Knit Me Pieces

Christmas Crafting: Fleece Lovey

2012-01-31T19:53:00.000-08:00

As I said in the last post, I want to make each little one in our family something to take to bed each Christmas Eve. I didn't want to make Aven pajamas, since she is flying through clothes (my 6 month old (4 month old if she was born on her due date) is now filling out 18 month sizes). I thought a little lovey would be more appreciated and have better longevity. Here's what I came up with.

I promise, she really does like it, even though she doesn't seem too thrilled based on this photo.

I had intended to use the fleece for some cloth diaper soakers, but seeing as how my little miss hates cloth diapers, it has been in my stash awaiting a new purpose. This seemed perfect. I searched online and found a basic kitty head and printed it out in order to have a template for the applique face, then I embroidered the details. Then I slipped a rattle in as I appliqued the face onto the fleece (the rattle was rescued from one of Ryken's baby toys that was too worn out to be saved). I added a flannel backed silk for the back side. And voila! A perfect little lovey for my not-so-little one.

Christmas Crafting: Train Jammies

2012-01-20T21:09:00.000-08:00

Ryken loves trains. They have been a delightful obsession for him for the last couple of years. So I bought some train fabric quite some time ago. So long ago, in fact, that I had actually forgotten it was in my stash. I had been waiting for just the right idea for a project for my little train fanatic. As I was going through things I came across it and realized it was perfect for some new pajamas.

This year I initiated a new tradition for Christmas Eve. Each year I want to make the kids something that they get to open on Christmas Eve after church, and take to bed with them that night. Some years it may be jammies, other years maybe a knit teddy bear, or perhaps a new quilt. Whatever it is, it'll be handmade and tucked into bed with them on Christmas Eve. Here's what Ryken opened this Christmas Eve.

I am thrilled that he loves them. And I am impressed that he realized that Mama made the button steam going the wrong direction. Oops! Even though I missed that one he still smiles whenever he wears them, so I don't feel too bad. I used a pair of his comfy pants as the template for these pants, and I bought a long sleeved t-shirt to applique the train onto. The applique pattern was from this book. Here's what I've made from this book in the past. I have become quite a fan of Kim Schaefer. And I am quite thankful that although Ryken is becoming quite a big boy, he is still little enough to enjoy the things I make from her patterns, too.

Christmas Crafting: Minecraft Potholder/Coaster

2012-01-17T16:57:00.000-08:00

A little while before Christmas we received the catalog for Think Geek. In it were a couple of products based on the game Minecraft. When I saw the photos, I had a little revelation, "8-bit, it's all squares!!!". For quite some time, I had been trying to think of something I could quilt Matt that would be "cool enough" for him to actually want to use. When I saw the 8-bit advertisement for a game I knew he really enjoyed, I realized this was about as good as I was going to get. So I sneakily asked him for some graph paper and graphed out one of the tools commonly used in the game, based off of the image in the Think Geek catalog (also sneakily confiscated). Here's an idea of what I saw in the catalog. And here is my finished product.

While it took lots of focus, it ended up being lots of fun to make. And it is happily "cool enough" for use.

Christmas Crafting: Yearly Birds

2012-01-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, I decided to make one of these birds for each little one each Christmas. It is a really simple, straightforward pattern that comes together pretty quickly. This year was the first year I needed to make two! I used the leftover fabric from Aven's stocking. I think Ryken has come to enjoy getting these little guys (though not as much as his gifts from Santa...understandably), and hopefully Aven will too.

Christmas Crafting: Aven's Stocking

2012-01-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

As promised...Christmas sewing projects! First up, Aven's stocking. I used Ryken's stocking (that I made him when he was a baby) as the template for her stocking. Ryken and I had a great time going to Joann's together to pick out the fabrics for her stocking, although he was a bit bummed that he didn't get a new one too. Matt helped select just the right font for me to applique her name on, and I had a great time sewing it all together.

Right Now I'm Loving...

2011-12-31T14:57:00.000-08:00

...that this blanket is big enough to serve its purpose while I work on it.

...that it's New Years Eve and its warm enough for Aven to enjoy being outside.

...and warm enough for Ryken to play in the garden in shorts and run barefoot through the house shouting "wunderbar!".

...that my mother-in-law got me this fabulous book for Christmas, and that it sneaks veggie purees (which I'm already making for Aven) into kid-friendly recipes.

...that this little one still regularly falls asleep in my arms...and stays asleep once I put her in her crib.

I promise, photos of finished Christmas sewing are coming soon! Hope you have a wonderful New Years!

Santa's Comin' to Town

2011-12-24T21:15:00.001-08:00

This is the first year Ryken is super excited about Santa, which makes me super excited that he will be coming to our house tonight. Ryken wrote a letter to him a few weeks ago and we put it in the fireplace, as I thought since Santa brings gifts through the fireplace, he would probably be able to take a letter via the same route. And he did! He left a candy cane in the same spot we had placed the letter.

I made both of these Santa towels (from this book) last year, and I loved them then, but I think I like them even more now that Santa is an even bigger deal at our house.

Now that I am all caught up on posting about last year's sewing, I look forward to posting the outcome of the last-minute-rush of sewing that my machine has seen recently. Until then, I hope you have a fabulous time discoverng what Santa brings to your home, but even more so, celebrating the birth of a Devine baby. Wishing you a very, very merry Christmas!

Our Sick Day

2011-12-14T23:24:00.001-08:00

Ryken, Aven, and I were all feeling sub-par today, for a variety of reasons. So we decided to keep things nice and low key. In spite of not feeling very cheery, we actually all managed to smile quite a bit while spending the day lounging together.

Hope you are finding things to smile about, too!

Oh Christmas Tree(s)

2011-12-11T20:53:00.001-08:00

Last year made these trees from a pattern in this great Christmas quilting book.

I liked how simple and straightforward the pattern was. And I enjoyed selecting all of the buttons from my button jar. I didn't like sewing them all on by hand, nor did I particularly enjoy hand sewing on the base of the trees. But I am very happy with how they turned out and I love having them at our front door.

I'm Back!

2011-12-09T21:31:00.001-08:00

So by posting more regularly I apparently meant life would be crazy and I wouldn't post for a few months. I'm guessing that life will continue to be super busy with two kids and the holidays, but I have so much to catch up on, hopefully I'll be back soon. And more often (though I'm beginning to feel like a broken record saying that). Christmas usually ends up being a sewing-machine-heavy-holiday, and this year is no exception. But before I get to this years projects, there are a number of projects I made last year but never had the time to post. Like our Christmas tree skirt.

I took an old round table cloth and folded it "pizza slice style" to get the template for each section. I then cut the sections out, appliquéd various sized squares and rectangles and added ribbons for gifts, sewed it all together and bound it. It was a very easy project and I love how it turned out.

Awhile Ago...

2011-09-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

...I made this beanie for Aven.

(Sorry the photos didn't turn out great).

