Our house, in the middle of our street

Actually, our house IS in the middle of our street – well, our block. I thought it would be fun to share more about our household. You already know who’s in the household and that most of us are sarcastic, song and movie quoting smart alecks.  Here are a few facts you might not know about our household.

Sometime in the last decade (maybe 8 years ago?), we decided to eliminate cable tv from our home. We realized the children really only watched PBS Kids so the remaining channels were wasted. We didn't watch most network evening television because we don’t like the whole reality tv movement. I could get on my soapbox here, but won’t digress. The boys enjoyed the occasional Dirty Jobs or Mythbusters episode, but the cost of cable was higher than our desire for those shows.

Thus, we cancelled the cable and Mr. Neoclassic scaled the chimney and installed a huge antenna. We bought a converter box for our non-HD tv, accepted that television watching would involve at least three remotes, and moved on. Meanwhile, due to an electrical glitch that takes too long to explain (i.e. I’m not sure I really understand), we realized that only one phone jack in the entire house worked. This was fine since we had a cordless system with two or three handsets.

Then the handsets died, one by one, at the hands of small children and random accidents (they don’t survive the wash cycle). We plugged an old-fashioned corded phone into the one working jack and vowed to buy a new cordless. But then, we didn’t. Friends knew that if I didn’t answer the phone they should try again in 10 minutes. I was probably upstairs changing a diaper or such and just didn’t make it down to answer the corded, ancient phone. In the meantime, they could leave a message on the answering machine!

I need to state that the adults and Classic Rock (at age 12) had cell phones. That is, phones that make calls and send texts. Not phones that are small computers. That would mean entering the technological age and we just couldn't have that.

At some point during this stretch of non-electronics age voodoo, our toaster oven expelled black smoke and died. I aired the kitchen, vowed to replace it and….didn't. Several years later, I still make toast by kicking on the oven and putting slices of bread on a pizza screen.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the computer situation during those years. The adults in the house shared a laptop that wasn't a laptop because its  internal battery had died.  It resided, always plugged in, on the bar counter in the kitchen, making surfing very uncomfortable and explaining my lack of Pinterest pins. The children shared a desk top computer that was generally monopolized by Classic Rock’s school work requirements.

All of these issues led poor, socially isolated, and frustrated Zydeco to declare our house “THE HOUSE OF LAME!” We laughed and took this as a moniker of sorts. “Oh, I’m sorry, we've never seen Dancing with the Stars because we’re the house of lame.” Or, “We don’t know what a PS3 is because we’re the house of lame.”  Or, "We'd call, but the one phone is dead because we're the house of lame."

Interestingly, our children’s friends seem to enjoy gathering at our house, despite its record of lameness. We open our doors, our pantry, and our game cabinet to welcome friends and make them feel comfortable. The boys enjoy inviting friends over for movie nights, even though the tv has a tube is only 27 inches! They know I’ll make popcorn (on the stove) and serve their favorite chips.   Jazz’s neighborhood buddy, whose own house boasts cable, gaming systems, and other exciting media, loves to be in our backyard where they are free to dig in the dirt pile and create imaginary worlds of fun.

After my husband’s recent Facebook update about another facet of lameness, a good friend responded with the following comment:

”You’re not the House of Lame, you’re the House of Eclectic Awesomeness!”

That sounds so much better!

How is your household counter-cultural? That's what we're claiming really drives our Eclectic Awesomeness.  Otherwise, we're just lame :)

Today's post title from Madness' Our House.

**PS - There are no pictures today just to enhance the whole idea of lameness!

Well it's my birthday too, yeah

It's true - Jazz and I have birthdays only a day apart. With Zydeco's birthday barely one week earlier, we usually dive into vats of buttercream frosting, coming up only for the occasional vegetable. This year, we decided to change things up a bit and have each birthday celebrant choose their favorite dessert for their special dinner. Actually, they choose the dinner, too.

Zydeco opted for nachos heaped with his favorite array of toppings. He followed this with Snickerdoodle cupcakes which, as he put it, were sweet without being overly sickening. Proving that he really isn't my child, he walked away with half a cupcake to go. Then again, the rest of us just dream of his abs and waistband :)

Jazz's dinner of choice was her Daddy's homemade mac-n-cheese. It was absolutely divine and was followed by a visit to the new snowball stand. They advertise "New Orleans style" snowballs and they don't disappoint.

