Monday, again?

Wow, where did the past week go? I thought I would post a few pictures of our Christmas. In all honest very few pictures were taken as I got caught up in enjoying the day with my family! We started our day out reading from the Bible and then the day was off to a roaring start. Okay is was more of a slow rumble. The boys pilfered through their stockings as I made french toast. After a leisurely breakfast and clean-up we opened presents! This year was Sean's year to wear the "santa" hat and pass out presents but I didn't get a single picture of him wearing the hat! In fact Evan went around all day with the thing on his head! Silly boys! A leisure day was spent by all playing games, nibbling on snacks, and just relaxing. Early in the evening we made our annual trek down to Clear for a delicious meal at the dining facility and Chris got to make his final Christmas post visits!!




Saturday started out quiet but then Evan was struck down w/ the flu mid afternoon! As odd as it may sound it was truly a blessing that it did not hit during the night. He spent part of the afternoon camped out in the bathroom and then spent the night sleeping in the laundry room (closest room to the only bathroom in the house!). Thankfully he was only sick for a couple of hours and then was able to rest all night. By Sunday afternoon you couldn't tell anything had been wrong!! This is how it was with the other two just a little over a week ago!

Things seem to be slowly picking up speed in the "moving" process. Chris still does not have his orders but the paperwork has now been signed and is moving through the channels. There is every possibility he will have them in hand before the week is over or by mid next week at the latest! I can't believe how quickly time is passing! Continue to keep us in your prayers as we prepare for the move as well as for our travel plans. Driving well over 3000 miles in the middle of winter over snow covered roads can be a bit daunting especially since Chris will have to do the preponderance of the driving.

We'll keep you all posted with any more updates as they come our way! Until then I pray you have a very Merry Christmas and that the Lord will bless you in the coming year!

Monday, Monday, I love that day...

Hmm, I wasn't going to post this week but decided I needed a break from all the mayhem. So I presently sit here looking at the "juice" straining wondering if you can use juice in place of the water in homemade marshmallows. I'll let you know later what I decided.

Today was going to be a day devoted to "sewing" once I got the basic chores done but at 2:30 I'm still working on the basic chores. But it definitely wasn't a wasted "morning"! The boys played out in the blustery wind for a bit, cleaned their rooms, folded a little laundry and then we had a late lunch of pigs in a blanket. Together!! I can't remember the last time I had all three boys at the table for the "noon" meal. Okay I know it has been sometime in the past 6 months but still I really miss it! We ate pigs in a blanket which is pretty awesome since our eldest detests hot dogs but loves a good pig in the blanket. I really think it ought to be a cow in the blanket since we eat all beef hot dogs... Umm, what do you think? Any ideas out there? Anyone else have a view on this? For those that eat turkey franks, it would be a turkey in a blanket, right? Or did I miss the mark on this? Okay so now you can see how my mind has been operating lately!

We are working HARD on slowing down a bit and enjoying life with our boys. They won't be little for long. In fact only one is still somewhat little and he isn't all that little! It really hit me this past week when I realized we have one who will graduate in two years and then the middle boy is only two years behind him! Where did time go? I plan to take advantage of every opportunity I still have left with them at home. So what if it means that the laundry is piled up! So what if it means the jam doesn't get made when my 15 year old asks me to cut his hair because it is getting too long! There are precious few days left so I am going to take advantage of each and every one!! (remind me I said taht a month from now when we are frantically trying to pack and then clean the house days before we move!! ha ha)

3D paper ornament

While checking e-mails this morning I found this update from How About Orange. 3D paper ornaments! Talk about a great idea! Not only do you end up with an inexpensive attractive ornament but you are recyling as well. Go one over to How about Orange to get the instructions on making these great ornaments! (I won't post a picture until I find out if it is okay if I post her picture! or I'll just post one that I've made myself..)

