I have a new blog name and a new blog url! Sorry to make this such a pain but would you all please bookmark or change in your favorites to the new address. Purty Pleeeze? Thanks!! I'll set to work fixing things up here soon enough. Bear with me! My Dark Oak Woman blog will remain up but all my new posts will be here. I'll have a permanent link to the old place though.

uneven edges...

My Dark Oak Woman name just wasn't suiting me any longer. I love having an "Indian name" but it didn't describe me completely. I have a history with uneven edges so this new name is more fitting. One of my legs is longer than the other. When I was a kid this didn't bother me but as I get older it causes me pain now and then. So, I'm physically uneven and more aware of it. It would be impossible to find someone who isn't uneven.

Alas, I am also creatively uneven.

When I made my very first pieced quilt I didn't understand the quarter-inch seam concept AT ALL. It was a disaster. But, I managed to get all of it lined up on top. You shoulda seen the bottom. Several years later I made a bowtie quilt and didn't like the size of my blocks so I cut them down. This time I wasn't so lucky with the outcome. It does add to the "charm" of the quilt though, don't you think?



Then there was my first afghan...

I dove right in without understanding how to end a row, make a chain and begin the next row. Luckily I thought of a way to fix it by crocheting an edge around all 4 sides and today my mistakes are hardly visible(this is a "before" picture).



Now, thankfully, I have figured out the quarter-inch seam and how to end/begin a crocheted row.

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to trim your own bangs???....

Deliberate Living....

A new friend of mine said something that gave me pause. She said she needed to start living more deliberately. Hmmmm. As with all philosophies, some followers are rather militant, taking it to the very far extreme. Many, however, like my friends Cheryl, Kel, and Anet (and others of course) are just wading in and doing what their hearts tell them. Baby steps for me. I'm not sure I am ready to commit to any certain "thing" yet. It might be that I do as these women are doing and deliberately change the foods I serve to my family but it quite likely won't be exactly what they are doing. Maybe I'll work at reducing my plastics like Kel has done.

There are things we have that we cannot give up, like our swimming pool. Sure chlorine isn't the healthiest thing to be swimming in but does the exercise we're getting count against that at all? We can't afford to switch over to a salt water filter but I can research alternatives and possibly switch to a less toxic treatment or determine when the best times for swimming would be. There are other things out there that seem to be hype(or at the very least, overly dramatized) as well. I won't be giving up my microwave, sticking my feet in a detox machine, or exchanging our current bedding for organic, unbleached, undyed sheets. I have no room for a garden, nor do I have the inclination to dig in the dirt so that's out for me too. What I do know is that the phrase I heard at park day, "live more deliberately" struck a cord in me and I want to investigate further. How about you?

Here are more websites about living deliberately...

DeliberateLife.com

Deliberate Living: Slowing Down & Simplifying

Living Deliberately(a discussion group)

Living-Deliberately.com

A Major Award!!

Autumn left me an award, isn't it COOL?


Here are the rules that you agree to when you accept this award:

"When you receive the prize, you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in their content or design. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing that they were prized with 'Honest Weblog'. List [if you can and/or dare] at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!"

1. oi************(Tallulah is helping me this morning) Speaking of morning, I rarely eat a traditional American breakfast. Give me spaghetti, leftover roast, even a sandwich over eggs and toast or cereal. However, I do love a bagel with cream cheese.

2. I'm not a sentimental/romantic person at all. Don't buy me flowers or give me cards. Instead, do something realistic like bring dark chocolate or a bag of cat food or something.

3. My introverted nature makes it hard for me to socialize. I am just exhausted after a day filled with talking to others but I do enjoy a good conversation now and then.

4. I love thrift shops but don't get to shop nearly as much as I'd like. Some of my favorite things have come from Salvation Army or Goodwill. You never know what goodies may be lurking in them! Heck, I even dreamed about thrifting last night. Yes really!!!

5. Yall may have noticed that I love animals too! My heart is soft and I tend to take on more than we really need but they are all well cared for and loved.

6. Dieting is not my favorite thing. Neither is exercising. I try to do at least one of them every day though. Right now its the exercising.

7. For some reason I have a mental block about growing my hair longer than my shoulders. Its only been that long once in my lifetime. I also have a mental block about cleaning my bedroom and bathroom but that's another thing.

