Well, it looks like we've caught her in the middle of a sewing project. Pinning a neckline with a collar can be tricky work, but I'm sure our Hen is up to the task!
She's giving it a final inspection . . . . Yes, I think it's all ready to go to the sewing machine.
Here she is, patiently collecting her pins as the neckline is sewn.
Henrietta has done a very nice job of pinning the first bodice lining in place - How will she do on the rest? 
OH! She's staying away from that hot iron! She'll move in and finish the rest of the pinning once the iron has completed its' task.
Well, well! Things are moving right along for our gal Hen. The handsewing on the bodice front and back is finished, the sleeves are both gathered and pinned and ready to be sewn.
Is Henrietta looking a bit tired? Poor dear, she's had quite a day. Just a bit more to do though. I'm sure she can hold up!
Ah, now we are nearing the end. Henrietta has pinned both side seams very nicely and they are already for the first sewing of their French Seams. I knew she could do it!
All Done! Lovely Job, Hen! Just the kind of help any seamstress needs when the needle and thread are flying.
What's this? We're NOT done yet? There's still a ruffle to do?
Pardon me, but did you say that the ruffle was FIVE Yards Long?!?
What is Henrietta doing? It looks like she is trying to hide in the folds of the ruffle. I'm afraid our Poor Hen is overwhelmed. 
Oh, Hen! Maybe we can tempt her out with a little treat?
How would you like a nibble of some sugar cookie? There now, that's better, isn't it? Yes, yes, eat up and regain your strength.
I never really thought much about bowls until I read an excellent posting a few years ago by Lady Lydia at LAF titled "The Mixing Bowl." If you have not read it, I would highly encourage you to do so.
I love the picture she paints of the woman of the house standing with her apron on, holding the mixing bowl firmly with one hand and arm, stirring vigorously with her other, all the while watching over the affairs and doings of her home. There is such grace and nostalgia in a simple apron, a mixing bowl and a wooden spoon. A gentleness that pulling the mixer out of the cupboard will never be able to match.
I have my own favorite bowls now, each with it's own story and purpose.
This is my Grandmother's bowl. This is also my largest bowl which is used for the BIG things like making bread, holding a family-size serving of noodles, or for mixing up a big batch of Refrigerator Bran Muffins which will last us for a week of breakfasts. It is a heavy ceramic bowl and I love using it because it brings back thoughts of a Grandmother whom I never really got to know, yet wish I had. Bittersweet - I understand what that means now.
This one is a two-quart batter bowl that I bought several years ago from Pampered Chef. This is invaluable to me for a quick batch of muffins or pancakes in the morning or for brownies in the evening . It's even been known to handle some tuna salad for lunch! It also has a lid and is great for storing leftover soups. I couldn't be without this or his little sister, the one-quart batter bowl.
This little bowl is not for mixing - it is simply pretty and I love serving things in it on the table. It has held chips, scrambled eggs, salads, and vegetables. I didn't buy this bowl, it was actually left at the house we bought. It was left in the garage, underneath some shelves with planting containers. I guess at one time it held a potted plant and was then forgotten. But it caught my eye as soon as I saw it. I took it in the house and scrubbed it clean. Now it is a little bright spot in my cupboard or on the table!
This cheery bowl was found on the bottom shelf at Goodwill. I love all things chicken and so this immediately caught my eye! It is a bit chipped around the top, but it is useful just the same. This is the bowl that sits out on my stovetop - not only decorative but practical, too. Whenever I am cooking and need a quick place to put something, this is the bowl. It holds cooked onions for me while I finish cooking the meat, and it keeps the fajitas or taco meat warm while I heat the tortillas in the skillet. This is my little everything bowl and I'm so glad I found it!
These bowls will be a part of my children's memories - of mom in the kitchen, of the special treats that were baked for them, the stories that each bowl holds, of 'home.'
What memories in the making are in your kitchen? What are your everyday treasures that will last forever in the minds of your children? I hope you have a few, or if not that you'll get some soon.
(Originally published @ henandchicks.typepad.com)
Sewing all of her clothes (dresses, pantaloons, pajamas and such) is a necessity in this present age. And the best part is that we get to go shopping at the fabric store for all sorts of fun and pretty fabrics for great one-of-a-kind dresses for a one-of-a-kind girl!
