Random Klynstra Events

The following are some small, random, thoughts and events going on around our home.

Abigail is big into imitation these days.  Not so much with words yet but noises and expressions for sure.  We sneeze, she sneezes.  We blow our nose, she will find a small piece of something and blow her nose.  She loves to walk around the house with her fake phone tucked on her chin talking to someone (who did she learn that from?).   

This last week Abigail has figured out the kiss.  Up until this point when you asked for a kiss she would just press her face to yours.  Now she likes to smack her lips, so funny.  The other day I was holding her as I kissed Josh good-bye in the morning and when I looked at her she gave me a big kiss too.  It is fun to be greeted with a kiss when we go get her from her crib instead of just yelling, she is such a sweet girl.

The other day I canned some kidney beans.  Are you sick of me talking about my canning yet?  I love doing it.  What primal need in me does this fill I wonder?  I am thankful to my mother-in-law who taught me the super affordable way of canning my own dry beans for easy access in future meals.  And the funny thing about it is that night my house smelled like my grandma Davis’ house from when I was a child.  I don’t know if it was the bean, the canning process, what I had made for dinner but it did make me miss my grandma very much.  She loved to can as well I do remember.

Abigail loves to snack.  She eats all of her meals in her highchair but in-between meals she needs to snack very frequently.  Our new system is that when Abigail isn’t in her highchair there are snacks and her sippy cup of water on the footstool portion of her highchair for her to reach.  She loves this bit of independence that allows here to come here and there to get a bite to eat as she plays and I love my happy and content little girl.

The Need To Finish

Have you ever been in the middle of a project that is going well?  

I was there the other day.   The machine was working great, the fabric was fun and handling well, I was energized and focused.  Yes, it was the perfect day for this project!  (sorry the picture of the fabric isn’t more clear but it is for a few gifts and what was being made just can’t be shared just yet)

For the most part Miss Abigail was being great at letting me sew that day.  I have certain toys I keep set aside until times like these so she has “new” things to play with.  That and I sew right outside of her room so there are books, toys and such to play with.  But just as I was about 85% done my little girl reached an ending point in her patience, she needed her mama and I have to admit, this mama really needed to finish the project.  So with that, Abigail found the accessory drawer in my sewing desk.

And as I stitched my last stitch, cleaned the machine and put away my thread this is what my little girl and my accessory drawer’s contents looked like.  But as I laughed and took a picture I found that this was just ok because you see, the project was finished and with it such a good sense of accomplishment.  Plus, this meant I got to sort, organize and clean up my accessory drawer of ribbons, rick rack, lace, elastic and such as I put it all back.  Thanks for being such a great side-kick my dear, you knew that drawer just needed a little TLC didn’t you.  

Breakfast for Dinner

So far this year sticking to my food calendar has been great.  Ok, so we are only on our second month of the year, but it has worked well so far.  And one new addition I am finding myself making more and more is slipping in a short-order meal into each week, a little breakfast to bring in some variety at night. 

You see we are pretty much a straight oatmeal family for breakfast.  Boring as it might be we have oatmeal each and every morning since it is filling, fast, one pot on the stove feeds us all and it is warm.  This pretty bland pattern of oatmeal doesn’t mean we don’t love the good “Café” style breakfast options.  So as I write out the month’s meals on the calendar I find myself slipping in nights of omelets, waffles, pancakes, French toast, potato pancakes and home fries all of which can be made dairy and gluten free to fit into this family’s needs.  So, what are you having for dinner?  

You and Me Makes Three

Something Josh and I have learned in the past 14 months is that our lives are no longer our own to spontaneously do with as we wish any more. Since we are now very aware of our role as parents and our budget we have learned that date nights must take on a different kind of look from our no children days.

I will be honest to say that for the past 14 month date nights have not really existed but that has been changing.  We are making an intent to set aside time to reconnect, have fun, do something different and we are learning that all of this doesn’t necessarily have to be done out of the house.  Abigail goes to bed and date night can begin without the commute.