But stop by and take at look at what she has! So far I've found lots of interesting ideas.. I haven't read all of her posts so I can't vouch for the content but so far I've found nothing vulgar or crass.

Mushrooms, felt ornaments, and garlands

Welcome to A Homemade Christmas! This is No. 3 of 4 A Homemade Christmas events but I did not participate in week 2. As most of you know we are moving in January. We will be traveling over 3700 miles with 2 teenage boys, a 10 yr old, 2 adults, and 2 dogs (one 14 lbs and the other 95 lbs!) in a Honda Pilot pulling an enclosed 5x8 trailer containing a portion of our household goods. The Lord provides once again as the remaining household goods will be shipped courtesy of Uncle Sam aka United States Air Force. Last week few weeks have been spent preparing our house to put it on the market and sorting. How can 5 people accumulate so much in 4 1/2 years? During that time I had hoped to have more Christmas goodies prepared but well there are only so many hours in the day and I don't always use my time wisely. But in the last couple of days progress has been made...




Firstly... this adorable little mushroom! I just love red and orange mushrooms! Sean took a spectacular picture last fall.... Here we have the felt version! I really would like to make more of these little darlings



Secondly, more felt ornaments. Gingerbread men, hearts, and chocolate heart cookies! These babies won't go straight to my hips! Note to self, and all concerned: NEVER rely on 10 year old puffy paint!



And last but definitely not least! The garlands. Sean has been begging garlands. he loves a house fully decorated for any holiday be it Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July, or birthdays. So this year I am making him garlands. I have one finished and hope to have two more completed before they arrive home in a couple of hours so I guess I had better skiddadle!

Great Giveaway!

Go check out this Giveaway Extravaganza of the Celtic Sea Salt Gift Package over at The Thrifty Mama. Talk about a great deal! I love this sea salt. Yes it is pricey but we actually use a little less and love the fact that we are getting all the minerals otherwise lost in processing!

And what to my wondering eyes should appear....

but a mama moose and her baby from last year!




Okay so I'm no poet but something caught my attention out the back door. I thought it was Lily but realized she was upstairs with the boys. Yes, Momma and toddler are munching away in my garden (a total of 40 or so feet from the house). Silly toddler had the nerve to walk right up into my raised bed gardens and eat the perenials plus the chickweed. But as Ian pointed out, why does it matter because it won't be my garden in the spring. I will miss seeing the mommas and babies that frequent our "yard" each winter but it will be refreshing to not have to worry about meeting up with moose. They are rather rude guests who will turn on you if they feel so inclined!

No photo Friday.... Indiana trip update!

Wow, is it Friday already? Talk about a whirlwind of a week. From the time our flight left on Monday night until we landed on Thursday, Chris and I were gone a total of 72 hours. During that time we had a 6 hour layover in Seattle because of the airport closure/delays at O'Hare, looked at 11 houses, went out shopping and to dinner, Chris met w/ his new "staff", and had appointments with the guidance counselors at two of the three schools.

We also put a bid in on a house and it was accepted... Since getting up Monday morning I've slept a total of 15 hours including be up for 40 hours straight. Yep, it was a crazy week! And satisfying... And I missed the boys something fierce!! All of this explain why there were no foto challenge pictures taken this week.

Chris did take a few of the house which I will post here.

Dontcha just love the master bathroom! I think the toilet is going to be changed out! I may like Harley's but the logo in my bathroom is just a bit too much.. ha ha

Now we are just waiting for all the paperwork. Which reminds me we need to contact our mortgage company.

If nothing happens we will close on February 1st, move in on the 2nd, and Chris will start work on the 3rd. We will leave here around the 20th of January and will drive down. A trip of covering 3714 miles! The house is a little smaller and has no family room but it does have a 2nd bathroom and a 2 car garage. The bedrooms are also much larger than our present rooms. All in all we are pretty excited!