I used Caron Simply Soft which has become one of my go to yarns. It is affordable, soft, and has a great sheen. As for the beanie, I'm happy with its appearance, but it really, really doesn't stay on her little head. I'm hoping it might as she gets a bit bigger, but I doubt it. But then again I have yet to find a beanie that really stays put...so I'll be knitting hats with strings attached in the future.

First up, Ryken needs a bigger hat for the upcoming winter. I'll be making one quite similar to this one). And then I think I'll make Aven an itty bitty version. I love that we now live in a place where a winter hat is a necessity, not just a fashion accessory.

Passed Down

2011-09-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

I've been knitting a lot lately. Perhaps that's why I haven't posted all month long. You would think I would be eager to share with you some of the finished products I've completed recently. And I am. But instead I find myself revisiting a couple of blankets I knit for Ryken, that were stored away, that are in use once again with Aven. I think I like them even more the second time around.

Blogged here. I think this was the first thing that I knit for Ryken. It turned out so much smaller than anticipated, but it is the perfect car seat blanket.

Blogged here. This one is the opposite in terms of size...it's huge! But it is so helpful to have for our little miss. She loves being toasty, and it is the perfect blanket to tuck down into the sides of the crib, on top of her swaddled little self.

My goal is to post much more frequently (isn't that always my goal?). I think I just might be able to do so, now that I am finding myself settling into some sort of a routine (most days) and, though sleep is still a fantasy, I have just a bit more energy than I used to.

Today

2011-08-29T21:30:00.001-07:00

Today was anticipated to be a hard one. I won't go into too many details, at least not in this post, but with both Ryken and Aven I experienced postpartum depression. It started with intense fears of failing my family, and gradually faded to more of a constant concern that I would be able to care for and nurture them to the extent hoped for. I am currently (and thankfully) in the fading part.

Today was the date I was supposed to go in for my scheduled repeat c-section. Instead it is the day I hold my nearly six week old baby girl in my arms. And surprisingly enjoy watching her drift off to sleep. I am so thankful that instead of dwelling on what I thought should have been, I found that I was able to actually enjoy what is.

Today I see what my full term baby would have looked like. And today I can see just how absolutely beautiful she is. I see it more with each day that passes, and I am confident that will continue for the rest of her life.

Today I am thankful for time passing, sadness fading, and hope glimmering.

Revisited: Cupcake Hat & Baby Shoes

2011-08-28T14:28:00.001-07:00

You may have seen them here and here.

They were a bit too big for her until a couple of weeks ago. The transition from preemie clothes to newborn ones was a fun one, as it not only meant she was gaining weight, but also that we were able to use all of the girly clothes we had for her. Since these are still a bit large, and knitting stretches, I'm hoping they will fit her for quite awhile.

Revisited: Newborn Gown

2011-08-22T09:48:00.001-07:00

You may have seen it here.

So far she has turned the tables on us a bit, as far as "Frustrate. Educate. Motivate." goes (as I think all babies do to their parents, to varying degrees).

And she seems very pleased about it.

A note on the baby gowns: they are awesome and work perfectly. I highly recommend the pattern. It is fun, quick, and easy to sew together, and so helpful to have, especially with the many diaper changes you have with a newborn.

Revisited: Itty Bitty Baby Dress

2011-08-20T15:51:00.001-07:00

You may have seen it here.

It was cute on the hanger, but my-oh-my it is so much cuter on her.

I had a second dress all cut out before Aven arrived, and I thankfully was able to find a few hours to sew it together. I think I like the second one even better than the first.

Aven's Quilt & The NICU

2011-08-15T18:48:00.001-07:00

The NICU is a hard place to be. A place you don't ever want to have to visit, but a place you are incredibly thankful for if your baby needs to be there. Both Ryken and Aven ended up in the same NICU, in the same hospital, for about the same length of time. We saw many of the same doctors and nurses, went through the same hopes and fears, experienced the same awe as God sovereignly cared for our kids.

With Ryken, I remember trying to find out how long until he could come home, nearly every time I found myself there. With Aven I accepted that we would never know until she was ready. With Ryken I felt like the nurses had a baby, and I got to visit him, almost as if I was a spectator. With Aven I tolerated their interference, and did what I knew to be right for my baby and myself once they were out of eyesight. (I'm amazed at how free hospital personnel feels to touch someone else's boobs in an attempt to have a new mom breastfeed in the way they feel it should happen). With Ryken I was too afraid to bring personal items for his incubator. With Aven (after 3 years of building confidence as a parent with Ryken) I had the courage to ask if I could bring in a blanket for her. Thankfully they said yes. This quilt was a very small piece of what home would be, but it was nice to see it whenever we were in the NICU. It's even nicer to see it in her room at home, now.

The transition from seeing her a couple times a day to seeing her 24/7 was an odd one. Because we live so far from the hospital, we stayed in a hotel so that we would still be able to see her several times a day. Which meant we were only able to see Ryken on occasion too. I went from seeing my son all day every day, to having a daughter and a son I saw infrequently, to having both with me at all times. No wonder my emotions are a mess, lol! No matter how drained, uncertain, hormonal, exhausted, or frustrated I get, I am always oh so glad to be home.

Quilt details: I basically foundation pieced these log cabin blocks, but I did so without using a template. I just cut rough rectangles and sewed them together, using white flannel squares as the backing instead of paper. All of the fabrics, and even the batting and ribbon, came out of my stash (I just love free quilting!). I chose green and cream colors, as it seemed fitting for a girl with an Irish name.

Aven Is Here!

2011-08-14T14:14:00.001-07:00

Here's why I haven't been around lately....

...Aven arrived 7/21/11, weighing 4lbs 7oz. She was born at 33 weeks 3 days, and amazingly only had to be in the NICU for 5 days. My water broke on Monday at 4:30 in the morning, and after 3 days in a windowless room at the hospital, several medications to help her develop as much as possible and prevent me from going into labor, and a lot of praying, she was born at about 11 on Thursday morning. Breathing on her own. Able to take a bottle from the very beginning. Never even needed lights for jaundice. It was amazing to see how much God protected her, right from the very beginning.

Glad I was able to finish these little receiving blankets in the nick of time. I simply used flannels from my stash, used one of Ryken's old receiving blankets as the template, and sewed two pieces right sides together, turned them right side out, then edge stitched around.

They ended up being perfect for her, as our new little miss prefers to be nice and toasty. And it warms my heart that something mama made makes her happy. Stay tuned for lots more baby-related-crafting-catching-up in the days to come.

New Pants

2011-06-17T12:09:00.001-07:00

Last week Ryken tagged along with me to Joann. He always likes looking at all of the different fabrics, but it gets boring pretty quickly for him. So this time I said if he had a good attitude at the store and was obedient he could pick out some fabric and Mama would make him some new pajamas.

He loved the idea, had a great time picking out his fabric, and decided he wanted a new pair of pants. (I just used a pair of his current pants as a template).

