Fall is Fleeting

We were on our way from one place to another in our busy day yesterday when I spotted a single tree in a row of many that was turning bright orange.  It was stunning!  As we were quickly approaching it, I pointed it out to my girls - my youngest looked up right away and "ooh-ed" and "aah-ed" over it.  My oldest daughter was reading a good book and didn't look up until we were well past it (it was a blink!).  She was sad she missed it, but I assured her there would be other beautiful fall leaves and trees to see in the coming weeks.

 
I feel like fall is like that every year - kind of like I don't look up in time and it's already past.  Fall is my favorite time of the year and it seems to fly by so very quickly.  In the Midwest, the hot sticky summers and the dreary cold winters seem to drag on forever...but the wonderfully cool, crisp, and sunny fall weather is here and gone in the blink of an eye.

Of course, I just had to go through some fall photos after seeing that beautiful tree decked out in bright orange leaves!  So, here are a few I thought I'd share with you. 

Our youngest daughter scooping out her pumpkin a few fall seasons ago.

 We visit our favorite B&B in Amish Country whenever we can in the fall season.  It's called Sojourner's Lodge.  This was taken from behind the lodge where we stayed.

One of our favorite parks in our area is called Charleston Falls.  This is the hiking path that takes you to the falls and several other beautiful areas of the park.

Aren't the leaves beautiful?  Our Lord is an Amazing Artist!

One of my favorite fall photos.

My youngest daughter and I went hiking together a few years back.  Just love this one of her finding her way across the creek on the rocks.

Just...love the fall leaves floating in the creek...

This was taken at Carriage Hill, another one of our favorite parks.  It's amazing to me that trees can grow that way and still stand!

This was also taken at Sojourner's Lodge in Amish Country.  You can't see it in this photo, but there is a swing right in front of the pond where we sat and enjoyed the sounds of the Amish buggies and horses passing by...and oh, yes...the quiet. 

As some might say in the South, and even perhaps here in the Midwest, "Happy Fall Y'all!"

Just a quick aside - I am not trying to promote Sojourner's Lodge for any other reason other than we love it there. 

It Only Took Seven Years...Julie's Quilt

 
Imagine if you will, a sweet four-year-old beauty with curly hair and sweet face...a pile of fabric scraps in every color and pattern...sun shining through the windows...and a sweet voice asking, "how does that look Mommy?"...this is my precious memory of my oldest daughter designing her very first quilt.  I searched and searched for photos I thought I had taken of that day, but I am convinced after a few hours of looking that the "photos" I took were in my mind and heart.

I remember that day like it was yesterday.  I can hear her voice and see her face as she played with the fabric scraps and put them "just so" on the carpet.  She chose to do a four-patch quilt, so she put together four small squares to see how she liked them.  She worked and worked with it.  It was so wonderful to watch her to see which fabrics she would place side-by-side. 

We didn't buy any new fabrics, but rather used the scraps we had on hand at the time.  Some of the fabrics had been used to make Julie other things like doll blankets, so there was some sentimental value to it as well. 

Once I sewed together the four patch blocks, then she and I spent another afternoon sitting on the floor together while she put them in the "right" order.  I know you may be surprised, but she did this entirely on her own.  Yes, she asked a few questions and I made a few suggestions about colors right next to each other, etc. but made sure she knew that the position of the squares was ultimately up to her. 

I think she did a beautiful job, yes? 

Fast forward at least two years...the top of the quilt was sewn, but the border still needed to be added.  Julie chose that beautiful floral pattern and one strip of white muslin.  It took me another several months to find the time to add the borders.  (Heatherbee was 1 year old when Julie designed her quilt and by this time was nearly three I think). 

Once the borders were added, I had to have it quilted, but at the time, I just couldn't justify the cost.  So, Julie's quilt top was carefully folded up and placed in a bin with other unfinished projects.  (Does anyone else have those??)  I confess it sat there for at least another few years until I was able to get it to my local quilt shop, Sulphur Grove.  By the time Julie's 10th birthday came around, which was last year, I was able to give it to her...but it didn't have the binding added yet!

On her birthday, when she saw her quilt, she drew in her breath and then giggled with delight!  It was the best!  She wrapped herself up in it right then and there even though it was 95 degrees in the shade.  I loved seeing her eyes light up when she saw that quilt and knew that it was the one she and I had worked on together.  Her design...my stitches...and wonderful memories.  (yes, I cried when she opened her quilt!)

I wanted the entire quilt to be "by Julie", so she then had the fun task of choosing a fabric for the binding.  She opted for this spunky black background fabric with white polka dots. 

Isn't it just perfect?  I think it really makes the whole quilt 'pop'. 

I said seven years, right?  Well, by Julie's 11th birthday, the binding was completed and the quilt made it's way onto her bed.  Finally!  From start to finish, it was seven years in the making (give or take a few months).  I am so glad she can now enjoy it and snuggle under it knowing it was something she and Mommy did together.  As a mom, I am hoping she will want to take it with her someday, but if not, I'll cherish having it here at home too.

