Mom's Afghan

I crocheted my mom an afghan for a Mother's Day/Birthday present. I have been slowly working on it since November. When I wasn't working I figured I had plenty of time on my hands to start a big project and I hadn't been crocheting in a few years. I wanted to learn some new crochet stitches and how to make a some new things. Awhile ago, I posted the handbag and wristlet I crocheted for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Those were something new I learned to crochet.

So for my mom's afghan I used a basket weave stitch, which was very easy to learn and crochet. I loved the outcome. The basket weave stitching made it very easy to keep the edges straight which is something I have a hard time doing using other stitches. I used a green yarn to match the living room that my mom had recently finished decorating, painting and updating.

I love you MOM!

May Goal and Memorial Day Weekend

I enjoyed accomplishing my goal for May to send an encouraging note to someone each day. It's been great to reconnect with friends this year. I've always enjoyed sending cards, writing cards, making cards...and so May was a joy in many ways.

Memorial Day weekend was a great and relaxing weekend for Josh and I. We enjoyed the outdoors and captured moments of the wildlife living around us. We walked through the seminary property that is next to our place. It is beautiful and the home of many neighboring deer. Actually on the way out the door to start our walk over to the seminary a deer walked out in front of us on our road and was going up to other apartment buildings eating the bushes by their windows. Then we followed him over to the seminary property where he probably calls home. We saw more deer in the woods in their typical location and Josh was able to get pretty close for a good photo of one of them. We crossed the creek (Josh across a big log, me across the bridge at the road:) We love the woodsy area that we live in!

We went to a BBQ on Sunday with our young marrieds small group. What a blessing it is to be connected with so many new friends. It was nice that so many couples and families could make it. On Monday we went to the Thiensville Memorial Day Parade (that took up about 10 minutes of our day, lol!) But, it was beautiful outside, finally, and it was nice to take a walk down main street.

What a great weekend to spend with Josh enjoying our home and small town:) 

April Goal: Memorize 10 Bible Verses

My goal for April was to memorize 10 bible verses. I did not fulfill the entire goal, however, I am glad to say that I did memorize 7 verses (2 single verses and one grouping of verses from Proverbs that was 5 total verses for the section).

Here they are from memory:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord not men.”

–Colossians 3:23

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, and of love and of self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

“She is clothed with dignity and power and she laughs at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and she does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also; he praises her, ‘Many woman do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” – Proverbs 31:25-30

I am still working on memorizing the other verses. Now for May’s goal to send an encouraging note to someone each dayJ

Easter 2011

 These are some of my favorite pictures from Easter 2011. Thankful for family and our Risen Savior!

 Maddie took this picture of Josh and I...budding photographer:)

Spring Break 2011

In March we visited Josh's parents in Ohio and then his sisters family Illinois. I must of been busy posting something else in March :) (lol) and didn't get to this post. It was Josh's spring break, so we are glad we were able to get away for a little bit. We went to the Cincinnati Museum Center and checked out the Natural History & Science Museum. We also ate a restaurant on the Ohio River that had really great food. We enjoyed the time with Josh's parents and go to relax as well. We had a fun time at the Weis house. We went to the zoo/park on the windiest day ever:) but it was still fun. Played with the kids at home and at the playground. Glad to get the chance to spend time with them as well. Josh's brother was able to stop by as well for a short visit. Good break and good times with family. Enjoy the pictures.

Crocheted bags: Mother Daughter set

I have been enjoying learning new craft skills and making new things since we've been in T-Ville. I came across a blog with a video tutorial walking me through how to make a crocheted handbag. I am a visual learner so this was awesome to find and much easier to follow than reading a pattern. I made a couple of bags to start out and I am using them for personal use (one holds my crochet supplies and the other I use for books to and from the library). Once I felt comfortable with the pattern I decided to make some gifts. I ended up making a Starling Bag (the one with the tutorial as indicated below the pics) and a wristlet (which I also found on the blog mentioned below).

I also give credit to my wonderful husband who helped me with the designs and mathematics that came into play when cutting the fabric and making the lining. Thanks hun!

Mother-Daughter Starling and Wristlet Bags

This is the bag that I made for my mother-in-law's birthday.

 

This is the wristlet I made for my sister-in-law's birthday:

I used two colors of yarn and used a touch of the opposite color in each bag. I used the same fabric for the lining, added similar color buttons and a Kanzashi flower pin that can be removed from the bag and used elsewhere if desired.

If you want to learn how to make the bags above check out Alice's blog FutureGirl at the link below:

http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/labels/crochet.aspx
Scroll down to June 23 - July 21, 2010 to view the tutorial episodes for the Starling bag

Also, if you'd like to know how to make the flowers that I turned into pins, click the link below to the FutureGirl blog post on Kanzashi hairpins:

http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2009/7/my-kanzashi-hairpin.aspx

I'll be making more crafts through the year, just maybe not at the same rate as when I was not working...but SO thankful to have a job:)



Oatmeal Queen: 30 Days of Quick Oats Recipes

Wow, I can't believe that March is already over! I give a big shout out to my brother Jon, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Got a chance to talk to him quick tonight. He just got back from California (he got to see our old houses, church, school, hang outs, etc.) and now he's headed to the biggest indoor water park in the country. Boy what a birthday celebration! Have a blast bro:)

The Oatmeal Queen and Something Green posts have come to an end. The Oatmeal Queen experience was more enjoyable that I had expected and the Something Green was not as fun as I had hoped. But I can say that I accomplished this goal for the month of March. My goal to make a duvet cover is not complete, however, I did buy a sheet to provide the last of the material I needed. It won't be fancy, just plain white. So we'll see if I get it made in April along with my goal to memorize 10 bible verses.

For those of you (and myself) who may be interested in any of my quick oats recipes from this month I have listed them all by title below to make it easier to find each one. If you click on the title it will link you to the post from that day with the written out recipe. Thanks for reading and keeping up with me this month. I won't be posting everyday at this point, but I look forward to giving updates as before. You can look forward to some posts on my recent craftiness:)

30 Quick Oats Recipes:

1. Strawberry Almond Crunch
2. Pears Dole Fruit Cup
3. Honey Nut
4. Berry Blast
5. Sunnyside Garlic
6. Peaches Dole Fruit Cup
7. Pumpkin Pie
8. Pina Colada
9. Candied Pumpkin
10. Almost No-Bakes
11. PB and J with Strawberries
12. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
13. Cherry Nut
14. Creamy Veggie and Bacon
15. Peanut Butter Banana
16. Golden Nut
17. Blue-Banana-Berry
18. Kiwi
19. Chunky Applesauce and Almond
20. Mandarin Spice
21. Apple Walnut Crunch
22. Honey Applekin
23. Egg Salad
24. Fruit Cocktail Dole Fruit Cup
25. Cottage Cheese and Pineapple
26. Peanut Butter Apple Crisp
27. Potato and Eggs
28. Brown Sugar Walnut Swirl
29. Blueberry Muffin Top
30. Banana Walnut Crunch

ENJOY!!!