8. I want desperately to learn how to machine quilt but I'm terrified I'll mess it up. Using the sewing machine is hard for me, don't know why.

9. My unfinished objects pile is bigger than I want it to be. I don't even want to know how may projects are lurking around waiting for completion.

10. Someday I'd like to raise sheep for fiber. Or at least I think I do, it sounds like a romantic thing to do(see #2). It might end up being more trouble than its worth.

Now for my nominees!

1. Clickmom. I have just started following her weightloss endeavors and have found she's a very interesting person!

2. Kel over at A Slice of the Pie. Because she needs to get past that post about blood in the kitchen. Bleck!!

3. Damn Yankee. Since Betts just tagged me for a random facts thing and listed 7 of her own, she only has to do 3 more.

4. Purple Squirrel because her blog is so peaceful and soothing every time. I want to know her secrets!

5. Spruce Hill. Her (very new to me) blog is full of beauty and honesty and a delish recipe for corn chowder that I'll be trying soon.

6. Cedar Chest Quilts is someone who lives near me and also homeschools but we've never met. She's also on a quilter's email group with me. I enjoy her blog but would love to know more about her.

7. Keetha's Stuff'n Such because I haven't picked on her in a loooong time and she needs something to do.

book tagged!

Jeanne got me!!

The rules are:(just so you'll know, I don't typically follow rules so if you want to play, have at it!)

1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share seven random and/or weird book facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My seven random book facts:

1. I LOVE to read!!!

2. I don't have time to read! I used to but having 3 kids and all the activities that go with them kind of puts a damper on sitting still long enough to read. Crocheting has taken the place of reading when I have a minute to relax, it is much more soothing to me.

3. That being said, I finished the LOTR trilogy(again) this summer, plus The Hobbit.

4. I don't have favorite authors. I have favorite stories. Steven King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is one, the Little House series is another as is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant(I suspect I'd love all of her stuff though).

5. Cooking, how-tos, historical stuff, poems, alternative medical treatments(moxibustion, herbal lore, etc.), Greek myths, and many other topics are things I love to read about.

6. I do 75% of my reading online in the form of blogs and online publications.

7. My children get their reading qualities from their dad. He(they) mostly reads for information. It isn't that they don't read for pleasure but more that the pleasure is finding out about their intended subject. These days I mostly read this way too(see #2) but when I was a child-teen I read mostly stories for pleasure.

blog fishing again....

Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op. Quite possibly the only blog you'll ever need.

I'm participating in...


over at Smiling Sally's.



(our tree should look like this again in a few weeks, I hope!)


(my mom gave these antique pretties to me last year for Christmas)


(Mark made this painted box for a Christmas present years ago. I'm not sure if this was for his mom or my mom)


(Amy drew this last year using paint)

In other news...

Around bedtime last night a blustery cold front blew in with a vengence! I've only heard the wind howling like that during a hurricane! Because of our recent room rearranging, our bed is now under the window and the tree is just feet away from us. Needless to say, it took a long time for me to get to sleep. We ended up losing several good-sized limbs and branches. One hit the house and rolled off, its about 15 feet long and as big around as my thigh! Surprisingly, none of the branches that were broken during Ike ended up on the ground. I think they are too tangled up to come loose, for now.

We've been so slammed around here that our staples are low. This almost never happens but our weekend was so hectic that we ran out of cat litter, potatoes, ice, and lunch meat! So, I have GOT to run to the grocery store. I'd much rather stay home and work on my crocheted bags though. They are coming along nicely and I hope to have several ready for Patricia to sell soon. Pictures are coming soon.

One thing we'll definitely do today is make Homesick Texan's Wacky Cake! I've heard of this cake before but I'm not sure I've ever tasted one. I hope its good! We'll doctor ours up with cayenne powder and maybe cinnamon so I'm sure it will be scarfed down.

My mom sent some Christmas ornament kits to the girls so if we have time and if they're in the mood, we may work on those a bit. One is needle-felted ornaments and one is styrafoam balls with sequins to stick on with pins.

Nothing to do....

Jeanne over at Backyard Neighbor(in my side bar, I'm too tired to make a link) thought I was needing some blog fodder so she tagged me with this one! The rules are: You go to your fourth file and then the fourth photo and post it. Seeing as I don't have file folders for my pictures aside from photos and kids drawings, I'll take one from each.


