All-natural playthings

July 28th, 2009 Things & StuffTags: arts & crafts, Candice, Magic Cabin, toys

Just some stuff I’d like Candice to have. These are all from Magic Cabin.  Cute ‘no?

• Magic Cabin Fairy Dolls – Magic Cabin Best Sellers!
• Mini Kitchen Set – Magic Cabin Best Sellers!
• Animal Costumes – Magic Cabin Best Sellers!
• City Play Set – A Magic Cabin Hot Product!

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Staying Indoors

July 20th, 2009 Daily LivingTags: arts & crafts, cross-stitching, rainy days, textbook project

Last week’s daily downpour had me marinating in work, errands, and home-keeping chores. A few weather-related problems nearly blew my stack, but I don’t want to dwell on them right now. Somehow, the inclement weather that lasted 5 days proved to be a blessing as it gave me a chance to get creative and think of productive things to do at home. The country was flanked with two typhoons, it was futile to go against nature. Thus, on the second day of heavy rains, I decided to give up my attempts at going places and instead spend quality time with my family–and myself.

So, what kept me busy?

1. Creating toddler experiences. Candice loves the outdoors so much and would readily trade a chocolate bar for a trip to the playground and the tennis court. But since the snotty wet weather sought to dampen my little girl’s afternoon delight, I thought of a few indoor games and activities that we could do together. The usual ball game played in the living room became a bedroom ball game with Mommy volleying the ball. Candice’s role was to pick up the ball and toss it back to me. Then we tried other activities to stop the brewing ennui and get over the lack of playground merriment. We stacked pillows and made obstacle courses out of them. We used cardboard binoculars (made from the core of a tissue roll) to watch our favorite TV shows. We listened and danced to a few ragtime and glam rock songs. We recited a lot of nursery rhymes and sang kiddie songs. Candice now has her own choppy renditions of The Alphabet Song, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Barney’s I Love You Song, I See the Moon, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Baa Baa Black Sheep, etc.

2. Planning rainy day meals. As a secondary school principal, my husband works from 10 a.m. until 7 in the evening, M-F. When the weather’s not good, I often worry that he might come home hungry, tired, wet and bedraggled. He braves the rush-hour traffic in Alabang and Daang Hari almost every day. My daily goal is to serve him a power breakfast and a warm, comforting supper. Given last week’s weather, achieving that goal suddenly became a challenge. Because I couldn’t do marketing and grocery shopping, I had to make do with whatever ingredients I had in the fridge and make the most out of them. Fancy a bowl of cream of corn soup with bits of real corn boiled in bulalo soup? Let me explain. I made a pot of beef bulalo with sweet corn in it. A day later, the leftover corn was grated and added to cream of corn. Don’t you just love leftover recipes?

3. Cross-stitching. I never thought I’d find the time to stitch again, not while I’m raising a toddler and proofreading a textbook on ancient civilizations. One rainy day, I got tired of TV and radio and decided to search the other room for things to tinker with or rearrange. I found old photos, unused scrapbooking items, old letters, and my cross-stitching kits. Ever since I gave birth, I’ve often refused to resume work on my cross-stitching projects. I just couldn’t set aside some time for needlework. I have this DMC kit which I bought 5 years ago, and this other DMC kit which I bought in the early part of my married life. There are many other charts waiting to be done. All of them stayed in the box for years, untouched. As I began to open the box once again, I felt excitement and nervousness. But I knew what I wanted to do. I ran my fingers through the skeins, plucked out a needle from the tomato pin cushion, and studied my old charts. You still know cross-stitching by heart, I told myself. I carefully unfolded the 14 count fabric, inserted two strands into a needle hole, and stitched while my little girl took her afternoon nap. I still work on the aida cloth when there’s available time. I want to complete a project before the year ends.

As I finish off this blog post, Candice is still sleeping in bed and the afternoon rain is about to subside. I wonder if the day would at least allow me to go out and pay the water bill. Candice would love that short trip to the village office. But if the weather says no, I’ll be ready to pick up a ball or make numerous French knots. There’s always something to do at home.

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