tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28446277693580305222024-03-05T00:02:20.490-05:00Back to BasicsTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.comBlogger440125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-70471834964039752492014-12-12T09:39:00.000-05:002014-12-12T12:35:27.084-05:00The Piano<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know nothing about music. I can't read a note of it, and can't really carry a tune in a bucket. When Mac and Autumn were little I wanted them to take piano lessons. We couldn't afford a new piano so I scoured the newspaper and made a phone call. An older woman said she had a spinet that she would sell me for $650. The children and I made our way across town to see the piano.<br />
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The older woman claimed to be a retired piano teacher, and invited the children to play. The piano did indeed look beautiful. There wasn't a mark on it. The children were excited and the woman offered to let me have it for $500 since I had four little mouths to feed. I thanked her profusely, setting up a time for Verne to get it and bring it home. As I walked out the door, the woman said not to have it tuned anytime soon. "Your children are young and won't know the difference. You can wait awhile."<br />
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Verne and a few friends brought the piano into our home. When one of the men sat down to play a few notes he said it was badly out of tune. I didn't want the children thinking that their songs sounded wrong, and so I called a tuner. The piano tuner wasn't in my home more than 10 minutes when he asked me how long I had the piano. I told him the entire story and he said, "I'm sorry, but you've been had." It turns out the the pegs holding the strings had been pounded, and couldn't be turned at all. And though the cabinet looked beautiful, it was home to quite a few mice, and they had left their nests as proof.<br />
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As you might imagine, I was distraught. I called the woman back and told her what the tuner said, and asked her to please refund my money upon the return of the piano. Her response? "You're really upsetting me!" and she hung up!<br />
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Here we were $500 poorer, and with a lovely looking, but totally useless piano taking up real estate in our tiny cape cod home. The children were greatly disappointed. I was disappointed and disillusioned. I couldn't take a chance on another used piano, and we ended up going the digital route. Not a keyboard, but not a real piano either. And it wasn't pretty!<br />
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As Mac, Autumn, and eventually Collin took their lessons, Abigail would count. "One, two, three four." Soon she was climbing up on the piano bench, opening the hymnal (sometimes upside down), and playing. As the other children lost interest, and went on to play guitar, cello, bass, etc., Abigail's interest continued to grow.<br />
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Last winter when we began our house-sitting adventure, Abigail had the treat of playing on a real piano each and every day as it sat in the living room of the house we stayed in. She started lessons again in our new city with a very enthusiastic teacher who brings out the best in her. When our home didn't sell and we had to go back to the small town, we promised that though it was far, we would get her to piano lessons again come fall. But, she also had to return to the digital piano.<br />
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All summer long Abigail would sit down to practice, and end up in tears.<br />
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We did sell our home, and moved into the rental, dragging the digital piano along. At this point, Abigail had lost interest in practice altogether. You have no idea how this upset her. This is a young woman who has never been told to practice once in her life. She simply goes to the piano <i>multiple </i>times each and every day to sit an play for 20-40 minutes.<br />
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The week were were to move into our permanent home, I saw a message on a Facebook page for the women in our church. Someone had a piano to give away. The name wasn't familiar, but I sent her an email telling her the whole story I've just written above. She responded and said if Abigail wanted the piano it was hers. I didn't want to commit to a bad piano, and though I still know nothing about music, Abigail can tell if it sounds good or not. We arranged to look at it that very evening.<br />
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We met the woman at the home of her father who had recently passed away. He bought her the piano years ago when she was in high school, and it had always stayed at his home. Abigail sat down to play, and Karen and I talked. When she told me that her dad had died of cancer, it hit me. "Are you Paul's daughter?" Karen doesn't go to our church at all, but her dad did, and had been in Sunday school with Verne and me. She was hoping to bless someone from his church, and she was thrilled that we knew him. Karen not only gave Abigail the piano/bench, but she also gave her the piano lamp, the metronome, and a huge box of music.<br />
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We closed on our home on September 11 at noon, and at 6 pm, Abigail's piano was the first piece of furniture to come in the door. We scheduled the piano tuner for two weeks out, and I was a nervous wreck until he got here, though Abigail assured me the piano was fine. Sure enough, she was right. Our home is filled with music once more.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-44465718870860274672014-11-12T20:11:00.001-05:002014-11-12T20:12:35.355-05:00Just the Three of Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We recently had a "family" photo taken of just the three of us. It seemed like a little bit of an odd thing to do with three-fourths of our children missing, but this is how most people know us these days. I find this to be an odd stage of life, actually. When meeting people in our new city they assume Abigail is an only child, and look at me with wonder when I explain that no, actually she's the youngest of four! <br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-40613223464339508392014-11-07T09:28:00.000-05:002014-11-07T18:05:52.408-05:00Getting Settled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The first order of business was taking one of the two coat closets and turning it into a pantry. In just a few short hours I was happy as a clam. My new kitchen is about half the size of my old one, but I did a major purge before moving, and I'm finding the smaller space suits me just fine. Of course, I don't have four children at home any longer.<br />
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I really intended to live with the walls as they were until spring, but after scrubbing and looking at nail holes where I didn't want them I became restless. Verne knows me extremely well, and told me to buy the paint and we'd get started. I was so relieved!<br />
