Later this afternoon, I’ll be going to the homeless shelter to help cook the dinner meal. It’s my first time making dinner at the shelter. I’m usually the one cooking breakfast, but I’m unable to do that this month.
While my nine-year old daughter was in school, she’d asked me several times if she could join me. She still at the age where she wants to follow mom everywhere, and she’s heard me talk about the volunteers, other guests, and the wonderful time I have when there, it’s natural that she’d want to experience it too, and today she will. She’s excited about the fact that she will be able to help cook a meal.
What did I prepare at home?
I prepared a vegetable pasta using my spiral vegetable slicer. Vegetable pasta, is something I was introduced to years ago, through one of the raw food websites I frequented. Perfect choice for someone who want’s a healthier meal, or someone that can’t tolerate gluten (such as myself.)
Occasionally I’ll marinate my raw vegetable pasta for a few hours before I serve it. Vegetable pasta is usually made with some type of squash, but I’ve used beets, carrots, and occasionally cucumbers too. I use this the traditional pasta, since it’s a healthier option, and the pasta resembles your traditional pasta. Today, I used zucchini and made “zucchini pasta.”
I also made cheese steak for my daughter; of course, the one I prepared was a healthier option than what is usually purchased, but according to her it was still very tasty. No, she wasn’t just saying that, she’ll definitely tell me whether she doesn’t like something I’ve prepared.
I coarsely chopped steak into a skillet. Once it was cooked, I drained off the fat, and added the steak back into the skillet. Some seasonings were added along with finely chopped zucchini pasta (it looked like shredded mozzarella), green onions, garlic, and tomatoes, freshly picked from the garden. I let those cook for a while, and then added provolone cheese. Spinach leaves were added once it was loaded onto a crusty Italian roll.
Along with that, I made oven baked fries. I used four potatoes, cut them into potato wedges, added a mix of seasonings/herbs, and slid them into the oven. I had some of the pasta along with a delightful lentil dish I’d prepared yesterday. It tasted even better today.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to take a picture sometime this evening… before it all disappears.
I’m a “process crafter,” I enjoy learning a new technique.
In some cases, I’ve spent hours learning something new only to erase the project and start fresh. Most recently its been crochet, since I learned in December 2011. Occasionally I’ll learn something new with knitting, although I’ve been doing that for 33 years. When my daughter was younger, she used to be shocked that I’d erase a project… “Mommy, why did you do that, you spent a lot of time on that?” But as I told her, it was obvious that I was just learning, since it showed in my work… there was no way I was going to pass that product off as “complete” unless it was made correctly. I enjoy the process, regardless of the craft.
Works out perfectly for those people/groups that I deem “craft worthy” since I also don’t mind giving things to others…
I like to see items being used, and while I could keep all the items I’ve created, how useful would they be tucked away in some closet collecting dust? That, to me, is wasteful, since I don’t need to physically keep the items, to relieve the crafting experience. So yes, for me, it’s better to give those items to someone who’ll actually use them.
But here’s the thing…
I make the items for whomever I want, on my terms. A lot of the items made, go to someone besides me. And many of my crocheted,knitted, and sewn items are given to various charity organizations. But, the moment someone starts assuming I’ll make something for them, without even asking me, things change. I dislike self-entitlement, and for someone to automatically assume that I’ll make something for them, without even asking me first, is a bit rude. I’ll say no quickly.
I rarely make something for myself, that’s because I have what I need/want. But, I do have a few long-term projects in my queue…
Such as this gorgeous Sylvie coat, isn’t the detail amazing?
When I look closely at the picture, it looks as though they’ve used seed stitch too. I’ll be making mine a bit longer, currently I’m unsure of the color, and of course I’ll be deviating from the pattern a bit….
I really love what the designer, Mari Muinonen, did with the cables… just look at those lovely cabled flowers! While I’ve been making cables since I was young, I haven’t done too much intricate cabling such as above and so this week in my “creative” time I’ve been playing around with intricate cables. It’s been a lot of fun…
And this amazing knitted beekeepers quilt. I believe I’ve written about my fascination with bees on this site before. Well, I’m fascinated by most insects, and I absolutely adore honeybees. They’re hard workers. I’ve been fascinated with bees since I was a child, and would spend a lot of my outdoor time watching them, and studying their activity. I tried to follow them back to their home a few times, but that never worked.
