Chahinkapa Zoo in Whapeton ND

A family outing to the Zoo a few hrs south.  They have big cat's and buffalo, zebra's and monkeys.  A mini farm and a big brown bear. Which was taking a bath when we passed by. :)  It was a great trip, warm weather and our little people had a good time. 

 Part of the Odder exhibit.  I'm not sure why we didn't take more, but the pool is above ground and you can watch them swim.  I'm pretty sure this girl in the picture could of stayed and watched for a long time.

 Kangaroo's and tortoises, where you could go in their pen and get up close.  

 One set of big cats, along with Siberian tigers (one white, one orange). 

There was big horn sheep, llama's with new babies, buffalo, and lot's of birds! 

A few more 1st pictures

Jim was in charge of pictures this year since he was getting Ms. C on the bus.  I told him I was not going through that torture. :-0   The bus riding went fine and so did the pictures!  And now that I got them off the phone, they are here to view. Simple and sweet! 

Adventures at the Red River Zoo!

It just so happens that our electric coop offers a free day at our local zoo.  We have not taken them up on their offer before but this time we decided to drive back to town for a very nice, but windy few hours.  Why not go? It is partly due to how simple the zoo really is (simple animals, small, but it really is great for kids) but since we had not visited for 2 years, we decided to see what was new. And there were many new improvements, changes of animals, new landscaping, and added animals. 

Here's a few pictures to show you some of the kids' fun!

These are gigantic colored pencils, if you didn't look close enough.  They are incredibly awesome and are a great way to make a privacy fence fun! 

 And carousel rides, can't pass up rides on a musical-go-round riding a horse! 

'she Seams nice' - a new sewing adventure

I have sewn, for many years (16 to be exact), and have always enjoyed it. Here's the kicker, I really like to give away my sewing gifts and I need a bit of something extra to help with this. :-0 Because once a gift giver, always a gift giver! I am starting 'she Seams nice'.  And here's where I really was encouraged.

The latest and greatest fabric store to open, has encouraged me to offer my sewing services to their customers. To get a business card or 20 out on the table, they are sure they can fill my cup with orders. While all that sounds wonderful, I do hope I will get some custom orders, but not to many. You know, I am a mom of three, one in school, one whom I should be prepping for kindergarten a bit more and my sweet little boy, who's 16 mos.  Let alone all the laundry, food prep and serving, fun, tickle sessions, cleaning, devotions, and ministry I am involved in. Um, yes... it's daily life, that I try to keep simple. SIMPLE.
With all of that, I MAKE time to sew, it's my road to sanity, my alone time, a quite time, a time of focus, success in another form, creative juices flowing, and relaxation. When I am sewing the hubs picks up the other end, I am thankful for this.

Since I have started my Facebook page (because the hubs recommended it since I am not writing a blog) and made it public, I have had quite a few friends ask to use me. It's all of a sudden a time of new projects or in the near future! It's exciting, to be creating for others, to help their home become more welcoming and how they would like it to be.  I am certainly working on the 'do I want to do this project, yes or no?'.  'Is it worth my time?' Which is all necessary when I have a life on the other side of the sewing machine to accommodate too.  


she Seams nice  
your mom would approve... 

This name comes from my husband, over a two week span he was mumbling words to me, I'd write them down. Then the 'ah -ha' moment came, in he comes from working on his car. 'Here's the name Lexie'. It is catchy, people will smile after they read it, and with the stigma of sewing as such a boring and non-exciting task, I think it will get people thinking in a whole new way.  Sewing is coming back, even though expensive, custom or not, it's the way you get what you want. 

Business cards came in, now I just need to get them to a few stores and I am set. 

Here's to a new adventure! 

News from School

 Claire started school on the 20th of August.  The first three days were a little rough, as in not enough energy. But she felt comfortable enough to sleep on the bus, I am thankful for this.  

She enjoys her teacher I believe, she is one of those kids, that can see the nice in almost anyone. I know the only reason I didn't like a teacher was when they were to stern about something and they really didn't need to be. Talking normal would of gotten the job done. 