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We have a living room and a family room in our new place, and I thought it would be fun to go kind of bold in the living room. Turquoise bold! I dreamed, and I planned, and I bought paint samples. I was going to keep the walls neutral and have just one accent wall. I bought a lamp, scouted for curtains, and chickened out. Back went the lamp.<br />
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I decided to keep things neutral, and I'm so glad I did! The photos don't really give you the feel of the room. The wall color is <a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7035-aesthetic-white/">Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White,</a> only it's mixed in <a href="http://www.farrellcalhoun.com/">Farrell-Calhoun </a>paint. The color changes throughout the day. Early in the morning it looks very white, but as the afternoon shadows roll in it changes to a soft grey. It isn't cold at all. This was our first time using Farrell-Calhoun, but after Verne talked to the man at the paint store he really wanted to try it. We're both really pleased. (I haven't washed it yet, of course.) Coverage was great, and application was easy. We were both really pleased that there was zero odor.<br />
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This was no small paint job. The foyer, living, dining, and hall are all one area. It took two days to get two coats on. Verne then changed out all of the beige switches and outlets for white. What a difference! He's still working on stripping the grates for the air returns as they had several coats of paint, and we didn't want to add to them.<br />
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I looked high and low for curtains. The big window in the living room faces west, and there are really tall tress in the front yard. The room can be rather dark, and I didn't want to completely cover the window. I found two great pairs of panels that I couldn't decide between at Tuesday Morning, and I bought both. I'll swap them out in the spring. The panels in the dining room coordinate with both.<br />
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I've been really enjoying making this new place "home" after being out of my own place for the majority of 2014. I'm looking forward to Christmas!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-89766625357425221532014-10-10T08:57:00.000-04:002014-10-10T08:57:50.508-04:00Home Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ten years. That's a long time to make memories. Collin was sad that we wouldn't be living as close to him anymore. After all, we just got back to town. Mac perfectly understood why we wanted to downsize a bit and move. Autumn is the furthest away, and I was feeling especially sad that she wouldn't get to come home and see the inside of the house one last time. She felt sad about it, too. </div>
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Moving weekend came, and I was worried that <a href="http://5redhens.blogspot.com/2010/11/for-life.html">Verne would be in agony after such intense work</a>. Thankfully, a great group of young men from the homeschool athletic association that Verne started several years back came to the rescue. They carried heavy boxes and furniture for several hours on Friday evening, lightening Verne's load immensely. Mac arrived later that night to help the next day, and Collin showed up on Saturday as well. </div>
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We just crawled into bed on Friday when fear struck Verne. He had borrowed a delivery truck from work to transport our things. It was bigger than anything he had ever driven. While he felt confident on the interstate, he was fretting over how in the world he was going to get it into the crowded streets of the city neighborhood where we would be renting for the next five weeks. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+41%3A10&version=ESV">But God!</a> </div>
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Just as I was drifting off to sleep, Verne sprang up. "Tracy! Nathan!"</div>
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What about him? Verne had only met Nathan the month before when he started his subbing rotation in the children's Sunday School class on <a href="http://5redhens.blogspot.com/2014/10/thy-will-be-done.html">Thy Will be Done</a>. Nathan and his fiancé had been assigned as classroom helpers to Verne. </div>
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Verne went on to say that Nathan was a city firefighter and would likely know how to maneuver the large truck in tight spaces. Providentially, Nathan had offered to help unload the truck once we arrived in our new city. He sent Nathan a message, and Nathan said he would be happy to drive the truck into the neighborhood. What a relief, and a blessing! God provides! Verne drove the truck to within two miles of the house where he met Nathan in a large parking lot, and Nathan took it from there. </div>
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Closing day came, (we moved out a week early because they took immediate possession), and we walked through the house one last time, stopping to take pictures on the porch steps. I was sad, but also excited to start a new chapter in our lives. </div>
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After five weeks in the rental on the opposite side of town from where we had house sat in the first half of the year and where we now live, we learned even more about the city-new shortcuts, things to do, places to eat. I'm thankful for our time there, but I was more than ready to live in our <i>own</i> home. </div>
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The men at the church rallied once more and helped move us a final time. As the men were unloading the truck a neighbor came to meet us. The next evening a group of neighborhood children knocked on the door, their bikes neatly lined up on the sidewalk, and helmets in hand. They wanted to welcome us. Various neighbors have stopped by to say hello. Children ride their bikes, scooters, and run the streets with superhero capes. Yes, God brought us to just the right place, and took care of every detail getting us here. </div>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-36412820500882590032014-10-05T15:34:00.000-04:002014-10-10T08:24:27.824-04:00Thy Will Be Done<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the past ten years we've lived in the same home. That's longer than we've lived anywhere as a married couple, and longer than anywhere I've lived in my entire life. Our home was a true blessing. It was spacious and comfortable, and although we bought it new, we made it truly ours by finishing the garage space into 2 more bedrooms and a bath, adding two gas fireplaces, board and batten, adding a deck, and more. </div>
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The years flew by and the children grew older. One by one, they left the nest and left us in a house far too big for three people. We were driving 90 minutes one way to get to church, and put our house on the market with hopes of a quick sale. Two years is not quick. </div>
