Mystery of the missing chunk or bread.

I made some bread today and after the girls had a few slices, I went to put it away. I notice a chunk missing from the rest of the loaf, like a really big air bubble. Gwen is sitting over on the couch where I can just see her head, she's looking right at me. So, I hold up the bread and ask "Did this have a big bubble in it or did someone here help it along?" And Gwen's eyes get wide and guilty looking and she just slides right out of sight.

The Green Report:

For my birthday I asked my family to give me an unusual gift. I asked them to try to do something extra to be kind to the earth and note it on my facebook page. My awesome sisterSarah Weinel has already started.

However, one of the lessons that I really took home from my Tae Kwon Do training was to always lead by example. So, before I ask anyone else to go that extra mile to be eco-friendly, I have to do it myself. I'm going to hold myself accountable and give me own green report on my facebook page, too.

Here's my Green report for today:
I packed a breakfast to take to work in reusable plastic-free containers, nothing disposable here.

I weeded my garden and reseeded my beets, spinach, cilantro and swiss chard.
For lunch I ate an omelette of organic/cage-free/local eggs with tomatoes and swiss chard from the garden.

I started drying some basil from the garden to use over the winter.

I soaked the black beans for tomorrow night's dinner. The beans are organic and from the bulk bins at MOMs market. Instead of plastic bags, I brought mason jars from home and filled them at the store. So, I have plastic-free, BPA-lined-can-free black beans.

Is it a musical?

The original plan was for me to take Gwen to Tae Kwon Do tonight and for Jeff to take Caitlin to see a live theatre performance of Mulan at her school.  Just before dinner, Jeff seemed to pause in mid-step and reconsider the plan.  "Is this going to be a musical?" he asks suspiciously.  I don't know too much about this performance, but given that I love all the songs in the Disney movie version, I answered "probably."  So, here's the new plan: I take Caitlin to go see Mulan and Jeff takes Gwen to Tae Kwon Do.

A letter for Caitlin from Miss Cindee

For my children's Tae Kwon Do school, they need to earn "attitude" stripes by receiving a letter from parent or teachers for exceptional behavior. Caitlin really needs one to graduate this month. I told her I would write her a letter if she just remembered to do her basic chores without being asked. Unfortunately, she has been especially scattered and hasn't remembered once this week. She was in serious danger of not getting her stripe. However, I asked her ballet teacher if she would write a brief letter since Caitlin helps out with the three year old class. Her teacher wrote the most glowing letter for Caitlin and I just know that Caitlin is going to bust her buttons when she hears this letter read aloud tomorrow night in class.

This was Miss Cindee's letter:

Dear Tae Kwon Do Instructors,

I would like to recommend Caitlin Kubina for an attitude stripe because of her exceptional drive for getting it right. Caitlin has been a Ballet student at my dance  school for about five years.  She is a delight to teach on many accounts. Caitlin loves to dance. She listens well, takes correction to heart and applies it with commitment. She is respectful, pleasant, talented and a supportive team member. Recently she volunteered on her own account to help out with a class of three year old dance students. Not only has she been a big help to me, the younger students look up to her and their parents have complimented her on her contribution to the class. This is exceptional behavior for an 8 year old child!

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.

Best Regards,

Cindee Velle
Ballet with Cindee Velle

Celtic knot snowflake

I finally finished the small wall-hanging quilt for the holiday craft exchange.  I am rather pleased with how it turned out.  The knot was my own design, I made it with graph paper and a compass.  It is a smidge inaccurate, but I think it still resembles a snowflake.

Advent Wreath from Wool Roving

Finally, I've come up with a solution to my Advent Wreath dilemma. Using real evergreens for the wreath usually ends up being messy and the branches become dry as tinder before Christmas. But, using fake evergreens is just nasty, not to mention full of toxic materials. Celebrate baby Jesus with PVC? I don't think so. This year, I found this lovely green wool roving at the Sheep and Wool festival and I made this soft, puffy, natural and flame-resistant reusable wreath. I think I want to adjust the wraps a little bit, but otherwise I am pretty happy. I think this will work!

Best Bath Night Ever

Tonight, while Caitlin was taking her bath, I brought in my harp and played for her while she washed.  I started playing Pachelbel's Canon in D and she started vocalizing along.  No words, just following the melody with her voice.  And that girl can really sing with gusto.  We totally rocked the powder room.