snippets of Saturday on Sunday

The kids had TKD testing yesterday,

and they all passed.

Yay!!

So,

Lily is a red/black belt (what?!)

Lexi is red,

Jeremiah and Josiah have 5 (I think) midterm stripes on their (black) belts,

and Brandon,

Brandon

is now a 2nd degree black belt!

He is also an official,

full-fledged

certified TaeKwanDo Instructor.

I think that's a pretty crazy awesome accomplishment 

for a 17 yr old young man!

(and UAFS didn't think he qualified for a leadership scholarship. Hmph)

I am so appreciative for all that Mr Townsend

has done with and for him.

He told me last test cycle,

when we were talking about the next one being for the belt,

that it was silly, 

but he was as proud of Brandon as he'd be if he were his own son.

Really though,

he has poured into Brandon more than anyone else has,

besides Tyler and I,

so he should be proud :-)

~

My mom and Bill came down yesterday for testing,

and then took us to lunch at Cheddars to celebrate,

then came back to the house

 and played and visited and shot guns.

So it was a nice afternoon.

:-)

~

Corey and his crew came over to help us move the front door

from the garage to the porch,

so that's one little thing

that can be marked off the list

(of a million other things...)

I love it when our friends share our excitement!

We've actually had a few friends who've expressed some jealously,

which baffles me,

and makes me a little sad.

We've been working towards this for a long time...

You know - when we found this place,

Corey was a realtor.

Even though we were more acquaintances than friends at that point,

we called him instead of the realtor the house was listed with,

so he has been with us from the very beginning

of the journey.

Which made it especially nice to get to give them the tour...

Standing upstairs,

he asked,

"All those years ago, when you first had this dream,

is *this* what you pictured?"

Tyler and I both answered that it's more.

And we feel so grateful.

stepping up

I gotta brag on these kids a minute.

Yesterday was a(nother) full day.

Dinner was late,

as it always is on Tuesdays and Thursdays

due to TaeKwanDo,

so it was past 8 when we finished eating.

Tyler, Brandon, and I needed to work on the back porch after dinner

so I told the kids to clean up the kitchen,

including washing the dishes 

(for some reason, that has to be specified)

and then get to bed.

Lily came out about a half hour later and said,

"We've cleaned the kitchen, 

and I know we're supposed to be going to bed now,

but I just wanted to check and see

if you wanted us to do anything with laundry first."

I have been telling them they have got to step up;

if Mom is out working on the house,

I simply can't do everything inside

that I normally do.

I guess it's finally sinking in.

~

Momma loves you all.

Thanks for stepping up.

people think you just screw a box into a 2x4

but there is a heck of a lot more to it than that.

For starters,

the box for your ceiling fan

will need to be centered on the window,

so you need to find the center,

and mark it,

using a level, to make sure your center line stays straight.

Then, 

you need to measure how far your mark is from the closest board

Two lines away from 6 inches.

(do NOT tell my dad I measured like that)

(it's so much faster than calculating how many 16th or 32nds

 or however the many marks there are on this thing)

Then you have to move your ladder closer to the center nailer

(that's what you call a board that is there

 for the sole purpose of (drywall or soffit) being nailed into)

and hope that that 2x4 running across the porch is straight,

and mark the center of the window there, too.

Because that nailer runs directly down the center of the porch,

and we didn't want to move it

(although, I'm hoping now that this wasn't a bad decision)

we decided to just put our can lights as close to the nailer as possible,

so that the center of the lights and ceiling fans would be 39 1/2 inches

from the OSB on the house.

You see there is nothing above the nailer to attach a light/fan box to.

Poop.

So you'll need to find either a 2x4 or a 2x6

to put there.

If your screws are longer than the depth of your 2 boards put together,

you'll want to angle them slightly;

you don't want any sharp ends up there to poke through wire insulation.

That picture was totally staged.

You can't screw into a board

without applying weight or counter pressure!

Your top board will lift up as soon as the screw hits it,

and you'll have to back the screw out,

and try again.