It was so fun for both of us, I'll definitely use the same reward again in the future. Fun shopping for both of us, fun sewing for me, and pajamas Ryken got to pick out himself. Good stuff.

Awhile ago...

2011-06-08T16:41:00.001-07:00

...I made this baby blanket for a friend and her first baby. My friend Andrea taught me the pattern (a simple but very pretty crochet pattern). Our little family is so excited that we get to spend this weekend with her and her family, along with several other wonderful friends. She is such an inspiring mama, I can't wait to soak up some more of her creative ideas.

Itty Bitty Baby Dress

2011-06-05T12:49:00.001-07:00

Recently finished this sweet pattern. I am quite pleased with how it turned out, and can definitely see making this again.

Baby Gowns

2011-05-26T20:20:00.001-07:00

I found (and love) this pattern for newborn gowns using t-shirts. Matt has quite a few that he no longer wants, for one reason or another, so I thought it would be fun to make some baby gowns. I had a couple when Ryken was a baby and they were so helpful for late night diaper changes. Here are the two I have made so far. I plan on making more of them, as there are more shirts in my stash and the pattern is super simple and quick.

Awhile ago...

2011-05-21T13:32:00.001-07:00

...I made these placemats. They are super practical, and I think super cute, too. I used applique templates for the birds, but improvised the rest (button eyes, embroidered legs, quilted placemats). We use them often, and they have held up fabulously through many machine washes.

Cupcake

2011-05-19T14:03:00.001-07:00

I thought the little shoes needed a little hat that matched, and I couldn't resist knitting this one.

(Seriously, do I have a patient cat, or what?)

I think they go together perfectly. I look forward to seeing what they look like on our little girl. The picot edging and cherry were crochet, which made me think a little more than usual as it's not my primary method of crafting. The hat was a cinch though. There are some super cute patterns in the book, but I'm not sure how much I'll be able to get done before her arrival. As usual, I have crammed my plate full of crafty to-do's for our newest little one. Good thing babies are so small and their clothes come together so quickly!

Baby Shoes

2011-05-17T17:28:00.001-07:00

Ryken and I had a fun time picking out buttons for baby sister's new shoes this afternoon.

My mom gave me another great knitting baby book, and these little booties are the first pattern I have tried out of it. The pattern was straight forward and the booties flew together.

I think they ended up super cute and they were so quick and easy I think I will end up making a bunch more.

Messenger Bag

2011-05-06T13:23:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love Meg McElwee's patterns (sewliberated.com). This is the third pattern I have purchased and sewn from her, and all three have proved to be polished, extremely well articulated, and perfect for my "advanced beginner" skill level. (You can check out the other two here and here.) And TOTALLY my style. I had been wanting the "Mischievous Gnome Messenger Bag Pattern" for a LONG time, and since her patterns were on sale I decided it was time to finally snatch it up. And I needed a break from all of the knitting and sewing for "baby sister", as Ryken has named her. This one is purely for Mama. And I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

Not counting the time spent cutting out the fabrics and interfacing, it took me about four hours to sew it all together. I was shocked that it came together so quickly and easily. The corduroy was from my stash, as was the button. The camo and star fabrics were a steal at Walmart, which is where I got the ribbon too. If you've ever considered purchasing a Sew Liberated pattern, I HIGHLY recommend you go for it. They are so fun to sew, and so practical to use.

Shades Of Yellow

2011-05-03T23:00:00.001-07:00

After being cooped up inside from one sickness after another, Ryken and I finally got out of the house for a bit today. He loves playing in the garden, especially with his "yellow toys".

And I had fun with some yellow of my own.

I love knitting in the garden while Ryken plays. It is made much easier with my outdoor friendly knitting bag. (Yes, it is the case that our sheets came in, and it works oh so perfectly.)

I am making really good progress on the sleep sack from my go to baby book by Debbie Bliss. That book is seriously amazing. Hopefully tomorrow Ryken and I will get to enjoy some more yellow.

Awhile ago...

2011-04-22T13:36:00.001-07:00

...I made this table topper. I used insul-bright batting so it is like a giant pot holder, which I love. I'd love to make a more summery one, but for now that is at the bottom of my crafting list. A new diaper bag for baby girl just seems a little more practical, and fun, at this point.

Saying Good Morning

2011-04-16T14:05:00.001-07:00

Happily At Work...

2011-04-15T13:54:00.001-07:00

...for hours.

Never underestimate the power of construction toys and a box of dirt in the hands of a little boy.

Or the time it gives Mama to do a little work of her own.

Baby Blanket

2011-04-14T11:13:00.001-07:00

My, oh my, I have been gone for quite some time. Life has been filled with exhaustion, nausea, and doctors appointments. Yep, we're having another baby! Our little girl is due at the beginning of September, which means I am right about halfway through this pregnancy, and I am just now getting a little normalcy (aka energy) back into our days. We'll see if that means I'll be able to post more than once every 2-3 months!

I'm excited that I was able to finish a baby blanket for my little "nephew" Cash Edward, who was born in December. It was a work in progress for about 8 months, and I am now thrilled that he is able to enjoy it. Pattern found in this book. You might have caught a glimpse of the blanket here.

Now I've jumped into knitting for our little one. Looking forward to seeing how much knitting I can get done for her before she gets here.

New Bible Study Bag

2011-01-20T15:25:00.001-08:00

My mom had this pattern on her bulletin board and I thought it was so cute, I had to make one myself. You can find the pattern here.

I think it will make an awesome Bible Study tote. I made a pocket for my Bible and one for study materials. Now I am all set for when my women's Bible Study starts up on Monday. Though I am already loving using it. :)

Our Day Of Crafting

2011-01-04T15:07:00.001-08:00

Christmas decorations are coming down, and Valentines decorations are being made. I saw this craft idea and thought it would be fun for Ryken and I to do at home on Daddy's first day back to work after Christmas vacation.

Mama: peel papers off crayons

Ryken: eat breakfast & play with his trains

Mama: learned you can get a blister by sharpening crayons, and paper clips are great at de-clogging pencil sharpeners

Ryken: tried his hand at sharpening a crayon, then played with his tools and had some "iPad time"

Mama: set up shavings and sheet of wax paper

Ryken: had fun choosing colors and sprinkling them on the big sheet of wax paper.

Mama: ironed the shavings between 2 sheets of wax paper, sandwiched by printer paper

Ryken: watched Cars

Mama: cut and trace hearts onto waxed crayon paper

Ryken: eat pizza and refuse to sit on tushie

Mama: help Ryken cut out a heart, then cut the rest out while he "work by self"

Ryken: did a great job cutting a heart out, then decided he didn't like Mama's help so he cut the scraps into confetti

Mama: string hearts on thread and find a big stick

Ryken: hang hearts on stick

Mama: "Ryken, what do you think of our craft?!"

Ryken: "I want it down."

Mama: decides Ryken is right, needs to come down and find a new home

Ryken: jumps in bed instead of napping

Awhile ago...

