As promised: quilt pics

It’s been a long time coming, but here are the promised pictures of the whole cloth quilts I made for Daniel and Sara Lynn this past Christmas. I really enjoyed the entire process of making my first quilts, even if there was no actual piecing involved. I have to say, I was feeling much better this time last month, and I am ever so glad I took advantage of those days to give my little loves something mama-made. It feels so right.

Here’s a close-up of the quilting. I chose to do a grid pattern on Daniel’s quilt and straight lines for Sara Lynn’s quilt. I couldn’t be more pleased with how they turned out. I just adore the puckered, antique look. It’s exactly what I was going for. And I’m happy to report they were very well received.

Give Away: Levi's Lye Soap

Check this out…

http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/2011/01/give-away-levis-lye-soap.html

I love a giveaway, and since I’m not making my own soap right now, this looks good to me!

Some days are better than others

Can I be honest here? I’m having a really tough time lately. And that’s okay. Sometimes life doesn’t make sense, but there’s no use crying over spilt milk. I’ve learned that the hard way. We’re in God’s hands and only He can see the big picture of our lives. So, we must keep going - putting one foot in front of the other, and praying for better days. Sometimes, everybody hurts. Everybody hurts, sometimes. ~REM I’ve found that the key to surviving the difficult times is to focus on today. What can I do right now? I try not to think about all those things I can’t do. I try not to worry about tomorrow, because honestly, today has enough trouble of it’s own. Right now, these words are very real to me. I trust that the Lord will not put on my plate any more than I can bear. I remind myself of Paul’s words: “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

So, I cook for my family. Gluten free peach crisp.

I make sauerkraut.

I marvel at 2 cabbages that barely half-fill two quart-size mason jars.

I prepare sourdough bread for my loved ones.

And on the days when mama hurts too much to move, we eat take-out pizza by candlelight. I find myself in the midst of a severe Crohn’s flare-up and unable to take medication to ease the pain of two more degenerative discs in my spine. But, I know that there’s a better day coming…

A Handmade Christmas (and my first whole cloth quilt)

I’ve wanted to learn to quilt for what seems like forever. This Christmas, with one week to spare, I finally decided it was time to bite the bullet. I made each of my children a whole cloth quilt (mostly because I had no time to make a proper quilt and partly because I was scared I’d mess it up) as an early Christmas gift. We took them with us on the long drive to Disney and now the quilts have been rightfully dubbed our “Road Trip” quilts.

I really love the way they turned out. Unfortunately, I haven’t taken the time to photograph the finished quilts and it’s raining out. More pictures will come later. I’m most in love with Daniel’s quilt. I simply adore the fabric combo and colors. All of it was purchased at Hobby Lobby where you can print out a coupon online that’s good for 40% off (in-store purchases) most weeks. Oh, yes. I’m nothing if not frugal.

I really enjoyed making my first two quilts, even if I was a bit pressed for time. I completed both quilts in less than one week. I finished the binding of my baby girl’s quilt on the oh-so-long trip down. I believe hand-finishing the binding was actually my most favorite part. Stress relief at it’s finest I tell you. There was also a good bit of knitting done on this trip, but I only have one UFO to show for it. I’m still trying to get the hang of knitting, and I can’t tell you how many dropped stitches I’ve had to deal with. I should probably frog it and start over. It sits abandoned in my knitting basket for now.

This is exactly what I felt like when I was halfway through marking the lines on Daniel’s quilt.

And this is what I felt like when I finished. My mom gave me this cute pencil sharpener. I love it.

Good gravy… that was a lot of marking!

In case you’re interested on getting started in quilting, here are some tutorials which helped me tremendously:

http://www.crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/ You’ll find links to picture tutorials of all the basics in Amanda Jean’s sidebar.

http://anyonecanquilt.typepad.com/my_weblog/machine-quilting-tutorial/ This is the method I used for basting - easy.

Oops… Apple Oat Muffin recipe errata

Oh, guys… I’m so sorry! I’ve just realized that the muffin recipe uses 1 cup of rolled oats not 2 cups. I’ve corrected the recipe and I sincerely apologize. Happy baking! (We enjoyed a batch of them just this morning.)

