tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77272944760399200982024-02-23T18:35:21.829-06:00Pleasant BoundariesDaynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-25916530113143946972012-01-02T07:22:00.000-06:002012-01-02T07:22:49.621-06:00Wise Counsel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS7KKscKWgeb2ZbY19Ya829qMi8_Y44VvgO1uTI_3zmf_aTpNbVgt6xArNHiF6KYD_pVbGuCZUUNsFc5mXZWcWGlpE9A7g7XEdU2KH2Hnx3rDzIws3iJjKK8cQzS6FuOBypYc65Xbuvs/s1600/393558_10150543374061202_621646201_10552029_727058412_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS7KKscKWgeb2ZbY19Ya829qMi8_Y44VvgO1uTI_3zmf_aTpNbVgt6xArNHiF6KYD_pVbGuCZUUNsFc5mXZWcWGlpE9A7g7XEdU2KH2Hnx3rDzIws3iJjKK8cQzS6FuOBypYc65Xbuvs/s400/393558_10150543374061202_621646201_10552029_727058412_n.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't make New Year's resolutions, as a rule. I know myself far too well. I start strong, but I don't always finish well, depending on what it is. I need to take ownership of something in order to be motivated to see it through to completion, and a calendar date doesn't normally serve as a catalyst.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can decide that it's time to eat better, work out harder, clean more, get organized, revamp our school schedule, be nicer to my children, remember to iron Craig's shirts before he needs them, catch up on emails... the list goes on; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">but </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">God's Word tells us to number our days, to make the most of every opportunity, to take up our cross and <b><i>daily</i></b> follow Jesus.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">None of those former things matter much apart from the latter, and January 1st doesn't have to be the day that spurs me to frantically start checking things off, just to find in a couple of months that I don't have enough steam left to accomplish my lofty ambitions.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still, while cleaning up Christmas and New Year's messes, putting away decorations, and gearing up for the rest of the school year, it's a good time for reflection and planning.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">2011 was an exciting year for us, full of change, blessing, and challenge.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't make any particular declaration about what I expect to see happen in 2012, but these things I do know:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">~ God is faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">~ His mercy is new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">~ He longs to be gracious to His people. (Isaiah 30:18)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">~ He has promised in His Word to bring to completion the good work that He has begun in us. (Philippians 1:6)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow, we have the wonderful opportunity to take a day trip and visit some special friends. I'm looking forward to this time of fellowship and refreshment before resuming our daily routine here at home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">After that, I plan to spend the rest of the week doing some spiritual "assessment" with the children and seeking God's will and direction for the rest of our school year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend shared <a href="http://www.visionforum.com/news/blogs/doug/2011/12/9845/?fb_ref=blogindex&fb_source=profile_oneline" target="_blank">this blog post</a> from a faithful brother in Christ, which I find especially useful and inspiring. Craig and I read it and have decided to put Mr. Phillips's counsel into practice.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm sure that our lists will differ from the Phillips Family's lists, but several of Doug's suggestions are worth copying, such as his advice to personally thank those who've blessed and influenced us, and encourage our children to do the same.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm excited about taking time with the children to recall God's specific blessings and provision for our family over the past year, and looking ahead to what He has in store for us next.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-44616651255301456372011-12-29T16:10:00.000-06:002011-12-29T16:10:32.606-06:00Wedding Soup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBrm1Il1Gs0chTwuOhtVnHQMo-5e9MOGzhmQetkpKekBz_jH6b50j0XD5oyrTQ1E-JzR_Wr4xslihvAn-c3sZk7ZRWEZMnLLT3vTDkX7VhufQ9GzS6KUcePS6-qMlOgLg17J4PfCJyx0/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBrm1Il1Gs0chTwuOhtVnHQMo-5e9MOGzhmQetkpKekBz_jH6b50j0XD5oyrTQ1E-JzR_Wr4xslihvAn-c3sZk7ZRWEZMnLLT3vTDkX7VhufQ9GzS6KUcePS6-qMlOgLg17J4PfCJyx0/s400/IMG_0587.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Having lived away from our extended family for most of the past nineteen years, the responsibility of holiday dinners has been almost entirely mine. Only on a few occasions have we spent a major holiday away with family.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been especially fun when my parents have come for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I love working in the kitchen with the two best cooks I know!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the children have grown & become more adept in the kitchen, my work load has become lighter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year, the work of Christmas meal prep was even lighter - for me, at least.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The children did almost all of the baking. I only made one batch of lemon sugar snaps (from Martha Stewart; my first time; marginal results).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were invited to share Christmas dinner with The Cousins, with "instructions" to bring whatever we wanted.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nice!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The girls made a couple of quiches and some desserts, and I got over easily.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided to make soup, and the girls made a special request:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wedding Soup.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being from Pittsburgh, I learned about Italian food (and Polish food and German food) before I ever learned about "soul" food. In fact, growing up, my exposure to "soul food" was relegated to a mere handful of basic options (although, with my parents, even ordinary foods are extraordinary):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fried Chicken</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ribs </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(I'll ONLY eat my dad's.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Collard Greens</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(I ONLY ate my dad's until Craig learned how to make them.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I've already mentioned, my parents are the best cooks I know, and this is true even with Italian food.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, I never had wedding soup while growing up in their household.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't even know anyone else who makes it at home, except for a lady I once met in an Italian market. As a visual learner, I didn't remember much of her verbal recipe sharing that day. So, when I was ready to make it at home just a few years ago, I had to search online for a recipe.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ended up finding two recipes that seemed promising. Each one lacked something that the other offered, so I combined the best of the two.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the past several years, this has been a favorite, not only for my household, but also for friends and relatives who've tasted it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Christmas Day this year, though, I decided to wing it, and it ended up being the best yet! The Cousins don't eat much beef or any pork; so to be safe, I made turkey meatballs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's what I did:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turkey Meatballs = ground turkey, crumbled bread (a slice or so of something good - I used my homemade wheat bread and grated it manually), chopped onions, herbs, salt, pepper, egg, milk.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't make them too large. I used a tablespoon to scoop mine, and that's about as large as they should ever be.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cook the meatballs in the bottom of the soup pot you plan to use. Add chopped vegetables when the meatballs are sufficiently browned:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(It'll be necessary to push the meatballs to the sides of the pot & add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">fennel</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(I was out of celery, and I'm SO glad! Fennel is the way of the future. For sure.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">carrots</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">onion</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">garlic</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">spinach</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Confession: I use frozen spinach.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I keep a cute little covered dish of coarse salt next to my stove. I always feel more chef-like as I pinch and sprinkle while cooking. Don't be shy, but don't overdo it. That goes for pepper, too. It doesn't hurt to add a bit more herbs and other seasonings along with the vegetables. I added some ground celery seed, as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK, I can hear your question. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">("Which herbs?")</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used rosemary, thyme, sage (all fresh), and dried oregano. I may have thrown in a little savory, but I can't recall for certain.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">NOTE: This soup got rave reviews, even from The Cousins (who, surprisingly, had never tasted Wedding Soup before). So, if yours turns out bland, don't blame me. I am a seasoner. I just can't direct you on exactly how much. You'll have to sample as you go.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My only caution is that it is possible to use too much oregano, and it doesn't take much to cross the line. That stuff is powerful, unless it's fresh.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf25BA0HIRPVEiF_1vd-94Zv9j5tfWkbKljh-q15Kfvi0-VcpNSfsxQuPfKyUK9BLT8srpq-JMJi4IQLi4xhRX04RqMNxcdfvro0BbQL3IHzmaonr1XTxm7qEVduOAD-lsfaVsizbLWg/s1600/IMG_1168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf25BA0HIRPVEiF_1vd-94Zv9j5tfWkbKljh-q15Kfvi0-VcpNSfsxQuPfKyUK9BLT8srpq-JMJi4IQLi4xhRX04RqMNxcdfvro0BbQL3IHzmaonr1XTxm7qEVduOAD-lsfaVsizbLWg/s400/IMG_1168.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cute little covered dish (gotta love Polish pottery, eh?)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> When the veggies start to get a little tender, go ahead and add chicken broth. Now, I'm leaving this up to your discretion. It really depends on how many meatballs you have, whether or not you add a mini pasta (I usually don't), and how brothy you like your soup. It's totally a matter of personal preference, but at least use enough broth to cover the ingredients and leave room for evaporation as it simmers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's it. That's how I made my wedding soup. It's all in how you season it - and your meatballs really make a difference, too. Please - whatever you do! - DO NOT cheat by buying frozen meatballs. Seriously. It's worth the effort to make them yourself. If you decide to ignore my advice, just don't tell anyone where you got the recipe, OK?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">;-)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNQuBtemsaLnKHrAWcIE3YboT_3_cAR1jXTzsB4eh99bAuXM4o0sp9Dt0Dmfh06yYOF1DVQ-QbJKzoxjpdLPmztO3UlpuW8Ivq51Tan6DJwqdkSf6htNFwKTiy2z_vlF2J-ITTBftLgk/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNQuBtemsaLnKHrAWcIE3YboT_3_cAR1jXTzsB4eh99bAuXM4o0sp9Dt0Dmfh06yYOF1DVQ-QbJKzoxjpdLPmztO3UlpuW8Ivq51Tan6DJwqdkSf6htNFwKTiy2z_vlF2J-ITTBftLgk/s400/IMG_0589.JPG" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The girls said that this photo makes the soup look more like swamp water (the camera is still in the shop); but I assure you, it is far superior to that.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-86071299659007875702011-12-27T16:10:00.000-06:002011-12-27T16:10:53.414-06:00Two Decades & Still a Rookie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4y633Tk6ozVf1wKYl3fWncgz3Xpwht8PWuqEwJN2fY0h_H1yo-XV8E0gDwhduO9Aog-gsA_6nZhsiDmL5o00iBnIh-RNCZxeWGOudhuHzkg5s8aNYZxnNXBehzTPzamblAqJrCd4OBE/s1600/IMG_0572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4y633Tk6ozVf1wKYl3fWncgz3Xpwht8PWuqEwJN2fY0h_H1yo-XV8E0gDwhduO9Aog-gsA_6nZhsiDmL5o00iBnIh-RNCZxeWGOudhuHzkg5s8aNYZxnNXBehzTPzamblAqJrCd4OBE/s400/IMG_0572.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is late, but blame it on Christmas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Twenty years ago, on Christmas Day, Craig & I embarked on a grand and fabulous new journey...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">of parenthood.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">One would think that two decades and five children later, we'd be the go-to people for how it's done.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Au contraire,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">we are not.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">But we strive to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each new day, season, experience, etc., of parenting is just that: new.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thus, we remain rookies.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is exactly as it should be, lest we deceive ourselves and assume that we no longer need to depend on the Lord for wisdom and guidance.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">With fear and trembling, we seek counsel from the Word of God and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as we aim these children in the "way they should go".</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are fully dependent on the mercy of our gracious Heavenly Father, from Whose hands they have been given.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm grateful for the twenty years I've had so far as Caelyn's mom. She is a true blessing, always eager to serve joyfully, humbly, quietly.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her quick wit, inherited from Craig, lightens the mood of our home and offers us the much-needed "good medicine" of laughter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Caelyn loves people and has a knack for making anyone feel welcome in her presence - from the elderly, all the way to babies and toddlers, and anyone in between.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">She is a true friend who "loves at all times" (Proverbs 17:17).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecwcldBO3JRSVKkWVnPBdDjJ50RbxtPS8a8PE1lDU-3CuB_8bblBgiSm95dG7OgQU9E8fk3_B36hlo45YyYi4oKjpwiLeCwO40YOGQHQyANBCcA958V7w5smGQfIDMzqi814HYzYkmew/s1600/IMG_0569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecwcldBO3JRSVKkWVnPBdDjJ50RbxtPS8a8PE1lDU-3CuB_8bblBgiSm95dG7OgQU9E8fk3_B36hlo45YyYi4oKjpwiLeCwO40YOGQHQyANBCcA958V7w5smGQfIDMzqi814HYzYkmew/s400/IMG_0569.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the purse I made for Caelyn's birthday, using <a href="http://www.izzyandivydesigns.com/?p=86" target="_blank">this pattern</a> that I first saw at the Houston Quilt Show. I knew right away that I must make it for her. I started it in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, and finished it around 1 a.m. on Christmas morning. I'd change a couple of things about the construction in the future, but overall, I love the design! I kept thinking, "These people are so clever!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div><br />
