Makin' a Home on the Prairie

Peace

2012-01-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

How are those resolutions coming along? I strongly dislike the word "resolution". I believe that we are who we are and we really can't change too much, and we really don't need to (with the exception of hardened-criminals). The problems come about when we decide we're not happy with who we are. Quite philosophical, huh?

Think about it. We EAT when we're upset, sad, angry, bored, etc and we gain weight. And then we're fat and ugly (we think) and we eat some more. We SPEND MONEY because something, we feel, is missing in our lives and we end up broke. When, in fact, if we all chill out a bit and take an outsiders view...we're not that bad.

Here's what I pray for...peace of mind.

Here's what I pray for for my children...their happiness and peace of mind and for me to quit nagging them to be the person I think/thought they should/would be.

I digress...getting back to the peace of mind thing. I truly believe that every prayer ever said can be reduced to having a peaceful self.

My "resolution" this year has been to help God out with my earthen peace. I'm doing what I can to identify the things that make me nuts, inpatient, upset, angry, etc...and find a way to eliminate those things or at least deal with them in a grown-up and intelligent way. That's opposed to going bat-shit crazy when one of the kids leaves a sock on the floor in the wrong place at the wrong time. Am I preaching to the choir or what here?! That's okay you don't have to testify.

Here are my triggers (well, the ones I've identified anyway) in no particular order...

LAUNDRY

Problem: it's never done. DUH!

Solution: by washing, folding, and putting away 3 loads everyday I can stay on top of the piles. This way I don't spend an entire Saturday doing laundry only to have the hampers full again by Sunday evening.

KIDS AND CHORES

Problem: endless complaining, crying, and whining about what needs to be done. It's really not endless, it's just really annoying. Then I fall into my lecture about third world children and how lucky the are to live with me. Then my face hurts from talking. Then I'm grouchy.

Solution: LISTS! When the kids get home from school there is a list waiting. The list has everything each child has to get done before TV/computer/wii/ds time. Shockingly, this works very well. I have done this in the past but kinda slacked off. Need to be more diligent with this task. When the kids get "the list" they know what's expected. No surprises. Mom doesn't nag. STUFF.GETS.DONE!

MEAL PLANNING

Problem: coming up with what to feed my family is the biggest stresser in my life. (Pretty good life I've got.) If I don't have a plan by the time everyone walks in the door from chores, it's chaos and I'm a freaked out wreck.

Solution: Monthly menu! I did one today for the next SIX weeks. I feel so in control! I'll share it later.

COMPETITION

Problem: OBVIOUS! Those who aren't competitive...you need to sponsor some sort of "in-service" and invite me! It's not as bad as it used to be...but it can be improved upon.

Solution: Stepping back. Relax. Deep breaths. Teach my kids and myself to be the best that they can be and angels could do no more. Last summer I tries to talk #1 OUT of taking a certain 4-H project to Achievement Days. I shared that it wasn't purple ribbon worthy... he says, "Isn't it about making things together and spending time together?" My heart broke and smiled at the same time. Clearly, he has a better handle on life than his mother does.

RELAXING

Problem: I DON'T DO IT!

Solution: Make myself do it. Currently, I'm addicted to "Angry Birds" (only after the kids go to bed of course). This includes making time for myself to be creative and not feel guilty when I paint, sew, craft, and the ginormous list of creative things I like to do.

HOUSEKEEPING

Problem: I don't see the beautiful house that we live in. I see the dirt!

Solution: I hired a fabulous woman to come every other week to clean my house. I LOVE HER! The night before she comes, we have a "picking up" party. Everything is put in its place. I come home to a spotless house. WOO HOO! This has also given me time to work on clutter and cleaning things that would normally be overlooked.

That's enough of my rambling. Hope I've inspired someone. Hope someone can identify with this craziness. Gotta go...load number 3 is dry!

Becky

Centerpiece

2011-12-27T21:32:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness I have SO patted myself on the back for the creation of this centerpiece for our Christmas Day celebration. Forgive me if I seem to be bragging, but honestly, I am.

Our dining table extends to 10 feet long and I wanted something to completely fill the space...well, leave a little room for eating. I was checking in on Donna at Funky Junk during a mind-numbing blog surf and found her centerpiece. It was perfect! I changed the theme a bit for my vision. Check it out!

Obviously, I went with the baking thing. I had a few of these things but a stop at one of my favorite antique stores filled in the gaps. By the way... this "favorite antique store" of mine sent me an actual "thank you for the business this year" Christmas card. Can you guess who opened it before I got to it? That's right. It was Mike. Now can you imagine what may have been running through his head when he figured out who it was from? Trouble right here in River City. Actually, he just laughed because someone ratted me out about my shopping adventures.

I had to give the owner some grief about letting my husband in on my shopping habits. I warned Mr. Shop Owner Man that he had better keep our antique/junk dealing relationship on the down low or he may never see me again. He of course realized that was on empty threat but smiled and gave me 20% off my purchase. I guess I'll go back.

Most of the greenery is real. Just went out and snipped off some branches from the shelter-belt. Don't really know why I haven't done that before. Real stuff gets thrown away and you don't have to STORE it! Brilliant! It smells good too.

I set the whole thing up on a muslin table runner. It really cannot be moved with ease. If I would have planned better I would have set up a little wooden number of some kind to assemble everything on top of...next year.

The cookbook page was added later. It was a sign. I was cleaning out a bunch of books and the page fell on the floor. Check out the recipes. {A bit blurry - sorry} If that doesn't say Christmas, I don't know what does!

Becky

Poinsettias

2011-12-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

Merry Twelve Days of Christmas. I feel like I'm kinda back to my normal self. As Mike said last night..."Do you feel free from the bonds of St. Nicholas?" Getting there. Does anyone else freak out, stress out, worry yourself sick, etc. about not disappointing your kids for Christmas and making sure everything is fair??!! IT. HAS. CONSUMED. ME. Things have to change next year. {I say that every year.}

On a more relaxed note, I'd like to share a couple of my Christmas decorations over the next few days. Hope you're not all tired of the season yet. If so, maybe wait to read this week's stuff until next year.

My husband buys me poinsettias at the local farm store every year in December. This year they were absolutely beautiful. Obviously, one or two could not, would not be enough. SO I bought a few more and here's where I put them...

Old Bread Box

Old Not-Really-Copper Boiler

Old Cooler

Finally, an Old Locker Basket.

{Extra photo of the tree in the entry...because I heart it}

Simple.
Elegant.
Not too expensive
{no guilt when you throw em out with the trash}.
Lasts the entire season.
{if you wan them to}

Becky

Freezer Paper

2011-12-09T06:10:00.001-08:00

Just in case you don't know of the perfect union between freezer paper and the Cricut...

Cut out the desired shape, number, character on your Cricut {make sure to put the shiny side DOWN on the mat}. Have your 6 year-old "weed" the parts you want to paint.

Iron the freezer paper to the fabric shiny side down. I usually use a medium setting on my iron...depends on the fabric.

Have the continually talking 6 year-old paint inside the stencil. I just use acrylic paints unless we're doing t-shirts. Then we use fabric paint so that we can wash the finished project.

Stand up and smile.

Allow to dry.

Peal off the stencil and admire.

This is a great kid project.

They could be used for just about anything.

These two are going to be pillows in the Little Red House...

maybe they will be finished by this Christmas.

Feeling behind in my Christmas duties...anyone else?

Becky

Technologically Advanced

2011-11-28T20:27:00.001-08:00

To all of those out there trying to find the perfect gift for your "techie", I give you the

OVERHEAD PROJECTOR!

I have been yearning for one of these for a very long time. Truth be told, probably since first grade. How this would have made playing school SO. MUCH. BETTER.

Just a mere $25 bought me this beauty from a recent stop at my local Restore. These Restore places are amazing, I tell ya.

Look what the children did with it. First they circled like a bunch of sniffing dogs. Then they touched it. Then I showed them what it could do. Then the creativity started flowing.

First up - the eldest.

('cuz that's how we oldest kids roll... backa the line...we know it's a problem.)

Here's his contribution.

I'm not proud.

Notice the "d" is backwards?

Who's the dork?

#2 had to retaliate...

What she wrote is not suitable for my audience to see.

I didn't even know she knew how to spell those things.

I'm not proud.

#3's chance...

Now we're all dorks.

When she was done the last line read, "I am the goodest."

Really, they do go to school.

Notice her evil smirk.

Notice her sisters' disgust.

See there...it doesn't always take the latest in the tech world to make kids happy. Try something simple. My kids thought it was the "newest thing". Then again, THEY are simple. They had a blast insulting each other with a dry erase marker for about an hour or so.

Happy Christmas shopping.

Becky

Weight Schmeight

2011-11-22T12:52:00.000-08:00

Before I begin:

My apologies for addressing this ugly subject, but I had to use these great cow pictures.

Onward:

If you know that by the end of the holiday season you are going to feel a bit wide through the middle like this old gal...

Check out this chick's blog to help you mind your intake.

Roni's Weigh

and her food blog...

Green Lite Bites

She's inspirational and REAL!!

Keep the Chex Mix and Divinity binging to a minimum so that we can maintain our svelte bikini beach bodies.

My goal from November 1 to January 1 is to not be consumed by social eating extravaganzas. I can do this! I CAN weigh the same on January 1 as I did on November 1.

Who's with me?

Let's start exercising BEFORE Jan. 1st. That way we don't look quite so cliche at the gym in Jan.

Or we could make cookie dough and watch Christmas Vacation while eating every last wonderful spoonful.

What's it gonna be?

I'm still on the fence-

Becky

Bales

2011-11-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Harvest is done and now comes everything that has to be donebefore winter sets in. Mike baledcornstalks until 10:30 last night. Nowwe have to bring the bales home.

Hauling bales with a pick-up and two rail trailers really isn't a tough job. However, in some situations it can be treacherous. Thesepossibilities of danger are amplified when performing job responsibilities witha two-year old in the backseat.

{She did her own hair. "No, me do it!"}

Let me preface today’s story by letting everyone know that#5 has been diligently trying to master the art of putting on her ownmittens. Now you’re up to speed for therest of the story.

This is the first year we’ve farmed this particular piece ofground. Therefore, the first time I’vehauled bales from there to the feedlot. When Mike asked if I could help, I said “sure”! (maybe not thatwillingly, but it looks good on paper) Then I drove over there. I forgotabout “the big hill.” It’s tough enoughto pull 12 BIG bales of stalks up the hill, but having them push you DOWN thehill is another story. I'm totally being a girl here.

