Pool Fun

Today we had another house showing so we were able to go over to our friends house to hang out, have lunch and then swim in their neighborhood pool.  What a blessing!  We've been enjoying getting to swim with them for free  :-)  It's great too, since it's quiet and I feel like I can keep such a better eye on all the kids then at the public pool.  I'll have to try to remember to take my camera and get some pics next time. S loves lounging in her ladybug float, and even slept half the time.  It was a beautiful day compared to how hot it was the beginning of the week.  I didn't get all the sewing done I wanted to, today, but will hopefully knock it out tomorrow. Life is going too fast, trying to enjoy and savor all I can.  I often fail at that, but His grace IS new everyday!

Today

Today I got my 300 sets of bean bags cut up and ready to sew, so that's 300 sets of six colors, two of each color is a set, so that's a grand total of 3,600 bean bags to sew, flip, stuff and sew!  Crazy!!!  I also got pockets for Q-Chords cut up. For some reason I don't feel like I accomplished much though.  I did squeeze in a nap with S and P though.  I've been tired today for some reason.  M made a hilarious commercial on cutting an apple.  She is so FUNNY!  We all enjoyed laughing. She actually had great inflection in her voice and facial expressions in her "How to cut an apple" video.  I see potential.  I also got an awesome box filled with bunches of great fun fabric from my Mom-n-Luv!!! Wow...so much fun and creating to be had with it. Will include pic one of these days.  Time to hang out and relax with everyone.  Today was the hottest day here this year, over 100.  Wish we were on a plane to AK right about now  :-)

Beautiful Poem

 My Mom-n-Luv sent this to me today... I love it! 




"That needle poking to and fro, Means so much more than you may know.

Each snap, each button, each shirt, each dress, Contains something you'll never guess.

Each garment Mom makes, from the start, Contains a small piece of her heart.

With every snip she adds her love, And whispers a prayer to God above.

Dear Father, bless the one who wears this, Protect and guide them with Your kindness.

Give them strength from day to day. That from all sin they'll turn away.

Then into each and every seam. She presses in her fondest dream.

That each one in her family. Will join her in eternity.

So next time Mom makes you any clothes,

Know that, in it, her love shows.

It's more than just a thing to wear,

It's a symbol of Mom's loving care."

from "Sew Fast and Sew Easy" author wishes to be unnamed

Butterfly

Christopher has been leading us in studying Romans 12.  Especially focusing on the renewing of our minds.   When we were talking about it, I thought of a butterfly and it's metamorphosis.  Word pictures help me sometimes, so I was sharing that with everyone. Today we were enjoying watching and taking pics of this beautiful swallowtail enjoying our pink petunias.  A swallow dove at it trying to catch that beautiful butterfly for lunch!  The butterfly flew away, safe, that time at least.  It was a picture to me of how Satan is always waiting to attack us and get us off His path, especially when we are focusing on renewing our minds and seeking out His beautiful path (the flowers for that butterfly) for us.

Granola Bars

My Mom makes yummy granola bars that everyone loves, except when I make them they don't taste near as good, in my opinion.  :-)  Something about Mom making them...never can duplicate it!  So here is one I've tried, with a few changes, and we all love.

Chewy Granola Bars

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
2 T. coconut oil

Melt on stove top, or microwave if you use one.

Stir in:
1 cup oats +  a little extra
1 cup total of any combo you like (craisins, raisins, sesame seeds, coconut flakes, pepitos, nuts, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, etc)

Put in 8x8 pan.  Chill for two hours, cut into bars, and wrap in saran wrap.  I keep them in the fridge for a quick snack.

The first time I made these they were really gooey, so I like to add a little more oatmeal.  You can really make them fit your tastes.  If you want to add chocolate chips, cool the batter in the fridge or freezer for a bit first, they melt if you don't!

Another Sunday

Another great Sunday.  Although I didn't get my exercises in today like I should have.   I did come across some fun quotes today which I'm including here.  
 http://www.quotegarden.com/needlework.html    


If I stitch fast enough, does it count as aerobic exercise?  ~Author Unknown

P and I got to have a little special time today.  We got a few things needed from Sams Club, then she picked pizza and a soda float for a treat. We met a nice gentleman while enjoying our treat.  He had been a history and political science professor.  Our conversation started over my two cute girls, and included family size, homeschooling, God, business, etc.  I put business cards in my purse after that conversation; since he asked for one and I didn't have one with me! 

Christopher made THE best wings EVER.   I don't care for wings usually  but these were AWESOME.  Sauce recipe came from a blog I love to follow. Honey Glaze for Chicken  We think it would be  a great glaze for salmon as well. My first attempt failed since I burnt the chicken by being impatient!  But I learned how to do it from this video:  Indirect Grilling a Whole Chicken


I do enjoy sewing, especially my days I call fun sewing. I have been so enjoying sewing with this elastic thread and have a ton of ideas rolling around in my head. A few dresses for the girls below. I've also had fun sewing matching tops for my nieces (including L.H. :-).  


I quite often think/pray while sewing. Today I had the thought/vision come my way of having bolts of fun fabrics for girls to come and choose what they like and designing a top/skirt for themselves.  I've gotten to do this with my girls and some friends as well.  I think there is something special for a girl when they get something customized to their choice.  It made me think of the 80's movie "Pretty in Pink."  (Which also lead me to thinking about all those great 80's movies I watched, which weren't really such a "great" roll model to be watching.) But I did love how that character took some dresses and created a cool prom dress  :-)


Methinks it is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics, when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew; especially as they are never more at home with their own hearts than while so occupied.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun, 1859

A family is a patchwork of love.  ~Author Unknown

I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown
 



  

S and Teddy Bears

So...when  we had our first little one, C1, I thought it would be fun to make a patchwork teddy bear in honor of his birth for both sets of Grandparents.   I had always "planned" on have three children.....but God has us on a different exciting path instead!  Once you start down that path, it's hard to imagine stopping since we wouldn't have the gift of J, P or S had we done it "MY" way  :-)   Part of that giving up and dying to self and what stretching, growing, peace and joy it brings.  Anyway...I digress!  So needless to say, I have HAD to continue the "tradition".  Although the teddy bears have gotten smaller now, the last two are miniature compared to the first four.  I figured Grandparents would soon run out of room!