Preparing for a New Family Member

Yes, we are adding to the family. NO! I am not pregnant. Our new family member will have 4 legs, not 2. He/she will also be coldblooded and only about 6 inches long. Wesley has been saving for a bearded dragon lizard since the summer. On Friday, we cleaned up the playroom and made a large space for his 40 gallon reptile cage. I know 40 gallons is a bit large for a 6 inch animal. But, this critter cage is on sale now for $60 off. We had to act on this now since the kind salesman told us in advance of the sale and said he has never seen it go on sale this cheap! So, while the habitat isn't nearly as much fun as the critter himself, we bought that and the lamps we'll need. Now Wesley has to start saving again. It may be Christmas until he has the money saved. This is a big commitment. The paperwork says they have a lifespan of 3-10 yrs, but some people have told us they are known to live as long as 15-20 yrs. He will have to care for his new buddy for a very long time. I want him to work hard to appreciate the responsibility this will be.

In the process of rearranging the playroom, I made a decision. To me, it's kind of a sad one. For many years, I was into every craft imaginable. THIS is a post from 2005 about my little secret obsession. I have tried it all! I have organized and reorganized my supplies through the years, as you can see HERE . I have even tried to indoctrinate my own children into the habit. I have not had the time in several years to sew and craft like I used to. But I naively thought that as the children got older and left home, life would be simpler. I would have time for that which brings me such joy. Alas, it is not to be... yet. My new direction in life means that for the next 5-10 years, life will not be getting any easier. It may in fact get more crazy, with even less free time for such activities. In addition, I am fixing this house up because in a few years, I'll be ready to sell and downsize. That means I am not going to want to move all this STUFF~! So, over the next months I will be purging some amazing craft supplies. I will never part with my 2 special sewing machines, but the closet stuffed with fabric may need to be culled to a few useful pieces. Tie dye, soap making, beading... all of it will go. I'm not up for it now. It may be Christmas before I work up the gumption to deal with it all. But I am finally ready to accept that I can part with these materials and not have a whole in my heart. Sounds melodramatic, doesn't it? Well, I feel very strongly about my sewing and crafting. There was a time in my daily life of making PB and J sandwiches, tying shoes, reading Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel and Little House on the Prairie, cleaning boo boos, washing clothes, and cleaning the kitchen, that a sewing project might be the only thing I accomplished in my day that didn't have to be done ALL over again the next day. I had something to show for my day. It was my creative outlet. Now... I have to find smaller projects. So, it's okay that I am saying goodbye to some friends. I hope in the end, they'll go to good homes where they will live up to their creative potential.