tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48828571656391831992024-03-14T06:39:44.030-04:00Love, Laura Lee<b><i>Family, Friends, and<br>Laughter Welcome Here</i></b>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-12001250260738850582013-12-01T19:18:00.004-05:002013-12-01T19:25:52.343-05:00yeah, i'd say she deserves this!Every time I do a give-away, I can't believe how excited I get right before it's time to choose the winner. I'm always dying to know who it is! My heart pounds and my hands get sweaty. For real. <br />
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This time there were 39 entries and I assigned each a number. Then I went to random number generator dot com and let it do the work of choosing.<br />
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The winner this time is a very special young lady who we've known for about ten years. We met her family during our paper chase for Holly eleven years ago. We actually traveled together for our next adoptions, in 2005. She and Lacy became fast friends. So fast, in fact, that they traveled alone together to China last summer for three weeks to assist a missionary family there.<br />
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Alyssa, I'm so excited that you're the winner of my 2013 Christmas give-away! (I guess you remember winning my first ever Christmas give-away back in 2007.)<br />
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For those who don't know the Crosses…Alyssa's parents are in China right now finishing up the adoption process for her two newest sisters, Allie and Adéye. Alyssa has two older, grown brothers and now eight younger siblings. Meanwhile, she's playing round up on the six younger siblings while Mom and Dad are away. I'd be willing to bet she's been a bit….busy! The Crosses are the only family that I personally know with MORE than ten kids. What a distinction!! <br />
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Congrats, Alyssa! I think I may have to deliver this giveaway personally. I've been wanting an excuse to come see all those cute kids!<br />
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Love,<br />
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-3835366651721475842013-12-01T13:33:00.000-05:002013-12-01T13:33:07.318-05:00a christmas cookie plate crumb catcher!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">The Christmas give-away this year is finally ready. Over the course of the past couple days, I completely changed my plan several times. I won't bore you with the details there. In the end, I decided to make this Christmas Cookie Plate Crumb Catcher. Isn't that a cute name? I keep wanting to call it a Crumb Cruncher, but I think those are the children. This is a Crumb <i><b>Catcher</b></i>. It sits under your plate of cookies on the counter or table. It also would make a great candle mat.</span><br />
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The fabric I originally chose for the green squares was about 1/2" shy of being big enough. That left me in a pickle. This green matched, but I wasn't sure I wanted to add snowmen into the mix. Hmmmm. </div>
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Sure! Why not? </div>
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The pattern for this is a tutorial is on this great blog I found. <a href="http://thecraftyquilter.com/2013/10/christmas-once-a-month-cookie-plate-crumb-catcher/">Here's the link</a> for my quilting friends it if you'd like to stitch one up for yourself or someone you love! It doesn't take much fabric and it works up very fast.</div>
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To complete the give-away, I'm tossing in a few goodies I picked up at Parson's General Store in Morehead, NC. I could have gone crazy in that store. </div>
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Wait. I did.</div>
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I planned the colors of the crumb catcher from this dish towel. Just loved the bright, cheery stripes. And there is a green checked dish cloth to go with it. When t<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">he little birdhouse ornament caught my eye, I knew it was coming home with me. I love the way the roof sparkles with glitter! And t</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">he balsam Yankee candle is one of my favorite scents for the season. I bought one to give away and one for me to burn at home!</span></div>
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Last, but definitely not least, are these stackable salt and pepper shakers in the shape of a tree and sleigh. So fun!<br />
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Well, there it is folks. Somebody is going to win all of it tonight. I'll draw a name when I get home from a gingerbread house decorating party! </div>
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If you haven't said you want in, you'd better hurry! </div>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-30253651636149890032013-11-27T17:46:00.000-05:002013-11-27T22:38:02.111-05:00christmas stockings and a give-away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few weeks ago, Abby sent out an SOS requesting a stocking for Ellee pronto! I put together this patchy, scrappy, embroidered snow guy for her in a hurry, and had it shipped across the pond with some other Christmas happiness. Last I heard, he had safely arrived in Lesotho with his red cap and gloves. He won't need it right now; it's summer there. Not sure why, but I just couldn't bring myself to dress him in shorts and sunglasses….</div>
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Merry Christmas!</div>
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Meanwhile, my cousin wrote me about making stockings for all of her grandchildren. So those have kept me in stitches for the last couple weeks.<br />
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Here's a baby girl one. Sweet.</div>
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And a little boy one. Woof.</div>
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Those have been fun. <strike>So fun, in fact, that I'll be taking a limited number of orders if anyone is interested in a Christmas stocking in the next couple weeks.</strike> Offer closed. Thanks for the orders! Talk to me if you want stockings for <i>next</i> Christmas.<br />
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$35 Hand embroidered, fully lined, personalized.<br />
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OK. The give-away. This is a first. I'm doing the give-away, but I don't even have it started. In the past, I have always drawn a name on Thanksgiving Day. This year, I'll be curled up in front of the fireplace stitching the mystery piece instead. How about I draw on Sunday night? That way I can mail it out on Monday, Dec. 2nd. Sounds good to me.<br />
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If you're willing to go all in without having seen the give-away, holla at a sista.<br />
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It will be cute. It will be scrappy. It will be so Laura Lee.<br />
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Have a beautiful Thanksgiving tomorrow!! Count your blessings and hug the ones you love. Please be especially grateful if you have ALL your family with you. If you do, you are blessed indeed!<br />
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Love,</div>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-68230615464252958292013-09-11T13:42:00.000-04:002013-09-12T15:00:27.449-04:00a winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2uOVlbwiUmM751xTNKo6VcPRgtnajLjmT7Kv8_POBpXEZWhgBqT-VjK_quG4IiAbPXoFs2GxnR29fzPm-71MKNFPeFeaJEN-Rm4I78FUBG8wwhYzMUjzkUmwqhX2-_Wj14wcmoNaGPQ/s1600/IMG_1317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2uOVlbwiUmM751xTNKo6VcPRgtnajLjmT7Kv8_POBpXEZWhgBqT-VjK_quG4IiAbPXoFs2GxnR29fzPm-71MKNFPeFeaJEN-Rm4I78FUBG8wwhYzMUjzkUmwqhX2-_Wj14wcmoNaGPQ/s400/IMG_1317.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
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Time to draw a winner. Wonder who in the world will win...</div>
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Hold on. Gotta interrupt the girls' documentary on George Washington. I'm sure they'll hate that.<br />
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She can't take her eyes off the screen....</div>
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Well, what do you know??</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mary Beth Avent! </span> </div>
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You win the Fall table runner give-away! I'll deliver it to you in the next couple days!</div>
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Thanks for all forty-nine entries! </div>
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Love,</div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-75399167369619761982013-09-07T21:38:00.002-04:002013-09-07T21:38:10.458-04:00long overdue catch-up post....and a fall give-away<br />
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Goodness! I was in Africa the last time I posted to this blog. And that seems like ages ago now. I've been home for five or six weeks. I honestly can't even remember. I had the most fabulous time and I still think about that trip a lot. <br />
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Meanwhile, Jeremiah, my littlest grandson, went and got nearly grown on me while I was gone. When I left for Africa, he wasn't even a month old. He weighed around nine pounds or something then. Now he's a whopping fourteen or fifteen pounds, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. He was three months old yesterday. <br />
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He reminded me the other day that his photo didn't appear with his parents on the sidebar over there. What kind of pathetic Lollee am I, he wanted to know.<br />
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Well, I fixed that little problem. And here is an updated photo of him in all his chubbiness. This was taken yesterday at his three-month photo shoot. He's such a sweet boy...and such a trooper. You should have seen what he had to put up with--three outfit changes, caps, hats, ties, basketballs, mustaches, you name it. There's a price to pay for being cute, Jeremiah. The sooner you learn that the easier life will be.<br />
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Next up...Lacy is officially in college!! We took her down to Pensacola on Sunday. She's getting all settled in and used to her new, very rigorous schedule of classes. But she's also making time for fun. Today she climbed the rock wall at the student center--all the way to the top. That from a girl who is afraid of heights! We've encouraged her to study hard, but to play hard, too. And there is much to do for recreation at PCC. Here is Lacy with Melody, Jonathan's youngest sister. She's a senior at PCC and they are roomies this year!<br />
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Time out for another dose of cuteness. Had to show you Ellee in her Africa cap. Isn't that precious? The little heart is right over Lesotho, where they live. They move up to the mountain city of Mokhotlong next week.<br />
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Last, but not least... the give-away. I had thought I'd do something fallish with leaves on it. However, when I started cutting strips, I decided I just liked them the way they were. This was ridiculously simple to put together. I started it last night and finished it today. <br />
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It measures in the 15"X32" ballpark range. I'm too lazy to go measure it. I like it with my orange vintage Pyrex bowl. You'll need to supply your own pretty bowl if you win it, though. <br />
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Let me know if you want a stab at winning it. Leave a comment here or email me.<br />
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Love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-32623829246460162612013-07-18T09:08:00.001-04:002013-07-18T09:45:27.520-04:00to the end of the earth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;">
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We left Maseru early Monday morning to drive high into the
mountains of Lesotho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Specifically, our destination was the tiny village of Molumong and the
home of Jayne, a missionary with AIM who has lived there for seven years. The
village of Molumong is about an hour’s drive from Mokhotlong, where Jonathan
and Abby have been assigned to work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trip up there took us over eight hours.</div>
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The first two hours were relatively smooth travel, the paved
road only occasionally pocked and pot-holed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we drove, we barely left one small town before we entered
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most
noticeable differences of driving in Lesotho is the amount of foot traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems as if twice as many people are
walking along the side of the road as are driving in vehicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, there are animals being
herded along or ridden: cows, sheep, donkeys, horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women walk along carrying their burdens on their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mamas have babies bundled on their
backs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And nearly everyone is
wearing a heavy blanket draped over the shoulders, held fast by a giant pin at
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After picking up some KFC in the town of Butha Buthe, we
found a place to stop and have a picnic lunch in the countryside just outside
of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We watched as a shepherd
herded his sheep through the field, across the road, and to the other side. After
we finished our fill of chicken and fixings, Jonathan took a couple pieces and
some mashed potatoes over to the young shepherd who accepted it with a smile.</div>
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Incidentally, shepherds are everywhere—men and boys of all ages,
some appearing as young as five years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently it’s a lifestyle they are born into and live out
all their days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
essentially illiterate, but love storytelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two AIM missionaries, whom I had the pleasure of meeting
last week, have just completed a two and a half year project of translating
thirty-one of the most important Bible stories into Sesotho, telling creation
through Revelation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making
sure the usage was correct by teaching the stories to shepherds themselves, they then
made recordings of shepherds repeating them into solar powered MP3 players. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A missions team of young men is coming
soon to live among the shepherds for several years and use these stories to
teach them about God’s love and gift of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shepherds of Lesotho truly are an unreached people group
for whom believers should pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Moving up the windy, steep road into the mountains, the view
was magnificent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thankful
for guard rails placed strategically at precipitous drops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We occasionally saw wrecked cars down
below whose drivers hadn’t been as careful as they should have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At those points, I was white-knuckling
Jonathan’s headrest on the seat in front of me.</div>
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What felt like the longest stretch of road was actually only
the last hour of the drive up into Jayne’s village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good analogy for it escapes me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We bumped and swayed, coming out of our seats, with our heads
sometimes hitting the ceiling or doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jonathan was doing his best to keep the bumping to a minimum, but it was
still very rough going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
