Mother's Day Project

This is my new favorite piece of jewelry I have made myself. I made one for a friend for her birthday and she liked it so much she wanted try making them for Mother's Day. I thought that was such a great idea I would post it so I wouldn't forget. This way she can see the product I used. So Marci, this post is for you!

This is one side of the necklace, the side I usually have facing the world. I bought both charms and the chain at Hobby Lobby. They frequently put this line on sale for 50% off.

This is the other side. The only trick is finding a picture small enough. My solution is to take a picture of a picture I like with the flash turned off my camera. I don't fill the frame with the picture either. Then I order it from somewhere like Walmart or Sam's as a wallet size photo. Usually works.

So then I cut the picture to fit. Modge Podge it to the back. Then cover it in glaze. I like Diamond Glaze the best but have had a hard time finding it in Utah. Aleene's paper glaze works just about as well. I found it at Hobby Lobby too. I tried not to get it too thick or it takes days to dry. Slip it on the chain and add a charm and there you go!

Painted Quilt

I have been working on this painted quilt made from the pattern I won from Jo for a lot longer than I would like to admit. But when William went out of town last week I finished it. I am really happy with it, may have to try another someday soon. Thanks so much Jo!

Pear Pie

Would you believe we actually do eat things besides desserts? You wouldn't really know it to read this blog. I guess it is just that the desserts are more fun. This is a favorite, my mom makes it for Thanksgiving. It is fun to make in the winter when the winter pears are available. So I adapted it to make it gluten-free. I guess it is really more of ta tart since it is missing a top crust.

First make the crust.

1 C rice flower

1 C powdered sugar

1/2 C melted butter

Press into a pie plate.

Cover it with sliced and peeled pears. Then mix the following together.

1/2 C sugar

2 T corn starch

1/2 C cream

2T of frozen orange juice concentrate

1 T lemon juice

Pour this over the top. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the top. Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes

Precious Faces

These are the little faces I love. My biggest fear has always been that something might happen to them or their dad and they would be taken from me. This week I was reminded that there are worse things.

Remember these little booties that were so fun to make? I made them for a much anticipated baby named Max. Max is my sister's nephew. His mom and dad waited a long time for him. The day after his due date, at a routine appointment the ultrasound showed a large heart defect. He was delivered early the next morning and although so many prayers were said and heroic efforts were made he went back to live with his Heavenly Father instead of his earthly one. We have a very vital doctrine in our church that we come to this earth to get bodies and face challenges. Then after we have learned all we can we return to our Heavenly Father. We believe that families that are sealed in holy temples can live together forever. It is so hard to accept that this much beloved baby only needed his body for a brief moment. Hard too to understand how any place, even with our Heavenly Father, could be a better place than in his Mommy's arms.

I don't often write like this on my blog, my religion is really a very private thing for me. But after this experience of watching my sister and her in-laws try desperately to be there for these shattered parents I have really felt like I needed to remind myself of these things. I am so grateful to be a Mom everyday. Grateful that I get to have my kids everyday. So I even though my kids are probably tired of my kissing on them so much lately I will keep doing it. I will also pray that I will never be tested as Max's parents have although they have done it with such grace and strength.

Sweets

This is the yummy breakfast my nice husband made me for Valentine's Day. See the new measuring cups and spoons? Clever isn't he?

This is the treat I made him. Flourless Chocolate Torte. Or Death by Chocolate because I am pretty sure if you eat too much it could wipe you out. It is gluten-free. Here is the recipe.

Combine in a sauce pan:

1 pkg. Semi-sweet Chocolate chips

1 1/2 C butter

1 C sugar

1/2 C light cream

Beat 6 large eggs until frothy. Slowly whisk chocolate mixture into the eggs. Pour the whole thing into a 9" spring-form pan which has been lined with foil. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes until toothpick inserted 1" from edge comes out clean. Cool completely. I topped with whipped cream and fruit but you can also make a glaze:

Combine in sauce pan:

1 C semi sweet chocolate chips

2 T butter

Add:

3 T light cream

2 T karo syrup

Valentine Swap

I did a little Valentine swap last week.
I received these perfect notecards. I love them!

I had fun making a little package to send to Australia. Unfortunately I didn't realize until it was mailed that the pictures were slightly blurry, sorry it is gone so I can't reshoot.

A little Valentine sampler.
Box full of goodies. There was a Valentine book marker, a heart box with a necklace and a pink wrist cuff bracelet.

President' Day

Mmmmm, President's Day. We are having such a lovely, lazy day. We should have cleaned the basement. We should have cleaned house. But we didn't. We slept in.
Brittany worked on her new skill, crocheting and watched the Olympics and old movies.

She has produced these squares. The plan is to stitch them together someday and make a little afghan.

The boys have been constructing. I only wish I thought they were going to be the ones to clean up this room. Oh well, that is the price you pay for a peaceful house sometimes.

Then we all went to the movie, loved The Princess and the Frog. Now I am thinking of having waffles for dinner. A pretty darn near perfect day. Thank you Mr. Presidents!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you get to eat some sugar cookies with the folks you love!

Bird Brooches

I joined a swap where you were supposed to make a brooch featuring a silhouette. These were the ones I came up with, I had to try several because I didn't know which one would turn out. Now I can't decide which one I should send off. My partner likes peacock blue. Which one would you send?

