Sewing 101

Baskets: Kellie's brainwork and mechanical skills at work
Curtains: Rachael's seamstress abilities shining through
Seen Sewing: Rachael

I found this fabric at Hobby Lobby several weeks ago. I was drawn to it prob'ly b/c it reminds me of my grandmother's wallpaper. I bought 7 yards (did I mention it was on clearance?) So many people thought I would just have beaucoups left over--but I actually had to go pick up a couple more yards to work on recovering some pillows.

What was hit with this fabric? Valances on 3 windows, door curtains for our window, relining my kitchen baskets (still working on a couple--right now, actually), hopefully two old futon pillows, hopefully my memo board in the kitchen.

Funny how just a little sewing makes you feel invincible in the sewing department ... until you get home and realize you don't even know where to put the spool of thread on the machine. I actually had to look at the pix of Rachael to see where the spool goes. Not totally crazy, b/c the metal pole thingy that holds the thread had fallen off. So, now I know where it goes and what the metal pole is for!

Revolving Doors

We just had to say good bye to our last extended-guest that we have on our calendar! Kellie stayed a week and left last Wednesday. So, our calendar is open for those who want to plan a visit!

We had such a pleasant time with Kellie; she always seems to bring such clarity, encouragement, and peace with her. I think that is just the fruit of the spirit in season.

Speaking of seasons, we have several tomatoes (still green on the vine), a couple of growing (but slightly deformed) bell peppers, and more squash that you could count on both hands!

The disc golf pix is one of my favorites--so many different poses and expressions. Matt is with his 'retrieving pole,' though I heard he disregarded the whole pole concept and just jumped in the quite questionable creek for his disc. Some things never change and always make me smile!

Yesterday Matt hung up white Christmas tree lights in our backyard on our trees. It was picture perfect until one strand started blinking sporadically. This is the same strand that somehow makes it back to our tree every year...and everything is peaceful until it randomly starts blinking! AGH-we need to find a place to buy a couple of white strands of Christmas lights, but in May? Actually, I think I"ll just ask my mom if we can have/borrow a couple of strands??? (Mom, if you read this, this is an official request for the Christmas light favor...)

Gardens and Flora and Blooms, Oh My!

The reason I included so many photos of Simon from the Arboretum is to share his adorable little facial expressions! I can't believe how precious he is! Maybe one day I figure out how to post audio on here, and then, I can also share how precious it is when he talks!

One cute idiosyncracy about Simon is that he will (sometimes) automatically put his toys up where they go. It's so cute because it is so mature. For example, he might be in his room playing and I ask him to come with me. He gets up to grab my hand, but then looks at his hand and realizes he has something in it that belongs in his room--not outside. So, he will walk over and put it up and then walk back to me and grab my hand! One day the vacuum cleaner was out, and he had taken the dusting attachment out and was 'dusting' with it. I told him it was time for us to go outside and he ran the other way which is very unusual if the word 'outside' is mentioned. I looked and there he was in the utility room, putting the dusting attachment exactly in its place on the vacuum cleaner. And then, he toddles back to me to go outside. Isn't that precious?

I've been listening to C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters on audio. It's been several years since I read the book, so listening to it is almost like reading it for the first time.

It's been a long time since I asked for post responses, but I was wondering, who has read the book and what they thought of it. Or if anyone wanted to just share what they are reading that would also be interesting to read. So, comment, comment, comment, fellow readers of print!

Simon Goes Botanical

I totally forgot to brag about how I fixed our t.v. a month or so ago. There had been a power outage that ruined our t.v. Everything was off-color; lots of things were greenish that shouldn't be green. One day, when Matt was at work, I read the manual--looking in the index under Color Display. A simple troubleshoot solution: unplug the t.v. for at least 30 minutes to allow the t.v. to remagnetize (?). I tried that and VOILA that night when we watched our Chuck Missler teaching DVDS (pastor/teacher), Mr.Missler's face was no longer green! And, plus, Matt thought I was an absolute genius!

Arboretum Visit

I took 100+ pix this day; so posting only 14 total, as I plan, is really letting the viewer off quite easily!

We had lots of fun during Nana's visit. I also learned a lot--how to thread the sewing machine and bobbin, how to patch jeans and make a headband, how to wash windows most efficiently, how to make okra and tomatoes, how to make rice flawlessly, how to use Old English to buff up furniture, and many other how-tos that escape my mind at the time.

Life Unveiled

Here is the McDaniel Home, unveiled somewhat! I should warn you that on my next post there are no less than FOURTEEN pictures that I want to share from our trip to the Arboretum with Nana.

