Mint Thins

Yesterday afternoon I was looking through a book I found at our library called: The Cookipedia and found this recipe for Mint Thins. I really like these cookies.  The only time I had them was years ago. They took me about a hour to make but were totally worth it.  I will definitely save the recipe and make them again!! <3

 

 

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

Last night my sister and I made gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. They were so easy to build.  It  took me maybe ten minutes to mix up a batch of icing and cut out the house. My mom bought some gumdrops at the store and we used those and chocolate chips to decorate them.



Providence's house that she designed.

My house





Just a Unique Outfit

Yesterday I felt like sewing, (actually, I felt like doing a craft, and then decided to sew). So I looked through all of my sewing patterns, and stumbled upon the pattern for this unique, and adorable outfit. I decided I just had to make it, even though it would be time consuming (I had to redo one of the tiers three times!?!). After I finished it I went downstairs and, unburied my doll (who just happened to be under a huge pile of stuff), and try it on her. It was totally worth the time!!

Standing in the leaves

~10/2/12-10/12/12~

I entitled this post, '10/2/12-10/12/12' because I've decided this is going to be a miscellaneous post about everything that's been going on lately. <3 Thursday the 4th, Dad bought a 1998 Ford Taurus for him and my brothers to fix up.  On Friday the 5th I finished my quilt!!! Yay! Now I just have to find someone to quilt it for me. Hmm, that will be interesting. :) Saturday I went thrift store shopping with my friend Holly it was a blast!! We went to about 9 thrift stores and then to Panera for lunch!! Thanks for such a great time Holly!!! This past Thursday my brother Josiah's RC (remote controlled) helicopter arrived in the mail, it has been the most popular item/toy of the day this week. Then this past Monday thru Friday (today, actually) :) we've gotten our counter tops all cut and ready to be fixed in place. Our front entryway tile has all been torn out, and ready to be replaced. Finally, our backsplash surface has been totally prepared, and is waiting to be replaced. I can't wait our kitchen is almost completed!!!! :D Soon we'll have the sink!! *sigh*

Hanging the Cabinets

The kitchen tile right after we grouted

Our laundry room after we tiled it.

I was going through my pictures on my camera, and found some cute ones of my cat when he was a kitten. I just had to share them.

Sleeping in Providence's carseat on the way home from Colorado.

His first week at home

Providence's Ouilt

Sorry I haven't posted. ;) My laptop wasn't functioning very well. Yesterday I finally finished a project I had been working on for quite a while, a quilt for my little sister. She was thrilled to finally be able to use it!! I know I've been making alot of things for her, but it's so amazing to see her face when I show her what I made! <3 For the quilt, I just used a simple strip pattern where you cut strips of fabric, and sew them together in a crazy made up pattern, and for the back a cute lady bug flannel. Instead of quilting it I decided to tie it (using the Homestead Blessings: The Art of Sewing DVD as a guide) much simpler!!

The quilt

The three different fabrics

Decoupage Notebook

Yesterday I received some notebooks in the mail, and my little sister decided she wanted her own notebook. :) So after doing a quick check of the supplies on hand It was decided to make her, her own.

The front

The back

Here's a tutorial of how to make them:  http://kindthoughts23.blogspot.com/2012/05/dsp-project-2-decoupage-notebook.html

Wall Cabinets!!

All of our wall cabinets are finally up!!!

Fabric for a New Quilt

Our local fabric store had a sale on fat quarters, and I decided to buy some for my next quilt! I'll probably be using the same pattern as my other quilt, because it is very easy and simple.





An Update on my Quilt

I've actually finished three rows of my quilt already, just two more left!!

An Afternoon at the River

Yesterday afternoon my dad came home early from work, and told my little sister that we were going to the river! After packing all the towels, snacks, swimwear etc., we headed out the door. The water was nice and warm, and we actually caught some little minnows using a net. :) After cooking and eating dinner we packed up and departed for home.

My little sister sitting in the water.

My brothers building a sand castle.

Cabinets!!

Last night we hung up our first cabinet!!

Quilting Project: Fat Quarter Breeze

Guess what I have decided to make....?? It's for a bed and looks amazing guess yet??It's a quilt!! I saw this pattern in a book I got from the library, and decided it was perfect for a quilt, and would look amazing with the fabric I had. The pattern is called `Fat Quarter Breeze`.



The design

And the fabrics:

The fabrics are all from a collection called: Secret Garden by Lynette Anderson.

~Sewing Project: How to Make a Yo-Yo~

After making the yo-yo necklace I decided to do a post on how to make them. :)


First, cut a circle 4in. in diameter out of paper for your pattern. I used a 4in. for the big yo-yos and a 3in. circle for the smaller yo-yos. Next, cut out a circle from your fabric with your pattern. Sew all around the circle leave the end long enough so that you can pull it.

Next, pull both ends at the SAME time to gather the circle up (as shown in the picture below).

When it is all gathered flatten and pull the edges of the yo-yo.

Then just add a button and you're all finished!!

Sewing Project: Yo-Yo Necklace

Yesterday afternoon I completed my yo-yo necklace!! They are a REALLY easy and fun craft, plus they hardly take any time at all!  You can also make them to decorate clothes, purses, pillows etc.. Right now I'm working on making them into hair accessories. They are looking great!! As soon as I finish they'll be blogged about too. :)



I love the color combination. :)



Canning: Peaches, Jam, Salsa, Barbecue Sauce, and Remodel

For the last three mornings have been all canning! First, we made peach jam, and barbecue sauce. The second day, peaches (which tastes awesome!), jam, and salsa. Today we canned more peaches, and more salsa!! All out of 4 bushels of red ripe peaches! :D It's nice to know we're done, and all the fruit is downstairs canned, for us to enjoy this winter.

