Getting Ready For The New Year

We are beginning the newness around here a bit early. As I type, I am waiting for my dear husband to arrive home from work for the last time for the next 365 days. That's right- his year off begins officially tomorrow, Dec. 31st. I'm sure there will be more news about that later as we really get into the nitty gritty of how it's going to change life around. I am not accustomed to having an extra set of hands during daylight hours so I have high hopes!

We had a great Christmas in Kentucky. We were able to see nearly all of my family. This was a real treat for which I am very grateful. We are currently enjoying the last few days of "school break" and wearing whatever clothes happen to land on our backs. Next week, nearly all of our regular activities resume. We have a new family addition, Brooke and Clay have welcomed baby #7, Jackson Scott, a precious redhead, and I can barely keep myself from driving up to see him. Well, actually, we had one dramatic event over Christmas, and it won't surprise you that it did involve my mini-van. Yes, that is the same mini-van that is just 1 year old that was hit by a deer last Christmas. This time Ed sort of backed into a tree in my Mom's yard. I am sporting a wonderful plastic and duct tape rear view mirror. I guess a girl from Appalachia just cannot get away from duct tape after all. Official repairs begin in 4 days!

The photos above are totally random from the last quarter of the year (the months when I didn't blog at all)....Happy New Year to All!

October!

It really is too bad the blog posts that I write in my head do not jump into the computer. So, you are left with what I actually sit down to type.

Things we have been doing or enjoying around our little house this past month:

1. Both girls are reading! Homeschool is such a blessing.
2. New neighbors with 2 sweet little girls.
3. American Heritage Girls ( A Christian scouting organization)
4. Baking fun things with the girls
5. Counting down until Ed is off for an entire year.
6. Sewing some sweet new and challenging projects for the girls. I'm getting more creative.
7. Ed took both girls to Georgia for a weekend! I got some quiet time alone.
8. I moved my sewing room to the room over the garage. I love it up there, and I have reclaimed our lovely dining room for possible dinner parties!
9. The weather is just now even hinting at true fall weather, but I love it.
10. Ed got the girls new bikes as early birthday presents. They really look like BIG girls on them.
11. Jenna has lost 2 teeth, and Ava has a loose one.

That's all for now.

Ten Apples Up on Top

This past Friday, we left all the laundry and dirty dishes behind as we headed up the road to Sky Top apple orchard. We met Clay and Brooke plus 6 (and 2 extra kiddos) to pick apples and eat donuts. This is the first time I have made it to pick in September, and let me just say it was hot in the sun. We picked apples and enjoyed donuts. The kids played and had a great time.

We have since been eating a lot of apples- cooked apples, apple cake, raw apples, apples with caramel dip and you get the idea. We've been reading books about apples, learning about Johnny Appleseed and making our own little books about apples, too. I do love this time of year with the anticipation of cooler weather.

Ava & Jenna have started American Heritage Girls which is a Christian scouting organization for girls. I am co-leading their group of 20 something Pathfinders. This group has been around since the mid '90's but this is the first troop in Columbia. We are learning as we go! That's what has been going on at our little house. P.S. We do have a new children's book which is sweet and cute. If you like Beatrix Potter, you will like these books as well. It is the complete Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem. It is about little field mice. There is a story for each season plus a few more. The illustrations are so divine.

Fairytale Princesses

So, I continue to be a very bad blogger. I just can't seem to post as often as I think about it. Our week has been a whirlwind of activity. I'd tell you about it, but I am too tired. The girlies attended a birthday party of a sweet friend this evening wearing full princess (or mermaid) attire. Ava is most proud of her "dress up" hair.

I finally finished smocking ONE Christmas dress. I have also managed to sew each girl a cute tiered skirt for fall/winter. I hope to cut out a sweet fall dress for them over the weekend to start on in the next week or so. I will continue to work on the additional Christmas dress, too. At least, it is portable since the smocking is done by hand.

We have finished 5 weeks of school so far this year, and I am really trying to stay out of the "are we doing enough, or the right things" trap and just trust that what we chose to do for this year is sufficient.
I had a bit of a difficult day today, and actually, we did not do any school. I still have 4 loads of clean but unfolded laundry, and I don't even know how much dirty laundry. Those of you who know me well, know that laundry is my thing. I can somehow live with a dirty bathroom (ickk, but true) but ever expanding dirty laundry throws me into panic mode. I don't even know how I am typing instead of folding right now. Maybe I am being healed from my obsession with laundry OR maybe I have been overwhelmed ALL day and just cannot do ONE more thing. I am going to rest and read a book now. God is good, and I am going to rest in Him.