About the pix: Since gardening is so new to me, I am very easily enthralled by the grandeur of it all. The first pix is showing how strawberries grow. The white blooms are what you see first (after the initial pods.) And then, the middle part of the bloom overtime becomes a strawberry! We have our first tomato on the vine.

You can see Simon playing with his toolshed--(yay for garage sales!) There was a big community garage sale this morning, at a recreation center, but I didn't wake up early enough for that one! We had all night prayer last night, so we came home around 4:00 and slept in until almost noon!

Simon in his bath; these were the only family-friendly photos I could post! The little boats are adorable, though he doesn't quite know what they are for yet.

Simon on the couch watching a PraiseBaby or some other children's movie. He gets SO excited when he gets to watch one--and he gets this very contented, zoned-out expression. I am all for short (30 min.) movies in moderation. I think it helps his concentration skills; plus, sometimes I'm doing 'chores' that are dangerous when he is underfoot.

Breakfast for Play

These are pix from the children's play area at the mall. Crazy, huh? Reminds me of a Dali painting (the eggs, I think.)
I was thinking the idea is okay, but the motif? Personally, I think something a little more 'heavenly' would be a better teaching tool for kids. The stars, sun, moon, etc. Then you could more easily incorporate God the Creator (Elohim) into the conversation.
For example: "Oh, Simon, let's go see the stars. Look at them. Did you know the Bible says that the 'Heavens declare the glory of God?' That means that the infinite wonder of the galaxies point to an intelligent Creator. There are so many stars, but God knows each one--He placed them there. God knows you by name, too."

You can see how the 'Heavens' easily leads a conversation about God.
The breakfast plate? Not as conducive.

"Oh, Simon, let's see the big chunk of meat. Did you know that steak comes from dead cow? And these eggs...Well, they could have been cute little baby chicks. Did you know that God made the cows and chickens and gave us the freedom to eat them?" No scriptures immediately come to my mind for the breakfast plate except for I Corinthians 6:12..." 'Everything is permissable for me'--but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissable for me'--but I will not be mastered by anything." I guess I could emphasize Jehovah Jireh (Our Lord will Provide.)

One admonition that is emphasized in many of the parenting books that we have read is to make it a habit to bring into conversation the words and works of our God. To constantly be making much of God's power, love, and holiness. A BIG view of God and a LITTLE (but not in a bad way) view of us.

Well, I have plans to finish the last of laundry folding while watching part of last year's Gospel for Asia's Mission Conference on DVD. Matt and I are watching the segment with Ron Luce and it is really interesting to how the Lord gave him a special burden for the teens of this generation and for the lost world.

Just finished Reading: EVIDENCE NOT SEEN by Darlene Deibler
Key words: Autobiographical, Missionary, Japanese Prisoner of War
Who would want to read it: YOU
Most memorable: The word hidden in her heart and the ongoing 'conversation' prayer she has with the Lord
What to do: Add it to your list of what to check out at the library

Today on the Nature Channel

Simon--straight from a safari!

Simon and I are about to head out to the grocery store; we're out of two staples--bananas and milk. Friday is my grocery shopping day, but I'll make an exception this once. I'm trying out a new housekeeping schedule that is really working well for Simon and I. Laundry only on Wed. and Saturday. I used to feel like I was behind on laundry, if there were ever clothes in the hamper. Restricting it to two days cuts back on useless washing and unnecessary guilt!

Simon has his own broom and dustpan; I'll have to take a pix of that someday!

From the safari to the grocery store..."Oh, the places I'll go," Simon says!

Our Life

Here is some pix background: We took Simon for his first bike ride of the season last Friday. Last year, when he received the trailer for his birthday, he seemed to more than tolerate it but less than be enthralled with it. He even was small enough that he would sleep during a ride! Well, on Friday, I wondered what his older reaction would be. His facial expressions remained wide-eyed and emotionless, but later he let us know how he felt about it when he saw the trailer in the garage, sat in it, and said his first sentence: "Let's go!"

Flower pix is just included to show God's handiwork! "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it!" (Psalms)

Matt and Simon...is this what they call 'co-reading?' Matt and I were 3:30 a.m. troopers again last night with another sick night and EARLY morning bath for the little dude.

Myself in the red hat: On Good Friday, we helped out Mom and Dad in the yard. Scott and Steven Cobb and Matt helped Dad dig post holes with the help of equipment (auger?) from Home Depot Tool Rental. Mom and I weeded and weeded and weeded. This is mom's crazy red hat with a purple ribbon that I think you are supposed to wait until 50 to wear but I needed the extra sun protection!

A Look Back

Here are some pix back from when Sarah was here a couple of weeks ago.

Simon has some jelly (from IKEA of all places) on his chin--you can see it in the pix with Sarah, especially.

Sarah is an IKEA junkie now.