funniest part of all is how excited Jayne is that they have recently “smoothed
out” her road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t really imagine
how it was before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Arriving at Jayne’s just after dark, we were welcomed from the
freezing night into her tiny home aglow with candles and parafin lamps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The oil heater was roaring and the room
was toasty warm. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abby had brought
the ingredients for a Mexican casserole which we quickly popped into Jayne’s
oven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we warmed up with cups
of piping hot rooibos tea, a local favorite.</div>
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I’m finding it difficult to even try to explain the way I
felt up there in that tiny mountain village which felt like the end of the
earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I love the
comforts of home, I felt incredibly drawn to the simplicity of life there--drinking
tea made from water Jayne had pumped from the village well, visiting by candle
light, knowing that this is her daily experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would say she’s given up so much: leaving a lucrative job
as a nurse in Arizona at the age of 56, selling nearly everything she owned,
leaving grown children in the States to move to a place she admits she never
knew existed before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on
the terrain, she either drives a Land Rover, walks, or horseback rides weekly into
the surrounding villages testing the people for HIV infection and providing
support for those who need it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
shares God’s plan for marriage and fidelity and most importantly about the hope
and healing that is found only in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She speaks the language extremely well and the people respect her very
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several neighbors stopped by
to visit while we were there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
home has an open door and her tea kettle is always on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has given me so much to think
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for now, I just thank
Him for the experience of visiting in her home and being the recipient of such
gracious hospitality.<br />
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We spent the night in another home a few hundred yards from
hers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a home owned by AIM
which has recently become vacant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
like to say it was warm and cozy, but the truth is, we nearly froze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now, the house isn’t heated at
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And using an outhouse in such a climate was undoubtedly a
great challenge!</div>
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On Tuesday, we drove out that hour long road back to
Mokhotlong to take a look around the town where Abby and Jonathan are needing a
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is that right
now, there are no homes to rent in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayne showed them a rondovel (round house, one room)
which is a short term (several months) option. No running water, an
outhouse, and baths in a bucket might work for a few days or a couple weeks,
but Abby is adamant that it isn’t going to work for a family of four very
long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And living out where Jayne
lives isn’t an option because of the necessity of Jonathan living in a more
central location to pastors from the surrounding communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His job will be teaching theological
education to the pastors who can’t continue their education in any other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, several people are
searching for a house for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
we’re praying one comes available soon.</div>
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We picnicked by the Mokhotlong River before heading back to
Jayne’s house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After he ate
his lunch, Jonathan spoke to a shepherd and played him a couple of the Sesotho Bible
stories he had recorded on his iPod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The shepherd seemed very interested, so Jonathan told him to look for
him in a few months and he would be welcome to come to their home to hear more
stories. </div>
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As we drove we listened to Jayne talk about her work in the
villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scourge of HIV/AIDS
is so prevalent here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In women aged 20-50, nearly half are
infected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She says she attends
funerals nearly every week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
difficult for me to fathom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
love and concern for the families to whom she ministers is inspiring.</div>
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Yesterday morning, we said our goodbyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abby and Jonathan are anxious to get up
to the mountains and begin their work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jayne won’t be their neighbor, but she’ll be close enough for them to
visit weekly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Jayne promised
to teach Kyle to ride her horse before long!</div>
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<i>But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.</i></div>
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<i>~Acts 1:8</i></div>
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Love,</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->
</span>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-65299249827382722902013-07-10T16:23:00.000-04:002013-07-10T16:23:09.300-04:00A Day in the Life in Lesotho<!--StartFragment-->
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After spending two days in Bloemfontein, South Africa, we drove “home” to Maseru, capital of the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abby and
Jonathan are currently being housed in the AIM-Lesotho headquarters, which is a
small townhome in a comfortable but modest neighborhood, just across the border
from South Africa.</div>
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This is the room where Lacy, Kyle and I are camping out. That's Kyle's bed, between ours on the floor. A wall of books greeted me as I first walked in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to imagine my thrill at discovering my bedroom is also
the AIM-Lesotho library! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
blesses in unexpected ways! I surveyed the collection and settled on several I
wanted to start: a book by Amy Charmichael, nineteenth century missionary to
India; a biography of Corrie ten Boom; a Bible study of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gospel of Mark</i>; and my favorite book so
far--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Freedom of Simplicity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Pulling on wool socks against the shock of freezing floors, in the morning I
make my way downstairs to the kitchen to warm up with a hot beverage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the menu is standard American fare:
cereal or oatmeal or eggs and toast, juice, and tea or coffee (or both!) We
typically gather upstairs in Abby and Jonathan’s bedroom to eat our breakfast
since it’s the warmest room in the house.</div>
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Once everyone is fed and Kyle and Ellee are changed, we will
head outside for the better part of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun is delightfully warm and inviting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I jockey my chair around, I
can enjoy every ray as the sun makes its low, compact arc across this Southern Hemisphere
sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wearing short sleeved shirts
and pants, we are very comfortable for five hours or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After hanging last evening’s
clean, wet diapers on the line, we talk and read and play games such as
Scrabble or Yahtzee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jonathan is
often found with his nose in a history book about missions in Lesotho, stopping
often to share a paragraph here or there that he finds interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also reads alound from the Bible in Sesotho, practicing language learning. </div>
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Jonathan and Abby are slowly picking up the language of the
mountain people, although it’s not going as quickly as they would like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people here in the capital city of
Maseru typically speak English, which means the benefit of total language
immersion isn’t an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve
worked weekly with a language tutor to study Sesotho, but she is now out of
town for the summer.</div>
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Meanwhile, as Abby feeds Ellee, Kyle will “run, run, run
fast boy” around the tiny yard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
plays in his new sandbox, bounces around on his Wahoo puppy, and generally
passes the day chattering and being 100% All-Boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’ll bring Lacy or me a book and climb up in a lap to hear
a story, providing one can read it in a hurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he is off again to investigate some rock or leaf or
whatever catches his two-year-old fancy. </div>
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Around three o’clock, we face the fact that we will soon
need to move indoors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would
think that the house would warm up during the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But don’t be fooled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It feels like an icebox after our day in the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I head upstairs to start putting on
layers-- that usually consists of long pants, long johns, several shirts, a
fleece or wool sweater and a couple pairs of wool socks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m up and about, say, working in
the kitchen, that is usually enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we are planning to sit around, I grab a blanket or two for added
warmth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I’m not exaggerating. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sip hot tea and eat a rusk, a hard
cookie similar to biscotti. After an hour or so, Jonathan will usually agree to
turn on the heater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We draw the
curtains around the small family room, conserving the warmth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heater runs on gas and is quite
expensive to operate, thus the necessity of using it sparingly. </div>
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For the evening routine, we prepare supper and bring the
plates into the family room to huddle around the heater and watch a movie.
Afterward, we wash the dishes by boiling a small amount of water in an electric
heater and adding it to some frigid water from the tap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a hot water spigot, but since
the hot water heater is only turned on for bath time, we don’t want to waste it
on the dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, heating
water in the electric kettle is quick and relatively painless.</div>
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Moving upstairs, we cycle quickly through the shower, never
spending more than a minute or two each getting clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, it’s time for Abby, Lacy,
and me to wash diapers by hand in the tub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paper diapers are super expensive here, twice the price of
what they are in the States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
girl is all about saving money, thus the new nightly routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They recently purchased a washing
machine, which will go with them up to their new mountain home of
Makhotlong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for now, it
remains under the stairs, not hooked up to a water supply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, nightly diaper duty it is until
then. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We gather at the end
of the day in Abby and Jonathan’s room again, for playing a game or
talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kyle has a bedtime Bible
story with a cookie and milk before being put down for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ellee is ever present, typically
cradled in someone’s arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Speaking of Makhotlong (pronounced: Ma HOT long— the k is
silent), we are planning a trip up there early next week for Abby and Jonathan
to hopefully see the house they will be living in beginning next month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am excited about seeing all that
gorgeous countryside, the incredible mountains, the shepherds, the round stone
houses with thatched roofs, and the little town where my girl will make a home
for her family for the next three years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our plan is to drive about halfway on Monday, to a town
called Oxbow, and stay in a rondavel (round house) for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we’ll drive the rest of the way up
the VERY STEEP and curvy mountain road to Mokhotlong, spending most of the day
looking about town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll drive
back to Oxbow to spend another night before traveling back to Maseru on
Wednesday.</div>
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God is teaching me a lot on this trip, mostly just to rest
and trust Him in everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
learned that I can get by with very little if I have to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only brought a couple pairs of pants
and a few shirts and sweaters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
wear the same clothes for several days since the lady who does the laundry on
Tuesdays can only handle so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really like this simple life and I do think I could get used to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Internet is expensive, so like
everything else, we use it as little as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find I can do with it a lot less when I have to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a pattern I hope to continue
when I return home to the states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have a deep desire to pitch about 75% of our stuff when I get back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I miss everyone at home, though I try not to think about
leaving Lesotho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure when
I’ll see Abby, Jonathan, Kyle, and Ellee again in person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for now, I’m just living in the moment,
enjoying this beautiful and simple life, and thanking God for providing so
abundantly for my girl and her family as they live out their call to train up
leaders in Lesotho for the Gospel of Christ.</div>
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Love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-60255637036414878332013-06-20T11:42:00.001-04:002013-06-20T11:42:22.234-04:00Ellee Nay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wonder how many children are given their nick names by an older sibling? Right now Ellee Renée is Ellee Nay, thanks to big brother, Kyle. I love it and plan to keep it until Ellee's old enough to tell Lollee to stop calling her that!</div>
