I've home died my hair for about 7 years ever since I saw a speck of grey. - Had it once died by a salon which looked awful - she burnt my hair - what a mess!
However this year I got sick of the chemicals going on my head and decided to approach my hairdresser of 15 years if she would help me go grey. She warned me I looked too young to go grey - but agreed to help. I told her I hated the brassy colour my hair went after a die job & wanted to avoid that at all cost. (as per photo below taken June 07)
So 4th March the "d" day - she put a brown colour through to look as close to my natural hair as possible.$112.00
This only lasted 4 weeks (I could get 8 weeks out of home job) until the brass look appeared at $15.00.
I wish I had a photo
Back I go 4 weeks later and being as green as green with hairdresser treatments giving her full trust. with my locks. She leaves the brass look & streaks in layers of a lighter tone. It looked ok - didn't love it but tried to understand her reasoning she needs to take me lighter & slowly because for damage to my hair. My hair is feeling in much better condition. $120.00
I've put up with the yuck look as long as I can - 6 weeks & back I go today - I believe she is going to put blonde in my hair & a toner - what ever that means!!!
I've googled on down & found an awesome website Going Gray Looking Great. I wish my hair to end up looking like Michels
Michel has natural curly hair & also long. However she has never died her hair so hasn't had to do the transition stage. Reading the web pages most gals get the chop & let it grow out - oh my! My hair has always taken soo long to grow.
Since I found the web page I have been scanning women in crowds who are go al-natural I feel like yelling at them GO GIRL!! One lady I saw with the proud skunk look, another had hers up in a ponytail which was still coloured.
I'll upload today a before hairdresser photo & after of todays die job.
Since summer is almost here and it is time for strawberry and rhubarb, I wanted to send this recipe in. It is a Diabetic recipe and I know you do not get a lot of these and they are just as good made this way. Or you can make it like you normally would.
Ingredients
3 cups, cut in 1 inch pieces (or 1 pkg frozen unsweetened rhubarb, thawed and undrained)
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup flour
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. Lemon juice
3 cups sliced strawberries
12 1/2 tsp. Equal Measure or 40 packets Equal sweetener or 1 2/3 cups Equal spoonful
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
Directions
Use favorite recipe for pie crust for a 9 inch crust. Bake in pre heated oven as required by your recipe. Cool on wire rack.
For the whole pie to be baked, oven should be set at 350 degrees F. Add rhubarb into a large covered saucepan over medium heat until rhubarb releases liquid (about 5 minutes). Combine water, flour, cornstarch and lemon juice. Stir into rhubarb and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring constantly until mixture is thickened and rhubarb is almost tender (3-5 minutes longer). Stir in strawberries and cook 2-3 minutes longer. Stir Equal and nutmeg into fruit mix.
Spoon into pie crust, spreading evenly. Bake in oven until bubbly about 40 minutes. Cover edge of crust with aluminum foil if browning too quickly. Cool on wire rack, serve warm. Enjoy!
Mix all filling ingredients and put into prepared pan.
For top crust: Mix sugar, baking powder, salt, shortening, buttermilk and 3/4 cup of flour to form a sticky dough. Spread remaining flour on a work surface and knead dough until most of the flour is incorporated and dough is manageable. Roll dough to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into large pieces. Cover blackberry filling with dough, overlapping pieces, patchwork style.
Drizzle melted butter over dough and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until crust is golden-brown and filling is bubbly, about 50 minutes. Top with a scoop of ice cream or a whipped topping.
Tuesday Lance's dad was sent home from one hospital, but was very weak and unable to stand on his own, so Tuesday evening he was taken to another hospital's ER and he was admitted there. Tests were ordered and it was found that the cancer has moved around and there is another spot on his brain.
The Dr determined that radiation probably wouldn't be very beneficial for him at this point. If they focus the radiaiton on the cancer in his brain area (which they think is causing his symptoms...he's not comprehending things), then the cancer on his lungs or liver could start giving him problems (in the time radiation was being done). The radiation takes a week or two and then another week or two to take affect. If the radiation wasn't going to be beneficial and it's side-effects HORRIBLE, it was determined that no other radiation or chemo would be done and he would be able to rest more peacefully at home.
We are extremely blessed to have two relatives who work for/with Hospice. Lance's cousin (and aunt) have been extremely helpful in getting Hospice set up and running in their home. It was decided Wednesday morning while his dad was in the hospital, and by 3PM Hospice was at their house with paperwork and a bed with oxygen being set up. His dad was transported by ambulance and arrived home that evening to a bed that was already made and waiting for him. He seems to be resting peacefully whenever I've seen him.
