shoutingforha

As Heard Last Night, vol. 17

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:52:00 +0000

As I was tucking my boy into bed last night, his thoughts turned to girls. Well, one specific girl to be exact... His wife. I was a little shocked because my boy is still a card-carrying member of the "girls are gross and weird" club.

Our conversation is below:

The boy: Mama, I'm worried about my wife.
Me: Your wife? You're only ten, why are you worried about that?
The boy: What if she can't cook or doesn't like to eat interesting things? You know how much I like good food.
Me: Yes, I know.
The boy: What if her parents don't like me?
Me: Oh, buddy. They will like you. How could they possibly not?
The boy: What if she doesn't know how to tickle my arm just right or is terrible at scratching my back? What if she hates music and doesn't like it that I play drums.
Me: I can see you are really concerned about this stuff. What brought this up?
The boy: I don't know. I just started thinking about it and got worried. Would you pray about it?

And so I did.

I prayed for a wife that is a good cook and an adventurous eater. I prayed that her family would adore my boy and treat him just like he was their own. I prayed that her back scratching skills would be the envy of everyone. And most of all, I prayed that she would love my boy just the way that he is... drumming and all.

Pocket Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

My sister is the proud mama to three beautiful little kids, two girls and a boy. In addition to taking care of her brood and running her household, she works full time. I honestly don't know how she manages to get it all done. I know that I wouldn't last a minute in her shoes.

Her oldest daughter is an independent first grader that is overflowing with boundless energy, never runs out of things to talk about, is deeply thoughtful and loves to be creative. The wee man of the house is only sixteen months old. Although he is learning to talk and races around like a maniac, he still requires a lot of attention as all tiny people do.

The middle child, my niece, well... She reminds me of my boy. She is silly, talkative, feisty and, at times, highly emotional. She also has this incredibly tender side that loves to snuggle and longs to be near the people she loves every moment of every day. Needless to say, she has been having a hard time when her beloved mommy heads off to work.

My sister and I were discussing this situation last week (she always calls me during her commute home). Her desire was to find some way to remind her sweet little girl how much she loves her even when they can't be together.

I suggested a jar of pocket hearts.

I had remembered seeing the cute little felt hearts in one of our local shops several years ago, although I cannot remember where. The hearts can be tucked into a pocket within easy reach should a child need a little reminder of their parent's love. I thought they would be perfect for my niece.

My sister loved the idea, but since she works harder than anyone else I know, I offered to do all the crafting myself. To make the pocket hearts, I cut hearts out of different colors of felt, stuffed them with a little bit of polyfill and used embroidery floss and a simple blanket stitch to seal the edges.

The hearts are so easy to make that I decided to give my sister an entire jar full. With three kids, it's only a matter of time before a few disappear like so many socks in the laundry. Besides, sharing is highly overrated.

*** UPDATE: A friend told me that Curly Birds recently did a post on pocket hearts over at her blog. Stop by and check them out.

Meaning From the Mundane

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I pick up my hubby's wet towel off the bathroom counter and hang it on the hook to dry.
I make the bed so that our room will look nice and neat.
I wipe drips of toothpaste out of the bathroom sink.
I fill a water bottle and pack a lunch for my boy to take to school.
I vacuum tufts of Brick's hair off the rug.
I fold another load of laundry and put it away.
I carry my boy's discarded shoes back to his room.
I make another trip to the grocery store to restock the refrigerator and pantry with food.
I feed Brick and refill his water jug.
I mend holes in favorite shirts and replace missing buttons.
I scrub the toilets until they sparkle.
I plug my boy's iPod into the charger so it's ready if he wants to listen to music.
I wash the dirty dishes that are piled high in the sink.

These are just a few things on the a never-ending list of things I do on any given day. I'm sure you have a similar list. While sometimes these duties become monotonous, I am learning to view all of these things as an act of service... A way to show love.

Who says that the only way to show someone you care is by a grand or extravagant gesture? What about a closet full of pressed shirts, a home-cooked meal or simply running an errand for your spouse?

