January 25, 2011

A Simple Woman's Daybook



I am thinking...I can't wait to have some people over for dinner.

I am thankful for...for Facebook actually, I've been able to reconnect with some of my oldest bestest friends. Tonight I made Jollof, my good childhood friend Akua's mother's recipe. And then just today I was able to reconnect with another one of my best friend's from Hyde Park. In fact, her and her sister were my first friends that I met when we made the territory change to Hyde Park. I can't wait to see her again soon!

I am remembering...good friends.

I am hoping...to get the house in order with my new three week plan!

I am creating...nursing turtleneck sweater using a Elizabeth Lee pattern-yeah still need to work on it!

On my mind...reconnecting with old friends.

Noticing that...things are getting brighter.

From the kitchen...Jollof-with quinoa in place of rice, and custard pie.

One of my favorite things...Creating

One thing I did over this past week-end that I really enjoyed...Getting caught up on housework. Yup, I really truly did enjoy that. It's been needing done for so long!

Picture for thought I am sharing...
















January 24, 2011

Love that coffee!



Belle did the cutest thing today, she's been watching me give Lela zerberts I guess, so when I gave her a kiss this morning she leaned over and tried to give me a zerbert on my cheek. I laughed so much! She's so sweet and so cute!

Poor Lela was sick most the day though, whiny and said her tummy hurt. She didn't eat much today. However, she's turning into such a big girl. She has been helping me put away her clothes after they are washed and folded, and just today put away the towels by herself after I folded them. She's been helping me put Belle's bibs in Belle's bib drawer for a while. So she's really growing up! I'm glad she's a good helper!

I bought a coffee pot since mine is still in the Pod, and the Pod is still not here. And I bought Dunkin Donuts Coffee, Sam's now sells it. Mmmm it was good. I must say I do miss the Dunkin Donuts in NY. But, surprisingly enough the coffee they sell at Sam's taste just like the coffee they sell in their stores, so that was a plus. I've been experimenting with flavored coffee creamers, and so far am loving the International Delights Chai and Almond Joy! I want to try the Caramel Machiato next. I mainly use almond milk for "creamer" and just a little of the flavored creamer for some sweetness and flavor. I just wish they would make more sugar free flavors, their skinny flavors aren't that much less calories. I can't wait till our next trip to Branson, so I can visit Harry and David and get some Moose Crunch Coffee, that stuff is soooooooo good!

I got a new post card from Needle Nook Fabrics, there's a super bowl party at the shop coming up. I may try to go. I need to get more sewing done. I hope they get a new class schedule out soon, I can't wait to take more classes!

We also received a thank you card from Nick and Megan for their wedding gift. Megan wrote such a sweet note about the girls in it. I am so happy for them. I love my little brother Nick, and it's always nice to gain another sister! Megan's super sweet, and fits in our family so nicely. It makes me happy that my little brother has found such a nice wife.



January 18, 2011

Fried Chicken!



I was hanging up those decorative stickers, I bought from Dollar Tree, last night. When Belle started wanting my attention. She stopped wanting my attention and instead of investigating that, I continued to hang the decorative stickers. After a few minutes I looked over and she was standing there eating a fried chicken thigh!!!!!!!!!!! I said Belle, where did you get that? And Lela replies, I gave it to her mommy, so she would stop crying. Yeah.......I guess that did work! haha But, then we had to have a talk about why we can't just give Belle any kind of food. Belle was more then disappointed when I took the chicken thigh away!

January 17, 2011

New Do!



I got my hair cut yesterday, I've been waiting for! I like it quite a bit, I may change it slightly. But, over all I'm in love with it! You should of seen Belle's face when she first seen me, she just kept staring and staring trying to figure it all out. haha It was hilarious! I really liked the girl who did it too. She was sweet.

So here's the unveiling of my new do, and the tee-shirt I made in class last week. I really like both.

Mom's poor diesel truck died the other day, so we after days of trying to figure it out, finally had it towed to a truck shop, and they fixed it in half a day. Sadly it was a expensive fix, something about the case the fuel filter was in, had broke. Well, at least it's fined and on the road again.

We went to Taco Shop Monday and had tacos after wards. Then Vince took me and the girls to Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree has great wall stickers that look like paintings. That I just love, and all for just 1.00! Every where else they are 20 or more dollars. They are awesome. I got enough for the whole house for less then 20 dollars! So cool. I will be putting them up tonight!