Hmm, I guess I had really better close for now. My thoughts are becoming fuzzy and I'm no longer thinking very coherently... Plus I really want to spend some time with my kiddos! I really, really missed them this week! Oh they are funny! And so dear which reminds me. Do you know what we were greeted by when we got home at 2 o'clock in the morning today? A note on the door saying we goodnight, sweet dreams and I love you plus snacks on the dining room table and a fire in the woodstove! Sean bought cookies and containers at the school's Christmas bazaar with his own money and left us a loving note! Talk about a tender heart! It brought tears to my eyes! And to think he is a teenager! It does my heart good to still hear him call us Mommy and Daddy even at the age of 13!

Night all!!

Foto Friday: One feet, two feet, red feet, blue feet

One Feet, two feet, red feet, blue feet...

Ah feet, one has to love Dr. Suesss! I know its supposed to be one foot, two foot, etc but when the guys were little tots we always read it wrong... intentionally!! ha ha.. which left them correcting me and lots of laughter! Yes, I know exposing a little more sole! (sorry for the pun, I just crack myself up sometimes!! I admit it I'm weird... Yep, my son gives me the "look" all the time! but hey what can I say, it must be the company I keep ;)

Today we have limited feet because of those who would protest... HOwever we do have little feet and furry feet or maybe that should be medium feet and furry feet...




And here are the faces to go with the furry feet, big dog and little dog! Lily and Caleb. She is such a big brute looking thing, isn't she? And she isn't even full grown at 18 months! I guess that is what happens when your dad is a Newfoundland and your mom is a Malamute! And Caleb, well he is a little dog cocktail as my husband so profoundly puts it... Chris brought him home as a stray pup!


Come on over to Rebecca's to take a look at all the other feet and to be part of the challenge. Next week's challenge are EYES, the window to the soul! I love eyes!! As much as I love eyes I don't know if I will be able to participate as it will be a "fun" filled week for us. Late Monday night (early Tuesday morning, 0100 to be exact) we fly out of Fairbanks on our journey to Indiana. Chris and I are going house hunting, meeting w/ school counselors, and stopping by his new work place. We will be back Thursday night! Yes, truly a whirlwind trip but it will be fun! And talk about a blessing! We were able to get our plane tickets for $10 a piece, yes you read that correctly! Thank you Lord for mileage plans!

Oops gotta go! We are heading up to "TOWN" today to have the electrical looked at on the Pilot.

Have a great week!!

Multitude Monday

Sorry folks but there are so still no photos! I am truly amazed at what a (92)whirlwind weekend it was and (93)how peacefully it ended !!
94. My family is absolutely amazing!! The guys all pitched in and we got the
95. WHOLE house sorted, cleared, and cleaned by Saturday night. This involved cleaning out closets, bookcases, storage boxes, under bed storage and
96. moving too much stuff into the enclosed trailer.

We have taken so much stuff to town and (97) been able to pass on just as much! (98) God has truly blessed us with an abundance! Not just monetarily but love of family, friends, health, and the list goes on. (99-101)

102. Two interested buyers before the contract for the realtor goes into effect!
103. A realtor who will split his fee in half if one of our "contacts" purchase the house.
104. The reassurance of knowing that my hubby has a job in these uncertain times.
105. Knowing that even though it is a deployable position God will watch over us if we are apart!
106. Getting 2 airline tickets for $10 a piece!
107. The glow of short, fat candles!
108. An overabundance of candles...
109. Having friends and family with whom I can share our blessings! Both monetary and spiritual!
110. The faithfulness of our forefathers!
111. National missionaries who are willing to work diligent to spread the gospel in once hostile lands.
112. The willingness of those same missionaries to continue work as they see doors closing all around them again!
113. Cinnamon
114. organic oranges
115. freshly brewed coffee
116. heads bowed over school work in an attempt to work ahead
117. friends who I will dearly miss when we move in January!
118. knowing that one day I will be reunited with said friends. Not necessarily in our life time on earth but when we are united in Heaven with our Lord!!
119. the ability to live in a country where I am still free to worship the Lord out in the open...
120. where I can write freely about my Lord without fear of persecution.
121. being able to read the histories of those who have been persecuted for the Lord and the love that shines through their words!!

