One Step Report #3

It’s been an interesting week.  My baby has decided that crying from 9 pm to midnight is a lovely way to spend the evenings, and it’s set us all back a bit, especially when she wakes up at 1:30 a.m. and every hour afterward.  What happened to the 6 hours of solid sleep she’s been getting?  The kids had to wake ME up for school on Friday because I was so exhausted that I didn’t hear my own alarm.  Not good.

Because of the long nights and the sleep deprived fog that is clouding my brain, I expected to report a low number of steps this week, but the count is actually 51.  Wow.  Again, most of them are little things, small moments when I made the right choice as a mother in an interaction with a child (which is harder, not easier, when you’re tired), but weeks like this are exactly why I’m on this journey.  The to do list cannot be the only judge of my success.  The one step list reminds me that my days are not wasted, and that I am investing in a work which won’t pay off for many years to come.  Still, it’s the wisest and best investment I’ll ever make.

With that said, here are my highlights.  First, I’ve been making “green” shakes in the mornings for us to drink.  These consist of ice, frozen fruit, chopped dark leafy greens (swiss chard, spinach, collard greens) and some canned fruit all mixed in a blender.  No juice, sweeteners, etc.

blender with fresh food

I’ve been making them since the beginning of the year, and the whole family likes them.  I’m now starting to crave them.  I figure that’s a good thing.

Second, we’re making progress with this one.  Notice that she’s writing on PAPER!  We just might be able to cure her of her obsession with murals on my walls.


Third, I was able to get started on my project using these (more to come on this later)…

bird nest full of ribbon

And last, which is most definitely the BIGGEST of them all.  This little guy just made my week by giving me the easiest, most peaceful potty training experience EVER. As in, he goes in the bathroom, locks the door, takes care of things and comes back out after washing his hands.  Not what I pictured, but hey, I’ll take it (especially when I check the bathroom afterwards and everything is fine).


He is oh, so adorable.  The other day we were in the car as the sun was setting when he said in his little deep voice, “Can SOMEONE move the sun, please?!”  He was tired of having the sun in his eyes.  Oh, we laughed so hard.  Cute kid.


Even cuter now that he wears underwear.  Thanks, little guy!

Well, the baby is screaming after a 20 minute catnap that I hoped would last for hours (it is 11pm, after all) so I’ll wrap it up there.  I have a busy week coming next week with 3 deadlines that I care a lot about, a fussy baby, and the kindergarten driving to do.  I hope it all comes together!  I’m sure it will, one step at a time.

I hope you have a great week, full of little steps in good directions!

Hopeful Homemaker

Kona Cotton

One of my goals this year is to make some quilts with solids.  So, I ordered a Kona Cotton sample card, which is a 6 page fold-out with a one inch swatch of every color on it!  I was so happy when it arrived!

Kona sample card

221 colors.  Wow.  All so pretty!  I’m liking #200.  Pond.

Kona sample card 2

I can’t decide if I like chartreuse or lime better.

Kona sample card 3

In addition to adding new colors, Robert Kaufman Fabrics is also selling strips of these colors, jelly roll style.  SO fun!

Kona sample card 4


This is the roll I would choose!

True Up is hosting a giveaway
for one of these rolls.  All you have to do is leave a comment sharing which set you prefer.  So hop over there and enter.  They’re throwing in one of these sample cards, too!  The giveaway is open through Wednesday January 27th.

Kona cotton 5

Hope you win!  You can’t go wrong with these awesome colors.  I’m off to drool and plan some more….

Courage!

I pieced the back to my Rouenneries quilt yesterday, and I like it.  It’s two large panels of one of my favorite prints in the collection.  Between them is a strip of prints in the beige color.  I like the way it turned out, and the way it echoes the quilt top a little bit.

Rouenneries fabric

I decided to use the little border near the selvage as a miniature border lining the strip of patched browns.  I really liked how this turned out.

Rouenneries fabrics

To save money, I decided I’m going to try and quilt this myself.  I laid out the backing, the batting and the quilt top and got it all pinned.

pins in fabric

200 pins sounded like a lot when I bought them, but I used every one and could have used more.  So it’s all set and ready to go.

I just need courage to try it.  I really love this fabric, and I really want it to turn out, but I also know that I’m inexperienced at this and that my machine isn’t really built to quilt  something this size.  I’m a little afraid to start because I really want to like it and not be disappointed.  (And I’m not savoring the idea of a bunch of time with my seam ripper, either!)

I’m also having a hard time choosing thread.  Should I use red or brown?  Which would you choose?

Deep breath.  Courage.  I can do this….. right?!?

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