Marbleizing Eggs

I'm a long time magazine clipper/filer...back in the day {high school} I subscribed to Martha. All those years ago, I tore out an article on marbleizing eggs. Every time I lay eyes on that article, I want to try it. Last week, I bit the bullet and did it. And I can't wait to do it again! {'Cause by about egg #15, I had it all figured out...next time...}

I started with 18 eggs and the husband's wrench {as a hammer} and two different size nails.

I cupped the egg in my hand {'cause doing it any other way lead to breakage} and gently tapped to make two holes, with the larger on the bottom. {I did the holes on the same "side" of the egg, so they wouldn't show when the eggs were displayed.}

Make sure you puncture the yolk...and I found that running the eggs under hot water made the insides expel a little easier. And then...blow! {I planned to save the insides and make scrambled eggs for myself and the children, but quite frankly, blowing those insides through such a small hole...well, my mouth was all over the outside of the egg. I kept thinking of my friend who is totally schizo about salmonella, and" would I get salmonella? and should I wash the outside of the egg better?" I think I scared my children. It was hilarious. And grossly spitty. And because of that, I wound up blowing the insides right down the drain. My cheeks hurt and I got light headed a time or two, and my neighbor showed up at the kitchen door with a "what in the world are you doing" expression on her face.

Once the eggs were blown and I'd wiped my lip gloss off them {I won't wear anything on my lips next time}, and that might be way more than you ever wanted to know, I mixed my colors.

A few drops of food coloring to one cup of water in small pyrex bowls, plus 1 T white vinegar.

I tested each color on the edges of a paper towel. {Compliments of T's grandmother.}

I dyed all my eggs, gently blotting with a paper towel after I pulled them from the dye and let them air dry the rest of the way on a cookie cooling rack.

Then I deepened each color with more food coloring and poured them into soup bowls, so the bath would be super shallow, and added one T olive oil. Swirl the oil with a fork and dip the egg in, turning once. The oil helps make the swirly marbleized pattern. Pull her out and blot dry.

I bought some raffia at a local craft store and twisted it together to make a "nest" and set my nest atop a cake stand.

I made nests for a few extras in my grandmother's fine china coffee cups and in silver sherbet compotes {to line my mantel}.

And wha-la. Beautiful.

And while we're on the subject of eggs, over the course of the last four days, Mama Bird has laid three cream and brown speckled eggs in her nest. Hooray! Happy Spring!

Stop With the Grind

This week is CRAZY insane with all there is to accomplish. (Btw, in case you didn't know, it's wacky Wednesday - even though it's Monday (or was) - so Sister put her clothes on inside out and backwards.) I have prayed that God would make the hours long and my hands and mind fast. He has been so faithful. I am so thankful.

I got Sister off to school, fed and dressed the baby and Little Man, and made it to CVS, Target, Michaels, Ross, Walmart, and Sams all in time to pick Sister up at 12 noon. Sweet. That, that my friends, is a miracle. Mind you, I had very orderly lists and was quite intentional, but still. That just does not happen with little ones. That was a God thing.

So when we got home I had a carload to carry in. I made the children help. When they complained, I said, "you don't work, you don't eat." They jumped right in. Sister even put things away for me. Hooray! Oh the blessings of helpful children!

And as I scurried here and there trying to sort through the bags, Sister and Little Man set up a picnic for us. It was grand. Walmart bags as placemats...an entree of fruit and pickles...delish!

Sunday night Sister told me I might not believe her, but her imaginary friends help her with her sight words. (This is a list of words that can't be sounded out...hence the name "sight" words.) I smiled big at her and assured her I believed her and then reminded her of my invisible friends from my childhood. There was my husband Rick and our daughters Peggy and Rachel.

So when Sister had to get three extra plates for our picnic today, you can guess who joined us.

Little Man even got them Capri Suns (which is a HUGE treat around here.) Now, this whole Rick thing is kind of weird, considering I am a grown, for real married woman. However, in a series of tragic events following lunch, Rick died and Peggy fell, skinning both her knees, and got paralyzed. I suppose those awkward moments with Rick are over for now. We laid him to rest in a tiny grave, complete with flowers, behind the fort.

But, I'm rambling. So back to the picnic...

Bo Bear ate his pickles. Thank goodness!