In this new year, I'm trying to focus on all of the little things that I can do to show my husband and son that I care. Yes, they may not always notice or thank me for all of the little things I do, but that doesn't matter. I'll do it anyway.

And while I'm wiping up the dribbles around the toilet from my boy's wayward stream or picking up my hubby's towel for the tenth day in a row, I will give thanks for the husband and child who have so blessed my life.

~~~~~

I am linking up with Just Write today. Stop by Heather's blog to read other posts or to add your own.

One Thousand Gifts (773-784)

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

773. Waxed paper hearts hanging under my boy's loft bed.
774. The heated seats in my hubby's car. Nothing feels better on a chilly morning drive.
775. My giant blockhead of a dog sleeping with his head in my lap. I think he would prefer to actually sit on top of me if it wouldn't nearly crush me to death.
776. A sincere apology from a teacher who wounded my boy with her words.
777. A mechanic who admits his mistake and then repairs our car for free.
778. Falling asleep to the sound of rain tapping on the windows.
779. My boy's excitement about his new drum teacher.
780. A bowl of homemade Matzah Ball soup on a cold winter day.
781. Getting a set date night with my hubby on the calendar.
782. Crushing my boy's high score on Temple Run. He beats me at pretty much everything, so even the smallest victories are cause for celebration.
783. Driving around in a clean car.
784. Baby back ribs smoked on the grill.

For more lists of gratitude, head over to

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Cooking Conversions | Chasing Delicious

Learning to Sit Alone, in a Quiet Empty Room | zenhabits

Citrus Salt | 101 Cookbooks

Continuous Bias Tape Tutorial | No Big Dill

Friendship Bracelets | the purl bee

As Heard Yesterday, vol. 2

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:56:00 +0000

I usually don't post anything on Saturday, but thought I would make an exception to share this little tidbit of crazy talk by my boy. Happy weekend everyone!

Me: So what have you been learning in school this week?
The boy: Stuff about Woodrow Wilson, World War I and labor unions. Yesterday we talked about ladies like Susan B. Anthony and how the war affected the Women's Suffering Movement.
Me: Do you mean the Women's Suffrage Movement?
The boy: Yes, yes! That's it!

Of Late Nights and Photographs

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

I've been having trouble sleeping the past few nights. There's really no reason for it; I'm just awake.

It wasn't such a big deal over the weekend since I could sleep in for a few extra hours each day. This morning was another story. I had a hard time dragging my sleepy self from the bed so that my boy could get ready for school. Oh, how I long for summer vacation.

I must admit that I have been enjoying being awake when the house is so quiet and peaceful. I definitely get more than enough alone time while my hubby is at work and my boy is off at school, but this is different. I like knowing that my guys are off in another room fast asleep. They are close by, just the way I like it.

While I was awake the other night, I decided to look through some of our old pictures and was struck by how easy it is to forget events and milestones from just a few short years ago. What a blessing to have captured thousands upon thousands of moments with my camera.

It got me thinking that I haven't been taking enough pictures as of late. It's one of those things I do in fits and spurts, although I have a feeling that my boy might feel differently. I snap and snap until I drive my boy crazy and then I set the camera down and don't pick it up for weeks on end.

In this new year, I want to be more deliberate about capturing all the day-to-day stuff. In ten years, when my boy is off at college, I want to be able to look at pictures of his sleepy face sitting at the breakfast table... Working on his exercises at his practice pad in preparation for his drum lessons... Snuggled up on the floor next to Brick... Being goofy with his friends...

I want to capture it all, because you can really never have too many pictures.

~~~~~

I am linking up with Just Write today. Stop by Heather's blog to read other posts or to add your own.

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Wallpaper Gift Bags | Oh Happy Day

DIY Dog Treats | Yours Truly, G
I think the beast might like these.

Prayer Pail | Lu Bird Baby

Homemade Pixie Sticks | Shindig Parties To Go

I Used To Believe: The Childhood Belief Site

An Interview With the Boy

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:07:00 +0000

My boy is always quite talkative but for some reason, he was especially chatty after school yesterday. I decided to take advantage of his unending banter and interview the little guy for my blog. Our conversation is below.

