Adventures in Breadmaking

In an attempt to cut back wherever possible, I have decided to take on the challenge of making our sandwich and dinner roll bread. If it works, I'll be saving us loads of money! If not, well, at least I can say I tried, and I'd only be out 10 bucks. 

 I totally forgot to take pictures throughout my first attempt, but here's the result. 

They didn't turn out *too* bad; but they definitely did not turn out the way I intended. After talking with a few of my friends (including the one who gave me the recipe), I came to the conclusion that I did not let the bread rise enough. The bread tasted fantastic! But, because they did not rise enough, the loaves were super dense and had a squishy texture in the middle. Not good enough for sandwiches, but they worked out great for snacking! We gobbled up all four loaves in 3 days!

Well, today, I decided to give it another go & I'm glad I did! I still need to keep a better eye on the rising, but I am pleased with the results. And, I remembered to take pictures this time!

First, I pulled out my mixer, put the kneading hook on & gathered up all my ingredients. 

Flour, sugar, yeast, salt, olive oil, warm water

I put the warm water into the mixer, added the yeast & let it sit for a few minutes.

While that was sitting, I combined the rest of the dry ingredients & mixed them well.

Once the yeast/water was ready, I dumped the dry ingredients into the mixer. When I turned around, I saw the oil! I probably should have tossed that in before the dry ingredients, but I don't think it really mattered.

I put the mixer on "stir" for a minute, then put it up to 2 for 2 minutes. The dough came out perfect!

I decided to only do 2 loaves this time, so I halved the dough.

I took one of the halves & split it again, into the shape of 2 loaves....

...I placed them on a plate lined with parchment paper & when they were frozen, I put them into a ziploc bag & back into the freezer to bake another day.

I placed the other half of the dough into a bowl & then placed it into a warmish oven to rise for about 25 minutes. (I left the oven door open. I was afraid it would start to bake! lol)

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it, but once the dough had had doubled in size, I shaped it into 2 loaves. I placed each one in a greased (I used Pam) bread pan.....

....then back into the warmish oven for the second rise.

I kept the bread in the warmish oven for 15 minutes. Then, I placed them on top of the oven, to finish raising (is that a word?) while the oven pre-heated.

Here's what they looked like just before going in the oven. Looks good, so far!

I baked them for 20 mins & put them on the counter to cool. Here's what they look like from the side....

..and here's what they looked like from the front.
Pretty good, right?! The one on the left was a bit too short & was more dense than I wanted. But, it was way better than before! The loaf on the right was more of what I was looking for. I think I needed them to rise a bit longer, but all in all, they turned out great! I'm looking forward to getting this right & making this work. The bread is super tasty & will be great for sandwiches & rolls!



Here's the recipe I used. It makes 4 loaves. OH! Make note that the original recipe calls for INSTANT yeast. I bought DRY ACTIVE yeast & that's why I had to do the double rise. If you use the instant yeast, follow the directions below. If you use the dry active yeast, then you'll need to do what I did, and have the dough rise twice. Once in the bowl & then again in the loaf pans.

Ingredients: 10 1/2 cups white unbleached bread flour (a 25lb bag of flour is only 7 bucks at Costco! That's the same price as 2 loaves of bread! What a savings!)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp salt
3 rounded tbsp Instant Yeast (This also can be purchased at Costco. It was $5, and will last quite a while)
3 tbsp liquid lecithin* (veg. or olive oil ok to use. I used olive oil.)
4 cups warm tap water

Instructions: Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin/oil and water. Mix for 1 minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry, add more water. If dough is too moist, add more flour. Mix for 5 minutes. If you have a Kitchenaid mixer, you'll only need to mix for 2 minutes. (Do not add water or flour to the dough after  it has finished mixing.)

To cook now- Spray counter and pans with Pam. Shape loaves and cover with a dish towel. Let raise 25 minutes, or until dough has doubled in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

To freeze- form the bread into the shape that you will be cooking it in (rolls, bread-sticks, or a loaf) and put in freezer on a cookie sheet until stiff. Take off of the cookie sheet and place in a labeled freezer bag. Leave rolls out approximately 3 hours before cooking and bread about 4. Add toppings (cheese or spices) to the bread-sticks just before baking.

***For wheat bread: Use 3 cups water and 1 cup applesauce. I also exchange my white sugar for brown sugar and add some honey for honey wheat. I tend to allow my wheat bread far more rise time in an effort to keep it from being too dense.

I have no idea the actual cost of each loaf, but I'm guessing it's just over a buck. NICE! Not only will we have great tasting bread, but it will be made with only real ingredients, and will be saving us money. I think I hit the jackpot with this one! =D

My New Favorite Tool!

