Is Summer Over?

I know it has been awhile since I posted, but I have had a busy summer. Wait a minute, I don’t have to explain myself to you people. According to Google, the first day of Autumn is September 22nd. That is still a good bit away. I have a lot going on between today and the first day of fall. But for some reason, I feel like summer is coming to a close. Here is why I think summer is coming to a close. -Holly went back home, and starts school soon. I associate Holly’s visit with summer. -Football season is only 3 weeks away. Football is fall. -Our schedules finally seem to be slowing down. Next weekend, we are not leaving Atlanta and no one is coming here for the weekend. Although, we do pick back up for the next couple weekends, but one free weekend has been foreign to the Broderways this summer. -School has started. Although, I have not started school in years, and I have no children. You can’t miss the increase in traffic and the school buses. -I saw jack o’ lanterns at Kroger. Really? Although, I hate it with a passion, I would fully expect to see Christmas stuff in the stores next month. -My plants are turning a little brown, and it is time to think about what next to plant. -My mind is wondering back to knitting and crocheting. I usually get a little distant from my yarn during the summer, but I feel myself slowly coming back to it. -Also, I have decided it was time to write a blog. That should tell you something for sure. So what should we call this gap, between real summer and real fall. Is Indian Summer the right term? I am not sure. That refers to heat waves, and it seems like all we have been getting is rain. I have no idea what to call this gap. And although fall is my favorite season, I am really going to miss summer. I went to some awesome concerts this summer. My best friend got engaged this summer. I had some pretty awesome parties. I had some great backyard bbq food. I had great fun picking berries and making jam this summer. I feel like the music for this summer was amazing. Awesome time at Six Flags, the list goes on and on. I am really going to miss summer.

Blast From the Past - Written on the eve of my 24th bday

There goes 23, here comes 24!

It was recently brought to my attention, that these are my last few hours as a 23 year old.  I know!  It caught me by total surprise, too.  This is also the end of my early twenties, because tomorrow I take a huge step into my mid twenties. Such a big step to take in one night, I should have spent more time preparing for this.  So much has happened this year, and I have so many things lined up for the next year.  So I thought I would do a little recap, and fill you in on why 23 was such a great year.  And why I expect 24 to be even better.

At 23...

v I ran my first 5k.  For those who have known me awhile, know that this is huge.  I have never ran any kind of distance in my entire life.  I was so proud of myself when I crossed the finish line.

v I became a member of Peachtree Baptist Church, and began teaching a Missions class on Wednesday night.  This was the first time I joined a church without my parents.  Justin and I joined in August of 2009.

v I went to the Bahamas.  I have never been there before, and I got to go with Justin on a cruise.  Freeport has one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.  I kick myself daily for not taking my swimsuit off the boat on that stop.

v I learned to knit.  Who knew that two sticks and a ball of yarn could be so much fun?  I have made bazillion scarves, a couple hats, and other things.  I am excited about my new craft.  It is hard not to be excited, when you think about the different projects, and all the soft beautiful yarn.

v I made my own jam.  I have seen people canned tomatoes and squash, but I have never seen someone make jam.  I made two kinds this year, peach and strawberry.  They were so good. 

v I saw Alabama have a perfect season.   And that perfect season included winning the Iron Bowl decidedly, making Tim Tebow cry, and beating The Longhorns for the National Championship.  What a season!

v I got a new addition to my family, Cooper!  I knew I wanted him as soon as his profile hit the Atlanta Humane Society Website, even though there was no picture.  We went downtown to meet him, and we fell in love right away.  He is the absolute sweetest, and he loves to knit as well.

v I participated in the Running of the Brides.  It was crazy, but a lot of fun.  I took a team of 7 with me, and they got the job done.  It took 7 teammates, 5 hours, 50 dresses, but I found the perfect wedding dress for a perfect price.

v I finished my first half marathon.  (I think I may kick marathons of any kind to the curb with my early twenties.)  But it was an incredible challenge and a lot of fun. In case you are wondering, 13.1 miles is FAR and driving is way faster.

v I was promoted to Underwriter.  All those years in college and working in the insurance industry and it finally paid off.  Now, I am able to put millions of dollars of my company’s money on the line.  Geez, a lot of responsibility for a 23 year old. Good thing I am about to turn 24.

v I got a car all on my own.  In the past, my dad has always played a big part in picking out a vehicle for me and helped me pay for it.  This was the first time I have ever done something like that without his help.  Man, looks like I am really growing up.