Me: So, how was school today?
The boy: It was pretty decent.

Me: Did you do anything interesting?
The boy: Yeah. A man came today and talked to us about bullying. He was really cool.

Me: What is your favorite subject at school and why?
The boy: I enjoy science because we get to study interesting animals and I like spelling because I'm just plain good at it.

Me: What about your least favorite?
The boy: Probably social studies because half the time my teacher just makes us open our book and read along while she plays a tape of some guy reading the words. It's boring.

Me: If you had to decide right now, what would you want to be when you grow up?
The boy: Either a drummer, a brain surgeon or a famous chef.

Me: We've visited a bunch of different places during our travels. Which is your favorite?
The boy: I liked Seattle the most because there were so many interesting and fun things to do. And also Disney World because of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Me: Are there any other places that you would like to visit?
The boy: France, so that I can eat all of that good food... and also Japan.

Me: You keep bringing up food. So tell me, what is your favorite thing to eat?
The boy: Sushi, steak, a nice piece of pan-cooked fish, a bacon cheeseburger and New York pizza. I can't pick just one thing.

Me: Are there any foods that you hate?
The boy: The worst is broccoli salad. I like broccoli, just not in a salad.

Me: What is your favorite day of the week?
The boy: Definitely Saturday. I get to go to breakfast and the drum shop with Dad, do family stuff or play with my friends, and play some video games.

Me: Tell me one thing you are really good at.
The boy: Playing drums.

Me: Is there anything that is really hard for you?
The boy: I'm not a very fast runner.

Me: What is one of your best memories?
The boy: Hmmm... My favorite memories are going to breakfast on Saturdays with Dad and on special lunch dates with you Mama.

Me: What is the most special thing about you?
The boy: That I have red hair and was born on St. Patrick's Day. How often do you think that happens?

Me: Thanks buddy. Do you know how much I love you?
The boy: Yes, Mama. A lot.

He's right. I do love him a lot.

Removing Water Marks From a Table

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:30:00 +0000

Most of the furniture in my home is coated with a protective layer of polyurethane. The one exception is an antique library table that sits in our den.

When we bought the piece, it was clear that the table had seen a lot of use. The hubby and I were no strangers to refinishing furniture but, for whatever reason, we opted to just leave the table alone.

The hubby's favorite chair is within arms reach of the table. Most evenings you can find him, plopped in his chair, MacBook on his lap, with a ginormous cup of coffee or 40 liter bottle of water by his side. The table also happens to be my boy's favorite spot to rest a glass.

If you know anything about my boy, it will come as no surprise that he is constantly knocking things over. That, combined with the normal condensation that appears on glasses, results in a table that is covered with water marks.

An obvious solution would be to simply require the fellows to use a coaster, but to be honest, we're just not coaster people. I like being able to put down my glass wherever I want, whenever I want.

If you have a table that has suffered similar abuse, don't despair. I have a quick and easy way to remove those pesky rings. All you need is this:

That's right. Mayonnaise. Around the Ha house, Hellman's is king.

Don't even bother using Miracle Whip. Not only does the stuff taste terrible, but the high fructose corn syrup and food starch will just gunk up the furniture.

Slather a decent coating of mayonnaise onto the furniture. Make sure that the water marks are completely covered.

Now just walk away. You heard me. Go.

Be sure to keep your eyes out for this guy. He looks cute, but when you're not looking he will mosey over to the table and help himself to a lick or two of the mayo. The little stinker.

After a few hours, it will start to look like this. Notice how the oil in the mayonnaise starts to soak into the wood?

If you are fixing a severe water mark on a piece of furniture, like the one pictured above, it is a good idea to coat the table with mayonnaise before you go to bed and leave it over night. That way, the mayo has plenty of time to work it's magic.

Now for the fun part. Grab some paper towels and start wiping. Once the majority of the mayonnaise is removed, grab a clean cloth and give the table a good polishing.