But back to this lovely knitted quilt. It’s made by knitting hundreds of honeycomb shapes aka hexipuffs. I’m planning on making at least a queen size quilt… think about that, I’ll be turning yarn into honeycombs, which will then be joined to create a queen size quilt. That will take some time. This is an item that will be passed onto my daughter. The beauty of it is; she’ll be able to watch some of the process. I plan to start on knitting this quilt this Fall.
Question: Do you have any long term projects, it doesn’t have to be craft related?
The girls were ripping their old dresses and bonnets, sponging and pressing them and sewing them together again the other side out, to look like new
Farmer Boy
Farmer Boy, was one of the books in the popular Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Although I haven’t done what Almanzo Wilders sisters; Eliza Jane and Alice did, I have ripped apart outfits I’ve designed (and some I haven’t) and made other items out of them. It’s a great way to extend the life out of something I no longer wear.
A few weeks ago, I rounded up a few yarn crafted items that I don’t wear anymore, and put them in a “to be repurposed bag.” Eventually, I’ll start unraveling them. orial on how to unravel a sweater.
So yes… I have plenty of projects to keep me busy for a while…
Of course, my daughter already has asked me to make a Monster High tote bag for her using their signature skull. Tomorrow, I’ll be purchasing graph paper, and I’ll sketch a Monster High skull design onto graph paper. I’ll follow the design to knit it onto her tote bag.
Once my fathers knitted Bible cover is complete, and the hats have been finished; I’ll cast on the Monster High tote bag.
I didn’t remember the name of the musician who’d performed the song, what was of interest to me was the story line that accompanied the familiar melody, and so my focus was on that. Earlier today, I found the video I’d seen those many years ago. This version is performed by Ricky Skaggs; country and bluegrass singer. I love his music.
And just like with my former boss that I mentioned in my Too Busy for you post, I do remember feeling sorry for this fictitious dad who never found the time to fit his family into his busy schedule, how tragic.
I realize I could fall into the same trap, if I allow my priorities to get out of whack. As with many people I have a lot on my plate; mother, self employed, involved with numerous volunteer organizations… it wouldn’t take much effort on my part to be just like this dad and take those I care about for granted. I make every effort not to do that.
The examples I see of those who do take their loved ones for granted, and this song reminds me not to fall into that same trap. I make an effort to take that time, and include those I care about in my life. My daughter, trumps everything.
Father’s day is this Sunday. My how the time has flown. Unlike Mothers Day, I dont have items completed a few weeks in advance.
For some reason I was thinking it was later in the month, but that’s not true, since my daughters choir will be performing in church on Fathers day which is this Sunday.
I was a bit puzzled at what to do for my father. He’s low maintenance, and doesn’t make too many demands. But, the more I thought about it, I realized that he’d most likely appreciate a cover for his Bible.
It might sound simple or insignificant to some, but those people don’t know my father. He studies the Bible daily, and knows more than anyone else I know; Not just from the scriptural standpoint, but the historical aspect also. I enjoy our conversations about the Bible, since I usually learn something new not so much from a Biblical perspective, since I’ve read the Bible several times, but I learn a lot about the people/locations from a historical standpoint. He uses reference books to accompany his studies.
Video Tutorial: How to knit cable stitch with a cable needle
I do believe I’ll knit the Bible cover, and will use a cable stitch. Cable’s are stitches that are knitted out of order. The result is beautiful, and adds a touch of elegance to a knitted project. I’m sure he’d like the cover. A few months ago, I started crocheting a Kindle Fire cover for him, and I believe I’ll finish so I can give it to him this coming Sunday. A few days ago a reader emailed me for information on cables. And so I logged onto YouTube and stumbled upon this informative video.
Video Tutorial: How to knit a cable stitch without a cable needle
Although I can make cables without using a cable knitting needle, I tend to use them because I’m paranoid about something happening to ruin my pretty cables.
This is my 300th post on Celebrate Life. I have a ways to go before I catch up with my last personal site that had about 5,000 posts, but to be fair that site was around for almost four years, and this site is only two years old. In fact, for about a year on this site, I didn’t post anything.
The knitted hats for my daughter and I are being put on hold, while I work on completing the covers for my father, during my down time.
