Annual Cookie and Craft Day!!

When this tradition started--there was my 2 kids and my sister's 2 kids---well put a few more years into that and now there are 12 grandkids total--with 8 of them eight years old and under!!! Talk about a full house--they put the x-box in my bedroom...

...there were dolls in the laundry room--play ones..and real ones...!!

...and the rest of various assorted toys and kids in the family room...The noise level this year was considerably acceptable--several years ago, I think it broke the sound barrier!! Actually the weather was quite warm--so we tied Roxy to the pole and let them play outside for much of the afternoon.

Several different kinds of cookies and candies were made...Whoops--that picture is a little dark--and the counters are actually quite clean--imagine 5 cooks in that little space--but it sure is fun!!

Grandma had a few crafts for the little kids--and Ashley-- to do--they decorated a small paper machie tree with glitter and sequins--they did this one in the garage!! Then strung tri-beads into a candy cane shape. Have to keep the minds creative and always learning.

Notice in the first picture--Trevor was on the floor using all the beads the girls dropped!!

Then comes the craft time of the day--I usually like to keep it a secret--and my sister's are always excited to see what it will be--we have made beaded bracelet's, beaded bookmarks, a felted wool journal cover--and this year--with all the "green" hype--we made a reusable grocery tote.

I had three sewing machines set up--and the pattern pieces all cut to size already--so all Ashley and I had to do--was teach the step by step sewing. Mom and Stacy were very comfortable with the sewing process--but Janel only sews once a year!!

Everybody was intent on finishing the task at hand before the men came for supper...

..which we did--the guys are usually late anyway--some game goes into overtime--and they have to finish watching before they can come.

What a great memory making event!! There were your standard little tifs and misunderstandings--between children and adults!!--but we are all a family--with the same parents--now raising our own children to make their place in God's world.

It only took Loren and I 2 hours and the house was back to normal and you couldn't even tell that there was 25 people in our little house on the farm!! Memories only happen when you take the time to make them happen!!

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13 : 34 - 35

Vintage tablecloth gifts...

This summer Ashley and I were on an inspiration shopping trip--you know the kind where you don't really go out to buy anything in particular--mostly because you hadn't been out in the world for a while, so you don't even know what is in style anymore?!? So we were just browsing through Hobby Lobby--great store for inspirations--and found a book all about aprons--I had seen it in magazines--but never in person--and somehow it found the way into my cart!! There is a section on the history of aprons, section of pictures, and then a section of patterns. What a book to get the wheels turning in my mind!!!

So I have had this tablecloth hanging out in my cupboard since I bought it on a garage sale--but I didn't like to use it because it has a seam down the middle and doesn't really lay nice on the table--

...so I decided to turn it into 6 aprons!! One for each of my sisters, with one for me and Ashley!!

Next to find the perfect fabric for the ties--went looking online--as didn't have time to go to Sioux Falls--and besides--a trip to town usually means spending more money than probaly should!!! Found an online quilt shop-- http://www.desperatequilters.com/ --I have done some quilting for her, so thought I would check out what she had--turns out there is a new fabric line out by Anna Griffen that matches these vintage colors perfectly. She was totally amazed when I showed her the tablecloth and how great of a match it was!!So being the procrastinator that I am--although actually I thought I was a few days ahead of schedule--on the Saturday before Thanksgiving--I made up these adorable aprons!!

What a hit they were at our annual day after Thanksgiving cookie and craft day!!

Farva's Pheasant Nuggets...

So what is a Mom to do with a son and friends who love to hunt--I can't just let them shoot things just for the fun of it--so I guess I will have to cook the game for them. I remember hearing stories of my Uncle John riding with his gun in the combine and bringing home the birds for supper--and have a vivid picture in my mind of a dead bird laying in our front porch--I don't remember eating it--but I was a VERY picky eater as a child--but I digress from my story.

When Josh started to hunt, I told myself that I would learn to COOK the birds for him--I didn't say eat--but I will cook anything he brings home for me--as long as he cleans them and all I have to do is cook it for them to eat.

This weekend his buddies and him had an awesome day of hunting and brought home their limit of birds--so a feast was to be held on Sunday night after church. One cool thing about their hunt is that Josh's free dog is turning out to be a good hunter--and not just all the moles that she kills for me--but points out pheasants for the boys--not bad for a freebie dog!! Now if we could just get her to stop jumping!!

Here is the finished product of all their hard work!!!

Golden brown, delicious--they tell me--pheasant nuggets!!!

...and just like The Field of Dreams....if you cook it--They will come!!! Sometimes there might be a girl or two--but usually just a bunch of guys--eating whatever I put out for them!! Great memories and lots of fun!!

So here it is--Farva's Pheasant Nuggets

6 breasts cut up in nugget size pieces

Soak these for 3-6 hours in a mixture of:

1 cup milk

2 T vinegar

1 egg

garlic powder--to taste

Drain meat and discard marinade. Then shake nuggets in a mixture of:

1 cup flour

1 cup bread crumbs

1 -2 tsp dry thyme

1 tsp. baking powder

seasoned salt and Old Bay seasoning to taste

Then fry in a pan with about 1/2 inch oil. Fry each side about 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Place on a paper towel to drain.

Serves several hungry boys!!

Enjoy!!

Magical Meandering Hooks??

When Lois and I were at Des Moines we both purchased a design book by Sally Terry--Hooked on Feathers. Neat concept--make feathers without backtracking. So next up on the list in the studio was Lois' "Three's A Crowd"--and she lets me try new things on her quilts--so I did the Magical Meander concept by Suzanne Early with Hooked Feathers.

First you draw a large meander over the quilt and then come back and put the feathers off the spine--I really like doing this and it gives great texture to the piece at an allover price.Come to think of it--I made a quilt like this too--we both took a pattern testing class by Ingrid Barlow...and I put a Magical Meander on mine too.It is now on Ashley's bed in her apartment--she loves it!!

Adorable Quilt Week...

So a couple weeks back--It was adorable quilt week at the Lizard Creek studio!!!! First I did the Smore's snowmen--pic on previous post.

Then this bright and sassy ladybug one...

I put meandering in the green areas and pebbleing in yellow around lady bugs. With a feather and curl vine in outer borders.

And if that isn't enough cuteness--how about this back?!?

Next up on the list...Snowmen snuggling under a quilt!!!

What acute concept--keeping snowmen warm!!! Put holly and ribbon curl in outer border. Some continuous curves in the "quilt" Outlining around the snowmen with meandering and stars in the background. Just might have to try something like this someday!!!

It's going to be hard to top this adorable week in the studio!!!

Post season play

Yeah--it's been a while--and since I didn't write about winning the playoff game--I am sure that you guessed that we lost the game against Okoboji. It was a clear, crisp, cool night for a post season game and the air was optomistic--but in the end they had more touchdowns than we did--of course right now I can't remember the score.

But I know that Josh went out a couple times!! Any way--come next fall when Friday nights come around--I just might have to go to a few more Wolfpack games.

Playoff bound!

So--the playoff game will be 7pm, Wednesday night, at Okoboji. Josh says that they are an evenly balanced team--but pray that we give them a good game. And may the best team win.