Pond Scum

I have been worried about the fertility of the soil here as it is getting closer to time to plant a garden. Todd has been worried about the algae and leaves in the pond. A friend (Rachael R. from the Delta co-op) suggested to put the algae on the pond. I thought that would be way too much work.

But this week we had a 60+ degree day. The children have been asking when they can go swimming or at least get into the pond. So I made a connection...I told them they could go into the pond up to their knees if they harvested the algae for my garden.

My children would never decline the opportunity to get the water so they agreed. I sent J for Todd's minnow saning net. She returned with her "mucking" boots, his net and his fishing waders. It was quite the site.

J and G used the net. N help land the catch and we all dumped it into a plastic tub. I transferred it into the nearest thing I could find to pull it over to the garden site: a sled. Then I dumped it onto the sand that is supposed to make vegetables this summer.
They had a blast and got plenty dirty. It wouldn't qualify as the first swim, but they got a little wet. Even J outfitted to stay dry slid on an underwater slope and ended up with water in the waders via the armpit. OOOOhh cold!

My living room Shelves!!!

Well....it will be someday! Daddy...help me please. (It is so much cuter coming from a 2 year old) This wood came from trees we had to cut down to have the pond dug. It is mostly white oak and some maple. We had a local man rough cut, kiln dry and plane it for us.

For perspective I wear a 10.5 wide shoe. This is one of the wider baords. They vary because they were cut form the outside of the tree in.

This piece was on top. It looks like the alien from the movie Alien. I love to see the diferent grain marks and make us stories how they were made.

The place that looks like a cut mark is actually smooth so the color variation is in the wood.

Princess Photos

Once upon a time....that's how princess stories start right?...in a Walmart far far away M and I spotted a fairy costume that was too cute to pass up. But the price wasn't. A few weeks later the same pattern was a 99 cent deal at Jo Ann's so we snatched it up. Then she chose the closest green fabric she saw--fortunately we were standing right next the the clearance bolts that we also marked down. So my little fairly who has been on a Tinkerbell kick got the makings for a Tink costume. I told her when it warmed up I would make it--hoping to get some "real" clothes done first. But the "Real" clothes didn't take long and even with cutting and sewing together 16 petal pieces neither did the Tink costume.

She even flits around like a fairy.

Cinderella was searching through the 99 cent patterns also and had difficulty finding her size, but finally did. Then she found the fabric once again on the half off the clearance. It took a bit to find the poof and sleeve fabric, but using the coupons it was easier. So This is what Cinderella spent some of her Christmas gift money on. I asked her if she had money left to pay someone to sew it up. She gave me a scowl. Then thought about and started asking questions, but quickly decided that she would be patient until mommy got to it and not think about spending the amount of money it would take to pay someone to sew.

I had some trouble with lighting--I need a better place to take these kind of pictures, suggestions?--I tried to fix some of the lighting problems with Paint shop, but I need more practice.

I added 18 inches to each of the 3 skirt pieces...it is almost impossible for a princess to have too full of a skirt.

A Day in the Country

The dark spot is the big deer that interrupted story time this morning. It was very thick from side to side. Larger than others we have seen. I didn't see antlers on it. Here is another shot with the brightness reversed--it was about 30 yards away from the house with another larger deer, maybe a buck?, with it. But we never saw that one well.

N loves craft books. This week we studied the Cherokee Indians. Here N and M are planning.

Chief Babbling Brooke

Strong Brave of the Peanut Gallery

Retro Jumper

I finally am getting around to posting pictures of the Jumper I made before I made the S & S Romantic blouse to go with it. It is a Simplicity retro pattern. Before I cut anything I lengthened the bodice an inch, straightened the front darts and shortened the back darts. It fit amazingly well. I am getting pretty good at this fitting thing if I don't say so myself. ahem ahem. The only thing I needed to adjust was some how I got the bodice lining smaller than the bodice so I turned the lining into facing during breakfast the morning I wore it the first time. I also need to trim the front of the arm hole as it was too small to move freely and work in. I had enough fabric left over to make a dress for T. She is tall and keeps growing out of things. I put a 5 inch hem in her dress so it will last for a long time. She told J that she looked like Christine (from Phantom of the Opera).

Sorry the pictures aren't the best. My photographers in training aren't well read in digital camera settings.

Cats

We had the 2 girl cats. Recently we were adopted by this white and orange Tom. He has been named Creamsickle. He was the inspiration to get the ladies spayed today. He must have had some people before because he made friends with G. Todd wonders how long he will stay around now that the girls aren't going to be so interested in him. I hope he stays as he brings variety to the group and G loves all critters.

The Impotance of Proofreading watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OonDPGwAyfQ (I have no idea how to get the video on my blog, but I am sure it is possible).

I know I need to proofread these better. But unfortunately you do understand what I am saying and unless I get more complaints I will not treat this space like a term paper. OK maybe not until my students start sending me grades on them.