Birding and Blackberries

My oldest daughter has been creative this summer. She pulled a juice bottle out of our recycling can and made a bird feeder out of it. After cutting a hole in the front of it she lined it with duct tape so the birds wouldn't hurt their feet while sitting there. She has attracted a variety of birds but we have yet to get a good picture of them feeding. Hopefully you will be seeing some real bird pictures soon.

Today I was that crazy lady on the side of the road picking wild blackberries! They were so good I may do it again tomorrow. 

Priorities

 After I fell in February I had to set some new priorities. Many days I had just enough energy to make it through my work day, some days I didn't even have that. Things that use to come easily for me took some extra effort for awhile. I also spent many hours laying in bed, (and on the couch... the basement floor... next to the dog by her bed... and on and on...) unable to sleep, so I had a lot of time to think. Time to think about what is really important, time to set new priorities and time to talk to God. I did a lot of talking to God and He did some talking to me. God told me to slow down, to rest and not to worry about my to-do list right now. He had me focus my limited energy on only the things that were most important, my family and then my job. So that is where I have been, but I am back and rested and ready to go again. Being a teacher I don't have the stress of work right now. I am excited to spend some time in my sewing room and to share it with you.

 This is a fat quarter bundle of Lucy's Crab Shack by Sweetwater. I have no idea what I am going to make with it yet but I LOVE this line of fabric!

 I have been having fun in my kitchen this week. I've been busy making some different items to keep in my freezer for quick lunches (more time to sew if I am not making lunch every day.) These are chicken and bean burritos. I put this pan in the freezer for a couple of hours then dropped the burritos into one large zip-lock bag. The kids can pop a few into the microwave at lunch time and they are ready to eat in a matter of minutes.

 Made some strawberry freezer jam. This stuff is yummy! We've been making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with it and I have been enjoying it on bagels for breakfast in the morning.

I have been looking forward to cooking my way through this cookbook this summer. I have already made the chicken enchiladas and let me tell you they are heavenly!:-)

I'll be back...