Busy Day Peach Cobbler

Busy Day Peach Cobbler

29 oz. can of sliced peaches
1/3 cup sugar
3 oz. box peach jello
stick of margarine melted
1/2 box yellow cake mix (or the l layer size)

Drain the peaches, reserving syrup, and spread in a long dish. Sprinkle sugar and jello over the peaches.
Cover with the cake mix, dribble peach juice over cake mix, pour melted margarine over all. Bake at 350 45
minutes. (Very easy and fast to fix)

This recipe came from my DAD! To be fair, his sister shared it with him. When I asked what size long dish to put it in, his reply was "longer than a baby's shoe box but shorter than a football field".....quickly followed by saying a 9x13 pan worked well for him. You can see his wonderful sense of humor in this as it is in nearly all things.
For more delicious recipes and some wonderful links to fun sewing tutorials and ideas, visit my friend Pam's blog at http://pam-thebestlaidplans.blogspot.com/. Pam and I are long time friends although she has lived in South Carolina now for over 20 years. When we see each other or talk, we just pick back up where we left off!
Today when thinking of blessings, I am thankful for getting my sense of humor from Dad. A sense of humor I feel is a blessing because it can get you through daily trials by seeing it in a whole new light. Laughter is wonderful. When my family manages to get together there are always plenty of laughs. I have wonderful friends that always help me to laugh. Humor can be a healing emotion that everyone needs in their lives!

Basic Pillowcase Dress « Designsbysick.com Embroidery Articles

Basic Pillowcase Dress « Designsbysick.com Embroidery Articles

Here's a tutorial for a fun and simple project for little girls. I have intentions of making some of these for my great-niece and her new little sister coming in October. Of course I will make one for Butter Bean if its a girl! If you search the web you can find different tutorials for these and for some wonderful inspiration just go to ebay and search pillowcase dresses for lots of different views and fabric combinations.
Thankful today for having a quiet morning and time to relax before the day starts. I am enjoying reading some blogs and email and sipping my coffee! I need to get on with the day now and get some things done so that when Casey leaves on Saturday I can get to the sewing machine!

Thinking Christmas in July?

I keep seeing those little things popping up unexpectedly here and there about Christmas being X number of days away....wow, you know how time flies. I thought I would share a picture of some overalls made for my great-niece, Ella. These will likely be the only pair I ever make. They are called by many names, my favorite being "boutique overalls." If you do a Google search with this name you can be lost for hours seeing plenty of good ideas.















The first picture shows the front of the overalls. I bought these at Wal-Mart, just a plain pair of cheap children's overalls. I drew the bib so I could create a pattern to cover it with the red gingham. I embroidered "Who Needs Santa, I have Granna" and a small Christmas tree on the gingham and then sewed it to the overall bib. I added red ball fringe and ruffled Christmas fabric to the bottom of the red gingham bib piece, the legs and the back of the overalls. I embroidered an appliqued gift box on the leg in front and a Santa head on the center top back. Sewing on these was challenging since there are the really thick double seams you have to sew over. I added little jingle bells under the ruffles so Ella would jingle as she walked. I was so proud of them and so relieved to be done with them! I said I'd never do another pair but then as I look at them I think, well maybe.....

In less than a month we, or should I say I, may know what sex "Butter Bean" is. Butter Bean's dad is one of our brave soldiers presently in Afghanistan. He has asked that Casey not know the sex of the baby until he can return in October. So the plan is that they will do the sonogram, if they can determine the sex of the baby it will be written on a card, sealed and mailed to me. I will have to keep the secret until Michael is home again and then I can tell him and Casey what they are having. Michael feels like he is missing so much, although we did record the last visit for him and Casey will be sending it to him via the internet when she returns home on Friday. I get the pleasure of finding out early so I can get to making things! I ask that you all pray for Michael and all our soldiers to return home safely. I am thankful that I am getting to spend time with Casey. She will be home until Friday and then she has to go back to Ft Rucker and go to work. For all us moms that can be with our children, lets remember those that can't and be thankful that God is allowing us the time we have with them each day. Luckily, my son lives just around the corner and I can see him and his children often. I am so thankful to have been blessed with my children and grandchildren.

My daughter Casey has just gotten her aviation wings at Ft Rucker. Pictured are "my girls" and me. The little blonde is my granddaughter Emilee. We were so proud to be able to be there when she was pinned. Steve did the honors of actually pinning her wings. She is now one of only 300 aviation Medivac pilots. I was really surprised that there are just 300 in this field. The commander over this group says it helps him to maintain a close relationship with each one. Please pray for all of our military. These men and women sacrifice so much to serve our country. Honor them and thank them every opportunity you can.
Yesterday I went with Casey to the doctor and he says all is well with her pregnancy and that next month we should know what she is having! I am so excited!
Today I am so thankful to be back home safely. As I get older, one of the sweetest pleasures of any trip is the trip back home! I am so thankful for the safe trip there and back and so thankful that God has given me a home that I cherish and love returning to. Its not a fancy house, its HOME. I can only imagine what our final trip will be when we go to our heavenly home one day. Seeing all those that have gone before us, those that we have missed and remembered, but mostly seeing the Lord and Savior that has blessed us without fail here on earth.

Diaper Bags, A New Fashion Statement for Baby

Diaper bags are a fun thing to do with a simple pattern and some fun fabrics and designs. I remember when I had my children, I had one large diaper bag and one smaller bag. If I remember correctly I used these two bags for both of my children. Moms now have lots of choices and lots of styles. I used to pack the large bag and carry the smaller one to throw a bottle and diaper in for shopping trips and church, but had that larger one in the car with all the other necessities just in case! I wasn't able to line the photographs like I wanted to because I am admittedly cyber-challenged!
The first bag pictured was for my great-niece, Ella. My sister chose the pretty bright turquoise fabric for the outside with a matching stripe on the inside. The choice in trims are just limitless. Using your imagination you can do almost anything to decorate the bag along with all those wonderful embroidery designs out there.
The second bag was made by sewing together a kids print and adding the "cuff" of green chenille fabric with the name embroidered on it. This was a really large bag but so much fun to look at with all the colors. I then added yellow ball fringe to the edge of the cuff.
The third bag was made from some fabric that had a texture somewhat like burlap, but it was more tightly woven than burlap. I had to dig through my stash to find colors to work with this one! (I convince myself this is the reason for building a stash!) The sailboat was originally in bright primary colors but I was able to embroider it using the color theme the bag was in. I love the blues and browns together.
All these bags are made from a similar technique but all are different sizes. I wish I had pictures of all the bags I have made. I have fabric waiting to make more, just haven't had the time to do it! You could make diaper bags from now until forever and never make the same one twice! Just as soon as we know what sex "Butter Bean" is, I will be trying to come up with another special bag!
You know, no matter what the situation, if you'll take time to look, you can find a blessing. When my Mother was sick and dying, we had the blessing of people that came from all directions to help us. We witnessed the love our parents shared in the kindness and gentleness our Dad used to care for Mama. How softly he spoke to her and how carefully he washed her face and catered to her. We KNEW they loved each other, but we got to witness that love first hand in their actions and conversations as her disease progressed. Although it was tough, we had the blessing of time to say the things we needed to say but rarely take the time to when we take for granted that tomorrow will come. Today I thank GOD for all those blessings that come no matter how badly things seem to be. I just hope that I can always be mindful enough to see the blessings and not let myself get lost in the despair of the moment.

Chicken and Dumplings.....ummm good!

My sister makes the very best Chicken and Dumplings and they are so easy to make. I thought I would share her recipe for those that have, like myself, struggled to find the perfect dumpling recipe.

Chicken and Dumplings

First, boil two or more, depending on your preference, boneless chicken breasts in a large amount of water and 1 stick of butter. Boil them until they are so tender you can just flake them apart. Remove from the broth it makes and then proceed to making your dumplings.

DUMPLINGS

2 cups self-rising flour
2 heaping tablespoons shortening
(cut this together until crumbly)
At this point, you take a can of chicken broth straight from
the cabinet and add to the mixture a little at the time
until you form a good dough. Let this mixture
sit for 10-15 minutes. Have the pot of broth
turned on and boiling, add 1/2 to 1 tsp. of the
dumpling mixture at a time to the broth. Do this
rather quickly. The more you stir the more your
dumplings will fall apart, so try not to over stir.
(you may have to reduce the heat some at this point)
After you have all the dumplings added, salt and pepper
to taste, and add the chicken back into the broth and enjoy!

Wow, is this ever a good meal! You can adjust the amount of dumplings or chicken by just adding or using less of the base recipe. Like my sister, I don't like just a lot of chicken in my dumplings, but others may want more. I love using the boneless chicken breast.

Today I am thankful for the beautiful weather we have been having the last few days in Mississippi. Normally our July's are hot and dry. Last week we had some rain and the humidity broke and the weather cooled. The days have been sunny with a light breeze. These are the perfect days that God provides for us along the way so we can enjoy all his earthly creations.....the birds, flowers, trees, sunshine....ahhh, so much to be thankful for.

Our New Baby

As you can see "our" baby is growing.....both of them! Casey, our daughter, is 14 weeks pregnant now and beginning to show. This is an exciting time for all of us. God is blessing us with our 4th grandchild in January...well, lets just say we hope its the 4th and not 4th AND 5th! Actually if God sees fit to send them in two's, we'll happily take them and love them all. She had the first person to recognize today that she was pregnant.....I remember how exciting that was when I was pregnant!
For now we can just be content to watch our blessing grow!