I ask her, what was one interesting event of the day?  Something that happened good or bad.  It helps with getting her to share about her day instead of her 'I don't know' response.

Here is one, "Did you know Mrs. Braundenberg is not there?" "And do you know Mr. Bastin and now there is a Mrs. Bastin!"  "She's our new music teacher."  "We got chairs instead of carpet."  "Those two are probably married, she had two pictures on he desk. One of her and her little girl and one with her husband" Did you follow all of that?  One music teacher is gone, and the new music teacher is Mrs. Bastin, and she is married to Mr. Bastin. 

"Miles and Tyler (name change) are still in Kindergarten, but that is okay. They have a new teacher too". 
Claire is so sweet, easily understands that it's okay they are not in first grade. 

She is also sad, one of her friends and classmates from last year moved away.  "Mom, she's going to a different school, I asked Sandy". That explains why they never returned calls from the summer, they weren't even here. 

I will have to post some pictures at a later date. The husband took the pictures and i have not been able to email them to me. 

More news on school later! Cheers! 

What is a home?

All the devotions I post here resonate with me some way or another. But for me, where I like to decorate but it always bothers me when it isn't just right. Why all the fuss over a home, when really this quote below is what's important!  
Go, read this link and then lighten up on yourself.  Your home is great the way it is, decorated or not, toys or no toys, cleaned or dust bunnies hopping, big or small.  Live in your house and give God the glory in all that you do. 

http://www.thebettermom.com/2014/08/20/giving-thanks-space-call-home/



"I’ve learned through this journey that a house isn’t a home because you’ve paid the mortgage and call it your own."

"It’s the relationships and interactions and experiences lived within the walls that define our home that matter more than the decor and accessories and square footage and taxes paid."

"It’s what we do within the spaces we’re given that matter most to God."

Simple, sweet, dresses.

Special order: vintage cream pillowcase dress with lace, twill tape ties.

Two sweet sisters are getting a new baby sister soon. Their mama is a photographer with lots of creativity and talent. She reached out to me to make these simple yet elegant pillowcase dresses with lace.  There will be strings of pearls paired with these dresses and possibly some darling head pieces for a precious new born photo shoot!  

 Top stitched and simple, two tiers of lace. 

Ice cream for Eleanore!

We are turning into one of those families, where we are hard to cook for, and nothing with sugar.  Besides the 'we are hard to cook for', almost all deserts are out the picture. In less you are going to pay 8.99 for a small piece of something.  Which isn't worth it when I can find and make delicious food at home!  
 This recipe is S.I.M.P.L.E and delicious.  Did I mention how good it is? Honey, banana's and a can of coconut milk, chilled.  We blended the three, put in individual containers, and are waiting for dessert, patiently waiting! 

I can't wait to see how it taste a little more frozen! 

Picture from Barefeet in The Kitchen.

http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2012/03/coconut-milk-banana-smoothie-ice-cream.html

First time upholstery experience.

First time upholstery experience as in, first time I chose to pay an upholsterer. This quality job was done by our neighbor, he was pretty simple to work with.  I wasn't afraid to voice my ideas and communicate my wants for this chair. Phew, the hardest part is conveying your thought's and ideas.   

   

I am 'In Love' with how this chair turned out! I found it at The Studio, an occasional store, downtown Fargo.  It went from a 70's floral with 6 tiny buttons, to my idea of 'awesomeness' and four covered buttons. (I had to convince my upholstery man that they would work) I hope they do not fail. :) 

Yes, that is an awesome, vintage picnic basket,
found it for five dollars at a thrift store out of town.
It is now my end table, in my bedroom, next to my
new chair.  Bonus, I can use it for storage if I wish! 

I was told to buy four yard of fabric, but since the 'railroad' was so large, it took more then anticipated.
 Luckily I had this purple sitting around since 2007 and I was able to put that in for back up. 

The piping or welt (what every you choose) I just love.  It just creates a pop with the purple.  I can hardly stand it.  It just makes me smile every time I look at it. 

