Completed: Two Ponchos

One for Lil in quiet, pretty blues and purples,

and one for Viv in purple too, but with bright oranges and reds. Just like their personalities.

Art with Kids 101: October Leaves

This is a very simple craft that I recently did with my younger siblings.

From collecting the leaves, to coloring, to cutting and pasting this is something they can really get into and enjoy. We made it as a gift to our grandma and they were so excited when they presented it to her :)

You'll first want to collect some leaves from the great outdoors. No kind in particular, just whatever grabs your fancy. I also pressed our leaves in a book for a day, so they laid nice and flat for us.

Place your leaf of choice between two pieces of paper- this makes it easier to hold them in place. Rub crayons over the area, hard or soft to get different effects. It was a lot of fun to see the pattern of the leaves emerge and exclamations of "Wow!" or "Look at this one!" could be heard while we were doing it.

When the outline appears and they're all filled in you can go ahead and cut them out.

Keep going until you have a sizable pile- the wreath will look better if it's full.

 Then cut a wreath shape from some cardboard as shown. You can make it as big or as small as you want, depending on the number of leaves you have and the size of your cardboard. We just used an old pizza box.

Cut it out, never minding if it's not perfect because the leaves will cover the imperfections.

Arrange the leaves however you wish. 

Once they are in the place you want them, go ahead and glue them down. We just used a regular glue stick and it worked fine.

Keep layering and covering the cardboard with leaves until there are no more leaves and the cardboard has disappeared.

Hang it up with some string or ribbon and viola! you have a fall "leaf" wreath that doesn't turn brown like real leaves.

This is so versatile it could be adapted with totally different colors and leaf shapes. And the best part? The kids loved helping with everything and enjoyed it immensely. 



The Fog Comes on Little Cat Feet

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

by Carl Sandburg

A fluffy gray cat with a small streak of ferocity lives at my Uncle and Aunt's home where we are currently staying. 

 Ellie adores him and constantly begs to go see the "kitty." Gently she strokes him, saying "nice, nice!"

We try to explain to an 18 month old the neccessity of being careful around the kitty, but our attempts are futile. "Go see kitty? Go see nice?"

Changes

In these last days God is requiring much of us that His Word could be shared with all. For this reason He spoke to us as a family that we are to move to Europe! The process that has brought us to the place we are at now has been a huge change for all of us, yet we are excited because we know that God is leading us and taking care of us.

I have always thought that it would be great if we moved to a foreign land to do missionary work, but surprisingly, when I was given the opportunity I wasn't so sure that I wanted to. After all, it would mean leaving all that I had ever known- the places where we lived, worked and grown and the people that we love so well. The idea became real to me and when I grasped what it would mean, I shrank from it. I spent time praying, asking the Lord for confirmation that this was His will for me. He told me quite clearly that it was, and I accepted it, but not- I admit- with the most joyful attitude! I dutifully cleaned out my room, got rid of 1/3 of my clothing, packed my entire bookshelf contents into 2 boxes and helped pack up everything else. Our house went on the market and was sold in 1 week. Clearly God was opening doors for us because homes comparable to ours were not selling well in our neighborhood.
We now had 30 days to completely leave the house. Family members helped out in packing everything. It's funny, but you never know how much you have until you start cleaning and clearing out. And times that by 10 people and you have quite a bit!
My siblings thought it all a great adventure as some things went into storage and other things left to find a new home. Our piano went, very out of tune, but very much used and loved. (I do have a keyboard, though and it's a great consolation :)
Those 30 days just flew by- late nights, boxes everywhere, busyness and excitement. Even I was excited sometimes. Then, that last week it hit me that I was leaving my home. I stood there in the near empty living room and I could have wept. I let sadness come over me. I knew that I should trust in God, that He would have something better in store for me, but I wouldn't let go of my self pity and sorrow.
My mom told me that it was hard for her too, but she also said "You, know, Hanna, it's okay for you to feel sad. But you cannot be so overcome by it that you can't or won't see the things God has in store for you. You miss out on the joy and peace that God gives in the midst of change."
I knew that it was true, and tried to overcome my grief, but I couldn't do it by myself. As we left our home I cried to God, "Oh Lord, you see how my heart's breaking. I feel it, Lord. It's painful. I'm leaving everything I know."
And clearly, sweetly, I heard Him say, "My precious daughter. Give Me your heart so I can fix it and fill it with Me. Don't you trust me to take care of you and know what is best for you?"

