A great DIY thing to learn

Disclaimer: I'm not a professional at cutting hair. 

 Anyone with more than one boy (who we all know grow at astounding speed), or a Hubby (who has neither the time or expense for monthly cuts) could do themselves a favor and save a fortune by buying a clipper kit and get started teaching themselves how to cut hair while their boys are relatively young and non-judgmental about their hair.  Even with a coupon you're gonna spend $10 a head every 6 weeks.  Multiplied by my three (and I used to cut four of them) that's about $260 a year and that doesn't include the tip. Buy the clipper, and you've saved enough already to put a dent in the back to school clothes.  Think about it!  And, by the way, I think they all look very nice! 

Good job, Rustown Mom.


Gina

 I linked this post to:

So far, a few

Here's the progress on my alphabet letters:

This is harder than I thought it would be.  And I don't want to repeat pictures for letters.  So I have to find another N, another A, and an R.  And I'm wondering: do all of the letters have to be oriented the same?

I think I have "Project ADD".  I just bounce from one thing to the next.  Sometimes before I think it all the way through!  I still have that hands project to do, too..

I get so many good ideas from all the blogs I really enjoy reading!

Mr. Helpful

Bubbie helped me make this today:

 Our version of the Coca-Cola cake, made with Dr. Pepper and a little cinnamon.

 And then right after that he unloaded the dishwasher. 

Monday, you recall, he helped me with this project:

He was the one who removed most of the hardware so I could paint it.  As soon as I get up from here he has offered to help pull weeds in the yard. Sometimes I wonder what I would do without him.  He loves to be with his mom, so I am enjoying that as much as I can.

Unlike this person who stands at the screen door asking when dinner will be ready, or can I fix her shirt. We could call her Miss Unhelpful, but that would be unkind - she's wonderful in her own way.

Ha!

 Sweet.

The cake, too.

Gina

this post linked to:Chatting at the Sky's "Glimpses of Home"

New recipe success!

 

 Rustown Art

We had an absolutely delish dinner tonight...and dessert, too!  Somewhere in my travels I found a recipe for Mexican Stroganoff, and had been wanting to try it.  Strips of round steak are sauteed with onions and garlic, then covered and simmered for an hour with chili sauce, chili powder, season all salt, paprika, soy sauce, and water.  When done, you stir in the sour cream....oh my goodness it turned out so good!...we had it with rice and a side of zucchini.   For dessert I made and oldie but goodie - Mandarin Orange cake.
 This dinner in no way is helped me eat healthier and practice restraint....but for some reason tonight, it sure hit the spot.

She's an MVP to us, too!

Last night was The Girl's high school basketball banquet

We are so used to seeing the girls in gym clothes, with hair pulled up and  working their game,  it was nice to see them as they really are - beautiful young ladies who are getting ready to leave high school and go out into the world.

  Seniors 2010

They all seem genuinely to enjoy being together and have played so well as a team this year.  Most of them have played together since middle school, and known each other since kindergarten. They will take separate paths, but probably remain friends.  It's nice that they will have many happy memories
of their basketball days.

 

I know The Girl will miss them all, especially her favorite coach who was also there for her in Cross Country, too.  She made a beautiful DVD keepsake set to music that included interviews with the girls, their teammates, coaches, and parents.  

Our MVP!

We hope she takes from basketball all of those life lessons, always looking forward to the next challenge.

Good season, Coco!

Gina

Happy 80th Birthday, Mom!

I visited my mother in Brenham yesterday to celebrate her 80th birthday, and even though I was still recovering from a bout of food sickness (mental note: skip the Chinese soup next time!) we had a nice visit.  We didn't go anywhere, just hung out around the house; she ran a couple of loads of laundry and hung them while I snapped pics in the yard.  She refuses to use her dryer, but I think it's good for her to be outside.

 

 

 

 

It was a really beautiful morning. We ate a lunch of meatloaf, mac-n-cheese, and broccoli from Central Market, looked at her new quilt projects, even cleaned out a few old clothes she needed to get rid of.  I wish I could spend a whole day there, helping her clean and organize things.

My mother's home is full of lovely things, both indoors and out, and in the yard, and all around her, trees are blooming and plants are budding.  And it's almost time for her to get started on her Spring garden in earnest.

Even the bees and ladybugs are ready to get to work.

I hope my mother has many more planting seasons to come.

Gina

In like a lion?

Rustown Art

Is it already time to start thinking of Easter?  It comes in about a month; always sneaking up on me, and I don't get to leave my collection of loved items out long enough.  The little porcelain bunnies I display in the china cabinet, the crystal egg I like to hide a treasure or two in, the handmade basket of plastic eggs Bubbie made in Mother's Day Out, the glass stones that are etched  "He died for You" - I love those.  They were handed out one Easter at church.  At the same time, I'm still enjoying cooking cold weather food, such as taco soup, in my crock pot.  I guess March is really a transitional month, easing us into Spring.  I love the cooler days mixed with lots of sun - it really inspires me to get moving. 

How about you?

Hands

I'm working on a "hands" project - just for my own growth in photo journaling.  I want to show the hands of members of my little family as they go through their day...as much as I can, since we are all far-flung throughout the day....I will lure them all together with food...tonight it's baked meatballs, scalloped potatoes, toffee brownies...I think it will work.  Anyhoo, here are the first ones I've taken:

 This person does more in one day with their hands than many people do all week.  Very busy, very social, and "on top of things".  You don't have to nag this person and they wish you would bugger off!  Unless you're doing laundry.   Then you can be friends.

This person craves down time.  Gets grouchy when there are more than two demands on their free time. Very sensitive, cares about the feelings of others, too...likes to stay "connected". 

Affectionate but obstinate.  Is that possible?

Yes, this is a work in progress. 

Not only because the quality of the photos aren't great, but I 

am looking for a certain undefined quality I want to show..

gracefulness? industriousness? simplicity?

Maybe all those things and individuality, too. 

Hands say a lot.

This one is always in the kitchen!  More on it's owner later...