Quiet time

This camper has helped immensely with quit time.  A time where everyone needs to shut their mouths, or for the most part, practice it. Now, for me, I am enjoying my time of just gaining back my stamina for the afternoon run. :-o   









I was talking to a few friends about their own quiet times, how to implement, time wise, what they did for themselves. Each is different, because they see their quiet time as 'how will I get thought the rest of my day?'. Makes sense to me!  A few take a nap, some read or watch television, other get their computer work done, read a devotion, sew, paint, clean up and organize. It all just takes a good schedule and implementation, right? 

Well this house is working on the quiet part, either room or camper option.  Now we need to work on the being still option. Which is a great thing to practice, everyone needs to be still. Rest, relax, unwind, it will help down the road when God really wants one to just sit and be still.  I hope i can pass on this importance. 

BTW, if any one is looking for a nice, pop up camper, this one is for sale!  

Grain free Brownies

Our sweet Eleanore has a 'kind of important' food deal going on, internal issues happening.  We are on a no grains and dairy mixed at meals and no sugars. Dairy and grains can be eaten alone, 4+ hours apart. Except for honey and maple syrup, those are naturally made, naturally awesome!  

So, all desserts are out of the question for her, in less I make them.  Which is fine, I love baking, especially when it turns out delicious!

I found these brownies and had to try them . We don't make dessert often (sugar, sugar everywhere), so making something like this is okay, even if the ingredients are expensive.  These brownies were much better the second day, chilled, cakey like the blog said, moist, and yummy good. With whipped cream and a few raspberries, delicious!  

Picture from the blog. 

This is my picture... 

Whip cream.  Sweetened with honey. 

Rustic Junk and flowers.

Here is some of my old junk. The old door is from my hubs grandpa's once was work shop, The star, bought, spray painted and now rusty. 

The window is salvaged, the wagon, once again the hubs when he was a kid. 

The little angle riding a snail? Well I just couldn't pass it up on the clearance rack at a small drug store. 

And I have slowly collected galvanized buckets. I love them, even more then I thought i would, great rain catchers.  

These two flower's, a red day lily, it is just stunning.                                                                                                And my lavender tall phlox's are all blooming, in every spot I have them. 

I am in Love! 

Just so beautiful!  

Take the indoor's out? Yes we will!

Friend and designer Leanne Sucrow, from The Green Room, did a segment on North Dakota Today about how to bring the "Indoor's out".  I thought that was a novel idea.  

Well, I put my right foot forward and invited a few mom friends out. As in, just come, roast a few s'mores, and relax.  Isn't a fire relaxing, during dusk, when there is no worry of a child who may get burned? Yes, I do think it is. I set out some simple eats, s'more fixings and the hubs helped me haul out some comfortable seating.  

The S'mores were delicious, the fire relaxing and our conversation was, up lifting, I hope.

I did a re-do of my food set up since I didn't take any pictures and my girls wanted to cook hot dogs over the fire. It gave me another chance for 'take 2'. 

So, we did have more beverages then the blue tub shows, Italian Soda's, Moscato wine, and of course H20.

I think I'll be up for this another time, maybe next summer! Cheers! 

Mrs. McNosh Hangs up Her Wash.

Have you heard of this book? 

Well, my girls reminded me of this book. They found my little blow up foot soaking tub. Perfect for a barbie doll pool and washing their cloths. I am not sure when they decided to wash cloths, but I suggested they needed to hang them up. So, I found them cloths pins and this is how they finished. On the bunny fence. 

(The bunny is now double fenced since she is an escape artist).

And Ken even got his shoes hung out to dry!  Hence the reminder of Mrs. McNosh, she hangs everything on her cloths line. Even herself!  

So simple, So intricate

These pictures most likely will not give these beauties justice of how wonderful the colors are. They came home to me on a day that was not so fantastic, well at least I thought it was not so fantastic.  I just needed to look at them, the color, beauty, texture, the purple, the Gerbera Daisy, the mums, the other's I don't know names of but should. 

