Home Sweet Home, I Think.

     Most people I know have, at some time, lived in a household with small children. We know that they are liable to say whatever crosses their mind, that they are not shy about making their wishes known, and that they will argue about absolutely anything. They can also be sweet, have a true need for an occasional cuddling, and  enjoy surprising people with random gifts (you really haven't lived until somebody brings a bug or snake "for you").
     Here is a conversation held between my mother, my 3 yr. old sister, and myself this morning.
  
 Esther- "I wants a yo-yo!"
     Mom- "OK.  Let's see, aren't you... Well, maybe we should wait... I mean, you need altitude to yo-yo..."
     Esther- "I wants a yo-yo now!  From Walmart!"
     Me- "Are you saying she's vertically challenged?"
     Mom- "Shhhh, shhhhh.  Esther, we'll think about it, OK?"
     Esther- "No!  No think about it!  I wants a yo-yo!"

   Now, we had 3 options. Tell her why a yo-yo would not work for her at this point (thus incurring the wrath of the toddler), tell her that no, she simply can not have a yo-yo right now (even angrier toddler), or distract her with something else.  We went with the third option. Our next conversation went like this;

   Mom- "Look Esther, I got you something!"
   Esther- " Bubbles?!"
   Mom- "Yes!  See all those neat bubble wands?"
-Esther shreds the packaging and pulls out the brightly colored contents-
   Esther- "Saah (Sarah, no r sound), you wants one?"

  A few hours ago she was up in arms.  And now she wants to share her new toy with me.  I think this is why small people scare me so much.  Their emotions change like the wind, and what they lack in logic they more than make up for with attitude.
   I'm still learning to laugh at the not so sweet parts of home life, but I'm enjoying being with my family.  Including the nowhere near grown members of my family.  Cheers to any one who is also going through "growing pains" with toddlers, teenagers, or any of the people with whom you have to interact.  Keep your coffee cup close, and God closer. Blessings!
     
  
   
  
    
  
  
  
  

What now?

     18 months serving as a kitchen girl at Hillcrest Home.  18 months of cooking, cleaning, learning, and making friends.  Now it's over.  So what's next?
    For now, I'm back at home.  I'm sewing, occasionally cooking, and growing closer to my siblings (they're so BIG!).  It's different from what I remember.  The food is changed, the house is changed, and the people are really changed.  The only thing that hasn't changed is the cat.  She's still fat, sassy, sleepy, and constantly making me sneeze.
     So for those of you who may have wondered, I'm still alive.  And I actually have time to blog.  Now I just have to find the will to keep at it.  Until next time, be blessed, and stay strong!
    

Really Homesick

After 7 months of volunteer service at a nursing home, I'm ready for a vacation.  Praise God, He gave me a way to take 6 days of rest at home, and I am so glad to be with my family.  That being said, I remember that this world is not my home and I look forward to joining my brother Aaron in Heaven. " Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow? I've never been more homesick than now!"    Be blessed!

Afraid

What's at the root of all this world's troubles?  Here's my answer, written late last year.


It's in you
That fear you try to hide
It's no use
For it won't stay inside

You fear it
Try to keep on smiling
Fear smiles
'cause inside you're dying

Don't show them
What you're really feeling
They can't see
When from pain you're reeling

