Homemade Bread - all by hand - yummy!!

Since my bread machine hasn't worked for a few years and my kitchen aid bit the biscuit last summer, I haven't made bread for a LONG time!  But today I did and they turned out great!

 Three nice fluffy loaves.  The kids loved it!  And it didn't take that long either.  About 1/2 hour to rise the first time, about 6 mins to knead the dough, and then another half hour to rise.  Maybe 5 mins to rest, another 1/2 hour to rise in the pans, and 1/2 hour to bake.  Delish!!  Thanks Bernice for passing on the recipe.

A 'New' Front Door

So, I got so tired of answering the door for salespeople, that I just had to find a way to cover the window on my front door.  I googled it and checked Pinterest, and - I found a way to do it.

Now, I'd had a sheer curtain on it before, using magnets to hold it up, but it kept on falling down.  So I found this idea at www.7thhouseontheleft.com of using contact paper or window cling to cover the window.

She had a free template that I shrunk from 100% to 75%.  I found window cling at Dollarama for $2.00 a roll, of which I needed two.  I used the free template, and traced and cut out all the pieces - yes, it took forever, but I got it done :-)  Then I used soapy water on the window, put the cut piece on, squeegeed it (I used a points card - like a debit card) and filled up the window.

I think it turned out pretty good!

What do you think?

Another Day... Or Two...

Last week, Yvonne and I went to our first craft & vendor sale.  It was not well attended - only five to ten people actually showed up.  It was a learning experience.  We did meet some nice people, though.  One suggested trying to get into the Gingerbread sale in November.  She thought my unique cards would do well there.

 When I got home, Dave had a surprise for me in the backyard!  He had built and stained a raised garden bed on our deck!  It was already filled with dirt, so all I had to do was plant the veggies.  It looks awesome!  What an amazing hubby I have!

 He needs to make another one - this is only one 8 X 8 - because he took home too many plants for just this one, plus I got some plants from my wonderful dad!  :)

What fun!











 Yesterday, Yvonne and I went to yet another vendor show, but it was more of a parent to parent sale. Most people were looking for used children clothing and toys, the business vendors didn't actually sell much.  I did sell one card, and Yvonne sold one bracelet.  Now I know that I shouldn't try to sell at parent to parent (p2p) sales, since they are more geared to people looking for 'garage sale' type deals.

We did make some changes to our displays, which made it look much better!  There's always room for improvement, so let me know if you think of anything we can add or change.  I'm hoping that we will be able to attend the Gingerbread sale in November.  It will be more of a Christmas sale, so I'll take the summer and fall to get ready for that.  I'm also going to take some of my other stitched items - like pillows and wall hangings.  The Lord willing, it be well attended, and He will bless our sales.

How do you like our new display?  We still need some more professional signs, but these worked for now.  I made the stairs from a tutorial I found online that used foam core from the dollar store.  Sweet!

Then, for my birthday, I got some beautiful callilies and hanging baskets.

Then, Yvonne baked a cake and decorated it.  Of course, I didn't have quite enough icing, so we mixed it with some leftover cool whip so she could salvage her decorating.  I turned out fine.  Now the kids are making tacos for supper.  :)  Poor Dave had to leave for work.  :(  But he made omelets and homemade hashbrowns for breakfast - yum!!!  and we still made it to church!  I love my family and am very thankful for them. 

Have a great day!

What next???

So, I woke up somehow thinking I had a midwife appointment this morning, but alas, baby brain had me confused.  It isn't till next week.

Then, some of the neighbours had their garbage out early this morning, making me think it was garbage day.   It's not till tomorrow.

Next, I brought the suburban away to get the tires changed from winter to summer and to get the ABS checked on it as well as a rattle in the heat shield.  RIGHT!!!  It needs a new bearing in the right axle (I think that's what the mechanic said), about a $500 or more job.  It wasn't the heat shield - it needs a new catalytic - who knows what that will cost.  And then, as he was finishing up, he noticed that the brake lines were all shot!!  :(  A safety concern that needs to be dealt with pronto.  I won't even go there with the cost on that one...  Why do we need vehicles again?  What a pain they are.

