Saturday, November 15, 2014

Disney on Ice

As a special holiday surprise my mother took my daughter to Disney on Ice. Thanks to my mom's friend they were able to sit in one of the arena's boxes and had an excellent view of the ice. The Minnie Mouse drawing is a thank you to the friend for the great seats.

Is there anything better then taking a little person to see something that they really love? She had a marvelous time seeing all of the beautiful Disney princesses and Mickey Mouse and all his friends. Even better she thinks she got to see two shows, because of the intermission. She also thought the Zamboni was pretty cool. Plus she got to spend time with her Grammy, which is also a special treat.


Any special holiday traditions you do with your family?

Many blessings to you on this fine evening.--Kate

Friday, November 14, 2014

He's my favorite.

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday my love.



Many blessings to you on this very happy day.--Kate

Thursday, November 13, 2014

The things shelf

Perhaps like me you have that spot in the house that collects all the things. Maybe a shelf, a table or a spot on the counter. I am pretty sure I have that spot in every room, as I mentioned I have too many things. While up in my sewing room my youngest stood next to me asking over and over what's this as he pointed to item after item sitting in the windowsill. So today I figured it was time to clean up my things spots. Here is what I found. 


In the kitchen counter spot: My recipe cards, a hair band, the manual for our new Jeep Elsa, Some stickers (that need to go into my kids' sticker books,) a stamp (that has not yet made it up-stairs into my stamp collection,) a flag from the veterans day service at our church last Sunday, some red yarn and white knit fabric (for a sewing contract with a medical program in Seattle that does training for midwifes and medical professionals on how to handle complications during birth,) my address book, my new book, my camera case, and a dime my oldest found at the play ground that needs to go into my kids' "coins for college" bank.

 
In the sewing room windowsill spot: A shipping label, a magnifying glass, a few CDs, a wireless mouse, some floral tape and a paper leaf, (for one of my sewing contracts with a local company called aNeMonE,) scented towelettes, more stamps, button tabs, buttons and diaper elastic, (from my diaper sewing days,) Christmas cards and a Christmas ornament, (I wish I could say that I was getting a jump start on Christmas but the truth is I think they have been sitting there since last year,) a spool of ribbon, a blue sequenced headband, and some other hair accessories, bias tape, machine needles, a threaded bobbin, multiple spools of thread, hook and loop tape, safety pins, paint, glue and tape, a cloth measuring tape, a scrap of flannel fabric, zip-lock baggies, a notebook and pen, a butterfly charm, a piece of fusible interfacing, (for a contract making pet bandannas,) a cloth wipe, a lavender sachet, (the guest gifts from our wedding,) and a medical cord clamp (part of the same project as the yarn and the white fabric from my kitchen counter spot.) 

So now my things spots are all cleaned up or organized (and ready for more items.)

Many blessings to you on this fine day.--Kate

Long forgotten on the shelf

Here is another item that sadly sat on the laundry room shelf for months needing a little attention and a good cleaning. In this elephants first life it was a holiday treat to me because of my love of elephants. He was a Macy's Horton, to advertise the movie in what ever year it came out. He use to say cute phrases like, "I meant what I said and said what I meant, an elephants faithful one hundred percent." He lost his voice long ago and was adopted by my kids for their imagination games many months back. It has
been a well loved elephant and has gone on many adventures, because of that it has become a very dirty elephant. Before I could wash it I needed to remove the electronics. Now we arrive at the reason that the elephant has sat on the shelf for so long.

Finally tonight I have gotten to this long overdue project. To get the voice box out I found the manufactures closing seam. A great place to open a plush if you want to close it back up again, because all of the seams surrounding this spot have been reinforced and this spot opens really easily. Once open I discovered that the electronics had been really well secured inside, but after a bit of snipping all of it was out.





Then some quick stitching and the elephant was closed up again and ready for the bath (or the washing machine.)





While waiting for the elephant to get clean I also closed up a few other friends that had some seams open. That little giraffe is nearly 40 years old. She is looking pretty good, I think, but she is getting a bit threadbare and that is why some of the seams are opening.



Now these friends and the elephant are ready to join back in the imagination fun with the kids. Yea!




Many blessing to you on this fine close of day.--Kate

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

something old, something blue, something borrowed into new

I believe that this item is actually on life number 3. It was a veil for a friends wedding. It was a veil for one of my dance routines from the days that I did Canine Freestyle, (or doggie dance,) with a dog my Mom had, Gretchen.


Gretchen and I have pink bands.

 For its most resent reincarnation I have separated the headband and tulle.


The headband has been claimed by my oldest.
 

I cut the tulle into strips and crocheted it with a strand of yarn to make some dish and fruit scrubbers. 


These are to replace the sponge scrubbers that are a little to scratchy for some of the dishes and always smell moldy after only a few uses. The green one is to wash fruits and veggies. I try to keep a separate scrubber for this job. It always seems a bit gross to use the same scrubber as I use for the counters or dishes. 

I am excited to have these new little kitchen aids and my girl is thrilled with her headband. 

Many blessings to you on this fine night.--Kate

Monday, November 10, 2014

Warm you up food.

Tonight's recipe is one we eat fairly often because it can be easily changed with just a few ingredients and it is so very delicious. Plus it is a great dish to eat on these cold autumn nights. 

Easy Chili

Ingredients:
-1 Tbsp coconut oil
-1/2 cup onion-chopped
-2 garlic cloves
-1 1/2 cup celery-chopped
-1 cup green pepper-chopped
-1 1/2 lbs ground beef
-2 tsp thyme
-2 tsp chili powder
-2 tsp cumin
-1  8 oz can diced tomatoes
-salt and pepper to taste
-salsa (optional)

Directions:
* In a large skillet, saute onions, garlic, celery and peppers in oil until tender. Add meat, thyme, chili powder and cumin and stir frequently for 5-6 minutes. 
Add tomatoes to pot. Cover and simmer for an hour. (this can also be cooked in the crock pot on low.)

You can add a can or two of black or kidney beans and have a more traditional chili. This recipe makes great taco meat. I have added green beans or peas in the last 5 minutes of cooking also. As you can see a easy dish to make and easy dish to experiment with. 


Just do not forget to top it with cheese, yum. 

Many blessing to you on this fine night--Kate

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Honoring our Veterans.

Today in church we had a Veteran's Day service to honor all those who have and are serving our country to preserve our safety and freedom. It was a lovely celebration with music, prayer, applause and even bagpipes. I am so grateful for the bravery and sacrifice of these amazing men and women.
 

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” 
—John F. Kennedy

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms.  It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.”
—G.K. Chesterton

“Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
—Winston Churchill

“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!”
– Sun Tzu

Many blessings to you on this day--Kate