home sweet home

Spider Village & Ladybug Land

~ thedailydish ~ Leave a comment

When I was little I was deathly afraid of spiders.  So much so, that when I found a big ugly one on me in the night (circa 1983), I moved into my sister’s bedroom and slept on her floor for a whole month.  And no, it wasn’t the least bit comfortable.

As I’ve aged I’ve gotten past the terror a spider can induce.  I’ve matured.  I’ve come to realize that spiders are small creatures who for the most part mean us no harm.  We are the scary big monsters THEY cower in fear from and try to avoid.  Part of this is hogwash, I know, part is rationalization.  But for the most part it works.  I can calmly shoo a spider away when need be – or even catch it gently in a cup, paper pressed against the opening, to escort it outside.  I never kill spiders – they have their purpose after all, and I much prefer them to the biting insects they call food.

Anyway, the reason I am sharing this is b/c I spend a goodly portion of each day tending to a fire which consumes vast quantities of wood.  I wrote about this whole wood situation before (feel free to refresh your memories here).  We keep most of our wood stacked outside, but weekly my husband & I must bring in a new stash for burning.  This wood is home to many, many spiders.  For safety (and peace of mind) I wear protective leather work gloves while shifting wood, lest I get bitten by a startled arachnid.  But I can’t get past the paranoid fear that one day I will encounter a brown recluse and wind up losing an arm.

I know this is paranoia at its best.  These little spiders are terrified of me, stomping around in my heavy snow boots, cursing audibly with each heaving wheelbarrow of wood.  But it remains so firmly planted in my psyche that any time I get a tiny unexplained cut on my hand, I watch it the same way an underpaid office worker watches the clock.  I check it 60 times an hour, just waiting for it to change. IS IT GETTING BIGGER??  IT’S LOOKING BIGGER!! IS IT BUBBLING??!!

All of this is nonsense, of course.  I scratched my hand sweeping up debris from the floor, or caught it on [insert whatever it was] but the fear remains.  It doesn’t help that all this firewood we haul inside is stored in the hearth in our kitchen.  The room in which I spend most of my time.  And now that this firewood is stacked inside the warm & pleasant walls of our heated home, the formerly hibernating army of spiders living inside said wood is now WAKING UP.  And converting my kitchen into their Spider Village.

In the changing light you see them.  The vast network of spiderwebs dangling above our heads, crisscrossing the room from the windows to the doors.  I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been standing at the island, chopping or kneading or simply going about my business, only to look up and find a spider dangling inches from my face.  Looking at me as if to say, “What’s for Dinner?”

For the most part I don’t mind living amongst so many many-leggeds.  Sure a few of them are HUGE (we’re talking inches) but for the most part they’re very small.  And they do in fact seem to be helping us with the bugs.  Not that you’d expect a home in the dead winter of Maine to have an insect issue, but for some odd reason we do have them.  Not gross ones, no cockroaches or big scary beetles or anything.  No, we have ladybugs.

We noticed them right after we moved in.  It was hard not to, seeing as they’d taken over our attic.  At some point in the course of The Dole House’s long and illustrious history, these ladybugs took up residence and now, 600 generations later, we’re still sheltering their kin.  It was odd at first, finding we had so much company.  But over the past (almost) 18 months, we’ve gotten used to each other.  We no longer think it strange, the small piles of expired ladybugs trapped between the window frames and storms.  The ladybug corpses littering the window sills (which must be dusted periodically) or the occasional ladybug you find clutching onto a curtain.  For some reason, our younger daughter’s bedroom seems to be the ladybugs favorite room in the house.  Ladybug Land.  Our little girl spends her nights counting the tiny red dots on her ceiling, watching them weave their way from point to point.  They’re sweet really.  Perhaps if you look carefully you’ll find another world living inside your home, too.

Children’s Birthday Party Ideas – Creative, Cheap & FUN!

~ thedailydish ~ Leave a comment

Welcome, Parents!  You have found your way here because you’re looking for assistance with your child’s upcoming birthday party.  If you’re asking yourself, “HELP!  My kid’s party is coming up, WHAT DO I DO?!” I am here to help.

First, let me reassure you.  Unless you have groomed your child to believe the sky’s the limit, most kids are very satisfied with a modest party.  I’m not talking NADA, but there’s no need to break the bank financing a party for a bunch of 7 years olds.  As we just celebrated another successful birthday at home, I thought I’d share some helpful hints with others.  After all, it takes a village to raise a child, and two heads are better than one, and.. well. You get the picture.

Party Invitations. Ideas & The All-Important Wording.  We all know the invitation says far more than what’s simply stated.  It’s all about READING BETWEEN THE LINES.  Right?  Right!  To save on stress and hassle, I offer these suggestions.