(Originally published @ henandchicks.typepad.com)
My first Chocolate Felt Cake is done!
It was so much fun to make --
I envision many more to come!
With simple needle, floss and tender care,
There is soon a lovely gift beyond compare.
A Chocolate Cake with dripping Chocolate Fudge icing, a generous dollop of whipped cream and topped with a sweet, fresh strawberry. The Chocolate Leaves were the perfect finishing touch for this little gem.
H (dear son 3) decided to use bananas in the background instead of the flowers - and he opted for no skirt. Go figure. He says this card is going to Grandma C. He placed his request for the Bugs & Kisses Stamp Set - and since it was his idea, I have never really paid attention to it until he pointed it out ot me, I got it for him! (picture below)
R did a wonderful job on her card, too! She's been wanting this Monkey Business set to go along with her Wild About You Stamp Set -- so now she can have the monkey hanging over the crocodile! ARHHhhhhh!
How very sweet is that?
Thank you, Thank you. What a blessing it is to have wonderful friends!
(Originally published @ henandchicks.typepad.com)
A really simple recipe and easy to double, which I do so that we can have some for lunch tomorrow!
This is from The Southern Living Cookbook that I borrowed from my mom about 11 years ago. I hope she doesn't want it back anytime soon. ;-) As always, the first time I make a recipe I follow it exactly. Then if it is good enough, we tweak it and make it our own - so what follows is essentially the Southern Living recipe with a few little changes made by the children and I.
Popover Pizza
Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in large skillet until meat is browned; drain fat. Add sauce - after pouring sauce from jar, add about 1/4 c. of water to jar and shake to get remaining sauce then add that to the skillet also along with mushrooms and olives. Stir well and simmer 10 minutes.
While sauce is simmering, beat eggs, milk and oil in bowl until foamy. Add flour and salt, beating with wire whisk until smooth.
Spoon meat mixture into a lightly greased 9x13 dish, then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Pour batter over meat mixture. (Yes, it is very thin and looks like nothing at all, but trust me - it will be wonderful!) Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake at 400F for 30 mintues, or until the top is puffed and golden brown. Cut into squares and serve hot. Serves 6.
NOTE: This is just a great basic recipe that you can adapt to fit your family. Whatever you may like on your pizza, go ahead and put it in! When I double this, I add 1 lb. ground beef and 1 lb. of sausage to stretch the sausage. I cook the meat mixture all together but mix the crust ingredients separately so that they are equal. You could also add spaghetti sauce and some diced tomatoes (without the olives) for a more Spaghetti-type dinner. And the crust on this is so easy and delicious that I can imagine it poured over any kind of meat/vegetable mixture - like chicken and broccoli with cheddar cheese. Delicious!
(Originally published @ henandchicks.typepad.com)
So, I'm beginning to ask myself -
"Just what DID you do today?"
* * * * * * * *Okay, I did do a few things today.
I answered some e-mails, read some blogs and lots of neat information on making your own toothpaste and deodorants (because the ones available at the stores are so full of chemicals that we are going to start making all our own stuff, from soaps and detergents as well as personal care items like -- toothpaste and deodorants!)
I had a very nice little talk with Dear Son 3, and watched Dear Son 2 practicing his fire building skills.
We are working on a great unit study right now called Prepare and Pray --
It's focus is on emergency preparedness, do-it-yourself homeskills (which goes along with our learning to make our own soaps) and wilderness skills, too!
So, for the past week the boys have been in the backyard just about any spare minute they get - trying to start a fire. They've used magnifying lenses, wood shavings, their magnesium fire starters and more trying to find the right combination to get a fire going. No matches or paper allowed!
The goal is to be able to build a fire with the materials on hand in all kinds of situations: clear weather, windy, rainy, or snowy.
It took awhile, but he finally had a great success!
He wanted to keep piling wood on it to build it and keep it going, but I didn't think the neighbors would really appreciate a bon-fire in the backyard!
(and yes, there was a bucket of water right next to him in case of any mishaps.)
