Monday, April 30, 2012

A REEL Good Time!

I know. I've been negligent of my little blog here. Instead of hitting you with my very long (and pitiful) list of excuses, I will just plunge back in like I never left.

Last week we finished off a semester of PE (at one of our local Universities) with a field trip to the Bass Pro Corporate pond here in town. Yep. Bass Pro has a couple of corporate ponds. They are stocked with fish and are home to dozens of Canadian Geese. It's a catch and release situation. For all you non fishing folk out there that means you can catch them, but you have to throw them back in.

That was okay. One of the moms arranged for the Bass Pro Cafe people (not sure what it's called) to cater a fish dinner for us. Lots of fun. The Studly Muffin went with us. Which was so much fun for the both of them. I sat in my camper chair, shot a few pics and chatted with moms and grandmas alike.  Which possibly explains my less than focused pictures.

My Fishin' guys caught 7 fish in about 45 minutes!



Success! Actually this was fish number 3. Fish number 3 was a perch (Troy called him a Blue Gill). Fish number 3 was also a little dense. 'Cause Fish number 3 was also Fish number 4.


Daddy thought this was a great spot. The wind thought it was too. It kept blowing Josiah's line into the branches.

Everybody needs a personal "lemme get that line out of the tree for ya" guy.


Another catch. Notice the little bitty in the back with her stuffed critter? Too cute!


Aw...my guys. I'm blessed my friends...that's all there is to it. I wish I would have taken pictures of some of our sweet friends and more of the good times we had that day...What can I say? A girl can't do a whole lot of pictures with a yummy, greasy piece of fish in her hands!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Fishin' (and Reflecting)

I meant to post a menu to Monday Meal Plans. Really. But seeing as most of my meal plan involves such culinary delights as Grilled Cheese, PB&J & some boxed Mac and Cheese...My emergency meals all in one week!

I have many excuses. One is that I just feel puny. Both Josiah and I have been battling a Spring Bug. And I don't mean the cute little ladybug variety. Plus, I can sum up the last few weeks in such a few words...AAHH! UHHHGG! BLLLLLGGGG! Okay. I recognize those aren't words. But they certainly characterize my mood.

So what do people do when faced with struggles, crisis after crisis and the old moody blues? (Besides take it to God) This girl visits her hair lady, has a pedicure and does some power shopping at her favorite thrift stores.

Sadly I was outvoted. We went fishing with my brother and nephew. .

I am the only girl in the house. And I'm weak, people! Weak! But don't be sad for me. I was raised in the Cun-tree and as long as I have my Kindle and a comfy place to rest my hiney I'm good. Plus there is something about being out in the great outdoors early in the morning. It does a body good. And it was a much needed respite.

 I wish I would have gotten a picture of the bait shop we stopped at. All you city folks wouldn't believe me if I told you. There is nothing like the local bait shop. They usually have a little bit of everything, but more minnows and beer than anything. This particular bait shop had a restroom. Unfortunately, it hadn't seen a bottle of Lysol in quite some time. And toilet paper? Let's just say I need to start carrying my own. I walked out of the bait shop smelling like I had smoked a pack of cigarettes. And I don't smoke.


There is nothing like the calm of a spring morning at the lake. A guy just needs a pole in his hand and a good spot to cast it in.


And who knows what you might find? Fossils, frogs, strange bugs. The world is an discovery land.


The jumping of the fish, calls of the birds....It reminded me how incredible God's creation is. He made everything. How beautiful is His handiwork!


The cares of life seem so insignificant considering all this.


And here in the quiet of the morning. On a little lake in Missouri. I can rest.


And take joy in what God has blessed me with.


Sunday, April 8, 2012

Crafting for My Momma

Today is my Momma's Birthday (It's also Easter :<). We spent the morning at church and then headed back to Mom and Dad's farm for Easter Dinner and birthday cake.

My Momma is beautiful. And young. And all sorts of things wonderful. Now does look like a woman who is the mother of a 40 year old? I don't think so. I'm beginning to think there is some sort of conspiracy going on. I am convinced I'm really only 35.

Anyhoo. I made her a Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. It was Delish.


I had to share my other birthday crafts.

There is this. Yep. That's a flower made from pattern pieces. How genius is that? I was in a local gift shop recently and saw all of these beautiful flowers and garland made with book pages. Being a bibliophile, there is no way I could get myself to tear up a book. I tried. I stood for 10 minutes in front of the old book section at a thrift shop. I bought 3. To read.


Instead, I hit the old pattern bin. They were .25 a piece. You can't beat that. And because I hate the thought of messing up a perfectly usable pattern I chose ones that had styles that should never be worn again.


I mean...come on! I am doing the fashion world a favor. I also made sure the pieces were big and relatively in one piece.


I found a handy dandy professional template (I think that's a lid from Sonic) and traced around several layers of pattern pieces.


I used my water bottle for a smaller flower. I could have done a better job at looking through my house for more appropriate templates, but if I'm not crafting by the seat of my pants I'm not crafting.


I went through and made sure all the pieces were facing one direction. I really don't think it would make a difference (if they were facing willy nilly), but I know myself. It would bother me.


 Next I took my turquoise stamping ink (I found for $1 at Wal-mart). I just brushed the edges and some other spots that needed it. I love stamping ink. It makes the world a better place.


For this particular flower, I used a scrapbooking brad. For the other ones I used a needle and thread and a button.

Then I started "fluffing up." Start in the center and fluff. Be sure not to skip a later. It will make a difference. Wow! Somebody get that girl some hand lotion!



This is how it looks all waded up.


I "unwaded" it and fluffed it into a flower. I used my fantabulous stamp ink and dabbed some more on my flower. Gorgeous!


For my small flower (and another larger one), I used a button.


Just stitch a button up through the center. I have a great button box that has served me well. I think some of the buttons in it belonged to my Great Grandmother.


I did the same thing (the wading technique) with this flower except I left the button showing. Here is a tip. If you want a full carnation type flower (Like the one I showed you previously) use more layers...If you want a flower like this one use fewer layers of tissue.


And because I can't stop at a good thing I used some more pattern paper as tissue paper for my gift bag. I just stamped a cute bird (in the same turquoise stamping ink) here and there.


This was Josiah's gift to Ama. He decoupaged the frame (with pattern piece tissue paper) and then glued on the buttons. He wanted to use the smaller pattern paper flower.
 He did all of this himself. He even picked out the picture. I got the frame for .25 at the same thrift store I got the patterns.


I also made Mom some Skin Polish. I used a tag I had tea stained back around Christmas with some odds and ends of scrapbooking stuff.


I had the cutest mason jar in my cabinet. I simply made a mixture of brown sugar and scented body wash. It is supposed to buff your rough patches (elbows, feet, hands) and it smells yummy. I plan on using this idea some more. What a great gift for anybody! Just be sure you specify they can't eat it :<)


And then there is this. I made Mom a T-shirt scarf (you can find instructions here) and I attached this gorgeous flower pin. I didn't make the flower pin. I plan on trying to make some. I think I need a few (or 8) myself. I have a secret. I got the T-shirt for a $1. I didn't get the pin for $1. I paid quite a bit more for it. I think I need to go into the Flower Pin business.


I also added some great chunky jewelry (in the same color family, of course) and stuffed everything into this gift bag.

Isn't it cute? The next birthday I need to worry about is The Studly Muffin's. Somehow I think he's not going to appreciate the Pattern Piece Flower as much as my Momma. I wonder how decoupaging his Golf Bag would go over?

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