</div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-18664255448330768542011-12-20T16:08:00.000-06:002011-12-20T16:08:15.855-06:00Festivities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHBrCSJqx6d-GPdhkfPfzqZVIP6-ugB7rsD5Atrik9OiOlJHZxt6Tt5rBSWu3qqEaU8Bz1W_dxaIhGB0HrYKTQ2qp2N-uSMgxLpFKZdiG5WMbuIYHfzGIwsm3KMucpLmpO7RdPVqfo6k/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHBrCSJqx6d-GPdhkfPfzqZVIP6-ugB7rsD5Atrik9OiOlJHZxt6Tt5rBSWu3qqEaU8Bz1W_dxaIhGB0HrYKTQ2qp2N-uSMgxLpFKZdiG5WMbuIYHfzGIwsm3KMucpLmpO7RdPVqfo6k/s400/IMG_1117.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I haven't owned a water globe in my adult life. I was so pleased to receive this beautiful one from our friend, Peggy, who joined us for breakfast recently.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've been invited to share Christmas dinner this year with The Cousins, so we've had a low-key preparation period. In the meantime, we've enjoyed some opportunities to extend hospitality.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our friend, Jon, visited </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">from Pittsburgh</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> for a few days last week. While he was here, we invited a few friends to join us for breakfast on Saturday morning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Breakfast is arguably <a href="http://thefamilythatpreparestogether.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">our favorite meal</a>, so it was a pleasure to plan and prepare for a great time of morning fellowship.</span></div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDgptMHVcy7UPSmZ3vMjoTZxU9N31ZWr1t0O2QmPmIJrPKtCSwhlR2KAK72UXw_L2cvYBjsQEisD-ak3z2jl0c-XQ_urKTBNGRUlgEc28OBzEncAH0bIASazmgUZaC35AmJaezzRSgN4/s1600/IMG_1091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDgptMHVcy7UPSmZ3vMjoTZxU9N31ZWr1t0O2QmPmIJrPKtCSwhlR2KAK72UXw_L2cvYBjsQEisD-ak3z2jl0c-XQ_urKTBNGRUlgEc28OBzEncAH0bIASazmgUZaC35AmJaezzRSgN4/s400/IMG_1091.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sue and I were excited for our daughters to finally meet. Allie is a sweet, outgoing young lady who loves the Word of God, and the girls had lots to share during the visit.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC_t5oLab2jG9DbXReEIFCwafJPfBQd3yV5pyj-0haHmgrwxDStOaBmE6gq1ptByr04FugRygIW7WqXEl7hzJsc-xcDGG6jJxPPCZXW6buqmyseWyxraHSAVKaTw95uaGw3tlwEU3QU8/s1600/IMG_1096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC_t5oLab2jG9DbXReEIFCwafJPfBQd3yV5pyj-0haHmgrwxDStOaBmE6gq1ptByr04FugRygIW7WqXEl7hzJsc-xcDGG6jJxPPCZXW6buqmyseWyxraHSAVKaTw95uaGw3tlwEU3QU8/s400/IMG_1096.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm pretty sure this is the best candle I've ever owned. The scent is Amber & Bergamot, and it's addictive, therapeutic, soothing... I highly recommend it. (Thanks, Sue!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday, Morgan and I helped Gabriela prepare for her First Annual (maybe) Cookie & Ornament Exchange, with some of her friends.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Caelyn was away at her nanny job, and the boys helped around the house as we prepared.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For Gabriela's ornaments, we used <a href="http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2011/12/v-and-co-how-to-fabric-ornament.html" target="_blank">Vanessa's tutorial</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">These were fun and easy to make, but a little hard on the fingertips (with the hot glue).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtfuihuhM9lPOe5oa6cKn-swTXsggksrT7d-V7EC28tnaHDP-aTsIfEqhW0_Ia4mCVXxc1cDp7wwevSNRgMHKwrqV0_v-_Qnlk7c9Nl40j6rMiE-UgmOJB9TH1FqPaETQAPThXFIUvQU/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtfuihuhM9lPOe5oa6cKn-swTXsggksrT7d-V7EC28tnaHDP-aTsIfEqhW0_Ia4mCVXxc1cDp7wwevSNRgMHKwrqV0_v-_Qnlk7c9Nl40j6rMiE-UgmOJB9TH1FqPaETQAPThXFIUvQU/s400/IMG_1110.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I helped with stitching the circles and did a bit of hot gluing, but Gabriela did most of the work on these. I think she did well for her first project of this sort.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-N3eBDbpkhit6uYgqVVB9IQZfUtTqrUghzuZh5YtUXhb-fQRopNREPW_hIP8UkUtHOE5yf4rbla9uqyBNANGsuXzsMMDqLb__1g3wL5bn0NatBePJzjZ7NRgYk24q8op7gVBpMkuQBo/s1600/IMG_1101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-N3eBDbpkhit6uYgqVVB9IQZfUtTqrUghzuZh5YtUXhb-fQRopNREPW_hIP8UkUtHOE5yf4rbla9uqyBNANGsuXzsMMDqLb__1g3wL5bn0NatBePJzjZ7NRgYk24q8op7gVBpMkuQBo/s400/IMG_1101.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The girls, (l to r), Emily, AnaLisa, Gabriela, Sarah, & Chloe, had a delightful time playing games, exchanging goodies, and, of course, giggling.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsq8gTo3UQOUAChuETatUCysRGlPdixCCZw6ubowiIHmnyKe9yM6o1eyWMpMwXmY6FQBZZf5_P7HdKwzawJ5LkOy0Szgy4TuWi3Hh_GsWfBbve6e6J5VR0ORUCwG-cx4PYbO9cWuYr6BQ/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsq8gTo3UQOUAChuETatUCysRGlPdixCCZw6ubowiIHmnyKe9yM6o1eyWMpMwXmY6FQBZZf5_P7HdKwzawJ5LkOy0Szgy4TuWi3Hh_GsWfBbve6e6J5VR0ORUCwG-cx4PYbO9cWuYr6BQ/s400/IMG_1105.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">AnaLisa's cookies were so adorable! Sadly, I didn't get to sample one.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqgbR954KL0w0OY2Ty693aBT9O-53euf4ZyfcZEqoUmsE-MX0QZHp0ZO4JnTO_FcRcT_u0vQJZi76H5xChJn1riTc4IKdB3j6Dx1UDpZYT76YRr4SvCLy4Hw6cLk7HfxKHjP1gk9oSqg/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqgbR954KL0w0OY2Ty693aBT9O-53euf4ZyfcZEqoUmsE-MX0QZHp0ZO4JnTO_FcRcT_u0vQJZi76H5xChJn1riTc4IKdB3j6Dx1UDpZYT76YRr4SvCLy4Hw6cLk7HfxKHjP1gk9oSqg/s400/IMG_1106.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chloe spent the night at our house the night before the party, and made chocolate chip cookies with Morgan. Gabriela opted for kiss cookies, which Morgan volunteered to make for her. (Happiness is having a really amazing older sister!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Gpmf-1hqndPWephUa0RhnwmvyhX4s9t1ONtBOlkvYh5D24gLLD05Ront28vu43q-CFWYk9wK5vIG8lQpXO_XH2a8YQU7c8UAk2T9grdN1orTlrTZsc3yC4YqjKj0fCTPf3iZUgG3cMg/s1600/IMG_1108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Gpmf-1hqndPWephUa0RhnwmvyhX4s9t1ONtBOlkvYh5D24gLLD05Ront28vu43q-CFWYk9wK5vIG8lQpXO_XH2a8YQU7c8UAk2T9grdN1orTlrTZsc3yC4YqjKj0fCTPf3iZUgG3cMg/s400/IMG_1108.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sarah & Emily brought these yummy pretzel-Rolo sandwiches. My mom makes these with a pecan on top, and we make them with an M&M on top. Either way, these go quickly!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7sMM68saT_zRWISBnYshOe5OWKLNkK0QagmEWOI3B-phyphenhyphenRSmhTud8T1devtN5tANFqtF7l5PyeNUTD8Qvzrd0rONp90pPCEzTucfX8eGPXh1HuLmgq-2EooE-XkMCO38Mebcs_ZfHPo/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7sMM68saT_zRWISBnYshOe5OWKLNkK0QagmEWOI3B-phyphenhyphenRSmhTud8T1devtN5tANFqtF7l5PyeNUTD8Qvzrd0rONp90pPCEzTucfX8eGPXh1HuLmgq-2EooE-XkMCO38Mebcs_ZfHPo/s400/IMG_1113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the record - and I feel that my word should suffice - homemade peppermint patties (brought by Sarah & Emily) are far superior to the name-brand option.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">On a superficial note, I'm still trying to be patient as I await the return of my camera from the repair shop. I'm no photographer, but I look forward to sharing better-quality photos in the hopefully-not-too-distant future.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">How are you preparing for Christmas?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-70363294214543358732011-12-18T11:54:00.000-06:002011-12-18T11:54:32.557-06:00Giveaway Winner!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Participating in the <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/" target="_blank">Sew, Mama, Sew!</a> Giveaway has been such a fun experience for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to all who left comments on my <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/12/sew-mama-sew-giveaway.html" target="_blank">nursing cover giveaway post</a>. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My family and I enjoyed reading through all of them (a few times)!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was tough to choose a winner, because every comment was so intriguing. I'm amazed at how many common interests we share. It made me wish that I could have 24 nursing covers on-hand to give away!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Together, we've decided that <a href="http://brightandshiny-lovelyandgood.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Amber of "Bright and Shiny - Lovely and Good"</a> will get the cover. In her comment, she said,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If I could be anywhere, I'd choose a trip to Great Britain with my hubby. I've never gotten to use a passport, so that would be fun by itself, but I'd love to explore the streets of London, the Scottish highlands, Beatrix Potter's preserved countryside, and the gardens at Project Eden! I couldn't imagine ever going on a trip without my husband, either. I'd rather be home with him than there without. Your giveaway is so much fun! I have a friend who just had her second child plus 2 foster kids under 3 at home. It's fun to send her stuff once in a while because she deserves it! Thanks for the giveaway!"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Congratulations, Amber! Thank you for participating! Please send me your address so that I may send this to you as soon as possible.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We really enjoyed reading through each comment. I'm especially blessed to see all of the women who hold their husbands in high regard and prefer being with them - and with their children - rather than away from them. This is becoming more and more rare in our society. Family is so important, and our husbands and children need to know that we appreciate them and love being with them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you, everyone, for making this giveaway so much fun for me!</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-52467039545704924682011-12-16T08:43:00.000-06:002011-12-16T08:43:59.973-06:00This Has Been a Good Week!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qjs1kZRbTR3D-druBu2Xshx3upsrg1b2VMgfNkptd5Jd_-GuIm9BKNzIM9uTAO-hqcQVmQpf-_ppSuzJKZfz096fE7zEWeohWo6pN7A4_vac7A0f7yvKjHS2EE2la9W4ntNwJU3ZLB0/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qjs1kZRbTR3D-druBu2Xshx3upsrg1b2VMgfNkptd5Jd_-GuIm9BKNzIM9uTAO-hqcQVmQpf-_ppSuzJKZfz096fE7zEWeohWo6pN7A4_vac7A0f7yvKjHS2EE2la9W4ntNwJU3ZLB0/s400/IMG_0535.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been on a roll this week. I had fallen behind in my menu planning and grocery shopping, but I ironed that all out early this week. It feels nice to be on track again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My workout schedule has drastically improved after a long rut. I feel energized again (and my clothes are fitting better).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are oodles of reasons to give thanks and praise to the Lord for His many blessings. I could go on, but these are just a couple of highlights.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Adding to the list are a few sewing projects that I tackled this week. I sent <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/12/now-why-didnt-i-think-of-that.html" target="_blank">these</a> off in the mail to my friend in Pennsylvania, and I managed to get <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/12/sew-mama-sew-giveaway.html" target="_blank">this</a> ready just in time for the <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/" target="_blank">giveaway</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend in North Carolina really liked the <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/nook-bag.html" target="_blank">Nook bag</a> I made for Gabriela. Her daughter saw it and asked for a similar one, but wanted it to be larger. So, my friend asked me to make a <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/trying-again.html" target="_blank">messenger bag</a> for her daughter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sent her some photos of some fabric choices, and here's what she chose:</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCl7X6xSxAFBJNB9ZlWQuSc1jk1E1JVRc-zxv6CF65HfUCKTtbu0Nb0BGM-c8pi1trdAPiEayGvSy-Mc3sNmDRgwmVpdtHgrCxEN5JDbg9hxEKg_xCl5vbm00-OvqTlf6d07-cAfU4KE/s1600/IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCl7X6xSxAFBJNB9ZlWQuSc1jk1E1JVRc-zxv6CF65HfUCKTtbu0Nb0BGM-c8pi1trdAPiEayGvSy-Mc3sNmDRgwmVpdtHgrCxEN5JDbg9hxEKg_xCl5vbm00-OvqTlf6d07-cAfU4KE/s400/IMG_0536.