MIA…

Oh, yes. We went to Disney World. In the midst of a busy holiday season, we decided it was time we took the littles to see the Mouse. It was one of those spur of the moment decisions we’re really glad we made. Thirteen years ago, the man and I went on our honeymoon. Ever since that first magical trip, we knew we’d one day take our children. Well, finally, just as Sara Lynn hit 44 inches in height (the magic number for many rides), we decided that there is no time like the present. Carpe Diem, my friend!

Did I mention that we left an upstairs remodel unfinished so we could go off and play? Yes, we did. No regrets. At this point, I’m just wondering when I’ll find time to bake with 10+ loads of post-Disney laundry to do and no less than 1 inch of drywall dust coating every surface in this house. (Sigh.) But it was definitely worth it.

Gluten free apple oat muffins (soaked in kefir)

I’ve been meaning to post this recipe for a while now… thanks for the nudge, Diane!

These muffins are a family favorite and a (quickly disappearing) staple around here. I promise you can serve this to guests without apology. No one would guess that they are gluten free! They’re not too dense and they’re very moist and flavorful – attributes I accredit to soaking the flours overnight in kefir. Try it. You’ll be hooked, too.

Apple Oat Muffins

1 c. rolled oats (I use certified gluten free oats)

1/2 c. brown rice flour

1/2 c. millet flour

1 c. kefir

Combine above ingredients and allow to soak overnight (up to 12 hours)

The next morning, blend in the following ingredients:

2 eggs

1/2 c. honey

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. sea salt

3 tsp. cinnamon

1 medium apple, unpeeled, cored, and grated coarsely

1/2 c. raisins (optional)

1/2 c. walnuts (optional)

After mixing all ingredients, fill paper-lined muffin cups until almost full. Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes or until done.

Don’t let the use of rolled oats scare you here. Soaking them overnight makes them tender and delicious. Really, you won’t notice that they are in the finished muffins. A nice variation we often enjoy is substituting 1 c. pureed pumpkin for the apple, no raisins, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. ginger, and 1 tsp. nutmeg. So delicious! You may find you need to add extra flour if your pumpkin puree is too thin, which is often the case with homemade pumpkin puree. I usually add a little brown rice flour if needed.

***It’s important to note that gluten free batter will not be as thick as a whole wheat batter. Gluten free baked goods have a tendency to be dry if the batter is too thick. Always err on the side of more liquid than less liquid if in doubt. Often, the batter should be thin like pancake batter.

***EDITTED TO ADD: You may use buttermilk or yogurt diluted with water (to the consistency of buttermilk) in place of kefir.

Making kefir and a Banana Nut Bread recipe

A little bit of sparkle

I love putting up the Christmas tree with my family. I know where each and every ornament came from and who gave it to me, all the way back to the very first Christmas my husband and I shared together. Now, we have two little ones who relish placing the ornaments in just the right spots, and they even make new ones each year. It was Sara Lynn’s turn to place the herald angel atop the tree this year. I like to look at it and imagine Christ’s birth. Oh, how the angels must have rejoiced when Mary delivered Him! What wonder and awe Mary and Joseph must have felt to hold the Son of God in their arms…

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ~Luke 2:8-12

Chai it… and you’ll like it!

This time of year (and anytime, really!) I adore a nice cup of hot Chai tea. Soothing and uplifting all at the same time, this tea is a perfect pick-me-up. In the past, I’ve always bought organic Chai tea bags and brewed the tea that way. But after Diane’s post, I really wanted to try making my own loose Chai tea. Unfortunately, Mountain Rose Herbs was sold out of several of the spices I needed. Rats!

Not being the patient type (at all), I proceeded over to Amazon where I found a loose Chai that I absolutely adore. This mix has a wonderful balance.

Frontier Loose Organic Chai Tea is fair trade certified and absolutely delicious. I’m hooked! I’ve been making it in my French press and it works beautifully. Best of all, this tea is priced for less than what I could buy the spices and make it myself, and it qualifies for Amazon super-saver free shipping. Yes!

Gratitude

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
² Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.