I have to say...

A New Blog Address

2007-02-09T07:08:00.000-08:00

You can now find me here:

i have to say...

See you there!

A Few Links For You...

2007-02-08T11:21:00.000-08:00

--If you need a little encouragement in your mothering journey, you must read this post by Elise and this post by Mommy Dearest. Both inspiring!

--Mopsy wrote a sweet post about her daughter and her memories of Love's Baby Soft here.

--This is a lovely, new blog I have been reading lately.

--If you are interested in trading books with fellow book-lovers, click here.

--I came across a tutorial for making fabric boxes here. Very cute!

--Autum has a tutorial for an adorable craft apron. This would be a great way to use up some of those scrap fabrics!

--If you want to learn to crochet, click here.

Have a lovely Thursday!

Homeschooling Discoveries

2007-02-07T06:20:00.000-08:00

Recently I realized that I hardly ever post anything about homeschooling. I am not sure why this is so, maybe it is because homeschooling has been a part of my life for 13 years and I don't think about it much anymore. Whether this is good or bad, I am not sure!

For the entire time I have homeschooled my kids, they have done there "alone" work in the morning and we do our "together" work in the afternoon. This gives me time to work with Aubry mano-a-mano before the boys need me. Since we have recenly added some extra activities in the afternoons, I have been very frustrated over the fact that history and science work (our "together" subjects) have been falling by the wayside. And believe me when I say that I dislike falling behind in school subjects!

Last week I was talking to a very wise friend and she suggested that on the days that we have afternoon activities we should do "together" work in the morning and the boys can finish up their own work when we get home. Envisioning me with a glowing light bulb over my head would be appropriate since I feel like I unearthed a treasure when I heard this! So far it has worked wonders and I also find that I nod off less in the morning while reading books to the boys than I did while doing it in the afternoon. (Yes, I really do occasionally fall asleep while I read to my boys!)

I suppose that when you have been doing something for so long it becomes a habit, and the only way to get out of a rut is to get the point-of-view of a friend in order to solve a frustration. The answer was so simple and obvious, yet so hidden from my view. My only wish is that I had thought of it years ago!

Thanks!

2007-02-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for all the kind words over the last few days. It has been a bittersweet, emotional time for me, but it has also been exciting to see Danika launch out on her own. She is so ready for it! I am very happy to report that she emailed me yesterday AND she called me, and she will stopping by today. For some reason, I was afraid she was going to wipe her feet clean of us and never call again. Exaggerated, yes! But this mommy still worries about stuff like that!

Danika's roomates are wonderful girls who made sure that I knew that I could stop anytime. They both hugged me and let me know that Danika would be fine--they would make sure of it. What a blessing to leave my girl in such sweet hands!

On another note, I decided to take the leap and check out Typepad since I have been so frustrated with Blogger lately. They have a 30-day free trial so I signed up and started messing with the templates and such. Yesterday afternoon I tried to log in again and guess what? Typepad was down! What is up with that? I couldn't log into my own account or any Typepad blogs. Maybe they knew I was coming so they added some huge glitches just to celebrate my arrival! Who knows, maybe if I leave Blogger behind, the system will run smoother for all of you! ;)

On Sunday we watched the Superbowl with some friends. I happened to miss this commercial when it aired, but my daughter showed it to me on the internet later that night and I cracked up when I saw it. Check it out:

Have a happy Tuesday!

My baby

2007-02-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

My baby moved out today. Her childhood, packed neatly in boxes, stacked in the back of her car while she waited to drive away towards her very own life.

As it should be, of course.

I wonder if she felt like I did, eighteen years ago. Wearing gray sweats, standing next to my husband who was carrying my little blue suitcase. It was time. Turning around before stepping out the door, taking one last look into the house, but really taking one last look at the life I was leaving behind. Just the two of us. Unsure of what changes were coming and knowing that things would never be the same. Bittersweet, fear and excitement, all rolled into one unrecognizable emotion, but I knew deep inside that magical things were just around the corner.

Yes, I know how she was feeling today.

Years. Roller-blades. American Girl dolls. Diapers. Graduation. Pound Puppies. Skinned knees. Riding Lessons. Potty training. Soccer games. The Donut Man. Driving lessons. Biology. Birthday parties. Books. Books. Books. The talk. Snowboarding. Bill Nye the Science Guy. Years.

All of those years rolled up into perfect memories, stashed deep into my pocket, always ready to be remembered.

Who knew the time would slip away so quickly?

Eighteen years...just a whisper of time.

Ch-ch-ch-changes..

2007-02-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

Well, the time has come. My oldest daughter is moving out of our house this weekend. I am very happy with the situation she is going into, her roomates are wonderful girls and I know that this will be a growth experience for her.

Let me just say that this is hard for me. My emotions have been like a roller-coaster for the last couple of days and I am having a hard time finding a level place in which to deal with this. Any prayers or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

More on this later...

Dishtowel Apron Tutorial

2007-02-01T08:34:00.000-08:00

I decided to break out one of my Martha Stewart dishtowels and make a "Mommy's Little Helper Kitchen Apron". My initial goal was to make it to fit Aubry but it turned out closer to a size to fit an 8-11 year-old girl instead. If you want to make it smaller, you would just need to make it shorter and make the neck hole a bit smaller. If you want to make one, here are the supplies you will need:

1 dishtowel (mine measured 18" x 28")
one package of double fold bias tape--extra wide
thread to match
ribbon or trim (optional)

Lay out the dishtowel with the shorter edge on top and measure 4 inches in from each top edge, and measure 9 inches down each side edge. Draw a line between these two marks and cut on the line using scissors or a rotary cutter. The top of the apron should look like this:

This is when you would add any ribbon or trim. I added mine at the top and the bottom of the apron:

Now you need to open up your bias tape (Click here for a tutorial on how to use bias tape--see 2-Step Binding) and pin it to the edges of the apron (the picture below this one will clarify this for you):

You will want to pin the bias tape to the apron so that there is a 15-inch neck hole and 22-inches of bias-tape hanging at each edge for ties. Now you can sew the bias tape to the apron:

Now fold your bias-tape over to the back of the apron (the neck-hole and tie bias-tape pieces will be sewn to themselves) and sew

You can finish the tie-ends like this:

Voila! You are done and ready to bake a batch of cookies with your little baker!

Can I Deposit This Computer In The Trash Receptacle?

2007-01-31T20:07:00.000-08:00

OK, here's the scoop: I have spent approximately 4 hours putting together a tutorial and trying repeatedly to post it. Blogger (or Picasa) is not doing it's thing for me today, so it is time to step away from the computer or risk a stress injury. Seriously!

One bright spot in my blogging day has been to discover that someone nominated me for a few blogs awards. Many thanks to whomever was my nominator. This brings a smile to my heart. The categories I am nominated for are "Blogger You Would Most Like To Meet", "Woman Power--Best Representative of Women", and "Best Commenter". Very sweet, for sure!

One cool thing about this post? I actually figured out how to link a picture! Ha! You really can click on the picture to get to Heather's site and vote for the blog awards. Maybe I won't throw my computer in the trash after all!

Blueberry Cake

2007-01-30T14:55:00.000-08:00

This recipe is for a yummy breakfast cake that we make often. It was one of the first recipes that my girls learned to make when they were about nine or ten years old!

Cake:
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 TB oil
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 TB butter

Combine first four cake ingredients, mix until smooth. Add flour and baking powder, mix until smooth. Pour into 8X8 cake pan. Sprinkle blueberries over the top of the cake batter. Combine the streusel ingredients until they are evenly combined and crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the blueberry cake. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until the top of the cake is golden brown (you need to be sure that it is browned on the top!).

You can substitute:

--Raspberries for the blueberries
--Peaches for the blueberries--Also substitute brown sugar for the white sugar called for in the streusel topping. (You can keep the white sugar in the cake part of the recipe.)

Enjoy! This recipe tastes wonderful, looks great and it's easy!

Friends...

2007-01-29T14:34:00.000-08:00

"Any woman who sews or knits or weaves, blends colors in a tapestry or creates a patchwork quilt, knows by the feel that a single thread is weak. But the weaving, the blending, the intertwining with many others makes it strong.

Any woman alone without friends to sustain her, to nurture and support, to hold with loving arms, like a single thread is weak. But the weaving, the loving, the nurturing of others, the networks of friendship makes her strong."

---Barbara, 1994
The Kinship of Women

Simple Things...

2007-01-27T18:55:00.000-08:00

I have opened up a brand-new store on the web. Please click here to visit!

Thank you!

Friday Snapshot

2007-01-26T07:29:00.000-08:00

I found this Snapshot Meme over at Life In A Nutshell and decided to make this my Friday offering. Here is this morning's snapshot of my life:

Reading: Well, I broke down and purchased a hardback copy of the Thirteenth Tale after I couldn't make it through the first 50 pages of Rise and Shine. Generally I love Ms. Quindlen's writing but this book was a dud, for me anyway. Here's hoping that my new book is a winner!

Music in my Head: "It's All Part of My Rock and Roll Fantasy". Seriously. I heard it yesterday and I can't get it to stop.

Drinking: Lemon Zinger Tea with a spot of honey. Perfect to wake up to.

Wishing: That there was no snow in the forecast this weekend. This is the 6th snow weekend in a row and I am developing an eye-twitch just thinking about it!

Considering: Which Sunday School class to attend on Sunday.

Feeling: Too cozy to get out of bed and actually do something today.

Goals: Make 40 purse and 25 aprons for The Blossom Festival Arts and Crafts Show in the spring.

To do list: Clean the house. Start sewing (see the previous response).

Hours spent in bathtub last night: None. I had a mom's-night-out so who needs the bathtub?

Things accomplished: Two new handbags designs. Figured out how to put "add a cart" buttons in my store. Washed the last 5 weeks of snow off of my car. Successfully made bagels myself.

Hoping: That the weather forecast is wrong!

Have a happy Friday!

Shiver Me Timbers

2007-01-25T07:15:00.000-08:00

As a kid I always wished that I had a big brother. Somehow a big brother meant protection, guidance and not just a little bit of fun.

Aubry, of course, has been blessed with two big brothers who adore her almost as much as they are exasperated by her. They have taught her the joys of Legos, playing army, mudfights and wrestling which consists of the boys laying on the floor while she jumps on them and screams "Hi-ya". They never fight back.

Aubry and the boys spent the good part of a day creating this little pirate ship, complete with gun turrets, crow's nest and a spyglass. All of us landlubbers were cast aside while the they worked and imagined and played.

Without her brothers, Aubry would be relegated to the land of princesses, ballerinas and dolls, which, believe me, we get enough of around here. If anything, they provide some spice for her sweet little life and in the days to come I am hoping for some protection and encouragement for my little gal.

