Lace Scarf

This is the Lacy Scarf I knitted to match dd's hat. I did an okay job, but looking back over it I'm bummed that I missed a few errors. (don't look too closely!) I found this pattern online, but can't remember where...so sorry!

Yarn - anything you have (this is some bunny hop by Crystal Palace Yarns) less than 200 yards.

Needles ~large (For the above scarf 8mm)

Size~ (This scarf 8" wide by 30" long for my petite daughter I would do 40 inches for an adult.)

Pattern~

Cast On 26 stitches.

Knit 6 rows garter stitch for bottom border.

Row 1 - K3, *(k2tog, yo)* repeat till last 3 stitches, K3

Row 2 - K3, purl to last 3 stitches, K3

Row 3 - K3, *(yo, k2tog)* repeat till last 3 stitches, K3

Row 4 - K3, purl to last 3 stitches, K3.

Repeat rows 1 - 4 until scarf is as long as you like or you run out of yarn. But leave yourself enough to finish another border.

Knit 6 rows garter stitch for top border.

Happy Knitting!

Blessings,

Lisa

Thankful Thursday~Summer Fun

It's Thankful Thursday and Lynn of Spiritually Unequal Marriage is our host. Lynn has chosen the theme of summer fun for this week. You can join in and link there or find other participating blogs to read.

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year, not for the weather, but for the time together with my family.

• I am thankful to have a job that allows me to be home during the summer with our kids.

• I am thankful for days full of sunshine.

• I am thankful for fresh food from the gardens of family.

• I am thankful for clear summer night skies filled with billions of stars.

• I am thankful for days on the lake and nights around the fire with family and friends.

• I am thankful for all the beautiful flowers...black eyed susans, sunflowers, coneflowers, bright red geraniums and petunias.

What are you thankful for this summer?

Blessings,

Lisa

Outdoor Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by Susan, A Southern Daydreamer. Visit her place and the other participant's blogs to see what's outside of their little corner of the world.

Last week we visited Idlewild Park with the kids. I just loved the hanging baskets surrounding the Merry-Go-Round.

This is the water feature in Racoon Lagoon (kiddie land) at Idlewild.

The Black Eyed Susans in our garden have finally bloomed!

The Butterfly Bush at camp

A closer view of the Butterfly Bush flower

A bloom on one of our Rose of Sharon plant at camp. Our neighbor at home has two of these in her backyard. The one blooms in three colors. The flowers are white, purple and pink.

Thank you for checking out what's blooming in my little corner of the world.

Blessings,
Lisa

Bubba's Steak Fingers

Country Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Milk Gravy is one of our favorite comfort foods. Tonight I made the Steak Fingers from the May/June 2009 issue of Cooking With Paula Deen. The steak fingers were delicious and tender! I will definitely make them again. I added some garlic powder to the cracker mixture, and cut back on the salt. Here's the adapted recipe:

Steak Fingers

Vegetable Oil for Frying

2 large eggs (fresh from my bil's chickens!)

2/3 cup whole milk

1 1/2 cups crushed saltine crackers (about 1 sleeve of crackers)

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 pounds cube steak, cut into 2 inch fingers

In a large skillet, pour oil to a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat to 360 degrees over medium-high heat.

In a shallow dish, lightly beat milk and eggs.

In a separate shallow dish, combine crushed crackers, flour, salt, paprika, pepper and garlic powder.

Dredge steak fingers in cracker mixture, then egg mixture, then cover in cracker mixture.

Fry steak fingers in batches, in hot oil, for about 3 minutes per side, or until browned and crisp. Drain on paper towels.

Enjoy served with milk gravy for dipping!