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Soon after Abby and Jonathan left for Africa, I started the nursery-sewing in earnest. Abby and I Skyped several times to discuss what she was thinking for Ellee's fabrics. She wanted girly-girl, soft, sweet and cottagey. Knowing in your head what you are picturing and actually locating it are sometimes two different matters.</div>
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<i>Hill Farm by Lecien</i></div>
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Thankfully, while staying in Kenya, Abby had a free, good quality internet connection which allowed us to actually look at the fabrics and discuss them "in person" a couple times. This gorgeous line named <i>Hill Farm</i> was just what we were searching for. I ordered 20 fat quarters and a nice cut of the big blue floral for a quilt back from a shop on Etsy. From those fabrics, I've been able to create a crib quilt, wall hanging, some bibs, a pillow, diaper bag, and bunny dress. And I still have a good amount of this fabric left in my stash. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ar0x63p_lECPrsoVwO-LoqDPxpQa9eOPctC_73K-kjoJ-BMqPegPH7fI4D9ae68SnLzK6u5FLrGsKse2_7RuBIMwBmTd-zZopYY9Gk_vpacw6370bGf4aKTIWTyj3EGDMitLwd9bj_A/s1600/IMG_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ar0x63p_lECPrsoVwO-LoqDPxpQa9eOPctC_73K-kjoJ-BMqPegPH7fI4D9ae68SnLzK6u5FLrGsKse2_7RuBIMwBmTd-zZopYY9Gk_vpacw6370bGf4aKTIWTyj3EGDMitLwd9bj_A/s400/IMG_0031.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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This is Ellee Nay's bunny, Eliza Jane. Aunt Lacy crocheted her and I dressed her. </div>
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The crib quilt all pieced and ready to sandwich and hand quilt. </div>
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I especially like the prairie points along the border of this quilt.</div>
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Bib #1</div>
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Bibs are fun to make and more addictive than chocolate chip cookies.</div>
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I'm dreaming about the next one before the first one is finished.</div>
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Bibs #2 and #3</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuylBBaogda9kCpQl7WPlZ88DDXulci_E78zgKdZxwyjMaByxSNYn2Z0Z-mfWN1FiogRP4QBmzOKU1r5ZloyI3Lg4PuDNICi-HLpwi12Gu2r8tOF4V3JVq8aIeV3ehDqjsh5UF94Tu7tc/s1600/IMG_0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuylBBaogda9kCpQl7WPlZ88DDXulci_E78zgKdZxwyjMaByxSNYn2Z0Z-mfWN1FiogRP4QBmzOKU1r5ZloyI3Lg4PuDNICi-HLpwi12Gu2r8tOF4V3JVq8aIeV3ehDqjsh5UF94Tu7tc/s400/IMG_0256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ellee's Good Morning pillow. </div>
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I've had this pattern for ages. I made one for Maggie many years ago and she sleeps with it every night. She's literally loved the stitching right off. It is darling made in Ellee's fabrics. (I added in some lavender.)<br />
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I worked like a mad woman finishing the diaper bag the eve before Lacy left for Africa. Thus, the photo is a quick one I snapped just to have a record of what it looked like. It really is much prettier in person.<br />
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You might remember Jeremiah's alphabet quilt from an earlier post. You might also remember that I tried my hardest to make the same things for both babies. </div>
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Time out for adorableness. </div>
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Hi, Ellee Nay!!</div>
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That's pretty much it for the sewing projects. These tiny 3X3" stretched canvases that Holly drew and we both painted should fit on even the smallest wall space--since they still don't know anything about permanent housing in Lesotho.<br />
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Determined to finish this dress so Lacy could take it to Africa, I sat down one day with this as my only agenda item. Meanwhile, Abby Skyped me to say she was pretty sure she was in labor. Everyone in Aiken knows we thought Hannah was in labor that day, too--made for a very interesting day and evening. Since Ellee came two weeks before her due date, she obviously didn't get to wear her dress home from the hospital. I was able to get it finished just in time for Lacy to hand-carry it. Ellee's wearing it in the photo way up at the top.<br />
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I leave for Lesotho in eleven days! The only thing I have left to do is the hand-quilting for Ellee's crib quilt. I made huge progress on it yesterday, so barring any unforeseen delay, it should be finished and ready to fly with me!<br />
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Up next, Jeremiah's nursery.<br />
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Love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-55963027857118871462013-06-16T01:24:00.001-04:002013-06-16T01:24:58.191-04:00Happy Father's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>My father and me. Mountain View, CA</i></div>
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I'm one blessed daughter. I did nothing to deserve such a great father, but I thank God that He saw fit to give me one! My father is a godly man of integrity, setting a wonderful example of honesty, faithfulness, and strength for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I've always been able to count on him for anything. I can't think of even one way he has ever let me down. </div>
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On this Father's Day, I thought I'd share some snapshots of my dad over the years. </div>
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<i>Alfred Brinson, USAF First Lieutenant- early 1950s</i></div>
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Just look at that handsome face. No wonder my mom fell for him!</div>
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<i> Engaged! ~1954</i></div>
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<i>A youthful father of three. ~1962</i></div>
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<i>England ~1964</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqFbHymucf9mpM5d8G_9sx5iT4VRN_wDJ0j0uMkgMdyZZdN-K3oyVgSGqPL9lqUP6zzwHyQoYjJyQhT27Ly_SsPAT67cyIpjwGIL08CPM6A_K7RxovgyOrYdpzlEW3djPPeOQ9_FLL38/s1600/England-Roadside+Picnic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqFbHymucf9mpM5d8G_9sx5iT4VRN_wDJ0j0uMkgMdyZZdN-K3oyVgSGqPL9lqUP6zzwHyQoYjJyQhT27Ly_SsPAT67cyIpjwGIL08CPM6A_K7RxovgyOrYdpzlEW3djPPeOQ9_FLL38/s400/England-Roadside+Picnic.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My Dad is wearing his "bloke hat" as he called it. I can hardly remember ever seeing him out and about without one, unless he was in uniform or maybe at church. When we lived in England, we loved to picnic. We'd pull over on the side of an English country lane and haul out the lunch! (I see I already had a taste for <i>Chicken in a Biscuit</i> at the tender age of three.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpXGdCgRtDc0bvgBCvUQkKedDvRHQdiHgxuuKPrqQ0qhD6_KV8NKGBSYxfIUv4xYnSXtOiMiWPdCgZW-G1kllh7Kqfqs9_u4JTCrvdhkk65mWJhi5VMgd4AmC_FoSB4PKhR-izlW3sKc/s1600/England-Upper+Heyford-Balloon+Man+at+Doug%2527s+Party.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpXGdCgRtDc0bvgBCvUQkKedDvRHQdiHgxuuKPrqQ0qhD6_KV8NKGBSYxfIUv4xYnSXtOiMiWPdCgZW-G1kllh7Kqfqs9_u4JTCrvdhkk65mWJhi5VMgd4AmC_FoSB4PKhR-izlW3sKc/s400/England-Upper+Heyford-Balloon+Man+at+Doug%2527s+Party.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The three of us children had the best birthday parties--nothing fancy, just games and cake at our house every year. Dad enjoyed dressing up and joining in the fun! He was the life of the party!</div>
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Here is a favorite memory from California. It was summer, but we found snow at the top of a mountain. Of course, Dad had to go sliding. Dad could turn any outing into big fun!</div>
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Dad and I often palled around together. When we lived in Japan, out of the blue he would decide he wanted to go somewhere on the train. So, we'd usually head toward Tokyo and end up at the zoo. Dad loves a zoo--any zoo. We used to tease him that he just wanted to visit his ancestors. We visited zoos all over the US and on two other continents. I inherited his love of zoos, and my children have inherited it also. <br />
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While I don't have any photos of us at the zoo, I did find this one where we are having a little photo-booth fun one day in downtown Tokyo. He and I loved to jump in those things and snap a shot together. Dad was always game for a photo op and to this day still loves to have his photo taken!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fFYhm1BbZPMS8_8gEj3dGoZ8QN0GHwBhelkWAOawLHVo-XAqwE3kafToCYQnuOuwdma12rTjulNOu-HAOR_4s77W6D7niQof1JRp__bz0Xwxulo3f4pgeRrToUIwi1AJuVEKaFsXrqI/s1600/Scan+22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fFYhm1BbZPMS8_8gEj3dGoZ8QN0GHwBhelkWAOawLHVo-XAqwE3kafToCYQnuOuwdma12rTjulNOu-HAOR_4s77W6D7niQof1JRp__bz0Xwxulo3f4pgeRrToUIwi1AJuVEKaFsXrqI/s640/Scan+22.png" width="518" /></a></div>
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<i>Family vacation to Panama City Beach when I was about 19. </i></div>
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<i>My wedding day: June 11, 1983. </i></div>
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Dad is crazy about his three children, fourteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren! And the feeling is mutual, I can assure you. Here he is recently, goofing around with Caleb while we were at the beach.</div>
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<i>Granddaddy and Kyle ~Fall 2012</i></div>
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Over my lifetime Dad has taught me many valuable lessons. He taught me to honor God, to respect my parents, and to cherish my family and friends. He taught me history and law and how to read the funny papers. And he showed me by example what sort of man I wanted for a husband-- a kind, dependable, hard working and rock solid family man.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYGjp_lPzE5cq6hi6Hl0OqQWtBEId7z1kVshvTkIfkrGR3tWYwOEZYFv5_Nj8vn4Ch4NIXtjA666x2PI1dCGCxFnUT56g4yjxRWslR6nP6H8gejhRU9KUyRTjeg0W9Pkfv_Yg5e9FQtM/s1600/580684_10150727650544079_960086467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYGjp_lPzE5cq6hi6Hl0OqQWtBEId7z1kVshvTkIfkrGR3tWYwOEZYFv5_Nj8vn4Ch4NIXtjA666x2PI1dCGCxFnUT56g4yjxRWslR6nP6H8gejhRU9KUyRTjeg0W9Pkfv_Yg5e9FQtM/s400/580684_10150727650544079_960086467_n.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<i>Happy Father's Day, Dad. I'll always be your baby.</i></div>
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Love,</div>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-8810463283361482122013-06-09T20:35:00.001-04:002013-06-09T20:36:12.301-04:00Quilting the Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0HjbWs5BkHTcehXv_sNp80ZwqO0qGIhmOESh6XW6aZS1YtaOaBoKhsZkGEdiuinrrFYJc5Ih0YMfwP7wJLalQ3TrXDdKX8BmIH_zkXAlCOtYChRfdYcHxPYYiYY4vUsRjxwcqGJa7Dw/s1600/IMG_0401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0HjbWs5BkHTcehXv_sNp80ZwqO0qGIhmOESh6XW6aZS1YtaOaBoKhsZkGEdiuinrrFYJc5Ih0YMfwP7wJLalQ3TrXDdKX8BmIH_zkXAlCOtYChRfdYcHxPYYiYY4vUsRjxwcqGJa7Dw/s400/IMG_0401.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">~We interrupt the regularly scheduled blog post to bring you this baby update.~ </i></div>
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<i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Baby Jeremiah made his grand appearance on Thursday morning, June 6, 2013. He weighed 7 pounds and 0 ounces. He is 20 1/2 inches long. Lollee is completely taken with him. What a sweetheart!</i></div>
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<i>Jeremiah was six days early. Everyone I know who has had a baby in the past month or so has come early by at least six days, most by at least two weeks. That's at least seven people. What is up with that? </i><br />
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<i>So here he is in all his adorableness. Hannah's labor went fast, and she did great. I am so blessed to have a daughter-in-love who wanted her mother-in-law in the delivery room with her along with her own mother and Brad. I will cherish those hours together for the rest of my life.</i><br />
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<i>Brad, Hannah, and Jeremiah are at home settling in nicely. They even hosted a cook-out last evening to celebrate with the families. </i><br />
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OK. The quilt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi368Z-Df3cqwEfX54MQwGjdP0AW_8l4Ovce-zg7RUCh4O94cKYfzh5sTqsFNWilmfcZT1GP1RW5uBjUvABXvL0cHLB5N1ltv0FjGqgXa6p6TgiW4SSEpl3HiPr3lZi-IHfntDfyCbVp1w/s1600/IMG_0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi368Z-Df3cqwEfX54MQwGjdP0AW_8l4Ovce-zg7RUCh4O94cKYfzh5sTqsFNWilmfcZT1GP1RW5uBjUvABXvL0cHLB5N1ltv0FjGqgXa6p6TgiW4SSEpl3HiPr3lZi-IHfntDfyCbVp1w/s400/IMG_0400.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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Forty-eight ladies told me they wanted a shot at the Blues quilt. I was a little surprised so many people liked my impromptu scrap-happy quilting diversion. I smiled as I wrote each name on blue paper, thinking what each might feel if her name were drawn. I admit that getting ready to draw a name is always nerve racking for me. I would love for everyone to win. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDlBvY9LGNZ-7pPlaqruCT7Yf-wfRswJiH_zti1-72fe4vnLUYlKzgq0OKY9Zn6D5HCh4xqZXFsvnt9TbF5hFimAdYeJLKKwXGJzob3RRJM3q6uAfEn7OTqJPCB6WJ2kpCFuyhDdAWM4/s1600/IMG_0399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDlBvY9LGNZ-7pPlaqruCT7Yf-wfRswJiH_zti1-72fe4vnLUYlKzgq0OKY9Zn6D5HCh4xqZXFsvnt9TbF5hFimAdYeJLKKwXGJzob3RRJM3q6uAfEn7OTqJPCB6WJ2kpCFuyhDdAWM4/s400/IMG_0399.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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I never can locate a hat; we settled for this tin box. Worked in a pinch.</div>
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<i>Valerie Potter--you win!</i></div>
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I was especially thrilled when Tom drew the name this time because this gal and I go way back. Valerie and I met a little more than 26 years ago in Knoxville. At the time she was pregnant with a baby girl, their first. A few months later, little Natalie was born still. It was probably the saddest thing I'd ever experienced. She and her husband handled Natalie's death with such grace and faith. I learned a lot from them about trusting God during the darkest of days.<br />
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Later, God gave them two healthy boys, both grown-up young men now.<br />
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A few years ago, Valerie was involved in a terrible automobile accident. She has undergone many surgeries, but still experiences terrible pain much of the time. <br />
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Valerie, it is my prayer that this quilt brings you happiness and comfort whenever you use it. Message me your mailing address so I can get it right out to you!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmedtKZNKjJivAG4Dh6CE9W6DVTH1KeFVmihPV1TO01K830Rl_BvdPwSrPlfQtzB4h_1hbrrSUf9FNYYTP7LsCiNNEegTJYztseXlnMRk1VJxDUuGRyvFkopVFooNgwnXS5sFOVBGF4E/s1600/IMG_0404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmedtKZNKjJivAG4Dh6CE9W6DVTH1KeFVmihPV1TO01K830Rl_BvdPwSrPlfQtzB4h_1hbrrSUf9FNYYTP7LsCiNNEegTJYztseXlnMRk1VJxDUuGRyvFkopVFooNgwnXS5sFOVBGF4E/s400/IMG_0404.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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Love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a><br />
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P.S. Bella says to tell you it's a great napping quilt. </div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-49933833813991262972013-06-05T00:44:00.000-04:002013-06-05T09:23:06.618-04:00um, hello<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
This is the long, rambling catch-up post that is
ridiculously overdue. I just
noticed that my last post was back in February! How
pathetic!</div>
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Not that I haven’t had anything blog-worthy to post. I have been sewing like a maniac for
the past couple months. Enough projects
there for a dozen blog posts at least.
