Lost & Found

You never really know if what you say to your children is getting through. You try to prepare them for "In Case of Emergency" scenarios but how can you be certain that they are prepared? When it comes right down to it, will they know what to do? Will you......

I lost my son in a Super Wal-Mart yesterday. I'm not talking about a, "Uh-Oh" I don't see him and then he comes round the end of the isle a second later, type lost. No, this was a Code Blue, lock the exits, every employee notified, 5 minutes that drug on for eternity, he has Vanished type lost.

I'm not exactly sure how it happened. We were walking past the isles, and at the end of one isle there was a toy guitar that caught his eye. We stopped to look at it. I was ready to move on and said, "OK, let's go." I thought he followed me, I guess he didn't. I turned down an isle and looked behind me, he wasn't there. I went back to the end of the isle, I saw the toy guitar, but I did not see my son. I checked the surrounding isles....nothing.

It was at this moment that the voice in my head began its dialog; "He's right here, I know he is right here." The voice that tries to steady you as you feel the grip of icy fear embrace your heart and soul.
Fortunately, a Wal-Mart employee came around the end of an isle. I believe I literally grabbed him by the arm. "Sir, my son has wandered away from me!" I could not say the words "I have lost my son." He asked me for a description and his age. "He is 5." I heard myself say it....the voice in my head started to scream..."he is only 5, and this store is huge and I don't know where he is, PLEASE help me!! He was just RIGHT HERE!!!!" The man got on his walkie talkie and alerted every associate in Wal-mart. They locked the exits, no one in or out.
I left the man to continue my frantic search. I wanted to run to him, but I didn't know which direction to go. The voice said, "What if I start out one way, and he is in the other?" I felt like screaming his name as loud as I could, but "What if he was calling to me, I wouldn't be able to hear him."
Now the voice became sinister as it spoke my deepest darkest fear, "What if someone took him? What if, they saw him not follow you? What if, they saw you turn into the isle without him and in that moment, snatched him away?" Tears began to stream down my face. As my worst nightmare sprang to life, every horrific child abduction story I had ever heard began to run through my mind. I dissolved into full blown PANIC.....and then, I heard my name. On the store loud speaker, a man was calling my name, "....Please come to the fitting room located in the middle of the store, your son is waiting for you." And there he was, surrounded by Wal-Mart associates.

When he saw me, he ran to me and I scooped him up and held him as close as possible as the Flood Gates of Gratitude burst open and I sobbed. He whispered into my ear, "I'm sorry Mama, please don't cry." One of the associates came over to me and said: "You have a very smart little boy. He came to me and told me that he was lost. He said that his Mama had told him not to talk to strangers but to find someone who worked here. I asked him your name and he told me so that I was able to page you." I looked at my son, he was not crying, he was not fearful, he had not panicked. He had carried out the plan, just as he was instructed to do. In this emergency situation, he had kept the cool head and it was he who found me, not the other way round.

Blessing #8: Lessons taught to us by our children.

Changing Seasons

Yesterday was one of those days that was packed to the brim with things to do. My Mom and I had a planned outing which involved a full day of activities~Thrifting, Fabric Store, Wholefoods Warehouse and a side trip to Chuck E. Cheese's, my little one would live there if he could.

When I arrived back home, late in the afternoon, I had to prepare for the arrival of Old Man Winter. It was the first hard freeze of the season, lows in the upper 20's so my animals needed their winter bedding...fresh thick layer of pine shavings for the chicken coop, a layer of hay for the chicken run and the rabbit pen.

I was so worn out at the end of the day, I fell asleep around 8:00 while sitting in my sewing chair...just like an old lady, LOL!!!!

I missed visiting everyone yesterday. I will stop by today for sure.

Yesterday, I posted the PIF Gift Exchange challenge. Sallie at Everyday Me...life as it happens has agreed to join in. Thanks Sallie:) Since I agreed to make 3 handmade gifts and I want to live up to my end of the bargain, I have decided to make a gift for Sallie and the first three people who left a comment on my blog yesterday...Esther, Robin and Polly. Yes I know this is one more than I agreed to, but this is the season of giving, and I want to embrace it wholeheartedly! So ladies, please e-mail me your addresses, so that I can send you a little something. Edited to add~No, I am not drafting three unsuspecting souls into the PIF challenge. I enjoy crafting/creating and I just want to give something to some of new blogging friends...not run them off by obligating them to something they did not sign up for.