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Last October, a couple from our church approached us one Sunday morning with a proposition of sorts. She is a professor and was going to be teaching in Europe from December 31 until early July, and they didn't want to leave their home vacant over the winter. Knowing that our home was for sale and that we were desiring to move to their area, they asked us if we might pay a small amount of rent to stay in their home. We prayed and prayed, looked at our finances, and decided to say yes. Our hope was that our home would sell in the time we were house-sitting and we could be mortgage-free, allowing us to save money. We could then buy a home in the summer. Not being in our home would allow it to be shown at a moment's notice without us having to make everything look just so. </div>
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And so, on December 31, 2013, we loaded winter clothing, school books, and kitchen things up, and set up housekeeping in a house that didn't belong to us. We lived with their furniture, and most of their clothing still hanging in the closets. It was...odd. I haven't posted a lot this year, but not one person questioned when my kitchen suddenly looked entirely different than it had before. </div>
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We hoped and prayed, and I looked at oodles of homes that were for sale. Winter was harsh, and spring came along. Still, our house sat. Verne had to travel back weekly to mow the yard, weed the flower gardens, and keep up maintenance on our home. I'd go back once a month or so to give everything a quick dusting, run the vacuum, and make sure everything looked just right. We were both starting to feel like our own home wasn't even ours. That's a strange feeling! </div>
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Spring turned to summer, and finally, one day in June we got an offer. We were elated! We made an offer on a home. It would work out perfectly that we could stay in the house we were sitting in until closing day for both properties. </div>
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And then it all fell through. The prospective buyers for our home couldn't get financing. I was spending the day with Autumn and Abigail when Verne called me with the news. He had taken care of everything, letting our realtor know that we wouldn't be able to purchase the home we had a contract on. </div>
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The next evening we took Abigail to youth group, and went for a drive. Suddenly, the rainbow in the photo appeared. We were so upset. Distraught, really, and it was as if God was telling us that He cared for us and it would be okay. Still the news was hard to swallow. </div>
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Way back at the beginning of the year, Verne talked to the Director of Children's Ministries at our church and told him he'd be willing to teach Sunday School as a substitute. He never heard anything again until the week our house fell through. Verne was asked to teach Sunday School for the entire month of July. The children were studying the Lord's Prayer, and Verne's month was on "Thy will be done." </div>
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As Verne taught each week, he shared with me that he didn't know if the children were learning anything, but he sure was. It was as if God was speaking directly to him with each lesson. Mid- July we packed our things and went back home. As much as we wanted our house to sell, we were both at peace. </div>
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The day after we returned home we got a phone call. The house had been shown four days prior, and the people decided to make an offer. We accepted. The house we were going to buy previously had already sold, and we made an offer on another home. We were both really excited as we liked this home much better than the first one. The day for inspections came, and we couldn't wait to get back into the house to see it again. Only, as we entered the house the inspector looked uneasy. He had bad news. <i>Very</i> bad news. Invisible to the naked eye, he had found quite a bit of water damage, roof damage, and active termites. We were deflated. There was a bit of going back and forth with the seller, asking for things to be repaired. To be honest, they agreed to most of what we asked for, but we were still very uneasy. We decided to walk away from the house. It was three weeks before we had to be out of our home, and we had no idea where were were going to live. </div>
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Back to the internet I went, scouring the webpages for homes for sale. I had seen most of what was on the market in our price range. Pickings were slim. I found six homes that could work, and set up an appointment with our realtor. As the day of our appointment drew near, Verne asked me what I wanted for our 25th wedding anniversary, which just so happened to be the day were were going to look at houses. I replied, "I want a home." </div>
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As a homemaker, it isn't easy to be displaced for 7 months, not really being able to make things yours, and living with someone else's things. Once I was back in my house, I was too busy packing up to enjoy it. </div>
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August 5th arrived, our 25th anniversary, and we set off. The list dwindled as one homeowner wasn't willing for us to view their home that day, and another house had renters that needed more notice. As we walked into "the one", we both knew. We loved the yard, and the house felt like home. We continued on through the list, had some lunch with our realtor, and asked if we could go back to "the one". </div>
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Our closing was a short ten days away and we knew that even if the sellers accepted our offer, there would be no way we could have everything done in time to move into the new home. We also knew no one would want to rent to us for just a few weeks. It was looking like we might have to stay in a hotel, and that was going to get expensive really quickly. Plus, we have pets. Our realtor suddenly mentioned that a couple from our church had just listed their second home for sale the night before. I quickly asked if she thought they might rent to us short term. Of course I'd be willing to let potential buyers come and look. </div>
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The realtor made a quick phone call, and got a "Yes!" This was such a blessing to us, and it turns out, a blessing for them as well. They didn't have to make two payments this way. Needless to say, we negotiated, and came to an agreement with the sellers of the house we loved. </div>
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That's not the end of the story of how God worked out every little detail. Maybe I'll tell the rest tomorrow. ;)</div>
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-17716992815176727002014-07-01T20:51:00.003-04:002014-07-01T20:52:25.748-04:00Without Excuse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. - Romans 1:20 (NIV)</span></span></div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-59662398088777708752014-06-16T22:18:00.001-04:002014-06-16T22:38:39.947-04:00Spell it with Moda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Warning! This post contains MANY photos! </div>