January 16, 2011

New Hair, New Shirt



I got a new hair cut, and made my first knit shirt, with a custom made pattern.


January 13, 2011

Sewing Class



I finished my tee-shirt class tonight. Every one loved the fabric I chose-a red plum designer rib knit with sparkly black rose design through out. I really loved the end result, it looks so good! I am very happy with it. I can tell I will be taking more classes so I can learn more. Anne is a wonderful teacher. I sure hope I can continue to take lessons from her, and maybe she can help me get a better fit on some of my other patterns as well. I will post a picture later when I get a chance to take one. I was also glad the other two students were as novice as myself, so I wasn't totally embarrassed by my lack of sewing knowledge. Every one was so sweet and nice, it was just a nice night out of fun and learning!

In other news it's still bitterly cold outside with lots of snow. We're supposed to get even more snow tomorrow. At least hubby is getting plenty of work!

January 12, 2011

Snow!



We've had snow since Sunday night. Lela and the kids are loving it! They have been having so much fun playing in it. Lela's growing up and becoming a big girl.

I have my first sewing class tonight, I will be learning to make a knit tee-shirt. I'm not much into tee-shirts, but to learn to sew with knits will be great. So I'm looking forward to it. I also really want to get my hair cut at the salon next to the fabric store, but I can't seem to get over there before they close. I want to go drastically short again. It will be a lot easier to style and take care of. Vince said he liked it better short as well. So hopefully I can get that done soon.

The other night Belle took her first steps. It was towards Papa Rick for some popcorn. haha She did it twice. She has also gotten her first two front bottom teeth. Sunday she started saying Baby and Mama. She's growing up, and so smart. We just love her more every day.

January 11, 2011

A Simple Woman's Daybook



I am thinking...I love my family.

I am thankful for...having a husband strong enough to make a cross country move.

I am remembering...grandma's stories of her youth in the ozarks, and how she met and married grandpa. The irony of how closely it related to Lorretta Lynn's life.

I am hoping...I can learn to sew well, and quickly.

I am creating...nursing turtleneck sweater using a Elizabeth Lee pattern.

On my mind...the best way to train up my children in Jehovah's ways and principles.

Noticing that...we are making progress in settling into our new home.

From the kitchen...chili and corn bread-brrr it's cold outside!

One of my favorite things...snow, which we have plenty of!

Favorite bowl of soup...Denny's Baked Potato Soup, Texas Land & Cattle Steak soup, Panera's Vegetable Pesto and my own Chicken Potpie soup. What can I say? I can't narrow it down to just one. We love soup!

Picture of the Day...



January 3, 2011

Littles



I'm still working on getting settled in. My mom gave me my old dresser I had as a child for Lela. It had been in a dirty garage for a couple of decades, so it needed a pretty thorough cleaning. I was able to get it half done today with the help of my sister Bennette. We will work on the drawers tomorrow. I want to make a embroidered dresser cloth for it too. The glass that was on top when I was growing up is long gone, so I hope I can find a good glass shop here to make a top for it. It's curvy and lots of detail so the glass will have to be cut by a professional. Too bad Hub's Hardware that made the original glass for it for me is out of business.......uhg Home Depot!

I am taking a sewing class for knits next week. I'm pretty excited. So far, I have made a nursing slip, and almost finished a nursing turtleneck sweater all on my own. I've been going into a locally owned store called Needle Nook that I had completely forgot about. And loving it. That's where I will be taking my class next week. The women there are very nice, and so helpful. They have sew ins on Saturdays where you can go to their shop and use their machines and work on your projects, and they will help you if you need the help then as well. For free! The class though cost a little fee. Which I think will be well worth it, since I'm learning through this turtleneck sweater ordeal I would like some professional assistance to learn what I am doing! However, all in all I think I'm doing pretty good on my own to be such a novice seamstress.

Which brings me to another pet peeve. I've noticed on websites as well as in books and written articles more and more people refer to seamstresses as "sewers". Um.......sewers, is a place where waste goes.....yes, I know slightly different pronunciation I am sure, in the authors thoughts, but I still think I prefer the word seamstress to sewer!

Through reading up on every thing on the Elizabeth Lee Design website, she suggest getting a sewing book. Such as Reader's Digest and Kwik Sew put out. I will probably eventually invest in both. But, in the meantime, while I was at Hobby Lobby the other day I came across a wonderful looking book that just came out in June. And it comes with paper patterns. And it looks very updated and classically stylish. For sure the look I like going for. So I plan on investing in it first. It explains how to adjust patterns, and all kinds of sewing skills that are needed when making ones own clothing. Her flair is very boutiqueish which I am really liking. Reminds me a lot of what is sold on etsy.

