tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53347582060660285962024-02-07T05:16:05.553+01:00shared from way over hereJenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-22802777041419903052016-04-26T21:06:00.000+02:002016-04-26T21:06:19.141+02:00Piecing Together New Bedding<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you ever had a duvet or bedding you really loved, but it was falling apart? That was our situation with a Pottery Barn Outlet duvet we've had for nearly 10 years. (You can see the old bedding <a href="http://sharedfromwayoverhere.blogspot.pt/2012/03/plates-and-frames_9.html" target="_blank">here</a> if you'd like.) It was time for a new one, but I was totally happy with it! We occasionally looked for new bedding and even ordered a couple things here in Portugal that we ended up returning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My husband and I happened to find a pinkish linen duvet cover we both liked at Zara Home for a good price. It felt nice to finally find <b>the one</b>! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Christmas, we got a great wool blanket made in Portugal that was perfect for the end of our bed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These two items were great, but matching <a href="http://sharedfromwayoverhere.blogspot.pt/2012/03/our-new-headboard_2.html" target="_blank">our headboard</a>, painted furniture and rug to these things seemed to be tricky. It would be easier to just get a new rug that matched. Yet I couldn't NOT use the huge wool rug we had that is still in great shape, especially when there really isn't a budget for new everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Options are not as plentiful here as in America with Target or a good size fabric store in most towns. We made a trip to "fabric row" in Lisbon, and I took a leap of faith on fabrics from two separate stores in hopes that some pillow shams with these would pull things together. Here's what I came up with:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was my first time to add navy in the room but wanted to match that in the rug. I only bought a meter of the toile fabric, so when I decided to use it for the Euro shams, I had to use some navy ticking stripe fabric I had for the backs. This meant the people in the toile were off-centered, but I decided they were not to be the focus anyway!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would like to repair or replace the floral vintage bark cloth pillow, and I've thought about doing a little embroidery on the coral small pillow I bought on sale. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We haven't changed much more of the decor than the curtains and the side table toppers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I found a gingham table centerpiece at the flea market that had iconic Portuguese pictures on it. I cut the piece in two, hemmed them and made toppers for each side table. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Curtains were an IKEA buy and some careful notions-store searches! I came up with this trio of trims to embellish the curtains on the upper portion of the curtain. Tiny tassels on the top, some large gingham, and then Portuguese handmade looking lace (I'm not sure about that, but it looks that way.). I haven't gotten any great photos of the curtains because of the sun coming in that window. Looks like I need to cut a thread too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am pleased with how everything has come together and seems to complement each other, but it did take some time and work! I hope it continues to evolve as well. I'm currently painting some frames for a side wall. Maybe some new paint on the side tables along with new throw pillows next. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our little stinker, Lizzy, likes our room too! If you're in Portugal and are interested in a blanket like ours, we recommend <a href="http://www.chicoracao.pt/" target="_blank">the shop</a> ours came from. </span></div>
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<br />Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-5170576870902678742016-01-15T23:39:00.000+01:002016-01-15T23:47:02.958+01:00Narnia Birthday PartyI'm back on here after a nearly two year blog hiatus! It's fun when you have special things to write about!<br />
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My nearly 11 year old daughter was having trouble deciding what theme to use for her birthday party. I listed off and asked questions about her interests when finally we came to books! We had been listening to the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Chronicles-Narnia-Never-Theatre/dp/1589972996" target="_blank">Focus on the Family Radio Theater Chronicles of Narnia audiobooks</a>. A Narnia party it would be!<br />
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We looked at pinterest and found some great inspiration! See <a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2014/03/chronicles-of-narnia-party.html" target="_blank">At the Picket Fence</a> and <a href="http://tonispilsbury.com/narnia-springtime-birthday-party/" target="_blank">Toni Spilsbury</a>. I also found a lion graphic to use with my Silhouette cutting machine. I used it to make the sign on our front door, along with hand copying the Narnia font. We used the cut out lions on a banner too.<br />
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We found gold plates, utensils and paper goods, so we set places for each kid along with stick on jewels for their cups. My daughter had hoped to find some goblets as seen on <a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2014/03/chronicles-of-narnia-party.html" target="_blank">At the Picket Fence</a>. We spray painted some plastic lions from the dollar store gold to be our Aslans.</div>
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We attempted to make a wardrobe entrance like <a href="http://tonispilsbury.com/narnia-springtime-birthday-party/" target="_blank">Toni Spilsbury</a> had for the entrance into our living room. I used spray paint and the stencil that was made from the lion cut outs. Kind of shabby, but the effect was great for the kids! We cut right up the middle of the doors on the sheet, and you could walk through.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPcrH_kssfN86yQKLJyjI2m_2ZM4wsiwmSWob7zxvLD75qKYGDKEPuwRXs4uW50mvCfp6qeZstG51GOQRQWSMeGa_G7GwcOPQILZSDYYOOvPb4zxkQ8gujtZwFKtTvDxyj69ChI7eojC5/s1600/IMG_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPcrH_kssfN86yQKLJyjI2m_2ZM4wsiwmSWob7zxvLD75qKYGDKEPuwRXs4uW50mvCfp6qeZstG51GOQRQWSMeGa_G7GwcOPQILZSDYYOOvPb4zxkQ8gujtZwFKtTvDxyj69ChI7eojC5/s640/IMG_1085.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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We have to get creative at times with food and ideas being that we're not in the States. Our menu included:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkdiy0mfWfC-vRf9O-JY_wFiHeoEoVduHWkDdClRnTeHnrXIkmoqX13WYbyWZdtC6UiaSKEib8QvCuNC_LivTN_FlvXUDYvvxciUp7hJL4RQGv9JhNRvVxS7AEI_tpTiQliZJxwmkYnJC/s1600/IMG_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkdiy0mfWfC-vRf9O-JY_wFiHeoEoVduHWkDdClRnTeHnrXIkmoqX13WYbyWZdtC6UiaSKEib8QvCuNC_LivTN_FlvXUDYvvxciUp7hJL4RQGv9JhNRvVxS7AEI_tpTiQliZJxwmkYnJC/s640/IMG_1081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father Christmas Ham</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDnqhqo2mbygWgZZryXspBhp1szL79KYPshO1bs9R28oj6PixtBmNmsE6X33qaE4aPfoTIbOE-RSh4berT0PpJR5gZod3WD2SgnIaJFU6gv7og5W9dlhthx2Qm-kCgjJqdlHGJK0jfPB1/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDnqhqo2mbygWgZZryXspBhp1szL79KYPshO1bs9R28oj6PixtBmNmsE6X33qaE4aPfoTIbOE-RSh4berT0PpJR5gZod3WD2SgnIaJFU6gv7og5W9dlhthx2Qm-kCgjJqdlHGJK0jfPB1/s640/IMG_1079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaver Dam Pudding</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUG_Sl2gwC300W90KHIufLI-b1pGqnFSvT6jWI-MObNwZcaBN9rgSnpIkVDbPM4uLOu5kzKPL88xNn06rHwtz9qJOZnLQnrOGZf1FnsQs5eV__mTzG89Qhyphenhyphen_6BlGK4KyIH_9_NY5AIrkaE/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUG_Sl2gwC300W90KHIufLI-b1pGqnFSvT6jWI-MObNwZcaBN9rgSnpIkVDbPM4uLOu5kzKPL88xNn06rHwtz9qJOZnLQnrOGZf1FnsQs5eV__mTzG89Qhyphenhyphen_6BlGK4KyIH_9_NY5AIrkaE/s640/IMG_1082.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Caramel) Apples of Youth & (Kettle Corn) Forever Winter Snow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEcmHbVxDNSNxzMraDFI-KjFjz8HVI1e93ODJfGm-4dUER-pqgL2UvfByRmfX3avzOqllh0Bv1BCobGe8chj6iAAAIz_rKCDxPVXOWA5sKgHpiNmKj-ywGwEPbCK4lHthaG_01xpnYu1m/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEcmHbVxDNSNxzMraDFI-KjFjz8HVI1e93ODJfGm-4dUER-pqgL2UvfByRmfX3avzOqllh0Bv1BCobGe8chj6iAAAIz_rKCDxPVXOWA5sKgHpiNmKj-ywGwEPbCK4lHthaG_01xpnYu1m/s640/IMG_1076.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acorns (Dates), Nectarines and Cair Paravel Cupcakes</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEovfcW87cI7idKZJVFQfcjtbF3oUHIRQueC_WqwQwvTD1vpKdqt0wtML1YuCVEO09lJIno_yr4Ng8W7X860T9D4lYNb3tNQDvKS8OFZLdE864zeY5PmUctyWVBEPkWWnb-UiBhcggNCeS/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEovfcW87cI7idKZJVFQfcjtbF3oUHIRQueC_WqwQwvTD1vpKdqt0wtML1YuCVEO09lJIno_yr4Ng8W7X860T9D4lYNb3tNQDvKS8OFZLdE864zeY5PmUctyWVBEPkWWnb-UiBhcggNCeS/s640/IMG_1087.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Beaver's Hot Chocolate</td></tr>
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While the kids were finishing their snacks, we passed out the treasure boxes to paint. We got the idea from <a href="https://www.lisaleonard.com//blog/family/matthias/celebrating-7" target="_blank">Lisa Leonard Designs blog</a>. We found small wooden ones at our dollar store. A couple of the boys decided to use their stick-on jewels in other spots while they painted their treasure boxes!<br />
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Next, we had "Susan's Archery Practice" in our neighbors' backyard (they already had a target spot). All the kids seemed to enjoy giving it a shot! This is the birthday girl's little sister!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWnjjpYYzjPs2v9HZ6d4LYpwMguRpQk0KmIyiL4ujuKtZptZkwMzq2E0ZaZEQSjPb_gKSlyz2vB3XuZNO1KwNXz9iBytpgN4R9vGzU7aAUCvrz63l3b_mhGMVCAAnW47x8gownIifimpA/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWnjjpYYzjPs2v9HZ6d4LYpwMguRpQk0KmIyiL4ujuKtZptZkwMzq2E0ZaZEQSjPb_gKSlyz2vB3XuZNO1KwNXz9iBytpgN4R9vGzU7aAUCvrz63l3b_mhGMVCAAnW47x8gownIifimpA/s640/IMG_1099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I did not get any great pictures of our Scavenger Hunt but wanted to tell you about it! We took copied colored illustrations from the books, cut them into puzzle pieces and laminated them. Then we hid them all over our street and outdoor spaces with Narnia-ized clues as you can see below for one of the teams. For example, number seven was in an olive tree.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "narnia bll"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%;">Team Dawn
Treader<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Clawed Vine Portal</span></span><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Bashful Blush Blossoms</span></span><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Pear Postal</span></span><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Elves' Correspondence</span></span><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Royal Footrest</span></span><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Electric Chest Alley</span></span><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Oil Fruit Branches</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 72px; text-align: center;">8. </span><span style="font-family: "ar cena"; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 107%; text-align: center;">The Silver Cauldron</span></span></div>
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Our last activity was freeing the animals from their "frozen" state in a balloon, in the same vein as the White Witch had turned so many of the creatures into statues in <u>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe</u>. We had put little plastic animals in the balloons to free with darts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCY7XnB870GGRgBENsWCeh3ZY7v0PrAchWdIUhRElKuu2oFh8TIrckdCzf2ZcAIuwc23LBepTN-7xUiGIn7xbTsrZ6v74RYnPxaHQw4IgZn6axhMA5wpfI3IxdgUVmPaBmsYJRdylVlit/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCY7XnB870GGRgBENsWCeh3ZY7v0PrAchWdIUhRElKuu2oFh8TIrckdCzf2ZcAIuwc23LBepTN-7xUiGIn7xbTsrZ6v74RYnPxaHQw4IgZn6axhMA5wpfI3IxdgUVmPaBmsYJRdylVlit/s640/IMG_1111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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One more shot of our birthday girl and her sister! She was really pleased with the party!<br />
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<br />Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-89620815656109594432014-07-09T00:42:00.003+02:002016-01-14T15:17:01.885+01:00A Few Differences<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hi friends: Writing from Houston, Texas! We’ve been back in the USA for about a week. Jet lag is starting to break!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My dear American friend in Portugal asked me to let her know things that hit me funny when I got back “home”. I thought I’d write a post about it. I think after flying back home from Europe several times for the past 8 years that I would not be surprised by things. I expect to be overwhelmed by the hugeness of SUV’s and trucks on the highway as well as central air and heat. So it has been fun to take note this time of what was unexpected.</span><br />
<img src="webkit-fake-url://A3067713-2A61-4B64-A561-8688A5471CC6/imagejpeg" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please don’t be offended by what I’ve noticed or commented on. I know the list might be long if you were to visit my other home in Portugal! Here we go:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaj9-u53Xqv5CPw1yVcacrBn1koKqRKgRAL0tkvM-KTQ7jJcgTHG1sPHioqfW0fCAW1vMDxAu78woahroISOY_ENYG9388UWpWH25Ic7HcpZ5yQSibnsgWo3ECRs6MxBdxIf8FXnHSGP-/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaj9-u53Xqv5CPw1yVcacrBn1koKqRKgRAL0tkvM-KTQ7jJcgTHG1sPHioqfW0fCAW1vMDxAu78woahroISOY_ENYG9388UWpWH25Ic7HcpZ5yQSibnsgWo3ECRs6MxBdxIf8FXnHSGP-/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">bling belts and purses at the sporting goods store</span></td></tr>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Girls with messy hair in sports outfits at restaurants and stores</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Churches everywhere--not historical pieces of architecture but mainly khaki metal flat roofed buildings </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The friendliness of Chick Fil A staff </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Extremely soft toilet paper </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Souped up cars</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yellow egg yolks! What are the chickens in Portugal eating that is different from here? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enormous drinking glasses at restaurants and being sold in stores. A Portuguese might mistake them as pitchers.</span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQ9XuTCM4MwgQ2-voldHsRs1WUWpGUH2WN5p5oCqChd1Nxkk5rKgEblnbaA88oQEivXzpk3VpM2gPnZ2zl-rAq3nzJD0sjebv4VswIV1gSQG99TVFxuDPwJq9wtvA73UX6GRK-0DpOIaa/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQ9XuTCM4MwgQ2-voldHsRs1WUWpGUH2WN5p5oCqChd1Nxkk5rKgEblnbaA88oQEivXzpk3VpM2gPnZ2zl-rAq3nzJD0sjebv4VswIV1gSQG99TVFxuDPwJq9wtvA73UX6GRK-0DpOIaa/s400/IMG_0618.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the decal on the windshield!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're headed to visit my mother-in-law in Alaska next. Another cultural experience ahead! </span></div>
<div>
<img src="webkit-fake-url://F11357F5-76C7-4BB5-90F9-851A56CA1CB4/imagejpeg" /></div>
Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-20449835569135806012014-04-03T17:58:00.002+02:002016-01-12T22:29:22.630+01:00Hope<blockquote> <p align="center"><strong><font size="4">Here in the morning shadows</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="4">I catch my breath and sing</font></strong></p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p align="center"><strong><font size="4">My heart is fresh and fearless</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="4">And over-brimmed with spring</font></strong></p> </blockquote> <p align="right">second stanza of “May Night” from <u>Rivers to the Sea</u> by Sara Teasdale</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0uYXDqcQLLU/Uz2FKuO0sVI/AAAAAAAAUEc/8-DaiPSUHYA/s1600-h/IMG_7064.jpg"><img title="IMG_7064" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7064" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Fa51zGbNMSo/Uz2FLte4KSI/AAAAAAAAUEk/9GEXkd_Qgm0/IMG_7064_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Our plum tree had a bad season last summer. Some kind of disease that made its leaves turn curly and grow strangely. The few plums that grew blew off in some strong winds. Lots of white buds make a statement for another chance.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zVcCS-KLbEE/Uz2FMlpEY2I/AAAAAAAAUEs/oi03KU9Za9I/s1600-h/IMG_7027%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7027" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7027" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TTMN0GbpAVY/Uz2FNLOF-DI/AAAAAAAAUE0/VxKSkXgIGDI/IMG_7027_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Archways to some medieval structure near the castle walls at Obidos, a beautiful relic of a bygone day. What appears to be fireweed has found a sweet spot on top.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4Fu30Atv9WU/Uz2FOTV_QvI/AAAAAAAAUE8/_4vRtBg-D8k/s1600-h/IMG_7068%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7068" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7068" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tkPD7bV1gh8/Uz2FPZc2B_I/AAAAAAAAUFE/dbxKprxfaCo/IMG_7068_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">What I just threw in a pot a year or two ago because I couldn’t stand to see a viable plant go in the trash after cleaning out some flower beds. It feels like years since we’ve seen it’s color which only opens for the sun.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So thankful for the object lessons that spring offers. Is your heart fresh and fearless and over-brimmed with spring?</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-88382341466287028102014-02-13T17:52:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.657+01:00A Chance to Celebrate Others<p><font size="4">Long ago, I knew I wanted a party for my 40th birthday yet I hesitated to ask my family and team to have to do such a thing. One thought kept coming to me though, that I wanted to thank all our local friends here in Bombarral who have helped us so much over our years. A party would be the perfect chance to honor them. So, amongst other great celebrations for this milestone birthday, my family, team and I pulled off the event!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RIbyZM-Rum4/Uvz4CjmgUCI/AAAAAAAATTM/L6aUecakq-A/s1600-h/invitation%252520copy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="invitation copy" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="invitation copy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CAWn5lTKCFg/Uvz4DdwK4rI/AAAAAAAATTQ/altGYhjFTu4/invitation%252520copy_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">The invitation was the choice that set the décor for the party. It was ordered from the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenCherryFactory?section_id=12693774&page=3" target="_blank">Green Cherry Factory</a> on etsy. She has some of the most beautiful invitations I’ve ever seen! Unbeknownst to me, my friend and teammate, Anne, ordered a matching print from this shop with sweet words for my 40th! She brought it to put out the night of the party:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7EVNX7cSRrQ/Uvz4ELHqy7I/AAAAAAAATTY/yq_Q4Y4DaWU/s1600-h/IMG_6875%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6875" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6875" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X4fOpJYa0JY/Uvz4E4ICR6I/AAAAAAAATTk/ZSHVTYTL008/IMG_6875_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Anne, Linda (another teammate) and I scavenged our stashes for items that would work with the colors and décor. Anne let me borrow her amazing chalkboard for the wall behind the food table. <font size="4">Linda sewed garlands made from floral and coordinating color scrapbook paper. I added pink glitter to the rims of some green glass votives.</font></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7GyzgCRrdvU/Uvz4FR-1yEI/AAAAAAAATTs/uK2xQohCtx8/s1600-h/IMG_6888%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6888" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6888" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUjm188tZThQWkiyTIxzX55OueJubc3TxvHdsqQ6YE82oeCE5ta10asov21TMUws1jFqNZuS6z62m98rrirZvpZ7OTr3iL4RnZL2bY5sET2nOyMY7Zhzb3JKthqUiij0J9uOcZ19Fgyh7/?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Anne and my girls hung up old photos of me in the shape of 40 on our entry wall. It was a hoot to share my past big hair with others!</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVaBqoHXAWRVhVm5K-AgTGqHjpNAkge3gDzjf9ar3myADvTEsFWp2fJrzd4vs6AQRl1-_vYT2PNrmqImbJQ68VJ5JVUE1Qt7UhUuhsUx1wkLBigiZLD9kdyMNIg_j70x9Nxwf8P1mxGa2/s1600-h/IMG_6880%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6880" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6880" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lbU5LKlsiCM/Uvz4HuTwwLI/AAAAAAAATUE/MvDk2hyPj0s/IMG_6880_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">We used a recent flea market buy, a pink chenille bedspread, as the table cloth and a bin that normally holds the garden hose for our flower container.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QtEn7jrgbkE/Uvz4InI78CI/AAAAAAAATUM/bBFTCNKkU24/s1600-h/IMG_6872%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6872" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6872" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gZVjAlNJGnA/Uvz4JTGXnqI/AAAAAAAATUU/l146YtAb4wc/IMG_6872_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">We had lots of yummy food contributed by many people. It was fun to have such a variety! Our menu included Hawaiian sliders, kabobs, orzo salad, spinach dip in a bread bowl, potato salad, a cheese plate, layered dip in a cup and meatballs! We got to use my vintage glass hostess set plates for the party—it  might have been the first time they’ve been used since we moved to Portugal!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7VP_-bBwZuE/Uvz4KUudMMI/AAAAAAAATUc/7siQV2KzD4Q/s1600-h/_DSC0741%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="_DSC0741" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="_DSC0741" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tHTWIiB7L9M/Uvz4LF3mv8I/AAAAAAAATUk/qIjaihniQBo/_DSC0741_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">The dessert table about overflowed! The pièce de résistance was Linda’s Andes Mint cake (recipe from <a href="http://birdonacake.blogspot.pt/2011/11/andes-mint-chocolate-cake-with-ganache.html" target="_blank">Bird on a Cake</a>). We also had chocolate almond cake, key lime pie fudge, make your own fruit pizzas and two kinds of cupcakes.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HrIfFgWxPfk/Uvz4MIRyVwI/AAAAAAAATUs/ciihDfCMDMQ/s1600-h/_DSC0740%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="_DSC0740" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="_DSC0740" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2eGyD_Q1iY0/Uvz4Mha7x4I/AAAAAAAATU0/ecmVTFtLxBA/_DSC0740_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4">Here I am giving a personal thank you to each guest and sharing about the great things I see in their lives. It was wonderful to see people be encouraged and even shed some tears. It was worth all the effort for this opportunity!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BWJdcz8NnqY/Uvz4NnMkW2I/AAAAAAAATU8/2QQrEowRtqo/s1600-h/IMG_6864%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6864" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6864" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D9ZCJtbHpC8/Uvz4OXK7iVI/AAAAAAAATVE/S9FUthTGSkY/IMG_6864_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">A few shots of guests—not everyone, but you can get a feel for the party!</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jCEUZWXbz9I/Uvz4Pdv0cPI/AAAAAAAATVM/vQesTHof6DI/s1600-h/IMG_6861%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6861" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6861" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-h1Ha6YKeCQA/Uvz4QYgr6YI/AAAAAAAATVU/cwswfbnAePk/IMG_6861_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8tBHBFqOtpQ/Uvz4RT56juI/AAAAAAAATVc/mN0EMieFVZA/s1600-h/_DSC0747%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="_DSC0747" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="_DSC0747" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UMaiawOxMnI/Uvz4SPpbRZI/AAAAAAAATVk/sFo7UzRD7ss/_DSC0747_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-V10xjhFPwbs/Uvz4TDkKS0I/AAAAAAAATVs/2MF9D3ICZHg/s1600-h/_DSC0748-001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="_DSC0748-001" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="_DSC0748-001" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1E4qblyAwi2DFo0xnPVh_o4YXAEVKwqcKdgsOxKyor6kSwTLUVFr5VDoxY7W8-AdfJHxSGQXL-M6jYjFKeO9_tS7jl5w99TNlf4NSAlzJ9kY5XlszWwRSafMkDeiiUJDeBYrHT0ukVi7Z/?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2OaxSaKWUFg/Uvz4UgPZtNI/AAAAAAAATV8/DG-IUSoIB2I/s1600-h/IMG_6865%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6865" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6865" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2WsLQH18WAE/Uvz4VTNBLQI/AAAAAAAATWE/vh3cZ5yoRrQ/IMG_6865_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pOUnv27khL0/Uvz4WbY-TSI/AAAAAAAATWM/WRRGv6CPvRM/s1600-h/IMG_6863%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6863" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6863" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QPn2I0l1y-Q/Uvz4Xa0zV5I/AAAAAAAATWU/rxDYuzGg0qA/IMG_6863_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">A special thank you is in order for my family and my team for helping this event be such a memorable occasion! I am so grateful!!!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MnQZqRiJD_k/Uvz4YSUH6yI/AAAAAAAATWc/qUKHuQnWbxY/s1600-h/IMG_6867%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6867" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6867" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ymrXCD2d1uQ/Uvz4ZYxfwAI/AAAAAAAATWk/Hc8AmU2zgLM/IMG_6867_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-51374909082991334612014-01-02T22:23:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.680+01:00New Skirt and Stockings<p><font size="4">It’s time to take down our Christmas decorations, but I remembered to take a photo of our new Christmas digs now that the presents are gone.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qJKfqv_i1zQ/UsXYi-Qc7MI/AAAAAAAADcc/Iao3S5D8ul0/s1600-h/IMG_6769%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6769" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6769" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-16D6TEpMIJ0/UsXYjhLsv4I/AAAAAAAADck/CgU7Y-ErPEo/IMG_6769_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I finally made new stockings and a new tree skirt from fabric I’ve had for two years! We had been working our way towards a more bright color scheme in our ornaments and such. So glad to have it all come together this year!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Fs9b4z2BHQ0/UsXYkgpZVxI/AAAAAAAADcs/JZE0lCmDU38/s1600-h/IMG_6766%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6766" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6766" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SKjx4RReydE/UsXYlPYpZAI/AAAAAAAADc0/SLRZFHjncjI/IMG_6766_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="535" height="456" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Now for a few close-ups:</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1zWoGWrmG6a4gTeURoTKqcc4s4M7BYwU3jo9WgNfQ-gr5HEP1MbtIK-8rfTD8eXr-hrPiIbvC4Mg0zXbCtQy9Xzct5DlevihmKNRCCfm2FnJbUKYncjWdI8r7nsRDJkN-soGgHPN-u0q/s1600-h/IMG_6760%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6760" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6760" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Bb46G2V06Ug/UsXYnZpORII/AAAAAAAADdE/jUsR_E4FGBc/IMG_6760_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">After considering a few one-main-fabric tree skirts, I went with the pie piece cuts to include them all. I found the cute trim at our local Retrosaria, battled with it a bit trying to find a way to sew it on. I relented and used hot glue. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NEGq0VuNJE4/UsXYoQW2kXI/AAAAAAAADdM/nBhgS0I2wRA/s1600-h/IMG_6763%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6763" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6763" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9rRBXf2WQLk/UsXYpAO0eZI/AAAAAAAADdU/hn54TThaIjk/IMG_6763_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">The stockings were a success in the making only by following the tutorial by </font><a href="http://sewlikemymom.com/christmas-stockings-tutorial/" target="_blank"><font size="4">Sew Like My Mom</font></a><font size="4">. It took a bit of faith to see how it would turn out. You essentially create one solid piece, lining and exterior,</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8H3iTn7Ze6qfAO1WmPSYJv8wRGZHaZZbkP2sqoHZkK1xHbooI1RYjBHchki6tjMlMVGJ9mObJSlFRLxE4JUuK0-QP8YEUiIJMMKzrrIZxeU8J2konr45prECTXPxo4VmFRMti-EAkSKH/s1600-h/IMG_6527%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6527" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6527" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TnzYXRYTy3k/UsXYqYfAVFI/AAAAAAAADdk/Gad62zqgnP8/IMG_6527_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="697" height="350" /></a> </font></p> <p><font size="4">stuff the lining in when you’re done</font></p> <p><font size="4"></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOvmMkD2k0YCOh-x7h9Ijk3JqnjqyLQS74uLeelSZXRbZeRK4E_B3V8tG25AMD7vz5lpByUmKH6wFhU24OY1IPVSliSzgCb3j-YPwt7d5IazORWvnQTXYM2lWmTxd8I8Cpq61Q7j44k5r/s1600-h/IMG_6528%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6528" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6528" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4vl8j8Y47Uc/UsXYrwHLgZI/AAAAAAAADd0/C1fDFCGPEHM/IMG_6528_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">and fold down the top.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJpM7i98b9AM8njFsOxOZY1CjE8yin8Ecpwd6RaMSVtAOSrZByWTXkyRW30CROIJfszoFYdIGYbdvSogRpSHxKsP8PAUyWfQ__DMVoXQW7Is15KqbIBDIXcXoFrLw4zLeV7GbzJkMF3fD/s1600-h/IMG_6530%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6530" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6530" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YqLUzWJofZA/UsXYtuwfJmI/AAAAAAAADeE/kxLKIVqUm7Q/IMG_6530_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">{Anyone remember the red candy fabric above from 1996 or so? My daughter wanted that for hers over some of the “newer” retro fabric I’d bought. Worked with the color scheme though!}</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0mRs1MGfQYE/UsXYubFxd3I/AAAAAAAADeM/LVoPpU4qt8w/s1600-h/IMG_6767%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6767" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6767" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oTOe2Yux5aE/UsXYu4bfoFI/AAAAAAAADeU/yS8IXrdfgfA/IMG_6767_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="604" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">My husband wanted a manly stocking, so I made his from a felted sweater I had. {It really works to wash and dry an old wool sweater on hot to get great fabric!} I used the same instructions but had to piece some of the sweater together for the neck of the stocking which is hidden.</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7CmryADKUhk/UsXYv8vcKHI/AAAAAAAADec/4X080NlIbr8/s1600-h/IMG_6770%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6770" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6770" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-n3jJ_x9EHYg/UsXYw1VWslI/AAAAAAAADek/aHv8bW228Ns/IMG_6770_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">Here they are post-Christmas--not so pristine in shape after being so full! But so nice to have it done and them be well enjoyed!</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-24145274894561831802013-12-31T15:37:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.771+01:00Nativities Around Our Town<p><font size="4">Around here we’re attempting to get past a week of illness in our home. It’s not easing up fast! In the meantime, I thought I’d post about a few things I’ve missed. I realize the blog has been dormant for too long!</font></p> <p><font size="4">This year I made sure to take pictures of the nativity scenes in our town, Bombarral. I have wanted to do this for years, so  here are the four we found outside our home. Here in Portugal, nativity scenes are called Presipios.