Tips for the day:

Go Green! Use shish-ka-bob skewers to bake your potatoes. No foil required. Clean and scrub baking potatoes. Poke through with skewers. You can sometimes get 2 to a skewer. Bake as normal.

Did you know that onions stored in the refrigerator hardly ever make you cry? The cold causes a chemical change in the onion that reduces the amount of "cryability" in the onion. Store in crisper drawer.

Yesterday, Kiddo#1 came home with his pre-registration forms for middle school. He had a book with course information and a sheet to fill out. Sitting there discussing his Advanced placement options versus the "on-level" courses, weighing his elective options, and discussing what he felt his strengths and weaknesses were left me with that jaw-dropping feeling parents must always feel when the steady, slow realization that one's child is approaching adulthood settles in. I realized that this is what I've spent these formative years doing: getting him ready to make his own decisions, to take his life's direction in his own hands. Now, some of you might be thinking, "He's going to middle school for pete's sake!"...Is that too early, really, to start directing the ship? No. By middle school, I was already a published writer. I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I knew my strengths and weaknesses. I also realized that the kids who KNEW these things held the most power in their hands for ultimately getting what they wanted out of life. I spent 4 years of high school WORKING...oh, I had summer jobs, but that's not what I meant. I worked toward the ultimate goal of gaining as many scholarships as possible so I could afford to go to college. 4 years isn't that much time in the big scheme of things...and I had to compete with Bubbles the Cheerleader, and Smarty Miss Smarty Pants of the perfect GPA to get the necessary scholarships. I had to BE someone that NO one else was. I had to be able to sell myself and have the goods to back up the sale.

So, I excelled in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Persuasive speaking, and Journalism. I did charity work nearly every Saturday that I wasn't at a speech tournament. I developed the confidence and the bravado of some big wig hot shot lawyer...why? Not because I thought I was the next best thing to hit planet Earth, but because I KNEW that I had to believe in myself in order to succeed...and if I didn't believe in myself, why would someone else believe in me and fork over hundreds and thousands of dollars to eductate my butt?

And all of that started around the age of 12. What do I have that other kids don't? It sure as hell wasn't money, or cool clothes, or a rockin' stereo set-up. I was gangly, skinny, with hair that never did anything awesome [unless pigtails count as awesome], teeth that made me the target of notorious and relentless taunting, and one year later a hump back that Quasimoto would envy....physically I didn't come into my own until around about 20 when I finally looked like I might be out of my teens and onto the road of womanhood.

So, boy child and I sat there discussing his strengths...which from the perspective of teacher opposed to mom, I'd say are many. I've worked hard to instill confidence and belief in himself....to be able to admit, "Yeah, I stink at that...but I ROCK at this!" And to capitalize on those assets. I always say: "You only have one you...make your you the best you you can be!" I sat there listening to him weigh his options, discuss how much work he was willing to put into one subject opposed to another and reasons WHY. That was most rewarding...not just thoughts spewing from his mouth, but real, solid, REASONS for his thinking.

I suggested speech class for an elective...yeah, so I'm biased. I loved it. I taught it. So, naturally, I'm inclined to encourage it, but I encourage it in him because I know he'd rock in speech class...he has that wit and pull it out of your ass at the last minute ability that is needed to be a natural speaker. If I didn't think he'd succeed in it, I wouldn't suggest it. I also encouraged AP math, though I had to warn that he's already tapped out my math abilities, so any help in this department needs to come from his step-father and from his dad ole Mr. Physics. It's all part of that knowing my limitations things, lol. Anything beyond basic math is all pops and whistles to my brain...I'd do better trying to figure out Russian.

So, armed with notes of questions to ask his various teachers, he was off today to decide which electives to choose and how many advanced placement classes he wants to take. When he got in the car to go to school this morning, with his dad, I heard him excitedly replaying the conversation he and I had last night, and I saw my ex turn and look at me and smile with that same expression of "Wow, this is my kid!" on his face that I must have had.