Methinks my littlest matey has spied land:

Recipes For You

2007-01-24T06:49:00.000-08:00

In our effort to eat healthier I have been scouring the Internet and recipe books for some new ideas. We have come up with some gems. My daughter, Emily, has been a big help and most of these recipes originated from her.

**If you posted a recipe on your blog, please leave me a comment so I can add your link to this post.

Sue--Very Berry Muffins
Alasandra--Pumpkin Cookies

Sauteed Green Beans with Tomatoes and Garlic
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
2 TB. Olive Oil
1 small red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
1 TB. chopped fresh parsley leaves
salt and pepper

Lightly steam the green beans until just tender. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and cook the onion until softened. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the green beans, tomatoes, parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are hot and the flavors are well combined. Serve hot.

White Chicken Chili
1 pound dried great northern beans
3/4 cup diced onion
1/2 TB. oil
1/2 TB. oregano
1 tsp. cumin
3/4 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 qts. chicken broth
1 garlic clove, minced
1 4 oz. can green chilies (I use fresh)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Soak beans overnight and drain. Combine seasonings with the onions and garlic, saute for 1 minute. Add the drained beans and the chicken broth. Simmer for 2 hours, covered. Add the chicken and the chilies and simmer for 2 more hours. Remove the lid during the last hour of cooking. This makes 10 servings.

Bagels
A few weeks ago Emily made bagels from this recipe for the first time and they have been making a frequent appearance on our table ever since. (The picture on the website doesn't look all that appealing, but believe me when I say that these taste great!) She makes the dough-sponge using unbleached flour and then adds whole wheat flour for the rest. The dough is very stiff and a little hard to handle, but the effort is well worth it! She also adds about 1/2 cup less flour than the recipe calls for and cooks the bagels for an extra 5 minutes. Here are some variations:
--Cranberry-Orange (shown in the picture): Use orange juice for the liquid and add 1/2 cup dried cranberries during the last 2 minutes of kneading time.

--Apple-Cinnamon: Use apple juice for the liquid and add 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.

--Sun-Dried Tomato Basil: During the last 2 minutes of kneading time add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes and 1/2 tsp. basil.

--Cinnamon-Raisin: Add 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 cup raisins during the last 2 minutes of kneading time.

Enjoy!

2007-01-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

An updated prayer request for Kelli is here. This sweet gal and her family could use our prayer support!

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
--James 5:16

Adding More Good Stuff...

2007-01-23T06:17:00.000-08:00

I posted last week about healthy eating and a number of people asked for specifics. Mainly I try to keep the food as normal as possible while adding some healthier ingredients so no one notices what I am doing! Here are some tips for you:

***Tomorrow I am going to post a couple of our new, healthy recipes. If you would like to post one (or two) on your blog please leave me a comment on tomorrow's post and I will link your blog from my post. Think of it as a bloggy-recipe exchange! If I am lucky I may be able to figure out how to do a Mr. Linky! ;)

--Be more creative when you make salads. Use green, leafy lettuces and spinach, and add shredded cabbage, sweet peppers, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, etc., etc. Don't allow your kids to pick things out, just tell them to "scoop and eat".

--When making bread, pizza dough, or muffins substitute at least one cup of whole wheat flour for the white flour. No one will notice. You can gradually increase the amount until you are using at least half whole-wheat flour in your recipes.

--Instead of using packets of sugary oatmeal, make oatmeal from scratch using old-fashioned oats or a 7-grain mix. Add brown sugar, milk and a little butter for taste.

--Make fruit salad with your kids.

--Make smoothies using 100% orange juice and a variety of frozen fruits. Ripe bananas sweeten these up.

--In a stir-fry or casserole add half the amount of meat and double the amount of vegetables. Believe it or not, my hubby has never noticed that I do this!

--Did you know that you can make your own popcorn in the microwave? Just toss two handfuls of popcorn kernels into a paper lunch sack and fold down the top. Cook on high for 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 minutes or until the popping slows down. Be careful because it scorches fairly quick. Pour into a bowl and add butter and salt as desired. This is much healthier and cheaper than regular microwave popcorn.

--Try a new vegetable each week. Letting the kids pick a recipe is a good way to get them involved.

--Add extra chopped vegetable to spaghetti sauce. Mushrooms, grated carrots, zucchini, peppers, and eggplant all taste great. Be creative!

--Make an attempt to eat the recommended 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. This is harder than you might imagine.

How do you add good things to your recipes?

The Missing Basket Mystery

2007-01-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

This weekend I was in Aubry's room and I noticed that her laundry basket was missing from her closet. Looking around the house availed no clues so I asked her where it was, but all I received were hunched shoulders and an "I don't know". A few hours later I was looking for her shoes (which she loses often) and upon looking under the bed, I found the basket in question:

It was loaded with the clothes that she was supposed to put away a few days ago!

Taking her aside, I confronted her in my stern-mommy manner and I was met with a demeanor that told me that, not only did she think this was funny, but that I should find it funny too. Honestly, in spite of the fact she lied to me and failed to put away her laundry when I told her to, I was cracking up on the inside, but any good mom knows that you cannot let that be known. Lucky for me, my hubby was home so I called him in to deal with my smirking gal. He was only able to get a couple of words out of his mouth before Aubry was practically a pile on the floor, tears of sorrow and regret streaming down her cheeks.

Now I have to wonder why I can't get that kind of respect? (The previous sentence should be read in the best Rodney Dangerfield voice that you can muster.) Why is it that me, the mommy, is greeted with laughter and an "aren't I funny gal" kind of countenance, while the daddy is met with a "I am so sorry for disappointing you" attitude? Ah, the unfairness of it all!

Today is Monday and in my house that is laundry day, and with five kids the piles are high, but I am considering taking a cue from my little one and stuffing it somewhere. With piles so big I may have to remove the pool cover in order to have a place to stash it all, but at least it will take my dear family a while to find it. All I will have to do it to plead innocence and when Craig finds it just turn on the waterworks and all will be well.

Have a happy Monday!

Such Cuteness!

2007-01-21T19:41:00.000-08:00

Smockity Frocks is having a contest and the prize is this adorable apron. Gingham, strawberries and oilcloth all in one---I love it!

Friday Fashion

2007-01-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

Almost everyday of the week you will find me in jeans and a t-shirt; I believe in being comfortable. Not one to be much of a girly-girl, dresses can be found in the back of my closet and they are dragged out only on Sundays. Last summer I wore skirts more often and I loved it (so did my husband) and I find myself being drawn these days to looks like this:

Don't you just love the yellow one? It just screams "spring" to me. The black and blue ones are great too, but I would never have a place to wear them since they are more formal.

This weekend we have snow in the forecast--AGAIN!!!--but I may have to brave the roads to reach the fabric store. Somehow a few more flakes seem acceptable as long as I am making something for the warm weather that is just around the corner. It is just around the corner, isn't it?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Gradual Changes

2007-01-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

In an effort of achieve a healthier lifestyle, we often make drastic changes in our diets and we resort to using only whole wheat, stamping out all sugar, or going completely organic. In a sense, all of these changes can be good, but I find that gradual change that leads to healthier living works the best, in large part because it is not as noticeable as quick, drastic change.

Over the last few months I have done my research and I am convinced that eating organic is the best way to stay healthy and to keep harmful pesticides and hormones out of my family's food. But in reality the cost of purchasing only organic food for my family of seven is a financial strain--and a big one at that! For example, organic chicken costs $6.99 per pound as compared to Safeway's sale price of $1.49 per pound, a price that allows me to buy in bulk.

My compromise in moving towards healthier living has been to increase our fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and to decrease processed foods and sugars, all while buying organic when it is possible. Not only have I avoided complaints about overly healthy foods, but my family is actually complimenting many of the new, vegetable-heavy foods on our table. All of this is added to the benefit of staying within my grocery budget.

Healthy eating and living are always worthwhile goals, but a person can be too enthusiastic and make drastic changes which lead to burn-out and a return to old eating habits. Learning about diet and exercise, and gradually implementing affordable, time-wise ideas into your life can lead to gradual but long-lasting improvement in your family's health.

2007-01-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

As of this morning, the amount of money raised for Kelli and her family is $5,600.00. This is the sort of thing that makes a heart happy and it makes me happy to be a part of this blogging world. On our own our power to help can be small, but in pulling together our strength is increased--always.

God is good.
God is faithful.
God hears our prayers.

Please continue to pray for Kelli as she awaits a kidney transplant. Pray for her family as they wait each day for answers.

Pray...

For Kelli

2007-01-16T07:47:00.000-08:00

Today's post is for Kelli. Kelli is a wife and a mom of two children. She is a lover of life and, more than that, she is a lover of God. This shows through so profoundly as she works her way through an intensely difficult set of circumstances that God has allowed in her life.

Boomama has put together an opportunity for us to come together and give Kelli a hand. Here is what Boomama says about it on her blog:

"But the fact of the matter is this: Kelli needs a kidney transplant. Desperately. She is currently on daily dialysis, though she can’t continue with it indefinitely. She has made her way through the bulk of the process to become an organ transplant candidate, and on the medical end of things, the prospects look pretty good. She needs a donor, of course, but in terms of her being a suitable candidate, everything looks fine. She’s been poked, prodded, questioned and tested - and she’s passed with flying colors.

Kelli has been on my mind and on my heart a lot lately, mainly because I can’t imagine being the mama of two teenagers and knowing that death is a very real possibility if certain events don’t fall into place."

If you would like to help Kelli financially, please click here. If you would like leave Kelli some words of encoragement, please click here.

Remember that every little bit helps and that God will provide the increase that Kelli needs!

Wax On, Wax Off

2007-01-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

All that "waxing on and waxing off" has reaped its reward! Craig and I and the boys have earned our yellow belts in karate. Our testing weekend was exciting and fun and actually receiving the belt felt more worthwhile than I expected it to.

As you can see, my hubby is going for a combination Jet Li/Grizzly Adams look which I find endearing.

Over the last few months I have been told the my kia needs work. (A kia is the hi-yaa sound made at certain points in the katas). Yelling at Craig and the kids more often must have paid off because I was complimented on my kia twice during the testing sessions. I am truly on my way to becoming a lean, mean fighting machine. Or maybe not.

Here is a picture of me in true karate form:

You probably never expected me to look so threatening, did you?

Hi-yaa! And have a wonderful Monday!

Friday Sweetness

2007-01-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

My first job was at Baskin Robbins. That was WAY back when the uniform was dark brown and pink polyester with a matching baseball-type cap. Very cool, for sure!

In my first week of work, I served ice-cream to the little blond girl who starred in the movie Poltergeist. Of course, I acted like I didn't recognize her, but on the inside I thought it was pretty cool to be scooping ice-cream for the kid from such an awesome movie. In case you wondering--which you probably aren't--she ordered orange sherbet like most children do.

