Progress

Sort of....




Now to find a couple of chairs for the desk. I'll probably try and find a couple of thrifted ones but I'd really love to splurge on these or these. I also need to figure out what will go on the top shelf and maybe hang a couple cute (vintage?) educational posters over Steele's work area.

Anybody with a mac know the proper way to clean the screen?

Longer or Shorter?

Sorry for the terrible pic. Posting won over editing.

In pursuit of some more organization, Justin and I purchased 2 Lack shelves from Ikea. Originally, I was going to hang them to the right of the map but after thinking about it and realizing we really don't use the world map all that often yet, I've decided to move the map and hang the shelves above the desk. Plus, I think if I put them to the right, it all might look a little too crowdy. That's the technical term, of course.

So here's my dilemma: the shelves we purchased are a bit shorter than the desk. Perhaps just a tad bit narrower than the map. I'm wondering if I should return them and purchase ones that are a bit wider than the desk? Anyone out there with some design experience that might now? What's more pleasing to the eye? And please, I'm open to your thoughts even if you don't have design experience. I'm also worried that I might not even have enough stuff to fill up two long shelves.... and then will they look funny and bare? Thoughts?

Also, as a follow up to my last post and as a result of thinking about all your helpful comments - I've come to the conclusion that I don't necessarily have too much stuff... although we could all use some healthy purging from time to time, yes? The main problem, as far as I can see it, is that I don't have resourceful and logical places to put my stuff. Thus, the shelves and some new storage containers etc. But I have a goal... March 4th. On the to-do list: organize stuff, build kitchen benches, build bunks in closet for kids, paint bookshelf, find fixture for school room, move chandelier to bedroom, grow baby, find a name for said baby.

ps. Yes, there is always more to think about than shelves. ie. school planning, character building, birthing anxiety, etc etc but lately I only have the brain energy to think about shelves. If you want some good meat, be sure and visit my good friends Jodi or Stacy. They've been posting some great stuff lately. It makes me feel free to talk about shelves and just enjoy their meat.

Stuff

Just a quick post this morning because I'm feeling especially exhausted and nauseous. There is an "issue" that will not leave my brain though... so I'm dumping it here temporarily in hopes that someone out there might be able to impart some solace, empathy, tips? And at the very least, to be able to stop thinking about it for a little bit.

It is the issue of STUFF.

This is the current state of several areas of my house:

hat, apron, gift, Steele's money, paint sample, papers, 2010 Christmas cards
phonics readers, catalog, kitchen light, Xochi's jeans, money
fertility clinic info, tea, cds, pencil sharpener, seeds, mail etc etc

special card, Bible cds, necklace, tax stuff, Bible, sewing supplies, knitting needles,
external hard drive, coffee, jazzercise notes, hand salve, telephone,
receipt, air sprayer thingy, etc. etc. etc.

knitting supplies out of reach of little hands,
adoption tax stuff, sunglasses a friend's son left here, more cds, lint stroller, pencil sharpener
frame waiting for picture, non-functional ipod

Steele's shoes, miscellaneous toys, library book, advent notes
laundry, playmobile spear

sewing supplies, elastic thread, Netflix movie that they weren't supposed to send
since we downgraded, Knitpicks catalog, spring table runner,
National Geographic mag, Voddie Baucham cds

Do you see the trend here?? It's stuff!!! STUFF everywhere! Stuff that doesn't have a home, stuff that I want to keep, stuff I wish I could throw away, stuff that other people gave me, stuff I need to keep for a little bit, stuff that I'm working on, homeschool stuff, craft stuff, kid stuff, stuff that I left out, stuff that others left out. Too much stuff!!

It's driving me batty. I'm embarrassed by it. I'm irritated by it. I don't know what to do about it. I don't have the energy to do anything about it. It seems that every time I clear stuff off, it just piles back up again. And the worst thing? Sometimes I put stuff away and then when I need it, I can't find it again.

At the core of it all, though, is a desire to live simply. To have my life, my home and my brain uncluttered. To not live in excess, but to live contently. I do want my home to be warm and charming - I'm not a minimalist. But it is a difficult balance. Can you relate? A little? A lot? What have you done about it? What would you like to do about it? What do you do with all of it?

Fair Tips, Tricks and Favorites

It's that time of year again folks!! Fair time! Aside from Christmas, it's pretty much my favorite time of the year. Seeing friends, hearing the screams of the carnival riders, smelling all the yummy treats, walking through the animal barns, listening to the music... oh the nostalgia of it all. If you don't already have plans to go, make some now. And when you get there, head straight to the poffertjes stand and get yourself a plate (or two) of them.



I've been wanting to do this several years in a row but have never gotten around to it - so I think it's about time. After all, the fair is starting TODAY. Soo....Do you have a favorite at the fair? A special "secret" meal deal? A must-see but perhaps little-known event? I and my fellow fair lovers want to know about it.

Here are some of mine:

1. Lemonade - I just found out about this one yesterday via my friend Tricia who apparently found it out from Colleen. Evidently, if you buy one of those big 32 oz. lemonades (which I've never bought because, in my opinion, they cost too much money... $6, $7?) you can refill it again all week for only $2!! And get this - not only all week, but EVERY YEAR... if you save your cup. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me. I'm totally doin' it.


2. Grandstand Horse Events - Every afternoon and evening in the grandstand before the main shows there are horse events that we all love. Crazy eights races, chariot races, Clydesdale parades, horse competitions etc. It's really exciting and fun and I never knew about it until several years ago. We'll probably go a couple of times this week.


3. Chocolate Milkshakes - We found this one out from Colleen too... I'm starting to see a pattern here. Chocolate milkshakes from the Dairy Women. Justin gets one every night as we're leaving the fair. He doesn't drink milkshakes any other time of the year - just this one week. They're good.

So there's a start for you.

Please share all of your personal favorites in the comments section! We can't wait to hear!!

Oh yah!! And does anybody know about this $2 bill thing? Our friends from Ecuador shared with us this morning that apparently people save their $2 bills to spend at the fair. Is this true? Is there more of a story behind it?? We want to know.

Sowing and Reaping

Sowing....

Baby: 10 weeks

Reaping...

Contemplating cucumbers...

Grammy and Xo

Cucumbers, garlic, chiles

My mom filling jars

42 quarts

I won't bore you with all the details. But these two things are pretty much what I've accomplished over the last 10 weeks. The rest of my time has included a lot of nausea, weeping, anxiety, laying around moaning and carbs. "Anybody want toast for dinner?"

I wouldn't be honest if I tried to sound any cheerier. Things are looking up though. There is light at the end of this first trimester tunnel.