Yesterday was a productive day

I made those 2 mini-purses that I posted and last night, I made this bag. I should stuff it with something so you can see it without it folding in.

I love the material and the way it came out. My mom always says that it's always a good thing when you want to keep the products you make.

Well, I would love to keep this bag, but it will be put into the lot of gifts to be given away this Christmas.

It is approx 8x10x2 with a strap close to 40". It is lined and has a magnetic clasp.

I had planned on choosing a bunch of different fabric combinations and getting everything precut, but once I started cutting this fabric, I wanted to see what it looked like! I'm not sure who is going to get this bag...but I have an idea :)

(and considering I got both of these fabrics for $1 and $2 a yard...and used maybe 1/3 of a yard of each....the cost of this gift is not high! Of course, you start adding in my labor and it goes WAY up, lol)

I can mark 2 mini-purses off the list!

First, I want to thank my model, Gideon, who was very enthused to get his picture taken with a girl's purse. He just kept saying over and over that it was for girls. Poor kid.

I can post these because the girls that they are for are too young to get on the computer. Even though I know their mothers may read, I'm not naming names, so you just never know!

It really only took me a couple of hours. The longest part is cutting out the pieces! I also made up the pattern, so that took a few minutes, just figuring out what I wanted it to look like.

Both purses are lined with flannel and have a tie. One has a satin ribbon, and the other, a satin cord. The strap is about 24 inches long.

I'm pleased with the way they came out. They aren't perfect...so it adds a human touch, lol. It's amazing what can happen when you are top stitching a bag and a baby decides to sneak up on you underneath the table and push on the presser foot!!!

Cute, eh?

My list of gifts to make

It has been asked of me by Theresa at Kids and Dogs (hi there!) to post a list of the things I have on my list to do.

I don't mind sharing, but this is going to be an incomplete list....because the names will not be posted because I know my family and friends will read this!

So here is my list:

4 pairs of fleece pants for my boys.

2 library totes...a tote bag but with one long handle to wear it crossing in front of you. For my niece and nephew who love to read!

2 mini-purses....for a couple little girly girls I know....maybe matching headbands!

2 messenger type bags....made out of hemp material. I'm so excited because I found a website that had some of their hemp fabric clearanced down, so I was able to get it much cheaper than I though!

A bunch of bags to make....not sure yet of the style. I think I might play around a little with what I end up doing.

1-2 sets of placemats and maybe some coasters.

I plan on crocheting several scarves.

We are going out of town for Christmas, so I won't be able to keep any projects until Christmas Eve. I need to figure out how to combine some of these bags. It goes quicker if I am making things in an assembly line.

I will be sure to take pictures of the lot when they are all done (and maybe given out!)....until then, mums the word!

Holiday Recipes #4: Dessert

I was thinking that if I wait until next week to post some desserts, then it would be too late to make them, if you want some ideas for Thanksgiving....so here are a few of my family favorites!

Congo Squares

2-3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 pound lt brown sugar
3/4 cup oil
3 eggs
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 12oz bag chocolate chips

Mix sugar and oil until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add all dry ingredients and mix well. Mixture will be very thick. Spread into a well-greased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour....DO NOT OVERBAKE!

Once cooled, cut into squares and enjoy! This is a favorite with the kiddies :)

Frank's bars

6 cups corn flakes
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
1/2 cup butter
2-1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter (equal to one 18 ounce jar)

Bring to a boil: sugar, syrup, butter, and peanut butter. Pour over cereal. Mix well. In a 9x13 dish, have it lined with wax paper, and then greased. Press the mixture into the pan, using a little force to get it compact. Spread the chocolate chips over the mixture and cover with a cookie sheet. The heat from the mixture will melt the chips. In 5 minutes, uncover and spread the now melted chips all over the mixture.

Put it in the fridge. When it is cold and hardened, remove from fridge and cut into squares.

This is a personal favorite!!!

Whoopie Pies

sift together:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

Add:
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg


Beat well. Place rounded teaspoonfuls on a greased and floured cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 5-6 minutes. Place on a cooling rack to cool.

Filling:
1/3 cup evaporated milk
2/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Beat with a mixer for 5 minutes.

To assemble...make sandwiches using two of the 'cake' pieces and the filling. I like to wrap them individually and put in a bowl in the fridge. It makes an easy snack to grab!

Cherry Pie

graham cracker crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (14 crackers)
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 pound (1 stick) melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake crust in the oven for 10 minutes and cool.

Cherry Pie Filling:
1 can cherry pie filling
1 can tart cherries, drained

Mix and set aside.

Topping for pie:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick of butter (cold)

Combine in a food processor and place in refrigerator.

