Summer Reading

This summer is going to be interesting. All of DH's classes are on line. I have an online and an "in person" class.  The children are all attending music camps here in the next couple of weeks. DD has a nice art group getting started today as well. I don't want the summer to get by us without doing some significant reading together. The boys and I are going to revisit Ivanhoe and maybe Captains Courageous. DD is enjoying Francine Rivers, but I want her to read Daniel Defoe's great story of brokenness and redemption, Robinson Crusoe. The boys and I have read this together in several forms over the  years, but I really love these Windermere readers. I even ordered a second copy from the Amazon market place (for a song, may I add). DD and I can work through it together. I have some activities to go along with it, and we might make a notebooking project out of it as well.

This is not only a great literary work, it is a story of a man broken by his own willfulness. He loses everything and finally becomes a man God can reach.  Robinson is the ultimate literary prodigal.

Look at This!

Well, this is just about the prettiest girls' room linens I have ever seen. I stumbled on this add the other day.I will post a picture of DD's sheet set soon. We washed the one we found and she put it on her bed. I haven't found any pillowcases yet, but her plain yellow ones go perfectly with the sheets.

Leave It to Beaver and Baked Carrots

Tonight, I had a late start in getting supper going. I made a huge pot of mashed potatoes, some crock pot chicken and a new recipe for cooked carrots. This meal called for lots of pealing and paring, dicing and mashing. To make my tasks a bit lighter,  I popped in a Leave It To Beaver DVD. I love watching this show as much at age 50 as I did when I first saw it at about 4 years old. I don't mind telling you  that I laughed out loud several times. DD heard me one time and hollered out to me, "I love that episode."  Haha. Timeless comedy!

Here is a new recipe (new to me at least) for baked carrots.  Simply scrub or peel a pan full of carrots--you can use the baby carrots that are so easy to find these days or the regular sized carrots. Just try to make sure they are sliced or presented in uniform sizes for consistency in baking. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over the carrots; then dash a bit of sea salt and pepper on top. Toss a bit and place in a pre-heated over (425) for about 25 minutes. They are so flavorful this way! This will remind you a bit of carrots cooked in a beef stew or pot roast all day. They are still a little crisp  but not crunchy. You may substitute butter for the olive oil, but I think the oil brings out the carrot flavor!

God Bless America . . . Land that I Love

May God bless this country as we honor those who have fought and died for her. I hope we can once again be a country worthy of such a sacrifice and worthy of His Supreme and Divine Love. 

We must return to Him as
the Light from Above."

A Night on the Town . . . and On the Ground

DS1 recently celebrated his 19th birthday and received some birthday money.  He is usually very close with his money, but after a night on the town, he came home with 2 gallons of sweet tea from Chick-Fil-A.  He was so pleased with himself! He and his friends (one of whom works at this establishment) ate supper at Chick-Fil-A, then went to see the new Star Trek movie. DS had already seen the movie with mom and siblings, but was excited about seeing it again. As if this were not enough excitement, they all went to the soccer field at the College where they engaged in "Star tripping." I have never heard of this pastime, but he was so tickled  when he came in telling us all about it. Apparently, you fix your eyes on a particular star, then spin around in place about 10 times, all the while watching that same star. Then, someone else shines a flashlight in your eyes and that makes you fall down. Now, being dizzy and falling down doesn't sound particularly appealing to me, but they seemed to love it. And believe me, this is a crowd of teetotalers.

These are nice young men. They each love the Lord and serve Him with gladness in their own unique ways.I am grateful that DS1  has such good friends even if I am a bit confused about "star tripping."

Thanking God for His Traveling Mercies

DD's best friend and her family went recently to a very large city, and she commented that they were pretty much awestruck.  That's how I feel in the city--I am a Country Mouse for sure. We praise God for their safe travel, and ask His blessings for our other friends traveling this week. It's wonderful to see new places and visit family, but so good to be back home.

Holly Hobbie

Here she is--Holly Hobbie! I love Holly Hobbie!  She is very difficult to find these days, especially in cross stitch designs. I found this 1972 book on the Amazon Marketplace. I cannot wait to get started. I wonder if any of you remember that Sears had two different color schemes of quilt patterns for girls' bedrooms in the 70's? One was comprised of predominantly pink and green patches; the other, blues and browns. Once in a while, I run up on  a picture of one of these. I can't help but think that Sears marketed these in light of the Holly Hobbie designs of the day. Oh well . . .

Here it is! After I posted, I did a quick search. Aren't they lovely?

I am looking forward to starting on this pattern. I have to finish the dancing girls' sampler first. I am about 60% done. There are many things in my sewing basket to keep me busy this summer!