He wasn't swallowing on Wednesday, but started swallowing again Wednesday night, so he could take his meds and even eat a tiny bit. (they do have soluble meds)
He seems to recognize people briefly and speaks occasionally.
We've been spending as much time as possible there, Lance took Wed and Thur off but plans to work tomorrow and then take the weekend off to spend there.
Lance's brother and his wife are staying there, day and night, (with his dad and stepmom) and that makes us feel better as we know he's being watched closely and getting the care he needs.
Prayers are appreciated as this is a very difficult time for the family :(
Tuesday we went to our tax guy about our tax audit. We have everything in order, and we should be fine unless the auditor (how do you spell that??) says that Lance's work mileage isn't deductible, then we are in trouble. It's normal in his profession to deduct mileage, as he's considered a 'self contractor'. The miles from home to his shop and shop to home are considered his commute, but the miles from his shop to his job site are considered tax deductible. The tax man said that it depends on the auditor on whether or not they raise a fuss over it. We just have to wait and see. Lance has all his log books and they contain the mileage from the shop to each jobsite, so hopefully it will all be fine.
Wednesday we met with H+R Block, as we bought the audit guarantee for the year 2006, so they represent us for free at an audit. We did NOT buy that guarantee for 2005, so we have to pay them to represent us for that year ($120). That's not a bad fee and may be worth it I guess. I honestly feel like I can represent us myself, but everybody keeps telling me that is a bad idea. I seriously have everything in order so I don't see a problem, but I guess I'll just pay H+R Block to come along too.
I called the auditor on Wednesday to make our audit appt. She set it for June 4 and seemed quite nice on the phone. Then I went to HRBlock and they made me reschedule it for a later date. I did NOT want to do this and the auditor was not impressed. HRBlock kept saying we need more time...more time for WHAT? I can't imagine what we need MORE time for, I have everything we could possibly need. ?? Sigh.
So our big audit appt is NOW set on June 13, the very same day as Lilli's recital. Double sigh. Lance and I will drive separately so I can leave early from the audit if possible, because I really should be here to get Lilli dolled up for her recital. It's just a mom thing and it's pretty technical. 'Hair must be parted on the left side in the center of the eyebrow'. 'Hair must be combed through with gel and placed in a low pony tail'. 'Bobby pins must be used if bangs or flyaways are a problem'. The make-up instructions are even more in-depth. I really need to be here to get her ready. Hopefully the audit will go smoothly and we'll be out of there in an hour or two instead of the normal 4! hours.
Our critters are all doing well, our little Buckeye the buckling is doing great and I hope to get him out to play with the girls a bit this weekend.
The chicks are all doing great and the bronze turkey poults are really getting big. The guinea keets are all doing well and they are definitely the more wild ones of the bunch. Anytime we open the cage they run to and fro. They are so cute though...and FAST! LOL
Our new chickens are laying pretty good. We get 5 or 6 eggs per day now. We were already getting one or two with just our one little hen we had. I think the new chickens are either young or stressed from the move. They don't seem stressed, so I'm thinking young. Some of them are laying medium white eggs and some are laying large brown ones. They all lay in the same nest, so I'm not sure which hens are laying which eggs.
I plan to let them out to free-range tomorrow afternoon/evening. We'll see how it goes and if they go back in the coop to roost. If they do well, then we'll start letting them out each morning for a day of free-range before locking them in again at night.
Lilli had her first T-ball practice last night. It was so much fun to watch. One little girl hit the ball and ran straight to second base...right over the pitcher's mound! LOL. It was not Lilli. Lilli was worried about that. She didn't think she'd know which way to run. :)
Lilli did great and had a wonderful time! She didn't want to leave when we were all done! She was so tired though. Practice goes from 6-7:30 on Wed nights and then again from 1-2 on Saturdays. Her coach was awesome with the kids and they all seemed to have a great time.
Today was Lilli's field trip to the zoo. We had a great time but both of us were pretty tired afterwards. I had 4 girls to watch over while we walked around, and that's just a lot for the zoo. Each girl had their own ideas about where to go and what to see and how much time to spend at each exhibit. One girl wanted to run to everything and one girl couldn't keep up no matter how slow we walked. LOL. Leashes. They should give leashes to the parents attending field trips. HA!
Tomorrow we are pretty open. I need to call and schedule Lauren's VCUG for June (to check her kidney reflux). Lilli has school and then we'll head over to Lance's Dad's for a visit in the early evening.
