My first project for the season. I thought I would make something for myself. This is actually an apron displayed on a small metal dress form my sister gave me.

Okay, I promise I will not rush Christmas, BUT I could not resist putting these pictures of my cute Christmas village on here. Sometimes I just want to shrink myself and immerse in this idyllic village. Stay tuned for what I am dabbling in craft wise for Christmas. I get ideas everywhere I look.

I saw this on another blog, and it is very good for me to remember.

 

 

 

When life feels so heavy that my arms might buckle, I take heart.

I've failed as a parent.

I've lost my temper.

Been impatient.

Lacked grace.

I've failed as a wife.

Raised my voice.

Responded with impatience.

Ignored boundaries so that all I have is leftover energy.

I've failed to dream.

I've failed to take risks.

I've avoided hard things.

I've given into fear.

I've been too shy to speak. Even God's gracious Word over others.

And all of these failures wrap around each other, hold tight. My big burden like a rubber band ball. Ever growing.

But I take heart.

Because I can lay aside my burdens: "Let us also lay aside every encumbrance" (Hebrews 12:1).

Every burden. Every heavy weight. Every hindrance.

I can lay it aside.

It's not who I am.

I take heart.

Because I want to run: "And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).

And running, at its origin, is free and rapid progress.

And so I lay aside.

So I can run free and fast.

This tote bag was made actually from 4 fat quarters. I like trying to figure out what to make from fat quarters because you don't have to wait for someone to cut the material. They are all there for the taking. Fun to play with colors.

REPETITION  

These were just a dollar each at the dollar store. Cheap decorating.

Pita Bread

This recipe actually turned out. I was so excited.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of yeast, or quick rising yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup lukewarm water

Preparation:

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Let sit for 10-15 minutes until water is frothy.

Combine flour and salt in large bowl.

Make a small depression in the middle of flour and pour yeast water in depression.

Slowly add 1 cup of warm water, and stir with wooden spoon or rubber spatula until elastic.

Place dough on floured surface and knead for 10-15 minutes. When the dough is no longer sticky and is smooth and elastic, it has been successfully kneaded.

Coat large bowl with vegetable oil and place dough in bowl. Turn dough upside down so all of the dough is coated.

Allow to sit in a warm place for about 3 hours, or until it has doubled in size.

Once doubled, roll out in a rope, and pinch off 10-12 small pieces. Place balls on floured surface. Let sit covered for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 500 deg F. and make sure rack is at the very bottom of oven. Be sure to also preheat your baking sheet.

Roll out each ball of dough with a rolling pin into circles. Each should be about 5-6 inches across and 1/4 inch thick.

Bake each circle for 4 minutes until the bread puffs up. Turn over and bake for 2 minutes.

Remove each pita with a spatula from the baking sheet and add additional pitas for baking.

Take spatula and gently push down puff. Immediately place in storage bags.

Storing Pita Bread

Pita bread can be stored for up to a week in a pantry or bread box, and up to a month in the freezer. Be sure to use freezer bags when storing in the freezer.

Hummus From Scratch

My husband was wowed by some tasty hummus the other day so since I had a can of garbanzo beans at home I decided to try to make some from scratch. Turns out, hummus from scratch is WAY better than from the jar. 

Basically in a little electric food processor I whizzed up these items.

1 can garbanzo beans

Crushed garlic from a jar ( can use fresh of course)

Sesame seeds (since I did not have Tahini)

 A little salt

Lemon juice

Good with corn chips if you don't have pita bread.

Yummeeeeee!!!!!

Happy Sunday

I am starting a blog again because I like to be creative and learn new things. Check out the Holstee Manifesto. Someone had it on Facebook. They have a website where they sell various items. The Holstee Manifesto just about says it all in a nutshell. I am trying to read it often to remind myself not to get too bogged down in the laundry and dishes of life and do things I enjoy, after all life IS just too short for just dishes and laundry all of the time.

Valerie