Happy Halloween!

The playground and fall festival

The weather was wonderfully sunny on Saturday morning. So in celebration, we decided to take a bike ride. Caroline patiently waited in her carriage while we got everything ready - taking a bike ride is not the spontaneous event it used to be! We rode up to a school nearby and played on the playground there. It was great - we had the whole place to ourselves. Caroline had the best time on the slides. So did Daddy! Then we had lunch at Holiday Ham, where Caroline ate like a champ. All that sliding makes a girl hungry.

Saturday night was our church's Fall Festival. I didn't get many pictures - I was too busy chasing a running toddler. She and Elizabeth enjoyed the moonbounce for a total of 30 seconds, and I did get a picture of that. We had dinner with Elizabeth and her mommy and daddy. The girls haven't stopped talking about each other since. Then it was home for a fun scrub in the tub and a cartoon before bed. I doubt that toddler life gets any better than that.

Sweetie

Here's my girl modeling her new pants and a fall shirt I appliquéd.


She is such a good little buddy. Kevin spent Sunday at the hospital. Caroline and I went to church and then we had girls' lunch together. It was a really sweet lunch - just one of those special together times I'll always remember. I'm so thankful to have a little friend to keep me company!

More soon on our fun Saturday!

Jumping on the bed

Pants and a purse

Kevin ripped a pair of his khaki pants and there was nothing to be done to save them. So I used them to make Caroline pair of khaki pants.


When I finished, they looked a little plain, so I added this eyelet ruffle trim to the hem. Pretty cute and girlie, don't you think? Pictures of her modeling them coming soon... (She runs away squealing in terror when I approach her with fabric. It's sad, so I try not to terrorize her before the project is complete.)


And this is Caroline's Halloween "purse"! She loves it and I'm pretty proud of it, too. It will be perfect for all those Halloween goodies from the neighbors. I think there's another one coming...maybe something feline? I got instructions from this website: J Caroline Creative.

Fall fun in Memphis

We had some very fun times this weekend. We met some friends Saturday for breakfast and then headed over to the Midtown pumpkin patch. And the weather Saturday night was perfect for dining alfresco and running around in the backyard. We are so thankful for the opportunity to enjoy God's creations!

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
-Psalm 24:1

Embroidered fall napkins

Happy fall! I made these napkins several years ago and I love pulling them out every fall.


You'll need:

• cloth napkins
• embroidery floss to coordinate with your napkins
  
• needle
• fall clip art (I use Microsoft office clip art) - stick with a simple design
• blue water-soluble fabric pen
• knowledge of basic embroidery technique - French knot and backstitch

The embroidery stitches are really very easy. Here are helpful links:

• French knot
• Backstitch
  

1. Choose clip art and print out desired size.
   
2. Cut out clip art.
3. Use the fabric pen to trace your clip art onto the napkins. Add easy details (like the leaf veins). Don't be a perfectionist here.
4. Thread needle. Embroidery floss consists of 6 strands. I usually use 3 for my French knots. If you like your knots bigger or smaller, increase or decrease your threads accordingly.
5. Knot the end of your thread.
   
6. Embroider your image using the stitches. I outlined my leaves with French knots and did the veins with a backstitch. You could use all backstitches or all knots. Anything goes!
   
7. Wash your napkins in cold water to erase the blue pen markings.
   

There are so many possibilities for this little project. You could embroider napkins or a table runner with your monogram. I've done monograms on pillows, too. Be creative and good luck!

(I promise to get some photos of Caroline on here soon!)

Back to normal

We had a tough week last week. Caroline ran a fever every day. I had one sad little girl. She just wanted to be held and cuddled and I was thankful I could provide her with that comfort.

I'm so happy to report that she is feeling much, much better. Her illness last week makes me especially thankful for all the wiggling, giggling, dancing, coloring, jumping, bouncing, smiling, tickling, running, talking, playing going on. What happy, happy times we've shared together this week!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
-Matthew 19:14

Low country

I was born in Charleston, and although we moved when I was little, the love of all things low country runs deep in me. I love magnolias, hot summers, sea breezes, sweetgrass baskets, spanish moss, palmettos, and shrimp and grits!

I remember the cafeteria at Methodist served shrimp and grits one day for lunch and none of my co-workers had ever heard of it. They thought it sounded weird.

This was my first attempt at shrimp and grits and I impressed everyone here at my house (even myself).

It's hard to believe something so delicious was so easy to make.

2 pounds frozen, peeled and deveined large shrimp
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 cup chicken broth, divided
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Hot cooked grits

Thaw shrimp according to package directions.
Combine Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, and paprika; toss together seasoning mixture and shrimp.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add garlic, and saute 1 minute. Add shrimp, 3/4 cup broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce; cook 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Remove shrimp with a slotted spoon, reserving broth mixture in skillet.
Whisk together remaining 1/4 cup chicken broth and flour until blended; whisk flour mixture into broth mixture in skillet, and cook, whisking constantly, 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened. Add shrimp, and cook 1 minute. Serve immediately over grits.

Makes 4 servings

Southern Living, NOVEMBER 2001

Still here

I have not intentionally abandoned the blog - busyness, 2 colds (one for Caroline and one for me - boo), weekend trips, weekend visitors...and the list goes on.

We've been praying more frequently and fervently around here, too. Our friends have a 3-week old little boy, named Forrest, who is in the ICU. He is battling a long list of complications from an infection he developed at birth. Take a minute to pray for them, please. They so desire and covet these prayers.

So in following little Forrest's set-backs and successes, we've immersed ourselves in some comforting words from our Father. Here are my current favorite words:

The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
-Isaiah 58:11

I love to be reminded of who my guide is, who provides for me, who strengthens me, who quenches my thirst, who creates a garden in me, who refreshes me. What is your favorite comfort verse?

And, in closing, a very cute picture of my sweet nephew Ian. He's smiling at a taggie ball that I made for him!