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vw26fDLLsPc/UsLWh2zsOvI/AAAAAAAADbE/2Qj9jvn2VX8/s1600-h/IMG_6673%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6673" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6673" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YlpWK7FAl8M/UsLWio42KNI/AAAAAAAADbM/3htz2Hkh_a4/IMG_6673_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="654" height="437" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">On the way out of town is a gigantic Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus. I tried to give some perspective by getting the windows and doors of the quinta in the background. It is awesome to see at night lighted up!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NExHx_gYVY4/UsLWjgxYpOI/AAAAAAAADbU/54b5FyFQT5Y/s1600-h/IMG_6676%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6676" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6676" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pjUHnerntT0/UsLWkSMZnHI/AAAAAAAADbc/eSadoWJARuI/IMG_6676_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">A little further out of Bombarral close to Carvalhal, there is a nativity set up at an old church. </font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOUK8hrH8aU1qjvHUklJ-kBStrB0hBNt4kVzer9Av__5uw3ofCsR8QV1Jjfzq_fcNE49oVcaXr5-w0o2eGjlN03uObk6DQ_qhTT2Tvxq_cJge7nuzjKai1m8b7nH6GAd1NFo-3nzljNEo/s1600-h/IMG_6681%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6681" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6681" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KDARpExvh04/UsLWlr4Br4I/AAAAAAAADbo/dQoH-ULxsdE/IMG_6681_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Back in town there is a neat silhouette nativity set up at a concrete beam making plant that can be seen from the highway. So nice!</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GaO9Z0C8pWjdjeKeqI5G_dI0iulsYlFq5AE_wvzSild04ireLb1eHx7-5vUj6YyLr5h76sGK1Jw7U-CLj64rFu5X0mJTWDygMcb7PvCNUAD1EvCB5F3kjF5yT0Qo8ddsUKlup8iGiNqI/s1600-h/IMG_6670%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6670" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6670" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yzF24Lu9i7k/UsLWnSz_uQI/AAAAAAAADb8/9g4ro3ukvWo/IMG_6670_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">And up by the church in Bombarral, a life size version complete with date palms this year {and our two cuties}!</font></p> <p><font size="4">I did not get any good photos of the working nativity scene at the Colombo mall in Lisbon. If you’re in town it’s not to be missed. There’s way more than just the manger scene. It’s a whole village of moving figures doing their work. And the cow at the manger is chewing hay and things like that! </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YVkJ7vQSnFM/UsLWoKNRbmI/AAAAAAAADcE/eMB4z_ikgqY/s1600-h/IMG_6756%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6756" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6756" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pSUWi8g0BHM/UsLWo8U16BI/AAAAAAAADcM/Iv5YMkVU56s/IMG_6756_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4"><font size="4">One of the presipios in our home is made up of vintage pieces I’ve found at the flea market, some dressed in traditional regional Portuguese garb. I love how the Portuguese add all kinds of people to come worship baby Jesus! </font></font></p> <p><font size="4">Happy New Years to you!</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-70572714206925099142013-07-30T11:54:00.002+02:002016-01-12T22:29:22.794+01:00Zippered Pillows for the Novice<p><font size="4">I sewed four pillow covers yesterday. Quite a feat considering I haven’t delved into much craftiness in months! </font><font size="3">{More finished product photos at the end if you want to skip the nitty gritty.}</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bGvphGA1cnpxs_RaH-1iZ9YkV8XikdyxL_BzOaVPiiUtc_MhkxZv7yj-DT1YRhohU0rqd87Pg7D_TqnOslXRFnchv-DVCLfLdmR9-7-vN84Y0LuV0HHtdWqIkj5fINu92eIu16G7j9T5/s1600-h/IMG_5633%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5633" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5633" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bpjlBANTc7c/UfeNNe3LK0I/AAAAAAAADYw/p-bxSTDc0O4/IMG_5633_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="494" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">The day before I didn’t have the zippers yet so I cut the fabric for each one. It was actually nice to start the next day with all my materials and everything cut {kind of like a cooking show with each ingredient premeasured in a little bowl!}. </font></p> <p><font size="4">I found a great tutorial which made things SO MUCH EASIER! <strong>Check out the most simple pillow cover with a zipper tutorial at </strong></font><a href="http://www.scoutandnimble.com/2013/04/30/the-easiest-fastest-way-to-sew-a-zippered-pillow-cover/" target="_blank"><font size="4"><strong>Scout and Nimble</strong></font></a><strong> <font size="4">first</font></strong>. <font size="4">Her instructions and photos are very easy to follow. </font></p> <p><font size="4">So why the post? I sew so {ha!} infrequently that I usually feel like a big novice every time! I thought I’d share some things I learned along the way for any other novices out there. <em>Please</em>, save time from my many mistakes! It was almost laughable today, like when I sewed up the end of the fabric in the zipper seam because I wasn’t careful! If you are a regular seamstress, this post is not for you!</font></p> <p><font size="4"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHGOTkzAI5Vss4BR3ri2CT9CGhGnjV9qS97CUseyTl94BRsvRJkJO626O4cLlh1E0WK3WGJEdQAoBtbFX8LNMt0jrq7SkKWZ6CgYdtK9u8vbP5TxC60MwFJVnqabM21hdVWCGBk-RJESO/s1600-h/IMG_56224.jpg"><img title="IMG_5622" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5622" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CmI0kfZej4A/UfeNOrJKSpI/AAAAAAAADZA/uuI2Ken3-Hk/IMG_5622_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></strong></font></p> <p><font size="4"><strong>For starters, don’t think you should do a long stitch on that first seam before attaching the zipper thinking it will be easier to rip out.</strong> It needs to be a smaller stitch so it won’t pull out when you put a pillow through the hole. The seam ripper will have no trouble cutting through even a smaller stitch.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y6V7dlOnYCY/UfeNPuMmAKI/AAAAAAAADZI/8jWkDcji7n4/s1600-h/IMG_56234.jpg"><img title="IMG_5623" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5623" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UK9Gb-jsCUM/UfeNQPmnFRI/AAAAAAAADZQ/gACNqUENDV8/IMG_5623_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">One problem I encountered was not having zippers the same length as my pillow cover as Jesse did in her instructions. By the time I got to the third and fourth pillow, I started figuring out what I needed to do.</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mvHConGYp00/UfeNQ8LIsnI/AAAAAAAADZY/46VqwqUQtAI/s1600-h/IMG_56214.jpg"><img title="IMG_5621" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZ4YnA6Obz7zIHId63RUZXV2DQtFRaQSDGWtjeWKaswlHRTnr_eSCk5P89vhW7XP90-8nzO3xcpSfyS5aYSMarpw94-lqAVJnKg33XQKRwEi7wRcxnpNld52XjSsPX69wgYrZsmFDFACm/?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">I learned <strong>I didn’t need to make the zipper foot on the machine go around the zipper pull, but just stop close to it and come back to that part after I unzipped it a bit.</strong> It is loose above, but after ripping the seam open, you can grab the pull and open the zipper some. Then you can sew around the end. MUCH easier and neater!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rzrDFxKqV6c/UfeNSEdEJpI/AAAAAAAADZo/yYcSf4YoizY/s1600-h/IMG_56174.jpg"><img title="IMG_5617" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5617" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eEoqChfO_sM/UfeNS0wWSVI/AAAAAAAADZw/2yW49OvkgDQ/IMG_5617_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4">You can see in the photo above the green lines I sewed after the back stitching {after I had unzipped the zipper some}.</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aGspEMbO9zA/UfeNTpCWSWI/AAAAAAAADZ4/yYQD8BLsuAQ/s1600-h/IMG_56194.jpg"><img title="IMG_5619" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5619" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hN8vngKT9cs/UfeNUDGtjDI/AAAAAAAADaA/LmQNt8kQUUA/IMG_5619_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">I also thought I’d try sewing the zipper to the seam edges only and not through both pieces of fabric to not have the sewing lines seen on the outside of the pillow. It is doable, but in the end I wonder how this pillow {below} will look in the long run. The crease from ironing is the only thing keeping the zipper somewhat hidden. <strong>Sticking to <a href="http://www.scoutandnimble.com/2013/04/30/the-easiest-fastest-way-to-sew-a-zippered-pillow-cover/" target="_blank">the instructions</a> and using the right color thread is the answer I think!</strong></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8d2NIQCs-Jw/UfeNVBnzGTI/AAAAAAAADaI/apFu7fsXERU/s1600-h/IMG_56274.jpg"><img title="IMG_5627" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5627" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-gApTOiqTnvaSKdtspghGsO5TOIX_ZcWvZdZRxAHkc1EtZc38_7zbyiCkwpjnPPCDC2pa3eQdRhuMNAAcbd7Kib_BN0tx877A08F8tafMmOWr5SS-mfB5TwwR5PSO02loH6UgieYNII3/?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4">The floral pillow ended up in our bedroom for now. It’s destination to the patio was routed by a travel pillow on sale at AREA {a fabulous store in Portugal}. That fabric wasn’t made for the outside anyway.</font></p> <p><font size="4"></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DUCXCH2iBvM/UfeNWOAmUKI/AAAAAAAADaY/pO6-yXSulAg/s1600-h/IMG_5635%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5635" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5635" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yIPviZyu9gc/UfeNWy_wqnI/AAAAAAAADag/oEt1CsPl0n8/IMG_5635_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4">Outdoor pillows are not that easy to find here in Portugal, if it is possible at all. For all my friends living here, I found outdoor fabric on fabric store row in Campo Ourique in Lisbon, but they only have stripes and solids. It wasn’t expensive at all when you don’t need a whole meter.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UeLOfH4wke8/UfeNXiXbbvI/AAAAAAAADao/zv9TB3psU8Y/s1600-h/IMG_5636%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5636" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_5636" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jc4tlaBGwgc/UfeNYD0c4iI/AAAAAAAADaw/sLLVStcZMHE/IMG_5636_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Three pillows made with outdoor fabric, one cheap IKEA solid I had, and my new travel pillow. It might need a mate! Hopefully we can finish up our back patio projects soon so I can post all of it then. </font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-53327998558036761282013-03-08T22:54:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.819+01:00A Rainbow’s End<p><font size="4"></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Yox0yXo4FBk/UTpd6OPXQTI/AAAAAAAADV0/uHXJpizJoto/s1600-h/IMG_4402%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4402" border="0" alt="IMG_4402" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bRS2feznFiM/UTpd6zsof-I/AAAAAAAADV8/Mul1N0SPRe4/IMG_4402_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Last year I started this small project after seeing </font><a href="http://funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.pt/2011/02/lucky-printable-somewhere-over-rainbow.html" target="_blank"><font size="4">a digital version I liked</font></a><font size="4">. It took a sick day in January to complete it! So glad now. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h47BKhqn-eM/UTpd76YyrcI/AAAAAAAADWE/p90Z9Ae1Vd4/s1600-h/IMG_4412%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4412" border="0" alt="IMG_4412" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x--elFqmgYs/UTpd82YGFNI/AAAAAAAADWM/6rvkDVaKpHQ/IMG_4412_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="500" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4">It was fun to add a bit of Spring and Truth in our entryway.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KflxVeZn_A4/UTpd-EtLcDI/AAAAAAAADWU/0tKHIR_owH4/s1600-h/IMG_4406%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4406" border="0" alt="IMG_4406" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-P4h7bs5013k/UTpd_LZfOpI/AAAAAAAADWc/OnEtCU5GMPo/IMG_4406_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I made a couple trips to our local retrosaria between last year and this to get a needed button or two to fill in the rainbow well. If you’d like to make something similar, I’d recommend <strong>starting with a larger piece of cloth</strong> than I did. It got a little tricky trying to keep my piece between the embroidery hoop with all the buttons not wanting to bend on the hoop’s edges. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hINZXANFPNE/UTpeAd3cTWI/AAAAAAAADWk/R_45ds4vdDo/s1600-h/IMG_4407%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4407" border="0" alt="IMG_4407" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8RyELKpNLEs/UTpeBMSd0nI/AAAAAAAADWs/e1iJP5v5Vd0/IMG_4407_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="416" /></a></p> <p align="left"><font size="4">The cursive writing was just freehand and the clover is four small hearts ends together. I pulled the fabric around a frame back {with stand} and glued it. I had planned on framing it, but the frame did not have enough space for the back now-covered-in-fabric to fit in its grooves. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qHXqaOiPlkI/UTpeCcm0j2I/AAAAAAAADW0/banCgy0H37E/s1600-h/IMG_4401%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4401" border="0" alt="IMG_4401" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VL2Bdc3prGM/UTpeDO0PUFI/AAAAAAAADW8/5yVeY8fzHa0/IMG_4401_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="404" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4">Thankfully it stands well on its own! Happy Spring and St. Patrick’s Day to you a little early!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4"></font> </p> <p align="left"><font size="4">linking up to <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/2013/03/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-wallpaper-for-windows-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Tatertots and Jello</a> ,  <a href="http://www.flamingotoes.com" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://www.flamingotoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/NewThinkPink_Button150_01131.jpg" width="150" height="150" /></a> and <a href="http://www.sewcando.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac133/cerise422/BigCraftasticSewCanDo.jpg" width="175" height="175" size="size" img="img" /></a> <br /> <br /></font></p> <pre> </pre> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-22192680082996543762013-02-24T19:28:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.842+01:00Grid for How to Think<p><font size="4">Lately, I’ve seemed to be tempted to walk in unbelief or hopelessness about a situation. Thankfully I am reading a great book called <u>Living From the Unseen</u> by Wendy Backlund that challenges my wrong thinking. In Chapter Five, she speaks about “thinking on purpose…whatever is of good report.” </font></p> <p><font size="4">This really hit home with me that there are so many things that God has faithfully done for us, things we never would have imagined, that why do I doubt now? So, I had this idea to make a grid of all the things we should think about from Philippians 4:8 that I could fill in and <strong>post</strong> somewhere for me to remember!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i0b8vLb93VA/USpb41280BI/AAAAAAAADUs/cObEJfEFPIY/s1600-h/think%252520grid%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="think grid" border="0" alt="think grid" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_hy0mtAEvFau8aSQrBA6VHE4NFfIWGjHYAiu0jkgRlzAuWYeFGmgaLVE35Er6PoXKoTwahK5GS9GAGNSza-stqX0yXK46R41KhXshxYovtDlEaPIJ7Vxlb2OxpT9tJ9TJnfmQTCw_H9D/?imgmax=800" width="506" height="704" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">It is nothing fancy at all but I thought it might be helpful to someone else too. You can download or print the grid by clicking the link below. It will open in Google docs where there is an arrow to download or a printer icon to print.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4"><strong><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx1v2VL2XkPrWFZFTTJYbERJUjQ/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Think on These Things Grid</a></strong></font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-35924490447703528662013-02-01T23:10:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.862+01:00New Planters<p><font size="4">I’ve had several plants sitting in my kitchen waiting for a permanent home. Three tiny succulents were in my window sill, and it occurred to me they might fit in the old polka-dot bowl I had sitting next to them.