Tabletop Gallery

I actually started this project sometime ago as I was perusing the Joann's site. I have the bad habit of starting tons of projects at the same time but, have a slow finish rate. I've not let myself start any new projects until some of these old timers got off my pile of good intentions. Here's a cutesy project for my mom. I am going to let her finish each one with her favorite picture of each of her grandchildren. Her scrapbook room/office has lots of bright colors, so this should fit right in.

I'd like to apologize

I'd like to apologize to all those that may have seen my child's bum in yesterday's HS Jr. Primary. I was competely shocked & horrified as my sweet son ran back to the back of the room where I was sitting to yell out, "My pee-pee is falling out, my pee-pee is falling out!" all the while dropping his shorts and underwear down to his ankles to "fix" the situation. Oh my son, what are we ever going to do with you?

Where art thou dog?

click here: Where art thou dog?

Grace's Baby Quilt

This is a baby quilt for my good friend Shannon. Shannon & I go waaaaay back to our single girl days. We had some great times before we both got married. Shannon just had her first baby, a precious little girl named Grace. Shannon gravitates towards vintage fabrics so these were a must. This project took more time than it took her to grow a baby. I found the pattern at the Dallas Quilt show and knew this was it! It's hard to see but, I hand embroidered phrases like peek-a-boo and baby girl throughout the quilt. The name is appliqued near the center. I did everything but the actual quilting, because let's face it, I'm slow and the baby was born 3 weeks ago. At my rate I would have it done just in time for high school graduation. The ladies at Old Town Quilts in Keller did an awesome job! Amazingly, they were able to finish my project in just one day!

Potty Trained at last!

Adam has been going pee-pee in the potty since right after his 3rd birthday. However, the #2 has been quite a problem! He would go half the time in his underwear and half the time in the potty. He was never consistent. Then we had the months of him holding it and we thought he'd never figure it out. I had no idea it would be such a process just to get a kid to go to the potty! We went back to our old friend the potty chart and found out that what Adam really, really, really wanted was a big boy bike, not a tricycle. So he had to go 20 times to get his bike. He finally finished the chart off late last week and we went last night to get his big boy bike.

Unfortunately, it looks like it's going to take him longer to learn to ride a bike than it took him to learn to do his business in the potty. He's actually just sitting here, he's not really pedaling.

Chicken & Dumplings

I made some chicken and dumplings this week and they were so good!

4 Large Chicken Breasts (or whole chicken parts cut up)
2 cans reg. sized biscuits (1 can if you aren't a fan of the dumpling)
2-3 peeled sliced carrots
2 stalks sliced celery
1/4 - 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 finely chopped onion

-In a very large pot, cook chicken by boiling. Cover generously with water. Throw in all vegetables & parsley. Cook for 30-45 minutes until chicken is done.
- While chicken is cooking prepare dumplings. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces, roll into flour to make a ball shape. Set dumplings aside
- Reserve broth, remove chicken and cut into bite sized pieces (remove from bone if necessary.) Return chicken to broth mixture. Add dumplings into broth. If necessary add a little water. Cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes until dumplings are no longer doughy on the inside. They will look a bit doughy on the outside.
- I cut the vegetables, aside from the onion, into big chunks so that the purists in our family could pick them out. Fresh parsley makes all the difference and it's so cheap. The vegetables gave everything a nice flavor and even the kid ate two helpings (once he picked out all the carrots of course.)

Happpy 'Pendence Day!

For 4th of July we went to Stephenville, TX. Stephenville is a small town, which is most commonly known for Tartelon University and who could forget, the UFO siting. My mom & Joe came down to visit from Georgia and brought my 7 yr. old nephew. My grandparents definitely live in the country, and it's really quiet and peaceful whenver we visit. (Well except when we play aggravation, the best game ever.) Some years back they moved my childhood home out to their land in Stephenville and started building around it. Most of the house is changed but, the bones are still there. Whenver we go I still get to stay in my old bedroom. It seemed a lot bigger when I was a kid!

My pappaw spent time rebuilding this 59 Studebacher. Adam and his cousin Logan got to ride in it during the annual Stephenville 4th of July Parade. Pappaw is part of one of the Stephenville Car Clubs and all the guys get together once a week to discuss cars & such. The Parade while fun, was a little slow. There were a few floats, some really great old cars, and lots of everyday people in everyday cars, so at times it was like watching patriotic traffic. It was so hot but, the boys had a great time!