I know I may sound like a commercial, but I'm so in love with this product!! Lemme tell ya', I've been struggling with my crap machine for a really long time. My piecing just never seems to be as good as it should be. Points not matching up, rows totally crooked, blocks not turning out the right size, bla, bla, bla. For someone who's been quilting as long as I have, it's SO FRUSTRATING for the finished product to look like a total n00b put it together! I can't tell you how many times I've had to give a quilt with an apology! lol!! I tried presser foot after presser foot. I bought several guides. I even bought those magnetic doohickeys. I spent far too much money on far too many tools, all in an attempt to achieve that perfect scant 1/4" & ruler-straight line. Eventually, I came to the conclusion, that either I was the world's worst quilter or there was something wrong with my machine. After putting the machine away in frustration, and walking away from all of my projects for a year, I was determined to find out the answer. Well, after trying all of my tools again, and getting the same results, I'm convinced it's the machine. I think (even tho' I can't prove it) that my needle is set ever-so-slightly to the L of where it should be AND I know my feed dogs aren't working properly. We'll talk about the feed dog thing in another post, but no wonder none of those tricks worked for my seams!! The distance from the actual needle, to the edge of the presser foot, was off! Now, I was at a loss. If the machine itself was the problem, how was I to fix it?!

Enter, Pinterest. Yes! Really, again! lol! I happen to follow several quilters & one of them pinned this tool. I read the post & decided it was worth investigating. So, I googled it, and found a couple videos on how to use it. After watching the videos, and finding them for sale on Amazon for a decent price, I decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did! It is the best quilting tool I've ever purchased!!!

<--- Well, here it is! It's sorta hard to see how it works from just this photo, so I totally recommend going to the video link above.

How this differs from any of my other tools, is that it attaches, more specifically, it sticks to the bottom of the actual presser foot!! Why I think this worked for me, is because you have the scant 1/4" measured from the actual needle to the outside line - not from the edge of a tool to the needle. Do you see the small hole? Well, that's where the needle goes. Just make sure the solid line down the middle lines up, and Bam! Perfect seams!

 I'm tellin' ya, I think my needle is off-center! Once I put this on my presser foot & started sewing my half-square triangles, I could not believe the accuracy!! I actually had to square down the blocks for the first time ever! All of my points were perfect. All of them! I was so happy!! After years of struggling, I had finally found something to help me achieve that perfect seam! YAY!

If you read all the info about the Sew Easy Guide, you'll see that it's original purpose was for sewing half & quarter square triangles without marking. I do have to mention, that my half square triangles were far too big (10") for the tool. I still had to draw the diagonal line down the block. But! That was the only marking I had to do! I just lined up the solid line from the tool, with the solid line on my block & the tool helped me keep it all straight! It's so simple, it's genius.

If you're havin' issues with your seams, or just hate drawing all those ridiculous lines for your half & quarter square triangles, I highly recommend purchasing this. It comes in 2 sizes. I got both! Thanks, again, Pinterest!

A Quilt for Alice

Last year, a good friend of mine became pregnant with her first baby - a girl! I could not wait to make a quilt for her! So, I did the usual: I picked out some cute fabric, cut simple squares & pieced a lovely baby quilt. On a whim, I decided to back it with minky. What was I thinking?! How was I going to quilt that on my finicky machine?! *sigh* My machine totally ate it. Seriously. It got so stuck in the feed dog cavity (if that's what it's called lol), that when I finally freed it, there was a huge hole. Ugh! I was so mad!! My friend was moving from one coast to the other, and the shower was my last chance to see her before the big move & baby's arrival.  I decided I would just have to start from scratch & maker her one later.

It totally would have happened...except I got pregnant. doh! Morning/noon/night sickness, extreme fatigue, the works. On top of that, Dan traveled for 4 solid months and I was homeschooling. Even tho' I really wanted to, there was no way I was going to have the time or energy to quilt.  But, everything has a season, right? So, when the pregnancy was just about done & as I began to plan the quilt for my baby girl, I decided to go ahead & plan a replacement quilt, as well. Then, when my girlfriend said she was coming back for a visit, I knew it was time. So, I got to work!

I had a blast picking out fabric, choosing the pattern & sewing this quilt. My biggest issue was with the quilting. Back to that blasted feed dog problem. It was getting stuck - again! Even with just regular cotton backing. Ugh! This time, I decided not to force it. I took it off the machine, ripped the stitches I had sewn & hand tied it. You know, it turned out great!! I'm super happy with the results. For the first time ever, I could give a quilt without an apology! haha!

"Through the Looking Glass" - a quilt for Alice. 

It turned out super cute. I'm really happy with every part of it. 

 You know, life is constantly changing. Friends come, and they go. Sometimes the Lord moves you, and sometimes He moves the friend. But, a quilt...it moves right along with you, and it brings with it, the memories & the love of the one who made it. I put a whole lot of love into this one & I'm  quite happy to let it go.

