"Dear, I want that!"

This post's title is a favorite quote from one of my favorite childhood movies, Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss.  In the movie, the mom of the family tells her husband she wants a big wooden windmill that he in turn calls "lawn slob art".

I don't want a windmill - or any other lawn slob art for that matter - however, I am in love with these shoes and they have hit the top of my wish list.  Now, to be honest, I can't tell you when the last time I bought a new pair of shoes.  The tennis shoes I wear everyday are at least four years old, possibly five.  I have bought a pair of dress shoes at the thrift store, but NEW shoes are very few, and very far between.  Still, I don't know if I can justify $90 on a pair of shoes.  What do you think?


Picture borrowed from Zappos.  Click HERE to go to their site.

Carrie’s Home-made Christmas Present: a crochet purse with ring handles

Today I finished Carrie’s home-made Christmas present.  Purple is her favorite color and she loves black flowers.  I used Vannah’s Choice yarn for the bag and some black yarn with filament for the accents.  I followed the pattern out of The Happy Hooker book that I borrowed from the library.  The flower pattern is from the book called First Crochet, also from our local library.  I bought the handles from JoAnn Fabrics a couple weeks ago when they were just $3.99!  (This bag cost less than $8 to make.)  What could be better than CHEAP and CUTE?  :0)

Now I have the girl’s homemade presents finished.  I think I have decided what to do for Jake, but Brady and Kip are still mysteries.  At least I have a week to go before Christmas.  Wish me luck!

2010 Christmas Card

Okay, so I created our family’s Christmas card design today using my favorite crafting tool….the Cricut!  This card features K&Company paper, Bazzill paper, and the Straight From the Nest cartridge.  The ribbon was left over from a sewing project and originally purchased at Wal-Mart.  The pearl beads are from an online seller on eBay.
Although we won’t be sending a bunch of Christmas cards this year, primarily because we can’t really afford all of the postage, I needed a stack for our church friends and Sunday school teachers.  If they don’t like the card, surely they’ll love the candy treats we made them!  :0)

I just love this photo! I think it speaks for itself…

Cute Little Crochet Bunny Slippers

This year, my goal is to make each of my five children a handmade Christmas present.  So far, I have one down…five to go.  :0)  As I make them, I will post them on my blog to share.  I have something lined up for Carrie but am still struggling for just what to make the boys.  They don’t necessarily enjoy paper or yarn crafts, so I’m going to have to really stretch my brain for them. 
I got the bunny slippers idea out of one of my favorite books The Happy Hooker.  The pattern in that book was not quite working for me, so I used the Mary Jane Slippers pattern from ohmygoodknits! blog.  (Click here to go to that blog post.)  I used her pattern for the base slippers (without a cross strap) and the pattern for the ears & face from The Happy Hooker book.  I am super happy with the outcome and I hope Katie is too!  :0)

Sad Day for the Gantz Family Farm

Well, I am very sad to report that our prize winning rooster, Mr. Buffy, has passed away.  We don't know what happened, but he was gone when we let the chickens out yesterday morning.  It was so sad to see him lying on the coop floor, lifeless.  He had been fine the day before and I honestly have no idea what happened to make him die.  Jake said the night before he was acting a little strange, but none of us thought he could be sick.  Someone suggested that he was bitten by a spider or a snake; my husband wonders if he possibly picked up something from the fair back in October.  We're not sure, but so far the girls seem to be feeling fine so if it was a disease, I am hopeful that it didn't spread through the flock.

I was so sad when I heard he had died.  I cried....more than once.  My husband says I'm too sensitive to be a farmer.  I suppose I am.  I don't apologize for crying though.  Mr. Buffy was not just a chicken, he was our pet.  Every chicken expert I've ever met or read about has said that chickens are not pets.  I completely disagree.  Each bird has a unique personality.  Some are playful, some are serious, some are food hogs, some are so docile that they could be house pets (were it not for the lack of potty training-ness), but they are each individuals in need of love and attention and here at the Gantz Family Farm, we all welcome them as members of the family.  And Mr. Buffy will  be missed.  R.I.P. Mr. Buffy.  We love you!

Sunday School Teacher Gifts

Okay, so the kids and I were trying to decide what to come up with for a fun Christmas gift idea for our Sunday school teachers.  I found a cute idea for a kitchen sponge and modified it to be a bath sponge.  I paired them with a nice, pretty-smelling soap and tied them up.  Now that I think about it, I am wondering if it is a rude gift.  I mean...soap?  I would hate for the ladies to think that we think they need to take a bath.  Hmmm.....

For the original pattern, please visit Hook Candy by clicking HERE.  I really enjoyed making them.  I had to learn a new type of stitch called Tunisian Crochet, or the Afghan stitch.  I really like it!  Check out You Tube for a demo if it's new to you too.  :0)

Quick & Easy Recipe: Chai Latte

I've been absent for a while due to a painful illness, a ruptured ear drum!  I have really been out of it for about 3 1/2 weeks now, but am finally feeling better.  Since I've been "gone" I've found an awesome recipe for a Chai Latte.  It's so simple and so good!  I love warm drinks, especially in the winter.  Since losing over 30 pounds, I seem to have lost my warmth, so I am always welcoming warm drinks.  Here is my new favorite:

1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup milk, 1-2 tsp. sugar (or a sugar substitute), and one chai tea bag
Mix all together in a small sauce pan until it boils.  Remove from heat, cover and let seep for about 3 minutes.  Add to your favorite girly mug and enjoy.  :0)