When crust is cool, pour the combined cherry pie filling into the graham cracker crust. Cover with the pie crumb topping. Bake at 400 degrees on the lowest shelf for 10-15 minutes, then turn overn to 350 degrees. Bake until the topping begins to brown. You may have to cut out the center of a piece of foil to cover the edges of the graham cracker crust. Mold the foil ring around the edges...this will prevent over-browning. Let cool completely on a rack before serving.

Serve with or without whipped cream!


Next week I'll tell you how I brine our turkey :)

Holiday Recipes #3: Party Potatoes

8-10 medium potatoes
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
4 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup chopped chives
salt and pepper
paprika

Boil peeled potatoes until tender. Beat sour cream and cream cheese together with a mixer, add hot potatoes and beat until smooth. Add butter, chives, salt and pepper to taste.

Pour into a well-buttered casserole dish. Dot with butter and sprinkle paprika on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

You can make this a day ahead and you can adjust your cooking time accordingly. I love making things ahead of time. It makes Thanksgiving that much more relaxing. Even if you make it the morning of Thanksgiving, it gives you that much more time to spend with your family and friends!

This is an easy recipe to double if you are having a lot of people over!

Golden Potato Soup

I've been getting lots of requests...so here it is!(this is copied from an email I sent yesterday from someone who requested the recipe!)

Golden Potato Soup

3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cube chicken bouillon
2 cups water
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups half and half
2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 pound bacon (cooked and roughly chopped)
2-3 Tablespoons worc. Sauce
1-2 tsp dry mustard

I added all the ingredients into the crock pot except the cheese and put it on low for several hours. After a few hours, start adding the cheese and mix it in. Cook until the potatoes are tender.

You can also add the worc. sauce to your liking...more or less. I had a basic recipe for potato soup that I added things to and changed things around. It's really hard to go wrong when you make it...so some of the amounts are estimated :)


I also made this on the stove. A friend just had a baby, so I wanted to make a giant batch for my family, and I brought it over to their house to help them out. As long as you keep it covered and on low, it works well on the stove top too. You just need to watch out for the cheese sticking to the bottom on the pot and wanting to brown.

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted by Thomas Kelly

Born: Ju­ly 13, 1769, Kellyville, Strad­bal­ly, Queens Coun­ty, Ire­land.

Died: May 14, 1855, Dub­lin, Ire­land.

Buried: Near the Kel­ly fam­i­ly home at Kel­ly­ville, Bal­ly­ad­ams, Queens Coun­ty


Son of a judge, Kelly at­tend­ed Trin­i­ty Coll­ege (BA 1789) and planned to be a law­yer. Af­ter con­vert­ing to Christ, though, his ca­reer plans changed to the min­is­try. He be­came an Ang­li­can priest in 1792, but event­u­al­ly be­came one of the fa­mous “dis­sent­ing” min­is­ters. He wrote over 760 hymns. Mil­ler’s Sing­ers of the Church (1869) says of him:

"Mr. Kelly was a man of great and var­ied learn­ing, skilled in the Or­i­ent­al tongues, and an ex­cel­lent Bi­ble cri­tic. He was pos­sessed al­so of mu­sic­al tal­ent, and com­posed and pub­lished a work that was re­ceived with fa­vour, con­sist­ing of mu­sic adapt­ed to ev­ery form of me­tre in his hymn-book. Na­tur­al­ly of an am­i­a­ble dis­po­si­tion and tho­rough in his Christ­ian pi­e­ty, Mr. Kel­ly be­came the friend of good men, and the ad­vo­cate of ev­ery worthy, be­ne­vo­lent, and re­li­gious cause. He was ad­mired alike for his zeal and his hu­mil­i­ty; and his lib­er­al­ity found am­ple scope in Ire­land, es­pe­cial­ly dur­ing the year of fam­ine."

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long expected prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
’Tis a true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress:
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed!
See Who bears the awful load!
’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man, and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost.
Christ the Rock of our salvation,
Christ the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.

The list has been made

and it is a very long list.

I'm talking about the list I just wrote of things I plan on making for gifts this year.

When did it the holidays sneak up on me?

It does help that I'm done shopping for the kids. It's just a waiting game as far as wrapping goes. Things have to be delivered you know!

I figure I need to start doing my thing very soon...but where do I start???

Hello fellow crafters!

I just thought I would share something that you might find useful with the impending holidays!

It's a website called Factory Direct Crafts! They've got lots of cute stuff and it's very inexpensive :) (which is always a plus!)

I just purchased some corn cob pipes for my boys as stocking stuffers! They are VERY into Popeye right now, and what better than a real pipe?!? And I was able to get 4 pipes for less than $3! Right now anything that they can fit between their teeth is their 'pipe', lol. They will be very excited!

Check them out!

