Winds of Change

I've entered into a new season of my life, quite fitting with fall upon us.  This week found me back into the work force after 11 years of being blessed to be home full time with my boys.

Besides missing my boys what I miss the most is being able to get outside or at least see outside.   So, this afternoon with the breeze on my face I took a walk around my gardens enjoying the vibrant blooms that still speak of a summer gone by.

My double knock-out roses keep blooming their little heads off and make a spectacular splash of vibrant pink against our green lawn.

This little geranium I rescued from the 50cent table at Lowe's has done quite well. 

Our trees have begun to change colors so I know these blooms will fade all too soon.  But, for today I celebrate their beauty and the joy they bring to my heart.

Blessings!

Swinging

Swinging on our play set with my youngest recently brought back a flood of memories of enjoying this as a girl.  During recess it was one of my favorite activities.  I would pump my legs so hard with my toes pointed towards the white puffy clouds in a blue sky.  I was sure I could touch them if I just pumped hard enough.  Or maybe my toes could brush the wings of a bird.

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The feeling of weightlessness as I went swung back down, my hair blowing in the breeze was exhilarating.  What a carefree feeling!  Robert Stevenson has a beautiful poem about swinging I thought you might like.

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

Robert Louis Stevenson

 

Hoping your day includes something fun, too!

Have you had your V8 today?

With the abundance of garden tomatoes I was inspired by my neighbor to make some tomato juice, something I hadn't tried before.

I used this recipe.  Super easy and pretty to look at right off the bat I think.  I added to the recipe about 8 basil leaves cut up since they grow 'a plenty' in my garden, too!

 

It is super refreshing and nutritious. 

I am headed to a baseball game this evening and I think this is coming with me.  Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend?  My prayer is you will be blessed in whatever you do!

Blanket Love

A few weeks ago we moved our oldest son into his dorm room and life is so much different with him living away from home.  We are thankful he is but a short drive away and seeing him on Sundays is a blessing.  To receive his call or text mid-week makes my mommy heart skip a beat.  Really.  The sound of his voice is music to my ears.  When he asked if I could make a fleece blanket to go on their futon I said certainly.  A few days later he asked, is it done yet?  He had gotten sick and wanted to curl up under it while taking a nap.  So, I got right to work.  It will go nicely with the big throw pillows I sewed the week before for him.  Handmade mommy goodness right there in his dorm room. 

On Saturday we will be celebrating my 3rd oldest's birthday.  He turns 12!!  He is growing up just way too fast!  What will you being doing this long weekend?

Blessings,
Kathy

Making Lemonade out of Lemons: Sewing Little Dresses for Africa

I've always wanted to sew for little girls but having all boys I don't get many opportunities.  Until now!  I found a Christian non-profit organization based out of Michigan called "Little Dresses for Africa."  You can find them here.

I had a small stack of fabric that I had purchased long ago to make nursing covers but I knew immediately using the fabric to sew for little girls in Africa was just perfect.  Just one yard of fabric is needed for these simple pillowcase dresses.  The pattern can be found at their website for all different sizes or at Nancy's Notions.  My favorite pattern is the elasticized top.  These dresses can be made for very little cost as a package of bias tape and elastic are all you need in addition to the fabric and thread. 

This last dress was made out of  fabric my sister gave to me.  I appliqued a dragonfly on the top.  Actually, there are so many different ways one could embellish these simple dresses.  It was just a lot of fun to sew for a good cause.

My prayer is the little girls who receive these will know they are loved by a Heavenly Father and will receive the good news of the gospel which is shared with them.

Blessings,
Kathy

Sew and Tell

I've been doing a little bit of sewing for dolls lately.  This drawstring dress is a Liberty Jane pattern and can be found here.  Have you ever explored their website?  They specialize in modern and historical patterns for dolls and girls.  This just so happened to be one of their free patterns.  The dress went together pretty easily and I can imagine her going to the mall in this. 

This is another dress I recently made using bright pink crochet trim on the edges.  A sheer ribbon is attached to the waistband and tied in the back.  Wouldn't it be great for those summer evenings at the park or fair?

"The Lord is my strength and song, 

And He has become my salvation."

Psalm 118:14

A Sweet Treat

 Here is a recipe for a delicious snack.  I adapted it from a recipe I pulled out of a Parents magazine years ago.  I used up little bits of what was left in our cereal boxes.  Why it takes me years to try a recipe I don't know.  But, this is a recipe worth trying!

Snack Mix

3 cups cereal (I used 1 cup cheerios, 1 cup cocoa cheerios, 1 cup apple cinnamon chex mix)

1/2 cup Craisens

 1 1/2 cups white - chocolate chips

Place liners in a muffin tin.  

 Melt the chips in the microwave.

Add the cereal and cranberries.

Stir until combined.

Spoon into prepared cups.

Refrigerate until firm, about 5 minutes.

Feeding my kids during the summertime takes a lot of time and what I appreciate about this recipe is it goes together really quickly without having to use the oven.  A win, win situation!

Have a lovely day my friends!