Off to a Painting Workshop

I am getting ready to leave for Denver for a painting work shop by Arletta Peche that I have been looking forward to this last month.  I will be staying at the home of the brother and sister in law of my friend Kitty.  She and I and a few others paint together every week at our friend and teacher Bettie's house. Kitty and I will be driving up to Denver together.  Looks like fun and great opportunity.  Can't wait.  Hope you all have a wonderful week.  Keep your hand in the hand of Jesus. Through Him we can over come all things.

Love you all,

Pam

Little Lamp Shade

This little lamp was a hand me down that I thought would look nicely in my kitchen,  but the plain shade wanted to be made over a little to go with my curtains.  A really quick project.

1).  Cut a strip of material  the width of your lamp and twice the length of the circumference of the lampshade.

2).  Clip the bottom to make a little fringe ( this material was a nice woven material and a little fringe worked well this way. The top of this material was already finished on the edge, but if yours isn't, hem it on the top ( you could hem the bottom if you didn't want to fringe it).

3).  Using a glue gun, glue the material to the top of the lamp shade. Scrunch the material together  as you glue to make a little ruffle.

4). Glue a little rick rack around the top of the ruffle.

5).  There you are a quick 30 minute project

A long busy week

It is indeed only Tuesday, but for me it is the end of a long busy week, finalized by Olga flying out this morning at 6:30 A.M. for North Carolina (where she will have 3 days of intensive soccer training, then will be on a flight to Gothenburg, Sweden along with quite a few others).  She is playing in the "Gothia Cup", which is  like a "world cup" for youth.  What excitement.  Our week was consumed in all the last minute details as well as dentist visits (not a happy day), College preparation and packing for school this fall. We had a little "World Cup" party on Sunday after church, and a mad dash this morning at 3:00 A.M. to get ready to head out the door to Colorado Springs by 4:00.  My eyelids are a little heavy as I type, and I don't think there will be much to this post except this recap, as my feeble explanation as to why I have again missed a week out of my 52 two weeks. So, tomorrow I will perhaps post a little project I finished 2 weeks ago... very easy one.  Sweet dreams everyone.

Pam

26 Years

Its hard to believe how quickly 26 years can go by.  I read the blogs of the sweet young Moms that I know and I think "that was me just a little while ago".  So much has changed in 26 years.  Who would have thought in those days that we would be able to have laptop computers and write about our days and encourage each other and share ideas and pictures and thoughts like we do these days as we blog.  Back then, microwaves had just been around a few years, cell phones were rare and more like giant walkie talkies.  VCR's were only recently out on the market, and we certainly thought they were a luxury we couldn't afford.  You could still watch "The Brady Bunch" re-runs on T.V. and we didn't dream there was anything like "Cable Television"   I already had two precious little boy's ages "almost 4" and "almost 2" and I was given another great miracle in my life which was the birth of twin girls.  Many things come and go in this life, but these gifts of God  (my children) are truly better than them all.  I really get choked up just remembering the delightful days I had raising my children.  We were a happy family.   Things do change children grow up and move away, but the delight that they have given to my life cannot compare to anything except the Love of God.  Marie and Elizabeth have been my delight all the years that I have had them; my best friends, my best news, the sweetest comfort, the greatest encouragement, the happiest moments, a preview of heaven for me.  I know their Daddy feels the same way.  We are very blessed with treasured memories of all the days that they were with us, and are so thankful for the days yet to come. Thank you Lord for them.

Happy Birthday Marie and Elizabeth.  Dad and I love you and miss you and treasure you so much.

Fourth of July

 

As I begin this post, let me insert the suggestion that you check out "Homeschool on the Croft's" post on the Fourth of July.  It will really inspire and bless you.  She had such a nice celebration full of the wonderful ideas that she used for their Fourth of July, and she is a citizen of Scotland.  

With that said, here is the recap of our lovely day.  Pictured above, are my cheesecake cupcakes that I made into the Flag for the Fourth.  It is the only picture I took today with the exception of the one I took of  Steve and Olga playing ping pong.  We had a wonderful day and I was disappointed that I forgot my camera for the Parade we went to because that was my favorite part.

The Fourth of July Parade had a crazy uniqueness in that it was called a wet parade which means a whole lot of people with squirt guns, sooper soakers, hoses and more were armed and ready for a war with water.  Everyone got wet; innocent bystander or plotting warrior alike.  There were firemen in fire trucks with their hoses squirting everyone.  There were all kinds of creative floats and vehicles all armed with giant squirt guns.  Olga claimed she was "not" getting wet, but was the first among us to join in the water fight, second to  our friend Barry and his boys who were prepared with compressor powered water hoses.  Ha.  We had the dogs with us and they seem completely joyous that they were allowed to be a part of the ruckus.  Olga's new little puppy seemed quite at home among the crowds of people and water  going everywhere, and Toby Mack (our other little dog) didn't do too badly himself. 

We drove home wet and happy, ate lunch, took a nap and then got up and grilled our hamburgers.  I had made baked beans and potato casserole the day before so I baked those and cooked some corn on the cob.  Steve's Mom came over and some of the neighbors, and we sat around and talked, played ping pong and ate. We didn't have enough of us for a game of baseball; I was missing all the big kids and wishing for a big game like we had a few years ago when everyone was home; but we did play some cards out on the patio.  There was a wonderful cool breeze and the clouds were rolling in.  We never did get to see our fireworks on Pikes Peak....because of the clouds, but the Lord gave us a wonderful display of brilliance in the clouds with lightning that lit up the whole sky.   .  We didn't even do any of our own fireworks because it is just too dry out and forest fires are so easily started.  All in all it was a happy and memorable day for us all. 

Fourth of July Bunting

I had fun making Fourth of July Bunting for this week's project.  It is very easy to make.

I used remnants that I had on hand and even used scraps of worn out linen napkins.  I embellished with small flags, cut out stars and buttons. When all was finished, I strung it on a clothes line, and hung it in our carport (which more often than naught, serves as our covered patio).

I cut triangles of 13 inches in length and 12 inches in width at the top.  I cut 2 pieces at a time on the fold.

I then sewed with right sides together, leaving an opening of one inch on one side of the top and 2 inches on the other side (to make easier to right side out).

After turning right side out, I ironed and top stitched along the edge of top and sides;  leaving a one inch opening on both sides of the top.

Using a zig zag stitch, I sewed on stars and flags.

I added buttons...

I then strung each flag onto clothes line, at the top where I had left the inch of space open.

May your Fourth of July holiday be blessed, as you celebrate our country with family and friends.

Love Pam