'Egg'cellent Friend Gift

I love finding small gifts to give out for any occasion and was particularly pleased when I found these through Pinterest.  What better little something to give to a friend than letting them know how 'Egg'cellent they are?  The original post was on Eighteen25 and she was even kind enough to provide the printout for us to download.  Her version was for teacher, but fortunately she also has one for friends.

This was what I made and filled the treat bags (found at the craft store using my 40% off coupon) with 3 kinds of 'egg' candy: malted milk eggs, Reese's peanut butter eggs... and of course a Cadbury Creme Egg.

I decided the tag needed a little more something, so added a strip of yellow washi tape - loved it!  (And the Cadbury Creme Egg got the opportunity for a close-up in this shot!)

All in all - very pleased with these simple little gifts!

Bountiful Baskets - My First One

Several of my friends on FB just rave about Bountiful Baskets Food Co-Op, a group of people that work together to distribute healthy food like produce and fruit.  Until this last week I never remembered to order in time and now that I've experienced it I see what all the buzz is about.  It's a short order window, then they take the money and go out and buy fruit and veggies that are as local as possible.  You have the option of upgrading to organic, plus great extra baskets like artisan bread, stir-fry veggie mix, etc.  Pick-up time for most places is 7:00 in the morning and you only have 20 minutes to get your order picked up or it is donated.

Here we are all lined up while the volunteer checks our receipt against his list.  See how dark that sky is?  The line moved fast though and it was fun to chat with everybody.

Lots of baskets lined up ready to be taken home.

After my order was verified a volunteer pulled a veggie basket and fruit basket for me.  The blue laundry basket is what I brought from home to transport my goods.

Look at all that fresh produce goodness!  Oh I didn't mention before - this basket cost $15 plus a "first timer" fee of $3.

And here it is once I got home.  It turned out to be far more than what the two of us could eat, especially because I had just stocked up on lettuce and salad extras two days before.  Fortunately Lynne' and Alicia, her maid of honor and BFF, came over a bit later to head off for some fun with me and some friends.  After we enjoyed time together I sent both girls home with a bag of produce.

Would you believe that Keith and I have never cooked fresh asparagus at home?  I headed to Pinterest and found a great recipe for grilled asparagus and we had it that night.  Now I see what all the talk is about and asparagus will now be part of our normal rotatation.  :)

I'm extremely pleased with the amount of food I got for the money and the quality was phenomenal.  If this is something you're interested in check the site to see if your city has one - they are all over the nation!

Break the Ice Post

Where has all the time gone? The biggest problem with taking any kind of a blog break, even when it was totally unplanned and unintentional, is that it's very difficult to come up with that "break the ice" and start again post. For what it's worth, this is it. I do have pictures of crafts and family and things I've done, so once I break the ice I'll be back to normal blogging again.

What has happened in the almost a full year since last we spoke? Glad you asked! Here's just a few huge things in our family, in no particular order:

~ Our daughter fell in love, is engaged and will be married in August! Let me tell you that being Mother of the Bride is a lot more work - and tons more fun! - than anybody ever let on!! 

~ Our son and daughter-in-law are expecting their second child in October! We could not be happier for them... and for us! ;)

 ~ After losing our beloved Golden Retriever we just could not bear the thought of getting another one. The flip side of that is that our home was lonely without a dog. God's timing is beautiful - a manager at work sent an email to a few of us saying that the DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue Group that she worked with was in dire need of fosters. Keith and I talked about and prayed about it, then we became fosters! We kept several dogs until #4 - Beau - and I fell in love. It's called a Foster Failure when the foster adopts the dog, but I'm thinking either way they get a home and that is good. I'll surely be posting photos of this comical, loving dog a lot. He is wonderful.

 ~ I've started knitting again! Really I almost had to with a wedding and grandbaby coming up. Photos of projects soon.

 ~ I'm still making cards and still love it. I also started doing Project Life for my scrapbooking and it fits my needs so perfectly I almost can't stand it!

 ~ I have a serger now (my mother-in-law is letting me borrow hers) and I'm looking forward to using it more. I also have a big hankering for doing some quilting and some clothes for the American Girl dolls that Brooklyn and I love to play with.

 And I will stop here because I could seriously do the world's biggest post trying to catch up. I've missed this and I'm excited to begin again!

Life is good.......

Ready to Cast On for Camp Loopy!

Sheri from The Loopy Ewe recently announced all the rules/parameters for the 2012 Camp Loopy – and of course I’m in!  You may remember mom and I went to The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling in 2011 in St. Louis and had a blast!!!  So naturally when Sheri sponsors any kind of an event I want to jump in.

