Category: Homekeeping

I finished Hambet’s fireman coat last night. I did cut the boots, but I’m not worrying about finishing them — Hambet is too little for them just now. He can just wear his snow boots and a pair of black jeans. If he wears the costume, that is! When I brought it out for him… Continue reading There are very few problems in life that cannot be solved with a hot glue gun.

I like the idea of sewing, but I’m not very good at it. There’s part of me that whispers, “you’re not good at it because you don’t sew very often” but there’s another part of me that’s whispering, “you’re not good at it because you’re doing everything the hard way” — kind of like trying… Continue reading Measure twice, cut once, shriek, bite your tongue because your child is watching you

Peony, I think Polo and I are Type 1.5 painters. I actually have never picked up a paint brush because I am always busy keeping a toddler from sticking his foot into the paint can. My husband would very much like to be a Type 1 painter, but time restraints make it so you have… Continue reading Type 1 Painter or Type 2?

Yesterday we went shopping for Halloween constumes. I actually have similar feelings that Jeff does about Halloween, but the closest All Saint’s Day Party is usually a bit of a distance for a week night, whereas taking them around the block to let them get some candy bars is a more viable option. The rule… Continue reading Shopping for Costumes

….those who think painting a kitchen means flipping through dozens of paint chips before finally choosing the right shade of yellow, pulling out all the nails, filling and sanding the holes, wiping it all down, washing the walls, putting down masking tape, paper and drop cloths, priming, letting the primer dry, painting, wiping up the… Continue reading There are two kinds of people….

Why, oh why, didn’t I take shop in middle school instead of orchestra? I haven’t touched a viola since I was fifteen, but I regret that shop class almost every day since we’ve become homeowners. Books aren’t that much help either, in that they tend to focus on small, typical projects in houses that don’t… Continue reading More reflections on academia

The weather here is just magnificent — clear blue sky, a bit on the cool side outside but not too cold…. Soon we’ll have that scent of leaf and wood fires in the air. How I love this time of year. Today I took on another Napoleonic homekeeping project, and tried to bake a triple… Continue reading Fall is finally here