Where Did January Go?

Time does fly when you are busy!  I cannot believe I have totally missed the month of January on here.  I was hoping to post once a week back in the fall, then realized I was more likely to post once a month with a "catch up" post.  Apparently I am failing at that too!

Our Christmas break was great.  I really needed a breather from all the hustle and bustle.  The kid were on break, I was on break, all was going well until the second half when the tummy bug hit the house and people started spending a lot of time in the bathroom or with buckets.  We made it through, and even though it came back and made a second visit for many of us,  Liz and I were the only ones who avoided it.  At least that is what I thought.  A week after the last victim recovered, I got it.  It was short-lived, thankfully, just SO annoying.  Liz never did get it.  She mostly hid upstairs in a corner or at work.

January 8th we all started back with most of our regular routine.  It kicked off art and piano lessons, dual enrollment classes and and a new term for me.  My LAST term, I might add.  I have four weeks of undergrad study left, and then I'm done! 

Until April 30th when I start with the MFA program.  That's right peeps, proving myself a glutton for punishment, I'm jumping right into a master's program for Creative Writing and English.  I've looked over the program, and there is a TON of writing, and a TON of reading. 

Wicked.  Awesome.

But I digress....

Some of the highlights from this past month were:

New Gaming console.  Yippee.  Just what we need. (NOT!)

Esther was certified as a CNA and began work at our local hospital on the long term care floor.  The girl works the graveyard shift.  Better her than me.

Ben is... well... eating.  No surprise there.  Actually he and Heather are planning their wedding, scheduled for August 19th, 2018.  

Jerusha had her 13th birthday, and as per family tradition got two more holes in her head.  Her best friend also had hers done at the same time.  We had a fun girls' day out with going to the mall, eating at Friendly's, and going to the movies.  We saw the new Jumanji film.  Eh... it was okay.  The original with Robin Williams was much better. 

Of course I did a cake.  :)

(Thorn is her name on Roblox, which she plays a lot.)

Because I have NOTHING to do, I've been participating with a QAL (Quilt Along for you non-quilters) and using up some of my stash.  The blocks will be all set on point in the final project, so that is how I am photographing them.  The QAL is from Pat Sloan's sight, called "Let's Go Camping!" You can follow the link for the QAL if you want to join it.  The link will lead you to the Block #2, but all the previous links for supplies, general directions and tips, and Block #1 are all available for download. Never too late! 

January: Sunset Over the Lake

February: Burnt Marshmellows

I admit I am playing with Pat Sloan's titles because my color palette is very different from hers. The patterns are fun, and easy to follow.  The January block took much longer than the February, which was super easy and quick.  You can also post pics of the blocks on her site to enter for a monthly freebie.  Nothing to lose on this QAL!  

We have been having some cold, some snow... you know, winter weather here in Pennsylvania.  And I'm loving it every minute.  

Blessings,

Lisa  

Potter County Fair Fun

As promised, here is the final update on how things went at the Fair.  Warning: Pic Heavy Post!

Caleb's Quilt (Lucky was kind enough to let him "borrow" it for the Fair) received a third place for machine pieced and machine quilted!  

My lap quilt got second place for its category. :)

Josiah's angler fish got first for its category! This pic is very striking in real life.  The pic doesn't really do it justice. 

Isaac's Lego sculpture didn't place, but it was still fun to enter it. 

Isaac's colored pencil drawing did place, though!

Jerusha's photography 

Caleb's photography

Caleb's colored pencil received 1st place for its category! (hey, Grandma and Grandpa... recognize that place?)  Sorry about the wicked glare from the flash of my camera.  

Jerusha's colored pencil wolf received an honorable 3rd place. 

Josiah's dinosaurs got a second place in its category.

We went one day to "play" around for the afternoon, and eat a bunch of yummy Fair food. 

Oh, I forgot, my succulent cake got second place in its category. 

By the way, if the pictures above are a little "Isaac" heavy you can blame the other children.  They all fled into different directions and wouldn't let me get a picture of them for anything.  So if you ever hear them whining "Isaac always had his picture taken..."  tell them to get over it, it's their own fault, and don't give me that crap about the youngest always getting everything.  Just sayin'.

The Fair was lots of fun, and I think the kids and I were quite inspired to do more for next year.  The number of entries was definitely down this year.  The more participation in these things, the more fun.

Have a blessed day!
Lisa

Miscellaneous Summer Fun!

I know... it's been a couple weeks since my last post.  I get everyone all revved up for more frequent entries and then I disappear.  Not fair, right?

We have had a ton of company over the last couple weeks, and have done VBS, and I have been running with my tongue hanging out trying to keep up with my schoolwork inbetween it all.  Also, we have been finishing up projects for the fair.

