It’s crazy how time flies. It’s two months post move and I’m still not completely unpacked. The house has brought a bunch of challenges with it but overall I think it’s been a pretty good move. I had wanted to post a few more tutorials for projects but my camera was AWOL until a few days ago. So, here’s a (mostly) completed project I made in October for Geekdude’s birthday. We had limited funds and limited unpacked supplies. I picked up these old-fashioned glasses and managed to freehand four of the magic the gathering symbols with some glass enamel. You do not want to know what the fifth looked like…. So yeah, I’ve got a few things I’m working on, got my terrible camera back. I hope to return to you shortly. Until then, I’m GM. You stay classy San Diego. ^^

How To Pack The Geekmum Way

…in real life I should say.

That’s where I’ve been lately and what I’m up to. The move is scheduled for the later half of September. Right now my big focus is on getting all of our finances in order and paring down our possessions ala the simple living movement. I fully plan on coming back but it’ll have to wait until after the move. I want to give a big thanks to those of you who’ve stuck with me through my sporadic posts. You make this whole thing worth it.

If any of you are curious and want to keep up with my general hippieness I’ll be blogging at Our Unschooled Life through the move, don’t let its blogging tumbleweeds scare you. I’ll be posting some kid tutorials, recipes, and household tips over there. You can also follow the move as it comes. We’re upgrading out of apartment living!

So, thanks again guys and I’ll see you after the break!

But I won’t lie and say that routines like these with obvious geek appeal don’t make me love it more.

It’s actually part of a tutorial I’m working on right now. I was planning to put the whole thing up in time for this week’s Iron Craft. The theme is “Something for Him.” I was working on it on Tuesday and would have finished it yesterday but Geekdude decided to come visit and take the day off…. So, needless to say this surprise had to be put on the backburner. I’ll be working on it today and should have the full tutorial up tomorrow. I’m sure this will be of interest to other fans out there.

This weeks Iron Craft challenge is to create something based on your family heritage. I chose to highlight my Native American side. Really though I just consider myself American. I’m such a mutt that it’s hard to say exactly what’s most prominent. Basically I’m 12 different kinds of things, 10 European and 2 tribes and that’s about as much as there is to know.

The real thing that made my choice for me was that Geekette has been having trouble sleeping lately. I can’t think of a better time than now to introduce a Dreamcatcher to her room.  I chose to use materials that spoke to our lives rather than what might be considered traditional. If you’d like to find out more about Dreamcatchers you can check out these links:

http://www.nativetech.org/dreamcat/dreamcat.html

http://www.native-languages.org/dreamcatchers.htm

First gather your materials: a hoop of some kind, string/ribbon/rope, feathers, beads or buttons, and a pair of scissors.

Wrap your hoop with the cord of your choice. Tie the ends together to make a loop to hang it by.

Tie your cord off and begin to wrap. Basically you’ll be making little circles around the edge. Bring it over the hoop and under on the left, crossing your cord as you do.

You’ll want to stop about one loops length from your hanging cord. This will be your first row.

Start your second row, using the same little circles you just made only instead of placing them on the hoop you’ll be placing them in the center of the lines you just did.

After you complete your second row it should look something like this.

Around the fourth row add your bead or button. Once you’ve gotten to the point where it’s a pain to keep going tie off your cord. You can add a bead and feather to hang from the center if you’d like or just trim the cord like I did.

Cut three even lengths of cord and tie along the bottom of your Dreamcatcher.

Add feathers and/or additional beads and buttons.

Hang above your bed and enjoy!

Link Parties
simple

Oddly enough though this year didn’t really bug me much. Sure, Geekette is too little to really “get it” yet but normally that doesn’t stop me from burrowing under the blankets in self-pity. This year was good. We didn’t celebrate it. There wasn’t a card or a phone call from any loved ones wishing me a Hallmark sentiment. Instead we went to the co-op, bought some groceries, and I grabbed a carton of tasty tasty organic chocolate choco-chip ice cream to share.

As we arrived home a funny thing happened. She started wailing and whimpering, throwing a mini fit. When I inquired as to what on earth was the matter she told me.

“The music stopped!” I had turned off my MP3 player.

“Ohhhh, you wanted to listen to the songs?” I asked in a moment of wonder.

She sniffled, “Yeah…”

“Well, hunny, we can go inside and watch it on the TV together.”

As I turned on Netflix to find my favorite 3-part vlog I felt a blinding moment of gratification.

She gets her good taste from me. ^_^

1. What color are your socks right now?
Bright bluebird blue, my favorite pair

2. What are you listening to right now?
The sounds of children screaming, I’m sitting in the courtyard using my wifi as I type this.

3. What was the last thing you ate?
I had a plain peanut butter sandwich on wheat for lunch.

4. Can you drive a stick shift?
Nope

5. Last person you spoke to on the phone.
It was Geekdude. Our conversations went something like this:

Me: “Can you hear me now?”
*static**static**static*
Him: What?! I can’t hear you!
*Click*

6. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
It wasn’t sent to me but yeah, I’m totally digging her blog.

7. How old are you today?
25

8. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Wrestling- and not the real kind either

9. What is your favorite drink?
Coffee, no contest

10. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yep, I’ve tried it all- box kits, highlights, bleach, henna, fancy salon things, extensions. I LOVE playing with my hair!

11. Favorite food?
Pizza, it’s good anytime.

12. What is the last movie you watched?
I watched Love Actually this morning.

13. Favorite day of the year?
I like early December, no specific day.

14. How do you vent?
I curse, loudly.

15. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I loved my books and stuffed animals. I had a couple of plays and I would reproduce them with my plushie theater.

16. What is your favorite season?
Fall is my favorite. The scents of the season, the crunch in the air, and the colors never fail to inspire me.

17. Cherries or blueberries?
Blueberries, they have more antioxidants.

18. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
Um… I guess?

21. Living situation?
We live in an apartment in the most perfect city.

22. When was the last time you cried?
Last night, I saw a disturbing scene involving a child falling out of a window and made Geekdude put on a different movie.

23. What is on the floor of your closet?
Some wall art I need to hang and the feet of my dresser.

25. What did you do last night?
Snuggled

26. What are you most afraid of?
Something bad happening to the little one

27. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese, pepperjack is ideal

28. Favorite dog breed?
I like huskies and all dogs that short and fat. Have you ever watched one run? It’s fantastic!

29. Favorite day of the week?
Friday (of course)

30. How many states have you lived in?
Two, Florida and Minnesota

Also, for those of you following my original mural post here’s an update. I keep getting side-tracked so this project is taking longer than it should. Does it at least look familiar yet?