New Website

I'm in the process of moving this blog over to my new site Soggy Weeds and Bee Spit: discovering the sweeter side of life. If you will be patient while I'm building, you may feel free to join me there. I still have lots to say but the building process takes a little while. Any of my geeky friends who want to offer their invaluable services will have my undying gratitude.

Hobbit Hole

This clubhouse is made of AWESOME. The kids have been asking for a playhouse anyway. Three guesses what I'm building next summer. You think I'm joking but I'm not. When the kids get tired of it I can use it for mushrooms. Or rabbits. Or maybe I'll just install a storm shelter and then build a hobbit hole over it. Yeah, that's it. Either way, I know I can find an excuse to build it before next summer. 

Help me find a reason to build this. 

Give me a reason my husband will buy.

PLEASE.

right or wrong, I'll take Jesus

We need to stop looking at Christianity as dualistic sets of ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ - for a Christian, there can only be one ‘right’ and that is the good news of Jesus! For a Christian, there is only one ‘wrong’ and that is to know Jesus but not allow him to transform us. What would happen if we, as individuals and as a people, began to re-examine the things we believe are ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ under the  magnifying glass of Jesus? 

-Zonoma

living with ghosts

Memory loss is a strange thing to live with. It doesn’t bother me most of the time because, frankly, I don’t remember what I’m missing. Sometimes it makes me sad and sometimes I dream about people I think I should know but it’s not all that bad. Sometimes, it’s even fun. Today I got to meet an old friend for the very first time.  

-Zonoma

Accidental Genius

I didn't understand why Trooper was so determined to learn how to sew until this morning. He's been asking me to fix that poor wolf for two years now. 

If I say I did that on purpose then it isn't a parenting fail, right? In fact, it would be a great way to motivate pursuit of sewing and many other skills I could think of. That's it. I've got mad genius mommy  skills.  

Accidentally. 

Just don't ask me why Captain Awesome is so interested in learning how to cook.

How to Build Stacking Box Shelves

I've wanted more shelving in my little studio that I carved out of the attic in our Cape Cod home for a while but I could never figure out exactly what kind I wanted. Then I had a brilliant idea. Well, to be fair, all of my ideas are brilliant but this was one of my personal favorites. Instead of building shelves, I built boxes! My fear of commitment and my long history of moving that makes me love the versatility of these Stacking Shelves. The idea that I can add on to them at any time doesn't hurt, either.  Now, if I could just commit to filling those embarrassingly empty picture frames...


You will need:
Untreated Lumber (2x8x?)
Wood Screws
Pencil
Drill
Saw
Speed Square
Sander
Primer, Paint, and Brush

1.  Measure.  Decide what you want to store on your shelves and the length of wall you have to work with. I chose 2x10 lumber because I store many larger cookbooks, binders, sketchbooks, and storage boxes. You might want 2x6 or 2x8 if you have mass market paperbacks. Also be certain that you have at least two boxes the same size for a base.

2. Sketch. Draw out your ideas! Don't worry, you don't have to be an artist and no one is grading you. I find that, as a visual person, it really helps the creative process. I recommend graph paper and a ruler.

3. Cut. Make sure your cuts are even and straight. You can use the Speed Square to help you.

4. Assemble. Using the Speed Square to ensure a 90 degree angle each time, screw the cut pieces together in a box.

5. Sand. Unless you don't care about splinters, sand down any rough edges.

6. Prime and Paint. Take your time! Allow each coat to dry completely before rotating it. Honestly, I found this was the most time consuming part of the entire process.

7. Throw a Party. Invite all your friends over to see what you built.

8. Send a picture to Soggy Weeds and Bee Spit.

Happy Building!

-Zonoma

Bonnie and Clyde

Bonnie and Clyde

Looking through the pictures from  a lifetime ago has been difficult   but inspirational. I'm now able to see the fingerprints of God in a whole new way.

Allow me to introduce Bonnie and Clyde, the nesting pair of geese that lived on 'our' lake in our old Mississippi home. I loved watching those geese and would sit for hours by the window as they grazed on acorns along the shore.