Finished Object Friday

Friday once again! I hope you all have had more crafting time than me! :)  I did get a few things done - like a couple of knitting projects I will share later... and I also made this fun little flower!


I sewed it onto a clip for my hair. It was a fun, quick little project and the first time I had done a covered button. The button was much easier than I thought it would be and soo cute! I'll probably be making more. :) (here is the flower tutorial!)

In other news, the fall decorating hasn't been going so well. After all my exuberance last week, the weather warmed up. Who feels like decorating for fall when the temps are in the mid 90's? :)  But it is coming along slowly... 

For those of you who haven't clicked over from a reader, I did get my blog redecorated for fall! It is looking much more crisp and warm. :) I even added pages - you can click the links at the top for some of the things that used to be on my sidebars. So much neater!

So how about you? What have you been crafting recently? I am excited to see your projects! If you are new to FOF, you can find out more here. Happy Sharing!!

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1. Nikki -- Little Boy's Crocheted Blanket

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Let Them Eat (Funnel) Cake!

Recently I've had a craving for something fluffy, fried, and sugary. (Healthy. I know!) Sunday evening, we invited my family over for snacks after church. After an oh-so-healthy meal of tuna, chips and popcorn, I started frying!



I quickly realized that funnel cakes aren't a one (wo)man show and I called in help. Pretty soon we had an assembly line going.

I would put the batter in the oil, Mom flipped the cakes and took them out, then we handed them off to Angie who had the fun task of sprinkling the sugar on top!

Let me tell you, it does make a mess in your kitchen! Not to mention your faces (especially if you plant your face in the powdery plate for a photo op!!)  :)


(oh, and Dad and Mark helped us eat them... but I don't think they are as into photo opportunities!) :) It probably would have been easier and less mess with one of these kits, but just as tasty either way!

Here is the recipe below. I had to add more milk to get the cake to go through the funnel, this made for smaller "noodles" and more yummy goodness!!


 Ingredients:
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder

Funnel Cake Directions:

1. In a deep skillet, heat about two cups of oil over medium-high heat until hot. Test the temperature by dropping a pinch of flour into the hot oil. If it sizzles right away without smoking, it's perfect.
2. Beat egg and milk. Mix all other ingredients in a separate bowl and slowly add to the egg mixture, beating until smooth.
3. Using a funnel, drop into hot oil working from center outwards in a web pattern. (You can use a gallon sized freezer bag instead of a funnel by pouring the batter into the bag, snipping off a small corner of it, and squeezing the batter into the oil.)
4. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, remove from the oil when golden brown and crispy.
5. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

(recipe found here)

Oh, and after you finish the first beautiful cake, you take a picture and text to a couple of friends who you know will get very jealous and threaten to head right over to your house!! :) ...all in good fun, of course!

Outlive Your Life - Book Review

Max Lucado's newest work, Outlive Your Life, is a challenge to believers to live life outside the box. He encourages us that we can each make a difference in our world for Christ. The book is based on the book of Acts and he retells stories from the book of Acts as well as modern day counterparts to the stories. He describes how we can make a difference by caring for the needy and offering hospitality as well as many other ways.

I really enjoy Mr. Lucado's writing style. He is a wonderful story teller. I love how sometimes I'm reading a story about "someone" and that someone will be him - how someone helped him come to Christ or made a difference in his life. Lucado gives practical examples for ways that we can make a positive difference in the lives of others. This book, like many of his, is a very enjoyable to read, although the book is also a challenge to Christians to live a better life and to strive to help others in need.

I did feel that the things addressed in this book were things that Christians ought to already know. However, I guess that is really the nature of the book. I feel that it is addressed more to the "laissez faire" Christian.  It is a call to action for those that have been wanting a free ride to heaven. Like the song says:  "Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas?"


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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Cool Weather Inspiration

Texas has become a bit cooler in the last several days. We are really enjoying the temps in the 80s! I feel like fall is already here! (I did see a tree changing color, but whether it was the cooler temps or lack of water, I'm not sure!) :)

The onset of cooler temperatures has me "domesticating." Although I haven't quite got my fall decorations up, that will happen very soon! : ) For some reason the cooler weather makes me want to have a cleaner, less cluttered home. Our house is getting some cleaning, and I have a few boxes of things that I am getting rid of. I'm wanting to get rid of more! (How did I get so much stuff in just 5 years of marriage? Maybe like this??)

I love fall baking! I did bake cookies yesterday - molasses crinkles! Yum!! :)



I've also been inspired to knit more. I've got a couple of projects "smoldering" in my brain. Oh, and now that it's starting to get cooler, I'll get to wear my socks soon!! :)

Believe it or not, this cooler weather is also making me want to blog more... it is just hard to find time with all that cleaning and decluttering! :) (I will be back tomorrow with a book review!)

Finished Object Friday

Yep, it's that time again!! ...when we share our finished projects!

My life has been really full lately - see previous post - and I don't have quite as much time for crafting as I would like. But there is a crafting time I have set aside once a week. every week. We do it in Wednesday evening Bible club! So most of my "crafting attention" has been focused on things that kids can do. :)  We've been studying creation in Bible club - it's great... the kids know the days and what God created on them better than I do!! Last week they made butterflies out of coffee filters and clothes pins. They turned out so cute! One little guy did his the colors of the rainbow! (I wish I had taken a picture of that!)

So this Wednesday we studied day seven - God rested. So... we made pillows!! :) Mom and I brought some fabric we thought they might like. I packed up "my" sewing machine. We let them pick out a couple of fabrics for their pillows...

(Oh, funny! Looking at this picture, I just realized that I have them in order left to right, the oldest to youngest!)

And the best part? They LOVED it!! I cut the squares out, and Mom sewed them together, leaving enough room for them to do the stuffing. They had a blast watching the machine. I don't know if they had ever seen a sewing machine work. And they just loved their pillows when they were done!

One lesson I learned? Don't be soo fearful when matching fabric patterns! Who knew that cowboy boots and camo would go so well together? :) Or that purple sparkly fabric would match a pink paisley print! Each pillow was so fun because it was a reflection of them! I just love these kiddos! :)

So now it's your turn to share! I can't wait to see your projects! :)  Here's the intro post to FOF if you are just finding it.

And Happy birthday, today, to my Dad!!! The best dad a gal could have! Love you, Pops! :)

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1. Designer Lamp on a Thrift Store budget.

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