Periodic Hiatus

Well folks I just wanted to let you know I am going to be on and off for the next few weeks. We are working like crazy to get ready to put our house in Alaska on the market with a realtor. The goal is to have it listed by December 1st and someone in to take pictures for a virtual tour later in the week. Plus Chris and I are using our rewards miles to fly down and look at properties. At present we are considering buying but will see where the Lord leads us.

I am amazed at how much we have amassed while living here and even more amazed at how much is from Ohio. Things kept for "a later day", well they are going! We will be moving into a smaller house plus our "retirement" property has an even smaller house on it!! I've also learned while up here what crafts I really enjoy and am getting rid of many unfinished projects. In fact I unearthed material that is going to be used for matching kitchen towels and trivets/coasters. I am so bad about putting hot stuff directly on the counter or table top.. Hopefully these will help to break that habit!! Plus it is such a cool pattern that I am making some for Christmas presents... I had thought about making some to sell at the Christmas Bizarre but just don't know if it would be wise.. We shall see how much gets done this weekend!

Toodles, and I will keep you all posted! Sorry for no more photos at present. Decide to wait until my work is done! Hopefully there will be more Christmas presents posted soon!!

The completed kitchen!!

Yes, you see the completed kitchen!! LOL... I laugh because we always move when we finally get the kitchen "remodeled"!! And I mean always... We sold our 1st house 1 month after the kitchen was finished, moved out of base housing and they started the kitchen remodel the very next day, in Ohio Chris received word that he got a job up here a week after we finished the kitchen and now.... We got the kitchen finished 2 weeks before Chris was told he got the job in Indiana!! So this next time around its the first thing we are going to do!! ha ha!



If you look closely you will see the fabric found in my macro shots..

As the day progresses I will be posting more pictures of the house.. We took a ton of pictures of the interior to send out to interested parties so I decided I may as well add them here!!

Foto Friday: Macro

Wow, this week has been crazy!! As most of you know we are moving in January so we are in the beginning stages of sorting and selling. In all honesty I don't remember most of this week! I just know that it is Friday... Oh now I am starting to remember. We had a band concert on Tuesday! It was wonderful watching all the "children" perform...

Not to change the subject but man is it ever cold here! We are breaking records right and left for lows... Today it is currently -35.1 below ZERO and still dropping. We have seen record lows off and on for the past week but according to the weather forecast we ought to see a warming trend. We may even see temperatures close to 10 ABOVE by Thanksgiving!! All of this was to explain why my "macro" picture as not outdoor pictures... ha ha!

By the way these pictures represent one of the loves in my life... cooking for our family and friends!





Hmm, I can see where I've been negligent is my cleaning recently.. Oops!

Take a gander over to Rebecca's at Renaissance to participate in this weeks challenge and to see all the incredible photos!! Next's weeks challenge is: THANKFUL. What a great challenge with it being Thanksgiving!!



Hope you all have a great week!

Homemade Christmas

">


We do not do an entirely homemade Christmas but each year a portion of our giving has been homemade. What may have started out as a need years ago has now turned into a desire! I love making crafting things for my family and friends. To fit the gift to their particular likes or needs. A chance to pamper them a bit! So as our days seem to be getting busier by the hour as Christmas approaches and we prepare for the move I will take a little extra time to think and lift up in prayer those we hold dear to our hearts!

Here is but a preview of some of the things being crafted and recrafted for our dear ones this year:

Bundles of crocheted kitchen wash clothes.

Next week's Foto Friday Challenge... macro

I know I didn't post any pictures this week but I still wanted to pass on next week's challenge. Macro photography! It is one of my favorite forms of photography and am excitedly awaiting all the great tidbits Rebecca can share!!