Before the journey even begins, I can play in my mind theexact happenings if something went terribly wrong on my way back to the feedlotfrom the field: a cornstalk bale carnage, if you will. Bales everywhere, me afraid to call thefarmer, rail trailers bent all to hell, two-year old screaming, myself crying,farmer shows up, MORE crying … Get thepicture?

This grade may not look like a big deal to some of you; butto a forty-something flatlander farmwife it’s as intimidating as the giantslalom is to a twenty-something mountain-raised Olympic skier. Seriously.

Clearly, I’m nice and relaxed when I get to the field. I did have a little down time before thefarmer and his pay loader showed up. Iperused the latest issue of Vintage Victorian (or something like that)to calm my nerves.

We’re loaded. Good togo. Time to scoot.

I tootle alongthrough the first two miles singing “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and approach thecrest of THE BIG HILL with caution. I brakesteadily and wind down to a nice kinda Dodge Ram kinda crawl.

As we begin our descent to the valley below, number 5 says,“Fum in der.” Let me translate: “Thumb in there!” She’s found some mittens and was able to get herthumb in the right spot all by herself. She’s proud and I wasn’t listening. She knew I wasn’t listening…

“Fum InDer!”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

“FUM INDER!”

“I know, I see.”

(Ireally didn’t – my eyes were fixed on my course.)

“FUM INDER!!!!!!!”

…no response from me…still trying to drive and stay married.

Due to my lack of attention, she starts screaming. I’m almost crying. I do my best to ignore her.

I reach the bottom;the sweet, sweet bottom of the hill.

She picks up her pretend “Cars” phone. Sobbing,, quietly, deep breaths, (you can picture it) shesays, “Daddy, come git me.”

I couldn’t have been happier that Daddy didn’t have to “comegit us”.

Navy Seals should train with a two-year old in theirbackpack.

Becky

Harvest

2011-11-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

A few random end of the season farming thoughts...

Corn harvest is winding down. A good feeling for our guys. I'm listening to the trucks roar by our house as they try to get a field done late into the night. They work so hard to keep this "well-oiled machine" operating at maximum efficiency. I tell Mike from time to time that I sure couldn't do what they do ...together...as brothers...as sons...as uncles...as nephews. Their father is so proud. I'm grateful for their efforts. We lead a darn good life. Exhausting at times but darn good.

It's been a great year. Almost perfect growing and harvesting conditions.

I only had my camera with me a couple days during bean harvest. These pics were taken about a month ago. The colors, oh, the colors!

Supper in the field.

Lasagna - can you tell?

Talking over what they might do next, who they will ride with, how they'll do it different when they "get big", and "Hey, you gonna eat that cookie?"

Wonder what she's thinking about.

So long harvest. So long fall. Time to keep things safe and warm 'til spring comes again.

Winter IS coming. I've been in denial.

Maybe this weekend I'll put my patio furniture away.

Becky

Halloween Recap

2011-11-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

Happy day after Halloween. The farmers are working late to get corn harvest wrapped up before the possible rain/snow reaches us later in the week. So instead of eating my way through the candy BUCKET; I thought I'd share some photos of our Hallows Eve activities.

First on the must-do list:

Carve the pumpkins!

This year I raced home a little early and gutted all 5 of them before the kids got home. Some extra work for me but more efficient in the long run. I'd also like to add that we didn't get the pumpkins planted until June this year due to the wet spring. This led to SMALL pumpkins. Worked out great for the "pumpkin gutter" - the littler the pumpkin, the easier to gut! All these years of motherhood and I just NOW figured that out. Usually, I persuade the kids to pick out the biggest ones they can find. Then make the child carry the 40# pumpkin to the house. They can be such whiners.

Daughter #1 is an expert when it comes to organization and efficiency...

...need I say more?

Second on the must-do list:

Take the traditional photo of each kid with their pumpkin in their chosen holiday attire.

Wait...who's this creepy old guy?

It's number 1. (aka Uncle Fester)

#2 - funky witch...very nice symmetrical "holes", #2. How DOES she do it?

#3 - our resident pissed-off angel. She's not having the time of her life. Aunt T made her wishes come true with the costume but she drew the short straw when it came time to choose pumpkins. This is a forced smile.

#4 - the bull rider. Equipped with a cowbell donated by his cousin. Those of you who remember him last year...this is totally different from being "just a cowboy". (wink, wink)

#5 - the duck. She's only a duck because mother guilt set in and I (Nana helped) HAD to make her a costume . I'd made all the other kids a costume once in their lives...(and the dialog goes on from there in my tiny little guilt ridden mind)

Third on the list:

The family picture.

Dad's a bull fighter, for obvious reasons and I'm a knight. I love saying this part..."My mom made my costume." Seriously, she did, I swear. Actually she made it for my niece who wore it in a horse show. The horse has matching garb - I chose not to ride the horse through the streets of town. People might talk.

Fourth on the list:

Picture for the Christmas Card

"Funny face" pictures are my favorite!

Only one fun-sized bag of Skittles was harmed during the making of this post.

Becky

Overscheduled.

2011-10-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

So... I have completely over scheduled myself for the last week in October. It's no one's fault but my own. I AM NOT A VICTIM! {She says with resounding strength!} Instead of pulling up my boot straps and fulfilling my obligations, I chose to spend a bit of precious time on Facebook. Honestly, I may spend 20 minutes a month on Facebook. Is that bad? Some would say yes. But I {with resounding strength} say "NO". It's okay to be different. Really, it is.

During my 15 minutes of down time, I checked on my dear friend Lucy. She just so happens to be my dear sister-in-law. She's brilliant and has an incredible sense of humor. {and, no, I'm not just writing that because she's reading this!} Lucy posted this link:

http://www.grist.org/living/2011-06-28-the-medium-chill

You have got to read this entire post. I think most of us can relate. The comments about hoarding kind of slapped me in the face. That's ok... the truth hurts. But this guy is SPOT ON with the whole social group thing. Now you're curious, aren't you?

Check it out!

Have a great non-keep-up-with-the-Jones' kinda day!

Becky

p.s. Thanks, Lucy. I needed that!

Farmer

2011-10-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

My farmer...

"Out Standing In His Field"

I couldn't resist.

I think he just called me a dork.

Becky

Turkey Tree

2011-10-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for an excuse to decorate a "Christmas" tree. During a recent mind numbing blog hopping hour or two I came across Sugar Pie Farmhouse. She goes to incredible lengths for her fall decor. Her "Save Your Fork" tree inspired me to do the same.

My tree is the top of a full size white tree that I bought "real cheap, Clark" from a floral shop. It had been stored in the sun over the summer and turned the perfect ivory color...well, perfect for me...not so perfect for the shop owner.

We used the Cricut to cut out the tags and hung them with twine. We pasted a few copies of old Thanksgiving postcards on to some of the tags.

The best part is the old tarnished silverware. The forks and knives are tied on with scraps of muslin.

Lucky number 7.

Gotta love a turkey. God giggled when he made these guys.

Found the box in the barn. Sprayed it with a bleach and water combo. Rinsed it with water and watched the yuk wash away. No scrubbing needed.

I was inspired by Beyond the Screen Door when I made the table runner. It's burlap with a fu-fu ruffle on both ends.

Sidebar: Shortly after I took these photos the tree crashed to the ground. I was mad. It laid there for 2 days. Then I said to myself, "Aunt Ruthie wouldn't leave her tree on the floor."

I put on my big girl boots and reassembled the darn thing.

Enjoying Fall-

Becky

Weaning

2011-10-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

The cows came home...literally.

Mike brought all the pairs (the cows and their calves) home from their summer pastures this last week in anticipation of weaning.

These old girls haven't had grain all summer. It can get pretty rough at the feed bunk.

The big white butt belongs to one of the bulls. When his lady friends arrived back on the scene, he refused to stay where he's supposed to stay. We gave up and he got his way.

"Has anyone seen my mom?"

I love #44. Her white face makes me smile. Isn't she pretty?

{Mike doesn't share the same love for her that I do.}

These wee ones look like they're hiding behind their mamas' skirts.

Sweet babies.

It hasn't rained for many days and freshly weaned calves don't do well with dust.

We'll wait a few more days before we separate them from their mamas.

But eventually, the time will come and

with a few months and a whole lotta corn these little darlings ...

...will become something like this...

"I feel fat today. I'm having a fat day. Do I look fat to you? I only had some corn for breakfast. Then last night I had some corn for supper. Oh yeah, and then for lunch yesterday - yup, corn again. I can't help myself. I feel so bloated."

Have you had your beef today? I know it's hard when they're lookin' right at ya!

The farmer and the farmer's wife.

Becky

Supper

2011-10-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

EVERY night at our house...

Kids: "What's for dinner, Mom?"

Mom: {Insert here ANY kind of supper-like menu that may provide one or two nutrients that doesn't include BEEF and involves a vegetable}

Kids' reaction...

Mom: "...or we could work on our chores all evening. Maybe do some cleaning. How about those flashcards? We could fix fence for dad or clean out horse stalls. Wait! Wait! I've got an idea, you guys start planning meals and doing the grocery shopping."

Kids' reaction...

That's what I thought!

Shut it.

Good luck with supper. I feel your pain.

Becky

The Halloween Mantel

2011-10-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

So I drag all the boxes of Halloween Decor out of the storage closet in the basement on Thursday - that's the first step, ya know. On Monday, #4 suggested that I might want to get something decorated and put things "back in their place". I hate it when my own words come back to haunt me.

{pun intended}

On Wednesday, we took action.

Instead of strewing it throughout our home, I/we decided to put most of the coolest stuff on the mantel in the basement...like a good blogger should do. I always feel like a loser when I'm spending time perusing my favorite blogs and they are showing off their divinely decorated seasonal mantels and mine is empty, bare, deserted, lonely...you get the point.

{ Keep in mind - there is no natural light at 7:30 in the evening in the basement. My attempts at editing the yellow out were not good. Forgive me.}

Here's what we did.

Old birdcage found in the dumpster after an auction...I have no pride.

Cool old mirror from my summer trip to Indy.

The makeshift shelf came from above a big window in an abandoned house...yes, I did ask if I could have it.

The hurricane is filled with skeleton parts from the dollar store.

The crows are from Jo-Ann Fabrics.

I love crows! Does anyone else have this obsession with crows?

The signs came from the dollar store for. . . a dollar each.

The "mantel scarf" is black cheesecloth that the kids had fun ripping apart.

#4 decorated his room with orange lights. He couldn't wait to show his roommate . . . #1.

Oh, and he was especially excited to see #1's reaction when he found the spider that he had hidden under his sheets. Ahhh, the beauty of being the little brother.

