Potato Battery

i made a potato battery for pack meeting (for cub scouts). anyway, here's the best way i found on the internet on how to light up an LED.


i ended up using eight potatoes in series and parallel. and what i heard from some of the kids was that they could barely see it. but the LED was very tiny.

we also tested apples, pears, bananas, grapefruit, and lemons and compared them. the potato in parallel had the most potential, and i think the potato, lemon, and grapefruit were slightly more powerful than the apple, pear and banana, but not enough to make a significant difference.

'twas fun.

speaking of bad pictures

my son woke me up at 4:00 in the morning and i couldn't go back to sleep. so i made some baby shoes, and a matching onesie for a new baby born in the ward. i got the material from a curtain panel that was on clearance at target. and i got the matching toy on clearance as well. what was nice about the curtain panel was that i was able to use some of the seams. so i was able to finish the presents, (and make another one) and wrap it before the kids got up at 7:00. which is why you get early morning light pictures. sorry.

do you read color me katie?

i rather enjoy it.  someday the kids and i are going to do this on our sidewalk.  once it stops snowing/raining.

rocket ship

i made a rocket ship for isaac and his cousin william for christmas (08 again, i will get caught up, i'm telling you). here's the tutorial i used. she used an egg for the rocket man, i used a smaller wood cup and bead to make mine. smaller is fun, but makes it hard to stitch in the seat.

i recall the tutorial warning you about sewing through the cardboard wings. but i would go ahead and sew over the cardboard. my wings were floppy, and needles are cheap.

isaac loves his. he will count "10! 9! 8! 7! 8! 9! 10! blast off!" (doesn't quite get counting backwards, but sure can count to twenty. this was before he was two. just have to add a little brag)

and mallory helped me paint during isaac's nap time. see the silver on her cheek and nose? i had to distract her by having her paint a tuna can for her kitty.

 now the plan is to make another one, but in aqua and orange, so it can go in isaac and baby horace's room.

another craft from the past

 

i made this apple pincusion for my mom for christmas of 08. (i have discovered that all my pictures from that christmas are not that stellar...oh well, i barely made it in time for some presents...and just to warn people, i plan on coming to take better pictures of those presents, so dust them off)

anyway, i got the pattern here. and it made a much larger apple than i imagined. it is as big as a small cantaloupe, so if i make it again, i think i will reduce it in size

my talented aunt

made jammies for my kids. and they are awesome. and amazing. someday, i hope to be half as good at sewing as she is!

isaac's jammies have missionaries on them (and he didn't want his top snapped. he is about as picky about his clothes as his sister.)

and mallory's has november written all over, since she was born in nov. and every time she wears them we have to discuss how far away november is.

so thank you, Aunt LaRee! the kids and i love them!

maple syrup

from heather ross

'tis a good tale.  makes me want to splurge and buy real maple syrup.  don't recall if i actually have had real maple syrup.

another beautiful baby boy...

now to convince doug that oliver is not a dog's name...

friends gifts

we made these ornaments for christmas 2008. took poker chips from the thrift shop. bought a 1 1/2 in circle punch and some christmas paper. glued the paper with mod podge, and then put a thick layer of diamond glaze over the top. then doug drilled a tiny hole through the top and i put a jump ring through it. then i tied red baker's twine through the ring. which i guess i never took a picture of.

sit right down and i'll tell the tale...

the tale of the wool eater blanket...

this blanket was for my nephew benjamin who was born in dec.  of 2008.  so i am slightly behind.

i was using up leftover yarn...and thought this combination looked like a snowflake.  great for a december birthday.  i started this right after he was born and took my own sweet time with it.  (it really isn't that hard of a pattern...)

got left in the car when i was sick.  while at grandma s.'s house.  which is out in the country surrounded by fields.

which is inhabited by field mice...who decided to shred my blanket.

good news is that i got the mouse.  bad news--i have no idea how to fix it.  anyone out there have any ideas???

serves me right for procrastinating...

and leaving it out in the car...

i really hate mice.

why this pregnant woman should not be allowed scissors

 

and also why i am headed to the salon today.