One thing about working at Baskin Robbins is that you scoop some really gross ice cream combinations for people. Banana Splits with flavors such as Rainbow Sherbet, Pistachio Nut, and Chocolate-Peanut Butter ice cream, covered with Marshmallow, Hot fudge and Strawberry toppings were not that uncommon. But you are warned on your first day of work to never appear grossed-out by some one's ice-cream choices, so I just scooped and tried not to make any disgusted faces.

Every day I ate a scoop of Daiquiri Ice, which is a good idea if you are trying not to gain any ice-cream pounds. While I still like that flavor, my number-one choice is Pralines and Cream these days; I am almost never fail to get it.

You might be wondering why I am writing down my memories of Baskin Robbins. It is because if you click here you will find a Buy One Get One Free Coupon for one of their ice-cream sundaes. Personally I will be getting a Hot Fudge Sundae with Pralines and Cream and Rocky Road, without nuts, whipped cream or a cherry. Why add all that extra stuff when all you need are the basics!

What will you be getting?

***Many thanks to Chilihead for the link!

Some Links...

2007-01-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

--Elise has Children's Book Monday on her blog. She has wonderful recomendations that can be purchased or interloaned at the library.

--Linda has yet another great tutorial--this time for a "children's artist case". Her instructions are clear, pictures are abundant and the case will be a hit with any budding artists in your life.

--If you are trying to get organized, check out this blog! Laura has some wonderful ideas, including a Menu Plan Monday, to help you get started.

--Thicket Dweller has started a new cooking blog "that teaches you how to begin with the basics and make the best". This blog is not about quick-cooking, but rather about learning to cook wonderful meals from scratch and enjoying the process.

--Did you know that you can take online courses from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) for free? The classes can be downloaded to your computer and they expect to have all of their courses available by the end of the year. This is an excellent resource for homeschoolers or self-learners! (The classes do not earn a degree, they are only for educational purposes.)

--Last and certainly not least, my daughter, Danika, is hoping to go to on a missions trip to Africa in the summertime and here is the letter she has sent out to family and friends. I just wanted to post this in case anyone feels led to help her get there, but also because the letter makes me feel like a very proud mommy!

Hope you have a nice Thursday!

A Nice Pie

2007-01-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

Finally, some success with a pie crust! Usually my pies taste fine, but they are generally on the unattractive side, for sure. I have found that the secret lies in a basic pie crust recipe and in making some extra so that way I don't end up with the patchwork crust I am used to. Another secret? Little helping hands to pinch the edges of the crust. So perfect.

2007-01-09T07:12:00.000-08:00

I have some new items posted in my little craft store!

Thankful For...

2007-01-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

1. Henry Field's Seed Catalog has arrived! This means that spring is just around the corner, doesn't it?

2. Listening to Aubry snore--kind of a snore/whistle combination that I love!

3. Coming away from church on Sunday feeling ready for what life brings me, knowing that God is in charge and leading me in His direction.

4. A long talk with my sister. How is it that two-hour conversation can make me feel like all my problems are solved for the day?

5. A full week ahead of me. Lots to keep me busy and look forward to!

At the end of last year I felt God leading me in developing an attitude of thankfulness. Since I don't want to lose the momentum in that, I am going to post occasional thankful lists here on my blog. Taking some time each day/week/month to reflect on the good things in our lives is a perfect way to remind ourselves of God's love and work in our lives.

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever."
--Psalm 106:1

What are you thankful for today?

A Recipe For The Kids

2007-01-08T07:33:00.000-08:00

Aubry likes to spend a lot of time helping me in the kitchen and this recipe is one that she has been preparing over the last few weeks. I thought you might like to try it with your budding cooks too!

Tootie-Frootie Salad
1 banana
1 apple
1 can of mandarin oranges

With a butter knife, cut the banana into bite-sized pieces. While your child is doing this you can cut the apple into chunks and remove the seeds and core. After you open the can of oranges pour off some of the juice. Toss the banana, apple and oranges together in a small bowl and enjoy! You can also add kiwi, grapes or berries.

You can't get easier than this!

2007-01-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

I am surprised that no-one called me on my professed Bonjovi-love! I was joking, you know!

A couple of people asked about the fabulous Speedo pattern so I thought I would relay the story to you. We have a wonderful thrift store here in town run by a group of Mennonites. All of the proceeds from the store are used to fund their ministry of parenting the children of mothers who are in prison. The store is always very organized and clean, and they are very careful about the items that they sell. No immodest clothing or rock-and-roll albums grace their shelves. Their fabric and craft area is great because there is always a nice selection of vintage patterns, buttons and fabrics. One day I spotted the Speedo pattern and I just about died. I looked up and saw the polka-dot fabric and I knew that I had to buy it so I could show my hubby--they items only cost $.75 so they were worth the laugh, for sure. But I also knew that the pattern was accidently on the shelves. When I got up to the register I found that one of the younger ladies was working (she was about 22). I hid the pattern behind my back and assured her that I was only buying it as a joke to show my husband and, lucky for me, when she saw it, she cracked up too. She also mentioned that she couldn't believe the pattern was on the shelves!

So, the Speedo pattern was found on the shelves of the Mennonnite thrift store! I wonder what I might find on my next visit!

Friday White Elephant Gifts

2007-01-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I signed on for a White Elephant Gift Exchange. After waiting for a while a package finally showed up on my doorstep, and let me say it was a good one! Not only did it provide lots of laughs, but it also provided opportunity for a wrestling match with my daughter. And as you may know, anything that provides me an opportunity to duke it out with one of my kids is a blessing indeed.

Upon opening the package, the first discovery was this awesome--AWESOME--Bonjovi t-shirt. Any of my regulars readers knows that I am a die-hard Bonjovi fan. If you ever catch me at one of their concerts, I will be the one with my Bic lighter held high attempting to throw various ariticles of my clothing onto the stage.

The next goodie, the one that caused the brawl, was the 1st season DVD set of 21 Jumpstreet. My daughter, the Johnny Depp fan, brightened as she asked, "Oh, my gosh, is that what I think it is?," "Yes, honey," I replied as I mentioned that I needed to take a picture of the case. "Does it really have the DVD's inside?," she inquired as I clutched a little tighter. After a little more banter and a promise to open the box almost immediately, she released the prize to let me snap the following picture:

We have already enjoyed hours of 21 Jumpstreet goodness!

As you can see, the package was filled with many fabulous goodies including henna tattoos, gel buste (gasp!), a gas company emergency phone number magnet, and a really cool paisley cow. Thanks, Caron! My daughter wants to make sure that you get our name again next year!

I just wanted to provide a close-up of the hairstyles that people actually considered normal in the 80's:

What were we thinking?

As per the rules of the gift exchange, I am providing a peek at the package that I sent to the gal who heads up The Realm of Crazy People:

Knowing that she is a gal who adores her hubby, I suspected that she wanted to keep him lookin' good, and is there a better way to do that than with a pair of black and white polka-dotted Speedo-like swim trunks? I think not!

Have a wonderful Friday!

2007-01-04T07:22:00.000-08:00

I changed my commenting to Haloscan--Yippee!!! If you are interested in installing it on your own blog, click here. The process is more confusing than it was with the old Blogger, but if I can do it, anyone can!

***Also: The gals at Don't Try This At Home and Rocks In My Dryer have started a new informational blog dealing with all aspects of, well, blogging. If you have any questions about customizing your template, commenting or linkage, please click here to check it out!

Why The Rush?

2007-01-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

As time marches on it seems that young girls are expected to behave like adults earlier and earlier: dating at 11, make-up at 12, and dressing like a woman of questionable character at 13. Why the rush?

In a New York Times article Lawrence Downes writes:

"...my parental brain rebels. Suburban parents dote on and hover over their children, micromanaging their appointments and shielding them in helmets, kneepads and thick layers of S.U.V. steel. But they allow the culture of boy-toy sexuality to bore unchecked into their little ones’ ears and eyeballs, displacing their nimble and growing brains and impoverishing the sense of wider possibilities in life.

There is no reason adulthood should be a low plateau we all clamber onto around age 10. And it’s a cramped vision of girlhood that enshrines sexual allure as the best or only form of power and esteem."

I often wonder why parents allow and even encourage their children to not only mature quickly, but also to be exposed to behaviour previously thought of as inappropriate. If a girl is dating and dressing to please the boys at 12, what will she be doing at 16? The can be scary to consider.

I have a number of friends whose daughters take ballet lessons. Ideally their girls would rather take modern dance classes, but typically these classes begin teaching too-suggestive dance moves early on and their parents will not allow this. What is gained by teaching pre-teen girls to move like this and why have parents bought into it?

Childhood is a short-lived gift and our girls should be encouraged to enjoy it as long as possible. Pushing them to strut their stuff and behave in a sexy manner is as much of a rip-off early-on as it is later in life. There is more to life than being eye-candy for the boys; let us remember to teach this to our girls.

Reading in 2006

2007-01-03T07:33:00.000-08:00

Once again I find myself disappointed with the number of books I read last year: only thirty. The prior year's tally was twenty-nine and I had hoped to to get closer to fifty in 2006, but a girl can have too many hobbies, if you know what I mean. Among the thirty there are a number of gems and a couple of losers that I forced myself to finish reading since it took me until mid-year to decide that a book that doesn't interest me by the time I am a quarter of the way through it is worthy of closing and setting aside to make time for something more worthwhile.

Among the winners this year are Breathing Lessons and Digging to America. These books leave me wondering how I have managed to miss Anne Tyler since she is now among my favorite authors; I had never heard of her until 2006. Missing Mom by Joyce Carol Oates was another gem, as well as Housekeeping by Marilyn Robinson, and the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. The non-fiction winner is Crunchy Cons by Ron Dreher. This book put into words many ideas that have been swimming around in my head for the last few years and added a few new ones--it is always a plus when a book makes me think!

Night by Elie Wiesel was my top choice overall. It is a raw and honest look at the Holocaust that I wish everyone would read. I found myself squirming in my chair a number of times with tears in my eyes because of the books intensity.

My two biggest losers for the year are Vanishing Acts and My Sister's Keeper, both by Jodi Piccoult. As of yet I have only met one other person who doesn't care for Ms. Piccoult's writing style, so I don't expect much agreement in this. Although she has a knack for finding deep meaning in everyday things, I feel that she overuses this technique in her writing. Every character in her books happen to be deeply emotional and philosophical and, to be honest, I just don't encounter this in real-life--especially when it comes to men. Vanishing Acts was the most frustrating in this respect because I kept wondering when I would ever encounter a man such as the characters she portrays. Don't get me wrong, I don't think men are brute beasts or anything like that, but in my experience I don't find them to be much like, well, women. I find her writing to be lacking in realism.