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK11vOUDX7zOhhf9VFmrSlogHpjILOqUY1VN_Smo3XoCtBAYs7G7ar3E4fi6tjFnSyDV3vlYb3E3EsvoWmF6EOfZq7Kw4YWziy2PcdBjMpNChFkIU10hSrVr7AusNVPtOLzCpbHllRHHI/s1600/IMG_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK11vOUDX7zOhhf9VFmrSlogHpjILOqUY1VN_Smo3XoCtBAYs7G7ar3E4fi6tjFnSyDV3vlYb3E3EsvoWmF6EOfZq7Kw4YWziy2PcdBjMpNChFkIU10hSrVr7AusNVPtOLzCpbHllRHHI/s400/IMG_0538.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I decided to use the elephant print on the back to break up the dots.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajpMj7jTFQ3sEK0oYZvE8NCxlhGxgPtlqQYZdSMDFwvpfBs6ecTZpO1YOgVL3-7Vw3J7MJap1b9ziqRpAut5luCXQz5LRw9bZgcY9ZP-6Gs3pbNqMNXAjNAYpWLAnZ3QWlKXtF4VFVOA/s1600/IMG_0537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajpMj7jTFQ3sEK0oYZvE8NCxlhGxgPtlqQYZdSMDFwvpfBs6ecTZpO1YOgVL3-7Vw3J7MJap1b9ziqRpAut5luCXQz5LRw9bZgcY9ZP-6Gs3pbNqMNXAjNAYpWLAnZ3QWlKXtF4VFVOA/s400/IMG_0537.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Morgan does good work with her iPhone photos. I can't pull this off like she can. I hope to have my camera back very soon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-72197294465273853182011-12-15T09:39:00.000-06:002011-12-15T09:39:42.258-06:00Now, Why Didn't I Think of That?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1eTaMmTDmdj_q2YHavTZWGA6uDRBrn5W2Md_B_KeNkyJZPDkExHwEtnxptErDqmi6vv8lrXenKPh6lE46KNiT4cgHrLLAKzy-nizcYMGaSR1jXmsvVYs0-3BfHGZ2NsN2x1vN8am39o/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1eTaMmTDmdj_q2YHavTZWGA6uDRBrn5W2Md_B_KeNkyJZPDkExHwEtnxptErDqmi6vv8lrXenKPh6lE46KNiT4cgHrLLAKzy-nizcYMGaSR1jXmsvVYs0-3BfHGZ2NsN2x1vN8am39o/s400/IMG_1061.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Three-generation apron set; thanks to my girls for modeling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been making aprons for several years, and it never occurred to me that I should make a matching set for my girls, or my girls and me, or my girls and my mom and me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I still haven't done it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">But my friend, Peaches -- for whom I made <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/03/b.html" target="_blank">this project</a> in the spring, and <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/trying-again.html" target="_blank">this project</a> just recently (with a matching laptop sleeve) -- asked me to make a set of aprons for her to wear with her daughter and granddaughter on her next visit.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh, how I wish that I could be a fly on the wall of their kitchen to observe all the cuteness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Except that I'd get swatted.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">At least, that's what I'd do if I saw a fly on the wall of my kitchen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think that this technically qualifies as a <a href="http://lieslmade.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/craft-book-challenge/" target="_blank">Craft Book Challenge</a> post, since it's my variation of a design in one of my magazines, and I haven't posted for <a href="http://lieslmade.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Liesl's</a> challenge in quite a while.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe I'm stretching it...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-37239334996497185772011-12-14T19:02:00.001-06:002011-12-16T19:06:39.976-06:00A "Sew, Mama, Sew!" Giveaway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/november2011/GiveawayDay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/november2011/GiveawayDay.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3T8TMnBh7F_EyS2PO9HGr_qmg10GwqU9ULDz0g9He7Or7q0exWZ61mBW1Zi1NHAbgDyLxIS3AWLeCoViHTvbgzBAWGQ6lvURyHimW-HtVte3riwDcXpe8rTLXFcj84ftt1XZwQ4Jl5U/s1600/IMG_1066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3T8TMnBh7F_EyS2PO9HGr_qmg10GwqU9ULDz0g9He7Or7q0exWZ61mBW1Zi1NHAbgDyLxIS3AWLeCoViHTvbgzBAWGQ6lvURyHimW-HtVte3riwDcXpe8rTLXFcj84ftt1XZwQ4Jl5U/s400/IMG_1066.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Disclaimer: My camera is STILL in the shop, so forgive my poor-quality phone photos.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm so excited to be hosting my very first giveaway! <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/" target="_blank">Sew, Mama, Sew!</a> is hosting a gigantic giveaway week, and they've invited "any" blogger to participate.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(I think I qualify as "any" -- as in, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"They'll let any ol' person participate, won't they?")</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided to add something to the "Baby & Kid" category, so here it is: a nursing cover.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've made several of these over the years, and you can sneak a peek at just a few examples <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-good-to-be-back.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/04/ive-sewn-therefore-ill-tell.html" target="_blank">here</a>, & <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/01/nursing-bibs.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1U0CyIyjebU5jexD1zgdUF-u-ffACBhHOrkZrM4hY_IBBNOJHYRcArQMMGQwSbVyr8HCk5htCTa3OqcBoSRM7wW5ME97ALnFgirZwep-RySSXos0cmWj__8hhhmuL8YZRuoYwFa9cv8/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1U0CyIyjebU5jexD1zgdUF-u-ffACBhHOrkZrM4hY_IBBNOJHYRcArQMMGQwSbVyr8HCk5htCTa3OqcBoSRM7wW5ME97ALnFgirZwep-RySSXos0cmWj__8hhhmuL8YZRuoYwFa9cv8/s400/IMG_1063.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In addition to installing boning in the neckline to allow Mama to peek at her nursing baby when necessary, I like to include a pocket for stashing nursing pads during the feeding.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiSaleko9TJo-yVCCNBMT_KRefSY_IA96CthsmJCVvEXOcK_mdx2Es2ANxLFZlReLdjUqAzk-AAiuIeysSxiBuueoe833Gdl3ns3BRmoChGJPCILblNe0QPqAkKbc_INaHgsOAMYUMOI/s1600/IMG_1067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiSaleko9TJo-yVCCNBMT_KRefSY_IA96CthsmJCVvEXOcK_mdx2Es2ANxLFZlReLdjUqAzk-AAiuIeysSxiBuueoe833Gdl3ns3BRmoChGJPCILblNe0QPqAkKbc_INaHgsOAMYUMOI/s400/IMG_1067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I like to add a backing to my nursing covers, and I couldn't resist this fabric. I bought what was left on the bolt. :-)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Visit the <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/" target="_blank">SMS blog</a> to see all of the fabulous giveaways that are happening this week -- there are many! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, hurry! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The giveaway period ends on Friday, December 16 at 5 p.m. (PST).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm a bit late posting this, but I just couldn't make it happen sooner. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Actually, I found out about after it had already started.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">To enter my giveaway for this nursing cover (whether you want it for yourself or as a gift for someone else), all you have to do is leave a comment answering this three-part question:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you could be anywhere in the world, with the companion of your choice, where would you be, who would be your companion, and what would you do there?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'll choose the best one, in my opinion, and that commenter will be the winner of the nursing cover. I'll notify the winner by December 18, so please make sure that you include an email so that I may contact you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">How fun! Now I'm off to enter a giveaway or two, myself!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">** ETA: It's sad, but true. The Giveaway is now closed. I hate to do it, but I don't want to break the rules on my very first time participating.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">:-)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to everyone who commented. It's been a blast! The winner will be announced by Sunday evening (12/18).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-31339547757354947662011-12-09T12:12:00.000-06:002011-12-09T12:12:41.449-06:00Advent Calendar for a Friend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbegPtdOemWxaIiUwuUPTRb9ZiqvZDRT5VXiuL8ey1_kNwjmTc2ZpyLHXRTrj_UyckWL6HJ_SdxOtd9XWwHjROXhZoRyM0hhHXfZ-0lB3WAwkVZzAwP7zNQ_ONaYoiVkj4hEQOMkoHNo/s1600/IMG_1035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbegPtdOemWxaIiUwuUPTRb9ZiqvZDRT5VXiuL8ey1_kNwjmTc2ZpyLHXRTrj_UyckWL6HJ_SdxOtd9XWwHjROXhZoRyM0hhHXfZ-0lB3WAwkVZzAwP7zNQ_ONaYoiVkj4hEQOMkoHNo/s400/IMG_1035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a penchant for over-tasking myself, and I use the excuse that I work better under pressure. The truth is that I just procrastinate until I have NO CHOICE than to produce something under the pressure of lacking time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love it, though! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My white board makes me crazy and happy. I'm one of those weird people who let out a little "mad scientist" giggle, as I cross off an item from my list.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently, my young friend, Kelly, sent me <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86550772/light-blue-and-red-advent-calendar" target="_blank">this link</a> and asked if I could make something similar for her.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've been friends with Kelly's family for nearly twenty years. She was a little girl in the youth group that Craig helped to lead back in the early 90s, when we lived in California; and she's now married and expecting her second child.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">How could I say, "No"?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This ended up being a really fun project, and I'm so glad that she trusted me to give it a whirl.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I spent a couple of days thinking about what to use for the main background, and I remembered this old sweater of mine that had been added to my "recycle" stash.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This sweater is too big for me now, as I wore it in the "old days" (read "pregnant-and-nursing-days") before I took charge of my health and fitness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aAepBKP0t56mXmUhoNy_B3yAvDZjdvqOJKWZ7SadubSL_TKmp0Ig0_zc8ruzs0UKlckcxNiXC8JtH-jl8Y5DSY5Ojs3yHNwtTalLEUqJbHzgnaQn68jaw_wcIbGmdFMk3aA4-mhJioo/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aAepBKP0t56mXmUhoNy_B3yAvDZjdvqOJKWZ7SadubSL_TKmp0Ig0_zc8ruzs0UKlckcxNiXC8JtH-jl8Y5DSY5Ojs3yHNwtTalLEUqJbHzgnaQn68jaw_wcIbGmdFMk3aA4-mhJioo/s400/IMG_1029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once I got over the fact that PART of a garment that used to FIT me could be used to make a WALL HANGING,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was free to proceed.</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSH0hP2sgk8KKhwSqtT49UQPhn0W_X2NQiFHJdgsLibYmDOCxqSRndVHmPJtR1mQLRpmyHJXvp0p_oW9kmhrS_ZRwwi9wkeYUx_U79Fx8-ymu-_EZSfpfLhMdtXtQSUlS4uCv4U4aVV8/s1600/IMG_1030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSH0hP2sgk8KKhwSqtT49UQPhn0W_X2NQiFHJdgsLibYmDOCxqSRndVHmPJtR1mQLRpmyHJXvp0p_oW9kmhrS_ZRwwi9wkeYUx_U79Fx8-ymu-_EZSfpfLhMdtXtQSUlS4uCv4U4aVV8/s400/IMG_1030.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It took several moments of soul-searching before I finally cut into the sweater.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of the details of the original sample that Kelly had sent just didn't sit well with me. She's a really special friend with really great style, so I wanted to pay closer attention to some of the details, without losing the rustic look that she was aiming to achieve.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my heart I knew that the numbers should be embroidered, rather than "markered". Still, Morgan had to stand by me and help to build my confidence.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Embroidering the numbers made the project take about three times as long as if I had simply written them, but I'm so glad that I took the time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Morgan helped with the placement and color choices, but we tried to be intentionally random with them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I went for a "wonky" placement of the numbers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For some reason, "3", "15", and "17" just wouldn't cooperate in the hoop; but I persevered.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIAOxPo2Ummptqb4-tBYLV4knBpClb18-bnksyAwOY4FLfJnr-6JPHA5NE8uzh6liunoiwuKMk3zupzcXMmBjoPqxQkQPOkQo2NqJjjJfLEhqiSbg-J4qiM55TmxKfdI0oecmJp3TFdo/s1600/IMG_1037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIAOxPo2Ummptqb4-tBYLV4knBpClb18-bnksyAwOY4FLfJnr-6JPHA5NE8uzh6liunoiwuKMk3zupzcXMmBjoPqxQkQPOkQo2NqJjjJfLEhqiSbg-J4qiM55TmxKfdI0oecmJp3TFdo/s400/IMG_1037.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Soon, Lord willing, my photos should improve, as I've finally taken my real camera to be repaired. My phone just doesn't cut it; but at least I have a record, albeit fuzzy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB2ZrNaPHsTnKWCBf5lHhJxcml1nOrlPPWr3QHeWdApPIxg23t954twzySxAx-ssY75wqXklqk3R39YBvzpcNSbrbCgbm_cZi2A5fwjZLDEhSMGGVGfZChWxhvC0AOsfCDaSogpXzpUU/s1600/IMG_1039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB2ZrNaPHsTnKWCBf5lHhJxcml1nOrlPPWr3QHeWdApPIxg23t954twzySxAx-ssY75wqXklqk3R39YBvzpcNSbrbCgbm_cZi2A5fwjZLDEhSMGGVGfZChWxhvC0AOsfCDaSogpXzpUU/s400/IMG_1039.