Canada Trip 2013

Our annual trip to Canada has come and gone.  The girls and I flew into Minot, North Dakota where Mark and all the puppies met us.  We had almost 3 weeks of family time-hunting, playing with the dogs and visiting our friends.  I say it every year, but it's always so bittersweet leaving.  Part of my heart is always left there in this beautiful country with these dear people.

Crossing the border

Grace and me on one of the flights

Emma got sick our first day there!  Her buddy Duke was trying to make her feel better

Me and Emma hanging out in the duck blind!

Our girl Thicket posing with a duck she fetched.

Mary, Emma, our friend Mrs. Phyllis, me and Grace

Emma catching up on some school reading on our drive back from Delta Beach.

Our favorite coffee shop and some of our favorite  people.  Mary, Emma, Mrs.Phyllis, Mr.Henry and Grace.

The one time of year we get to ice skate.  We had the whole rink to ourselves.

Grace and Emma lighting our paper lantern.

Emma got to go to school with her friend Samantha.  It was her first time in public school (she has only been home schooled).  She had a blast!

A Whirl-wind trip!

3600+ miles in 6 days.  8 states and 2 countries!  What in the world was I thinking??
It all started with taking our puppy to camp (dog training) in Brainerd, MN.  We've made this trip a few times-no big deal.  The dog trainer and his family are friends of ours so it's always nice to visit them.

Then little Emma spoke up and said she just had to visit her penpal who lives in southern MN.  We don't get to MN that often, so I added this stop to our list too.

A few days before we were to leave one of my Canadian friends called.  As we chatted she mentioned that she'd be in Winnipeg while I was in MN.  Seriously?  Winnipeg is only 7 hours from Brainerd.  It wouldn't be a problem to hop across the border for the day!

So, our trip went like this:
Day 1 drive from our home to Foristill, MO (about 13 hours)
Day 2 from MO to Brainerd, MN (about 11 hours)  visited and had dinner with our friends and dropped off the puppy at the kennel.
Day 3 drove from MN to Winnipeg, Canada (about 7 hours)-had lunch with my friend and visited for 4 hours) then drove back across the border and spent the night in Fargo, ND.
Day 4 drove from ND back to Brainerd.  Had lunch with our friends and visited our puppy one more time.  Then drove to southern MN.  Had dinner with our other friends and spent the night with them.
Day 5 drove about 10 hours from Lonsdale, MN to Arnold, MO (just south of St. Louis).
Day 6 drove from MO to home sweet home!  (about 11 hours)

To say we were exhausted is such an understatement, but it was all worth it.  Seeing our friends, sweet fellowship, making memories.  That's what it's all about!  Now to rest for a few days and embark on our next girl's road trip!

Early morning driving calls for a stop by Starbucks! (day 3)

We're in Canada again! (day 3)

Me and my sweet buddy Cheryl.  I was so very happy to see her, even if it was for just a little while.

(day 3)

Here's Emma with her friends Kate and Clark.  Their daddy has trained several of our dogs. (day 4)

Our friends in southern MN-Emma and her pen pal Betsy with the rest of our families. (day 4 and 5)

Dreams Do Come True

The last time our family went to Disney World, Emma was just 4 months old. The big girls and I made a scrapbook of the trip. When she got older, Emma would flip through the pages, and repeatedly say "I want go back to Disney!" A few weeks ago, her Daddy surprised all of us with a trip to Disney World. We packed in as much as we could in the short time we were there. Emma finally got to meet all her favorite princesses. The whole family had a fabulous time at the place where dreams really do come true.

A tale of 10 dogs

Today as my daughter and I took care of our dogs I thought, I should write about all we go through with these 4-legged friends.  There's never a dull moment.  So...here's my first 'installment'.

Ripley and Thicket 

Welcome to the Dog House.  The picture above shows where our babies live (2 live in the house with us).  Now let me introduce you:

Fraulein, Thicket and Ripley (Fraulein is their baby)-all Springer Spaniels

Champ (English Setter) and Flirt aka Momma Dog.  Flirt is 15 years old! Sweet girl.

Our English Pointer siblings: W.C, Willow and Menzie-  better known as Team Thug (boys) and the Quarter Back

The English Pointer parents: Gabby and Bob

Yes, you counted right.  We have 10 dogs!  Everyone is loved every single day and gets special attention.  We know all there little idiosyncrasies; they all have nicknames and crazy stories we've made up about them.  They bring such joy to our lives.  I can't wait for you to hear about all their antics. Until next time....

Apron Tutorial (kind of)

Recently Emma had to play a farmer in a skit for our library.  I looked everywhere for overalls in her size and couldn't find them.  The lady directing the skit had a little apron that Emma could borrow.  There was only one problem-it had John Deere fabric and there's no way Popie (my dad) could let his granddaughter wear John Deere.  He's all about Farmall (It's a Southern thing-everybody has their own preference of tractors-kind of like picking a football team).  What's a girl to do???  Make an apron in Farmall colors!

I went through the stash in my sewing room and found all the items I would need:

1 pair of old blue jeans(my size-or the size I wish I still wore)

about a 1/4 yard of red mini check fabric*

about a 1/4 yard of burlap*

Heat bond

*you may need more/less fabric.  I'm terrible at estimating quantities of fabric.

