Humdrum

Nothing particularly exciting is going on right now.  We're getting ready for Zeke's 8th birthday, but other than that, it's just work, home, scouts, soccer, and very little else.  Hubby's work is progressing nicely, albeit a little slowly for our liking, but moving up the ladder takes time.  My work hasn't changed much lately, still doing the same ol' same ol' day in and day out.

It's only been 2 months since our family vacation, but I'm about ready to get up and go somewhere exciting.

On the other hand, it's Friday the 13th today, and those are generally good days for me!  Still waiting for something spectacular to happen...and waiting...and waiting...

*Sigh!*  Just ready for a little excitement, that's all.  Not anything bad or dramatic, just some good old excitement to break up the humdrum that we're in at the moment.  I want to meet a celebrity or something.  lol

I did make a buttermilk pie last night, which turned out really good.  Umm...yeah, that's about it.  Nothing else going on.

Absolutely.  Nothing.  Else.

Oh well, back to work...

The True Cost of Crochet

Some of you know I enjoy to crochet, mostly on the bus to and from work (if I'm not napping, that is).  I picked up this habit back in March 2012, so I haven't been doing it that long, but I've completed several small projects along the way.  I find it relaxing.  It helps me de-stress and decompress, especially at the end of the day and before I pick the boys up from school.

I think of it as my "Xanax."  :-)

So anyway, I happened to be looking at a blog post the other day about crochet, and someone had asked a loaded question:  How do you fairly price your completed items for sale?

*chuckle*  Two words:  You don't.

Why do I say that?  I had a long conversation with Hubby about this yesterday actually. In truth, people who like to knit or crochet do it because of what THEY get out of it.  You make an item with your own hands, and you get a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.  Further more, if you then donate those items to charity or some other good cause, the feeling is amplified.

But people who choose to BUY handmade items often have no idea how much time and effort goes into these one-of-a-kind works of art.  They think of the sweater they can buy at a big box store for $30 and think that your painstaking project should fetch the same amount.  Often, that $30 doesn't even cover the cost of the materials, let alone any kind of compensation for time!

Let me give you an example relevant to myself.  Here are a couple of pictures of one of the larger projects I've completed thus far.  I just call it my purple afghan, but it's an adaptation of a pattern I found online last year:

Ok, now try and decide what you'd pay for it if you wanted to buy it from me?  $40?  $50?  It's made from a soft acrylic yarn, so it's not even what I'd consider a high-end material.

My cost in materials:  12 skeins of yarn at $4.50 per skein plus state sales tax = $59.27
My cost in time:  Approximately 40 hours over 6-7 weeks.

You see where I'm going with this?  :-\

Some people sell small items and make a little money here and there...baby clothing, hats, scarves, bookmarks, household knick knacks, etc.  Blankets and afghans?  Mostly for gifts because people aren't really going to pay what it's worth.

Why am I ranting about this?  No reason really.  But just keep in mind if someone gives you a piece they have made, or if you're quoted a higher price than what you initially planned on paying when wanting to buy, keep this in mind.  You are getting a truly unique piece, one that a machine cannot duplicate (knitting machines are out there, but there isn't anything that can duplicate crochet that I know of).  You're getting something that can be passed down as an heirloom.  And finally, you're getting something that was made with care and--most importantly--LOVE.

Much love and respect to my fellow crocheters and knitters out there!!  :-)

P.S.  If you want to see some of the other projects I've completed, check out my FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/CrochetByNabela

Cub Scouts...Day Camp...AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

I love scouting.  I was a Brownie and then a Girl Scout while I was coming up in England (only we called them Girl Guides), so the fact that my boys are involved in Boy Scouts is just fantastic for me.  Zeke is going into the Bear den this year, but Gabe still has a couple more years before he'll be old enough to be a Tiger cub.

So somehow along the way, I was talked into becoming our pack's committee chair.  The same person who talked me into this ALSO talked me into becoming the program director for our particular day camp.  Naive as I was, I thought that was all part of being this committee chair person thingy.

Not so.

I found out much later that in order to be program director, there was an intense 24-hour training session that needed to be completed.  That would be 2-1/2 days of intense learning over a long weekend at Latimer High Adventure Reservation (beautiful place, by the way) in order to know everything there is to know about planning and executing a week-long program for cub scouts in our area.

The experience itself was fun, and I was able to meet and connect with several like-minded scout leaders who were passionate about Scouting and what it represents.

Fast forward a few months, and the week of day camp is finally here!  :-O  The crowd is a little smaller than it has been in years past, but we still had a blast.  Aside from the sweltering heat for much of the week, I think it went fairly well.  Granted there are several program changes I will make for next year's camp, but now that I have one camp season under my belt, I think I sorta know what I'm doing.

Sorta.  :)

The following is a selection of photos I took during the week.  Due to privacy issues, I can't plaster this blog with pics of my friends' kids without their permission, so I'm avoiding most of the close-up shots unless they are of my own kids.  :-D  This is just a sample of some of the things the kids were able to do during the week.  I didn't get any shots of the woodworking projects because they were being done on the other side of the field.

