An Update Post

Just a quick update post to share what is going on here at Life With A Little Sass.

HOMEMAKING:
Lots of baking....cookies, banana breads, Italian bread...lots of carbs. Here's something I do with my homemade banana bread....sprinkle some brown sugar (I use a lot) on top of the batter just before baking. It makes an incredible crust on the top. You can add chopped nuts too, but we just like the sugar. I have maintained the kitchen take over. I have to say, I am happy to be back in my place. Once in a while Charlotte can do a clean up for me, but on a daily basis, I will be handling it. Zach has taken over his own laundry. He is doing a wonderful job. Charlotte has been doing her own for some time. I never did that with my older boys...I am wiser ;)
HOME SCHOOL:We are learning The Shema....a Jewish tradition for children. The kids and I are memorizing the above verses (actually we are memorizing more...Deut 6:4-9)....OH! I forgot to tell you...we have a new student!Kyle has joined us. I took him out of Center of Hope. For us, it was really becoming like a bad daycare/nursing home situation and I fought with myself for months. I even cut him back to part time hoping that would make things better. Finally, Sweetheart and I decided to pull him out. He has joined us for math, and I am doing life skills with him. He raked the yard (for cash) and is learning The Shema with us. We are going to begin a new style of Bible learning here....I need to liven it up for them. The Word of God is ALIVE....it is exciting. I want to share that excitement with my little ones. Supplies are on today's shopping list, so we will begin tomorrow!

QUILTING:Triangles. Need I say more? Zillions of them....I am using triangle paper so there is a process...pin, sew, cut, rip, press, clip...only then can I put them into units. I am enjoying it. Very soon this project will need to be put aside for some Christmas quilting. The Hidden Star is done and packed away til Christmas morning, and the sailboats have ONE more block to be quilted and then on to the borders. It is stunning, if I do say so myself.

SASSAFRAS:My quilting partner is still on the job. She is my shadow most days. How did I get along with out her?? She is a joy. She totally approves of the new project!

THE LITTLES:They are doing well. Charlotte has calmed and is doing MUCH better. Isn't she beautiful? Your prayers carried us through a difficult month. I can now enjoy her and the fall season. Zach is still toothless. Not a sign of adult teeth (though xrays show they are there). He shocks us everyday with words we have no idea he knew. "combustible materials", "catastrophic", diplomatic"....the kid is something.

FAMILY:With Thanksgiving coming, I am excited to have my family all together! I will fix Thanksgiving dinner for all of us and we will have a wonderful time making memories. This Thanksgiving will have some specialness to it. Next year we will not all be here. Life changes and you just never know. For now, I am anxious for that day next week when we will all gather to give thanks to the Holy One who sits on the Throne. He is in control...I am thankful for that!!!!

Taking Pictures of the Grandkids

Goodness. Trying to get a nice picture of the grand kids was a test in patience! First TJ...."smile nice for Grandma.""No, sweetie. Put your eyebrows down and don't flair your nostrils."
"*giggle* Don't try so hard. Just relax.""Better, but relax your neck too."
"OK. Good enough!!!"

Now Emerson's turn. After a chase, and a bribe of pretzels, I finally got her to come pose. "Look up at Grandma, honey." "No. Not at Sassy. Look at Grandma." "Yes, I see Sassy ran up the stairs. Hey! Show Grandma your pretty teeth. Did you brush them good today?" Whew!!!!!!!!!

Rachel got a part time job, so I have the pleasure of watching my grandchildren a couple of nights a week. What a joy they are!!!

I have been quilting on the sailboats. OMGoodness are they beautiful The quilting really adds to them! I am on block 9 out of 12...they are moving right along.I also began a new quilt top. Here is the center.... That is all you will see for a while. I can't show more until the pattern is printed, and the designer is not quite ready yet (though I have the directions and will continue to piece it).

I taught hand quilting on Saturday and made all the ladies a fall themed needle book.

That fabric was darling. Toadstools, acorns, and berries mixed in with autumn leaves. Too cute.

I shopped a bit after class. I get a nice discount on the day I teach. I was able to get some yardage of white for the new quilt...I need a total of 10 yards, and so far have 6. The owner cut the other 4 and set it aside for me. So sweet. Who can afford $100 in fabric at once??...well not me. I also picked up some colors for the new project. TOTALLY outside my color box!Charlotte LOVES these bright jewel toned colors. Me, not so much, but they will work beautifully in the quilt.....cut into teeny tiny pieces!

Our soap is curing nicely. It smells wonderful and has hardened up beautifully. Once it is cured, I will smooth it all out with a veggie peeler and make it even prettier. We got a total of 32 really good sized bars from that one batch.Tonight we made homemade pizza and watched a movie together. I am so glad this season is over. The Thanksgiving season will begin tomorrow, which is my FAVORITE time of year. Right now I am most thankful that Charlotte has made it through another year....a tough one, but we made it through.

His mercies are fresh every morning and so is His grace!!!!!