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So, where to start? How about babies? Let's start there. </div>
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With both Abby and Hannah pregnant at the same time, due within days of
each other, I started working on their babies' nurseries in earnest probably three months
ago. Hannah has a bona-fide
nursery for Jeremiah, so that planning was relatively easy. Abby wasn’t sure how much room she’d
have for Ellee’s nursery, so we did the pared-down, abbreviated version for
her. Hannah needed everything from
curtains to bumper pads, to changing table cover, quilt, wall-hanging, diaper
bag, and other stuff I’m likely forgetting.</div>
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Abby’s essentials were quilt, diaper bag, a couple crib/
bassinet sheets, and a smocked dress for Ellee girl to wear home from the hospital. </div>
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I must pause here and inform you that Miss Ellee decided to
surprise everyone by arriving a full two weeks before her expected due
date. If you want to read that
story and see some exquisite photos, check out <a href="http://abbymtstclair.blogspot.com/2013/06/ellee-renee.html">Abby’s last blog</a> post if you
haven’t already.</div>
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So, yes, busy-busy with sewing and quilting and getting all-things-baby-boy made for Jeremiah's nursery. All-things-baby-girl were packed off to Africa with Lacy, who left on May 27th to stay with Abby and Jonathan for two months. Incidentally, the smocked dress did not make it in time for Ellee to wear home from the hospital, but it did appear in her newborn photo shoot. Precious!</div>
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More to come about all the baby items, but for now, I'm going to finish with what I've been up to the past couple days. You see, I was just a little stressed about getting all the parts and pieces in place in time for both babies. Just when I'd finish one thing, I'd start another, switching back and forth between babies like a good Lollee. A bib for Ellee, a bib for Jeremiah. Piece Ellee's quilt top, piece Jeremiah's quilt top. Make Ellee's diaper bag, make Jeremiah's diaper bag. You get the picture. To top it off, the girls kept thinking of additional items they needed. After Abby issued an SOS for burp cloths, I was literally sewing burp cloths for Ellee the day before Lacy and I headed to Charlotte for her to catch the plane. (And I won't mention that Hannah just brought me the cushions from Jeremiah's rocking chair, needing a fabric upgrade.) It's been fun. It's kept me busy. It's been rewarding. </div>
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It's been stressful.</div>
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So when I finished Jeremiah's crib quilt the other day, I decided to de-stress by doing the most random sewing project I could think of. It involved digging into my blue fabric scraps and sewing together whatever two pieces I came out with that were relatively the same size. Over and over and over I did that until I formed a slab of fabric in all shades of blues and aquas. I kept going, making it bigger, and crazier, and funkier as I went along. Anything in the blue scrap bin was fair game. It had to be predominately blue and squarish or rectanglish, but other than that, there were no rules. I broke <i>all</i> the rules. </div>
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It felt great.</div>
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The whole time I've been sewing blue scraps together, I've been listening to a country music CD. That might not sound like any big deal to you. That just shows you do not know me very well. I don't like country music. At all. I avoid it whenever possible. Look over there on the side-bar at my favorites. Do you seen any mention of country music? Didn't think so.<br />
<br />
But, you see, my eldest son has turned a county boy, for lack of a better description. His favorite show is Duck Dynasty. He has grown a beard and drinks tea from a Mason jar. And he bought Jeremiah some overalls. <br />
<br />
Yeah, I know. But, it gets worse.<br />
<br />
He now likes country music. Hannah got him started on it. Thanks, Hannah. <br />
<br />
Not only that, he was sure he could convert me. He and Hannah put together a Country Convert Mix and handed it to me grinning from ear to ear. I, being the sweet mom that I am, accepted the challenge--twenty songs carefully chosen to win me to their side. <br />
<br />
So while I sewed blue fabric, I listened to that CD on my computer, over and over and over. I'm willing to concede that they did a pretty good job. While I'm far from being a country music convert, I do admit to some toe tapping and humming along. I even caught myself once or twice singing along to the lyrics. <br />
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<br />
This is what it looked like last night when I stopped. Since then, I've sewed the last piece in place. I'm ready to get this thing quilted.<br />
<br />
That's where you come in. If you made it to the end of this long, rambling post, you deserve a chance to win this dubious piece of artwork, if you want to call it that. Think of it as a sort of Picasso of quilting. You might sell it one day and become rich. But I wouldn't count on it.<br />
<br />
I call it <i>Quilting the Blues.</i><br />
<br />
It's a good-sized lap quilt. If you'd like a stab at winning it, leave me a comment here or on Facebook or email me at: thomas temple @ bell south . net (remove spaces).<br />
<br />
I'll get a finished photo up here in the next day or so. Then I'll draw a name and announce the winner.<br />
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Love,</div>
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Laura Lee</div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-15651284220799689712013-02-21T19:38:00.001-05:002013-02-21T19:38:17.347-05:00taco soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8lMOe05Ftv_0qOMvHpbI_jfq0UvX_3lHOrW2Tlp90GpOU7TBEhCEElbApwJ_Vf4tLLo-5eYE79dKlgvDxuF_IXYLMf-W6t7qP1Vli8dfNbXqVLP7nTQgXGPl5WC_HIkH3R8UaPK6U7A/s1600/IMG_0118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8lMOe05Ftv_0qOMvHpbI_jfq0UvX_3lHOrW2Tlp90GpOU7TBEhCEElbApwJ_Vf4tLLo-5eYE79dKlgvDxuF_IXYLMf-W6t7qP1Vli8dfNbXqVLP7nTQgXGPl5WC_HIkH3R8UaPK6U7A/s640/IMG_0118.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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We eat a lot of soup around here, especially in the winter. Recently, I posted the recipe for a <a href="http://lauralee-laura.blogspot.com/2012/12/italian-meatball-soup.html">super simple meatball soup.</a> This one isn't quite that simple, but it's close. The other day when Lacy requested this taco soup, I pulled out my new iPad mini to shoot some photos as I went. It gave me a good excuse to play with my new toy.</div>
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Incidentally, it's so cool to snap the photos on the mini and have them magically appear on my laptop in just a few minutes, without having to get out the camera and the connector cable. And honestly, I like the camera on the mini more than my expensive Canon. I can do the photo editing on the iPad and could probably just write the blog on the iPad as well. I may try that soon.</div>
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Back to the soup. </div>
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This can be made in one pot. I happened to use two pots because I started the cooking the beef and onions in the frying pan before I remembered I could have just started it in Clifford the Big Red Pot. I also made a couple minor changes to the original recipe. I used black beans because I prefer them over kidney beans. I also used a can of tomatoes with green chiles instead of a can of straight green chiles. I try to be careful to not make Mexican dishes too spicy or Tom won't enjoy them. </div>
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Start by chopping a small onion.</div>
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Saute the onion with a pound of hamburger. Drain fat if necessary.</div>
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Add a can of corn with the liquid, a can of beans with the liquid, and a can of chili beans with the liquid. Do you see a pattern here? </div>
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Then, add two cups of water.</div>
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Now dump in a can of tomato sauce, two cans of diced tomatoes, a can of diced green chiles, and a packet of chili seasoning.</div>
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That's all there is to it. Just let that bubble away on the stove for a while. You could also put it all in the crock pot and let her rip on high for a few hours. Since I started this too late in the afternoon to use the crock pot, it just simmered on the stove top for two hours instead.</div>
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We top off the piping hot bowls with crushed tortilla chips, grated cheddar cheese, and sour cream. My family thinks they've died and gone to Mexico. Or Texas. Or somewhere far southwest of here.</div>
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<b>Taco Soup</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>1 lb ground beef</li>
<li>1 small onion</li>
<li>1 can chili beans with liquid</li>
<li>1 can kidney beans with liquid</li>
<li>1 can whole kernel corn with liquid</li>
<li>1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce</li>
<li>2 cups water</li>
<li>2 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes</li>
<li>1 can diced green chiles</li>
<li>1 package chili seasoning mix</li>
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Brown beef with onions. Drain fat. Add the other ingredients and simmer on stove top for a couple hours. </div>
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Or brown the beef with onions. Drain fat. Put in crock pot with the other ingredients for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.</div>
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Serve with chips, cheese, and sour cream.</div>
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Love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-34999845701255105732013-02-15T21:06:00.001-05:002013-02-15T21:06:11.663-05:00UFOs no mo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhX3l6J0Xw2uSBnULybgvpcxSR6meJXDSOUnJeYh75iTMKpOBzE_FC3W5pMU5chUQnlEnLmVf35IP64_fqqe6Z3Dkbz3gT5rB6nx5QjFd752KL7yeaNMBANSJJnEUE7LHLm6ytWIjMqEI/s1600/IMG_0097+-+Version+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhX3l6J0Xw2uSBnULybgvpcxSR6meJXDSOUnJeYh75iTMKpOBzE_FC3W5pMU5chUQnlEnLmVf35IP64_fqqe6Z3Dkbz3gT5rB6nx5QjFd752KL7yeaNMBANSJJnEUE7LHLm6ytWIjMqEI/s400/IMG_0097+-+Version+2.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
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You probably never knew one seamstress could have so many projects started, work all week finishing a bunch, and still have some left! Well, now you know. <br />
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I pulled out a stack of recently and not-so-recently started pieces and stitched like a mad woman, debt-snowball style. If you're not familiar with a debt-snowball, it's a term coined by financial planner Dave Ramsey who suggests when trying to get out of debt, you start with the bill that has the highest interest rate and the least to pay off. Then when you get that one paid off, you attack the next one. Getting the smallest ones finished motivates you and frees up cash to put toward the next bill.<br />
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Let's just say I had a lot of sewing bills to pay! Lots of you played along with my little guessing game, which was highly motivating to me. I hardly set one down before I was picking up the next one to finish. It's Friday afternoon and I'm aware that I could have probably forced myself to complete another one before midnight. But I stopped. Because as Caleb would say, "I tire!" I got a lot done and finished a few pieces for my poorly neglected little baby store in the process.<br />
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So, without further ado, here we go from start to finish. Hang with me, so you can find out who won my little guessing game challenge.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1</b><i> </i></span></div>
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<i>Innocence</i></div>
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You already saw this one. I completed it last weekend. I still like it. A lot.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoxlslswm7RE7-e46r9sHdPhoRgBrymTk25xnuRRw2LpY_4IDAOBPOMWLqnISnwmUa8EFuyg_Nlq3RuytAz4lwKKgm4ErKEwZn_NuVHP4WuMsIKD6_WOZHLj0oZN8V0CmkqWZG_t2RUY/s1600/IMG_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoxlslswm7RE7-e46r9sHdPhoRgBrymTk25xnuRRw2LpY_4IDAOBPOMWLqnISnwmUa8EFuyg_Nlq3RuytAz4lwKKgm4ErKEwZn_NuVHP4WuMsIKD6_WOZHLj0oZN8V0CmkqWZG_t2RUY/s640/IMG_0031.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i> Eliza </i><i>Jane </i></div>
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This bunny was a team effort. Crocheted by Lacy and dressed by me, she is wearing a little frock made from Ellee's nursery fabrics. Lacy raised the cute factor really high by adding the shrug and headband. She's the first of the Ellee creations.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIyhIYibRd-Avp-F7zdebRCSvRPLHjC-rtSkgu__m_tu3Aw5gzOdBLCfdvWMrXLtkKRj7s8CPy3jmFN0v19LNp1Gw4RblUzKwwW_opg_Rf-y8kZHKTugaK2tnE616QlKT8IWCvY-n-ns/s1600/IMG_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIyhIYibRd-Avp-F7zdebRCSvRPLHjC-rtSkgu__m_tu3Aw5gzOdBLCfdvWMrXLtkKRj7s8CPy3jmFN0v19LNp1Gw4RblUzKwwW_opg_Rf-y8kZHKTugaK2tnE616QlKT8IWCvY-n-ns/s640/IMG_0039.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>Jeremiah's Alphabet Quilt</i><br />
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This small wall-hanging is the first installment for Jeremiah's nursery. Hannah wants a Noah's Ark, two by two theme. But the homeschool mom in me thought he needed an alphabet quilt first. Sorry, Hannah. I briefly considered stitching two of each letter, but didn't want him to be dyslexic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5urw2Qp0hfyjw2jIClcJkm-2bQ88OjMoNP9aZ0sCJnqWXupTa8tyjojChU_wcxJfPkNuRh4jushn5V_ATDCvp3wzwUceuYBk83wGTA2EuY5zbIRM_RLmSPCR11BGOH75-HXlYsgmWnA/s1600/IMG_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5urw2Qp0hfyjw2jIClcJkm-2bQ88OjMoNP9aZ0sCJnqWXupTa8tyjojChU_wcxJfPkNuRh4jushn5V_ATDCvp3wzwUceuYBk83wGTA2EuY5zbIRM_RLmSPCR11BGOH75-HXlYsgmWnA/s640/IMG_0043.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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The hand quilting around each letter......</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-ZAeXQjnppuYESjmwb3S9yKXOVQy3CKLnIviRMv9Q-Dqny9V_0Yre5rj3_TdPHVv1Z2KLPpjh8hn1MY58LndsRPrwATSYUj4ooZqv42B2aqURS5ODNwDPyqnLVuKD06mXLGH2_tublI/s1600/IMG_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-ZAeXQjnppuYESjmwb3S9yKXOVQy3CKLnIviRMv9Q-Dqny9V_0Yre5rj3_TdPHVv1Z2KLPpjh8hn1MY58LndsRPrwATSYUj4ooZqv42B2aqURS5ODNwDPyqnLVuKD06mXLGH2_tublI/s640/IMG_0044.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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....makes the back almost as cute as the front!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLMuI0nd6uIHEsxalRzJLh9eXI6z60wPWK3nHN_UWfGVapVuVjYrqLNpi9qRDPlfy7t8rg3PjwO9AVfMDId5UFEbu8AxPzQSBYyMPQLVOXLXxTMrG5bHN-IxW6_IbjRStIohciPIb2XQ/s1600/IMG_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLMuI0nd6uIHEsxalRzJLh9eXI6z60wPWK3nHN_UWfGVapVuVjYrqLNpi9qRDPlfy7t8rg3PjwO9AVfMDId5UFEbu8AxPzQSBYyMPQLVOXLXxTMrG5bHN-IxW6_IbjRStIohciPIb2XQ/s640/IMG_0048.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>Maggie's Pillow</i><br />
