Back to Basics

I love the basics!  Just give me a cast iron skillet or dutch oven and some yummy foods to slap in them and we are on our way!

Don't mind the mess.  I am a very messy cook.  Maybe that is why I don't like to clean the kitchen after supper.  Hmmmm.

I love making bread too!  And yummy spinach/artichoke dip to go with.

I am currently trying to figure out how to incorporate these things into my homeschooling.

Can you smell it?  Yum!  My father in law bought me something very important just before Christmas.  It is to help me be a better homemaker and bread maker!  I just can't believe it sometimes when I look into my kitchen and see Ms. Rose in the baking nook!

Isn't she lovely?  We named her Ms. Rose after my adopted mom Ms. Rose.  We all love the real Ms. Rose.  And she is a fantastic cook, loving christian woman.  We know the Lord may be calling her to move soon to a beautiful place in Virginia.  So, it just seems to fit, to name this cinnamon red appliance after her.  I know it may sound corny to those reading this and silly too!  We just love Ms. Rose!

I have been grinding my own wheat to make bread with.  It is very satisfying and healthy.

But the cakes that I now make...not so healthy!

So much fun!

Well, I am going to go for now.  There are a few more things in my Etsy shop.  Check out the icon on the right side of my blog.  Ya'll have a nice day.

9:12 AM - Feb. 5, 2009 - comments {2} - post comment

Schooling and Tooling

We are trying so hard to get back on our "schedule" of schooling.  Boy, is it tough after all these vacation days, weddings, and sicknesses!

I am praying so hard for the Lord to give me wisdom and grace to teach these children.

We are working on Colonial Times in Konos book 2 and I am also using Colonial Life by Time Travelers (HomeschoolintheWoods).  I love how in depth this sweet lady is in teaching hands on crafts of the first colonies.

My oldest son, is also doing SOS science on the computer. 

I pray all is well with you all in Homeschooling!  It is a tough and rewarding job!  May the Lord be pleased with the training of our children.

8:02 AM - Jan. 28, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

New Year New Year New Year

Hello All.

I am so glad to be back.  You didn't know I was away.  Well, I wasn't away...but I sure feel like I went far away!

About a month ago I somehow got an infection in my index finger tip.  Boy, it has been an uphill climb.  It still is not all the way okay yet.  I think I had something called felons.  Really.  My doctor didn't know what it was at all.  I have been on antibiotics for 20 days.  My husband and I spent alot of hours online looking and researching this very painful infection!  I can type with a little discomfort and not wince at every use of it now.  I would gladly give up all the gifts I got for Christmas for my finger to heal all the way and be 100% better!  Can you hear  the whining I have been doing?

The children and my husband have been so helpful and sweet about the finger.  Sounds wierd.  My finger hurt so bad I couldn't do anything!  It is true!

Since the infection I have gone shopping, grocery shopping, Christmas shopping, Cooked Christmas Eve dinner, Had Christmas gift opening, Made homemade cookies on Christmas Day, Hosted my family(mom&dad)  (brother& sister-n-law and their three daughters),The day after Christmas I made a three tiered wedding cake for our dear Brother Jeff and His new bride Deb (11 hours!  That is how long it took start to finish!)  Two days after Christmas Jeff and Deb had a wedding ceremony at Poe Springs, and my husband officiated and played guitar, Sunday we had a guest preacher that we know at our humble little mission church, and we were just absolutely bushed.  And All I could do was cry that my finger hurt!

Since that week was over I have altered 7 dresses for another wedding this Saturday.  Whoa!  Is this really me?  I am starting feel like a different person!

All in all I can praise the Name of Jesus and all He does and has done for me and my family!

3:30 PM - Jan. 8, 2009 - comments {2} - post comment

Guess what?

I now have an Etsy account!

On my sidebar to the right is a link to my little shop!

Yay!  Now I can sell some of my homemade items online!  What an experience this has been!

Thank you Brenda for helping me!

Thank you Susan for telling me about Etsy and encouraging me to go for it!

May I honor God with all my products and sales!

12:39 PM - Dec. 17, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

For Betty

Betty,

     Thankyou for asking about my covered dish carriers.  I do not have a shop online. (sad)

But, I wanted to start an Etsy shop.  I looked for a link to be able to contact you, but there isn't one.

