I Have Been....

    I have been:

out of my element

living out of a suitcase

swimming in research and statistics

missing my family 

and my farm

I have been:

relaxing from my travel

fishing with my guys

breathing deep the nature all around me

and watching a little boy

become a young man.

Now that I am home, it is time to catch up on chores and challenges I have been missing- oh, and apply some soothing aloe to my sunburn! See you in the sewing room tomorrow- until then, keep cool and wear sunscreen!!

Lifelong Plague of a Short Girl

   Here in the lower atmosphere dwells the few, the overlooked, the neglected short girl. Forgotten by the makers of cars, restaurant booths, and fashion designers, we short girls struggle to make it in the 'amazon' woman's domain. Truth be told, I drive with my tip toes..always have. Actually that's not true, my early years of driving found me with a phone book behind my back and blocks tied to the petals. Yes, it was the best kept secret in high school. In my forties, I can swing my feet in nearly any chair I sit in. I am that adult in a restaurant dangling her feet wishing she had a Sears and Roebuck's catalog.

   Is this a rant? No. A gross complaint against humanity? Not really. It is a shout out to all in the lower trenches with me. Ladies under the five-two mark, you are not alone. Smile with me..we reached perfection sooner than others and stayed 'just right'. Giggle at the reality that we are 'fun size'; perfect complements to our taller mates. Groan as you face the start notion you will pass it on to at least one of your children. Sorry, Jen, you got it from me:)
   Off to finish the hem in five new pair of pants..some I cut more than five inches from! Can you believe it? 

Look What Just Arrived!

    The past few days found me with a nasty sinus headache. Glum and groggy, my mood was less than pleasant- what do you know? A little brown box was delivered to my door with just the pick me up I needed. My craft swap partner had perfect timing this weekend!

    The wonderfully talented Dolly Sarrio of Dolly's Designs and Dolly is Cooking sent me beautiful hand made treasures. A creamy ruffle wreath came with soft gold ribbons- just right to welcome me in. Though I haven't hung it yet, it will be a welcome sight when I return to the house from a travel or trip.

    This pretty embroidery pillow stole my heart. I gazed at it for the longest time; it's such a perfect fit. Here in my old rocking chair it sits beckoning me to come stitch a while.

     Quilting being such a passion of mine, this little quilted heart is just right for my sewing room. The picture is a little blurry and just doesn't do it justice. A warming touch to a busy space. 

     Rounding out the treasures in m box, a pretty pink gingham apron. It arrived with a special little note sharing stories of home ec classes and pink ric-rack. A farmhouse kitchen can never have too many hand made aprons!

     Thank you, Dolly, for sharing your love of hand made treasures with me. I am blessed and privileged by your friendship and sincere love of crafting. A wonderful thank you also to Michelle, at Michelle's Little Piece of Heaven for hosting this event and gathering us all together to share and learn about each other. 

Fun Finds: Christmas Traditions

   Traditions run deep in many families..and new traditions come as families grow and change. Today was take a stroll through the web to look at the wonderful family traditions from all corners of the blog-o-sphere.

 

Over at The Texas Darlings there are gingerbread houses and family hayrides. My children grew up with both of these wonderful traditions and share those memories often. They may have slanted walls or droopy eaves, but a gingerbread house made together is a wonderful decor for a holiday table!

 

Next we land at Cracker Barrel where their Pinterest board shows popcorn garlands. I find this quite a challenge to do, but loved doing it year after year. Who knew you could laugh..and cry..so hard?

 

Around-about we land at Blooming Mommy where a family focused Advent calendar grew and bloomed over the years. We also used various methods of Advent during the course of our parenting journey..our favorite involved lighting candles. The possibilities are only limited by our imaginations.

  

Finally we land at Love to Know for some wonderful information on sharing Christmas celebrations from around the world. Doesn't a "12 Days of Christmas" learning plan sound wonderful? 

   As we prepare for the joyous celebration to come, may we not forget the reason for our gathering. Remembering the birth of our Savior is the most precious tradition; one that can last a lifetime and beyond. Join me next week as we look at serving and sharing Him during the holidays.

Fun Finds for the Tree

   Grab your tinsel and plug in your glue gun..it's time to clear the kitchen table for a fabulous fun crafter-noon. Here are this week's fun finds for trimming your tree.

 

First let us hop over to College Lifestyles for a quick and simple ornament called a 'Kissing Ball'. A dab ribbon and a sprig of holly accent a simple fabric wrapped ball for a frugal fun way to use a few fat quarter scraps.