2011-01-01T14:07:00.001-08:00

...we got a dog. Back in mid-September. And we named him Cody. I've mentioned him around these parts before, but I thought I would share some puppy pictures. My dad graciously provided the funds for us to adopt a dog into our little family. And I just love Cody. He is totally an awkward puppy, but sweet and smart too. And, as you can see, just too cute.

Photo by Matt

I look forward to the many adventures we will have together.

Knit Night

2010-12-15T16:57:00.001-08:00

Desserts add so much to our knit nights each week. For tonight: homemade chocolate cupcakes with coffee cream cheese buttercream frosting. And of course gingerbread men sprinkles. I absolutely LOVE Wednesday nights with my girls!!!

My Typical Sweet Sunday

2010-12-12T16:22:00.001-08:00

Working on a baby blanket for a friend.

Enjoying a basic crochet pattern for a blanket for our family.

Enjoying a lazy afternoon of coffee, football, and magazines.

Making homemade French bread for dinner.

Working on binding a tree skirt for our Christmas tree.

Happily Home...

2010-11-27T20:45:00.001-08:00

...from Thanksgiving. So thankful for my friend Cyndi for watching Cody while we stayed at Mom Mom and Pop Pops for a few days. But man, I missed him! Gave him a bath and made him a holiday slip cover for his collar this afternoon when we got home. Now he is sooooo clean and cuddly.

Goodness...From Scratch

2010-11-22T20:11:00.001-08:00

Frozen lasagna and veggies gave me the time to make...

...Homemade French bread (recipe found in the Tassajara Bread Book)...

...and this butterscotch pudding (love it because it requires ingredients I always have on hand and it is DELICIOUS).

Sweet Sundays

2010-11-21T23:48:00.001-08:00

I had a wonderful day doing some Christmas crafting with my mom, after going to a great service at church.

I also had a great dinner with my man, and my little man too. I made Mexican chicken soup (a go-to favorite around here), and tried my hand at making flan for the first time. I had no idea it was so easy. I made this Pumpkin Vanilla Flan. Sooooooooo delicious!

Sweet Sundays...Delayed

2010-11-16T18:57:00.001-08:00

Making homemade tortilla chips.

Putting together a cloth napkin basket (to cut down on using paper towels).

Enjoying Pumpkin Spice Eggnog in my coffee and savoring new teas. Yum!!!

Chatting on the phone with Mom Mom.

Lounging with Cody.

Hope you are having a great week!

Cold Outside...

2010-11-12T07:21:00.001-08:00

...warm and cozy morning inside.

Sweet Sundays

2010-11-07T19:23:00.001-08:00

Working on Christmas applique.

Enjoying having fall finally arrive.

Baking pumpkin cookies.

It was a wonderfully sweet Sunday. Hope yours was, too!

Sweet Sundays...Delayed

2010-11-03T07:02:00.001-07:00

Here was our sweet Sunday, sorry I haven't been able to post this until today. Matt, Ryken and I went to a Halloween carnival at our church and had a blast! He went in the bounce house, played games, went "trunk-or-treating", and had pizza. I wasn't able to get too many shots, but here are a few.

We had asked Ryken back in September what he wanted to be for Halloween. We didn't anticipate he would care, or even understand, but he thought for a minute, and then with surety in his voice, said "Arthur". He loves Arthur books, and he had so much fun seeing himself dressed up as a character from some of his favorite stories.

I will try to post again tomorrow with pictures from his school Halloween party from last Thursday.

Thank You Mom

2010-10-30T16:10:00.001-07:00

I never thought I would see the day that I mopped the floors at 6:30am on a Saturday morning. Alas, that day has arrived. Thank you, mom, for all of your years of hard work and loving service for our family. And I apologize for all my years of ingratitude. You are wonderful.

Though I dislike mopping, no matter what the hour, the process is sooooooooo much better with my new mop. The Libman Freedom Mop. Fill it with whatever cleaner you want. Wash and reuse the pad. Works like a charm. Absolutely love it. Even at 6:30 in the morning.

First Fieldtrip

2010-10-26T12:19:00.001-07:00

Today Ryken had his first fieldtrip! We went to the pumpkin patch with his class and he had a great time...

...playing in a giant jack-o-lantern...

...checking out the animals...

...going on a hay ride...

...and getting his pumpkin and coloring book! We also learned about pumpkins and gourds while we were there, and some of the history of the pumpkin patch. It was an awesome introduction to field trips for the little man. Fabulous fall fun.

Sweet Sundays

2010-10-24T20:28:00.001-07:00

Hopefully this will become a new tradition of documenting my day of rest with my beautiful family. Since we got married, Matt and I have had the tradition of football and pizza nearly every Sunday (during football season, of course), and I am hoping to add a Sunday blog post to that tradition, too. So, here are some of the things I really enjoyed today.

Making pumpkin cake for my TLBS ladies for tomorrow night.

Lounging with Cody (Oh, didn't I mention we got a new puppy? ... More to come on that in a future post!) and working on a crochet blanket.

Starting a new book. "Love Walked In" by Marisa De Los Santos. Several chapters in and I am enjoying it. So many references to old movies, I may just have to Netflix a while genre, lol. I received the book not long ago from www.paperbackswap.com. It is an awesome swap site and I highly encourage you to check it out.

Hope you had a sweet Sunday!

Menu Board Revamp

2010-10-23T07:40:00.001-07:00

You may remember my menu board from way back when. I am still absolutely loving it, but awhile ago I felt like it needed to be spruced up a bit. I still find it to be extremely helpful for planning meals as well as staying within our grocery budget. And I also like that it decorates what used to be a blank wall.

Back Again

2010-10-19T11:56:00.001-07:00

After being gone awhile I am ready to get back to blogging...again. It has been a difficult few months for a number of reasons, but I feel like I am getting some normalcy back. I plan to do some catching up here over the next few weeks...so things may not be very chronological. But I hope you enjoy.

One of the activities that has kept us busy is school! Ryken and I have started going to a mommy and me preschool two mornings a week. It has been a ton of fun for us both. Here are a couple of photos of Ryken on his first day, back in September, and his first schoolwork.

Scentsy

2010-09-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed my little plug in warmer so much that I decided I wanted to order a large one. I LOVE it! I have found that the scent lasts a lot longer in the large warmer than in the plug in. But I am so happy with both, and so thankful to my friend Cyndi for introducing me to Scentsy.

If you happen to be interested, check out Cyndi's website, or let me know (I'm hosting a party in a couple of weeks, filled with delicious scents, pretty warmers, and tasty desserts!).

New Etsy Item

2010-08-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

I have branched out a bit and made a handful of cards, now listed in my Etsy shop. They were quite fun to make, so I have a feeling I will be making more in the future.

Knit Night

2010-08-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

Monday night I had several wonderful ladies from my women's Bible Study group come over for dessert and a little lesson in knitting. It was such a wonderful evening. I hope they are enjoying this new skill, and I really hope we will be able to get together regularly for "Knit Nights"!

