P, B & J and the First Day of First Grade!

Okay, okay...I made my new first grader P, B & J for her first day of school, but in my defense, she likes it.  We don't usually have this kind of sandwich, so it actually was kind of a treat for her.  Plus, her lunch was actually healthier than usual, the sandwich, grapes and some canned pears, with a juice box.

I wasn't sure how much hot lunch was going to cost us, so I packed her a lunch.  But, starting tomorrow, she will be having hot lunch daily from school with the occasional cold lunch.  I know that back when my parents and grandparents were in school, everyone brought their own lunches from home, but I am glad that a hot school lunch is offered.

Another change from last school year, my first grader will also be riding the school bus.  Last year, I drove her to and from school daily...yes, daily.  But, this afternoon, and each morning and afternoon from here on out, unless otherwise unavoidable, she will be riding the bus.  I am so excited.  She knows a lot of the kids on her bus, so that should not be a problem, and the best part...I won't be losing an hour a day plus driving to the school, waiting and then driving home... yippee!

A question for each of you then is, what was your child's first day of school like for you?  Did you get a lot done, housework, grocery shopping, etc. Or did you rest, relax, recuperate from summer vacation, or just take a nap?

Most recent project...(s)...

Good Afternoon All!

I have been really, really busy.  I am embarking on a wondrous and mystifying adventure...one into the world of homemade and hand crafted items.  I cross stitch and have done so for over 30 years now.  Some members of my family and I, three total, have decided to put our talents to good use and share them with others.  More on that at a later date!

The following pictures are a few of the assortment of items that I have personally been working on.

Koi Fish cross stitched on what will be a cloth diaper.



An assorted theme of ornaments.

An assortment of stocking ornaments.

I truly love to cross stitch.  It is a passion of mine you could say.  I love the hunt for the perfect pattern/chart.  I love especially finding patterns for a bargain, ones that are found in a used book store, or even better, ones given to me by friends and family!  I enjoy the process of making the items,  when I complete a project, there is immense satisfaction, and not so much some when I discover a mistake that requires a lot of back tracking.  I enjoy wrapping the finished project up, and watching my intended recipient open the gift, and seeing the amazement on their face, and the happiness they display when they realize that their gift was made with love and that they are cherished by me. 

Whatever your passion is, embrace it, enjoy every minute, and better yet...share it with others!

Exciting Opportunity!

I have been given a great opportunity!  I know a few author's who write LDS Fiction, and I enjoy their books and consider them among my favorite author's and stories, but this opportunity is pretty cool also.

I am also a big fan of the more main-stream author Debbie Macomber.  She writes a lot of relationship fiction and that is actually my favorite genre in the Romance Category of Fiction.  Within her books, I do not have to worry about inappropriate scenes, and unnecessary language.  Much like what I find in the LDS Fiction that I read, she writes more wholesome stories.  I cheer for the characters in her books and much like the other author's I enjoy, I get impatient while I wait for her next book to be released.  I often find myself re-reading some of her books while I am waiting for the new one to arrive.  Much as I do with other favorite stories.  I even re-read the entire Cedar Cove Series in preparation for the TV Series to be released on the Hallmark Channel.  Nerd, I know, but I have no problem with that!

Yea! I am a Fan Ambassador for Debbie!  This is so exciting!  I look forward to the opportunities that this will bring, though probably small, I will enjoy every moment! 

Whether you read a book that you purchased from a book store, an online outlet, or borrowed from a friend or family member or checked out from the local library, or if you downloaded an e-book, enjoy! Books are wonderful and take everyone who reads them off to a land of adventure or intrigue for a few hours! Reading is so fun and worth every penny!

Our Garden "Spot"...

I have seen some pretty amazing garden's.  Large and small, in row after row, in containers, and in raised beds, some just so lush and green with perfect fruits and vegetables, and most of all little to no weeds.  These gardens must be attended by some pretty amazing people, who have a lot of time to spend on their hands and knees, picking every single weed or other imperfection out of their garden.

