Two Dresses, One Pattern

I recently finished two summer dresses using Simplicity 2588. 

Version #1

Version #2

The changes I did:

 Lengthened the skirt 9", 

Took a slightly smaller side seams in version #1 and for version #2 I just added a bit to the side seam before I cut it out.  I think next time I'll take some width off at the center front since the princes seams don't quite fall in the right place, and it seems like the smaler sizes leave the seam in almost the same place.

The dress only took 2 and 3/4 yards of fabric!! 

I love this pattern!!

Last Week...

...we had a '3rd sister' when our friend Rebekah came for a week-long visit! 

We made homemade noodles, created beads out of paper, watched two Jane Austen films, practiced singing in parts, weeded in the garden, went for walks, worked in the kitchen, played games, went through all of the clothes in our closets, and did each other's hair....we had fun together! :)

A Fiery Sunset

Yesterday was extremely humid.  Our windows were all fogged over, and the cement patio never dried off. The mosquitoes were very happy with this whole situation.  We were happy to stay indoors!

The sunset was unusually bright last night.  I'm not sure if it was the humidity, but the sky just glowed orange.

It was so bright it looked like a forest fire!

The above picture is a bit blurry, but it was amazing how the tops of the grasses looked orange as they relfected the sunset.

The Crist Family

Last night we went to a concert by the Sounther Gospel music group the Crist Family at a church about 30 minutes from us.  They have beautiful harmonies and smiles; it was a fun evening!

From right to left:  Mr. Crist, Mrs. Crist, daughter Jackie Crist, Mr. Crist's sister Tami Starkel, daughter Bre Crist, and Mr. Christ's brother-in-law John Starkel. 

They are originally from the Seattle Washington area and moved to Tennessee in 2004 to peruse full time singing.

Groups that obviously love what they do are such fun!

A Woman at Home

"Those think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true. Scarcely can the godly mother quit her home for a place of worship; but dream not that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is doing the best possible service for her Lord. Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty." 

~ C. H. Spurgeon

A Dance!

Ever since doing English Country Dancing at a friend's wedding last July, we girls have wanted to try having a dance here at our place. Well it finally worked out, and this past Saturday was the day!! The Lord blessed us with pleasant weather, and the storms that were predicted passed by!

Getting the dancers ready for the 'Virginia Reel'.
The Knudtson family brought their sound system which was such a blessing to me, as shouting over music for 2-3 hours would have been extremely difficult. Thank you guys!!

I really enjoyed calling the dances!

After the 'Virginia Reel' and the 'Duke of Kent's Waltz', we stopped for supper.

Desserts!

Ana's strawberry trifle!

Joshy enjoying his food

Jo telling me all about snakes and how they can climb trees.  :)

After eating and visiting, we got back to dancing...

...this time doing 'Progressive Gordon'.

And then ending the evening off with another round of 'The Virginia Reel'!

We all had SO much fun!!

Unfortunately we didn't think to take a group picture until after a couple families had left, but this is most of us... minus 7 friends.  Oh yes, and minus the two photographers. :)

Garlic Parmesan Flax Crackers

A great high fiber, gluten free, nutritious, and tasty snack!

The first time I made these I baked them for 15 minutes and they turned out to be more of a soft cracker. They were delicious, and made a great 'pizza' crust! (For supper last night I browned hamburger with chopped onions and celery, spread it over the cooked cracker, put sliced cheddar cheese on top and broiled it...yum!!)

The second time I made the recipe I baked them for 18 minutes and most of it ended up on the crunchy side. I guess baking time all depends on what you want to use them for. :)

1 cup flax seed meal

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 and 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder (Edited to say that I think it is good with just 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder - it'a a bit milder.)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup water

Heat oven to 400 F.

1) Mix all ingredients together.

2) Spoon onto a a piece of greased parchment paper the size of your cookie sheet.

3) Cover the mixture with another piece of parchment or waxed paper. (It will be sticky!) Even out the mixture to about 1/8 inch with a rolling pin, and/or a table knife. The important thing is not to let it be too thin around the edges or that part will overcook before the center firms up. So after you spread it out remove and discard the paper and then go around the edges with your finger and push the thin part inwards to even it up. Lift the crackers (that are still on the bottom layer of parchment paper), and place them onto your cookie sheet.

4) Bake until the center is no longer soft, about 15-18 minutes. If it starts to get too brown around the edges, remove from oven. Slide off of pan onto a wire rack and let cool completely - it will continue to crisp up. Peel off parchment paper.

5) Break into pieces. (If you've baked this for 15 minutes and want to use it for pizza crust, do not break into pieces.)

The whole recipe is 6 grams of effective carbohydrate plus 35 grams of fiber.

Roy Rogers Tribute

Roy Rogers - "King of the Cowboys" 

 Nov. 5, 1911 - July 6, 1998

"Roy Rogers was everyone's image of what a cowboy should be, from his white Stetson with its silver hatband to his hand-tooled boots. His face was strong and handsome with eyes that squinted yet still showed a twinkle. His smile was warm and reassuring. Whether he was wearing fringed Western wear or a checkered cowboy shirt, he was the epitome of what a cowboy should be. He was the picture of honesty and integrity. And was there ever a more exciting sight than watching Roy and Trigger riding majestically across the television screen or a rodeo arena? No wonder three generations of kids (and adults) wanted to be like Roy Rogers. We wanted to look like Roy, dress like Roy, and be as honest and forthright as Roy."

"He gave us standards to live by that helped teach us the difference between right and wrong. His willingness to stand up for the things he believed in inspired us. And his religious faith and his concern for the less fortunate helped mold our character. Roy lived his life off camera with the same decency and humility that he projected on television and on the silver screen. He was the hero who never let us down. Despite all the success that came to him, Roy never seemed to lose his way. And he never forgot that his fans were the ones who made it possible for a poor boy from Ohio to attain a level of success greater than anything he could ever have imagined. His decency and strength of character come from a simpler time in America. Yet it was anything but an easy time."
~ By Laurence Zwisohn
   

~ My friend Stacey has a lovely post about him HERE ~

 

"Today there are movies and TV shows I wouldn't even let my horse Trigger see. Kids still like to see the good guy win and the bad guy lose. When the roles are reversed, as in many of today's movies, kids get their thinking in trouble."
~ Roy Rogers
 

 

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31

The difference of a few months...



Independence Day

"The 56 patriots who put their lives on the line by issuing the Declaration of Independence believed that God--not government--gives humanity its rights. May our minds and hearts be stirred with a deepening sense of faith and patriotism as we remember when a company of God-fearing men, guided by Divine wisdom, signed the Declaration of Independence." 

~ Roy Rogers Jr.

Grace Widows

"Whether or not divorce will ever touch your life personally, it is crucial that Christians study and understand what the Scriptures say and mean, so that we can properly minister to the brokenhearted." 
~Stacy McDonald
I encourage you to read her 4 part series on this subject:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three
Part Four

We need to pay attention and address this issue biblically.