Clothes Pin Bags

Spring is in full bloom where I live. We have been enjoying this beautiful season of flowers, gardening, birds and sunshine! One of my favorite things about spring is being able to hang my laundry outside on the clothes line. This year I finally made myself a clothes pin bag. It is extremely handy and cute. I sewed my bag from "calico" cat fabric. It seemed fitting since we have so many cats in our area.

It was such fun to sew that I decided to sew up a couple for my Etsy shop. You can check them out here.

                                                I also added some new aprons.

Also, several of the books in the shop are marked down 50% for a limited time.

Hope you all are enjoying this delightful season! I plan to be back soon with a post of our recent projects. May you have a blessed day!

My Favorite Coleslaw Recipe

One of my contributions to the Easter meal at mom's house was coleslaw. Over the years coleslaw has become an essential addition to each holiday meal. This recipe has been a favorite in my family for years. It is so easy (I use my food processor to shred all of the vegetables) and it is delicious! Unlike most coleslaw recipes this one does not call for mayonnaise, which means it lasts longer. We also like to add this coleslaw to sandwiches and burgers.

Coleslaw-

1 med. Head cabbage
1 lg. carrot
1 med. Onion
1 green pepper
2/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. celery seed

Shred cabbage, carrot and onion. Chop green pepper. Combine vinegar, sugar, oil, salt and celery seed. Pour over vegetables. Chill.

Lacy Crochet Baby Afghan

Last week I completed Jemimah's baby afghan. I had begun crocheting this afghan before Jemimah was born, but it was set aside soon before her birth and I never quite found the time to complete it until this past month.

Originally I planned to use another pattern for her afghan, but I was not totally pleased with the outcome. So I decided to unravel what I had begun and search for a pattern on-line. I love looking for free patterns on Pinterest. : )

 It was during this search that I discovered the most delightful crocheting blog, Lacy Crochet. Olga, the author of the Lacy Crochet blog, is a fabulous crocheter and offers a beautiful variety of free patterns. If you enjoy crocheting I would highly recommend checking out her blog. The pattern was very easy to follow and I am so pleased with the finished results.

Here is a link to the pattern I crocheted: Lacy Baby Blanket. The only change I made was to add a shell border.

I am sure that Jemimah will find her new afghan cozy and perfect for nap time.

My Keepsake Bible

Back in January I received "My Keepsake Bible" by Sally Ann Wright from Tyndale to review. I was immediately delighted with the quality: padded cover, beautifully illustrated, Bible stories written in short story format, sweet little prayers based on Psalms. Being a first time mom I was also very pleased with the pages to dedicate the book, record family tree and baby's "firsts".

Adam and I have enjoyed reading the Bible stories and prayers aloud to Jemimah. She seems to enjoy listening while taking in the colorful illustrations. 

This would make a wonderful gift for a new baby, but would be greatly enjoyed by a child too. I would definitely recommend "My Keepsake Bible", and I am so very pleased to have received a copy of this book for my own little girl. : )

You can find more information about "My Keepsake Bible" HERE.

*I received a complimentary copy of "The Keepsake Bible" from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review*

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:1-5

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Knit Booties

Last week I finished knitting these sweet little booties for Jemimah using the Saartje's Bootee pattern. I had seen this pattern recommended on a couple of other blogs for it's simplicity. It was a fun little project and the pattern was easy to follow.

Since we are still in the thick of winter where I live, it seemed like a good idea for Jemimah to have something extra cozy for her little feet, and these certainly are cute and cozy. I knitted the larger size and they fit Jemimah really well, with a little room to grow.

What cozy projects are you working on this week?

February

February has been a month of cold days, but a warm hearth. We have had a lot of snow this month and some beautiful sunrises! It has been a great month to stay by the wood stove with a cup of tea and knitting. Here is my month in pictures. 

I took this photo one morning as I was leaving to spend the day with my mom. The sunrise was so pretty, my pictures cannot do justice to the colors! You can see a sliver of moon in the sky too.

Dear Adam has kept very busy shoveling most evenings. Here he is in his cozy winter garb. These pictures were taken earlier in the month, at this time the snow is a good deal taller!

                                       The pastel colors of the sky some mornings have been fabulous.

                                        My special Valentine's roses and card from Adam! He is the best. : )

         I baked Adam and my mom homemade cherry pies for Valentine's day using this delicious recipe from Delightful Handwork. I had always used canned cherry pie filling in the past, this is so much better! Another favorite recipe this month is Peasant Bread, very easy and goes great with homemade soup.

We are spending more time sitting around the stove. Some evenings we even eat our meals in the living room. And it is a free clothes drier. : )

Jemimah turned five months this week. These past five months have gone soooo fast!! Why look she is already learning to play the piano! She loves her special time with papa in the evenings.

Jemimah is such a sweet baby, and an absolute joy to our days. It is wonderful to see her grow and develop. Her laugh is the sweetest sound ever and her smiles are irresistible.

Currently I am knitting some booties and a sweater for Jemimah. I have found so many terrific patterns on-line, I just wish I were a faster knitter.

Lately I have been sewing aprons for "Lilacs in Spring". Here is a pattern I just recently sewed. It is an original 1940's pattern. I loved the finished results and plan to sew another from the purple fabric underneath the pattern for myself.

 I am presently reading "The Gold Shoe" by Grace Livingston Hill. As always Grace Livingston Hill is one of my favorite authors! She has a wonderful way of drawing me in within the first few pages. This story begins with a blizzard- perfect for this winter.

Tasha has settled into her new home. She seems to grow more mischievous each passing day. But she is very loveable.

Adam found this cute little bird out in the snow one day while shoveling. We think it is a brown creeper.

Hope you all have had a lovely February!

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2