I couldn't resist....

Cooking 101....

To learn about our latest outing click on the link to our homeschool blog on the side.

Our School blog is called, "Ecole de Famille" for those of you who are new.

Before you head over there, scroll down to the previous post, if you haven't seen our latest craft yet.

Love & Prayers,

~Me~ 

Our Latest Money Making Scheme....

 Right now Eloise and I are tossing around ideas and tweaking them a bit.

There are several ideas we haven't tried yet like beaded, jeweled, or buttoned jar collars.

We think the Monogram design will be a hit in this narcissistic/Facebook world.

Not hating....just sayin'.

These are quart sized jars, so I think they are perfect for dish soap.
An added benefit is that the pump will help me to resist the urge
 to squeeze the whole bottle into my dish water.
We will be making smaller ones for hand soap. At the moment I am using Green Works dish liquid, but this weekend I am taking a trip to Whole Foods, so I can test a dish soap recipe. If the Whole Foods brand of castile soap works well, then I can save money. WF brand is almost half the price of Dr.Bronners.

 We were just using left over ribbon bits, but we think this design would look better with a white cap and writing. We would also use a little raffia in addition to the gingham in order to give this a country feel.

Let me just pause here and say that the "fleur de lis" was a symbol used to show our French heritage long before those guys ever cut their front teeth....let alone passed a pig skin!

We are also going to type up a few home made soap(hand & dish) recipes and place them in the jars.

If you have any suggestions feel free to post them in the comments area....
Just say it in a "good Christian way".
I don't like ugly people or comments.

I will be posting later about some of our other craft ideas. We are trying to get a jump on Spring/Summer for all of the craft shows and festivals.

Love & Prayers,
~Me~

Out And About.....

 One of our favorite "little brothers" at one of our favorite places.

 Would somebody please teach those guys how to smile?

 Looks like "Queenie" has an admirer.

(you had to be there to understand)

Last, but not least....

this is one of the newest additions to our youth department.

Editors Note: this picture is edited, because TomCat   someone who shall remain nameless was doing his best Dwayne R. impersonation in the background.

No... this isn't the only place we go, but it is a nice, safe, inexpensive place to have fun

and everyone seems to enjoy it.

P.S. If you are looking for the slime recipe that Eloise promised you, simply click on the link to our homeschool blog. 

Did You Know.....

 Each year our youth committee holds a meeting to plan out the events for the next 12 months. I decided to make it special by reviving a tradition I tried to start when hubby and I first got married. Many people don't realize that the official end of the Christmas season is called Twelfth Night and doesn't happen until the 12th night after Christmas. 

-You don't have to twist my arm to get me to extend the holidays-

 Twelfth Night was designated as the night that the wise men visited the baby Jesus, because they actually came a little while after he was born. Some sources say it commemorates the time that Jesus was presented at the temple and was identified as the Messiah.

Either way seems like a great reason to celebrate. Truth be known, I don't really need a reason.

Any excuse will do when it comes to breaking out the candles and food.

Besides the sushi, cucumber boat, beef wrapped asparagus, veggies, and cheeses, we also had appetizers in the kitchen, and a desert stand laden with red velvet cupcakes, pastries, and chocolate dipped strawberries.

Some of the savory foods were presented in a tiered buffet with leopard print and red/orange tulips to match the colors in my dishes. Sorry the colors aren't so vivid in the pics. I haven't found a way to capture the candle light and the colors in the same shot.  

 Let me take a moment to back track. The above is a pic of  Eloise's hair-do for our New Year's Eve service at church.

 Eloise and Miss D

 A few of the newest members of our youth department. 

This picture doesn't have anything to do with anything, but I had to show y'all how photogenic my handsome boy is .....even when he's being naughty.

A Sneak Peek....

 Just wanted to show you one of my Christmas presents.

I love, love, love this book by: Kay Whitt.

 I can truly appreciate her blend of classic and funky designs.

 As I have mentioned in a previous post, I adore color.

 I think that is the biggest reason I was drawn to this book

The book comes complete with patterns, and instructions on how to customize, in a pocket on the back cover.

I am just finishing up a jacket for Eloise,

 so I can only dream right now.

As soon as I finish with that project,

 I will try my hand at the skirt pictured above the pic of this coat of many colors.

I am sew excited!

:-D

"2011" Year End Review...

Eloise is loving all the hands on experiments in her K12 Physical Science curriculum.

In this experiment she was testing and producing gases.

When she placed the stick with a burnt tip in the jar with a yeast and peroxide mixture, the stick would ignite because of the gas produced.

I'm not quick enough with my camera to catch the flame.

The above is a picture of a Christmas arrangement that I made for a friends fire place mantle. I took the picture in my mother's new living room. They finally finished their house located across the street from me. I will have to post more about that later.

Here are some of our little bitty's singing at our Christmas Concert.

A couple of sweet ladies came over to bake cookies for our Ladies' dept. cookie swap.

Eloise working on the backdrop for our Gingerbread themed pictures.

The above pic was my favorite.

Above and below are a couple of families who attended the banquet.

At the banquet we had a gingerbread making contest.

The participants worked feverishly.

The frosting was flowing.....

....sprinkles were flying....

...in the end there was a new housing development in town.

There were so many cute designs,

 but originality reigns at the "Ho Ho Cabana" by Plain Old Kristi and her girls.

(I loved the gingerbread girl in the yellow bikini)

We also had a Best Santa's Beard contest.

When the time was up the ladies were allowed to view their work.

Sister Anna had too much fun.

From the looks of it, I think she wasn't the only one.

On a more serious note....

The above is a pic of the daughter work that Bro.Mike and Sis.Ginger have started.

It is about an hour and a half drive from our home church.

We drive out there in between our Sunday morning and evening services.

It is so exciting to see what God is doing.

For the past two weeks I have been bringing Sunday School in a Box.

The children are precious....

courteous....

....and eager to learn.

Please pray for them and us as we seek further God's kingdom.

I pray that you have had beautiful Christmas, full of all the things that matter the most.

Be sure to check back for my post about our New Year's

"Watch Night Service"

Love Ya,

~Me~