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Maggie and I started this a year or so ago. Maggie did all the appliqué by machine and embroidered the words by hand. It's been sitting around needing a back and stuffing all this time. Finally, it's at home on her bed!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_lvbcb_6QNHan3m3UkUtx5jDVB6VngdweXM54LCrOScQKtHcw4ISVFhcYwt3Kev0H7dBz1gI7QB5Pr76kD6jjSOkXP4sOb3AyAIz7PD0zYhbiOE866hbt7Wl8TGEOUKUFFCT7Zx8Tz8/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_lvbcb_6QNHan3m3UkUtx5jDVB6VngdweXM54LCrOScQKtHcw4ISVFhcYwt3Kev0H7dBz1gI7QB5Pr76kD6jjSOkXP4sOb3AyAIz7PD0zYhbiOE866hbt7Wl8TGEOUKUFFCT7Zx8Tz8/s640/IMG_0066.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>Frolic</i><br />
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I pieced this gender-neutral crib quilt top during my frenzy last fall. It still needed to be quilted and bound. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bwW4Jcmq0_XUhblUY1qa6805Ml3cNSXdIj9QiOv0ynsUihfE_sdcvxlWlQLqAfbEIUJSrq_aNa__oeEj__zqIgIN2TVnkfxFbZipcsdSRt8tBDqcVG9LEHkAH9vd8SN8mzyoC8tKymw/s1600/IMG_0072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bwW4Jcmq0_XUhblUY1qa6805Ml3cNSXdIj9QiOv0ynsUihfE_sdcvxlWlQLqAfbEIUJSrq_aNa__oeEj__zqIgIN2TVnkfxFbZipcsdSRt8tBDqcVG9LEHkAH9vd8SN8mzyoC8tKymw/s640/IMG_0072.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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The backing is gray with tiny stars. The binding is aqua blue. 38" X 44" </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPpoW9RQER4YaMP0NSdUSrtsg8WMGAtMcXuHGpB7NQXAVH6qKZ9Kj8-aEeh3obV6BN6RniQvHmAaZGsakjHWJ5J2Yibn3MTZdznz7Y5yxVWT0qfMr54TieYIQNM9ni6IQZ4idZ7Lu6qg/s1600/IMG_0075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPpoW9RQER4YaMP0NSdUSrtsg8WMGAtMcXuHGpB7NQXAVH6qKZ9Kj8-aEeh3obV6BN6RniQvHmAaZGsakjHWJ5J2Yibn3MTZdznz7Y5yxVWT0qfMr54TieYIQNM9ni6IQZ4idZ7Lu6qg/s640/IMG_0075.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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It's for sale. </div>
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$80 </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4d7guxLmQOPG76Wy0h0PuJfrh6LdM4y6Ddo03lBv9jKnrlaD9wGgbG12Spudo2fFyw9BqE04Y9muyooKPJwTOXSkT273Aok-F0irEhTjNfQY8ouUjBlELBgVTTrYMUTiXytiiknuhBs/s1600/IMG_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4d7guxLmQOPG76Wy0h0PuJfrh6LdM4y6Ddo03lBv9jKnrlaD9wGgbG12Spudo2fFyw9BqE04Y9muyooKPJwTOXSkT273Aok-F0irEhTjNfQY8ouUjBlELBgVTTrYMUTiXytiiknuhBs/s640/IMG_0081.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>Spring Fever</i></div>
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This one has been a UFO the longest. I designed one similar to this as a give-away several years ago. The pieces were all cut out and tucked in a zip lock bag, just waiting to be pieced, hand quilted, and bound into a mini quilt.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv3o-gSUZX9PGn_NniUYvUZAQ0xMvltJ_1sjBiaV0NjU3OXpzt3oasr6NVDrFkpqVS-suX5POz9kFTpzhTbUyub2S97HJaGThCdtFg0IVTHPKVOiUO_TUk7ASn77-96ZwgYni5eX-Jxs/s1600/IMG_0079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv3o-gSUZX9PGn_NniUYvUZAQ0xMvltJ_1sjBiaV0NjU3OXpzt3oasr6NVDrFkpqVS-suX5POz9kFTpzhTbUyub2S97HJaGThCdtFg0IVTHPKVOiUO_TUk7ASn77-96ZwgYni5eX-Jxs/s640/IMG_0079.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>Fawn Vintage Pillow</i><br />
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After she discovered how much fun it is to play with colored thread, Abby went "cracker dog" with the needle and floss. She left several embroidery pieces here and told me to do whatever I wanted with them. The first I turned into this vintage nursery pillow. Hand embroidered and hand-quilted pillow slip with removable pillow form. $20.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">8</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghT8l3HfzJD5iOZzXZWl-3bzdJmsxOcDn8aJw5BV_htfxxxdSF1P5HUzcYzpiT0A2VgqmaquKwbSJcgHhw6PvKsKViAHpEzTklaPZPlcJnwtLCYyH0O_sQM8fVTXTVFFsjSd65eH9M-Qw/s1600/IMG_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghT8l3HfzJD5iOZzXZWl-3bzdJmsxOcDn8aJw5BV_htfxxxdSF1P5HUzcYzpiT0A2VgqmaquKwbSJcgHhw6PvKsKViAHpEzTklaPZPlcJnwtLCYyH0O_sQM8fVTXTVFFsjSd65eH9M-Qw/s640/IMG_0088.jpg" width="598" /></a></div>
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The next is this vintage baby giraffe pillow. </div>
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Hand-embroidered by Abby, hand-quilted by me. Removable pillow form.</div>
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$20</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApZjdZl2odguXY8DKTySQxHaMw1Ktd7F1Sd0-ICUHzO8jxOPPsBUUU9sJLiJ34hb2NYzkQ4lhDYgE2MCaH9XyCtWDQd80A8ZaK9bEILrekdxKCnRK6tOCCHWX6l6uQXDyY2kRukywVWU/s1600/IMG_0095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApZjdZl2odguXY8DKTySQxHaMw1Ktd7F1Sd0-ICUHzO8jxOPPsBUUU9sJLiJ34hb2NYzkQ4lhDYgE2MCaH9XyCtWDQd80A8ZaK9bEILrekdxKCnRK6tOCCHWX6l6uQXDyY2kRukywVWU/s640/IMG_0095.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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The back view shows the envelope style closure.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>9</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOTvFXR5fI5HbyHmkGvL6SCw-vrnM2OoEA8HY80ckiZA0byDMXGoBpzLdQEWSBmU6DjdzXGqSSWBPjfcsBYSfb3_DTRsGnr40SW8NfkDJkTRUkz4pB4F9_ycDbo33R5CW7J2tJooWnis/s1600/IMG_0085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOTvFXR5fI5HbyHmkGvL6SCw-vrnM2OoEA8HY80ckiZA0byDMXGoBpzLdQEWSBmU6DjdzXGqSSWBPjfcsBYSfb3_DTRsGnr40SW8NfkDJkTRUkz4pB4F9_ycDbo33R5CW7J2tJooWnis/s640/IMG_0085.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
Last but not least is this vintage style tote. It measures about 8.5" X 9" X 1.5". This would make a great little tote bag or purse for any little girl. I lined Abby's embroidery and made it into a pocket for the front, then trimmed all the way around the top with lace. The back looks just like the front except without the pocket. $20<br />
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And there, ladies and gentlemen, is the answer to the trivia question: How many UFOs can Laura Lee finish in one week?<br />
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NINE!<br />
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So who guessed nine?<br />
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NO ONE! <br />
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Did I plan it that way? Of course not! I just worked until I couldn't see straight and threw in the towel. <br />
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Which means...I had to assign everyone a number and put them in the handy dandy number generator and let some computer out in cyberspace choose a winner!!<br />
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Alyssa Romano,</div>
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That someone is you!</div>
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As your prize, you may choose any one of the five items pictured below. Just send me a message telling me which one you want.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDvZoKvUCAFTtHeNtzkCRtZ8R6JPgVho_h1f38CWYju0DfiNiaJr-E5q4MwtACvNbB0qljbo_s9yRKDFlx-ejhGcVVXYykMIEe7spWNML4aylbx5DE138nyqAOmbFUi1h5D6Kc08VlGQ/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDvZoKvUCAFTtHeNtzkCRtZ8R6JPgVho_h1f38CWYju0DfiNiaJr-E5q4MwtACvNbB0qljbo_s9yRKDFlx-ejhGcVVXYykMIEe7spWNML4aylbx5DE138nyqAOmbFUi1h5D6Kc08VlGQ/s640/IMG_0097.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a><br />
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-89089415233155938382013-02-10T21:14:00.001-05:002013-02-10T21:46:06.544-05:00the first of mini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5gq2fs3pr_WvBeBbEj9K2Wrd2B5NizOBTr96ZdoZe6iVQ0v50o952pkALxE_7_j4CC6XTrrbA_CJxeOzrUQN0Q1xbW-rjyk-eJTdpruqNBNsoeisvxYunkyn64T4OVnUnUC9gs-7q2k/s1600/IMG_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5gq2fs3pr_WvBeBbEj9K2Wrd2B5NizOBTr96ZdoZe6iVQ0v50o952pkALxE_7_j4CC6XTrrbA_CJxeOzrUQN0Q1xbW-rjyk-eJTdpruqNBNsoeisvxYunkyn64T4OVnUnUC9gs-7q2k/s640/IMG_0015.jpg" width="516" /></a></div>
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Designing that last tiny quilt for the give-away created a monster. I have had mini-quilts on the brain ever since, using much of my free time the past couple weeks dreaming up the next one. These are great for me because I can go gang busters on them and they are highly portable, allowing me to work on them almost any time I have a spare minute. Last week I put together this mini which I believe will be the first of many, the inspiration coming from a 1960s era children's book appropriately titled <i>Little Girls</i>. I've adored the line drawings in that book from the moment I found it several years ago. I knew some day I'd turn one of them into a quilt. I call this one <i>Innocence.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1SlKgc68FfTbomCRhROJ_o-kdQYAaSXEb-Cnj9zi5CMAty9IO_dITNgvrQ1W_K7PFdE4zkh9zTyghuHJM1-3KpKlWb0dNO9e6Y1LrnDXSTO1DaqO9YfVetsYei5lnKhzUUj8RtgvrWA/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1SlKgc68FfTbomCRhROJ_o-kdQYAaSXEb-Cnj9zi5CMAty9IO_dITNgvrQ1W_K7PFdE4zkh9zTyghuHJM1-3KpKlWb0dNO9e6Y1LrnDXSTO1DaqO9YfVetsYei5lnKhzUUj8RtgvrWA/s640/IMG_0020.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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A little lassie with a lamb evokes wonderful feelings of fresh air and country life. I believe if I could, I'd pick up and move right into this happy scene. In my imagination I fancy that this sweet girl has just gathered a fresh bouquet for her mama. Running and playing without a care in the world, she stops for a few moments to have a conversation with her woolly friend. She wears a simple blue sundress and sports a red-checked scarf over her nut brown pig tails. She's the picture of innocence. I would be her friend. Wouldn't you?<br />
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I will likely offer this for sale. I need to figure out how to price items such as this. While it and others like it may be small, (this one measures just 10"X11") they still take hours to put together. Nearly everything I quilt is original, which means I'm not following anyone else's pattern. I delight in drawing out the scene, deciding on fabrics for appliqué, designing the embroidery, etc. And obviously, since it is original, there isn't another one on the planet like it. Such is the beauty of truly original artwork. The more I've designed, the more I find myself eschewing patterns altogether. Funny how that works. <br />
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I'm also trying to settle on a name for my non-baby related creations. Cradle Moon is solely for baby gear; I need something else for the other stuff. <br />
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I started this wee pink cottage after I finished <i>Innocence</i>. I got the idea from a vintage 1950s greeting card. It won't be as small as <i>Innocence</i>, but I'd still consider it a mini. I have more to go on it; later I'll show you the finished piece. Under the cottage I'm going to embroider "Bless the roof and chimney tall. Let Thy peace lie over all." I love that verse from the hymn "Bless This House." We had it sung at our wedding.<br />
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My inspiration comes from various places as you can see. Story books, greeting cards, almost anything. The problem is that the inspiration comes way faster than the fingers can stitch. I have at least half a dozen more mini quilts brewing in my head. The challenge is going to be finishing one before pulling another from my swirling gray matter and putting it into fabric.<br />
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Which brings me to my next topic: UFOs. These aren't "unidentified flying objects", they are unfinished objects, sometimes also referred to as WIPs, or works in progress. You don't want to know how many of them are tucked around in my sewing room. As a conservative estimate, I'd say I have at least 20 of them in varying stages of completion. A constant but never achieved goal is to get them all finished. Every once in a while, like this past weekend, I get my motivation on and pull out some to complete. I take the "debt snowball" approach, finishing the ones that need the least work to complete, providing almost instant satisfaction.<br />
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Needing a shot in the arm and a challenge, I thought it might be fun to ask you how many UFOs you think I can complete this week. Want to play along? Tell me how many you think I'll finish in one week. I'm counting what I did this past weekend, and I'll add to it what I finish this week through Friday. Take a guess and let me know. I'll have a little gift for the winner. If there is a tie, I'll draw from the correct guesses to choose a winner. If no one guesses correctly, I'll just draw a name from all the entries. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhqgcg_9JJjh941m449SjC3dXCWauiIvbQnn9jTkpRn5opedhv0XNNugI81KNuB30x1X3vjubTsSHz7mFHmbfpGpwGduJKpyNRV93gvVfceP7vS6gsD_JxF0GoaspCV9F_1dcwcPollI/s1600/IMG_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhqgcg_9JJjh941m449SjC3dXCWauiIvbQnn9jTkpRn5opedhv0XNNugI81KNuB30x1X3vjubTsSHz7mFHmbfpGpwGduJKpyNRV93gvVfceP7vS6gsD_JxF0GoaspCV9F_1dcwcPollI/s400/IMG_0013.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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Love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-34436817618065846172013-01-30T16:07:00.001-05:002013-01-30T16:07:42.875-05:00a winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r1f7IbhmLpapI8EuE2EEL53pAYQ9OBQM4eJGuy5MCazdAZwoV3_PZuvi25fOvow78-82Oeo51GE5zPEhoU4Bv4hWzbFXs821r4AaozTqk6weCGRCOTGWNde-2oR1Z5wFbSksX2KjY40/s1600/DSCN9131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r1f7IbhmLpapI8EuE2EEL53pAYQ9OBQM4eJGuy5MCazdAZwoV3_PZuvi25fOvow78-82Oeo51GE5zPEhoU4Bv4hWzbFXs821r4AaozTqk6weCGRCOTGWNde-2oR1Z5wFbSksX2KjY40/s400/DSCN9131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This afternoon I delivered the mini-quilt to </div>
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Jenny!! </div>
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She said she has the perfect spot for it in her kitchen.</div>
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Thanks to everyone who played along. <br />
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Love,<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-74378022104715671982013-01-29T12:35:00.001-05:002013-01-29T12:59:49.188-05:00Easy to quote, harder to do.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We all know the verses. Most of us can quote them by heart.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ~1 Corinthians 13: 4-7</span></blockquote>
Quoting them and doing them are two different matters. If you're at all like me, you can use a constant reminder to be patient and kind. Sometimes I just need to see it in writing. Or in this case, stitched right onto fabric! <br />
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If you'd like this little piece of stitchery let me know. I'll draw for this give-away tomorrow.<br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Love,</span></div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-68145139255336606242013-01-28T10:51:00.000-05:002013-01-28T11:00:21.652-05:00love is patient, love is kind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I better get stitchin' on a little give-away. I started this on Saturday, but didn't have time to work on it yesterday at all. So, while Caleb completes his seatwork this morning, I'm hand-quilting a little mini-quilt for one of you. <br />
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It's small, measuring only 10X13". I pulled some sweet vintage fabrics and drew a little happy scene with bird, and flowers, and butterfly. While the sentiment speaks of love, there's nary a heart in sight; so it can be displayed year round! <br />
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Let me know if you want in by leaving a comment here or on FB. Or you can email to:<br />
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thomas temple @ bell south .net<br />
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(remove the spaces)<br />
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I'll draw a name on Wednesday.<br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Love,</span></div>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-15677793124933247352013-01-26T08:44:00.000-05:002013-01-26T10:52:58.641-05:00Good Morning {a catch-up post for the new year}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here we are nearly at the end of January. My plan to post once a week hasn't met with reality. I thought after the first of the year life would slow down enough that I could pop over here more. Hasn't happened.<br />
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We started Caleb on the ABeka 1st grade DVD curriculum a couple weeks ago and I'm happy to say that he is doing very well. Granted, he needs almost constant supervision, but that is pretty much to be expected with a boy his age. Long gone are my simple days of quiet little girls calmly doing their school work. Caleb would rather wiggle and move while he does his. That's ok. We deal with it. As long as he understands what is expected of him, he works with enthusiasm. I love that about him. He is learning to write in cursive, learning to read, doing math (read: yelling the answers at the TV screen to beat the other students), and singing the Bible songs with complete abandon. Ask him what his favorite class is and he'll tell you it's Bible. He's a kid after my own heart. I had the mistaken notion that the DVDs would free me up for other things. Instead, I'm spending more one-on-one with him than I have since he first came home. But it's great and I'm loving it. <br />
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Our school day is way longer than I like this way. Charlotte Mason would not approve. The girls work on all their independent work in the mornings and don't get time with me until after the lunch dishes are done. Some days we are still working on their phonics, spelling, or literature until nearly four o'clock. <br />
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Meanwhile, Lacy is in her last semester of homeschooling. Quite honestly, that seems impossible! She's the most diligent, self-motivated student I've ever taught. Why didn't I get a whole houseful of Lacys? I have to constantly remind her to not put too much pressure on herself. I don't set deadlines for her. She sets them for herself. The big news for her is that she's been accepted to Pensacola Christian College for the fall with a plan to study nursing. It's a long haul over there from here, but the quality of education she'll receive is going to make that sacrifice worth it in the long run. I have no idea how I will keep this household running with both Abby and Lacy gone. So I just won't think about it. <br />
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On the sewing front, I've taken a major step back from Cradle Moon projects. My goal there was to help Abby and Jonathan with their outgoing expenses. God brought in a huge amount of funding for them and my contribution was a rather small part of that total. At some point I'll get it cranked up again with the sales going toward another good cause....possibly a plane ticket to Lesotho.<br />
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I found and ordered the fabrics for Ellee's crib quilt. Jeremiah's are being a bit more elusive. Hannah and I are working on that. With the girls at 21 and 20 weeks pregnant, there is still time. Abby wants sweet, girly, and cottage-y for Ellee. Hannah wants a light, bright, simple nursery with a Noah's Ark theme for Jeremiah.<br />
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Ellee's crib quilt fabrics:</div>
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<i>Hill Farm by Lecien</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNguky6lJxcuM8X7J-6koSzEoJMgZG8ohkwB1KIKiB1wdqihgHz_cPWKxMUYoFyoS55D0yDbtRdWx7mSgEboa0QGv8aSyR8_GJa8piT85uv5yTiYcoCerwVJ8Fu7MnX3rUmMDWI-EeeeU/s1600/408327_10151483691349623_963827900_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNguky6lJxcuM8X7J-6koSzEoJMgZG8ohkwB1KIKiB1wdqihgHz_cPWKxMUYoFyoS55D0yDbtRdWx7mSgEboa0QGv8aSyR8_GJa8piT85uv5yTiYcoCerwVJ8Fu7MnX3rUmMDWI-EeeeU/s320/408327_10151483691349623_963827900_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnpnmDtf99HDSYCAIdlQayBY9kDA-oZQpcOofNeXo7inugCqmYkdFY-mWcYfT7EhBkmuDc6O7p_xiHl3WhosuabcDlrr2KBnwR-MPSeKvvwYiiM1v9HlNdNJguaqtK0VC7jjNtI0IfX8/s1600/736365_10151439648916255_796787867_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnpnmDtf99HDSYCAIdlQayBY9kDA-oZQpcOofNeXo7inugCqmYkdFY-mWcYfT7EhBkmuDc6O7p_xiHl3WhosuabcDlrr2KBnwR-MPSeKvvwYiiM1v9HlNdNJguaqtK0VC7jjNtI0IfX8/s320/736365_10151439648916255_796787867_o.jpg" width="116" /></a></div>
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Hannah-20 weeks Abby-20 weeks</div>
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Now the recipe for the coffee cake you saw up there. This is from the newly revised <i>Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook</i> that Abby left at our house. I wanted to bake a simple coffee cake for breakfast and this one looked exactly right. We inhaled it. Shamelessly.</div>
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<b>Buttermilk Coffee Cake</b></div>
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<li>2 1/2 cups all purpose flour</li>
<li>1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar</li>
<li>2/3 cup butter (room temperature)</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon salt</li>
<li>2 teaspoons baking powder</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon cinnamon</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon nutmeg</li>
<li>1 1/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk</li>
<li>2 eggs</li>
<li>1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts</li>
</ul>
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9X13 baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl, stir together flour and brown sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the mixture to sprinkle over the batter. Stir baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg into remaining crumb mixture. In another bowl combine buttermilk and egg; add to crumb mixture stirring just until moistened. </div>
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Spoon batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture and chopped nuts. Bake for 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Makes 12 or more servings.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-44092228009737256782013-01-09T22:30:00.000-05:002013-01-09T22:30:32.627-05:00A Higher Purpose {Goodbye through a sister's eyes}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGViDWMemNWTNmj9XHYUKY62-szIkeitq5dlFM3bgGcvM4nEEycHmv0QDNQyZyfrSQTLpWHSbm18BqC5NX4yWCZYQW7e_GciYwdEEit-sS4H7xcD13shExrKobPn0Ohs7H_oVb4UZPx0/s1600/DSCN8982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGViDWMemNWTNmj9XHYUKY62-szIkeitq5dlFM3bgGcvM4nEEycHmv0QDNQyZyfrSQTLpWHSbm18BqC5NX4yWCZYQW7e_GciYwdEEit-sS4H7xcD13shExrKobPn0Ohs7H_oVb4UZPx0/s640/DSCN8982.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Lacy and Abby </div>
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{The following post was written by Lacy as we drove home from saying goodbye.}</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Abby, Jonathan, Kyle, {and little Ellee Renée} leave for Africa my heart is heavy and my eyes overflow with tears.
The thought of them moving halfway across the world saddens me
greatly. However, I take comfort in the One who is sending them:
Jesus Christ. It’s because of Jesus Christ that I can face
tomorrow. It’s because of Christ that I continue to live and have
motivation. It’s certainly not easy to see my sister and her
family leave, but God has done so much to prepare me, as well as my
family, for this.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mexico was Abby and Jonathan’s first destination as
missionaries. I still remember saying good-bye to them the day they
left. My heart was torn in two as I watched them go. I wanted them
to stay here, yet at the same time I wanted to go with them. I also
remember my mom being worried about communication. I remember the
anxiety I felt as they left for a place that I was not very familiar
with. Even though it was only for nine months, it was still hard to
see them leave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You want to know the best part though? I remember
God hearing our prayers and comforting us during that time. God
allowed us to Skype with them on an almost daily basis. I can assure
you that the Internet connection wasn’t great, but it was better
than nothing! God healed our aching hearts and brought comfort
through Skype, a future trip to Mexico for my parents, and His peace.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nine months later they felt called somewhere else.
So they packed up all their belongings and moved back to the US.
They found an apartment about 3 minutes away from us. Abby was
pregnant with Kyle during this time. Oh my! That was such a joy! I
loved watching Abby get bigger and bigger every day. I loved being
able to feel Kyle kick, and it was pure bliss when I was finally able
to hold that little bundle of love in my arms!!! I’ve loved
watching Kyle grow from a helpless babe to a toddling car-obsessed
little boy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As they leave for Africa, it seems like a part of me
is being ripped away. I’m excited for them, but at the same time I
wish they could just stay here. I LOVE my family and I love it when
the WHOLE family can get together under one roof and just laugh our
heads off! Sadly, that’s not going to happen again for a while.
Today was our last time together. We drove to the AIM headquarters in
Atlanta to have a farewell luncheon with all the missionaries that
are leaving today, tomorrow, and in the next few weeks. It was a
wonderful time of fellowship as we heard the newbie missionaries
express their goals/desires and prayer requests with us. Seeing all
of them with a heart for missions and personally knowing what they
are leaving behind encouraged my heart even more for missions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the luncheon we went to Abby, Jonathan, and
Kyle’s hotel room. Everyone wished time could have just stopped
for a while, but sadly time kept moving and eventually we had to face
the dreadful good-bye.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was hard hugging my sister one last time before
she left. I probably would have clung to her much longer, but I knew
we had to leave and others were waiting for their last hug. I’ve
always looked up to Abby. In a way, she’s my best friend. Just
because she’s moving halfway across the world doesn’t mean our
friendship will end; in fact, it will keep blossoming and growing.
It’s because of Abby that I have the passion for missions that I do
now. Abby has been the perfect role model for me when it comes to my
faith. Seeing Abby grow into a mature married adult, a mother, and
now a full time missionary has had such an impact on my life. To see
her with only nine suitcases of their belongings tore at my heart,
but showed me how much they were sacrificing for Christ. I’m so
proud to be able to call her my sister.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next I said good-bye to Jonathan. It filled me with
joy to see Abby go with her God-given man! It was such a blessing to
see that Abby and Kyle were well cared for while they were here.
Every day Jonathan would wake up and go to work. Even though his job
wasn't mission-centered, he was a faithful worker and a wonderful
example for me as I wait for my future husband. Their faith has
amazed me. As they prayed for a specific amount of support money one
month, I watched God double that amount! What a blessing it has
been to be a part of their lives!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last, but certainly not least, I said good-bye to my
little Bambino Kyle (and Ellee). Words can’t describe the
feelings I had when I hugged Kyle one last time. How much fun it has
been to watch him grow from an infant to a toddling babe. Hearing
him say “Bye-bye” felt like a needle piercing my heart. I will
miss my sweet Kyle's voice, I’ll miss his baby chatter, and I’ll
miss watching him grow up. And to think that my little Ellee Renée
may be someone I never personally know saddens me.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ, however, there’s always comfort and
peace. I may miss them terribly but God has told them to go, and
they have followed faithfully--to the point of sacrificing basically
everything they have, leaving behind family, and leaving the comforts
of the US. To dull the pain, Christ has given us another little
blessing through my brother Bradley and his wife, Hannah. They are
expecting a baby the same time as Abby which gives me something to
look forward to right now. I’ll miss not holding Ellee Renée when
she is born, but having little Jeremiah around will be wonderful! We
serve such an amazing God who will not give us more than we can bear!
Even in the midst of trials, He gives us blessings.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Abby and Jonathan are truly living life with a higher purpose. I pray if and when God calls me to that kind of life
that I will be able to sacrifice everything I have and follow Him!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Matthew 27:19-20</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Acts 1:8</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click this link to watch the video of our last day together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ta_g8joTwWA">Goodbyes</a></span></div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-4634303685599715682012-12-29T19:25:00.000-05:002012-12-29T19:49:40.323-05:00life will be changing! {travel changing pad tutorial}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0JaqI1kZKRzGy-a12LKtd0dSFxUYz4U8FBNFf3sQDW0A6VixquDjCywY2z-4vahbq55-977YPlcRZhlxJwOUxT3vPN9rykTgNTjpfR3FwEjVJlG4X7hfHKiYeeftTGsVwqg-Xnu5tqA/s1600/DSCN8910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0JaqI1kZKRzGy-a12LKtd0dSFxUYz4U8FBNFf3sQDW0A6VixquDjCywY2z-4vahbq55-977YPlcRZhlxJwOUxT3vPN9rykTgNTjpfR3FwEjVJlG4X7hfHKiYeeftTGsVwqg-Xnu5tqA/s400/DSCN8910.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">With two grandbabies due in early June, what is a Lollee to do? </span></div>
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Why, buy cute fabric and start stitching, that's what!</div>
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I had an idea for making a couple travel-sized changing pads that would fit neatly into diaper bags. I wanted them to be washable, but most importantly, wipeable, for after those messy changes that inevitably occur when you're far from home. My first thought was to order some of that adorable laminated cotton that I'm seeing all over the internet. Cute prints abound, but the price is steeper than I want to pay, around $12 or $13 per yard. So for the wipeable surface, I went with another idea--flannel-backed vinyl for tablecloths. </div>
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At Joann's there were not many choices of color, other than white, which seemed completely impractical for obvious reasons. The only color that remotely worked for babies was a fern green. I purchased a 1/2 yard of that, at 52 inches wide, which would back two changing pads.</div>
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Then I ventured off to the nursery prints aisle to find something suitably boyish for Jeremiah (Brad and Hannah's baby) and girlish for Ellee (Jonathan and Abby's baby). Hannah had told me that she's thinking of using a Noah's Ark theme. She may or may not go with that, but I couldn't resist the adorable "All Aboard" animal print. Abby said she just wanted sweet, cottage-y, and girlie. I couldn't pass by this sweet pastel safari fabric for Ellee, who will be born in Africa. </div>
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I decided to do a tutorial on how I made these. Mine are a little different from the ones I've seen online, so I figured, why not? You can buy yardage or fat quarters to use for the outer fabric.</div>
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{I'm just going to warn you-- working with vinyl is not like working with cotton. That is why quilts and heirloom baby garments are made from high quality cottons, not cheap flannel-backed vinyl. It is difficult to be a perfectionist when working with vinyl. Just do the best you can and don't worry if your seams aren't perfect. This isn't an heirloom. It IS practical and wipeable, though! These can be washed in the washer, but should be air dried.}</div>
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<b>Travel Baby Changing Pad Tutorial</b></div>
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What you need:</div>
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<ul>
<li>approximately 15 X 22" piece of print fabric for the outside</li>
<li>approximately 15 X 22" piece of flannel-backed vinyl</li>
<li>same size piece of polyester batting to go between the layers</li>
<li>about 2" long piece of sew-in velcro</li>
<li>basting spray (optional)</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidg8jTYnKfjnTPBXO5vtGRdzq-K_kv9pAuWB611kTFk4mkbnToc1MpO61P3noc94GrqBvUEr7AqnVA0Acju2UsERfSa7kWUKuKZebtUteek8uQB_LWGq16_WoNEoGQeOV3NBTa3XpiB3E/s1600/DSCN8914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidg8jTYnKfjnTPBXO5vtGRdzq-K_kv9pAuWB611kTFk4mkbnToc1MpO61P3noc94GrqBvUEr7AqnVA0Acju2UsERfSa7kWUKuKZebtUteek8uQB_LWGq16_WoNEoGQeOV3NBTa3XpiB3E/s400/DSCN8914.JPG" width="323" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Trim all your fabrics (including batting) to the size you want. Really the size is up to you. I was striving to make mine fit out of 1/2 yard cuts of printed fabric and still have some left over to make coordinating bibs, etc. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbS8dbp_a1GWvaBDW5di8vEuhdavFH2JnCHocYezQObo0TMziuxKU4ICsvGwT5Q19-nQfoz34fgh2KQ5ve7M8hWE_dzTJ02Q3UHVUCQpWY4JrmcqWxPZuXRU9sGcrQWSJnVakfUaonyQ/s1600/DSCN8915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbS8dbp_a1GWvaBDW5di8vEuhdavFH2JnCHocYezQObo0TMziuxKU4ICsvGwT5Q19-nQfoz34fgh2KQ5ve7M8hWE_dzTJ02Q3UHVUCQpWY4JrmcqWxPZuXRU9sGcrQWSJnVakfUaonyQ/s400/DSCN8915.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Spray basting the batting to the flannel side of the vinyl works really well to keep it all together. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sJZG9Wo0QA_JXUdjmD7TRg5c5LS7L-3nwT112cZnFbI09rpc-k14zibzvCQYV0QOS7zYcq-SGSkdJF30LiV4sMIwHcixU0twHRjWpZO2sWKERClXwWg7LYLSqjQluXGyrDJz3cjVWrA/s1600/DSCN8916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sJZG9Wo0QA_JXUdjmD7TRg5c5LS7L-3nwT112cZnFbI09rpc-k14zibzvCQYV0QOS7zYcq-SGSkdJF30LiV4sMIwHcixU0twHRjWpZO2sWKERClXwWg7LYLSqjQluXGyrDJz3cjVWrA/s400/DSCN8916.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Layer the batting, then the vinyl (right side up), then the print fabric (right side down)</span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmOpzwSnTd6orrN3GfUzJDIH0OAA868nvSvYgdvXA85JMCYeTVYO7w0WN4vDOlyNE424mkGZ-vKVkZ_zbf-31MtDX2nEa59FO_yXUGGaQHlPeXjX09zpwjCbEDLDYmDDALuMVYMz27OQ/s1600/DSCN8918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmOpzwSnTd6orrN3GfUzJDIH0OAA868nvSvYgdvXA85JMCYeTVYO7w0WN4vDOlyNE424mkGZ-vKVkZ_zbf-31MtDX2nEa59FO_yXUGGaQHlPeXjX09zpwjCbEDLDYmDDALuMVYMz27OQ/s400/DSCN8918.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Pin through all the layers in the seam allowance. You don't want to make unnecessary holes in the vinyl, so pin parallel to the edge of the fabric. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Don't forget to round the corners like I almost did. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Stitch through all the layers, leaving about 4" open for turning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Carefully turn...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RIE5MlgZx_a2LNQuXopHGteDcOY6G8KooZXaITxPVop7W0rpnRGug6lDGe7S_iXCIqYSgvUkDmRSNNMmMuhp7-1n__GNyVo3FlMysh3_6qS1OWVqyWL0t764udYO829b-tfdb1hi1VM/s1600/DSCN8926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RIE5MlgZx_a2LNQuXopHGteDcOY6G8KooZXaITxPVop7W0rpnRGug6lDGe7S_iXCIqYSgvUkDmRSNNMmMuhp7-1n__GNyVo3FlMysh3_6qS1OWVqyWL0t764udYO829b-tfdb1hi1VM/s400/DSCN8926.JPG" width="292" /></a></div>
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...<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">and press with a warm (NOT HOT) iron. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB7XctoIT2cUl-FGk9N4RHGlxT5FuYWodpVxJ4UyT9TKAgeVhyxwvmwOpUhiEKjj_adQ1RHEmfHR6BYMBLxuukuGB74N7TXQvcyaO4XLMcq3w0fp0S1-sa0QmBh4dgyhgZGZfWgttgSs/s1600/DSCN8929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB7XctoIT2cUl-FGk9N4RHGlxT5FuYWodpVxJ4UyT9TKAgeVhyxwvmwOpUhiEKjj_adQ1RHEmfHR6BYMBLxuukuGB74N7TXQvcyaO4XLMcq3w0fp0S1-sa0QmBh4dgyhgZGZfWgttgSs/s400/DSCN8929.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Topstitching around the whole pad gives it a nice finish and serves the purpose of sewing t</span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">he opening closed.</span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c8O38Fk74AmjXp-02eT9riqfsGAriwsIpkFvLvIWsjYXcyEFuZ55gvVk_0nj6z_N0SSM9U1ujIQkjK7irYrnzPScDVXblTJ3GGnkkdq2usCD9pVHHEqq4cenBt9RteYzlP7q2xEqi2Y/s1600/DSCN8931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c8O38Fk74AmjXp-02eT9riqfsGAriwsIpkFvLvIWsjYXcyEFuZ55gvVk_0nj6z_N0SSM9U1ujIQkjK7irYrnzPScDVXblTJ3GGnkkdq2usCD9pVHHEqq4cenBt9RteYzlP7q2xEqi2Y/s400/DSCN8931.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Now lay the pad out and fold it where you like.</span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;"> I wanted mine to fold in thirds lengthwise, then fold in quarters the other way. I folded it first to get an idea where to mark. </span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">DISCLAIMER! </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">I used a Vis-A-Vis marker. You DO NOT want to do that!!! I thought the wash-off marker was a good idea but it bled to the white side when I applied a damp cloth to remove the marks. The marker washed out, no problem, but you don't want to make that mistake. Exactly how you should mark it, I don't know. Maybe a fade away pen would work. I'm not sure. </span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H3LZZ2aJtXE_awr0zEXCy5tUBhL1hlQuCZ5LnDWBtup1pPGbfnMe8dwnY7_oEp01iR4rmkBRgIhvxb1JCe09QybzGaqFo8e5VwkvH1iSLM7yQVY7gEhneFbaiu7cNZ2VwhR2hQhJXGY/s1600/DSCN8935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H3LZZ2aJtXE_awr0zEXCy5tUBhL1hlQuCZ5LnDWBtup1pPGbfnMe8dwnY7_oEp01iR4rmkBRgIhvxb1JCe09QybzGaqFo8e5VwkvH1iSLM7yQVY7gEhneFbaiu7cNZ2VwhR2hQhJXGY/s400/DSCN8935.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Now it's going to fold the other way, both ends toward the center. I left a little space in the center so it will lay flat when folded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Here are all the marks. It really isn't rocket science. It's pretty difficult to mess this up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">While you're marking your lines, go ahead and pin your velcro down, so you can do all the rest of the sewing on one trip to the machine. I just pinned to the printed fabric and not through the vinyl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Now sew on all those lines, from edge to edge. This is where you apply what you learned about not being a perfectionist on this project. The vinyl is likely to slip a little as you sew. It's ok. Mine did, too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Stitch the velcro down really well. This baby is going to get a lot of use! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Ellee's finished pad--pretty side....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mBXAWpZJzW203Aersh99n81gInd7mBzjmsuXr2smD4NafsVRzxlwDHsLxSO3tMXRA9vEV-WrvYQ_ntvas9mAGvDJLXkx-7JLtiK0QlYPyhw0k4UvqxMK0xSdxhfRZiE71wJrQkt3e3I/s1600/DSCN8948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mBXAWpZJzW203Aersh99n81gInd7mBzjmsuXr2smD4NafsVRzxlwDHsLxSO3tMXRA9vEV-WrvYQ_ntvas9mAGvDJLXkx-7JLtiK0QlYPyhw0k4UvqxMK0xSdxhfRZiE71wJrQkt3e3I/s400/DSCN8948.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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...<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">and vinyl side, where the baby will lay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Folded and velcro'd. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">Two sweet!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">But not as sweet as they are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Noteworthy-Light; font-size: 15px;">love,</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-style: none !important; border-width: 0pt !important; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-19001789836405934442012-12-23T17:18:00.000-05:002012-12-23T17:28:24.212-05:00italian meatball soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjsgeapqREEBskOcUBcpzwDzP5aEtpKELwCHtmyupAgfTYNqvW588rGgT7rwet-nYCqnemopyn-BBCVaJrHUpy-fBdHoxK3eoceNFafG-cOaXI3rqPJM8LE2x6FBxWdPvzZ1OOCWkaRo/s1600/DSCN8852_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjsgeapqREEBskOcUBcpzwDzP5aEtpKELwCHtmyupAgfTYNqvW588rGgT7rwet-nYCqnemopyn-BBCVaJrHUpy-fBdHoxK3eoceNFafG-cOaXI3rqPJM8LE2x6FBxWdPvzZ1OOCWkaRo/s640/DSCN8852_2.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
Are you all ready for Christmas? We are...except for making a big batch of <a href="http://lauralee-laura.blogspot.com/2007/12/best-christmas-cookies-ever.html">these Christmas cookies</a> tonight. Then we'll officially be ready!<br />
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Our favorite recipe for meatball soup has come in handy during this busy season, so it is only right that I should share it here with you. My friend Jean gave me this one and it is definitely a keeper. Every couple of weeks the family asks for it again. It's a simple family supper, but it's also good enough for company. Jonathan really likes it. You should see his reaction when he sees a pot of this stuff simmering on the stove. It's quite humorous. He comes over, lifts the lid, sticks his face about as close to the pot as he can, and takes a big whiff. Then a huge smile spreads across his face. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubprux_5oev0XTG8CuKiQfJmUPEam_Tq3ndd6rklARpUh_4kxWqHyaIrffhH8Q0Wn75AbEwSxZYOkTUd7CS4Qvpv80QCpAfi3LUOkaU-ms4gX9Nmw_T0kvD_VME126GLJHZ6wTDHe2kk/s1600/DSCN8839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubprux_5oev0XTG8CuKiQfJmUPEam_Tq3ndd6rklARpUh_4kxWqHyaIrffhH8Q0Wn75AbEwSxZYOkTUd7CS4Qvpv80QCpAfi3LUOkaU-ms4gX9Nmw_T0kvD_VME126GLJHZ6wTDHe2kk/s400/DSCN8839.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
Since I've committed this one to memory, I can grab all the ingredients when I'm at Aldi without a second thought. There are only six ingredients: a bag of meatballs, a carton of beef broth, 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, a can of diced tomatoes, a can of mixed vegetables, and 1/2 cup of elbow or any macaroni. (Jean's original recipe didn't call for the mixed vegetables.)<br />
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I double this for our big family. I triple it for company. Since we were having company when I took these photos, you're seeing the triple batch. Don't freak out at the size of my pot. <br />
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It's mammoth.<br />
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Pour in the meatballs, beef broth and tomatoes.<br />
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Add the mixed vegetables and the Italian seasoning. Bring it all to boil. Then reduce to a low simmer, covered, for as long as you like. This could even be cooked in a crock pot on low for hours. I typically simmer it on the stove for close to an hour. <br />
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About a half hour before you plan to eat, toss in the elbow macaroni. Let it all cook for another 1/2 hour. <br />
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Served with a salad and breadsticks, you have a simple, fast, delicious meal. <br />
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<b>Italian Meatball Soup</b></div>