This past Sunday, we finished sealing our kitchen floor, it looks great (pictures to come)!!

Crocheted Rag Rug

Last night I finally finished a rag rug I started last time we were in Colorado (October 2011)! It's really easy once you get the hang of it. First, rip up some old sheets, this rug took 4. Second, sew the strips together, and roll them up into a ball. Make sure the strips are lying flat as you roll them into a ball. Then start crocheting a circle in single crochet, I started out with 5 sts.Crochet in a circle until wanted size, or till you run out of sheet strips. This is a great way to use old sheets or clothes. ;)

New Bracelet!

A couple of weeks ago I bought a paracord bracelet from a friend of my brothers.  He makes paracord bracelets in many different colors (pink, white, red, black).If you are interested in buying one, just leave a comment and I can send you his contact info.  There are pictures below. I really like mine, and highly recommend them. ;)

New Reading and Schoolbooks for 2012

I decided to do a very random post. ;) Here is a list of the schoolbooks for Fall 2012 (I've already started working on Algebra 1/2 and Know What You Believe), and books that I would like to read this summer.

Schoolbooks:

Math: Algebra 1/2
Grammar:Rod and Staff 6
Literature: Great Christian Classics (Generations with Vision)
Theology: Know What You Believe
Science: Physical Science

I have not decided what language or electives I'm taking this year. I might take either French or Spanish, but I don't know yet.

Reading Books:

A Chance to Die
Adventures of Missionary Heroism
Biography of John G. Paton
March to Magdala
Sinking of the Titanic and Other Great Sea Diasters
Life of Luther
Thunderhead
Sarah's Wish
Sarah's Escape
Ben-Hur

We'll see if I can finish them all. I hope to be done with the Reading books by the last week of August. I've already read Sarah's Wish and Sarah's Escape, but I really like the series.

Rebekah Abigail

House Remodel~Grout and Landscaping

These past few days my family and I have been working on our house, fixing it up to sell. Right now we are working on a one foot trench in our front yard to put up a retaining wall. We all take turns using the pick axe and shovel . Last night we stayed up until 12:08 PM grouting and cleaning our laundry room!  Today its raining so I doubt we'll be able to dig anymore. :( Oh well,  today I'll work on cleaning our basement for carpet   tack, and getting ready for a upcoming book sale that we are participating in!! :)

My little sister helping to dig!

Hard at work.

I thought this was a really cool picture. I took it through our front door (thus the reflection).

Basketweaving Class

Last week I went to a basketweaving class at our library, and made this cute little gift bag.;)

I really like the yellow.:D

Busy Weekend

Last Friday my family and I went to some booksales with some friends of ours. It was fun!! There was a huge line.  Thankfully, we got there early enough to not be so far behind. After walking around and finding some really good books we all went to Chick-fil-a. After we picked up our food, everybody headed back to our house. When everybody finished eating, the boys all had a big Nerf war and the older girls all went outside to watch the younger ones. After everbody left, my family and I all got back into the car to go to a thrift store and the library and then my Dads' work to pick him up. When we all got home and after eating a quick dinner we headed to another booksale where I also found some good books. In case you haven't guessed already I really like books!!

Then, Saturday morning I went with Mom to look at a bicycle for my little sister at a garage sale. It looked almost brand new!! After calling my Dad to ask if the tire size was okay, Mom bought it. When we arrived at home Providence had just woken up. My brother Josiah and I brought the bicycle into our kitchen where Providence couldn't see it. When the whole family was in the living room Dad told Providence that we had a surprise for her. Josiah wheeled it into the living room. She was surprised!! She went out there and rode it with her new helmet. :)

Riding outside, still a little sleepy.

Providence's New Gear

Last night Mom went to Walmart and bought Providence a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and gloves. Providence was so happy and excited!!! We all went outside to watch her scooter at 9: 13 PM, and then out again this morning. :)


This afternoon my kitten Pippin decided to take a nap on top of a coil of rope. :)


Doesn't he have such a hard life!! :)

Apple Bread, Potato Salad and Flood???

This morning I mixed up 4 batches of apple bread, since our kitchen is being remodeled this was no easy feat. :) When I had just finished the second batch of apple bread and put the potatoes to boil, our washing machine flooded. For the past two days our washing machine was unhooked so we could tile. This morning we were getting caught up on laundry, when it flooded. After wiping up the laundry room and trying to keep the water from going down the air vent, I went downstairs to see how bad it had leaked down there. When I arrived the floor of the whole back corner was soaked, as was the table, clothes, boxes of clothes, tool boxes, lightbulbs, and window shutters. After wiping that all up and having fans blow, I went back upstairs with a basketful of dirty towels to be washed (trying to wash towels just created more to be washed). As soon as I set the basket down to be washed, I went back to the potatoes only to find they were between mush and firm. :) Oh well, they still worked.


Dry ingredients.



Apple bread finished

NRA Yearly Gun Show 2012!

This past Saturday my family helped a church family move. It was great! We were all trying to load the boxes and furniture onto the moving truck without getting soaked (it was raining)! :)  Then after we were done, our family went to the NRA conference! The National Rifle Association gun show was amazing! There was a estimate of 64,000 people there! Our family went 5 years ago when it was held in St. Louis, but it wasn't this packed! At the beginning you could hardly move. We all headed to the back where it was less crowded. Sorry if some of the pictures are blurry, I kept trying to get a picture before someone walked in the way, and didn't have enough time to get the camera to focus. :)

Isn't this an amazing yellow safe?!

  

My brother Josiah aiming a gun.



Henry Rifle Stands.



My brother Joshua trying out a gun.

All of the people there!