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ThmG7H6lBmk/UQw9PM_zDNI/AAAAAAAADI0/eAuvR3XjJpI/s1600-h/IMG_3993%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3993" border="0" alt="IMG_3993" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fO9JDhXTTFM/UQw9PxBJc8I/AAAAAAAADI8/LsZb4JlegHA/IMG_3993_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="508" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Wa-lah! Then began the hunt to find more of these “new” planters. Even though I’d prefer to de-stash, the best bets for these other plants were found at our local flea market. A teapot for my rex begonia…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RLoi1keyuHc/UQw9QxtbKFI/AAAAAAAADJE/1UjBGKdMfK4/s1600-h/IMG_3995%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3995" border="0" alt="IMG_3995" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K9f8n4sI-rw/UQw9SxlUeII/AAAAAAAADJM/PjIOnXNUS5k/IMG_3995_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">The poinsettia from Christmas has been given a chance at longer life too. We’ll see how she fares outside of her Christmas florist donned wrapping.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-chyRi2xx1Lk/UQw9UC9hDJI/AAAAAAAADJU/atdToC74qdA/s1600-h/IMG_4034%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4034" border="0" alt="IMG_4034" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6L_hUbMhcNo/UQw9VOpmAdI/AAAAAAAADJc/X9-h57Dbn2s/IMG_4034_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I’m hoping the plants will thrive despite the fact I didn’t drill holes in the bottom of these pottery pieces. Just being careful to not overwater. I have used rocks or other objects in the lower sections of vases and pottery in the past to give water a place to go in a way, just not this time. These containers were on the smaller side.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9ISKNN09LNF-EoYTja_EKWG68yF5hoJANG9q9pkwHr8ZoWIOzbH83lsksjRQry2N-d-OXlktW5tW-W4Dtb3nQKwYTBevE56ZXgi3DCWaW1v6c1K3mQ0J6VcvKSM0C02ob03te84HJZla/s1600-h/IMG_3994%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3994" border="0" alt="IMG_3994" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uPh7PtaUquY/UQw9W_Ny5OI/AAAAAAAADJs/8c5gow5f3h4/IMG_3994_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <font size="4">In the mean time I’m encouraged by prettier plant life in the kitchen in the middle of winter!</font> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-60197407316459632912013-01-18T23:32:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.883+01:00First Silhouette Heat Transfer<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YMRRLMcaRvA/UPnNUshDIZI/AAAAAAAADHg/Z-P1vGSKQnA/s1600-h/IMG_3880%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3880" border="0" alt="IMG_3880" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-n5Lhko3jdxg/UPnNV1qRekI/AAAAAAAADHk/2FICPMS4bf0/IMG_3880_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">One of my daughters picked out a cute top to go with some corduroys for Christmas. It was attached to a plain turtleneck—a two-for-one deal. My other daughter decided she’d like a new printed turtle neck too. I had some inspiration pinned from Hanna Anderson to get this project going.</font></p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="T-Shirt Idea to try (T from Hanna Anderson)" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/287315651198984650_ppTtwbPN_c.jpg" /></p> <p><font size="4">I got the “cat silhouette” and the “flower tree” from the <a href="http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/php/" target="_blank">Silhouette online store</a>. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ds0BQUDG6fw/UPnNXiJPFII/AAAAAAAADHw/S9OQCtGgIEQ/s1600-h/cat%252520and%252520flower%25255B3%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="cat and flower" border="0" alt="cat and flower" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3Q-lFSFb3vc/UPnNYgFjFmI/AAAAAAAADH4/0mLx4k1T4ec/cat%252520and%252520flower_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="554" height="426" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I curved the flat end of the flower tree graphic a little so it appeared more like a branch than an upside down tree.</font><font size="4"> <br /></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fdfElCvc_8o/UPnNZ0GmA4I/AAAAAAAADIA/2zh0sXV7oC0/s1600-h/IMG_3860%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3860" border="0" alt="IMG_3860" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-777__eTklS8/UPnNbHAergI/AAAAAAAADII/CbhDt2HqILY/IMG_3860_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I followed the directions for using the flocked heat transfer material that came in the Silhouette Heat Transfer Starter Kit {thanks Mom!}. I did have to leave the iron on the material longer than it said for a couple of the spots that wanted to come up when I peeled up the transfer sheet.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eUcbUfNMrZ8/UPnNcZYZnII/AAAAAAAADIQ/9942FhA588Q/s1600-h/IMG_3882%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3882" border="0" alt="IMG_3882" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ceTD4tp96hQ/UPnNdYSMZwI/AAAAAAAADIY/E_1DNgUIkGs/IMG_3882_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">The white flocked material picks up every bit of lint so it’s not so clean and white anymore {and it did make it through a normal wash!}. Yet t<font size="4">his shirt is still a hit with my 6 year old!</font></font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-44059545369112823202013-01-11T22:34:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.904+01:00New Life for a Tray<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7cTXa81R0G4uo6krrjqCkgP1-nTgOcaRbqQM1pcuNjWxA7cX2ilTC2mX4pudRUcFoplylepR_C7IVmp3pqhAEXjb03UKfbkyVGpzD-auSyAon2K7kPCLL1PetbvzF-Z1Ho7aBjSSWx4h/s1600-h/IMG_3734%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3734" border="0" alt="IMG_3734" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-menNhlzk9Zo/UPCFPzrVuSI/AAAAAAAADGE/hiuVM5r6pfg/IMG_3734_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">One of the few projects I completed for the holidays this year was an old tray that had not been used in years after getting broken. {Yet I knew it still had potential—my weakness!} Yay for one more thing out of the stash!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YbPKa5XtAQw/UPCFRTO7GfI/AAAAAAAADGM/bbfdV6G6m-8/s1600-h/IMG_3599%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3599" border="0" alt="IMG_3599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYINqY3_f6z6iI3TEVQODr_N_jancywNzzR_vnmLNfB22aaHdcZ9iiZJX54b5AXTTmUNA5eR0w_zmJGloSUlrK-aQy7KCj4BunwCEKMnbV_NIyPow4bxeASFOEvNkuh-35isNzYqLqBmt/?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">My husband came to the rescue with some kind of glue to keep the crack from getting worse. I decided to decoupage the bottom with scrapbook paper so it would not be seen. I chose<font size="4"> papers that would work with Christmas but could be used anytime with the colors in our living room.</font></font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uIxP7nFfIgo/UPCFT_TtWzI/AAAAAAAADGc/vuoKzlKaJbI/s1600-h/IMG_3602%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3602" border="0" alt="IMG_3602" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0TPxHhwP-AE/UPCFU7uZsWI/AAAAAAAADGk/XifCdz9FTDE/IMG_3602_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">Here I’ve glued the five pieces on with Mod Podge. Then I put three coats on the top allowing each to dry before adding another. I had searched the internet to see if decoupage glue would alter the glittered paper and couldn’t find an answer. I tested a small piece and saw it dulled the color of the glitter a bit but was not significant enough for me to not seal the tray, especially when someone might set a drink on it at our coffee table.</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xJ0UTe04fHc/UPCFWTwh1XI/AAAAAAAADGs/IJSl4lHx_sM/s1600-h/IMG_3719%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3719" border="0" alt="IMG_3719" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-huhqLztXYKM/UPCFXeUxsRI/AAAAAAAADG0/usID-MXLvlw/IMG_3719_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3"><font size="4">The crack left some small indentations in the paper but I don’t think it’s too noticeable.</font> </font><font size="4">If you try this like me on a shiny surface, take care to not get the Mod Podge on the uncovered surfaces. You can see it leaves a dull film that needs to be removed.</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqi2myym3SlDpPbZjP2uuSKWsPUUHyl3Ctq2ZyoqDRnyjioEmHRvwW6HrEjhPboa3BiS8BdXvEjMDUZ95441olsB7HRwqyM2Kha1JDfv903Lqi5HfkcfvhC2rm9cZydgUdIIRY8PB_KbA/s1600-h/IMG_3720%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3720" border="0" alt="IMG_3720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnvf750SuvdIyXAQ0zPgne-hntU21jyE3pFp8JRFtmJvpL0CX4mn-zC_Q4VvpGyYaaIlkwphS_LywZL67HTbZZxOOwroa1_1BL-c0UvesQMzKO2P9pAUJWkj1wiLHyMn7-yJMBLLb6808/?imgmax=800" width="349" height="587" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">We’ll see how many more seasons we can get out of this tray now. :)</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-20625223816235251992013-01-03T00:08:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.925+01:00The Sounds of Pruning<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q2wDi27jH44/UOS9tYlFyoI/AAAAAAAADE4/O1Wk30Hed4I/s1600-h/IMG_3745%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3745" border="0" alt="IMG_3745" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7iNYPAppBL0/UOS9urQs16I/AAAAAAAADFA/dfjoI664SSM/IMG_3745_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="484" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">All the leaves are off the pear trees now. Instead, green emerges between the rows of trees after the November rains. </font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XPao61JTpug/UOS9wPFPPxI/AAAAAAAADFI/h26xq18pZlk/s1600-h/IMG_3743%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3743" border="0" alt="IMG_3743" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A3VFGrDPpF4/UOS9xC04ftI/AAAAAAAADFQ/hOiYUOfc_bY/IMG_3743_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">Four times now in the last month I’ve heard the farmers out pruning the orchards. It’s amazing how rhythmic it sounds. Turn up your volume to hear the clipping along with some birds chirping, a rooster crowing, and some girlies giggling (while Mommy films!). You can see the back of our neighborhood and house in the background.</font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; width: 448px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:ad4915a6-46c8-46cd-8a50-5f6bab9f396a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="448" height="252"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9R8kTwFV30w?hl=en&hd=1"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9R8kTwFV30w?hl=en&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="448" height="252"></embed></object></div></div> <p><font size="4">I am most familiar with pruning from John 15:2, but it is neat to see it happening literally:</font></p> <p align="left"><strong><font size="4">He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.</font></strong></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U8bRuJoxiqk/UOS9ylJWllI/AAAAAAAADFY/nSwY7fqF9cg/s1600-h/IMG_3739%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3739" border="0" alt="IMG_3739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8OZqte-hnEtWwPA4qH_NYjd2z-niQpRnH6sbTVTmPjGFwqrNCUErw4NrULsusJw9sDcgK5V7BYm7UwS1vO2uAcMa4pLtkTQPZ4Wh5QphO2UdWJ8h7Xi9UoYwRiJysJFWFUsMHFbAq4ME/?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I smile to think that He finds it as lovely to hear the pruning in our lives as I hear outside my door.</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-84759575820385767732012-12-20T22:06:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.945+01:00Some Last Minute Gift Ideas<p><font size="4">I had thought several times about how much I appreciate some of my kitchen tools, then it occurred to me that others might like to receive these things too.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mWahfjV6eGg/UNN9y72br7I/AAAAAAAADEI/NXOypXa1Uqg/s1600-h/IMG_1126%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1126" border="0" alt="IMG_1126" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VTXkrNOOGqU/UNN9z1AE0-I/AAAAAAAADEQ/f4kQ3Z4TOhc/IMG_1126_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I call this an <em>ulu</em> but it’s not from Alaska. My neighbor gave me this herb cutter set, and I’ve loved cutting fresh herbs with this. There are some high priced ones out there, but I saw <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001IX03A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0001IX03A">one that looks similar</a> on amazon.com for $16.99.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1i8Kwx1G2dmEZ_yJq82vAkWwYMxxszJyAiSuEW_p746bBp0IGHVUp_hRMo2Wet_ZW21xWIccLiufLEH9i3N3rBSuhgXybgoXPwJXy-9smxWF_WtM1BGiHdtKHexBjyiLD-z1H_4BBscl/s1600-h/IMG_1128%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1128" border="0" alt="IMG_1128" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AXIatydsEOg/UNN91xS7lPI/AAAAAAAADEc/Q8zgHiJcUxk/IMG_1128_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">This hard working juicer cost me 99cents from our grocery store here in Portugal. I love how it strains out the pulp and seeds and is easy to clean up. I did not find anything as cheap on Amazon, but surely something similar is readily available in your local stores. It seems like one of those items you don’t know you like until you try it. Cheaper than buying bottled juice! </font></p> <p><font size="4">An additional idea: One year we gave someone a small juicer along with some cherry syrup as a <strong>cherry limeade set</strong>.</font></p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://images.cutco.com/1500/1724_p1.jpg" width="391" height="450" />  </p> <p><font size="4">This <a href="http://www.cutco.com/products/product.jsp?itemGroup=1724" target="_blank">Cutco slicer</a> (I call it a bread knife) is one of my favorites. We have many cheap fresh baked breads available here in Portugal, so this knife is used daily in our house. I was blessed to get a few Cutco knives, but don’t get stumped by the brand. I just think everyone would appreciate one! I saw a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004RFNI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00004RFNI">Henckels brand</a> on Amazon for $12.95 that had many good reviews.</font></p> <p><font size="4"><img style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; margin: 0px; border-top: medium none; border-right: medium none" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shfrwaovhe-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1887840133" width="1" height="1" /> <img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1887840133&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></font><img style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; margin: 0px; border-top: medium none; border-right: medium none" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=shfrwaovhe-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1887840133" width="1" height="1" /> </p> <p><font size="4">My last suggestion is not for the kitchen, but for someone to relax and enjoy, kids and adults alike. My girls and I recently finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1887840133/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1887840133">Understood Betsy</a> together, and I think it will remain one of our top favorites. It starts off with an orphan being taken care of by her <em>overbearing</em> aunt—this part can even get on your nerves it’s so bad. But stick to it because the lessons Betsy learns once she has new caregivers are very entertaining and insightful.</font></p> <p><font size="4">I’m always up for gift ideas and recommendations, so I hope this is helpful to someone else too. May your last days before Christmas be full of peace and joy instead of stress!</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-92149037133313654142012-12-11T19:13:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.964+01:00Yarn Balls and Ornaments Wreath<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GmED8kFBr8c/UMd3ccmDpbI/AAAAAAAADCU/xkrmeQcE4g0/s1600-h/IMG_3616%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3616" border="0" alt="IMG_3616" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YCIlrgJKUUU/UMd3dgKUncI/AAAAAAAADCc/gdze_6QJQ8U/IMG_3616_thumb%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Last year I decided I didn’t want to use all the ball ornaments on my tree this year. I also wanted a new wreath, but those are not plentiful here in Portugal. So I decided to use what I had apart from buying some yarn from our dollar store. There are <em>many</em> examples of yarn ball wreaths online, but I got my idea of mixing the ornaments and yarn balls from <a href="http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2010/11/yarn-ball-wreath-and-what-i-wore-wednesday/" target="_blank">The Pleated Poppy blog</a>.