I have three more quilts in process now.  One quilt is Heather's - she designed hers using scraps from my sewing bin too!  She liked the nine-patch and added denim in between hers, but now can't seem to decide on a backing fabric.  She's not my decisive one, but when she does finally decide, it was be the backing she has "always wanted". 

The other two quilts will be created from scraps of fabric from my girl's clothing.  I've been working on those two for the last five years, adding fabric squares to my stash whenever they grow out of something.  More on those later...probably much later I'm afraid.  (smile)

Have you worked on a project with your daughter that you've truly enjoyed?  I'd love to hear about it!

All my best to you today!  I hope you and yours are blessed on the Lord's Day today!

Random Thoughts

Good Morning!

I must say I am very excited - I have 50 followers!  I want to thank everyone who has decided to follow this blog.  I am touched and thankful!  (BIG smile here)

 Just had some random thoughts today...

Have you or someone in the family ever lost something important?  We had that happen last night and the four of us were basically tearing the house apart looking for a single item.  The good news is that we did find it! 

It's funny though how looking for one thing leads to cleaning, vacuuming, organizing, and a renewed sense of getting things in order.  Just last night I vacuumed under both couches (don't do that often enough I discovered), re-organized my office drawers, and have several other projects on a list to be done soon.  I tossed two bags of stuff into the trash, found things I had thought I'd lost, and gleaned several pairs of shoes and clothes to give away.  I'm on a mission!   It feels great to get things in order, doesn't it? 

I am deleting my Facebook account this evening or tomorrow.  It's been a difficult decision because I am a social person by nature, but it has become a true distraction to me.  It's not that I don't want to keep up with friends and family, but I find myself straying to Facebook when I need to be accomplishing so many other things!  E-mail and snail mail will have to suffice for keeping in touch.  I trust that I'll keep in touch with those who are closest to me whether I have a Facebook account or not. 

I will still have Twitter updates available in relation to the blog and may put up a Facebook page for the blog at some point, but for now I'm trying to focus more on home and writing.

I hope this finds you and yours well today!  

All my best to you,

Campfire Pies - Easy and Delicious!

Fall is our favorite time to go camping as a family.  The cool crisp air, the roaring campfires, hikes around the park, and making delicious food over the fire.  Nothing else tastes like food cooked over an open campfire - wouldn't you agree?

Some of my favorite memories are from my childhood when my parents would take us camping in Michigan.  We would take two weeks every summer and camp right on Lake Huron.  Daddy would make eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee right over the open fire a few times while we were up there.  I'd awaken to the wonderful smells of bacon cooking and that was just the thing to get me out of my warm sleeping bag!  If I close my eyes even now (I'm 40-something!) I can still smell the bacon and the coffee and hear the sound of the lake lapping at the shore. 

My brother and I would sit at the picnic table under our yellow and blue canopy while Dad cooked and Momma made sure we ate our vitamins and had orange juice to go with our breakfast.  We huddled there with toes curling in our shoes and snuggled into sweatshirts first thing in the morning because it was rather cold on the lake first thing.

Those were some of the best times of my life and I'll always be thankful for all Mom and Dad did to get us there every year.  Now that we camp with our two girls, I understand even more what it takes to make a camping trip memorable.

Campfire pies are a delicious and easy way to enjoy a main meal or a dessert at the campsite.  This is a recipe for a personal campfire dessert pie - it's delicious and oh-so-easy to make!

Campfire Pie 

• Pie Iron - also called a sandwich maker
• Butter (or margarine)
• Your favorite pie filling 
• Bread - your choice 

The campfire should be hot, but not blazing.  This one is a bit high for cooking a campfire pie!  However, it's perfect for roasting marshmallows for S'mores! 

If you've already enjoyed lunch or dinner over the fire, it shouldn't take too much to get it good and hot again to cook your campfire pie.

Butter one side each of two pieces of bread.

Place the buttered sides down into the pie iron.  (This photo also shows the pie filling added...I forgot to take a photo of just the buttered bread in the pie iron.)

Next, spread your favorite pie filling on one piece of bread.  We love apple pie filling, but you can use cherry pie filling or anything else you like.

 Close the pie iron, secure it, and head for the campfire.

Hold or place the pie irons over the fire for about 10 minutes or until your campfire pie has reached desired "doneness".  It doesn't hurt to flip the pie iron over after about 5 minutes to get both sides nice and brown.

You can make delicious ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, and pizza sandwiches with pie irons too!

Campfire cooking is fun and easy if you have the right tools available.  Take the time to cook over the fire together as a family.  Your children will have those wonderful memories for years to come!

All my best to you,

Fruit Smoothie

As I mentioned in a post about a week ago, I was frustrated with my health and feeling so fatigued.  I want to thank those of you who commented or e-mailed me to let me know you were thinking of me or praying for me.  Your kind words were much appreciated!