I'm not cutting any apron strings yet. Hell no, I'm gonna wrap those strings as tight around the kid as I can so each year that passes he has to turn and twist around and around just to get a little more breathing room....I'll know when to cut the strings....when his wings are grown and strong and he can face the wind and storms and rise above them....I've got a while til we get there...but I have no problem letting him stretch and try out his wings as much as he needs to...

Because I'll be flying right under him to catch him if he falters, falls, or just gets tired. Because that's my job. I'm a champion of tiny souls. I'm a nourisher of growing tummies. I'm a motivator of budding dreams. I'm a warrior shielding the vulnerabilty of youth. I'm strong arms, warm words, and full of love for wobbly legs that are growing stronger and going farther.

I'm a mom.

And it's the best damn job in the world.

Work continues on new collection. Woot.

Sewing continues for massive January Bleuette ebay listings.

All Holiday shopping of any sort now concluded. Woot. Kid vacation schedule established. Wood stocked for the crazy weather. No school today. It's still below freezing here. What sort of Texas weather is this? Hell has frozen over. lol.

B entries from my "book":

Quick Christmas Gift Idea:

Bath Salts

2 1/2 cups baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
 1 cup Epsom salts
drop or 2 of color [food coloring]
drops of scented oil or perfume

Mix well. Pour into decorative glass container or nicely decorated large mason jar. Directions: Use 1/4 cup per bath. You can type up the directions and cut out with pinking shears or decorative scissors and attach to jar with ribbon. Really cute is to add a little scoop [wood ones are found at craft stores].

Also can just use Epsom salts, color and oil/perfume and follow rest of directions.


Brown Sugar, to soften hardened:

In your brown sugar bag or canister, place :
a wedge of apple OR
a handful of marshmallows OR
a piece of bread OR
a wedge of lemon

I always use the marshmallows or bread. When they get hard, remove and add new ones.

It's a recession. Some tried and true recipes and housekeeping ways of the past have been forgotten or simply not taught to modern women. Fortunately, I've never been a modern woman. lol.

I hate spending money on things I can make cheaper by myself. The common refrain around here is: "Don't pay the man!"...my kids even know the phrase and turn out lights when they leave a room. So, I thought, over the weeks I should dig into my little bag of June Cleaver tricks and reveal my secrets to the world:

Seasoning Salt

This tastes just like Lawry's Seasoning Salt. Save the container and use it over and over again. My seasoning salt container was bought sometime in the year of 1991. It has no label and in black permanent marker it says: Seasoning Salt.

4 TBS black pepper
3 TBS paprika
2 TBS garlic powder
1 TBS onion powder
Fill the rest of the shaker with salt.

Leave a little space at top. Put on shaker and lid. Shake to mix.

Yes, you can use onion salt or garlic salt in lieu of the powder, but use less salt in the fill up.

Voila. Seasoning Salt.

I was just notified by the great folks at FATE Magazine  that my article, "Talk to Me", is coming out in the December 2007 issue. I haven't seen the cover yet, and the website only has the November issue listed as the current issue. My copy and payment is in the mail. This will be the third time one of my paranormal experiences articles have been published by Fate.  The magazine is available at most book stores and news stands.

Okay...just wanted to post that bit of news for my rabid fans everywhere...I'm off to modify a Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookie recipe to include fresh cranberries opposed to dried ones...need to use up the left over cranberries from Thanksgiving.

Waste not, want not.

Your home is a Rough Magnate's Manor Your kitchen is someplace you never go, because you "have people for that." There's a Chocolatessen, which is rapidly becoming your favorite room of the house. Having one is also becoming a trend among your wealthy neighbors. Your master bedroom is the size of a small barn, with carpet thick enough to reach your ankles. Your study has hardback editions of every classic ever written, plus a special edition of Rich Dad, Poor Dad with the parts you ghost-authored highlighted. One of your garages holds your collection of ferraris, and is measured in acreage. Your home also includes a guest wing and private quarters for your servants. Your guests enjoy your animatronic replica of the cantina at Mos Eisley. Outside is your hedge maze and gardens, meticulously tended by a team of world-class botanists. Below is a snippet of the blueprints:

Find YOUR Dream House!