Keep going
'til life snaps to an end
Not sharing
No care to others send

Fear yourself
As discouragement grows
It destroys
Seeds of Bitterness sows

Speak a lie
Be angry in your speech
Trust no one
Don't listen to them preach

In the end
When you're beyond all aid
You'll have lost
Because you were afraid

Sarah Erhart,  2012

Constant Change

    There are those days when you just feel like you can't get anything finished, and each time something is almost finished your day's plans get changed and you have to go do something else.  Have you had one of these lately?
    Well, we've been having almost constant change here in MO, particularly in the last month or so.  Among the changes are these;
-We changed the hedgehog's name.  He is now Sir Lance-a-lot   :-D  And we went from having 1 hedgehog to 4 (that's Thistle, above).
-Our fish tanks increased from 4 to 10 (each person MUST have their own, in case you wondered).
-My siblings have been having birthdays and giving me new numbers to remember.
-I removed my shop from Etsy, since I will not be able to keep up with it for a while.
-My life has changed from "crazily boring" to "crazily busy", because...
-I'm changing from "stay at home sister" to "out-of-state volunteer"!
   Yep, that's right.  I'm officially leaving home!  Preparation is being made for my departure, and the entire house is in an uproar.  I will go mid. August, Lord willing, and will be serving as a Kitchen Aid at a nursing/convalescent facility.  I'm excited and nervous!
   I'm of the opinion that my blogging is exceptional.  Exceptionally erratic, that is.  :-)   I've been blogging about once a month, although I skipped again last month.  And I'm wondering how I'll find time to update my blog at all once I leave home.  Please have patience with me, and thank you for visiting!
   Here are a couple of semi recent photos. Feel free to laugh!

  














This is me, and my dog Viva.  I have no idea what I was laughing at, or why I'm apparently "holding down the dog", but my sister caught this photo and I had to share.  I think Viva was laughing too!

"I couldn't find a comfortable position on the couch, so I thought I'd try the sink..."  This is Iris, the family cat.  She sleeps about 20 hrs. a day.  So much for cat naps!

 

Clouds have been few and far between here in central MO.  Aren't these beautiful?!

 That's all for today!  May you have a blessed week, full of confidence and strength!

Of Prickly Things and Craziness

   Life has been a little crazy lately.  I'm pretty sure that anyone could say that, at any given time, and it would be true.  Since when was life a mundane cycle of ordinary?  And what is "normal"?  Anyway, here's a few quick snapshots of "My Crazy Life";

 

April Showers Bring May Flowers.  But my roses bloomed in April!  Mom and Dad bought Rose bushes for my birthday last year, and the blooms this year were delightful!

My day lilies bloomed in May.  They are a native MO variety, and I enjoy seeing them every year.  They sway and laugh in the breeze, cheering everyone who sees them.

I've been making things to add to my Etsy Shop and to sell at my family's sale booths this summer.  SharaiStyle by SarahStylin', open for business!
www.etsy.com/shop/sharaistyle

 And now for the Prickly.  Meet our new hedge hog!  He doesn't have a name yet, but we children are calling him Cider for now.  He is a Ruby eyed Cinnacot in color.  We love him!
      Yes, between getting a new pet, doing our usual household chores, and crocheting on a daily basis, life has been very busy.  But, I'm happy to say, the work is worth it!  When I'm feeling run down and overwhelmed, I stop and look back on all I've accomplished so far this year.  When you add up all the little things,  I've done a lot! 
   If you're feeling over worked, overwhelmed, or incapable of making a good difference in the world, think;  How many people would miss you if you just disappeared? How much harder would it be for your family to get along if you weren't there to help out?  Even if you're thinking "Sure, I do small stuff.  But all I did today was put cold cereal on the table, load the dishwasher, read a book to the 4 year old 4 times over, and talk to a friend on the phone", remember,  this is the stuff that counts.  You are making a difference!
           Be Blessed!

Jonny Diaz - Scars Official Lyric Video

                            I've been inspired and encouraged by this song today.  Whatever you may be going through, or have experienced, remember;  The trial will make you stronger!  Be strong, and be blessed!

Such is Life

  Guess what?  I skipped blogging for the entire month of April!  Sorry about that, folks,  I'll try to be more consistent from now on.
  April was national Autism Awareness Month, as well as being my birthday month, so my mother bought me a book about a girl with autism and her struggle to be understood.  It's called 'I Am In Here', and it is co-written by Virginia Breen and Elizabeth M. Bonker.  It is a wonderful book, and I would definitely recommend it to any one with even the slightest interest in our special people.  You can find the book at www.iaminherebook.com  along with a wonderful blog about Elizabeth's journey.
  April also ended up being an EXTREMELY busy month for my family.  We had birthdays to celebrate, business expo's to attend, and a million other things to get done.  All in all, it was wonderful and fulfilling.  We are trying to get a wee bit of rest now, before beginning all over again in June.
  Speaking of June...  We live just off the old Route 66, and the Route 66 Summer fest is just around the corner!  If you happen to be traveling through mid MO on June 2, be sure to stop in Rolla and check it out!  I haven't been to one of the festivals yet, but I've heard they're wonderful and they're expecting great things this year.  My family will be there this year, too, and will have a booth with the name of 'Improving Life'.  Come by and see us!
  I hope to post some new pictures soon, as well as finally finishing my blog design.  No time now, as supper has to be served and 101 other little things finished before bedtime.
      May you have a wonderful Summer!