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LvcfKObX-r4/UMd3fCqzHSI/AAAAAAAADCk/B0LRMmzJsWY/s1600-h/IMG_3611%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3611" border="0" alt="IMG_3611" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jgMwHg25Wic/UMd3glu98gI/AAAAAAAADCs/xjHGMES_oMg/IMG_3611_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I covered all the ornaments that I didn’t want to show with yarn. I used some craft glue to attach the yarn to the ornament, then tucked in the end when I had finished wrapping it with yarn.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5w-HjVrWfy0/UMd3itjPTNI/AAAAAAAADC0/qMt6O-FJ6A8/s1600-h/IMG_3612%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3612" border="0" alt="IMG_3612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJOsH7_bC1qHnjXC76okD7oNb2pov_bH8ZfC4caYWf53YoQuhgiVbJ15rSWx2BFnlKOyNoHk2uXVpJDcUuWef_KjR7iJ2mTkbkBHSNpGTn5HkeVgHxZ1cb2LuKUJUjCnQbQvME9OvATKc/?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">You can see part of the Styrofoam stand I made above to spray paint some of the ornaments pink. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U5mqp05ySgk/UMd3k48aM1I/AAAAAAAADDE/AiqNvIhPA_8/s1600-h/IMG_3613%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3613" border="0" alt="IMG_3613" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_22ErCk3EJo/UMd3lhg6WPI/AAAAAAAADDM/A3tBTfO-Yhc/IMG_3613_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="371" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Once everything was ready, I used the ornament hanging parts to wire them onto the wreath {necessary with the wind we can get here}. A couple of the tops of the ornaments kept coming out when I was putting them on. I think they lost they’re stay-in ability once the neck of the ornament was covered. So I used some hot glue to keep those tops secure. So far we haven’t seen the need to have hot-glued any others!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3KpjlvMoki0/UMd3m4X_MyI/AAAAAAAADDU/pt3L5gWebnk/s1600-h/IMG_3619%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3619" border="0" alt="IMG_3619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHc2nsp_0aKqpxASTR4s9dMqqqIe_tZbvzO7r-AY-FaN3sf5-IdNDLthuOMJm4jaG8VwsQVdLNIYuYqM8T9Xt9_3VGdkX52Z4n9hlPs8mD-_6b7fntYhkn6raZwR7VhwaKUnBKY-rwEGDN/?imgmax=800" width="515" height="554" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">We are pleased with the fun color on our door and to have this project off my to-do list from last year!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9ZJfccQQgyg/UMd3pBQWjJI/AAAAAAAADDk/Ng0siEcgMJ4/s1600-h/IMG_3614%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3614" border="0" alt="IMG_3614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpQGqelBnr0LLtEdN1yNnTrdxxIC0K8Vcf4__FVmieWfaXebnkOU5RyZrSsQqx85wGh-AtTwkJ9SPu3Pb4dqQX1PVZ4vvginwI5ix32Vi7N6oUXFE4G0xjt_QRKjFm4MPlJIyxRn3dh7p/?imgmax=800" width="371" height="554" /></a></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-52955157549304774012012-11-14T14:41:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:22.985+01:00Bunny Birthday Party<p><font size="4">Our now 8 year old daughter decided to have a bunny themed party this year because we bought our new born rabbits this month a year ago. They would celebrate birthdays together. Here’s the birthday girl and her sister:</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MbPGpKdu_kU/UKOfFJZOyVI/AAAAAAAAC-k/M4FJkJooUgc/s1600-h/IMG_3425-0014.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3425-001" border="0" alt="IMG_3425-001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_lxpAlADGmo/UKOfGaOGUOI/AAAAAAAAC-o/g04lckzalV0/IMG_3425-001_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">When we found this dress at H&M, this started the ball rolling on how to work out the theme. She also liked <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/107961729/some-bunny-1st-birthday-invitation?ref=sr_gallery_41&ga_search_query=bunny+invitation&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all" target="_blank">an invitation we’d seen that had bunnies and chevron stripes</a>, so stripes stuck as well as pink. I was able to come up with a similar-ish invitation with my Silhouette Studio program.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tVPcMJEDFjh70KbAq32k5720POziwAO9kz5qUFJ2VcWhX27LcNorEbGUgq5tBsMORfOtnjxqNAdW9yESZAdcge5hfSv1kqNIx3OycKTO2i-t8YUV4TwQzbPw8LNRgZpha3y7SbAoGnzT/s1600-h/Silhouette-Invite-Capture3.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Silhouette Invite Capture" border="0" alt="Silhouette Invite Capture" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-78jI7pTW9o8/UKOfJ-zbjQI/AAAAAAAAC-8/2hYA8BDE5Fc/Silhouette-Invite-Capture_thumb1.png?imgmax=800" width="504" height="380" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">I used the same rabbit silhouette shapes for décor and cupcake toppers</font></p> <p><font size="4"></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8jSFgYPIs7M/UKOfLIBgmaI/AAAAAAAAC_E/EiRBqndRoSY/s1600-h/IMG_34393.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3439" border="0" alt="IMG_3439" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R-tyWL-OeVk/UKOfMGkG9wI/AAAAAAAAC_I/81JjTiwwyDY/IMG_3439_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4">and the same paper for a miniature pennant banner.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u1rD95RZAuQ/UKOfNsde4VI/AAAAAAAAC_U/epsUZs4w8Ow/s1600-h/IMG_34354.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3435" border="0" alt="IMG_3435" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vWiUwSSP2Ho/UKOfOfug_zI/AAAAAAAAC_c/MeHso3lkt2I/IMG_3435_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="361" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">This was my first cake to attempt to decorate since my cake decorating extraordinaire friend is not in Portugal now. Thankfully <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/easter-bunny-cake-how-to/pictures/index.html" target="_blank">the bunny cake idea</a> we tried came with thorough directions <font color="#333333">and step</font>-by-step pictures.</font></p> <p><font size="4">For activities, we brought in the bunnies for the girls to have their pictures made with them and hold them if they wanted to.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg-TmqT2kNBQAZevWHz5Ls4H9Ekw5f6SmmKIV_C_MFDJG5mxekq0ZsxyjcIjE6hKb9jMUcljyQZ912T-gTR0SJ7Mg1IBKOVbtK7P0icW75ngOTJsw8HzfEZ0JinkxHqzHMg7WcQL0jbEu/s1600-h/IMG_34523.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3452" border="0" alt="IMG_3452" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eZp76d60aNA/UKOfQr3KS4I/AAAAAAAAC_o/vVBO1fvoDmk/IMG_3452_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">We made a carrot piñata simply with a cone of poster board reinforced with duct tape and a newspaper-filled tissue-paper-covered ball for the stem. The birthday girl had the first few hits and then got to be the first to hit it again after everyone else had a chance {and break it open!}.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_rmvjNZnkbU/UKOfRhQK0oI/AAAAAAAAC_w/su_D3u1DBTA/s1600-h/IMG_34667.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3466" border="0" alt="IMG_3466" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-udsMm79vvIA/UKOfShmZZ8I/AAAAAAAAC_4/05ORacCtbCM/IMG_3466_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="454" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jYpC_ee0IZY/UKOfTvgJILI/AAAAAAAADAE/RRj9MSNRcu4/s1600-h/IMG_34757.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3475" border="0" alt="IMG_3475" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ciiA8-cm8M8/UKOfUonRCJI/AAAAAAAADAI/ZcZ54C1ADb4/IMG_3475_thumb10.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="454" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4">I had stamped some paper sacks with a rabbit stamp for treat bags. They came in handy after the loot was dropped from the piñata!</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H1qLTlqUIiM/UKOfVjHIJiI/AAAAAAAADAU/r86q0GqISAE/s1600-h/IMG_3436%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3436" border="0" alt="IMG_3436" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KtwVE4O97pQ/UKOfW1TJxMI/AAAAAAAADAc/qa_4cfMBZh4/IMG_3436_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4">We also had some sack races so the girls could hop like bunnies. The girls kept wanting to go again and again!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u5mScKXFW0I/UKOfX9kI2CI/AAAAAAAADAk/u5QgDOI7g9Y/s1600-h/IMG_3482%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3482" border="0" alt="IMG_3482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DTX-lFmcvl21cf0ro-vGTlMo57rKzgBPG4-p228r-nO2W4eqC0e8F5-muLBfixTI1bfDg9WgYVI0ybWHwgFwxjQGa465TifG9DDUX71A-mDNDM_dOk0FgXJSdzdwEokOhX011RUR-Gpu/?imgmax=800" width="354" height="478" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">We got to introduce several of the Portuguese girls to Shrinky Dinks. We had printed two bunny outlines on printable Shrinky paper, cut them out, and had the girls color them with markers. These would become the charms for the necklaces they were making. It was a joy to see these girls get excited about the shrinking in the oven!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DM_zkf0P9pA/UKOfaRg4k6I/AAAAAAAADAw/5TQPeYY2aLo/s1600-h/IMG_34977.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3497" border="0" alt="IMG_3497" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwcK39WiblGNQzC7DOkQ0RwHGQbaKaQyQqFdkt9LcYQklBUjKNP6ZYhg4aWClXUjEw9NlwFnl8xdJ2WkEG7dHl6XLZiQegBjRtnE85OfLR1f0lhbvm31RksrnMMw8M1UFPs0ZUNT-LrDa/?imgmax=800" width="256" height="379" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nKB7z2ILQkQ/UKOfcvRy9JI/AAAAAAAADBE/JQtrIao2FMg/s1600-h/IMG_34986.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3498" border="0" alt="IMG_3498" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ccY0nBDCmrI/UKOfdqBmgTI/AAAAAAAADBM/o0Z_fxYuSho/IMG_3498_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="254" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="4">It might be helpful to discourage kids from using dark colors that will only darken with shrinkage. Yet it is difficult to curb how they want to color it as they see fit!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Fjj7lucwWb4/UKOffOOFohI/AAAAAAAADBU/tlpdEg2jDQo/s1600-h/IMG_34993.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_3499" border="0" alt="IMG_3499" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M2AIrIg-K-4/UKOfgA4rllI/AAAAAAAADBc/Kx-ZbB60mnU/IMG_3499_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Here are my two girls’ necklaces. We forgot to coat the charms with a glaze, and my eldest has already seen hers’ smear when it got wet. We’re going to try to fix it with some permanent markers. </font></p> <p><font size="4"></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O6IzNq4gzfE/UKOfhtAfp7I/AAAAAAAADBk/4aWLZ-uhQ_Q/s1600-h/photo%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo" border="0" alt="photo" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-95NO910LniU/UKOfigrJyXI/AAAAAAAADBs/oqu2YVMcYPg/photo_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="431" /></a></p> <p><font size="4">Girls, necklaces, charms, candy, a bunny cake with sparklers and candles, lots of pink--it was a great party!</font></p> <p><font size="4"></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-46EDkCfQ5_4/UKOfkFlZ8OI/AAAAAAAADB0/eMJa4cXPYd8/s1600-h/IMG_0055-001%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0055-001" border="0" alt="IMG_0055-001" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzm_w6lwill9VeClni9Utx3hgWLjHRugacNbG0ijBJdOVLYQ4rqGNYcYUlj3LXUutW6r3TL7JsjW-WRu1aEkUmRxAjJfW4DmqAdQRXQkCm7sjfpJeZbSHpx8oLKwXECJY_SBzn218DFAM/?imgmax=800" width="502" height="337" /></a></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-80141157389736476242012-08-19T17:00:00.002+02:002016-01-12T22:29:23.009+01:00Notice that change?<p><font size="3">Have you ever been gone long enough to notice some change the next time you were there?  Has it ever been a mirror to the ways you have changed yourself? I found this to be true when we were back in America for our furlough and especially when I was at something or with someone familiar. It may not have changed, but I had! Maybe my tastes had changed, maybe I was less insecure {Praise God!}… There were clues that I was different in encouraging ways for the most part.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L0iv3CMCTVA/UDD_Q4FYjHI/AAAAAAAAC9A/U3t7zoPKU-A/s1600-h/IMG_2975%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2975" border="0" alt="IMG_2975" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9kvgYG-xCGCeVBQqMzoiTA8GX2WHAfLBE2dRo6wi0sFmUl9cGlKq70lByMGQXGmFkmlIvuo5RNBFDtjAFh64fFeELVXN9FfnSQ12l3BaS2zIQykBEXTrQcam_byIxhkDYVZCYc5Bfjrg/?imgmax=800" width="540" height="314" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Now we’re back in Portugal. We love discovering changes or new things in our town since we had left. For instance, most of the road construction that’s been happening <em>for years</em> it seems is nearly finished! Our city made some great choices with new sidewalks and flowerbeds, even using cobblestones in white and black to make the crosswalks. Another item that got a big “WOW” from the family were the parking covers at our local LIDL, similar to ALDI if you’re familiar with that.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qGWSqbqJZP4/UDD_Twtzv6I/AAAAAAAAC9Q/fBEXvBArw3I/s1600-h/IMG_2970%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2970" border="0" alt="IMG_2970" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bHPI2FTjVKY/UDD_UzSoBNI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/axnbbyekPoQ/IMG_2970_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">To see how much our plants and trees had grown at our home was nearly overwhelming! We get a lot of sun here, and since we have sprinklers, all the green things are loving life. I wish I had a before so you could see the difference. Needless to say, we had a bit of pruning to do to make the front of our house look less like a jungle!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mYrQCKM8ucE/UDD_XQZ4nqI/AAAAAAAAC9g/HVgy1F4ah5c/s1600-h/IMG_2962%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2962" border="0" alt="IMG_2962" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hhNYpw1Zp9I/UDD_Yq0atmI/AAAAAAAAC9o/zCqnxtvrNjA/IMG_2962_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">This flower bed needed a rehaul with some flowers dead and others overtaking. The giant cabbage had to go! We actually took babies growing from it and replanted those. That’s a large onion stem that got broke off, not a snake—made <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/oven-baked-onion-rings-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">great baked onion rings</a> though!</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaAi871Wd5NkaeJHIjI5kuBuQHsKgLRkltgLkEFtEhqaRG0YDoFC9ZsmZSXSky6jHXp3qxCI28FvV-HJ5Z52mFQ6r3qWbpcz1z8FmttD-i1mggJLPK6b90adaZVm5XTETCVSF_Zbgdszw/s1600-h/IMG_2956%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2956" border="0" alt="IMG_2956" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhiZ0bX5qXSGJ89ZqaNMULAt29RW-Vw3y_F9_jEWVPuPej4zwGuXuqT20063p1UfHZdPGetTINDXCynnNYF5mAQBj3kFCNKJVux9VewaLjLQdLOZJYgy-GeC6hcH_moq1_j3NmVqP42N8/?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">The other big surprise was our nectarine tree. It’s on year three since we planted it. We got maybe four fruit from it last year. Check out our coming harvest!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nkPEcUs2aN0/UDD_coFWG3I/AAAAAAAAC-A/66s9rj5k7Fk/s1600-h/IMG_2959%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2959" border="0" alt="IMG_2959" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dsXUtDCQXt0/UDD_dywtBGI/AAAAAAAAC-I/ZewxnnraEdE/IMG_2959_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">So, we continue to look for changes in all places: finding non-vacuumed-packed corn-on-the-cob and Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup at our local grocer for the first time ever was a recent win! I was amazed!</font></p> <p><font size="3">I can tell I am still in adjustment phase as I start week 3 of being back in Portugal. It’s not bad, just weird. I look forward to noticing what has changed in me {for the good hopefully!} once the dust has settled.</font></p> <p><font size="3">How about you? Any recent victories with desired changes around you or in you?