Zig Zag Quilt

Spring cleaning continues!  In going through boxes & drawers in an effort to consolidate & purge I found this quilt that I had started a while back.

I love the blue colors and the way it went together!

I know that you can imagine how sad I was when I got it all laid out only to realize that I was one block short!!!

I seriously started this a couple of years ago so finding all the fabric again at the store was NOT going to happen.

Have I mentioned I am a pack rat when it comes to fabric?  I have a hard time getting rid of fabric or books.  Those are my weaknesses!

So I dug through my scraps and was thrilled that I had all the fabric I needed except for the basic blue that goes in the center of each block.  ARG!

After a trip to the local Jo Ann’s Fabric Store I found a solid blue that is so close that no one will ever know.

Now I just need a few hours to put that final block together.  Okay who am I kidding?  Maybe a few minutes of time here and there will make it happen over the next few weeks! 

Storms, Books & Plants

Wow life has been CRAZY around here!  Storms, graduations, moving the oldest son home and just the regular craziness!

(Sunshine at our house with storm clouds east of us)

We’ve been going through boxes and cleaning out the storage room.  I don’t keep everything from my children’s growing years but I will admit to being a bit of a packrat when it comes to books. 

I have kept my favorites, their favorites and any books that were given to them.  Memories are precious, however, I am making myself go through their boxes & pare it down.  It is hard but there is only so much room available.

School is almost finished up for the year.  So this a good time to do some spring cleaning!  Spring has been so unpredictable here.  One day is warm the next we are worry about frost—in MAY!  Last week we got our plants in the garden.  Each of the kids planted a few plants & helped me dig holes & set up our trellis.

We increased our number of plants again this year.  33 tomatoes & 8 peppers!!!  I don’t have a single round tomato cage this year.  I am going to tie the plants up on trellises  or the fence.  Much more efficient use of space.  I also love being able to walk between the plants with a bit more room.  It will make weeding easier to keep up with.

However I don’t have a picture because it promptly rained for 4 days straight after we planted!  So my flowers(that were bought at the same as the vegies) are still waiting to get in the ground!

I love summer.  It seems we are home more.  Work outside together as a family more.  We often choose to do a project on Steve’s weekends off and that while exhausting is a great way to  build memories and knit our family closer together.

This weekend coming up we have several possible projects to work on.  Building fence, finishing woodwork in the bathroom, building a loft bed, sanding drywall?  It would be awesome to get one or two of these done so when our week long vacation comes then we won’t feel like we NEED to stay home and work.  I am looking forward to getting away for a few days to enjoy some camping, fishing, or sitting in lawn chair watching the sun go down!

I am not sure what we will choose to accomplish this weekend(depends on the weather). Whatever happens being together as a family is a wonderful thing & I am SO thankful when Steve gets a weekend off to be at home.

Weird Hair

It is amazing how many silly things Joshua can do with this crazy ball!

More of the good stuff!

I am waiting up right now for my oldest.  Michael started a new job today and some how got out the door without his wallet or keys to the house.

I don’t even care that I should have been in bed an hour ago.  I am so thankful he’s home for the next 3 months.

Life is going to be different.

1.  More stuff—There is a desk in my garage that needs to find a home in this house!  So far there is a place but no time to move it.  A job for tomorrow.

2.  More miles—Maybe it is time to trade our old suburban in for another smaller car?  Here the story of my big love affair!  I need to remember this each time I fill up these days!

3.  More music—I love to listen to my kids play the piano.  I have missed Michael’s songs.  He plays different ones than the girls.  It just stops me in my tracks when he plays, In Christ Alone, which is one of my favorite songs of all time.

4.  More late nights—We seem to talk more & stay up late when he’s home.  I don’t really care.  What is sleep anyway?

5.  More flexibility—who showers when? who does what chores?  It all will take a bit more flexibility!

6.  More food—My little guys don’t eat as much.  I don’t worry about having “extra” sides at the meal but after just a couple of days I can see I need to be putting bread, fruit etc on the table a little more!

7.  More photos--I realized that I don’t have a bunch because he’s only around on the weekends!  Gonna have to fix that!

8.  More laundry—hmmm what day will we fit him in to our laundry rotation?  

9.  More FUN!  The more the merrier!  We have plans for camping, games, bike rides & who knows what else this summer.

10.  More awareness—As with anything you take for granted, when it is gone then you treasure it more.  I am going to treasure every moment, every hug, every smile & every “I love you” in the next 3 months so that I can store them up for when I need them.

 

      

Freezer Orange Pork Chops

I love this recipe because it is easy to prepare & throw in the freezer when you find pork chops on sale.   Definitely one of my Favorite Freezer Recipes!  Don’t leave out the shallots—they are great mild flavored onion.  This is good in the oven or the crock pot.  One of the favorites around here!  We pair it with mashed potatoes or brown rice and steamed vegies!

Orange Pork Chops

4-6 boneless pork chops (1-2 pounds)

1/3 cup orange juice

1 shallot, chopped

1 T Worcestershire sauce

1 T soy sauce

Place desired amount of pork chops in a quart size freezer bag.  Add all other ingredients & seal.  Freeze.

To Cook:

Thaw.  Place entire continents of bag in a medium baking dish.  Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.

OR

Thaw.  Place entire continents of bag in a 4 quart crockpot.  Turn on low & cook for 4-5 hours.

Enjoy!