It looks like this week is going to be busy as well with the Thanksgiving/Fall concert at school, science fair, Wednesday prayer meeting, Boy Scouts, and Youth Group. I don't think we have a free night between Monday night and Saturday night but the whole weekend is free. And we have no plans over Thanksgiving. Okay,no plans aside from a generalized whole house cleaning, sorting, and selling spree. Anyone interested in some Christmas shopping? Maybe I should do a giveaway... It is crazy all the stuff we have to giveaway and/or sell. We talked about a "yard" sale but it is just too cold at -10 to be doing that kind of thing. I think we are going to post a list at the local grocery store and post office of some for sale items. If you know of anyone looking for homeschool curriculum please let me know! We have supplies and curriculum we are planning to sell for a song (just slightly more than our mailing costs)!! I would rather it go to someone I know or someone whom a friend could recommend that really needs the blessing!



This is a close up of the owl who frequents our "backyard"! A truly magnificent bird who the boys have seen up close and personnal as there was a slight altercation with our small dog. The dog was unscathed and the owl flew off to return another day!

Hope you have a great week!

Foto Friday.... non photo post today!

Well today is supposed to be Foto Friday and I know it still is over at Renaissance but this week I took a holiday from photography! It has been such an event filled week that I felt it would be more productive to center my attentions on other things!

Let me see... where to begin. Tuesday, Sean called from school to say he was seeing a black line running through the middle of his left eye and could see nothing above it... The school nurse was concerned so he and I made a whirlwind trip to Fairbanks. The optomistrist was wonderful and got him right away! After much testing it was determined that Sean had lost all vision in the upper left (outside) quadrant of his left eye and a bit in the upper right quadrant. So off we went to have an MRI! Let me say this much... He was a TROOPER through the whole thing. By the time we got home he was a bit tired and was sound asleep about 30 minutes before his normal bed time. Tuesday morning Sean was up bright and early with his vision restored. The doctor called back to say the MRI showed no anomolies! We are so thankful God restored Sean's vision! We are still in the dark concerning the cause but just praise God daily that his vision has been returned.

My sweet hubby had to go back up to Fairbanks on Thursday for a root canal! He was in the dentist seat for 2 hours while they worked on him. All in all it was a good appointment as his tooth is now fixed and he had a nice nap. Yes, dear hubby sleeps in the dentist chair even during a root canal! They ended up putting in the bite block as his mouth kept closing... I wonder if he snores while in the dentist chair?

Friday was a mad rush back to town as we discovered the boys had outgrown dress pants and have a band concert next Tuesday. It was amazing as we stopped off at 6 different stores and got lunch to go in 1 1/2 hours! We left the house at 10:35 and were back home by 1:50. Not bad considering we had a 50 minute drive each way! The sun was shining, the wind was gone, and there was wonderful conversation!!

The remainder of the week has been filled with cleaning, cutting out magazine pictures, and crotcheting! It is so fulfilling as I see the projects being completed... We are getting the house ready and are hoping to start putting "For Sale" signs up around town on Monday.

I don't know if I told anyone but as of right now we will be leaving around the 23rd of January! Once Chris gets his orders we will begin the process of scheduling movers, etc. We are so excited and so thankful! It was exciting watching God's hand in the whole process! I know I am NOT the most patient person in the world but it is so comforting to know that everything is in God's timing... Yes, I still felt that way even when I was chomping at the bit! :)

This week's Foto Challenge: Dress-Up really was a CHALLENGE! We had our dress-up session last week and some how no pictures were taken... The guys really aren't that into dress up. I wonder why? Have you ever noticed when "boys" are little they are right in the midst of the "dress-up"? But when they get older (especially as teens) they seem to baulk at the idea... Henceforth my dilemma... but last night my husband came to the rescue! No it wasn't intentional, just him being his normal silly self.
(The thing on his head is the cover off the heating pad, we were folding laundry... ha ha!)
And all these years I wondered why our boys were always putting things on their heads!?! Apparently they came by it naturally!!