Joshua

See this face? Cute isn't he? Unfortunately it is deceiving. Joshua and I have been embroiled in a power struggle for the last couple of weeks. Potty-training. I know, he is three and a half and loads of kids have been doing it for a year by the time they are his age. Basically he has a lazy mother and it is easier to use the four diapers a day and not have to deal with the accidents and laundry. But we really need to accomplish this. So any suggestions would be appreciated. We have already tried new underwear,, spending the day on the potty while mom reads to you, rewards including beloved candy corn, Bakugan, and legos. That is when you know your kids should already be potty trained, when he wants legos and Bakugan as his reward.

Yep, he can do tricks on my furniture but can't use the potty. I know, he won't go to college like this right?

Soup

I have been in the mood for soup lately. My lunch girls have been serving soup lately and I really like it. I had to try and make Sarah's Squash soup and since I liked the way it turned out I need to put it here so that maybe I can do it again sometime.

I baked two big pieces of butternut squash the night before and then chilled it. I sauteed a chopped onion in butter then added the scooped out squash. Then I added about 1 1/2 to 2 C chicken broth and a few shakes of nutmeg. This isn't a very exact recipe is it? Then I blended the whole thing in my blender. Returned it to the pan and added a little (probably 1/2 cup) of cream. It was really yummy!

I also tried a creamy cauliflower soup. I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe that I found here. Only instead of the veggies she used I used the cauliflower, leeks and half an onion. Then I blended the whole thing in the blender. It was really yummy, but my kids objected to the way it made our house smell.

I also tried Julia Child's potato and leek soup. I didn't take a picture but to be honest it didn't look too much different than the cauliflower and leek soup. I am about to return Julia's book to the library so for my own benefit here is the recipe.

2 T Butter

3 chopped leeks

2 T flour

1 chopped onion

6 cups chicken stock

4 cups chopped potatoes

Melt the butter in large pan, saute leeks and onions, cover and cook on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and cook for two more minutes. Stirring continually add 1 1/2 cups chicken stock. When the liquid is smooth and starts to thicken add the rest of stock then add potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Heat to boil and then lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until potatoes are tender. Puree in blender and then add about 1/2 cup cream.

Organizing the Garden

Wearing a flower in your hair is a big deal here in Utah if you are a female. We have been collecting them for awhile but they never have a safe place to land once they leave Brittany's head. Then they end up all mangled and ugly. I have seen this idea a few time in blogland and decided to try my own.

I just took the back out of a frame and then wrapped it in fabric that matches Brittany's room. This is actually the fabric her drapes are made of, if I could ever find a curtain rod to hang them with. Anyhow, then I hot glued it the fabric in place and added a few rows of ribbon, also hot-glued in place. Stuck the whole thing back in the frame and reattached it.

Now our flowers have a home. Course I had to make some new ones, this is a great time to do that. All the dollar stores are getting their Spring blossoms.

Books

I have been trying to get this posted for a week. It is harder to find time to write the book review than it was to read the book!

First, Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig. This was the book for the Book Blogging Babes for January. I am glad Liz recommended this one. I love when someone helps me find an author I might otherwise never have found on my own. She said the author's style reminded her of Stegner. I agree but I think I liked Stegner's characters more. It is the not unusual story of live in the frontier west. I love that subject, it always makes me so glad I live in this century. It was a very engrossing story of two men and how their lives and families develop as they make a new life in Montana. I thought the two men created an interesting contrast. They were a perfect example of the different ways people handle challenges in life. One becomes bitter as things don't go according to his great plan. The other, while not perfectly happy tries to do the right thing and have a good life. As Liz and Janice have both mentioned enough about Anna, I did wonder if it would have bugged me as much if I weren't married. Right after I finished Dancing I read Messenger by Jeni Stepank. Do you remember seeing this amazing boy on Oprah? I do. I remember how absolutely mesmerizing this amazing child was. Such an old soul yet, joyful soul. Watching him always made me think how we are encouraged to be like a child. This is a book his mother wrote about his life and their life together. Amazing poetry and quotes through the whole thing. I am kicking myself that I returned it so I can't list a bunch for you although my very favorite was his personal philosophy to play after every storm. Amazing boy, amazing mother. I found this book even more engrossing than Dancing at the Rascal Fair and that is saying something. I was afraid for the end to come though, I mean you know from the beginning he dies young and I don't do well with bad things happening to children. But I couldn't stop reading it and didn't cry like I thought I would. I found myself wanting to be better after reading this book, better mother, better person, better peacemaker. That is exactly what Mattie would have wanted us all to feel.

The Book Blogging Babes are reading E.M. Forster's Room with a view in February, one of my faorites! Want to join us?

Girl Booties

I made a pair of girl booties this weekend. Love them! Don't they make you wish you were having a baby girl? Well almost. The pattern is here.

All is Right in Matthew's World

See that? Happy boys. That makes me really happy today. Matthew and I spent the morning at Primary Children's Hospital talking to Cardiologists about a heart murmur that has been showing itself during this winter's round of Strep Throat. Our doctor recommended we go and have it checked to make sure it wasn't a problem. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous. My niece spent almost three weeks there when she was a baby and it was a very scary time for us. As much as I am grateful Primary's is there I really hoped never to have to go there again. But our day was really a very pleasant adventure. Matthew and I had fun spending the day together and found everything they did really interesting. Of course best of all is that Matthew is fine. But I can't help but be especially grateful for this picture of happy boys playing the Wii after spending time in a place where so many kids aren't so lucky. It has been a good day.