Sewing for Sweet Sis

I am always busy with a sewing project for my daughter Sweet Sis.  I sew often out of the love of sewing, and I sew often out of the need to sew for my daughter.  I am not impressed with what the world has to offer for clothing for little girls (and bigger girls too).  It can be suggestive, revealing, and not in-line with modest principles.  Even play dresses found in stores are very short, and the minute she jumps, runs, or plays on playground equipment, all modesty is thrown out the window.  As the children grow, my time is devoted more and more to homeschooling with all that it entails, and I cannot make every single clothing item.  But I cannot compromise our strong beliefs.  So, I have been modifying clothing when I have time and working on a new dress once or twice a month.  I modify by adding a very wide piece of eyelet lace/edging or a wide piece of knit material.  It won't work on every dress, but it is worth doing on those that I can.  Here are some pictures of examples that I have done this past month:

New Beginnings

I will be restarting my posts to my blog as I really find it fun to share with my family our happy times! And it is fun for me to look back and see our special moments together. Today's post is about Meal Menus! I have done meal menus for years, but they have all been weekly. Since I buy bulk more now and usually only shop once every two weeks if possible, I needed to change his many times I make a menu. Also, every week I make lesson plans for school and trying to make a menu makes so much more work on my free day! So I tried making an entire month. The first attempt, it took me half the day to make sure I didn't put too many like-dishes back to back. I then started to think about themed days. Mexican night, American fare, pasta, Asian stir-fry, etc. Now I cook according to my theme day. I print out the menu and post for all to see. I also add the desserts and really try to make them as it encourages the children to eat their meals! 

Kitchen Helper

My cute little volunteer kitchen helper tonight! He just came and stood next to me and said "Ready"! Love it!

Our Journey Continues

After graduation, we spent some time on The Farm. I took pictures with a different device so I will have to post those later! But today, I'm on the shore of Lake Huron soaking in some rays and cooling off in the water. Professor had to go back to work across the country so we will be hanging out for awhile without him.  Grandpa came with us to the beach and Sweet Sis so enjoyed walking with him.

Celebration Dinner

Graduation!

Okie Dokie in Oklahoma

Last night we bedded down near Elk City, OK.  We came in late, about 8 pm local time. After battling the steady winds, we were blessed to have the manager come and help with "a second set of adult hands" as he put it. I appreciated the help as I always do. I don't depend upon it but won't turn it away! We knew going to bed there would be a slight chance of Severe Thunderstorms, so we prayed especially for protection. As the night passed, the chances increased. By 3 am, I woke up again to high winds and flashing sky. It was moving fast! I grabbed my phone and dialed Professor. I did not wait to hear his advice and woke up the children and got in the truck. I might have overreacted just a little. But it turns out i hadn't, the storm was growing and heading right for us.  As I was watching the sky, the storm didn't seem to get real close, but I could see it all around growing in intensity. Professor could see on the radar the storm cell breaking on our location, like a small hole. The Lord was truly protecting us!  We did not get even a drop of rain! About 6 am, rain started and stayed for 2 hours. We were able to pack up the inside of the tent and eat breakfast while the tent was drying out. The plains of Oklahoma are so breathtaking. I could live in this part of the country! But then there is the risk of tornadoes here
As we drove into OKC, we could see the recent damage. In fact, as we were driving on I-40, we saw some cattle escape a field through damaged fencing from the tornado. I quickly called 911 and reported it. A state trooper was being dispatched. You can see piles of steel where large buildings once stood. One photo is our campground. Another is the view.

Texas No Hold Em!

It is hot here in Northern Texas!  After a late start due to visiting a great friend from when we lived in Albuquerque, and with another time zone change not in our favor, I find ourselves running a wee bit behind today - not due to arrive at our destination until 7 p.m. tonight.  So we decided to find a different stop for the night; when we arrived, the pool was closed, there was no shade and it was 99 degrees outside.  We have no choice but to move on to our next campground 150 miles away.  Meanwhile the kids saw their first real cowboy (during this trip) at our stop in Texas. They really admired his large cowboy hat, belt buckle, and long cowboy jeans with boots to match. The boys were asking to get on their genes when we got back in the truck. We decided to cool off a little with a real treat - something we rarely have - a cold vanilla ice cream cone. The kids really enjoyed it and so did I, as I watched their big eyes and tongues lick the cones.  We are truly enjoying ourselves.  Our country is so big and so beautiful.  Right now we're crossing the plains of Texas and it's just so neat to see the big blue sky and large open fields. We are very blessed and privileged to have the opportunity to travel across the country together as a family!

Lil Farmer's House

This is the house Lil Farmer was born in years ago, we affectionately call it his house. And the view from the front porch! If you have followed me for years you will have remembered it from 7 years ago!

A Cross-Country Adventure

Today was our first day of a seven-week adventure taking us literally from the West Coast to the East Coast and back. It has been so nice! I love traveling across our great beautiful country and seeing the vast array of land. We are truly blessed!  After getting fueled up with Daddy at breakfast we launched. While at a restaurant, some CHP's came in, California Highway Patrol, about 6 cruisers and some motorcycles.  As we were leaving, a police officer parked close by, gave each of the kids their own sticker badge! How cool for the kids. Tonight we are in the pines and loving every minute. It is so fresh and beautiful. Peaceful comes to mind. Rest Well.