Wyoming

I know it has been more than a month since my last post. Let me just say that we had a wonderful time in Wyoming. Maybe I should make a list of all the things I enjoyed. I'll start by saying the 80 something degree weather during the daytime and 50 degrees at night was glorious. Debbie, my sister in law, and I walked between 2 and 4 miles every day. I loved the landscape which is so different from things "back east". I have become a bit smitten with the whole "cow girl" image which I am only going to live out by dressing my children like this. Well, I did get some cute boots that I will wear when it cools off around here.

Most of all, I think I enjoyed thinking about the vastness of the West in times past-What it must have been like for the Native Americans 200 years ago, and at the same time what an adventure it was to settle that land for those brave pioneers who left their homes in search of a better life. I don't know if I could survive a winter in Wyoming or Montana, but just a week in the summer was pure bliss. I have always liked the idea of being an outdorsey girl, but 2 things have stood in my way of actually pursuing this: a little bit of make up and a hair dryer. However, I will admit that I really felt more drawn to nature while in Story. Maybe it was the sound of the river, or sleeping with the windows open, or just the romantic draw of a new place, but it was the only place I can say I have truly felt compelled to be outside as much as possible.

Ed enjoyed fishing in the river. The girls spent a lot of time with Ed playing in the water and building a little dam and lake for their Polly Pockets. After the girls went to bed, we played many games of UNO with the whole family. Ed's Aunt Marilyn still lives in Story so we were honored to have several visits with her. The girls were able to play in the same creek Ed and Bill played in when they visited their grandparents as little boys.

Since returning home, we have been finishing up some projects at home and getting ready to start school on Monday. Jenna has BINGO all set up for us to play so I guess you know what I'm doing next.

Welcome, New Pets

These are the newest members of our family. The guinea pigs are Blaster and Darwin. They are sweet and cuddly, and the girls absolutely LOVE them. We've had them since we got home from Wyoming, and I must say even I like them.

Swimming and Lemonade

I can hardly believe it is July. Where oh where is summer going? It has been so much fun that I am not ready to think about August just yet. The girls completed their annual 2 weeks of swimming lessons in June. Jenna can independently swim 2 lengths of the pool! Ava progressed quite a bit as well and can swim pretty well, but she is too stubborn to swim to the deep end alone.

June ended on an interesting note with Jenna getting strep throat, not improving after treatment only to find out she had mono, too! So we slowed things down for an entire week to let her recover. We had a great trip to Suches with family over the 4th of July weekend. There are some pics of that on my facebook page. Let's just say that 6 adults, 10 kiddos, 2 baby goats and 2 dogs makes for an interesting time.

Last week, I painted the side entry way into the kitchen, and this week, I have completed a bed skirt for our bed. Maybe I can get a pic of that up a bit later. I finally finished smocking 2 dresses for the girls, and I will start on their Christmas dresses towards the end of the month. Otherwise, the girls and I are planning our trip to Ky next week, and then, the whole family is going to Wyoming! Well, that's all for now. Hopefully, I can make another post in the next 24-48 hrs with more pics.

Big Show

A little ART on Fun Friday

Greetings! Now that summer is upon us, I am instituting something called "Fun Fridays". This means we do less formal school work and more arts, crafts and games. I like games, but friends, I am not really very crafty. I know, some of you think because I have taken up sewing that surely, I have a fondness for crafts. I am learning that I do enjoy certain crafts but mostly the ones I think of as "productive, practical and useful." As far as crafts for children, you know, the ones involving goopy glue, pipe cleaners and who knows what else, I am not so great.

However, over the summer, I am going to make a real effort to do better with crafts for Ava & Jenna. We will continue with small amounts of reading, writing and arithmetic over the summer, and add in more fun, hands on activities. They already love to pick strawberries and blueberries, and in the artwork above, they are depicting berry picking. I do love the art they create and watching the bright, beeming smiles on their faces as they share it with you.

As for my summer plans, I am currently working on a custom bedskirt for our bed which I hope to follow with drapes and pillows. I would like to take down some wallpaper in both upstairs bathrooms, and do some painting in the kitchen and side entryway. I suppose we will see how all that goes.

A dear friend purchased some Bishop's dresses for us that are completed but need to be smocked. I am going to try my hand at smocking them after a lesson from a friend's mother who happens to be coming to Columbia next week and has graciously extended an offer to get me started on my smocking journey. I originally decided a while back that I was not going to pursue smocking right now, not for lack of interest, but because Ava & Jenna are getting older, and I just wasn't sure it would be the wisest use of my sewing time. Well, now plans have changed with these lovely dresses hanging in the closet all pleated but smock-less. Truthfully, I am very excited and glad to have this opportunity.