Speaking of Hobby Lobby, I went there to buy door knobs for a old book case Vince's parents gave us a long time ago. It's really ugly, dark, almost black stained. But, it's solid wood and a good solid piece of furniture. I bought some 5 dollar paint at Lowe's when we first moved here off the clearance rack, and have started using the yellow. I want to try to get a lavender for contrast painting on it. I also want to make some fabric covered boards for the back walls of it. And maybe modge podge some fabric scraps cut into applicate shapes. Which will come from another sewing book, I want to invest in! haha I was able to get some really cute scroll shaped "chalk board" stick ones from the dollar tree as well, two long scroll shapes, and 8 flower shapes for only 1 dollar! So I bought two. Which gives me 4 scroll shapes, and 16 flowers, for only 2 dollars. I am going to decorate the doors, and such with them. I ended up with the cutest knobs for the book case as well. They look like pink cotton candy gum balls. Almost like hand blown glass. And I also got some soft green colored small flower shaped knobs. It's going to look so cute and very whimsical. Thankfully the knobs were half price. While looking for knobs, I noticed all "hooks" were half price too. The hooks we have to hang our coats around here are too high for Lela to hang her own coat. So I ended up buying some very cute, mismatch hooks to also attach to the sides of the book case so Lela can hang her own coat. One is a crystal door knob attached to a pink embossed rectangle. And two are antiqued gold scrolls. I am keeping my eye out for a fourth, I want something unique, girly and whimsical. Even though I've just began to paint it, Lela's already excited about it, and loving it.

Vince's mom bought Belle some blocks, and I was able to get the cutest blue bucket with a rope handle at dollar tree as well. Amazing what I can get for a buck there!

Kathy also bought the girls two dolls. She bought Lela Baby Alive, with the bananas and sippy cup. She's been wanting it for a while. She bought Belle a soft baby that has a rattle inside it's arm. Well, you should of seen her face when she didn't get the doll that eats, and drinks. She kept looking at us, her doll, and then Lela's doll, like do you not know me at all? You know I like to eat! What's wrong with this doll you gave me, it doesn't have food! I want the one with food! Well, in a few days Lela let her guard down and Belle was able to play with it, whew did that make her happy! She is always trying to eat the bananas herself and drink from the sippy cup herself too. haha Once in a while she offers a little to the doll. haha

So last night we bought her her first sippy cup. And gave her some water in it tonight. Boy was she happy. Smiling, and laughing and having a good ole time. She sure is happy to have her own sippy cup. Even if she was a little surprised when real liquid came out of it!

A few days ago Amber, Bennette, Dad, Darla, and of course Belle and I went and seen the new western movie, True Grit. It was sure good. I think I will have to go see it with Lela, Vince, my mom, Eldon and their kids. It was that good. Tonight dad rented the original true grit with John Wayne. While I liked the girl, and the writing better in the new version. The acting was hard to beat, especially by John and Glen Campbell in the original! John Wayne was a truly good actor. Hard to believe when he made True Grit he only had half a lung! We want to get Rooster Cogin's next. haha I've been searching Amazon for it! I never really got into John Wayne movies that much when I was growing up. But, I think I may be sold now. I am pretty sure I may have to see a few more. Awe finally some real entertainment, that doesn't bother my conscience!

While at Sam's yesterday I noticed a few other good clean films on DVD, the whole series of Little House on the Prairie, the whole series of Leave it to Beaver, and the whole Anne of Green Gables series. I'm going to keep my eye on them, and when they go down to a reasonable price, I'm getting grabbing them. Hours of clean family entertainment, that I can watch over and over and not get bored of. I also seen that they are making a limited edition of ALL of Shirley Temples movies in one package, now that's another one I would love to get in on. It's about time to start introducing Lela to Shirley, my all time favorite actress as a child! haha I think I was a bit obsessed with her. But, again real talented acting, and just clean good entertainment. Not a bunch of trash piled together, that is not even entertaining let alone good images to have in our heads as most movies are today! Last week we watched The Sound of Music and all enjoyed it. Awesome talent, great story, and true! Too bad there's not much like that out today.

Oh well, on that note, I'll bid all a good night, and get myself some rest!