Give it a try for yourself.

~~~~~

This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday over at We Are THAT Family. Pop by for some more handy tips.

Home Movies

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The hubby and I are going through the painstakingly slow process of digitizing all of our old home movies. Each tape has to be played in real time while iMovie records a fancy new digital version. We have stacks and stacks of old tapes, each containing hours and hours of footage.

Needless to say, it is taking forever.

We have found some rather interesting things on some of the tapes. One in particular was a video we made at the urging of a well-meaning person shortly after we got married. The footage chronicles all our earthly possessions circa 1992 for insurance purposes. It is downright embarrassing to watch.

As newlyweds, we didn't have two nickles to rub together and the majority of our belongings were hand-me-downs or low quality thrift store purchases. And yet, there we were, talking in agonizing detail about all of our precious junk because we couldn't bear the thought of losing it.

I find it rather ironic that now, as I sit in my house full of beautiful things, the thought of losing it all doesn't cause me any distress. Sure there are a handful of things that are irreplaceable... my boy's blankie and bunny... the amazing art that my hubby commissioned for me... all our family pictures and movies... the special Christmas ornaments that we buy to commemorate each year... I think I could grab all the important things if I had about ten minutes. The rest of it is just stuff.

Most of the other videos are of our adorable boy over the past ten years. I could watch them again and again. And I have. What's really been fun is seeing the boy enjoy the movies too. We have discovered quite a bit of footage that he had never seen before.

Some of the boy's favorites: Watching the tiny version of himself learn to walk and say his first words. The then two-year-old little guy singing the National Anthem (It's seriously the cutest thing EVER.). The day he learned to ride a bike (He also named all the parts of his bike and called the chain, "The part that chops off your fingers.").

He has also loved all of the video of the special moments in his life... his baptism... his preschool programs... our beastly Brick as a tiny puppy... every trip we've ever taken... his growth as a drummer over the years... footage of his Pop Pops who passed away when he was 2 1/2...

Ah, memories. They may be the most precious thing of all. And that's something that no one can take away.

~~~~~

I am linking up with Just Write today. Stop by Heather's blog to read other posts or to add your own.

One Thousand Gifts (751-760)

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

751. A paper chain to count down the days until summer vacation. There's just 89 to go...
752. Seeing my hubby's face when he walks through the door at night.
753. A long bike ride with my boy and his friend.
754. Christmas decorations stowed carefully in the attic. I love the way they look but am always ready to pack it all away come January.
755. My boy's friends. I am thankful that he is surrounded by such a good group of guys.
756. A lunch date at Saffire with my boy. What better way to celebrate the last day of Christmas break than good food and conversation with my favorite ten-year-old.
757. Picking up my boy from school at 3:35. Gosh, I miss that kid when he's away. Why can't every day be Christmas break?
758. A boy who still likes to climb in bed with us in the morning.
759. My well-seasoned Lodge skillet. I love my All-Clad, but there's nothing like cooking in a cast iron pan.
760. A Denver Broncos victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their overtime win sent the Ha house into a frenzy of shouting, cheering and dancing.

For more lists of gratitude, head over to

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Printable Busy Bingo | Make and Takes

What Lens Should I Choose? | Kevin and Amanda
Great advise on picking the right lens for your camera.

A Girl You Should Date | nonamera
For all you book lovers. Thanks, H.

Hanging Fruit | red bird crafts
via The Crafty Crow
Beautiful way to feed birds during the long cold winter.

How to Make Homemade Hand Warmers | V and Co

Graffiti

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

All of these pictures were taken where the railroad bridge crosses the Harpeth River near Historic Downtown Franklin, TN.

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes For Mom.

Togetherness

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:26:00 +0000

My hubby went back to work today after being home since December 23. His company has the wonderful practice of shutting down for the entire week between Christmas and New Year's Day, give or take an extra day or two.

The boy and I love it.

I have to admit that I felt a little sad as I watched my hubby's car back down the driveway. It made me realize just how much I'm dreading the end of Christmas break... The return to the dreaded schedule.

