The First Caprese Salad of the Year, and the Lord

This is certainly not an original thought of my own--instead this post is a celebration!  Last night my husband and I enjoyed, for the first time this season, a delicious caprese salad made with fresh tomatoes and basil from our garden.  As my mom would often brag, the tomato and basil were literally growing 10 minutes before we ate it...it doesn't get much better than that!  Fresh veggies put together in a caprese salad...HEAVEN!

My husband is the real artist in the kitchen, so he put together this beautiful salad.

I live in town, so I only have room for a very small garden.  We have a large yard, but almost the entire thing is shaded.  However, I am happy that at least I have room for a few tomato plants, some basil, carrots and beans.  I grew up on a farm, so watching things grow has always been a God-experience sort of thing for me.  My mother had a huge garden, and as a kid I remember being out there, helping her plant it and looking at these silly little seeds in my hand as I would about to drop them in the soil.  I'd think, "really, is this really going to grow into something?" and without fail it did.  Maybe this makes me silly, but I am literally amazed by every seed I put in the ground that turns into a plant that bears fruit.  This spring when I planted beans I would take my son out there every morning and point out the little sprouts coming up.  Amazing!  Even as a 30 year old woman I am moved seeing those little sprout start to unfold and stand up.  My son, of course was more interested in playing with sticks.  But, I feel that the closer I get to the soil, the more clearly I see the Lord.

Thank you Lord for this delicious salad, and all of your miracle!

Here is a quick "before" picture of my tomato plants when they were just blossoming.  How does a little blossom turn into a juicy tomato?  Both delicious and amazing.

I hope you too are having amazing, delicious moments this summer,
Nancy

Crocheted t-shirt rug

This is a projected I completed a while ago, but I hesitated to post it here.  I learned a lot doing this project...or in other words, it was my first attempt at something, and that shows!  This was my first attempt at crocheting.  I enjoyed it, but I still need a few follow-up lessons from my grandmother.  But, oh well, for better or worse, here is the rug I crocheted using yarn from old t-shirts.

As I mentioned, for this project I learned how to crochet from my dear Grandma Anne.  She will be 93 this fall and even now there is not much that can stop her.  She is remarkable.  She raised 10 kids on a busy farm where she not only did all the kid/house work, but took care of hired men (who also lived with them) did the sewing, gardening, cooking (fresh bread daily) and everything in between.  She is a wonderful role model and I love her very much.  So, I luckily was able to sit down with my grandma one afternoon and she gave me the basics of crochet.

Grandma Anne and one of her great-grand sons

I don't really feel confident enough to give instructions on crocheting, so I found this wonderful post that is really helpful, but it is always better to learn a skill like this in person, so they can actually show you had to hold a needle.  Therefore, an (almost) mandatory part of this project is a family member who can pass down this skill.  Pour a cup of coffee, sit, chat, and let them teach you!

So, onto the actual project!

Supplies:

T-shirts (dyed and cut into yarn), and a large crochet hook.

Step 1: Make t-shirt yarn.  There are lots of good tutorials about this online already, so I will just give a few tips.  First, I wanted an ombre look for my rug so I purchased dye and tried to dye them in the washing machine.  This really didn't work.  The deep red turned out pink.  So, I then took the same t-shirts and did a natural dye with coffee.  After a big mess and a lot of work I sort-of liked what I came up with.  Then, cut the t-shirts into yarn.  In retrospect, I wish I would have cut my yarn a little wider.

Step 2: Start crocheting!  Instructions here.  

Here is what my rug looks like.  Not perfect, but I do like having it in my craft room.  It is nice and soft.

Thanks for stopping by.  If you have any suggestions to help this not-fully-successful project, I'd love to hear them!  

Nancy

On Dad's Shoulder

I snapped this picture at mass this morning.  There is just something so sweet about your child wrapped around your husband's shoulder.  Also, the little guy has his toothbrush gripped tight.  He doesn't have a security blanket, but he must always have a toothbrush clutched in his little hand.

I recently told a friend that I had never felt more love for my husband than when, just minutes after giving birth to our son, I loved over and saw him weeping and cradling our baby.  Moments like this one at church this morning harken back to that moment over a year ago now.

Have a happy Sunday! 

I am linking this picture up to thepapermama.com.

Nancy

Best picture of the week

On a different note, here is my "best picture of the week".  The little guy is out in our yard playing with his new favorite toy, a stick.

Once again, happy weekend,
Nancy

An attempt at photo editing--and not a total success

Our little family had a lot of fun at a local splash park recently.  I sapped a few picture, but I really wasn't happy with how they turned out.  It was SO sunny and even though I had the ISO set at 100, the pictures are still too bright.  I know I should have played with some other settings, but here is the original picture I took:

Do you see what I mean?  You can hardly see the water...or the ground for that matter.

I jumped on PicMonkey, cropped the picture and did some simple editing and here is the slightly improved version:

My son himself looks a little better...but the water is still pretty hard to see.  Hummm...oh well.  I still got so much more to learn!  Any suggestions?