v I became a member of the Church Council at Peachtree Baptist Church.  I am glad to be a part of the decision making body that will enable PBC to grow and flourish.  Now I just have to figure out how to update the website that I am supposed to be in charge of.

v I have been to a lot of new places this year.  I got to visit Kansas City, MO & KS, Durant, OK, St. Petersburg, FL and all kinds of new places in Georgia that I had never been before.

v I got a rocking chair for my back balcony.  I know what you are thinking. Why is this making the recap list?  Because I love it.  And getting a rocking chair, another cat, and learning to knit in one year, lets you know that I am obviously ready to get older.

Now when 24 gets here, I have big plans...

v I am going to chapel, and I am going to get married.  Justin and I have been together forever and we are busy making plans to make sure our wedding day is perfect.  I cannot wait for my initials to be BB.

v I get to visit Memphis.  Even better, I get to visit Memphis at Christmastime.  I know, I am pumped, too.  Justin has already promised that we can go to all the yarn stores in Memphis.  And you know that will be visiting the zoo.

v Courtney has agreed to help me improve my swimming.  I got this hare-brained idea to do a triathlon.  (We will see about this...)  She has seen what she has got to work with, and she has accepted the challenge.

v I want to take a class in order to learn how to make a sweater.  I think it is time for to take my knitting to the next level.  I keep watching for a great class to be scheduled, and then I am going to jump all over it.

v I am going to learn to make my own sushi.  I love sushi, and it would be really impressive if I could make it at home.  Don’t worry, I am going to start with the safe ones before I go to any that are raw or that can kill you.

v I am going to Jacksonville, FL.  I have never been there before, but I have made plans to go in less than two weeks and return often.  I miss Alyce and Kate very much.

v I am going to finish my CPCU designation.  I have been working on this for years. 7 tests down and one to go.  I can do it, but I should probably be studying instead of typing this.

v I am going to move in April.  Justin and I plan to move deeper into the city.  I am really excited about getting to decorate a whole new place with all our new stuff.  Maybe I will be able to put all Justin’s stuff in a nice little corner.  Just joking, of course.

v I want to go back to Mexico, who wants to go with?

I am sure 24 is going to hold some surprises, so stay tuned...

Trend of Domesticity

If you have been listening you have probably heard the talk of this trend of domesticity that has been plaguing young woman across the country.

If you haven’t heard of this trend, then I am certain that you have seen it.  You have seen a young person become more interested in DIY projects, crafts (such as knitting and crocheting), and old time projects (such as canning and jam – making).  If you have not seen then trend, then you obviously have never met me. A few months ago, I heard a podcast on this subject and was like, “HEY, That’s totally me!”

In the podcast, they discussed how the domesticity trend was a possible step back for feminism.  And I, honestly, can understand how that argument can be plausible for someone who hasn’t fell victim to this trend.  But as someone who has, I totally disagree with this.

Yes, I have a garden.  Yes, I am learning to sew.  Yes, I knit. Yes, I crochet. Yes, I love to make jam.  Yes, I love to cook. And yes, all of those things are very similar to the roles of women in the ‘50s & ‘60s. I cannot speak for their reason, but I can speak for mine.

My sense of feminism is not dying, in fact, I think it is strengthening.  I am taking control and ownership of things in my life.  I am taking the power from corporations and using it as my own.  With my garden, I am in control of the food I eat, and I can choose not to be subjected to the chemicals that are in so much of our foods.  With sewing, if I see a skirt that I want, and don’t want to spend the ungodly markups, I can make it myself.  I have that power.  So I don’t see this trend as an act of relinquishing my feminism, but playing a more active role in my own life.

I feel this trend appeals to me partly, because of its traditional background.  We live in fast –paced world.  Our cell phones can do everything and more than my first computer.  Actually, who even needs an actual desktop anymore?  We are so attached to this technology, and I believe it is getting worse.  Sometimes, I like to put my cell phone down, put my full time desk job out of my head, and pick up my knitting. 

I embrace this trend, and for the feminists out there that disagree.  I hope I can teach you to knit one day.

P.S. Tomorrow I want to show you pics of my garden.  I was going to show them to you here, but as you can see here, I digressed.