Moving

   Hey everyone!  I just wanted to let you all know I'm currently moving things around on my blog.  Some things are or may be missing for a little while (my blog list is down, at the moment), but hopefully I'll get it all straightened out soon.  What do you think about the new look?  Do you have any ideas, hints, or tips that might improve the overall appearance of A Pinch of Everything?  I'd love to hear them!  
                            See you soon! - Sarah

Spring Beauty

   I don't know how it is for those of you in the East and West, but here in MO it seems as though the winter has gone and summer has come!  I'd always thought of spring as a time of cool breezes, light green buds, and flowers preparing to bloom.  We've had some of that this year, but the temperature has been quite high, and the trees have decided to suddenly "green up." Makes me wonder if the spring has decided to go on holiday for a year, and the summer has tried to step in and fill the time gap.  The winter has tried to help a few times, and brought hail on warm days, leaving us somewhat worried that we might have a tornado. 
   I took a few pictures this morning, after a light rain, while the trees were still drippy with raindrops.  I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed taking them!
   I thought these trees looked so happy and light, and as though a dryad might peek out from between them at any moment!

 

Dandelion, Plantain, and the acorn cap.  Two of these are edible, the other is just fun to play with. 
                             
                 
                              Redbuds, open and full of nectar.






An unidentified tree sprig.  It was such a pretty color of green, and I had to take a photo!

  More redbuds.  They're such a fun, dainty flower!

 I got a kick out of this last photo.  I found the plesiosaur in a man made lake next to our driveway.  Apparently, my siblings were playing in the mud and rain water yesterday  :-)






   And that's it for today's photos!   Seeing nature as it changes from season reminds me of a saying I read the other day:
            "Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Einstein

                                Have a blessed day!
                                            

Today's Writing, 'A Forest Blessing'

                          A Forest Blessing

This blessing now I give to you
O Forest of my King
As you His very will obey
And with His praises ring

Today I claim you, humble wood
For Christ, the risen Lord
May you be filled with Jesus’ peace
Show us to read His word

As each new traveler passes through
Inspire them to pray
Stand strong as God intended you
Grow greater every day

The herbs that now are planted here
For food and healing are
May they be seen by those in need
As if a shining star

The children of this wood be blessed
All creatures great and small
They shall remain as God has planned
For He did make them all


Through storm and sun may you endure
Through wind, and fire, and rain
Good shelter give to those that seek
With rest relieve their pain

May you be watered from above
And nurtured from below
God grant you health in every part
His healing through you go

I ask my Lord to walk among
The trees that form this place
That I with Him may speak and learn
His joy, His love, His grace

God, bless the forests You have made
And meet us there, my King
Dominion take again and show
Your love in everything


                                                         Sarah Erhart,  2012



This bit of writing was inspired by the feelings I have for the woods I live in.  I like to walk among the trees each day and sing, or just listen to the sound of nature.  I had the thought a few months ago of writing down what I would say to the forest if giving it a blessing, and today I finally got it done.  You can find a couple of photos of "my forest", or a least part of it, on the post for October 21, A Bit of Beauty.  The photo I've used as a header for this blog is also of the woods behind my home. Are you inspired by the forest?  What's your favorite "nature activity"?  I'd love to hear about your favorite things!                                    Have a wonderful week!

Today

      Just a couple of pictures to show you my day:

    These are baked cheese empanadas.  In Bolivia they would be made with Queso Fresco. We don't have any of that here in MO, so these were made with a mixture of sharp cheeses.  We really enjoyed them at lunch time today!

     And this is today's handwork, now available on Etsy.  It's a dark red, white, and blue patriotic hat for a little princess age 2-3 years.  The design is a little hard to see in this photo, but there are "holes" for extra breathability on hot days crocheted around the crown.  Of course the brim had to be finished with a big ruffle for extra princess flair  :-) 
     I've been working on those viking hats for my brothers as well.  They should be ready for a photo shoot soon, if I can get the pattern for the horns figured out.   These projects take a little extra time when you make up your own patterns as you go.  They're totally worth the effort in the end, though!
    I hope you had a wonderful day as well, and that all your tomorrows are even better!
                                                                           Be blessed!

