Mission Trip Pictures

We are home from our youth mission trip and very happy to have shared this week with special friends! We worked with Team Effort in fixing up a home for an elderly man who has cancer.
This week we worked hard as we hung sheet rock, made a walkway with stepping stones, stained steps, built a shed, adding wood siding to this, and much more little jobs. We also prayed together, cried and laughed together, and made some special friends. Praise God for an awesome week!!

Sue Nickels Quilt Class

With so much going on around our house I hadn't posted about how excited I was to be taking a quilting class this weekend. Well, the class was so much fun and better than I had anticipated. We learned SO much about machine applique and quilting in general, that my brain hurts after such a long day! LOL!
I have some great pictures of our class and some of the quilts that our teacher, Sue Nickels made and displayed, but I waited too long to get pictures of all the other quilts displayed! There was just so much going on I didn't get around to it.
First, I just want to say that Sue Nickels is an awesome teacher and such a sweet person. If you ever get the chance to meet her or take one of her classes, please don't hesitate, she's fantastic!! Ok, now for some pictures to share with you.

This is the center block from the quilt, Morning Has Broken
The block we practiced our reverse applique

More gorgeous quilts

The detail quilting on this quilt doesn't show
up in my pictures, it is very small stippling stitches
done on her home sewing machine, just awesome!

Picture taken with Sue on the left, my friend Sarah
in the middle, and me.....with the quilt, Morning Has Broken,
in the background.


Here are a few projects I've been working on lately

Canning Queen

Fresh Peas from the garden. They are so sweet!

We have busy canning green beans this week. This is our first year to use
a pressure canner and it's been so much fun!
Just call me the "Canning Queen."
We canned twenty-one quarts just today!

We are looking forward to putting corn
in the freezer soon!

Congratulations to Jenna as she has just opened her
new Etsy shop! Take a look at her blog, Mustard Seeds.
Oh, her handmade items are so cute! Bags, dresses, and more.

Also, my friend Randi at i have to say...... has some gorgeous new fabric in her shop!
The bright colors are perfect for summer!
When things slow down a bit I would love to order
one of the beautiful quilt patterns!

Have a great weekend!

Cold-Brewed Ice Coffee

Yeah, I came across a great recipe for Iced Coffee, yummy!
Love this stuff in the summer!!

So easy......

Ingredients:
1/3 c. ground coffee (medium coarse grind)
Milk
Water

1. In a jar, stir together coffee and 1 1/2 cups water, cover and let rest at room temperature overnight or 12 hours.

2. Strain twice through a coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve, or a sieve lined with cheesecloth. In a tall glass fill with ice, mix equal parts coffee concentrate and water. Add milk.

Enjoy! Have a great July 4th!!

Beach Trip

Family Beach Trip

We had a great time together on our family beach trip. We shared a condo with my sister and her family in North Myrtle Beach, SC
Taking in the waves and sun, shopping, eating, and laughing till we cried over silly things. Yes, this is what VACATION means to us!!

Family Photo

Early morning walk on the beach

New stitchery I took with me

We had a quilt class here at my house before our trip ......
this is the picture of one of the quilts, I love the colors!!

More pictures of our trip to come!

Gardening

A view of our little garden.....peas, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers,
squash, carrots, watermelon and cantelope.
My brother-in-law has the corn and potatoes.

Oh my, something has been in my watermelon plants!
Look at those footprints!
A few days ago our dog Elllie was chasing out the deer.

Tiger Lilies that are beside the garden.
These beauties have been coming up
for at least 50 years or more in this same spot!

Summer Projects and Fun Giveaway

We are so busy during the school year that sometimes we neglect teaching our children the importance of homemaking skills. Often, our busy schedules dictate our lives, meals, chores, etc.

Slow down this summer and take time to teach some of these simple homemaking skills to your children. Take a look at this awesome FREE ebook from Future Christian Homemakers.
Includes lessons, devotions, and recipes for free!! The recipes for teaching little ones in the kitchen look yummy! I would love to incorporate this into our homechool meetings this fall.

Oh yeah.........Take a look at Vickie's giveaway over at Mid-Ohio Quilter!! What gorgeous gifts, Moda Charm packs, fat eighth bundle, and a cute little pin cushion.