The Real Cost of Handmade

(Climbs up on soap box)

I make a lot of the gifts that I give.   I knit these gifts.  I crochet these gifts. I sew these gifts.  I do some other kind of craft to make these gifts.  I am lucky to be blessed with people in my life that appreciate handmade items, but there is a negative connation that is sometimes associated with handmade/homemade gifts.  I will discuss that a bit further down. 

First I will tell you about my handmade gift-making process.

I want to tell you about my sister’s apron that I made for her for Christmas, even though I have no pictures to show you.  Although my sister knows the value in handmade gifts, this is the perfect example to show you my complaints with the common misconception.

Where the idea came from?

My sister is a chef, and I see her years down the road with little ones around her and she is in the kitchen baking.   In this mental picture of her, I see her apron.  It is an apron of a mom and aunt, not a chef.  It is a vintage style apron that has apparent wear to it.  I knew that that apron needed to be handmade, and I wanted to be the one to make it.

Next Steps?

I gathered the materials.  I did this well before Christmas.  I found the perfect pattern in October, and it was on sale for $1!  I continued to check fabric sales and found this light blue plaid with cherries pattern.  It was on clearance, and I bought the fabric and other materials for around $9! Total score!

This pattern was out of my league.  I am a beginner seamstress, and I needed help.  Luckily, I have a friend whose mom helped me.  She was amazing and I can say without a doubt, that Becky would not have an apron without her.  She and I spent about 14 hours working on the apron.  Part of that was due to the fact that I am amateur seamstress, and the other part was the dang bias trimming the skirt had.  What a pain!  I made my teacher take $20 for helping, although she deserved much more than that.

This is where the negative connotations or common misconceptions come in.

1.      People think handmade gifts are cheaper.   This is the one that bothers me the most. Handmade gifts are most certainly not cheaper.  I will explain. Yes, the cost of my materials and my tutelage came to a total of $30!  That is a great deal for a normal Christmas present.  But if you add in my time at an average hourly wage of a woman in the US which is $23, in case you are interested.  The total cost of my present soars to $352.00!  I will not even factor in the opportunity cost, remember Economics?  Things/activities that I had to give up in order to make this apron.

2.      People think that handmade gifts have less meaning or less thought.  No, I didn’t run out some corporate powerhouse and fight the crowds to get you the same gift that thousands of others will open on Christmas morning.   Instead, I thought about what I wanted you to have, and I took the time to make it.  TIME, not MONEY.  Money is a renewable resource.  More money can be made each day.  It can be saved and multiplied.  TIME is another story.  It is not a renewal resource; it can’t be saved or doubled.  In fact, time is slipping away from all of us.  And I chose to spend my precious fleeting time to make this gift for you. 

3.      People think that handmade gifts are not the same quality.  Well, this could be true depending on the skill level of the crafter.  But for the most part, the skill that we crafters have is amazing.  And even if it is not perfect, the time and love that went into it make any gift worth treasuring.

4.   People think that handmade gifts are not to be used.  This could not be further from the use.  I want you to use that dishcloth that I made you, until it is ratty and gross.  And then, I want you to tell me that you need another.  I want you to put that tiny sweater on that baby, I don't care if he throws up on it or stains it.  In fact, I would rather it be that way.  I want to know that you loved your gift  And if you love it, you will use it.  And it will show signs of use, and you will eventually need another one.  I know this, I look forward to it.

Obviously, this is a subject that I feel passionately about.  So you may be wondering how I deal with the people in my life that don’t realize the value of handmade? 

Easy, I buy them stuff. I don’t waste my time of making them something they will not appreciate. 

Why would I do that, when I know...

That Holly loves custom made character hats in the winter?

That Becky needs an apron for this future vision I have of her?

That my mom needs new crocheted towels for her kitchen?

That Terri loves the crafts that I put in her Christmas basket?

That Sandy loves the scarves and cowls I give her to keep her warm?

That Justin appreciates having a character doll that no one else has?

That Andrew loves his tank slippers so much that they are on display during the summer months?

I am busy crafter, so I craft for those who love receiving handmade gifts.  And the others, I simply will let the big box stores with their unoriginal gifts do their part.

(Steps off soap box)

Hot Pink Gardening Gloves

I have mentioned before that my dad has a green thumb; actually I think he has an entire green hand.

It is no secret that I had grown weary of apartment living.   I had become restless and very jealous of my friends who lived in houses; friends who had front yards for decorations at Christmas, real front doors for displaying wreaths, and backyards for the warm weather enjoyment and gardens. 