Needless to say, we'll be trying to do more penny-pinching.  We'll see how it goes.  I so hope Dave doesn't have to go back on the highway.  I love having him home every night.  We're gonna keep praying about this. Maybe God has something else in mind. Sometimes it is so hard to trust when the bills need to be paid.  Does it have to be Dave gone all the time with hardly any family life but the income needed to cover all the 'extras' that come up (mostly cars that need fixing)?  Or no money, bills stacking up, and Dave home every night?  Can't we have a little of both?

A good thing about today...I picked up the kids from Grandma and Grandpa's and got into our house just before the sky opened up in a heavy rain.  At least it waited till we were inside.  :)

This was my day today.  I hope and pray tomorrow is way better!!  I know it will be.  :)

Have great night all!

Wow!! It's been forever!

It's been such a long time!  So much has happened in the past 2 years. 

Last spring, I began tutoring other children along with homeschooling my own children.  What a busy year!!  I was putting in nearly 13 hours every week after school and in the evenings.  Talk about CRAZY!!!  That just ended the beginning of March.  I now have only one tutor student left, and that will end in mid-June. 

Of course, our 'little family of seven' will soon be a 'little family of eight' in July.  Only 8 weeks to go - woo-hoo!!!  Will it be a boy or a girl???  With our past, most likely a girl, but you never know.... we are hoping for a boy, but whichever one God blesses us with will be just perfect.  I'm kind of used to girls now.

Anyway, seeing as my mind is on babies again, I've been creating the most adorable little baby cards - using stitching and paper pricking, a new thing I picked up in my 'spare time.'  I know, who really has spare time...  Some I've given away, and others I'm hoping to sell at my www.etsy.com/shop/StitchingForever.  Check it out and see what you think!  These are up close.  They are fun to make - for me :)

     

There are plenty of others on my etsy site as well as some pillows.
I'm hoping to be back sooner than later....  Maybe I'll keep it up this time.

So Much To Tell - So Little Time

What a busy year!  I can't believe how fast it has gone.  The summer just flew by!!  We've made little updates in the house and outside.  Everyone has grown so much!  They seem to be getting growth spurts all the time.  (Dave and I get them too, although they are more gradual and the other way - hehehe!)  The following pics were taken in May of this year.

 So, Olivia is beginning to stand up here.  Oh boy, here we go - the start of mobility!  This was the deciding factor to put the mattress down so she wouldn't fall out.

 

Here are some pics of my beautiful tulips!  I love it when they come up in the spring.  They are so vibrant and gorgeous!

 And of course, the kids in front of them.  It was hard to get a good pic, though, because the sun was in their eyes.

Yvonne and Cole were helping me with the dishes.

Our wonderful exersaucer!  It's a wonderful invention!!  Notice her feet???

Dave got a model truck to work with and teach Cole how to do it.  I'll post pics of the finished model soon.

  

No, he wasn't using the paints and markers.  Elena wanted to paint, too, so she sat at the other end of the table to make a picture.  She did pretty good, I think.  :)

Anyway, hopefully I get more up soon.  After all, it's already the end of September.  As for now, tootaloo!

A Busy Weekend!!!

Wow how time flies!  My little one is already 7 months old!  And such a smiley little girl, too :)  These pics were taken on Easter Sunday, so she's 2 days shy of 7 months, not that it makes much of a difference though. 

And onto another note....

Elena just had her 4th birthday on Saturday!  Isn't that an awesome grin!!!  She played with her Baby AllGone all day - or at least when she was able to.  She tried on every one of her clothes and has worn them all in the last few days ALREADY!  I guess that means she likes them. 

 

 

And on another note....

We visited Opa and Oma on Monday afternoon (the kids did their school in the morning first).  Anne and her kids were there too, so they all played together.  We did some egg decorating in the afternoon.  Check out our crowd of eggs!

Quite the crowd, eh? 

Happy Easter to all!  Christ has risen. He is risen indeed!

We visited with Arend and Rosee and Colin and Abby after supper.  The kids played while we chatted.  Arend seems to be doing better.  Little by little he'll get there, the Lord willing.  He's able to smile almost a whole smile now, and he can feel soreness in his muscles.  That means the feeling is come back, albeit slowly, but it is!  We'll see what the Lord has planned for them.

Till next time!