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Many thanks to Gabriela for scavenging in the back yard for a stick. I used twill tape to hang it.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I got lots of "oohs" and "aahhs" from my girls - especially Gabriela, who hinted around to wanting one for our family to keep.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've had practice saying, "No", to her, though.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-3581798916057939232011-12-08T11:55:00.000-06:002011-12-08T11:55:34.667-06:00Grocery Store Discipleship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://www.rususa.com/city/images/citymap_houston_tx.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://www.rususa.com/city/images/citymap_houston_tx.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In just over a week, we will have been Texans for six months. (Well, that's if you don't get too technical and require a TX driver's license to make it official.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This. Place. Is. Vast.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I depend a lot on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> my GPS these days in order to run my usual errands.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some folks use <a href="http://www.costco.com/" target="_blank">Costco</a> for "bulk" purchases, but with the size of our family (and our appetites), it's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/search?q=costco" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">part of our regular grocery shopping</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's taken a while, but I'm finally over the fact that the nearest Costco is located in the city. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">About 25 miles away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In lots of traffic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Costco Day, I'm always sure to take along at least one helper from my "staff of volunteers". Yesterday, Craig Grayson packed his school books and joined me. We covered a lot of ground, and by the time we got to our final stop (Target), he opted to stay in the truck and finish his school work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">He had earned the break. That boy can pack a mean trunk!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can remember when it was my life's dream to be able to shop alone. I used to think that it was so unfortunate that we didn't have family nearby and couldn't afford regular babysitters to keep the children so that I might enjoy a child-free day of running errands.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nowadays, I beg for a companion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's now clear to me that it wasn't at all unfortunate that I didn't have anyone to ease what seemed a burden to me at the time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As much as I longed for a shopping trip without car seats, strollers, reprimands, and taking head-counts at regular intervals, I'm thankful that the children and I didn't miss the lessons involved.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'll admit that if I had been offered the help, I would have taken it; but we spend so much effort trying to alleviate what God intended for us to bear. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(ref. Genesis 3:16-19)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Women no longer have to endure the pain of childbirth if we don't want to. Most go as far as to say that they don't even want to have children, or at least not very many.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Men no longer toil for the sustenance of the family as they once did. Labor is no longer valued as a means of provision. These days, time is money, and no one breaks a sweat while sending emails or making calls.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Likewise, moms who are able to stay at home with their children often forfeit the teachable moment that comes from including them on the shopping trip (or doing chores or baking or serving guests...). Someone else is left to pacify the children in order to lighten Mom's load. This isn't inherently bad, in itself - we are called to bear one another's burdens, but we must be wise about which ones to bear.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I understand the value of help, and I encourage my daughters to help other mothers of young children when the need arises.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deuteronomy 6 tells parents to diligently teach God's commands to children "when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (ESV)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">How will children learn to be obedient in social settings if someone is always keeping them in the sterile environment of the toy room while mom goes "by the way" without them?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nap time and scheduling are important; but giving our children opportunities to learn proper behavior and be reminded that the world doesn't bend to the whim of one boy or girl, is even more important.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The grocery store is a perfect training ground for learning to "love your neighbor as yourself". </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My children's formative years were spent on Army posts, for the most part. This meant that we'd often encounter elderly retirees in the commissary, which offered the perfect opportunity to teach the children to "stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man" (Leviticus 19:32). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">When it comes to teaching children to be considerate of others, opportunities abound in a grocery aisle. I can't venture a guess at the number of times I've repeated this statement: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Stay to one side. Don't block the entire aisle. We're not the only ones here. Be considerate of other shoppers."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">If children are allowed to join mommy for her errands - and required to be obedient - after a while, not only will it gradually become less daunting to "handle" them in public, but they'll even learn how to be helpful. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Children should be regarded as producers, rather than merely as consumers. They are meant to be a blessing; but left to the toy room, they'll be hindered from opportunities to learn to be responsible and respectful when out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joining Mom on errands also prepares the children for learning to respond to others (safely by Mom's side, of course), look them in the eye, and respond coherently.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"So, is school out already?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"No, Sir. We're homeschooled."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Oooooooohhhhh....."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(By the way, learning to respond graciously to unsolicited opinions or snide remarks from others is another lesson best learned in the grocery store, and could be a blog post in itself. Oh. Yeah. I already did that <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/08/im-in-cheeky-mood.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">An important thing to remember is that it is God Who sends these treasured arrows to us, and it is His Word that teaches us how to instruct them. What a comfort it is to know that He is patient with us as His children, and patiently guides us as we learn to parent according to His Word. As a mother (who is still in the process), I'm continually encouraged by these verses:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Galatians 6:9</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"He Who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 Thessalonians 5:24</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remember, mothers, that God is concerned with our training as well as that of our children. He leads us as we lead them, and He uses the challenges of motherhood to teach us to trust Him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Regarding our children:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"... in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Philippians 2:3-4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's be interested in training our children diligently. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">May the Lord richly bless you as you aim your "arrows" for His glory!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-46457096535526793882011-12-03T22:53:00.000-06:002011-12-03T22:53:40.513-06:00Why We Homeschool: Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_MiQsoTGN-EegoBUEJKewG_EHuOg8Wgn8aXLyzD2PSD-q9qkUZPqpdaN3WVp9mI6l8aYZfU1DYI1lM_ebxO1AmmKB3ALOzdIVFflpKNfKCnBH4HaYR3Ma-3bBpuVfb1ri0jmyPJVTPg/s1600/IMG_0984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_MiQsoTGN-EegoBUEJKewG_EHuOg8Wgn8aXLyzD2PSD-q9qkUZPqpdaN3WVp9mI6l8aYZfU1DYI1lM_ebxO1AmmKB3ALOzdIVFflpKNfKCnBH4HaYR3Ma-3bBpuVfb1ri0jmyPJVTPg/s640/IMG_0984.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(So our dogs will be smarter. ;-)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can still recall the first time I ever heard the word "homeschool". I was watching a special news report about a family who had taken their children out of the public school system in order to educate them at home. As I watched and listened, I thought, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"That is the strangest thing I have EVER heard, and that mom must be some kind of incredible woman with super-smarts and ultra-patience! Somebody should make an action figure of her!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Just kidding about that last part.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A year or so later, we met a family who not only had more than two children </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(!), </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">but also educated their children at home. My thought then was,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Yeah. They would."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A couple of years after that, I began reading - somewhat "accidentally" - some real-life accounts of homeschooling families. I appreciated that these moms shared the good, bad, and ugly about their daily journey. This really made me start thinking that homeschooling might be an option worth considering.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We were "dirt poor" in those days, so private school wasn't something we could even consider as Caelyn, our oldest daughter, approached school age. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eventually, I came across a statistic about the number of hours children spend in a classroom, compared to the number of ours the average family spends together.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ugh!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I started to prep the battlefield, so to speak, with Craig, whose response was something like, "Yeah, that sounds like a really good option; but it's not for our family."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I quietly walked away and resolved not to hassle him about it (totally out-of-character for me).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another year or so passed, and I brought up an idea that was entirely unrelated to the education of our children. Craig's seemingly random response to me was,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"I think you should, instead, focus on homeschooling Caelyn this year."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whaaa...???</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was in June 1997. We were gearing up to travel to PA for a family visit just before relocating from Kentucky to Georgia, and I was rather pregnant with our fourth child. Having received a negative answer to my earlier request to homeschool, I had made absolutely no preparation, whatsoever.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Perfect. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">But he said to me,</span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span class="woj" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> the power of Christ may rest upon me. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">For the sake of Christ, then,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> when I am weak, then I am strong." </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The agreement that we made when we began homeschooling was that we'd take it one year at a time and consider putting the children into school later. After the first year, we decided to continue all the way through elementary, and possibly middle school, with a plan to send them to high school.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By the end of the second year, we were committed to the long haul, realizing that the teen years would be no time to relinquish the guidance and discipleship that our children desperately need from us as they begin making larger, farther-reaching decisions.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was around that same time that we decided it would be important to put into writing our goal and purpose of taking on the responsibility of teaching our own children - a mission statement, if you will. I recently came across the notebook where we sketched out our idea:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"To encourage a love of learning in our children by creating within our home an environment conducive for educating the whole child: mind, body, & spirit; making godly instruction the cornerstone while following biblical doctrine, thus producing wise, disciplined, God-fearing youth of character with a Christ-centered world view."