 

For Project One I’ll be in the Brown/Black Canoe.  We are to knit/crochet something from a designer not from our country.  My pattern is the Merlia Scarf by Elena Nodel – from Russia.  It is a gorgeous cable scarf and I believe will be a perfect Christmas gift for the perfect someone.

 

No surprise – the yarn I’m using is from MadelineTosh – Vintage in the Antique Lace colorway.  Cannot wait to knit with this!

The rules state that we cannot cast on until May 27, so as you can see from the photo above I have my pattern printed and one hank of yarn wound.  We have 30 days to finish this project and I am so ready to start!!!

OH – and Sheri always has fun t-shirts and such for us to get at each of her events.  This year she has one of the ever popular tumblers – with the Camp Loopy logo – too cute!!!

Brooklyn Loves the Park!

We met the kids for dinner and had the best time!  Funny how you think you’re just going to go eat and chat and you end up with great memories.  :)

 

We started off with a picture by the Giant Chicken outside the restaurant….

 

… and followed up with a picture on the 3 legged horse!

 

After we ate we walked to a nearby park.  Brooklyn had a lot of fun on the slides and I just LOVE static hair!  She got to giggling and did the slide over and over so that grandma could take a bunch of pictures.  She is so good to me…  :)

 

Then Grandpa and Brooklyn started having fun with ‘Brooklyn coming down the slide and the two of them touching fingers’ – thereby setting off the static spark!  MUCH laughter!!!

 

After the slide fun the two of them played hide and seek in the park, then back to the slide.  This photo is kind of a combination of slide fun and hide and seek fun.

 

Grab the joy any time you can – enjoy life with those you love!

{Review} Beyond Hope’s Valley by Tricia Goyer

Beyond Hope's Valley
by Tricia Goyer
284 pages
BH Publishing Group

ABOUT THE BOOK: Book Three in the Big Sky series

After an extended stay in Montana, where Amish traditions are different than in her home state, Marianna Sommer returns to Indiana for two reasons, first to help her brother and his girlfriend prepare for a baby and their wedding. Second, to plan her own wedding to Aaron Zook -- a marriage she’s been dreaming about ever since childhood. And yet, although she had missed the idyllic farms and families of her upbringing, Marianna is surprised that Indiana is somehow making her long now for Montana.

As months pass, secrets that were hidden in winter’s frozen grasp thaw and take on a life of their own. The truths about a child, about a past relationship, and about God’s plans are being revealed. Walking through a valley of questions, Marianna must hold on to hope as she decides where and with whom her heart truly belongs.

MY REVIEW:  It’s not secret that I love Tricia Goyer books.  In addition to always penning a wonderful novel Ms. Goyer adds tidbits that I’m able to mull over.  And sometimes those words bring a smile to my lips as I ponder:

“He smiled.  Wouldn’t that be just like God to make him a star so one kid would pay closer attention to the words he had to share?”  page 140

I smiled when I read this and then the Chris Tomlin song Not To Us (but to Your Name be the Glory) popped into my mind.  And isn’t it great when a fiction novel can do that?

The third and final novel in the Big Sky Series brings a satisfying close to this story.  Marianna is torn between her newfound love for Christ and wanting to conform to the old ways.  And that love for Christ resonates throughout the novel.

She’s also torn between two men that love her.  I was quite pleased at the end of the novel at her choice, though of course I won’t spoil it here.

Ms. Goyer does such a fine job not only with how she handles Marianna’s struggles, but also the struggles of other characters in the book.  She also brings to life, for me, the Amish lifestyle and the struggles they must have, which really are not that much different than some of the things we face on a daily basis.

I can absolutely recommend this book and the entire series!

My review of Along Wooded Paths

My review of Beside Still Waters

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

More info: Living Inspired and www.triciagoyer.com.

ABOUT THE PARTY: 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• Custom Amish Wall Hanging {You choose the colors!}
• An Amish Doll {Sweet.}
• Amish-made basket {It’s picnic season!}
• Doilies, potholder and an Amish cookbook {All items form Bird-in-Hand, PA!} 
• Three book Big Sky Amish series {Be swept away by this captivating series.} 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 20th. Winner will be announced at "All Things Amish" Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/21. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and more! 

So grab your copy of Beyond Hope's Valley and join Tricia on the evening of the May 21st for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Amish?) and lots of giveaways. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!) </ span>

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Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends viaFACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 21st!

 

 

** Thank you to Litfuse for providing this book so that I might give my honest opinion.  To see other reviews of this book, check the list here.