Thanks for all your words of encouragement and empathy on the clutter post. I am SO going to tackle that humongous stack of magazines and report in once I'm finished.

Meanwhile let's think of other things. (I can procrastinate with the best of them!)

Baab's really not a baby anymore. He's pretty much a free range sheep and just happens to think he's one of the dogs now. He even ran up to greet the mail carrier when she brought us a package today. If he starts barking, I will SO post a video!

Bill's doing well. He appreciates having his nose rubbed down with flyspray!

Buffy the Buff Orpington has hatched out another set of chicks. This time we left her alone and she's keeping them in the tall grass safely away from all the cats. Looks like this little guy is none too pleased about being away from his mom to have his picture taken.

And finally here's a Mary Jane photo for all of the Mary Jane fans out there.

Have a great week!

For some reason, our upcoming vacation totally has me in clean-out mode. The problem is figuring out what to do with all of this "stuff".

Tony and the boys came in the office to help me clean and organize my area yesterday, but didn't get much further than Tony's desk and bookshelf.

I just have so many different components to all of my stuff:

• household records & financials
• family photos, scrapbook items, mementos
  
• crafty type things
• homeschool books & recordkeeping
• homeschool support group items
• Office supplies
• Work 3-ring binders & magazines
  
• Magazines for reference

So, do any of you want to give me any pointers about organizing my office? Or better yet, just come over and hold my hand while I do it? I know that it's totally ridiculous to practically have a meltdown at the thought of trying to conquer the papers and magazines on my desk, but that's where I am to be honest.

And how do you all deal with old magazines? I don't want to turn into one of those people on Dateline who has cluttered her house with old magazines and paperwork until all that's left is a path to navigate through the maze of it all. Yet, we actually do use many of these magazines for reference or pass them along to others. They aren't your typical women's magazines. I'm talking Countryside (the most useful info around), Mother Earth News (lots of good stuff there too), Hobby Farms (I love them, but maybe I could part with them), Mary Jane's Farm (NO WAY, I'm getting rid of them), Country (I love, love, love all the photos), and then of course The Old Schoolhouse (non-negotiable - I actually have ALL of them to keep on hand for reference.)

We've got lots of fun stuff coming up for our family and of course, I STILL have to get things ready for the boys' fall schoolwork. AND we just got our first squash out of the garden yesterday.

There is always so much to do, but it's all very good and sooooo worth it!

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.  Mt. 19:26
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and will make your paths straight.  Prov 3:5-6

 

I just thought it would be fun to see if Juliestew could photoshop an eye patch on him just so we could see what he *would* have looked like if things had been worse.

 

Well it might not technically be the *world's softest*, but it is pretty cozy!


I saw the Chenille Backed Blanket Tutorial over at Craft Apple this past summer and was really excited when I finally got a chance to make one a couple of weeks ago.

I have to say that I give her tutorial 2 thumbs up!  I'm a total sewing novice, but I was able to do this project (with just a little bit of help) in just a few hours.


You basically just sew a piece of flannel and a piece of chenille right sides together, flip it inside out, and then do a decorative stitch around the edge.

I've got to tell you a secret though -

One of my friends helped me and she had the most la- dee- da sewing machine that I've ever used.

Just take a look at this baby -


It's a Brother SE270D Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine. This baby loads the thread, threads the needle, cuts the thread when you're done, and even stops and goes at the push of a button. You don't even have to use the foot pedal!! How cool is that?!

I wasn't sure if I'd like that feature, but it actually helped me to keep a steady pace rather than my usual poky puppy/speed demon fluctuations.

It's quite a bit more expensive than my little starter machine, but with all those extra features it was definitely worth it. I even did a really cool blanket stitch all around the baby blanket with it.  My little beginner Brother sewing machine is alright and everything, plenty sufficient for the little bit of sewing that I attempt, but using the la-dee-da machine made sewing this sweet little baby blanket even more fun!