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Reading this again after so many years, it's clearer that we, as parents, can't "produce" any particular type of youth; but we are fully dependent upon the Lord to have His way in the production department as we strive to be obedient to the commands and principles written in His Word concerning the instruction of our children.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Farther down the notebook page, additional thoughts were jotted down:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"... fully armed and capable to transform the world for Christ, if it is His will..."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"... armed with the Truth and capable to ignite the match of the comfortable-in-Christ and sound the trumpet for the lost..."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In America, the grand (and astonishingly successful) marketing scheme of universities has decided for us exactly how we are to define education: getting a college degree. Period.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We hold that there is so much more to education than that, and even a cursory background search of most of our key early-American historic figures would show that education a few generations ago was much broader than what takes place while sequestered on a campus for four years.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Shoot! Most key historic figures of any period were educated far beyond any university campus!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I digress.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you can get your hands on a copy of Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary, you'll be surprised at how the definitions of many words have lost much of their luster in modern times. Take this one, for example:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">EDUCATION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.</span> </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Nuff said.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(For now)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">* * * * * * * *</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In case you're interested, Part 2 of "Why We Homeschool" should follow as soon as I get the time to organize my thoughts. Currently, we are enjoying some R&R at a weekend family retreat in a beautiful country setting, where my sweet husband is the speaker. </span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-364084641753070912011-11-29T13:33:00.000-06:002011-11-29T13:33:09.938-06:00One Thing Leads to Another<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FRX_OloxpFEmFFaUXyPVTOgjwdGFu-NSamtgcCRhHVxX-4lrvgjz3LrHLnmzjV3w3Afp0rnZEWAp7592dQWDMJ85Sz5NjDXcwSIMwAX97svpu7bkH3DWPMKhSyA2ZDJEXj0ExEOZqDE/s1600/IMG_0948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FRX_OloxpFEmFFaUXyPVTOgjwdGFu-NSamtgcCRhHVxX-4lrvgjz3LrHLnmzjV3w3Afp0rnZEWAp7592dQWDMJ85Sz5NjDXcwSIMwAX97svpu7bkH3DWPMKhSyA2ZDJEXj0ExEOZqDE/s400/IMG_0948.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend recently asked me to make her a couple of hot pads, and ever since the <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/11/probably-most-satisfying-project-ever.html" target="_blank">map</a> project, I've been thinking of other ways to use the states.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last night, I thought of this spin on the Texas flag, according to the colors that she says are in her kitchen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope it works!</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT12obKUVQVjWI3hvXvPRRdYweqZ_Az4SO81Ua_DjGf2m0CoDQwK_sNyEzkNtHL62EGkchZyTIRvF-xbPpV4bCP7l8P4vT_SS3Cynfj1ZcIxFmOyNQsz9tLAN3aKPkQp5TXw6C4V_85Dg/s1600/IMG_0946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT12obKUVQVjWI3hvXvPRRdYweqZ_Az4SO81Ua_DjGf2m0CoDQwK_sNyEzkNtHL62EGkchZyTIRvF-xbPpV4bCP7l8P4vT_SS3Cynfj1ZcIxFmOyNQsz9tLAN3aKPkQp5TXw6C4V_85Dg/s400/IMG_0946.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Back view</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-69470495129976914092011-11-25T19:14:00.000-06:002011-11-25T19:14:21.239-06:00Probably The Most Satisfying Project Ever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo34dDbVYIr-j46pAYhWnpUNOb76HFuE_1Du7GLVQIoZiyAC-fRr9-cpkkd38GsS25b0iQdUN4yt5e3RrCMTIwPkjYBUong45p6aro6MYovXKGEd5KRHYO2Vv1m5bvqVOo3brWHpkp6cs/s1600/IMG_0941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo34dDbVYIr-j46pAYhWnpUNOb76HFuE_1Du7GLVQIoZiyAC-fRr9-cpkkd38GsS25b0iQdUN4yt5e3RrCMTIwPkjYBUong45p6aro6MYovXKGEd5KRHYO2Vv1m5bvqVOo3brWHpkp6cs/s400/IMG_0941.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever seen a project and felt instinctively that you should tackle it as soon as possible? As if it's some rite of passage?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not since I cross-stitched a sampler of Proverbs 31 back in the early 90s (a 3-year process), have I come across something so tedious, engaging, and utterly addictive.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As soon as I laid eyes on <a href="http://seekatesew.blogspot.com/2011/04/scrap-map-tutorial.html#comment-form" target="_blank">Kate's scrap map</a>, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I. Was. Hooked.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn't spend much time analyzing my fabric choices, except for a few special places.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">California is a dainty pink-and-floral print because my spiritual mother lives there. She is the epitome of a gentle and quiet spirit and godly womanhood.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Texas is black-and-white damask because it's where I live, and I've said that if I were any fabric, I'd be black-and-white damask home decor fabric.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pennsylvania is denim because blue is part of the "Keystone State" emblem, and denim represents the casual, blue-collar atmosphere in which I grew up.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Georgia is camouflage because the lion's share of our Army time was spent at Ft. Benning.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alabama is red because, if given a choice between the two rival teams, my husband would yell "Roll Tide!" rather than "War Eagle!". (I like the scissors print because it was while living in Alabama that I started sewing again more regularly after a long hiatus.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully, I have very industrious kitchen helpers, so I was able to assign certain Thanksgiving dinner tasks to the children. They knew that I had some special sewing planned for this week, and they graciously allowed me the freedom to come and go between the kitchen and the sewing room at my leisure.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My two goals this week were <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/11/apron-happiness.html" target="_blank">my new apron</a> (love!), just in time for Thanksgiving, and the scrap map.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I became so <strike>obsessed</strike> engrossed in the map project that I hardly slept on Wednesday night. I had just finished the final step of making it just before midnight, which meant that mounting and hanging it would have to wait until Thanksgiving morning.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had multiple lists running through my head and couldn't prioritize them, so it took a long time to fall asleep.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once asleep, I tossed, turned, and dreamed about the map and the fabrics for most of the night!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">At 4:00 a.m., I forced myself to stay in bed and get plenty of rest for the day ahead.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, I was able to get up, go for a run, mount the map, and watch, overjoyed, as my sweet husband hung it on the wall of the school room for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">What a guy!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUr3COiDXPnsukf74g5bNdLsNuSHXhykavgLb0wb6TNVdRQDf0UBxMv6cAO85D8MNjaJ2zFGZWTctW7sGIXAZtNfn7lRQ-E0L1OzxfHhrXm3BCKYkcPyh-6z2uDyxsgTywsynGAGu33M/s1600/IMG_0935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUr3COiDXPnsukf74g5bNdLsNuSHXhykavgLb0wb6TNVdRQDf0UBxMv6cAO85D8MNjaJ2zFGZWTctW7sGIXAZtNfn7lRQ-E0L1OzxfHhrXm3BCKYkcPyh-6z2uDyxsgTywsynGAGu33M/s400/IMG_0935.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once that was tackled, I was free to shower, eat breakfast, and work on the finishing touches for Thanksgiving dinner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Incidentally, I strategically planned my Thanksgiving dinner dress to create a complimentary neutral backdrop for my new apron.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxlcthUM_lO6mU1EzeJxHUY2sMLyb22ZSzUL-pj4g8EuQoPcvAftvLA41qAefS9tBuQiq2vhnv9DHuh0iGqPxnfiNFoOfnj0YMqW0I1ldZSEJHKL0mbbI7pRY7fJc6FZOsuL02RZjW8g/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxlcthUM_lO6mU1EzeJxHUY2sMLyb22ZSzUL-pj4g8EuQoPcvAftvLA41qAefS9tBuQiq2vhnv9DHuh0iGqPxnfiNFoOfnj0YMqW0I1ldZSEJHKL0mbbI7pRY7fJc6FZOsuL02RZjW8g/s400/IMG_0316.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(My dress is actually slate-gray, but it looks black in this photo, next to the lighter gray in the apron, and so far from the black boots and tights.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-22611509825032834652011-11-23T14:45:00.002-06:002011-11-23T17:33:43.464-06:00What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6FVBsTI5P_6dmb3hdHFNHKBZwKdtPSgHrQVBGWAFOGrRV4h2NeakKcleZulMrwQwv28YKN4PXuATLUfoPQB6AuR7jJfk1BIwVf51SjeWjP1NXD0Jf9Y5g9vBOH9kE2vR6RnEtHw4r8M/s1600/IMG_0928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6FVBsTI5P_6dmb3hdHFNHKBZwKdtPSgHrQVBGWAFOGrRV4h2NeakKcleZulMrwQwv28YKN4PXuATLUfoPQB6AuR7jJfk1BIwVf51SjeWjP1NXD0Jf9Y5g9vBOH9kE2vR6RnEtHw4r8M/s400/IMG_0928.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A loaf of bread awaiting its e<strike>xecution</strike> transformation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a basic blueprint that I follow each year when planning menus for major holidays, but I like to change a detail or two, just to keep it interesting.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year, The Cousins will join us for Thanksgiving dinner, and one of them offered to bring the turkey!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Selah.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even with two ovens, it's a tremendous relief that I won't have to strategically time the use of them in order to accommodate something so large as a turkey and still make everything else in time for dinner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been back in fitness mode recently, and I'm trying so hard not to load up on lots of heavy fare.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even my pared-down menu still threatens the waistline, but not as much as in years past.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trust me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxbdO5l_0ZsJNgJBWFQTj0atl0a1UNwgKi6dM-IVvqftH9apcuVrJIj4pm0rA6tywmmQlK3ND697eT5WQETWDN10_0YENB4Xxo48ahW3tU8Tc8fJXttpZDAqoh_BUMAfl-fLxm82vLRc/s1600/IMG_0929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxbdO5l_0ZsJNgJBWFQTj0atl0a1UNwgKi6dM-IVvqftH9apcuVrJIj4pm0rA6tywmmQlK3ND697eT5WQETWDN10_0YENB4Xxo48ahW3tU8Tc8fJXttpZDAqoh_BUMAfl-fLxm82vLRc/s400/IMG_0929.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My dad bought this cute little garlic roaster for me a few years ago. Roasted garlic is a key player in my <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/05/oh-my-word-factor.html">cauliflower pureé</a>, which will be served in lieu of mashed potatoes, much to Morgan's chagrin. (I've promised to make it up to her on Christmas.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ4zRG2oToX0ad9I9SlN7TZPEEQQjKXwEbz1SR4LpSBGMTMRlz9ARLU_8R7Wv50VlmWoO1uxlOopOJx5jj_01piezujzoRhuLAqusW4hWBm0frdpkWor3jHh1aNwOoZMIagQFW_d_Z4g/s1600/IMG_0930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ4zRG2oToX0ad9I9SlN7TZPEEQQjKXwEbz1SR4LpSBGMTMRlz9ARLU_8R7Wv50VlmWoO1uxlOopOJx5jj_01piezujzoRhuLAqusW4hWBm0frdpkWor3jHh1aNwOoZMIagQFW_d_Z4g/s400/IMG_0930.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What this photo lacks in aesthetic value, it makes up in culinary flair. This ordinary scene will morph into Craig's AMAZING collard greens (Daddy's recipe), sweet potato casserole, & <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/05/oh-my-word-factor.html">cauliflower pureé</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveuC9cEH93p25jQX_3whS_DGMMLBBN7V7nhlj-kOvnhdmG6sJZ62tpfxb82SzzyJ_AFSlKl2doxhjW9RX1245JH23v8027f2-9ou0rgN0_-NW1hyphenhyphenVPk6ePJTbVskWxxyieGWoMKpeJKs/s1600/IMG_0931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveuC9cEH93p25jQX_3whS_DGMMLBBN7V7nhlj-kOvnhdmG6sJZ62tpfxb82SzzyJ_AFSlKl2doxhjW9RX1245JH23v8027f2-9ou0rgN0_-NW1hyphenhyphenVPk6ePJTbVskWxxyieGWoMKpeJKs/s400/IMG_0931.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The next generation of apple pie baker has graduated. Morgan normally makes the crust while I make the filling, but today she made the entire thing from start to finish. (It's probably more accurate to say that I've graduated. I wasn't a control freak about it, and she was free to create.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BKiywFyfOgOzMqc1Ou1afnLDoqigJR74802J2oxDcy3FLQL9j1029QcYHNH0ajBLef2UQJQNsN4HPdWh9URjiniSqB0xuZ0eOn7XsFmX9dwMQ8UyhX7rPVLkSz9AgmfsJCmWHMIUer0/s1600/IMG_0932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BKiywFyfOgOzMqc1Ou1afnLDoqigJR74802J2oxDcy3FLQL9j1029QcYHNH0ajBLef2UQJQNsN4HPdWh9URjiniSqB0xuZ0eOn7XsFmX9dwMQ8UyhX7rPVLkSz9AgmfsJCmWHMIUer0/s400/IMG_0932.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What's fueling my operation today?<br />
