About Tricia

I am Tricia. Momma of nine, homeschooler, artist, foodie and maker of all kinds of things. It's a pleasure to share here our family homesteading adventures, the things we make, and what inspires our days. Read more about my family and work here. Thanks for visiting!

Author Archive | Tricia

Silk screening and busy work

By on September 4, 2012 in Sewing and Crafts

My list of projects almost always exceeds the amount of time I have to actually do them all.  As I type this, there is a self imposed list of baby projects looming over my head reminding me that I still have not gotten to this or finished that.  I have ends to weave in, wipes to cut and sew and lest I forget that I really need to make new momma pads.

Since my parents arrived and have been taking over my duties I have had two things given to me.  One is more time to finish my projects, the second is a deadline to have this little baby while they are here for 10 days.  That seems like a deadline to me and anyone who has been reading this blog long enough knows about me and deadlines so hopefully this little one will not inherit my loath of deadlines and decide to stay in their spot longer : )

In the very beginning of my pregnancy I took a mental note of a onesie I saw somewhere which I just had to make before I went into labor and knowing that my due date (what is that anyway) is just 11 days I got out the freezer paper and started with the silk screening process.  This isn’t true silk screening, actually its more like making a stencil which you then iron on the fabric, paint over it then peel off once the paint is dry to reveal your simple design.  Anyhoo…we love making tshirts this way and have used the “silk screening” technique for the last 4 or 5 Christmas to make quick and fun presents.

Now I am off to visit Nicole work on some other little odds and ends, wash and put away baby socks and pajamas and make sure everything is just so…just in case.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

Comments { 0 }

These days…My weekly journal

By on September 3, 2012 in Weekly Journal

I know I didn’t publish my weekly journal last week so I will add it to this one.  For an explanation on each picture, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

This week we:

: :  found one last kale plant tucked in among the weeds next to one of our hoses.  I could not believe it looked so happy in the middle of summer.  (Note to self: throw some kale seeds in this bed on purpose this fall)

: :  canned up a bunch of corn cob syrup for drizzling over pancakes and waffles.  Corn cob syrup tastes amazingly like honey but with a buttery twist.  This will be the last of the corn cob jellies and syrups until there is local corn available again in late fall

: :  thankful for lots of pasta meals that can be thrown together with fresh veggies and herbs to get us through these last weeks until baby comes

::  found JP dressing Livie for morning mass to help out.   I have also noticed the other kids have been doing chores and just stepping in to help without being asked.  These are the things that make this momma happy

: :  have had to visit my chiropractor every week this last month to relieve the pain from that pesky pinched nerve in my lower back.  There are many chiropractors who specialize in taking care of pregnant women through the techniques invented by Dr Webster.  I am lucky enough to know one that learned directly from Dr Webster and he is amazing.  I walk in with legs of concrete that don’t cooperate and pain in my back and walk out ready to go

: :  painted a canvas to hang above the crib with a saying from one of our favorite story books, Love you forever by Robert Munsch. I have not been able to read it to the little ones lately because I get all choked up and cry

: :  the new kitchen counters, sink and back splash were installed and I love it so much.  It finally feels like my kitchen and I promise to share the photos when I get everything back where I want it

: :  we blew up my birthing tub (aka kiddie pool) and the kids had fun playing with it.  Unfortunately, it would not stay inflated so we had to return it and luckily the second one works perfect and is waiting for the big moment

: :  we watched for an hour while the concrete truck drove up to the barn and then just like decorating a cake, they roughly spread the concrete out evenly and then beautifully smoothed it out perfectly.  I have been waiting to have a floor in the barn for the past 5 years…I guess there is nothing like a wedding reception at home to get all those projects done

: :  made some wood polish to seal our new butcher block countertops.  Some beeswax and mineral oil and the counter tops are ready to use.  If anyone knows of a better oil that will not go rancid to use in my polish please let me know : )  I keep that little pot just for melting beeswax so that is why is looks so craggy

: :  baked a little cake for my babies “birth” day

: :  silk screened a onesie with a saying I saw on Pinterest in the beginning of my pregnancy

We are now just 2 weeks away from my due date and I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable ALL the time.  By evening I just want to crawl in my bed and working on anything is getting very hard.  Luckily, the cavelry has just arrived.  My parents came in from out of town and have set up camp in the girls room.  They are so amazingly wonderful and I am looking forward to lots of Cuban food and time to talk.  They are also infamous for doing every speck of laundry and cleaning that they can find and it couldn’t come at a better time.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

Comments { 0 }