Blessings,

Lisa

Our Weekend at the Lake

We spent the weekend at camp. We did get out on the boat on Saturday. We outran a storm and got back to camp before the big storm hit. It was a relief to actually be off of the lake and have the boat loaded before the storm hit. We haven't been that lucky this year and usually end up loading in a downpour or hailstorm. It rained most of the evening and night on Saturday. The kids were disappointed that we didn't make it to the beach on Sunday, but more storms were rolling in. Here's some photos from our weekend:

Blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, July 27, 2009

Welcome to my menu plan for this week! This week will have several carry over meals from last week due to unforeseen happenings last week. I am trying to cut our bi-weekly grocery bill. In order to do so, I'm planning our menus using what is in the freezer and pantry. Here's the plan for this week:

Sunday~Garlic and Peppercorn Pork Loin with Garlic Pasta

Monday~Weeknight Lasagna Toss, Tossed Salad and Garlic Toast

Tuesday~Country Fried Steak Fingers, Mashed Potatoes with White Gravy and Green Beans

Wednesday~Chicken Soft Tacos, Salsa Rice and Corn

Thursday~Summer Sub Sandwiches, Baked Chips, and Watermelon

Friday~Homemade Pizza and Hot Wings

Saturday~Grilled Kielbassi Sandwiches, Baked Potato Salad, and Fruit Salad

Check out more menus and join in the menu planning at http://orgjunkie.com/

Have a great week full of blessings!

Lisa

Show and Tell Friday, July 24, 2009

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday, hosted by the talented Kelli. You can view her lovely show and tell and other posts at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/

Today I am sharing my small collection of Longaberger baskets that I've collected over the years.

Cracker Basket

Tissue Basket (which needs tissues!)

Media Basket~we use it to hold the remotes, but for some reason they aren't in there with the coasters....hmmm.



The basket on the right is a small purse. I am not sure about the one on the left.

Tea Basket

Thank you for stopping by my show and tell today!

Be sure to visit Kelli's for more show and tell posts!

Blessings,

Lisa

Thankful Thursday~Victory

It's Thankful Thursday and Lynn of Spiritually Unequal Marriage is our host. Lynn has chosen the theme of victory for this week. You can join in and link there or find other participating blogs to read.

Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. ~Psalm 44:5

Through prayer and faith in Jesus, I have had victory over those who caused great hurt in my life. It has taken time to heal, but I have overcome the pain.

For that, I am thankful today.

Today, I am also thankful for...

• Our healthy, happy children, who fill my days with life and love.

• My husband, who is the love of my life

• Friends and family, who encourage and support me

• the chance to help a family reconnect after 40 years apart

What are you thankful for today?

Have a day full of blessings,

Lisa

Ice Cream!

As part of our summer activities, each of our kids has a Summer Passport.

I made them using a small photo album. Inside are a variety of activities on cards and on the page beside the activity is space for a photo. Some of the activities include camping, a beach visit, ice cream shop visit, zoo visit, craft day and more. Today we completed the Ice Cream activity with a visit to the Roxberry Creamery. The passport booklet gives them a keepsake of our summer together each year.

Homemade Gobs of Vanilla Ice Cream for me! MMmmmm.

DS chose chocolate soft serve.

DD had to have the same thing as her big brother!

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Lisa

Final Sunday Mass at our Church

Yesterday was a sad day for the parishioners of SS Casimir and Emerich Catholic Church. The final Sunday Mass was celebrated in our church. Many tears were shed during the Mass and the dinner that followed. Dinner was fabulous...full of Polish favorites...haluski, halupki and kielbassi with kraut. We have hope that the new parish will be filled with the same spirit of family and heritage. Here are some photos of the kids in their Polish Heritage costumes and some photos of the mass and church:

Our daughter

Our son

So sweet....

Processing into Mass


Bringing a flower to our Mother Mary

The Altar with the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa and Candle Holders which will both be transfered to the new parish Church.

Processing out of Mass

fr. Anthony Francis Spilka carries the icon of Our Lady of Chzestochowa around the church as the congregation sings Czarna Madonaa.

Our children in front of the Blessed Mother

Articles online:

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Tribune-Democrat

Photos online:

Visit the Johnstown Cafe - Go to PICTURES - BUILDINGS to find pictures of Ss. Casimir & Emerich

Thank you for stopping by today!

Please keep us (our community of faith) in your prayers as we begin our journey as Resurrection Roman Catholic Church.

Blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, July 20, 2009

Welcome menu planners and friends! I am proud to say that we ate in every night last week and only ordered out pizza on Friday. I also followed the menu exactly as I planned it. That doesn't happen very often! This week will be easy meals so I can do some fun things with the kids and do some scrapping and knitting.

Last week's Buffalo Chicken Wraps were delicious! Give them a try if you want something easy and filling for a summer dinner on the deck or patio. I may even switch the sauce to Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sometime for a different
spin.

Sunday~ Church Dinner-They served Oven Roasted Chicken, Haluski, Halupki, Kielbassi and Kraut, Green Beans, Rolls, and Cake

Monday~Pizza Burgers, Garlic/Olive Oil Pasta with Vegetables

Tuesday~ Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich, Oven Fries, Fruit

Wednesday~Weeknight Lasagna Toss, Fried Zucchini, and Garlic Toast

Thursday~Sub Sandwiches, Baked Chips and Veggies with Dip

Friday~Pizza and Wing Night

Saturday~Grilled Chicken Breasts, Tortellini Salad, Watermelon

Check out more menu plans at http://orgjunkie.com/

Have a week full of blessings and love!

Lisa

Knitting and more...

Happy Friday! It's been a busy week and I'm looking forward to the weekend! I'm hoping to do some scrapbooking and knitting this weekend. These are some of the projects I've completed in the last week:

Classic Washcloth

Knit and Purl Heart Washcloth

Winter hat with rose for our daughter

I'm going to add a button to the center of the rose for some sass. :0)

DD being silly in her new hat!

Our sweet son on his final day of ATOMS.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Lisa

Thankful Thursday

Thank you to Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage for hosting Thankful Thursday this month.

I've read several posts this morning, and have to agree that I, too, am thankful for the community of bloggers and the for my dear friends of the holiday board I belong too. What a gift you all are to me!

I'm so thankful for so many things today~

• I'm thankful for fourteen years of marriage to my best friend, lover and partner. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful spouse.

• I'm thankful that our son has had the opportunity to attend ATOMS (Advanced Training for Outstanding Mathematics and Science Scholars Program) and is thoroughly enjoying the entire experience.

• I'm thankful for the time our daughter and I have spent together this week while our son was at camp.

• I'm thankful for the time we've spent as part of our parish family since our marriage 14 years ago. Our parish is being closed, so will will join five other parishes that are also closing, and create a new parish family. Our final mass is on Sunday. Endings do lead to new beginnings.

• I'm thankful for lunch dates with friends and the time to reconnect.

What are you thankful for today?

Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the world!

Blessings,

Lisa

My Big Girl Bike

Our dd started riding a big girl bike, as she calls it, just last evening. She has mastered turning around, braking (which is very important!) and standing up to pedal up the hill. We're so proud of her! The bike was a hand-me-down from a friend and the helmet was her brother's, but we're going to get a new helmet the next time we're at the store.

She wants a princess helmet. (of course!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Lisa

Outdoor Wednesday, 7/15/09

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by Susan, A Southern Daydreamer. Visit her place and the other participant's blogs to see what's outside of their little corner of the world.

Our grass garden

A butterfly visits a purple coneflower


Orange Daylily

Orange Coneflower


Our daughter smelling the coneflowers.

Thank you for visiting my little corner of the world!

Blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, July 13, 2009

Happy Monday! Can you believe it is the middle of July! I sure can't! Summer is slipping by quickly. I'm planning on cooking every night this week. We'll see if that happens, or if life gets the better of me. Here's our plan for this week:





Sunday~ Slow cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs over Penne, Fried Zucchini

Monday~Buffalo Chicken Wraps, Homemade French Fries

Tuesday~Baby Back BBQ Ribs, Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans

Wednesday~Grilled Steak, Baked Potatoes, Garden Salad

Thursday~Grilled Ham Slices, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Corn on the Cob

Friday~Homemade Pizza and Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings

Saturday~BBQ Italian Chicken Breasts, Rice Pilaf, and Grilled Zucchini

Making breaded zucchini with our daughter. Today we'll be making Zucchini Bread together.

Check out the other menus at http://orgunkie.com/

Have a week full of blessings,
Lisa