New Crafting Space

And by "new", of course, I mean that I've lived here and had the room put together for 5 months but I'm just now getting around to posting photos.

 

[Car. Driveway.]

My fabulous husband insists that I have a crafting room*.  A family of three should normally be able to get along just fine in a two-bedroom, but not us!  We picked this house because it has a nice double living room (all the way).  The converted garage is off the main living room.  The high ceilings and big window make it pretty much perfect for holding all my crafting stuff without it looking like a cave.  And since it's right next to the living room, Lucy doesn't seem to mind as much when I work while she's playing or watching TV. 

We did, however, have to get a little creative with the toddler-proofing...

[Toy Shelf + Baby Gate + Filing Cabinet]

[The curtains are to keep our warm gas heater air out of the rafters at night.]

Before we moved, I got rid of my sewing table, one small bookshelf, and a set of plastic drawers.  And when we got here, we put the Britney shelf in the storage/mud room -- that room needed it more than I did.  To compensate for some lost storage space, I made what is possibly the tallest stack of under-the-bed Rubbermaid containers in the world, or at least in Humboldt County.

All full of different types of fabric. I think my corduroy collection is taking up three of those...

I can't really complain about the layout -- I have enough space, and I can see all my supplies pretty well.  My only problem is lighting (the room has no built-in lighting), which I could fix if I weren't such a cheapskate.  I think I need one of these.

 

[Squeee! Yes, those are old, giant, pull-down classroom maps standing up in the corner! Updates when I finally make the project I have in mind for them. (Thanks, Dad!)]

Sometimes I have visions of rigging up a pulley system to hoist my lightbox up into the high ceiling and out of my way. Probly not gonna happen.

[George!]

If you absolutely must have more photos of this and my other crafting spaces, I have a Flickr album of them here.  And if you want to see tons of other photos of other people's awesome craft rooms, you should search "craft room" on Flickr.




*His reasons are three fourfold:
1.) I have a calling to craft (and I enjoy it, and I'm good at it).
2.) I have a tendency to... acquire, which is curbed by having to keep it all in one room.
3.) He doesn't want to put up with my projects being scattered all over the house.
4.) (Added by him before press time, and I quote:) "I like the moneys!"
So as you can see, it's a mixture of encouragement, tough love, and selfishness.  I'll take it!

Jessie Lyman's Journals, Part 8

I previously introduced you to my great-great grandmother, Jessie Lyman Eckert.  You can read the first post here, and subsequent post are filed under

Jessie Lyman was born January 2, 1877.  She graduated from Westport High School (Westport, MO, now part of Kansas City) in 1897 at the head of her class.  From what I have read of her diaries so far, it appears she went on to teach school for a couple years in Columbia, MO.  She married Herman Eckert in June of 1899.  On July 26, 1900, she died giving birth to twins Conrad and Cornelia at the age of 22.  Conrad is my mother's mother's father.

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Mon, Nov. 8th [1897]

The rain continued almost all day. I had only twelve pupils. Jasper Jacobs broke his leg today. Celia is better, but I think she will never be well.

Tues, Nov. 9th

Aunt Florence and I called on Miss Lena Wilson this evening. We had a very pleasant time. Miss Lena's paintings are beautiful.

Wed, Nov. 10th

I sent for a new dress skirt today. It is very pretty. I will begin work on it as soon as possible.
I am learning a new song with the guitar.
I must get to bed and rest for tomorrow's work. The time goes fast, yet slowly also.

Thurs, Nov 11

I did not get a pattern, so was not able to begin on my dress today. I am teaching several of the older girls a song for Xmas.

Friday, Nov. 12

I spent about half an hour training the children today. Three of the little boys are doing finely.
Mr. Scott and Imogene came to bring me a pattern today, and spent the evening. He is so funny. It does me good to have him come.

Sat, Nov. 13

I began work on my dress today, and got along very well. I could only spend half the day on it, as I wanted to call on Lillie Phillips in the afternoon. I had a pleasant call, and found Mrs. Phillips very nice. We stopped to see how Celia Jacobs was as we came home. She is worse. Jasper is doing as well as could be expected.
John Wilson called this evening. He is very sociable.

Sunday, Nov. 14

It threatened rain today so I couldn't go to church this morning. I wanted to see Forest, so Clarence took me this evening. I spent most of the day in writing. I have all my letters answered now.

Mon. (Oct.) Nov. 15

This has been a rainy day. Francis took me to school in the road cart. Rollie scared at a hog and broke the shaft.
I walked home this evening.

Tues, Nov. 16

Nothing of importance happened today. I am working on my new dress skirt.

Wed, Nov 17

Still at my sewing. I think it will be very pretty.

Thurs, Nov 18

All my days seem alike -- rise at 6 o'clock, start for school at 7:30, ring the bell at 8:30, and spend the rest of the day in trying to instil into the verdant minds of the Strawn School, the principles of "Readin' 'Ritin' and 'Rithmetic."

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Isn't that the way?  I hate it when I get in ruts and feel like that.

There is a Strawn Road in Columbia, Mo.

Cookie Dinner!