It's the Holiday Shopping Carnival!!

Chilihead at Don't try this at home is hosting a Holiday Shopping Carnival!!!!!

I don't know about you, but I always need help figuring out what to get everyone on my Christmas list!

(Oh, and John dear, it's okay for you to read this...it would be silly of me to even think of blogging anything that I am even thinking of getting you for Christmas!)

There are a lot of bloggers sharing at least 5 gifts that they recommend....complete with links to their ideas!

So check it out! I am :)

I'm really racking my brain on what some good gifts would be. Here are some that I came up with:

**Last year for gifts, we gave the first three DVD's in the Torchlighters series. It includes The Jim Eliot Story, The William Tyndale Story and The John Bunyan Story. It has a parent guide that goes along with it so you can discuss it with your children after you've watched them. My sister and brother-in-law said that their families really enjoyed them! This year, they have released The Eric Liddell Story that might become some more gifts!

**For the young child on your list, I recommend Andrew Peterson's The Ballad of Matthew's Begats An Unlikely Royal Family Tree. "This special book bridges the Old Testament and New Testament, showing Jesus' birth as part of God's plan from the very beginning. -AP" It comes with a cd of the song as well! The artwork in it is excellent!

**We just received this cd set last week. It is now definitely one of my favorites! It is Stuart Townend. It is a live 2 cd set that includes great, theologically sound music. It has just now become available to the US, and I highly recommend getting this! This is what they say on their site: "The writer who has penned such songs as; In Christ Alone, How Deep The Fathers Love and The Power of The Cross. Stuart has the ability and annointing to write songs that are full of sound theology and dynamic challenges. This album takes us on his journey as a writer from the early songs to the new. Be inspired by the very best of Stuart Townend Live."

**Last year for Christmas, my sister got my dad Play Nine. It's a great card game that can be played by young kids all the way to adults. You don't even have to like golf! I highly recommend this

**Here is something else that will interest young minds! I recently purchased these two books for my stepsons for Christmas. Ripley's Believe It or Not: The Remarkable...revealed and Guinness World Records 2008 . I was enjoying going through it! (I would recommend going through it beforehand to make sure there is nothing objectional in it...I found a couple things that I had to remove.)

**Here is something else my boys really enjoy playing with. It's from Target and it's very durable. My boys have had it for a couple of years now and it isn't broken!!! It's a Parents Classic Cash Register. It works like a calculator and comes with play money!

Feel free to add on if you'd like...make sure you check out the carnival!!! Also check out Sew Mama Sew...she is having tutorials for each day of November, showing different crafts you can make for gifts!!!

The Rebel's Guide to Joy - William Cowper

A quote

25"It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the
slave like his master" (Matthew 10:25)

"No one will dispute this statement, for it would be unseemly for the servant to be exalted above his Master. When our Lord was on earth, what was the treatment He received? Were His claims acknowledged, His instructions followed, His perfections worshiped, by those whom He came to bless? No; 'He was despised and rejected of men.' Outside the camp was His place: cross-bearing was His occupation. Did the world yield Him solace and rest? 'Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.' This inhospitable country afforded Him no shelter: it cast Him out and crucified Him. Such---if you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent, Christ-like walk and conversation---you must expect to be the lot of that part of your spiritual life which, in its outward development, comes under the observation of men. They will treat it as they treated the Savior---they will despise it. Dream not that worldlings will admire you, or that the more holy and the more Christ-like you are, the more peaceably people will act towards you. They prized not the polished gem, how should they value the jewel in the rough? 'If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they them of His household?

'If we were more like Christ, we should be more hated by His enemies. It were a sad dishonor to a child of God to be the world's favorite. It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout 'Well done' to the Christian man. He may begin to look to his character, and wonder whether he has not been doing wrong, when the unrighteous give him their approbation. Let us be true to our Master, and have no friendship with a blind and base world which scorns and rejects Him. Far be it from us to seek a crown of honor where our Lord found a coronet of thorn."

--Charles Spurgeon

Look what I got....

I saw this shirt on Baby Brewing and had to get one. So you better watch out...chances are, if we meet up...it's gonna be blogged!

Have you ever eaten something soooo good, you just had to share?

This morning, one of the first things I did was get my crock pot filled with the makings for tonight's dinner: Potato Soup.

I baked the bacon in the oven.

(For those of you who have never baked bacon in the oven, do it! I bake them on the large Pampered Chef stoneware bar pan. If you use a regular cookie sheet, it will spit and splatter. With the stoneware, it doesn't! It definitely takes the fuss out of preparing bacon!)

I peeled and cut up the potatoes.

I chopped up the onion.

Added the rest of the ingredients from the recipe, plus some additives of my own. (I can never seem to just leave a recipe alone when I make it....gotta make it your own, right?)