Thankfully, I am back on track and feeling much better as of this week.  I am incorporating some rest time into each of my days whenever possible, even if it is just 20 minutes, so I can re-focus on the tasks for the day and to give my mind and body some down time.  So far, it is working out well.

I drank a few smoothies during the time I was feeling so fatigued and wanted to share the recipe with you.  I love smoothies because you can use almost any fruit or vegetable, they're packed with vitamins and nutrients, and taste delicious.

Fruit Smoothie Recipe

I raided the refrigerator and found cherries, blueberries, yogurt, and milk.  I tossed about 1 cup of blueberries, 2/3 cup cherries, two individual size containers of yogurt, and enough milk to make it smooth into a blender.  Just blend the ingredients until they're blended well. 

It tasted great and it's pretty too!

I've also used frozen yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, and milk together with good results.  You can add flaxseed, protein powder, or vegetables to your smoothie too.  Just raid the refrigerator and pantry and see what's in there!

All my best to you!

Refurbished Metal Shelf

I'm not ashamed to pick up perfectly good items from the curb on my street.  At this point in time, my children are not embarrassed when I do this (that will come later I'm sure!), so I take every opportunity to turn my neighbor's trash into something useful.

For example, last week I left the house before my family awakened so I could pick up a few groceries.  On the way home, I spot this ugly metal shelf sitting on the curb beside the trash cans about a block down from my house.

 I have been thinking about getting a shelf for the back patio area so that various things that are lying around could be more organized.  So, I was a bit excited to see this shelf on the curb that day!  My first thought:  spray paint!  I must admit to having a love affair with spray paint this summer.  It's so versatile and can turn just about anything drab into something beautiful!

I tossed the shelf into the back of my van, rust and all, and brought it home.  When my husband went outside and saw it, he wanted to know why I picked up such an ugly looking thing.  I explained the method to my madness and then he understood perfectly.  He knows I just can't resist something for free!

I used sandpaper to remove the rust around the edges and then washed and dried the entire shelf to remove cobwebs and dirt.  

Here is the shelf with one coat of spray paint.  I used Krylon spray paint in the color "Nickel".

The transformation took the entire can of paint, but for $2.97, that's not a lot of money for a refurbished shelf!  I think it was roughly two and a half coats of paint over the entire shelf.

I love how it organizes my empty flower pots, candle holders, gardening gloves, and other odds and ends.  I purchased a few S-hooks for the side - they hold my trowels and tablecloth clips (well, at least most of them).

I'm tickled with my "new to me" shelf!  It's just what that back area of the patio needed for organization.

Have you found interesting things on the curb? 

I'm linking up with Amy at New Nostalgia for Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays.


All my best to you today,

Patience is a Virtue...or So I've Heard

 
I wish I could just accept that my body needs rest.  I am not a patient person!  I've been struggling with flu-like symptoms since Friday and after three solid days of rest - yes, me, I rested for 3 whole days - I thought I felt good enough and was past it, so I was pretty busy on Monday.  Well, today I am paying for that decision and I am frustrated on so many levels.  I want to be patient.  I have always wanted that character quality, but alas, I don't seem to be able to wait around until the Lord can allow it in me (wink).

So, given this turn of events, I have been trying to pray more often and to spend more time with my girls.  We have accomplished school the last two mornings, even if it was with me holding my head up with one hand and helping with school work with the other.  The Lord has allowed me to get that much done and I am so glad.  Perhaps He is trying right now to teach me patience.  To try and show me that I must slow down now and then in order to focus on the things that are most important in my life.  I want that, I really do!  My challenge is not to look around and see all the things that need to be done and not get completely frustrated.  Well, perhaps that's something else He is trying to show me, 'eh?

I have always been the person who pushes, pushes, and pushes some more.  My Momma has told me for years I need to learn how to relax.  Now there are other loved ones in my life, both family and friends, who tell me the same.  Hmmm...is there a pattern here?   

Then there is the guilt.  The guilt about all that I'm not accomplishing...all that I'm not doing each and every day.  The worst adjective someone could use to describe me would be "lazy".  I have always disliked (intensely) the phrase "Lazy Susan"!  Ugh!  Call me normal, call me frumpy, call me almost anything else, but lazy would be the ultimate insult for me.  Is this pride?  Is it?

Is this normal?  Am I the only mom who home educates and works from home who feels this way?  I think I just heard a resounding "no!" in blog land...at least I hope so...

Would you be willing to pray for me this week?  Please pray that I would learn what it is the Lord wants me to learn and that I could try and focus my energies on those things that He would have me focus on each day.  Please pray that I would learn patience and that I would truly learn how to rest.  That I would somehow understand and know in my heart and mind that it's ok to rest and relax and put my feet up now and then (and not drown in guilt while doing it!).

I appreciate your prayers, if you're willing to join me on this prayer journey.  And, just for reading my rambles, I thank you.  Going to lie down again for a bit and rest (still not sure that isn't a 4-letter word of sorts...)

All my best to you and yours,