<a href="http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.greencoffee.mvc.php" target="_blank">Ethiopia Harar Longberry</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1IJZbOpcVpPFS8x457KVRqFnQtu7kI2nQv0rm8pQD9G9A4T0rGGrNs32lNYbRbfvb8cvl6lUZFa46jUrCrSQvNTmLOm3tzJsjjMSDxVUg-gStEcadZElWKCRvU5Kt2zoob6e0skHKc0/s1600/IMG_0933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1IJZbOpcVpPFS8x457KVRqFnQtu7kI2nQv0rm8pQD9G9A4T0rGGrNs32lNYbRbfvb8cvl6lUZFa46jUrCrSQvNTmLOm3tzJsjjMSDxVUg-gStEcadZElWKCRvU5Kt2zoob6e0skHKc0/s400/IMG_0933.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These bread cubes will become my stuffing (Mom's recipe), which will fill rolled flank steak (also Mom's recipe).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The remainder of today's prep includes making the topping for the sweet potato casserole, blanching brussels sprouts for roasting tomorrow, making cranberry salad, and mixing "pretty" herb butter to display on a cold plate.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>The Line-Up:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><br />
</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cauliflower Pureé</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roasted Brussels Sprouts</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Collard Greens</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cranberry Salad</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sweet Potato Casserole</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stuffed Flank Steak</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whole-Wheat Rolls with Herb Butter</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apple Pie</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(And from The Cousins:)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turkey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Salad</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Green Beans</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pumpkin Cheesecake</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">* * * * *</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-13347557240895789152011-11-22T14:02:00.000-06:002011-11-22T14:02:04.224-06:00Apron Happiness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SOLZgb5plyqmK3PXr5zTflawz0ofEzsOPRJ7-1VQRquGs7_oBX-LPCNXp-Ss8zDDzfyAa8jRG-gaCtcqCi1BueLPKA51chQOvIQyEVLXvUHkKlA8uaUBdH7Kq_S-yWbp654GboIS5PE/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SOLZgb5plyqmK3PXr5zTflawz0ofEzsOPRJ7-1VQRquGs7_oBX-LPCNXp-Ss8zDDzfyAa8jRG-gaCtcqCi1BueLPKA51chQOvIQyEVLXvUHkKlA8uaUBdH7Kq_S-yWbp654GboIS5PE/s400/IMG_0306.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's been a while since I've had Morgan model for me. Isn't she just cute??</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/09/back-in-groove.html">posted</a> about this fabric (purchased <a href="http://www.highfashionfabrics.com/">here</a>) a while back, and mentioned that I hoped to make an apron out of it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've wanted a new apron for months.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanksgiving offered the perfect excuse to drop everything and get started on it this week, but I wanted something that will go beyond one day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't imagine ever getting sick of this one. The fabric just makes me happy every time I look at it.</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq447liBS-Saj7r2bZL1wXuntSrwfi84cOfBiRreLRJ_Iy2vfP0mYc1pa2955bX5cUFPrtRQAtopjwrZK12Ityd-XfE_HzHMGqWH7DSiESk6uwGWwwBVZS44Hi_xgm6DdbQ0tukW2JVk/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq447liBS-Saj7r2bZL1wXuntSrwfi84cOfBiRreLRJ_Iy2vfP0mYc1pa2955bX5cUFPrtRQAtopjwrZK12Ityd-XfE_HzHMGqWH7DSiESk6uwGWwwBVZS44Hi_xgm6DdbQ0tukW2JVk/s400/IMG_0299.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I added a towel loop to the waistband and made a decorative tea towel to match. When I cook or bake, I wash my hands countless times during the process. Since the children are normally right there working with me in the kitchen, the hand towels can get scattered. This way, I'll have one right at my fingertips and won't have to share.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fp15fFzIZ7XAtMNw4461rVgBE67HDL5Tfgb1m-MymcAsumzcRY2QM2XW8j8qttcz3i2mc7ijXWzjoT7pJ3J6VrWC2Qrqnzu7bOFJ-S19_QKuUJ2pfKRy72vnELopDJy1kOgFnHNSzlc/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fp15fFzIZ7XAtMNw4461rVgBE67HDL5Tfgb1m-MymcAsumzcRY2QM2XW8j8qttcz3i2mc7ijXWzjoT7pJ3J6VrWC2Qrqnzu7bOFJ-S19_QKuUJ2pfKRy72vnELopDJy1kOgFnHNSzlc/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I prefer a D-ring over using ties for my aprons. It's actually easier, as I don't have to hem long edges of an extra tie. Isn't that yellow fabric wonderful? It makes me want to duplicate it on a wall (a shade or two lighter). I won't, though...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4N1xws8Jd7OACoEUr_kRUjajWLTFTnZQFI99sdqEm5fH7hYDMS6GRXPbyMgn33h5PSuu5qPxU52NrMeiuTaxE2jT0k1cdOSa1ltu8_VkyMfEw6yxFsAfQRMs3Y4MUPg6pMcMIhOSLR6g/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4N1xws8Jd7OACoEUr_kRUjajWLTFTnZQFI99sdqEm5fH7hYDMS6GRXPbyMgn33h5PSuu5qPxU52NrMeiuTaxE2jT0k1cdOSa1ltu8_VkyMfEw6yxFsAfQRMs3Y4MUPg6pMcMIhOSLR6g/s400/IMG_0302.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last year, I won a giveaway that <a href="http://lieslmade.wordpress.com/">Liesl</a> was offering, and included in the goodie box were four different designs of this gorgeous embroidered ribbon. When I started laying out the fabrics for this apron, I just knew that the ribbon would be a perfect embellishment. I certainly don't regret adding a band of it here. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAlxzDk8dx95RgGf2_IdRQszWZGKKfaZSzd5HuG_WWylFYW4cG-VMiWCm4BB7TiHMeRfu0eao5yt3BO5XGzrSz_6ILq_alY-exoM4N-hgGM0M7W0kV6-evaKKXeY_bpc-me1vtjBmqgA/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAlxzDk8dx95RgGf2_IdRQszWZGKKfaZSzd5HuG_WWylFYW4cG-VMiWCm4BB7TiHMeRfu0eao5yt3BO5XGzrSz_6ILq_alY-exoM4N-hgGM0M7W0kV6-evaKKXeY_bpc-me1vtjBmqgA/s400/IMG_0303.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.themotherhuddle.com/tutorial-pleated-apron-with-built-in-hot-pads/comment-page-3/#comment-51569">This</a> is where the idea for this apron began. Not only do we fight over hand towels in our kitchen, but there seems to be a little elf that steals the hot pads just before one of us needs one. The idea of attaching hot pads to the apron is ingenious! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDzdpg7SqsYhDyvLKU_-8R981oZWj_1sJjGiQLoxrNu5LJCtSOKQoW6KUbnCpep-U4bes4E79vjwuWD6DAKl1ehgmtNQouS2SrOP1wsJebP-zBb6RTwwpQB91ExM_CkNJZUWFQW-EXpQ/s1600/IMG_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDzdpg7SqsYhDyvLKU_-8R981oZWj_1sJjGiQLoxrNu5LJCtSOKQoW6KUbnCpep-U4bes4E79vjwuWD6DAKl1ehgmtNQouS2SrOP1wsJebP-zBb6RTwwpQB91ExM_CkNJZUWFQW-EXpQ/s400/IMG_0305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See?!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-71176948175219126552011-11-22T11:52:00.000-06:002011-11-22T11:52:41.794-06:00Improvise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKt2JnGryo8JjHbYrt9AY64LMNZ-zXoWIIS2AST2QwLWlG2XOtwJpKSchzlv2KSm5gFXd25enZXYurr6GztkjCVn1eBogkp3p4Aiu6GlBB0sq5JqEc1Lwn6EVSBfYHlwCQIPptV9uqufg/s1600/IMG_0910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKt2JnGryo8JjHbYrt9AY64LMNZ-zXoWIIS2AST2QwLWlG2XOtwJpKSchzlv2KSm5gFXd25enZXYurr6GztkjCVn1eBogkp3p4Aiu6GlBB0sq5JqEc1Lwn6EVSBfYHlwCQIPptV9uqufg/s400/IMG_0910.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It always takes me forever to start hanging things on the wall after moving into a new home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just don't "feel" it right away. I'm too focused on the rest of our existence to worry about what should adorn the walls.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">That doesn't mean I don't like wall art, though.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I saw this fun guitar painting at TJ Maxx a while back, and it haunted me for a few weeks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I returned a while later for another purpose, I was delighted to find that it was still there and the price had been reduced.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought it might be great for the boys' room, but I later decided it should hang next to Craig Grayson's drum set in the school room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The hook from the previous picture was a bit too high for the guitar painting, but I was unwilling to make a new hole in the wall.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I started brainstorming on what to use to make it hang lower, and a guitar strap came to mind.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We don't have an extra guitar strap, so I thought of the next best thing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">With boys having major growth spurts, that means there will inevitably be belts that are still in good enough shape to reuse.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Voila!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Thanks, Graham!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAbXmnxVOiSf_Ji6NwQwvICPDq99bzVykuj6ATg0AV9PUoJZtc9-MiWRqL5DmOGe5P3kchgP0Lf6DzOK8epY8FLnty6w3Ch3DGp50DRITFeekai9QxhceHW4Od3dZBnrQUjkimPeFF1Y/s1600/IMG_0913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAbXmnxVOiSf_Ji6NwQwvICPDq99bzVykuj6ATg0AV9PUoJZtc9-MiWRqL5DmOGe5P3kchgP0Lf6DzOK8epY8FLnty6w3Ch3DGp50DRITFeekai9QxhceHW4Od3dZBnrQUjkimPeFF1Y/s400/IMG_0913.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-4901881314270253122011-11-17T20:35:00.000-06:002011-11-17T20:35:11.305-06:00My First Mug Rug!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MjZIvCxW5pw_YaSyBIONZzJQv5FP57nNRlbwL9nvnjSW63o4Rp6GAX0W1AkoM2wXHpHkIoJFAPuQu0BfApn7-3ZFElcYBjrb4UFhdtJw0Dv2H7xWFOJwP7sJSheMTyfwVPwwyyuTdkQ/s1600/IMG_0884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MjZIvCxW5pw_YaSyBIONZzJQv5FP57nNRlbwL9nvnjSW63o4Rp6GAX0W1AkoM2wXHpHkIoJFAPuQu0BfApn7-3ZFElcYBjrb4UFhdtJw0Dv2H7xWFOJwP7sJSheMTyfwVPwwyyuTdkQ/s400/IMG_0884.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Quilting is not my forté, so I did some random squiggly thing on my machine. Anyone who might pity my lack of skill is very welcome in my home to give on-the-spot lessons. I'll provide lodging and meals. By the way, I avoid binding if I can help it.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last spring, I discovered <a href="http://www.twomoreseconds.com/p/mug-rug-madness.html">this link party</a>, and I've wanted to make a mug rug ever since.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sadly, my quilting skills are severely deficient.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For that reason, and because of another recent major relocation and a long sewing to-do list,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've put it off until today.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are oodles of mug rugs online, including a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/mugrugmadness/">flickr group</a> and various others.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For those who don't know what I mean by "mug rug", it's been described as being smaller than a placemat and larger than a coaster, with the purpose of making a cup of coffee or tea more at-home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've seen a few amazing designs that I'd love to try, like <a href="http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2011/06/so-you-fancy-yourself-a-cowboy.html">this</a>, <a href="http://www.twomoreseconds.com/2011/03/mug-rug-madness-andrea-of-knitty.html">this</a>, <a href="http://www.twomoreseconds.com/2011/03/mug-rug-madness-nova-of-cuppa-catchup.html">this</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thejoycottage/5321061133/in/pool-1596789@N25/">these</a>, and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giginbigred/5584037994/in/pool-1596789@N25/">this</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I may or may not eventually get around to making one of them, but today I was suddenly inspired to make not just any mug rug, but a </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steelers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">mug rug.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Steelers idea has been in my head for some time, and a while back I saw a beautiful Cathedral Window quilt that was simply breathtaking. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The design is perfect for making the Steelers insignia, but I couldn't recall where I had seen the quilt. A search of a few blogs led me to <a href="http://ocd-obsessivecraftingdisorder.blogspot.com/2011/08/tutorial-cheater-cathedral-windows.html">this variation</a> of the Cathedral Window block, complete with a tutorial.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My handy embroidery machine was helpful, too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a back view of the finished product:</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEAYo84EStTcI0aJ9zWJSStOR1hggRrFbQt_CzQZjYH-4gIBVVoZx_y71tAcxCnA_3-tA2oeFFXiqdc5aVYVnrlVmor-x1rYOqA_bBFCPlo8f_MzPJnjYGPNd5KqDKmjgqeVnSSHjyxo/s1600/IMG_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEAYo84EStTcI0aJ9zWJSStOR1hggRrFbQt_CzQZjYH-4gIBVVoZx_y71tAcxCnA_3-tA2oeFFXiqdc5aVYVnrlVmor-x1rYOqA_bBFCPlo8f_MzPJnjYGPNd5KqDKmjgqeVnSSHjyxo/s400/IMG_0886.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've been so inspired lately by other bloggers to use up some of my scraps. This could become an addiction, although I ran from anything akin to quilting several years ago.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems almost unfair that I have this. I'm not exactly a faithful Steelers fan; but my husband and children are.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm sure there's someone far more deserving of this mug rug. I just felt the need to make it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Besides, I couldn't bring myself to risk getting coffee stains on it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a blast to make, though!