Preparation of my dinner choice is underway. Delicious strozzapreti with sides of sauteed zucchini and glazed carrots. Yum!

After mentioning several weeks ago that I'd always wanted to try an ice cream cake, my children decided that's what my dessert should be. I can't wait! It's fun to be spoiled :)

Today's post title is still The Beatles Birthday

I'm glad it's your birthday!

It's 3:15 and I am watching the window for Jazz's arrival from school. While I am always excited to see her, today's special because it's her 9th birthday and I really want to see her expression when she finds this ready for her:

This little set up kept me occupied for hours on end as a child. My parents discovered Ginny dolls about the time I turned eight or nine and I was enamored. I'd never liked Barbie dolls, but these dolls, with their properly proportioned bodies and their little rounded tummies sparked a deep love in me. Probably because I, too, have short little legs and a rounded tummy.  I used the carrying case to transport them and their attire to my grandmother's for the weekend. She and I would sew and crochet little outfits for them and then I'd immerse myself in an imaginary world while she watched Friday's episode of Dallas!

Here's Ginny primping at her vanity.  I wonder which perfume she'll choose today?

And here is younger sister Penny, which in the South rhymes with Ginny.

When she awakens, she'll dress in her tennis whites.

See them hanging at the ready back there?

Let's hear it for 1970's fashion! 

Wait till you see the jogging shorts and striped knee socks!

I found two of the crochet dresses - ball gowns actually - that my grandmother made.  They need a bit of cleaning before an internet reveal.  My mother and I had a long conversation about cleaning vintage linens.  I think I have several posts coming with directions and suggestions for cleaning the treasures of your attic!

I must go watch the window for a sweet, freckled 9 year old :)

Today's post title from The Beatles Birthday

With an instant radical change of perception

I'll just keep this week about handmades. I posted about the little girl jumper and now here's a little crochet project.

This bunting started as a pillow front.  Last year, I saw this pillow project with the interesting crochet motif over at Wisecraft and knew I wanted to try it.  I started the motifs, alternating the color patterns and thinking the entire time that I really didn't want to join them.  I liked the motif part but not the joining part - I knew it would be time intensive and I am really an instant gratification kinda gal.  After having this poor, sad, little stack sitting on a shelf for over a year, I decided to just change directions.  Okay, so it's not instant (it took a year) and it's not radical (it's just yarn), but this UB40 song has great lyrics.

The bunting idea came from my Pinterest board of crochet projects to try.  I realized I'd pinned several crochet buntings but had never followed through with the creation part.  [Side note:  I've noticed that most of my pins don't make it to the creation step.  That's why I don't invite you to follow me there.]

Anyway, I had just enough motifs to make a bunting to span the desk area between the girls' closets.  Their room has been a work in progress for about a year if you include the painting, closet overhauls, and bed refinishing.  The desk alcove has wonderful built in shelves that we use to house Baptismal candles, special gifts, glue higher than the reach of a three year old, the baby doll bed set made by Papa, and a whole overflowing village of Littlest Pet Shop junk treasures.  

The yarn used for these motifs is the same yarn used for the sweet mobile I made Irish Jig.  It hangs across the room in front of the windows.  I blogged about this previously, should you want details.

Today's post title from UB40's Instant Radical Change in Perception

I'm wearing a new dress

While I try to offer variety here on the blog, the sad truth is that Irish Jig spends the most time with me and, thus, is the source of many stories and pictures. That said, I apologize for posting more pictures of her same face.  It's a cute face, for sure, but I'll drum up new stories for the rest of the week.

I excitedly made this sweet jumper as a Christmas gift and, at zero hour on Christmas Eve, busted out the matching doll dress for a doll that I knew would be under the tree. I used Simplicity 2483 for the jumper and a freebie downloaded pattern for the doll dress. The jumper calls for a 12" zipper, which I changed to a 9" during construction.  A 12" length would have put her sitting on the zipper stop and that seemed unreasonably uncomfortable.  I really like the tuck detailing on the front, too. The fabric is a cotton twill from JoAnn's and isn't a designer name. I tend to save the bigger name designer fabrics for my Vintage Collection pieces.  For everyday yogurt drips, mud pies, play doh, and water paints, store brands are just fine :)

Although this jumper was available at Christmas, she refused to wear it until last week.  I'd offer it almost daily, along with one other outfit (she only gets two choices) and she'd never opt to wear it.  I was getting aggravated with the situation and just shoved it to the back of the closet.  Then she found the stash of fabrics waiting for me to make more jumpers and asked about a Mr. Potato Head print.  I told her I wouldn't make another until she wore the first one.  Now, she chooses it each time it's clean.   A Catholic mother's guilt trip is a fierce weapon, my friends.