Lance is spending Saturday and Sunday at his dad's.
Lilli has a couple things going on Saturday and we'll visit Lance's dad as much as we can.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, I'll post updates when I can.
Here is a collection of free clothespin bag patterns found online. You can click the picture above to print out this sweet vintage clothespin character pattern, transfer it to your bag if you like and embroider. It’s an animated clothespin bouncing on a bar of soap from an old clothespin bag pattern I have (the complete sewing pattern is too large to scan and share unfortunately). See embroidery pattern notes at the bottom.
The clothes pin design may be appliquéd in any gay print or outlined in green or red. Limbs and features are black outline, eyes blue satin stitch and mouth red. Soap and lettering on it are blue; broken lines black.
Free Laundry Bag Pattern - Vintage (1944)..from tipnut
J. & P. Coats or Clark’s O.N.T. Mercerized Sewing Thread in matching colors, or Best Six Cord in white
Directions for Cutting:
1 piece — 18″ x 36″
2 pieces — 7″ x 17 1/2″
Directions for Making:
(1/2″ allowed for seams)
Place 7″ x 17 1/2″ pieces (top section) wrong sides together.
To shape top edge, place a hanger along edge, draw around outside curve and cut along outline.
Cut one piece in half up the center and hem cut edges 1/4″ and press.
Baste the 2 small pieces against the one whole piece, right sides together, and stitch across the top and down the sides, turn to right side and press.
To make bag section, stitch selvage edges of 18″ x 36″ piece together (right sides together) to within 6″ from top edge and press.
With selvage seam at center front, stitch across bottom edge, turn to right side and press.
Gather top edge of bag section.
Baste and stitch top section to bag section, raw edge to raw edge (right sides together).
Baste and stitch both edges of bias trim across front 3″ from top edge and repeat this over seam line, allowing 10″ to extend at each side of center opening for ties.
To finish ties, top stitch 10″ of bias to wrong side of each tie. Insert hanger.
Source: J. & P. Coats Gift Bazaar Sewing Suggestions (1944)
Toilet tissue tube (or an ice cube tray to create smaller chunks for younger hands)
Duct tape
Aluminum foil if you are using a toilet paper tube (or petroleum jelly if you're using an ice cube tray)
Disposable plastic container
Plaster of Paris (Playbox plaster of Paris, about $4 for 4 1/2 pounds, dickblick.com)
Water
Liquid tempera paint (Prang Ready-To-Use tempera paint, about $5 for six colors, dickblick.com)
Spoon
Instructions
Step 1
Cover one end of the toilet paper tube with duct tape. Loosely roll an 8- by-41/2-inch piece of aluminum foil and slip it into the tube so that it lines the inside, fitting snugly. (Or coat the inside of the ice cube tray with petroleum jelly.)
Step 2
Set tube upright (duct tape side down) on protected surface.
Step 3
In a disposable plastic container, help your child mix 1 cup plaster of Paris with 1/2 cup water. Stir slowly and thoroughly until plaster is dissolved, about 1 minute.
Step 4
Immediately add 2 tablespoons paint (or more for brighter chalk color, but be careful it can stain). Mix thoroughly.
Step 5
Spoon into the tube (or ice cube tray). Tap gently so mixture settles to the bottom.
Looking for a little simplicity? Seems a lotta folks are these days! We’ve got it, by way of our Ebook, Homestead Simplicity: A Primer, and YOU can win a copy!!
NOW–want even more chances to win? We’re running this contest the whole month of May! Each Monday I will draw a winner out of the ol’ hat, so if you don’t win one week, come back and leave your comment/post again the next week….try, try again
Some houses try to hide the fact
That children shelter there;
Ours boast of it quite openly.
The signs are everywhere.
For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges on the doors;
I should apologize, I guess.
For toys strewn on the floor.
But I sat down with the children
And we played and laughed and read;
And if the doorbell doesn’t shine,
Their eyes will shine instead.
For when at times I’m forced to choose
The one job or the other;
I’d like to cook and clean and scrub,
But first I’ll be a mother.
Here is a collection of free clothespin bag patterns found online. You can click the picture above to print out this sweet vintage clothespin character pattern, transfer it to your bag if you like and embroider. It’s an animated clothespin bouncing on a bar of soap from an old clothespin bag pattern I have (the complete sewing pattern is too large to scan and share unfortunately). See embroidery pattern notes at the bottom.
