The rain drop that broke the Oregonian's back

You all know I'm not big on "product placement" here on this blog.  I try not to be a "brand snob", either, but I do appreciate quality.  I don't believe quality is always brand-specific... I've had some clothes from Wal-Mart last for over ten years, and then have had some items from more expensive stores disintegrate in the wash. 

Whoa there... excuse me, I have to stop myself from heading down the "Philosophy of Fashion" rabbit trail...

This post is a simple *SQUEE* about my first pair of rain boots in over twenty years. Last time I had them, I was living in Atlanta, Georgia.  I was a child enamored with the concept of "rain gear", umbrellas, rain coats, galoshes.  I dreamt of jumping into puddles decked out in such a weather-resistant ensemble.

Be careful what you wish for. 

I moved to Oregon at the tender age of 8.  Not just Oregon, though; the Oregon coast.  Suffice it to say, I must have picked up on the subtle notion that rain gear was for WIMPS.  If you didn't want to get wet, then you chose the wrong place to live.

My feet quickly outgrew my Georgia rainboots, and I haven't had a proper pair since.  I guess I grew accustomed to the rain.  Whether walking home from school, trekking across campus in college, or dodging puddles through grocery store parking lots-- it was just a given that my feet and shoes would get wet.  Pant cuffs would get drenched, too.  Nothing to complain about, though; no wimps here! 

  But over this past spring break, my tolerance for getting soaked just snapped.  It was the rain drop that broke the Oregonian's back.  The kids and I trekked down to OMSI to meet some friends.  As we prepared to leave the house, I glanced outside and the rain seemed Class C:  Non-threatening but steady drizzle (we have a great variety of rain terms and classifications over here).  I wore my wool clogs, but grudgingly put on my very functional yet unfashionable rain coat.  Joe wore his crocs, sans socks.  Oi vay.  Vasi and Susy wore tennis shoes.  

OMSI was fantastic!  But because it was spring break, and everyone and their extended family seemed to be there, too, I  had to park the van in overflow parking... about five blocks away.  No problem.  Let's just park already!  Open the door to see that the van is flanked with vast, inescapable puddles.  Basically, I had parked in a small pond.  OH WELL!  WE ARE NOT WIMPS, we are OREGONIANS!

Suffice it to say, guiding four children through an inudstrial area with crumbling sidewalks ridden with potholes was an ascetical feat fit for Lent.  Amazingly, my kids seemed unaffected and pressed on.  What troopers!  We met our friends at the museum, and had a really good time.  First stop?  The discovery room, where the kids headed straight for the-- wait for it-- water play table/ area.  Fascinating.  These Oregon kids just love their water. 

While there, I couldn't help but notice the prevalance of "Hunter boots" being worn by adults and children alike.  What were they?  Were they some super popular boots that I'd never seen before?  Despite my aversion to "labels," I did admire the aesthetic of the boot, and vintage-esque logo.  But in my mind, rain boots were deemed unnecessary, so I didn't think to ask my friend about them (her own two kids were wearing Hunter boots, too).

After the museum, we walked to a nearby restarant to get some lunch.  Still raining, I watched in utter disgust as my sons's sockless Croc'ed feet were submerged absentmindedly and repeatedly, into murky puddles.  Proud parenting moment, I tell ya.  My own wool clogs were soaked through, as well.
  Everything below my torso was soaked, and we all required a hot shower or bath after we got home.  My clogs were left in front of the heater to dry out for the rest of the day.

Seriously, I couldn't remember the last time I'd been that drenched.  In theory, based on my rain-tolerance history, I should have been fine.  Peachy.  Instead, however, a cold shudder went through my body each time I thought about those puddles and my soaked clogs and socks...

Perhaps.... perhaps it was time for some rain boots.

Rain boots.  They should be cheap, right?  A quick online investigation informed me that no, rain boots are in fact NOT cheap.  So I did what any normal cheapskate would do; I scoured my local thrift stores for galoshes.  Nothing.
Craiglist aka Creepslist?  Hmm... it's worth a shot...   Hey, I found some!  A few e-mails later and an afternoon trip to the east side yielded a lovely pair of boots for half the retail price.  We met in a public place (coffee shop) and she was not a creep (very nice lady, actually).  Win, win, win.  Husband was not super excited about kissing more money good-bye, but I justified it by calling them an early Mother's Day gift.  *Gulp*. 