 

Next we zip over to Fave Crafts for a whopping thirty-one seriously simple ornaments for crafty tree trimming.  Paper cut rustic angles and sheet music baubles look frugal and fabulous.

  

Our next stop on the web is Turnstyle Vogue where cinnamon and applesauce magically become fragrant decorations just right for tree trimming or accenting a gift. Reminds me of the years my little ones made them in the kitchen with me..after the holidays we hung them in our closets to keep the cinnamon scent going a little longer.

 

Finally we stop by Crafting and Creativity for a precious vision of simplicity. Little wooden people offer a natural and humble reminder of the reason we celebrate. A precious nativity for showing or sharing..and excellent simple gift for a friend.

   Oh, my but there are so many more things to do and see..burlap ornaments and sparkly ornaments; tulle and ribbon..the possibilities are endless. After the business of this weekend pass, we intend to dust of the tree and clear out a corner to do a little trimming of our own. 

   Have a wonderful crafter-noon!

Fun Finds: The Kid's Table

   Thanksgiving gatherings vary from house to house, yet, most of us share a commonality- the kids' table. I recall my own blessed days of servitude; the card table set off to the side..folding chairs and all. As the oldest, it was my assignment to keep the kids' table in order; plated and drinks filled...fellow sentenced souls entertained so that the adults could chat without interruption.
   My own days of hosting Thanksgiving gave me an opportunity to tweak the kids' table to suit my style. Crafty and inviting- our kid's table was always stocked with activity and close by the adults to keep us all together. Having searched the web, today I share my favorite kids' table ideas..many of which mirror my own.

     

My farmstead kids' table theme has always been 'keep it simple'..and you can't get more simple than crayons. Over at Tip Junkie there is a simple napkin holder made of just raffia gently tied around a warm cranberry color napkin and a few seasonal colors crayons. 

 

Another simple tip I have always implemented was a plain paper table cover; a perfect canvas for coloring and very easy to clean up. Over at All Things Heart and Home tassels are added for a little flair..hop on over..she has some beautiful decor (love her pine cone garland).

    

One thing we really strive for is an attitude of gratitude. To stir those thoughts we made a paper tree to tape on the wall..and fall colored leaf cut outs were where we wrote our thankfulness ideas. Here we have one from a Pinterest board creatively placed on a cork message board using children's hands for thankful leaves. Now that saves the paint on the wall, doesn't it?

   

In the end, kids always finish their plates way before the adults are ready for dessert. A little simple sweet treat works really well..and Holiday Crafts and Creations simple pastry bags pair with raffia and your favorite candies for a pretty and tasty treat.

   We all praise the day when we graduate from the kids' table and move on toward the privilege of adult fellowship, but with a little consideration and a few moments of our time the kids' table can be a pleasant and seat. Since I am not hosting a holiday gathering with any small children..the kids' table will be absent from my set up...but oh the day when grandbabies grace my door...then..the kids' table will return with wonder and fun!

Fun Finds: For the Home

   This week has been a jimble-jamble of what-nots somewhat disconnected in thought..so finding a 'theme' for this week's fun finds was a bit of a challenge. In the end, my thoughts came toward home- mine in a bit of a jumble right now. This week, my web wandering sent me daydreaming of a home clean, organized and pleasantly fragrant.

 

As a girl, there was a yellow 'dressing table' in my room; a reclaimed piece of furniture we painted and fixed up. It had a gathered ruffle 'skirt' to hide all the stuff I often tucked underneath. When I saw this picture it stirred my memory of that nifty little table. For this and more "Fast Fabric Facelifts" hop over to Better Homes & Garden's web sight.

 

When my children were small and those seasons of sick hit our home, keeping track of medication dosing was always a challenge. I often taped a hand made chart to a cabinet for easy record keeping, but when I saw this nifty notion at "Inspire, Design, and Create" I knew someone had finally found a solution. A little chalkboard paint easily makes a spot for record keeping or little lovey notes..don't you agree?

 

I admit- once upon a long time ago I tried the quicky sticky version of cleaning; hated it. Wasteful and not overly effective, there is really no fast solution to clean..yet, this idea gives new life to an old 'fail'. "Dollar Store Crafts" offers a great tutorial for re-usable cleaning amendments..love it!

