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

Summer Projects

We had a busy end of the year, but school is over!  Well, for the kids; not for me.  I happy to announce that I am a Senior (that explains my senior moments) and my last class ends the end of April 2018.  Looks like Josiah and will be graduating the same year.

We had a lot of travelling after the last post.  There was a Pastor's conference, and we had to go pick up the twins from Wisconsin.  Then there was finishing up school, doing grades, and getting ready for evaluations.  All of which have been accomplished.  Jerusha worked hard and managed to do 6th and 7th grades this past year.  She does have a wee little bit of work to do this summer to make sure the ends meet for 8th grade academically, but that is okay.   Josiah requirements are laughable.  The only credits he absolutely needs to graduate is in English/Literature.  Pennsylvania requires four years of language arts.  That means he has to write 3 papers, one being a long 8 to 10 research paper, reach 15 novels, including some classics, and some grammar.   Easy peasy.  However, Mama says he needs more than that.  So, he will be taking dual enrollment courses again.  Also, I have a couple of good History books he will read, Bible, Quiz team, Piano, and Art.

To sum up, this fall we'll be schooling grades 3, 8, 10, 12, and a senior in college.  I've already gotten all our books but they aren't out yet.

Since evaluations, we've been working on some projects around the house.  We have done a little landscaping out the front of the house, planting two rhododendron plants and a forsythia bush.  I started seedlings back in March for the garden, but because of rain interference, and lack of an available rototiller, that has fallen through.  That is the reality of our schedule this year.

We are also putting up our pool, and working on landscaping for that.  We are getting leveling the area right now, which is quite a feat given the hilly terrain.  I've been busy hanging out laundry, baking bread, doing school, editing my next book, and

 We have been working on some decluttering and organizing.  So far we have done the playroom and living room.  Our newest project is the office, which is undeniably a disaster right now.  For our anniversary I bought Dale a "parson's desk" (seriously, that is what is called.  I didn't know it until I was checking out online.  I can't make this stuff up!).  For his Father's Day gift, we are organizing, decluttering and cleaning the office.  Here are some before pics:  Note:  the empty shelves was how far I got before I remembered to take the "before" pictures.  Doh.

So, that is the gist of our lives so far.  I'm still in school, the twins both got their licences and are looking for jobs, Caleb and Josiah work part time landscaping, and we are going room from room in the house this summer, getting things organized.  I will update the progress on our office as we go.  Can't wait to get it done!

Blessings,

Lisa

Quilts and Cake

Over the last few months there have been occasions to enjoy some crafting.  One of my nephews and his wife had their first baby.  What a cutie she is!  Of course a baby quilt was in order.  I made it bigger than a traditional baby quilt so that she could enjoy it through her toddler years at least.  Plus, I just kind of got carried away making the disappearing pinwheels.  They were lots of fun.  I used this tutorial by Jenny Doan from the Missouri Star Quilt Co.

This next quilt went to a family who had their first baby.   

Back and tag 

Of course I had to include the book with the gift!

This is a flimsy from 2015 Mystery Quilt through Merry Mayhem.  I need to piece the back, sandwich, quilt, and bind it off.  So, still a little ways to go on it.

In the beginning of March, Caleb and Josiah went to a Teen Leadership Retreat.  I made this cake for the event. Dale had the opportunity to speak in one of the "Break Out" sessions. 

I love living in the country!  Being treated to gorgeous sunrises and sunsets are something I hope I never take for granted. Our old, cheap, camera doesn't do it justice. It also doesn't do moon shots.  I've tried and failed on every setting the camera has.   

Have a great day!

~Lisa