The whole kitchen thing is a lie...I'm ALWAYS in the kitchen...I like to cook...I hate the clean-up part! lol...I think I had to pick between cooking and writing as hobbies...come on...like we don't know the answer to that one! AND they'd only let me pick one genre to write! BAD!

Whew! I've been busy! I will be SOOOOO glad when we're moved, unpacked and settled again! Not only does this unsettledness [if that's a word] affect my writing routine, but it throws me all off. I have this anxious, pressing, urgency about me and I can't shake it. Driving me batty! Making me forgetful and edgy. Not too much longer though! Christopher and I were told that they moved our closing date up by 3 days...whoo hoo! So, we'll close on March 26. [Clapping Hands].

SEWING:

Finished the baby boy quilt for our friends new baby that's due April 11! Her nursery theme is Zanzibar, so I wanted to create something unique but would match. I made her the Sunbonnet Sam quilt as well [already have posted pics for that one]. Here's a photo:



I ordered a set of the nursery wall hangings and took them apart. Those formed 5 of the blocks. Then I had to applique 3 additional blocks to match the pattern on the backing, which was a toddler bedding sheet from the Zanzibar series that I ordered new. The fabric offerings for the nursery theme consisted of beige stripes, so I wanted something more "animalish". Fortunately, some web digging turned up the coordinated toddler linen set. Yay! Anyway, I think the quilt turned out cute. I'm happy that the white on white quilting pattern came out in the photos under the cut. I did a branch and leaves quilting pattern on the cream squares that copied the branch and leaves depicted in the print on the backing. All in all, I'm very satisfied with how well this quilt turned out!

I started the ballerina print sundress for Kiddo#2 as well. It's shaping up prettily. After this one is finished, I'll have one more sundress, a strawberry print Daisy Kingdom dress, and then the summer clothes parade will be finished.

I was on an ebay doll collector's board, and I think I'm going to be sewing some doll ensembles for the 1920-30s Bleuette dolls. Seems there's a demand for 1930's style doll frocks and I happen to love sewing doll clothes. So, I found some patterns on ebay...not the ones I wanted. The actual Bleuette patterns were going up to $20 and I don't have that kind of money to spend on the patterns right now. I did find one free Bleuette pattern online that I can use. There is a book on Amazon with her entire wardrobe in pattern form, but it's an expensive book and I need to wait to see if I can earn out the money before I invest in the book. For those who are unfamiliar with Bleuette:  Bleuette -- the French doll produced as a premium for La Semaine de Suzette, a French children's magazine published by Gautier-Languereau between 1905 and 1960. Every month the girls got a new dress pattern included in the magazine. Unfortunately, patterns 8 year old girls could sew from then, most women wouldn't know where to begin now....that's where me and my trusty needle come in. lol.  Here's an example of a Bleuette doll...



But, since even the reproductions are expensive, I don't own one. I'm going to have to find a cheap, similiar bodied doll to use as a dressmaker's model. But, I've seen ensembles going from $15 to $54 on online stores and ebay and some of those clothes are mass manufactured. Anyway...if this little venture pays off, maybe I can pay for all the christmas presents this way this year. In past years, I've made quilts to order and sold them on ebay and have done well. The doll clothes will be fun.

Now I'm on a search for 1930-50's fabric. So far I've had to stick to reproduction fabric as that's all I can find. Hoping I'll get lucky at some garage sales this summer. If you've got any old fabric/feedsacks you want to clean out...ship'em to me! lol. It's amazing how many old women are sitting on roomfuls of fabric that no one is using anymore...I'm hoping some of those women decided to clean out the stash and stick it on the tables at garage sales. Usually no one buys fabric...or thread or notions...so when I hit those sales, I do a good job eliminating their piles for them. Yay fabric!