I cut the jeans apart right around the side (hip) seams and about an inch below the back pockets.  I used my Go! Baby (an amazing invention) to cut strips, 2 1/2 inches wide, of the red mini check fabric and also of the burlap.  For Emma, I needed 2 pieces around 45 inches of the red for the belt and 50 inches of the burlap for the ruffle.

Place the 2 belt pieces right sides together and sew both long sides and one short side (1/4 in seams).  Turn, iron and sew the one open side-tucking raw edges in.  I slid it through the belt loops and got it centered.  Then I sewed it to the jeans at both outside edges to keep it from slipping out.

I wanted the apron to look 'shabby chic' (more shabby than chic!) so I didn't finish the edges of the burlap ruffle.  I just eyeballed where the gathers (pleats, tucks, whatever you may call them) should go.  I sewed the raw edge of the burlap right to the top of the jeans.  I did go back and zigzag the edge so it wouldn't fray too much.  Gosh I love burlap!

For the hearts, I used my Go! Baby again, cutting 2 different sizes and applying Head Bond to all 4 hearts.  After ironing those on the pockets the little apron was finished!  

Emma proudly wore it with the Farmall t-shirt that Popie had given her which made everybody happy!

Here's a Farmall tractor like the ones my dad collects and restores.

Beach Day in February

We live about 15 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico yet we hardly go there in the summer.  Too many people, tourists, cars, etc.  I hate having to push my way through a crowd-especially when it's stifling hot.  Instead, we visit this beautiful beach during the other 3 seasons of the year.   

This particular day my youngest daughter's morning had not turned out quite as she planned.  She had embarrassed herself and was absolutely devastated. We decided to grab lunch and head to the beach.  It had rained all morning, was windy and a bit chilly.  That didn't stop us.  There's something about coming to this haven that feels like the 'edge' of the earth.  The salty air, the sound of the waves crashing, the squishy sand under our feet, the gorgeous color of the sky-it cleanses the soul.  Daughter #3 picked up sea shells, rain with the birds and carefully avoided the waters edge (most of the time).  When we left, somehow all was right with the world for her.  All of the mornings heartaches were forgotten.

God has such a sweet way of comforting and loving on us through His gorgeous creation.  I'm glad we took the time to stop and enjoy it. 

I never told you about New York!

For my eldest daughter's 16th birthday we surprised her (and the whole family) with a trip to New York City!  Mark was in the Middle East and was meeting us in NYC.  I revealed the destination in Atlanta.

Before leaving I made a booklet of all the places I thought we might want to visit.  I included the address, hours, prices, etc.  For the last flight I told Mary to look through this list and see what she really wanted to do

Here are Grace, Mary (the birthday girl) and Emma in Atlanta right after they found out where we were going.

The 9/11 Memorial-the one place I insisted that we see.  I was totally overcome with emotion as I read the names.  I don't know anyone personally who perished on this awful day, yet I cried uncontrollably as I walked through this beautiful monument.

Leave it to us girls to find the library!  We've managed to find one in every city we've ever been in! We just love the library.

Our hotel was in Time Square.  This was the view at night. Gorgeous!

One day we went to The Top of the Rock. What a n amazing panoramic look we had at the whole city!

We had to go see Central Park.  Here are the girls on our last day.

One of the 'must see' things was a Broadway show-Wicked!  We all love  the Wizard of Oz and couldn't wait to see this show.  It was amazing!!

We have to go to Hard Rock in every city/country that we visit.(that has one)   We're never been disappointed!

Here are me and the girls waiting on the subway to take us to Lincoln Center to the see NYC Ballet perform The Nutcracker.  It was so beautiful!

American Girl!  One of our favorite places!  This is the 3rd one we've seen.  They never grow old!

Our Sweet Valentine's Day

Valentine's morning found me with 2 sick girls and my hubby in the Middle East.  We managed to make it a positive, very sweet day.  I found a recipe on Pinterest for Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies.  I made mine in a heart shaped cookie sheet.  They turned out so well!

1 box red velvet cake mix

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix ingredients until combined.

Drop spoonfuls of cookie batter onto baking sheet about 2 inches apart (or use a sheet like I did.  I used a small melon scooper to put my batter onto each heart.)

Bake 10-12 minutes.

Cool.

Cream Cheese Filling

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1 1lb box confectioner's sugar

1 tsp vanilla

In mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and vanilla.  Gradually add sugar and mix until smooth.  

These little hearts are the easiest, and tastiest things ever!  I found this recipe on the back of the heart shaped cutter.  (from Target)
1 package of refrigerated pie crust
1 can pie filling
1 egg, beaten

Cut pie crust into shape of choice.  Put about a Tbsp (depends on the size cutter you used) of pie filling in the middle of the crust.  Brush egg around inside edge of 2 pieces of crust.  Put a piece of crust on top of one that has filling.  Press edges together very well.  My cutter had a crimping side.  Place on wax paper on cookie sheet.  Brush more egg on top.  Bake until lightly browned.