The boy goes back to school on Thursday and I am not looking forward to it. It will be just Brick and me in a quiet, empty house.

Sure, I enjoy having some alone time just as much as the next person. My personality such that I love having things in order. One would think I would thrive with some sort-of routine and endless hours to knock things off my to-do list.

But what really makes me tick is being around people that I adore... My guys.

The past eleven days have been so much fun.

We've slept in late, read good books, watched movies (both at home and at the theater), played countless games of Jenga, gone on bike rides, spent time with friends, eaten tasty food, hung out at the drum shop, played video games, made music together, lazed around the house, watched old family movies, gone on adventures...

Oh, how I wish every day could be Christmas break.

~~~~~

I am linking up with Just Write today. Stop by Heather's blog to read other posts or to add your own.

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Frozen Water Balloons | Hurrayic

I think this is such a fun idea!

Craftiness is not Optional has a few tutorials for making
felt flowers here, here and here. I may have to try them
out to make a little something for my nieces.

Kids Who Love To Cook | Videos, recipes, food adventures
and fun stuff for kids.

Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials | A great reference for anyone
trying to master the art of hand sewing.

DIY: Chalkboard Mug | Wit and Whistle

Some Tips When Taking Meals to a Family in Need

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

I took a meal to my friend Sarah and her family last Friday. She had just returned home from the hospital after an eleven-day stay. You can't imagine how happy they were to have their entire family under one roof again.

I'm sure that at one time or another, most of us have taken a meal to a friend or family member or have been on the receiving end. It's something we all have in common. I thought I would share a few ideas to consider when taking a meal to another family.

1. Be sure to adhere to any dietary restrictions that the family might have.

Make sure you find out if any member of the family has any food allergies (dairy, shellfish, wheat, nuts...) and the plan your meal accordingly. When you take the time to prepare a meal for a friend the last thing you want to do is to make someone sick or worse, have them wind up in the hospital because you didn't know about a food allergy.

Also take into consideration any likes/dislikes or food preferences. If they have children, find out what types of food they like to eat as well. My friend Sarah is a vegetarian (although they do eat cheese and eggs), so I was especially careful to adhere to their dietary wishes.

2. Use disposable containers.

For the most part, we only take meals to friends during stressful times. Births, deaths and illnesses come to mind. Let's face it, while our friends are always thankful for the help, the last thing they want to do is to have to return bowls or casserole dishes to their rightful owners.

Do your friends a favor and use disposable containers. You can buy all different shapes/sizes of baking pans and food storage containers at the store. It gives people one less thing to worry about during an often difficult time.

Go on ahead and label each container too. Sometimes the person that you deliver the food to isn't the one who will actually be eating it. A clearly labeled container makes it easy for everyone to know what's inside.

3. Inquire about their freezer or cabinet space.

In addition to the meal that you are bringing, consider taking a little something extra for later on. This could be as simple as a casserole that they can put into their freezer. I like to take some homemade soup that I've canned using my pressure canner. The nice thing is that it doesn't take up any freezer space and has a very long shelf life.

4. Think about making something for breakfast.

In my friend's case, I knew that her husband would have to go back to work and that in the near-term, they would have people coming in to help care for Sarah and the boys. Mornings with two little kids can be stressful enough under the best circumstances let alone when the mom is trying to recover from brain surgery.

I decided that I would make some breakfast foods to alleviate some of the morning stress. Here are a few suggestions: Breakfast casserole, quiche, homemade granola, fresh fruit salad, banana or pumpkin bread/muffins, a jar of homemade jam or even pancakes or waffles. The possibilities are endless.

Here's a quick tip: For easy storage of the waffles/pancakes, store them in a ziplock bag. Take plastic wrap or waxed paper and lay it between the layers of waffles to prevent them from sticking together. The waffles can then be stored in the freezer and reheated in the toaster as desired. It's just like an Eggo waffle, only better because you made it from scratch.

5. It's snack time.

One other thing that you might not have thought of before is taking something to snack on. This would be especially nice for someone with children or new moms who need a little something while they nurse.

Again, talk to the family to see if they have any specific requests. A few possibilities: hummus and pita, homemade salsa and tortilla chips, fresh fruit salad, muffins, popcorn, even a box of their favorite crackers or granola bars... Just about anything will do.

I hope that you will utilize some of these suggestions the next time you take a meal to a friend. Not only will they appreciate it, but you will feel wonderful knowing that you were able to help out.