Finally!!!

    OK, feel free to laugh at me, but I am doing a silly little happy dance over here.  Why?  Because I finally have a store front of my own started up on Etsy.  I know, it may not seem like a huge accomplishment, but for a procrastinator like me it's a BIG deal!  My mom kept telling me I should try to make a little something with all the stuff I crochet, but...  I have a thing for giving everything away as gifts.  Bad habit?  Maybe, but I do so love to give!  I only have two things in my shop so far, but hope to have more by tomorrow.  Here's what I made yesterday:

         It's a fringe purse, and it was very fun to make!  Just hoping someone else will like it as much as I do.  I think I'd like to make another, slightly different, in a peach or pink color.  What do you think?
         Please feel free to head on over and visit my shop, here's the link.            http://www.etsy.com/shop/SharaiStyle?ref=seller_info
         Hope to have more available soon!   I'm making viking caps for my brothers today, they're very excited about it.  An 8 yr. old and a 4 yr. old playing at being vikings... I think I'll have to scour the house for all sticks and dangerous objects before they get started, lol!
        @ Joanna,  I will be purchasing one of your amazing prints A.S.A.P.!  Hoping that "Possible" will be very soon!  And folks, if you haven't seen Joanna Haber's beautiful art work yet, you are missing out!  You can check out her blog "A Bit of Whimsy", I have it in my blog list on the right side of this page.  She also has her work available through Etsy, and it's wonderful!  Go. Look. Now.
       I really have to go, as the housework will not get done on its own (and why not? lazy housework!).  I just had to share my exciting news!
                                                       Have a wonderful day! 

And so it goes...

     I mentioned in my last post that I'm now making bath salts.  Being a mermaid (at least according to my brother), I like nothing better than a long soak in salt water, especially when I can't go swimming!  Last night, I decided that even mermaids need a good scrubbing once in a while, and that they should have a proper cotton bath cloth to scrub with.  So here's what I made.  What do you think of it?  I'm thinking a crocheted bath cloth tied with raffia onto a jar of home made bath salts would make a perfect gift for any of my spa loving friends! 

    The edges of this cloth are finished with a ruffle, although it's a bit hard to tell with this photo.
   
    And now that you've seen my project for the evening, perhaps you should see my parents' on going project.  At least part of it :-D  There are seven of us included in their current project, this photo shows just one.  This is my sister.  At 15, she's becoming quite grown up!  She was preparing to go to town, and so we quickly took a few pictures.  What good is dressing up without a photo shoot?   Her bag was designed @ www.definemystyle.com.  The interior is in the same pattern as the outside, but in hot pink.  I could tell you where the rest of her outfit came from, but it would make quite the long list.

   I just love how her teal jacket and shoes contrast with her burgundy/pink dress! 
  What are your favorite color combinations?  I always enjoy hearing about my friends' style!
                                                                      Have a great day!

Of Lazy Days and Bath Salts

      We've been having a beautiful February!  We had a white Valentines day, and just 9 days later the temperature is well into the 70's F.  I am loving this weather!  Just cool enough, yet not too cold, it's perfect for taking walks!
       Today was a "lazy" day.  By lazy, I mean a laid-back, fairly quiet, no extras need to be done kind of day.  So, being unusually bored, I started brain storming, and worked on creating a birthday wishlist.  My siblings had asked for one, as they know that I love presents, but never know what to get for me.  So I've been working on it.  Today I decided to add Bath Salts and other Spa stuff to the list of things I'm just aching to have ( I'm trying to put "small" stuff on my list, as it's easier for the children to get or make and it makes them happy ).  Then I decided to look up Bath Salts on the internet, and after that looked for instructions to make my own.  Needless to say, my research got a little out-of-hand, and I now have a glass jar full of beautiful orange bath salt, rosemary and orange scent.  Sorry guys, the bath salts are now on my DIY list. I could use more epsom and sea salts, though  ;-)
      Other DIY projects this week included painting the stairwell and hall a lovely mint green, crocheting a doily, and making doughnuts. We also harvested wild onions, and dried their green tops for later use.  It's been a good week!
      I hope you've had a wonderful week as well, and that you have an amazing weekend!  Be blessed!