Happy haunting-

Becky

Company's Coming

2011-09-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hey, girls!

My sister is coming this weekend! I'm so excited for her to be here because I have lots of projects planned for us to do together {she doesn't know that, yet... she says with an evil taskmaster tone}.

I had to show you how we decorated the bed in The Little Red House for her stay.

Do I mean anything by this? Of course, I do. Hellooo... she's my sister!

Even better...my LITTLE sister.

The idea for the "Wicked" banner came from Miss Mustard Seed.

I love her stuff and want to grow up to be just like her.

The bed was my grandmother's. It was 1960's maple - not 1930's oak - therefore, I felt comfortable painting it FLAT black. Think it looks cool with the wood on the walls.

The holster came from a little antique store in Franklin, IN. Quite the cowboy look.

For the "cowhide" pillow, I tea-stained black and WHITE fabric that were curtains in the girls' room. Then sewed them together with chunky flat-fold seems.

The witch pillow...I ADORE the witch pillow. Mostly because I love using freezer paper stencils. I used the CriCut to cut a stencil of the witch - ironed it on to the fabric {waxy side down} - then used soft black to paint the witch onto the fabric/drop cloth. Then whip it into a pillow.

Sidebar: I get all of my "pillowforms" from Goodwill. Usually, throw pillows are only a dollar and after a wash they are more than great under another homemade pillow cover.

The dress form is dressed in a thrift store black witch-like dress and draped in orange organza. The orange came from the fabric bin at Goodwill. Kinda fun, huh?

I'll share our weekend projects soon.

Sleep tight!

Becky

Cattle For Sale

2011-09-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday evening!

Hope you've all had a relaxing and/or productive weekend. Whichever you prefer.

I saw this photo in the September edition of Country Sampler. I'm not usually one for stuff THIS primitive but the sign on the wall caught my attention.

We don't have pigs anymore but, hey, we've got some cattle around.

Here's how it went...

Found the perfect rough-sawn board in the barn. Spray painted it black. Did a reverse stencil thingy-thing. Cut out the letters on the Cricut and used spray adhesive to stick them on the board. The edge is masking tape.

Spray painted the whole thing with white paint.

It wasn't perfect when I took the letters and tape off...but that's the way we want it now, don't we?

I abused it with the sander and rubbed a coat of "Early American" stain over the whole thing.

The result is a vintage-been-on-a-fencepost-for-30-years look.

I'm STILL squealing with delight when I walk through the dining room

My cowgirl model likes it too.

Later Taters-

Becky

Wanted: Desk

2011-09-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well...I needed another desk for the office.

{Actually, just another flat surface to pile papers on.}

So, I went to Goodwill.

For $20.00 I came home with this solid wood table.

See the fun stuff painted around the edge?

The cat thought it a perfect place to take an afternoon bath.

Then...

...I kicked the cat off...

... sanded the heck out of the top...

...painted the base black...

...re stained the top...

...distressed the base...

...and waxed the whole thing with clear wax.

Unfortunately, all the fun edge painting had to go. No time for pickiness. The kids would be home in an hour!

AND - I actually tried to stage something.

Not bad for a rookie!

{I used the sedum because the dog laid in it and broke all the stems off!}

{No decorating/staging knowledge used for that one.}

I read somewhere (regarding children and homemaking)-

"Do ONE thing everyday that 'they' can't undo."

If you're a mom, you definitely know what this means...and how good this feels!

Becky

Sam

2011-09-10T14:05:00.000-07:00

The new guy in the barnyard...

Sam

Our new-to-us 12 year-old quarterhorse gelding.

He has the perfect head and a gentle eye.

He has power steering.

He likes kids.

He has no fears.

Best of all...

He's got a great big butt!

Happy Trails!

Becky

The First Born Cooks

2011-09-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

#1 competed in the State Fair 4-H Special Foods Contest. This is where said 4-Her has to prepare a dish in front of a judge. Prepare a place setting in front of a judge, and answer nutrition infornmation questions in front of a judge.

It's all very picky and very tedious. He did a great job and received a purple ribbon.

The kid loves to cook... his mother, not so much.

To help him get rid of the nerves, I took it upon myself to irritate him.

He's in 4th grade now and a bit too "grown-up" for picture taking and silly antics. So, I told him that if he didn't smile for the camera, I was going to sing at the top of my lungs in front of him and about 200 of his peers...

He's trying not to smile.

Setting the table.

I let him take my picture!

Bored sisters.

#2 {on the left}is like,

"Go ahead let her sing. Maybe they'll kick us out and we can go to the midway."

Here's what he prepared:

*******************************************************

Super BLT Club Pockets

1/2 cup crispy bacon crumbles

2 cups shredded lettuce

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz. turkey breast, coarsely chopped

1 Roma tomato, thin sliced

1/3 cup light ranch salad dressing

6 pita pockets (use the "super soft" kind - easier for kids to eat)

Leaf lettuce for garnish, if desired

Toss together all ingredients except the pita bread. Spoon 1/6 of the mixture into each pocket. Add leaf lettuce and serve promptly.

*******************************************************

Dinner is served!

Becky

State Fair Cookies

2011-08-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

After chores and homework this evening, #1 made his sugar cookies for the state fair coming up this weekend. These are the best darn sugar cookies you will ever have in your entire life. My Aunt Joyce included this recipe in one of the family cook books.

It's a very simple recipe and makes A LOT OF COOKIES.

After the 4-Her found three matching 2 inch cookies in the two dozen that HE baked, Mom finished baking the rest. Needless to say, they got noticeably bigger when I took on baking duties... can you relate? This is why some incredibly intelligent woman came up with putting all the batter/dough into a 9x13 and calling them "bars"- not enough time to wash babies, feed babies, clean the toilets, school the children, AND make 124 - 2 inch cookies!

I digress...

A fancy shmancy 4-H baking tip:

Use your "small scoop" from Pampered Chef to measure just the right amount of dough to make the necessary 2 inch cookie. {My "scoops" were closer to baseball size when #1 wasn't looking.}

One fact remains - no one should take baking advice from me! The one and only year that I baked in my 10 years of 4-H, I received a white ribbon on my corn muffins. In case you aren't familiar with

4-H, that's the worst place an exhibitor can receive. It's right there above "Participant"!

On with the show...

**********************************

Quilters Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla

5 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream together butter, sugar, oil, salt, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well. In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Gradually add flour mixture to first mixture. Mix well. Form dough into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in a pie pan of sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass drinking glass. Bake 10 minutes or until set. Store in an air tight container.

********************************

Strikingly delicious-looking, aren't they!

The "special" ones are in this bowl.

Do you think this will stop them?

The answer is NO!

They're hidden now.

Go bake with your kids.

Blessings- B

Have a Seat

2011-08-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

More about the "Little Red House"...

Here's the "project/thinkin'/workin'/snackin'/chattin' table.

Many brilliant ideas are congered up right here and it's NEVER this clean. {None of these photos are staged - obviously. Showin' ya how it is.} Notice the chairs?

This is what they looked like when I brought them home from the Habitat Restore.

For some reason the early-twenty-something-college-student-volunteer-worker thought they were ugly. Little did she know that my mom would have killed for these chairs when I was in high school!! Worked to my benefit - they were priced at $10 each and I bought them all for $35. She mumbled something like "oh please, get those disgusting things out of here". I felt judged.

But with $10 slipcovers from Sure-Fit I think they are smashing.

That'll fix Suzie's little red wagon!

Sidebar: Here's a pic of the ceiling. It's galvanized tin barn siding/roofing. I think it's super cool and I kinda love the picture.

Sidebar #2: Here's another pic of the felt board with the "new" project pieces on display. I'm only including this because I like the looks of that pumpkiny orange color with black. Happy moment.

Sidebar#3: Kids are back in school. These 2 photos crack me up. The first - the big fourth grade brother is not happy about being requested to put his arms around his sisters. {Makes me a bit sad, also}

The second- it looks like Woody the Newfoundland is going to eat the girls! However, I know inside he's big ole dog head he's thinkin', "thank goodness these two drama queens are going back to school!" Dorks.

Blessings- B

Creation Station

2011-08-24T05:46:00.000-07:00

Here's where we create:

This was an old house turned grainery turned barn turned wildlife habitat. We had our contractor make it into this beautiful "little red house" {that's what we call it - still looking for a fun name - feel free to share an idea}. It's about 24 x 24.

When we have company, it's perfect for a guest house.

However, most days it's a mess due to our creative urges.

The kids and I put together a felt board last year to help in piecing quilts. This one is a 3 feet by 4 feet piece of 1/4 inch plywood (cheap stuff). Cover the wood with spray adhesive and then cover with black felt.

Most fabrics cling nicely to the felt. It allows a space to arrange and rearrange until one is satisfied. Of course, I'm never really satisfied with my quilts. Like right now I see part of this quilt that should have been shuffled a bit. I bet you see it to!

As far as the missing square at the top... all children have been interrogated and given immunity if the square shows up on the table when Mom isn't looking. No success so far. I'm guessing the 2 year-old has it in one of her purses and she's not talking.

Blessings- B

Driving Age

2011-06-08T21:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a long planting season on the prairie. Last year the last soybean went in the ground about the middle of May. This year we haven't been so lucky. It's been very, very, very wet and rainy. M told me a long time ago that when one lives up here, one should never curse the water gods. This year it's been tough to hold one's tongue.

That being said, we've had an open week. The corn is in the ground and the beans are getting planted at warp speed in preparation of this weekends rain and oh, yeah... we have one of our own getting married on Saturday. I wonder if the groom's more worried about his crops or the wedding? Grandpa reassured me at supper that the groom is equally as stressed as the bride.

Clearly, Grandpa has never been a bride!!

I was having some sappy, sad, reminiscent thoughts about this nephew/groom as I'm driving to the field to deliver supper tonight. He was about 11 when I came into this family. It's hard for me to believe that he's this grown up. Ugh!

And then I turned into the field to find this...

...just a really big tractor, right?

But as it came to a roaring stop, I found this...

WHAT???!!!!

THAT'S MY 9 (almost 10) YEAR OLD SON DRIVING THAT GREAT BIG TRACTOR!! Picture quality isn't all that good through the window - but yes that's also his very proud dad smiling in the buddy seat next to him.

What??!!

This pic gives you an idea of how big this machine is compared to my "little" boy. This can't be possible. Wasn't I changing his diapers yesterday? He's not going to grow up and leave his mama for a life of his own, is he? I thought he'd be little forever. This wasn't part of the initial plan...

at least not part of MY plan!

God and I are going to have a chat this evening.

