Bunk Bed Sheets

I finally got around to altering my son's sheets to fit his bunk bed better...and make it easier for me to change.  At first, I thought about attaching the top sheet to the bottom, but I didn't think that would be the best when it came time to wash them.  I just wanted a fitted top sheet.  I looked all over Google-land and couldn't find anything like this, so I took matters into my own hands.  Here's what I did:

1.  Measure.  Here's the math:
sheet width - bed width = x
divide x by 2 = amount to cut off each side
In my case, the sheet was about 62", the bed about 35".  (It's better to make the bed width on the wide side  for seam allowance.) So, I needed to remove 13.5" off each side.

2. Next, cut a square that size off each bottom corner.  Yeah, I'm not messing around with ironing.

3.  Sew.  Fold the cut edges together to form the bottom corners of the sheet.  I used a very lazy, non-precise, no-iron French seam.

4.  Attach elastic to the bottom.  I used some 1/2" elastic I already had.  I didn't even measure.  I just started on one corner and zig-zagged across to the other side. 

Stretch the elastic as you sew and it will gather the fabric when it's finished.  I cut the excess elastic off when I was finished.

It's hard to get a picture of the finished product, but basically it's just a sheet with a fitted bottom and regular top.  Perfect for staying tight on a bunk bed.

I like this so much, I was thinking about doing this for my own bed.  However, it would probably be too tight at the foot for adults.  A kid's bed where the bottom 2 or 3 feet of the bed is basically unused is a different story.

I decided to alter the comforter as well.  I was a little intimidated since there is more to wrestle with a comforter compared to a sheet, but I got this one at a resale shop and it's cheap enough to experiment on. 

Luckily, it turned out great!  I did basically the same thing as the sheet, but pulled a few inches of the batting/stuffing away from the seams.  I had to use a little extra care to make sure I had all the layers aligned when I sewed the corners.

 One area is a little less sloppy in my house!  Totally worth it.  And yes, it was SOOOO much easier to get the sheets on this way.  I am pleased.

Vegan Waffles

My son is allergic to milk and eggs, so when I got a waffle maker from our family white elephant exchange, I started working on a waffle recipe.  After a few tweaks, I came up with a recipe that I love...

3 tsp.  Ener-G Egg Replacer
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1 3/4 cup soy milk (I use 8th Continent Original)
1 T sugar (I use sucanat)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

With a wire whisk, beat the egg replacer and water together until frothy.
Add oil, soy milk, and sugar.  Beat.
Add flours, baking powder, and salt.  Mix well, but not too much.  Let it sit while the waffle iron heats up.
I use a ladle to spoon the batter onto my waffle iron (sprayed with oil).  I set the timer for 4 minutes and they turn out perfectly every time.  I'm sure different waffle makers have different settings, so you may need to experiment with the time and amount of batter.  Watch for the steam to finish, that's when the waffle is finished cooking.
Makes about 6 waffles.

My non-allergic kids couldn't tell that these waffles are "different". I like to keep the extras in the fridge and I reheat them on the waffle iron for about a minute.

I added a handful of small dried blueberries to my last batch and they turned out great.  I love waffles topped with yogurt, fruit, and agave/maple syrup.  I think that's what I'll have for lunch today!

4/3/2012

I haven't written in a long time because I go through periods where I just don't feel like I have anything worthy to say.  I consider deleting my blog altogether.  I doubt myself and my thoughts.  I think I sometimes get so tired of everything, I just withdraw.

My household has been sick for the last 2 months.  Maybe 3.  3 months with at least one out of six people sick.  I'm tired.  The problem is:  it's always something.  Life never slows down.  If everyone is healthy, the car breaks down.  If the cars are running well, the plumbing is leaking.  I realized that the way I was living assumed that things would get better.  They aren't.  I'm not being pessimistic here.  I'm realizing that I need to be more proactive.

I think I have a problem with comparing my life to others'.  The caveat in this is that we hardly ever see a person's "real" life, so how can we really compare?  It seems to me that everyone else has better health, more energy, better social skills, and more sanity.  Meanwhile, my feelings of facepalm about other people's choices coexist with feelings of insecurity about my own choices.  In my yearning to not be "wrong" I can feel both ends of the spectrum at the same time, and it tears me apart sometimes.  I wish I cared less and therefore hurt less.  And I wish I loved more and therefore hurt less.

This unpolished stream of consciousness is all I have to offer.  The perfectionist slice of my internal pie chart would delete this because it kills me to be misunderstood.  But there's another piece of pie that just has to get some of this out.