garage sale finds

I just couldn't leave this old card file and alarm box at my neighbors garage sale! I have a few ideas for them, but would love to hear yours! I'll post later what I end up using them for :0)

recent sewing projects

Ever since I MENTIONED making an apron for Miss G. she bugged me about it DAILY until we finally made a trip to JoAnn Fabrics and picked out material and a pattern! She is quite pleased with the results as you can see and I am too! Now I have to let her help me cook/bake....ACK!



Several months ago I finally got my OWN NutriMill to grind my wheat, so I wouldn't have to bug my friend and use her grinder! I've been making our bread since.....um, I'm not sure when......early this year anyway. I didn't have any nice linen towels though, so I found some fabric and made my own! Here is one of them, sorta at least, with my prettiest loaves to date!



We've had this rug since we got married...almost 11 years ago! I've always liked it because it was a simple white and it's reversible....none of that 'grippy' stuff on the bottom. Well, it's had a small hole in it for quite some time and some of the fringe was unraveling. I just couldn't throw it out, so I found some fun remnant pieces and went to work. First was an nice zig-zag all the way around it to tack the fringes down good again, then I went to work cutting out options to applique a patch on. Funny thing is.....a hole goes all the way through--weird, I know.....and since it's a good rug on both sides....I had to figure out something for each side..... Anyway, here's the finished product and I'm pleased enough with it! Maybe it'll last another 11 years, who knows! *Oh, please try not to notice my 'severely in need of a washing' shower curtain, YIKES! -insert embarrassed smile*

random silly kids!

R. built a tower clear to the ceiling!

I. made a guitar and mic from Duplos and gave us a concert...

I. also was a monkey in our hallway!

Miss G. had fun wearing Gpa's slippers :o)

random yummy foods!

Some things we've had over the past several months......


'Panera Bread Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich' on homemade whole wheat bread....it was DELISH!

Cilantro Lime Salad (you can find the recipe here) and frozen peaches and berries


Homemade pizza....before the cheese....I loved the colorfulness of it and the taste was great!

Not sure what to call these...they were an experiment. Homemade english muffin rubbed with garlic and a little butter, then topped with fresh basil, tomato, sea salt, pepper, oregano and mozz cheese. It was a hit!

Ice cream from Al's Sweet Treats! Looks kinda like our family!

in which i blame facebook and other things

My blog has been suffering terribly. I blame it all on the time I spend keeping up with friends on Facebook. And homeschooling. Oh wait, we're done with that for the summer. Um. Well, I'm keeping busy otherwise with things like: homemade bread, yogurt, and strawberry jam--and other food 'experiments'. Out of state family/company. Along with the normal, mom/wife-duty things. And many other things too lengthy to write or bore you with. hmmm.

Well, all that to say...AT LEAST I've been taking pictures for all the blog posts yet to come! Some day soon--not making any promises on a specific date--I will begin catching up here. The posts will be back-dated in somewhat of an effort to cover-up my lack of blogging/laziness/whatever. They will begin back in February. Yes, 2010. And yes, I purposefully did not use proper sentence structure. Yes, I am qualified to home school our kids. I think.


*note--first 'back post' is already up! Feb 14

strawberry time!

This afternoon the kids and I went to pick strawberries. It was HOT, but the pickin' was so good and the strawberries so HUGE. We picked 6 buckets (4qt size) in an hour! Once we were home, I got busy making jam and freezing some for smoothies.

Check out this beauty! It nearly filled the palm of my hand and it wasn't even the biggest one!
The finished product! I made about 2 buckets into jam and got 27 jars!

I'm rather embarrassed to say that I've never made jam before! I just never liked how much sugar is needed and oh, I don't know, lazy maybe? Well I found out about a recipe using way less sugar and SUPER easy to make, so I decided to try it. What's that? You want the recipe? Sure!

2.5 cups strawberries
1 cup (or less) sugar--- I used 3/4 cup
2 T. instant clear jel
Place in blender or food processor in order given and pulse until clear jel is mixed in. Fill jars and freeze.

How easy is that?! And it's yummy too!

baptism

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Yesterday was R's baptism (there were 6 others too!). Praising God for R's choice to follow HIM!