  • If this party is to be KIDS ONLY, write Drop Off Time: and Pick Up Time: on the invitation, rather than the standard 11-2 PM.  This important information conveys to parents that they are not expected nor encouraged to remain at the party (something very few parents relish anyway).
  • If this is to be a KIDS & PARENTS affair, write on the invitation “Parents welcome!”  “Parents may stay or drop off” or “Look forward to seeing you all” – something along those lines will get the point across.
  • Some parents may ask whether a sibling may also attend the party.  Or  a parent may show up at the party with the expectation of leaving a sibling.  How do you handle this?  You can: 1) Say fine, and plan accordingly.  2) Explain that due to the number of invitees, the party is being restricted to immediate friends only. or 3) Give them “The Look.” (Kidding! Try 1 or 2.)
  • Don’t forget to remind parents to RSVP.  You can specify “RSVP Regrets Only” or the like, anything to make it easier for the parents.  It’s very hard to prepare for a child’s party without knowing how many guests you will have.  Unlike adult parties, where all you need is food & drink, kids parties require more STUFF.  Especially if you’re giving out party bags at the end, it’s super helpful to know how many you need to provide.  Having a firm count saves time and money, but always have an extra or two just in case (remember those siblings..?)

The invitations themselves can be anything – so get creative!  We’ve done hand-drawn party invites, computer print-outs on festive paper, store-bought packaged jobs; it’s all good.  The important thing is allowing your child to help in the decision making, if not the actual making of the invitations.  Unless they’re too young to care, or completely disinterested, most kids like being in charge of their party to a certain degree.  Let their individuality shine though the invites.

FOOD.  I am all for healthfulness, but bear in mind – this is a child’s birthday party.  It’s supposed to be fun.  All things in moderation, remember?  You don’t want these kids so sugared up they’re flowing from both ends (sorry) but neither do you want them eyeballing the food with mistrust.  This is not really the place for Uncle Iggie’s homemade tofu-garlic dip, unless your kid and their friends think that’s everyday fare.  Stick to normal, kid-friendly foods.  Like the perennial favorite: PIZZA!  To keep costs down, buy it frozen from the grocery store, or better yet, a big box discounter like BJs.  I spent $7.49 (with a coupon) for a 12 pack of Red Baron mini pizzas – both cheese & pepperoni – and the kids couldn’t have been happier.  BONUS: because of the small size, there was less waste, the kids found them incredibly easy to eat, and Oh yeah, I cut them into quarters to speed cooling.  No burned mouths at this party!

FAVORS. I bought candy, party favors and prizes inexpensively at Target and the Dollar Store.  Oh! And BJs too.  Check the ends of aisles for clearance items.  For instance, I found a bunch of plastic slinkies on sale for 48 cents a piece.  That’s HALF PRICE or less.  And I bought a big 100-piece bag of mini chocolate bars for half the cost at BJs (versus Target).  But remember, there’s a difference between being economical, cutting corners in a way no one will notice, and just being CHEAP.  People notice CHEAPNESS.  They admire you when you are creatively thrifty.  Think about it.  The latter will earn you respect and imitation, the former costs more than it saves.

Party Bags, Plates & Cups.  You can buy these everywhere, and unless your child is wedded to an overarching “theme” – Elmo, Dora, etc. – save money by mixing & matching and looking for sales.  I know some people swear by party stores, but I’ve yet to find one with better pricing than a big box discounter, unless you’re shopping for a massive group.  And remember, these items are going to be consumed, recycled or thrown away.  Don’t waste your money going overboard.  Another hint: Get Creative.  For both of my daughters parties this year, instead of purchasing commercial party bags, I used brown paper lunch sacks.  Total Cost: $1 for 40.  To fancy them up, I used a vintage stamp kit I found at a yard sale for $3 bucks.  For my older daughter’s party – where I had all the children’s names beforehand, I made a personalized bag for each guest.

For my younger daughter’s recent party, which had a Halloween / harvest theme, I made them a little different.

I offer these purely to spark your own creativity.  Use your imagination & go wild!

Piñatas, Treasure Hunts, & Party Crafts. OH MY! Let’s talk party extras.  Things that cost a little more, but truly make for an extra special occasion.  We’ve done one or more of these at our parties and they’re always a big hit.

Piñatas. This year we found a fabulous piñata at Target on (you guessed it) CLEARANCE.  It cost dollars less simply b/c one of the streamers was missing.  Umm. Who cares?  The thing’s going to get torn apart anyway.  But just for show, I carefully trimmed an extra off another end of the piñata and shazam.  Perfect-o.  To fill it, DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY BUYING THE PRE-BAGGED STASH.  It’s expensive, the candy is stale, and it’s boringly standard.  Instead buy candy in bulk (it’s cheaper and it’s fresh) – either from a place like BJs or the dollar store.  To this add some dollar store trinkets, bead necklaces, erasers, etc.  A WORD OF CAUTION: remember this stuff is going to come flying out at a group of children.  Don’t buy things that could poke or cause harm, such as lollipops or pencils, and stay away from things that could otherwise break or get damaged in the process.

