WIP Projects #4-6

Yesterday was a day filled with lots of paperwork, so I am hoping that today I will be able to find some time to work on some craft projects!

I am happy to report that all three of my last projects I posted about have been completed!

For this next week, I have 3 more WIPs that I would like to complete.

4. BOM quilt block - this is the third year that I have joined our 'local' (half hour away) quilt store for their once a month quilt block project. Back in August, they started a new series of blocks using Thimbleberry fabrics. Basically, we paid $5 for the first quilt block. Then when we finish the block and bring it to the next meeting, we get the fabric and the pattern to make the block for free. Over the course of the year, you have the potential to get the fabric and patterns for 12 blocks and pay only $5. I need to finish this block by Saturday morning in order to get the next one for free.

5. Valentine banner - this is a project I found on Pinterest. Since today is the first day of February, I would like to put away all my snowmen decorations and put up my Valentine decorations. I have pinned a few Valentine projects using book pages and thought this one would be quick and easy to make. I didn't want to use just any old book for these projects, so I went to the used book store and found a used copy of 'Persuasion', my favorite Jane Austen book.

6. Prayer Board - this is another Pinterest inspired project. I wanted a place where we could put prayer requests so that as we walk by the board, we remember to pray for those who are on our prayer board. I also found the bible verse on Pinterest, printed it out, colored in the words and hearts, then mounted it on some cardstock. Now I just need to attach the bible verse and set up an area with cards, push pins, and pens.

What projects will you be working on this week?

Meet Our Compassion Kids Monday: Mamata

Kelsey was really excited when she learned that she could be a correspondent sponsor with Compassion. At first, we requested one child for her to correspond with. In September, she was notified that she would be a correspondent sponsor with Mamata in India.

Mamata is 13 years old and lives with her father, mother, little brother and little sister. She likes the color pink and likes to sing songs in Sunday School. Mamata asks for prayers for her studies because she would like to be a nurse one day.

Favorite Photo of the Week

Matthew and Kelsey just before our Annual Civil War Ball.

For those of you who don't know, our family has been participating in Civil War reenacting for the past four years. One of the highlights of the year for me is the annual Civil War Ball. I love dressing up in my fancy ball gown and dancing the old english country dances. The Virginia Reel, the Gay Gordon, the Quadrilles, such fun dances!

Since photography is something that I enjoy, on Fridays, I would love to post my favorite photo of the week.

The Joy Dare #43 - 63

43. hearing my kids laugh together
44. homemade chicken noodle soup
45. remembering how amazing the Gospel is
46. watching a little bird find food after the rain
47. paper napkin fight and laughing with my kids
48. sound of heavy rain
49. finished many sewing projects
50. wearing my Civil War ball gown
51. dancing the Virginia Reel
52. Matthew playing with the worship band
53. Kelsey's little note
54. dinner and conversation with friends
55. homeschooling my children
56. time for quiet afternoon reading
57. blue sky peeking through a cloud-filled sky
58. a clean desk
59. In 'n Out burger and fries
60. flannel sheets
61. old books
62. pictures of my family
63. morning sky outside my kitchen window

How is your Joy Dare list coming along?

WIP Projects

Do you have any WIP projects around your home? What is a WIP project anyway? WIP stands for Works in Progress. I like this acronym better than UFO, better known as Unfinished Objects.

Just like I usually have bookmarks in multiple books at one time, I usually have a few projects started in varying states of almost completeness.

Here are three WIP projects I would like to finish in the next week:

1. Bind 2 quilts - a couple of my quilting friends and I started a monthly quilt group last year. Our first project was two quilts for Quilts of Valor. This was a group effort of building the blocks together, my friend did the quilting, and now my task is to bind them and have them ready to be delivered.

2. Finish off 3 knitted dish cloths - I just love having some of these ready and on hand for bridal showers, hostess gifts, and just because gifts. The threads just need to be woven in on these three, then they are ready for my gift box.

3. Finish Ava's scarf - this scarf is for one of the little girls at church. She told me that she likes purple, so I hope she likes this!

By posting my WIP projects on my blog, I am hoping this will be a way for me to track the progress of my WIP projects and be able to complete many of them this year.

Pasta Fagioli

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/88904268@N00/386956914/

I just love a hot bowl of homemade soup in the winter time!

A while back, I had seen a recipe for Pasta Fagioli on this crockpot blog. Since I am not a big crockpot fan, I went on a search to try to adapt the recipe for the stove top. After making a couple of changes, I was able to come up with this recipe:

1/2 pound ground beef

1/2 pound Italian sausage

1/2 red onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup carrots, chopped

2 celery stalks, sliced

2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can white beans, drained and rinsed

4 cups beef broth

1 jar (16.5 oz) pasta sauce

2 t oregano

1 T Tabasco sauce

1/2 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/2 cup pasta

Saute beef and Italian sausage until meat starts to brown. Add onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, beef broth, oregano, salt, pepper, pasta, sauce, Tabasco, and pasta. Simmer until carrots and celery are tender, about 45 minutes.

This recipe is more than plenty for the four of us for dinner as well as one night of leftovers. When I feel really ambitious, I made a double batch and freeze 2 meals worth in freezer bags.

Meet Our Compassion Kids Monday: Xiomara

Xiomara is the first child assigned to me as a correspondent sponsor back in September. She lives in Peru and our birthdays are 6 days apart. She is now 11 years old.

She lives with her parents and her sister. Her favorite color is light blue and she likes to cook, clean the house, and sing and dance. In her last letter, she was excited about Christmas coming because her mom would be preparing hot cocoa and fruit cake.

She asked for prayers for her mom that the Lord would continue to bless her. Xiomara always closes her letters with " a big hug and a kiss."