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was finished just in time for Amy's Sew & Tell tomorrow:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gJViUG4uTqcjAEJb60Z1LBgOsVZSlDyheXIoOqyHjtjbXpR2HGW5avoxIuL3fx6SnnBlZcSy13sd8BKCZ3P0VWqwmvU_LVzYd_kggjdjUwE_eofA1U21enneuaOYAxrI70VUuOAZLmLM/s1600/amylouwho2-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gJViUG4uTqcjAEJb60Z1LBgOsVZSlDyheXIoOqyHjtjbXpR2HGW5avoxIuL3fx6SnnBlZcSy13sd8BKCZ3P0VWqwmvU_LVzYd_kggjdjUwE_eofA1U21enneuaOYAxrI70VUuOAZLmLM/s320/amylouwho2-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-27484761619378647112011-11-16T10:22:00.000-06:002011-11-16T10:22:46.192-06:00Happy 14th Birthday, Graham!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xvSf5blrdBHmK8j1NLCkmUJdqfXYSHZsBf1uJFWccHH7uuUYo-IUs4rICpmhPRJ321YzPrZNcdNzfwPkcBjNbvaO9mBa7Hfhyphenhyphenq8JJuPIkNM01mNofwdmcKdO_di8CmibN1lZmleyuxU/s1600/sc00237417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xvSf5blrdBHmK8j1NLCkmUJdqfXYSHZsBf1uJFWccHH7uuUYo-IUs4rICpmhPRJ321YzPrZNcdNzfwPkcBjNbvaO9mBa7Hfhyphenhyphenq8JJuPIkNM01mNofwdmcKdO_di8CmibN1lZmleyuxU/s400/sc00237417.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In those days, he carried "Bear-Bear" and sucked two fingers. His favorite companion was "A-bah-dah" (Gabriela), and he loved to play with her hair.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">He was a special "pet" to his big sister, Caelyn, and absolutely adored her.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">He called himself "Ham", and referred to Morgan as "Doe".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We never thought he'd master English, but he has become quite a brilliant young man.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Graham has since traded his stuffed animals for pocket knives, multi-use tools, and Chinese stars.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(True story.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">He loves to play football, Risk, or Chess, and is enthralled with military and martial arts movies, cars, and music.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">He doesn't say much, but when he has something to share, it's always interesting.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love to observe Graham's relationship with his siblings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's affectionate, humorous, and ever so protective of all of them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">He shares a strong bond with his older brother, Craig Grayson. The two of them are like James & John, the "sons of thunder", in the New Testament.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cu0AxKwN3C3S4yz65BKldDgFSIyzRrka4VYyz5DvcUq7PGBcIfLoQKyZiqdcRL5mzLe6gy8sLHUuXxU-fqCykVf-eYmLvP8dnd-xU7Y-hMdDeOUQGaEcLlcnehE4WaqCSI2QSFcImEQ/s1600/IMG_0546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cu0AxKwN3C3S4yz65BKldDgFSIyzRrka4VYyz5DvcUq7PGBcIfLoQKyZiqdcRL5mzLe6gy8sLHUuXxU-fqCykVf-eYmLvP8dnd-xU7Y-hMdDeOUQGaEcLlcnehE4WaqCSI2QSFcImEQ/s400/IMG_0546.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Like arrows in the hand of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> a warrior</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> are the children</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> of one’s youth.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Blessed is the man</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> who fills his quiver with them!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">He shall not be put to shame</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> when he speaks with his enemies</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> in the gate."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Psalm 127:4-5</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-27600412415307368792011-11-11T10:18:00.000-06:002011-11-11T10:18:25.766-06:00A Pieced Project, or Coaches Are Effective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepCihpQV0geSr9yU9y07yBu-ueHoqLwEf4VSn_kqK8azESTJ24jmGHagjpeSEideg_vzsUCQ__puUFn-v8Uc-melOfzdy_5_d03edMLIuwgJ82huW4nYW5EHCaM_KOKaBenPce0jsU5Y/s1600/IMG_0844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepCihpQV0geSr9yU9y07yBu-ueHoqLwEf4VSn_kqK8azESTJ24jmGHagjpeSEideg_vzsUCQ__puUFn-v8Uc-melOfzdy_5_d03edMLIuwgJ82huW4nYW5EHCaM_KOKaBenPce0jsU5Y/s400/IMG_0844.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some things are just easier and more enjoyable when there's someone standing by and cheering me on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like push-ups.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">And childbirth.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back in 2002, I was burned out on quilting. It was stressful for me because it's just not one of my strengths. I had joined a quilting circle (Did blogs exist then?) with ladies who really knew their stuff, and I couldn't hang!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stuck around long enough to do a few swaps, and as a result, I have a few quilts' worth of blocks to (some day) put together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">At times, I take them all out just to admire the work and reminisce. Then they go right back into their ziploc bags for future consideration.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since "meeting" people like <a href="http://www.amylouwhosews.com/">Amy</a> and <a href="http://www.sewtakeahike.typepad.com/">Penny</a> and countless others - and ever since I participated in the very fun <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/04/finally-long-over-due-scrap-swap-update.html">scrap swap</a> - I'm inspired anew.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">But alas!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I still sort of stink at quilting.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Houston Quilt Show and my friend who took me there have served as fresh inspiration.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still, I'm a child of the generation that helped usher in the age of instant gratification; hence another excuse to not make quilts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">They take time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I like to make "stuff" and "things" that don't take very long.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, Amy's recent (brilliant, fun, perfect) idea to make a mini pieced project for <a href="http://www.amylouwhosews.com/2011/11/amylouwho-sew-tell-v38-mini-quilt-party.html">Sew & Tell</a> was right on time for me!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(And she even stood by and cheered me on! Bless her!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Equally on time was <a href="http://www.mygirlthursday.com/2011/05/diy-scrap-busting-pot-holders.html">this tutorial</a> (I really like her style).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiZd899iGkc0h9mMdk2q_8eb-crSW8sig4wN-oWeZNOEm2miVwW60PQBdUzeKfLfbhTvoi7yHeYimPPJqxL0YsGl0z3RO58RQsOFUwxe7yd1QLlATb5ozteXrZlcIjf7RwIhXnsc-e24/s1600/IMG_0847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiZd899iGkc0h9mMdk2q_8eb-crSW8sig4wN-oWeZNOEm2miVwW60PQBdUzeKfLfbhTvoi7yHeYimPPJqxL0YsGl0z3RO58RQsOFUwxe7yd1QLlATb5ozteXrZlcIjf7RwIhXnsc-e24/s400/IMG_0847.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Mind the Gap!" I love this fabric. I used it for the back of one of the pot holders. The London Underground is one of the most crowded situations I've ever experienced; but it was fun! This project reflects my frequent tendency to make major blunders in my sewing. In this case, I forgot to add the second layer of insul-brite; so I'll be hanging with the seam ripper today.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWobS_upucK-3Fqgvmlhi2kLDTtP016AqlKHXV5za2EmkMp8sP4s6me5z5xRZXT01pGKKIrWdwCeHseOiKu_2Zx0lz3CKV74Ts1mgtd0QkONKiiMp7SCBJCwWyFaU30Vtg9D7dBQxKw8/s1600/IMG_0849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWobS_upucK-3Fqgvmlhi2kLDTtP016AqlKHXV5za2EmkMp8sP4s6me5z5xRZXT01pGKKIrWdwCeHseOiKu_2Zx0lz3CKV74Ts1mgtd0QkONKiiMp7SCBJCwWyFaU30Vtg9D7dBQxKw8/s400/IMG_0849.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Caelyn was impressed that the recipe on this fabric can actually be read. I may try it, just for fun.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the way, if you're needing more inspiration, <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/">Sew Mama Sew</a> is doing an entire month of daily ideas for making Christmas gifts, etc.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK. Gotta go. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't wait to see what everyone else did for <a href="http://www.amylouwhosews.com/2011/11/amylouwho-sew-tell-v38-mini-quilt-party.html">Sew & Tell</a>...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-57384802972048107862011-11-10T23:52:00.000-06:002011-11-10T23:52:24.498-06:00Amendment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgILkYf9pNW6HpeIvX87zU0nGeEJFpA3aeuTpONKqdX8KuDsMR1yWJi2PVo2wiwDaWpd36chy4sAGZF49V3JA5CHdIN_7zfznV4sYT9m8zhIdXCHt9Yp9zOXgpiZeT3CSy1W-jPkpkQM/s1600/IMG_0818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgILkYf9pNW6HpeIvX87zU0nGeEJFpA3aeuTpONKqdX8KuDsMR1yWJi2PVo2wiwDaWpd36chy4sAGZF49V3JA5CHdIN_7zfznV4sYT9m8zhIdXCHt9Yp9zOXgpiZeT3CSy1W-jPkpkQM/s400/IMG_0818.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I made <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-new-fall-purse.html">this purse</a> a few weeks ago and didn't add the finishing touch right away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Making the flower embellishment required using a hot glue gun, and I couldn't remember where I had seen mine when we moved into this house. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Besides, I'm pretty sure that we lived in California when I bought the two that I have.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">That was before email.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's safe to say that if I were to even locate my glue guns, they'd need to be replaced.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This called for a trip to the craft store.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Twist my arm!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the meantime, I had the opportunity to join a friend for the Houston Quilt Show. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was spectacular, and I so enjoyed Lou Ann's sweet company.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were at the show for most of the day, and the ready-made, impulsively-purchased handles of the purse ended up really hurting my shoulder.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided to go ahead and replace the handles by making fabric straps, instead (which is sort of what the intelligent designer of the pattern suggested in the first place).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">*sigh*</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I learn the hard way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As seems to be my M.O. these days, a major boo-boo was quite obvious after I finished the entire project. Just scroll back up to that photo at the top of this post, and see if you can figure out my blunder.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">A nice person on Facebook said that she actually prefers the flaw rather than the "right" way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It just doesn't bother me enough to redo it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seam ripping bothers me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span id="goog_261086609"></span><span id="goog_261086610"></span></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-31628439820315644312011-11-06T16:50:00.000-06:002011-11-06T16:50:02.321-06:00Precious Moments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ax5elEKLL._SS400_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ax5elEKLL._SS400_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Often these days, I find myself lamenting the fact that the children have outgrown so many of our favorite books, toys, and clothing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A colonial-period dress and a Pilgrim dress that I made for Gabriela have become sewing room decor, and many of our children's books & toys have been set aside for visitors or future grandchildren.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