I just sampled it.

Oh.my.goodness.it.is.so.good!

I am controlling the urge to go get some more....maybe I need to check it one more time just to make sure it is edible....

I want a pair!!

Look at what I made :)

My good friend Melanie just had a baby! Since I found this pattern, I've been dying to try it out.

They are pretty easy to make and are just so soft and comfy.

I plan on making a much larger pair for my boys. I'm just waiting for the non-skid material I got off ebay to come in the mail!

Moms for Modesty

This is from Moms for Modesty blog.

Many of you shared your concerns about the current retail clothing trends for little girls and teen girls. The revealing nature of the styles and the slogans which convey attitude or sexual double entendre were of particular concern to you. You also shared your struggle with finding clothing that was stylish and fun, yet modest. Some of you even addressed this issue on your own blogs.

I've created the Moms for Modesty Mission Statement. If you agree with the Statement, please sign it by leaving your affirmation in the comments of this post. This is not an issue that is exclusively Christian in nature, though I am a Christian mom.

It is a parenting issue, a mom issue.

Many retailers, marketing and PR firms review mommy blogs for trends and opinions. If we speak as one we may be able to effect change. Please let your blogging friends know and if you normally don't leave a comment, please leave one now.

Moms for Modesty Mission Statement

*As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common sense modesty for girls and young women.

*I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women.

*I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.

*I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.

*I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls' and young womens clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.

My Take on Pat Robertson’s Endorsement of Giuliani by Denny Burk

Initially, I wasn’t sure if shock or utter frustration was the dominant emotion evoked by the news of Pat Robertson’s endorsement of Rudy Giuliani. The more I have had time to think about it, the more I’m convinced it’s the latter rather than the former.

On the merits, Robertson’s stated reasons for supporting Giuliani do not measure up to what pro-life voters expect from leaders in the pro-life movement. In announcing his endorsement, Robertson said that he believes “the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists” (source). The “overriding issue”? Does he really think that one has to make a choice at this point between protecting the unborn and protecting the nation from terrorists? Isn’t he aware that there are several other candidates who are just as strong on national defense as Giuliani but who are also pro-life? Anyone who cares about protecting the unborn would choose one of the many candidates who is both pro-life and strong on national defense. To back a pro-choice candidate at this point makes no senses at all. This is primary season, after all, not the general election.

But should we really be all that shocked anymore at the gaffes of Pat Robertson?

You can read the rest of the article here.

The Gift of Worship

This video is very well done. My only criticism is that it seems to only talk of worship when we sing at church. I feel that worship is more than a weekly occurrence. Worship is a daily, hourly, minute by minute act of reverence to God. The way that we conduct our lives should be in a state of constant worship.

Thoughts?

Band of Bloggers

As announced at the Said at Southern blog, "the 2008 Band of Bloggers fellowship will take place during lunch (11:30-1:30) on Tuesday, April 14, 2008 at the Galt House in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Guest speakers and panelists for the event include Tim Challies, Justin Taylor, Thabiti Anyabwile, and Mark Lauterbach .... The theme for next year’s conference, 'The Gospel Trust,' will focus on what it means to be servants of God and stewards entrusted with the gospel of Jesus Christ."

You may find out more about the Band of Bloggers at their website. Here is a description from their About page:

Together.

For the Gospel of Jesus Christ.The Band of Bloggers was started with a vision and collaborative effort to unite bloggers who have a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It carries with it a desire that the gospel be normative in our lives, central in our writing, and powerful in our witness to the world. The first Band of Bloggers fellowship developed when several bloggers who were attending the 2006 Together for the Gospel Conference discussed the possibility of holding a meeting to encourage one another to live and write with a gospel-centered emphasis. Within a matter of weeks, the idea had blossomed to an event with a panel of speakers–Justin Taylor, Tim Challies, Dr. Albert Mohler, and Dr. Russell Moore–and a gathering of more than 70 bloggers hosted by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The meeting served to compliment the thrust of the conference, viz. to come together for the sake of the gospel in this generation.

The second Band of Bloggers fellowship is slated to take place in 2008, again inconcert with the Together for the Gospel Conference. This year’s theme, “The Gospel Trust,” focuses on what it means to be entrusted as servants of God and stewards of His glorious gospel. During the period of time leading up to the 2008 Band of Bloggers fellowship, we will endeavor to fuel a greater passion for the gospel of the glory of Christ through resources, articles, and media (including podcasts).As we seek to facilitate discussion and foster gospel-driven lives and blogs, we encourage you to join in and share this vision with others. For comments, questions, or to contact us, please email to thegospeltrust@gmail.com.

I definitely plan on attending!

November Challies Giveaway!

Enter to win!