~~~~~

This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday over at We Are THAT Family. Pop by for some more handy tips.

One Thousand Gifts (737-750)

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

"Thou hast given so much to me,

Give one thing more - a grateful heart;

Not thankful when it pleaseth me,

As if Thy blessings had spare days,

But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise."

~George Herbert

737. Santa ornaments made from cinnamon sticks (a gift from my friend). There's something about them that make me happy.
738. Dinner with my book club gals.
739. The book club's possible reading list for next year. I'm really excited about some of the books we're considering.
740. Wrapping Christmas presents while listening to Christmas music. It fills me with holiday cheer.
741. Hot chocolate on a cold December day.
742. Christmas Break! I am so happy to have my boy home for a few weeks.
743. Soft corduroy pants.
745. Discovering that Brick likes to crawl under the edge of the living room rug to sleep. He is the goofiest dog!
746. Laughter.
747. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. It's one of my favorite services of the whole year.
748. Waking to my boy's excited shouts on Christmas morning.
749. Spending Christmas with my wonderful family. I am so very blessed to share my life with them.
750. The Savior of the world, come to earth as a tiny babe.

For more lists of gratitude, head over to

A Savior is Born

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

photo credit

"Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,

to Bethlehem the town of David,

because he belonged to the house and line of David.

He went there to register with Mary,

who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,

because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,

keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;

he is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,

praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:4-14 (NIV)

Five Things I Love About Our Dog

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

I know that Christmas is just a mere two days away, but I have decided to stray from that subject and talk about something else... My dog, Brick. I love the fur-ball to pieces and thought I would share five of my favorite things about him.

In no particular order...

1. His sweet face.

I know that I am biased, but I think that Brick is one of the most adorable dogs I have ever seen. Look at that face. How could anyone not love him? And those big brown eyes... They just melt my heart.

It almost makes up for the fact that he sheds constantly.

2. He can sense when something is wrong and always knows what to do to make us feel better.

Brick seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to the emotions of his family. He has an uncanny ability to sense when one of us is upset and immediately rallies to our side to comfort or cheer us up. Feeling the nudge of his cold nose or seeing his wagging tail always manages to lighten even the darkest mood.

He really is the sweetest dog.

3. He is protective of our family.

Brick is truly a gentle giant but when he feels like a member of our family is threatened he transforms into a intimidating watchdog. I especially like knowing that Brick is watching out for the boy and am sure I will come to appreciate it more as the boy grows older and starts spending time at home alone.

4. He swallows pills like a superstar.

Thankfully, I don't have to give Brick medicine very often. When I do, it's usually just some Benedryl for his seasonal allergies. Apparently everyone, including the dear old dog, has allergies here in Pollenville, I mean Tennessee.

Unlike most dogs, I don't have to try and hide Brick's pills inside a hotdog or clamp his mouth shut and rub his throat to try and make him choke it down. I simply shake the bottle and the crazy mutt comes running and takes a seat at my feet. When I touch his lower jaw, his mouth automatically opens and I toss the pill down his throat.

It works every time.

5. His laid-back personality.

Many of our friends have dogs that are so full of energy that it's exhausting. They are constantly racing around, barking at everything and generally being a nuisance.

Brick is nothing like that. He is the most mellow, laid-back dog I have ever met. Sure, he likes to go on walks or rides in the car, run around in the yard with the boy and wrestle with the hubby, but his bursts of pep don't last for long. He has been a lazy old-souled beast ever since he was a puppy.