Flowers always have me 'in awe' of creation, of beauty, of simplicity, even though so intricate.   

Do you see Little man's feet and pointer finger ?  

Pinning for others.

Pinterest, that site with a whole lot of ideas, but not enough time to carry them, right? Right! 

I have since gotten over the 'over indulging' part of  'pinning' for myself because I now have no need for more projects, I just want to complete the ones I have started! Amen? Amen! 

So, I start pinning for others!! Waa-hoo! Creating with other people's ideas, just how I like it! (And it's not my money, just suggestions but also use of my creativity!)  
I have this exciting task of helping a friend work out the options of curtains, valances and tie back for one of her most fun room of the house, her office! Well, I think it's exciting and fun because she has a great choices of red paint for two walls and a soft yellow for the other two.  She has great colors of teal, red, yellow, orange, red orange, and black; a lot of colors to work with. 

Now, here are some ideas I gave her, but really these are only a few. Most of these idea's are of what her curtains/valance could resemble], not the actual fabric.  

ring clips 

 box valance with simple buttons

 

 

curtain length of window vs. floor length or floor to ceiling

door knob for tie back; simple, pretty, basic

solid curtain, with colored edge.

 

draped valance over rod

So, now that I got my design fix, I am off to clean up spilled apple sauce and milk, and a gallon or so of water in the bathroom.  The bits of a mother's life with children. Cheers! 

The garden's from 231 Footer Street.

I took some time to work on my landscaping, with my empty spaces and over active spaces.  I have lots of plants, and lots of junk-y clay/dirt that I try to work with each spring/summer/fall to make it more plant worthy for the non-flowering plants that we have.  It is not always an enjoyable task, new wood chips, cultivating the dirt, figuring out why my plants are not flowering. What I do like is the outcome, the flowers, the pretty greenery, the look it gives to our house.   

Spearmint plant:
Smells wonderful, has done well even though it has been very wet and it is suppose to help keep away mosquitoes!  I'm not sure if it is working but I do enjoy the smell!  

 My ever abounding Hollyhocks. 

One small plant came in one small ice cream bucket and now they are everywhere. Spreading by seed and root. It is going to be a job to get back my south side landscaping, slow but sure, it will come.

 I had Jim and my mom make this planter while I was pregnant one summer, I think with daughter #2, actually I'm pretty sure it was then. It is exciting to see plants come up each year, not knowing if they survived the winter cold.  I did a whoops this spring, planted bulbs and for what ever reason, chose to plant them upside down. Like, really?, no wonder they are not popping up. I am quite bummed out by this but went through and turned them right side up. I wonder how much damage I've done.  I'll have to wait and see. Possibly even until next year. 

keystone planter:
 Day lilies (red, yellow, orange), Iris' (purple, yellow, yellow/maroon), Light Pink Peonies,
And lots of purple flowering plants that I can not remember the name of. Cheers!   

If you look close near the bottom of this picture, there is a Black Eye Susan, also known as Rudbeckia hirta.  I have been trying to grow this plant for years, I now have two flowering and two trying to make it. They are pretty particular to grow at my house but am so excited!

This is the back of my house, we get to visit these while we swing on the swing set. 

This to the right is a Spuria Iris, I have not been able to make this bloom. I think it is time to move her. The left is tall lavender phlox, which has not been blooming. 

The Asiatic Lilies grow/bloom like crazy and I'll be thinning them out this fall and adding color else where for next year. I am exciting about this, just to make and find the time to do so.

The tall, lavender Phlox (middle plant) that grew great the first year I had them, now after I moved them, they have not bloomed. Not sure what to make of this and they are just.so.pretty! I do need to figure out my issue. 

This container is next to our garage, and since the bottom rotted out, she'll be there until her sides give way. 

One of my many container flower garden, this is two layers and have loved it since i made it this way two summer's ago.  I have always loved Petunia's, especially shades and tints of purple. I have them in quite a few containers, most are doing quite well!

I'll be posting later in August, to see and show you if my Allium actually did come up to bloom and give you a peak at some of the other fun container garden's I have put together.