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A few months back I noticed that there was a <a href="http://blog.modafabrics.com/2014/02/spell-it-with-fabric-setting-directions/">Spell it with Moda quilt-along</a>, and after I saw the third letter I was ready to jump in with both feet. My Instagram feed provided loads of inspiration. I didn't start until after all of the letters were released, but I had been thinking about my stash of 30's reproductions and knew that's what I'd be using. I chose the old-fashioned Baptist fan quilting pattern in keeping with the era of the fabrics. </div>
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My finished quilt is 71" wide x 100" inches long. I made the blocks in order and had so much fun. After I chose the fabrics for my letter A, I kind of became a <i>little</i> obsessed with going through my stash and challenging myself to come up with something to fit each letter. I also decided to make <i>way</i> more filler blocks than what the pattern called for. It should fit a twin bed with plenty of room to hang down the sides. </div>
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I can just picture talking about this quilt with my future grandchildren, Lord willing I get some. ;-) I'm looking forward to a day when I might have little ones spending the night with me, baking cookies by day, and being tucked under a quilt at night.<br />
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What's to talk about?<br />
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<b>A </b>is for <b>Anchor's Aweigh</b>, <b>B</b> is for <b>blue</b> and<b> blossoms</b> and <b>boat</b>!<br />
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<b>C</b> is for <b>cherries</b>, <b>circles</b>, and <b>churn dash</b>. <b>D</b> is for <b>daisies </b>and <b>dogs</b>.<br />
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<b>E</b> is for <b>Eggplant</b>, and <b>economy block</b>. <b>F</b> is<b> Fluorescent</b>.<br />
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<b>F</b> is also for <b>flying geese</b>.<b> G</b> is for <b>goose</b> and <b>Granny square</b>.<br />
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<b>H</b> is for <b>Hourglass</b> and <b>happy children</b>.<br />
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<b>I</b> is for <b>Irish Chain</b>.<br />
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<b>J</b> is for <b>Japanese</b>. <b>K</b> is for <b>Kitties</b>.<br />
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<b>L</b> is for <b>Little Bo Peep</b>, Queen Anne's<b> Lace</b>, and <b>Log Cabin</b>.<br />
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<b>M</b> is for <b>Maraschino </b>cherries and <b>Maple leaf</b>.<br />
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<b>N</b> is for <b>nursery rhymes</b> and <b>Northern Lights</b>.<br />
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<b>O</b> is for <b>Ohio Star</b>.<br />
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<b>P</b> is for <b>Pinwheel</b>, <b>purple</b>, <b>pansies</b>, <b>plaid</b>, and <b>polka dots</b>.<br />
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And... here's where it starts to fall apart. I got tired. <b>Q</b>? well, the whole thing is a <b>quilt</b>!<br />
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<b>R</b> is difficult to see, but it's <b>retro</b>.<br />
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<b>S</b> is for <b>strawberries</b> and <b>schoolhouse</b>.<br />
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<b>T</b> is for <b>Turquoise</b>.<b> U</b> is for<b> umbrella</b>.<br />
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<b>V</b> is a<b> variation </b>of a star. Lame, I know.<br />
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Wait! I perked back up for <b>W</b>. <b>Waterwheel</b> and <b>windmills</b>.<br />
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<b>X</b>. This block gave me such a hard time. The black fabric was wonky, and I tore it apart three times before finally getting it right. And then what??? The quilting on it looks horrible. I was so disappointed when I saw this. It was the very first thing my eyes went to. Well, I guess <b>X</b> marks the spot. And not in a good way.<br />
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<b>Y</b>. I've got nothing but a bunch of hexagons. By this point I was ready to be done.<br />
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<b>Y & Z</b>. Zinnias maybe?<br />
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As tired as I was of thinking abut the letters, I was excited over this adorable mini- elephant binding. I finished hand-stitching it just last night.<br />
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This is one of my favorite quilts yet.<br />
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If you'd like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me at 5redhens.<br />
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-28329773770880084952014-06-11T21:48:00.001-04:002014-06-11T21:48:28.299-04:00Red Letter Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was NOT a Red Letter Day. We've been trying to sell our house for a year with hopes of moving 90 minutes away. We got an offer about 10 days ago, and accepted it. We then made an offer on a home in the town we want to move to. Yesterday afternoon we found out that our buyers couldn't get financing, and both deals fell apart. </div>
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It's difficult to wait, and even more difficult when you think your wait is nearly over only to have those dreams dashed. We'll continue to trust in the Lord. </div>
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In happier news, I recently finished a quilt for Verne. The pattern is by Camille Roskelley, and it's called <a href="http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/product/red-letter-day-pattern-173-pdf-pattern">Red Letter Day</a>. The fabric requirements were wrong, so if you make it, read through the directions before purchasing your background fabric and do the math yourself. I did let Camille know about the error, so maybe she has fixed the pattern. Camille's quilt used red for the center block, but I chose gold. Gold stars are a good thing, right?</div>
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The finished quilt measures 67.5" x 67.5". It's the perfect size for snuggling under on the couch. Abigail's wingspan wasn't quite long enough to hold the quilt taut in the photos.<br />
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Verne loves it, and that makes me very happy. </div>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-31742486360088853302014-05-12T11:53:00.000-04:002014-05-12T11:53:16.501-04:00Rosemary Sea Salt Pretzels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've made these pretzels from <a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/rosemary-sea-salt-pretzels-with-rosemary-cheddar-cheese-sauce/">Two Peas & Their Pod</a> several times now, and they are a favorite. Each time I've made them, mine get this beautifully dark color, but are perfectly soft and delicious inside. Perhaps it's because I swap out olive oil for the butter and canola oil the recipe calls for? In any case, they're delicious!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-54168622980695601792014-05-01T15:21:00.000-04:002014-05-01T15:21:15.711-04:00Her First Formal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My "baby" is not so much a baby any longer. She attended her first formal a few weeks ago, and looked beautiful. Her friend Meredith fixed her hair into a style that was becoming to Abigail and accented her dress nicely. </div>
