12:38 AM

"Why are you so hyper?" Mr F asks.

"Because I need to cut my hair... right now." I say.

"Don't you want to help me cut it?" I ask.

"No." He replies.

"Why not?!" I cry.

"Because... I don't want to be responsible for it looking bad." He explains.

"But I don't care. It can't look worse. I look like I have a Russian fur hat strapped to the back of my neck. Don't you think you can cut a straight line?" I urge.

"It's curly so you can't really mess it up... you won't be able to tell." I beg

"I guess." He grumbles.

"Okay, just come with me and I'll show you... it's going to be easy." I tell him.

15 minutes later.... buh bye mullet

Locksmithery: One More Notch In the Ole Self Competency Belt

Never one to just throw in the towel (that and not wanting to pay a locksmith) I kept working on that damn lock.
No budging.

Then when Sir Hugs-A-Lot (property dispute guy) came over for a signature I thought I'd hit him up for the use of his manly strength.

That's when this happened:

Yep, he immediately broke the key.

Awesome. Well that settles it, I thought, I'm going to have to get a locksmith out here now.

Dreading it, all of it: the finding a locksmith, the dealing with a locksmith, the scheduling of the locksmith, and the paying for a locksmith. I though to myself: "I can't make it worse". So I decided to disassemble the lock and see if I could slide the locking mechanism out of the door.


Bingo! I could.

Well too bad I hadn't trusted in myself FIRST.
Because, now I still had a cylinder with a broken key.
I was kicking myself for asking that big brute for help. If I hadn't I'd have had everything fixed by now.

Thankfully the internet was here to help.
I lubed up the lock and tried to pick out the broken key.
(One more reason to hang onto your jack-o-lantern saws, ladies!)
So frustratingly close but no cigar.

I thought I'd have to get a locksmith out here after all.
I'm still thinking locksmiths must be out there for a reason. This must be complex... no?
But why can't I just replace the cylinder?
A quick google proved I can... and for only 5 bucks.
Done!

The whole dismantling allowed me to repaint the door (bonus?!). Cause it's not like I had anything else to do.

And Ta-Da.

I did it.

I have to say I was feeling pretty proud of myself. I approached this whole situation from a fairly intimidated standpoint. It would have been the easiest route to just call a locksmith and hand over the problem. I'm glad I didn't. Not just because of the massive amounts of money saved, but because it's a good example for my girls... and for myself.

P.S. Kid woke up puking today. Proving that, whether big or small, I seemingly face some kind of crisis every single day.

Not To Toot My Own Horn Or Anything.... But... Toot Toot

So this was my creative project of the day...




It only took me a couple hours (and probably could have been much faster if I hadn't been interrupted... multiple times... but whatever). I found the pattern HERE. I used a scrap 1/2 yard of funky Roy Rogers fabric I was compelled to buy several years ago and a scrap ribbon. I didn't actually measure anything. It was really, really, simple. And I feel quite accomplished and proud of myself.

Just When You Thought I Couldn't Get Any Crazier...

after shower:

A little more dry:


Curious about the back?


Don't worry I did layer it! (and yes I know how... kind of)

P.S. Kid is going to flip her lid in the morning!

Easter... The Preparations

Today:
go to grocery store for jelly beans
prepare strata
dye 12 eggs
iron Easter dresses

Tonight:
assemble Easter baskets
hide eggs
fill plastic eggs for outdoor hunt (yes I've decided a few buried in the snow could be a really good time occupier!)

The Easter Garland:


(Yes I realize this seems somewhat unimpressive in pics... but let me tell you each of those eggs is sewn onto the ribbon with clear thread that has been threaded onto buttons inside the eggs to keep them on... it was a LOT of work... so BEHOLD it!)

Cheep Cheep

You know what they say about lemons and lemonade...

Well here we are stuck inside (and since today should have been a shopping day keep in mind that means I'm out of my essential treats!) while Baby naps away upstairs. But fear not... due to my excellent hoarding skills I happen to have a box full of simple unfinished wooden odds and ends I purchased... oh... a good thirteen years ago.

Sixty minutes of quality time later and I present you with the first Easter decorations of the season:

Saturday Night Fever

"Like American jazz, flamenco dancing involves improvisation. Its the dancer’s spontaneous expression of the moment’s emotions. The Spanish call it duende (DWEN-day). The word means goblin or fairy, but to the flamenco dancer it signifies an inner force that fuels an inspired performance.

A dancer with duende goes beyond technical mastery to vent his or her feelings, achieving a powerful, compelling dance. Those who aren’t singing may shout encouragement: olé or ¡baile! ¡baile! — dance! dance! As an observer, you don’t really see good flamenco, you feel it."



Thanks to Alexis Givens for the powerful description. No one could have said it better.

BEHOLD!