Speaking of the giving season..... Julie at Nunnie's Attic is have a give away for this lovely Christmas Tree:) It is simply beautiful! Just looking at it puts me in the Christmas spirit. To enter to win you must leave a comment on her Christmas Giveaway post. Good luck:)

Hope everyone has a wonderful and warm day!

Blessing #7~The Changing of the Seasons

Pay It Forward~Gift Exchange

While over at Mary's Little Red House the other day, I signed up to participate in the Pay It Forward~ Gift Exchange. In exchange for receiving a handmade gift from Mary, I agree to make and give a handmade item to 3 people who want to join in the exchange. Here's how it works:

I will send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment on my blog, requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what the gift will be yet, and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. If anyone is interested in joining me, I will send a handmade gift to the first three to leave a comment with their promise to pay it forward.

I know that several people are already committed to this challenge, so if you are just dropping in to say "Hello," please feel welcome to do just that. If you are not committed and would like to join in the fun, let me know and I'll create something just for you.

Blessing # 6: The crispness of Autumn that stirs the sense of Giving.

How It's Made

I am creating embroidery panels to go on the pillows for the couch. I thought I might share with you today, the process of hand embroidery.

For my first pillow, I have chosen a floral quilt pattern, I am only going to use the rose block. I have many old embroidery transfer patterns, some dating back to the 1930's. These patterns are not easy to come by. E-bay is a good source, and occasionally you can find them at estate sales. Because I don't want to use my original pattern, I make a copy using tracing paper, and a heat transfer pencil.
I secure the pattern to a smooth surface. My sewing table top is tile, so I use a large square birch wood panel that I purchased at Home Depot. I use clips to hold it in place so that it does not move around during tracing.
Once the pattern is secure, I place the tracing paper over it. This pattern is large, so I had to tape two pieces of paper together. I use tiny pieces of transparent tape to attach the tracing paper to the pattern. It is very important that it does not move during the tracing process so it has to be taped in place, but I use as small and as few pieces necessary to avoid damaging my pattern.Next comes the tracing. You want to be sure to make a dark moderate line, not too thin, not too thick. If the line is too light or thin, it will be difficult to transfer it to the fabric. If is is too thick and heavy, it will "bleed" under the heat of the iron, and the line will look fuzzy.

I start tracing in the middle and work my way out, this way, I do not drag my hand across the lines, causing the pencil to smear. It took me just over an hour to tape and trace this particular pattern. After tracing it is time to transfer the pattern to the fabric. It is crucial that the fabric and pattern do not move during this step. I pin the fabric directly to the ironing board pad using straight pins with the little glass heads. Then I use painters tape to attach the tracing to the fabric. The iron must be very hot to melt the pencil markings to the fabric, you need to keep this in mind when choosing a fabric to embroider. I let my iron heat up on its highest setting (linen) for at least 5 minutes before I begin, don't use the automatic shut off kind of iron for this job. Place the iron on the pattern and press down very hard, for a 10 second count. Move the iron to the next section and repeat until the entire pattern has been pressed. Do not slide the iron back and forth as you do while ironing clothes, simply press, pick-up, press, and so on....Also, do not use the steam feature, it does not make the process any faster and you can burn yourself on the steam that billows out while you are holding the iron down. Yeap, been there, done that....OUCH! I usually press the pattern twice to make sure I have a good strong lines. You can nearly go blind trying to embroider a faint barely visible line. Uhumm, been there, done that, too.

Don't worry if the pattern double prints some I have found that this transfer pencil will wash out. As long as you can find a definite line as a guide it won't be a problem. If there is a lot of double printing and you can not distinguish which line to use, then my friend, you have to start over.....don't ask me if I have done that.....GRRRRR!!!

OK , so the hard part is finished!! Now you can focus on the fun stuff. Choosing colors and stitching:) I have found it useful to keep a notebook documenting the pattern and the thread choices I make for each part, each color has an identifying number. In case I would like to duplicate the piece at a later time, I don't have to rack my brain trying to remember what colors I picked.

I taught myself to hand embroider using the book you see on the table, A-Z of embroidery stitches, I can't recommend it enough. It is has lots of photographs and very easy step-by-step instructions.