While I'm glad it's over for now, I'm excited about getting ready for camp next year.  And yes, it's a lot of work, but the payoff of seeing the kids laugh and play and have such a good time is well worth it.

My intense training is good for another 4 years.  Let's see how things go next time!  ;-)

A freakishly fast-moving storm hit on the afternoon of the first day.  We had to cram all the boys into the bathrooms to take cover!  Needless to say, that was not a very pleasant experience.  :-\

The Bears earned their whittling chip, first by carving soap with popsicle sticks, then with their pocket knives.

Camp opening usually consisted of some kind of skit or song.

Making paracord bracelets for one of the craft items.

Probably the sole reason why some of these boys came to camp was to shoot BB guns and arrows on the range.

Saluting the flag

Learning about the local K-9 unit

The boys had some hands-on time with a real Hummer!

One of many guest speakers during the week, the local TWRA officers here are speaking to the boys about wildlife conservation and why it's so important.

This horse, Big Mama, works with the mounted patrol.  She was very friendly.  :)

Letting the tots cool off in the summer heat!

Water Day!  Courtesy of the local Fire Department.

That hose could reach surprisingly far!

In honor of Flag Day, we were able to bring in a military color guard to post the colors for us.  I think the boys were impressed to see the soldiers in uniform.  It was very solemn and fascinating to watch.

After camp was over on the last day, we had a family dinner/picnic.  Here's a shot of the moon as we're about to leave the park.  What a busy week, but we SURVIVED!  :)

Happy 4th Birthday to Gabe!

My Little Camper

Today my baby boy turns 4.  WOO HOO!!!  Four years isn't a long time, but the memory of my stay in the hospital for weeks leading up to his birth seems like a lifetime ago.  I was so glad that, despite him arriving early, he was healthy and never needed much medical attention.

This little ball of energy has kept me and Hubby on our toes.  He's also kept his big brother on his toes, to say the least!

For Gabe's birthday this year, we're at cub scout day camp, so planning a big party just wasn't in the cards.  I'm going to have to find a way around that because it looks like we're going to run into this problem for the next few years.  Ordinarily, it wouldn't be a big deal, but when you're the camp's program director, your attention is elsewhere for the weeks preceding camp.

That being said, Gabe had a wonderful time hanging out with the Tag Alongs.  He had his own "den" to identify with, and after a little coaxing, he finally got used to being away from me and hanging out with his new little pals.

Such a big boy.  So proud.  We love you, Gabey-Gabe!!!!  XOXOXO  :)

Nighttime Battles

Lately, young Gabe has been waking up and climbing into our bed at night.  It didn't used to be a big deal, but he's bigger now, and there's just not enough room for the three of us.  He's decided that he doesn't want to sleep in the middle, so he'll get in on my side and sort of scooch over until I unconsciously give him the room he wants.  Then I'll wake up with my arm asleep and me sandwiched between Hubby and a pair of little feet, at which point I'll either take the little feet and the little person attached to them back to their own room, try and roll over and go back to sleep on my other arm, or get up and take my alarm clock with me to the recliner in the living room.

Some time this morning, he woke me up while he was trying to climb in and lie across my head.  Yes, across my head.  :-\  I don't think he was fully awake.  I got up and walked him back to his room, tucked him back in his own bed, and sat with him for a few minutes until he was good and asleep again.

These nighttime occurrences are taking a HUGE toll on my sleep.  All I ask is for 6 or 7 hours of UNINTERRUPTED snooze time, and I'll be right as rain.

Am I asking for the moon perhaps?  May as well be, huh?

The other issue I've been having is Gabe's need to have me sit with him until he goes to sleep.  Like, every night.  This cuts into my time to get the kitchen cleaned up (which I really need to do before I lose momentum because then it's not gonna happen) or fold and put away the clean laundry that seems to live in all of our laundry baskets.

Yesterday, for instance, Hubby had to actually load the dishwasher.  This is rare, but you know it's bad when he takes it upon himself to do "inside" work.

Heh...yeah.

I'll be ready when day camp and VBS are over.  Zeke's attending VBS this year, which he really seems to enjoy, but the hours of 6-8 p.m. are key in our normal routine.  Running around town picking and dropping off kids during this time (not to mention the meetings and saw dust nights for day camp), coming home late, eating supper late, showering the kids late, and getting them to bed by 10 p.m. is WEARING ME DOWN!!!!

*sigh*  Ok, I feel better.  A little, not a lot, but better.

Just 2 more weeks, and the insanity will be over.  I am going to enjoy my couple of nights ALONE with my HUSBAND for our anniversary, and then I'm going to enjoy the craziness that is a family vacation to NC for a week in the peaceful mountains.

Really?  Who am I kidding?!  LOL  "Peaceful" and "family" don't belong in the same sentence, my friend.  Alas, at least it's a change of scenery.

And now, back to work...