If you let your kids do stuff...

If you let your kids do crafts, they will eventually start without you one morning.



If you let your kids use tools, like scissors and hole punches, they will learn to cut.



You will also sweep up a mess like this at least once or twice a day.



You will probably also end up eating breakfast mid-project.



But, they will ask you for playdoh instead of TV...



And they will amaze you with what they can do all on their own.

Holiday Decorating for the Rest of Us!

I often have visions of the gorgeous homemade seasonal decorations that I lovingly handmake for our home. Then reality strikes and desire, time, money, and talent do not align quite properly for those visions to become reality.

That's when you get creative (and go to Wal-Mart!).

Ta-da! Almost instant Halloween window decor:



Daytime


Nighttime


$0.97 Halloween Stickers
1 sheet each orange and purple construction paper
scissors and scotch-tape

plus the kids helped! now go decorate!

Spring has come to Texas

I promise I have been knitting... and crocheting too!  However,  I can't seem to finish anything... so I need to get an "On My Needles" post together soon.

In the mean time, we are enjoying spring.  And, lots of winter rain means lots of spring flowers this year.


Purple Salvia, reseeded for a third year on its own!


One of our newest rose bushes, rescued from the Walmart clearance rack two falls ago.


Forgot its name "fire-bush-thing".


Very exciting BABY PEARS!!!!


Just starting to bloom amaryllises.


And, a really nice place to swing my babies. Love that tree.

Keeping a List Journal

I have started keeping a journal.

It is not a real journal, but a list. I love lists.

Many stay-at-home moms swear by having a day planner with their list of goals and activities. I have tried this. It does not work for me. Something happens during the day that changes all our plans, or I plan to do three loads of laundry and end up only washing one load and forgetting to switch it to the dryer... then when I look back at my "plan" at the end of the day I shake my head and wonder what happened.



My List Journal is just a record. A record of our activities. A way to look back at the day and say, "hey, we really did a lot today!"

I really want to use it to write down the little things... like what books we read, or something funny Helen said, or how Clare fell asleep - since that changes everyday! I also like using it to keep track of what we ate or what type of activities we did. And since I keep it on the kitchen counter (yes, that is my messy counter!) and add to it in little bits throughout the day, I don't have to set aside time in the evening to reflect... and that is a good thing as I am usually only in the mood to sit and knit by then!

Try it! You might like it!

Organizing a Closet for Two Children

Fitting two children into one closet can be a challenge... especially if you are trying to fit ALL their clothing.  I have a few tricks I would like to share about how I have organized my girls' closet, and if you click the photo above, it will take you to Flickr where I have labeled the photo with what is stored in each drawer.

How to have two kids clothing in one closet without chaos:

1. Keep clothes separate. Just because they share a closet does not mean their clothes need to be all mixed up together.
2. Have a system. Our system is simple: tops on hangers, bottoms in drawers.  The only exceptions are pj tops and onesies... I like those in the drawers. Another mini system is that empty hangers get moved to the center. This helps keep the clothes separate and makes grabbing hangers when you are ready to hang clean clothes easier.
3. Only keep the essentials in the closet. We store all out of season clothing and future "grow into it" clothes in labeled plastic bins under the daybed or in the garage.
4. Make it easy. We keep all the shoes tossed together in the crate because it is easy for everyone (even our two-year old to put them away. Her drawer is also the bottom drawer so that she can easily reach her clothes. I also put labels inside the drawers to "help" my sweet husband when he is putting away the girls' clothes.

Under the bed.


Helpful labels.

Now, if only I could keep my own closet this organized! Any tips??

Our Family's Pantry Staples

I have always loved reading other people's lists of the tried and true foods they always keep on hand. I consider my "pantry" a combination of the actual pantry and the freezer and fridge.  Any long-keeping foods are pantry foods. I also try to keep track of the meals I can make from these tried and true items, so today's nap-time edition of Lonestar Knits is my list.

Pantry (not counting spices, oils, etc)

• Canned Goods
• Diced Tomatoes
• Refried Beans
• Blackbeans
• Chickpeas
• Salmon
• Dry Goods
• Unbleached White Flour
• Bread, various kinds
• Oatmeal
• Whole Wheat Pasta, Various kinds
• Corn and Wheat Tortillas 
• Brown Rice
• Dry Lentils
• Other
• Potatoes (Fingerling) 
• Onions (Yellow and Red)
• Chicken Broth

Fridge

• Dairy
• Milk
• Eggs
• Cheeses (Shredded Parm & Mexican Blend!)
• Sour Cream
• Butter
• Other
• Salsa
• Garlic
• Soy Sauce
• Mushrooms
• Carrots 

Freezer

• Veggies
• Corn
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Meats
• Ground Beef
• Beef Kielbasa 
• Italian Sausage
• Prepared
• Homemade Tomato Sauce
• Mrs. T's Pierogies
• Cooked and Frozen Beans (cannellini and others)

Pantry Meals

1. Spaghetti (obvious), various varieties
2. Pierogies and Kielbasa
3. Lentils, Sausage, & Rice
4. Salmon Patties (add fresh spinach salad)
5. Mushroom Pasta w/Ricotta (add Ricotta)
6. Breakfast Tacos
7. French Toast or Pancakes
8. Veggie Stir-Fry (add other fresh veg on hand)
9. Pasta with Chickpea-Tomato Sauce
10. Mexican Taco Casserole
11. Chili, meat or veg
12. Pasta w/Red Onions, Spinach, and Mushrooms
13. Cannellini Bean & Sausage Gratin (with a few minor substitutions)
14. Eggs (of course! Scrambled, Fried, Frittata, Omelet, you name it!)
15. Oatmeal Cookies (not a meal... or is it...)

I am sure there are many other combinations! 

What are your favorite pantry foods and meals?

Thankful for a Versatile Home

I admit that I am not good at "before" pictures... I always forget to take them until we already have the "after" ready to go.  My sweet husband has had the week off for Thanksgiving and took it upon himself to rearrange a little nook in our kitchen.  Very recently this nook was home to our "office" which now resides in our master bedroom... away from little hands that want to press buttons.  And now this space is our official play area - it unofficially was before... just the little one played with things that we didn't want her to touch!

After seeing what a nice little area this makes for our daughter, I am pleased to say we live in a very versatile home.  Over the four years we have made our home here, this nook has been a breakfast area, a computer room, a sitting area, and now a play area.  How nice it is to be able to transform your home to suit your needs with very little time or money.

I hope someday soon to set up Helen's play kitchen in this nook (it is on order with woodworker grandpa). I know that over the next few years this nook will serve us well, giving the little one a place near mommy to play.

A Place for Helen