Ryken's Shorts

2010-08-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

I used this pattern, super quick, super simple, super cute. I adjusted the pattern just a bit, to fit Ryken's long legs and cloth diapered bum. You can catch a glimpse of how I've used this pattern in the past here.

Another Etsy Update

2010-08-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

I first made little quilt loveys way back when, and have finally added them to the shop. Feel free to stop by and check them out. Thanks!

Diaper Aid

2010-08-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Cloth diapering has been going quite well. (You may remember I posted about it here.) Aside from a few bouts with rashes (which we have experienced with disposables, too) I LOVE using cloth diapers. Now when I use disposables (for trips, mostly) I feel so wasteful. But even more than that, I love the routine of cloth diapers. It may sound bazaar, but I have come to really enjoy drying them outside on the clothesline. I made this clothespin bag a few weeks ago and it has made the process even more enjoyable. I used this tutorial which was very easy to understand and very quick to sew together.

My Little Corner

2010-08-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying knitting recently (though I suppose there aren't many times when I don't enjoy it), and I have come to love my little corner.

Ah yes, knitting in hand, dinner on the stove, Pandora playing, Ryken playing by my feet. I have come to enjoy this little corner very much. The knitting in hand turned into this...

...which, if you are interested, can be purchased here. Yes, that's right, my Etsy shop is still kicking. I plan to keep adding new items as I am able to do so. I will keep you posted when new additions come along.

Back to blogging...

2010-08-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

...over two weeks later. I didn't intend to take this long of a break, but alas, life gets busy. Here's a peek at one of the things that came out of my sewing machine in order to help with that business.

Made from this tutorial I purchased on Etsy. It was a very clear tutorial and easy to put together. As I was making it I thought it was going to be relatively small, but it ended up being huge. I have taken it "down the hill" for two trips and everything fits in it. It's wonderful! I absolutely love it!

Psalm 47

2010-07-23T13:10:00.001-07:00

Recently planted flower boxes on our patio.

I clap my hands, with all the nations, and shout to my God with cries of joy. My Lord, the Most High, you are incredibly awesome. You are the great King over the entire earth. You subdue nations. You offer us an inheritance. You have ascended amid shouts of joy and the sounding of trumpets. I will sing praises to you, my great King. You are King over all the earth, and I will sing praises to you. You reign over the nations, and are seated on your holy throne. The nobles of nations assemble as your people; the kings of the earth belong to you. You are greatly exalted!

Paraphrased into prayer form.

2 Timothy 4:16-18

2010-07-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

Strawberry flower from our backyard.

Lord, though I may not find support here on earth, I know that you stand at my side and give me strength. You strengthen me so that your message might be proclaimed through me. You deliver me from the lion's mouth. I know you will rescue me from every evil attack and you will bring me safely to your heavenly kingdom. To you be the glory for ever and ever.

Paraphrased into prayer form.

Luke 12:21-22, 29, 34

2010-07-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Baby bird who flew the nest.

My king, teach me to stop storing up things for myself. Instead, I desire to grow rich towards You. I will not worry about my life, what I eat, or what I wear. I set my heart on you, you are my treasure.

Paraphrased into prayer form.

Psalm 91:1-2,14-16

2010-07-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

A few months ago we were treated to about 4 hot air balloons right above our house.

Lord God I rest in your shadow, for you are Most High. It is here that I dwell; You, the Almighty, are my shelter, refuge, and fortress. You are my God and I trust in you. You, O Lord, will rescue me, because I love you. You will protect me because I acknowledge your name. When I call upon you, my God, you answer me. You are with me in trouble, you not only deliver me but you bring me honor as well. You satisfy me with long life and you show me your salvation.

Paraphrased into prayer form.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-22

2010-07-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

My new peace lily at the kitchen sink.

Our great and glorious God, I pray that our family would compassionately warn those who are idle and not be idle ourselves, that we would encourage the timid and take courage ourselves, that we would seek and act on opportunities to help the weak, and that we would be patient with everyone. Keep us from repaying wrong for wrong and teach our family how to show kindness to each other and everyone else. May we always be joyful, prayerful, and thankful in all circumstances, which we recognize is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. We pray that we will not put out the Spirit's fire nor treat prophecies with contempt. Help us to test everything and hold on to that which is good. Show us how to avoid every kind of evil.

Paraphrased into prayer form.

Back Again

2010-07-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

No, I haven't disappeared. I have just been so incredibly busy I haven't had the time to post. But this week looks promising in terms of being able to get back into routines. So, before I catch you up on all of the things that have kept us busy, I have decided to make this a week of prayer here, kicking it off today with another Psalm of Thanksgiving. The rest of the week I will be posting Scriptures I have "paraphrased" into prayer form based on Beth Moore's "Praying God's Word".

Ryken and I at the Mojave Narrows last year.

Oh Lord, my God, my love, you have walked
With me through such darkness.
And yet in you there is no darkness at all.
You have brought hope and healing to my soul.

When turmoil filled my mind and my heart
You held my hand and soothed me.
I looked for you with great longing
And you heard my pleas, the prayers I cried.

My body and my mind often fail me
But your strength never does.
I am filled with your light
And I praise your holy and wondrous name.

You overwhelm me with your blessings.
Your deliverance is strong and sure.
I put my life and my soul into your hands
And you did not disappoint.

How lovely, how breathtaking, are the works of your hands.
My heart cries in awe of who you are.
Your goodness and mercy are abundant.
Your power and might fill me with reverence.

I am yours, and yours alone, my king, my God.
You never fail me, my protector, my Savior.
I praise your name, always.
Oh Lord, my God, my love, you are glorious.

Scentsy

2010-07-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

I just picked up my first Scentsy order from my amazing friend Cyndi. I LOVE IT!!! Gorgeous warmer, delicious fragrances, good prices. I am so thrilled with it all that I am already planning out my next order.

New Sewing Spot

2010-07-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

In an effort to clean out the office I moved all of my sewing, knitting, scrap booking, and other crafting supplies to our bedroom. It has turned out to be a fantastic place to sew, study, etc.

Fullerton Airport

2010-07-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

About a month ago my mom wanted to take Ryken to the Fullerton Airport while we were in the area, since he is very into helicopters and airplanes. We all had a great time, and I look forward to when we can take him on his first airplane ride.

Catching Up

2010-07-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

I made this as a little Easter gift and never got around to blogging it. So, here it is. A little coaster with a paper pieced flower and a needle turn appliqué bird, finished with some hand quilting. So fun and so quick to make.

Psalm Of Thanksgiving

2010-07-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

While doing Jennifer Rothschild's "Me, Myself & Lies" study, I came across this exercise. I have done it several times and anticipate doing it many more. Here is my first psalm, written on May 12th.

Oh Lord, my God, I've been such a mess,
And yet, by you, I am continually blessed.