And, yes, I am planning to cut into Mr. Potato Head soon.

Today's post title from Patti Labelle's New Attitude, which actually would have fit the story, as well :)

Lord, I'm sorry; please forgive me

Dear Lord,

Several weeks ago, I joyously celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This time, our new pastor was present to assist me. You know that I enjoy this opportunity to reflect and pray, and in the past I've celebrated with sweet little Fr. Peter [he's actually little, so it's okay to say that]. Fr. Peter has always made this celebration wonderful by including hugs, wonderful words of encouragement and the direction to always remember that I am Holy and Happy in You. Just direction - that was key.

Celebrating with Fr. John David was also wonderful and I thank you for the experience. Unfortunately, Fr. John David didn't get your most Holy and Important memo about penance [for me] being "a reminder" and not "a task". I left with directions to "BE STILL AND KNOW" several times daily over the next two weeks.

You know me, Lord...when am I ever STILL in order to KNOW? I tried each day to sit. I focused on a cherished cross; I focused on the Pieta statue left to us by my grandmother; and I read the daily assigned Gospel in order to provide a focus point of thought. Inevitably, I found myself nodding off, making a grocery list, mentally reviewing the list of things to do (in it's Excel form, of course), or being interrupted by a small blond creation of your making.

A month into this time of Penitential Zen and I was no closer to finishing up this "task". Until today....

Because today, I spent two hours of Penitential Zen pretending to be a princess Mama. I had to dress the part, including shoes with heels and a princess hat (see blond braided hat above). I was chosen to be the carriage driver for the horse drawn carriage that took us to the ball. That's right - a ball. Where I had to dance - one, two, three, one, two, three - and have light refreshments - which I had to provide as there's no servant here. Oh wait, it's me. A ball that included an art lesson with an attitudinal tutor who didn't appreciate my folk art approach to sketching.

Therefore, due to the aforementioned hours of Zen, I am declaring us even. The whole penance thing is done. Completed. Fulfilled. There will be no more.

I will still read your daily Gospels and discuss them with my children. That keeps me Holy and Happy in You and I like that. As for Reconciliation, though, I think I'll be checking the priest assignments from now on. I'm just sayin'.

Your loving Servant and refreshment provider,

Princess Mama

Today's post title from Tom Booth's/ Jenny Pixler's/ Anothony Kuner's Sacred Silence.  This song is the best bedtime lullaby, by the way.

Teach me to walk in your way

I am excited to share with you an activity from our last parish faith formation night - People of Faith. Each month, members of the parish family join for a meal, fellowship, learning and worship. Usually, after the meal and an opening activity, the different age groups separate for age-appropriate learning sessions. This time, we stayed together as families and joined with others for a wonderful activity.

Each table was given a Gospel story to read and each person at the table had a worksheet with the activity.  After reading the Gospel story together, each person turned the sheet over to find the beginning of a Catholic prayer - the Hail Mary**.

Hail Mary, full of grace

the Lord is with you

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb,

JESUS...

Then, rather than the remainder of the prayer, we saw the word WHO.  We were to think about the story we'd read, consider it's message to us and then complete the thought -

Jesus, WHO...

For example, one of the stories we heard that evening was Jesus meeting Zacchaeus and the tax collector's repentance.  The activity followed, with each person writing their own individual thoughts:

Hail Mary, full of grace

the Lord is with you

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb,

JESUS...

WHO...

 -showed mercy to a sinner just as he would show mercy to me.

-invited the outcast to join him

-encourages me to say I am sorry

-wants me to always be in communion with Him

As the activity continued around the room, we heard many different expressions and interpretations of the same stories.  We shared our table with great friends and enjoyed hearing their statements of faith.

This is a simple activity that can be incorporated into family prayer time or meal time.  As food is served, one child could read a story aloud.  After a few moments of reflection, each family member could share their feelings concerning the story's message.  

**[For my non-Catholic friends, the beginning verses of this prayer are taken from the Angel's words to Mary announcing that she is with child and from Mary's visit to Elizabeth shortly thereafter.]

Today's post title from Joe Pinson's Come to My Heart