It may have taken me THREE years to complete but, people, I have finally finished Kid's blanket.
Sure I started it when we were first thinking of transitioning her to a "big girl" bed at age 2... which of course didn't happen until age 3 anyway. And yes I was able to get it 85% percent complete in a matter of days only to leave it floundering in that condition... usable yet unwashable due to the not quite completed quilting... for the last few years. Until now. Behold a freshly laundered fully quilted crib sized Pooh blanket loving crafted by yours truly. Does it matter that she is now in a real twin sized bed? NO. Or that she isn't exactly in love with Pooh? NO. What matters is... I FINISHED SOMETHING.

The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care

It's The Final Countdown

I'm not going to lie to you I've got a little bit left to do on that stocking. Keep in mind I said it would be done by tonight... so I haven't failed you all just yet!
In retrospect I should have just stayed up last night until it was done. I don't really have that much more to do but I've lost my motivation so in the meantime....

I Plan To:

Take a Shower
Cut Kid's Hair (always fun)
Put away the extra fabric, etc and find thread
Vacuum... damn needles!
Pay Bills (hey did anyone else forget that they still needed to do this?)
Wrap Up The Presents (not for Kid/Baby)
Re-wrap The Presents Baby Has Partially Unwrapped!
If I am a total Badass (and not too mad from the haircut) let Kid make a Gingerbread Train (yes I bought it people... cut me some slack!)

Haircut... The Discussion:

Before:Bangs & Front Shaping:Mrs F takes 4" of The Length:Finished Cut:

See Why I Fret?

This is Kid's stocking lovingly handcrafted by moi...

see the bead work?
and hand sewn appliques?
It took me many MANY hours to design, cut, layout, and hand sew Kid's stocking. This is probably my favorite artistic accomplishment. I mean lets face it... it is totally badass!

I have two and a half weeks to do something similar for Baby... or I'm one of those moms... you know who don't love their second kid as much as their first. You know those moms... like your mom... okay maybe just mine.

This is what I've got so far...

This Move Was Brought To You By Mrs F

I like to call this move "The Hangman" but Mr F thinks "The Scarecrow" is better. Either way this is a perfect move to interject in the middle of a good "Robot".. really mixes things up and keeps your peeps guessing. This doesn't look as impressive in stills.. but believe me this move rocks!



Be sure you keep your arms perpendicular and perfectly still moving only from the elbow.. or you'll just look like a complete fool... don't say I didn't warn you!
Now you too can busta move like Mrs F this Thanksgiving!

The Furious Clan Shows Off Their Moves

"Mom did you used to be a fancy dancer?"


Used to?... There's no "used to" about it!

The Donkey Pig

So this is what I've been up to this afternoon...


While the Baby slept I lovingly crafted (okay there were some threats being muttered) this nylon pig as described in one of Kid's books. As soon as I finished... 80 freaking minutes later... Kid (who instead of helping decided to slowly drive me crazy by loudly humming and spreading "fluff" around our house) pronounced... "Mom why did you make me a donkey pig?"

The Easiest Bread Loaf ?... I wouldn't go that far

"The Easiest Loaf of Bread You’ll Ever Bake"
(taken from King Arthur Flour's website)

1 T sugar
5 1/2-6 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 T (1 packet) yeast
1 T salt
corn meal
2 cups warm water (not over 110°F)
boiling water

MIX IT
Add sugar and yeast to warm water and let dissolve. Gradually add salt and flour to liquid and mix thoroughly until dough pulls from sides of bowl. Turn out onto floured surface to knead. (This may be a little messy, but don't give up!)

KNEAD IT
Fold far edge of dough back over on itself towards you. Press dough away with heels of hands. After each push, rotate dough 90°. Repeat process in rhythmic, rocking motion for about 3 minutes. (Lightly sprinkle flour on board to prevent sticking.) Let dough rest while you scrape out and grease mixing bowl. Knead dough again about 3 more minutes until bouncy and smooth.

LET IT RISE
Place dough in bowl and turn over once to grease the top. Cover with damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in bulk (1 to 2 hours).

SHAPE IT
Punch down dough with fist and briefly knead out gas bubbles. Cut in half and shape into 2 Italian or French-style loaves. Place on cookie sheet generously sprinkled with corn meal. Let dough rest 10 minutes.

BAKE IT
Quick Method: Lightly slash the tops 3 or more times diagonally and brush with cold water. Place on rack in cold oven. Bake at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes until crust is golden brown and sounds hollow to the touch.

Traditional Method: For lighter, crustier bread, let loaves rise 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 450°F for 15 minutes. Pour 2 to 3 cups of boiling water into roasting pan. Carefully place on oven bottom. Place bread on rack above pan and bake 20 minutes. Turn oven off and allow bread to remain for 5 more minutes. Remove, cool and devour!


*This is what we're having our steak sandwiches on tonight. I make it following the Traditional Method. After the 2nd rise and just before you bake them make three slashes in the tops with a sharp knife... totally professional looking! Also if you don't have cornmeal on hand use cream o'wheat (aka farina) or sesame seeds. I use Bread Flour when making this bread and have found I need about 5.5 cups. I stir in about 4.5 and kneed in the last cup. This is a sticky dough to work with but it is delish... and relatively easy.