So for 2006 those are my winners and losers. Right now I am reading Jane Eyre and Organic Housekeeping.

Was 2006 a good reading year for you? What are you reading now?

It 's My Bloggin' Birthday!

2007-01-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

Two years ago I started this blog o' mine as a way to test the waters. A very difficult situation involving the church we attended left me reeling and feeling untrusting of Christians, but I knew that, as a Christian, I needed to step back into fellowship. The first tentative steps became less strained after time as I found healing and acceptance among a group of Christian women, both diverse and interesting, all engaging in a sweet conversation simply by sharing a small part of the themselves in the blogosphere. All of this has poured into my "real life" as well, leaving me more open and willing to engage in friendship, and I am learning daily to do this without fear.

Over the last two years of blogging, I have made friends, found inspiration, been challenged and even got back into crafting again after quitting five years ago. This testing of the waters has been a blessing, for sure, and it is to you, my lovely readers and friends, that I extend my thanks. You have blessed me in ways you will never know.

Thank you so much!

Here's to another year!

Friday Snow!

2006-12-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

We finally got some snow! The picture isn't all that great but if you look closely you can see my hubby pushing the snow off of his trees (they are actually our trees, but he refers to them as his trees!). Since the snow was wet and heavy he was afraid that branches would break off---he is quite the tree-lovin' man!

I am at the tail-end of the stomach flu and I am glad to be done with it. All I can say about it on a positive note is that I think I lost all of my unwanted holiday pounds! Of course, I would rather have eaten carrot sticks and melba toast to lose the pounds, but sometimes a choice is not in the cards!

My wish for you is a happy and healthy New Year! I will see you next year! ;)

Its Always Martha, Martha, Martha

2006-12-27T07:30:00.001-08:00

OK, I admit it: I love Martha Stewart! No matter what you think of her personally, you can't deny that the gal has style. She has a gift for using color. I don't know if you have ever noticed, but if you look in her magazine you will see that she uses color in almost all of the pictures, even the food pictures; she creates a mood with it.

For Christmas I received some money to use as I please, so I picked out these adorable MS dishtowels. They will not be used in the kitchen, but rather for crafting. I am going to cut them up and make purses and aprons out of them. Who knows if this is what Martha had in mind, but if she can use buttons to make a clock , then I can certainly use dishtowels to make aprons--colorful ones, of course!

Looking for some crafty inspiration? Click here and visit the Pattern Room. (Click on the list just below the little waving girl). Unfortunately, all the directions are in Japanese, but most of the projects are do-able just by looking at the pictures. My favorite is the Laundry Applique Wallhanging.

Also: A ton of inspiration can be found here. Simply click on the picture or Flickr links below each book-cover.

Enjoy!

Observations...

2006-12-25T20:30:00.000-08:00

***Christmas isn't as fun as usual when half of the family is or has recently been sick.

***Most of Christmas dinner doesn't get eaten when the non-sick half of the family is afraid of getting sick--therefore they don't eat much!

***The cat doesn't care that sickness is in the house because, by golly, there is a mountain of wadded-up wrapping paper on the living room floor just waiting to be played with.

***Sick boys are fully capable of assembling 1300-piece Lego sets.

Christmas isn't about the decorations, the food, the tree or even the gifts. It is about collecting memories, good and not-so-good, that we get to unwrap year after year. The funny thing is that in unwrapping the memories they all appear good--largely because they were, although we may have neglected to notice that at the time.

This week we will pack up our Christmas memories until next year and I am confident that we will have a lot to smile about when we revisit this year--our sick-Christmas year!

I hope your holiday was a good one!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

2006-12-22T07:59:00.000-08:00

My Quiet Time

2006-12-21T09:23:00.000-08:00

"Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up."
---Psalm 5:1-3

It is easy to direct my prayers to God, to give Him my burdens. The hard part, for me, lies in verse 3--looking up to Him in expectation of an answer. I am a do-it-yourselfer. I don't struggle with feeling incapable or needy, but rather I struggle with thinking I can manage everything on my own, that I can do it my way.

There is a struggle that I see in my children that is a perfect mirror image of my own struggle. I find this to be extremely frustrating because if I can't fix it in myself, how can I fix it in them? I realize that no matter how great I am as a parent, my kids will go into the world with burdens to bear simply because we live in a sinful world and no-one is perfect. But I do hate to think that I have equipped them with my own burden, as if I packed it up and fitted it specifically for them to carry. This is hard knowledge to accept.

In my reading time this morning the words "I will look up" felt important to me. This is the element that I so often lack in my struggle. I need not only to give my burden to God, but I also need to look to Him for help and guidance so that He can change my heart and my ways. This will better equip me to help my children to navigate through the struggle themselves.

I suppose that the more I see this struggle in my children, the more I am desperate to allow God to fix it in me. Often I think that parenting is not as much about the kids as I think since it provides such a perfect opportunity for God to force me to look squarely at myself by looking at them. Nothing else in life affords this kind of introspection.

Today I will look up. Yes, I will look up.

The Big Storm

2006-12-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

You would think that there would be snowmen in my yard--or snow angels--or even a snowball fight in progress. You would think that since I live in Colorado and we just weathered "The Big Blizzard of '06" there would at least be some snow in my yard. But there is not:

If you squint your eyes and look closely at the picture--look far--you will see where the storm started--about 10 miles from my house. Yes, 10 miles from my house there is a foot of snow on the ground. In the mountains an hour away, there is over 2 feet of snow on the ground. Just none in my yard.

I am still dreaming of a white Christmas...

Our house...

2006-12-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

...In the middle of a street...

...was our castle and our keep...

...Our house it has a crowd
There's always something happening
And it's usually quite loud
Our mum, she's so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down
And a mess is not allowed...

We would have such a very good time
Such a fine time, such a happy time

Our house!

Christmas Confessions

2006-12-19T06:11:00.000-08:00

Although Christmas is my favorite holiday, there are a few things that I must confess!

1. This year I am not sending out Christmas cards or pictures. --collective gasp inserted here--- This in spite of the fact that I have a brand-new camera that would frame our family beautifully, I am sure. I just can't bring myself to gather everyone and try to get a shot where all seven of us look good.

2. We don't let the kids get up to open presents until at least 8:00 in the morning. Never have, never will. My hubby and I NEED our coffee before we can face the rest of the family. What can I say?

3. I hate eggnog.

4. I am already sick of the Christmas music played 24 hours a day on the radio station. Even the 80's station repeatedly subjects me to "Last Christmas" by George Micheal!

5. When I was a kid, I liked to pre-open gifts when my parents weren't around. The most memorable time was when I expected a set of records (old-fashioned CD's) and after carefully opening the gift with possibilities, it turned out to be a photo-album. Believe me when I say that I became an actress on Christmas morning and poured on the thanks. I never peeked after that year!

In spite of all this, I love Christmas: the presents, the decorations, the fun with my family! Honestly, I even like some of the hustle and bustle of Christmas--just as long as "Last Christmas" isn't playing in the background!

Tagged!

2006-12-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by Beck to list my favorite--and most despised--Christmas songs. Here goes:

My Five Favorite Christmas Songs:
1. Linus and Lucy
2. O' Holy Night
3. Angels We Have Heard On High
4. Little Drummer Boy
5. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.
--Growing up in Southern California makes a girl wish for snow at Christmastime! Speaking of White Christmases, here is our forecast through Saturday:

Yippee!

My Five Most Despised Christmas Songs:
1. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire--Nat King Cole
--What on earth is a chestnut and why would you want to roast it?
2. Wonderful Christmastime--Paul McCartney
--What was he thinking when he put together this techno blunder? It must have been about the same time that he put together Ebony and Ivory! Mistakes both!
3. Away In A Manger
--When I get to the "no crib for a bed" part, my chin touches my chest in order to reach a note that low!
4. Santa Baby--Eartha Kitt
--This one just beings questions marks to mind!
5. Almost any pop-rendition of any Christmas song!

If anyone wants to play along, consider yourself tagged!

Enjoy!

2006-12-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

A tummy bug found Aubry this weekend so a few plans were cancelled leaving me with some free time to rummage through my multitude of cookbooks. I found an old Farm Journal Country Cookbook given to me by my grandma, her name signed on the inside cover dated 1958.

My grandma was a wonderful cook, German food being her speciality. Pork ribs with cabbage and sour cream, sauerkraut, and thin, crispy pancakes with boysenberry jam are all familiar in my imagination. The thing I remember most about spending time with her is preparing food and eating it. Afternoons in her kitchen, rolling out cookie dough on her turquoise counter-top were frequent. Most often, a memory of my grandma pops up when I taste or smell food similar to what she used to fix.

Unfortunately, by the time I became interested in cooking my hubby and I had moved far away from where my grandma lived so I have almost none of her cooking knowledge unless it comes from her cookbook. Browsing through it this weekend, I have bookmarked a number of recipes that remind me of her. I passed over such gems as Jellied Beef Mold (boiled ground beef and green olives suspended in gelatin) and Prune Pinwheels, and I marked the good ones like Blueberry Buckle and Orange Cookies. My grandma was not a success in any worldly sense, but she made a huge impression on my life. She never voiced it in words, but it was her way of serving and loving the people around her to fill their stomachs with wonderful food, it was what she did best.

"...Cookies encourage milk drinking, for cookies and milk are like peaches and cream--great friends. Farm Journal readers tell us their husbands and youngsters are the lovable incentives that turn them into cookie-baking women.

...Part of the joy of baking comes from trying different recipes to find out which ones your family and friends most enjoy. Such an adventure is the best way to build a collection of your own."
Farm Journal Country Cookbook--1958

I think I need to go bake something...

2006-12-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

I managed to get my blog template to work in BloggerBeta! It took a few heart pounding, stressful hours but it worked! I mainly used this tutorial from Lamplight Designs (look through the information in the comments section if you run into a problem!) and this tutorial for modifying a template also proved helpful (thanks to Sue for the link!).

Sue also provided this link for adding Haloscan commenting but it looks a little over my head. I tried to stick with regular Blogger commenting but I recieved three spam comments in an hour so I had to add word verification. Sorry for that!

If you have questions about customizing your template try the links above--just remember to back up your old template, just in case!

BUSY!

2006-12-14T07:20:00.001-08:00

"I'm busy, busy, dreadfully busy
You've no idea what I have to do.
Busy, busy,shockingly busy,
Much, much too busy...to blog!"

My list of things to do is HUGE and my time-frame to get it done is small! We have a play this weekend, two co-op classes tomorrow, a party on Sunday, bills to pay, laundry that needs me, kids that need me, and, of course, Christmas is coming! Taking any time to blog at this point would be simply irresponsible! :( In light of all this, I am signing off for the week.

