The start of a project

I've been getting some ideas via Pinterest for some DIY baby decor. A mobile, to be specific. After combining a bunch of ideas, I decided to try my hand at making some felt owls of various colors that will hang from the mobile. Here are some pictures of the first one:

Going for complementary colors.

With wings.

Just need to sew the back on and add a little stuffing.

Perhaps a picture when the whole project is done. Don't hold your breath though, I'm hand-sewing these bad boys, and I am SLOW at it. Might be a few days.

Make Soap Outside

Well I did it. I made soap outside.

After being as careful as possible in every way, I still ended up locking myself and the lye out of the apartment (grabbed my driver's license instead of my ID card....I would blame it on pregnancy brain (which does exist), but this isn't my first time locking myself out. It is however my first time locking myself outside with a pitcher of hazardous material and wearing (in addition to my regular clothes) goggles, a bandana over my mouth and nose, an apron, and rubber gloves. I hope the neighbors were watching.

Anyway, I did remember to keep my phone in my pocket, so I called Steve who was thankfully able to eventually come and rescue me.

Aside from locking myself out, I think the soap turned out pretty good! It was a new recipe that I cooked up, including an ingredient that I hadn't used in soap before: beeswax (which I had left over from making my own deodorant).

Simple bars of soap. I think at least one of these will probably eventually be made into laundry detergent..

Summer

Back in February, I was dreaming of a time where I would have hours a day to devote my time to hobbies. I was also hoping, fingers-crossed, that by this time, my morning (and afternoon....and evening) sickness will have alleviated (it has, thank God) and I would be able to also eat and be awake for the summer. Of course I didn't mention all this, because we hadn't publicly announced our pregnancy at that time. Yes, we are old-fashioned and waited awhile to share our exciting news with the public. Yes, we are old-fashioned, and are not going to find out the baby's sex until the baby is born. And though we have a few names picked out, we are not settled on any yet, and will probably wait to meet the baby before we officially give a name, to make sure the name fits. Soapbox aside, we are excited, and we won't blame you if you want to do all the opposite things of us, announcing your pregnancy the day you find out, and the name on the same day you find out the sex. A parent's prerogative. And this post is about summer, anyway. Not about opening Christmas presents in August.

And I need some motivation. Apparently when I have hours a day and no structure, I lean toward spending a lot of time playing Angry Birds. Not only is that not on my list, but it is not fulfilling in any way. Also, even though doing nothing and having nothing pressing to do sounds awesome....it can get old fast. I need some structure. So back to my old list. Also, I will add some more things and give some explanations (in purple).

Here is the list I made in February:

1. Figure out container gardening. Because our yard is not our own...and because the idea of planting and growing some of your own food is so appealing. I pinned it awhile ago, and there is some information here. I need to get started on this. Also, if all else fails, there is a Farmers Market in my city every Monday. I just need to remember it sooner than Monday at midnight (when it is apparently no longer open).
2. Relearn to crochet, and practice with the giant hook you bought (perhaps you know that I crochet extra tightly. I would like to crochet in such a way that it is enjoyable (more crocheting less wrestling to get the hook through my tight tight knots), less painful for my hands, and more productive (it takes me forever to accomplish anything. See the parenthetical thought next to "enjoyable."). I think I will make a couple of cute baby hats. If I can get the hang of it in a non-tightly-wound way.
3. Finish that mini-quilt you started a last year. The quilt is tiny and fall-themed and gender neutral, just like the Babe! Who would have known?
4. Master making your own laundry-detergent (using a bar of soap you made). I did actually do this already, and have used it several times. It works just fine, thank you. For next time, I will grate the soap even smaller, so it blends better with the other ingredients. It takes some effort, all that grating, but other than that it is super easy to make your own laundry detergent.
5. Read for fun. So far I have been mostly rereading for fun. I have read the first two book in the Chronicles of Narnia (The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), and plan to finish them all soon. Then I will move on to rereading the Harry Potter books.
6. Canning. If I ever grow anything, or remember to go to the Farmers Market, I will have something to can.

Things I am adding to the list:

7. Make soap outside. Other than feeling sick and tired and busy for much of the semester, I also haven't been making soap lately because, even though our apartment is quite drafty, it is not well ventilated when it comes to making soap. I am a cautious preggo, and don't want to breathe in any unnecessary fumes (that may or may not come from soap-making) and cause unnecessary injury to the Babe. But now that it is summer, I think I will try to bring the fume part of soap-making out on the stoop and make it there.