What Brick really prefers is to take long naps in one of his five special spots around the house. He loves to spend hours sunbathing and watching over his kingdom from the highest point in our backyard. Best of all, he adores little kids and will lay motionless while they climb all over him and squeeze his neck in a tight hug.

He couldn't be more perfect.

It saddens me to realize that at six-years-old Brick is close to the midpoint of his life. Oh, how I wish that he could live as long as I do. He is such a wonderful dog and I cannot imagine life without him.

What about you dear readers? What things do you love about your pet?

Random Thoughts on a Thursday, vol. 4

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

1. As I mentioned last week, my friend, Sarah, had surgery to remove a brain tumor. I am delighted to report that the surgeon was able to remove the ENTIRE TUMOR... every last bit! It is nothing short of a miracle.

Since the surgery, Sarah has spent most of the time sleeping. But the good news is that she has been up walking and feeding herself. She is even making snarky comments to her husband, a clear sign that her wonderful personality is intact. Things couldn't have gone better. Needless to say, we were thrilled.

The only problem to date has been a steady excess of brain fluid since the surgery. The doctors will be putting in a permanent shunt today in the hopes that it will speed her recovery. Our prayer is that there will be no lasting side effects, that the excess fluid will continue to drain off her brain and that Sarah will be able to get back to caring for her two precious boys.

2. I'm having trouble with my mailman again. Not only does he continue to deliver my mail to my neighbor's house, he appears to have quit taking my mail to the post office.

Just yesterday he brought me a dozen of my own Christmas cards... The ones I had mailed three weeks ago. The strangest part was that they clearly hadn't been run through the postal machine because all the postage stamps were unmarked.

The only explanation is that he picked them up and promptly misplaced them in his truck for a few weeks. When he realized the error, he decided that giving them back to me would be far better than actually sending them on to their original destination.

I'm just thankful that I rarely have to mail anything of real importance. Going forward, I plan to utilize the drop box at my neighborhood grocery store.

3. My boy is thirty-six hours into Christmas vacation and the child couldn't be happier. We've had a steady stream of kids coming and going from the house and all manner of mischief and merriment. It's been fun. The boy doesn't head back to school until January 5th which should give him ample time to have more fun before getting back to work.

As a side note, the 5th is a Thursday. For the life of me, I can't figure out why the administration didn't just giving us the full week off. It's a mystery.

4. I was perusing Google Analytics the other night and was once again amused by what I found. It never ceases to amaze me how people wind up on my blog. People search for the craziest things. Some of my favorites from this year were:

i needed a good laugh or two today and cake
how can i break my own finger
the denver broncos are rude
i drank 3 bottles of bourbon
make an aromatherapy bomb
a head found in dragon park
how do i attract an irishman
how to shave a canine's heart
sofa made of dog hair

With a list like this, I'm really looking forward to seeing what pops up next year.

In all seriousness, I want to thank each and every one of you for stopping by my blog this year. I genuinely appreciate all of your emails and comments.

Fort Building Kit

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Are you ready for a new craft project? Great! I've got a really fun one today.

I'm going to show you how to make a Fort Building Kit just like the one I made as a Christmas present for my six-year-old niece. Don't tell my boy, but I made him a more manly version as well. I got the idea from Saltwater-Kids.

My niece is just at the age where she wants to have a little space away from her two younger siblings. This is especially true when her best friend comes over to play. It's can be incredibly hard to do big girl things when your three-year-old sister and one-year-old brother keep pestering you. My hope is that the Fort Building Kit will allow her to create her own special place that she can play.

Here's what you need:

I picked up two big sheets at my local Goodwill for $1.99 a piece. My niece is all girl so I tried to select some that were especially pretty.

I cut strips of cloth from one of my hubby's old T-shirts to make some tie-downs. I sewed one strip onto the each of the 4 corners and the midpoint of each side of the sheets.

The rope is simple clothesline rope that I picked up at the dollar store along with the clothespins. To make it a little more fun, I dyed the clothespins by letting them soak for a few minutes in a glass of water that I tinted with a few drops of food coloring. Once they had soaked up a little color, I laid the pins out on a few sheets of paper towels to dry.