Happy weekend,
Nancy

Another Felt Birdie (with another free pattern!)

I guess I got little birdies on the mind.  Here is another felt birdie that I stitched up the other day.  I know that it is still summer, but I plan on giving these as gifts to the little girls in my life as Christmas ornaments.  I plan on stitching their name on the tummies...but I haven't done that yet!

These little birds are simple and quick.  Just get out the felt, some quilt batting and some thread and down load this pattern.

Step 1-- Cut out the pieces for this bird using the pattern provided.  8 pieces total.

Step 2--Stitch on the "tummy" piece with a simple running stitch to both sides of the body.

Step 3--Use long back stitches to attach one wing to both body pieces.  Also, make an eye using either a small piece of white felt or just black thread.

Step 4-- Cut out a piece of quilt batting that is slightly smaller than the body pieces.  Sandwich this piece between the two body pieces and pin the beak and tail in place.  Also, pin a ribbon or string in place if you want to make an ornament.  Then, blanket stitch around the bird, using a running stitch when you are going around the beak and wing.

And done!  Aren't they colorful and fun!?!  I think they are cute cute cute!  I hope you do too!

Thanks for stopping by
Nancy

Linked at: Today's Creative Blog If it's your first time visiting Small Things, I'd love for you to connect with me in some way!

Birdie Mobile for the new baby

I know, I know, I'm not due until November, but I can't wait.  I have already made a cute little mobile to hang over her crib!  My son had a pretty standard farm animal mobile, but for a little girl I needed something cuter!  So, yesterday shared how to make these cute little peep-hole birdies.  Here is what I did with them:

Making this was simple, so I am going to keep the explanation simple too.  All you need is a bit of glue and three hangers (I used dry-cleaner hangers.  Once you remove the cardboard tube at the bottom, they already have that nice little loop at the end.)

Use you muscles and wrap the three hangers together.  Then, use glue to get them to stay in that position.  I then wrapped the top with ribbon to cover up the mess!  Next just start tying on birdies.  I also wanted a few birds on the angled part of the hanger, so I put a dab of glue and tied the bird over it, so that it wouldn't slide off.

And that's it!

Now I just need to have my baby girl!

Nancy

DIY Felt Peep-hole Birdies (with free pattern!)

And back to crafting!  Here is a little project I am very excited about.  As I mentioned before, I have a one year old son and am expecting a little girl in November.  And, I am so excited to have a girl!  I am already making cute little things for her room.  That's where this little project came in.  I made several of  these peep-hole birdies, and I will show you tomorrow what I did with them!

I am also trying something new today. I made a pattern for these birds.  Please feel free to download it and use it.  Pattern.

As usual, I used things laying around my craftroom, so you certainly don't have to do what I did.  I once again went to my pile of scrap felt.  I also used old upholstery samples that I picked up somewhere along the line for the wing part of the bird.  I like the contrast in color and texture that it gave this project.

Let's get started!

Supplies:
Colorful felt, Contrasting Patterned Fabric, Embroidery Thread, Quilt Batting, Ribbon.

Step one: Following the pattern, cut out two body pieces and two pieces of contrasting fabric that are larger than the wing hole.

Step two: Place the contrasting fabric behind the body piece and using a running stitch, attach.  Repeat to other body piece.

Step three.  Cut out a piece of quilt batting that is slightly smaller than the body piece.  Sandwich the batting between the two body pieces.  Pin a piece of ribbon in place at the top of the bird.  Sew the two sides together using a blanket stitch.  I recommend starting the blanket stitch at the tail.

And done!

I think they are cute cute cute!

Here is a sneak peak at what I plan on doing with all of my little birdies!

Any guesses?

Thanks for stopping by and happy Monday!
Nancy
If it's your first time visiting Small Things, I'd love for you to connect with me in some way!

Story Photo

To close out the week of beginner photography photos, here is a photo I am entering in The Paper Mama photo challenge and the challenge at debduty.com and the Long Road to China.  I am entering the first picture at debduty.com and the long road to China, and the second at Paper Mama...but they go so nicely together that I am posting them both here.

This week the challenge at Paper Mama is to enter a "story picture".  I once again went with a picture I took from our vacation on the Lake.  I am entering the middle picture, but in order to see the how story, I am including a before and after picture here:

Picture 1: Oh, how sweet, all of the "walking" cousins join hands and walk back after a jaunt out to the lighthouse.  My little guy in the little one in the middle.  He just learned to walk about 4 days before this.

Picture 2: Walking is going well...but..oops!  Little chubby legs don't go that fast!  And our little Gus ends up flat on his face....and the cousins keep walking!  In this picture he is getting dragged!  

Picture 3: The little guy makes a quick recovery.  He is a big boy now!

I hope you enjoyed this picture story!
Nancy

Character Study: Little David

Here is the last digression into portrait-shots that I will do.  It is a picture of my other nephew David, also taken on the beach while at the lake the last few weeks.

In all honesty, my husband took this picture.  He said, "I just saw the shot and I took it," and with kids isn't that how it always is?  The few pictures I have of my own son smiling are usually 2 or 3 pictures in, when he just decided to smile while I was shooting.