Monday was spent in a frenzy of last minute stuff getting ready. Since the cake I did won't be coming back to the house I made sure I got a pic.  This is called a succulent cake.  The "flowers" are supposed to be different flowering cacti, which is why it is called a "succulent".   We'll find out tonight how it "faired".  Pun intended. (Insert collective groan here).

This summer has been "cool" compared to some.  I was walking through the living room the other day and these two were wrapped up like it was subzero out. 

Of course, the upside is that some hot tea has been enjoyed.  One afternoon I made a Trim Healthy Mama caramel coffee drink.  Yummy! I enjoyed it while reading some Brit Lit.

Caleb made a quilt to enter into the Fair.  Here he is pinning on a border.  Tubby claimed the quilt and looked annoyed when she had to move.

Quilting on Mama's spendy machine!  He did a great job.

Another sprocket for my "Sprocket Science" quilt.  It is all English Paper Pieced.  I enjoy working on it in the evening or at the lake.  A great take-along project!

This is a quiche made from the THM cookbook.  It was a hit with all the family.  Will definitely make that again soon, especially with the bounty of eggs we are blessed with.

Summer fruit salad... yummy!

Isaac had fun with these generic "Jenga" blocks.  Forget the game... time to design something.  Hmmm... wonder if he'll be an architect or an engineer?

 Ummm... aren't these supposed to be the lazy, hazy days of summer?  That white board is way too full for this time of year. 

Isaac has learned the fine art of multitasking.  He is drawing a picture for the fair, listening to The Piano Guys, and twirling his Fidget Spinner. 

We have some beautiful sunsets around here.   

So, that is it for now.  We have plans to go to the Fair and check out how our projects did and have some fun.  I hope everyone takes time to stop and enjoy something today, whether it is a sunset, the birds, a gentle breeze, yummy food.. or best of all: Family. 

Blessings,

Lisa

Fair Projects

With only a couple of weeks left until our county fair, the kids have kicked their creativity into high gear.  I love it when that momentary panic when the realization a deadline is quickly approaching creates a sudden spurt in craft making.  Not to mention the ultimatum:  "You can either do this and such chore, or work on fair projects" helps.

Jerusha is also doing some art, and baking.  I will be doing a succulent cake (I hope!) in an effort to practice my butter cream decorating skills.  The nice thing about the baking is that they are judged and then auctioned off and the proceeds go right to the Fair to help with expenses.    More updates to follow!

Also, keep tuned as Isaac and I are working on the next chapter of "How to Train Your Pet Rocks".

Blessings,

Lisa

Cake, Campfire fun, and Kickin' Back

Don't you just love it when you week totally runs off with your schedule, calling over its shoulder, "Ha, ha! Catch me if you can!".

That's what I felt like last week.  It was Girls' Adventure week at camp, and yes, I made a cake.  My commitment for the week grew from bringing a cake and helping to lifeguard while at the lake on Thursday to being at the camp everyday for one thing or another.  Monday and Tuesday nights the twins sang and I played piano, then Wednesday I substituted while one of the counselors had to run for a doctor's appointment in the morning.  Thursday was lunch at beautiful Rim Rock, then swimming in Kinzua Lake.  Friday I was also called upon to help out while another counselor, who is also a pastor's wife, had to go help with a funeral they were having at their church.  I ended up staying all day and for the bonfire at night.  Saturday the girls and I helped clean the cabins, church, and kitchen. Whew.  Oh, I also had schoolwork all week and a paper due on Sunday.  I decided the Lord was teaching me to trust HIM with my schedule, and not rely on my own understanding of time management.  In the end, I got everything done, with a day to spare.

(Notice how shiny the fondant is.  That means that it was wicked humid.  The edible marker I used was quite unhappy performing on such a slippery and damp platform. ) 

Overlook at Rim Rock, PA

(I put little dots around the cake for fun.  I think it looks cute.)

                                            

In that spare day, Sunday, I took everyone who wanted to go to Lyman Lake between church services.  It was a lazy afternoon.  Absolutely wonderful.  

EPP project while chillaxin' a the lake.  Hey, sometimes you have to quilt when and where you can!

Chicken fight!

Practicing Japanese

Yummy!  Fresh, piping-hot fries.

Hi Mom!

We had a youth activity the first Saturday in July up at the pavilion.  The campfire was cozy, and we roasted marshmallows and the kids ate a lot of junk food.  Dale did devotions.  During the devotions the sky opened up and rain down, pelting the tin roof on the pavilion so vigorously that we could barely hear what Dale was saying.  The sky right before the rain hit was gorgeous.  My dinky little camera doesn't handle such shots well, but I did make an effort. 

Random pic of my hastas, finally blooming.

 There is much more to show and tell, but that will have to be another post.  I will say that I have a new quilting project I'm starting, so I'll be posting pics of that.

Have blessed day,
Lisa