Dad told me a while back that when the kids get into school, the time will be gone before I would know what happened. I didn't believe him. I was too busy takin' care of babies - honestly, wishing they'd kick the growing up thing in high gear so that I could take a nap.

You were right, Dad. I finally get what you were telling me.

Here's to living in the moment and spending time with our children.

Around here we don't have "planned quality time" as the experts suggest. However, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to work cattle together, ride in a tractor together, weed the garden together, eat supper together {sometimes in the back of a pick up and not around a table}, drive around gravel roads together, fold clothes together, and the list goes on.

My point being -

kids don't need activities, they need time with

Mom and Dad.

Talking is immanent when we spend time with each other!

[OK... I'm done being sappy now.]

A few more shots of the "others"...

#4 has his supper and now it's his turn to take a ride in "the big green tractor".

{use your sing-song voice here..hope you know the words}

#3 (age 6) had her training wheels removed tonight and they will not be returned to her. No, I'm not being mean - she figured it out!!! The stopping thing still escapes her. She chooses falling over in the grass versus pushing back on the pedals.

{and, yes, her shirt is wrong side out}

#2 could not be bothered for a comment.

#5? I really don't know where #5 is. She'll turn up when she gets hungry.

Don't blink - it'll be over before we know it.

Blessings-

Whatcha Gonna Give?

2011-06-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY...

I went to an auction!

First one in a couple of years. I'm absolutely GIDDY!

Kids 1, 2, & 3 had the morning off so they went along to find some kitchen ware for their playhouse. Number 4 helped Dad fence and #5 would have rather been in a tractor but she had no choice but to go with us. She's easy to keep entertained with a bag of Cheetos. I remember early in my mothering career, the statement that I just made would have been inconceivable. Let my child eat less than nutritious snacks... I think not! Thank goodness I've relaxed.

Anyway, on to the good stuff.

For $21.00 we came home with these treasures:

Let's begin with our big purchase of the day coming in at $10-

Mike was soooo excited when he saw my "bolt bin". Then he was a little disappointed when I shared my thoughts of how pretty my fat quarters would be when arranged neatly inside.

I love the Sioux Steel stamp on the side.

This cute clock was in the same pile of stuff with the bin. Doesn't work but I liked the face.

One wire freezer basket with a bunch of old tools in it for a dollar and a tall skinny freezer basket with a few other things in it for a dollar. They're nice and rusty. Gonna be cute with a muslin or canvas liner for toys and books and stuff.

I fought for this precious storage unit... $4!

Not quite tall enough for a nightstand but fun sitting on top of another table for storage.

Needs a bath.

divided drawers....

... a few extra seed peas if anyone needs some...

...my hand model...

...still the cute 2 year old...

...copper drawer pulls...

I had to give $3 for this cool tool box.

There's a board nailed to the side??? That's coming off tomorrow.

Inside the box were some squares of sheet metal - I'm thinkin' 4-H project. I'll let ya know.

{I just liked this pic beside my old bike!}

For ONE DOLLAR kids can furnish the entire kitchen of their playhouse. They were thrilled!! They played in the grass with their treasures while Mom watched the rest of the sale.

Some people were so kind as to give them unwanted items out of the boxes they had purchased.

Dad needed one or two to help him when we got home. They decided they'd all help Dad to make it go faster so they could come back and set up shop.

(Sometimes they work together without being told.)

One last "dollar" item... a box of sewing supplies. Helloo.. the duct tape was worth the dollar.

There's a glue gun, old buttons, lots of thread, velcro, and so many needles that I'll never have to buy another.

That's my fun Saturday.

I see 90 degree weather is headed our way.

Tomorrow's project is the shaving of the 140 pound Newfoundland!

Doesn't he look excited?

He'll be happier when it's over.

I don't know what kind of gross stuff is under his chin but it's coming off too.

Say a prayer for the people dealing with the water.

Blessings-

Fruit Pizza Cookies

2011-05-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

Let me start with APRIL AND MAY WERE CRAZY!! Calving, farming, raining, end of school activities, raining, mowing, raining, mowing... I could go on and on and on. Now we're gearing up for the summer weddings.

Yesterday a few of us hosted a bridal shower for our soon to be niece-in-law. I'd thought I'd share a recipe that was a hit. There's always one dish that gets rave reviews, isn't there?

You've heard of Fruit Pizza, right? Well, how's about making it in cookie form?. I got the idea from the Heck Fridays blog and then tweaked it to my liking.

(See, I really don't have any original ideas.)

It's a four part event...

The Cookie Part

*This is my all time favorite cut out cookie recipe. A friend of mine clued my into the fact that the dough should only be rolled out to 1/4 inch. No less. This eliminated all frustration I had with thin, dry, crunchy Christmas cookies. The thick cookie turns out so soft and moist.

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/4 cup sour cream

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp biking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Cream together butter and sugar. Stir in egg and sour cream. Mix well and add flour, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Chill for one hour or overnight. Roll out dough to 1/4" thick and cut out desired shapes. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

I used heart shapes for this event but think of the possibilities... stars for 4th of July...right around the corner.

The Icing Part

1- 8 oz. pkg cream cheese

2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tbsp milk

* I added powdered sugar until I had the consistency I was looking for. You can never go wrong with more sugar. If it gets too stiff, add a little more milk.

Spread icing on the cookie - your choice of methods - pastry bag, plastic bag, spatula...

The Fruit Part

Your choice.

I was going to add kiwi like Heck Fridays (very pretty addition of green),

but mine were much to sour.

The Glaze Part

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup orange juice

2 tsp. corn starch

Boil for 2 minutes or until thickened. Allow to cool slightly and drizzle over cookie.

This recipe made about 35 - 3" heart cookies. Might have made more if my people wouldn't have eaten the dough. Oh well, that's the fun part.

Store your finished creations in the fridge. I think they taste best at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Blessings-

Family Tree

2011-03-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Lou Lou was here this weekend. That's my mom... we call her that sometimes.

We had the opportunity during nap time on Saturday to spend 3 hours with the beloved Cricut. She had a few projects in mind and I had one that I hadn't had the guts to try. Together - we did it! Sounds so triumphant when actually it just involved putting a vinyl Cricut cut out on an old window.

I forgot to take a picture of the window before I started. I think you can use your imagination. The window came from the Habitat Restore for $5. The hardware is what made me fall in love.

The vinyl is off white and came from Expressions Vinyl for $1.98 a sheet. I get all of my vinyl from this place. Their options are endless and reasonably priced. They have lots of usage tips for each product. Helpful in reducing "Cricut Frustration".

The tree came from the "Stretch Your Imagination" cartridge. I made it as big as possible - Fit To Page option. Then I used the transfer tape to put it on the BACKSIDE of the window. This is so that little fingers can't pick off the pretty tree.

CAUTION: the transfer tape is very sticky when it comes to glass. I suggest cutting off the excess to prevent things sticking where the shouldn't. Again, every attempt is being made here to eliminate "Cricut Frustration".

Helpful Hint: Re-use your transfer tape! It will let you know when it's had enough.

The finished product-

I like the simplicity.

Not bad for somewhere around $8.00!

Blessings-

Support A Sister

2011-03-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

I'd like to complain today...

I've been hearing these commercials on the radio lately about breastfeeding. These little voices talking about "poor little Johnny" whose mom feeds him formula and doesn't, in so many words, love him enough to nurse him.

GIVE ME A BREAK!

IS THIS A JOKE?

The breastfeeding nazis have go to be stopped! How can women continue to degrade other women on this topic? Isn't it enough that every time we turn around we are being told by one source or another that we're too tall, too thin, too short, or too fat. We have the wrong shoe size, hair color, car, job, interests... for heaven sakes our teeth aren't even white enough.

Do we really need to be told that we are less of a mother if we bottle feed our babies?

I breastfed 3 of 5 of my children. I didn't like it and couldn't wait to be done. (Each of the three were supplemented with bottles and were on bottles after the first 6 weeks or so.) I envied the lady that taught the breastfeeding class that I took - she said she did it because she loved it. Great for her. But, please oh please, respect my choice to bottle feed my baby. Support me as another mom, sister, daughter, friend...

After number 1 was born, my world was turned upside down. Everyone kept telling me that nothing would be the same - I didn't believe them. All at once, I couldn't go outside and do the things that I used to do at the feedlot with my husband. That's where I loved to be. Needless to say, I was a little depressed, breastfeeding wasn't going well, I was exhausted (because I couldn't/wouldn't ask for help), and I just wanted my old life back.

With each subsequent pregnancy, I dreaded the breastfeeding subject. Number 4 had a few health issues and wasn't able to "latch on" or "suck" properly. I chose not to pump and hid behind his troubles so that I could GIVE. HIM. A. BOTTLE. That was the quickest and easiest I had ever bounced back from a pregnancy.

We all know that "when Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"! I was HAPPY with bottle feeding this little guy. I knew how much he was getting. He was happy. He slept well. I slept well. This was clearly the better choice for me. So, why do we have to make these new mom's fear and be ashamed of their choice not to breastfeed? Why?

By the time number 5 came around, I was 38 and had the guts to stand up to the "breastfeeding nazis"! I started right away with the bottle in the hospital. Despite the looks on the nurses faces, I knew my baby would be just fine.

So far, the kids are well beyond there ages academically. They ARE a little goofy socially...
I like that about them.

We have bonded.
Bonding comes from time together - reading, walking, watching TV, playing games, eating supper together, sitting on the floor doing nothing, homework...

And they know that I love them, as they would say, "more than God loves anything".

I right this in hopes that one new struggling mother might read this and, through her tears (I know what that's like), will feel that her baby will be just fine with that bottle of formula. My doctor even said so.

I support you in your choice to bottle feed that baby OR breastfeed that baby.

When momma's happy, everybody's happy.

I'm stepping off my soap box now.

Blessings-

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T07:16:00.000-08:00

It's coming... you either hate it or you love it... Valentine's Day!

If you've got kids, you've got to love it. I'm sure, like most of you, my kids like to put a little treat with the Valentine. I went to get this treat at Target yesterday and couldn't bring myself to spend $20 on candy. M said, "Ya know, ya really don't have to send candy. The card would be enough." What? Are you kidding? ME nurture withOUT food. No way. It's just not who I am! Sad but true.

Plan B:

I bought the treat bags and emailed the sister-in-law for this FABULOUS popcorn recipe. If you're in a school district where the kids can still bring homemade snacks, I guarantee this will be a hit. Make a double batch so there's enough left for the tikes after you finish "trying it".

