Give Away

There is a contest here for winning a 100$, a 200$, and a 300$ gift certificate from Vision Forum!! Vision Forum has been one of my greatest shopping spots for Godly reading, home education, and many other items. Great items on biblical femininity, great history and science (Jonathan Park!), and family.

They have great sales on all the time too. Great place to shop for Christmas. I was not paid or coerced to say this, I just love the site :)

Full Slip

Here's a great link on how to make a full slip

Shot

Our family has opted to forgo immunizations. Like it or lump it. Our choice.

When my hubby cut his thumb with a chain saw, he chose to get a tetanus shot. He got more than he bargained. He was informed, after he got the shot, that it comes the with whooping cough vaccine. Tetanus with whooping cough??! Why? Is he really going to suffer from whooping cough by being cut with a chain saw? Why not tell us before? Even better, why not ask?

This fall, the government really pushed the whooping cough vaccine with emotionally charged ads every 5 minutes on TV. Now they are sneaking in the vaccine with other shots. Who really knows what's going into us? Are there other things in our needles that we don't know about?. Kind of scary. Kind of maddening.

NEW: Interesting note. A friend of mine on facebook just posted this, "Yesterday Ken (her husband) got his flu shot and passed out." They're testing to see what the problem is. I've heard tons of horror stories of the flu shot. They wouldn't give it to my (then) pregnant sister because they said it wasn't tested enough but they wanted to give her the then new swine flu shot!!

The latest news and projects

It's been a while since I've posted. We had a great visit this weekend with a good friend and honorary grampy to my kids.

We had some sad news on Friday morning at finding one of our three bunnies dead. He seemed to have died of natural causes and just wouldn't come out to see us one day. My daughter was distraught.Her father cheered her up by bringing home a new dwarf black bunny-she was thrilled.

New bunny-Sir Douglas

My poor hubby cut his thumb with the chainsaw and had to get 5 stitches. Hard to do carpentry work like that, but he's managing.

 

hubby at work

I'm still shelling beans for winter storage. There seems to be no end to them, which is good, 'cause there'll be lots for the winter.

Beans to shell.

Shelled beans.

I've heard that the price of meat is to go up 30% and the price of grain up 20% this winter. We are thinking of getting a 1/2 side of beef for the freezer for this winter, while it's cheaper.

I was given a bucket of carrots and a large pot of grapes, so I guess I'll be dealing with those today.

I've finished up some sewing projects I had on the go. Here are some pics:

Sweater dress-made from recycled sweaters.

Night dress

details on nightdress

details on nightdress

Dress

dress details

New soaps, Apple orchards, and Scarfs

So tired tonight. I made soap...lots of batches of soap. Some of them are...Ginger Peach, Coconut, Lavender (with real lavender ground in and decorated with oregano blossoms), Red Delicious Apple (so Yummy!!-with dried rose petals on top of this pink soap), a plain soap bar batch for my mom, a small batch of lilac (very mild scented), oh! and a lovely chocolate topped with curled/grated chocolate soap on top...I think that's it.  I will take pics soon for you to see :)

Chocolate soap with chocolate shavings.

Red Delicious Apple soap with Rose petals.

I finished the ends of a bunch of scarfs that I bought. Someone had started to make them and never finished. I finished them (yes, I took on someone else's UFO project!)

I also sewed up a few blocks on my tessellation quilt before making supper.

Mom came over after lunch and we made a quick jaunt down to the apple orchard...which reminds me, I better go check the apple crisp in the oven....

Apple Crisp

I dropped into Fabricville again today...and (wait for it) bought NO fabric-amazing I know. Instead I bought dye and thread (black).

I have a jean skirt that I love..all except the faded look at the top of the skirt. So that's going to be dyed.

I also have a favorite shirt in a bright cornflower blue that has faded. This one is going to be tricky, as it has embroidery on it. I may just dye over it, leaving the embroidery blackish. Dunno.

Lastly, I have a favorite brown cotton skirt that floofs when you walk. It, alas, has also faded..and has a busted zipper that I plan to fix. Those small plastic hidden zippers tend to be cheap and break. I don't like them at all.

I also stopped at the garden center and bought 2 daffodil bulbs for my daughter who went crazy for them this spring-she was so excited.


Here are some pics from our trip to Ontario:

Niagara Falls

Large land snails my daughter fell in love with at Niagara Falls.

Our crazy family in a twisted mirror at the Science Center.

My youngest in awe of a model spaceship at the Science Center.

The gang at the Medieval Dinner and show-it was fun!

Medieval show!

The King with his Queen :)

 

Tally-ho! Going for a ride at Canada's Wonderland-one of the tamer ones!!

Here are some videos we took of the wilder rides we were on-too funny. The guy screaming is my husband ;)

Shopping Fabric!!

My dear husband dropped me off in Ottawa street while we were on vacation in Ontario. Ottawa street is all fabric and the parking lot and signs are all buttons and spools (see pic on the side).