  

The aromas of home can be, well, less than pleasant...but commercial air fresheners are costly and full of chemicals- not at all good for the home. Over at The Yummy Life I found an excellent DIY all-purpose cleaner/air fresher..easy of the bank account and very easy on the home. Vinegars steeped with citrus and/or herbs lend such variety; very good for the home.

   So much inspiration, if only there was more time for it all. Here I sit mind full, energy empty..sometimes we have the desire, but just not the ambition. Maybe the urge will hit me after a cup of coffee (and a little more browsing)..we'll see.

Fun Finds Friday: Caramels

 

This week we are taking the sweet ride through the versatile goodness know as caramel, and the web is full of wonderful blogs sharing their tasty renditions. If you can't decide between caramel bites or a jar full for drizzling, House and Hone shares their Amish Caramel recipe here; best of both worlds, I'd say.

If salty sweets are your personal love, then hop over to Not so Humble Pie for their Fleur de sel Caramel recipe; here. Salty fleur de sel brings a sharp contrast to their creamy butter caramels..looks so tasty!

Caramels can only get better when paired with rich chocolate, right? Over at Smitten Kitchen there is a wonderful post- quite fun and insightful- concerning a cosmic quest for divine chocolate caramel. The recipe, here, looks quite promising..I must try this one for holiday sharing:)

For those who like their caramel a little on the tipsy side, Doughmesstic has a naughty caramel recipe inspired by a tour of the Jim Bean Distillery. Tipsy and tasty caramel covered in chocolate and dusted with salt...this recipe is quite inspiring.

   This week's trip through caramel land has been oh so sweet and tempting..so naughty and so delicious..hope you had as much fun as we did!

Fun Finds: The Coop

   This week the poultry pen has been front and center in our lives; new hatch-lings tend to do that to you. With my peeps growing and mess making every day, it seemed only fitting to focus our Friday Fun Finds on the coop.

 

I personally do not have need for winterizing the coop; south Texas winters are seriously mild. For all those living above us, Fresh Eggs Daily offers this excellent post chock full of information for winterizing your flock's favorite places...they also share the link to their very own feed mix.

 

For us frugal minded flock keepers, The Modern Homestead offers their plans for a pasture shelter made from items that might already be on you property. Here is a link to the plans, material list, and thoughts to consider before building.

 

As a home schooling homesteader, I loved teaching my children every aspect of flock care. Urban Farm Online offers this helpful poster as a tool for teaching poultry anatomy. I love the gingham background and the beautiful colors used.

 

Raising babies is a large part of coop life, and how to give them pasture time has always been a quandary for me. Over at Pam's Backyard Chickens I found this cute little peep playpen..just right for a little sunshine and greens, don't you think?

 

Morning walks to the brooder can end in devastation when a little one has fallen into the water and drown.  This week a Pinterest  board showed placing marbles in the water to help those little peeps stay safe. Such a simple solution..who would have thought?

   This week has been a wonderful blessing spending a few minutes here and there checking on the noisy little bundles of energy. Before long they will no longer need the constant attention and care; that doesn't mean I won't be out there anyway. Speaking of which..time for a walk out there right now. Have a blessed weekend.

Fun Finds: For the Garden

   After a full week of garden focused work (and play), it seems only fitting to seek out some really fun finds from the big old web. Let's take a peek at a few really fun things for the garden.

 

   I didn't always have a greenhouse, but that never stopped me from starting seeds myself. I have tried several different methods, but by far the most practical method has been this  one shared on the Garden Web forum. The storage tubs can easily be used and stored away in the shed until next season.

   We have plenty of egg shells available year round..generally I feed them to the hens or compost them. After reading this article from Homemade Simply I have decided to set a few aside for feeding my garden plants. On hand natural fertilizers are always better than having to buy them!

 

   Personally, I have only grown sweet potatoes once..and it didn't make a great impression. That particular year became a heavy rain season and most of them rotted..wasting my investment..and ruining my personal outlook on sweet potato growing. Alas, there is hope..maybe if I try this handy method from Off Grid on Lee's Ridge I could be persuaded to try again.

  

   Having had an explosive pepper season this year, I am totally game for any uses for them (other than pickling and relishes). Old World Garden Farms shares this awesome tutorial for making Chipolte peppers from your jalapeno harvest. Sounds yummy to me, of course, I will have to get over my fear of the smoker..long story..don't ask.

   All that inspiration has me itched to get back out there and grow some more!