I found a picture a long time ago (11 years) of a covered dish carrier.  I thought to myself at the time:  "Self"  "You can make one of those!"  So, about two years ago, I finally tried it.  And ya know what?  It is fun.  I did not buy a pattern, I do not own a pattern of one.  I just eyeballed it.  Mostly, because I needed one for all the covered dish dinners we had at church.  And they are very functional if you have small children and not two hands to spare for holding two pot  holders on a hot pot or pan!  After that I started making them as gifts and selling them around Christmas time to be able to buy a little something for the children to have under the tree from us.

Maybe I can get an Etsy shop this week! Pray for me.  It is a big step.

8:07 AM - Dec. 15, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Updates

Hello my friends!  I have a few update pictures for you!  And a message for Hannah and Sarah.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I hope you had a wonderful day!  Love you two!

Hannah asked for a picture of our Oliver...

Here he is!

He didn't know why we were calling him but, didn't want him to come to us.  Very confusing for a puppy.

I don't know how to get the glowing eyes off the picture, but you can see that our Hannah loves this pup.

He is a cute one.  I call him scrappy dew.  But Hannah Lynn does not like it.  His name is Oliver, Ollie for short.

And for an update on me...well, I cut my hair!

Actually, I had someone at the salon cut it.  I like it.  It was suppose to be shorter than it is!  So, I will be getting that done before too long.  Now I can sleep on my pillow and not be choked by my hair!  Love you all!

8:30 AM - Dec. 9, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Homemade Christmas Week #5

Hello everyone!  I have just completed a covered-dish carrier.

This is another entry for Simply Vintage Girl.  She is having a Homemade Christmas this year and I am glad to get to be apart of it!  

I sell and make these covered dish carriers as gifts.  I use my covered dish carrier every week.

I use it for cakes, cookies, muffins, and casseroles.  Here is how you start.

This is about 1/2 yard of fabirc and 1/2 yard of quilted fabric.

I cut about 9 inches over and then up the width of them both, lay aside.  These will be your flaps that secure the dish in place.  I pin them right sides together and sew down the longest side first, and down two more sides leaving the fourth opened.

When I am done with that I clip the corners and turn right side out.

When I am done with both flaps, I pin them in the middle of the main fabric.

Making sure to pin the larger pieces right sides together sandwiching the flaps in place.  ( a little side note here...if you want to tie the flaps you will need to sew them on the flaps in the middle.)

I sew a U in the middle of the shortest width of the fabric to get ready for the handle areas on both sides.  Don't forget to snip in the curves!  Then I sew around 3 sides just like I did for the flaps, leaving a place to pull the fabric right sides out.

After I turn it right sides out, I sew along all four edges( I did the flaps before sewing them in the sandwiched fabric).  Being very careful along the curved portion.  When I come to the openings, I tuck in enough to sew it shut.  Now I am ready for the handle areas.

I simply fold the edges over about and inch and a half, Just enough that the dowels can slide through.  I sew them down, leaving a hole for the dowel to come in and out.  I want to remove my dowels so I can wash the carrier when it becomes soiled.

I usually sew on ties, but this time I tried buttons!  And it turned out pretty good!

I measure the fabric after it is finished being sewn, so the dowels can be cut to fit.  And yes, I actually go out into my back yard with an old saw and start sawing!  It is fun and a workout!

Ready to carry!  Lets have a covered dish dinner at your house!  I would love to come for a visit!  Please don't mind the mess on my table!  Eeek!  Thankyou for letting us share our ideas and homemade gifts here with you all.  Love ya!

3:12 PM - Nov. 20, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Care Rooms Away!

Today is Home Blessing Hour!  We are doing 10 minutes of work...

Not an hour you say?

Well, with 5 of us, one on vacuum, one on dusting, one on trash, one on clutter pick up, and one on sweeping all hard floors, it gets done  in 10 minutes!  I kid you not!

But of course, we have to do it again before Daddy comes home.

Here is my Grandma's Chiffarobe.  I use it for school cabinet.

This is a little reading nook for the girls.  It can get pretty messy sometimes.

I hope everyone is having a blessed day in the Lord Jesus!

1:29 PM - Nov. 17, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Sew, sew, sew...

I am also showing these pictures for Vintage Girl's Homemade Christmas on Thursdays.  If you haven't had a chance check her out on my friends list on the right.  There are some really sweet homemade Christmas items shared by her and her family and her friends.

Well, I want to share a few more pics of the "sewing room". 

