. It worked well, but that was a couple years ago when the tweens hated each other. They *finally* found some common ground and often spend time bouncing around between each others rooms. #mommywin I’d include daddy, but he’s not into computers, or internet, or any other technology, he just got a smartphone 2 months ago (hand-me-down from the 16 year old)…totally old school and i *LOVE* him for that.

    Anyway, since the teenagers have been getting along so well and the 7 years old seems to get in the way I thought we should switch. I wasn’t sure the 16 year old would want to share or that the 7 year old would want to be alone as it’s not as close to mommy and daddy’s room, but much to my delight they had thought the same thing just a week ago.  AWESOME!!!

    So, no sooner than I mention it and the two girls moving start packing boxes all the details were worked out.           

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    There’s always a catch, some fly in the ointment… The littlest used to *love* pink, but now she’s hot into purple and blue. CRAP! Her bedspread, curtains, rug, pillows, lampshade, desk…all pink. What’s a mom to do, I am *not* buying all new stuff because we’re switching rooms, heck we’re supposed to be moving soon anyway.  Hmmm, I can DYE the fabric stuff, paint the desk (again) and lamp…may have to replace a shade (so sad, i *love* that little lamp). Off to Wal-Mart.

    Soon all will be well. The trip to Lowe’s for paint will have to wait, not feeling*that* ambitious today. The best part: since I am no longer a huge fan of driving, but the 16 year old has her permit, she got to drive me around today…WIN WIN!  YAY ME! It’s a great day. <3

  • Recycling plastic containers

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    Some containers I like, they must be kept, no idea why. This is true for the containers that I will tell you about today.

    My favorite color is purple, my least liked colors are yellow and orange. I like and appreciate all colors, they all have a place in the world, they just don’t all draw me in, in fact, some repel me…

    WHAT?

    Where are you going with this?

    Oh, right…recycling. The containers I have gathered the most of are bright yellow, not a nice pale yellow like my kitchen walls (which I love), but bright, stinkin’ yellow. UGH! Something about the shape of them, the size I suppose, and the fact that I was going through them like wild fire. Finally after having so many, while packing I realized, “GOOD GRIEF! There are a tons of these!” Knowing full well that if my Honey found this moving box full of empty Nesquik containers he would chuck them (not even into recycling) and they’d be *gone*. Something had to be done.

    storage-3Simultaneously, while packing up some boxes to move I realized there were some random things floating around in my craft room. Like pins. The kind you keep and collect or swap. The ones that used to emblazon my denim jacket back in the day. There was a pin here, a pin there, a small pile of them in some dark crevice. They should all be together in one space. And key chains, some are relics from my teen years, some are just plain rings for some project I must have needed them for. Another pile starting, this one has paper shapes…you know, when you are making a scrapbook page or a greeting card and you punch a few extra pieces, just in case. Or the kids just find your punches and think it’s fun to make confetti with them. I can’t bear to chuck them, so pile them up.

     

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    Enter Nesquik. Good sturdy containers, but ugly as they are, that label doesn’t come off – must. cover. it.  OOOH, that cute shelf liner is saying, “pick me!” A couple quick measurements and cut with the rotary cutter. Yeah baby! That one roll of liner covered nine containers. I’d call that a complete set and a spare, but I do have more. tee-hee, gotta grab another roll or two.

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     The new homes for my keychain pieces, pins, paper punch pieces and more!

     

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    All that is left to do is label them. I think they’re great! They disguise the contents so my room looks nice. Maybe I will spray paint the lids with something translucent…is that a thing? Oh crud, something else to add to my list. :/

  • Happy 4th of July!

    This morning my honey went to his friend’s house to get them to take our pellet stove.  Ahhh, something else gone from the house to make our move easier!  Our friend brought his friend who may be interested in our motorcycle. He is! Just has to clear it with his wife.

    By the time my honey got back it was getting a little late, Delia was supposed to have a play date at 1:00. But we had to get to Lake Compounce to get our Season Pass ID cards and clear up our reservation for the RV and cabin sites. They didn’t give us our discount. Of course, we didn’t think about everyone else who would be there to enjoy the park.  UGH. So we had a nice long walk to the park, bag search, wait in line, get pictures taken and another reason for the visit was to get Delia some water shoes for her visit on Wednesday. All other stores we attempted to buy them from were sold out. Of course, once we made it through the gate – try to keep 2 teenagers off the rides… We had some fried dough, the kids went on a few rides, we bought water shoes and finally, headed home.  Only two hours late for her playdate. Bummer, I haven’t met the family yet so I’m sure that didn’t sit well.

    Get back home and try to finish getting this blog set up.  I think it may be published, but not sure. I need to alter the home page, but it won’t allow me to edit the link. Think it needs to be junked then start it over. Maybe I should have the teenagers set it up for me.

    Delia starts her Playground Camp in the morning and Alexandra goes to her high school program, not summer school. Once again it’s late, past my bedtime, but at least it’s not tomorrow yet!

  • A family day

    Today we woke up and went to the flea market again. We had to, we asked one of the vendors to hold some items for us. We got those and a few other items. Got them home, cleaned them off, and put them on display. Loving the new look we are achieving!

    My father-in-law stopped by to visit for a couple hours.  That’s always nice, he hasn’t been by in a while.

    The little one is going to Lake Compounce on Wednesday. Since there is a water park we wanted her to have water shoes so she doesn’t have to worry about putting shoes in a locker. Trouble is…we couldn’t find any!!!  Not even the “W” store had them. We will try one more place tomorrow.

    Back home and we moved a few more boxes into the Pod, then a few more items into the motorhome. Sat in there for a few minutes discussing future plans. We do that a lot.

    Today was a really nice day. I’m glad we still have another day together. We will get even more accomplished and have fun too.

  • I’m finally ready to start a blog.

    I have been tossing around the idea of starting a blog for at least a year.

    What should I write about? Who would actually read it? Would anybody read it?

    ARE YOU CRAZY? When do you have time to write a *blog*???

    Yeah, there is *no* time to write a blog. However, this little life of mine is whizzing right past me and my memory has proven over and over again to not be able to keep up.

    I want to document all these happenings. Someone might find something useful about my life (hahahaha, yeah right…more like a warning).

    Anyway, somewhere in between all the craziness that never seems to stop I am determined to create this journal of stuff. So bear with me while I learn to navigate creating a blog while also attempting to keep the kids entertained and stay on top of their chores, my chores, a new motorhome, preparing the house to sell, moving, birthdays, summer camp, and starting new schools in 2 months.

    Thanks for coming along for the ride!

     

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