POPCORN GOODNESS

{I don't really know what it's called, but this sums it up!}

3-4 bags microwave popcorn

(natural or plain.. no butter or saltI use Orville Natural - approx 14 cups)

3/4 cup peanut butter (creamy)

1 1/2 LBS almond bark

3 cups rice krispies

2 cups peanuts

Remove all hulls and seeds from popcorn. Mix together dry ingredients. Melt almond bark and peanut butter. Pour this mixture over dry ingredients. Stir. Spread out on wax paper to dry. (1/2 - 1hr)

Bag it up and send it with the Valentines.

Enjoy!

XO - B

Sweet Corn

2011-02-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

Because we're snowed in, I thought I'd revisit some pics of #5 last summer. This was an August evening when a good neighbor gave us some sweet corn. At this point I hadn't even cooked it.

I'll let the photos tell the story...

...must have gotten a little heavy...

Spring will come...

Blessings-B

Utility Apron

2011-01-28T10:41:00.000-08:00

Nice title... to the point...no wit.

This is the best little apron I've ever seen. Wear it when you craft, cook, sew, wrap presents, clean, etc.

Maybe it just happens at my house, but when I clean, my jeans are usually full of trash and broken toys by the time I'm finished. Enter the utility apron - POCKETS FOR ALL THAT JUNK and a pen and paper for when someone calls to tell you something very important that you know you won't remember by the time you press "end".

I wish I could take credit for the design but alas I cannot.

Visit this talented lady for the full pattern and details.

Rosey Corner Creations

Sidebar:

Let's talk about topstitching for a moment. I believe that well-done-topstitching is the icing on the cake, the sprinkles on the cupcake, the butter on the toast, the cream in the coffee... {Clearly, I'm hungry!} What I'm trying to say is that it gives the garment/sewn item a finished look. Don't ya think? I do it a lot... a lot.

I made several of these for my 'girls' for Christmas. To the rest of my 'girls': can you guess what you're getting for the next holiday/special occasion/birthday...?

Not only functional and cute, they are CHEAP to make.

(Mom would say, "please say inexpensive".)

I bought 1 yard each of 3 different coordinating fabrics and made 5 aprons from those 3 yards.

This particular Valentine apron is for a very special lady.

{We'll call her "Moose"... cause that's what everyone else calls her.}

She lost her Valentine right before Christmas.

Her Valentine just happened to be my Grandfather.

They met after my Grandmother passed away in 1988 and had been like

peas and carrots ever since.

Grandpa:

I love that someone wrote 'Daddy'.

Isn't he handsome?!

I miss him... he called me 'Becksy'.

Go make some aprons. After you get the parts cut out, it takes only about 1/2 hour to put together. As you can see in the next pic it's more than appropriate to wear with ones church coat.

Blessings - 'Becksy'

Toolbox?

2010-12-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

For a long time, I've been looking for an old wooden toolbox to fill with seasonal sundries for the center of my dining table. Little did I know, I wasn't looking for an "old wooden toolbox", I was looking for an "old carpenter's box". The lady that taught me this lesson wasn't the kindest of teachers. As a matter of fact, I found what I wanted at her shop, but because she WAS NOT filled with the holiday spirit I decided I'd go home and make it myself! And then I could call it whatever I wanted to call it!

But wait, in her competitor's window, could it be?

Yes, it was!

Perfect!

Take a look.

( I was so excited that I forgot to take a picture without the stuff! )

It does have compartments that will look kind of cool filled with candles after Christmas.

The other side...

... and the best part of the whole thing is that it has

these sweet metal trim pieces.

What are these?

Can you see them on the edges?

Can you tell I'm infatuated with this somethin'-somethin' I'd never seen before?

Consider yourself educated on the whole "carpenter's box" issue.

Blessings- B

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

Good Thanksgiving morning to all!

I'd like to take this opportunity to share my "Thankful 30 List".

1. A loving husband that actually knows me better than I do. He takes care of us - simply put.

2. 5 HEALTHY kids

3. 5 SMART kids that put up with me ( and M ) always trying to teach them something.

4. Parents that gave me the education, courage, and wings to make it all the way out here to the prairie. (Thanks for the never ending support, Mom & Dad)

5. My father-in-law... a wonderful man.

6. My sister... need I say more? When M & I started having babies, I said that we would keep going until everyone had a brother and everyone had a sister. A sister is a precious gift. My sister is the only one I know who can be goofier than me.

7. My little brother - we dressed him up as a girl when he was little and I think he liked it.

8. My BFF Janet - she's the friend that I may not talk to for 3 months but I know she's there when I need her. Her thankful list looks much like mine.

9. Sitting around the kitchen table eating pizza and having drinks and LAUGHS with my in-laws. (I had a blast last night, guys)

10. Having cousins and in-laws that live so close and are SO, SO good to my kids.

11. Farm life - trying at times but the best place to raise our children. Everyday is take your kid to work day.

12. Being a mom. It's a lot of work but when you think of how important your mom was to you, it makes the job not seem like such a job.

13. My other job - I complain about it but I love it... and I get to work with Scooter. (See, I told you I'd get you in there)

14. Fresh smelling laundry - this is HUGE. Most everything we own has cow #$%@ on it somewhere.

15. The kids' Christmas lists - too funny.

16. Just-after-a-bath smelling babies

17. The kids watching TV with the "outside" cats on their laps. Lucky cats.

18. Clean sheets

19. My vacuum cleaner

20. Board Games

21. Sewing - thanks for teaching me how to sew, Mom

22. Building - thanks for teaching me how to build, Dad

23. Brownies

24. FOOD in general. I. LOVE. TO. EAT.

25. Family hugs - ask #4 what that is. As if you couldn't imagine.

26. The smell of a roast in the oven after church on Sunday.

27. DOGS - gotta love a dog.

28. HORSES - riding is one of my happy places. Unless, I'm riding the 5 year old mare. Then the experience isn't so relaxing. She likes to go.

29. Reading

30. Watching the kids play (not fight) with each other and stick up for one another. We must be doing something right?!

I could go on but I don't want to get silly or sappy and make people throw up a little in their mouths so I'll stop. This was a good exercise for me. When every one's done eating and taking the much needed naps this afternoon, take a moment to make a Thankful List. It's kinda fun.

Turkey Blessings -

Christmas Gift #1

2010-11-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

Here you go...

I'm keepin it real with this pic. This is what I should be doing.

Laundry for 7 is my own personal monster.

I consider sorting socks PURGATORY!

Kids 1, 2, &3 are in school. #4 is in a tractor with Dad spreading fertilizer and #5 is taking a morning nap.

I'm left with this for company...

She looks sad because she's being held against her own will for chasing cats.

Punishable offense around here.

Anyway, I'd like to share the best 4-H project ever. It's the best because we can actually USE it. Hands up former, future, and current 4-H families who still have posters, matchy matchy drawstring skirts, and crosstitch projects floating around in their nether regions. You know what I'm talkin' about!

We found this on a blog (of course) somewhere.

We called it a "Child's Art Caddy" for achievement day purposes.

It's taken up permanent residence on the dining room table (a.k.a. Homework Central).

This was we have all the school supplies in one place. We went through the boxes upon boxes of crayons and markers and sorted down to what you see. I have NO time for dry markers or non-sharp crayons.

There's nothing better in life than SHARP CRAYONS!

Here's what you do...

Rummage through Goodwills until you find a lazy susan. Then go to Target and buy some of these fabulous $1 buckets. Spray paint the lazy susan to match the theme. If you have buckets with handles... cut 'em off. Then hot glue buttons where the handles were to add a little somethin - somethin.

Use a metal drill bit to drill through the bottom of the buckets. Then screw the buckets onto the lazy susan.

Holy "buckets" these things rock! A perfect and economical gift for families, crafty ladies, teachers, etc.

I wish you well in the search for lazy susans.

Blessings - B

Flashcards!

2010-10-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'd like to start this post by saying...

THE BEANS ARE DONE!!!!

{For those of you who have no idea what I mean by the above statement... we are done combining soybeans and we're moving on to corn after the calves get weaned today!

Perfect harvest so far!}

Let me share a simple project I just finished between all of the fall activities.

Here's the frame I bought at Habitat's Re-Store for $3.00.

{Love that place but it seems to be getting a bit spendy... good cause, though.}

It's actually plastic and I never have liked that "tiger"- thingy-a-ma-jig finish.

So, I painted it with "Oil-Rubbed Bronze" spray paint, roughed it up a bit, and rubbed stain on the rough areas.

Here's the finished project. A cheap frame, flashcards that I bought for $1 each, and a piece of "tobacco" - colored art paper from Hobby Lobby for $1.49.

I'm so in love with flashcards. I've spied a few old sets at school. I'm waiting for the perfect time, when no ones watching, to switch them with a new set! HA

Get it? There are 7 people in our family... kinda cute, huh?

Blessings - B

The Best Dip Ever...

2010-09-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

Need a new "dip" to take to your next party?

{Or maybe just to make and then sit on the couch and devour}

May I present...

Jalapeno Popper Dip

2 - 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayo

1 - 4 oz can chopped green chilis, drained

1 - 2 oz can diced jalapenos, drained

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup bread crumbs

Mix the first 5 ingredients together. Place in an oven safe dish. Top with the bread crumbs. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes or until the edges are bubbling.

This originally came from allrecipes.com. I've tweaked it a little to my liking - more cheese is never a bad thing. We think it tastes best with something like pita chips or a plain kinda cracker.

Enjoy! You're gonna love it!

Blessings- B

How Do You Cook?

2010-09-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

Sister Jen asked me for my Potato Salad recipe. Uhhh... well... I don't really measure anything but I can tell you WHAT I put in it and what it should look like. Does anyone else do this?

I didn't know that this type of cooking was permissible in the homemaking realm until one weekend when my dear friend, "J", was staying with us.

I said to J, "how much of {insert ingredient here} do you usually use in {insert dish here}?"

She replied to my utter amazement in a cool and calm tone, "whatever I have."

Can you believe that... WHATEVER YOU HAVE!

How can one cook without following directions? But since she's been a darn good cook since our college days, she must know what she's talking about. Needless to say, this is the only way I cook now.

So, Jen, here's my Potato Salad recipe...

Potatoes - as many as you think you'll need for your crowd. I usually use around 8 when I'm taking it to a function or for supper in the field.

Mayonnaise - only use Hellman's Real Mayonnaise -

DO NOT USE SALAD DRESSING (Miracle Whip)

Onion - about 1/2 of a medium white onion, diced.

Celery - 3-4 stalks diced

Salt & Pepper - I use quite a bit

Here's the key...

BAKE THE POTATOES!