</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-27228478057014334142012-08-13T23:43:00.002+02:002016-01-12T22:29:23.030+01:00Better Each Time<p><font size="3">I’ve been back in Portugal for a week today and was actually able to get out of bed by 7:10AM!  Quite a victory when noon felt like 7AM days ago. I’ve been on a blogging hiatus for nearly four months. Several times I felt inspired to write while we were on our three month stint in America but… here I am now. I hope to recount some of the good things we’ve experienced still.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xQq-2FiCekc/UCl072Ga5YI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/vzFtlJvLJ0E/s1600-h/IMG_2948%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2948" border="0" alt="IMG_2948" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--ZhIyLXtHgw/UCl08kozsyI/AAAAAAAAC8U/TpmI0865GBM/IMG_2948_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="494" height="345" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">Before we left Portugal, I felt like <strong>the Lord encouraged me to</strong> <strong>believe that every mode of transportation would be better than the last for this trip</strong>. I had nine flights in the last 90 days. My husband had 14!  I didn’t keep count of miles driven. The return overseas flight was my least favorite to look forward to. We had 10.5 hours Houston to Frankfurt before flying to Lisbon. Normally we have a short 6.5 hour jaunt from Newark to Lisbon! I know people were praying {I had Facebooked that request—thanks if it was you!}. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Even though I am not a great plane sleeper, I got a little sleep every time I thought I couldn’t make it any longer—when slumber party nausea tried to set in—how you feel when you stay up all night and don’t eat. My kids and husband slept wonderfully. I really enjoyed a book I started reading, got some cards written even in the midst of prolonged turbulence and really felt encouraged in the Lord. Try listening to Bethel’s </font><a href="http://bethelmusic.com/theloftsessions/" target="_blank"><font size="3">The Loft Sessions</font></a><font size="3"> on a flight. Makes an hour fly by wonderfully! </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rlcfu_HIoAo/UCl09j9lg_I/AAAAAAAAC8g/Ted7LFWMevU/s1600-h/IMG_2949.jpg"><font size="3"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2949" border="0" alt="IMG_2949" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GcOTBZSFNEw/UCl0-hNijCI/AAAAAAAAC8o/-l9872xS2Ig/IMG_2949_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">On our last flight the daughter I was sitting with graciously said she wanted to rest rather than me help her with an activity. A little more sleep for me! It was a joy to be on a flight where people were excited to be landing in Portugal. Some were taking pictures out the window; many clapped upon our arrival. I was thrilled to have made it back. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Two years ago, I had been praying some declarations out of Steve Backlund’s book, </font><a href="http://store.ibethel.org/p312/igniting-faith-in-40-days" target="_blank"><font size="3">Igniting Faith in 40 Days</font></a><font size="3">, and I had no idea it would affect me in travel. I had previously been dealing with fear including quite a bit in flying (not just having a crash but also getting sick as I had in the past flights). Within the first few minutes of our flight from Houston to Newark, I felt the Lord say in my mind “<strong>Be as if you never had fear</strong>,” and I was filled with an <em>amazing</em> peace and joy. I’ve had plenty of chances to test that word since then!</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, on this side of all the travel this summer held, I see that every time I was going from one place to the next, <strong>there was grace for<em> me</em> to respond in my heart better than the last</strong>, even with lots of turbulence.</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-26993687696472001072012-04-04T12:51:00.002+02:002016-01-12T22:29:23.049+01:00Lego Friends Party<p><font size="3">Have you seen the new Lego sets for girls? They’re great and they came out just in time to add some girly-ness to my now 6 year old’s Lego party. Thankfully there are gobs of ideas for Lego parties. We just had to add the Lego Friends part {we did not put out the brand new sets since my daughter had just received them that morning—too tiny for 12 kids to play with}! We also did not not buy a lot of extra things for the party, mainly because I’d have to order it all from America. I’ll show you what we still able to do for the décor and the games we played.</font></p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="http://triblocal.com/streamwood/files/2012/01/Friends_group_ICON3.jpg" /></p> <p><font size="3">For party decorations, I asked a Lego-loving friend to make a large heart out of Legos for a centerpiece. He had to use some cross bar pieces for support, so we used it as a platform for the tiny Lego Friends girls. We didn’t have a stash of the more girly colored Legos yet {although my daughter got some as a gift for her birthday!} so the heart was made in traditional Lego colors.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4Y1Er6eVBG8p9v929ASBZApxbk4XGtJkHRtBpBwDq1rAM7hqA518AojuLG0UU7LmbE0HeK70N3FRZry_zjclnwwWXlICoOyU-O5ImATJBi6__pEA5IK8qjKfmniRJNBtE4dNEJTUolRO/s1600-h/IMG_1274%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1274" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1274" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ohOG0X6iOCI/T3wnAWlNRhI/AAAAAAAAC60/y7q6otArdUo/IMG_1274_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I set a tray with the treat bags on the table. I’d made them by printing out the kids’ names in a free Lego font on a paper sack. {I saw <a href="http://crunchycatholicmomma.blogspot.pt/2011/07/lego-party.html" target="_blank">other cute treat bags online with dots on solid color bags</a>, but I couldn’t find small ones here.} I read <a href="http://www.thegunnysack.com/2011/08/tutorial-tuesday-printed-brown-paper.html" target="_blank">a tutorial for sending paper sacks through the printer</a> that helped a ton!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ldz9UughCio/T3wnCKav2YI/AAAAAAAAC64/0PSOmIqLgLs/s1600-h/IMG_1273%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1273" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1273" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QriORSnDHGY/T3wnDJCIzhI/AAAAAAAAC68/Zh_NYPB56G4/IMG_1273_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I suspended glittery hearts, stars, and flowers with baker’s twine from our chandelier since the Lego Friends have lots of those girly symbols. You can see in the photo below that I used some Duplo blocks to make a tray for purple/red/orange layered jello cups and a stand for some “pigs-n-blankets".” I got the layered jello idea from <a href="http://crackersart.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/harveys-5th-birthday-lego-inspired.html" target="_blank">Crackers Blog</a> {go check out their amazing Lego cake!}.</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ohoDXTQ3Qz0/T3wnEljNepI/AAAAAAAAC7A/O1FnlWs08n8/s1600-h/IMG_1275%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1275" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1275" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jid99JKeaR8/T3wnFzXaEiI/AAAAAAAAC7E/5ak5RlRv0JE/IMG_1275_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I printed out some pictures of the Lego Friends sets and several of the logos from online for the doors that go into our living room.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5VtBUS2ahMc/T3wnGlP16CI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/nGfJufTxzjY/s1600-h/IMG_13934.jpg"><img title="IMG_1393" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1393" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HRnf7wrAe4I/T3wnH02NamI/AAAAAAAAC3k/oKbqhB3qLEY/IMG_1393_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" align="left" height="354" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LbnKaOgBCgk/T3wnJMja83I/AAAAAAAAC3s/LyT6xlgwzzQ/s1600-h/IMG_13944.jpg"><img title="IMG_1394" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1394" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vPa-KPlm-Z4/T3wnKC6LfQI/AAAAAAAAC30/jjW48aSi9k0/IMG_1394_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" height="354" /></a></p> <p><font color="#333333"><font size="3">The</font> <font size="3"><em>pièce de résistance</em> was the pink Lego cake my friend iced/decorated for us. I tried to “help” in baking the cakes for her. She graciously coached me in how to get the cake pans right for this project! </font></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tfpUXwVmH98/T3wnLXAiCLI/AAAAAAAAC7I/c7illEJxbXY/s1600-h/IMG_1267%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1267" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HIn5Rvm6iUw/T3wnNNEzxvI/AAAAAAAAC7M/6-F6j9D01Bk/IMG_1267_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I thought the pennant banner might add a fun touch, and I used the same glittery scrapbook papers that matched the invitations and other girly décor. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EHyAbuBSNuo/T3wnOrFkZgI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/SVgi2Yf0Zhk/s1600-h/IMG_1269%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1269" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsaw6G6pVz1e-pFa6ByaCCRals55uyiqPbc5Zpoh8upM-8woPhq7kI3jOsc691CQ34tiULm5FPrKofhtME0dVH9m3m33XfV5SOPNVhsUfyuH0qlU9bYF26v7ikfNccyO0T6WPrgtKVHNy/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I attempted cake balls for the first time using a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006BE7322/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006BE7322">cake ball baking pan</a> set my mom sent me. Worked like a charm—getting the large flower sprinkles to not fall off with the dipping chocolate was another thing. But they sure tasted good!</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjtZq8GW5vbTTXlr3tVV77i5ugNmbumPIHbIJG-wA0Nhk9AjJonAmQ0T9f0xepVzWXD79zPByUj6YO-pUOLi5ENEfzX6th-z_4gF5LqXOfvvIKyyXwZfM3aXXLcvG9WRqfaUH8ObKlOaP/s1600-h/IMG_1293%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1293" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO17NEVLvh3scIAyBLB2v5s6INOz1AFnyg0GvZtKkBsgcGM_yl5MVHsH7GH6tFfKpEUH7te4r2WovX5shk51SutJFu0nhzbx7DTf2j6k5wiVX7jn3wmWJ4s4BLQv2ipTBOC6ouGpL4kFiV/?imgmax=800" width="366" height="463" /></a></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3">Our first game was pin-the-circle-on-the-lego. Kids ranging in age from 3-8 years had a ball with this! I first saw this idea at <a href="http://www.moneywisemoms.com/2009/09/lego-birthday-party/" target="_blank">Money Wise Moms</a>.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TNlGekUUoXg/T3wnTYNg8VI/AAAAAAAAC7g/v1ZFhPD1fbw/s1600-h/IMG_1251%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1251" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1251" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hDNjM26IsE0/T3wnUUXpqCI/AAAAAAAAC7k/6o1mu7Ojl18/IMG_1251_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I wanted everyone to know this was supposed to be a Lego {for the most part I was speaking broken Portuguese to kids who needed all the help they could get to understand what we were doing!}. I used my Silhouette program to print a mirror image of the word Lego. Then I used a charcoal pencil to trace the outlines. I found the charcoal pencil left better marks when I copied it facedown below.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jgTnbwrBU18/T3wnVhXZ5uI/AAAAAAAAC7o/t8DxT3pt9cY/s1600-h/IMG_1249%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1249" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF3lyyUcT-l0JQuWIH8SdO1pVaG6a_rTWqy3F3OcAm-QP4fkHNA2H6iCLMQfV4AXZ-UyjREBCJWTAPH5UviZuBgPOxc7whLRCCm-hhkhG1ZBphO0fy1W7Ncnkpk4tttp34z8RTyEG-GXk/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Afterwards I had a template to retrace with a marker. You could save time by printing out the LEGO word and cutting out the circles, but I didn’t want to make a run for more paper or cut more circles.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fNymj-WiEng/T3wnYyXr2GI/AAAAAAAAC7w/8Rc6J4VvEcY/s1600-h/IMG_1252%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1252" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1252" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Bctfd0cYNmM/T3wnZrFAZnI/AAAAAAAAC70/W1TLanIkWZw/IMG_1252_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Next we had two groups hit on our Lego piñatas. I got the idea for these from <a href="http://deliacreates.blogspot.pt/2011/01/lego-pull-pinata.html" target="_blank">Delia Creates</a>. Hers is a pull piñata—we did the hitting kind. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YJQA6FAnafk/T3wnbIGVVEI/AAAAAAAAC74/cnFjfBXLo8M/s1600-h/IMG_1254%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1254" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1254" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PQ32hzIHCS8/T3wncB4byPI/AAAAAAAAC78/uFPCotiGvwY/IMG_1254_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I spray painted two boxes, and my husband helped me put ends of Pringles cans in one and Playdoh containers in another. I hot glued them in, spray painted them some more, then wrapped them in fringed crepe paper {so thankful to have found this—what a time saver!}.</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7N5mPSl6S14/T3wndCPQmII/AAAAAAAAC8A/1xTBo9F49Og/s1600-h/IMG_1281%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1281" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1281" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-13BZ2E1a_ys/T3wnd5PfOsI/AAAAAAAAC8E/h1hOQApzwBE/IMG_1281_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">The last</font> <font size="3">we played was building the tallest Lego {or Duplos in this case} tower in 60 seconds. We had 3 kids build their own at a time with a winner’s round at the end. We played music and had a countdown. The kids really got into it!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BiVTN3aYpOM/T3wnflSeGNI/AAAAAAAAC58/hIQBhZxXrrk/s1600-h/IMG_13074.jpg"><img title="IMG_1307" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1307" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mkU82fjcmE0/T3wnghIh3GI/AAAAAAAAC6A/Jqy9M9IfG7M/IMG_1307_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">An unplanned game of dodge ball in the back yard let to lots of free outdoor play.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iYgONq0en98/T3wniPHxpFI/AAAAAAAAC6M/9TrRotyeIkM/s1600-h/IMG_13124.jpg"><img title="IMG_1312" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1312" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xNMQgADs2oI/T3wnizUQTII/AAAAAAAAC6U/2pJJf1c5N8g/IMG_1312_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">The party was a lot of fun! Our birthday girl was pleased!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f0w1YCkYw2Q/T3wnleWuupI/AAAAAAAAC6c/vrReVgUevb4/s1600-h/IMG_13235.jpg"><img title="IMG_1323" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy5zBeWajmjir7i1TsxZXONflPwmTTPhZ_TGMg59eKSNbESNElxgxSVaO7ohgWght3xlyOppAYDAn9514hvsKrC34GNasZ6LgvALtvJl1bmn-StC88L08iqaYWFU6ruUMVT3sbIORM9_s/?imgmax=800" width="520" height="325" /></a></p> <p>Sharing this at </p> <h5 style="text-decoration: ; font-family: ; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; text-transform: none; color: ; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; orphans: 2; widows: 2; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; padding-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><img src="http://tatertotsandjello.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/wrap-up-party2.png" /></h5> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-64680013075369843352012-03-09T22:57:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:23.073+01:00Plates and Frames<p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xEwY9hV5XUk/T1p8VemDDaI/AAAAAAAACz4/6Uu4S4dxB68/s1600-h/IMG_1087%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1087" border="0" alt="IMG_1087" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mm1z6ymlh00/T1p8WSKMgwI/AAAAAAAAC0A/AeC9IFwgo5g/IMG_1087_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">I got my daughter’s superdad art back nicely framed and matted last week so I was able to finish decorating the wall behind <a href="http://sharedfromwayoverhere.blogspot.com/2012/03/our-new-headboard.html" target="_blank">our new headboard</a>!