Putting on and wearing the boots made me feel like a little kid again.  I know that sounds really corny, but it's true.  I've only had them for a week, but I have worn them several times, and I'm amazed at how DRY my feet stay!  Major "DUH!" moment. And I even tuck my jeans into them (sez Miss Frump), not because it's trendy but because my PANT LEGS STAY DRY!  It's incredible.  Now I don't have to dance around dark pools of murky city water.

I'm a bit embarrassed that I have eschewed proper rain boots for so long now.  What took me so long?  Now I'd really like to find a pair each for my kids, to hopefully instill in them an early appreciation for dry feet.  Who knows, maybe I'll even invest in real rain slickers, too...??!!  The rainy sky's the limit.  You might not be able to get these things off of me.  I'm still internally debating whether or not I can wear these to church.  Prolly not.   






    

Love song for a sweater

The evening after I wrote the last blog post, I got knocked down by a sudden, strong fever.  Literally, Job came home, and I excused myself from the evening routine, and went to bed.  Although the fever was gone by the next day, I'm still battling whatever "bug" this is.  I've had varying levels of energy and malaise.  Job ended up getting sick too, and so did little "M."  We had to cancel our weekend trip to visit my sister in Washington.  We braced ourselves for a miserable weekend of stir-craziness, illness and dealing with the disappointment of the older (thankfully healthy children).  What are we going to do???  Hubby and I asked each other.

A calmer moment in the otherwise stormy weekend

Well.  We still celebrated M.'s birthday with a quiet, quaint celebration Friday night.  She enjoyed her treat of peaches and whipped cream.  Nothing too sugary for this sick little birthday baby!  She had no qualms whatsoever, and ate it up happily!

Funny Girl!!!

Chicken broth was made.  Naps were had.  Books were read, and movies were watched.  Messes were made.  Dishes were done.  Laundry churned.  Rains and winds battered the trees outside. I read some of the latest issue of "Taproot", and admired it's stories and beautiful photos, and tried not to hate myself for not living on a farm, raising chickens and foraging for edible weeds I've never heard of.  Amazingly, the kids got along with one another and made up games to play. Really, it was a mind-boggling blessing to have them play so nicely-- it doesn't always happen, let me tell you!   Job was feeling well enough to take the oldest three to church today, while I stayed home with M.

I managed to get out amidst the wet downpour this evening and pick up a knitting book.  Now, I may have also purchased enough yarn for a sweater.  I may have even chosen a sweater pattern.  I may have even joined Ravelry for sheer inspiration.  But I'm tentative to say "I'm going to learn to knit!"-- because I've said that before, and I got bored/ impatient/ lost and gave up a short time later, and I'm afraid it'll happen all over again.

HOWEVER.  I love sweaters.  And I would love to one day, be able to make my own sweaters to go with my self-sewn clothes.  Some of my long-standing favorite sweaters have recently "bit the dust," whether it be holes in the elbows or merely less flattering on my 'mom of four' body than it had been on my 'sophomore in college' body.  I've tried, in vain, to scour the thrift stores for new sweaters.  But the only ones I've found have holes already, or need to be dry cleaned (ick!).  I have not had success (or the time) to find new favorites.  I often think that the best thrifted clothes often find you.  I won't mention now that I'm currently wearing and sort of loving a garish men's sweatshirt with the words "Big Bear Outfitters" on it.  And yes, you guess it-- there's a big bear on it.  I picked it up as a gag-- something cheap to repurpose.  I brought it home, washed it and laid it aside... Then, earlier this week, in my feverish delerium, I picked it up in desperation for SOMETHING to fight off the chills.  Then it was so comfy I forgot I was wearing it, until Job saw me and started laughing.

SO... long story short, I think I might need to learn how to knit.  

Agatha

Anyway.  If I can't make a sweater for myself, maybe I can make one for Agatha.  Agatha is the Waldorf doll I made for little M.'s birthday.  I had a lot of fun making her-- it wasn't as difficult as I thought it'd be!  M. didn't really give her a second thought... but V. and S. played with the doll all weekend :)  Although I only know a minimal amount about the Waldorf education philosophy, I can say that I admire their appreciation for/ attention to aesthetics.  Making Agatha was  a much more satisfying experience than going to a store and buying something off the shelves.  Even though M. seems to prefer stuffed animals and kitty cats, I know she'll like Agatha eventually.  :)   

It's Lent! What's a girl to wear?