Treasure Hunts. In a similar vein to the annual Easter egg hunt, try a Treasure Hunt at your next party.  It can be as simple or elaborate as you wish, from opening the backdoor and saying Okay Kids, go find the treats, to creating fancy pirate type maps with clues, to..??  Let your mind wander.  Just remember weather conditions.  DUH?  Yes, I know, but it’s less appealing to hunt in the cold and rain.  Think ahead and you’ll always be prepared (and look great in the process – *wink*).

Party Crafts. This is a great way to “break” up the time, especially if you’ve opted for a lengthier party.  The craft could be anything really – we’ve done “Paint Your Own T-Shirts” and recently “Paint Your Own Mini Pumpkins” –

neither was a huge investment, but provided something very fun and memorable for the kids to do at the party AND take home.  You could do a craft that incorporates several things – like food and fun.  Make your own sundaes are always popular.  You can have them draw pictures, or paint, or make something with dough.  Even if it’s just decorating blown up balloons with markers, the kids will have fun.  And you will too.  There is nothing better than spending quality time with your child, especially on their birthday.  And you do not need to spend a lot of money; just be creative.

Games with PRIZES.  I don’t care what mamby-pamby parents have to say – Kids like Prizes.  I am not steel-jawing these kids into believing YOU MUST PERFORM!!!! to earn a prize.  No way.  But I’m also not depriving them of the good feeling a win can inspire, either.  Keep the games simple and fun, make sure you have enough prizes so that every child has a chance to win, and afterward, give the kids who didn’t win anything a prize for trying.  Everyone leaves happy.  Sure, some kids might have won more than their peers, but frankly, that’s life.  And no one goes home empty handed.  Keep the games age appropriate, or you risk dismay (huhhh??) – or worse, boredom.  Here is a BIG FAT LIST of suggestions (you are welcome).  Good news?  The party will be over before you can try them all.  And there’s no need to buy much if anything to play these.  Make your own Pin the Tail on the (Whatever).  Use a pair of rolled up socks or a stuffed animal if you don’t have a bean bag.  Any questions about game rules, leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to elaborate.  Or have I missed one?  Comment & leave your own suggestions as well.

  1. Musical Chairs
  2. Hot Potato
  3. Pin the Tail on the Donkey
  4. Freeze Dance
  5. Guess How Many in a Jar
  6. Draw a Lucky Winner From a Hat
  7. Balloon Push over the Finish Line
  8. Kangaroo Hop with Balloon Between Knees
  9. Toss Bean Bag into Bucket
  10. Shoe Race – Put everyone’s shoes in central pile, race to get them on
  11. Duck Duck Goose
  12. Hide and Seek
  13. Simon Says
  14. Red Light Green Light
  15. Freeze Tag
  16. Keep Balloon Up in the Air
  17. Four Corners
  18. Basketball – who can make the most baskets
  19. Basketball – who can make the farthest shot
  20. Race to see who’s fastest

A Friendly Reminder.  Your kid’s birthday comes but once a year, don’t waste it stressing over the party.  A bunch of kids couldn’t care less that you haven’t finished installing (insert whatever mindless item that’s bothering you).  Neither do they care if your silver is spotless.  Run the vacuum over Foofie’s furry mess on the carpet, wipe down the counters they’ll be eating on, and relax.  If you feel overwhelmed being on your own with all the kids, ask other parents to help.  A parenting pro?  Invite kids only and 1) your fellow parents get a break, 2) you only need to shell out for children, and 3) you can spend time focusing on making your child happy – rather than entertaining a bunch of adults and worrying what they’re thinking.  YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR.  This party is for your kid, NOT YOU.  Don’t forget that.  And don’t sweat the small stuff, b/c really – it’s all small stuff.

The Office

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I know you’ve been wondering where I’ve been.  While I’d like to offer some excuse, I’d rather brag blog about our latest home improvement project!

[Insert loud applause]

Thank you, thank you.  Now.  To recap.  My husband & I bought ye olde village manse 10 months ago.  Maaaaaaany people had looked at this house before us, but turned tail & fled when they realized the amount of work it would require to maintain, let alone restore.  My husband & I (dreamers through & through) saw a shining gem of a colonial that with much polishing & SWEAT EQUITY could be Home (capital H).

When we moved in 10 months ago – and that alone is hard to believe, this was our office.

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Vacation Week

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Last week was Vacation Week here in Maine. If you are picturing me lounging in the sun, fruity drink in hand, keep dreaming.  The only downtime I got was Sunday, between the hours of 12:30 and 2pm.  I didn’t see a single fruity drink the whole week, unless you count the orange juice I had to wipe off the windows when the kids missed the sink.  The one highlight? My husband also took the week off. Normally this would have rocked beyond belief.  But since we are LIVING THE DREAM of 250 year old home ownership, Vacation Week was Hell.

Highlights of Hell included:

Cleaning out the basement.  Normally I wouldn’t complain, a little tidying here & there, but our basement was so congested we had to rent a jumbo sized construction dumpster.  It arrived Friday afternoon.

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