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Her shoes? Simple, clear jelly flats. They looked like glass slippers!<br />
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Which was quite fitting since the formal was held in a real castle. And after all, she <i>is</i> <a href="http://5redhens.blogspot.com/2011/08/c-is-for.html">Cinderella</a>!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-30985828017186411482014-04-26T07:25:00.000-04:002014-04-26T07:25:00.030-04:00Peaches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mac adopted this medium sized mixed-breed doggie from the animal shelter last summer. She was very afraid of men at the start, but bonded to Mac right away. She worries if he leaves the room. When he knew he had to go on a business trip to Florida for a week he asked if we could keep her.<br />
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We took her for plenty of walks, gave her loads of hugs and kisses, and told her that Mac would never leave her and that he would be back. I think she started to doubt us after five days of missing him, and needed even more snuggles.<br />
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Let's just say their reunion was very happy indeed.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-26707163146020032112014-04-25T11:16:00.001-04:002014-04-25T11:16:42.894-04:00Pysanka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Elizabeth told me to mark April 11 on my calendar for Pysanka eggs, Abigail and I googled images and began to get excited. When we arrived for the event Abigail dove right in. I was a bit more cautious, asking questions, observing, and sketching on my egg before applying any wax.<br />
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Black was the last color I needed to dip in, and because only the stripes on the bees and a tiny little opening on the beehive were to be this color, my eggs was almost entirely covered in wax. I was a nervous wreck that I had just spent three hours creating a mess rather than a masterpiece.<br />
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When I started to melt the wax and wipe it off revealing the design underneath, I became very excited. I think Elizabeth and Leigh Ann got a charge out of hearing me squeal with delight.<br />
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What a fun project! I could see myself becoming addicted to that tradition.<br />
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You can read more about the process <a href="http://www.pysanky.info/PYSANKY/Pysanka_Home.html">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-53304412640678383102014-04-24T14:43:00.000-04:002014-04-24T19:37:39.177-04:00Holy Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We attended the evening service on Maundy Thursday, and participated in the Lord's Supper. As communion was being administered the sun was at the point in the sky when it's absolutely blinding. We closed the service by singing O Sacred Head Now Wounded, and the sun sank below the horizon as we finished the song. The symbolism was not wasted on me, and I left the service in tears.<br />
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Good Friday at noon we gathered back at the church for a worshipful time of prayer. My heart was heavy even though I know the outcome. That Christ died for <i>me</i> is an astounding thought. The fact that my sins nailed Him to the cross is almost unbearable.<br />
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And then came Sunday. JOY! He is risen!<br />
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Mac and Autumn weren't able to join us this year, and that made my mother's heart a bit sad, but we enjoyed a nice brunch and each other's company.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-46763335187956125602014-04-23T10:11:00.000-04:002014-04-23T10:11:00.784-04:00Enough<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So often no matter our talents we're made to feel like we aren't enough. I thought she needed a reminder that who she is matters. There's no measuring stick being held up. She's enough simply because she is.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-34803977866466364202014-02-20T08:44:00.000-05:002014-02-20T08:44:48.621-05:00Olympic Mug Rug Swap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My interest was piqued when Autumn told me about an Olympic Mug Rug swap. I knew I had to participate when I saw that we had to make a matryoshka doll as one of the patterns.<br />
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Our family loves watching the Olympic games, and I must admit that I like the winter games better than the summer. It was quite fun to work on these in the evenings while watching some of the events.<br />
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My swap partner, Phoebe, was quite organized and had her mug rugs done before the opening ceremonies. The first photo shows the mug rugs that I received. She also included an adorable tri-fold tea wallet. I've shown it open in the photo.<br />
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My work took a little bit longer, but thankfully, after delivery was delayed by snow on the east coast, Phoebe received her goodies from me at the beginning of the week. I tweaked the mouth on the doll to look a little more traditional. I'm happy with the alteration. We had to make both patterns, and we were asked to label them on the backs, as well. Although the matryoshka doll is what made me sign up for the swap, I enjoyed making the dove just as much. I love that Phoebe used eyelet fabric for my dove.<br />
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I enjoyed these so much that I've got a few more in the works-one for a friend, and one for Autumn and Abigail. Go USA!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-81279236031744144862014-02-17T09:51:00.000-05:002014-02-17T09:59:57.193-05:00Valentine Gingerbread Homes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Tradition. We've made gingerbread houses for years, and we all look forward to it. <a href="http://5redhens.blogspot.com/2013/12/sweet-days.html">When a friend hosted this year</a>, I was happy to be able relax and not have all of the baking, cleaning up, etc. that goes along with such an activity. But there's something to be said for hosting, too. You know, like if you're invited for Thanksgiving dinner, and it's wonderful, but you don't have the leftovers for sandwiches, and the carcass for broth. Yeah, it's kind of like that. But different, too. </div>
