Book It Rewards~10-31-13

Pizza Hut and their reading program Book-It is now allowing Homeschooling families to participate in their wonderful reading program.

The girls set their reading goal at 5 books a week for 4 weeks.  They far exceeded their goal...and were rewarded with a certificate for a Free Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizza!  Whoo Hoo!  SO proud of them. 

Community Halloween Costume Contest~10-30-13

My girls wanted to be cowgirls for Halloween.  The youngest wanted to have a horse to go along with the cowgirl costume.  Well, I didn't want to spend any money,  so I only used items we had on hand.  I did have to buy the bandanas, which were 2 for $1.  So not bad.  They didn't win the contest.  But the kids behind them did.  Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter.  SO cute.  It was nice to get out and see the community come together.  We enjoyed Apple Cider and Iced Sugar cookies after the final judging.  Today was a great day! :)

Fall Fun~10-30-13

Decorating our mini squash.

Pretty scary! Look at those teeth!  :)

Before Meets After~10-29-13

This basket has hung beneath our mailbox for a few years.  It was looking a little sad!

A couple coats of white spray paint (of course!) and it was pretty again.  That is our cat Jasper.  Such a sweet boy and constant outdoor companion!

My Girls~10-28-13

My girls. November 4th 2012. Nature Walk.

Picture Display Holder~10-27-13

Candlestick, cork stopper, and a paperclip.

A pretty nifty way to display a picture.

Homeschool Picture Day~10-26-13

Today was Homeschool Picture Day. 10-25-13  This is my youngest, soon to be 7, 1st grader, avid reader.  Loves the camera!

My middle child, 3rd grader, soon to be 9, a voracious reader.  She's a sensitive soul.

Well, It Finally Happened...10-25-13

Well, it finally happened...It got cold enough here in Central Illinois, that I was able to enjoy my first cup of hot chocolate and buttered, cinnamon/sugared toast.

It was so delicious. I plan to have many more cups of hot chocolate with a heaping helping of mini marshmallows.

Westinghouse Stand Mixer~10-24-13

I bought this baby in June at a tag sale.  It was $12.00.  Then it was Reduced to $6.00. Score!

Well, I thought I had scored, until I got it home and could closely inspect it.  The power cord basically crumbled as I unwound it from the base. :(  I am hoping to find a savvy small motor repair person to replace the power cord.  I want to use this sweet thing right now.  Patience, right?

Cast Iron Doorknocker~10-23-13

I bought this beautiful cast iron doorknocker at an antique shop.  The price was $9.00.

I am so undecided about whether or not to paint it.  To paint or not to paint...that is the question?  Care to weigh in?

Meatball Pops~10-22-13

Meatball Pops~So simple to make.  10 frozen (thawed) meatballs, 10 refrigerated biscuits; flattened on baking tray, 1/4 tblsp of butter, melted. 2 cups of finely crushed seasoned croutons. Shredded Cheddar cheese.

Flatten biscuits on baking tray.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Place meatball in the center.  Bring up biscuit around meatball.  Pinch closed.  Dip in butter.  Roll in croutons.  Place pinched side down.  Bake for 10-13 minutes.  Add skewer or craft stick to bottom.  Serve with warmed red sauce.   Yummmm!

 

Pansies~10-21-13

Pansies~My favorite.

I bought these at Lowes today..they were half off!

 

Before...Sneek Peek~10-20-13

A sneek peek at a little project I am working on.

One very old stool.

Four wheels.  Although these are not the wheels that I used.  I used wheels that have ball bearings so the project can be moved in all different directions as apposed to only a straight line.  Hopefully, by posting this here, it will push me on through to the finish.  I'm not feeling confident about this one.  Do you have any project or ideas that you have been putting off starting or finishing?

Hens~N~Chicks~10-19-13

Bought these beauties at a yard sale on Saturday. $2.00.

This little Hen looked a little ill.  So I hope that being transplanted will bring her back to good health.

Gorgeous...

Three Baby Chicks

Three Chicks in an insulator.

I love the white hobnail against the green.

I hot glued the insulator in a painted clay pot.  I've never had Hens N Chicks before.   I hope I don't kill them.  The internet says they are very easy to grow and care for.  For their sake I hope the internet is correct! LOL!              What is your favorite thing to grow?

A Trip to Pumpkin Works~10-18-13

Checking off another Fall Family Bucket List item.

Cresent Mummy Dogs~10-17-13

It was so cold here today.  The perfect day to turn the oven on and bake something.  Pillsbury sent me a calender late last year.  Each month has a different recipe to try.  Well, 10 months in and I finally made one of the recipes.  Cresent rolls cut into strips,  cheese cut into strips, wrap around hot dog.  Leave a space at the top of the dog.  Bake at 375 degrees for 13 to 17 minutes.  Add mustard and/or catsup "eyes".

Nice and golden brown.

A row of creepy mummies!

Creepy or not, they were yummy!  My girls loved them.  A nice change from plain old Pigs in a Blanket!

National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day~10-16-13

Today, October 15, 2013 is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day.  Each year since 2010 I have lit a candle at 7:00pm.  Everyone is encouraged to do the same,  leaving the candle lit for at least an hour.  That way, a "Wave of Light", circles the world.  I had a miscarriage at almost 10 weeks.  April 9, 2010.  The pain of my loss has lessened across time.  I still have moments of "what could have been".  I miss what could have been.  I feel so alone in my feelings,  but I know that there are MANY who have experienced the same loss.   So tonight, I don't feel so alone.

Before Meets After~10-15-13

Before:

In July of 2012 I was diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma,  the offending mole was removed surgically in August 2012. All is well now.  I have to see a dermatologist and an oncologist every 3 months for the next two years.  Out of four spots I have had removed two were cancerous, two were benign. If you have any moles that have changed in shape, size or color...I urge you to have it looked at.  There are 3 different types of skin cancer.  The type I have can be fatal.  If you have any questions,  I would love to answer them. 

So I wanted to find a sunhat.  Ummm, they were $60+  Not in my budget!  I found this over the weekend at a tag sale.  It was new, with tags, for .50 cents.  The cloth ribbon was not to my liking.

Meets After:

A classic white ribbon to the rescue.

I just used what I had on hand.  I'm going to be on the lookout for ribbon with Roses.  My favorite. I tried it on and it fits well, it's just too bad that I don't like the way it looks on me. :(  But, I NEED to wear it.  Cancer stinks.