I have turned my parlor into a sewing room!

My husband is sew(so) sweet, he keeps walking through the room and saying "It's her sewing time of year!"  It was his idea to use the parlor.  I was going to use a little corner in the school room, but his idea is better and has a lot more elbow room for Hannah and I.

Here is my latest project.  I have made a sewing pad/pocket organizer.  This is hopefully, going to be a pattern for some Christmas gifts for my other sewing friends.  The pockets hold a rotary cutter on the left, middle pocket is for my instruction booklet and current pattern I am working on, and the far right pocket is for my scissors.

This is the ironing pad.  I want to use it for small projects like the little bags and stockings that I make. 

I have saved this fabric for about 9-10 years.  I wanted to be sure to use it for something special.  And now I finally found just the right project for it.  I have just enough of it to use to make my sweet daughter one!

I wish my camera would cooperate with me!  It is blurry, but can you see all the fabric folded?  This is part of my parlor(sort of),  It is actually the pass through bar to my kitchen.  All this fabric was given to me by a sweet christian sister who lives 4 or 5 hours away.  She said she felt led of the Lord to give it and that she just knew that women were going to be over here and having fellowship in the Lord and learning how to sew.  And right after that another lady says she wants to give 3 sewing machines with cabinets!  Does the Lord want me to teach some ladies and girls to sew?  Whoa!  Just to let all of you who are reading this know, I am but a novice when it comes to sewing!  But to use my gifts for the Lord is such a wonderful thing!  I am His servant!

This is a 1774 dress that I am finishing for a friend.  It was suppose to be a birthday present, but now it is almost Christmas.  I love ya Carlie!

Sorry about how blurry the camera is!  Maybe I will take better pictures later.  Bye for now.

10:09 AM - Nov. 13, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

Chore Charts and Care Rooms

I am going to show a few more pics...

And share a story...

I am not sure if you can really see the little family members, but there they are on the left.

I have been a very overwhelmed mommy for a long while.  Last year sometime I found a site called Flylady.net.    Anyway, I don't like to admit it but...

When I was young and married and only had two children, I actually called my mom and asked her to come over to sit on my couch and tell me what to do!  I would start my day off with, standing in the middle of my living room and not know where to start.  Really.  And that is why I called her.

Well, that didn't last long.  Then I was to have a set of twin boys.  Now what was I to do?  Four children!  I was completely overwhelmed and my husband sold our home and we had to move in with my parents and then in with his all before the boys were 6 months old! Yikes!  It was crazy!  I couldn't see which end was up much less keep anything clean or organized!  When the boys turned four, I was pregnant with our last set of twins.  Now what?  I can only say that contentment is such a gift from the Lord!  Because that is what got me through...Now the girls are 5 and about a year and a half ago, I sat down in a creative mood and ended up with the chore chart pictured above.  I assigned everyone a "care room" except Daddy.  He helps out where ever.  But the children and I have a care room a week.  I change theirs every Monday.  The care rooms are:  The Living Room, the School Room, the Circle Table Room(parlor), the Guest Bathroom/Wash Room, and the Kitchen.

I get the Kitchen every week and am currently teaching the children how to clean it.

Every morning after the morning routing(wash,comb, brush teeth, eat breakfast) I tell the children to do their care rooms.  It usually only takes 5 minutes to go look and straighten pillows, throw trash away, put away stray  toys, sweep, or vacuum, depending on what room is given.  And then every afternoon before Daddy comes home they do the care rooms again.

Now, you may have noticed the Shared Chores on the top right of the picture.  That has to do with after dinner chores.  It is called Shared Chores because they "share" in doing them.  They do complain about it from time to time.  But Daddy is on the lookout for that.  While they put away leftovers, clear the plates, cups, forks, and glasses, and also load the dishwasher, Daddy and I have our little date time in the corner of our living room.   

Here is our dining room/school room!  We make this mess twice a day.

Above is my white board to help me stay on track.

See, the mess on my bookshelf!  Well, we were in the middle of school.  And that is what happens.

Ah, much better!

I hope this was somewhat helpful.  I wish I could go back about 10 years and tell me to take a deep breath and exhale, and then one room at a time, little at a time.  And to enjoy the family God was giving me.  I am so glad now for all He has done through His son Jesus Christ in mine and my family's lives!  All I can do is Thank Him!

