Day 36 - Easter Eggs

Our Easter Egg coloring today was a bust...literally (well, 3 broken eggs). Each year I forget lessons learned from previous years. So, today I am going to document my tips for the fine art of egg dying so that next year we will have a more successful batch.

Tip 1 - Stick with Paas. This year I got attracted to a different brand. I'm sure it's the same stuff, but I don't remember Paas leaving my table and hands so stained.


Tip 2 - Keep it simple. Next year I will not buy a package with stickers, tattoos, glitter, Hello Kitty, Transformers, Sponge Bob, or any other gimmick that will inevitably mess them up. The tattoos from today's package didn't rub off onto the eggs. Instead the eggs cracked under the pressure. I prefer them just colored...maybe with a little white crayon resist action. All that other stuff makes them messy looking. (My kids used the tattoos on paper instead...so really they did come in handy, but just not for what they were intended.)

Tip 3 - Put the vinegar in last. Some of the pellets needed water and vinegar, and some just water. I was deceived by the color of the pellets today, and so with my pre-mixed cups of vinergar water, I messed up. I'm glad nothing blew up.

Tip 4 - Have something to put the eggs in that is softer and more contained than the um, floor.

Tip 5 - Make more eggs. I only made a dozen this year....what was I thinking? I love egg salad and hard boiled eggs. Plus, I don't like sending all of that wasted color down the drain. But, come to think of it, it's a little creepy to eat a pink colored egg...I'll have to contemplate this tip a little further.

Tip 6 - Save the dipper for next year so both kids have one.


Today's results...9 eggs, 3 broken eggs, 2 with tattoos, the rest plain, 30 stained fingers, 1 stained table, 1 stained shirt, 2 happy kids, 1 mom that is glad it's over.

Day 35 - Stones

On a beautiful day like today I get impatient for summer and the things that come along with it - green grass, ice cream, and of course, going to the beach.

Each year our family goes to Lake Michigan. We do the usual things like picnic, make sand castles, and swim. But we also hunt...hunt for stones that is. Walking on the beach collecting stones has almost turned into a competitive sport between my dad and I...but I always get the best ones. (He would not agree.)

When I get home from vacation the stones get put into my gallon size rock tumbler along with the assorted grits and polish powders. For a month, the hum from the motor out in the garage makes me impatient to see the end result. On the day they emerge, I spread out a big towel on the kitchen table and look at all of the little pieces of art.

The only problem with this hobby is what to do with the stones when they are finished. 2 - 3 batches a year makes for a lot of stones. I have baskets filled, plants surrounded, landscaping enhanced, hurricanes filled. I've glued them to birdhouses and sold them in bags at craft shows.


One of my favorite things to do with stones is to simply add a magnet to them. They are fun and still sleek and modern looking on the fridge. I've listed a few sets in my shop and hope to add more soon. You can check them out at http://mariasoleil.etsy.com

Day 34 - The Big Picture

Chris and I have a theory about our lives. It generally says that even our biggest problems are quite small compared to other people's problems throughout the world. That helps me keep things in perspective, but I wasn't always like that.

Many years ago I was steaming mad about the property behind us. We thought that land would never be built on which was a nice perk in buying our house. When I saw the pink plastic ribbons hanging from trees marking the lines I about blew. Rage is probably an understatement. That happened on September 10, 2001. I calmed down real fast.

But, then the war on terrorism caught up with us and Chris found himself activated and deployed. He flew to Kuwait as President Bush was giving his 48 hour ultimatum. Angry? Yes. Frightened? Incredibly.

But a lot of good came from it too. Our neighbors, co-workers, and friends were so supportive. Some days you'd see three neighbors riding around mowing our lawn simultaneously. One stormy day the tree in our front yard that held our yellow ribbon blew over and broke. Soon after, Chris' co-workers bought and replaced it with a new one. Another moment was when I needed a babysitter so I could go to the doctor for a brush with pinkeye. Chris' boss took the job and then took me out for dinner.

The best part of that deployment was bringing Maria home from the hospital 9 months to the day of Chris' return. She is a bonafide war baby.

That long 8 month deployment seems like a blink of an eye now.

So, why am I writing about all of this now? Because I had an up and down kind of day...where the little problems (like bloody noses, taking three kids to the grocery store, and not being able to get a glue bottle open) were starting to become the story for today. But, I had to push that all aside and realize...I've got it pretty darn good.

Day 33 - Leftovers

Chris was always the main leftover eater. Thank goodness, because I'm not a big fan of them. Now, with him gone, my new duties include leftover eating (as well as toilet plunging, cat litter changing, and garbage taker-outer).

I'm going to further my tweaking of cooking around here so I'm not left with so much extra, unless it's something I like a day later...like pizza, meatloaf, and, well I can't think of a third to round out this sentence. If I cook smarter I won't end up with the lunch I had today...

(Beef Stew by Risky Beads)

Left-over beef stew, left over couscous with chicken, 1/2 can of fruit cocktail, 3 buffalo wing style pizza rolls with blue cheese dressing, a 1/2 of a fish stick with ketchup on it, and a cinnamon muffin left over from breakfast.

In the meantime, I should get some cooking inspiration from the names RiskyBeads has given her jewelry. http://riskybeads.etsy.com

I think I need a nap now...

Day 32 - Nothing

We did nothing today. Officially nothing. Zip! The kids were in their pj's until about 2. I only left the house to retrieve the garbage can and the mail. I caught up on some much needed computer time after being deprived all weekend. It was wonderfully lazy.

Really, the most exciting thing that happened was my unsuccessful attempt to unplug a toilet. Hubby's do have their area of expertise. Put "call the plumber" on the to-do list for tomorrow.



In other news, I'm finally convinced that Elise will end up with blue eyes. I love blue clothing on girls...and this new outfit really makes her eye color pop.

She is really starting to "talk" a lot which is so sweet. She is really on the go too...she's starting to scooch and travel. Time to clear out the legos and other scary stuff. I'm not ready! Where did the last 6 months go?

Days 28-31 - Illinois

I took a trip this weekend to visit my in-laws in Illinois. Even though I had a real nice time while my mom, the kids, and I visited, it was bittersweet being without Chris. In fact, missing him was more intense when surrounded by all of these places and memories.

Chris and I met while we were both living in Illinois. Even though I hated it while I lived there, I now find beauty in the flat rich soil of the prairie. (Chris taught me that.) On this trip I drove by the first place I ever saw Chris. Little did I know then how meeting him would change the trajectory of my life so drastically.

Another thing Illinois has going for it is that it's 2 weeks ahead of us back in Michigan spring-wise. It was great to see green grass and flowers. It's ironic that the threat of a snowstorm chased me back north a day earlier than planned.

Grandpa Larry showed Luke how to cast this weekend. They have a little pond out back where Luke practiced. I think it might be the only thing that can slow Luke down.

I had the chance to get together with some "old" friends from college. Our 6 kids had a great time playing together while we caught up. What a perfect day!

Day 27 - Footlong

Don't tell Chris, but I was a really, really bad girl. But I guess he knows too well that when I travel to my mom's house I'm going to succumb to my greatest weakness...the chili dogs at the Quincy Michigan Dairy Queen.


The guilt is coming from the footlong I chose...I can hear him now calculating the number of hours at the gym I need to exercise to cancel it out.


These dogs are so worth it though. I used to work at this DQ in college. It is a walk-up kind...no fried food, no bathrooms, no tables. But the owner who literally lives upstairs makes the best homemade no-bean chili sauce. I rarely eat a chili dog anywhere else because I know they will not live up to my expectations.

So, if you ever find yourself in Quincy, you'll know where to go to grab a great bite!