(kids from February of 2004)


(I'm not sure who did this one but it was probably from 2004-05)

I'm tagging whoever wants to play along! Just leave me a comment so I can come see your picture(s)!

Felt Balls and Halloween...

A few days ago I found the perfect place to display my felt balls! This is an old Pepsi carrier that my parents had when I was a bitty girl. I remember it from waaaay back. The fuzzy thing on top is a crocheted bowl out of alpaca boucle and fun fur. Its about big enough for a racquetball to fit in and I use it for jewelry or change.







Now for today's happenings....


(last year's fall mantle)


(garland made from fabric leaves we found at Michael's)


(two packages made three garlands)


(I did this while painting with the girls, craft paint on construction paper with clear glitter)


(this year's fall/halloween mantle- the pumpkin/jack o'lantern is reversible)


(the girls couldn't resist this adorable owl)


(and, thanks to my bloggy friend Susan at Blackberry Creek for posting a picture of her little jack, my Jack now has a beautiful chapeau)

In Solidarity(breastfeeding mentioned)...

Please read this unbelievable story(and the follow-up). I don't understand why folks still have such problems with this!

I nursed my last "baby" til 3 months before her 5th birthday. Yeah, she's just fine. In fact, she's my most precocious child by far. She potty trained herself(need help? no thank you, do it myself) at around 20 months. She didn't, wouldn't take a bottle or sippy cup, it had to be me. I nursed her in cars, I nursed her in stores, at barbecues, at other social occasions, at church, in front of friends, and in front of strangers. Basically whenever she asked. No one ever said anything to me, thank God, but there were times when I felt vulnerable and uncomfortable. Still, I rarely covered up(who the heck carries a blanket around with their third child??).

Inspired by...

These felted leaves. I was googling for something to do with some of my smaller scraps of felted wool and came across this fun project from one of my favorite unschooly, crafty persons. They are just the inspiration I was looking for!

Alas, Jasper had other plans for my felt which did not include me touching it.



Gypsy, however, was all about the crafting today. She helped Sarah, Amy and I make jeans for Pink Panther!(click for the detailed versions)

Another blog to share...

This blog belongs to one of the homeschool moms in my group. She is hip, smart, and cares a lot for her family as well as the environment. Please visit, Thrifty Domestica.


And, what happens at the friend's, stays at the friend's. Yikes!

I've got a cousin...

Her name is Sally Bee.

Click on her website,

to see her creativity!

(this is better if you sing the words to yourself in a bluesy kind of way)

A Fun Little Meme...

Well, I guess it is a meme. Not the kind you tag someone with. Actually it is more of a checklist, modified from one I found at My Simpler Life, which is one of my favorite inspirational sites. Hmmm, maybe a copout? I don't know. Whatever you choose to see it as, here it is.

What is outside my front door: Heat and dying grass, dirty guinea pig bedding.

What is on my mind: When is this sinus thing going to end?

Things I am thankful for right now: Mark's amazing knack for landing on his feet and hitting the ground running. My parents ability to finance pool repairs(pool fixer guy is coming tomorrow). Not having to think about "back to school" crap. Clever kids who don't give me too much trouble.

What I am reading: Lots and lots of DIY and decorating mags, The Celts, The Two Towers(for about the 40th time).

Goings on inside the house: Decluttering, deep cleaning of bathrooms, fridge and pantry, anticipation of new computer desk(soon, hopefully this weekend we'll find one at a thrift shop).

What I am listening to: Healing Therapy Music.

What I want: A place for a clothes line and a small garden.

Things I'm creating: I'm working on a ripple afghan and creating a cleaner, more restful, peaceful home.

Things from the kitchen: Brownies with toasted pecans, Chinese cabbage slaw, breakfast for dinner.

What I have planned for today: Taking the girls swimming, continued decluttering(housecleaning), laundry, putting beans on to soak.

What I have planned for this week: Park day tomorrow morning, buying some pine shavings for the piggies' bedding, grocery shopping, reading, thrifting, swimming, and relaxing.

Some current favorites: Diet Cherry 7Up, my new blue door, my paint color in the bedroom(now I think it is just perfect), "orange julius" made with Bolthouse Farms "C Boost" and rice milk over lots of ice-yummmm.