A couple months ago, Lucy kept talking about eating cookies for dinner.  I suspect it had something to do with watching Sesame Street every day.  But it got me thinking -- wouldn't that be fun? To have cookies for dinner?  So I asked my Facebook friends what kind of well-rounded foods could be made to look like cookies, and I got some great responses.  And I filed them away (in my brain).

Well, this week I pulled them out.  I knew Lucy and I would need some fun while Norman is away at a conference.  So, I present to you, Cookie Dinner!

[Lucy took this one of me. She's getting pretty good!]

[Actually saying "Cheeeeese!"]

First, in the afternoon, we made a project of making these healthy chocolate chip cookies.  They turned out really good!  The amazing thing about these cookies is that they don't take any sugar.  The bananas act as sugar and (I suspect) as egg, as well.  (They're also gluten free if you use GF oats.)

[Gives her a hobby...]

We ran into a little trouble when I decided to use frozen bananas.  Everything was going fine!  I remembered to take them out of the freezer to thaw while we ran errands, and frozen bananas that have been thawed are practically already mashed, so that was nice.  But the recipe calls for slightly warmed coconut oil, so that it's a liquid.  Wellll.... coconut oil solidifies at 76 degrees F, so when it hit those semi-frozen bananas, it just chunked back up.  I kind of mashed up some of the oil pieces, and microwaved it a little, but in the end I had to add a little extra olive oil to get it wet enough to stick together.  But the cookies turned out great!  They kind of remind me of those little bite-sized cookies from Paradise Bakery, except that they kind of taste like banana.

So in addition to actual cookies, we also had...

Roasted potato slices with ketchup frosting

 

and sour cream frosting and bacon sprinkles

And slices of havarti cheese, cut out with cookie cutters, topped with pear slices.

It was all pretty tasty!  I highly recommend the potatoes with sour cream frosting and bacon sprinkles.  I just sliced up a couple potatoes and roasted them in the oven with olive oil and a little salt and garlic powder.  Yum!

Lucy seems to have had fun.  I mean, she ate some of everything!  And it was a nice creative outlet for me.  So I'd say Cookie Dinner gets a B+.  (Points off for my lack of presentation. It's just who I am.)

Jessie Lyman's Journals, Part 7

I previously introduced you to my great-great grandmother, Jessie Lyman Eckert.  You can read the first post here, and subsequent post are filed under

Jessie Lyman was born January 2, 1877.  She graduated from Westport High School (Westport, MO, now part of Kansas City) in 1897 at the head of her class.  From what I have read of her diaries so far, it appears she went on to teach school for a couple years in Columbia, MO.  She married Herman Eckert in June of 1899.  On July 26, 1900, she died giving birth to twins Conrad and Cornelia at the age of 22.  Conrad is my mother's mother's father.

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Mon. Oct Nov. 1 [1897]


This has been a gloomy, windy day. Aunt Florence took Forest to school. I rode over behind Walter on Mollie.


Tues, Nov 2d


Aunt Florence and I went to town after school. I wanted to have the dressmaker lengthen my dress, but she was too busy, so I bought the materials to do it myself. I got two widths of braid, and some canvas.
I saw Forest and and he went to the drug store with me. He is just as nice as he can be. When he finishes college, he will be a man.


Wed, Nov 3d


I forgot to say I went to the writing school last night. We had a great time. It was a beautiful evening. Francis says I acted like I was about twelve years old. Well, I don't often so far forget myself and my station in life.
I'd like to know why people call me "the little school marm".
This evening I called on Miss Electra Withers. It was another beautiful moonlight evening. After we left Mr. Hultz's we drove down to Vawter school house about four miles. We got there just as Clarence was giving his speech in the debate. We surprised him till he almost forgot his speech.
Francis and I had quite a confidential talk on the way back.


Thurs, Nov. 4th


I cut out the facing for my dress this evening.


Friday, Nov. 5th


I sewed the facing on my dress.
Last night I got a lovely letter from Ella, and one from Herman. Ella has replaced her confidence in me. Herman is such a dear considerate boy. Maybe he will come to see me Christmas. I do hope so. I am building my hopes so that I will be badly disappointed if he doesn't come. It will be so nice to walk, and skate with him again.


Sat. Nov. 6th


I finished my dress today. It looks very pretty. Somehow, I have been thinking of Herman all day. I wrote to him this evening. I have almost had the blues today -- thinking of the happy days that are past, and how little they were appreciated. How little I realized the worth of those gentle loving words and the tender stroke on my hair. I was like a spoiled child -- I received everything as my due, and gave little in return. Well, Herman loves me just as dearly still, and I can make up for the past by the future. I wrote to him this evening.


Sunday, Nov. 7


It rained again today so I couldn't go to church.
I wrote two letters -- to Ella and Emma Donaldson.
Francis and I wanted to go to Midway, but it rained and we could not go.


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Oh my, how sad!  (In case you didn't know, I have not read ahead and am only reading as I transcribe.)  Bless her heart.  Her story gets happier, but then, as we know, ends in tragedy.

[When this post was first published, I was having trouble reading the word "Vawter".  In trying to decipher the word "Strawn" in the next post, I figured it out.  There is now a Vawter School Road in Columbia, Mo.]