See those eggs in the background? I bought 24 exactly for a church Easter egg hunt. I don't like plastic eggs and I don't like to keep them. These 24 were neatly packaged. I left the kitchen to put toiletries away and came back to Sister, squatting over a pile of eggs. With a beaming face and giant smile she announced she'd laid some eggs!

So back to the picnic...the whole time I sat there eating I saw the piles of groceries...and they cried out to me, but so did my children.

Our picnic lasted ten minutes.

And I'm so glad I stopped putting away, to picnic with Sister and Little Man - and Rick and Peggy and Rachel. All the stuff was there when we were finished. And for ten minutes, I got a little glimpse into their wildly wonderful imaginations. And they LOVED it that I sat on the floor and ate what they'd prepared. I think I saw Sister's heart beaming in her eyes. It was so worth it. Why, in the midst of the grind of life, don't I see that more often? Why don't I take those moments more often? Why don't I seize them? That ten minutes was the highlight of my day.

Totally Fused

These little fusion kits have been piling up in our craft area for the last few years. Typically, Sister's interest lasted about, um, five seconds, at which point she became utterly frustrated and called it quits. I'm not sure what has happened, I suppose it might be attributed to the fact that my little girl is becoming a big girl, but in the last few weeks, she can't get enough. She's spent hours at the kitchen table making patterns and designs. Little Man plays, too. I'm surprised by his determination, but of course, anything she does, he wants to do, too. While they've placed their beads, I've read aloud to them from On the Banks of Plum Creek. I feel certain we'll finish it this week! Slowly, but surely, we're making our way through the Little House books. They are treasures!

Sister has also had two grand weeks of Dr. Seuss. If you talk to her, she'll tell you, "his real name is Theodore, but his friends called him Ted."

My MIL came for a visit last weekend and gave a helping hand with the children...they were still mending, but not quite well. T worked all weekend, so her company and help was very much appreciated. I mean, who stays up past midnight talking with their MIL? (me.)

She did an egg hunt for the children.

To say they were ecstatic might be an understatement. (Note Little Man's shirt...backwards...but, he did put it on himself...and I am all about some self sufficiency!)

I love spring! It's like God paints our little corner of the world with glorious colors and smells. It is fantastic and most welcome. Every spring a little mama bird makes her nest in the hanging basked on our door and every spring she lays several precious little eggs in that nest. Each time we open the front door, she darts a few feet away and keeps a watchful eye from atop a column. And every spring, we hear the chirping of those sweet little babies and it is wonderful. (The year Little Man was born, they hatched while I was at the hospital!) She hasn't yet laid her eggs...I suppose that will happen any day now.

A few afternoons ago Sister came running, hollering for me to come RIGHT THEN! I bolted out the door, expecting the worst. By the time I rounded the corner, she was leaning on her rake, all smiles. "Look mom. It's a logo." I looked at it for a second and asked, "the Shell logo?" Oh yes. It makes me so happy to see her eye for design...to see her creativity...to see something I love and am passionate about reflected in my sweet girl. She is so cool.

And who doesn't love a cool fort? Sister and Little Man have logged hundreds of hours out here during Spring Break. Literally...like, from the time we'll let them out, until sunset. (Just ask the neighbors.) They've foraged and collected from our scrap wood, they bummed fabric from our neighbor at the close of her yard sale, and this is what they built. (We helped a little.) They've played "house" and "bad guys." The "Indians" have come. They've traveled to "Winter" and back. They've grown a "garden." They've had children and played "school." They've had a "chocolate factory" complete with a "chocolate river "made by me and Sister and God."" (-'cause God sent the rain...) Sister threw a birthday party for Little Man and Little Bit...complete with cakes and remnants of her bike basket (eaten by Warrior) tied to the "advil" tree (ie: camelia). This afternoon I found them playing "tattoo parlor." They didn't call it that, but that's what they were doing...tattooing one another with mud and sticks. Sister: "How bad do you want a tiger tattoo??? Yell it!!!!!!" Little Man: "GGGRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr!"

Spring, Glorious Spring!

Our front yard is home to what I believe is the most beautiful Japanese Magnolia in all of our city.

She is gigantic and grand.

Her arms swoop down, close to the ground, and still others reach to the heavens.

She whispers to me of God's creativity and glory.

And as the sun set and her petals reflected that warm light, I was reminded of His radiance...of Him taking on flesh to walk among us...and of His deep deep love for sinners, such as I.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Precious Little Man is just fine. He and his daddy spent the night in the ER...they got home around 4:30 this morning. The doctor ran several tests and determined it isn't meningitis (which we feared), nor flu, nor strep. It seems Little Man has some sort of nasty virus.