My Brother

These are photos of my brother who passed away March 11, 2010. I will be remembering him this Valentines Day. We miss you, Aaron!

Small Miracles

     It's been a while since I had time or inspiration for a good blog post, but today I need to share.  When did you last have a small miracle?  I'm talking about those little day-to-day things that just seem impossible, or nearly impossible.  Here are the two latest miracles in my life:
     First, my sister's miracle.  Esther just turned 1 in January.  She isn't walking yet, but she is quite the little athlete, always scooting and climbing.  Two days ago, while sitting in the seat of a Wal-Mart shopping cart, she decided to climb out.  She was not buckled in yet, but my mother did, thankfully, have a good grip on the back of Esther's jacket.  As Esther began to climb over the side she lost her balance, and fell headlong toward the floor.  Mama, knowing that she couldn't just "hang" her by her jacket, allowed her to fall, but did slow her descent.  Sometime in midair, Esther managed to do a complete somersault, and landed gracefully on her feet.  We are all very thankful that Mom was holding on to her, and that she didn't hurt herself.  She didn't even seem surprised, after her landing, until Mama told her "that was a no-no!". Then she cried.  I'm almost ashamed to admit, I laughed a little when I heard of her reaction.
    Shortly after this (this is not the second miracle, but it was a bit funny), Mom stuck Esther into the cart, and  (unbeknownst to me) fastened her with the buckle straps.  She then left me with the cart, and went to get something in the next aisle.  Esther began to fuss, stood up, and reached for me.  Worried that she would fall, I immediately grabbed her, and carried her for the next 5 minutes or so.  When Mom finally returned, she was surprised to see me carrying Esther.  I told her what Esther  had done, and she was shocked. "But I buckled her in!", she said in surprise.  "Is that why the straps were hanging into the seat?", I asked, "She has strong fingers".  Yes, she had unbuckled herself.  So now we know; carry the baby, or she will escape/go climbing/get hurt.  I'm going to need a stronger back.  :-D
   The second miracle was a simple one, but quite touching.  My four year old brother, after watching me working at the washer and dryer, decided to help.  When the dryer stopped, he quietly got an empty laundry basket, and unloaded the dryer.  He then took it to the living room to be folded and put away.  This is the first time he's done such a thing, and it meant a lot to me.  Thanks, Isaac!
   These are the type of thing I give thanks for each day, while trying to live as though every day might be my last.                                                                                                                            May you, and yours, be blessed!

Trust in Me Now

This video isn't the greatest (no movement), but I really appreciate the words of this song. The second anniversary of my brother's death approaches, and this song says just what I need to hear and remember. Blessings!

January Happiness

I've found that when the weather outside is cold, damp, and just plain dreary, it's up to us to fill the month with joy and light. Here's how our family has been making January special.

First, there was the white hyacinth.  They had the plants on sale at Walmart, and each came with an amazing little vase that holds the bulb and can be filled with water so that your hyacinth can be grown in the house.  Mom just had to have one of those "special vases", so she bought one. And made me very, very happy.  I love hyacinths, and this one blooming on our kitchen table filled the entire room with it's wonderful fragrance!

   And then there are the edible goodies that make the children squeal (Ok, so I squealed too when I bit into this sticky bit of confection).  This was a first attempt at homemade whole wheat Baklava, and I must say it turned out very well.  My arms and back were not so happy as my mouth, as I rolled the filo out by hand with a good old fashioned rolling pin, but the work was totally worth it!  I think I'll try to make the dough just a bit thinner next time.  Maybe a few weeks of working out beforehand would be a good idea, so I don't get too tired while rolling it out  :-)
  We also celebrated my little sister's first birthday this month. We had quite the party, with chicken empanadas being the "main dish".  In Bolivia, we would have invited all her little friends and had a pinata (that n needs a ~, but there's no "enye" on this keyboard), but as we're in the USA we just had empanadas, sweet drinks, and cake.  And lots of presents for the birthday girl, of course!
   There have been a few rough days, but so far our January is shaping up to be a wonderful month.  How has your new year been?  Have you done anything special to make the dark days light? 
                                                Dios les bendiga!
       

Jamie Grace - You Lead (Lyric Video)

This song has been playing in my mind for the last week, on and on, on and on :-)  May you find it inspiring, as I have!  Blessings!