Project Patricia

Project Patricia was started by two women, in February 2008, who wanted to help women and girls in Africa in a practical way by hosting a sewing day. Realizing the possibilities that this practical need could meet as a way to spread the gospel and teach girls about purity. They have teamed up with several missionary groups and organizations that already work in these areas.
Since I already have all the tools and skills needed to make the pads, I have decided to host a sewing day locally later this summer. I am collecting new and used sheets and towels to re-purpose in menstrual pads for women and girls. As soon as I get enough material I will get started.

Small engine repair

This semester there was a small engine repair class at our co-op, Smee and Curly would have liked to have taken, we are still kind of new, we are still at the bottom of the list for class picking, they didn't get it. Well, they got their own mini class at home. When we moved we had to start the lawn mower that sat for the last six months, our old landlord did the lawn himself. Surprise, surprise it ran for about three passes on the lawn, then putt, putt, sputter...cough...nothing. Peter Pan and the boys gave it a tune up, then it didn't do anything. While I ran errands, I stopped at the library and picked up two small engine repair books. Curly starts tearing the engine down and our neighbor comes over to lend a hand, turns out he has done this a few times before and walks the boys through a few diagnostics and says it's the sheer pin, so we look it up in the book...it says nothing about sheer pins. So off to the hardware store. Nothing more fun than a thirty minute drive for a less than two dollar part. I bought sheer pins, and each flywheel key sold so now they can fix any small engine. They, with the help of another neighbor got the mower torn all the way down, got the flywheel key in and the mower going. Now they are trying to fix two weed eaters that have died on us.

Happy Birthday

Tootles turned 3 last week, time flies by so fast. He is daddy's little shadow. Every waking moment that Peter Pan is home, Tootles is only one (three year old) step behind.
He was so excited with his gifts: 4 loud Tonka trucks, a backpack and a pop-gun from Vision Forum. He is a bit younger than recommended but with so many older brothers, he is always watched.
While I am wishing Happy Birthday's I should say Happy Birthday to my Grandmother in CA, and our cousin in NJ who will also be 3.

Answered Prayer

Back in January I posted about our desire for a more permanent place to live, with an area for a garden and animals, well God blessed with this and more. We have almost twice as much space in the house, along with lots of built in cabinets and a fireplace. The house is in much better shape,too.
We have space for our garden and a couple of animals if we choose.
We were able to move in almost immediately, and had help from some friends to get us moved quickly, which allowed us to be settled in before Captain Hook's busy end of senior year, I will post more later.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the place is cheaper, and our old landlord allowed for our deposit to stand for our final rent payment. Thank you Lord for our miracle.
Captain Hook put pictures up on facebook, but I can't seem to get them at this time.

Major Score...

I think I found my new favorite store.The Sonshine shop, some moms from co-op had been talking about it so when passed it by accident, I figured I would check it out.The worst deal I got was saving about $2.00 on coconut oil over my food co-op’s price but I needed some. The best deal I got was some toothpowder that I love normally $4.29 through the food co-op but I paid $0.79. Everything else I know was at least half what I would have paid at the food co-op and if I compared it to Whole Foods, my savings would be even bigger. I completely filled a small buggy (shopping cart for those not in the south) till it was overflowing --things were falling off the top with all of the organic foods and herbal teas and tooth paste for $100.00 including our almost 10% sales tax on everything, even food.

Update

It has been quite some time since I last posted, we have been extremely busy so here is what we have been up to since I last posted. We got another big snow--they actually had to send out the snow plow, I didn’t even know they had one. We got a good four inches, it was so beautiful before the snow plow came as the snow was untouched over the yards and roads--just one big blanket of white for as far as we could see.
We replaced our old Suburban we had for several years in CA with a 12 passenger van – I love the van. I can get from the front seats to the back seats without getting out, comes in handy with little ones especially when it is FREEZING outside.
The washer stopped spinning so we had to replace it. I decided to get the front loader type, so far I am glad I spent a bit more to get them. Toodles can help with the laundry so much more now that he can reach the buttons.
Curly turned 16; I am getting old, I am thankful for the little ones to keep me young. We have entered the birthday season, Captain Hook starts us in January, Curly in March, Tootles in April, Smee & Tinker Belle in May, Me in June and Peter Pan finishes us up in July.
We took a trip to visit my dad – it was a great visit except for us all getting the flu. Most of us got it while at my dad’s, one was sick while we drove home and Captain waited until the day after we got home. I pray that my dad and step mom don’t get it. Even the weather was perfect ,70-80’s tucked in between the snow storm and return of the cold.
I have been having fun with my friend’s serger. In one afternoon, I made five wash cloths and one cloth diaper – well I sewed/serged them as they were already cut out. Some look great, others….well, let’s just say they work.
The big bathroom tub has become Smee’s green house for starting plants, he has tomatoes, bell peppers, and flowers which are already coming up. I think he is going to sell the started plants and take some to church for the community garden since we have too much shade here.

Snow days

Being from CA and able to drive to the snow and leaving when we have had enough, I do enjoy looking out my window and watching it snow. The dead trees look so pretty with their dusting of snow. When we first moved here we thought it funny to hear 6 inches of snow causes whole towns, even cities to shut down for at least a couple of days. After being here for several years now, we have seen it snow several times and when the snow actually sticks, it is unusual to accumulate more than an inch. We have seen the road covered but not the yards because the road didn’t get salted, but it is rare to see the snow actually cover the grass. As I sit here typing I wonder if today might be one of those times, when I got up this morning, our yard was white, the grass is still taller than the snow.If it keeps going, Peter Pan may not be going to work.Hard to believe it was almost 60 degrees here yesterday.I do wish for enough to play or sled in, but it seems silly to drive to snow when it is snowing at your house.