The baked taste is what makes this version of potato salad shine! Peel and cube the taters. Mix in celery, onion, and salt & pepper. Then comes the mayo. This is totally personal preference. I like just enough mayo to add the zing and hold everything together. Some like it creamier.

Around here we probably use about 1 1/2 cups of mayo.

Clear as mud? Now go bake some taters and give it a try.

Blessings - B

Back To School

2010-08-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

Everyone back in the groove, yet?

Here are a few pics from our first day of school...

Aren't they angelic?

They love each other so much and treat each other with kindness and respect all. the. time.

{Oh my gosh - I'm laughing SO hard right now. Let's just say that the house is void of the intense altercations that have filled the place over the last 3 months - ahhh, the silence!} }

We always take a "silly picture".

These turn out better than the others most days.

#3 off to Kindergarten!

No worries here.

#2 the big second grader this year. Has assured me that she will handle the en route care and transport of the Kindergartner until said Kindergartner reaches her final destination (her classroom).

This is sure to cause a fight. #3 is a bit strong willed.

Strike a pose!

#1 - the oldest and the wisest... the 3rd grader.

Got contacts this year. He's sure no one will know who he is.

His biggest concern - "Tell me again why I have to let my sisters on the bus first?"

And - "Why do you always say that "c-h" word, Mom?"

IT'S CHIVALRY!!!!

{I'm trying my best to raise a gentleman! ugh!}

"Hey, where are the other kids, Mom?", says #5.

"The went back to school, #5."

"Oh my, I forgot"

{She doesn't really talk - I'm just being silly}

#4 is pleased as punch to get a new shirt out of the deal.

Enjoy the back to school quiet!

Blessings- B

Detour... What?

2010-08-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

On Wednesdays I travel to the big city to the southwest. Today... I was late. Today... there was a carnival in town. Today... the carnival was set up on Main Street. Today... I had to take a detour. Today... I was mad. But wait... today... ON WEDNESDAY... there was a garage sale! A garage sale on Wednesday? Unheard of! The stars were aligned and I spotted this sweet little dresser.

Suddenly, I wasn't so late.

$15.00 later - she was mine!

The gentleman that sold her to me was so proud of the way he had refinished the old girl - stripped - sanded - sanded some more - painted - painted - and painted again. I didn't have the heart to tell him that she was going to my garage to be abused by an electric sander and stripped of that beeeaaauuutiful brass hardware.

I did just that. The handles were too gold and the paint was too perfect. In a matter of an hour, the finish was now less than perfect. Then I went over the bare wood spots with wood stain in one of my favorite Min-Wax colors - "Gunstock". {My other favorite is "Early American"}

When all was dry, I gave it a good polish with this amazing stuff -

We sprayed the drawers with Febreeze and then painted the drawer pulls with "Oil-Rubbed Bronze" spray paint.

Fabulous!

With any luck, she'll be resting comfortably in her new home by tomorrow afternoon.

Detours are awesome!

Blessings - B

Showtime!

2010-06-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation? Ugh... the activities! There's really no need in explaining why I haven't blogged in darn near 2 months, is there?

#2 and #3 have been playing T-ball. Their last "tournament" was today. How can you call 2 games in which no one keeps score a tournament? I'll spare you my thoughts on that subject.

Check out my chicks...

Between games, #5 and I watched #1 show Billy the Calf for the first time ever. {In case you're wondering where #4 is - we didn't know but we did find him around 5 o'clock this evening} We took him to an open show for a little practice for both the "shower" and the "showee" before Achievement Days.

Billy weighed in a little over 1400#. In the world of 4-H Market Steers... he's just a bit big!

So #1 weighs about 65# and we send him into a strange environment to control a 1400# beast ALL. BY. HIMSELF. While thousands of people watch! {Alright, maybe just 30} Parenting skills at their finest, I'd say.

I said, "M, aren't you going in the ring with him?" M said, "No, Nelly, I am not." Discussion closed and Mom starts to get a little queezy. That's okay - I'll just document the whole thing in case photos are needed in our courtroom defense.

The first time around the ring Billy was a smidge excited and took our first born for a quick jog. But that's our county extension agent talking #1 through things and he recovered nicely.

Look how he set him up! Would ya look at that?!

Dad thinks Billy looks good here..

Good showmanship here also. Look at that kid watch the judge! Do ya see it?

And finally, the cutest Wrangler butt I've ever seen.

I love being a mom to these kids. That's probably why I was full of pride and tears when they left the ring. I never realized parenting involved so much crying!

Summer Blessings - B

Paper Trail

2010-05-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

Mom Tip #253

Paper, paper, and more paper. The kids go through a rain forest of it in a week. The local newspaper was advertising "end rolls" for sale. I had no idea what an end roll involved but I had to find out. JACKPOT!!

Big honkin' rolls of any weight of paper one can imagine. Once again, the best part was the price of $10 to $15 per roll. Keep in mind this goldmine may only exist in small towns with small town newspapers. Another perk of living close to nowhere.

This roll has lasted 4 Picassos almost a year. That's huge!

I think this is the start of a Mother's Day masterpiece. She told me to close my eyes while I took the picture!

Pretty good heart for a 5 year old. Can't wait to see it completed and the smile of pride on her face.

Good luck in the quest for large, cheap rolls of paper! They're fun to have around even if you don't have kids. Imagine the "banner" possibilities. Welcome Race Fans... Welcome Rodeo Fans... Happy Birthday, etc. Are ya pickin' up what I'm puttin' down?

Blessings - B

I'm Back

2010-05-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hey... I'm baaack! April was a little tough on the Beckster and I didn't pay any attention to this journalistic masterpiece. But now I have a few things to share. First up is our new bed. We were in bad, bad need of a new mattress. We bought the new set and, of course, we HAD to have a new headboard.

I found the plans for this beauty at Knock Off Wood.

Have you been there yet?

Isn't it beeeaaauuutiful? I took a few more pics just in case you wanted to see it 30 more times...

The top trim piece was suppose to be a 2X4. However, I didn't feel like going to the feedlot, picking out a 2X4 most recently used for forming cement and then coming home and sanding the living tar out of it only to be questioned later by the farmer who may be missing said piece of lumber. Sooo, you use what you have and the 1X4 was what I had and it turned out just fine. Don't ya think?

The best part is the price. Are you ready? All the wood came from Menards. I bought a few "select" pieces of wood {aka "Black Label" in Menards terms} but most pieces were out of the "quality" bins. I had the stain and varnish so we don't count that as a cost, right?

Drum roll......

**$49.00**

I am so thrilled! The best part was M's reaction. He said that the kids will fight over it someday! Did I marry the best guy ever, or what? Ahhh...

Oooo... I can't forget the ugly little lamp. Unfortunately, I didn't take before pictures so use your imagination. It was a Habitat Restore treasure for $1. It was yellow with a blue lamp shade. After a coat of "Oil Rubbed Bronze" metallic spray paint and a charming new $8 lamp shade from Kmart, we have this-

I sure do enjoy "this little light of mine"!

Blessings - B

Art Re-Do

2010-04-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

Back in the day... I was living in Kansas and not making just a whole lot of money. So I saved and saved and came up with the $120 to buy this "amazing" framed print that I knew could transform the entire look of my apartment. I present one of the only things that hasn't been tossed into the Goodwill pile each time I've moved...

{I couldn't get it rotated - sorry}

And of course the frame was "hunter green"

{I forgot to take the pic before I sanded the frame but you can still see the green on the inside}

Sooo... I got the great idea to sand down the frame, re-stain it, and cover one of the old mats with upholstery fabric.

Remeber... if you already have all the "ingredients" it didn't cost a dime!

Ta Da-

Looks pretty good hanging over the new table - eh?

Blessings-B

Show & Tell

2010-03-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

STOP EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING!

You need to go to Knock Off Wood!

Tons of furniture plans! Did I say tons? I meant tons of tons!

I. LOVE. THIS. BLOG.

Here's what I started on a few weeks ago and just now got stained and varnished.

Super simple.

Took me around 2 hours to put together and cost around $35.

Could have been much cheaper depending on your choice of wood.

If you get the Pottery Barn catalogs, you'll recognize this console.

Now go! Can't wait to see what you all make this weekend.

{*CAUTION: Be prepared to spend a few hours on this site*}

Blessings-B

First Born

2010-03-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

The first calf of the season came right on time... 15 days early! This was totally unexpected. He's alive and so are his brother and sister. This IS miraculous seeing as how the mud is deeper than they are tall.

M called me the morning of the blessed affair asking {which he does every year}, "Tell me again why do we do this?" And this is why...

Not fond of the calf - rather be asleep in the pick up.

Done with helping - too much water to play in.

Dad, thanks for working so hard to keep your kids (wife,too) so happy!

Blessings-B

A Saturday Morning in the Barn

2010-03-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

Introducing...

"Billy The Calf" -

and a cast of misfit farm kids

This is #1's first year in 4-H and this is his first experience showing cattle! He and Dad picked this calf out of our own calf crop. Mom's a little concerned that he might be a bit large come August but Dad says "nahhhh".

#1's our animal lover and takes this job quite seriously.

Enter the barn boy:

We admire his effort to chip in. However, banging the shovel on every surface surrounding this scared-to-death-tied-up-calf wasn't necessarily a good thing. It worked out. He was proud and Billy calmed down after a short 20 minutes.

Wonder if he realizes he'll have to put all that straw back where it was when calving starts? Scratch that - everyone but him will have to put that straw back where it was come calving season.

Enter the cheerleaders:

Two of the three sisters are good for some labor if promised a lunch in town.

{Number 3 sister was asleep in the pickup - nine months old and still can't pull her own weight.}

"You look like a little mennonite girl"

"No, I don't"

"Yes, you do"

"I'll fix it!"

"How bout now?"

Blessings-B

Chirp

2010-02-26T14:46:00.000-08:00

Will spring EVER come?

It was almost 30 today!! #1 and #2 helped Dad work cattle this morning and #3 and #4 played outside for a little while.

This kid could live in the sandbox. You leave him there in the morning and he would still be there at supper time. He NEEDS spring to come. His haven is under 3 feet of snow - he'll settle for mud and ice for now.

This week while #5's been sick, I took the opportunity to finally put away the rest of the winter stuff and get out a few signs of spring.

I needed something for the top of the hutch in the mudroom...

A BIRDHOUSE!

# 1 & # 2 helped me build this little beauty this afternoon. It's by no means perfect. We used scrap barn wood and sanded of the visible bird poop!

And now the WOW factor-

Look at these cute little lights. Can you even see them?

They look like branches with rice lights on the ends. I stuck 'em in a fake ivy bush.