With two hands.

Then you'll need to screw it into the other nailer 18 inches away.

And add a screw from top to bottom, 

for good measure.

Now that you've got a board securely in place,

you can transfer your center mark.

Using a square ensures it's nice and straight.

Next you'll need to measure out to where you want the center of your fan.

And use a square there, too.

Now,

if you were applying drywall,

or a standard depth ceiling material,

you'd be good to go,

and could now screw in your box.

But we are putting cedar on our porch ceiling,

which is thicker.

Before the kids left for Summer Play Days at church,

Brandon and I did some maths,

and figured out that we needed a sort of shim that was not quite 3/4 of an inch.

So he used the planer 

and made a board that was 22/32nds.

 I cut my shim from that board.

Now that we've got our shim, let's get back at it.

You'll want to be sure you have all of your tools,

because it is really annoying to keep having to get down from your ladder

to grab something you forgot.

If, like us,

you need a shim,

you'll want to screw it in, with just one screw,

Dammit Bobby!

It's hard to hold up a board

and a screw

with one hand.

and remark your lines.

X

marks the spot!

Then unscrew your shim

and climb down off your ladder

and line up the holes in your box

with the lines on your shim.

And your box will be perfectly centered.

:-)

Partially screw in your screws

(shorter ones, 'cause these can't go in angled)

Then take it back to the ceiling

And first screw in your shim,

making sure the screw goes into the same hole,

so that your box ends up in exactly the right spot.

Then completely screw in the pre-screwed screws,

and add a few more screws to your shim.

We don't want a shimmying fan...

And that,

is how you install a box

for a ceiling fixture.

darn it!

Remember my stove?

I picked it up last week after visiting Gramma.

They'd told me that cosmetic issues were only covered for 60 days,

so be sure to open the box and inspect for damage.

I figured that wasn't really necessary,

but it'd be wise

all the same.

We opened the box yesterday evening,

only to discover that it was, in fact, 

necessary,

and my poor stove had a run in with 

what looks to have been

a small forklift.

(even though it clearly says on the box not to use one.)

To add insult to injury,

it doesn't have the little counter lip thing that I thought it had.

So now I don't

even know what I'm going to do...

I was really frustrated about it last night;

I was already feeling like we can't manage to complete anything,

and there are so.many.decisions. to be made,

and here was one thing that I thought was taken care of

(and very nicely, too!)

that I still have to deal with.

And quite honestly,

I was feeling a little sorry for myself;

I'd been so excited God had provided that stove for me,

but 

it turns out,

nope.

So,

I was finishing up dinner

and having a pity party,

and Brandon was in the LEM

practicing the guitar.

He was singing Your Love is Wild.

Suddenly I didn't feel quite so bad.

(but I still need a new stove, darn it)

Monday miscellanies

Without my dad here every week,

spurring us on,

work on the house has slowed drastically.

Of course, 

it doesn't

help things any

that we have had a nasty bug running rampant

for the better part of the month.

~

It's also really really hot.

~

After waiting for the backing,

and then realizing I was out of batting,

and waiting for that, too,

I finally got started on the quilting of Faith and Freedom

on Friday.

I tried trapunto for the first time,

thanks to Lynnet putting the idea in my head,

and my not being able to get it out of there.

Can I just share a little tip I learned??

If you use disappearing

(aka: water soluble) thread,

if you snip a hole in your fabric

while you are cutting away the batting,

and, 

according to the experts,

 you will snip a hole somewhere in your fabric,

do not,

I repeat: do not

use steam

to adhere a piece of interfacing reinforcement.

You also may want to take care to not melt your batting

with direct heat from your (not steamy) iron.

(I am really hoping it isn't melted, so much as *compacted*,

and will resume it's fluffiness once washed and dried.

I mean,

that's what I would be hoping,

if I had done such a stupid thing...)

~

I have always preferred to wash my floors on my hands and knees,

and have, of course,

 taught the kids to wash floors that way too.

The other day, Jeremiah and Lexi needed some work

(if ya know what I mean...)

so I had them wash the kitchen floor.