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Verne especially missed me hosting since he wasn't able to partake in the house decorating. Sometimes I think that activities I plan are too over the top, and that maybe no one even cares. It's not that I feel under-appreciated; I don't. My family has always been very good about expressing their appreciation for what I do. It's just that maybe I don't need to go to the lengths that I do to show my love for them. Maybe I'm doing these things more for myself than for them, because they're what I would choose. Maybe they'd be satisfied with doing less, or not doing the activity at all. </div>
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In any case, I had those feelings of missing something, and decided to proceed in a different way. Since Abigail did get to build a Christmas house and time was going to be very limited when we were all together over the holidays, I decided to move the activity to Valentine's Day. Abigail invited friends since her siblings would be absent. I baked and assembled eight houses: six for the girls, one for Verne, and one for me. </div>
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The leftover dough was baked into hearts, big and small, and round cookies bearing a homemade stamp. Marshmallows were dipped in Dolci Frutta and topped with snowflake sprinkles and nonpareils. Pink lemonade was also served. </div>
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The table was set with a house at each spot, and goodies for decorating were placed in bowls just before the girls arrived. </div>
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Each girl was also asked to bring some candies of their choosing to share for decorations. </div>
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Look! A real, live gingerbread person!</div>
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The girls had a great time, and it was fun to see their unique decorating styles. However, the highlight of the day was watching Verne decorate his house. I made his house a bit different, and added a chimney. He is special, you know.<br />
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The girls were allotted 3 hours for decorating. No one needed that much time, and they used the last hour to play games. But Verne? He worked, and worked, and worked. He took four hours on his house, and with that I got my answer. These traditions? They are <i>not</i> just for me.<br />
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Cookie stamp found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Home-Cookie-Stamper-Suck-UK/dp/B003ES5CTO">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-88085642816302224932014-02-13T08:37:00.002-05:002014-02-13T08:38:11.207-05:00Winter Fruit Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fast, easy, and satisfying, this little bit of fruit can feed quite a few people.<br />
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<b>Winter Fruit Salad </b>- serves 6-8<br />
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1 <b>apple</b>, diced<br />
1 <b>orange</b>, peeled, sectioned, and diced (You could use a small can of mandarin oranges, drained.)<br />
1 <b>banana</b>, sliced<br />
1/2 of a 20 oz. can <b>pineapple chunks</b> in their own juice, drained<br />
1/3 c. <b>unsweetened coconut</b><br />
1/2 c. chopped <b>pecans</b><br />
enough <b>plain yogurt</b> to coat (about 1/3 to 1/2 cup)<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-18772516343531313172014-02-12T10:15:00.001-05:002014-02-12T10:15:43.189-05:00Icy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Though many are more than ready for winter to be over, I'm enjoying it immensely. It's full of beauty, especially at night.Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-16833960467209264492014-02-05T11:27:00.000-05:002014-02-05T11:47:25.909-05:00Cozy Days of Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Though most people I know are ready for spring, I happen to love this time of year. Snowy days mean slower days, fresh breads, puzzles being worked on the table, and broken pipes. Okay, I could do without the broken pipes. Yes, pipe(s). Two of them. Winter days also mean big pots of soup. A few we've had this month: <a href="http://mamasfixins.blogspot.com/2007/10/pasta-fagioli-soup.html">Pasta Fagioli</a>, <a href="http://mamasfixins.blogspot.com/2007/07/potato-soup.html">Potato</a>, <a href="http://mamasfixins.blogspot.com/2008/02/ham-and-bean-soup.html">Ham and Bean</a>, and <a href="http://mamasfixins.blogspot.com/2012/03/italian-sausage-soup.html">Italian Sausage Soup</a>. I used dried beans vs. canned each time, saving money. <i>Click on the names of the dishes to find the recipes.</i><br />
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Winter means higher heating costs, and trying to stay warm with hearty meals. For me, it also means getting creative and serving satisfying meals without breaking the bank. Planning ahead, and not reaching for convenience foods is one way to do that. Rich soups served alongside homemade breads are nourishing, satisfying, and pretty inexpensive.<br />
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Back at Thanksgiving, I cooked my organic turkey carcass for hours, and then canned the broth. I received 16 quarts of broth so rich it tastes like butter for my efforts. I paid $56 for my turkey, which seemed high at the time, but considering the amount of meat I got off of it, plus the broth, that turkey was cheap! It's easy to spend close to $3 a quart for watery broth at the grocery store. Even the non-organic brands aren't cheap. My broth is so rich, I can add water at a 1:1 ratio, and it still looks like I added food coloring(which I never would!) and tastes amazing. After seeing that good broth was being sold at a local grocery store for $7 a PINT, I was feeling extra good about my efforts.<br />
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I had a ham bone in the freezer that I used to make a huge pot of ham and bean soup. I boiled it alone for several hours, and then removed every bit of meat from the bone. I added about 6 cups of meat back to the soup pot, and froze 10 more cups. I seriously have no idea how I got that much meat off a leftover hambone. We hosted four post-college guys from our church for dinner, and I served that big pot of soup with homemade cornbread and homemade cookies. We had made several batches of cookies and set some aside for a gathering with friends the next afternoon. I allotted several dozen cookies for our gathering with the young men, and what they didn't finish here I sent home with them.<br />
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Three moms, and seven children gathered for lunch and games here the next afternoon. I cooked a big chicken ($12) the day before and took every piece of meat from the bones. I saved 6 cups out for lunch, and froze two more cups. I cooked the carcass all night, and got 5 quarts of rich broth. I froze the broth rather than canning it and unfortunately, two jars broke in the freezer. I nearly cried. I'm convinced canning is the way to go. It saves freezer space, and allows you to use the broth at a moment's notice rather than having to wait for it to thaw.<br />