A Silly Song Meme(and new ripple 'ghan pics)

Susan at Blackberry Creek tagged me for this one. I am always up for a silly meme!!

Tag Rules:

1. Post the link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others that you like and tell why.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post.

Here are my 5 songs. They really show my wild, funkified, side and are a blast to listen to.

The Go go's, Vacation(um, no explanation needed, this is truly a horrid song)

Ram Jam's, Black Betty(this one is just fun to funk out to but extremely nerdy)

The Flight of the Concords, Ladies of the World(this one has a great beat but is actually a spoof)

AC/DC's, Thunderstruck(again, no explanation needed)

and last but not least,

Rufus and Chaka Khan's Tell Me Something Good(Mark just thinks this is hideous. I wish my mouth was half that size though, I could be "such" a singer!)

I'm tagging Anet at Purple Squirrel, Tricia at Tricia's Place of Peace, and Chickenbells at Fooleswoode. Anyone else can play along, just let me know in the comments!!

Now for the afghan pics! I'm making this for our living room because we don't really have an afghan big enough to cuddle with. Its using the Susan B's Easy Ripple Pattern(google it if you want).


The actual names of the colors are...

Dark Country Blue, Light Sage, Black, Toasted Almond, Sea Blue, Brown, and Light Gray. Such original names! This yarn is great, the weight is pretty heavy, more than Red Heart and much softer. Almost a cross between a heavier Red Heart and Caron's Simply Soft. Not as flimsy-floppy feeling as the SS but definitely not scratchy like the RH. Anyway, it feels like it will make a substantial blanket for us.



I'm hoping to post a wonderful surprise tomorrow but it will depend on if someone sends me pictures or not. They know who they are!

The Unexplained...

(Gypsy and Jasper sharing a box)

Something weird happened to me early this morning. I was dozing, aware of the room getting lighter, not ready to move yet. I felt Mark tapping me on the crown of my head but couldn't feature him wanting to wake me up since he knew I was sick. It happened again so I questioned him, "What? What is it?" as I turned over. He had been awakening and hadn't touched me, his arms were still bound in the covers. I told him what I had felt and he said he had not patted me on the head. I sat up and looked behind the pillows thinking a cat was lurking but there was nothing. He said, "Ruby is on my feet and Gypsy has been in the window for the past 10 minutes. Nothing touched your head." But something did. It tapped on the back of my head, two different times.

The sick bed has officially been moved to the couch.

If you want some real chills go read what happened to Brin over the weekend. It was a very real experience for her brother and her dog.

Summer Salad

My inspiration was THIS.



Of course, having looked at it several hours before shopping, I did get a few things wrong. Mine has cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, califlower, sunflower seeds, and a bit of soy sauce in the dressing. I also used horseradish mustard. It is YUMMMM!

A Name Meme...

Sadira found this cool name meme at Stiletto Heights. If you want to play along, just substitute your name for mine and google your name + the next word in the sentence(eg your name needs).

Molly needs is a little help from her girlfriends...
(Indeed I do!)

Molly looks like a teenager in this photo…

(because I WAS a teenager in this photo)

Molly does not like to be sprayed by the water hose
(not entirely true, I don't mind if it is on mist and very hot outside)

Molly hates peas!
(not true at all, I love peas!)

MOLLY GOES TO THE BEACH!!!
(very rarely as we are over 5 hours from a beach)

Molly Loves You! ♥
(yes, yes I do)

Molly eats the fruit and gathers the blackberries
(this has been known to happen)

Molly Has the Luck of the Irish
(I hope so)

Molly died trying to help somebody
(yikes!)

Molly will do the big announcement
(we'll see)

Last Two Words...

From Anet's wonderful project.
Volacious- apt or fit to fly
Maven- a person who has special knowledge or experience; an expert


Our wildlife sightings included volacious cormorants who nest in dead trees.





Mark is such a maven when it comes to all things to do with fishing. He rewired the lights on the boat trailer, restrung fishing reels, navigated across submerged trees, and backed the boat up at least a dozen times without batting an eye.

Daedal...

Daedal/Ingenious and complex in design or function; intricate.
Finely or skillfully made or employed; artistic