Sew Difficult!

I recently borrowed my sister's sewing machine to work on a project (which I can't say what it is quite yet), and I was about 90% done with it when I realized I had done it all wrong! So, I went about seam ripping the entire thing reminding myself over and over that I haven't learned from my mistakes with sewing. I have used a sewing machine and in fact, I made a quilt/blanket for my toddler's bed, but somehow when it comes to sewing, I am so excited to start the project that I don't take the time to think through all the steps and visualizing how it will turn out with the stitches that I am making. My other challenge in sewing is sewing a straight line! You would think with a sewing machine that just feeding the fabric along would be so easy, but I get off course.  So, in conclusion, if I had to make all my own clothes like in pioneer days, yikes, it might be a scary sight, but for fun little projects where most of the sewing is turned inside-out, it's not too bad! :)  Here's a photo of the quilt I made for my son last year:

The Joys of Cooking

As I was thinking about what title to give to my post today, I kept coming back to the name of the cookbook that I used today, The Joy of Cooking. As a homemaker, obviously we do not receive a paycheck, but we receive the joy that our cooking provides to others.  To see the delighted eyes of a youngster when you make their favorite dessert or the satisfied smile after a filling dinner or even the joyful surprise when you bake something as a gift for someone. These are the joys and rewards of cooking.  Today my toddler helped me make a peach pie, which was the first time for me to make one.  I pulled the recipe from Taste of Home's website - http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Peach-Pie.  It was very easy and the spices used complimented the peaches just perfectly.

I also made a favorite recipe of mine from The Joy of Cooking cookbook, which was the beef stew.  It is so scrumptious! I highly recommend this recipe if you are looking for a basic yet delicious beef stew recipe.

Bon appetit!

Long Hair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqbAdvL8kME&feature=related

I love the hair style that is shown on the video link above.  I cannot wait until my hair grows longer.  I have never had really really long hair and will be trying it for the first time in my life!  I can see why long hair can be a glory to her (women) as stated in I Corinthians, especially when you take the time to do nice styles with it.  It's almost like an art to be able to braid and do updos with long hair.  Thanks to all the video tutorials on YouTube and some great hairstyle websites, I have learned lots of the secrets and tips to all those styles that look so difficult, intricate and beautiful!  My favorite hairstyle website is on my blog list, Rapunzel's Resource.

Action

Like the star,

That shines afar.

Without haste

And without rest,

Let each man wheel with steady sway

Round the task that rules the day,

And do his best.

What good inspiration this poem is for a Monday morning when you're feeling sluggish and having a difficult time getting your morning/week going.  Thanks to my sister for my new creative blog name! Having a blog is encouraging and motivating me to strive to be a better wife, mother and homemaker.  There is always more room for growth.  I'm getting back to being more organized with household affairs, making more elaborate meals than something that's just quick and easy, and having a learning activity every day for my toddler.  I say "getting back" because I have a 5 month old baby, so my time has certainly been taken up with his care!  I have found that having a checklist of things that need to be taken care in the week that could easily be forgotten or brushed aside over and over helps me so much to keep on track. 

Oh So Delicious Strawberries

If you have never had the opportunity to taste strawberries from a farmer's market stand (most of them organically grown), it is well worth the trip to try them.  They are exquisite! Take a look at the picture below and tell me that those aren't beautiful strawberries!  On another strawberry note, I was surprised to find how very easy it is to make chocolate-covered strawberries. Melt the chocolate, dip the strawberries in and voila, you have a very decadent dessert!  This is just one of the dessert items that I plan to make this week.  I hope to also make banana cake and zucchini-carrot bread.

Bug Week

I made this week be the week that my toddler would learn about bugs.  We did some craft activities, found real bugs in the backyard and read about bugs. For the crafts, we made tissue-paper butterflies, pipe-cleaner butterflies and bug finger paintings with stamp pads.  I caught a moth in a jar for my son to look at it closer before we released it and we found a caterpillar in his dump truck and a huge grasshopper in the garden. We also looked at flash cards about bugs and watched a couple of bug videos on National Geographic's website. It was fun having one learning item for the whole week.  Here's some pictures of our bug activities:

Quite a disgusting looking bug if I do say so myself!  I tried to catch it, but I got too squeamish when it moved!

Laughter

There's nothing quite like the giggle of a toddler.  It makes you forget your child's less shining moments that day.

Well, on a different note, I am still surprised to find myself here "journaling". In some respects, I feel very vulnerable, opening myself up in this way for others to view.  I haven't quite decided how "deep" I will go in my thoughts that I share.


I very much enjoyed watching the movie "The Blind Side" recently. Not only is it very inspirational, but it is a clean, wholesome film, which is becoming harder and harder to find.  It also reminds me of how much more serving could be done in my life to those in need.

Today

Today I decided to join the world of blogging.  I never imagined myself as someone who would blog, as I am not a creative writer.  But, here I am, ready to share my thoughts of the day with the world.  Of course, my post will be cut short, as it probably will on many occasions since household duties and my kids require my attention at the moment.