See you on Monday!

Jewel

2006-12-13T06:21:00.000-08:00

I recently finished reading Jewel by Bret Lott. It is the story of a woman and her choice to overcome the obstacles placed in her life.

From early in Jewel's life events do not happen according to plan. In spite of this she continually chooses to not only live with what is placed before her, but to make the best of things and even to attempt to conquer situations. Jewel's life is forever changed when her 6th child is born with Down's-Syndrome in a day when parents were told to institutionalize their child, and services and information were limited at best.

Jewel is the story of a courageous woman--a woman whose success is not obvious to anyone but felt by the reader in her continual push towards overcoming the things in her life that, though unplanned, are often the tools that shape and refine and guide her to a path of purpose.

"I felt tears well up in me, the hard knot at my throat like a cold fist, because this was the truth of me: I wanted to find in my child fear of the future, when all along, I saw, it was me who was afraid, Brenda Kay more equipped than any of us for my ending, because she could not know what loss was. 'Miss Daddy,' she'd sometimes call to me in the kitchen of an evening, and I'd go in to the living room, a dishtowel in my hands as I dried them off, and I'd search her face for some sign of tears, of genuine grief, only to see her smile..."

Jewel is a wonderful, well-written story full of challenges, courage and hope. Highly recommended!

What are you reading?

A Couple of Beta Questions

2006-12-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

Can I add a header (banner) in the Beta templates or do I need to stick with the one I have?

Can I add Haloscan commenting in the Beta templates?

Any info would be helpful! :)

The Tree Goes Up!

2006-12-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

After rummaging through the crawl space for our Christmas boxes (Craig did that part!) we discovered that a few boxes had gotten wet and mildewed--including the box with our homeade stockings! Too sad since Emily made them when she was 12, but in our memory they will stay, for sure!

Each Christmas when we open the boxes and the kids start decorating, I am amazed at how many years Craig and I have done this together. All the memories of years past are contained in those boxes and it never fails that I find myself with a catch in my throat as the ornaments are taken out one by one.

For the last few years the ornaments have hung like a fringe around the bottom of the tree simply because Aubry was only able to reach up a couple of branches, but this year she was aware that even spacing and color distribution makes for a lovely tree. My heart was sad, but I know that grandchildren will come along in some future day and create the wacky-looking tree I mistakenly thought that I would be glad to say good-bye to!

My favorite ornament is this one simply because it reminds me that Craig and I are the ones who started this little adventure we call family, and that it is through sticking together that the years add one upon another and end up being a lifetime:

When my oldest girls were young we made these teddy bears for our own tree and also for friends--it was like a teddy bear assembly line!

This is our cat who parked herself under the tree as soon as she could and just waited there until we went to bed. In the morning there were ornaments scattered around the room, evidence of the kitty Christmas party she evidently threw while we slept!

Deb and Morning Glory are both hosting ornament show-and-tells! Thanks, ladies!

Prayer needed...

2006-12-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

...for two precious baby boys.

There is an update here.

Thanks!

Playing in the snow!

2006-12-10T20:02:00.000-08:00

This is my biggest kid making his way down the hill:
Mr. Handsome hanging out on the sleds:
Another Mr. Handsome attempting to escape the camera:
This is how Aubry looked after about 10 minutes of sledding. Her feet were cold (largely because she didn't want to wear her snow boots and instead opted for her regular shoes--against my suggestion to do otherwise!) and she spent the entire time--2 hours--crying and whining!
I didn't want to you to think it was all sweetness and light around here all the time, so a little real-life it is!

Hope your weekend was a good one!

My girl has been bitten...

2006-12-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

...by the Christmas bug!

Aubry has been in full-Christmas mode these last few days, making crafts and presents and crafts and snowflakes and crafts. Every afternoon she surrounds herself with paper, scissors, glue, and other assorted goodies and lets her creativity soar, all while making huge messes in the living room.

This year we are doing Kindergarten work for school and her new-found knowledge is making its way into her crafts:
You can probably tell that we learn reading through phonics, but that we haven't focused enough on vowels. She has also written out her Christmas wish list and it includes such things as "CNDE", "CNDRLA" and "PLPGT", otherwise known as candy, Cinderella, and Polly Pocket. Honestly, she could probably persuade me to get her anything her little heart desires just by giving me these lists, simply because they are so cute!

Yesterday she managed to manufacture all of her own Christmas presents and wrap them up, all without giving away the secret of what she made:
Curiosity is getting to me, but I will wait until Christmas morning to open mine!

If you are looking for something crafty to do, here are some links for you:

Anna Maria has a tutorial to make an adorable felt garland for the Christmas tree. Take some time to look through her blog too--great ideas and loveliness abound!

Echoes of a Dream has a tutorial for making wool angels. If you look around her blog you will find lots of great ideas and how-to's like these cloth journals.

Heather has made a yo-yo garland, and she has been gracious enough to provide a yo-yo tutorial to help you make one too!

Martha Stewart has a how-to for a ric-rac stocking! Have I ever expressed my deep, abiding love for ric-rac? I put it on everything. My daughter makes fun of me when she sees me getting it out! I can't stop! ***Thanks to Kirsten for this link!

Enjoy!

2006-12-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Today's Lessons I came across this editorial about Walmart. Recently I cut down on my Walmart shopping due to some concerns I have had about the store and this article raises some more interesting issues to consider.

"Wal-Mart has also lulled shoppers into ignoring the difference between the price of something and the cost. Its unending focus on price underscores something that Americans are only starting to realize about globalization: Ever-cheaper prices have consequences. Says Steve Dobbins, president of thread maker Carolina Mills: "We want clean air, clear water, good living conditions, the best health care in the world--yet we aren't willing to pay for anything manufactured under those restrictions."

During the summer I purchased a dress for Aubry at Walmart. The dress was very cute with classic styling, a Peter Pan collar, smocking, and adorable fabric, yet it cost me less than $9.00. No matter how I do the math I just can't figure out how, after the supplies were purchased and shipping costs were added, enough money could be left over to pay someone a decent wage to make the dress. As a steward of our money I am not so sure that Walmart is a worthwhile place to spend that money, simply because I find more value in shopping sales elsewhere and making some clothing items, rather than short-changing a worker just so I can get more bang for my buck.

Now, admittedly I still do some shopping at Walmart, but I have managed to cut the money I spend there by at least 75%. What hinders me from cutting it out completely is lack of options: we live in a smaller town and Walmart is the only place to buy certain items unless I expend larger amounts of time to do otherwise. I do find, however, that the more I find out about Walmart, the more I am inclined to expend that time to find an alternative.

2006-12-05T06:31:00.000-08:00

"O Lord, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.'"*

Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
---Isaiah 12:11-3

December Beauty

2006-12-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

Friday Fun

2006-12-01T06:24:00.000-08:00

Part of the fun of the season is making up a Christmas list (for kids, anyway). Imagining that perfect "something" waiting for you under the tree early on Christmas morning is half the excitement. So in the spirit of the season, here is what is on my list.

If I was still a kid, I would love to discover this parked in my living room:

I cannot believe how cute this is! If only Aubry would fall in love with this little gem, but I don't think it is princess-y enough for her. And anyway, the price tag is a bit prohibitive!

These days this wonderful set of breakfast dishes would be greatly appreciated. Every morning I would use this to eat my breakfast and drink my coffee or tea. Personally, I think this would be a gorgeous way to start the day. Anything from Cath Kidston's site would be a lovely gift, if you ask me!

What about you? Do you have any visions of pretty packages under the tree? Leave a comment and let me know!

***Monday is the day for December Beauty pictures!

Have a wonderful Friday!

My Quiet Time

2006-11-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

Whenever I have read the parable of the sower(Mark 4) in the past, I have always looked at it in the context of a Christian spreading the gospel and the reasons why some people accept it and some don't. It was recently pointed out to me that (verse 14) what is being spread is "the Word" and not simply "the gospel". For me this brings some things to light that go along with the lessons God has been teaching me about my mind and taking my thoughts captive.

Obviously when you compare the four scenarios of the seed being sown and the growth that it yields (or lack of growth), most people would like to think they are in the fourth group because this is where the seed is sown and it yields an abundant harvest of fruit. There are many times when I know that God is speaking something to my heart but it fails to impact my life in a way that brings change or growth and verse 20 gives me some insight into why this occurs. When the seed is sown on "good ground", the word is heard and accepted. Now I don't think that I lack in the area of acceptance as much as I lack in the area of hearing. My failure to yield fruit comes from my failure to allow God's word to become part of me and make an impact on my life.

I am a quick-fix type of person. I can recoginize a problem fairly easily and I am able to make a plan to solve it, but often this leads to only temporary results. For long-lasting, God-inspired results, I need to meditate on and ponder the things that God speaks to me. This is what begins the work of a changed heart. The problem? Meditation and pondering take time and effort, two things that I struggle with expending. I would have to focus on what I am thinking about, what I need to change and God's instructions on how to do just that. Now if you are anything like me, I find this to be a lot of work! Technically I am meditating and pondering all day long. Things to do, places I would like to go, things in my life that I would like to change, books I am reading, arguments with my husband (I am really good at pondering this!), topics to blog about, struggles with my kids, money situations, etc., etc., etc., fill my mind continously throughout my day. My thoughts are non-stop.

Mark 4 reminds me that if I want to be in the fourth group I need to make my mind fertile ground to recieve God's word. This requires me to meditate and ponder the things that God speaks to me until they become a part of me, and this is what leads to a fruitful life. Since I know that God will not give me a "magic pill" that shuts off my wayward thoughts, I need to be diligent in thinking about the right things--the things God has spoken to me, the things that bring peace to my heart and to my life.

Snow!!!

2006-11-29T08:05:00.000-08:00

Our first snow of the season! Looks like today will consist of snow angels, snowmen and snowball fights for the kids (oh, and some schooling, of course!), and hot chocolate on the couch in the toasty living room for mom. I love snow but only to look at, not to be in, I leave that to the kids. We are hoping that the neighbors have a "snow day" off from school since there are a few more inches of white stuff on the way!

Tonights high temperature is supposed to be -3 degrees but the sun will be shining tomorrow. That is one huge benefit of living on Colorado--all sun, all the time! 300 days per year of shining light! It makes snow days seem extra fun because a little warmth is just around the corner.

Enjoy your day, no matter what the weather!

Breakfast Cookie Recipe

2006-11-28T09:05:00.000-08:00

My oldest daughter has a very hectic schedule and she ends up "eating on the fly" too much. This recipe for Hearty Breakfast Cookies has turned out to be tasty as well as healthy, and it has been a good way to keep her well fed. In spite of the fact that there is only 1/3 cup of brown sugar in the recipe, these are nice and sweet. When I make the cookies I omit the cheese and I grate the apple rather than chop it--you could also use applesauce.