Fun Finds: Family Time

   The disconnectedness of the modern family is heartbreaking and painful; but it doesn't have to be. I have always loved gathering my little ones (or, now, big ones) together, all hands in, and spending time. Be it a project, play, or a simple setting family time does not have to be expensive or burdensome. This week's Fun Finds Friday focuses on family time.

 

When my children were small, we often pulled every thing off the coffee table..spread paper over..and dumped the crayon box on it. Sometimes it was free form and creative, and sometimes it was coloring sheets. Free Kid's Coloring Crafts has some wonderful 'simply farm style' printables just right for a simple family time.

 

As the children grew, so did the focus of our time together. One excellent event we did regularly was a game night. If your house is like mine, little game pieces tended to end up in the strangest places (and to be found by a foot later on that evening). Cardigans and Curriculum   shares a nifty tip for keeping all those little bits in place.

 

All this family fun stirs up quite a snacky appetite, but keeping things frugal and healthy can be quite a challenge. Frugal Homemaking has a great share: kettle corn. A few simple on hand ingredients and there you go!

  

These days my kids are quite grown; college, senior, and a sophomore. Their class/work schedules make family time a much more precious..and difficult to plan..thing. Now days we plan a big cooking day for hearty family meals like this lasagne or these  enchiladas. Sometimes it is canning or planting..even a fence mending day..but those all need a hearty meal to end it, right? 

   The how of family time is not what is important..it is that it happens..that we are together..that memories are made and bonds are formed. My most treasured memories of home are not expensive vacations or elaborate activities..it is the day to day circle of hands that warms my heart and keeps me longing. That is the family time I desired for my home..and the one we wish for yours.  

Fun Finds Friday: Taste of Fall

   Snuggled under covers with a good book or all around the table with family, fall has so many tasty things to bring us warmth and welcome. Here are this week's fun finds from the blog-o-shere..and they are all tasty!

You just can not have fall with out caramel apples...tangy apples, gooey sweet caramel, those crunchy toasted nuts..fall perfection. Only problem is..trying to bite into one. Over at Taste of Home a solution has been found: caramel apple bites. There we go..now, perfection.

 

After caramel apples, there must be pie: apple, pumpkin, pecan..so many choices..so many calories! There are just not enough days in the season to enjoy the amazing delight known as pie. Creative juices were flowing at Zoom Yummy; a perfectly precious tutorial and recipe for mini apple pies (no doubt easily converted into pumpkin or pecan..just saying).

 

 Lest you think I only have eyes for apples, fall also yields the wonders of squash. Bountiful and beautiful, winter squash are versatile and hearty..perfect accompaniment for any variety of main dishes. Spoon Fork Bacon has a wonderful take on oven roasted winter squash. We love ours seasoned with Cajun spice and garlic!

Right along side of every bowl of warm soup there must be a loaf of hearty dense bread. Over at The Science of Eating two wonderful recipes can be found for traditional Irish soda bread as well as dark soda bread..both perfect next to hot steamy soup!

 

No fall day can be complete without the all important cup of tea. Soothing and warm to nip that chill in the air, or iced and slightly sweet for those warm work-outdoors days. The Yummy Life shares some tasty frugal fixer uppers for your everyday cup of tea. My favorite? Raspberry..or was it mint?

 

Fun Finds: All Fall

 

Golden leaves in gentle breeze, tart cranberries and sweet pumpkin puree..it's all about fall. This week's fun find theme is "All Fall"...crafts, candies, and good ol' fun.

Fall is gathering and giving to our classmates, our neighbors and friends. Over at  Make Bake Celebrate a wonderful fall mix recipe is shared with a pretty printable label too!

 

Grocery stores always have a bin of little gourds of every shape and color..I never now what to do with them. Revel has this beautiful tutorial for turning those funky, bumpy bundles into classy tea lights..perfect for a table setting, entryway or even a fire place display.

 

When our family gets together there are always plenty of kids..every age and stage. Keeping them calm can be quite a challenge...after all, it's a holiday. Over at DVO their 'Home Cooking Newsletter' has several really great edible activities for the kids. Edible play dough is my favorite!

 

Fall brings us together in so many wonderful ways; each invitation so thoughtful and precious. Tattered Sisters Primitives  shares a wonderful gift idea...Ginger Citrus Simmering Spices. Just imagine the warm and wonderful fragrance that fills the air the moment the jar is opened. 

 

Now, settle down on a big fluffy chair..sip some warm green tea..and dream of all the wonderful fall crafts and gatherings while you munch on these yummy pumpkin seeds.