Awww...don't you just love that happy face?! Man, I really do love quilting!! =D

Two Small Words With One Big Impact

You know that Bible story you could teach from memory, because you've taught it a zillion times? Well, having taught Sunday School & Children's Church for nearly 10 years, I have a lot of those. Currently, our Sunday School lessons have us in 1 Kings & this past Sunday, my lesson was on Elijah & the Widow Woman. I'm sure you're familiar with that one, too. If not, tho, here's the story in a nutshell:

Elijah has been by the brook Cherith, being sustained by God via the water from the brook & some food from the ravens for quite a while, and now the brook has finally dried. So, God tells Elijah to go to Zarephath, to the house of a widow, and there He would continue to provide for him, until the end of the drought. Elijah gets there & tells the woman to fetch him some water & make him some bread. She, in return, explains to him that she was just about to prepare the last meal for herself & her son. Elijah promises her that God has sent him & would provide. Amazingly, she does as he asks, and prepares what little she has left for this man she's only just met. Even more amazingly, when she goes back to her seemingly empty vessel, there is enough for her & her son! Not only that time, but every time she needs to feed them, there is enough! For 3 years, until the end of the drought, the Lord provides for the 3 of them. Just as He had promised. 

It's a great passage, with a fantastic lesson! I already knew that. But, it's one thing to know something, and a completely different thing to live it. Now, I know without a doubt that God will provide. He has fulfilled every need we've ever had, and sometimes in miraculous ways! That's not really my problem. The struggle is living it. 

Dan & I seem to be in a perpetual state of drought, and I feel as if we've been living at the brook since we got married! We have chosen to follow the path the Lord has for us, regardless of it's earthly consequences, and I'm gonna be honest, it's not easy. Yes, God is still sending the Ravens & no, the stream has not yet dried. But, when will it end? When will God finally say "well done!" and let us leave the brook? I just want to be over this! I want to be on the other side, saying: "look where we were & where we are now!" We give, we serve, we do whatever we can, whenever we can & we do it all for the Lord, without hesitation. He DIED for us! It is our reasonable service! Still, I feel like there must be something we're doing wrong, otherwise, God would be blessing us. Right?! So, I pray harder, read my Bible longer, serve more, give more, etc...and yet, we're still here by the brook.  I get so frustrated! How am I supposed to keep living in the drought, while I watch others around me enjoy the rain?! Hasn't God promised to open the windows of Heaven & pour out blessings?! When's that gonna happen to us?! It's happening to everyone else! *sigh* It's so hard, and even tho I struggle, I keep on giving, serving, praying, etc. Mostly, because it's just the right thing to do. 

As I stood there, teaching my class on the provisions of God, I couldn't help but be convicted. The funny thing is, that it didn't even come from the scripture! It came from the actual lesson. As I was reading it to the girls, this last sentence from the lesson completely jumped off the page, and slapped me right in the face.

"God kept putting just enough meal in the barrel and oil in the cruse for three cakes of bread at each meal. For three years, they had just enough to eat, until the famine ended."

Now, I'm not a Bible scholar. I have no idea how the writers of the Sunday School curricula know how much was provided, when, and for how long. But there, in that simple sentence, two little words were all it took to shake me. 
They were: "just enough". Elijah and the widow woman had obeyed, and because of it, God was true to His promise and supplied their need. But, what if it really was "just enough?" Where in the passage does God promise them mountains of food & a new car?! It's not there! God promised to provide what they needed, when they needed it, for as long as they needed it, and, that's exactly what He did. 

Right there, God reminded me, that we have never gone without a meal. Amazingly, the bills get paid. We've all got clothes & shoes that fit. We've got a roof over our heads & a car that works-ish. Guess what, Amy?! It's just enough! Do we really need more? The simple truth is, no. The World drills into us that, in order to be happy, we have to have it all. But the Bible clearly teaches, that if we have Jesus, we DO have it all!! How foolish and selfish I have been. I've been so focused on what I don't have, that I've lost all enjoyment in what I do have! I have an amazing marriage, with an equally amazing husband. I have 3 healthy, happy boys. I have a DAUGHTER! I have godly parents & a loving family. I get to attend & serve at the best church in the world. But, most importantly, I have a home secured for me in Heaven & the promise of eternal life with my Saviour. When you add it all up, it really isn't "just enough" any more. The windows of Heaven have been opened up for me!! I was just too blinded by my sin to see all the blessings that already surround me. 

I'm so glad that the God of Elijah, is my God. I'm thankful that He has not changed, that His Word is truth, and that all of His promises are for me too!!! The drought may continue for years to come. Oh, that I would learn to enjoy His provision - even if it is "just enough."

Breakfast for a Week! In 5 minutes?

