Kitchen Knives

Oh, the joy of a lovely sharp knife in my kitchen. My most beloved knives are Rada brand, a rather common theme in our Mennonite circles. And my favorites of the Rada's are the black handled ones; the bread knife, the big slicing knife and the little paring knives. I really like the tomato knife too. And I don't like the Rada cheese knife. But there it sits in my drawer, with it's much preferred partners. I also keep a stack of serrated knives with plastic handles in various assorted sizes which we received for our wedding from one of Pat's friends. These are Pat's knives. He can cut the thinnest picture-perfect pieces of cheese with these knives. And I cannot. These knives do not behave for me. I keep them strictly for my husband man. Which are your favorite knives?

Oct 26 - Favorite things in your town.

I have to admit, I cheated. I read other blogs before I wrote this one, so I got a few ideas. The main thing is we do not live in a town. We live five miles from Swanson, which consists of a hamlet of fourteen houses, including our beloved Villa.

We live four miles from Donavon, which is another hamlet of the same amount of houses. This one includes the RM office and the fire hall, which, side note, our oldest has officially decided to join the fire department. We're proud of him. So ya, that's Donavon.

Then Delisle is about fifteen miles away and has two gas stations and the post office and best of all, the library. It also has the niftiest antique store and coffee shop which I peruse strictly to be with my friends. You all, this is a confession. I'm just not an 'antique' kinda person. I can buy those things and they never look right in my house. Except for the blue jars I got that I keep copious amounts of buttons in. Anyway. Ya. So Delisle is also the little town that Pat's folks moved to when they sold their farm and we love stopping at their place. My boys are so blessed to have a grandpa and grandma close.

Then Saskatoon is about a half hour drive away and that's where I would do all my shopping. And I do love to shop, unfortunately. The South Saskatchewan River runs through Saskatoon and there are neat trails to walk and ride bikes along. There are pretty parks to picnic at and little places like the Bulk Cheese Factory on Broadway and Homestead Icecream on Victory. And if you'd like a taste of the Native land in Saskatoon you could hang out on 20th. I wouldn't really recommend it but you should go to Waneskewin where the historical native stuff is. You could get in on a really Indian dance if you're lucky. We have the basics like Cabela's, Winners, HomeSense.

Oct 25 - Write about what's on your craft wish list.

• So first off, I would love to have a designated space for wood working. This is a craft I really enjoy doing and hardly ever do. My boys and I have made stuff together like this farmhouse bed pattern.
  
• So of course I would love a space big enough to create large wood projects. Ha.
• My delightful sewing and craft room truly supplieth all my needs plus. I love it. And because sewing is my main crafting area it is truly something I don't ever take for granted. If there's ever anything I need it's more fabric! I often window shop fabric online and I rarely, if ever, buy. It seems like I just can't justify those shipping charges! But then I go to the specialty quilt stores in town and the fabric I like costs just as much. So ya. Whatever. The majority of my quilting is done with Fabricland specials and castoffs from my grandma or my neighbor friend or leftover dress fabric. Do you buy fabric specifically for creating?

Oct 24 - What do you need to stop apologizing for?

I'm sorry I'm not writing! I just gotta quit saying that. I am so blessed to have a moment from time to time to write and even more blessed if I have a small inspiration.

So in the school of life for forty year old women I feel like I've officially graduated from grade six to grade seven and now it's time to step up the performance. It's likely time to say, look, this semester has no hieroglyphics. We're just full-throttle ahead in algebra and trigonometry, otherwise known as x or y for supper and which angle we're gonna take next.

One very random thought (should've been posted yesterday) is which can opener do I need? I'm very weary of cheap-o's that wreck after one try or elderly ones who skip three-fourths of the edge. I'd really like an electric can opener but even there, where do I start looking? Help.

Oct 17 - Write about your current favorite websites.

• Young House Love I've read this blog forever. I like their houses and copy different things. I like it that it's not heavy reading.
• Bower Power is another one I've read forever. If I have time I'll go check out these two. Funny that they're friends too. And I guess I like to read family stories. A boy family is an extra score.
• All Recipes is a go-to website I use to look up all kinds of food ideas. 

So... how have you all been keeping while I've been spinning my tires in all directions? Today I managed to snag the major book sale in between my vast and many deadlines between busing. I bought Pat a bunch of Ralph Connor books. I also squeezed in three quarter hour for Bertha Tea. The dear lady was not amused at our efforts. There was a birthday party next door which she would have much rather been at.

Oct 15 - Write about something you've been avoiding.

• Wyatt's bedroom closet
• Washing windows 
• Sugar
• The trimmer on the back deck
• Exercise, very unfortunately
• Writing ha

Oct 14 - Trust

Oct 13 - Share a quote

Oct 12 - Enjoyable sewing project

This. This one I did not want to miss. This is one of my favorite pastimes, my special space, my respite. Just basic dresses are fun. Or dresses with lots of detail if I have time. I love making potholders or quilts or bags or random things like a garment bag or laundry bag or slips or tablecloths. One thing I have sewed precious little of is little girly dresses. Most ladies can manage that.

One of my favorite bags I've sewed is this pattern.

Mine is in pinks and blacks and random splashes of color. I think it would make a good gift but I often don't have the time when I'm needing a gift.

This pillow was such a fun quick sew for Wyatt's baby room long ago. It's old and crumpled now, almost deceased but so very loved.

This is how I feel.

Oct 11 - Write about returning home.

I didn't realize until this morning (shows you exactly how on the ball I am with this whole writing thing!) that today's prompt comes on the day I plan to leave for Crooked Creek, my old home. I miss it so much. I love going home. I love visiting my mom and family.

This time I'm going home for my mither-mother's 70th birthday! Bren & I are driving together with Wyatt and Misty and we're planning on meeting Karen in Edmonton for night tonight. Tomorrow Ash and her kids fly in from North Carolina, the Lord willing. And we're all gathering for the festivities on Saturday and Sunday! So exciting!

Returning home has changed throughout the years. When we first got married I had years of angst preparing to go home. I focused a lot on my clothes, which I knew were never quite like my fashionable friends back home. Really, the hard parts then were finding my own direction while becoming like my classy family here and letting going of my ideas of how to do things. But always back home, the church smelled like church and the crowds mingled in the foyer and at Christmas there were pristine piles of snow and familiar faces and parties galore.

Then came the years of little boys and overwhelming tiredness and the grief of my dad dying and skinny days in unhealthy ways. But always back home, I found people who understood, people who remembered the grief. I found clover by the roadsides and tall spruce and tears of healing. I found old friendships and strong uncles and aunts and coffee at the old fabric store.

Slowly the hurts have healed and going home is not so poignant. When I go home I find laughter and youth I don't recognize singing in the programs and babies I hadn't heard about. The moms of my friends still hug me, the new church has no old memories for me and my friends and I point out our youth children to each other. It's different returning home now, because now I've lived longer in Swanson than I've lived anywhere else in my life. I've learned to like a smaller congregation. I've learned that there's good things where ever I live.

And I really can hardly wait to get back 'home-home' to my family of men. I will truly be returning home.