8. Get the Babe's room ready. We aren't going to paint or anything (not planning on living in this apartment for the next 50 years), but still need to get the appropriate baby furniture set up (still need to make some room in there, since it is currently both a guest room and an office....and a secret closet).

9. Sort through all of our stuff and see which things we really need to keep, and which things can be given away/tossed/sold. Spring cleaning, in other words. This might help with number 8.

10. Read up on parenthood. My instincts on parenthood are low-ish, and I would still like to figure out a way to make cloth diapers work (and which ones will work best for us). Since we share laundry with students, we are wondering if it is an ok idea to hold a monopoly on the machines to wash poopy diapers on a regular basis. I still think we can figure this one out. Just need to be creative.

Well, I better get on some of this stuff. It is always in the back of my mind that I should be searching for  jobs, because I just graduated and all. And even though I am obvs preggo, people still ask me what my plans are now that I've graduated. Well, my plans are to be an awesome stay-at-home mom with a Masters degree, for the first year at least. 

I sometimes wonder if I should get a summer job, but then I remember that we are planning on going to visit our family in the middle of summer, so I would need to take off then, and I am not getting any less pregnant as the summer goes on. If you would like to hire me for something temporary, that allows me to take a couple weeks off in July, does not require heavy lifting or coming in contact with potentially toxic material, then let me know! Also, I need frequent breaks to eat. And pee. I will need to be done by September. Thank you for your consideration.

The last batch of successful soap I made. In January. Before we knew we were preggo. Because all blog posts are better with a picture.

Investigation station

Well. It would appear that even with the structure of having a possible photo each day, I am unable to blog on a regular basis. I have stuck it out longer than some, but I am dwindling fast.

Recently I have been challenged to rethink my Enneagram number. You may remember that I have been spending some time thinking that I was a 4 with a 5 wing. Well this may not seem like a big change to you, but I am just now starting to chew over the fact that I may actually be a 5 with a 4 wing.

Identity crisis. But should I really be shocked if my top four strengths are learner, futuristic, input, and intellection?

I still need to spend some time thinking about this (obvs I spent quite a while thinking about being a 4 as well).

Here are some things that I read on the Enneagram website:

On Fives mistaking themselves for Fours (makes me feel comforted to know that it is common):

"Fours and Fives can resemble each other in that both are withdrawn types, both can be individualistic and eccentric by mainstream cultural standards, and both can be highly creative. Of course, there is a greater risk of mistyping with 4w5s and 5w4s.

Fives are more likely to mistype as Fours than vice versa, primarily because of simplistic definitions of the types. Some Fives have learned that Fours are more feeling-oriented, and Fives are more intellectual, and seeing that they have deep feelings presume that they must be Fours. (This is especially true with female Fives.) Also, Fives are often portrayed as scientists or engineers while Fours are creative artists. In fact, it is true that Fours are less likely to be scientists than some other types, but there are as many Fives who are artists as Fours, although their styles are somewhat different." 

(I bolded the part that made me not want to be a five at first. I always pictured fives to be robots, and I am definitely not a robot. But I was apparently being too simplistic).

And, the part in the description of a relationship between a Five and Two (Steve being a Two), that made us both laugh (and there is always a bit of truth in things that make you laugh):

"Twos bring...a desire to improve the Five's living conditions, style of dress and eating habits—and many other marks of thoughtfulness-as signs of affection and genuine interest. Fives are usually not unaware of these, though they may not outwardly react to the expressions of affection of Twos, Fives are secretly pleased that anyone cares and is being attentive to them."

Oh, self-awareness.

Here is a recent picture, that I did not make, obviously because I have been too busy getting a Masters degree.

Type 5?

A break from photo a day, and a list.

Yesterday the internet was down, so no blog post with a picture corresponding with the word "you." We did try to take a picture of me, but then the camera's battery died. So we decided that technology needs to take a Sabbath, too. So perhaps a skyline picture and a picture of me will show up some other day.

Anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit the list I made of things to do before graduation. This morning was commencement practice, and family arrives on Thursday, so time is ticking!