So upon moving to a house, one of the first things that I did was start to plan a garden.  So I called my dad, the expert.  We had several conversations about what I would plant, how I would plant it, and what I would do with the harvest. 

Finally, the time came to plant last weekend.  My dad came up to help, and he brought all kind of stuff with him.  The only thing that I had to provide was the plants, so Saturday morning, dad and I went and picked out my plants. 

 I naively thought we were just going to use regular dirt, but there is a certain mixture and a method to the dirt.

There is a lot of talk of raised gardens and things like that, and this method is very similar.  These pots will help me control the water that the plants get during the hot summer.  And hopefully, I will be able to keep little critters out of my garden by using this method. 

I planted tomatoes, jalapenos, cucumbers, and zucchini in these pots.

On the back porch, I have 3 smaller planters.  One of them holds sweet mint, and the two pictured below hold lettuce, rosemary, basil, and pineapple sage. 

Here is a pic of me and my dad after a morning of gardening.  You can’t see my hot pink gardening gloves, but they are really dirty.   It was a great time for me, and I think my dad really enjoyed teaching me how to do this. 

Here’s to fruitful summer!!

A New Diet

I sometimes like to press pause in my busy life, and take a moment to reflect.  And I was doing that this afternoon, drinking my afternoon smoothie, reading an old blog post, and realized that I have been drinking green smoothies for almost a year.

So as I am nearing my one year anniversary of green smoothies, I would like to notate the things that I eat on a regular basis now, that were NOT in my REGULAR diet prior to the smoothies. 

-spinach

-bananas (of course, I occasionally ate bananas before, but not nearly as much as I do now)

-strawberries (same as bananas)

-cranberries (delish in a fall smoothie)

-blueberries

-pineapple (I had never bought a pineapple before I started making smoothies)

-mango

-oranges and tangerines (the one I had with lunch today was amazing)

-Brussels sprouts

-kale

-chard

-turnips (my dad has been trying to get me to eat turnips for years)

-onion - (I still only like onions when they are roasted or fully cooked, but even this is major progress)

-Bell peppers – (same as onion)

- broccoli – I would this every now and then, but now I love it steamed, roasted, dehydrated, etc

-cauliflower

-parsnips

-rutabaga – my mom has been making this for years, and now all of sudden I love it

-okra – same thing as rutabaga

-zucchini – I are squash before, but I have discovered a passion for this food.  Lets put it soups, breads, muffins, roast them, hash

I look at this list above and wonder what in the hell did I eat if I didn’t eat any or much of the above.  I don’t know the answer to that, except that it probably wasn’t good.

I am going to continue to try new things, and see what agrees with my taste buds. 

Change

I feel as if we are on the cusp of a change.  I have felt this way for a little while now.  I am not sure if it has something to do with our whirlwind moving plans, the weather, future goals, or maybe it has been a combination of all of these things.  But a change is coming.

We moved this past Friday, and I think this is going to be a good move for us.  We have lived in an apartment for 4 years since we moved to Atlanta, and we have outgrown that space and lifestyle.  We are older now.  I want a garden.  Justin wants to grill on the back deck, and cut the grass.  I wanted a bigger kitchen.

In my parent’s house when I was growing up and now, the kitchen was always the main focal point.  That is where people hung out and people gravitated, because that is where the action was, and it no surprise that my home has become the same way.  The kitchen in our last apartment was so small and did not fulfill its purpose.  But twice since we have moved in, I have seen my friends lounging in the kitchen having both deep and silly conversations and thinking this is what my kitchen is for.  And it is also for cooking, which as many of you know, I do quite of bit of.   So a new living environment is definitely a change.

I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but this weather is ridiculous.  April is next week, and it is time for it to be warm.  We all got a taste of it a few weekends ago, but it did not stick around.  On my drive into work, I can see the trees and flowers trying to bloom.  I know that one morning on my drive in, it will be like, “Bam, Bloom”  and there will be this amazing explosion of color.  Change is coming.

Another change is coming as well, I look around as I was boxing things up last week and I was a little embarrassed.  I realized that I really do have a lot of stuff.  I do not live simply, and it seems that I might be too far gone to retrace my steps.  But I can makes small changes and small efforts to declutter my house and my life.  Change is coming.

Change is exciting, even if it unknown or scary. Change is hard and necessary.   And I think in order for us to be the best people we can be, change always has to be around the corner.