I broke, and tears came down hot my cheeks. God touched me. Now that I have my eyes focused on Him, I can see more clearly. I can see past my situation, my feelings and even what I am leaving. I can look ahead and catch a tiny glimpse of what He has in store for us as a family. I don't know the extent of it, but I know that it is something wonderful. It's the beginning of something amazing. I can't describe to you the peace, joy and expectancy overflowing in my heart when I look at our move across the Atlantic Ocean into a completely new country.

Yes, we will miss our family and friends here most dearly. And yes, I do and will miss my old home. And yes, change is hard. But it is much easier when your heart is in the right place and you are allowing God to fill it.
 This is the most exciting, marvelous time of my life.  

Babies in the Bush

Execpt these babies are hidden in their safe little shells- and their mother is not at all friendly! When any of us are remotely near her precious babies she and her mate screech uncontrollably and dive at our heads, threatening to attack us! I can understand, though- they're simply trying to protect their offspring. Still, it does make capturing photos a challenge! 

A Dozen Paisley Napkins

Napkins and napkin rings for my future Aunt. I love this pattern and color scheme so much that I want to make some for myself!

Made out of a thick cotton, sewing the corners was sometimes difficult with so many layers to sew together, but my mom and I managed. I had a lot of help from her, since I am not exactly proficient at using the sewing machine or undertaking sewing projects. I can pretty much go forward and backward on the machine, but that's all! It's a good thing my mom knows more and is willing help me even though she has a lot of other things to do. She is the best! 

Babies in the Strawberries

If you were to come and give a casual glance at our vibrant strawberry bed, nothing extra-special might be noticed, except perhaps the abundance of green berries.

 But if by chance you looked in the right spot, a surprise would await you.

And if you gently moved the fluffy gray fur aside, 8 little pairs of fuzzy ears would peep up at you. Less than a week old, these baby bunnies don't have their eyes open yet. But it won't be long- they are getting stronger and bigger every day and the small nest hardly seems big enough for 8 growing rabbits!

 Somehow, my mind cannot grasp the fact that these cute, soft babies will soon be eating our kale and fresh spring lettuce- just like their mother!

Completed: Ellie's Sweater

Ellie's knitted sweater is finished. However, due to some slight problems in the pattern, it turned out wider than she is! I liked how simple it was to work with its
easy garter stitch and basic shaping of the rectangles, but it turned out just barely long enough for her and much to big for her, as you can see in the picture.



I did do a colored pattern to make it prettier, and I think that turned out well. It was good practice for me even though it didn't end up perfect. I am now in a "knitting fever" and will have another project to show you soon!

Glass Harps and Canon in D

We found this super cool instrument on YouTube- it's called a "glass harp." This man plays songs by filling assorted sized glass goblets with set amounts of water to produce different notes when he rubs his hands across the tops of them. It is so amazingly beautiful that I almost want to make one of my own!

http://youtu.be/UGftsRH7A2w

Recipe: Cream Cheese Flan

Ingredients

3/4 cup white sugar

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

5 eggs

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small, heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook sugar, stirring, until golden. Pour into a 10 inch round baking dish, tilting to coat bottom and sides. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well incorporated. Beat in condensed and evaporated milk and vanilla until smooth. Pour into caramel coated pan.

Fill a jelly roll pan halfway full with water, and place pie dish into jelly roll pan and put in oven. Bake in preheated oven 50 to 60 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool one hour on wire rack before serving. To unmold, run a knife around edges of pan and invert on a rimmed serving platter.

Serve and enjoy!