Last step is to place the printed fabric in an embroidery hoop, find a nice comfy chair, place a good cuppa within easy reach and start stitching!! I made good progress on this piece during the weekend. I am hoping to have it completed and the Rooster embroidery panel started by tomorrow. So, I guess I better quit yapping and get busy. Hope you enjoyed my "How It's Made" session. Please come back around to view the finished product.

Blessing #5- Having the tools to make what my heart desires.

Drapes & Silverplate

YEAH!!!!! The drapes are up!

The other day, I talked about the sewing challenge I had entered with my blogging friend Julia @ Chicken Scratch. She wanted to complete her kitchen valances and I wanted to make my living room drapes. It turns out that it was just the inspiration I needed to get the job done!

I already had the red corduroy panels from several years ago, but they were not nearly large enough to cover the huge expanse of my window which measures just over 9 feet wide! Since I had plenty of fabric left from my couch makeover, I thought a matching pair of drapes would be just the thing.

So...how do you like my first handmade drapes? The tabs at the top did not come out exactly as I planned, but I like them anyway, maybe even a little more than what I was trying for in the first place.

That done, now it is time to move on to the pillows, I want to create. I've been bitten by the sewing bug now, there is no stopping me:)

I must concede that Julia won the challenge...you go girl. In spite of her adorable four pawed assistants, she finished two days ahead of me. That's OK, just having the task completed is enough of a reward. Thanks, Julia for this fun and productive competition.

Before I head off to play with more fabric and thread, I wanted to show you some silverplate items I got a couple of weeks ago when I was out treasure hunting. The candlesticks are my most favorite but the little footed bowl with it's rose pattern runs a close second.

Hope you all have a great weekend and I will post again on Monday.

Since I won't post tomorrow, I will share numbers 3 & 4 on my Blessings list.

#3 ~Shinny pretty things that make your home uniquely yours.

#4~The gift of creativity that God grants each of us in our own way.

A Blissfully Inspired Party

Today Melissa @ The Inspired Room is celebrating her 100th post with a fabulous satellite party with The Blissful. I've spent all morning getting gussied up and I am heading over there now. Do you like my gown? Do you think it will do?

Before I go I need to whip up some yummy treat to share with the other delightful guests. It would be rude to show up in my pumpkin carriage with nothing but my lovely glass slippers to show for myself.

I'll let you in on my most favorite secret treat! Most people consider this an appetizer, but personally, I could make a meal of it any day. Actually, I have on numerous occasions;)

Smoky Chipotle Hummus

2 (15.5 ounce) cans garbanzo beans, drained

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup tahini (sesame-seed paste)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce

2 cloves garlic

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

1 (7 ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers, drained

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 teaspoon salt

ground black pepper to taste

Place the garbanzo beans, water, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, chipotle pepper, garlic, and cumin in the bowl of a food processor; blend until smooth. Add the red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Pulse the mixture until the ingredients are coarsely chopped into the hummus base. transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and chill until ready to serve.

Serve with pita chips and fresh vegetables.

Enjoy!!

Hope to see you all at the party.

Edited to add: Yesterday, Polly at Counting Your Blessings had a wonderful idea to post a blessing each day. I wanted to join in.

#1 My son~talked about him yesterday in my post. See here.

#2 Friends who inspire and encourage.

Me and a Happy Day

I've been tagged by Dianntha at Ohio Farm Girl to share a photo of myself and tell you the story behind it. I thought since I have already shared a picture of me on my wedding day, I would show you the other Happiest Day of my Life.

After 5 years of infertility treatments, two operations, one miscarriage, 7 days in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), a million tears, and an infinite number of prayers from ourselves, family and friends in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and New Mexico......



We brought him home~

~That look is pure gratitude

Edited to add: The song, Brahm's Lullaby, is the one I would sing to him as an infant:

Lullaby and goodnight,

go to bed now and sleep tight.

Close your eyes and start to yawn,

pleasant dreams until the dawn.

When the sun lights the sky,

you will wake feeling spry.

Start your day with a smile,

life is really worthwhile.

Now I have to tag 3 others to play. You can post a past, present or future (I'd like to see someone pull that off) picture of yourself. It can even be a baby picture if you prefer. So I choose....Hmmmm let me see.....Julia at Chicken Scratch, Esther at Esther Sunday, and Michelle at Back Through Time. Have fun girls, and please don't hate me:)