Must have these!

I've found the dishes to grace my new kitchen (if it ever appears;).

http://www.emersoncreekpottery.com/dinnerware/go-green-dinner-set-for-four.shtml

They are made in the USA, and are so gorgeous. The cabinet man was here today , can't wait to see his estimate. Over the last 5 years we have slowly been working on upgrading the house. The last projects, major anyway, are the kitchen and the master bath.
As the frugal person I am (really honey;), I've been holding off on new dinnerware until the kids are a little bigger. These sweet dishes may make me cave! Especially if new cabinets and appliances arrive.

Beth's apron

Beth's apron
Originally uploaded by B DOODLES

The Cotton Wife had an Apron Giveaway at the beginning of March, Beth is the winner! The fabric she desired arrived Saturday and today her apron is finished! It will be sent out in tomorrow's mail.
A huge 'thank you' to Jennifer the writer and photographer behind the giveaway. You can find her blog here... http://thecottonwife.com/

Brandi

peek-a-boo

peek-a-boo
Originally uploaded by B DOODLES

After hours of rain this past Sunday we finally got to venture outside!
The 'herd' was delighted to see us, real bovines and the confused equine 'bovines'. These horses have lived with the cows for years now, the blood bay , for 2 years, he's 4. The black bay has been turned out with the cows for 9 years now, he's 11. They don't know that they're horses (sshhhh don't tell;). I did manage to get several pictures including some of the new calves, stop by and take a peek.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34132500@N08/sets/72157623550102991/

Setting Up

Setting Up – And The Winner!

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Small Bakers

Another freezing morning in Central Florida, bbrrr.
A great way to warm up? Turn on the oven and bake!
Moon thoroughly enjoys cooking. He gets out all the ingredients, measures, pours, mixes, even spoons the first batch of cookies onto the tray. Then he's gone! (the cleaning fairy is coming to do the rest ;).

Our first project was Ginger Drop cookies, my favorite! Moon found out he doesn't care for raw molasses or even  cookies with molasses in them. Then we had to scratch up some oatmeal cookies!
The ginger drops came out fabulous...yummy. Below is the recipe I use, given to me years ago by a co-worker.

Ginger Drops

Ingredients

3/4 c butter                                                          

2 c sugar

2 eggs

1/2 c molasses

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tbs. hot water

4 c flour

2 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

pre heated oven to 350

Mix: butter, sugar, eggs, and molasses beat until creamy

Add: baking soda and hot water, beat well

Next combine dry ingredients, mix well (dough will be thick)

Chill dough (an hour), roll into teaspoon size balls, dip in sugar, flatten slightly on ungreased cookie sheet

Bake 7-8 minutes for a soft chewy cookie, 9-10 minutes for a crunchy cookie.

Easy enough for a three year old with little help from mom ;)

*Favorite thing about these cookies, the dough is very firm after just an hour of chilling, even older toddlers can roll it in their palms, dip it in sugar and flatten it on the cookie sheet without making a huge mess!

Riding

The weather was finally perfect this past weekend! So the trailer was hooked up, horses loaded and a riding we went! The hay burners (an Arab and an Arab/App cross) went back to work, yea! Truth be told they were as happy as us for a change of scenery. Living in central Florida we are privileged to have access to many many different trails to ride on. Here is a list of our favorites.

Withlacoochee State Forest Citrus Tract -(I grew up riding in this forest :)
Many locations with easy access, even for big rigs, and horse water. Barefoot horses will have an easy ride here.
http://fl-dof.com/state_forests/withlacoochee_recreation.html

Two Mile Prairie (really it's an 8.9 mile loop)
Easy access and horse water. Beautiful shady trails, deep sand.
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/twomile.html

Ross Prairie Trail Head
Easy access, horse water.
A more difficult trail, rocky, steep hills but well worth it, scenic.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/crossflorida/trails/sr200_cr484.htm

These trails we have used over and over again and never tire of riding them, even in the summer heat :)

The Sewing Room

One year now I've had this wonderful new space off the back of the house! It was/is designed to be a play room for the kids, it also leads into Moon's room/bath(every boy should have their own space :)

The sewing room has now taken over! Now the kids still have half, O.K. it's a small half, but it is still theirs. Mag's piano sits in one corner, Moon's toys dominate the the other corner.

After a year of 'stuff' coming into the sewing corner this is what we had.

EEKK A MESS!

The tubs under the table are full of fabric, the clear stackables full of notions!

Monday I made it to Ikea, need I say more?


Where the stackables were!

New 'cutting table' with storage underneath!

Mother came to play with new setup!

Monster Truck Barn

Monster Truck Barn
Originally uploaded by B DOODLES

I dropped the ball taking so long to post pictures of this awesome structure (that is if you have a house full of matchbox monster tucks)!
This was made by a friend of the family for our 3 year old. He was fasinated by his sister's wooden breyer horse barn and she was not at all happy about having monster trucks where her horses should have been everyday.
The barn or in more manly terms 'shop' is hinged in the middle and closes with a brass latch. There is a handle on top that makes toting it and all those trucks around a snap.

Thank you so much Chris and Sandra.

Vacations

We made it back home last night! Although I must say that since this was a trip with NO (that's right NO) kids, it was tempting to stay away longer. Sandra, bless her, was ready for us to be back, we won't see her for weeks...LOL.

Brief trip description:

Central Florida to North Central Mississippi, Houston to be exact. Took a detour to Sherman, MS where Premier Prints is located, then over to Tupelo (you know where Elvis was born). Back to Ponotoc, then down to Dothan, Al (had to stop at the tractor auction), down to Defuniak Springs then back home.

Houston was cold and wet, hiking around the property was a muddy experience this time. The creeks were swollen with water shed, bubbling and rushing south.

Can't wait to go back in the spring! Mississippi is such a diverse place, population and topographically speaking.

As always I had my camera right beside me and got so caught up in what I was seeing, pictures were forgotten. Here are a couple of pictures taken in Mississippi this past summer.

Chicken Coops

Middle creek with wooden bridge.

Excitement

Garment Bag is back!

I was lucky enough to be a pattern tester for a wonderful designer last month. I made the child's garment bag, sent it back to be photographed, it made its way home today along with few other patterns!

Off for a short hiatus this week (no kids !!!), very busy Monday...

I would have liked to finish the key fobs for these Blackberry Pouches before leaving, it will just have to wait.

Also finished up a wrap sundress/apron today, so springy and fresh!

A Ramble

So I've decided to give this blogging thing a try.

With three kids, a yard full of hunting dogs, half a dozen horses, and a herd of Cracker cows, we have a pretty crazy life. I know all we are missing are the chickens and the pig!

What the heck maybe I'll write about it. Bear with me as I figure this out.

After two weeks of record breaking cold temps, it is finally warm again and raining. It should only take me a few days to thaw out!

My major project this week, although in reality it will take me two to get it done, months to get it perfect, the sewing room has to be reorganized or maybe I should say organized (no 're'). Ikea here I come!

Before



can't wait to have after pics!


The minor projects this week include an owl quilt and a few aprons!









Off to work on that now...






Leaving you with a picture of this redneck life.


Mud slinging in the back yard!