Purses with a Purpose May 2010

I like to volunteer in the community and this is one that is near and dear to my heart. This is such a worthwile event and who doesn't love a new or genly used purses. I wanted to post some photos of the event. We had so much fun. Can't wait until the fall for the next one at Silver Sands.

Sewing a new skirt for MEEEE!!

I have so wanted to sew a couple of new patterns that I received a while back from Serendipity Studio. Thanks Kay! I finally decided on Green and Black and White. I wanted a spring green with a pop of black. I needed 21 stips of each printed material @ 2 1/2-inches wide. So it took me about 1 1/2 hours to finish the skirt. I will now have to sew one for each of my two daughters, I am sure! Two more patterns to accomplish for new Sunday skirts for me. I will post photos by the end of the day. Hope this is inspiring enough that you will want to sew one also. Til Later!

Worst Blogger Ever

I always have good intentions but never seem to have the time to blog. I am setting a new goal to blog once a week. I love to cook and sew and volunteer but the volunteer part has taken a large part of each day. I am vowing to take care of me and I will make time for my hobbies that I enjoy.

A Few of My Favorite Outdoor Things...

This past week of spring has made bme really appreciate the nice warm weather and the blooming of the flowers and trees. Here at home the outside of our house really hasn't been touched since we have lived here. So we have begun our ambitous family spring project. FRONT YARD CLEAN UP!!!
We have dug up the grass from the yard near the carport all the way to the street. Oh my! We have planted 8 yellow knockout roses and about 20 pots of lariope in hopes of not cutting two swipes of grass with the lawnmower. The grass didn't really grow under the tree anyway. In the front of the house on the right side, we cut down and I dug out the 4 bushes that were way overgrown an hadn't done anything for the front of the home. We have planted 3 red knock-out roses and 4 african daisy bushes. OK! My arms are sore, my wrist is in a splint, my hips feel like they are on fire. If I drop something, it will just have to stay there.
Why is it that landscaping hurts a lot more than gardening.

My garden is growing so fast. I have harvested about 10 gallons of lettuce. Remind me next year that 36 various lettuce plants feed armies. We love it though. Salads are so flavorful and the different textures of the greens are wonderful. The lettuce varieties are: iceburg (not at all like the nasty stuff from the grocery store), mustard, Romaine, and Buttercrunch. Most of the leaves are the size of both of my hands side-by-side. The iceberg is the size of a dinner plate. There are sugar peas and zucchini and yellow squash and cucumbers and pumpkins and corn and Pineapple Sage and Cilantro and Rosemary, Flat Leaf Parsley, Chives, Bee Balm, Common Sage, Stevia, Oregano, Basil, and Egyptian Basil.

Until later...

One of my favorite sites

I love the website: www.youcanmakethis.com. There are so many talented creative designers of projects that totally inspire me. They are currently starting "The DIY Dish". I just signed up on their new website.
www.thediydish.com

Every Heard of a Grits Trifle?

For some of us in the south, grits is a staple. There are so many ways people eat grits. With sugar, cheese, garlic, etc. You have to have butter and lots of it.

After a long (2-week) vacation we needed dinner and most of the ingredients needed to come from the garden or pantry or freezer since we hadn't hit the market yet. So what better way to feed a family than to make breakfast for supper. First make a pot of grits but use milk in place of the water. Also you must use salt. Southerners know why...Just trust us!

Now think of all your favorite toppings you love, on chili or tacos or salad or you put on your grits, and pile them on in layers.

We used:
Fried eggs, that were chopped
Grated Pepper Jack cheese or other favorite cheese, I also loved smoked gouda.
Bacon or Sausage, cooked and crumbled
Chopped tomatoes
Sour Cream
Sliced scallions
Pulled Pork is yummy, had some frozen since 4th of july!

I don't usually eat a whole bowl full, cereal-sized bowl, but I did. Oh my. This is serious grit-eatin' time. ENJOY!

Yes, I'm still here!

It's been a while since I last blogged. It has been a whirlwind of; end of school year, family visiting, and husband finishing internship, and my new chuch calling. Whewwww...

Krystan finished 5th grade. She will be attending Meigs Middle School here in Florida next school year. She is glad the summer is here. She will be attending two Girls Camp sessions. 1st in Alabama with Aunt Polly and the 2nd here with the rest of the young women here in Florida.

Olivia finished 4th grade and can't wait for 5th grade field trips next year. The 5th grade goes on several for their aeronautical studies for the year. I hope she knows how much studying that she is going to have to do.

We have had family in town that past several weeks and will have more in the next few. It's nice being close to family again but will probably wear off by end of the summer.

And I was issued a calling as the new Relief Society president here in Ft Walton Beach, FL. I have mixed feeling about this. Secretary was nice! I have my work cut out for me. There are lots of missing links here. There was no current food storage program to motivate members before I was asked to teach on the 5th Sunday, back in December. There are about 3-7 people that attend enrichment activities at a time. Yes, you heard me and yes, we are a ward. And we are a transcient ward with all the EOD and other military families. Hopefully, getting back to the basics in the handbook will help with some of the issues. I have put my total faith in God that he will lead me and my counselors in the direction that the sisters need most. At least I didn't have one comment on Sunday about my "Deer in the Headlight" look.