My sweet Babboo trying to squeeze himself into a queen size pillow case.. "LOOK Mom, I'm an Evan in a Bag! you know like a Jack in a Box..."

Drop on over to Renaissance to view all the other participants and to join in! Next week's challenge: LEAVES! Hmm, I am thinking this will have to be a week of true creativity as our leaves are mostly gone... OH I know!! Okay, so hopefully I'll see you next week!

I know this isn't part of the challenge but I am looking for information! So maybe it is a challenge of sorts... We are looking for information on the area around Peru or Kokomo, Indiana. If you or your families have ever lived in the area or you have friends in the area... Any information would be greatly appreciated! We still don't know when we will be moving but are planning as if it will be during the last two weeks of December (better safe than sorry) as it could be a very last minute move!!

INDIANA HERE WE COME!!

Yes you read that correctly! Chris got the job in Indiana! And I am totally overwhelmed... but that is a great thing. Okay I have to be honest, I haven't told anyone at church. Chris asked me not to say anything to anyone locally so we have kept it very hush, hush here. I still have not called any of my friends here as I know I will break out in tears... They are such wonderful, dear friends in Christ and God has truly blessed us with their friendships! I know the USPS will be getting a lot more business from me! My mom would probably laugh if she heard me say that! For years I was terrible at writing but am trying to make a concerted effort to be more faithful in my written correspondance. In fact I need to sit down and write her a letter today.

About the move... Well, we don't know when we will be leaving as yet. Chris has to fill out additional paperwork and speak with the Colonel who was the hiring official. I think he will know better by the end of today! Thankfully the military pays to move us or I would be daunted by the tasks ahead. As it is we will go through each room and sort, seperate, and discard. The "professional" packers will LITERALLY pack anything! We opened a box once and found a full trash can which had been wrapped and packed... Go figure! This last time they took the attached drawer inserts that fit into the panels in front of a kitchen sinck. They were screwed in and everything. They even tried to take down the medicine cabinet until I stopped them! Ha ha!!

Please keep us in prayer as we prepare for this journey. At present our list of to-do items includes:
-get passports (have to drive through Canada)
-sell house
-sell pick-up
-sell flat bottom boat w/ trailer
-sell snow machine
-get dogs current on vaccinations/paperwork to travel
-sort out severe winter clothes
-empty barn
-look for either rental or house for sale via internet
-contact schools

There is a possiblity we will be travelling over Christmas but don't know for sure yet. I will most definitely let you all know as we find out more!!

I want to thank each and every one of you for keeping us in your prayers as we were waiting! We have prayed so hard about this move. Firstly, that if it was God's will that Chris would get it, and secondly, that if it was NOT his will that we would have the grace to accept it graciously!

I promise I will keep you all posted on our activities in the coming weeks!!

Foto Friday: Motion

I have to admit this had my stymied at first... We have great motion pictures of Sean during soccer season but that season is now over. We have great pictures of Ian and Evan "practicing" their TaeKwon Do courtesy of Sean. Once again those were photos past... What to do?



Then inspiration hit Saturday afternoon as Evan as I did a little cooking... Ok, so he taste tested and I cooked but every good cook needs an able-bodied taste tester! Someone with refined taste buds which haven't been dulled by age. We hope you enjoy our motion pictures.... We found them to be quite steamy but don't believe they will cause any kind of eruption!







So sorry for the pun! And yes it was intentional, nothing that bad could be otherwise! We are a family who loves a good pun. In fact my husband likes to see how badly he can make the boys groan... okay maybe they may not ALL appreciate the fine art of the pun but they are getting there! ha ha

Please come and join us with Rebecca at Renaissance to join for the FOTO FRIDAY Challenge. Next week's challenge "Dress Up," either in costume or all dressed up! I personally am looking forward to this challenge!