It's Lent!  It's Great!  It's Great Lent!  

 Great Lent began two days ago for us Eastern Orthodox folks, starting with the Forgiveness Vespers service.  Most of my readers perr-ROB-bably know what I'm talking about.  Basically, we have the blessed opportunity to ask EVERYONE in our parish for forgiveness, face-to-face, with sincere embracing.  Many bow towards one another, some even make a full prostration, all the way to the ground.  Either way, there's a bit more cardio activity involved in this beautiful service.

    I know that worrying about outward appearances is fairly contrary to the purpose of Great Lent.  But you know me; I love to sew, and I love the analyze pragmatic fashion. I admit, I can get a little panicky getting dressed Sunday morning.  I mean, I try to make an effort, and that's a bit of a stretch for me!  Lenten services are even trickier. Coming up with outfits that meet the below criteria is more difficult than one might think!

X.K.'s Personal Criteria for a Lenten (or most any church-related) outfit:

#1-- Naturally, has to be church appropriate

#2-- It has to be breast-feeding friendly

#3-- No elastic waist skirts-- otherwise I'm just one whiny, grabby toddler away fom being de-skirted!  Don't ask me how I know this. 

#4-- No low cut or gaping necklines. They just don't mix when there are lots of      forward-leaning movements (prostrations, bows) involved.  Since I haven't worn a turtleneck since the 8th grade, and I don't look good in high necklines, I ideally like to have an ever-so-gentle, modest amount of neck exposure.   

#5-- Vainly, it has to cover my midsection completely without being too    tight/unflattering. I've got a pudgy, postpartum tummy that must remain unseen, and I don't want my lower back/ spare tire exposed if I have to lean over.

#6-- Can't be too short. Mind you, I don't wear mini skirts. But I do have a few skirts/

dresses that hit just below the knee. But guess what? After making 2 nice shirt-dresses that actually FIT me during this weird “excess baby weight” stage, Job pointed out that when I lean over, they rise up a little too much in the back. I don't know how much, I just know that when my husband actually has an opinion on something fashion-related, I'd best LISTEN!

#7-- Can't get overheated in it. Layers are nice for this... but a streamlined, no fuss outfit is even nicer.

#8-- Sensible, nice and comfortable shoes

#9-- Can't look like a complete slob. Only because I'm 30 now, with 4 kids, and I have to sort of start making an effort at some point, right? I'm not a 115 pound college student anymore, and I can't get away with rolling out of bed and putting on the first skirt I see over my jeans. At least, not around here :D hehehe.

This image represents what I wore last Sunday for Forgiveness Vespers. Surprisingly, it actually worked out quite nicely!

A. No-brand, navy blue knit sweater-ish top. Recently thrifted at Value Village. Nice, oversized but feminine fit. Surprisingly, it was quite breathable and I didn't get overheated in it. Obviously, not a wool blend.

B. Self-sewn skirt (Simplicity 2257). It's made of a normal quilt-weight cotton. But it has a thick, stable waistband that hits at the natural waist and actually offers some nice tummy control. I definitely need a couple more of these in my wardrobe!

C. Headscarf. Amazingly, my kids don't yank on it. Amazingly, I've grown really used to it. It also scares off the zombies. So for now, it stays!

D. Insert adorable but loud child from Diagram 1 here.  Feeling daring?  Add a second, third and/or fourth! 

I forgot to add shoes.  Sorry I'm not good at drawing shoes, let alone on Paint.  I've had these Naot mule sandals for looong time now.  I even bought them second-hand, and they're still going strong!  Yay Ebay 2005! 

So there it is.  My full-functional, not-too-sloppy, kid-proof, embarrassment proof outfit.  I may not strut around like some Versace diva... but that doesn't mean I'm not incredibly vain.  

I hope you have a VERY blessed Lent!  I look forward to attending as many services as I can, reading Everyday Saints and hopefully tending more to my inner state than my external one.  

Kali Sarikosti!!  Good 40 days to you!   

Of Mice and Lynde

Good evening bloggers. It is October! I can and cannot believe it at the same time. Time has both flown by and dragged on. Usually I'm flabbergasted at the quick transition of time that seems to be a symptom of motherhood (or maybe adulthood in general?). But this year, for some reason I'm not too unglued about it all. Perhaps since the first five months of this year were spent in the waddling, cranky, slow anticipation of pregnancy. And since then, everything has been a steady, crazy, ovewhelming and yet happy blur.