</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OBq2FgGaWAc/T1p8XcOfdBI/AAAAAAAAC0I/hI-gTK0Gv1g/s1600-h/IMG_1085%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1085" border="0" alt="IMG_1085" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GwXeHnyKfS0/T1p8YPupwCI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/TfBGDmutpYM/IMG_1085_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">You may have seen how <a href="http://sharedfromwayoverhere.blogspot.com/2012/03/our-new-headboard.html" target="_blank">I began this process in my last post</a>. I cut out paper pieces for all the things I’d been collecting to use to try them out. I have always loved the plate walls you see on Pinterest and other places.</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8Vjyv4edlro/T1p8aSVzUFI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/JXNu0UwMilU/s1600-h/IMG_0997%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0997" border="0" alt="IMG_0997" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_bDGvBIJkrA/T1p8bBH0DVI/AAAAAAAAC0g/ILtOrvu3gAs/IMG_0997_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I tried several configurations on the ground before I came up with the one I went with {ignoring the heater and alarm clocks cords!}.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglloPlBcPm0l4tdCev-xeEG13JsU8XqIE-kH3ZyygqUX7bCWYFWxkwbdcmI0vgjVO8RjxeUWmE8FnIkfRJtzH4cYON2RceT848vWdQtTD3w6VYoVWMqQDPuMGaAe0BXcAnj2diATg3qOp/s1600-h/IMG_0993%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0993" border="0" alt="IMG_0993" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lHDlk8C-KNQ/T1p8dnF8UcI/AAAAAAAAC0w/1gdo0MOtXzc/IMG_0993_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Several of the things did not end up in on this wall in the end, and it freed me up to hang them elsewhere.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s3aEQjiFsYA/T1p8eiFWcGI/AAAAAAAAC04/JqdxXGzB1-I/s1600-h/IMG_1095%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1095" border="0" alt="IMG_1095" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nGbiWWY7xxY/T1p8fZ-KmyI/AAAAAAAAC1A/261M6gduNuE/IMG_1095_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">A splash of plates…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ELDSOiAxn_A/T1p8gU4rPFI/AAAAAAAAC1I/zCFNAJxVgtE/s1600-h/IMG_1090%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1090" border="0" alt="IMG_1090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsdVN2YO0n-vhsinNbQXhUSgYebr7J1xNMEMOsHJjvDegMubjMQ2LvC9o3Pk2t_iQ8ByAscUvHqnf5eKWuABLRI04LkbsRktQj1i4ftvF3tfUuIU3-EsYOAJdOKPCJK8uEiKSTMr3a8Cg/?imgmax=800" width="366" height="463" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">and some unconventional frames. The big frame held <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/92932648/vintage-guardian-angel-and-children" target="_blank">the angel print I’m selling</a> in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RetrosariaRua" target="_blank">my etsy shop</a>. The other one was already empty when I found it at the flea market.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pGIx5g6ecn0/T1p8jQaYpYI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/-esJEE9z6ec/s1600-h/IMG_1101%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1101" border="0" alt="IMG_1101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd79fTpnMxEmRi6B6IZG0lEMzXsFTB8Ek0zlYnlMLcHstg12zlGGnaUz8XJgL_rtfFVJ0yGNa0dpDR9HFWdvmG-OLRSMJCBnmv7kbfvt24KJXu7hhEff4XzdvjPI-a8M8dSnbrHzNm6G7J/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">This one is a tin that came from that <a href="http://sharedfromwayoverhere.blogspot.com/2012/02/tins-stacked.html" target="_blank">box of tins I got for a steal</a>! We screwed only the back to the wall so it still opens {what to put in it though?}.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nEqvocdwDaU/T1p8l8h1pRI/AAAAAAAAC1o/FQ1Sw6UveNg/s1600-h/IMG_1099%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1099" border="0" alt="IMG_1099" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LYKZx5bwQZE/T1p8m2jU3uI/AAAAAAAAC1w/2BVALBreyvA/IMG_1099_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="352" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tyLU5x2Q3EY/T1p8n7C--jI/AAAAAAAAC14/hcu3f3WLxXU/s1600-h/IMG_1084%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1084" border="0" alt="IMG_1084" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-94-PpX96JO0/T1p8ouCtG9I/AAAAAAAAC2A/RkJnLKGPNAM/IMG_1084_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I didn’t feel the other side of the bed needed as much since the space was smaller, and in full view of this wall, the other side needed some weight and height.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4rEg1VYCAPI/T1p8q-mn-uI/AAAAAAAAC2I/FK5bbpUsBBo/s1600-h/IMG_1088%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1088" border="0" alt="IMG_1088" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3UFHlCi-Cf0sqMoSqljyH0Gpykk0TJSBdqCyNQ10GyFq81FNUC-8eeeea_Uib_ru28S97UQ8kgn8B3kah_HF-yy8s5r7o7X64gBNg8G5REHGikwuq1CEuxly5pnHDbYBIyviHxCYFsVJ/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I am enjoying the whimsy and life this wall adds to our master bedroom!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i8sd00EdfLA/T1p8taAusxI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/ZJniVsZIuSU/s1600-h/IMG_1040%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1040" border="0" alt="IMG_1040" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3cvfGEE6U08/T1p8uKQbRiI/AAAAAAAAC2g/b-vOjgOMy9M/IMG_1040_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p>Sharing this at:</p> <p><img alt="How to Nest for Less" src="http://howtonestforless.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Party-with-My-Peeps-125.jpg" />     <a title="Today's Creative Blog" href="http://todayscreativeblog.net"><img style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-top: medium none; border-right: medium none" title="Today's Creative Blog" alt="Today's Creative Blog" src="http://todayscreativeblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/button.jpg" width="125" /></a></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-1833979237838889802012-03-02T22:25:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:23.104+01:00Our New Headboard<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-10A-ALf5QNo/T1E6ZcSQf1I/AAAAAAAACx4/VZmSCoRRQ9M/s1600-h/IMG_0935%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0935" border="0" alt="IMG_0935" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-N0dCtMIs4x0/T1E6aGaiauI/AAAAAAAACyA/q4RWLXcvr3M/IMG_0935_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">This project has been 2 years coming. We decided to not use our old headboard from America when we moved here {it did not get used in Germany either because of sloped ceilings}. We wanted to use this old piece of <em>something</em>…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-unjGtuubUcU/T1E6bQ4aKxI/AAAAAAAACyI/qv4yXLe0uHY/s1600-h/IMG_0931%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0931" border="0" alt="IMG_0931" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1tpovD5pw5E/T1E6cTxc0II/AAAAAAAACyQ/YWPkz8Y5L2E/IMG_0931_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Maybe it was the top of a doorway? Regardless, we liked it and got it next to nothing years ago not knowing what we’d use it for one day. Then we’ve toted it around the world it seems. </font></p> <p><font size="3"></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LtpnzEYwbYI/T1E6dZ0-YsI/AAAAAAAACyY/qOnLp2udHGc/s1600-h/IMG_0739%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0739" border="0" alt="IMG_0739" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UpKguOJITAo/T1E6eBEuR8I/AAAAAAAACyg/5wDRO7-RSpo/IMG_0739_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="545" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">The board next to it is one of the supports my husband cut for the side to hold it up. We stained all the support pieces a dark grey brownish tone.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t8nOrTu5Sbc/T1E6gGelhAI/AAAAAAAACyo/I2z2lgSzNKE/s1600-h/IMG_0917%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0917" border="0" alt="IMG_0917" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zIZ3-GwUprA/T1E6hFSL9gI/AAAAAAAACyw/vjoEsn1TuKw/IMG_0917_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">My husband anchored the supports to the wall because the piece is quite heavy—not something you want rolling onto you in the night!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dXIGAghU7uM/T1E6ivlecjI/AAAAAAAACy4/dDzBC-bSKLE/s1600-h/IMG_0744%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0744" border="0" alt="IMG_0744" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D4WcS74A0b8/T1E6kOHHOgI/AAAAAAAACzA/jfZq9mQVT2E/IMG_0744_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="452" height="374" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">We used our old upholstered guest bed headboard to fill in the middle, but I decided the beige was not going to work last minute. {It was <a href="http://sharedfromwayoverhere.blogspot.com/2010/03/where-is-my-guest-room.html" target="_blank">last covered in fabric from an IKEA curtain panel</a>—this was what was underneath.} I went through my fabric stash, and we decided on a green brocade fabric we’d hung in our living room in Germany—so fun when things get used again!</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfxNxBlDj4HBISWc8D3rFjSG-HiaDjs3EbA0secv86_iUuMjIFN8rR1cHayLE7dPK7fbej4d1oxWVqAkdfhy-DAb9Zr8xryUXBYoL3IUqR31-MKPkwVxwEiuQEFvXUjedrvPfIuVSHdcV/s1600-h/IMG_0930%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0930" border="0" alt="IMG_0930" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G7sFzq1CnLc/T1E6mM6vt3I/AAAAAAAACzM/pZV591dQbsY/IMG_0930_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="496" height="342" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">We had to first undo the sides so my husband could trim the sides down a bit to fit. You can see here the headboard is MDF with a layer of foam and fabric stapled around it. Great memories in how these pieces were found in Germany--not the simplest of tasks {Gummi Bender, Rachel and Kim?!}.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JbUzhZKoE1M/T1E6njPMLBI/AAAAAAAACzY/jUCGRkLN-s0/s1600-h/IMG_0935%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0935" border="0" alt="IMG_0935" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NcYvNMsIzGQ/T1E6otzoMRI/AAAAAAAACzg/L7G-_cw-L_Y/IMG_0935_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">The upholstered piece slid between the side supports, then my husband attached the front side pieces. Next he slipped the old wooden piece in, so that the front thinner decorative wood piece rests in front of the upholstered part. Last he attached the front side supports to hold it all together.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><font size="3">It’s a great bed to sit back against, and I don’t feel that top round part is hanging over my head!</font></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AQC_aXBT7kU/T1E6qBEpP_I/AAAAAAAACzo/bG8zVggO9WI/s1600-h/IMG_0996%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0996" border="0" alt="IMG_0996" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ycN9PwSjhBE/T1E6sMRNVII/AAAAAAAACzw/P0Nmw-jVOGI/IMG_0996_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="529" height="344" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">And I finally get to decorate this wall! A peak at what I came up with {a template to start}—hopefully the completed wall in the next post!</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3">Sharing this at:</font></p> <p><font size="3"> <img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://missmustardseed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/furniture-feature-fridays-copy.png" /></font></p> <p><font size="3"> </font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-37168103008399549722012-02-24T23:43:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:23.131+01:00Homeschool Curriculum, Part 2<p><font size="3">You might see more from this list of our second-part-of-the-day curriculum that I’m loosely following a Charlotte Mason style of homeschooling: short lessons, good literature, narration, nature study…  Most of these things we do <strong>together</strong> versus the earlier-in-the-day items are one-on-one with each daughter.</font></p> <p><font size="3">For what we do first in the day, check <a href="http://sharedfromwayoverhere.blogspot.com/2011/10/homeschool-curriculum-part-1.html" target="_blank">my first post on our homeschool curriculum</a>.</font></p> <p><u><font size="3">Literature: Ambleside Online</font></u></p> <p><font size="3">We’ve been following <a href="http://www.amblesideonline.org/01sch.shtml" target="_blank">the reading schedule for Year 1 on Ambleside Online’s curriculum guide</a>. We’re reading books like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1903386527/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1903386527">Our Island Story</a>—learning the history of England in a story format from 1905. I would have never imagined we’d be reading literature that I now find so rich in comparison to other less classic books. I really wondered how the girls would do when we began! It’s been wonderful to see them really pick up what they’re hearing. We also practice oral narration after a story or poem is read. They never know who I’m going to call on, and I always let the other girl fill in anything the other may have forgotten. </font></p> <p><font size="3">There are some stories in our books that I do not feel are appropriate for the girls now {ie: gruesome death details}, but overall I’ve found we have all enjoyed the literature recommended. Many times they ask me to read ahead! </font><font size="3">One plus is that many of these classics are available for free online.</font></p> <p><u><font size="3">Portuguese: I make it up</font></u></p> <p><font size="3">It hurts a tad when I see all the great teaching helps out there for kids to learn Spanish. Then I have to remember my children are already speaking a second language, and I just need to reinforce what they’ve learned. I have found Portuguese/English sticker books to use and many dictionary-type kids books that we can review words with. Once a week the girls listen to a story on CD that goes with some books they have or watch a kids’ show in Portuguese. Of course our best learning goes on when our neighbors’ kids come play!  I don’t plan on teaching Portuguese grammar until 4th grade or so.</font></p> <p><u><font size="3"><u><font size="3">Bible: Positive Action Bible Curriculum</font></u></font></u></p> <p><font size="3">Because I have one daughter in kindergarten and one in 1st grade, I felt I should wait on starting <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/history-modules-overview/" target="_blank">SCM’s Bible Modules</a>. Now I think I could have just followed a Bible reading schedule/highlighted stories as per <a href="http://pennygardner.com/bible.html" target="_blank">Penny Gardner</a>. However, I had already bought two levels of curriculum from Positive Action Bible Curriculum. When I got them I realized I’d be doing a lot of separate teaching for each level. My husband encourage me to go with the kindergarten level so both girls could do the workbook activities. That has worked out fine.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The lesson plans appeared like way too much to me at first, but I’ve found a groove that is simple to follow. Usually there are two days worth of Bible readings of a story with a introduction and discussion questions at the end. The 3rd day I follow the teaching strategy with the workbook pages. The 4th day we read the Bible verses and fictional story in the guide. Lastly we focus on that week’s character trait, fitting it in on Friday or whenever it seemed fitting. </font></p> <p><font size="3">The girls have enjoyed the workbooks and stories. I am thankful for the questions and comments that get at the heart. I haven’t decided if we’ll continue with this next year, but it has been a good experience for this first full year of homeschooling.</font></p> <p><u><font size="3">Science: Simply Charlotte Mason and others</font></u></p> <p><font size="3">We recently finished the <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/outdoor-secrets/" target="_blank">Outdoor Secrets</a> book and <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/the-outdoor-secrets-companion/" target="_blank">Outdoor Secrets Companion</a>, a recommended “living book” and it’s teacher guide published by Simply Charlotte Mason. We would do a lesson two times per week. Many lessons gave direction in our nature study time and nicely followed up one of the readings.</font></p> <p><font size="3">My mom brought us sturdy sketch books from America that the girls take outside to draw in for our nature study time. I need to do a better job planning time for them to be outdoors for this in different settings besides our backyard {which is not that big} and street.