Running Like a Child

Today I remembered what it feels like to run like a child.  I’ve been running on and off for many years now, thanks to the encouragement of my runner husband, and inspiration from my runner daughter. She gets it from her dad.

When the weather turned to spring today, and after family had been fed, I took Tucker out for his evening walk.  Feeling heavy from a long and cold winter, the two of us took off down the road, him frantic for pee spots. Me getting jerked along. You just can’t get a proper runners pace when a dog is stopping every 30 seconds, so I just decided to follow him. Whatever he was doing, I would let him. The first part of the walk remained jerky until he did his big business, then he kind of let me set the pace. It was just a slow jog, but both feet would be off the ground, so I felt the benefit of muscles working.

Runners mind is a great time for reflecting, and so I did. I thought back to earlier in the day when I watched the children at the playground after school. I remembered the feeling of being a kid at a playground, having a sense of freedom and independence, recognizing the heirarchy of the personalities present. Today a group of kids pulled me right into their swinging game, and I played along. I allowed them their ownership of the space and they felt that. I was just a human, playing. One girl was walking along, paying attention to only herself, balancing a water bottle on her shoulder. I remembered the importance of being with oneself during an important task. 

As I was running along, it occurred to me that I wasn’t pacing myself, I wasn’t counting my breaths (in 2,3,4 out 2,3,4), I wasn’t trying to be a runner at all. I was just running with my dog. Not feeling disappointed that I was stopped for the 28th pee. Just out in the world, enjoying spring, loving my body for where it is, running just because I want to. 

Cleaning Cloths for Clean Windows

As I continue my transition to a lower waste lifestyle, I find myself looking at what I already have that I can use in a new way.  Over the weekend, I was counting birds for the National Bird Counting Day, https://www.audubon.org/conservation/about-great-backyard-bird-count

and I realized that the windows were all grimy from dog nose and kid fingers. Possibly good for the birds, but that’s an aside. 

Looking through my DIY cleaning cabinet, I found some glass cleaner that I had made but not actually used. Okay, I tested it on the bathroom mirror and was happy with it, but I didn’t actually get much window cleaning done 😂

Can you blame me?

Anyway, so I had some cleaner made, but I wanted to challenge myself to use something other than paper towels. After some rummaging around in my closet, I came across an old night dress that I never wore because it was too long.

It is pictured in its new, shorter version. 

I was able to cut 4 nice-sized cloths from the bottom section. I set to work on the windows and in a fairly short amount of time, found them gleaming back at me. 

Here is the recipe I used. It is a nice streak-free blend, although I did also have to use a kitchen towel to finish the job because of the cornstarch, I think. I found this recipe online so I’m not sure exactly why it’s in there.  Maybe I’ll do some research on the subject and get back with an update at some point. But I’m happy with the results. 

I guess I should get around to doing all the windows (don’t look too closely).

 

Less Plastic is Fantastic

I have been working toward a low waste lifestyle for awhile now. First switching to reusable shopping bags, cooking with more whole foods, making snacks instead of buying them, etc. But I kept using plastic in my kitchen. Not plastic food storage containers, I switched to glass. They have plastic lids, but they are safer. I’m working toward eliminating the lids in time. 

Today I went through my kitchen and gathered up all the plastic that has been in use, to varying degrees. I stopped buying plastic on purpose years ago, but I always end up with it somehow. From the school, or from a race, or at the fair. Occasionally I’ll find something fun or cute at a yard sale, so I’ll pick it up second hand. But as I’ve been researching ways to live low waste and to reduce the potential for harmful chemicals being leached into my family’s food and drinks, I’ve decided to do a little experiment. I’m putting all of our plastic in the basement. In all honesty, we will all notice this change. I’m not going to throw anything away, or even send it to the thrift store, because then I’m just making it somebody else’s problem down the line. 

My perspective has recently shifted. Now I see every single thing I own as my responsibility. Everything I throw away now becomes an indicator for a habit or behavior that I need to modify. Our culture makes it nearly impossible to achieve a perfect version of waste free living, but practicing and remaining conscious of my impact feels like a great option for creating a more sustainable future. 

While I was taking photos for this post, I realized that I wasn’t ready to give up some of my plastic, like lids for jars, colinder, smoothie maker containers, food processor, etc. But I’m practicing changing my habits, and that feels right for me. 