"Tawly" (that's my baby boy) is a joyful mound of dough and such a joy. Still just a happy little camper, but he's learning how to reel Mommy in when he wants his way. Even when he does cry, it's almost like he's faking... like he's just a cute, flustered old man having a squeaky little hissy fit.

Big news here: We are moving! Yep. I know I've lamented about our desire to live closer to family and friends and our parish, and now it will happen! It will come at the bittersweet cost of moving out of our cozy little "70s cottage" and leaving our quaint surroundings. But, thanks be to God, doors have opened, and we were able to sell our home relatively pain-free. We'll be closing on our new home in just a few weeks. I am very thankful. Job and I are excited about this next chapter in our lives, and we hope to be in this home for, Lord willing, a very long time. All of this has happened pretty quickly; it's hard to believe I'll be washing dishes in a different kitchen this time next month. Even though I'll miss my current kitchen... isn't that funny? Of all things, too. Well, it makes sense. I guess that IS where I spend most of my time... though not always barefoot, and not always pregnant :)
Hahaha.

Sometimes it pays to be significantly "behind the times." For instance, we still have a VCR. Then a few weeks ago I found that Goodwill sells VHS tapes for just .50 cents now! I scored a barely used (yet probably 20 years old?) VHS of Charlotte's Web (the cartoon from the 70s). The girls have enjoyed watching it. We enjoy quoting Templeton and imitating his whiny, wavering voice. "Why does that voice sound familiar?" I asked myself. And look! It was none other than "Uncle Arthur" himself. Now, which would be more terrifying, finding a rat in your house...



or having this grill stare back at you?



Now I'm really staining your brain by ending on such a bizarre note. Oh... after blogging for 6 years, there's not much else to say that doesn't make me sound like a broken or at least an uninteresting record. I thank you for reading and to those who take the time to comment, really you are too kind. But for me, anything interesting I think of blogging about falls into the camp of: Too public, too personal, too boastful, too neurotic, too unhealthy-stream-of-conciousness-logismoi, too pretentious, too boring. Anything worth sharing revolves around my faith, and God, and we all know there are much greater and edifying resources for such spiritual enrichment. I have no clue whether or not this blog has expired. If you have any input, or would like to say hello in the comments or via e-mail for the first time, feel free (e-mail grovereatsbeans(at)hotmail(dot)com.

Lady Gray: International woman of mystery?

SO, I have completed the Lady Gray coat. It was awesome to sew, and it is awesome to wear. Really, that about sums it up. My friend R. convinced me to buy 5 yards of deep teal broadcloth at IKEA early in August for this very project. She said it was totally "my color." Well, since R. has impeccable taste in color, I knew I'd be a fool to choose otherwise. You see, there was an emerald green option, which I thought would match my pink vintage lining (I love pink and green together). But I knew that teal was the real deal.



Still, I was completely unwilling to change my mind about the pink lining. I tried, I really did, to coordinate the shell and the lining fabrics into a more palatable or standard color scheme, but I couldn't. It had to be the pink vintage flannel, or I wouldn't be happy with the coat.
A red button. Another undebatable MUST.

Once completed, I had celebrate with a little silliness. I had to wear it with a matching headscarf, babushka-style. I became not just Xenia, but KSENIA GRIGOROVNA BORISHNEKOV.
When KSENIA exited the premises, I tried the Lady Gray with a beret, and worked on looking French. Oui oui!

So there you have it; the Lady Gray is not impossible. It is a fun project to make, and an even more fun coat to wear. I was a bit worried that the style itself was "not quite me", but I really enjoy wearing it, even in public! :)

Lining is fun. I think I have harbored a deep-seated appreciation for lining since my early days of watching Sesame Street, when I was oddly delighted with the way that "The Count's" cape was lined with another a shiny, colorful fabric.

Goombas, get to work!

I happened to peek into the doll house last night. What I found was quite astonishing! Two finger puppet monsters, aka "The Goombas", working diligently at the ironing board and the sewing machine. I'm glad to see someone's getting some work done around here! Mopping is next, guys!



Don't mind the graffiti-ridden interior, it's all part of the "beautifying" design scheme (V. wanted a pink "Barbie house"... and took her commercial frustrations out on our lovely, all-natural wooden dollhouse... Rudolf Steiner would give us an 'F', if he believed in that).