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<li><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 bag Italian meatballs</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 32 ounce carton of beef broth</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 tablespoon Italian seasoning</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 can diced tomatoes</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1 can mixed vegetables, undrained</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">1/2 cup elbow or any macaroni.</span></li>
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Put the first five ingredients into a large pot. Bring to a boil then reduce to a slow simmer for 1/2- 1 hour. Add the elbow macaroni during the last 1/2 hour of cooking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDFU9x-0iuXAr7W3NsT-tL2mh8S_kVwh8sySd_vb7BhkMfDeCTA67fYmCqfuqV8cJDQESBsDCkgO-SfEIf_DDcpte6y-8IQ-mD08AsydlNKTsOgCDcvMbu0CGbq3__wtRhNpU7ZZFzC4/s1600/DSCN8852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDFU9x-0iuXAr7W3NsT-tL2mh8S_kVwh8sySd_vb7BhkMfDeCTA67fYmCqfuqV8cJDQESBsDCkgO-SfEIf_DDcpte6y-8IQ-mD08AsydlNKTsOgCDcvMbu0CGbq3__wtRhNpU7ZZFzC4/s640/DSCN8852.JPG" width="586" /></a></div>
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love,</div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-53722417829994447432012-12-18T17:21:00.002-05:002012-12-18T17:47:24.467-05:00my mom's apple cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is a simple apple cake recipe that my mother has been making for as long as I can remember. When my siblings and I were little, she made these every Christmas for us to take to our teachers. I'll never forget the sweet note to me from my second grade teacher, thanking me for the gift of delicious cake.<br />
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Mom used to bake the whole recipe in one tube pan which is what the recipe calls for. Today I mixed up the batter and baked five small 3X5" cakes to give as gifts. I reduced the time from 1 hr and 15 min down to 50 minutes and they turned out great.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0C-7fOE9vmojlCaunwKhYnxjUHog77pk-Z9m60iBrwuIFZUI61D4ZHjPtyCg2-n641Lvi319cysSq0r0lM8ngV_JmcSZxeovny2HRR0yEiB47Y44WsjGhiImFvo4ZYGfXXfVjCFXfc0/s1600/DSCN8653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0C-7fOE9vmojlCaunwKhYnxjUHog77pk-Z9m60iBrwuIFZUI61D4ZHjPtyCg2-n641Lvi319cysSq0r0lM8ngV_JmcSZxeovny2HRR0yEiB47Y44WsjGhiImFvo4ZYGfXXfVjCFXfc0/s640/DSCN8653.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
I was daydreaming and dumped the sugar on top of the apples. That was not a good idea. It took a lot of stirring to make sure I had all the sugar incorporated into the batter. It turned out fine, anyway. But you'll be better off mixing the sugar with the flour first.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4T94bOpnE_YHvsho9MBLLq0QiRsUjoTf6ajnF_aNoKlEfohk4DnBcOAXpIL-0SzLRFwPWERZKcX-YOgFJ6x0hhyXb6VqYRUdRBfpHzSwFPVCHbU7A1Jtj8e3XZ6KIX4T0AmgKVfyxqpY/s1600/DSCN8657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4T94bOpnE_YHvsho9MBLLq0QiRsUjoTf6ajnF_aNoKlEfohk4DnBcOAXpIL-0SzLRFwPWERZKcX-YOgFJ6x0hhyXb6VqYRUdRBfpHzSwFPVCHbU7A1Jtj8e3XZ6KIX4T0AmgKVfyxqpY/s640/DSCN8657.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's a thick, lumpy batter. Stir well!!</div>
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In the pans, ready to bake. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jr9hE-Dv_thNOPDJxpF3NjuTiIRFaKAmDT8VwoIYE9o7qMtUMpzBrZW1xVS02ed7PRIFl8uZPAhIxelZYEMwfZ38RksQGvxMb-TF1DJsw3Z1XRk6gnNox6kfsu9Sc6xCRotQ5f1OtFI/s1600/DSCN8673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jr9hE-Dv_thNOPDJxpF3NjuTiIRFaKAmDT8VwoIYE9o7qMtUMpzBrZW1xVS02ed7PRIFl8uZPAhIxelZYEMwfZ38RksQGvxMb-TF1DJsw3Z1XRk6gnNox6kfsu9Sc6xCRotQ5f1OtFI/s640/DSCN8673.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And cooling on the rack.</div>
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<b>Mom's Fresh Apple Cake</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>3 cups flour</li>
<li>2 cups sugar</li>
<li>1 teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li>1 teaspoon salt</li>
<li>2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon</li>
<li>3 eggs</li>
<li>1 cup vegetable oil</li>
<li>1 cup chopped walnuts</li>
<li>3 cups chopped apples (about 4)</li>
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Mix the dry ingredients well. Mix the oil and eggs and add to the dry ingredients, stirring well. The batter will be very thick. Mix in the apples and the nuts. Pile into a tube or bundt pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. </div>
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If using smaller pans, reduce the time accordingly. Test for doneness with a toothpick.</div>
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This Christmas, I hope you enjoy baking for the ones you love!</div>
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love,</div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-47266498138437422752012-12-15T17:25:00.000-05:002012-12-18T17:47:46.073-05:00let's make kyle a stocking! {scrappy christmas stocking tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Twenty-nine years ago, back in 1983, I made Tom's and my Christmas stockings out of fabric scraps. When baby Bradley arrived, I continued with that tradition. Each new child that came along sent me digging through my scraps again to fashion another stocking. </div>
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They are all similar, yet they are all different. I wasn't a quilter back then, so I just sewed the strips together, put a back on, added a hanger, and called it finished. Over the years, I've thought about maybe taking them all apart and quilting them. I usually entertain that notion for about two minutes before talking myself out of all that extra work. </div>
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I've had several people ask how I construct these stockings, which prompted me to do this tutorial. Really, they are very simple. I'll show you step by step what I did to make Kyle's stocking today. Last year I had three new ones to make, but only finished two. So Kyle was way overdue for his stocking. </div>
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Bad Lollee!</div>
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I used original fabrics from his <a href="http://abbymtstclair.blogspot.com/search/label/Nursery">very adorable nursery</a> which Abby and Jonathan had to dismantle last week when they began packing to move to Lesotho. Since they can't take his nursery with them, I knew I would preserve some of his fabrics in his stocking. </div>
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These are the original fabrics. I cut all the strips anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide. I like to use varying widths.</div>
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These are fabrics I pulled from my stash to complement the original fabrics.<br />
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I cut all the strips and laid them out to get a general idea of color placement. I placed a completed stocking over the top to make sure I would be able to cut the right shape when I got finished. <br />
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At that point I just started sewing strips together.<br />
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Using Hannah's stocking as a pattern, I cut around the part I had completed, leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.<br />
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This is the bottom half...ready to start the top half. I pretty much copied Hannah's layout, just to save myself some time. Normally, I try to make an original layout. But after eleven stockings some repetition is ok.<br />
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Because I say so.<br />
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The top strips run vertically, with a horizontal strip at the bottom. Another horizontal strip will run along the very top. It obviously needs to be trimmed along the top, using the other stocking as a pattern.<br />
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I like to embellish with some ric-rac or lace or other gender appropriate trim. For Kyle, I used this spunky ribbon that Abby picked out for another project. All the colors work with his nursery colors. I just sewed it right over a seam between two strips.<br />
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At the very top, I embroider everyone's initials. So here are Kyle's, with the St. Clair initial larger in the center.<br />
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I chose a dotty red fabric for the back of his stocking. Just be sure to lay the right sides together in order to cut the back. Now sew the front to the back using a 1/4 inch seam, leaving the top open. </div>
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Turn inside out and press the stocking.<br />
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I turned the top edge down and used a decorative stitch to hem it.<br />
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For a hanger, I just used a tie from the bumper pads. But all you have to do is cut a strip of fabric about 4 inches long and one inch wide. Fold it neatly to the center lengthwise and create a strip about 3/8 inch wide finished. <br />
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I stitched it securely to the top of the stocking.<br />
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Now it's ready to hang on the same hook with his mama's 1990 vintage stocking.<br />
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....and his daddy's that I hurriedly stitched four Christmases ago.<br />
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And the finished product. Kyle's sweet stocking. <br />
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I love that baby.<br />
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love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0pt !important; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0pt !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0pt !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0pt !important; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-46061174592105067362012-12-02T13:19:00.000-05:002012-12-02T13:19:12.131-05:00Christmas Give-Away!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzImesmtoiqjWMhhZMKz9YGupt3wjJOrmM6ffdPLjdL3gIW-YwEUVOIW5oB5f6GSZmj5A4rge4fuMkqfrdcWSbYwEiUHQT-Oq2bBFfOXZhmPsTqD0cxcdqnkY-Ycyw9_CSX9-I7Ua364/s1600/DSCN8569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzImesmtoiqjWMhhZMKz9YGupt3wjJOrmM6ffdPLjdL3gIW-YwEUVOIW5oB5f6GSZmj5A4rge4fuMkqfrdcWSbYwEiUHQT-Oq2bBFfOXZhmPsTqD0cxcdqnkY-Ycyw9_CSX9-I7Ua364/s640/DSCN8569.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
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A singular jolly snowman and a couple of Christmas trees in a field of snow. Not sure why it took me so long to finish this little table runner! I had lofty plans to hand quilt this one, but I ended up machine quilting it to save time. After all, it's already December, folks!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiWOjiIFOoOxHSIQhG7nw_pjWp92FqjqwimzvHAwaZLX7pJoy7-OZiA9RhmGjfYFq55KEi_fQa4S9kHF-HuUqbd_IdK_LmIxeFkABLQ7xe2IsNLAfs5tCfFyfAo6dVzrc8cFkIjfKwZw/s1600/DSCN8570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiWOjiIFOoOxHSIQhG7nw_pjWp92FqjqwimzvHAwaZLX7pJoy7-OZiA9RhmGjfYFq55KEi_fQa4S9kHF-HuUqbd_IdK_LmIxeFkABLQ7xe2IsNLAfs5tCfFyfAo6dVzrc8cFkIjfKwZw/s640/DSCN8570.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The table runner, kitchen towel, and stacking salt and pepper shakers are heading over river and through the woods.....<br />
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or more like down Banks Mill...<br />
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across Pine Log...<br />
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and onto Gatewood Dr!<br />
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<b>Janet Buck</b>, </div>
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you're the winner of my Christmas give-away!!</div>
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May they bring a little Christmas cheer to your kitchen this year.<br />
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I'll deliver them to you very soon! And I might even through in some cookies for Gary!<br />
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And now, I really must start decorating my own humble abode!</div>
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love,</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0pt !important; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0pt !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0pt !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0pt !important; border-width: initial; cursor: move; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882857165639183199.post-73171676958901575352012-11-20T15:25:00.000-05:002012-11-20T15:53:11.282-05:00Fields of Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First the good news. There will be a give-away this Christmas. Now the bad news. It's not finished yet.<br />
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I just didn't start it early enough to get it finished for a drawing on Thanksgiving. In fact, I just started it yesterday! I think you'll like it though. If you've known me a while, you won't be surprised to discover that there is a snowman involved in this little project.<br />
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It started while I was at the beach a couple weeks ago. I found this adorable itty-bitty stacking salt and pepper shaker set at my favorite gift shop and knew I had to grab it up for one of you. The snowman is the salt shaker; his hat is the pepper shaker. It was love at first sight. Then I found this little homespun tea towel to coordinate. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV1QwXLlMZJ1IIs0xPzJbstD1bmQac2m6-ecdDcJCzhptZk8DRP7VidBfL3wL_O0rMOJ-6EUmcyuSJvsBGscvc6dXkWnnmn2JuGjyltuZDZAm8V_rVz9FUGukJKeG0S8HR1jRa9PeJVg/s1600/DSCN8532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV1QwXLlMZJ1IIs0xPzJbstD1bmQac2m6-ecdDcJCzhptZk8DRP7VidBfL3wL_O0rMOJ-6EUmcyuSJvsBGscvc6dXkWnnmn2JuGjyltuZDZAm8V_rVz9FUGukJKeG0S8HR1jRa9PeJVg/s640/DSCN8532.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
Last night I pulled some fun prints and designed a simple patchwork table runner to complete the give-away. It will be finished at each end with some hand embroidery before I hand quilt and bind it. I wanted to give you a sneak peek so you'd have a general idea, but the finished product will remain a mystery a few more days. <br />
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Sorry. Blame my crazy-busy life right now. <br />
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How about I draw early next week? To enter, just leave a comment here or on FB or email me. Tell me your favorite memory or aspect of the Christmas season--really anything you want. Don't worry, you won't be graded. Just share your heart. <br />
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love,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #2198a6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/324/CFA8DD80D193977943B2D028081A33FD.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0pt !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0pt !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0pt !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0pt !important; cursor: move; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08999942136797845895noreply@blogger.com3