Book Review: Attributes of God, book 1

The Attributes of God: A Journey Into the Father's Heart by A.W. Tozer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my first try for reading Tozer. I found the information useful, accurate and relevant, but there is something in his writing style that just doesn't appeal to me. When I figure out what it is, I'll let you know.  But until then, for learning about who God is, this book is excellent.


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Book Review: Attributes of God

The Attributes of God: Deeper into the Father's Heart by A.W. Tozer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second of Tozer's books I've tried reading. The content is excellent, and so far, I agree with him and think he is teaching truth. However, there is something in the writing style that I just don't enjoy. Perhaps its the style that results from him "writing like for a magazine" which I've heard said about the two Attributes of God books. Ah, well, to some extent, we are each unique.


For a good explanation of who God is, however, these seems an excellent book.


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The diaper stash expands

A while back, both wool soakers where drying and I needed a soaker, so I created a "make-shift soaker".

This is a fleece cutout that was destined to be apart of a pocket diaper, until, that is, I discovered this fleece repels moisture, instead of wicking. I figured this fleece should become soakers, then. But I'd already cut out all the fleece into diaper shaped pieces. Drat. Ah, well, frugalness and creativity to the rescue -- and a soaker was created.

I realized with a bit of elastic around the legs, the fleece would make nice and adjustable soakers. I liked the ones I made, but they were size-stable, and the last two I made turned out too small to get on the child (and they are the same size as the wool soakers, they just don't stretch). Plus, I ended up with all these small pieces and I can't figure out what to use them for -- but too big to just toss in my tightwaddery.

So, TA-DA, make-shift soaker version 2. Beta tested and all! I made one, it worked wonderfully, so I made 4 more. Remember, the fleece is already cut out.

First, I sewed up the sides a channel for the elastic.

Then I threaded the elastic.

To put it on Samuel, since he is still kinda small, I fold down the front, like most the one-size-fits-all style pockets, and snappi it on. I've put it over flats, prefolds and kissaluvs. And they should fit him for quite a long time.

 

This do-hicky I love! Its a "drawstring threader" and works great with elastic, too. No more using a paper clip or safety pin to thread that elastic through! Yea! Wish I'd spent that $1.50 years ago.

Tomorrow, I plan to cut out flats from t-shirts I acquired from the local thrift store.  Ya know, for being a "thrift store", the stuff is rather expensive, in my opinion. I had a hard time finding anything among the t-shirts less than $5 and many were closer to $10. I guess I just need to go garage sale-ing.

A day in the life of Rachael

Had a good day today. Samuel took a nice long nap in the middle of the day, so I got some sewing done, and lunch eaten while not nursing (seems he particularly wants to nurse when I have food to eat).

I was able to finish two fleece soakers of the small size.

The two wool soakers are both of the "small" size and the fit beautifully right now. But when I went to try the soakers on Samuel, I couldn't get them much past his knees. I'm debating whether to put them in the 'too small' box or make a change. I'm considering cutting the waist band and putting in a loop and button for closing it. I think I'll try this on one soaker and still make 2 in a slightly bigger size.

A few days ago, I got the whim to actually read the manual for my sewing machine. I learned quite a bit, on little bit being I can create almost serger type seams. Very cool.

Bummer, the picture isn't as clear as I'd like, but I think you can tell.

In light of the soakers being too small, I endeavored to measure my little boy.

Its not easy trying to use a measuring tape on a little guy who only stops moving when he's asleep. And look at that TOME next to him. Martha's book is significantly heavier than Samuel. And it has lots of nice pictures. I like books with pictures, and its even better when they have words telling you about the pictures (versus just pictures, or just words). My favorite books have lots of pictures and lots of words, which tends to make them rather big books.

This evening, I started tracing and cutting out pattern pieces for the baby sleep sack in Growing Up Sew Liberated. I have some white, light weight jersey I'm going use, appropriate for sleeping in on hot summer nights (when the a/c actually kicks on at night to keep the house at 78').

Baby Stuff and Books

As you might guess, my mind is very focused on BABY right now. I find it hard to think about, much less talk about anything but the baby. (I just realized, I've done almost all video and no stills of recent. Gonna have to fix that).

Isn't he just cutest and brightest baby you ever saw? Of course, he is. He slept longer last night than ever before, so that's very exciting and he's started the social smile, which makes play time even better. He still has a hard time going to sleep; I've started following a nap time and bed time routine which seems to help some, though its still a tad early to tell.

I continue to work on diapers, though I'm going to switch to making soakers for now. I counted the full stash and we have enough diapers, when Samuel upgrades a size, for me to do laundry on Monday and Thursday (not every other day). But, we will need more soakers as most of the diapers are prefolds.

Also, for my birthday, I picked up some new books that I'm excited about. They are:
Large Family Logistics
Growing Up Sew Liberated
The Edible Front Yard
Martha Steward Homekeeping Handbook

I promise to offer opinions and a review of each one. I'm almost finished with The Edible Front Yard and Large Family Logistics. The Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook hasn't arrived yet (3rd party seller -- got it cheap!), and I want to sew a few things from Growing up Sew Liberated before commenting on it (I've looked at all the projects).

Any exciting books or babies for you?

Goals Updates

I've been thinking about getting a blog post up, but was having a hard time deciding on a good topic. Baby and diapers dominate most of my thinking, time and creating moments (working on diapers). So, lets consider goals.

This goals update post is motivated by several things:
Hubby asked when the last time I blogged was;
I've been trying to think of a non-baby, non-diaper topic;
I purchased and have been reading "Large Family Logistics". (no, I don't have a large family yet, but I'm hoping for more kids -- in due time, of course)

The author discusses the establishing of goals, which reminded me of my previous made goals from earlier this year, last posted about in April.  But then May got away from me, and June is a blur, so here we are at July.

Of previous goals:

• February Lady Sweater still isn't finished.
• I *should* have done more diaper prep. We've used more disposables than I wanted (but not had to buy any, at least). I'm slowly getting it together, though.
• Zone cleaning and general house keeping continues, though at a slower rate than even before. 

For July:

• Round out the diaper stash. I've got 4 in the works (using suedecloth, not fleece!)
• Figure out a good house keeping routine that works with me being home full time and having a baby (this deserves its own post which it will get when I review "Large Family Logistics" when I finished reading it)
• Ride bike (stationary) 20 minutes 3 times a week
• Prep garden for Fall plantings
• tomato plants
• corn
• Uncle Chuck's beans
• herb plants
• Lettuces and spinach

I have to remember, I might be home full time, but I'm almost as busy as before with the baby. Must not let goals get the better of me.