I like this picture because David is half turned away.  He is a busy boy and this picture seems to say, "I only have time for a quick smile over my shoulder before I'm off to the next thing!"

Thanks for stopping by.  And, if you have a blog that focuses on photography of your family I'd love to visit and get some tips.  Just leave me a comment with the address.

Nancy

Character Study: Sweet Therese

This sweet girl is my niece Therese.  In life and in this picture she, like her namesake, really is a little flower.  I can just see the love sparkling in her eyes.  Looking at this picture I am reminded of a simple conversation I overheard her have with her mom.  She said, "Mom, did you know that when God made the world he didn't use His hands?  No, He made us with love."  Her mother smiled and asked if her dad had told her that.  Therese shook her head and replied, "No, mom, I figured that out on my own." Pretty good for a 4 year old!

Thanks for stopping by,
Nancy

Character Study: Big Dave

There are few kids with more personality that this squinty-eyed little guy.  He loves his little sister, can be rough and tough with his older brother and sister, is a wild man and the silliest things come out of his mouth.  He is a character, and it would be impossible to fit all of that character into one picture.  I am almost amazed that I got this picture at all.  It was one of those rare moments that he stopped and smirked before whizzing off to something else.  He is my beloved nephew, Big Dave.

I hope you don't mind me digressing into these little character studies for a few more days.  After you spend two weeks in a cabin with lots of kids, the individual personalities really start to come out and now that I'm back in my quiet house, I miss all those personalities.  The depth and variety of humanity, even in one family, in really remarkable.  Praise God!

Nancy

Character Study: Little Rose

A few months ago we invested in an actual camera, one with lenses and settings.  Both my husband and I have had a lot of fun figuring out the camera and experimenting.  We still have a lot to learn, but, wow!  Compared to the pictures I was getting before, I can't believe what this camera can do!

Of course the world is always a beautiful place, but our new camera can really capture that wonder and beauty.  We just got back from 2 weeks on the beach and as I sift through the 1,000+ pictures we took while there, I decided I just have to share a few.  They are more beautiful than anything I could create.  So, for the next few days I will be posting a series of pictures I will call "character studies".  The first subject is my little two month God-Daughter Rose.

All babies are amazing, but little Rose is extra amazing.  She has three older sibling that love her (sometime a little too much!), she is carted all around, plopped here or there for a nap or a feeding, and yet she is calm, happy and peaceful.  I love this picture because it shows yet another place she was plopped for a nap, and she has her tongue out, which is classic Rose.  She's always got that little tongue out!

Little babies can't help but remind me of the closeness of the Lord.  A year ago when we were in Michigan she was maybe a thought in the back of her parent's mind...and one short year later here is this little miracle, so perfect and so unique.  It is impossible to doubt when I look at Little Rose.

Thanks for stopping by,
Nancy

Felt Camera Case

The last 2 and a half weeks have been a wonderful break from the usual grind.  I spend that time at a cabin on Lake Michigan with my entire family.  There were tons of kids, crafts, food, sand, swimming and fun, but no internet.  I missed blogging, but it's nice to take a break even from this.

Even though I wasn't blogging, I was still busy crafting!  I have two sweet nieces who just might be bigger crafters than I am!  We did all sorts of projects.  But, here is a project I did for my mom.  It was a quick felt fix and helped her carry on as the crazy photographer she is!

I am lucky enough to have a mother that takes lots of pictures, but sometimes she carries her little hand-held camera into places that are not camera-friendly, just to get that perfect shot.  She destroyed a camera on our last family vacation to Michigan, so she was nervous this year.  Therefore I whipped up this simple little case.  It isn't waterproof, but it helped to keep the sand and sun off of the camera.

Supplies: Felt, Needle, Thread

Step 1: Lay your camera on a piece of felt and using that as a guide, cut out a rectangle that is slightly wider than the camera and will wrap around the long ends of the camera 1.5 times.  (in mine this is the red piece) Then, in a contrasting color of felt, cut out two rectangles that are slightly longer and wider than the thin sides of the camera.  These will be used as the side pieces.  (in mine these are the tan pieces)

Step 2: Lay the smaller rectangle on top of the larger rectangle, matching up outside corners.  Blanket stitch down the long side, fold the big piece of felt around and working from the outside, blanket stitch the short side.  Finally, folding the large piece of felt around again, continue to stitch from the outside and blanket stitch up the last side.  Repeat with other smaller piece of felt on opposite side.

Step 3: By this point you should have a case type shape, without a way to close it.  Cut a long piece of felt.  Sew the center of the long piece of felt securely to the top flap of the case.  I reinforced mine with a button.  Make sure the piece of felt is long enough to wrap around the case and tie in the back.

Step 4: Embellish as desired.

And, my mother certainly took lots of pictures!  Here are a few, but if you want to see more, feel free to visit her at her own blog: Family Soul Story.

Our son taking his first steps after mass a week ago!

Thanks mom, and thanks for stopping by

Nancy