Instead of Cleaning House

I'm supposed to be cleaning house and getting ready for Christmas, but I sometimes tend to procrastinate.  Here are a few of the things I'm enjoying instead of cleaning these days:

Silly pranks that involve a shirts filled with dirt,

dirty little faces,

handsome little smiles,

pretty smiling eyes,

piano recitals,

impromptu parades,

trips to the farm,

park visits,

feeding the horses carrots,

funny faces made by horses when the carrots get dropped on the wrong side of the fence,

sweet little bakers,

making Christmas cookies,

and little tree climbers.

My house may be dirty, but my heart is full!

This Weekend

We enjoyed celebrating our son-in-law's birthday Sunday afternoon...

as well as visiting with our children,  grandchildren,  siblings, and parents.  

How special it is to get to know your great-grandparents.

Our son's baby and our daughter's are just a couple of months apart in age.    Now aren't they both adorable?

We were blessed to attend the dedication service of the youngest one Sunday.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."  3 John:4

Baby Stuff I Never Posted

Time flies when your having fun, right?  Actually, at this age time flies whether you are having fun or not, but just for the record, I am having fun.  Life is so full of ups and downs but I'm learning more and more that time is precious and we must hold tightly to every good moment, and let go of those that simply aren't so great.  

I almost lost my thought philosophizing. .. Oh, so my point is that time slipped away from me again and I'm late sharing these photos with you.

I made this paper flower tree for my daughter-in-law's shower.  I had planned to do a tutorial  on making these flowers, but I never got around to it.  

This is a crib sheet that I started embroidering for my first grandchild, who is eight now, and finished for my last one  who is three months.

It was a stamped cross-stitch piece. 

Please excuse the wrinkles, I'm told they add character to a face, but not so much to  embroidery, huh?

I hope she dreams sweetly covered in this. 

Latest Sewing and Embroidery

Here are a few of the things I've been working on lately

 another bag...

embroidered pillow cases...

a little owlie bag with vintage button eyes...

the end, for now

Little House on the Prairie Dress, and an Recycled Pinafore

Angel Eyes loves the Little House on the Prairie books.  I have no idea how many times she has read them.  She told me the other day that now she has to be really careful when she re-reads them so the books don't fall apart.  She has a bonnet that she likes to wear, and she loves to pretend that she is in the story.  She tries to enlist any willing person close enough to participate her.  I've been "Ma" many times, and her sisters often oblige her by taking a part too.

She asked me a while back if I thought I could make her a Little House on the Prairie dress, and I told her I would see what I could do.  I found a vintage pattern in my stash, and finally got the dress made.  I was about to cut out the pinafore to go over it, when I spied a lone curtain laying across the bed in the spare bedroom where I sew.  It was white with little tucks, and looked very reminiscent of a pinafore.  I cut it in half, folded the top down a couple of times, ran some elastic through, made and attached some straps, and wa-la, a pinafore.  I stitched it together in the front and attached a pretty button to finish it off.  She was pleased, and so was I.  Doesn't she make a cute little prairie girl?

Her next request has already been made.  She wants a cape like Little Red Riding Hood.

Gift Idea for Your Little Ones

If you have little ones in your life who you will be looking for a gift for in the near future.  (Christmas is right around the corner.)  I have a great tip for you.  Bartlett the Turtle, a darling book about learning to make the most of change and the pleasant surprises and friendships that come when we least expect them.   The story is engaging, entertaining, and fun to read.  Everything Bartlett loves best about his world changes.  Bartlett encounters disappointment, but soon learns that there are good things that also come in the midst of change too.

 I  received this book from someone who is very special to me.  Mark Hall, the author of this tender story, came into our life through a crisis of his own.   It wasn't his choice, but he accepted his circumstance and made the most of the situation.  I'm so thankful that he chose to open his heart to us, and include us as family. We've been blessed ever since.  

Foster care isn't ideal whether in a group home setting or in a individual foster family, but sometimes it is just the best option available at the time.  My husband and I had the amazing opportunity to be foster parents for several years, and it was the one time in my life that I knew 100% I was doing what I was meant to do.  We were honored to have been entrusted with such a precious time of responsibility and love to several young men.  Mark is one of those young men, and we are so very proud of him! 

You see sometimes in life things don't go as planned.  It happens to all of us at one time or another.  When things get crazy and changes that are beyond our control happen we each basically have a choice.  We can wallow in self pity or we can make the best of that change and look for unexpected joy wherever we find ourselves, trusting God to comfort and help us.  That is the choice Mark made.  He is one of the most contagiously joyful people you will ever meet.  After a period of time Mark was able to return home, and things worked out well for him and his birth family, but he also stayed a part of our family.  Love is like that.  It multiplies and doesn't divide.   

It is so inspiring that Mark is sharing what he has learned and is encouraging children to be open for the gifts change can bring. 

Beautiful Day

Yesterday was a beautiful day, the perfect day for playing at the park,

helping with the gardening,

playing a little ball,

and just being kids!

Simple Solution

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best.  My daughter has been trying to get her kids to make healthier food choices, and it's hard as a grandmother to say no to those sweet little faces even when you know what's best for them.

A few weeks ago, when she called saying they were coming over for a visit I decided to fix a little tray of healthier foods and have it on the little table where they play.  I didn't say a word about it, and they spotted it right off the bat.  "Mimi, who is this for?"  they asked.  I told them is was for them, and that I thought they might want a snack.

It worked like a charm.  They sat right down to that table and began munching.  Not one asked for a cookie, or any other sweet treat, and before the visit was over the entire lot of it was finished.

Now, I'm wondering if I can pull this trick on myself?

The Illusion of Fall and a Yummy Breakfast Recipe

The illusion of fall drew me outside yesterday, inviting me to breakfast on the porch.  Notice I said the ILLUSION of fall.  We had a couple of less humid days, and I actually thought I could sit on the porch and enjoy Saturday morning without being totally drenched.  As soon as I opened the door I realized just how wrong I was.  The intense heaviness of humidity quickly made it hard for me to breathe.  I decided to give an alfresco breakfast a try anyway, and pulled out a chair only to anger a nest full of yellow jackets who had decided to make their home on the chair I had planned to sit in.  

The thought of autumn's approach, no matter how illusive, had me wanting a warm breakfast.  So before I headed outside I decided to make a recipe I found on Tasty Kitchen a few weeks ago.  This is the second time I've made this and I really like it and thought you might too.    I made a few changes to use things I had on hand.

Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal

3 cups quick oats (I used regular Oatmeal)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I used 1 cup pecans)
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 applesauce (I used pear butter)
1 cup milk
1/ 4 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a 8x8 inch pan, or a round casserole

In a large bowl, combine the oats, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and nuts.  In a smaller bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, applesauce (or pear or apple butter), milk, butter, vanilla, and egg.

Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture and whisk to combine.  Pour into prepared baking dish.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown.  Serve immediately with yogurt, honey, and or additional nuts.


 Breakfast was yummy, but I must confess after taking these pictures I took my breakfast right back in to the air conditioned kitchen.

Imagination

In my opinion, imaginary play is the best!  I love to see children using their imagination.  I love it when they use their own, God given, thought process to imagine far away worlds and scenarios and bring them to life.  Of course, if you have a few props it helps.  

I came across this scene a while back, Scooter was riding through the Old West on none other than a trusty steed borrowed from one of her dolls.  She was decked out in an outfit borrowed from her sister, and headed for adventure.

Of course, her little brother wanted in on the action too.  He wrestled up his hat, and tried to wrangle her horse away, but wasn’t too successful. 

What sweet memories they are making.  I hope they make many more!