Monarch Post

all over the place

Nice opening photo, huh? The kitchen counter has looked like a pharmacy for awhile.

The Hendersons have been very busy sharing the gifts of the season... colds, and strep.

We are all so darn thoughtful that way...

Lots of prescriptions, coughing, couch-laying, going on here the last three weeks...

I think we're all about over it.

I hate seeing everyone miserable, including myself.

One day when I felt too bad to do anything but sit on the couch and read, I read some Bible devotionals.

I ran across this verse from Romans 8:28 and the devotional by author Ann Kiemel Anderson.

This is the part that struck me:

"In ALL things God works for the good" (caps mine) the rejection in one's childhood, alcoholic parents. the birth of a handicapped child. a husband leaving home for another woman. illness. no matter what life may have in store.. absolutely ANYTHING ... will turn into blessing if we love God.

It's sticking with me, that verse...

If I hadn't gotten sick,

I wouldn't have sat there reading that day,

and I wouldn't have learned just what I needed to learn...

that in ALL things God works for the good!

I think it's my new favorite verse...

I'm going to hang onto it

and remember it

and be mindful of the power

of those words.

We had a break in the germs during Thanksgiving.

We stayed home. I cooked.

Mike cleaned and hung Xmas lights outside.

I always forget to take photos...

(took a photo of the cute new sign we hung in the dining room though).

too busy making sure all the food gets put on the table

and too busy getting everyone there while it's hot.

 

But I remembered just in time to catch this after-

"THE FLANNEL BRIGADE"!

All those good guys of mine (new son-in-law included), manhandling the dirty dishes.

YAY!!

******************************

Sunday afternoon we went to JoAnns to buy fleece to make xmas stockings for the local food pantry.

It was a ZOO.

I spent 1 1/2 hrs waiting to get fabric cut and another 40 minutes in the checkout line.

TWO CHECKOUT CLERKS WERE WORKING... !!

TWO!!!

I don't do black Friday- ever.

But this wasn't Friday, and it was still bad.

But I got fleece for $2.99 a yard. 

And that will make lots of stockings for kids who need one.

Sophey bought the fleece in the photos above to make pj pants.

She hasn't made a project that big before.

Right now it's a good blankie.

(And I'm learning to take photos at night without a flash).

(Um, really just beginning to learn...)

We spend more time in the living room in the winter.

I like candles at night... and the stereo.

Except for Winston.

He has learned to ride the family room couch like a true cowboy.

COWDOG?

I took the first photo above and then said, "SMILE GUYS"!

They did!

This dog kills me... kiiills me.

In other big news, the accessorizing fashionista here cleaned her bedroom....

and discovered her long lost pink Vans...

We have so many more accessorizing options now.

 

I've been serging

and sewing more heart ornaments for my shop.

I'm liking the white ones.

 I designed a child's apron pattern too and made the first one.

You know, I hate to iron...

why don't I hate it when I sew?

 

 

 

'60s vintage fabric on the bottom ruffle.

LOVE IT. And I DIG IT too :)

I've been busy making all sorts of things in RED.

I still have plans to finally have an Etsy shop again...

I just don't want to jinx myself anymore by saying when it will be stocked!

Everytime I do, there is some big crisis

and then it never happens.

But it will be gorgeous and RED and for a great CAUSE... when I get there!!

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Oh, and if you like and still want to make a really great pecan

pie for the holidays, I found an A+ recipe.

I made it for Thanksgiving.

Yummy.

It really beats the Karo syrup versions.

(In my opinion).

GO HERE !

 

 

 

 

 

random monday

My kids and I are home sick with colds...

I layed around all day yesterday.

I couldn't do it again today.

So I sniffled and puttered around the house and made cookies...

I made oatmeal mini-chocolate chip cookies.

They are really good, and really simple.

Last night while we were laying around sick,

we watched 19 kids and counting.

 

Hooooly Mooooly.

 

They are having another baby... soon to be 20 kids and counting.

I am in awe... and just fascinated by how they manage.

It's not for me (or us) but it is amazing to see how they do it all.

So I went to their website today and decided to make their cookies.

Not sure why I went to their blog... voyeurism, I guess.

Anyway, their cookie recipe is great.

And I added a little vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. And mini-chocolate chips.

I think the recipe makes about seventy... be warned!

Saturday morning we woke up to snow. Our second snowfall already.

(So not ready ).

Today the back yard looks like this.

And the deck looks like this.

So much for all those fall leaves I said were still on the trees... geez.

The leaves falling always made my Mom upset...

I think she thought grass was carpet too ;)

And she would have vacuumed it if she could.

(I wonder if you could use a shop vac on the deck?)

I don't mind the leaves scattered all over,

and they aren't getting raked until they ALL fall...

 

So there... leaves...

 

 

Last week I went to Tai Pan home store looking for an apothecary jar for the wedding flowers.

I found the red frame there. LOVE IT.

It's in the dining room.  LOVE IT.

 

I left the wedding flowers to dry in their vases.

They looked so pretty even dried; I haven't had the heart to take them apart.

But I finally decided I needed to....

I saved the best blooms and arranged them in the jar.

The rest went in the trash.

Definately the most expensive trash bags I've ever taken out.

OOOOOOOiiiye.

It's sitting in the dining room at the moment.

