yarn along ~ august 24

On the needles:  Continuing on with my Buttercup.  I’ve reached the main body increases, and am on my 2nd set (out of 6) of 12 rounds each.  Monotonous is putting it mildly.  I am excited to be making progress though, and know that once this part it finished, I won’t have much more to do.
Off the bookshelf: We’re still having sleep issues around here (you may remember my earlier read from the last few weeks); staying on schedule seems to be the key, and since we’ve had many disruptions behind the scenes here, we’re working—yet again—at getting back on track.  Tonight, so far, so good—only silence coming from the bedroom next door!
I did manage to read a couple of chapters in Max Lucado’s book, Fearless, this week.  This is my second time through this book—a comforting, encouraging read.
Stop by Ginny’s Yarn Along to see what others are knitting and reading this week!

yarn along ~ august 10

On the needles: I’ve finished the lace portion on the front of my green Buttercup, and am ready to divide for the sleeves and body.  You may remember I originally started knitting this project just until the yarn came in for my mom’s Mother’s Day/Birthday cardigan.  That yarn is still on backorder (trying to wait patiently . . . ), so the Buttercup rolls on.
Off the bookshelf:  Alas, The Egg & I had to be reshelved so I can focus solely on The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers.  I’ve made it through the first third or so of the book; I’m diligently recording sleeping times, bedtime routines, light and noise stimulation, etc.  We’re starting our wind-down routine promptly at 6:30, and after bath/shower, teeth brushing, and stories, Spud is in bed by 7:30.  Our problem with bedtime is that (so far) regardless of how tired he is, he gets out of bed repeatedly/stays wide awake until 9 or later every night.  Naptime is a cinch—he almost always lays down and falls asleep within 10-15 minutes; I have been keeping his naptime within the recommended amount for his age, so that he is not trying to make up for the sleep he is missing at night from his bedtime antics.
Everything was going along swimmingly (except for the wide-awakeness at bedtime) until today, when he didn’t sleep at all during naptime.  Of course, tonight, he fell asleep immediately because he was exhausted from having no nap.  This is the pattern we’ve been fighting since April which almost had me convinced that he didn’t need naps anymore. 
I still think he needs naps because he shows obvious visible signs of being tired during midday/early afternoon and gets extremely cranky/whiny without a nap.  The clincher for me is that with or without a nap, he is well below the recommended amount of sleep for children his age (we’re talking 2-4 hours below).  This is all going to have a big twist thrown into it when I start back to work part-time in 2.5 weeks and I will be picking him up from the babysitter directly before his nap should start.
And, so, I read . . . .
Stop by Ginny’s Yarn Along today for more inspiring knitting/crocheting and reading ideas.

‘the most important meal of the day’

I’ve never been big on breakfast.  I’m not against eating in the morning, it’s just that traditional breakfast foods (cereal, pancakes, etc.) don’t usually settle well with me; I’d much rather have a salad, a taco, or cold pizza.  And, regardless of how much I eat, I’m usually hungry by 9 or 10 in the morning.
With my return to part-time teaching looming in three (!) weeks, I’ve been experimenting with quick breakfasts that are healthy and filling.  So far, I’ve come up with one easy go-to: beans on toast (or biscuits or English muffins).

I cook dried beans ahead of time, storing them in Ziplock bags in the freezer in 2 cup portions.  Any kind of beans will work, but my favorite is white beans.  After warming the beans on the stovetop with a little water, I add some or all of the following to taste:

• salt
• pepper
• thyme
• dehydrated garlic
• dehydrated onion flakes
• broth powder

The beans usually last me for three or more breakfasts (I’m the only one eating them, of course), and I haven’t gotten ravenously hungry yet on a morning I’ve eaten this for breakfast.  Often the leftover beans thicken after sitting in the refrigerator—just thin with some water the next time you heat them up.  Delicious!
What types of breakfast foods do you find will last you until lunch?  Do you ever eat “non-traditional” foods for breakfast?

yarn along ~ august 2

On the needles:  Still making progress a few rows at a time on the my green Buttercup.  I’m almost ready to begin the lace panel on the front.
Off the bookshelf:  Reading has definitely taken a back seat to knitting again this week (but that’s not really saying much).  I’ve renewed my library copies of The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and The Egg & I.  I’m determined to make them a priority in the coming week—we’ve got to solve this sleep thing!
For more reading and knitting inspiration, visit Ginny’s Yarn Along!

‘qwacking’ [cracking] peas

Pluck the plump pods from their vines.
Assemble your tools: chairs, sorting buckets—to be shelled, peas, empty pods.
Get ‘qwacking’.
Exclaim, “Whoa this is a big one!” after every other pod.
Squeal with glee each time a pod explodes and a pea escapes.
Feel the morning sun warm your back as the fog burns off and the evidence of a real “summer” day arrives.
Take a little ‘west’ (Hooway for Wodney Wat, anyone?!) to cool off in the shade.
Hold the little globes of green goodness in your palms and wonder at the miracle of it all.
Repeat as needed.
Good for young and old, alike.