Wednesday is 'park' day for the McDaniel family where we just have sandwiches or something really easy (crackers and cheese) so that we have optimum time for playing outside. Tonight we went for a walk and then let Simon play in the backyard while I read some funny parts of a book I'm reading aloud to Matt.

Last Thursday we GRADUATED from New Staff Training at Gospel for Asia. Whoo-hoo! It's such a blessing to know you are where the Lord wants you to be!

Now for some sad news--We didn't take any digital pix of Simon on Easter. I"ll try and recreate the outfit sometime and take a pix. But I won't pretend it's an Easter pix (Mom!).

Okay side story: We have easter pix one year of us three kids, Kelly and I in dresses and Easter hats and I think Scott is wearing a little clip on tie with a 'suit.' THE PIX WEREN'T TAKEN ON EASTER! Mom said she was too stressed that morning so she 'recreated' in later. Seriously, we are even holding Easter baskets in the pix, I think.

My Harvest and Feast

Celebrate with me the creation, survival, and then dietary death of my first fruit of the garden labors--a strawberry! Before there was just a plant. Then a strawberry! MIRACULOUS! Then I ate it very slowly with the help of a fork and knife!

I just watered the vegetable and flowers outside. We're blessed with a shady backyard, maybe too shady for much vegetation, but we will see! The squash and cucumber plants have pretty yellow blooms on them this morning, and I saw some type of budding on one of the tomato plants!

Matt transplanted some bamboo from a friend's backyard, though it doesn't look like it will take; he plans on trying again in the fall which is the best time to plant bamboo.

Yesterday, it was a week since we had to say goodbye to Sarah and a week till we get to say hello to Matt's mom, coming in for a visit! Sarah, you'll be happy to know that the plants are all still living! Thanks for your artist's rendition of our garden landscaping; it is coming in handy!

Easter is one of my most favorite times of the year! We really deserve death, but because of what Christ did for us, we are able to have new life in Him and to daily live the abundant life, free from the bondage of sin and law!

Matt and I joke that Simon is trying to start a new Easter tradition of his own! Let's just say that he was up at 3:30 Easter morning and was quite sick. He got to get his 3rd bath of the day at 3:35 a.m. It was definitely the sickest he has been in the 2nd year of his life. Last year, he started the tradition by also being sick on Easter 'Eve'--the sickest night of his first year of life. (Bronchialitis) I had to hold him most of the night to help him breathe/sleep. Thanks for the sweet tradition Simon, that definitely makes the bond stronger as a family!

The bonds created in a sleep-deprived night are some of the strongest bonds ever!

The Men In My Life

I think these pictures are adorable!

Matt enjoys working in the yard; he is a hard worker. Really that would be an understatement. Last week he trimmed hedges and did lots of miscellaneous chores outside. Now that we have a lawnmower (on loan from Kelly and Corey), Matt was able to cut the grass! He also 'uncovered' a 'new to us' patio that was covered in mulch...?

Sarah and I have tilled the side 'garden,' and we plan to buy some high grade soil tomorrow to mix in with our old soil. We plan on planting tomatoes, bell peppers, and squash.
Yummy. What a harvest that might be! Matt and I have always been gone for a big chunk of the summer, so I am enjoying the chance to try my luck with a summer garden.

I made homemade bread for Sarah. It would go well with her 'Anti-Atkins' t-shirt.
I made the salsa again, so I guess it is part of my limited kitchen repertoire.

The laundry is calling my name, and I think I'll answer...

Mama Duck

"A Real Life Quack"

Simon calls ducks, 'Quacks.'
Isn't that cute?

Well, I know this duck doesn't think we're 'cute.'
Read the next post and you'll understand.

Simon Explores

About the pix: Last Thursday I found Simon in his room with only his head sticking out of his little side table. I had to run and get the camera. These are a few of the impromptu shots.

Here is an update.
Sarah is here.

Acquire the Fire was motivational.
Highlights:
RENEW YOUR MIND
HATE THE LIE
BATTLECRY.COM
THE WAR IS ON

12 girls stayed here Friday night. Fun. I like being around people for extended times in a relaxed environment.
The weather is gorgeous.
Sarah and I gardened today. Tilling and such.


Matt, Simon, Sarah, and I had a picnic for dinner.
Frisbee golf afterwards.
Sarah hit a frisbee that landed right next to a duck on her eggs.
Matt had to get the frisbee because it was kind of a scary predicament.
I tried to find my cellphone to call Ashley P.'s mom.
Realized we probably lost it on the 'frisbee golf course' outside.
Matt had to ride around on his bike after 9:00 in the dark on the greenbelt while I called my phone repeatedly.
Found the phone.
Right next to the mother duck.
She must be really annoyed with us.