Since the arrival of Genevieve, I have been looking high and low for solutions to two major problems: time & money. So, when I discovered something that would do both, I had to try it! I took on the breakfast challenge. How to make sure the Hubbs could get a HEALTHY, quick breakfast, every morning before work - WITHOUT having to spend extra money. Enter the solution. Via Pinterest...duh!

Dan enjoys eating steel cut oats in the morning, along with his new found love, Chobani. That's great! Such a healthy, protein-packed breakfast, what wife wouldn't want to make that for her husband?! Yeah, have you ever actually cooked steel cut oats? It. Takes. For. Ever! With the addition of the wee one, I seriously don't have time for that. But, I do have time for Pinterest (lol), and when I saw the headline: "Breakfast for a Week in 5 Minutes", along with a photo of steel cut oats, I felt like I'd hit the jackpot! Once I read through the original post, I went to Target to pick up a few things & got to work! Once it was done, I was shocked at how easy it was. Then felt sorta stupid for not thinking of it sooner. Doh!

Here's the super-easy, way to make a healthy breakfast for an entire week, in just about 5 mins. 

 First, grab some mason jars. I went with half-pint, but probably should have gone with the pint, so Hubbs could actually mix in some goodies. Then, of course, pick up some oats! There are a few brands out there, but Quaker was on sale, so it's what I got.

 Line up the jars next to the stove, so you're ready to go. 

 Once the water & oats have come to a boil....

 

simply ladle the water & oats into the jars...

 

close the lids & walk away!

Leave them out on the counter over night. Then, in the morning, put  all of the jars into the fridge, minus one.

Take that one, add a bit of milk & sugar, or whatever suits your fancy & you've got a tasty breakfast now AND for the rest of the week! 

Look at that face! Who knew something so easy, could make him so happy?! lol!!

Here's the recipe, as taken from the post: 

1. Collect your jars and other equipment. I like pint-sized jars for this as they allow a little more room for adding nuts, raisins, and milk later. But you can also use half-pint jars.

2. Bring the oats, water and salt to a boil. Simmer for about 3 minutes then turn off the heat.

3. Ladle the oats and water into the jars. Cover the jars tightly with their caps and rings. Leave on the counter overnight.

4. The next morning, put all but one of the jars in the refrigerator. Take the cap off one jar and stir up the oatmeal inside. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, or until quite hot. Add any milk, raisins, or other mix-ins. Enjoy!

That's it! Easy, right?! Thanks, again, Pinterest!

Meal Planning Made Easy!!

Head on over to my girlfriend's blog & check out my latest post! While you're there, sign up to follow her site & of course, click all the links! Then, come back here next week to read a few new posts.   Thanks for following me as I get this blog off the ground. =D

Catching Up Part Two: My Boys

I cannot believe how much the boys have changed since starting this blog! Here's a quick update on the boys!

Danjr is 10 & doing great! He's just about to wrap up 6th grade with another 4.0 & still loves all things Star Wars, Dr. Who & Angry Birds. Currently, he's in love with his baby sister! I love watching them together.

Benjamin is 6 and is asking every day when his birthday is. Just a few more weeks, kid...hang on. lol He's still as inquisitive as ever & loves digging in the dirt with his brother. 

Joseph is 5 and quite a fireball of energy! Every day, he seems to be a bit taller & today he got his first loose tooth! I can't believe he's going to be six in just a couple short months. Where does the time go?! 

My boys mean the world to me. Yes, I may be super busy with Genevieve, but I really try to remind them that they are very special & that I love them - even more since their sister has been born! Every day they find a way to make me smile & laugh. I have some pretty awesomely crazy kids. 

Love them!!

Catching Up: Part One

It's hard to believe that it's been about 7 months since my last post & a year since I started the blog! A LOT has happened since then! So much, in fact, that over the next couple weeks, I'm going to do a series of "Catching Up" posts, just to fill in the huge gap. I have a ton of posts swirling in my head, but the one obvious place to start, is with the biggest news! Here goes:

I had a baby!! I know...you're thinking..,wait...WHAT?! Uh, yeah, that was my thought when I found out, too! lol Here's the story. It's a long one, so you might want to pop some corn & put your feet up. I'll wait. You done? Okay, good, we'll get started. =D  It begins in July of 2012. Dan (the hubbs) was traveling with Geek Squad Summer Academy, so he had been gone for the better part of June, but was able to be home over the 4th of July weekend. We had a HUGE event planned for that Sunday morning & we got up a bit earlier than normal to get ready for the day. Something had been stirring in the back of my brain & I had been wondering if I'd really had my period in June, and for some whacky reason, I decided - on the way out the door - to take a pregnancy test. Expecting it to be totally negative, I didn't even tell Dan I'd taken it. I put it down, finished putting on my jewelry, put on my shoes & walked back into the bathroom to check on it. Yup. It was positive! I was so shocked, I didn't quite know how to react! I called Dan into the bathroom, and showed him the test. The look on his face was about the same as mine! lol! We just sorta stared at the test, and then at each other, and after about 30 seconds, we both started to well up....we were PREGNANT!!!