Today, Morgan showed me that seventeen isn't too old to enjoy a special mommy-daughter moment together with a favorite.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was lying on Gabriela's bed, talking to her as she cleaned her closet, when Morgan handed me <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0064460932/ref=pd_1ctyhuc__bxgy_01_01">Joyful Noise</a>, plopped down beside me, and snuggled up in a blanket.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, the giggles that ensued!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One day she'll be reading with her own children, but today I'm thankful for this special time that will soon be only a memory.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As Craig says to encourage young parents,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"The days may seem long at times, but the years are short."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take some time to read with your little ones... or your not-so-little ones!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-84019057965343656242011-10-31T12:04:00.000-05:002011-10-31T12:04:48.132-05:00Nook Bag<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYPzzze2ft__3dottqIJ1cBNuif3HMyuwQ_cD9Bxj4nZ-GUhyphenhyphenKyndOwGiim2nrku1w9h40m3GWb37oSLWnMmHIV0j3kJ8Gz4cj8INfVZ3Wx77f2qckOdsggw0byBwYl9AViA0MC3-Kgc/s1600/IMG_0763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYPzzze2ft__3dottqIJ1cBNuif3HMyuwQ_cD9Bxj4nZ-GUhyphenhyphenKyndOwGiim2nrku1w9h40m3GWb37oSLWnMmHIV0j3kJ8Gz4cj8INfVZ3Wx77f2qckOdsggw0byBwYl9AViA0MC3-Kgc/s400/IMG_0763.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gabriela never leaves home without her Nook. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ever.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been so nervous that it'll eventually plunge to its death on one of our outings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday in church, I noticed that she was taking sermon notes on her Nook, so it gave me an idea.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've made a couple of <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/trying-again.html">messenger bags</a> recently using a <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/trying-again.html">tutorial</a> that I found.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I promise that I listened to the sermon yesterday, but I was momentarily distracted as I figured out in my head how I'd use what I already know to make a smaller bag for the Nook.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I couldn't wait to get home and start on it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I called Gabriela into the sewing room and asked her if she has any favorites among my fabrics. Apparently, she's had her eye on a particular combination ever since I made <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lebanoncedars/5623146598/in/set-72157622055605658">this</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn't tell her what I was planning to do, which made it even more fun.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">While Gab watched football with her daddy, I worked happily on my idea.</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFDSBRH555i0V01nGZei4mYEQkNmRXq9eQfwezsjeRwV7wS66GIgkMLTtwleASzxg1GerhJlSMgwXwcS1Buofe5mB585CdeVsPZCRwS5kGi_nv9ZY49J6tBoCcQf6pi30MsWD7A1a808/s1600/IMG_0764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFDSBRH555i0V01nGZei4mYEQkNmRXq9eQfwezsjeRwV7wS66GIgkMLTtwleASzxg1GerhJlSMgwXwcS1Buofe5mB585CdeVsPZCRwS5kGi_nv9ZY49J6tBoCcQf6pi30MsWD7A1a808/s400/IMG_0764.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This morning I quickly made a tissue pouch to match her bag. I mentioned <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-new-fall-purse.html">recently</a> that the tutorial for the tissue pouch is no longer available; but I should have mentioned that the author has made the <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/products-page/pattern-downloads-pattern-downloads-2/tissue-holder-quick-gift-reference-pattern/">pattern</a> available for purchase. (I just figured it out on my own.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowze0sy2XlldrJjjFKXwnLGA3jzmisNJs7LdkBww1i12E-TgQsPN9oZinwsn2j_jRnoJyglD8lmafn5jF5J0sXUXvlVzXwE39MXl9u_8yAZPs5aCEGtT_yb89JWNyBsvH_DifNif8oYs/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowze0sy2XlldrJjjFKXwnLGA3jzmisNJs7LdkBww1i12E-TgQsPN9oZinwsn2j_jRnoJyglD8lmafn5jF5J0sXUXvlVzXwE39MXl9u_8yAZPs5aCEGtT_yb89JWNyBsvH_DifNif8oYs/s400/IMG_0765.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-50890622253172341402011-10-29T13:37:00.000-05:002011-10-29T13:37:16.083-05:00Trying Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OvRtPHTMrmPS8WocA9gB8-9saxlPL9d9ALBXiH7c_xpPsvr-PLgq-Y3kM5RDX9fOqK-9YNOpgz_s5K2U4jFQS3pSsiG7_6rCZIZelAGNiZXKHReTn9RKUqmfup1iHBSqfsDck9mdt4o/s1600/IMG_0755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OvRtPHTMrmPS8WocA9gB8-9saxlPL9d9ALBXiH7c_xpPsvr-PLgq-Y3kM5RDX9fOqK-9YNOpgz_s5K2U4jFQS3pSsiG7_6rCZIZelAGNiZXKHReTn9RKUqmfup1iHBSqfsDck9mdt4o/s400/IMG_0755.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love to cook;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">but if I walk into the kitchen and find a mess, I can't even slice an onion or boil water without first getting everything organized.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(I am my father's daughter.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not so in the sewing room!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been itching to conquer this project (and to get it done in time to post on <a href="http://www.amylouwhosews.com/">Amy's Sew & Tell</a> for this week).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I entered my sewing room after breakfast this morning, I had a moral dilemma:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Clean first?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Or just dive into the project?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a hard mess to resist...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf8qJJBzOI0MocE1Z48tAxMMxAwPGQyq8xQV7uzjPjnN0HcCTBALs8jMhN_S9WWQz8hFrAxWM_MHxfG2r2vCmRh0H3nprswXQjt2gc8eTyXNFujWZtdX-ctEzuN1-PuHI75EoJ9s9Ob8/s1600/IMG_0757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf8qJJBzOI0MocE1Z48tAxMMxAwPGQyq8xQV7uzjPjnN0HcCTBALs8jMhN_S9WWQz8hFrAxWM_MHxfG2r2vCmRh0H3nprswXQjt2gc8eTyXNFujWZtdX-ctEzuN1-PuHI75EoJ9s9Ob8/s400/IMG_0757.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgoKbwGhoQ2aHZKppowgceLrmCJwMn1dywEie2WUuQ4GU7fzyQoTGbFPC-FDzRyooGZThdqAm4tw1sn0oWePOlTIquJRI-kqcypmdYVgAkGwZWpoK_OINMq3lhITBkJEA-t4jixT2C5Q/s1600/IMG_0758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgoKbwGhoQ2aHZKppowgceLrmCJwMn1dywEie2WUuQ4GU7fzyQoTGbFPC-FDzRyooGZThdqAm4tw1sn0oWePOlTIquJRI-kqcypmdYVgAkGwZWpoK_OINMq3lhITBkJEA-t4jixT2C5Q/s400/IMG_0758.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">... but resist I did!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KkpTDMxe2UhRD9xN5obgSlV1CG_oNqQs0iPU391tNvdGao-rd2thTmziZ2nYFIBFqf3RV5Ef1vfN3IGUYe1-S3eN1w6xvYpX3KFu-qZTZlJXjitjthL7PS3lSxxaTafwjudaYTM7fmE/s1600/IMG_0760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KkpTDMxe2UhRD9xN5obgSlV1CG_oNqQs0iPU391tNvdGao-rd2thTmziZ2nYFIBFqf3RV5Ef1vfN3IGUYe1-S3eN1w6xvYpX3KFu-qZTZlJXjitjthL7PS3lSxxaTafwjudaYTM7fmE/s400/IMG_0760.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I made a similar <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/09/back-in-groove.html">messenger bag</a> a while back. It was intended for a friend, but I wasn't pleased with the results. Today I was determined to try again. I'm pleased this time. I just love <a href="http://imakestuff4fun.blogspot.com/2010/09/messenger-bag-tutorial.html">this tutorial</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qlT5COQOTefg_sIRrrTVqaQ6o1riocPD6UhKSt6mUg2z7WL1t2y_xb8LDblLqY85sVj6JglIP-t9nvE5ZsvVZLPLdsz5jrE_260ypi2IrcGdxIhMD3_o3eiQ0WJavOFgJZZR9pmCCuM/s1600/IMG_0762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qlT5COQOTefg_sIRrrTVqaQ6o1riocPD6UhKSt6mUg2z7WL1t2y_xb8LDblLqY85sVj6JglIP-t9nvE5ZsvVZLPLdsz5jrE_260ypi2IrcGdxIhMD3_o3eiQ0WJavOFgJZZR9pmCCuM/s400/IMG_0762.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This toile fabric was used for the exterior of the first bag. I still had plenty left, so I used it for the lining of this one. I "heart" the black exterior fabric, but it sort of reminds me of the test that the eye doctor gave to assess my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astigmatism">astigmatism</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">And now I have some cleaning to do...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-72097967709672260582011-10-28T22:28:00.000-05:002011-10-28T22:28:01.330-05:00Happy 16th Birthday, Craig Grayson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD4LtJyoaSJKsAAJkJP1NidIfqemEGdhIcp7HAF93Zw3I8GT6IXOfE0yJ0_DZgrjNSc_g32Dcx37FrLmlX5Kz3ITlPOfmwZPLfltcUOplAoyQ7nlk2awGcncGxRirNt88Ck0tW9bTCG8/s1600/sc0048f0c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD4LtJyoaSJKsAAJkJP1NidIfqemEGdhIcp7HAF93Zw3I8GT6IXOfE0yJ0_DZgrjNSc_g32Dcx37FrLmlX5Kz3ITlPOfmwZPLfltcUOplAoyQ7nlk2awGcncGxRirNt88Ck0tW9bTCG8/s400/sc0048f0c4.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm sure that I should include a more recent photo for his birthday, but I'm feelin' this one right now.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sixteen years ago today, the Lord gave us our first male child.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">What a privilege it's been to have this treasured arrow in our quiver!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Be strong and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and keeping His statutes, His commandments, His rules, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 Kings 2:3</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL0jaEe-9RTVxUmPyWxustbHP9Faz1ROSyY1n-IThIt9XsjJoMQep2V3JvnjXKGPuNpwOVx3tOjh-cn2OVg1ptw10JFKDGqv88dKZF0WNVXd1_mp6G53ntAYIIOgwTAJYoHyNmszndfo/s1600/IMG_0739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL0jaEe-9RTVxUmPyWxustbHP9Faz1ROSyY1n-IThIt9XsjJoMQep2V3JvnjXKGPuNpwOVx3tOjh-cn2OVg1ptw10JFKDGqv88dKZF0WNVXd1_mp6G53ntAYIIOgwTAJYoHyNmszndfo/s400/IMG_0739.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the best birthday cake I've ever eaten (aside from my parents' home-baked treats in Pittsburgh), and it's worth every minute in the gym!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727294476039920098.post-24752491417663843502011-10-25T14:16:00.003-05:002011-11-11T11:41:33.309-06:00Pumpkin Granola Bars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxqVsDZoZfktzAVNweqGlStpEIoj2t_Is28ZJXJTWN1Fv87fF6U9JAhyjlX0UNfJf_CDRRQPjNGOJQYsi-MNKeT0-tiP8jPoy_sXeTKJXHwAl2Qp1L6JDFCW0VLmTFbBjpP94iSsSwSU/s1600/IMG_0715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxqVsDZoZfktzAVNweqGlStpEIoj2t_Is28ZJXJTWN1Fv87fF6U9JAhyjlX0UNfJf_CDRRQPjNGOJQYsi-MNKeT0-tiP8jPoy_sXeTKJXHwAl2Qp1L6JDFCW0VLmTFbBjpP94iSsSwSU/s400/IMG_0715.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I finally fell asleep last night after brainstorming some <a href="http://thefamilythatpreparestogether.blogspot.com/2011/10/pumpkin-variation-of-monkey-bars.html">breakfast ideas</a>, and I want to share one with you here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Although we're still wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts in late October here in the Houston area, there are pumpkins seemingly everywhere.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you don't roast fresh pumpkin, you should. It's far superior to the stuff in the can, and there's little labor required. Simply cut it in half, scoop out the inside (being sure to save the seeds for roasting separately), and place each half face-down on lightly-oiled baking sheets. Roast at 350°F until the rind begins to sink in the middle. Let it cool, scrape away the rind, and store the pumpkin in freezer bags for later use.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, as I was lying in bed unable to sleep (my to-do lists tend to rob me of slumber), I suddenly thought of a granola bar recipe that I wanted to convert.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The friend who gave me the recipe uses either honey or orange marmalade in hers, but I've always substituted with apricot preserves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This morning, I decided to try using pumpkin pureé.</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SYKxf-tRGwHm3fxt0zmw09rtvB3xXuQWLKY16Ny_cqRgagzFPA-eXbHUjK8Z_hb7_QuhvFP9ulsit33MXv13cukWwvbOJgz3jCBDztDIBn9rJl_pcgBrWnqJ4ky1UCx2ZMZVS02r5io/s1600/IMG_0721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SYKxf-tRGwHm3fxt0zmw09rtvB3xXuQWLKY16Ny_cqRgagzFPA-eXbHUjK8Z_hb7_QuhvFP9ulsit33MXv13cukWwvbOJgz3jCBDztDIBn9rJl_pcgBrWnqJ4ky1UCx2ZMZVS02r5io/s400/IMG_0721.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I can't say enough how thankful I am for baking stones. They truly are a kitchen wonder!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">To be honest, my bars don't always maintain their shape. It may be a tell-tale sign that I haven't added enough moisture to the mix. This morning was no different. Most of the bars fell apart when I removed them from the pan. When this is the case, I simply dump them all into my <a href="http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/2011/07/looking-for-good-snack.html">big granola jar</a> to be served later with yoghurt! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">See? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everybody wins.</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AhM5eaHMexImV8eUHnDoxP25rNkzb8wQKG72k748r2xkkzKCz8J3CgbseWTGLK25HoYO9L-Wk7x4D1JFS4jpvklPwhvUxaghv-1XwdR7wfAQkQMfdLeEoDp0tfjvgVKz8QeS9O_6vrM/s1600/IMG_0726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AhM5eaHMexImV8eUHnDoxP25rNkzb8wQKG72k748r2xkkzKCz8J3CgbseWTGLK25HoYO9L-Wk7x4D1JFS4jpvklPwhvUxaghv-1XwdR7wfAQkQMfdLeEoDp0tfjvgVKz8QeS9O_6vrM/s400/IMG_0726.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I managed to set this relatively-intact bar aside for a quick phone photo before dumping it into the jar with the rest.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Pumpkin Granola "Bars"</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><br />
</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">4 C oats</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(pulse in food processor to resemble quick oats)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">3/4 C melted butter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 C sucanat</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(or honey granules, aka <a href="http://www.breadbeckers.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=2488">"Savannah Gold"</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 C pumpkin pureé </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(mixed with 1 T agave nectar, if you prefer it sweeter)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 C chopped pecans</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 C flax seeds</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 C dried cranberries</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Feel free to use other nuts/seeds of your choice.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cool and cut into bars... or dump into your granola jar!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(If you're a coffee drinker, check out our friend's site. <a href="http://giordanocoffee.com/Home.html">This</a> is what completed my <a href="http://thefamilythatpreparestogether.blogspot.com/2011/10/eggs-in-squash-nests-monkey-bars.html">yummy breakfast this morning</a>.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">ETA: I posted a revised version of this recipe <a href="http://thefamilythatpreparestogether.blogspot.com/2011/11/tweaking-bit.html">here</a> with some tweaking of the details for better results, thanks to my sweet friend, Lauren. :-)</span></div></div></div>Daynahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421482012113372636noreply@blogger.com0