Cookies

Chocolate Oatmeal Raisin cookies anyone? Soft oatmeal cookies, I might add, due to a minimum baking time and the addition of a tablespoon of lemon juice. Delicious!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 and 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup softened butter (1 1/2 sticks)

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups coarsely ground old-fashioned oatmeal, uncooked

1 cup raisins

1 package chocolate chips

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two large cookie sheets. In small bowl, with wire whisk, stir flour, baking soda, and salt until blended.

2) In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat white and brown sugars with butter until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in eggs, one at a time, bating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and lemon juice. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour mixture just until blended, occasionally scraping bowl.

3) With wooden spoon, stir in oats, raisins and chocolate chips until well combined.

4) Drop dough by rounded tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake cookies until tops are golden, 12 to 14 minutes. With a wide spatula, transfer cookies to wire racks to cool. Repeat for any remaining dough. Enjoy!

Hungry, Anyone?

Well, I hope you're not too hungry, because these treats would hardly fill up a baby's tummy!

See that ham sandwich up above?

It's only 7/8's of an inch long.

This adorable breakfast tray is 5 centimeters wide and completely hand constructed out of polymer clay. I love the citrus fruit and salami!

While on Etsy a while back, I came across an Etsy shop owner, Shay Aaron, from Israel, who creates miniature clay food items.

Check out those meatballs! I was totally amazed at the huge amount of detail that goes into making these pieces that are the size of a penny.

I could never do that- think of all that delicate work it would take to create such tiny pieces of food! I have neither the patience nor perseverance!

"That would take a lot of work!" Soph exclaimed. I agreed. How could you even see to do something so tiny, and well, miniature??

I'd have to say either the stew ingredients on the cutting board or the salmon with lemons is my favorite miniature- how about you?

On Flowers...

Aren't the colors and textures of this flower simply gorgeous? Forgive me for all of my floral pictures, but I really can't help it. I'm just drawn to flowers. To me, they speak of so much life and beauty in God. How could anyone look at a blossom as it opens up, or the grass as it keeps growing after its been cut and say, "there is no God?"

I think that the photo below is my favorite- so pretty!

Which one is your favorite?

Fabric Flower Tutorial

As many of my family members and friends will attest, I kind of have an obsession with creating fabric flowers. Ribbon, buttons, hot glue sticks and fat quarters became my close companions for a while as most of my spare time was spent creating flowers- for bags, clips and headbands. We took a family weekend trip in November, and I was as happy as a clam creating 20 or so flowers in one of the back rows of the van.

I think I can say that my obsession has subsided a little, but I still enjoy making them and wanted to share how to make one with you.

First, I cut out 5 circles of fabric- you only see 4, but that's because I had started the project before I remembered to take some pictures. :)

Any number of odd circles will do, but the more circles, the bigger the hole in the middle and the more work it takes to make it look nice.

Fold one circle in half,

Then in half again.

Thread a needle and knot it tight, sewing a simple running stitch along the curved base- the bigger the stitches you put in, the smaller your "petal" will be. Try to do the same number of stitches in each petal, as this will make them look more uniform.

Pull the the thread and slide the "petal" along till you reach the knot in your thread- like so:

Repeat and continue with the remaining fabric circles, and then sew your thread again into the back of your original petal, joining them all together into a circle. I like to go around again with my thread through the fabric to secure the petals.

Cut and knot your thread. It's now basically done, and you can attach it to anything you want. I attached mine to a stretchy headband with a piece of ribbon on the back. I made it adjustable, so the flower can slide to wherever you want it on your head.

I also hot glued some beads for the center of my flower. You could do buttons too.



It's now finished, and my younger sister is thrilled with it!

Daisies in a Bouquet

Their loveliness was only exceeded by the sight of Viv's sweet face peeking over the top of the freshly harvested bouquet. I love her!

Spring Strawberries

From tiny white blossoms,

To fuzzy green berries,

To, finally, juicy red fruit that tastes ever so much better than store-bought. So much so that there were hardly any berries left for me to take a photo of!