Dan still had to travel & was going to be gone most of the summer, so I knew I was in for a long first trimester. From the beginning, it was a totally different pregnancy. I was sick 24/7 for the first 4 months, and then off and on through the end. It was horrible! I also struggled with ligament/pelvic pain through the last half. Most days, I was pretty useless & felt really bad for the kids. But, they were super good & we got through it. Even the homeschooling got done!! God is good! lol

In August (on my birthday!), we made our announcement & it totally surprised the church & facebook lit up like a Christmas tree! haha!

I had kept it a secret for so long, it was so nice to be able to share it with the world! Once we spilled the beans, the pregnancy became that much more real and the anticipation was killing me! Was it going to be blue...or were we FINALLY going to get our pink?! I prayed like I'd never prayed before. No, not what you're thinking...lol. I prayed that God would help me be content & love the child, even if it was a boy. I didn't want to go through the depression that I'd had with Jo (that's another post for another day). I wanted to be happy & love the child, no matter what.

Me & the Beebee at 20 weeks, the week before the ultrasound.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, the day came. I finally had my ultrasound. Me, Dan, the boys, a good friend & her kids all gathered into the room for the 3D/4D experience. I told the tech.: "Don't tell me what it is 'till you are absolutely positive!!!" A few minutes later...

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!

 We felt like we'd hit the lottery! haha! A baby girl! For US! First, the Lord surprised us with a child, then He made it doubly surprising by giving us DAUGHTER?! I was overwhelmed, speechless & crying. It was a moment I'll never forget. What a miracle...what a blessing...what a gift!!! Above is the best picture we could get of her face. I still have it by my bed. Our Genevieve Jennifer Dolar. =D  I can't even begin to tell you how crazy everyone went!! lol!! We each had about a zillion "likes" & comments on our facebook announcements, and once again, the church went nuts!! haha!! The planning officially began & it was even more real than ever!

Me & the Beebee. Christmas '12.

The days & weeks seemed to drag on, and the yukky pregnancy issues made it feel like an eternity! BUT! I persevered, and tried to make the best of it. Dan & I also made sure to spend some extra quality time with the boys, and we went out of our way to reassure them that they were loved & would still be loved once their sister arrived.

I have to admit, the best part of the pregnancy, was my shower!! My awesome Sister (along with Mom & good friend) threw me a lovely baby shower & I was completely spoiled!

Everyone was beyond generous! Even those who weren't able to come to the shower, bought gifts or gave us things. It seemed like every day, someone was dropping by with a gift, or we were finding one in the mail. God was (as He always is) so good to us!! Between all the gifts, and the timely tax refund, we were able to get every single thing we needed. I don't have to buy her clothes 'till her birthday! hahaha! In those last miserable weeks, I was encouraged, loved on, pampered & blessed beyond measure. It was just what I needed to get me to the end.

A couple pics of me from the last few days of the pregnancy. The one at the top L is the morning of delivery!!

Once February came, we were on alert! With my history of havin' babies weeks before the due date, we knew she was coming at ANY time! We took the kids out a few more times, started organizing anything and everything in the house & made sure the crib was up & the house was ready for her to come home!! I started having contractions at my 36th week! My OB & I were both convinced she'd be here before Valentine's Day & she was!! lol

I had my last check up on February 12th. When my OB checked me, I was already at 5cm!! He told me, that, unless I went into labor that night, I was to head to the hospital first thing the next morning & he would have me delivered. WOOT! So, I did exactly what he said. We went home, made sure everything was packed, took the kids to the In-law's house & got a good night's sleep. Well, Dan did...who can sleep when you're 9 months preggo?! lol! The next morning, we went to the hospital & after some drama (for another post), I was admitted! After a morning of basically just laying there, doing nothing, the OB came in to get the pitosin goin & to break my water. OY! That was crazy! Once that happened, I had intense labor for about an hour & a half, and then she arrived!!! I was a Mom - again!!! And this time, I had a DAUGHTER!!!

Getting to hold my baby girl for the first time.

And, there you have it! I had a baby!

 Genevieve Jennifer Dolar was born to us on Wednesday, February 13th, at 3:30pm. 

She weighed 7.14oz and was 19" long.   

Thank you, God, for your bountiful blessings!!!

Kick Pleat

WOA NELLY! So, I guess it's been a while since I've been on here! Kiiiiiinda a LOT has happened since end of June, but this isn't the "catch up" post, so I'll save all the chismosa (google it) for next time. Right now, I want to share about today's little craft!