So...we're eating popsicles, keeping the "throw up bucket" close at hand, and covering our furniture and floors with blankets and the like.

I am overwhelmed by God's graciousness. After posting last night, I fell to my knees and prayed for my sweet boy, for my husband, and for the doctors they would see. God poured such peace into my heart and assured me of His sovereignty, that nothing happens apart from His perfect will, and that He holds my dear boy in His hands and loves him with a greater love than I will ever be capable of. I am thankful to be His.

I am also overwhelmed by and thankful for your kindness to our family. All the calls and emails and comments. Dear Readers, thank you for your love and thoughtfulness to us. I can't put into words how wonderful it is to receive word that so many of you were praying for Little Man. Most of you I've never even met face to face. THANK YOU! I am honored and humbled by your thoughtfulness and willingness to lift our little guy up in prayer. THANK YOU SO MUCH. You are a blessing to me and I thank God for you. Thank you.

We've been sick a while here...like, since last Monday, March 6th.

Sweet Sister didn't seem herself. T and I decided she'd best stay home Tuesday. I phoned her teacher, who agreed and shared that Sister kept her head on her desk most of the day.

By Tuesday evening, she was running a low grade fever...that fever ebbed and flowed, it dipped and it soared, and it hung on until Sunday morning, when she finally woke and stayed fever free! The cough and runny nose, however, continued.

Little Man had a runny nose all of last week and a low-grade fever off and on.

Little Bit had a runny nose all week. We elevated her crib (actually, it's been like that for months), cranked up her humidifier, and used saline nasal drops several times a day.

It was a week, for me and the children, spent at home. We read LOTS of books and watched LOTS of movies. However, T put in some long hours.

I also spent the week preparing for a yard sale. I LOVE yard sales. My better half despises them. After the last one we had, he swore we'd NEVER do one again.

So...my next door neighbor and I got to talking and I convinced T to support me in yet another yard sale. I cleaned out EVERYTHING and piled it in our bedroom. As Saturday approached, T shared he'd forgotten to ask off work. I'd be yard sailing and mothering three small children, one of whom was running fever, and one of whom is still nursing, solo. This terrified me, but I determined to press on.

I will not do that again. I slept ONE hour Friday night and made a whopping $150. I know $150 is nothing to sneer at, and that "every little bit helps," but given the lack of sleep and stress of the day, setting up solo (T did rig a rope to hang clothing from, as well as set up two large tables), packing up solo, hauling off the left overs...I'll never go at it alone again.

But, I did do some MEGA cleaning out, which felt fantastic! (Including chunking all the ads I sold and designed while working my way through college...some of which are seen in above photo.)

We've also been busy little bees. Some friends of ours are redoing their kitchen and in the process, were planning to chunk their old cabinets. Hold up! Free cabinets??? She graciously had their contractor stack the cabinets in their courtyard, where T and I measured and inspected and hauled six back to our casa.

T installed two in the "office" which will be our homeschool room this fall.

He hung two more in the laundry room...which I've since repainted (the room that is). I've pulled several old cans of paint and will be custom mixing a paint color for these cabinets (let me translate: custom mixing is cheaper than buying new)...I'm lightening things up in there.

Due to the longevity of sickness last week and T's long hours, I went two and a half weeks without going to the grocery. The meals got quite creative. Those containers you see had bran muffin mix, grits, grits, and lemon slices.

We even ate all the eggs.

Monday afternoon was glorious here! Freedom from the confines of sickness! The kids played and played!

And did a bit of cooking...

And then Tuesday Little Bit was oh, so cranky. I took her to the doctor yesterday and he confirmed my suspicions, a double ear infection.

And of course, you already know about Little Man and his bug...

Thank you again for your encouragement! For your prayers! For caring! I know you are all busy and lead full lives. Thanks for carving out time to express your concern for Little Man. And in general, for spending time here. I do love hearing from you. I never dreamed of the ways God would grow me, challenge me, and encourage me through blogging. I appreciate each of you!

Now, go have a great day!

Please Pray for Little Man

I'm not sure how many of you are up reading at this late hour, but I want to ask you to please pray for Little Man. He started running fever and throwing up this afternoon.

About thirty minutes ago (9:45pm) he threw up again and would not stop crying about his neck hurting. We asked him to look down and touch his chin to his chest. He wouldn't do it.

T just left, with Little Man in tow, for the ER. I pray it's nothing, but my heart is afraid.

Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust. Psalms 16:1

The Get-Away

The husband and I had a little get-away a few weekends ago. We were celebrating, albeit a tad late, our eighth anniversary. My sweet in-laws made the drive to keep the little ones while we hit the road...for THREE NIGHTS!!! (This was a HUGE deal for me...leaving Little Bit...hauling the pump {thank you ingenious husband, cigarette lighter, and very large jacket}...it was hard to leave!)

Turns out we'd planned our little get-away during "snowmageddon." It was so much fun...until the sixth hour of driving 40mph...but still, six hours in the car, sans the bebes...it was bliss.

I kept waiting for the "White Witch" and her sleigh to appear from between the trees. Oh. The. Snow. It was like our own little winter wonderland.

We stayed at a B&B that was built in the late 1800s. I had high hopes of taking lots of pics of the original period details, etc. ('Cause we LOVE some old houses!) Turns out the house had gone through lots of transitions, most recently a remodel in the late 80s, complete with popcorn ceilings and the removal of almost all crown molding as well as the removal of a large window on the front of the house, which was replaced with a solid wall of stone... sheer lace curtains were hung on the windows of the front, upstairs room...which was our room. I stood behind the sheers while T took a look from the street. He could see everything. It was a bit awkward. Especially since the house was on the main drag downtown. It was the kind of place where, just before closing your suitcase, you look under the bed to make sure you didn't leave anything, and you're glad you didn't look the first night you were there...'cause it was pretty dirty.

It was also the kind of place ripe with possibility. My mind raced with ideas...

While it wasn't the most authentic or clean place we've ever stayed, it was a WONDERFUL get-away and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

We ate at some AWESOME restaurants...since we don't have cable (or even local channels for that matter), we tuned into some TLC, Discover Channel, and HGTV. We browsed through several antiques stores (T found a great book on wood working techniques). And...we spent most of the daylight hours driving through old neighborhoods, coffee in hand, stalking old houses. We're kind of nerds. And we're okay with that.

The change of scenery, the time away, the time together, the lack of caring for anyone other than ourselves, it was really nice. REALLY nice.

Getting back was really nice, too. We missed those kids. And we're thankful for T's parents, especially his mama, who kept all three solo for the last half. Did I mention we left Sister throwing up? My MIL knew this ahead of time...And. Still. Came. Turns out Sister had a 48 hour bug. Ick. So, a BIG thank you to them!!!

And to T, January 3rd marked our eighth anniversary. These have been THE BEST eight years of my life. Thank you for loving me so well. So. Well. You point me to Jesus. I love you with all my heart. Happy eighth anniversary!

The Royal Ball

Friday night we had a Royal Ball.

The children began "decorating" early that afternoon...you know, blowing up balloons, disassembling my favorite note pad and taping half the pages to the door...

...and tucking them into every spot they could find, including drawer pulls, glasses, window sills, etc.

Sister pulled out all the stops with place mats, our finest pewter goblets (filled with ginger ale!), and flower napkin rings. (Everyone got a different place mat and napkin ring...Sister's idea.)

They came up with their own outfits. Scratch that, Sister came up with their outfits. (And mine, too - a long top, black leggings, cowboy boots, long diamond earrings, a green necklace, and LOTS of makeup. I was stylin'!) Sister insisted Little Man wear a white tux. Only, we don't have a size 3 white tux.

Not a problem for Sister.

She custom designed his shirt, matched it to her white velvet jeans, and paired the ensemble with his cowboy boots.

Yes, she drew on the shirt. It reads "the best 1234 royal wedding," written in washable markers. The vertical lines are actually the edges of the tux jacket, in case you missed that.

The lighting was bad, they don't like having their picture taken...but you get the idea.

Prior to dining, we danced to Judy Rogers in the kitchen.

...and then dinner.

It. was. good.

And we all...

had a lot of fun!

Post dinner Little Man requested we tie a balloon to the back of his tux.

And then we did something fairly new. We had the children help with every bit of clean up. They cleared the table, scraped the plates, wiped off place mats, put away napkin rings, dried dishes and helped put away what they could reach, and I even had Little Man sweep the floor. (Should he marry one day, I so want him to be a blessing to his wife as T is to me!)