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Now that we’ve finished Outdoor Secrets, we started reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1166514749/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1166514749">Among The Forest People</a>—a book from 1898 that personifies the animals and helps us learn about them through the story. The girls are enjoying it as well as science-oriented selections in our Ambleside readings.</font></p> <p><font size="3">A huge help has been owning a bird field guide for our region of the world. We like our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1405362022/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1405362022">RSBP Birds of Britain and Europe</a>. It is a bummer when many of the birds in the stories we read are not the same as those found here {they were written in America}, but we find the closest species that we may have here.</font></p> <h6><u><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal">Geography: Expedition Earth</font></font></u></h6> <p><font size="3">I purchased <a href="http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/world-geography" target="_blank">Expedition Earth: A Journey Through God’s World</a><strong> </strong>last summer after seeing my girls’ interest to learn about a certain country. I thought we could continue to use it this year, and it has been a great base to learn about many nations. Beware that there are many books that you need to borrow/purchase since I did not understand that when I first bought it. One our our favorites we did buy has been <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0789402017/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0789402017">Children Just Like Me: A Unique Celebration of Children Around the World</a>.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I do not do all the recommended ideas in the guide provided, or I feel like we’d be doing a geography project all the time. I’ve found the few things that we really learn well from without having to do all the extras. I’ve not made it something I test the girls over—I am more pleased with their increased awareness of other nations and cultures. It’s peaked their interests in all kinds of other things we go searching to learn more about.</font></p> <p><u><font size="3">Art: Artistic Pursuits</font></u></p> <p><font size="3">Once a week we do a lesson from </font><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0981598218/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0981598218"><font size="3">Artistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Book 1 An Introduction to Visual Arts</font></a>. <font size="3">It has been a jump for us to move from crayons and markers to learning how to use watercolor pencils and oil pastels! But a fun jump I must say! The program does complement the study of fine art by usually highlighting some fine art for each topic we will learn. It also shows other children’s work as examples for each lesson so that encourages the girls that they can do it as well.</font></p> <p><u><font size="3">Picture Study: Simply Charlotte Mason</font></u></p> <p><font size="3">Both Ambleside Online {AO} and Simply Charlotte Mason {SCM} have a recommended order of artists to be studied. We have studied the SCM Module 3’s Rembrandt, Velasquez, Van Eyck, and now Cezanne so far—one time a week for six weeks. SCM has created some <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/picture-study-portfolios/" target="_blank">picture study portfolios</a> that come with nice copies of the art and a teacher guide. I’ve done my best to make sure we’ve got some other books to supplement our learning of the artist and their art. SCM has a link to available books on each artist.</font></p> <p><u><font size="3">Composer Study: Simply Charlotte Mason</font></u></p> <p><font size="3">We are following the <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/music/" target="_blank">SCM composer study modules</a> so we’ve just begun Tchaikovsky—also one time per week for six weeks each. Funny enough, the girls are excited about him since they’ve learned a song of his on the CD: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000060OLA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shfrwaovhe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000060OLA">Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Symphonies</a>. They would highly recommend this CD because they really enjoy it!  I also found a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Little_Einsteins_episodes" target="_blank">list of all the composers highlighted in Little Einstein’s episodes</a>. Doesn’t sound like a very classical approach, but the girls get excited when they recognize the music in one of their favorite shows! We also utilize the online show called <a href="http://www.classicsforkids.com/" target="_blank">Classics for Kids</a> that talk about each composer and multiple You Tube videos of these famous pieces being played or danced to.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><u>Hymn Study</u></font></p> <p><font size="3">Both AO and SCM have lists of hymns to be studied, but I decided that we’d learn hymns the girls are already singing in worship songs we have. For example, we love <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtE1NPHfGk&feature=related" target="_blank">Laura Hackett’s version of Joyful, Joyful</a>, so I thought this would be a great place to start learning verses from hymns! I’ve heard hymns sung by Chris Tomlin and other worship leaders these days that we will also learn. This brings some practicality to learning hymns for us, when we don’t attend a church that uses a hymnal per se—at least it’s a place to start.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><u>Handicrafts and Life Skills</u></font></p> <p><font size="3">Once a week we do some sort of handicraft or life skill that could be baking muffins or learning to use the knitting fork the girls got for Christmas. SCM has a <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/handicrafts/" target="_blank">list of what this time could include</a>. Often I see that we’ve already done some kind of life skill learning that day so we don’t need to do something extra. I want to be more intentional about the girls learning craft skills so they can become proficient. For example, my oldest enjoys a latch-hook rug set she was given, but does it so infrequently that she has to be retaught each time it’s pulled out. I know this is par the course for this age, but I know their abilities are increasing as well.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>So, lots of info. I hope it is helpful to someone out there like many of the blogs I’ve visited in trying to figure out what we were going to be doing! Please contact me with any questions—I’d love to be more help!</strong></font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-62306237772233869082012-02-20T22:42:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:23.154+01:00Soda Jet Pack<p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HflRJS3IFqQ/T0K-FHCa9sI/AAAAAAAACw4/B_gcdriP1w8/s1600-h/IMG_0876%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0876" border="0" alt="IMG_0876" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF-GioOYG3DTbUKbLG6W1ZWQHI2v_csLYGOu4tbZf_PF9FpdIjOKuY6ne0C71kMOf5N2TfEtC6V3P0rJ4TtT0YI4dWiS3C-5iBxRTLb3s0hP4tagjTJZ5zAvgolKhkqKZaNwy2Jqz-tM0/?imgmax=800" width="331" height="511" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">My desired motto to live by this year is TAKE INITIATIVE. So when I saw this amazing idea on Pinterest, I knew the perfect birthday boy I should make these for! {Our friends’ oldest son! He was a good sport to pose in the middle of watching a movie for me. Bad timing to not get a photo in the excitement of the gift reveal!}</font></p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="So easy" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/262545853246460544_GJTndDAJ_f.jpg" /></p> <p><font size="3">I searched </font><a href="http://blossombunkhouse.com/" target="_blank"><font size="3">Blossom Bunkhouse</font></a><font size="3"> for directions since the Pinterest link did not go directly to the post, and I could only find a jet pack for an Elf on the Shelf! Anyway, the whole family got involved in making this project happen.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xzcp1S5rjHA/T0K-HfS-KDI/AAAAAAAACxI/wvQkU9zBJ24/s1600-h/IMG_0734%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0734" border="0" alt="IMG_0734" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CUbGEMRNlIo/T0K-Is1qf8I/AAAAAAAACxQ/_OvBJdAmOPk/IMG_0734_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="422" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I spray painted 2 soda bottles by sticking some dowels in the grass {and then covering the grass} to hold the bottles while I painted them.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I bought the black seat belt like strapping for the harness and a plastic latch to keep it tight in front. It was simple to sew onto the strapping. I used my younger daughter as a model to figure how much strapping to use.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ARSBD57NXE0/T0K-J_SsrjI/AAAAAAAACxY/q_JotMW0eik/s1600-h/IMG_0768%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0768" border="0" alt="IMG_0768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPZwrG7Jb94VnDlziErZWVD14Hd0fhuN6Sg5YQA7_C36QynbZ7LfviUiYASRoTF8LOxllpKSwT_cBUsU5JJmC2pLvjxkrpzfBVPCSb9bz7LZkv57nm8Z3YBDBZ5R6TsxmWS1saPYC1FuQ/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3">My husband cut some slits in the bottles to run the strapping loop through. One error we made was not thinking about which end of the bottles the slits would be best. So the jet pack ended up being a little high on his back.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Another mess we made: We thought that putting expandable foam in the bottles would keep them hard and difficult to crush—also that it would hold the strapping in place. Great idea, but who knew we’d create a volcano of foamy mess that got the bottles all nasty. I ended up using turpentine to wipe as much off as I could! Maybe using a <em>whole lot less</em> would be ok?</font></p> <p><font size="3">To cover some of the mess, I hot glued a grey piece of felt to the back side of the pack. It helped stabilize the bottles too. Lastly, I hot glued pieces of orange and red fabric strips into the bottle opening for the fire.</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8A7wDoPnCRaK2P3ALyH0UHKVVL7CeiWh0XjZJIlQly2f2yH16wk-m3S8OrrnXStdAucVWs271zDM8L9S_BkA6ChJ0lra8SkRud735-1qcN0mTU0JTnZe9JaM68kE9ODHyA2rhgMDE4Sl/s1600-h/IMG_0875%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0875" border="0" alt="IMG_0875" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cG68wd_8gJ0/T0K-O0RYr-I/AAAAAAAACxw/xjwL4zLaWEc/IMG_0875_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="577" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">It was a hit even with all the mistakes! All the kids wanted one!</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334758206066028596.post-77654152487474183452012-02-17T22:48:00.002+01:002016-01-12T22:29:23.176+01:00Decorating in Narrow Spaces<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uk3wvDkrOiE/Tz7K2lvZnJI/AAAAAAAACu0/Y-s-Iqn9xS4/s1600-h/IMG_06504.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0650" border="0" alt="IMG_0650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3N6PYRFlmRu_X6QZC66-QnZXrwaQOYDlPrTlFcPpr8r5nxutSVUhSICYum_eTUeYEVFx5q3Du9xgNbTnQPqTMcwoz2eYIwVblrJfPoT60NRwLZBQtR40B2742Opuspjr_fRnT5_YAfgIv/?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">When we built our guest bath upstairs, we had minimal options as to where the toilet and other plumbed fixtures would be located. The rough in was done when we bought the house and could not be undone. Little did I know how close the toilet would sit next to the wall or how the shower door would swing out and make it nearly impossible to hang anything on the wall behind it. {In the photo below, it’s hard to distinguish, but the front glass panel is the door hinged on the wall.}</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vD2U2JEQZL4/Tz7K4YnPLEI/AAAAAAAACvE/1nD2wxFG33M/s1600-h/IMG_0649%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0649" border="0" alt="IMG_0649" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E6P8z20EbUg/Tz7K5ZpM4OI/AAAAAAAACvM/oos7t1elci8/IMG_0649_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="398" height="426" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Thankfully I discovered the simplistic beauty of frameless photo frames, especially used in multiples. This was so much better {and way cheaper} than multi-opening frames I’d looked at especially in regards to how far they sat off the wall.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WEVZpP3sMyk/Tz7K70eTBPI/AAAAAAAACvU/oRsdwey6FzQ/s1600-h/IMG_0656%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0656" border="0" alt="IMG_0656" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzFJJ6zO6fOZQYqvHO6zOleGEW2KvJmc1J6IWVILFC2zdV7sRjDeoPCFZR8YRx6gjJzS8pwxzKh1RREEHxjWItNrP_lp1xjix7a5tMGd-uo9SMXltTrhqKTRFIyVDhEbzb7sf_Pz9-Nm3/?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">These are </font><a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/2009/10/craft-project-london-map-decor-diy.html" target="_blank"><font size="3">maps of London that I printed from Graphics Fairy</font></a><font size="3">. They don’t stick out much more than the light switch in these frames.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SRFj1SbLqWU/Tz7K-KrME-I/AAAAAAAACvk/BqGVQlEEnxE/s1600-h/IMG_0649%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0649" border="0" alt="IMG_0649" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4WTMOhNzT1s/Tz7K_EFJbTI/AAAAAAAACvo/zLvo2KflDko/IMG_0649_thumb%25255B14%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="445" height="380" /></a><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3">On the wall by the toilet, I chose 6 of my favorite “travel” photos {2 of Portugal, 1 of our village in Germany, and 3 of Paris}. Again, these thin frames do not feel overpowering as you head to/fro the toilet as some other frames I tried out. Getting photos to fit European frame size didn’t work 100% as you can see a little of the back sticking out, but cutting down the back of the frames was not as fun as getting them up on the wall right away!</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4GQPit6nqbw/Tz7LAdjhp0I/AAAAAAAACv0/CwVLA84zaF8/s1600-h/IMG_0651%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0651" border="0" alt="IMG_0651" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FIkCsvnIaas/Tz7LBGelXyI/AAAAAAAACv8/7IWD_cXw7mI/IMG_0651_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="461" height="368" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Some perspective…  We have a tall bathroom shelf next to the sink. {That’s the church in Wiesbaden on the back wall—amazing I got that shot with my old camera <em>and</em> all the others!}</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSycMPvDnZK2patKNKtYPFGBeF4nMLiwHWSy21PRouRRsvG4XF4adBzLkncaToUmcw6NtpvEwIAYnbtErw-u9BAsW3KdbyO6kCJJmQTbVXTP6FBa-Rg6kWXMwAaDRsAxPELHa9M1dXHSxw/s1600-h/IMG_0655%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0655" border="0" alt="IMG_0655" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OjOv88MCtDo/Tz7LDlKLWFI/AAAAAAAACwM/IroHv4GTjFU/IMG_0655_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="337" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">And our sink hangs on the wall—no legs—so that allows the feeling of more space too.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SK-x4xCirX8/Tz7LEuiCFtI/AAAAAAAACwU/gWgtiqqeBGw/s1600-h/IMG_0658%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0658" border="0" alt="IMG_0658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyITVUpJfCe23RJ80c2ygcws0Gabil6FtDkiKHrWjKZgPsO2nxyBT54q0o-tyMI027-_f3yjXSA9R3HWLZtQqQpTtkJeJDaGbBfsG9JrQ8eHyOBSScJH65Wzn5HFOPJppv1lPukHgefqe7/?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">More travel art on the other wall, but this time in wooden frames I got from the dollar store that I stained to match the shelving unit. Don’t look too close or you can see which one I cheated and used a paper background instead of a matte!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ga1uXe6Iwx8/Tz7LHBnlhmI/AAAAAAAACwg/Mj7Imic58UQ/s1600-h/IMG_0657%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0657" border="0" alt="IMG_0657" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gwXun0BPtmc/Tz7LIUnTWfI/AAAAAAAACws/pjjn4bz7lRs/IMG_0657_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="557" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">So thankful this bathroom has come together. It needed some life! I hope you’re encouraged to consider some out of the box framing options…pun intended!</font></p> Jenni R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13553999566762521130noreply@blogger.com1