"I saw this thing on pinterest..." Don't SO many of our conversations begin that way lately?! Well, maybe it's just me. ;D But still, I *finally* was able to actually DO something that I pinned, and I feel pretty great about the results! In the spirit of "See One, Do One, Teach One", I'll pass it along to you.

I recently purchased a new knee-length skirt & was having trouble getting in and out of our 15 passenger van, due to the sewn slit in the back. Frustrated about the lack of movement, I remembered pinning something called a "kick pleat", and decided it was exactly what I needed. Headed out to JoAnn's & they happened to have all the super cute denim fabric 40% off, so it was a total score! (1/2 yard of fabric for 3 bucks is a pretty sweet deal!) Once home, I ran the fabric through a quick wash & dry, reviewed the pattern instructions and pulled out the sewing stuffs.

**Remember, when sewing with denim,  change the needle! I used a SCHMETZ 90/14. (They're marked "denim/jeans") & a dark blue polyester thread from Mettler.**

After coming out of the dryer, I pressed it, cut a large piece; then, I folded, pressed & stitched down the hem. The instructions said to cut it 2" past the slit & 1" past the wider than the hem.  I didn't bother pulling out my Olfa mat & ruler, since it's really not going to be seen - I just sorta cut it. lol

Next, I pinned the fabric & stitched down; then, lined it up with the other side & did the same.

This is where not measuring the fabric, caused my pleat to not be what it was *supposed* to be. lol doh! I was *supposed* to fold the fabric so that it covered the pleat fully to the stitches I'd made, but this is what happened instead. It was a bit short. Oh well, it still worked. Once the pleat was folded, I pressed it & pinned it, then stitched along the top. See where the pins are? If you're confused, I recommend reading the original post. I'm not exactly the best teacher!

Voila! This is what it looks like, turned right side out. Like I said, I didn't do it *exactly* like the instructions in the post, but I was going for more of a "hidden" pleat this time. Next skirt, I'll actually follow the directions. ;D

Here's what it looks like when I take a really wide step

Here's what it looks like when I'm just standing. Again, it's what I was going for - hidden.

That's it! The entire project took less that 20 mins! I do want to do it again, but with the fun fabric showing more. And, I'll post it. Oh, and follow the directions. lol! Hope you are able to follow what I did & that you can use this method for yourselves.

Lessons From a Croissant

Today, I decided to spoil the kids by making a chocolatey treat I found on pinterest. So, using the remaining crescent roll dough from dinner (another winning recipe from pinterest), I baked up chocolate croissants. The house smelled divine, as we sat down to dinner. The boys & I looked forward to gobbling up every morsel as soon as our plates were empty. And then it started: almost immediately, Jo decided he didn't want to eat his vegetables. Little snot started crying, whining and even gagging over every tiny bite! *eyeroll*  We've never had a problem with veggies & I knew he was just itching for attention - well, he got it. After several warnings, I was left with administering the punishment: no more dinner & NO desert. Meanwhile, the rest of us enjoyed our very lovely, very chocolatey croissants. Once the tears started to flow, the teaching began. We talked about sin and it's consequences. He understood that his sin was disobedience and that his consequence was no desert. He wiped his tears and apologized; and after forgiveness was issued and love restated, all was done.

A few minutes later, while I was minding my own business washing the dishes, the Lord decided to teach me a lesson too! I thought about that desert. About how lovely it was. It was just the right balance of crispiness, and ooey-gooyness. Equal parts sweet and savory. Not too big, not too small. I really enjoyed it! But, Jo wasn't able to enjoy it. I had made it for him...for his enjoyment...because I love him...but he couldn't have it. He had sinned & had missed out on the blessing.

POW! The Lord whacked me upside the head with that one! How often do I sin? How often to do I complain about my veggies? How often am I ungrateful for what I have & discontent? Wow. All the time! I question. I doubt. I cry, whine & gag over my veggies all the time! So often, I find myself behaving much like the Children of Israel, wandering in the wilderness. Even as I see the Lord guiding & providing, I start to murmur in my heart. And you know what?! I'm no different than they were. I'm no different than Jo. It's disobedience, it's a lack of faith, and the bottom line is - it's SIN! If it's sin...then there's a consequence. What have I missed out on? What has my sin kept me from receiving from the Lord? He loves me just as I love my children (and so much more!), and I wonder how many treats He's made for me, that I couldn't have?

What a heavy thought. I stood there staring out the window, with my hands covered in soap, and my heart filled with conviction. God is far better to me than I deserve!! I enjoy such a life! I get to stay at home with my boys, homeschool, quilt, sing, teach Sunday School, clean some modulars, clean & organize my home, drive a somewhat working vehicle, eat 3 meals a day, etc, etc, etc.. All these things are a gift, but what more could He have for me? What "gift" could he have waiting to give to me, just as soon as I finish my veggies?!