We will be around most of the summer except for a trip to Kentucky sometime in July and Wyoming in August. I hope everyone has a blessed Memorial day weekend.

Little Things

I am proud to announce that we, in the Woody household, have lived an entire week without using paper towels. I know, I know this seems either wierd, insignificant or both, but it is obviously better for the environment if we are not using a million paper towels a day. In addition, I am hoping it is easier on my wallet. Of course, I am using more cloth napkins and cleaning rags so we will see if I can keep this up for the long haul. I am not making any commitments just yet only sharing a small thing I am attempting.

We've had a busy couple of weeks, but then again isn't everyone busy? Ava & Jenna have had 2 end of the year choir performances already and have their Big Show at The Little Gym coming up on Friday.

We will officially be able to begin Kindergarten as of June 1st and are trying to come up with a name for our homeschoool (Yes, we have to have a name for the SC association of Independent Home Schools). That's all I can think of for now.

Me-Marvelous?

For Mother's Day, the girls Sunday School classes gave us a sweet laminated story each child had made about his or her mother entitled "My Marvelous Mom".

Well, here is what Ava wrote about me.

My Mom has brown hair. She cooks the best chocolate muffins. Everyday she has to brush her hair. She wears lipstick and mascara. She has a rule that you don't bring drinks upstairs. We like to go to Charleston together. I like to hear her sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." We play Bingo together. She prays for God to help us not mess up our rooms. If I could give my mom any gift in the world, I would give her clothes.

This is what Jenna wrote:

My Mom's hair is brown with a little blonde. She wears lipstick and powder. She makes yummy fish sticks for me to eat. Everyday she has to fold laundry. She likes to cook food for her friends. We go to restaurants together. I like to hear her sing "Summertime". We play Bingo together. She wears necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. She doesn't like for girls to run through the dining room. If I could give my mom any gift in the world, I would give her stuffed animals.

I still am not sure whether laughing or crying would be the most appropriate response to these! I think I sound a bit like a gypsy with all the make up and jewlery references, but oh well that's what they notice. The other things I think are interesting is that Jenna likes to hear me sing "Summertime"- that's a Bon Jovi song, and that she likes my fish sticks (Thanks Mrs. Paul's fish sticks). I mean really no mention of all the stuff I really do cook, just the frozen fish sticks.

The pictures were taken at the zoo yesterday. It was the last "Homeschool" Monday program at the zoo for this school year. You can't really see their skirts too well, but I made them on the serger and even figured out how to do the rolled hem without any difficulty.

Hope everyone had a great Mother's day!

Toccoa Falls

Last weekend, we went to Suches, Georgia. We make this trip several times a year, but we have never stopped at Toccoa Falls. We had to take a very slight detour to see the falls, but it was well worth it. The girls loved every minute of being right up next to the water and rocks as you will see from the photos.

The little white pants they are wearing were my first "stretchy" fabric project on my serger, and I think they turned our well. I put a lettuce edge on the bottom instead of a real hem, and it is a cute, whimsical addition.

I am also adding a picture of my serger which I am getting more and more comfortable using. I finished a project for Mother's day just a few minutes ago, but I can't say much about that yet. Lots going on around here over the weekend so I better sign off for now.

So as promised, this is the MORE I am adding. I have tried 4 times to upload some photos to post, but something must be wrong with blogger. Anyhow, I finally have added them one at a time. These are some of the things I have made for the girls for the summer. Nothing fancy, and in case you are curious, I often have to bribe them to pose for a photo. That's why Ava is not always smiling!

I am the proud new owner of a serger. I have used it to make a wrap skirt for myself- maybe I can get Ed to take a pic of me wearing it. The serger is awesome, but a bit intimidating, even for someone who is technically minded. I did spend 8 years working with audiology equipment, but none of that required 8 spools of thread on one machine! So far, I have only used 4 spools at one time. I am taking a serger project class tomorrow so hopefully that will boost my speed.

That's all for now!

Spring Happenings

So, These are some of our pictures of spring planting. The girls love to garden with Ed. I love the benefits of the garden: fresh organic produce! I will admit that I have not been an active participant in the gardening process.

I'll add more later!

Better Late than Never

First things first, I will be making some confessions during this blog post.

1. The girls and I went to Dunkin' Donuts this morning in our Jammies. I was even wearing my Ugg houseshoes. We only went through the drive thru, but that is the first time we have done that. Ed is in Dallas, and the coffee I made just wasn't cuttin' it this morning. As much as I like coffee, I am hit or miss with it suiting my palate.