The flower colors are great in there with the green walls.

I'm going to add more color to the room.

I started making more tea towels too on Saturday.

(Say that three times fast. )

To sell for Christmas at All Tucked In.

I like 'em.

 

****************************

And  I liked the way the garland and the ornaments turned out too for the shop.

All twelve heart ornaments sold last week.

I'm making more.

Yay!

I made the ornament loops from an old pillowcase.

I serged both edges of the fabric.

Sergers are AWEsome. Seriously.

Serging makes me weirdly happy.

It's like slicing hot pie when it slices perfectly.

**********************

I think that's it for me today.

What's up with you?!

XOK

enjoying...

Today I am enjoying:

My new thrift and fabric store finds.

A child's tea set in a red basket.

Just like the one I had when I was a kid.

(I don't know what happened to it).

A Minnie Mouse dancing figurine to add to the Disney collection.

A needlepoint granny purse.

New fabrics in colors and patterns I LOVE!

Fat quarters with FIVE great patterns... That never happens.

The amazing Indian summer we've had in Utah.

The leaves have stayed on the trees so long this fall...

And the "nesting in" that happens for me in the fall.

The cool weather always renews my creative energy.

I'm enjoying:

Sewing and working with wools again.

And making headbands and pins for the shop I sell to.

Lots of 'em :D

I'm enjoying:

the kids creativity too.

The creative "leftovers" on the kitchen table this morning.

The roses given to me by Mike last night... 

he worked long hours for us this week.

And turning old things into something new and different.

I think this will might be a child's purse for my shop when it's finished...

I'm enjoying stitching again,

and dreaming up new ideas to make and sell.

It's been a dry, uncreative year for me.

I am so glad that is all changing...

 

I think the tide has to go out

so that it can come back in.

 

I think the well has to be drained dry sometimes

before it can be filled with new water again....

 

And if you're the last five people left reading this old blog

that struggles sometimes to be real

and authentic,

and me,

then thanks for hanging out.

And in with me.

 

This  c r e a t i v e  life is my journey,

full of twists and turns,

valleys and mountains,

deserts and lush green gardens.

 

All I know for sure at this point in my life is

that life truly is a journey,

and it's made just by going on,

one foot in front of the other,

EVERY. DAY.

In fear and joy.

**********

 

(And all I really hope for this old blog is that it 

inspires you to live true and authentic too!)

(You are who you are for a reason and you are enough!)

 

Wishing you a lovely Friday and a happy weekend,

XOK

 

saved

Hi. I just gotta tell ya... somedays when my Mom works in her studio all day, I get so boooorred.

Bored. Bored. BORED.

The kids are at school and it's just me and Greta. Let me tell you, you can only stare out the window, bark at the cats outside, chew your foot, and stare at the wall (like a sitting panda bear) for just so long...

Sometimes I watch and wait for the kids to come home.

I love the kids so much.

Luuuvvv, luuuuvvv, luuuuvvv the kids.

(Wag, wag).

And then Corbyn came home.

He asked me if I wanted to go for a ride.

A ride? A RIDE?

Serious?

Really?

Are you really serious??? 

Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy.

Oh boy.

Greta couldn't go today...

Corbyn said it was a long ride and she just gets too nervous in the car.

(This was fine with me).

(My Mom took her out the next day for a little ride.)

Goodbye boredom...

Heeellloooo open road, rock and roll stereo, wind in my fur, treats at the drive-thru!

Adventure!!

Whoooohhoooo!!!

 

Lickey kisses and paw shakes,

Winston

 

 

leaves and pumpkins

Sunday afternoon Sophey asked if she could take my old point and shoot camera to the ravine behind our house and take some photos.

I've blogged about the ravine before; it's the prettiest bit of green space around our town, (I think, anyway).

(No one but our neighboorhood knows it even exists). (Sshhhh... don't tell!)

It feels a little bit enchanted.

If there really are fairies I think they'd live here...

I love the photos she took.

Pretty great compositions for a ten year old, huh?

And how about the "artsy" shadow photos.

They're a little creepy somehow, now that I'm looking at them closer.

Perfect for Halloween.

(And perfect for getting me to my next photo).

Saturday night we went to a church Halloween pumpkin carving/decorating party.

I brought the mini pumpkins and craft decorations for the kids.

They made the funniest pumpkins.

One big hodge-podge of craft supplies and the kids stayed busy for at least an hour.

Eighteen cute ittle pumpkin people went home after the party.

 
Not the best photos, it was kind of dark in the church.

I found snazzy striped pipe cleaners at the craft store.

I highly recommend snazzy striped pipe cleaners for pumpkin smiles :)

So cute!

Our pumpkins found a home on the kitchen windowsill.

Our big carved pumpkins won "Happiest" and "Most Creepy" for the contest.

Sort of like the kids who carved them...

Halloween night Sophey went trick or treating as a butterfly and Jesse went as "The Unexpected".

Boys are weird....

And Corbyn went as a redneck with a mighty fine Billy Rae Cyrus mullet.

Definately the scariest thing I saw on Halloween.

His pants were so tight I had to tie his shoes for him.

And tape on his mustache.

Too funny.

 

So, what did you do for Halloween?

XOK

P.S. still working away on the crafting... will have something to show for myself pretty soon!