1. Get a haircut.  Done! Perhaps you will see it if I ever get around to posting a picture of myself.

2. Clean out the fridge. I did some of it. Steve is a champ and did the rest that I was unable to stomach.

3. Clean up the guest room, to make it nice for graduation guests. Still looks like Monica's secret closet.

4. Get more stars on Angry Birds, my latest addiction. I am both lame and awesome, because I have gotten all possible stars on Facebook's Angry Birds. Probably why #3 on the list hasn't been touched.

5. Utilize my free rental from Family Video. Rented 50/50. Gave 140 character review here. Not sure if I cried because it was actually sad, or if because my tear ducts are working at lower capacity these days. 

6. Read these two books for fun (Steve just got them...early graduation gift!). Started reading The Next Evangelical. Like it. But needed a break, so started rereading The Chronicles of Narnia. Just finished the very lovely Magician's Nephew and am halfway through the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. It's been a few years since I've read these. Love them. Harry Potter is getting a reread-through next.

 

7. Make my own deodorant. Done and done. And I'm pretty satisfied with how it works, too!

8. Make up an itinerary for graduation visitors.  Just sent it to them. I hope they like going to big old churches.

9. Send a couple of care packages that I've been meaning to send. Yep and yep.

10. Mail/Give out some graduation invitations. Shoot. I have sucked at this. Consider yourself invited. Seating is not restricted.

Bird

Today's word is bird. Makes sense, since bird is the word. It was my understanding that everyone had heard. I for one dream of an America where everyone knows that the bird is the word.


Anyway, I went outside and stood under a couple of trees, hoping a bird would show up. No such luck. Here are a couple of pictures I took while I waited.

Blooming.

Bloomed.

Someday will bloom.

Anyway, I got impatient, so went out to the sidewalk to see if I could spot some birds. These two wanted to get away as soon as possible.

Clearly I am not a good bird watcher.

So then I decided that a good place to stand was under some power lines.

Best shot of a bird you're going to get.

Bird from yore.

Bird in storm.

Word.

Fun!

The most fun picture of the day. I didn't technically take it, but since this is my blog, I think it's ok.

Something you wore today

Well the bank said it was 90 degrees today, so naturally I was wearing my grumpy pants. Don't get me wrong, I still like summer. I just like it the least of all the seasons. My favorite weather is partly cloudy and 60s. Unless I am somewhere where I can marinate in a body of water all day, 90 degrees and sunny is not my cup of tea.

But grumpy pants are not my favorite pants, they are too tight and not very attractive. And I have much to be thankful for. Air conditioning being one of them. Anyway, I do appreciate the fact that I didn't wear actual pants or socks and shoes today, so I have that going for me as well.

Yes, my left leg is skinnier. It is also stepping forward, and further away from the camera.

No skyline today.

Skyline.

Crap.

I didn't think of this earlier today, and didn't have time this evening....and now it is dark out.

Maybe two pictures tomorrow.

Peace

In order to have a little structure in my life, I decided to participate in this little photo a day project I discovered via the Twitters. You've seen these before. Basically you make one photo a day based on whatever that day's topic is, and you post it somewhere. You can be as creative or obvious as you want.
Here is the list of ideas for each day (in case you don't trust my links):

1. peace
2. skyline
3. something you wore today
4. fun!
5. bird
6. you
7. someone that inspires you
8. a smell you adore
9. something you do everyday
10. a favourite word
11. kitchen
12. something that makes you happy
13. mum
14. grass
15. love
16. what you're reading
17. snack
18. something you made
19. a favourite place
20. something you can't live without
21. where you stand
22. pink
23. technology
24. something new
25. unusual
26. 12 o'clock
27. something sweet
28. the weather today
29. a number
30. your personality
31. something beautiful

So today's picture is titled Peace. I started this project late, so after some looking around our apartment I decided to take a picture of some old palm leaves left from Palm Sunday. According to ole trusty wikipedia, which I looked up after I took the picture, we see that Jesus riding in on the donkey symbolizes His arrival in peace. Perfect. In Luke, Jesus weeps because the people still haven't figured out the way to peace.

So anyway, here is a picture of the dried up palm leaves that we still haven't done anything with. One picture with a flash (my least favorite kind of picture), and then one without the flash. In low lighting. I was very antsy. I like this picture best of the two.

Peace.

Peace in chaos.