2:16 PM - Nov. 12, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

IT IS MY SEWING TIME OF YEAR

It is my sewing time of year!  Sew, so, I am currently working with my oldest daughter on some items to maybe even sell.  We are thinking with my sister in law and her daughter, to have a booth at the local parade near where we live.

I would like to share some pictures with you.

Here is how it looked after I turned my parlor into a sewing room...  I have spruced it up a bit since then.

Hannah and I are learning to sew together.  And that can be a lot of fun when her sewing machine runs like a trooper!  It runs and stomps!  Chunk, chunk, plop, plop, ch-chunk.  It makes us laugh.

Here is something I have been working on...  it is a sewing pad with pockets and a mini ironing surface.

I hope I can get a mini iron for the little details that need to be ironed out.

And here are some Christmas stockings that I made in previous years.  I especially like the nativity one.

I will be posting more pics as I work along.  And Hannah will too!  Have a blessed day.

10:46 AM - Nov. 12, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

35 and Loving It!

Well, I am 35 and loving it!  I guess I am anyway?  We went skating and to Pizza Hut for mine and my oldest daughter's birthdays.

I love BBQ Pizza!  I wish I had a slice right now!

Well,  Skating is not like it used to be.  I did not know you were suppose to step down to the rink floor.  I didn't even notice the step down, I think my eyes were playing tricks on me!  I fell flat on my chest to the rink floor!  OUCH!  I took about 45 minutes to regain my composure.  My husband was so worried.  He wanted to take me to the ER.  YIKES!  I certainly did not want to go there!

All in all it was a good celebration.  After the skating rink we went to Wendys for a frosty and french fries.  I had to get all the fun in I could ya know!

Changing thoughts here:  Today is the first day of my official "diet".  I need to be more healthy minded now that I am 35.  By the by, I love Leslie Sansone workouts!  30 minutes of walking fun!

Here is a picture of our family on Birthday Celebration day:

It is a little blurry.  But will have to do for now.

The Birthday Girls.

Well, that is all for now.  Be blessed!

10:55 AM - Oct. 13, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

Back to Basics

My husband and I have decided to change our children's math and spelling curriculum.  We are very excited and happy that it will be a good change in our homeschool.

We are going to be using Rod & Staff math and spelling.  I love how they have used the Bible in many of the lessons.  I love the word problems in the math books!

I can not hardly wait until those books arrive!

Our youngest will begin the program at the beginning of next year or so.

We are still using Konos for our unit studies and are very pleased with it still.

We use Daily Grams for extra grammar help and are continuing with Simply Grammar a Charlotte Mason book.  I like this a lot!

I will be starting Nature Journals with the children soon and hope to post those pictures to share with you!

This is a picture from our trip to St. Joseph's Island last spring.  I would have loved nature journaling then, but did not think about taking our journals along with. 

Well I hope to get back with more homeschool updates soon!

Much love in Christ Jesus!

4:37 PM - Oct. 6, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

1:35 PM - Sep. 29, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Thankful Givings

Last night my husband and I went to see the movie Fireproof.  Someone called Saturday evening to say that a church near us bought out the tickets and was inviting our next door neighbor church to go.  Oh what a blessing!  She also offered to watch our six children so that we could go.  I am so thankful to her and to the Lord and to my husband that we were able to go! 

Here where we live it is lovebug season again, and my dh and I both feel that lovebugs are a testimony to marriage!  "Till death do they part".

And this movie was a great testimony to marriage.  I just love it!  I love how it shows salvation and perserverence!  If you haven't been able to go, you need to.  It is a "Thankful Giving" from the church that made the movie and the Lord for giving them the vision for it!  Bless them Lord!  Thank you for blessing us Lord!  BLess all those who are struggling in marriages, open eyes, ears, and hearts.  Thank you in Jesus' Name.  Amen

1:20 PM - Sep. 29, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Mother Culture

Mother Culture.  I just love the title.  I have been reading A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola.  I love the easiness and simplicity of just enjoying what God has given us in the earth.

My husband recently bought me a water color carry all wooden box.  I have nick-named it "Beatrix".  With the wonderful cool weather I am looking forward to some "Mother Culture" of my own.  To those of you who do not know about the term Mother Culture and Charlotte Mason, let me just say it is a breath of fresh air!