Enjoy!

Pie Making As Art

2006-11-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

There is an artistic quality about the making of a pie: the taste, the texture and the appearance all meld together to form something to be savored, not only by the tastebuds, but also by the eye. Unfortunately for me and the people who eat my pies, I have only found success in the taste and the texture categories, while the beauty of the pie eludes me.

Everytime I put together a crust I throw at least one attempt into the garbage. It either sticks to the waxed paper or it reaches the right consistency prior to adding any water. I have no idea why or how this occurs, but it does each and every time.

I have visions of pies that look like these, but my piecrust tends to have more of a patchwork quality that comes from the cutting and piecing that my top crust always requires, a little from this side to patch up the hole on that side.

Oddly enough, both of my daughters make beautiful pie crusts in spite of the fact that I have been their teacher. I will admit a tinge of jealousy whenever they whip up a gorgeous and tasty pie using my recipe, but obviously not my technique.

At this stage, many years into being a pie-maker, all I can hope for is that practice really does make perfect, but for now I remain the baker of the ugly, yet delicious pie.

Janae

2006-11-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

Please pray for my friend and her family. Her daughter, Janae, has been having seizures. They could use prayer that God will heal her and give the whole family peace about what is going on. Char is also pregnant and all of these tough situations are difficult for her. Thanks!

"Five Things You Don't Know About Me" Meme

2006-11-26T19:44:00.000-08:00

The hilarious gal (the one with the moustache) who resides at Don't Try This At Home has tagged me for this meme! Here are five things you (probably) don't know about me:

1. After high school I attended college for 1/2 of a semester and I took interior decorating classes with dreams of being a decorator extraordinare. Obviously my dreams weren't all that serious!

2. I love movies--especially artsy ones with a lot of hidden meaning and great characters!

3. I have always wished that my name was "Miranda"--but I would still like to be called "Randi" for a nickname.

4. I have met Robert Smith of The Cure.

5. When I was young I didn't want any kids, and even after I was married I thought people with a large number of kids were wierd. (In case you don't know, I have five kids!)

There you have it! If you would like to play along, please let me know in the comments!

Friday Five Year Olds!

2006-11-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

Our Thanksgiving Day was wonderful--seriously! A relaxing day with family and friends, with beautiful weather thrown in just for fun. The day also happened to be Aubry's 5th birthday so we opened a few presents and played Hungry, Hungry Hippos and Lite Brite until bedtime. All I can say is, "Where has all the time gone?" It seems like just yesterday we were stunned to find out that baby #5 was on the way.

Times like these remind me that the things that I am most thankful for are, in fact, not things. Sometimes I am just amazed at how much God has blessed me by making me part of my awesome family. He chose us to be together and learn from each other while we make our journey through this life. Not always easy, but always worth it!

Today my heart overflows with thanks! My hope is that yours does too!

Have a wonderful weekend!

A Few Links...

2006-11-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

If you like Jan Brett's books, you might like to subscribe to her monthly email. It contains tons of activities for the kids!

Allsorts has a quick and easy tutorial for Criss-Cross Coasters. Click over and take a look. She also has some adorable printable letters to use for whatever you can think up!

If you are trying to get a headstart on gaining those unwanted holiday pounds, you can use this coupon to get a free Coldstone Creamery creation. Me thinks we will be going there this weekend!

Here is a super easy tutorial to make a light box for taking photos. (Thanks to Trail Mix Designs for the link!)

Persephone Books reprints classic 20th century books. This might be a good Christmas shopping link!

***Just curious: Am I the only person in the Bloggerland who has not been offered the option to switch to Beta Blogger? I am coveting the categories and my switch-button is nowhere to be found!

I Love...

2006-11-22T07:05:00.000-08:00

---Black-Eyed Susan Vine simply because it blooms just as all the leaves and flowers outside are hiding their lovely faces for the winter.

---Newly discovered Wild Blueberry tea.

---Finished piles of laundry.

---The Office. Too funny! You've gotta see it! (We have no TV reception so this is new to me even though it might be old to you!)

---Whole Foods Market. They have the best-looking produce section EVER! Lovely flowers too.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
--Psalm 136:1

Have A wonderful day and a Happy Thanksgiving!

My Christmas Spirit

2006-11-21T07:54:00.000-08:00

My Christmas spirit is coming on slow this year. Neat piles of gifts made, lists of things to do, are nowhere to be found. This is unusual for a gift-giver like me.

Maybe this is because I find myself stepping away from wanting and needing more things, and Christmas is synonymous with wanting and needing. Shoppers crammed into stores, stress brimming over, and credit cards maxing out, all distract from the joy found at Christmas time.

This year I am thinking less about spending money on the perfect gift and more about the people in my life and how I might convey to them my love. A note, a favor, or a special handmade gift may cost me little money, but mean a lot to the recipient. This year I am thinking of people rather than things, giving my time rather than my money, and touching a heart rather than pulling out a credit card.
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So far I have started a quilt for my mom. I found a pre-made quilt top on clearance at the store so it will only cost me about $10.00 total, but I know she will love it!
Ready to be cut out are these fabrics to make notebook covers:
I have made a few of these already and they make fun gifts for people who like to write or take notes.

How are your Christmas plans coming along?

Thankful for...

2006-11-21T06:38:00.000-08:00

1. Kitchenaid Mixer (love it!)
2. Bread Machine
3. Dehydrator
4. Baking Stone
5. Crock Pot (works on top of the stove and in the oven too!)
6. Dishwasher
7. New Pans
8. Kitchen Scissors
9. Griddle
10.Good food

--Some things just make life easier!

Just for Fun!

2006-11-21T05:40:00.000-08:00

Megan is hosting a White Elephant Gift Exchange on her blog. Just click the link to sign up!

"Just to be clear: a White Elephant party is where you give someone something totally horrendous that you actually already have..."
What can I say? I love this sort of thing!

My Guys

2006-11-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

He floats through the air with the ease of a 41-year old man!
That is my hubby gracefully launched into the air trying to catch a football. Yes, he is fighting a cold, but he is a guy and guys don't care too much about stuff like that.

All the games were lost, but much fun was had so the day is considered a success. Today he is hobbling around, grunting about being too old for this sort of thing, wondering if he did things like this more than every 5-6 years it wouldn't hurt so bad.

He is a guy and he can still fly through the air without seriously hurting something--it's all good!

This is my hubby as Nacho Libre:
These are boys acting like my hubby:

Am I blessed or what?

Friday Thanks!

2006-11-17T06:47:00.000-08:00

My thankful list for today:

1. Co-op day today--always fun!
2. A date night with my girls last night
3. Hubby sick but resting (it is hard to get him to rest!)
4. God's love and refreshing
5. Fabric store sale this weekend
6. Legos--my boys LOVE these!
7. The smell of fresh-baked bread
8. Lovely weather
9. Coffee with a friend
10.My camera

If you are wondering what to do this weekend, you might try seeing this movie!

Enjoy!

My Quiet Time

2006-11-16T06:36:00.000-08:00

Daily I find myself getting caught up in the small things of life and I tend to forget the big picture. Meals, lessons, housecleaning, etc., all demand my attention and they don't respond to my pleas to leave me alone, in spite of the fact that I have more important things to do. So easily I lose sight of what really matters and I find myself slogging through the tedium of everyday and missing my opportunity to invest in the hearts of the people surrounding me.

"Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.
Make the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes..."

These verses remind me that I need God's help to keep my heart perceptive to what is surrounding me and how to respond to it. Life is not supposed to be a gigantic to-do list that never ends, but often that is exactly what I make it into.

The image in my mind of close relationships with my hubby and kids, extended family and friends, all requires perception on my part, an ability to see and understand with my heart and a willingness to discard the call of the immediate and to hear the voice of what matters most.

Only with God's help...

"Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed."

***The verses are found in Isaiah 6:9-10
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Today I am thankful for cold medicine and doctors! My dear hubby's cold finally caught up to him and he is staying home from work today. He is honestly such a cute whiner when he is sick and it makes me smile (laugh) to take care of him. The rest of us will be drinking echinachea tea for the next few days and crossing our fingers that this doesn't spread!
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Tonia has a lovely post here about ministry. You will be encouraged!

My Music

2006-11-15T06:37:00.000-08:00

My favorite worship CD of all time is this one:

Kim McMechan sings two songs (Into Your Presence and Could I) on it, and they make the price of the CD more than worth it! Click on this link and then click on the songs titles to hear a part of each song. Her voice is amazing!

Yesterday while I was attempting to find a way to play one of her songs on my blog, I came across her website and discovered that she has released her first solo CD! It has been ordered and I will daily be checking for its arrival in my mailbox.

I highly recommend her music!
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Today I am thankful for music. Music can change my mood, inspire me, and just generally make me happy. When I am feeling distant in my relationship with God, worship music helps me to draw close and get focused on Him, right where I need to be. I tend to focus on one CD for a period of time and then I switch to another, and eventually I rediscover old favorites as if they were brand new. This makes it so I don't have to buy too many CD's!

Have a great Wednesday!

My New Skill?

2006-11-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

The problem with trying new things is that a person's first attempts are generally terrible. Rarely does a person pick out a skill she desires to develop and find that, low and behold, she is an expert from the start.

Machine-quilting is not proving to be easy. I have spent a few hours ripping out stitches that looked wayward and messy, only to find that the next set of stitches wasn't much better! Now I am 1/3 of the way through quilting my project and I am debating whether or not to rip again or to let this quilt be my "mess-up, the one I will look at years from now and laugh at.

There is a positive side to this: since machine-quilting is now considered artistic and an acceptable way to finish a quilt, I won't need to spend months hand-quilting with calloused fingers. Ah yes, something to be thankful for--something to be very thankful for!

My Ever-Changing View

2006-11-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

Walk out my front door, walk to the end of the grass, turn to the left and this is what you will see:

We bought our land on a snowy spring day seven years ago. My husband had been working in this area and dreaming of living here (he loved the view), even though it seemed impossible at the time. He started asking questions at the bank and at the builder's office, and found that it wouldn't be as impossible as we thought, so we jumped in and bought our land and started building. We have loved our view ever since that time.

A few days ago I saw a man walking around on the property across the street from our house--on our view--and I wondered what he was doing. My question was answered yesterday when I drove down the street and saw the zone-change sign announcing that there are plans to build 200 houses on the property--on our view! 200 houses! Stunned is the word to describe how my husband and I feel about this, stunned and saddened. But in the interest of challenging myself, here are 10 reasons that I am thankful for the 200-house development that is going to appear in our view:

1. The lots will be large with custom homes, meaning that our property values will go up.

2. The entrance to the development will be about 1/8 of a mile down the street from our house so traffic won't increase in front of our house.

3. Friends for my kids might live in those houses.

4. Friends for me might live in those houses.

5. There will be a nice park in the development, close enough for us to walk to.

6. Since "the view" slopes down, we will still be able to see our mountains in the distance.

7. My husband, who is a contractor, will have lots of work right around the corner.

8. My boys will have a safe place to ride their bikes.

9. Maybe all that building will force the family of deer that like to loiter in our yard, to head to the hills and stay there.

10.My boys will spend tons of time outside watching all the building going on--they love that sort of thing.

I did it! I had to rack my brain for some of those, but I know that looking for the best in situations, rather than dwelling on the bad, is the only way to have a peaceful heart. It is no wonder that God calls thanksgiving a sacrifice--sometimes it doesn't come that easy!

"I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving..."
-Psalm 116:17

Have a lovely day!

Friday--Finally!

2006-11-10T07:06:00.000-08:00

This has been a long week for me, not because of busyness, but because of struggles. I am a bit tired and I am ready for a rest! Life has its ups and downs and its seasons and I find myself stuck in a down-trend, but I do know that God is with me and will lead me to a place of rest and stillness in my heart. I do, however, wonder WHEN He will do this. As I typed that last sentence, the words "in His timing" popped into my head; I will consider that my answer as to the "when" question!

Rebecca has inspired me to jot down my thankful thoughts this month and I am, honestly, finding that difficult. I have really gotten out of the habit of being thankful and of looking for the good in situations. Today I am going to leave you with a list of things I am thankful for and things that I will choose to focus on today and over the weekend! If anyone feels compelled to do so, I would covet your prayers!

Thankful things:
1. The first cup of coffee in the morning
2. My sewing area--so convenient
3. The laughter of my kiddos
4. Aubry--she read her 1st word yesterday--CAT
5. Books to read and libraries to borrow them from
6. This movie that I am hoping to see this weekend
7. Bloggy friends like Lisa and Melzie--you girls are just too much!
8. Lovely fall leaves still clinging to the trees
9. A weekend that promises free-time
10.Rebecca's "Month of Thanks" that is reminding me to get my focus in the right place--on God and His abundant gifts!

I wish you all a lovely weekend!

Tagged With a Book Meme

2006-11-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by Rebecca with a book meme!

one book that changed your life: When I was younger, I loved the Judy Blume books. I know that some people consider them controversial, but I was so touched by the understanding in them, and when you are a preteen you need some understanding!

one book i read more than once: The Poisonwood Bible--Amazing how an author can voice so many characters perfectly!

one book i would want on a desert island: This one would have to be my Bible or a dictionary. The Bible for sustenance and the dictionary so I could write, but that would mean that I would need paper, eh?

one book that made me cry: Night by Elie Weilsel--I don't know if I have ever read a book that was so "real". (Actually I cry while reading most books aloud which is a little embarrasing while reading to my boys--they just sit there kind of dumbfounded while I struggle for my words. They don't know what to do with me! :)

one book i wish i’d written: 1984--I love how Orwell can describe a character's personality using physical description.

one book i wish had never been written: Hmmm, not sure about this one!

one book i’m reading now: Valiant Friend--A Biography of Lucretia Mott

one book i have been meaning to read: Gosh, there are so many! Every time I go to the library or read a book list on someone's blog, I add more books to my mental list. I did notice that Anna Quindlen has a new book out and I would like to get my hands on that one!

Tag you are it! If you are going to play along, leave me a comment!

Have a great Thursday!

Cranberry-Orange Bread

2006-11-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

My family loves to eat homemade breads in the morning and Cranberry-Orange Bread is one of their favorites. Each Christmas I bake this bread for our neighbors as a gift, and of course I always let the kids help to measure and mix. One Christmas, when Emily was 2, I let her stand on a chair at the counter and mix the batter. I didn't notice that she was secretly licking the spoon while she mixed because I was busy videotaping, not only her cuteness, but other things going on as well. A few days later we watched the video and cracked up over the fact that Emily had been licking the mixing spoon, but we had, unfortunately, already given the loaves away. Oh well, at least I learned to pay more attention while vidoetaping!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour (I use 1 cup of white and 1 cup of wheat)
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 TB. shortening (I use vegetable oil)
3/4 cup orange juice
1 egg
1 cup chopped cranberries

Combine the first five ingredients in a bowl. Combine the next three ingredients in another bowl. Mix the contents of both bowls together and them add the cranberries. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan. The bread tastes best if you wrap it in plastic wrap overnight.

(I originally found this recipe on the back of a package of Oceanspray cranberries.)

Enjoy!
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Today I am thankful for my relationship with my dad. Growing up, things were prickly between us and a close relationship seemed like an impossibility. Over the last few years God has been restoring the years that the locusts took away (Joel 2:25) and I am finding a wonderful friend in my dad. He is a mentor, an advisor and he is the most interesting person to talk politics with because his opinions are outside of the mainstream. I have learned a lot from my dad and he has become my biggest encourager when it comes to homeschooling. I look forward to our relationship growing stronger and one day I hope to live closer to him.

I love you daddy!

A Night at the Disco

2006-11-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

For a little fun all you need is a big box of Legos and a Disco station blaring on the radio!

This went on for about an hour last night and I was laughing all the way through it! My 12-year old son asked that I not post his picture on my blog because, apparently, he is at "that" age where embarrassment reigns supreme, but I must say that he was hilarious as well!

This brings me to my thankful thought for today:

My boys. They crack me up! My oldest son is great at impressions. He does Don Knotts and Napolean Dynamite perfectly. He also has a cast of made-up characters that make their appearance regularly in our house. He is also sweetly sensitive and helpful.

My youngest is Mr. Attentive. He is consistently involved in the goings on of our house, making sure that everyone is happy and taken care of. He has a gift for knowing what to say at a given time and he is always ready to have some fun.

These guys bring a smile to my day, even in the midst of their endless boy-energy! ;)

Have a wonderful and Tuesday and don't forget to vote!

November Beauty

2006-11-06T07:39:00.000-08:00

My daughter and I grabbed our cameras and headed out to find that lovely things were all around. Trees are still blushing with bright leaves, and downtown turned out to be a good place to look--especially for bright color. Admittedly, it is a little easier to take nature pictures, but I included a couple of the city pictures that I took simply because the colors are pleasing.

If you are posting pictures on your blog, please leave a comment so I can drop by and see!

***The last picture was taken by my daughter, Emily, while I was driving.

Rebecca has declared November "Giving Thanks" month. Each day during this month I will be adding a little snippet of thanks to my posts because I have once again fallen off the"thankfulness wagon"and I am dying to get back on! For me, a thankful attitude in my heart needs to be cultivated because it does not come naturally. This leads me to what I am thankful for today:

I am thankful for my God who does not leave me alone! He lovingly guides me and reminds me that His ways are better than my own. When I fall back into my old ways of thinking, He gently shows me my error and helps me to do things differently--for my own good and the good of those around me! It can be easy to feel frustrated when God reproves me but I am reminded that His reproof proves His love towards me. So, yes, I am thankful for God's loving reproof because He loves me enough to never leave me alone!

"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Hebrews 12:10-11

Happy Friday!

2006-11-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

Crazy Busy Day Today! Short Post!

I loved Christine's comment on yesterdays post:

"It's amazing to me how many parents do things without thought to who it will cause their children to be later in life- like they're just trying to get by day to day rather than putting together pieces of an adult-to-be with each passing moment."

My sentiments exactly! Thanks, Christine, for the wise words.

"He who has begun a good work in you will complete it..."
Philippians 1:6

I love when God slows me down enough to remind me of what is important. This always reassures me that He loves me and is guiding me daily through mothering!

***On Monday I will be posting November Beauty pictures. Please feel free to join me if you would like too. Simply post pictures on your own blog of beauty that you find in your neighborhood or town. This always helps me to keep a lookout for the lovely things God has surrounded me with!

Happy Friday!

My Quiet Time

2006-11-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

The phrase "actions speak louder than words" has been wandering through my brain for a few days. I have been wondering what would happen if I quit telling my kids that they were my number-one priority. Would they still know simply by my actions?

So often I get "caught up". Caught up in things-to-do, caught up in hobbies, caught up in emotions, and I easily slide my priorities to the wayside expecting to deal with them later. In general, later brings other must-do things and my intentions never become actions. Too many times, my kids are left to fend for themselves.

My desire is to be "intentional" in my mothering. I want to know the hearts of my children and seek to understand them. I want to guide them specifically and individually in the direction God would have them go. I want my home to be a safe haven for them to grow and mature into adults.

All of this requires intentional living. Intentional means "done deliberately". None of my goals will come about through wishing or hoping. Only through deliberate and purposeful action will I find my goals fulfilled.

Sew Crafty!

2006-11-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

On Friday I am making these fleece snow hats with my class of girls, ages 8 and up. They are easy and fun to make. Since you can make four of these from one yard of fabric, they are inexpensive too! Aubry was all to happy to be my model for the test-hat since she got to keep it. She even slept with it on her head last night! The only thing I did differently from the tutorial was to cut the top of the hat into 1/2 inch tassles before I tied it up.

I have come across a couple of other great tutorials this week that I want to share with you:

Linda, the queen of the tutorial, has a great how-to for a wall-pocket. If you don't know what a wall-pocket is, click on the link because I think there are many uses for these goodies. And besides, they are so cute!

Allsorts has a how-to for a "Crazy 9-Patch" that is both easy and colorful. If you have lots of colorful fabric scraps laying around, this would be a perfect way to use them up!

MAKETOYS is a great link for the kids! These paper toys can be printed out and folded with a little help from mom. ( I am sorry to say that I can't remember where I found this link!)

Patch Me linked this pattern for a Teddy Bear and a Bunny that would make a cute and simple Christmas gift!

Enjoy!

Harvest Party

2006-10-31T07:17:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend we attended a Harvest Party with a Tinkerbell (a rather cranky one!), a nerdy salesman and a dressed-for-work daddy. We played games and ate a ton of food and candy and visited with friends. Fun was had by all!

This is a picture of the donut-eating race:
This is an after picture:
Now each morning at about 8:15 AM I am fielding requests for candy. I always wonder if it would be a good option to just let them eat it all at one time and get it over with rather than dragging it on for weeks! But the thought of three sugar-wired kids bouncing around the house all day makes me take it slow!

Happy Harvest!

Real Beauty

2006-10-30T06:48:00.001-08:00

Anyone with daughters knows that we live in a difficult time-period when it comes to helping our girls feel good about the body, face and personality that God gave them. We are surrounded with images of perfection, size 0 (zero) Hollywood actresses, and magazine covers that tell us that we can be like that too.

What the magazines fail to say is that most (all?) of their model's pictures are doctored-up; color tones are fixed, imperfections are removed, wrinkles are smoothed, etc. etc., etc. Also missing is that fact that some of the models are teenage girls, in spite of the fact that they are portrayed as adult women. In comparing themselves to these images, our daughters will never measure up, simply because the images are not even real.

Below I have linked two Dove commercials. If you have never seen them, watch! I think it is wonderful that a major company has launched an advertising campaign like this one!

Good stuff!

Friday Gift-Giving Ideas

2006-10-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Having been married for 18 years, I think that I can say with authority that men are difficult to buy gifts for. To begin with, men seem to like expensive gifts such as obscure power tools or $200.00 fly-fishing rods. A handmade sachet or, let's say, a totebag, just doesn't make the cut for a man and since I don't usually have any extra c-notes laying around, this presents a problem. Lucky for me, a really cool catalog made its appearance in my mailbox and I suspect that this Christmas will be hassle-free, at least when it comes to choosing my hubby's gift!

One option is this testosterone-loaded gardening tool. I mean, who else but a man would use a torch to clear ice from the garden, or the sidewalk for that matter? A woman would do it the old-fashioned way and use salt or maybe a snow shovel. How boring is that?

My next choice is this amazing nose-hair clipper. My dear hubby uses a traditional metal one, but this finger-shaped one will certainly revolutionize his AM trimming time. Judging from the expression on the guy's face in the catalog photo, any man would be thrilled to receive this baby:

And since my hubby is always complaining about the price of a haircut these days, this hair-cutting umbrella will be a memorable gift indeed! And besides, it will afford me a fabulous photo of my hubby for my blog! Any man would be proud to be the owner of this:

Perfect presents indeed!
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And just for a little Friday fun, check out this video--it cracked me up!

Have a happy Friday!

Book Stuff

2006-10-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Recently I finished reading A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler. This book is about a 30 year-old man named Barnaby who is struggling to walk away from his past mistakes, while the people around him seem bent on reminding him of his failures. As in real-life, Barnaby's decision to move forward is easier than the action of moving forward.

My favorite aspect of Ms. Tyler's books are her characters. She has the ability to create, with words, a person who seems to rise off the page and breathe, some-one true to life, someone I can identify with.

Not only do I recommend A Patchwork Planet, but also Breathing Lessons (which won Ms. Tyler a Pulitzer Prize) and Digging to America. Lucky for me, she a long list of other titles to choose from too!

My next book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. What are you reading?

Gathering Up The Fragments

2006-10-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Apple Picking by Winslow Homer

"The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all the fragments, so that nothing be lost. I mean fragments of time as well as materials."
--Lydia Maria Child
The American Frugal Housewife--1833

New Colors

2006-10-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

New fabrics for a new quilt.

I have come to realize that when it comes to quilting, it is the colors that I enjoy and not so much the piecing of the quilt. Many years ago I knocked myself out trying to piece elaborate blocks, and I always found myself frustrated with myself and with my project. Now I gather lots of lovely colors and make something that is simple-to-piece, and I love the process as well as the outcome. In fact, while making my quilt I generally contemplate my next one--the colors, the pattern, the quilting. This is a good thing!

A Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

2006-10-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

We went on a pumpkin hunt this weekend and came away with some beauties! Even though I am not a fan of Halloween, I do enjoy the fall-ish traditions that go with it. All of kids except for Aubry were able to carve their own pumpkin this year and this included pulling out all the slimy gunk inside; I can't say that I missed that part! Our happy pumpkins are on the front porch and I will be roasting seeds today. According to Martha Stewart, the way to roast pumpkin seeds is as follows:

Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Spread out 2 cups of washed pumpkin seeds and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and coarse salt to taste. If you want, you can also add 2 tablespoons of dried ground rosemary. Bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes at 350°.

Enjoy!

***Edited: My pumpkin seeds are taking longer to cook than 12 minutes! If you try these, simply add time to the recipe until they are crunchy--just be sure to check the seeds every 10 minutes or so or they will burn.

2006-10-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

I am very saddened to report that Canon passed away on Saturday. Canon's mom, Carla, and her children will be in my prayers and my thoughts.

Friday Happenings

2006-10-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

With snow in the forecast for this weekend (promises, promises), we plan to be making hot chocolate and playing board games. Also on the calendar is a birthday party and a fabric store sale and, possibly, a visit to the pumpkin patch (dependent on weather, of course!). Soon the leaves will all be gone and we will be in the thick of cold days and nights, but for now I plan to enjoy the slow crawl into winter.

Deb had a great quote on her blog this morning and I wrote it down to think about this weekend:
Listen with my ears.
Listen with my eyes.
Listen with my posture.
Listen with my heart.
I want to be a good listener this weekend and for the rest of my life. The older my children grow, the more I realize the importance of listening to them and understanding them, but I also recognize daily my need to grow in this area. With God's help, all things are possible!

Have a lovely weekend!

Prayer Request

2006-10-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

I want to urge all of you to be in prayer for this little guy, Canon. He was born with a heart defect and, after a heart transplant a few days ago, is having a very difficult time recovering. His mother, Carla, is a single-mom with two other children and could use not only our prayers, but our financial help as well. If you are able, this is the address to send a check to:

Stephens Inc.
F/A/O Carla Norman custodian for Canon Norman
111 Center Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Account #41459887

For more information:

Pray for Canon

Sprittibee

A New Library Tote

2006-10-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

***First and foremost: My dear, real-life friend and fellow-blogger, Pam, is having a birthday today! Please click over and wish her a happy day!
The second time around I followed the directions and guess what? My tote bag came out just fine. Imagine that! Adding a couple of inches to the length of the bag made it so I can use it to carry my books when I go to the library. I made it from a piece of wool that I bought at the thrift store and then I appliqued wool-felt flowers on the front with embroidered stems. Here is a close-up of the flowers:
This bag was very easy to make and you might consider trying it if you have a little bit of sewing experience! Many thanks to Tiny Happy for the great tutorial!

Kirsten, a wonderfully crafty homeschooling mom, sent me these adorable gift tags. They are so cute and tiny! Thanks, Kirsten! Check out her blog here.

The Most Wonderful Chocolate Cake Recipe!!!

2006-10-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

My daughter made me this WONDERFUL chocolate cake for my birthday, and all I can say is "yummy"! Combined with a large glass of ice-cold milk, it was perfection!
And by the way, it does take a lot of breath to blow out 40 candles!

Have a great Tuesday!

Lessons Worth Learning

2006-10-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have hesitated to mention anything about the killings of the five Amish girls in Pennsylvania simply because I am disgusted by the media frenzy involving these people who shun modern society's ills, but who are now barraged by the press, all for the sake of our curiosity. It makes me quite angry to see a photo of two Amish girls gracing the cover of People magazine, supposedly in the interest of keeping the public informed. But when I came across an article called Learning From the Amish by Warren Smith (thanks to Anybody Home for the link), I felt that the message in the article was too good to pass it by.

"I think a case could be made -- and this is one of the ironies here -- that the REASON we're losing our teens is because we have "outsourced" the discipleship of our children to ministries such as Teen Mania. It's much harder to talk with our children about Jesus than to send them to someone who does that for a living. And as long as their friends are there, and you keep the program moving along, the kids don't seem to notice that they're not getting the best of their parents."

And this:

"Compare that approach to "youth ministry" to what we saw from the Amish this week. I learned more about Jesus from the Amish grandfather who forgave the killer of his grandchildren than I have learned from many a seminar or survey. The families of the victims embraced the family of the killer, even inviting them to the funeral and setting up a fund for the killer's wife and children.

This week I interviewed Dr. Donald Kraybill, one of the nation's leading experts on the Amish and Mennonite cultures, and he told me that many Anabaptist religious groups (including the Amish and Mennonites) don't have the problem that evangelicals are wringing their hands over, this problem of their kids leaving their faith. In fact, more than 90 percent of Old Order Mennonite children embrace their parents' religion when they reach adulthood. And it's not because these old-fashioned fathers and grandfathers are trying to be "relevant." Just the opposite. These kids embrace their parents' faith because they spend time with them, and know their hearts, and ultimately discover that the faith of their fathers is the real deal."

Showing our kids that our faith is real is not about dragging them to church every time the doors are open, exposing them to ministries such as TeenMania, or even homeschooling them. The key is being a parent who takes the time, on a daily basis, to know our kids, and living in such a way that shows them that God is real and active in our lives in all circumstances. This, I believe, is the key that opens the door wide for children to not only perceive Christ, but it also beckons them to follow Him. And that is one lesson from the Amish that I want to take to heart.

Weekend Pics...

2006-10-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Friday Stuff

2006-10-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

My new camera is wonderful and I am enjoying it completely! The fact that I have taken mostly blurry pictures so far is not going to stop me from figuring it out. The camera is about twice as heavy as my old one, so camera-shake is something that I need to pay attention to.

Since the sun has been hiding behind the clouds for most of the week, I have been taking pictures indoors which gave me a chance to play with the shutter-speed. Here is a picture that I took:

I know, I know, the picture is of tomatoes, but it is one of the only unblurry ones worth posting, what can I say?
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I came across a few GREAT craft patterns this week and I want to share them with you! First, Sara + H has an adorable knitted flapper hat pattern here. This pattern makes me want to try knitting again, but my gut instinct is to walk away and stick to sewing! Knitting was not a great experience for me, but it may be for you! I think that Sara's tutorial looks very easy to follow! ;)

Second, Happy Things has put together a GREAT tutorial for making a chenille and patchwork baby blanket. It is very cute and snuggly-looking and the tutorial has lots of pictures and detailed instructions. Check it out!

If you are interested in bread-baking, check out the Fresh Loaf. This site has tons of recipes plus how-to's so you can master the art of making fresh bread. I can almost feel myself gaining weight just browsing their recipes!

Have a great Friday!

The Best Banana Bread Recipe Ever!

2006-10-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

This recipe is from a children's cookbook that I ordered through the mail when my girls were little. It is one of our family favorites and it is perfect way to use up too-ripe bananas.

Banana Bread
3/4 cup sugar
3 ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup vegetable oil (I use half milk and half oil to equal 3/4 cup)
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsps. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 325 degrees and grease a 9X5X3-inch loaf pan.

Mix sugar, bananas, oil and eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Pour this mixture into the loaf pan. Bake until wooden toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 60-70 minutes. Cool completely before serving.

Enjoy!

When I was a kid!?!

2006-10-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

My son called me into the kitchen to see what had made out of Play-Dough. He said, "I made one of those old-fashioned CD's things that you had when you were a kid." After regaining my composure, I mentioned to him that we not only used record players and tape players when I was a kid, but automobiles and telephones were pretty popular too!