The first of many projects...

I was so tickled I more or less finished the first of many projects.. All I need to do to this bag is make a button hole and add two buttons. I really like this bag but am going to make a few changes, mainly make the strap longer and make the whole bag slightly smaller. In fact, I would like to make one with an adjustable strap but will have to wait until we go to town next week.... Considering I didn't have a pattern and wasn't sure what I was doing, I was really impressed with the fact that it only took 3 1/2 hours to make. Plus it is reversible! Now that I understand the concept (Thank you Michelle) I can see more of these bags in varying sizes in the future.

Snow, snow, and more snow!!

Where did the week go? I had planned to sit down on Monday to post Multitude Monday and well now it is Wednesday! In all honesty, I do not remember much of Monday. Chris was gone most of last week which resulted in me not sleeping more than 4 hours a night. Boy do I miss that man when he is gone!! After 19 years of marriage he is still my best friend and I look forward to every day God gives me with him!! Ok, some days I don't look forward to as much as others but I still am grateful God has given me such a wonderful, kind, loving, gentle man for my husband. I look back and think of how disobedient I was at the time and marvel! As some of you may know I went through a time of rebellion. I'll spare you the details as they aren't pretty... Just know that I wasn't living in God's will and was miserable. Even my dating Chris was rebellious as Chris was NOT a christian and I was.. (We were most definitely unequally yoked!!) However God blessed me... Chris accepted the Lord as his personal Lord and Saviour within 6 months of our getting married and my heart was softened. No I DO NOT recommend this route for others!! But I think it was also a means to turn my life around! I do NOT know where I would be if it hadn't been for those events! When we got married, well it was for life! And it still is for LIFE! I thank God daily for this man I call my husband!

Oh my I digress!! Nothing like a little bit of "soap-boxing"!

It is snowing! It started Monday evening and has been gently snowing every since. At last count I would say we have about 4 to 6 inches of the fluffing white stuff! And... drum roll!! The temperatures are absolutely gorgeous! 25 to 30 degrees!! I try to ignore the fact that it is still October!



This week has been a busy week so far. I've made two breakfast casseroles, a batch of gnocchi, 6 lbs of chicken "nuggets", 4 lbs of barbecued chicken legs, 4 lbs of teriyaki chicken legs (I thought I grabbed the chicken wings on sale but got these by mistake but they were even cheaper at .65 a lb!!), and 4 lbs of shredded barbecued chicken all for the freezer. We also made a nutella filled brioche loaf. Good but next time I think we will shape them as croissants. Did I mention what the "little" dog did last week? Caleb knocked the container of our whole wheat fruit hand pies off the container and ate every LAST remaining one! I mean we are talking a cute little 14 lb dog here and it was 11 fruit hand pies!! I was only gone for 10 minutes and thought I could leave him in the house for that short of a time. Who knew he could jump up and knock them off! So now I have the dough in the refrigerator to make another batch. And no he didn't get truly sick! His belly was beyond FAT and he just laid around for about 12 hours and then was up like nothing was wrong!!

(Yes I know there are those of you who knew of my "no animals on the furniture" policy.. It is the thing he is allowed on, and he is really good about not getting on any other furniture!)

Speaking of projects...

Here are the fabrics for the shopping bags and reversible book bags! The book bags will have denim on one side (BOYS thank you for all the holey "worn-out" jeans!!) and the cool girlie print on the other.




I love stripes, polka dots, and flowers! Once they are completed I will post a picture...







Oh,oh,oh... It looks like we may find out something official this week about the job in Indiana. I feel so bad because we just found out that the hiring official has been out with the flu! Poor thing... I pray she is feeling better now!!

Well I better get a move on as the sewing machine is beckoning me as well as a HUGE pile of magazines. I am determined to get them sorted and find a new home for them, preferably in the hands of someone else who can enjoy them!