2. I really do want to be a good blogger, but there are some things standing in my way.
Our new computer likes to hide the pictures when I download them even after I have tagged them. It is like an Easter egg hunt to find said pictures to post them. I also find my thoughts are very random and not in any logical order to share with anyone. I can barely string them together these days- Perhaps it is because I am going through the grammar stage of learning again with the girls and am retraining my brain to memorize things such as the presidents of the US. I can now sing the presidents in order and skip count through the
12's. Here's the humbling part, Ava & Jenna can do it better than I can!

Now, on to the actual pics I have posted. I don't know what order the pics are in, so bear with me. The kids are my nieces and nephews in Louisville. While Ed was in Kenya, the girls and I took a trip to visit my sister, Stacey and brother in law, Chris, who have added a new baby (Max) to their family. Clay is now a big brother! Sorry I didn't get any pics of Max b/c I was too busy holding and feeding him. We also got to see my brother, Neil and his lovely wife, Patricia and their sweet girls Lily and Beth. It was a great time to reconnect with them. Ava & Jenna had so much fun with their new found cousins. My father and his wife, Brenda also made the trip to the big city to see everyone.

The photo of Ava in the skirt and top is of a skirt I have made for them for summer. I am making most of their summer clothes (for better or worse). This leads to my next and last confession for this post.

3. Compulsion is defined as an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act. So here goes, I have a sewing compulsion. It goes like this: I have cute fabric, but I need the right pattern for it OR I have a really sweet pattern but need just the right fabrics to make it. This leads to getting more fabric and even more patterns, and it is a never ending cycle. (At least Ed is understanding because of his woodworking. I may be getting a serger this summer. I have some patterns I am saving to make with the serger because they will go so much faster. Okay, I may not be able to wait to make them, but we'll see, and I will keep you posted.

I am typed out, but feel I have mostly caught you up on things here at Little House in FA. P.S. Ed came home this week with the just hatched premiere edition of magazine by Hobby Farms.

Goals

While Ed is away, I have a few goals:

1. Sew A LOT. Or at least cut out a lot of my projects so I can simply go from project to project without stopping to cut out new patterns which is my least favorite part of sewing.

2. Do the bare minimum of cooking, cleaning and housework. I went to the grocery yesterday and purchased many many lean cuisine meals.

3. Spend some time with family in Kentucky..

So, that's it sweet and simple. So far, I have finished one and a half dresses and one and a half skirts for the girls. I must be developing some ADD b/c normally I would never dream of starting a new project before you finish a prior one, but once I got the pattern for the Handmade dress, I stopped cold in my tracks, pushed the second skirt aside (which only needs to be hemmed- I can do that anytime, right)and set to cutting out the dress. I finished it yesterday and have the second one halfway finished as of now. Maybe I'll finish it today? The girls and I are going to later church today, but I still better sign off for now. Hope everyone has a wonderful Lord's Day. P.S. Ed arrived safely in Kenya yesterday.

Something New

So, this weekend my husband cooked a wonderful meal from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and we had some dear friends over to share in the bounty. I have had a desire for a while to try making homemade bread, but I had not purued this interest until recently. Why, you ask? I wasn't sure I wanted to buy a breadmaking machine mostly due to cost and space concerns in our kitchen. But, a friend from our homeschooling group shared her story about these 2 books: Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day & Healthy Bread in 5 minutes a day. I got them from Amazon along with the platic container(s) you see in the fridge. It really is simple. You mix up the ingredients- no kneading involved, tear off a portion of the dough, let it rise and bake it when you want fresh bread. I have only made a couple of the recipes, but it is tasty. My contribution to the weekend meal was a freshly baked French Boule of bread. Doing it this way is also economical- costing a fraction of what healthy bread costs in the store. I have made whole wheat sandwich bread as well.

The Tulips are included in the blog just because they are pretty in the dining room. The other pic is of my dear friends, Kristy and Debby. It's the only picture we took that night. I had intended to take more of the actual meal, but my camera batteries went dead.

So, what else is going on around here? Ed leaves for 16 days in Kenya on Friday. Please pray for the medical team as they travel and minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the children and their families in Kijabe. I am back to sewing smaller things for the girls, and I've just purchased some adorable new patterns from the Handmade Dress and landed some clearance boutique fabric from Chez Ami (some for only $3 per yard). I just couldn't resist. I hope to sew a lot while Ed is gone, and we plan to make a trip to Kentucky to see all our relatives there- which is including a trip to Louisville to see my brother and sister who live there. I have not been to Louisville in at least 10 years- maybe I've been once since finishing grad school at U of L. Anywho, Jenna is up now and ready to be "breakfast helper" so I need to go.