Archives for 2009
Our latest comings and goings…..
I’m sneaking in a post because I’m very chatty and since my blog has recently been taken over by the 12 Days of Christmas {which I am thoroughly enjoying, BTW}, I haven’t gotten all my words and pictures out lately. Steve was off work last Friday so we took the girls to lunch at the Tomato Head and then to the zoo. It was a beautiful day, the fall colors were shimmering, the animals were frisky and the weather was perfect.
We saw ‘Edie–the Elephant’ which inspired me to go for a run once we got home. I’m just saying. Maybe it was the line ‘compared to other elephants, Edie is a medium sized, well-proportioned elephant with short tusks and little tail hair’. Nice.
In other news, we’ve been studying the Vikings in history and made these darling little Viking boats. I started a book on the Norsemen called “West Oversea” by Lars Walker. Very interesting historical fiction about the Vikings. And lo and behold, that same week, Issues Etc interviewed Lars Walker on the Vikings and on his book West Oversea!!! I was completely wowed by that. I mean, I love Issues for a variety of reasons but sometimes their timing is impeccable.
On the photography front, I’ve been experimenting with the manual settings on my Nikon d90. I took this pic with a iso of 1200, white balance of ‘flourescent’ and now I can’t remember the aperture. I love how it turned out though. I really don’t know any other way to learn than to practice with different settings and take tips from friends like Darby whose pictures are inspiring. {Click on her photography icon}
Then, there were the trick or treaters making their funny faces.
So, now you know the rest of the story.
I should also let you know that I just became the newest contributor to the Blissfully Domestic Online Magazine. Any ideas what I should write my first post about?
12 Days of Handmade Christmas Tutorials:: Day 1 {Dishmat}
It’s finally here! The 12 Days of Handmade Christmas Tutorials! Thank you for stopping by and don’t forget to grab the button to your right and let your friends know that we will be featuring 12 creative and talented guest posters today through November 12. I also have been asked several times to host a Mr.Linky after this is over so that you all can show us your homeade/handmade goodies. Let me know if you’d be interested in that.
While I wish that I could take full credit for this creation, I must admit that the idea sprouted from something I saw on the SouleMama.com blog for a bathmat that was altered to make a dish mat using recycled towels. I loved the idea and if you’re anything like me, you always place a dish towel above the dishwasher as you unload for those pesky plastics that never dry. This version is a combination of terrycloth and 2 fun fabrics. My dish mat has become a permanent fixture in the kitchen and has been put to very good use!
You’ll need:
5/8 yard of main fabric **PREWASHED**
5/8 yard of coordinating fabric **PREWASHED**
5/8 yard of terrycloth or a recycled bath towel **PREWASHED**
Instructions:
::All seam allowances are ¼” unless otherwise noted.
::Cut or tear main fabric {with grain} into (4) 5 ½” x 22 ½”
strips.
::Cut or tear coordinating fabric {with grain} into (5) 3 ¼”
x 22 ½” strips.
::Starting with the thinner coordinating fabric, piece the front of the dish mat together, sew with a straight stitch
& press seams towards/under the main fabric panels {this will build bulk and give an appearance of fabric being inset}.
Once you’ve pressed the seams. Top stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance, using a triple stitch along the inside seam of the main fabric. A triple stitch will give you a thick & substantial looking stitch. If your machine doesn’t have a triple stitch a straight stitch would work just fine, but be less “substantial”.
Note how the weight of the triple stitch makes the smaller strips look inset.
Now that you’ve pieced the top together, lay it on top of your bath towel or terrycloth {with right sides together} cut the terry cloth to size and pin together around the edges.
Using a 1/2” seam allowance, sew around the outside of the dish mat with right sides together, be sure to leave an opening large enough on one side to turn the dish mat right side out. Once you’ve sewn around the outside with right sides together, trim your seams and clip your corners.
Then you can turn your dish mat right sides out, press, and hand sew the opening shut. Finish by top stitching around the outside of the finished dish mat using about a 3/8” seam allowance.
The terrycloth does tend to pucker a little around the edges. After the first wash it will lay completely flat. These will make wonderful Christmas gifts, hostess’s gifts, and if you have time, make one for yourself– you will put it to good use, especially if sippy cups come out of your dishwasher regularly!
The {pdf} tutorial can be downloaded and printed here.
Here We Stand
Why did Martin Luther nail those 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg? Why did he risk his very life so boldly at the Diet of Worms when he said, “I cannot and will not recant. Here I stand. God help me”?
Lord God, who after long ages of darkness delivered the church from the bondage of error, we thank You for those faithful witnesses through whom you restored the gospel of Christ to men and we praise You that this blessed light has been preserved for us to this present age. We thank You for making known among us the Holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, our only mediator.
Defend Your church against all her foes. Seek and save the lost and all who have gone astray. Preserve among us the pure Word and holy sacraments; turn our hearts from false and pernicious doctrine. Direct and strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that we may abide in the confession of Your word all the days of our lives and in the end, by Your grace, obtain everlasting life. This we pray in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Do-Si-Do
My best friend from high school celebrated her 40th birthday this weekend. Shawna (shown middle) also happens to be my sister’s (shown on your left) sister in law. I know, I know. But it’s the south, remember? And how did she celebrate this milestone, you ask? With a real life ho-down square dance —–in a barn. Now you’re starting to be jealous that you don’t live below the Mason-Dixon! It was unbelievably fun. We laughed at old pictures of big hair and blue eye shadow. We learned how to ‘alabama{allemande}-left’ and ‘rip-and-snort’—-that’s square dance lingo for all you northerners reading. And I think the best part was that the teenagers and small children had just as much fun as the adults. Though they probably won’t be as sore tomorrow.
I spent the night with my sister, who lives at the Foothills of the Smoky Mountains and we enjoyed some good food and good fellowship before the party. That’s my brother–in all his Volunteer glory—who, as you may or may not remember, won $25,000 in the Poker World Series this summer.
Sis made these little pumpkin yummies and I took about 53 pictures of them.
The kids had a blast at the square dance. It reminded me of days gone by when this is how ‘we’ entertained ourselves and our youth. Nobody said ‘bored’ —-not even once!
Shawna, Gina, and I and all our girls (minus my little Caiti—who would’ve had a ball). It was so nice to be together again. Happy Birthday Shawna!!
Uncle Mark, who said before we left for the party, “I don’t why this family has to square dance everytime we get together,” seemed to be having more fun than anyone.
My wheels are turning now ’cause Steve and I are renewing our vows this summer and plan to celebrate a little. I may just have to ‘grab my partner and do-si-do’! You gotta love the south!
The Morning After
If we’re friends on Facebook or you follow me on Twitter, then you may know that we just purchased a crack pot espresso machine. I’m on a 36 hour bender. And when I crash, it’s not gonna be pretty.
If I hit rock bottom and come begging you for more coffee beans, don’t enable me. As it is, I’m typing 600 words a minute. And Stevie must like me jittery ’cause he just made me another
latte.
coffee, espresso, milk, half and half, cream, chocolate syrup, and various liquors. I stayed up until 2:30a and was back making espresso at 6:30.
It’s a Jura Capresso machine (fully automatic) and uses whole beans. It makes perfect crema and is a refurbished model—which makes it half the price that it would normally be. It may not seem so inexpensive when I’m in the ER for an arrhythmia!