CONDFW 2007 Report:

I realize this is a few weeks overdue! Again, busy, move, all that. lol. Here's a picture of Teh Hotness and me at our signing:


I have another really great one, but I can't find what I did with it, so I've emailed Rhonda Eudaly reudaly and she's going to send it to me. She's in it too. The con went well. A lot of guests/writers cancelled at the last minute due to various reasons, so the guest list seemed sort of scant...Harry Turtledove was there, and at a party we were at, but I was too chicken to go introduce myself. His greatness was too great. He seemed very gentle and quiet though. I should have gone and said hi. I will forever kick myself now. I do that periodically, I get shy. OR I think that the guest might want to be left alone with his thoughts for a few moments after being swamped by adoring fans...so I feel I'm being compassionate allowing them to not have to endure another introduction and another adoring fan. lol. It was nice to catch up with fans and friends!

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION:

Nothing says "YOU'RE OLD!" louder than joining a message board for the planning of your 20th High School Reunion. Did I say 20? Good lord. Where does the time go? I can still remember everything like it was yesterday. It's not fair that so much time has passed but yet, I still feel basically like I'm the same person. Oh, I know, I'm not, but, I feel that way when I look in the mirror and see myself. So, for your horrifying edification, I present my Senior Yearbook picture from my yearbook. Click the cut if you dare!

Can you find me? Of course, my name is right there...but oooo, is that not a portrait of true 80s horror?? You can almost see the 20 lbs of silver braces on my teeth in that b/w photo too! Oh, the misery!

MYSTERIOUS DOLL:

I'm just full of pictures and stuff today...lol. Okay, I have this doll. I bought a turn of the century steamer trunk back in the late 80s, and when I stripped out the rotting lining to replace it, I found the below doll wrapped in fabric stuck in the lining.


She seems to be of Spanish origin going by her ensemble, and is handmade from what I can tell. She is a topsy turvy style, with the peasant maid  in a linen dress on one end, and then you flip her over and her red satin brocade skirt then reveals the dressed up version. Her face is hand embroidered and she has floss black braid down her back. The dress is trimmed in very fine handmade lace, as is her headscarf on the peasant version. Anyone have any doll reference books? I've been looking for nearly 20 years now for another doll like this one in books, on the net, etc etc...and can't find one even remotely resembling this one in dress/style. I find plenty of topsy turvy dolls, but none like this. I know she's very old and need to have her appraised for her value. Anyone have any suggestions? I've taken her to doll appraisers throughout the year who are as clueless as I am. Most have estimated her age to be circa 1900-1940s. All suppose she is from Spain. No info that I didn't already glean for myself. She's a charming doll. I've been thinking of listing her on ebay, but I don't want to underprice her.



WRITING NEWS:

Christopher has begun writing on our collaborative novel. We completed the outline and the prologue and I've unleashed him upon the novel now. I have to finish my story for an anthology I'm submitting to this week. It's a story from Kabar's world, but he's not really in it. He's leading King Segmund of Ur's armies against Lahar the Destroyer of Vail right now...so his wife, Adina, is going to be getting all the action in this tale. So, once I'm finished with it, then I'll be hot on Christopher's trail on the chapters he's already completed his part on. That was an awkward sentence. lol. Anyway, I work better when I'm focused on one deadline at a time. The fantasy story is on its way, and the submission period opens end of this week. So, I'm going to finish it this week, and submit it, then jump on our novel. Have a pile of stories that need to be submitted as well. Things are piling up!

ROUND UP:

Wow! I've gone on and on. I've been waiting for the smoke to clear out of the house while I type this up. I bought an 8 lb roast on sale for $7.41...marked down from $22!! I was thrilled! The thing was huge. Anyway, I packed my BIG roasting pan so I had to make due with my medium roasting pan. As a result, juice bubbled over into the oven. Soooo, this morning's muffins for the kiddos created quite the smokiness. Poor Chris opened all the doors and all the fans were on, but I think I sent him off to work smelling like he had been smoking meat in the backyard or something. The muffins were good though. Blackberry.

Okay...I'm off to do dishes and get the house ship-shape. The plumber is coming to fix this and that for the landlord before we move out. Ironically, the landlord didn't see the necessity in fixing this and that for US, but the next tenants should be grateful. lol.

Sorry I chatted your ears off!