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I made <a href="http://mamasfixins.blogspot.com/2010/03/flour-tortillas.html">homemade tortillas</a>, and lots of them. 32, to be exact. What would have cost me $10-12 dollars to buy was produced for about $2. The menu was build-your-own chicken quesadillas with cheese, sour cream, peppers, black olives, and homemade salsa, home-canned fruit cocktail, and cookies that had been made in advance. This wasn't the cheapest lunch to provide, mostly because of the toppings for the quesadillas, but it was a splurge since I'd spent next to nothing for our meals the rest of the week.<br />
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In the photo with the tortillas, you'll see my Farberware electric skillet. I love this skillet. Nearly 25 years ago, my brother Brian bought me a stainless steel electric skillet for a wedding gift. I used it nearly every day, sometime several times a day, and it eventually wore out. My mom was no longer using hers much, and gave it to me. Though it's the same age as my original skillet, and identical, it's still going strong. Except it wasn't heating quite like it should. Verne started looking to replace it for me as a Christmas gift, but stainless steel electric skillets are very hard to come by these days, as most are teflon coated now. No, thank you! If you <i>can</i> find one, they're upwards of $200. Knowing how much I use this skillet he was willing to buy one, but I was convinced to make the current one work. I scoured E-Bay and while I could find a replacement cord, the reviews said that they didn't fit quite right. I mentioned it to my friend Lynn, and she suggested checking an electrical store in town. I mentioned it to Verne, and he mentioned it to another friend who also suggested a different electrical store. Verne tried both places, and sure enough, Lynn was right. Verne bought me a new, off brand cord for $14! It fits and works perfectly. We live in a disposable society, where people think having the newest thing will bring them happiness. Sometimes, keeping what's near and dear to us makes us the happiest of all.<br />
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While organizing the sewing room I found this cat quilt that I started way back in 2005. I had it all pieced, and hand-quilted when I lost interest in it. All it lacked was the binding. I considered not finishing it, when I was reminded of <a href="http://5redhens.blogspot.com/2013/05/paddlewheel-sawtooth-table-runner.html">another project </a>I had thought the same of and decided to bring it to completion. I'm glad I did. I think it's charming once again. Each cat is quilted differently, and the alternating corners have balls of yarn and mice quilted into them. Abigail has claimed it, and uses it on her lap in the evenings while she sits and draws. Chester loves it, too. Lucy? She loves any quilt you lay on the floor.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-47274527232323486522014-01-06T08:50:00.000-05:002014-01-06T08:57:45.125-05:00Grant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="http://5redhens.blogspot.com/2012/11/when-there-are-no-words.html">...and then came spring.</a> One early morning as we were running through town and had just come over the crest of a hill, she said, "I feel like I'm running six weeks pregnant." Again, words failed me. My mind raced.<i> Is she pregnant? Is this her way of telling me? What if she isn't, and I ask: will her heart hurt even more?</i> I remained silent, and we finished our run and parted ways. </div>
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Several days later as we ran in the hour before dawn and we were talking about upcoming races, she counted herself out for a fall marathon. That's when I <i>knew</i>. And I had the courage to ask, "Are you...?" Yes, joy comes in the morning! My heart was happy, and light, and thankful. </div>
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The months passed and Amy kept on running until finally we had to train separately as we approached our marathon date, and she approached her due date. But still, nearly every day she'd check in with me, asking me for updates, and <a href="http://5redhens.blogspot.com/2013/11/we-ran-marathon-and-it-was-monumental_8.html">coaching me along the way</a>. At the local fabric store I spied a piece of number fabric and was instantly drawn to it for a baby quilt for Amy's little one. Runners are constantly crunching numbers, trying to set PRs, and so forth. The rest of the fabrics were chosen to coordinate with the colors of the numbers, and to suit a baby boy. The pattern is from Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew, and is called<a href="http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2012/01/kaleidoscope-2.html"> Kaleidoscope</a>. </div>
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I started cutting pieces in early September, and had the hand-quilting done by early December. I just had to wait for the new little babe to make his appearance so I could label the back with his name. Waiting is hard, even when you aren't the expectant mother. ;-)</div>
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Finally, on December 16, Grant came into the world healthy and loved. I shared with Amy how much I loved his name, and how I thought it was so fitting since God had<i> granted </i>her another baby after losing Jack. (I was reminded a bit of Hannah in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+1&version=NKJV">1 Samuel 1</a>.) Two full weeks passed until we got to meet this new little beautiful person, and it was good to finally hold him. </div>
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It was good to see Verne holding him, too. It took me back to the days when our children were newborns. He definitely still has the touch, and was able to put Grant to sleep.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,<br />
The fruit of the womb is a reward.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 10.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,<br />
So are the children of one’s youth.</span></span></div>
<div style="font: 10.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;<br />
They shall not be ashamed,<br />
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Psalm 127:3-5</span></span></div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-75055560552187013002013-12-24T07:41:00.000-05:002013-12-24T07:41:27.986-05:00Sweet Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For so many years the hustle and bustle has happened in our own home, but the days are much quieter now. Abigail and I were thrilled to be thought of and invited to participate in a Gingerbread House Party. The afternoon was a wonderful mix of older and younger children, and a sweet time with other moms. Having baked and assembled these houses so many years in the past I truly appreciated the hostess and all of her hard work.<br />
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Mac is home, and now we wait for Autumn and Collin to arrive. The turn around time will be quick, just as it was for Thanksgiving, but I'm so grateful that we'll all be together.<br />
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From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!<br />