As they were scrubbing, 

one of them said,

"It would be really great if they had something like a broom,

only instead of sweeping your floors,

it'd be for washing them."

I felt it was only right that I tell them about mops.

~

I read a book last week.

It was lovely.

I've missed reading.

~

Josiah and I were both quite desperate for tennis shoes,

so we went shopping after church yesterday,

just the two of us.

It took a few hours,

and more money than I'd have preferred to spend,

but we each found a suitably comfortable pair.

So now, when I'm especially short on time,

maybe I'll be able to actually take a quick mile run (or rather walk / jog)

instead of logging a mile's worth of steps on the trampoline.

(I am convinced I only get credit for 75% or so)

~

The computer,

without anyone's permission,

updated to Windows10 a few months ago.

Ever since, 

it has grown increasingly more difficult 

to get pictures from the camera

on to the computer.

It doesn't inspire me to take many photos, 

I can tell you that.

I ordered a new SD card, 

on the off chance that that's the problem,

but I really don't think it is. 

~

Wednesday was my day with Gramma.

It's nice to be able to surprise her multiple times

(when I tell her the night before that I'm coming,

then again when I call and tell her I'm heading her way,

and then again,

when I show up at her door)

but I admit it's a little discouraging when she calls me later the same day,

and doesn't remember I've been there.

She sure loves it when I'm there, though,

and I do treasure my Gramma!

~

Speaking of Gramma,

she has always carried around lots of pictures

and will share them with anyone she can.

On her counter Wednesday,

there was a computer printed photo of my sister 

from one of her body-building competitions.

On the top of the photo was Alicia's name,

but on the bottom

was mine.

I got a pretty good laugh out of that one.

Of course, I didn't correct it ;-)

Plus, 

I can see how she'd get us confused,

our bodies being so similar and all.

bwahaha

~

I surprised the kids 

with a big package of modeling clay earlier today.

I knew they'd be thrilled,

but I hadn't considered that they'd take up the whole table

playing with their clay,

and I wouldn't be able to quilt....

They're finally done, though,
so I best get at it.
(They've moved on to a (loud) nerf gun war)
(Girls scream so much more then boys.)

summer streaking

I have been waking up in the middle of the night /  early morning

with my hands, and sometimes my arms

so asleep that they feel like they are on fire.

And they stay that way for a good while.

Now,

I've dealt with body parts falling asleep and going numb

for years,

but this was pretty extreme.

I've also not been eating quite as carefully as I prefer to eat,

and had let sugar creep back in.

A little bag of  Trader Joe's dark chocolate almonds,

savored over the course of a week

turned into 

a bag 

savored over a single cup of coffee.

That sort of thing.

And when I do that,

well,

it's easier to allow myself to have

a half of a skinny bun

and then

a piece and half of pizza....

More begets more with me.

sigh.

I can't help but think that the two are related,

as when I am eating like I should,

I don't go numb nearly as often,

and I certainly don't have the on-fire pain and tingling.

So,

I decided to start a(nother)  sugar free summer streak on July 5th

(although, truth be told,

I was feeling so miserable on the 4th,

I didn't indulge like I'd planned)

(Isn't that so silly?

I mean, I'm making a change because some foods (seem to) effect me so negatively,

and yet,

I plan to load up before I fast from them.

What is wrong with me?!)

In addition to abstaining from sugar, in all of its many forms,

I'll also pass on all wheat products,

and 

chips,

because I have abused those, too.

Where I once could eat a half of a serving (measured on the kitchen scale)

and be content,

I had gotten to where I am quite certain my 'servings' 

were well above the suggested size.

I decided on the 5th

that 

in addition to my no sugar streak

I would add in a step streak,

and (purposefully) get in an additional mile a day

(since my foot is still cantankerous, I'm using the trampoline,

though I'm pretty sure I could log a mile much faster 

if I laced up shoes and took off down the road.)