I waver, I doubt, I fear, I stress,
And yet, by you, I am continually blessed.

You are the One on whom I can always depend,
Peace, comfort, and joy to me you always send.

You have saved me from death, from my past, from the traps that I face,
You shine truth, remove lies, and bring patience and grace.

You continually work to renew my mind,
My soul to you I give, my heart to you I bind.

You never leave, you never depart,
I am awed by your majestic works of art.

All creation sings of your glory, honor and might,
With you by my side I'll not succumb to fright.

Your ways are sure, all you do is right,
With you by my side I'll not succumb to fright.

I am forgiven and free, secure in your love,
I have found peace and joy that comes from above.

Thank you Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior!
Your presence and love I don't cease to savor!

Summer Skirt

2010-06-30T21:39:00.001-07:00

I started sewing this skirt nearly a year ago and only recently finished it. It is the perfect, light weight, comfy skirt for hot summer days. I used this pattern, making just a few modifications. The pattern is super basic and probably could not get any easier, and I am quite pleased with the finished product. I love the cherries fabric, though I think it would be fun to do one with a bit of embellishments...maybe a second fabric for a wide hem, or a bit of cotton lace? Or maybe add an appliqué of some sort? I think basic patterns are some of the most fun, because they really allow you to personalize things with your own creativity.

The Power Of A Positive Mom

2010-06-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

Book one on my summer reading list is complete. The Power of a Positive Mom, by Karol Ladd was an insightful, practical, and light read. She stresses the importance of the role of motherhood and focuses on a mother's spirituality and reliance on God as much as she provides helpful ways to encourage your children.

Each chapter is concluded with a scripture reading, prayer, and a short activity/exercise. Some of my favorite activities were writing out my job description as a stay at home mom, as well as my statement of purpose, and writing out specific accolades for each member of my family. I also really liked her section on prayer.

I had started reading this book through the local library but was unable to finish before I had to turn it in. So I bought it from Amazon in order to finish, and I am glad that I did.

Summer School

2010-06-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

Ryken has been into pretend/imaginative play lately, and one of his favorite toys for this is his Little People school bus. The people go on field trips to the zoo, because we have a set of jungle theme blocks and animals. So we create a zoo, and then the bus drops everyone off to visit with the monkey, zebra, bird, etc. Well, I thought it was about time my little man had some sort of school to send all those kids to. After all, I think the Little People were getting tired of the endless zoo field trips (I figured this out when Ryken kept saying they were on their way "home" when I asked where the group was headed). So together we made a schoool house. Considing it was made out of a cardboard box and scrap paper, we'll wee how long it holds up. For now it has been a welcome addition in our living room.

Enchiladas

2010-06-26T19:50:00.001-07:00

One of the best and easiest enchilada recipes I have come across (though to be fair I haven't come across that many). But it is really really good. Found in the Summer 2005 issue of Cooking for 2, or here. We had some leftover smoked BBQ pulled pork, which I added in and it ended up making it deliciously Tex-Mex.

Vine

2010-06-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

Prompt from Jennifer Rothschilds "Fingerprints of God" study:
"When you feel powerless or disconnected, what does Jesus say to you (John 15:1,5)?...rephrase this...as a YOU ARE prayer."

Lord, I thank you that you are the true vine and that I am one of your branches. I want, with all my heart, to remain in you, and I am so thankful that you have chosen to remain in me, though I don't deserve it. Use me as you see fit, so that I might make the impact you want me to on the lives of the people around me. Grow strong and deep in me so that what I do, my actions and my behavior, are pleasing to you. I recognize, accept, and delight in the fact that I can do nothing apart from you. I need you. And I trust in your promise that you will meet all of my needs.

A Hot Day Is Good For...

2010-06-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

...drying diapers

...watching Toy Story...again (poor Ryken has come down with a bad cold)

...enjoying the baby birds who just hatched right outside our front window (in our shabby eves)

Homemade Goodness

2010-06-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Making homemade ranch based on these instructions to go with the carrots Ryken and I picked this afternoon.

I ended up mixing one cup mayo, half cup sour cream, two cloves garlic and parsley, onion powder, salt and pepper to taste. Then I stirred in buttermilk to get the desired consistency.

Attacking the homemade ranch. It was soooooo good!

Our afternoon snack was followed by some super cheap super good Asian grub.

Ramen, ground turkey, frozen veggies, onion, and water. I found the recipe in the March 2010 Womans Day magazine. And frozen mini egg rolls. Mmmm.

I Am

2010-06-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

I am adding yet another element to this little blog of mine. I have been getting so much out of my recent Bible studies, and I thought it would be fun to blog some of the highlights, along with other things I have found spiritually impacting. Hope you enjoy.

Prompt from Jennifer Rothschilds "Fingerprints of God" study:
"Ask God to reveal Himself to you...as He touches you in the ordinary routine of life...keep your eyes and heart open."

I am in the wind of the trees.
I am the beauty in the fragrance of your perfume.
I am the peace that comes when your son sleeps.
I offer comfort through the cat curled up beside you.
I am the shelter in the roof over your head.
I am the warmth in the sun.

Oh, and the dog only stayed with us a couple of days. She was really a good dog, but was way more active than our little family was prepared for!

New Addition to the Family

2010-06-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Heather was trying to find a new home for her dog, and it looks like that home may end up being ours. Heather named her Kathryn, and in an effort to keep our Street Fighter pet names up (and keep her original name, too), I think we're going to end up calling her Cammy. The adoption papers Heather received for her indicated that she is a lab/shepherd mix. I'm pretty sure there are some other breeds in her, so we'll see what her temperament is like. So far I know she doesn't really care about dog treats, but loves attention and loves playing outside. We'll see what else we learn in the near future. I just picked her up with Ryken this morning and we plan on seeing how the next couple of days go.

Nap Time

2010-06-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Today Ryken and Vega decided that they wanted to nap together. The cuteness of it is just epic.

Reading List

2010-05-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

This coming Monday night will be the last night of Bible Study until next fall. It has been a wonderful year of fellowship and worship, learning and growing.

Our group of ladies is just finishing doing the study "Me, Myself, and Lies" by Jennifer Rothschild. This afternoon I finished the workbook, and last week I finished reading the book "Self Talk, Soul Talk", which the study is based on. I highly recommend both the book and the study, though they overlap quite a bit, so you probably would only want to do one or the other. This study was filled with so many practical ideas that I have implemented into my daily prayer life, and it has been making a huge difference in my outlook. As much as I have enjoyed the study, I am really looking forward to taking a break!

Now, don't laugh at the plans I have for my break:

Now, is that great summer reading, or what!?! I have a feeling it may extend well into next summer, what with an extremely active almost-two-year-old-boy!!! I'll try to "review" my little library here now and then.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sweet Mess

2010-05-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

I just finished my first attempt at doughnuts this evening. I ended up making quite a sticky mess in the process, but the result was so delicious. I bought this pan and so far I love it. And I used this recipe. The doughnuts came out perfectly. I will definitely, definitely, be making more.

