New to Bloggng....

Seems like it, heh?  Long time snce I've been here.  And all this time, 12 people hunted me down in cyberland and asked if I was ok :o)  Awww....it's nice to be missed :o)

What's been up down here in Mississippi you ask?  Well, you probably didn't ask, and trust me, it hasn't been anything earth-shatterng interesting or exciting.....and in nor particular order, here's a peek at what we've been doing:

Finished a set of dresses for the girls...the lavender/gree floral witht he green apron was KatiAnne's...Emily and Abigail both had a brown floral with a solid brown apron.

Got my Family Bible Study book for The Book of Proverbs from Generations with Wisdom.  There is a good Proverbs study at the Padfield site as well.  We've used several of these study units and have always enjoyed working through them.

We've gone and collected water, as usual, about every other week...

The children selected a cabin site in the woods, west of the pond area.  And they started hand-clearing the smaller gum trees out there.  I think we can easily fit at least a 16x16 building there.

Emily had her yearly check up with her surgeons at LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis.  She goes every year to have them look over her shoulder area and keep tabs on the portion of lymphohemangioma still embedded in her muscle structure. Probably never a concern, but it's nice to have doctors who actually have first-hand experience keep watch on this.

Let's see...what else? I don't really know.  I'm sure we've done something but I sure can't think of anything.  It's been 3 years already since jacob and David were burned.  Three years!  Hardly seems like that long!  We spent the better portion of the month at LeBonheur having burn treatments and the like. 

On the sewing table I still have a lengthy list...at least 3 more dresses/apron sets for the girls, and nightgowns....it's turned cold again, and I should have those nightgowns done already! We fired up the wood heat stove last night for the first time.  Up until now, any heat needed has simply been to take the morning chill off and we've used the cookstove.  I don't think we're in full-blown heating mode just yet, but it's coming close.  I've had a shrug on my hook for a few weeks now, working on it as I have a chance.  A shrug is a cross between a sweater and a shawl...

here is a simple pattern (you might need to register for the Lion Brand site to access...but it's free!)  My pattern is basically just a wide scarf, length from wrist-around my back-to other wrist, then I stitch the ends closed to form a bit of a sleeve. You can also make some quick and easy with widths of fleece :o) You want to measure from wrist to wrist around your back, then determine how long it will be from neckline to mid-back or waist. Then just cut your fleece, catch your ends and stitch together to form a sleeve, maybe 6-8 inches. Voila - instant cozy fleece shrug :o)  You can make a great warm and cozy hooded scarf the same way...pick your width and length, then fold in half and stitch several inches to hold it together in the middle, forming a sort of hood. Yeah...I know...one of these days I'll pop up one of those squidoo lens or something and actually show folks how to do some of the weird things I bring up :o)

In need of some uplifting good reads? 

Visit Mississippi Mama's blog....Donna has just been glowing with good stuff lately (as usual!) 

MomWithAHook is running a Teach Your Child To Crochet series over at Crafts for Kidlets. 

La Scuola d'Argento has some great Civil War links. 

And CrazyShortcutQuilts has some great tutorials on making your own sewing/quilting table...in fact check out all the links in the "series" for some great DIY ideas.

Thanksgiving is around the corner...have you read An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa may Alcott?  I love that short story.  Don't get excited over finding a movie of the same name and loose similar description...it's not the same storyline at all.  It's not bad...just not the same.

Plain Pam has TONS of good recipes...this Chili Frito Pie makes me so hungry! and Caramel Shortbread....oh yum! And, if you're like me and just don't have Frito's around the house...make your own! They are delicious and easy:

These easy-to-make homemade corn chips are ideal to serve with salsas, dips, chili, soups, sandwiches or simply as a crispy, crunchy snack!

Homemade Corn Chips:

2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Optional Seasonings:
Garlic salt
Onion salt
Seasoning salt

Generously grease 2 large cookie sheets with the shortening and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cornmeal into each pan, gently tapping or shaking to distribute cornmeal evenly; set aside
Combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder and nonfat dry milk in a mixing bowl.
In a glass measure, combine the water, oil and Worcestershire sauce, mixing well.
Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and pour the liquid mixture into the well; stir mixture with a fork to mix well.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until dough is smooth, about 1 minute.

Divide the dough in half and place each dough half on the prepared cookie sheets.
Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough directly onto the cookie sheets to spread very thinly, about 1/16-inch thickness.
Sprinkle lightly with the desired seasonings and roll-over lightly with the rolling pin to press seasonings in.
Using a pizza cutter (or very sharp knife), cut dough into squares, triangles or other desired shapes.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool completely on cookies sheets.
Store tightly sealed to retain crispness.