A (Yet to Be Determined Color) Thumb

I needed a new project, and the weather has been wonderful lately... so I decided to give gardening a try. This area was previously populated by two bushes (one of which was dead) and a ground covering combination of half dirt and half grown over grass. So I decided to spruce it up a bit. I dug out a nice curved flower bed area with a garden shovel we found in the woods near our house (creepy). My foot was sore all week from stomping on the sharp edges of the shovel, which I was told was the wrong type of shovel for the job. I do'nt know what I expected from a free shovel. 

First, I transplanted the one live bush to the other side of bed (which fingers crossed will bounce back), then I planted two green bushed with red tips, two Asiatic lilies, and a bunch of those little bright colored cone shaped flowers in between. It is very colorful, coordinates well with the cowboy boot planter outside the front door. The last thing I did was fill it in with some Cyprus mulch.

Here is the masterpiece.....intricately created by the Master Craftsman and arranged by me.

 

I never imagined I would be one to "garden," but I have to say I enjoyed being 'hands on' with the creations of my Creator.

Teach us to realize the brevity of Life so that we may grow in wisdom

Psalms 90:12

Homeade Bread

Warm homemade bread is such a treat, and I have been enjoying making it with the help of my new Kitchen Aid mixer (thank you friends and family).

This is a recipe I found online....so I cant take credit, but it has been delicious every time!

*I added everything (in parenthesis) 

1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees F)

1 Tablespoon milk

2 Tablespoons (vegetable or canola) oil

2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar)

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1.5 cups (unbleached) white flour

1.5 cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons (one pkg) instant active dry yeast

Combine the first six ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Add flours and yeast and knead until smooth and elastic 10-15 minutes (I let the mixer, fitted with the dough hook do the work here.) Place dough in greased bowl, turning once. Cover with clean towel and let rise (in warm place: outside, on top of clothes dryer...etc) until doubled in size, about 40 minutes. Punch dough down (with fist or spoon). Knead for a few minutes more, until smooth. Form into greased loaf pan. Cover with towel and let rise again (in warm spot) until almost doubled, about 30 more minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes. Remove from pan to cool. Allow adequate time to rest before slicing. Enjoy!

"People do not live by bread alone, rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

Deuteronomy 8:3

Leopard Print Lampshade

I recently picked up a lamp at an antique store for around $3 that was shade-less. After searching this small town for a cute printed lampshade to dress it up I decided making one would be a quicker option. To start I found an appropriately sized oatmeal colored shade with ribbon detail from Ross for $4.99. Then I had to decide on a print. Inspired by 'The Big Cat Diaries' series which we frequently watch (with the dog), I thought leopard print would be an eclectic touch in the living room.

First step, I painted tan colored imperfect circles in various sizes around the whole lamp.

Next, I painted a border of black around each circle. Some borders were complete, other were not, some were blended, others were less perfect. (The imperfections are really what make it more realistic looking.)

(I stretched this part out over a few days and worked on it while I was drinking my coffee or watching TV.)

And here is the finished product.....

so cute :) 

"Worship is a way of seeing the world in the light of God"  -Abraham Joshua Heschel

Update

 One of the pennies fell off in transport, but J told him that since he had to turn back early on his flight (because of a "green light" problem) that he was only going to give him $0.99. The guy chuckled and said he thought it was great!

Yay.

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

 

Romans 12:11

                                         

The "Dollar Ride"

When you are training to be a pilot in the Air Force your first official flight in the airplane is called a "dollar ride." At the completion of your flight it is customary to hand the instructor pilot who chauffeured you around the air space a dollar for his time and service. Student pilots will hand over anything from a simple dollar with their name written across it, to any form of a dollar taped to anything alcoholic, to an elaborately framed piece of artwork. So when my husband, the student pilot, asked me for help.... I was all over it!

While he studied his instruments, limits, and flight pattern in preparation for his flight, I googled "dollar ride gift ideas." Soon, a plethora of quirky gift ideas were before me and I found one in particular that I found intriguing and decided to elaborate on.

Here is what I came up with...

That is 100 pennies in the shape of a T6 Texan (which is the type of plane they initially train in).

To begin, I took a standard 8x10 canvas and painted it a pretty sky blue color. I allowed it to dry with a little help from my hair dryer (learned that trick in a painting class I took recently). Then I took a fan shaped paint brush and added the wispy white clouds in various areas around the airspace. I found a picture of the T6 Texan online, counted out 100 pennies and made the shape of the airplane on the canvas. Then I painted different portions of the pennies to depict the various colors and pattern on the T6 and left the canopy and tip of the airplane the original shiny copper penny color. When that dried (no hair dryer this time... for obvious reasons) I glued the pennies onto the canvas in the shape of the plane.

We then added a little note thanking the Major for his services, packed it up, and will present it to the guy tomorrow! He will either think it is really awesome and hang it on his wall or chuckle at its craftiness, knowing it could only have come from an Air Force wife.

[I'll keep you posted]

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."                                          Joshua 1:9

*a great encouragement to anyone facing difficulty or discontented with current circumstance

 

Clip Art

I got the idea for this piece from a friend who saw it in a magazine. I changed it up a bit by using supplies from around the house, which in turn made it a bit more rustic. I found this old frame at an antique estate sale for $3. I like the natural wood color and it was in pretty good shape, so all I needed to do was clean it up. I used some standard rope and a staple gun to affix taught pieces of rope across the picture frame in three parallel lines. I started my lines closer to the top of the frame to allow more room for the items to hang. Once all the lines were up I used clothespins from the kitchen to hang some recent pictures on the line. I then used ribbon to hang my handmade thorn cross* to add some depth to the piece.

Here is the finished piece.

This could accommodate anything light ...pictures, jewelry, flowers, etc. 

It would also be great in a craft room with ribbon spools hanging off of it.

*My inspiration for the thorn cross is this Easter season we have entered. To create the cross I collected some pieces of brush from the trail near by (the thorny brush plants grow in abundance in these parts). I brought them home and died them in brown ink so they would stand out. I placed them together in bundles, formed the shape of the cross, and tied them together in the center with a piece of twine. The thorn cross reminds me of Jesus and what he did for me. I got stuck a few times in the process of making it, and it is painful! I cannot even imagine what he bore. Yet he did it so we could be free.

"The soldiers twisted some thorny branches into a crown and placed it on his head."

 John 19:2 

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

 Isaiah 53:5

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Agave Nectar

I found a recipe for low sugar chocolate chip cookies using one of my favorite ingredients: agave nectar. It is sweet like sugar but it is unrefined and natural. So I took this recipe and made it a little lighter and better. A typical Nestle Toll house chocolate chip cookie has 130 calories and 11 grams of sugar. These cookies have 70 calories and 5.3 grams of sugar. And all I can say is Yum.

2 1/8 cup unbleached flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1  stick unsalted butter

(melted then cooled)

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup agave nectar

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

2  tsp vanilla

(Mexican authentic is best!)

1  cup chocolate chips

Combine the dry ingredients and set aside. Beat together butter, sugar and agave nectar. Add eggs. Add vanilla. Slowly add dry ingredients as you stir to combine. Once combined, add chocolate chips. Scoop out tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. They will bake rounded, unless you flatten them. (I think they are cute as little ball cookies). Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 minutes if you like them soft and gooey, or 10 minutes if you like them hard and crunchy. Makes approximately 45 cookies. Enjoy!

 "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls."                                                                

                                                                 Jeremiah 6:16