The Hawkeye Barn Quilt!!

Over the last year I have noticed all these different barn quilts around. It seems like anyone with a barn or building has one. I love some of the colors and patterns. My in-laws live on a farm and have an outbuilding that I thought would look lovely with one of these. So, I began looking up information and costs, soon to find out that these little things are quite expensive. I love them, yes I do, but didn't think spending that sort of money for Christmas was a good idea.



So, began the search for directions how to make and pattern ideas. My hubby put together the quilt for me.





He also helped me pencil out the design that I liked which was called "whirlwind". The painting took a few days since you pretty much have to paint each piece at a time.

He also hung it up on the machine shed for his parents.

They are huge Iowa Hawkeye fans. I think it turned out pretty well for the first try at this. :)





I have a couple more to make as gifts for Christmas. I really enjoyed doing it and seeing what a great decoration it is on the barn.

Yummy recipes!!

After a very busy and productive day a couple easy but really yummy recipes are perfect for dinner and a goodie to warm up the house.



My kids love love spaghetti and who can go wrong with this yummy casserole. It is super easy and I always have these ingredients on hand to make one.

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

3 cups of cooked, cubed chicken

8 ounces spaghetti, broken into pieces

1/2 cup onion

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup sour cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Put uncooked spaghetti in a large pot of boiling water. Let simmer, stirring occassionally for 8 to 10 minutes or until pasta is done. Drain.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl combine all ingredients except 1 cup of cheese. Spread mixture in a casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for another 15 minutes.

My hubby's absolute favorite cookie is Peanut Butter. They are super easy to make and this is the recipe that I always use.

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup butter

1 1/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 3/4 all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 baking soda

Cram together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs

In seperate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Stir into batter. Refrigerate for about an hour. Roll into 1 inch balls and put on sheets. Flatten with a fork, making a criss cross pattern.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes. Do not over bake.

Yes, he was sneeking one. At least he says they were nummy. :)

This recipe makes about 8 dozen cookies for me.

One of my favorite season's!!

I love fall!! It is my favorite season!! I love the colors and the smells. Pumpkin in muffins, pies and breads as well as apple pies, butter and applesauce. It really is a delicious season!!

It seems that I remember or feel more motivated to blog during this season, maybe because it is getting colder and I am home more, maybe because I am approaching a more crafty time of year or maybe just because I start to decorate our home for the season's. I am guessing it is probably the last reason. :)

I am hosting my first family Thanksgiving for my husband's side of the family. They will love whatever we do, but I like to go that extra mile and make things really special. So, I need to decide on a tablescape for the day. The table cloth below is really brown not purple. But, I think I like this look for the day, with many more chairs and place settings. My dining room is a fall green color and it ties perfectly with the season. Love my dining room, just wish we used it more.

We never carve pumpkins, really, I think we have one time and my oldest is 8! I do not like the mess and a sharpe marker works just great. But, the boys talked me into carving this year. They didn't want to touch any of the guts cause it was gross and messy (yes they are my boys).

I think it turned out alright for my first real try at it.

Geesh, Joey don't look so happy about this picture!!

Thanks for reading. I hope to get back into the whole blogging thing regularly. :)

More Fall!!

These frames were on sale at Hobby Lobby for $2 each. Couldn't find my Halloween scrapbook paper so had to print out the word "BOO" on white. Still cute!!

We saw this idea in a Parenting magazine. Clear balls, orange tissue and a marker.

Made little Pumpkin's to hang from our little tree inside. :) Blake thought this was really cool.

Just a little of what I have been doing

This recipe was really easy. Homemade rolls that went with our supper last night. Here is the link :
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/French-Bread-Rolls-To-Die-For/Detail.aspx

This is my next project. I found it at Goodwill for $4.99. Guess we will see how it turns out.

And this candle holder. I found at Goodwill for $1.99. Blake and I went to the park to find the acorns to fill it up. :)

The big thing I need to work on is Christmas gifts for people. Gotta get my idea's going and start crafting. :)

Decorating for Fall

Welcome to our home. Fall is almost as fun to decorate for as Christmas!!

I made this wreath, I couldn't find one that was just fallish with not too much orange on it. So, I used a Michael's 40% off coupon and bought the wreath for $1.50 and a box of the fall fruit on clearance for $1.99 and use my handy glue gun. I like it!!

Nothing too fancy, the sofa table. With my homemade lettered frames.

A table I put together in the breakfast area with some things I had left over.

The boys BOO pumpkins on the mantle of the fireplace. Just used stick on letters.


The whole view of the fireplace. By the way, Eric made it by himself from scratch. :)

The Oven.

The buffet in the dining room.

My table with the new napkins I found today in chocolate with the hemstitch!! :)

The whole table, with pumpkin accents on the plates and small votives at each sitting.

So, this is what I have so far. I am sure as I look at these pictures I will change and add things. Thanks for looking!!

I've been gone way too long!!!

Most everyone I know is fully aware of the fact that I had a stroke this summer. I'm 30 years old and had a stroke. I was at a chiropractor appointment and apparantly one of the risks with getting your neck adjusted is a vetebral artery disection. Which is what happened to me. I spent four days in the hospital and I am still on medication and am going through pysical therapy twice a week. It was crazy!! I'm friends and family where such wonderful support. I never would have made it through without them!!

So, I am ready to get back to normal!! What ever normal is for me!! ;)