The Lord had SO much planned for Moses. He had a land flowing with milk and honey and a people to enjoy it with. But, he got angry, smote the rock, and missed out on the blessing he'd been working towards his entire life.

I prayed right then and there for forgiveness & thanked the Lord for the lesson He had for me...from a croissant.

(Ref. Numbers 20: 1-13)

Oh, and in case you were wondering. Here are the links to both the dinner & desert recipes mentioned in this post. =D

For dinner, we had Crescent Chicken as found on this blog, via pinterest:

For desert, we had Chocolate Croissants as found on this blog, also via pinterest:

Really, May?!

YOWZA!!

This picture basically speaks for itself. What a busy month!! On one hand, it's filled with love, happiness, parties, extra church, etc. But on the other hand - where do the days go!? I'm having a really hard time just enjoying the last month of Ben & Jo's Kindergarten year. To some, that may seem silly, but to me, it's such a major milestone in their lives - and I feel like it's slipping away without me being able to soak it up properly. So, I've decieded to take a few moments in those rare empty boxes, to stop & smell the moment. I'm gonna squeeze the boys tight, take a zillion pictures & enjoy their time with them. Even if it is a little silly.

A Walk to Remember

I'm so excited!! It's been a VERY long time coming! After all these years, this will be the first quilt I've made just for me!! I have kept the scrap fabric from about 7 different quilts, and am creating a very unique and very special quilt. I'm sure as I'm making it, and as I'm using it, I will be able to enjoy memory after memory of all the girls with whom I share the fabric.

This project is very much a representation of a large chapter in my life. Each piece of fabric represents someone who shared in that story and helped shape who I am today - in one way or another. This quilt will be very symbolic of my time and experiences at LBC. Beautiful, colorful, simple yet complex, full of character  - and finished. Let's face it - life changes! People grow up, move away, change ideals, mature, etc. We had a lot of wonderful memories (and a lot of sad ones), met a lot of great people, learned, grew, and made some life long friends. Finishing this quilt will definitely be finishing that great and terrible chapter, and I will at last be able to move on.

Please join me as I go (and grow) through this process!

Choosing fabric!

This is a large portion of the scrap that I have from those quilts. Each of them are so different from the others, that it was hard to envision how they would all fit together and coexist in one project. But as you can see from this photo, they go quite well!

I find it a bit ironic that the name of the pattern is "Bonds of Affection"

Choosing a Pattern:

When it was time to find just the right pattern, I turned to my stacks of quilt magazines and spent hours pouring over every page. I knew that I had lots of varying fabrics - and lots of varying white!. So, I figured it would all make a terrifically scrappy quilt! As I was looking, this one popped out and "called my name". I put it aside and went through all my other patterns, but at the end of all the searching, I knew this was the one.

Note my scribbles & re-scribbles. lol

Making it work:

Obviously, since the pattern was designed with a specific fabric in mind,  I needed to tweak it to work with what fabric I had. This is where the fun (and the math >.<) begins! It took me about 30 mins (and 2 Tylenol) to figure it out, but it was imperative to have exact directions, or the entire project could go wrong...so very, very wrong. lol








Cutting it up:

Fabric sorted & ready for pressing & cutting! (In my kitchen/dining room/classroom/quilt studio :D)

All pressed, cut, sorted & ready for piecing!

I'm really looking forward to working on, and finishing this project! I absolutely love sitting down to cut, sew, pres & fuss over every little detail.  After all the headaches, sore wrists, raw fingertips & piles of cut (& ripped out!) thread, I'll FINALLY have a quilt for me!  Yay!

**Over the summer, I'll be doing a few more posts on this project, as I go through it. I've named the quilt "A Walk to Remember." They will be more "instructional," so I'll be posting them on my other site, lissiegirlquilts. The site is still not all the way up yet, but I'll link to them when they become available. Thanks for following me on this journey! As always, leave your comments & suggestions. I'm eager to hear from you!**

Road Trip!!

Hitting the Road! 

Earlier this May, our family had the absolute privilege of going down to Lancaster, CA to attend the graduation of a dear friend of ours at West Coast Baptist College. It was the first time we'd been able to get away for 2 days as a family since...well...ever! In fact, it was the boys' first road trip! We were so excited to go for several reasons. We were thrilled and honored to be able to see this young man walk the platform and earn his degree after 4 years of faith, hard work and determination. But, to be honest, we were more anxious to just be us! To leave the house, get in the car and take off to an unfamiliar (to the kids) destination AND to actually stay in a hotel, was a fantastic break from the monotony of the daily grind. The kids were beside themselves with excitement. Poor things, they've never (ever!) been on any sort of vacation, so even just the idea of a road trip was enough to keep them wiiiiiide awake the night before.

Lancaster or bust!!