I think it looks quite homey!

I got them at one of my many favorite quilt shops. Let me know if anyone needs some. $24 each - I think.

*Country Decor Tip - Put indoor decorative lights on timers*

Ever wonder what to do with that large glass jar you have sitting in the garage/attic/shop/shed/barn? Put dog bones in it! That's if you have a dog, of course!

Have a great weekend!

Blessings-B

Mom Tip #252

2010-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

Anyone out there working on "Timed Math Facts"? To state the obvious my poor, poor, time-pressured son is required to take basic addition and subtraction tests with different time limits. This week he came home with a sort of contract saying that he is committing himself to studying 10 minutes each night so that he can reach his goal of getting 85 addition problems correct in 4 minutes and 65 subtraction problems correct in an additional 4 minutes. Follow all of that?

{SIDEBAR: He is quite awesome at math but the whole timed thing is not his cup of tea!}

I can only go through flashcards so many times. He knows these "math facts"... who can we turn to to help fine tune these skills?

GOOGLE!! That's it - GOOGLE!

I typed in "math skills" and I found this website.

It's FABULOUS!

Thousands upon thousands of math drill worksheets!!

He's gonna hate me tonight but I'M much too competitive to allow this mission to be impossible!!

Happy Homework!

Blessings-B

Dessert Anyone?

2010-02-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

Here's the easiest and quickest dessert you will ever make! I'm putting this in the file labeled

"Food You Take To The Field".

The recipe can be doubled to feed an entire harvest/planting crew (10-15 people).

Super Simple Apple Crisp

½ c butter

1 – 17.5 oz package oatmeal cookie mix

2 – 21 oz cans apple pie filling

½ tsp ground cloves

Place apple pie filling in ungreased 9x9 or 8x8 pan. Sprinkle ground cloves over filling. Melt the stick of butter and mix with the oatmeal cookie mix. Spread this on top of the pie filling. Bake @ 350 for 35 minutes or until the sides are bubbling.

Blessings-B

Be Mine

2010-01-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

I love to do all these creative things for seasonal decorating but...

WHERE DO YOU PUT ALL OF THIS CRAP?

It's dangerous to open any of our closets and the garage is beginning to look like Sanford & Son.

That aside, a couple of Valentine/Winter projects from the kitchen:

These are made from 2 layers of either red ticking or muslin with a layer of batting in between. I stained them with a mixture of coffee, vanilla, nutmeg, and anything else that smelled good. THEN - I found these fabulous sheets of canvas that you can use with your printer. Voila- the little labels sewn to the hearts.

These are just artists' canvas that I covered with scrapbook paper and then used the

Cricut to add the X and the O.

This I made last winter. It's suppose to have lots more embroidery and embellishments but I'm not one for too much bling. I like the little guys just the way they are. The pattern came from this book-

I've spent the last 2 days painting the dining room a deep chocolatey brown. Pics to follow sometime this week. The winter is getting long and I see fault with every room in the house. M doesn't understand that there IS a statute of limitations on paint color. Boys! Ugh!

Blessings-B

Sweat Equity

2010-01-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

M calls and says he'll take 1 through 4 to the corner station for a snack!! Hooray - Happy Dance! That was the best news I'd had in the 72 hours that we'd been snowed in. #5 was sleeping - imagine the things I could get done in the 45 minutes they'd be gone.

He had one request before he left {anything for this wonderful man that would grant me 45 minutes of solitude}. "Could you fill the bucket with snow?" Why does he need a 5 gallon bucket filled with snow - I thought to myself. I said sure with slight hesitation but not willing to question. They left. I quickly got suited up so as to not waste ANY time. I walked out the door to find...

The payloader was sitting in the drive. Seems as though the snow from in front of the garage that can't be "gotten" with heavy equipment needed to be scooped into THE BUCKET. I'm here to tell you that's a darn big bucket and there was a heckofa lot of snow that needed to be shoveled.

M's nature is to solve my problems. I'm guessing the complaints I've made about the extra 10 pounds I've found around my waist after mainlining chex mix, sugar cookies, cream cheese, and sausage for the last 8 weeks gave him the idea to help me out with my obvious need for exercise. It worked. Took me 20 minutes of hard labor (maybe not so terribly hard). I felt great afterwards and I may have broken a sweat at

-24 degrees.

Here's to no pressure keeping the gym membership and a little motivation to just get up and move a bit more. Easier said than done - I know, I know.

Blessings - B

K.I.S.S.

2010-01-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

Someone introduced me to this principle many years ago:

Keep It Simple Stupid

However, I never seem to follow this school of thought. {My husband would so agree right now.} I've spent the last few days packing away Christmas. Lawd do I have some stuff! Every closet in this place is PACKED!! From time to time, M will ask if I think we have enough stuff yet. Ha ha, funny man. But after the way I had to close the last closet door, I decided to explore other decorating styles. God sent me a message to find this blog. Okay, maybe it was a link on someone else's blog... just the same.

I think you'll find this country farmhouse charming, classic, inspiring, timeless...

Now I'm off to throw everything we own in the Goodwill truck and start from the beginning.

Blessings while you declutter-B

O Kitchen Tree

2009-12-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

The Kitchen Tree

I bought this tree at Goodwill for $1. It didn't have it's stand so I sunk it in a vat of Qwik Crete. Now it has cement shoes and sits in an old gray enamelware colander.

The decorations are wooden stars (courtesy of Pammie Sue) and some more little baking tins.

And this is the Santa that I bought at a craft show a few years back.

This is one of my favorite Christmas things!

Christmas Blessings - B

The Stockings Were Hung

2009-12-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

We don't have a fireplace, therefore, we don't have a mantel. What's one to do with one's stockings? Go get some "command" hooks and hang them from one of your many pieces of furniture. Then you cover up the hooks with greenery and when the holidays are complete, pull the hooks off and remove the sticky with "goo gone". Problem solved.

And as you look through the pics, yes, it's true, we do have a dead zebra hanging on the banister in the family room. It looks pretty cool. Grandpa brought it back from Africa some years ago. I love it.

Christmas Blessings - B

My Mother!

2009-12-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

Just when I think she doesn't know me, I get this in the mail...

It's my very own naked guy Christmas apron.

She has a wonderful embroidery machine...

I think this one is my favorite. I usually dig dark-headed men but this one is fine... fine. I can't believe I'm thinking this way about "cartoon" pics of the opposite sex.

Could Mom sense that I was rapidly spiralling to Scroogeville or does she look at fabric with half-dressed hunks and immediatley think of daughter #1? I don't want to know the answer and neither does M! ha

The only thing better than the eye candy is the pocket full of Butterfingers she included. In case you don't know this, there is NOTHING better than a FRESH Butterfinger!

Thanks so much, Mom! You turned my frown upside down!

p.s. #3 (who is 4) just came in and said, "That's awesome. How'd ya get Dad's boobs on the internet?"

I'm soooo.. laughing!!

Christmas Blessings-B

A Christmas Coat

2009-12-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

While doing some holiday shopping in one of my favorite antique shops, this is what I spotted:

It was love across a crowded room. We made eyes at each other and for $40 I convinced her to come home with me. I can't believe I paid $40! I wouldn't even spend that on an actual piece of clothing for myself!

It is a FABULOUS brilliant red wool coat with a rabbit fur collar. I'd say it's from the 50's. Doesn't it just look amazing on my dress form!?

# 3 thought she needed to be part of the feature:

Christmas Blessings- B

Tree on the Cheap

2009-12-02T17:37:00.000-08:00

The entry:

This cabinet came from Bev's sale and is the inspiration for the whole room. This room, by far, is the "countriest" of them all. The tree is the one our family put up in our county courthouse last year for the festival of trees.

The inspiration for the tree came from this adorable cake pan found at the local flea market for a dollar.

I had visions of the rest of the tree covered in old cookie cutters - visions were squashed when I learned what those cost. Plan B was to use old "tins". They run about $3 for 5-10 of the cute little things. I was so lucky to find the precious little Christmas Trees.

What do I need now? Hmmm... how about making cookie cut outs from salt dough. What a great idea. I added a little vanilla and pumpkin pie spice to make them smell good. Being impatient, I dried them in the oven.

The thing is covered in these creations... holly, gingerbread men, trees, stars, etc.

{If you do this, make a hole somewhere on the cutout with a toothpick so that you can hang them with ribbon - the hole needs to be pretty good size}

What are we gonna put on top?

I splurged for these 2 cookie cutters and wired them inside the tin star mold.

They are hard to see but they are a boy and a girl gingerbread people.

I love a lot of floral junk on the tops of our trees [Really? we couln't tell]

I cut strips of burlap for the "garland" and used about 1 1/2 yards of the burlap as a tree skirt. It's a very homey tree.

#####

Before M bought yours truly my very own scroll saw, Pammie Sue was my got to person for my letters. She did a beautiful job cutting out "S A N T A" (on top of the Sellers) on her scroll saw. Yes, run out and buy more power tools. You will never regret it and your husband/boyfriend/brother/dad will be thrilled to help you out with this venture.

Anyhoo...the letters have been every color under the rainbow. A crackled red finish suits them just fine.

Blessings-B

Do You Believe?

2009-12-01T05:24:00.000-08:00

I have a new approach to my projects. Instead of making something just to prove to myself that I can, I've decided that things go much better if I have a spot for said creation before starting the project.

It was so obvious that I needed something between the closet doors in the entry. Yes, oh so obvious. With a little help from my Cricut and a piece of old wood I found in the barn, we created this.

It's big and I. LIKE. BIG. {giggle}

It's a 1X10 about 51 inches long.

The prep was a light sanding to remove bird poop and then some spray adhesive to put on the letters and the scrolls.

Isn't it too cool?

Go make something!

Blessings-B

Advent Tree

2009-11-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

Remember last week when I said I'd post photos of the Advent Tree "tomorrow"? Sorry for the delay, but here it is...
Start with some branches from your back yard. Then grab your "big gulp" cup from your morning 44 ounce Diet Coke (what? doesn't everyone drink 44 ounces of Diet Coke every morning?). Mix up a little "Qwik Crete". {Much cheaper than plaster of paris} Stick your branches in and let it dry. Obviously, from this photo, I didn't have enough branches for my liking. So I used newspaper to shove some more in the pot.

I spray painted my branches and pot a few shades of gold. I plan to use it for next years Gratitude Tree at Thanksgiving.

Then I printed out all the "Advent Activities" and put them on pretty paper - stuff 'em in pretty little numbered envelopes...

Hang 'em on the tree...

Wrap the bigger gifts and you have the makings of a joyous-Christmas-memory-filled 24 days.