Hope you find sweetness in the midst of your messes.

Book Bag

2010-05-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

I love to read. I love books. I love bags. I love books in bags.
I needed a new bag to put my books in, so I made one from this pattern which I have had forever.
(I couldn't find the pattern anywhere else online).

Obviously, I really tweaked the pattern. In part because I wanted it to look just a bit different, and in part because all of the supplies came out of my stash. The velour heart and pockets came from a hoodie that was too small. The zipper came from that same hoodie. I would have loved to use interfacing to make the bag a bit less slouchy but I didn't have any, so I used some quilt batting that I had instead.

I didn't quite follow all of the directions for the pattern (to be honest I couldn't quite follow them), so some parts were kind of difficult to sew together. But I am very happy with the finished product, and it suits my need for a new book bag just perfectly. It's my own little Mother's Day (free) gift to myself.

Happy Mothers Day to all of the moms who come to visit this space! I hope you had a wonderful day celebrating with those whose lives you have touched with your kindness and grace.

Birdie Slings

2010-05-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

I have recently fallen in love with Amy Butler's Birdie Sling pattern. So much so that I have made three of them.

All of my fabrics for this one came out of my stash, but I did buy all of the interfacings necessary for the pattern.

I made this one for Mom Mom for her trip to Europe (figured it would come in handy). Fabrics came from a local Home Fabrics store.

I made a second bag for myself from fabrics I picked up while shopping for fabric for Mom Mom's bag. And the interfacings for this one were quite hodge-podge. I really enjoyed beading this bag, and I think it adds just the right touch.

I am pretty sure that there will be more Birdie Sling sewing in my future. It is a wonderful pattern with great instructions, is fairly easy to put together, and it is an amazing tote.

Cloth Diapers

2010-05-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we made the switch to cloth diapers. When I really thought about how much money was going into disposables and when I saw how many diapers we threw away every few days I really wanted to try cloth. I watched countless You Tube videos, read lots of reviews, and gained insight from some knowledgeable friends. We ended up going with FuzziBunz and I am very pleased with the diapers and how they are working for our family. I bought three large diapers at this store while we were in Fullerton, and I bought one size diapers from this store online. Both had exceptional service. The diapers are so easy to use, it really doesn't add that much laundry to what I already do, and surprisingly the little man's room smells infinitely better than when we were using disposables. I am so very glad that we were able to make the switch.

Already Not Quite Daily

2010-05-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Shortbread Cookies from Parent's Magazine March 2010
(sorry, I couldn't find the recipe online)

Delicious and easy dinner rolls.

All turned out superb.

Baseball

2010-05-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Matt coached a baseball game at Maverick Stadium. Ryken and I had lots of fun at the minor league field watching dad coach "the big boys" from Apple Valley Christian High School.

Fresh Picked

2010-04-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try to post daily, and we'll just have to wait and see how long it lasts. So the posts will be shorter but will appear more frequently. I'm going to try to revive the daily snapshots. Hope you enjoy.

We threw together a last minute meal. Matt grilled chicken, we rummaged through our veggies in the fridge, and I happily picked lettuce and chives from the back yard. The tacos were delicious.

Forgotten Fun

2010-04-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

The photo doesn't really have anything to do with the rest of the post. But when I started blogging I sort of vowed to have a picture for every post. And I like this one, so there you have it.

I have been on a cleaning spree lately. Spring cleaning is definitely happening at our house. I have had several car loads of stuff to donate, and probably even more that has gone into the trash. I have also been working on de-cluttering my computer. Which means a lot has gone into that "trash can", too. I wrote this little poem years ago to go with some Christmas gifts, and I thought it would be fun to post here (even though Christmas is the last thing on my mind right about now, with spring in the air):

Some Christmas loot,
And a poem to-boot!

I was made with love and care,
Especially for you to wear

From two needles and some strands,
And a couple of warm, friendly hands

That thought, and thought, and pondered your style,
In the hopes that they would soon see your smile

When finally finished, my maker was glad...
I was to be yours, it was ironclad

So wash me with care, so I'll last year to year...
And provide you with warmth, comfort, and cheer

I have been waiting quite patiently,
Underneath Matt and Amy's Christmas tree,

So hurry up! It's Christmas time,
Open me up...'cause now you're all mine!

I hope you can find some little treasures amidst whatever you're going through (be it dusty books or introspective looks).

Mixing It Up

2010-04-16T14:09:00.001-07:00

Bringing the outside in:

Weeds and flowers in an old Coca-Cola Light bottle on the kitchen window.

Centerpiece, just for fun.

Framing the front bathroom mirror.

Storing plants until we get the ground ready.

Bringing the inside out:

Using my cotton dishcloth yarn to set up the beanpoles I made.

Using the bathtub that came with the house as a future flower bed (planted Johnny Jump Up, Forget-Me-Not and Columbine seeds).

I hope you are finding fun and creative ways to mix things up in your space.

Making It Up

2010-04-09T21:01:00.000-07:00

I decided to create my own recipe for dinner tonight. We had wild caught flounder (which Matt did an excellent job grilling), green beans, rice, and my made up sauce. It actually turned out really well and was a great compliment to the rest of dinner. Here's the "recipe" in case you are interested:

In large pan
Over medium heat

Add vegetable oil to coat pan
Sauté 1 chopped yellow onion
Add: 1/2 can of pineapple chunks
1Tb minced garlic
Soy sauce to desired consistency
About 3-4Tb balsamic vinaigrette
Dash of lemon juice
1Tb sugar

Simmer until it thickens just a bit

On another note, today was the first day I lit candles on the table in a very, very long time (perhaps the first time since we moved to the High Desert???). I decided Ryken was old enough and obedient enough to give it a go (under close supervision), and he did exceptionally well. He fully understood they were "hot, hot, hot!" so we couldn't touch them, but we could enjoy looking at them. We work with him often on learning what it means to be a gentleman, and I think the simple beauty of candlelight is a perfect accompaniment to these life lessons. Hopefully they will become a staple in our home.

A Staple In Our House

2010-04-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

One of my tried and true recipes is this one (well worth logging into Parents.com for this one) for pizza dough. I have tweaked it a just a bit: I use 1 1/4 cups flour to start instead of 1 3/4, and I use the entire batch for one pizza crust (makes it nice and thick), and I wait to prick the crust until after its first round of baking. This is what it looks like with some pineapple and leftover smoked ham from Easter.

Hmmmm. It was so good.