The big metal clips are from Home Depot and only cost $0.99 each. The smaller clips and the flashlight were dollar store purchases as well.

I made a drawstring bag from one of my hubby's old dress shirts to store the rope, clips and flashlight.

The storage bag was made with more of the shirt fabric and a complimentary scrap I had in my fabric pile. The handles are made from an old piece of grosgrain ribbon. I liked the idea of using fabric that I already had on hand, and since my Christmas shopping has been done for weeks, I had more than enough time to get it done.

If you can't sew or simply don't have the time, you could easily use a bag of your choice instead. The whole point is to have some sort-of bag to keep all the fort making supplies in one place.

I hope you will make this Fort Building Kit for someone that you love. It will provide hours of fun and costs less than $10 to make. What could be better than that?

Presents

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:26:00 +0000

I went to a Christmas party with my book club gals last night. We had a wonderful time talking, laughing and enjoying a delicious meal together. It was a great way to kick off the holiday week.

When I came home, I noticed a pile of presents covered in pink snowman paper underneath the tree. My guys had been wrapping my gifts while I was gone. They are sneaky like that.

I love the way my guys wrap gifts. My boy always uses entirely too much tape. The gifts are not adorned with spectacular bows or ribbons. The corners of the paper aren't neatly or precisely folded. And instead of gift tags, they like to scrawl my name on the paper with a Sharpie.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Seeing the first presents underneath the tree has made me even more excited for Christmas. I am looking forward to leisurely days spent with my guys, eating good food and most of all, seeing the overjoyed look on my boy's face on Christmas morning.

~~~~~

I am linking up with Just Write today. Stop by Heather's blog to read other posts or to add your own.

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Twig Tree | The Art of Doing Stuff

I Love this!

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags | Compulsive Craftiness
Tags straight from the North Pole!

Glamorous Mid-century Modern Paper Ornaments | Crafty Modern

Retro Christmas Village Ornaments | Modern Kiddo

Christmas Postcards | Alison Owen Desgin

Christmas Coal Candy | Sprinkle Bakes
Have you been naughty or nice?

How to Make an Origami Christmas Tree | Happy Folding

via How About Orange

Handmade Yarn Wreath Ornaments | Christopher and Tia

Print and Build a Nativity Set | How About Orange

The Quiet Book - Girly Version

noreply@blogger.com (shoutingforha) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:42:00 +0000

Today I would like to share another version of my felt Quiet Book. This one was made for an adorable little girl named Emmie.

The majority of the pages are identical to the other book, although you might notice a slightly pinker color palate.

I used an assortment of old buttons for the wheels on the train.

All of the removable pieces, like the moon and stars, are made from two pieces of felt that have been sewn together and are attached to the book with a piece of soft velcro.

A friend gave me the scrap of pink fabric with the farm girls on it. I thought it would be perfect behind one of the barn doors.

For this girly version of the Quiet Book, I decided to make a purple mitten. It's just the right size for a tiny hand to slip inside.

Even the shoe has a feminine flair. They eyelets of the shoe are made from grommets that I stitched around with embroidery floss to make them extra secure. I picked up the belt at our local thrift store for $1.00.

I used fabric paint to write all of the words and mark the places for the shapes. I also use the paint to add little details to the book like the friendly faces on the fish and the message on the letter.

When I make a quiet book, I like to personalize it to suit the child I'm making it for. In this case, the little girl loves to play with her mommy's makeup.

I hope she will enjoy pretending to put makeup on the lady's face instead of ruining her mother's expensive stuff.


© shoutingforha

One of my favorite pages of the book is the tent. Children love unzipping it to reveal their own sweet face. As before, the picture can be easily swapped out for another.

I hope that Emmie will get as much joy from her book as I had making it.

To check out a Quiet Book I made for a little boy, click here.

*** Feel free to use my design to make a quiet book for someone that you love. That said, I request that you refrain from using my design to create products for sale. Thanks!