Cross Stitched

I finished my little Farm Folk.  This was a really fun project, especially since I cannot follow directions and did my own thing with the patterns.  Butter, in particular.  The butter churn had to look more like the one near my grandmother's front door.  It was the only option.  I also stitched the dress to resemble Emily's dress in Emily and Daisy.  I skipped eggs all together because eggs give me the creeps. I found some super cheap frames at Target a few weeks ago that finish them off nicely.

Most of the homes I remember from my childhood, including my own, had little bits of cross stitch here and there.  I don't think it's my most favorite medium but home seems cozier with these little girls in our dining room.

I can't even write about this without sounding overly self satisfied, but I made and froze breakfast, lunch, and dinner for most of the week.  I know all of you probably do this all the time and you probably all rock the crock pot (recipes, please?), but I just can't wrap my head around meal plans, especially make ahead meal plans.  I do not have the ability to focus on more than what I'm hungry for that instant.  But alas, it's proved to be rather hard on the budget and the nerves.  We're also just too busy lately. (tangent)  I miss the preschool days when all the activities were scheduled in the mornings.  Saturday night my little baby boy was playing a second baseball game at nearly 10:00pm at night.  No shocker that his little face was tear streaked when he walked up to his last at-bat (did I say that right?).  My own face was tear streaked last night when I whipped up the last item, a batch of pumpkin muffins and realized we were out of baking powder.  It was a tiring day, but hopefully it will pay off with an easier week!

Happy Monday, friends!

Comments

[Karen Edmisten]

Oh, will you please come make breakfast, lunch at dinner at my house for the whole week? Pretty please?

I'll be checking back for more crock pot inspiration.

Let's see ... my favorite super easy one for the crock pot is chicken breasts with a packet of taco seasoning. When it's close to being done, shred it, and let it cook a bit longer, then you have instant chicken tacos.

[Karen Edmisten]

p.s. I love your little cross stitch pictures. I was just starting to do some cross stitch when my oldest baby was born, and then I quit because all I could think about in my spare time was sleep. :)

[Charlotte]

I second Karen's request and since I live nearby I'm hoping that gets me more a better chance! I'd be thrilled if you'd just come show me how to do it. I know what you mean about feeling like it might stifle some of your cooking creativity, but there are times in our lives when it's more about survival. This is one of those times. Please point me towards any resources you prefer!

[Charlotte]

just "a better chance". Too tired to think right now.

[Kelly]

Love your little cross-stitch gals! <---how often do I say "love" on your blog? ;)

I don't know if I've ever been able to do a weeks worth of food ahead of time. I do, however, love my crockpot and will be trying out Karen's taco seasoned chicken breasts soon. I'm thinking it's bordering on genius (it's always the simplest things that are genius).

[Sarah]

Oh, those cross stitched girls are adorably sweet!! I just love them!

I think meal planning can be hard, especially when you're not in the mood for what you've planned that night. But what I've found is that if I have a plan for a week, or two, or four, I can always switch things around to sort of fit our cravings. Does that make sense?

I just made a Tuscan chili recipe in the slow cooker that was very tasty. Even my picky boy ate it! The recipe is here: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/slow-cooker-tuscan-chili-128141.aspx. Next time, I'd double it, though ...

[Sarah]

Oops! I added a period to the Web address. Try this:

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/slow-cooker-tuscan-chili-128141.aspx

[Jennifer]

Thats what gets me, Sarah! Ill plan a bunch of meals and when the day rolls around, no one is in the mood for what Ive planned.
Thanks for the link - Ill give that one a try next week!

[Carmen]

There's nothing you can't do! Cross Stitch is just says comfy home to me! I wish I could do that!

[sarah]

So adorable! I love these pictures.

I have never frozen a meal in my life - but I sometimes wish I was the sort of homemaker who did. Oh, I've frozen muffins, but since we eat those for afternoon tea or pudding, I don't count them as proper meal freezing.

[Jennifer]

I would count them, sarah!!

[Elisa]

They are so cute!! I have been rocking the menu planning! I'm on week 6. I'm so proud of myself because I also used to say that I can't think past the current meal, but it's working out so well and every day around 4pm, I'm SO glad I have a meal already planned and everything I need in the kitchen.

[Jennifer]

Ive been inspired by your meal planning posts, Elisa! Its definitely the trickiest part of motherhood for me.

[Bob Frank]

I'm exhausted just reading all that. If you have extra time, I could use some prepared meals.

[Julia]

Do you know of any online resources for cross stitch patterns with a baby theme that include Scripture verses? I don't cross stitch, but my mom wanted to cross stitch something for our new baby and we are having difficulty finding the above criteria. Thanks so much!

[Jennifer]

I dont really, Julia. Im a very inexperienced cross stitcher. I hope you can find what you are looking for - it sounds like a very sweet idea!