Sometimes, making time for my daughter, means putting things I enjoy doing on hold. I’m fine with that…
One of my pleasures has always been gaming. These days, I’m not doing that, since it takes too much time. I usually have gaming time during the cooler months, when I’m not as busy. My daughter is in school, and if my clients work is completed, I’ll play games for an hour, sometimes two.
When my daughter is around the free time I have is usually spent hanging with her. Being that I’m an early riser (usually up by 3:30 or 4:00) I use that to my advantage and work on my clients projects. I do the same, after she goes to sleep in the evenings. In doing so, it means I have time to spend with her when she awakens. This is especially important since she’s now off for summer break.
I ask my daughter a lot of questions, listen to what she has to say, and tell her often she can tell me anything. While I might not always agree with her choices, I’ll always be there to listen, keep my mouth shut, and think before I respond. Sometimes she tells me things that I don’t want to hear and on occasion, some of those things involve me, ouch! But when I think about what she says, most of the time I realize she has every right to feel that way, I apologize, and I work on ways to make improvements. Parents aren’t perfect, its important to apologize when we do something wrong. Children remember, as a child, I know I did…
No time for you
When I worked in the corporate world, one of my bosses (that I reported directly too) was the executive vice-president of four divisions. Her children didn’t have time for her. They were grown, living their own lives, and rarely included her. They tossed her in the “I’m too busy for you corner.” It hurt her, since she desperately wanted a relationship with them.
It was kind of sad, but she did create the situation. When her children were young, the sacrifices she made, usually meant less time with her family. She’d told me, that looking back she wished she did things a bit differently.
Occasionally I think about her, and wonder if her children gave her a chance to become part of their lives. Sometimes adult children hold on to past hurts; and while we might be justified in doing so. It’s certainly not helping us heal (emotionally).
Parents aren’t the only ones guilty of not having enough time. Anyone can, if they’re not careful. It’s important to make time for those we care about.
Cats in the Cradle; Did you know
Cats in the cradle, is one of my favorite songs by Harry Chapin. I liked this video since it showed a clip of his wife, she wrote the poem, and their son Josh. His wife said, Harry made an effort to put her poem to music after their son was born; a smart move since that was an extremely popular song. Harry was killed in a car accident when he was thirty-eight years old.
Harry Chapin: Cats in the Cradle
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew
He’d say “I’m gonna be like you dad
You know I’m gonna be like you”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home dad?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let’s play
Can you teach me to throw”, I said “Not today
I got a lot to do”, he said, “That’s ok”
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then
Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
“Son, I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while?”
He shook his head and said with a smile
“What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then
I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind”
He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job’s a hassle and kids have the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you”
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then dad
You know we’ll have a good time then
My brother and I didn’t watch television (in our house) until we were teenagers, my parents thought it was more important to improve our minds in other ways, education, crafts, exercise, thinking out of the box….
Even so, I still have fond memories of some of the commercials I saw when visiting family. Here’s one of my favorite from 1977…
Technology has changed a lot since that time, hasn’t it?
Today is different, I do a lot with technology. That’s my work, so I really have no choice. Knowing its importance I made sure my nine-year old daughter was prepared. And so I introduced her to computers when she was about two or three years of age. Computers were required in her kindergarten school, and she went to school knowing how to operate one.
While I recognize the importance of technology, and introduce her to things that will be helpful, I also recognize the importance of stepping away from it and interacting with her away from other distractions. I think it’s important to have that face time, so she’s not talking to the back of my head while my butt is planted in front of the computer, you know? Knowing that she’s my top priority, It’s important to treat her that way. I don’t want any “what ifs” in my life… I do enjoy my 1:1 time with her, and technology regardless of how awesome… can’t beat that interaction.
A few weeks ago, while commenting on one suituapui’s post, I really enjoy reading his posts the food he shares looks delicious, and I enjoy reading the occasional posts about his daughter. It’s nice to see other parents taking time for their children and it’s obvious that they are friends too.
Anyway, in one of my comments, I told him that I felt encouraged… When chatting with a lady who has four girls; teenager, nine-year old, five-year old, two-year old, and another on the way. She told me… “If your daughter loves to hang out with you now, she most likely will still enjoy tons of interaction with you as she gets older.” Just make sure you make the time for her, without all the extra technology crap. My response, “But of course, I do that now!
Ok, so I’m off topic, this post was just supposed to be about a vintage television commercial…. 😉