Easter

2010-04-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful day celebrating Easter, which began with a low key morning of preparing for Easter dinner and enjoying a family breakfast of french toast. My mom joined us for church (High Desert Church) where we heard the conclusion to the Supernatural series. The entire service was wonderful and I was so proud to see Matt's creative work on a giant screen. Both the Teaser Trailer for the upcoming Daniel series and his beautiful macro photography.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at home, where my brother joined us for smoked ham, cheesy mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, rolls, caesar salad, and banana cream pie. Hmmmm. Everything turned out superb. My mom put together an awesome little Easter egg hunt for Ryken (which we did inside because it was cold and windy). She put change in plastic eggs, and gave him a piggy bank to empty the eggs into. He has perfected piggy bank filling with Pop Pop (it has provided endless entertainment for him), and he had a great time running around to find the eggs in order to have something to put into his new bank.

I am so thankful for the blessing of family, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with mine. I never cease to be amazed at how much we are loved by Christ...not only did He come to earth with the power and authority to set us free, but he also freely blesses us abundantly in this life. I hope your day was filled with His blessings, including the joy of family.

Epic

2010-03-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

This was waiting for me when I got home from a great night at Bible study. I think this just may be the best gift EVER. Thanks guys!!!

The Arboretum

2010-03-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

Matt, Ryken and I had a fun weekend in Fullerton, but we're so happy to be home. It's amazing how much I have grown to love the wide open spaces of the desert! Today we went to the Fullerton Arboretum. It is a place Matt and I love and happily Ryken seems to have really enjoyed it as well. While Matt had to do some photography for work, Ryken and I took some time to explore. Here are some snapshots I took of his first trip there.

Lots to explore. One of his favorite things seemed to be playing in the leaves.

Hope you enjoyed exploring your world this weekend.

"Fried" Chicken and Biscuits

2010-03-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is the second time I have made this meal, and both times it has been delicious.

Flaky Biscuits from 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes (there are a few non-crock pot recipes in the back, this being one of them).

In order to get the biscuits larger and fluffier, I stacked two circles of the dough and lightly pressed before baking, then topped with a dash of flour.

Buttermilk "Fried" Chicken from Family Circle January 2010.

Ryken really enjoyed helping me crush the cornflakes for this recipe.

Beware, cornflakes!!! You are about to be crushed! lol.

Coasters

2010-03-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Some recent scrap-happy coasters I made with Insul-Bright batting, cotton fabrics, yarn, and a bit of hand quilting. The star and sheep (appliqued) reside on my desk and night stand, the heart (foundation pieced) I gave to my mom as a part of a little care package.

Applique pattern: Quilt Sampler

Spring/Summer 2009 "Seeing Double"

Applique pattern: Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting

Jan/Feb 2009 "I Wooly Love Ewe"

Pattern found in "365 Foundation Quilt Blocks"

Backyard Bliss

2010-03-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

We have all really been enjoying being outside. And I am so happy that my health has improved enough that I am able to work out there. There is nothing like warm sunshine, a cool breeze, and hands busy with planting, watering, digging, etc. (This from a girl who has never really liked gardening...but growing food, now that's just different enough). All three of us have been busy with spring yard work.

Ryken is showing an aptitude for tools, and a deep desire to be a part of the work that is going on.

Photo by Matt.

I love that spring has arrived!

The peach tree we planted last year.

Cornbread-Topped BBQ Chicken

2010-03-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

The picture doesn't do it justice. AT ALL. This recipe was SOOOOOO delicious. Without me even asking, Ryken said "good". Since he's just learning to talk, that means a lot to this Mama. Mild spiciness mixes with sweet BBQ in this faux-BQ casserole. The recipe calls for cooked shredded chicken, which I made by putting a few frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot on high for 5 hours along with water and some salsa and chicken broth I had in the fridge. It is a very simple and straight forward recipe with wonderful results. Recipe out of Ladies' Home Journal September 2009; find it free on their website here.

Haman Cookies

2010-03-24T15:46:00.001-07:00

I made these Hamantashen Cookies for my women's Bible study group last Monday night.

They went into the oven looking just like the image on the recipe.

And, well, you can see how mine turned out. Not so pretty. But they were delicious! The recipe is found at the back of Beth Moore's Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman study guide.

What's For Dinner :: Intro

2010-03-24T15:29:00.001-07:00

I have decided to expand this blog even more. Inspired by your helpful input back in June I decided to add sewing and quilting (and some other craftiness) to this space. As I mentioned I have been posting daily snapshots here for the last month (and a bit longer on Facebook). I have enjoyed the experience, but I haven't enjoyed feeling like I'm just a little bit too diversified in my virtual endeavors. So, I'm consolidating all of my blogging/posting/updating/etc. here. Knit Me Pieces is now my one-stop-shop, if you will. (Past daily snapshot posts will remain on curtisgallery, but in the future they will be here). I hope you enjoy the expansion!

The first year I was married I expected that somehow I would become Suzy Homemaker. I didn't. And I felt like such a failure because of that. Over the years I have come to see homemaking as something genuinely enjoyable rather than something I "should" do. I started really cooking when I had my son, in large part because eating at home instead of eating out made our tight budget livable. And also because I wanted family dinners to be nourishing (at least most of the time). The thing I have found to be most helpful in having what I cook turn out well is a really good, fairly simple recipe. I enjoy experimenting and it is truly a delight when a new recipe becomes a "repeat" recipe. So, I thought I would use this space to document the repeat recipes. Unfortunately I can't post the actual recipe, but I will sure tell you where the recipe came from, and link to where you can find it, if possible. In parting, I thought you might like to see some of my fondest kitchen photos. Most, if not all, of them you have probably already seen before, but I thought them fitting for the kick off of my blogging about cooking. Hope you enjoy!

Daily Life

2010-03-02T00:32:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned about a month ago, we are in the process of returning to some sense of normalcy, and over the last week or two I have had fun documenting what that looks like each day on Facebook. I have decided to make those snapshots more widely available, and you can now find them here (along with posts from Matt). The photo quality will be, more often than not, pretty poor, because these little in-the-moment snapshots will be taken from my phone. Here is an example of what you can expect:

Ryken loves venturing outside, no matter what the weather is like. As long as it's not extraordinarily cold, we all bundle up and let the exploring begin.

Sydney (who is 4) let Ryken borrow her Nintendo DS and helped teach him how to play her new zoo game. So epic!

Mommy spent her birthday gift card to Barnes & Noble on a new book for the little book worm.

Hope you decide to join me for some more daily snapshots!

Sew Your Seeds

2010-02-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun experimenting with various textures while making designer Sue Spargo's needle keeper. The pattern, "Sew Your Seeds", was published in American Patchwork & Quilting's October 2009 issue (you can also find directions to make your own here). I used felt, cotton, beads, thread, embroidery floss, yarn, buttons and ribbon, all of which came out of my stash. The appliques were done with paper backed fusible web. This project was the first time I attempted blanket stitch...

...and chain stitch...

...and also my first time doing couching...

...all of the embellishments were so fun! I just loved seeing how it all came together. This little project was wonderful, and considering all of the hand sewing, it came together fairly quickly. I am so pleased to have such a fun needle case now!

Here's to learning new things and discovering the joy of being creative without spending any money!