These pictures were taken from the other day when we decided to have a Sushi Date Night.  When dating we used to like to buy a small pack of sushi/California rolls and go off on a picnic or hike as a date.  The other day we decided for a good “in-house” date we would learn to make sushi ourselves.

And what fun we had.  No, it wasn’t a show, movie, big dinner with a waiter and extensive menu but it was special, new, and time to reconnect with each other.  Yes Miss Abigail is a very active part of each day but connecting with my partner is part of that day too.

Yukon Quest 2012

We have been very lucky this past week that the cold, bitter cold, of January has finally started to break.  Last Thursday we saw temperatures above zero in the first time in over 5 weeks.  And with the warmer weather came the start of the Yukon Quest on Saturday.

So we planned out all of the winter gear needed, bundled up and headed out even though Saturday saw the temperatures drop back down to -20 degrees on the river.

Regardless of the temperature there was a need to be there.  Feel the excitement, watch the dogs, cheer the mushers and imagine the next week or so that these teams will be out on the trail.

Dog mushing is such a fun part of Fairbanks and the Yukon Quest is such a great event to attend on cold winter days.  The race starts in Fairbanks and ends in Whitehorse, Canada every other year as the race is reversed on opposite years.

So even though we didn’t stay too long, we shared the joy of watching the dogs with Abigail and told her how we can’t see this again until she is three years old.  With that thought these days and events are all the more special.  Time just goes too fast.

A new tool for a new project

I don't really remember which came first, the project or the tool.  I have been wanting a pocket hole jig system from Kreg tools for several years.  Kathleen has also been asking for night stands for our bedroom for several years; the driftwood stands I made eight or so years ago are not very big and don't have a drawer for all those things you need at night like glasses and tissues and cold medicine.  Well, I now have the pocket hole jig and the project is in the works.  

I started preparing the wood, from the air dried lumber I milled years ago, in December.  Since this is a new project and I really don't draw up very specific plans, I decided to make three.  That way when I make an obvious mistake on a crucial step of the project I may end up with a pair that look close to the same and don't have any glaring flaws.  Aside from the normal ones.  

I am currently in the process of  drilling all the pocket holes.  There are many.  Probably too many but I like a new, and easy, joinery system.  Besides screws add heft to a project and heavy things are more valuable, I hope.  Anyway, the only other new thing on this project are the biscuit joints that are holding the tops and shelves together.

And I'm rambling...  So. Another improvement to my small skill-set, I will be trying to produce a better finish on this project.  I typically have two finishes: either I wipe on Tung Oil with a rag or I brush on water based Polyurethane.  Both are relatively easy, but neither produce a high quality finish when applied by me.  Thus the need to re-develop my finishing techniques.  As the photo below shows, I have purchased lacquer thinner and sander sealer.  My hope is to produce a smoother and cleaner looking finish that does not have my customary brush marks and blotchy spots.  

SO.

Here is what they will look like, minus the drawer and the top.  I guess they will look a bit different than this but I don't have a picture of the completed project yet.  

And moving on.  This leaf outline is another new step in my attempts at woodworking diversity.  For Christmas this year I received an addition to my router, a bushing set.  This leaf outline was a fun process to go through.  First I needed a template for the bushing guide. That meant I was able to purchase a new router bit to fit inside my 3/8 inch bushing.  I needed that size because the strait bit I have is 1/2 inch which is the size of the OD of the 3/8 bushing.  YEAH, more tools.  This is becoming a great project, just a few more like this and I'll have a full shop.

Well, that's all I have for now.  When there is more to show, I'll steal another post from Kathleen.

One More Not Needed From The Store

Josh loves to eat a yogurt with his lunch each day.  Each week as I purchase the multiple little cups I think I really need to figure out how to make this at home.

So the other day I faced my fears of something new, bought a gallon of milk and went at trying my hand in making homemade yogurt.

And I have to say; the entire process was a huge success.  After the heating, the cooling, the mixing and the long time heating I stored the jars in the fridge and waited.  I needed to see if when the yogurt cooled if it set up or if I would end up with a runny mess.  

