Reading In a Car

One thing I love about vacation is the fact that I usually don't drive. My husband has a tendency to do most of the driving. We also towed a small boat with us this time and I definitely don't like driving while towing. My 16 year old son drove for a while on this trip and he did well. So, not driving= reading in the car for me. I would hate it if I got car sick like many people do when they read in the car. I managed to finish Homeless Bird. It was really good. It was interesting to read about another culture and this girl being married at 13. Yikes! Good read. I also read Have Space Suit Will Travel. It is a science fiction novel that my daughter will be reading this year. It is pretty good. Not at all what I expected. Quite a bit of suspense and some neat relationship dynamics in this one. The main character is 18, which is much older than the group that will be reading it. I think they will enjoy the book though. I read Joni's Story by the pool. He life is so interesting. She has done so much and touched so many people. It was encouraging to read about her struggles and her victories. Our co-op is covering her in church history this year. I also read A Father's Touch, which she wrote. I am reading that one out loud to our younger school group towards the end of the year. Needless to say, I enjoyed having the time to read many of the school books my daughter will be reading this year. How about you? Are you reading what your kids are reading? It is sometimes eye opening. I spanned cultures and life threatening accidents and trips to the moon this past week-all in a car-hee hee.

Oven Fried Tilapia

We had a lovely vacation in Hilton Head, SC.  We go every year and it is always so nice to get away from the normal for a while.  We went to the beach and unfortunately  had several jellyfish stings.  They were rampant several of the days we were there.  We swam in the pool and rode bikes and watched TV.  We don't have regular TV in our house.  We are only equipped to do DVD's,  so we always watch Food Network while we are on vacation and TV Land and the old movie channel.  We got in several Myrna Loy and William Powell movies last week.  I just love them together.  Oh well, the Food Network sparked my creative juices(so to say) and I bought some Tilapia when we got back.  This recipe I came up with was really good!  Everybody but Alli ate it-she hates fish!  So here it is:
4-6 Tilapia fillets (thawed and patted dry)
2 Tbsp plain yogurt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix yogurt and pepper and lightly brush each side of the fish. (See HINT below)

Mix together in a pie plate:
3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1/2-3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning (I rub it in my hand to open up the flavor of the dried herbs)

Press fish in breadcrumb mixture to coat. (HINT: I brushed one side with the yogurt and then put it in the breadcrumbs.  Then I brushed the top side with yogurt and spooned crumbs over the top to coat.  Just press each side to make sure it is completely covered.)  Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.  I turned mine over halfway through the bake time.  YUMMY! (Sorry no pictures, but we ate it too fast!)

Serger class

Went to a serger class today! I attended the class at Hancock Fabrics. I had to drive 1 1/2 hours to get there. It was from 10-3. There were 10 ladies and we all learned quite a bit from our instructor. I learned how to do a narrow rolled 3 thread hem. I learned how to adjust stitch length and width and how to put an elastic casing in using my serger. We were also shown how to make our own ironing board covers with the serger. So cool! She just serged the drawstring right in and then pulled it to fit. Pretty amazing. She said that she does 80% of her sewing on her serger. If I could get to a 50% mark, I would feel pretty good. Can't wait to put some of these into practice!

New Pattern - Simplicity 7533

I cut out and started a new project this week. It is a cute, simple dress with a matching 2 button fabric belt. I couldn't find an image of this particular pattern anywhere. My envelope is missing. I have made the darts in the front and back, but have been really busy with other endeavors. We have been helping a family in our church and I have been preparing for other events. The dress is so cute, but I think it will require a little adjusting. Will take pics soon.

Read Any Good Books Lately?

With school quickly approaching, I have started reading the literature selections for my 7th grader. The moms in our co-op take turns leading literature discussions, so I have to be prepared.  In the last 2 weeks I have read My Side of the Mountain, Snow Goose, Our Town, The Lilies of the Field and I am currently reading Homeless Bird.  These are all interesting books, but so far Our Town has been the one that has spoken to me most.  I think the topics it hits on are a bit above the students who will be reading it, but it certainly made me think.  Don't we all just live life and take it for granted.  We really aren't guaranteed another breath and yet we live like we are.  I don't savor the moments enough.  To look at my children and see their beauty, both inner and outer, to hold hands with my husband more often, to watch butterflies drinking nectar from weeds I can't stand-and yet God is providing for them.  It is all amazing, this life God grants us!  Live today and really enjoy it!

Aprons, Potholders and Bags

We have a little girl at church who is turning 3 and she has a younger sister.  I decided to make aprons and potholders for them because she has a whole wall of kitchen furniture in her room.  I also made bags for them out of some upholstery samples that I brought back from the quilt retreat.  One of the ladies brought them and she was trying to get rid of them.  I think these were the 2 cutest ones for little girls.  I folded the sample in half and then used a sample to cut the handles out.  I used some ribbon and a scrapbooking slide -on letter to let them know which one was their bag.  It was pretty simple and I think it turned out pretty cute.  The pictures aren't too great-my camera is acting weird.

Adele P Margolis book

I think I saw a reference to this lady on Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing and I was rather intrigued. I went looking for books and found this one: How to Make Clothes that fit and flatter-Step by step instructions for women who like to sew. I thought-"That's me!" So I ordered the book for less than $5 and it arrived yesterday. I began reading through it while I was zipping through my dinner with my kids. (We were doing yard work for a church member last night). I read a couple of sentences out loud to my 16 year old son and he laughed. This book is antique and therefore so am I. It was written and published in 1969-the year I was born. It was a good year for cars and books and kids-Ha Ha! I have to quote her on a couple of things that I found rather interesting and depressing all at the same time.

First, "There is not a one of us who sews who does not long for some gimmick, some gadget, some sure-fire formula for success in fitting. Alas, there is none! Fitting is an art and part of an art-that of creating beautiful clothes."

Secondly, "There's no doubt about it! Slim figures are easier to dress. What figure faults they possess (and they do!) can more easily be hidden. What on earth can hide a bulge or a roll of fat except a "tent" dress or some variation of a maternity dress? Many a fitting problem would diminish with the loss of a few pounds and a little exercise." (Obviously Spanx, Assets or Flexees were not around in 1969)

And lastly, " Fair or unfair, if you wish to look fashionable today, you must strive for a slender, youthful figure even if you are no longer young. The "stylish stouts" went out of fashion a long time ago."

OUCH! That hurts! This lady is hilariously accurate on many counts and I love this book already. If I find any other nuggets of truth that step on my toes, I will surely share. I think she is right on with the exercise. I just need to think about the fact that stylishly stout is out! Now on that note, I am going to go make peach preserves--HEE HEE HEE!