Am I jealous?... YES! I am.  Don't get me wrong, we have a good sized area for a garden, with a lot of room for fruits and vegetables, and my raspberry bushes are nothing to sneeze at this year.  But, those same raspberries are growing at an angle, instead of in a straight line.  I also currently have four raised beds, and after this year, there will be two more, but even though I have a variety of items growing, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, cucumbers, and tomatoes, I seem to be watering a lot more weeds than plants this year.  It also doesn't help that the fertile soil my husband filled the beds with this year had grass seed growing in it also. 

So, I will continue to drool over posted Pinterest pictures of fabulous gardens, all the while, canning tomatoes, enjoying watermelon, and slicing cucumbers for our salads.  Our garden is not perfect, but it is ours, and year after year, no matter how many weeds grow, we still seem to enjoy enough fresh produce.

Maybe one day, I will have a perfect, "ready for our close up, please" garden area, but not this year, and that is okay!!!

Finding the perfect Homemade Bread Recipe...

I have tried, and tried, semi-succeeded, partially succeeded, failed a little, and even epically failed at my bread making adventures.  What I have found is that one single recipe may or may not be the answer.  One type of flour may not be all that is required, two in equal or off-setting amounts may be better, using a bread maker, a mixer or totally by hand may or may not be what is needed.  The weather outside can and will determine the success of the rising, and more often than not the temperature in your kitchen will most definitely determine the overall height of each single loaf.

I have tried recipes from the back of different flour bags, I have tried different recipes from so many different cookbooks, and recipes from friends, and friends of friends.  I have tried myself to tweak so many of them with a "little more of this and a little less of that" with sometimes bits of success but mostly this is met with failure, as when baking, the rule of thumb is suppose to be that, you need to follow a baking recipe to the tee for a reason!

However, after years of flailing and floundering between this recipe and that one, I have come across the perfect compromise.  The recipe is actually one that I have pieced together from two.  One of them happens to be an "ole fave" of our little family, that has worked for us for a while now, and a newer one that I began trying because of the time that the other one was taking when our bread maker decided to die a not so quiet death.  Actually when we used it for the last time, it was practically screeching and squealing and thumping across the counter.  So, it did us well for a while. 

But, in the many different tries of finding the perfect bread recipe, there are a a few tips I have found that each successful recipe should have. 

• Newer Yeast, make sure it proofs.  I buy yeast in bulk and keep it in the freezer.
• New Eggs, we get Farm Fresh Ones, but the Newer the Better.
• Fresher Flour, believe it or not, flour does go stale.
• Butter, margarine will work too.

I know that not all recipes call for any or all of these items, but I have found that when each of these items work together in a single recipe, the bread is successful.

Later today, I will be making a fresh batch of bread, and hopefully I will remember to take pictures of the process to share...

Happy Baking!

Time Out For Women!

I have heard women I know talk about this experience. I have seen women walking around with bags proclaiming their attendance at an event, but, I have never attended one before.  So, for the opportunity to do so in the form of sharing online, and hearing other women's uplifting stories, amist trials will be a learning experience for me.  To learn more for yourself, please go to:  www.tofw.com

There are some amazing possible presenters, and some interesting posts that are being shared. 

Let the uplifting begin!

Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest...

Pinterest is AWESOME! You can find a lot of useful information, fun pictures, inspirational quote, and lots, and lots of recipes to try. 

I am always amazed at some of the "pins" there that I didn't think of myself.  I am always grateful to those who share something that helps me.  Like the homemade Febreze recipe, the Whitening recipe, using baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and Dawn.  The recipes are abundant in the Food categories too.  One in particular is one that Anna will be getting for her birthday, it is a cake that looks like a candy dish.  the circular layer cake is surrounded by Kit Kats, and topped with M&M's...So cute and those are my Anna's two favorite candies! Win, win for her and Me! Mom gets to be the hero at her party! All thanks to Pinterest! 

There are so many decorating ideas using repurposed items, and I am constantly saying to myself, "I want to do that!"  My dilemma is now, if I do everything, where will I put it all?

Do you have favorite Pinterest "pins"?  Do you follow a certain theme of "pins"?  What do you "pin" yourself?