My hope plan is

that at summer's end, 

I will feel so good,

I'll be forced to continue both streaks,

as I won't be positive which one it is 

that's making me feel better.

I have just about given up on losing weight

(I haven't managed to lose anything in over 2 years,

but I've packed 10 lbs back on. sadness)

so this is not about weightloss.

I had been thinking about adding 'no getting on the scale' 

to my summer streaking,

but I hadn't made a decision on that.

I stepped on the scale anyways on my 5th or 6th day,

and darn it if I hadn't gained another pound and a half.

I admit it was rather discouraging,

but then,

I shouldn't have been surprised.

(and yet I was. 

Again - what the heck is wrong with me? Sheesh)

I told Tyler he should hide the scale,

because it would be best if I didn't weigh

and he said, 

"Just decide not to step on it.

You have more willpower than anyone I know.

I don't need to hide the scale."

And so,

I've decided.

For the remainder of the summer

(maybe even longer)

no eating wheat, sugar, or chips,

no skipping out on my mile,

and no stepping on the scale.

I'm 7 1/2 days in on my Summer Streak.

Anybody want to join me??

sawdust and strings

I had to laugh when I looked down at myself

Saturday evening.

I had sawdust on my knees and calves,

and little threads

were pretty much everywhere.

Tyler told me

"You got to come help on the house when we needed you

(We have a porch now!!)

(well, we have a partial porch now, at least...)

and you got to sew a ton.

I guess this was pretty much the perfect weekend for you."

Pretty much.

(up until the last 30 min of sewing, which produced 3+ hours of seam ripping. grr)

Faith and Freedom; finally, a finished top!

I'm not sure I have ever been quite so relieved to have a completed quilt top.

I started starching the fabrics for this one on January 25th

and besides a few bags,

and a couple of garments,

Faith and Freedom has occupied all available sewing time.

Faith and Freedom will likely be the only commission project

I get to do this year;

building a house doesn't leave much time for, well, anything,

so I am very grateful I've had the opportunity to make it,

and that I'll be able to give three (!) sewing machines for my efforts.

This quilt represents so many things,

which I'll cover in another post,

but the biggest design considerations were

 that the recipient's faith be portrayed,

that it include their favorite colors,

that freedom be well represented,

and that it not be 'modern'.

(I can't wait to share more about my client and the recipients!)

I designed Faith and Freedom with my usual graph paper, ruler, pencil and big eraser,

using the Milky Way pattern by Fig Tree for the fireworks/stars.

The pattern called for only 2 sizes of star blocks, but as you can see,

I went with a few more than that ;-)

After I'd made 2/3 of the firework blocks,

I made a copy of my design

and colored it in,

so I could figure out what colors I needed

in which block sizes

and where they should go.

I'd pinned the Milky Way quilt about a year ago

(according to Pinterest - I would have guessed it was more like 2 or 3 years)

but knowing that I would likely never actually take a quilt anywhere

 on Independence Day,

and therefore didn't really need one of my own,

I figured the next best thing,

was to make one (similar) for someone else.

Y'all.

I am here to tell you,

if this weren't a commission quilt,

I'd have quit a long time ago.

So many bias edges!

(and I obviously can't read a pattern,

because I ended up with octagons, 

which required triangles at the corners.

What the heck?!

It was a happy accident though, 

because I was able to have smaller (and more) pieces anyways,

which contributed to the overall scrappiness of the quilt.)

(there are 121 different fabrics!)

I think I need to move that filler block to the left side of the blue and green star
instead of the right. darn it! 

Each block took longer than I anticipated

 - no surprise there -

but I (eventually) discovered that if I worked on 2 blocks at a time,

my time spent per block was greatly reduced.

Even so, I've already exceeded my total time investment estimate

(by 25 hrs!)

and I still have to prepare the back,

quilt,

and bind it.

(Fortunately for my client,

I quoted a flat price ;-)

Speaking of  quilting -

I'm still not entirely sure how to quilt the church,
beyond thread-painting doors and windows.

Any ideas??

linking up this satisfying finish with the scraptastic Amanda Jean