Mother Culture is to take a little bit of time out for yourself.  If it is just five minutes to stop and pray and be thankful to God our Father for all that He has given us, or to pull off on the side of the road to pick some flowers. (here where I live you can do that)  or it could be anything that refreshes your mind to just continue being you.  

I pray all is well with everyone out there!  God Bless You!

Here is my sweet daughter.  She is learning the drums for Jesus!

Here is one of my twin boys.  He is actually doing some school!  Well, "to tell ya", he loves to do school!

Here is the other twin boy.  A little blurry, but sweetly at work!

The older two.  My little-big helpers!

My younger twins.  They have started school this year.  So now I am homeschooling SIX children!  I love it! 

11:18 AM - Sep. 25, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Return to Teaching...

I am returning to teach. 

My husband is a public school teacher's aid.  He e-mails  from school sometimes to see that everyone is doing okay.

The other day he wrote to see how we were doing, and I gave him the upshot of our day.  Realizing I am "returning to Teach".  My twin girls have started kindergarten over the summer and ask for school quite often.  So, during this past week has been a bit of a planning period for us.  We are continuing in Konos this year with our cousins.  I pray all goes well.

I hope you can forgive me for not posting pictures still.  I am still having a hard time remembering how to do it.  I am usually alone at the computer and really need assistance.  I am a visual/kinesthetic learner.  And one day I will really get it!  I think I need to practice on it.

Have a blessed day.

7:38 AM - Aug. 15, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Summer Seems Over

Well, Summer seems over.  With all the heat and humidity and sweat that goes with it is still here. 

We have been very busy.  We had a youth missions camp that is free every year to the kids that come.  We do all the same things that missionfuge does for $250.00 a kid, we do it for free.  Well, for the children it is free.  They are sponsered by their churches.  About 5 or 6 churches are involved and the entire camp costs about $200.00 per church.  About 20 or more kids come from each church with about 5 or 6 chaperones.  That is a real blessing for all involved.  We praise God above for blessing our camp this year.

We are praying about making an offer on a house for sale near our mission church.  We hope to be moving soon.  We are trying to sale our current place.  So, if you are reading this blog please pray for us.  My husband goes back to work August 11th.  And we start back to school the first week in September.  We are very excited to be doing Konos with our cousins this year.  Hopefully it will be a great time with one another.  Praise God Praise Jesus Praise the Holy Spirit

May you be richly blessed in all you do.  Think on what soever things are lovely, what soever things are true, what soever things are of a good report.  Don't listen to false statements that enter your brain that do not edify.  Listen and read what the Lord has for you in His Holy Word.

3:06 PM - Jul. 27, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Titus2:3-5

It has been a while since my last post.  But that is okay.  I just returned from speaking at a small ladies conference.  God is so good to give us His Word to know how we ought to live Unto Him!  When we live for Him and ask Him to lead us it is in the Bible.  How we like to complicate things by adding our own renditions on the words.  Kind of like when we exaggerate a story.  God presented us with such a rich simple heritage!  Read it!  It is food for the soul.  We want fat souls for the Lord!  Stop starving yourselves, if you are.  I don't believe there is a such thing as spiritual gluttony.  Do you? 

We homeschool our children.  And God is homeschooling us.  What is the next assignment?  Ask Him.  I know I am.  And I am reading His Words to know Him and what I am to do next.  Titus 2:3-5 is a wonderful start.  Blessings to you all.

10:12 AM - May. 7, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

back to basics

Good day everyone!  In the "back to basics" of things...

I have been reading others blogs.  I feel for all the hurts and trials that they all are facing and have faced.  So many feel alone, even when they blog to all of us.  I want to write every one of them and encourage them in the Lord!

Homeschooling is not done in vain!  It is not all done for nothing!  Do not listen to the world!  Do not listen to the flesh!  Do not listen to family who are unbelievers!  Do not listen to satan!

Please know that you have a high calling!  Titus 2 is our text for us to study and if we are older, teach the young ladies.  Ephesians 5 is a good start.  2 Timothy 2:15 & 16a "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,  worker who has no need to be ashamed,"  Do everything you can "As unto the Lord". 

Our home is our mission field!  We are very much like missionaries to our children.  Do not forsake this high calling!  You can do it!  If you have no one who understands your frustrations...tell Jesus.  He has gone through far more than we could comprehend.  Start with the basics.  The Bible!  All seems to fall into place from there!  God Bless you all!

8:15 AM - Apr. 16, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment