Lest this blog bite the dust…I’m in the beginning stages of filming a documentary. The most domestic thing I do is make sure that I’m presentable by the time I start interviewing people.

 Peace out until I see you on the other side of production.

Whilst roaming through cyberspace during a particularly lazy midwinter afternoon, I came across this article. It’s about bringing back the hope chest.

What in the world is a hope chest you might ask. It’s not the latest trend in cosmetic fashion but rather a return to an activity our grannies did. They were given chests or trunks in which to stash away things for their future marriages. Family heirlooms were passed down through these; the silver set, hand-stitched quilts and the fine china. It was how a young women started down the path of homemaking, before she even had a man in her life.

When I was a kid, it was the trend in my church to have one. I mocked it for years. Until I found the coolest set of plates at the ripe old age of 19. That’s when I bought a locker and started filling it with sage green china from Japan, green cappucchino mugs and whatever else suited my fancy. There’s nothing like being a working girl with money to spend. I hope my future husband likes green because it’s non-optional.

What are your thoughts on hope chests?

Some friends of mine have done an apron swap. I sat out of it, too afraid to actually give away one of my creations or touch the sewing machine. But my eyes were open. No longer are aprons the frilly things of county fair lore, displayed by the pickled beets or cross-stitch samplers. There are some really cute ones out there. Here are some that just inspire me to go domestic and bake something.

(hostessblog.com)

(techiediva.com)

(wrapables.com)

(hostessblog.com)

(theapronstrings.com)

(jessiesteele.com)

 (the white fluffy stuff is from elizabethscokinproductions.com)

(coolmompicks.com)

(jessiesteele.com)

(kitschnglam.com)

(busybdesigns.com)

And for your little bundle of joy who is just learning to eat baby food…

 (etsy.com)

Okay, it’s been over a month.

Instead of bouncing back and being the rosy picture of health, I’ve fighting to keep myself from being lost in this dismal cold season. I caught a stomach bug, lost 7 lbs. and have been trying to get back on track.

 I did learn something domestic in the month. How do bake “no-knead” bread from a NY Times recipe. It’s simple, good and incredibly easy for those of us who aren’t so domestically inclined. June Cleaver, eat your heart out.

 Try it. You’ll love it.

Moi.

No-Knead Bread

It happened.

Somewhere between the trying to be domestic, running around, writing, volunteering and trying to have some semblance of a social life, I got a cold. It’s going on two weeks now and I hate it.

Any suggestions on how to kill the beast?

Oh darn.

My sudden urge to put ”CLEAN THE HOUSE” on the”to do” list for tomorrow will be impossible to achieve. I won’t be home. Life really deals lemons sometimes. The funny thing is, I really am in a cleaning mood. It always seems to hit after I’ve been sick with a nasty cold. Maybe it’s a result of feeling germy and gross?

However, if you’re feeling like giving your house some TLC, check out the list at www.thoushaltclean.com. Designed for the not-so-neat freaks in mind, you’ll find some good cleaning hints.  Look at it and be inspired. It’s never too early for spring cleaning, is it? ;p

The very easy dress?

Still lays disassembled in my room. There’s got to be something easier than a “very easy” dress. Perhaps next time, I will just find a thick sheet, cut a hole in it for my head and sew up the sides. I might need a belt of some sorts, and paired with the hair and boots, it just might pass as fashionable.

I’ll admit it. I’ve been very, very lax in my posting of late.

It’s not that my domesticity died–I’m still a work in progress after all–but rather that the business of the holidays killed my blogging desires. You all will be proud to learn that I made two pairs of pajama pants as Christmas presents this year. However; it took me a little bit longer than expected.

The reason? I can’t thread that stupid thingamabobber on the bottom of the sewing machine. I kept trying and just when I thought it worked, something would happen and I would give up in dispair. So, like any crafty woman with too much time on her hands, I decided that I would hand-sew the pajamas. After all, that’s what the spirit of Christmas is about…sacrificing for the ones you love, right?

In went Anne of Avonlea, the 1970’s BBC miniseries in which all the characters have Irish lilts. Except Marilla who sounds like she belongs in Iowa. For six hours, I sat glued to the screen, sewing as quickly (and evenly!) as I could. It wasn’t easy. I can see why some blessed soul invented the sewing maching. But one pair down and one to go.

 The sewing machine ended up getting repaired–good thing Mother’s always know how to thread those blasted thingamabobbers–and the last pair finished late Christmas Eve. When the time came for the kiddos to open the presents, they were suprised and delighted to have (pretty) well-fitting pajama pants. Honestly, I think my brother put on a good show. The teenage sister liked hers however.

And just in case you were wondering, Santa seemed to have forgotten my request for a trained monkey. Perhaps I should have sent the request in earlier? My room looks like a tornado struck with papers strewn all over and intermixed with clothes stacked in piles.

Maybe next year?

This was my first attempt at making a Christmas wreath. It took me one hour and many bandaids! The weekend before Thanksgiving (Veteran’s Day?), I went to the craft store, scoring big on fall clearance. The all of the materials used on this wreath amounted to under $5.

 To make your very own you will need:

* One wreath (This one is plastic and will last forever)

* Floral wire

* Wire cutters

* Silk Flowers

* Various decorations

I attacted this wreath with no real battle-plan. I just cut off the flowers I wanted and had fun placing them until they were aesthetically pleasing. On the back of this wreath were six crossbars, hench the reason there are six cattails. If you follow the wires on the back, you’ll find that you won’t be doing much in the way of guess-work. Things will just balance themselves out.

I cut the floral wire long, about 4 or 5 inches, so that I could make sure the picks were secured. Floral wire is like paperclips and if you aren’t careful, you will find your hands covered in scrapes. This is not a pleasant experience. 

I just wanted to share this with you all so that you don’t think I’ve been completely lazy during my blogging absence. Next up on my agenda? Peeling wallpaper, making a dessert and prepping a turkey for an early Christmas celebration. Stay tuned! 

The turkey is gone, the last bits of the 20 pounder being gobbled up yesterday or the day before. We’re still eating the extra pumpkin pies. In the flurry to prepare for twenty guests, we made four pies. Some of the guests brought pies as well so there are still two to go!

 My dress has been put away for the moment. The couches from the family room were put in the dining room. The dining room table (on which I sewed) is in the family room, adjacent to the table in the eating area. It sounds rather complicated but it makes the house nice and airy feeling. Why we don’t have it like this for the rest of the year, I have no idea. Maybe this year it will stay.

Since I’ve been so lazy this last weekend, there’s not much to update. I did make a wonderful double batch of fudge. If I don’t eat all the frozen ones, there will be plenty for Christmas!