7 Quick Takes (#41)

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1) My maiden name is Van Zutphen.  V as in victor.  A. N as in Nancy.  Space new word.  Z as in zebra.  U.  T as in Thomas.  P as in Peter.  H.  E.  N as in Nancy.

When I worked full-time, I responded to Van Something.  I really loved my last name even though it was ridiculous.  And I loved how it screamed Dutch. But I always swore that instead of marrying someone with an equally difficult last name, I would marry someone with the last name of Bob. Or Jim.  Or Smith.  Something super simple to spell and short.

I didn't go after Jason for his last name.  But, it was a bonus!  Now the only fall-out is that everyone calls me Gale.  3 people this week...and counting.

2) Jason has been busy.  While I was crocheting anvils and swords, Jason was working each evening on building some bookshelves for our new house.  He built this bookshelf for our old house and since we had to leave it there, it was time to start over:

And since that bookshelf only held a fraction of his books and he had to share the room with the kids, he couldn't really do what he wanted.  But now he has his very own den to fill up!  So he went a little bigger this time around:


I searched Pinterest and found the perfect den color scheme:

So he bought Antique Walnut stain for the shelves and after 2 coats, they are perfect!

 

And we have absolutely no time to paint the whole room red right now, so that will be a 2013 project. But in the meantime, here is the before and after:

Before:

After:



3) The bookshelf installation was a bit dramatic.  It has been 2 weeks and I'm still sore from helping Jason carry them in from the garage.

But the most drama came when we tried to stand them upright.  He measured the room at 8 ft tall.  The bookshelf was constructed to be 8 ft tall.


Yeah...that's not really gonna work...

But a bit of persistence, a lot of muscle, and a scraped popcorn ceiling later and we had it in!


4) I'm a lucky woman.  I get to spend all day kissing, hugging, snuggling and sometimes, even just staring at this face all day.  



5) We were unpacking a box and Elena found this picture of Mommy as a "Pretty Princess".  She carried it around all day talking to the women in the picture.  She ate lunch with the girls in the photo, colored pictures, took a nap...


My date to the senior prom:  

We weren't being edgy.  We both invited boys we didn't know to the junior prom as our dates and they were complete duds.  It was a waste of a ticket.  So, instead of wasting our time and energy finding dates for our senior prom, we just went together!  And I was at a different school and needed a way in.  And I think it's sweet that Elena called me a pretty princess in my $20 velour Ross dress.  I know!  Looking at quality like that, you can't even tell!  (AHAHAAAA!!!)  

6) I was just turned onto www.booksshouldbefree.com last week.  Where has this site been all my life!!!  I'm listening to Moby Dick (Or, if you are Elena: "Dick the Whale") while I knit right now.  But the most use for this program is to help me get my kids into bed and keep them there!  Elena and Leo listen to books when they settle down for their nap and it actually works to keep them in their room until they fall asleep!!!  The audio books will have to do until we can convince Granny to come and spend all day with us.
  Their favorites are Pinnochio, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan.  I'm going to get them a few books on CD, but even then, we will continue to use this site!

7) Have you ever been browsing the aisles at Lowe's and seen a man dripping wet from head to toe in the plumbing aisle?

Credit

We had a leak under the dishwasher so our super-talented home building friends Ben and Amy came over the other night to help us "fix" a leak in the plumbing under our kitchen sink.  The wall looked clear.  They started to saw.  Within moments, Ben was a victim of water-boarding.  As responsible homeowners, Jason and I *of course* have no clue where the water shut-off valve is.  For a solid 10 minutes, we directed the river of water pouring out from under the sink while Ben played Hans Brinker with his finger in the pipe.  Jason had to dig a hole in the ground 6-8 inches deep to un-earth the shut-off valve.  A trip to Lowe's, a shop-vac, the entire contents of the linen closet, and an air-dry for Ben later, and we had restored our kitchen to working condition.  And Ben repaired the plumbing too!  I have a feeling that's the last favor Ben will be willing to help us out with for a while.  But at least it wasn't sewage water - or he probably would never speak to us again....

Well if your friend jumps off a cliff...

I have such a strong desire to "fit in" with the cool kids.  So desperate for acceptance, I embarked on the most ridiculous challenge ever.  Just because the cool kid asked.  It's not like I have anything to do all day anyway...


I was invited to join a Jesse Tree ornament swap.  Nevermind that I didn't even know what a Jesse Tree was.  The cool kid asked. So I said yes.

The only requirement was to craft an ornament 28 times and ship it to Jessica's house by November 28th.  I glanced at the blogpost and the words "Sword and Anvil" kept jumping out at me.  So I picked Isaiah 6:1-8.  But I still have no clue what it means.  I have been so busy that I haven't really had a chance to look up what a Jesse Tree is or how it works.  

So, in the mix of a little of this:
Lacto-fermented cranberry chutney - Tastes like apple pie!!

Clone of a Cinnabon

and a little of that:
Corn Casserole (minus the cheese)

Butternut Squash Tart
 a little of this:


and a little more of that:
Buttermilk Pie

During the 2 hour drive to our Thanksgiving Feast with family.  But certainly not during the feast!!  Which was decadent, delicious, and slap yo momma good (many thanks to my sister-in-law Julie!!)











check out her foot!!!

and then again on the 2 hour drive back from our Thanksgiving feast and during our 2 day visit with Granny and Papa...




and even after Jessica announced we needed to make 32 now instead of the original 28.  (28 sounded completely manageable.  32????  That's just insanity!!!) 

I searched the web and found this awesome pattern for a crochet sword.

 And since I really have no idea what I'm doing, I interpreted the directions. I made up my own pattern for the anvil loosely based on the sword pattern.


And somehow finished 32 of each without crying.  


And even though I'm a sucker for homemade hand-crafted items, would I do it again?  


Probably...I have issues.

By the way- if you need some cool gifts here are two awesome companies I have to plug:

The first is Come Together Trading based out of Texas:

I just stopped in their shop yesterday morning and love it.  But they are also a web-based business and you can order their fair trade items from Africa, India, South America, etc.  After having had a chance to walk through their store, I am beyond in love with everything.  They have beautiful hand-crafted ornaments, home decor, purses, scarves, etc.  If you have girls to shop for, consider some of their bracelets or necklaces.  They are really so beautiful.

Check out these Handmade Ugandan Sseko Sandals 

Or these hand-crafted Mortar and Pestle's

Or these adorable Peruvian Noah's Ark finger puppets!!

Come Together's Facebook page

The second company is owned and run by a close and awesome friend of mine.  Alison is based out of Denver and started her own company Camino Coffee:

  

The coffee is fair-trade and is all hand-roasted by Alison.  I ordered a pound and I am in love.  The smell is beyond amazing!!!!

Camino Coffee Facebook Page

Please consider supporting either of these two small businesses for Christmas!!!  I may not be as influential as some of the cool kids, but these purchases do not require jumping off a cliff :)
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