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-51828359026739830862013-12-14T09:31:00.000-05:002013-12-14T09:31:31.605-05:00Apple Cranberry Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Verne had to be out of town on his birthday, so I wanted to have a little something special to welcome him back home. Pie. Pie is special, right?<br />
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The tartness of the cranberries played well with the sweeter apples, and the vanilla ice cream complimented it all. Mmm.<br />
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*<b>Apple Cranberry Pie</b>*<br />
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one recipe of <a href="http://mamasfixins.blogspot.com/2007/07/never-fail-pie-crust.html">Never Fail Pie Crust</a><br />
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6 c. peeled and sliced granny smith or golden delicious <b>apples</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
2 c. washed<b> cranberries </b>dusted with 1 Tbls.<b> flour</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
3/4 to 1 c.<b> sugar</b>, to preference<br />
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1 tsp. <b>cinnamon</b><br />
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3. Tbls. <b>cornstarch</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
1 Tbls.<b> lemon juice</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Preheat oven to 375°. Prepare pie crust, rolling thin, and placing bottom crust into a deep 9" pie plate.<br />
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Combine apples and cranberries, and drizzle with lemon juice, tossing well to coat. Combine sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch, and toss with apple/cranberry mixture. Pour filling into pie crust.<br />
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Roll top crust, and place on top of filling. Crimp the edges, and add fluted edge, if desired. If using a solid top rather than lattice, cut slits to allow steam to escape. Brush top crust very lightly with water, and sprinkle with a thin dusting of cane sugar. Bake for 50 minutes, until crust is lightly browned.<br />
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<b><br /></b>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-15125658654795604162013-12-12T23:34:00.001-05:002013-12-12T23:34:19.357-05:00Hot Mug, Cold day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With a high of 21° and overcast skies, a person can sure use something hot and nourishing to fill their belly. <a href="http://mamasfixins.blogspot.com/2007/07/beef-and-barley-soup.html">Beef noodle soup</a> and rice pudding sprinkled with nutmeg hit the spot!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-86521877571954344732013-12-10T09:22:00.001-05:002013-12-10T09:34:18.087-05:00Lemon Cake with Cranberries and Lemon Icing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Abigail baked a cake last night after seeing a photo on Pinterest. Unfortunately, the pin led nowhere, so we googled the <a href="http://www.melangery.com/2012/10/lemon-cake-with-cranberries-and-lemon.html">recipe name</a> until we found a matching photo. This cake was very lemon-y, and the cranberries were perfect. We'll definitely make this again.<br />
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Abigail changed the recipe just a little to accommodate Verne's butter intolerance, and she also left the red food color out of the glaze. Why ruin a great recipe with chemicals?<br />
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The link to the original recipe can be found above, and if we could have we would have definitely preferred to use real butter, and her adapted recipe is below.<br />
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<b>Lemon Cake with Cranberries and Lemon Icing</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
For the cake:<br />
<b><br /></b>
1 1/4 c. <b>all purpose flour</b><br />
1 tsp. <b>baking powder</b><br />
pinch of <b>salt</b><br />
1/2 c. <a href="http://www.vitacost.com/spectrum-organic-shortening-24-oz">non-hydrogenated <b>vegetable shortening</b> </a><br />
1 c. <b>raw sugar</b><br />
2 <b>eggs</b><br />
1/3 c. <b>sour cream</b><br />
1 Tbsp finely grated <b>lemon zest</b><br />
1 1/2 c. <b>fresh cranberries </b>(for the cake and decoration)<br />
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For the glaze:</div>
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1/4 c. <b>lemon juice</b></div>
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1 c <b>confectioners' sugar</b>, sifted</div>
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Instructions:<br />
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Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 1 lb. loaf pan.<br />
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In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Set aside.<br />
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In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, combine butter and sugar on medium speed, 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until fully incorporated.<br />
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Reduce mixer speed and alternatively beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture, followed by half of the sour cream mixture, and repeat, ending with the last of the flour. Stop mixer occasionally and scrape the sides of the bowl. Remove bowl from mixer and fold in one cup of cranberries, saving some for decoration.<br />
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Spoon batter into prepared pan and bake 55-60 minutes until the top springs back when lightly pressed or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the bread from oven and place pan on wire rack to cool 15 minutes before removing bread from the pan. Cool completely before icing.<br />
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For the glaze, simply whisk together the lemon juice and confectioners' sugar until there are no lumps. Drizzle over cooled cake.<br />
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It makes a delightful breakfast, too!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2844627769358030522.post-39545996970313719672013-12-07T09:42:00.001-05:002013-12-07T09:44:21.120-05:00Us- 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had a few family photos taken after Mac's college graduation, but to be honest, Mac had hat head and everyone else was wearing a goofy grin. While I was happy to capture the day, it wasn't our finest moment.<br />
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Thanksgiving afternoon, Collin's friend Randall met us to capture a few images. No pressure. We'd already eaten and been laughing, and the smiles came easily. Perfect? Our finest moment? No. What we really look like? Yes. It was quite chilly, being only 37°, but the late afternoon light was gorgeous.<br />
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Mac had the brilliant idea to capture a "sorority girl" photo with Collin, and their smiles are perfect. Since Collin usually hates being photographed, being comfortable with the photographer <i>and</i> the silliness of the moment really made him laugh. Perfect.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011968957287943985noreply@blogger.com8