I shopped with my daughter-what fun!

Here are the fabrics I picked up. They're all quilting fabrics, as I needed more for the two quilts I'm working on (one king sized for hubby and I, and one for my daughter that she doesn't know about).

 

AND as promised, here is a pic of the cathedral window quilt in progress:

Home Education

My kids are anxious to get back to our home education and their books. They decided to do some of their work, even though we have not officially started (gotta get the harvest in yet).

My youngest enjoying his math.

We plan to visit some friends in Ontario this month as well. I'm looking forward to seeing them-it's been 9 years!

In a Pickle

I made a batch of dill pickles today but didn't have enough cukes to do a batch (drat all that spring rain), so I used zucchini spears instead. I'll let you know how they turn out in a month or two (when we pop open a battle and try them.

I also harvested most of my broccoli today. De-worming them is a chore (I farm organically). Some have suggested salt water soaks, but the silly things attach themselves to the broccoli with fine silk. The trick I use is to pour hot tap water over the whole bunch and shake vigorously. Then I slice off pieces and put them under hot tap water while finely inspecting and separating branches. Then I blanch and freeze. Works great.

I finally decided on a solid black background for my daughter's hope chest quilt. I eyed the blue batiks that were on sale (buy one get two meters free) but I passed on it. The colors on the cathedral window quilt will stand out so much better on black.

I also found some old fashioned map fabric for my map loving youngest son. He needs a new quilt as well.

We helped my mom pick all her latest cukes and veggies from the garden. She kept one and gave me the rest, so guess what I'm doing tomorrow? Pickles! Mustard pickles. I should be able to make 2 batches (about 52 jars!!) I'm getting the kids to help, though!

August 29

Today, I put away the last of the peaches: another 12 bottles of sliced peaches. peach jam, and peach-n-blueberry jam. Turned out yummy.

My feet are so sore, though. I think my arches are falling again. A good soak in the tub helped.

I have curtains to sew for my sister and baby crib sheets for a friend whose expecting. Might work on that tonight, since I can sit for that.

The hurricane winds finally slowed down to a regular breeze tonight. It feels much more peaceful outside now.

I might make a trip to Fabricville tomorrow. I hope to get started on a new quilt for my daughter's hope chest (due in a year). I plan to make a cathedral windows quilt. I found this tutorial that was quite helpful and plan to use it.

Results of the fair

Just back from picking up our items, ribbons, and prize money from the fair.

Here's how it all looked:

My daughter won 15.00$ worth of prizes (her bread won 2'nds and 3'rds-pretty good for an 11 year old competing against adults!)

My son won 9$ in prizes (his handmade pottery candle holder won first place in his age division)

I won 62$ in prizes. I received 5 first place ribbons (for a ring, my dried garden herbs, a crazy quilt I had made for my eldest son, a turnip from my garden, and broccoli I grew.) I also won 8 second place ribbons and 8 third place ribbons.

Quite a haul, quite a haul. :)

To the Fair we go!

My kids and I are getting geared up for the St. Marie Expo which is the local fair here. Featured are the agricultural/crafts/home economics/animals. And lets not forget the rides!

So excited! I'm entering 3 pages of items to be judged. Hopefully I'll win a few ribbons (and some cash prizes as well.)

My daughter has brown bread and whole wheat bread and rolls in the oven as we speak. Should be quite something else if she wins (being 11) against all those grammies ;)

I have a quilt, knitted items, and lots of garden produce. I may even raid my mother's flowers for some bouquets!

We are looking forward to petting the lambs, seeing the HUGE horses, and looking at everything. (and of course, the rides for the boys).

Blueberries

I picked 16 pounds of blueberries on Saturday. It took me from 10:00 to 3:00, but it was worth it. Looking forward to eating these :)

The key to picking without a sore back was to take a low stool. Worked great. A straw hat prevented a heat stroke in the sun.

A trick my family and I use in cleaning them is to roll them along a tilted window screen that is placed in a tray. The good ones roll down and the debris stays on the screen. Works great and saves a lot of time.

Yum! Blueberry pies, muffins, jam, oatmeal....

Even the rejects look pretty!

Drying herbs

The kitchen en-wreathed with drying herbs.

Drying herbs in the kitchen.

In my garden

Purple Liatris

Nasturtiums are edible (leaves, seeds, and flowers) and taste a bit like a radish. Great in salads!

Poppies grown for the seed to put in bread and soap.

Before opening-I love the crisscross basket weave look.

Romaine Lettuce

Sunflower at Large :)

Baby butternut squash..or pumpkin. Hard to tell yet.

Baby broccoli just starting up.

My beets are HUGE this year!

Scarlet runner Beans. Good for baked beans and for attracting hummingbirds.

My daughter's radishes she's saving for seed.

The goldenrod is in bloom. The blossoms make good dye for natural fibers.

Calendula harvested for their petals for my soap. The olny petals that keep their color, plus good for dry skin.