That sounds a bit sappy.

Let's try this approach:

You have the makings of some holiday fun in between the day to day fights and chaos.

Blessings- B

Happy Advent

2009-11-22T20:23:00.000-08:00

So I'm a little early with the Christmas stuff. Sister Suzie has invited all to her home for Thanksgiving and I'm having Christmas... therefore, it's OK!

Here's one of my latest projects - an Advent Tree! I got the idea from here (she has great stuff). Mine isn't quite finished yet. Pics to follow. For now, I'll share the "gifts" that M and I came up with for each day. I'm even sharing them in the order I did them - the more detailed gifts on weekends, easy ones on nights we have activities, so on and so forth. A few of these things may seem very simple to some people. However, to our kids, THEY ARE HUGE!!! And I am very, very proud of THAT!

Theoretically, the kids open an envelope/gift each morning and in the evening we do the activity together.

Here you go. You've got 8 days to put yours together. I'll share photos tomorrow night.

1. Mom does horse chores - night off for the kids!
2. A small package of gum for each child - they LOVE gum!
3. Let's have a "Coke" with our supper - the kids love the Coke cans with Santa on them
4. Help Mom with Christmas Cards
5. Christmas Shopping for the siblings
6. Write letters to Santa together
7. Go get our real live Christmas Tree - we always try to get our tree on or around Dec. 8th. This is the day that M lost his mom. This is our little way of celebrating her life.
8. Let's do a Christmas craft - every year we each make a new ornament together for our tree
9. A piece of candy for each child
10. Everybody gets $1
11. Help Mom wrap gifts
12. Let's make cookies
13. Let's go out for supper
14. The boys get to pick 2 games to play
15. Another Christmas Craft Night
16. Mom & Dad get to pick 2 games to play
17. A piece of candy for each child
18. Let's make a birthday cake for Jesus
19. Make Gingersnaps with Dad - Dad is the official Christmas Gingersnap maker. I hope we're done with harvest by this night!!
20. Let's go swimming! - we have access to a beautiful indoor pool that we don't use enough.
21. The girls get to pick 2 games for tonight
22. Each child gets a Christmas T-shirt to wear for their last day of school
23. Let's make cookies!
24. Together we'll read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and share some Hot Chocolate.
25. The final gift is, of course, the Baby Jesus to be unwrapped and placed in the Nativity.

Hope you've enjoyed our ideas. This is another reason to get my decorating done early - now I can spend atleast 25 joyful days doing fun "Kid Christmas" stuff.

Be creative. It doesn't have to cost a dime.

Blessings- B

I Can't Help It!

2009-11-20T08:11:00.000-08:00

Well, it happened. I have unleashed the spirit. I'll be brief and share some photos...

The wreath is actually a candle ring. The clock came from Goodwill last week - $2!!!!!

NOTE: all of the following "greenery" came from the after Christmas sale at Old Time Pottery...

a wonderful place.

I found these little "embellishments" at the dollar store for, well, a dollar. Added some scrapbook paper and framed them {no glass}. They say "gifts", "cherish", and "blessings".

These were two doors from an old cabinet that had obviously last their glass. What do ya do with those... you hang stuff in them!

This as a wooden bowl with a candle ring and a hurricane. Notice that I've used burlap for table runners in a few of these pics? Burlap is cheap and easy to use. To get the staight edges so that you can "fray" the piece, all you have to do is pull a string on each side and cut off the waste. Then stitch around the rectangle 1 1/2 inches from the edge. Then pull the other strings to "fray". The stitching, obviously, keeps it from coming completely apart. I've seen people (who don't sew) use a glue gun and glue ribbon so far from the edge to keep it from unraveling.

Add a ribbon to a lamp shade. #3 thought we needed the little pine cones around the bottom.

The top of the piano. The top board is from an old headboard that we dismantled. The 2 black and white things are artists canvases decoupaged with pages from an old catalog (from St. Paul, Lucy). The deer and garland from Old Time Pottery and the gold board on the easel is just an 18 in piece of 1/4 inch plywood.

I covered it with textured wallpaper (another of my favorite things), painted ot old gold, and smeared on a bronze glaze. I love it!

MUCH MUCH MUCH more to come!

Blessings-B

The Box

2009-11-10T20:10:00.000-08:00

I am so trying to hold back the spirit of Christmas that is trying to rip through my fall decor...it's tough, but so far I have managed. I've done this by concentrating on other things that have been making me crazy. Current obsession is this hutch in our kitchen. It needed something on top - of course it did! {notice all the crap laying around it and on it and in it? That's where I'm tryin' to be real! -ha - like it was staged.}

This weekend we built this box

By no means is it perfect. It doesn't even have a real back. Use what ya have.

And then with my brand new CRICUT (yes, I have a CRICUT! I can't eat lunch for a good 6-8 months but, by golly, I can cut paper!)...I cut out these letters-

To be totally cliche I chose black GINGHAM scrapbook paper and Mod Podged them onto my box.

I don't particularly care for Mod Podge - notice the sheen in only certain places - UGH! Makes me question my crafting ability... again, keepin' it real!

With the addition of the dried hydrangeas {from Miss Pam's Garden}, I think I may be in love. I know it's a bit country but I like it just the same.

As you can see in the next photos, I am fond of dried hydrangeas.

This pic also shows my love for old suitcases. This little treasure has a place in my heart because of his rope handle. Was his owner embarrassed to take this on the train or was he proud of those mighty fine knots he tied?

Blessings-B

Portrait of an American Family

2009-11-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

Had to share photos from our Halloween-

The Family

The Children

{don't exactly know why they are yelling?}

The Penguins

{Dad is finishing off a sucker...just in case you were wondering}

Mom was a dead/zombie doctor (last minute trip to Goodwill) - #1 was Dracula - #2 a Garden Fairy - #3 a Pink Princess - Dad and #4 were Penguins! (#5 slept in her car seat) The whole "giraffe rider" thing with #4 faded and he was thrilled when he got to be the same as Dad! Dad was so happy to wear the discounted (severely discounted) costumes Mom found last minute. He is the best dad in the whole wide world.

Blessings-B

Take A Number

2009-10-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

Time for a cheap bedroom update. We've had these pillows on our bed for 9 1/2 years. Are you suppose to keep things that long? {M is so rolling his eyes right now}

The stuffing was even coming out of one corner - embarrassing.

So, with a little burlap (from my dear friend, The Church Lady) and some black acrylic paint, and number stencils from Hobby Lobby I came up with this...

I only used 1 through 7 because there are seven of us in our family. #2 couldn't quite get this concept but #3 said she "totally understood" - she's 4!

Then we sewed around three sides to make pillow covers and used embroidery floss to hand sew them closed.

I've come to the conclusion that I like quick projects that I can see the results ASAP! Seems as though I'm not a real patient person. {Now everyone in my life is rolling their eyes...DUH.}

Blessings-B

Simple

2009-10-26T21:41:00.000-07:00

Recently introduced to me was the phrase: "glitter is the herpes of the craft world". {Aren't ya just crackin' up?} I love glitter and below are the 50 cent Goodwill ghosts that got to participate in my latest indulgence with the bling...

[I really don't know why I was clinching this itty bitty ceramic guy with my great big thumb.]

...and after...

...a little silver spray paint, and a little spray adhesive, and a whole lotta silver glitter...

Easy.

Blessings-B

May I Take a Message?

2009-10-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

Do you ever walk in to your house and say to yourself, "Wow, that's ugly"? When I say this to myself, then I am OBSESSED until I can make it un-ugly (atleast in my eyes).

Current Obsession:
#1. Entry bulletin board
#2. Where to put the kids' artwork

#1-
Recovered entry bulletin board with burlap and put it in an old frame:

This baby was on of those el-cheapo boards from Wal-Mart that had absolutely NO character. {BTW - these are readily available at thrift stores EVERYWHERE!} I tore off the old frame and covered the cork with burlap. Then I popped it in the frame and secured it with a staple gun.

Much classier - don't ya think?

This was absolutely free! Remember, I had all the supplies, so no costs are realized!

#2 -
Project number one lead to an idea for problem #2:
More recovered bulletin boards! This time I stepped out a little and went to Menard's for the board and the trim. Did I mention that I HATE MENARD'S?! More on that in a minute. Because I have 5 children it would be necessary for us to have a rather large art display. For $9.00 we found this:

It's 48X32 - HUGE and PERFECT! But I also needed some decorative trim for the frame. Here's where the loathing comes into play. I found an oak piece for $6 for a 6 feet piece or I could buy an 8 foot piece of that primed MDF stuff for $4 - no brainer since I'm going to paint it anyway, right? But how is one to get it into her CAR? I asked the kind gentleman behind the "lumber desk" if they could cut the 8ft piece in half. He said, "Well, we might have a hand saw back here somewhere." Huh? Are you kidding me? On second thought, is there a Lowe's nearby? (NO) Believe it or not, I got the 2 - 8 foot pieces in the front seat of my car. The kids had to ride home with their heads cocked a little to the right but they've recovered.

Anyway... I painted the trim pieces and then covered the board with upholstery fabric while the paint was drying. I distressed the trim a little and found that the white came through -duh. So, I used some wood stain to go over the sanded parts and it turned out to be amazing. Maybe not amazing, but it looks nice.

I glued and stapled and nailed all of these parts onto a 1/4 inch piece of "somethin' cheap" plywood.

It hangs in the kitchen and is already full of masterpieces! I feel like one of those good moms now. HA

Blessings-B

$16 of Unadulterated Fun

2009-10-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

Monday's trip to Goodwill provided me with all of what's pictured below for only $16.00!

{I am so not a photographer! Oh, how I long to be!}

My weekly budget for "thrifting" is $25.00. Those of you thinking, "she needs a junk budget?" - trust me, it's necesssary. However, if there's something out there that I really "need", then the budget is merely a guideline - you understand. I digress. With these limits in place, one is sure to realize how excited I may have been to get so much for so little. To the untrained eye it may look like junk but it's oh, so much more.

The "Trick or Treat" bucket found itself full off Halloween candy (currently hidden from those sticky hands that belong to M and four of the five children). The corboral (is that what it's called) thingy in the middle I love but it's in purgatory waiting for its assigned spot. The candles got a new home in the bathroom. And finally, the candlesticks and cheese plate got a fresh new coat of.........black spray paint!

The birdcage came from an auction and no one wanted it - I dug it out of the dumpster, painted it black, and added a crow.

There's a glittery skull inside these plate. Would you call that "head cheese"? HA

Who can't love a pumpkin on a candlestick?

Blessings-B