Mother's Day Surprise

Not too long after I posted about our lovely dinner, we went for a nice bike ride down to the harbor. We were heading back and Lil Farmer had another accident. He crashed into an information sign. He split his lip open quite badly. We spent 45 minutes trying to find an open Urgent Care (5 different locations) and finally took him to an ER. After hours, he received a painful stitch on the inside and an equally painful stitch on the outside. Frankly he would have received more but the doctor failed to numb him adequately and it was apparent Lil Farmer could feel the needle insertion, etc. He is tired today from his ordeal but happy and eating. I'm sure a scar will appear in time, but there isn't much we can do about that. Heal quick little buddy!

Mother's Day Blessings

Just one of many gifts my family bestowed upon me this Mother's Day. The sweetest day my dear husband has ever prepared for me.

Silky Print Dress

Here is my beautiful dress I have been working on for 14 months. It is a stunning print on and I am looking forward to finishing the side zipper. I just finished ripping it out again and am about to add some fabric to the seam so that my zipper has more fabric to attach to. It wasn't too small, but rather the zipper was unstable with the raveling fabric. I also need to hem the bottom and place buttons. One day this week I hope to be completed and will post a picture wearing it! I might need to rethink our evening snack plans!

Twirly Skirt Time

I have been busy making some quick skirts for Sweet Sis. The narrow one is from Simplicity 2576, which is meant to be a teaching pattern for you girls to learn to sew. Very Simple. The second skirt is from The King's Daughters Ruffled Skirt Pattern, also simple but a tad more time due to gathering. The first from cut out to finished product was under 45 min. The second one was an hour and 15 minutes.  I rarely do it all at once but can get it done in a day or evening. I plan on a denim ruffle for her next skirt. I have two Mommy dresses to finish first. One has been in the works for nearly 2 years. I am having trouble with the bodice side seam zipper, but I have worked out a solution in theory, so I just need to do it! I would rather do the quick gratifying projects then dig in and fix a problem.  That sounds like a seamstress' sermon! By for now from the pin cushion pulpit, Country Needles

Granola Time!

Every few weeks, I make a large batch of granola for the family. I think they would eat it everyday! I like to try different recipes, but this one is my old faithful. It is a cost effective non-oil recipe. I enjoy the full maple syrup varieties, but it is expensive to use pure maple syrup. No oil is healthier and lower calories. Try it and tell me what you think! One word of caution: use a strong blender or soften dates ahead of time by boiling in water for 10 minutes (making sure to drain water before adding to recipe).
Maple Nut Granola
By Neva Brackett's "7 Secrets" Cookbook
Combine in blender:
1 C water
1/2 C honey
1 T molasses
1 T vanilla
1 tsp maple flavoring
1 tsp salt
2 C pitted dates
1 C nuts (walnut, Brazil nut, peanut, or almonds)
Combine in bowl:
13 C old-fashioned oats
1-2 C quick oats, as needed
1/2 C shredded unsweetened coconut
1-2 C sliced almonds or other nuts
1 C raw hulled pumpkin seeds (we prefer green)
Add wet mixture. Thoroughly mix, adding extra quick oats if too wet, and spread onto two large cookie sheets. Place in oven overnight at 175F.

I will post a picture of finished product in the morning!
Well Kind Heart loves the granola! He is finishing his morning devotion CD, thus the ear buds!

Sewing & Running!

I always have a sewing project in progress and most of the time multiple projects! Today I finished a dress for Sweet Sis from a new pattern I purchased called Lizzy by Bonnie Blue Designs.  I purchased the fabric from SewBaby and it is a very good quality cotton. I am learning how important quality fabric is in the lay and appearance of one's garment. The standard Joann's Fabric does not cut it for all garments!  I added significant length to the pattern but think I could have shortened it by 2 inches. The dress is about one size too big, which is the correct size to sew. Next month she will be growing into it!

Baking Bread and Making Memories

This afternoon, Sweet Sis and I baked some bread while the boys were busy doing car "stuff".  I love spending time with my only daughter! She is such a sweetie and a delight. She loves to do anything that I am doing! The boys were not quite as good of a shadow as her, to me anyway, and I guess that is the way God designed it.  Here are some pictures of our time together.

Spring Time Beauties

Sweet Wedding Anniversary

Another year has passed, and Professor and I enjoyed our 13th Wedding Anniversary.  We spent a few weeks trying to plan the perfect night out for our anniversary.  We live where there are many options to do something romantic, adventurous, spectacular, cheap, expensive, exhilarating or relaxing.  It proved to be too many options!  We were so overwhelmed and deflated after each plan ended up not working out for various reasons.  So, I finally suggested we get a hotel room for the night in an area a few hours away, close to some nice nature preserves.  The children would enjoy a change and an adventure and we would like to just relax. So we booked a room with three rooms and two bathrooms, with a kitchen.  I planned an easy but nice dinner to be cooked in our suite and after a nice night and morning, a trip to an Audubon Wildlife Preserve.  We were expecting lots of people to join in on a guided-tour.  We were the only people!  We had a magnificent tour by the curator of the last 17 years.  He was incredibly knowledgeable and a fantastic teacher.  We learned about the habitat, indigenous plants and wildlife, and capped it off with a bird-watching experience.  We all had a great time!  We then enjoyed a nice veggie burger dinner out and then headed home.  It was a fun time.

 We were taught the difference between feline and canine tracks.  We saw both tracks in their specimen tracking area.  So in this particular preserve, they have active coyote and mountain lions, plus some smaller bobcats.

 This plant was used by early settlers and natives for its soap lathering quality.  Can you see the guide's soapy hand?

 Sweet Sis actually found the acorn nut (on the oak shrub) that the guide was looking for!  It surprised him!

 A wild cucumber.  The dried up wild cucumber is shown below.