We had so much fun!! The drive there was great! I absolutely love driving & weather was absolutely perfect! We decided to take the 99 down & drive the 5 back home for variety. Boy, was the 99 crowded..and under construction! Yikes, I did not care for it. But, it was still a nice drive. Dan relinquished the wheel to me in Merced & I got to drive all the way to the Grapevine. I gladly had him re-take the wheel. Oh man, there was NO way I was going to drive UP the Grapevine! I had hard enough time being a passenger! PEOPLE ARE CRAZY! HA!

W00T!

The boys loved every minute of the trip. After Dan n I swapped places in Merced, we listened to about an hours worth of Jonathan Park, (If you've got kids, but never heard of it, go to www.jonathanpark.com . You'll be SO glad you did!) and then after that, we let the kids bust out the electronics. They had so much fun playing Angry Birds, Fall Down & Where's My Water. They also brought along their Didj & VReaders. I have to say...glory to God for earplugs! ha! Meanwhile, I was able to turn on the iPod & sing my way down the freeway, while the hubbers grabbed some Z's. It really was a lovely day of driving.

Jo - he got 3 stars in Angry Birds, and was quite proud!

Ben - enjoying his VReader.

Dan jr - this kid fell asleep only 2 hours into the road trip! Laaaame. ;D

 Normally, the trip from Manteca to Lancaster would be about 4 to 5 hours, but seeing as how it was the boys' first trip, we decided to get out a couple times. When all was said and done, we made it in just under 6.

Oh, and in case you ever wondered. There are NO GAS STATIONS between Grapevine & Avenue J in Lancaster. None. Nope. Zilch. Nada. Only the hand of God. HAHA!

Oh man, we had a 1/4 tank when we swapped drivers at Grapevine, and we'd been averaging 2 hours per 1/4 tank. With gas at $4.40 a gallon, and Lancaster ONLY an hour away, we figured we'd be fine...NOT!!! Wouldn't you know it, the idiot light (as we lovingly call it) came on about 5 miles after we'd pulled off the 5 and onto the 138 junction. I guess we hadn't taken into account the climb up the mountain eating up extra gas.  My husband was not pleased with my decision (rightly so!), but glory to God, we made it!! By His grace, and fumes alone, I'm sure.


Once we arrived, it was time to check in & meet up with the gang. The boys could not wait to see the inside of a hotel!! Our kids. They're so easily pleased. lol Then, we let the gang get back to their pre-graduation festivities, while we had dinner & enjoyed time chillin in the hotel room. Ben & Jo were all excited to be taking a bath in the room...it's the simple things, right?! We enjoyed a few lovely hours of family down time & turned in a bit earlier than normal. Graduation was at 9 & we had to get an early start the next morning!

Seriously, these kids were super impressed with the hotel. We had a double queen with a couch.

It took them quite a while to fall asleep. Yay for streaming Netflix via a tablet & a cord to hook it up to the room's tv!

Dan Jr. got the couch all to himself! Unfortunately, he snored the whole night...riiiiight next to me. It was a blessing.

The next morning was nothing short of awesome. We were able to see a bunch of good fiends, catch up with some friends we hadn't seen in a long time & of course watch our dear friend get his much deserved diploma. Everything was fantastic. The music was good, the preaching was amazing (as always), and the emotions were high. I'm not sure what got me most: watching him walk, or watching his mother (my bff) watch him walk. Oh man...my heart was so full, it started to spill out of my eyes! WCBC & Lancaster Baptist Church is always run first class. That was par for the course. But, what really got me, was that our Pastor & a man from our church, made the 5hr. drive THAT MORNING, to be there at 9am! They stayed for the service & then booked it back to PREACH and be at church THAT NIGHT! Talk about an iron-man marathon! Seriously, tho....how awesome was that?! What a display of love & devotion to a family in the church. It blessed my heart beyond measure, and I'm sure the hearts of the graduate & his family.

Once all the kissin & cryin & photo snappin was done, we all met up at a restaurant for some much deserved fellowship. What a fun time! To be honest, it always is with these people. Goodness, I love them. After a couple hours, it was time to change out of the fancy clothes and head back home. Yup, as quick as that, it was done. But, we had a WONDERFUL time & still had the road trip back to do! We decided to take an even slower time home, and stopped about 4 times! lol!

At Grapevine - Back in the saddle! Did I mention I LOVE to drive?!

At Grapevine - Kids were excited for another 5 hrs. on the road! Can't explain Ben's face, tho. ha!

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere - "Honey, look!" *snap* (I think it turned out great! lol!)

God is so good to me! He's given me amazing friends, a beyond wonderful family & the best husband EVAR! Even tho it was just 2 days, we had the time of our lives. We enjoyed the drive, the music, the radio drama, the games and just being together. We laughed more than we'd done in ages, and somehow ended up sunburnt on our faces! ha! How random! I know that to some, it might not seem like it was all that big of a deal, but to us...it was priceless.