But set up they did!  All of the jars and then I just had to wait for Josh to come home for the real taste test.  Overall verdict…texture is great, sweetness is great, flavor is slightly bland.  Humm, I added the two tablespoons of vanilla as the recipe said but it didn’t do a lot to make the yogurt vanilla favored.  Maybe it is because it is imitation vanilla, any suggestions?  For this batch we decided Josh will just mix in some blueberry syrup for flavor but I would like to have another plan for flavor before I mix up my next batch.  I have to say, we could very well never buy store bought yogurt again.

Future Equality

Growing up in a family of three children my parents tried very hard to make most things equal amongst us.  The main area where they failed was our Christmas stockings.  You see my older brother and sister had their stockings made for them before I was born.  When I was added to the bunch the family friend knitted me a stocking as well.  Unfortunately for my siblings but luckily for me the friend had misplaced her pattern and my stocking ended up twice as big as the other two.

So after I knitted Abigail’s stocking at Christmas time I figured that since I had the yarn out, the pattern on hand and no pressure of time this would be a good time to knit another stocking or two.  That way future guests or future Klynstra’s will have stockings of similar size to Abigail’s.

Well, my plan to knit a bunch of stockings has sort of died out as two seems like just enough for this year since there are other projects that I would like to put on my needles.  But the thought is there, the pattern has been established and I do believe that the Christmas’ in our future will be filled with big and equally sized stockings.

Dreaming is the First Step to Planning

Even though it is set to be -35 again tonight, and the fact that the yard is covered in snow, I am dreaming of summer inside.

And with all of that dreaming has come preparations for this year’s garden.  Remember one of my new year’s goals was a bigger and better garden.  That has to start with good planning on the seed front.  Plus the stores have seeds on sale in January so it is the best time for me to get the simple seeds I usually get in town such as lettuce, radishes, zucchini and so on.  Meanwhile this week has also seen an order go out to Johnny’s for the additional seeds we need like our tomatoes, broccoli and carrots among others.  I did throw in the order a few extra packages of “new” to me items that I can’t wait to grow as well.

To my fellow gardeners out there, what new things are you looking to plant this year?

Complete Once More

Last week’s loss of my old and trusted crockpot was very hard to take.

But luckily my new, white, big and ready to cook crockpot arrived in the mail the other day.

So yesterday I found myself with dinner cooking in my new crockpot and some chicken for the next day cooking in my small crockpot and it made me smile.  Yes, everything is good in the Klynstra kitchen once again. 

What Clothes Can Do

The other day I was in the church nursery with Abigail.  She was so very happy because a bunch of new baby dolls had been donated.  As she trotted around the room with this one or that one tucked under her arm I kept noticing the one cabbage patch doll that had no clothes.

Even though Abigail didn’t mind this one bit it made me a little sad so we brought the doll home.  With no pattern to go with and a few tank tops and t-shirts from my donate pile to use I decided to make this doll a new outfit.

I started by making the doll a white shirt black legging but then realized this made the doll was looking like a male ballet dancer.  I needed something a little extra.

So with a red shirt I made a jumper to go over the leggings and shirt.  A heart was added to give it something extra and tada, our poor dolly had a new outfit.  Not the best sewing I have ever done but since it was all free handed with knit fabric I feel pretty good about bringing this doll back to the nursery where it will be loved for many years to come.  As a side note I have no idea what the marks on the dolls face are.  I think since its mouth is open it must be an eating doll of some sort.  

The Need For Clean

I clean the house a little bit everyday it seems.  There are always bathrooms, floors, dusting and picking up to do. But sometimes there is a need to put those aside for the day and go a little deeper.

Maybe it is the return of some daylight, the need for a break from the bathrooms and floors, or just the fact that it is so cold we aren’t going anywhere these days and I am home so very much.  Whatever the cause, I find myself cleaning a little more intensely recently.  

So as a result of this cabin fever usually neglected cabinets, pantry shelves, storage bins, neglected closets and dressers are getting an overhaul.  The items found are being repurposed, organized, or added to the free market pile.  It is a good feeling to at least be able to say “spring” to at least the cleaning part of my life when the temperatures are still -20.