Plus now I have more room for cat storage!

Knitting Tiny Sweaters

I tried to get into knitting years ago, when HK was a toddler, but I’m left-handed and back then I was not as patient. This is a virtue that takes practice, after all. But recently I caught the knitting bug again, because I love tiny things and I decided that my dolls could really use sweaters on these cold winter days. So I watched a YouTube video on knitting raglan sweaters and started my own before I got to the end of the tutorial. I mean, the end is just casting off, right?  

The next challenge was finally figuring out how to use multiple double-pointed needles to knit in the round. 😮

This is the only way to achieve tiny sleeves. I couldn’t find any videos specific to my left-handed needs, so I just started jamming needles into stitches. What better way than throwing oneself into something with abandon?  I ended up ripping out three entire tiny sweaters (which don’t seem so tiny after HOURS of knitting go into making them...but I’m getting a bit faster). 

This time, I haven’t ripped out any rows (knocking on wood for real right now), and I dare say I’ve got a fairly decent idea of what I’m doing. I tried it on a doll and it fit!  And it was darling. I’ll post the finished product, hopefully soon. Though I am a left-handed knitter, and I’ve been told I knit the slow way. So we shall see. Excited anyway. 

Cinnamon Date Bars

I’ve been wanting a food processor for a decade, and last week I finally bought one!  My initial reason was for making homemade Larabars, because we eat lots of them! You’re welcome Larabar Co. 

I’ve had a half used box of dates for awhile now, and they just weren’t getting eaten.
  

Add to that a half used bag of slightly crystallized raisins, and half a container of slivered almonds. D uses walnuts regularly in his oatmeal, so I’m going to start buying those and some other useful pantry ingredients in bulk, but more on that in another post.  Pecans are a nice addition if you have them on hand. Otherwise, double up on walnuts. 

I bought bulk organic cinnamon recently at Sam’s, which is the only big box store in our area. But it’ll do. 

Last ingredient, according to the Larabar package, is sea salt.   Check.

CINNAMON DATE BARS

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/4 cups dates, soaked for 15 minutes to soften

1/4 cup raisins

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup pecans

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1 heaping tsp cinnamon, or to taste + more to sprinkle

1/2 tsp sea salt

*make sure nuts are not salted. I use nuts from the baking aisle. 

DIRECTIONS:

Pulse softened dates and raisins in food processor until well mixed.  Pour into a bowl. Pulse walnuts and almonds to crumb size. Add date/raisin mixture, along with cinnamon and sea salt. Pulse until well combined.

Line square baking dish with parchment, and press mixture to even thickness.  Sprinkle top with cinnamon. Cover with parchment. Refrigerate until chilled through, then cut into bars. I wrapped these individually, and stored them in the fridge. They are delicious and won’t last long!  

I need to order some bulk dates. 

The Elephants

chelsea peanut

backside

chelsea's t-shirt, cand-cut freezer paper stencil

details: glasses, stitches, tusks, scarf

chelsea peanut, cousin to elsie:

the new elsie peanut

elsie, leaning in for the best angle

rosey bottom

Recent Work: May 2015

I started rosey rag doll back in november, and I have been throwing bits of social media into my work load here and there.  It is quite hard to balance the work of a new business when caring for a 1 year old all day, and a 7 year old too.  I truly only have nap time to get stuff done.  My house work has suffered, my studio is a perpetual mess, my blog and facebook pages have been growing a lot of distance between entries, and I still haven't learned how to manage my time as well as i should.  but I haven't lost heart yet.  My creative work is an essential part of my personal development and maturity.  I simply must press on.  I have lots of pictures to sort through and find online homes for.  I NEED to start using pinterest in the mix.  I spend lots of time there, but I never put my own work into the shuffle.
Luckily I've recently been inspired to take my work in a slightly new direction.  Still the same, but taking greater control of the details.  I'm really excited to learn some new skills, and then to share them here, and on facebook, and pinterest, and most of all, ETSY!  Because when it comes down to it, I'm working toward self reliance, and expanding my relationship with money.  It is new for me to think in this way, but I'm ready for the challange.  I hope the world is ready for what I can offer.  I think it is ;)

Here is my most recent work: