Cold Weather Thanks

I've been promoted to bedtime reader this week while Daddy works at the homeless shelter that our church is hosting.  It's a big challenge for me as we are reading The Star Wars Saga.  There are many unrecognizable words that I have to pronounce.  Mason is a patient listener and helps me with the big words - mostly names that I don't know because I haven't watched the movies in a long time.

I was so proud of my kids when we took a turn to help out at the shelter last night.  Mason calls it kids night and he just loves to go and play with the children, no matter the age.  They don't even exchange names, they just play.  At dinner tonight he asked, "Where's Dad?  I miss him."  I told him he was helping at the shelter again and he said "I would like to go again but we can pray for them tonight."  "Dear God, I miss my Dad...."  So sweet, and then just like the dog from the movie Up was distracted by the "squirrel" he was on to the next topic.  Wasn't going to linger on the serious stuff.

This week of direct interaction and service to those in true need always humbles me....I am truly thankful for my family, home, job, vehicles and meals.  I am thankful for the daily provisions that we often take for granted.  I like what my good friend Dan has to say about the cold weather shelter and what it can do for us.  To thaw our hearts and turn our attentions to those in need.   We can build relationships and share life even if only for a week.  I pray our guests are comfortable and know they are loved, however imperfectly by us but more importantly they are loved and not forgotten by our one true God.

Christmas Crafting

Happy Weekend!!
I was just thinking about all the crafting we did over the holidays and the spirit of crafting is continuing right into the new year.

I really enjoy making gifts that have thoughtful personal or consumable value.
I am keeping my Pintrest boards organized so that I can refer back to them for holiday gifts next year.
Here's a tour of some crafting and food fun we had this season.

Salted Caramels took 3 batches to perfect
but finally had a successful batch of candy.

Michael's kiss cookies are always a hit.
He made regular and gluten-free for Kelsie & I.

These are my favorite peanut butter muffins with the pb cup baked inside.

Saw this idea on the web and made several for hostess gifts
when visiting friends and family through the holidays.

Kelsie and I were making paper stars while she was home on break.
She made some for gifts as well.  They are nice to put in a bowl
or string as garland or just to keep your hands busy.

And then there were glass blocks inspiring glass blocks. 

This one was a gift from a friend.
It is painted then snow glitter added for texture.
A string of lights adds the glow and it's finished off with a bow.

I made this one for my babysitter with a picture of
she and Mason on the last day of daycare.
I printed the photo on vellum and added embellishments and a bow.
The light is a single bulb option offered with the blocks.
I think it added a nice spotlight for the photo style design.

This glass block is a work in progress.  My friend Becky of Tacobird Embroidery and I have the same house floor plan.  We each used a glass block as holiday decor in the same place on the kitchen counter by the fridge.  Mine was a gift from her, the red glass gift box shown above.  I love the nightlight effect if offers in the evenings.  I hated to put it away so I mentioned I wanted to make another for January.  We did a snow motif for January and will soon turn this block over and decorate for February with some valentines and a new bow.  I might add step by step pictures of the Valentine side when I complete it.

Here are the general directions to create this crafty gem.  There will be variations according to your own crafting and decorating preferences.  Have fun with it and make it your own.

Purchase a glass block from your favorite craft store.  I have seen them at three different stores nearby in recent weeks.  Most have your choice of lights and stands to go with them for additional purchase.  The stand is not totally necessary but I prefer the finished look of the wrought iron stand on the kitchen counter with exception to the gift box option shown first.  

Tear a piece of mulberry paper to fit your block.  As you can see, you can decorate this in so many ways.  I chose a ribbon and decorated my paper to match.  Becky picked the colors she liked best for her snowman theme and then added a ribbon.

Stamp your design on the mulberry paper with embossing ink then add embossing powder and HEAT.  Becky turned the paper over and painted with alcohol inks to add the color detail to her snowman features.  She notes that the alcohol inks tend to run a bit so practice a little before applying to your final design.

Paint your glass block with Mod Podge and affix your stamped paper design onto the glass.

Paint over the top and edges with more Mod Podge and sprinkle some snow glitter to add sparkle.

Add your bow and lights and slide into the stand (optional).  If you choose not to use a stand, make sure to place your design on the block with the hole for the lights on the side so that when you stand it on the counter the lights are not making it sit uneven.

 ENJOY!!!!

Favorite Foto Friday!

My kiddos are such hams and love each other so much - most of the time.  

We had a lovely holiday family time even if for a short 6 days.

What a great warm day in January today was.  After a bitterly cold Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday have been grand with the ability to play outside in the yard without a jacket until the sun goes down.  There has been some fabulous Star Wars role playing action in our 'hood.  Helps give us something to log into our activity sheet that requires 60 minutes of daily activity for school homework.  That's usually pretty tough in January. 

Enjoy the weekend!

Happy Birthday Michael!!

Yes, we all know that my hubby was a New Year's baby.  If you didn't before, you do now.  For his birthday dinner each year we have pork roast and sauerkraut and chocolate cake.  For the past few years it's been Chocolate Sheet Cake lovingly known among my southern kinfolk as Texas Sheet Cake.  I've used various recipes over the years.  The one I will share below comes from an old church cookbook with just a few changes from me.  I've tried this several different times and finally found this combination of g/f all purpose baking flour, soy flour and brown rice flour to be a success. It was very tasty without the after taste that some g/f flours leave.

Gluten-Free Texas Sheet Cake

I must credit this recipe found in my Calvary Baptist Church cookbook compiled in 1998.  It was provided by Beverly Roberts.  I've adapted it to our family's gluten-free needs.

Stir together :

1 & 1/2 cups sugar                            1 tsp baking soda

1 cup g/f all purpose baking flour         1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup brown rice flour                   1/2 cup soy flour

Melt 2 sticks of butter.  Add 4 TBSP cocoa and 1 cup hot water.

Bring to a boil.  Pour over dry ingredients.

Add 1/2 cup buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla

Bake in large greased cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Add some icing and vanilla ice cream and it's a birthday HIT!!!!

Found this old birthday picture from 2006 and I couldn't resist sharing.  

Pre-mason (well at least pre-being born), Pre-kitchen update, Pre-contacts for K. 

It looks like chocolate cake with peanut butter icing on that cake.  We run in phases.

Enjoy your baking and remember to share.  : )

We had Guests for Breakfast Today

Yes, indeedy we did.  We must serve some mighty fine bark and berries because the deer are coming day after day and enjoying a morning feast.  I've seen them many times and tried using my old point 'n shoot to capture the visit.  As my hip daughters would say:  FAIL.  I have been watching for them each day so that I could try out my new DSLR with the telescopic lens.  My husband saw them while making coffee this a.m. and we enjoyed a ten minute photo shoot while they grazed and played (it takes all the strength I have not to type "frolic" here) in the wooded area behind our home.

This one pic looks foggy b/c I took it through the glass door.
Can you see all three standing exactly the same pose?
See the blue solo cup in the picture?

What an added blessing to our morning.  I almost didn't get out of bed.  I would have missed out. My head cold made it very difficult to get moving.  The fact that it was our first day back to work after the holiday didn't help either.  I made it through the day and am glad I went.

It snowed today and was bitterly cold.   I am so thankful for our fireplace and the wood to burn and a husband willing and able to chop the wood to burn.   Hope you're staying warm and cozy!!!

School is in Session

Today is one of those rare days when the kids go back to school but the parents are home.  I tried not to act too excited and it wasn't hard as I sat up from my pillow to tell my teenage daughter goodbye and wish her a good day at school.  She gave a grunt as I heard to front door close.  My little guy was more difficult to rustle out of bed.  He was "T-I-R-E-D" but bounced back quickly with a little milk and sugary donut (the last of the holiday goodies and when they're gone, they're gone).

After the 2nd bus pickup, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with good friends and then headed back to the house for a football game at Noon.  I had planned to sit with my honey and sort through some Christmas decoration boxes as we watched.  That blue and white team couldn't make it happen and put a damper on my clever idea.  It was not a desirable place to be.  So I set my mind on taking down the Christmas tree and cleaning and gave words of encouragement from afar as I received dismal updates of hopes and dreams crushed and left up to the college athletes on the field.

I decided to wash and fold the new towels I got for Christmas gifts.  That warm load of soft towels made me want to blog about them.  (I know that sounds funny - do you blog in your head?  If not, oh no, maybe I the only weird one.)  Sounds like a very practical gift and I enjoy practical gifts.  They're so practical.  Towels are not something I splurge on very often.  I received a set of chocolate brown spa towels this fall as a hostess gift.  When I noticed the difference in those new, soft, luxurious towels next to my old, thin dingy ones I decided to share that need on my Christmas wish list.

Michael was unaware that he would be a recipient
of my practical request.  

Thanks Mom and Mom-in-law for my towels!!!  I love them.
Thanks Ms. Doris for getting that ball rolling.

It's not very often that I would take a picture in my bathroom much less post it on my blog, but it's a new year and I feel like a challenge.  I pray you enjoy discovering YOU this year and the challenges that new discoveries bring.

New Year, Fresh Start

What are your plans and dreams and hopes for 2012?
I hope to accomplish several things this year - a simple one I've recently been thinking of is learning to brush my teeth without running the water.  Yes, I have sung the Barney song about this with all 3 of my kids.  I know why it's important I've just never made myself do it.  Not sure why - but it's a good thing to change and something I've made myself aware of and will consciously try to do.

I am rolling my 2011 goal for contentment into an element that will hopefully be a catalyst for just that - Organization.  I am typically organized in various degrees of piles and clutter.  I want to be really organized not pretend organized and ask my family to help so that we can have more time for fun and togetherness.  (You think they'll buy it?)

First stop is my pantry areas.  We flipped rooms in our house last April and turned the dining room into an office/pantry area with large cabinets from IKEA -so fun and creative.  We have a smaller eating area in the old piano space that links to the family room.  It's an extension of the kitchen as well so it all flows together.  The piano was moved to the old office area and a reading corner created in that room.  More napping has occurred in that corner than reading but a girl can have goals.

Back to organizing the pantry -  So I have scoured pintrest.com looking for organizing ideas.  Found a few that fit in my current cabinet system and will employ some small changes.  Keeping the pantry drawers in cabinet #1 organized will entail the use of some containers and labeling so that users (my family) know where to find AND return items.  I will put snack and lunch items within kid reach in the kitchen cabinet so that Mason can help pack his lunch and snacks.

Cabinet #2 is devoted to serving trays, large baking dishes, pitchers, sports bottles and other assorted small appliances and tools.  This has been nice to have so close to the kitchen instead of in the basement collecting dust on a shelf.  I need to tackle the things we really don't use and just get them out.   This will provide better use of this space and keep things organized.

The third cabinet is designated as a utility cabinet for cleaning tools. supplies and the recycling bin.  It's so handy to have them all in one place.  I will just have to organize and make sure it's efficient and tidy.

As I pull things out I'm finding some surprises:

4 bags of marshmallows, only 1 is unopened.  (I just told Mason last week we didn't have any.)

I discovered my vinegar is a multi-purpose cleaner and NOT pure vinegar for food consumption.    (uggh, yuck, blah)

many small bags of non-wheat flour that I didn't know I had - now we can dabble in more gluten-free goodies (like maybe birthday cake for my New Year's day birthday boy)

I will continue this week with this organizing task and include a good cleaning of the fridge as we rid it of the large quantities of holiday foods that we've enjoyed.

Next organizing project will be the Christmas boxes.  I hope to get to those by the weekend.

Happy New Year and God bless!