Growin' Up

Why is it that as parents, we are fully prepared for the first smile, step and word but the rest of the really big firsts completely blindside us? I cannot believe I just sent my middle dd off to a semi-formal dance with a young man in a suit who brought her flowers!! When did this happen?

I am so thankful for friends who willingly offer to loan dresses, fix hair and do make-up without a breath or second thought. Thanks to a mother-daughter friend pair, R left the house looking stunning and feeling beautiful.

Thrift Score!

Our town lacks good thrift stores. We now have 3. One I won't go to unless Hubster goes along because the owner/managers give me the serious creeps. Another one is mostly clothes but not in sizes any of us wear. The remaining one is the Goodwill which finally reopened in a new spot after a yearlong absence. I stop there from time to time because it's on the way to Aldi's, WM and KM. Most days I don't find much but in the past 2 weeks I've scored big. An excersaucer (baby thing) for $4.99. I am NOT pregnant. I am doing daycare again for a little guy my friend is fostering. Then today, I found an ancient GE Food Processor for $2.99...it had all these "extra" parts with it for the price and I couldn't figure out how this was supposed to use the extra blades, etc. Turns out I bought a GE Processor and an accessory set for an OSTER Regency Kitchen Center. Seems like those accessories are going for about $10 on ebay so if I get my rear in gear,list the set before the 30th and they sell, my food processor will be "free". Which I love. Typically, I try to avoid too many small appliances in my tiny kitchen but when I want to whip up large batches of things, a processor comes in handy.

In other not newsworthy news, I finished a pair of mittens for the parish mitten tree, MARIAH is now done except the zipper but R's wearing her just the same and I'm making apple butter because the local grocery store had apples on special this week. I wanted to try a small batch before I go to the orchard and buy a van load of apples. Sure smells good right now.

I hate posts without pictures but once again, a certain dd who shall remain nameless has taken off with the camera I normally use. I'll try to post more when I can find the time. Settling the new little guy (AKA LG) into a loving, caring family with food in the cupboards has taken a lot of time and energy. School is taking a lot more time this year as well since E is struggling with some math concepts. Who decided 2nd graders need to know how to "count by 3s and 4s"?? Seriously.

Uber Cool High Nerd

Love that History/Lit score.

Macaroni, macaroni

I'm trying to find a source for bulk macaroni elbows. Anyone point me in the right direction? Looking for 20 pound packages or larger. No, not for crafting either...for the pantry. Our local bakery sells foodgrade 5 gallon buckets with lids for $1. I use them to store flour and sugar in so far but will be getting one for rice and one for macaroni elbows if I can find them.

Long Rides in the Country

urge me to hurry up and find a country house. I had the opportunity last night to drive my dad home from a jobsite. It was a very nice evening for a ride and we took roads I have not been on in close to 20 years. E rode along since she's Gramps' shadow and every single farm we passed made her exclaim: "I can't wait until we live on the farm." Me too, baby, me too.

We live in a decent neighborhood. All families scraping by, willing to lend a helping hand when needed. Or share things about be wasted otherwise. The neighbor lady across the alley came over today with 4 packages of steaks. She'd planned to cook them for Tuesday dinner and her hubby decided they'd go out instead. Rather than let them sit in the fridge an extra night, she gave them to us. We haven't had steaks for a long time so I won't laugh at her hubby's silly notions about meat. Then after dark, the neighbor to the back of us offered fresh picked grapes for jelly-making AND said she'd be home all day tomorrow if I get stuck since I've not made jelly before. Her young grandson (about 6-7) picked the grapes so he could have homemade jelly but hadn't a clue he should stop after a bag or two. So we'll enjoy the fruits of his labor too this winter on homemade bread with real butter.

It was also a decent weekend for thrifting. I started Thursday afternoon at the Goodwill with a mission: long sleeve, men's buttondown shirts for a refashion idea I have. Turned out Hubster liked the 3 I brought home so I have to find more. And I found 2 very nice vintage floral sheets. One will become pj pants for me and the other will be stowed away for next spring to become some summery wear for E. Saturday morning E and I hit a couple of yard sales. A bag of vintage dress patterns for $2 (I think there are 12 complete!), a big shopping bag of crochet thread for R's projects at a whopping $1.50 and the piece that made my week: an arcylic sewing table that will work ok with my machine for $3! I looked the brand up online and found out that they run $50 + new so the sewing muse was definitely smiling on me that day.

The tomatoes are slow to ripen this year. First year I've not given them special treatment all season long and I do believe I'll go back to my Miracle-Gro ways next year. Hubster is going to pick some at the neighbor's tomorrow since she isn't canning them so maybe I'll get some canned tomorrow night after school, jelly making, dinner and all that. When will I find time to make rolls for dinner? Steak and baked potatoes sort of screams for some kind of homemade bread.