Monkey Business

Thank you Marylou
Your kindness gave me wing.
I have the ears mouth and eyes still.
See no evil, speak no evil hear no evil.
That perfect stage of completion :)

Times up! I got to go get the kids!

Ginger Bread Houses and Childrens Joys

This post was written for the Wrapped Emotions writing prompt:
"Capturing the Gift of Every Moment"

Please click on the link below to visit Wrapped Emotions to see how other writers took on this prompt...

Well my 11 a.m. Helping at Little Doves class was changed to 9 a.m. and it all worked out!
I really enjoy being able to be so flexable.

The children were marvelous! Well behaved.

I set all the tables with trays of mixed candies and decorations.

Opened the containers

Passed out a variety of sprinkles and such

I mixed up some green frosting as well and passed it out with a bag and tip.

This is Little Doves creation.

I left with all of the graham crackers to take home and feed the birds.
I was just thinking only an hour or so ago how I had not put out any suit or seed for the birds.
That is a sort of holiday tradition I did not think about till just today.
The birds bring me so much pleasure.

I stopped by Dash's class just in time to find the teacher all done.
She had opened the apron I made her and had it on.
I gave Dash those extra candy canes to pass around his class.
When I thanked the teacher she said..."no thank you" , and had the class pose for a photo.
She treats me so appreciative and like I'm doing her the favor.
She is so good with Dash. I do not think my life would be near this beautiful without the kids Teachers, I am so blessed with good women.

Well I am ready to feed the birds and to do my holiday baking.
Wow what a truck load of goodies for baking. (should I tell you I had prayed about this provision...would you believe me that I did...I think that things are so simple in my life.)

Good Morning, The oil in the Lamp

Well up at 3:30 with a bad dream! Very grateful for the "job" I am so fortunate to have I praise and worship HIM.
I wish so many other women I know could have this employment for them selves.
After some time in prayer I finished the hand sewing on Dash's Quilt.
Have yet to tie it (later this morning)! After I drop the kids at school I'll have 3 precious hours to sew the things for the kids.

After the quilt I worked on these. I got 25 or so finished to mail another 10 to find proper address for. I think there may be 10 more on the list I did not get too. Next year I will consider email cards. It is just a hard thought. I get the cards at 75% off just after Christmas. It helps but postage is high now. I love so many and it is just a small token to send a card. I really like the real thing in hand. I desire to do so many more things than there is of my ability to do or time to do it in. I am prioritizing my heart for my children.

The cards to the right will have a Keep pen attached to it and given today to all the player that play a role in the lives of the children at the school.

I found this candle burning at the kitchen sink...Opps I left it over night.
Sorta reminded me of the Minora (sp?) candles and the Oil in the lamp lasting eight nights. The wonderful workers who rebelled at the idol in their Temple so many hundreds of years ago.
I see my oil lasting as well. He is my provision. It is amazing to me how "time" is not limited in His realm and His Heaven on earth is here for me today. I am living in it.

The corn bread was for Beloveds work Christmas party

I have the privilege to work in Doves class room today.
Yikes! I have so many things yet to do for the children.
Christmas supper to plan out too.
Standing Rib Beef roast. I got it and froze it when it was on sale.

Tackle It Tuesday ~I Sew~I Sew~so... off to work I go!

Well it is now 9:10 pm and the kids just went to bed (late!). I have Dash's quilt to stitch.
I painted my nails red! Just for me.
I need to wait now for them to sleep before I can sew. Beauty (Dove ) came in and we had a sweet talk. She asked to turn the heater on for me...how sweet is that! So here I sit Sewing:) Drinking a cup of celestial seasoning tension tamer tea..Yummy

It was so cool I had all this and did not have to go to a store.
Beloved insisted on going to a different Costco to get the mis. I thanked him but no...I can do it. I freaked out a little just from bing a bit overwhelmed, but I regained myself shortly. It happened at the same moment the kids lit up a sibling tiff.

I also had a scrap of fabric and this trim I got it for .10 cent a yard two years ago in a clearance bin. It has little Holly and berry on it, the fabric has mallards in green with tiny hearts, very pale.

By lining your fabric while it is flat , with plastic wrap it is much easier to place into the basket.

Served up into the basket I leave a little breathing space between so the do not stick together.

Corn Bread for 65

Kids are fed.. I have to make corn bread for 90 people!
Yikes! Marie Calendar to the rescue (a mix), I'll amend it with caned corn and cumin.
WELL THEY WERE OUT OF THE MIX...YOU KNOW WHEN I WENT OUT INTO THE DEEP FREEZE THERE WAS A NEW BAG OF CORN MEAL AND A NEW BAG OF FLOUR. I HAD ALL THAT I NEEDED.
6 C corn meal
6 C flour
1/2 c baking powder
2 Tbsp. sea salt
1 Tbsp cumin
12 eggs
6 c (soy milk/water from canned corn)
2 cans whole kernal sweet corn

Baking now. 450* 25 turn down to 400* ? Until done through
(wooden pick comes out clean).
will serve 60-70
(that'll do...)
I have a nice big basket I need to make a Christmas Bread cloth for it.


Sewing to resume after story/bed time!

I am stuffing the Monkey's!

Now how many times in a life time can you say that:)

Last month I was inspired by"Chelsea's Morning", Barb made one. Jaye gave me these socks and so...I sew:)

2 pm I got them stuffed! Kids due home in 40 minutes so I need to pack up for another sprint.
Got the kids and went to the post office.

I was able to get three packages mailed today at a little post office inside a store. Good places to go shorter lines. The woman turned the channel to a PBS station and the children sat quietly on the floor and watched the TV while stood in a line for 10 minutes. Not to bad a wait and they were good.

I got a package from Dash's former teacher today. That is a first! a Package from a teacher. She wrote a very tender note and complemented me kindly. It was so dear and loving. It was a mixed box of See's candy a chocolate Santa and nutcracker the kids had and 4 suckers we shared. There is more still out in the car.

12:30 Hurray! I just finished Beloveds' gift!

Found myself having to tackle the medical records for Thursday. Our (Dash's) coverage at the clinic is up for review and I have to list( itemize and show proof of) up to $9000. in medical out of pocket. It is 11:)) a.m. I'm reaching the number so far but I have all the little Rx amounts to add up yet. Nothing like practically doing your taxes the week before Christmas! My Husbands overtime hours (that we needed to get by) has pushed us just over the cap. I think our Insurance may cover some of the visits if we loose our $0 out of pocket status.

Beloved said he would take the kids out one day so I can sew for them.



Here lie the hopes of Christmas "Present-s"

We depend upon the Super Santa to achieve great leaps into creative Magnificence!
Accually He is depending upon me.

One is 1/2 way underway the other begging to be made whole.

Much to do about this and the items that go with it.

While every hour we look past the stars for our success.
From whence our hope comes

I have to make the rest of the Christmas for these two.

With such anticipation my fingers must spin my needle and tread into magical loving pleasure.

Two Monkey's and Barbie cloths are also in the mix.
Beloved has a delightful gift awaiting him as well.
Slate Gray and Baby blue so pretty together.

Knee exercises too.

Beauty is called Little Dove once again

My little Dove wants her old nick name again. I miss calling her that. Even though she is growing up she is still my little dove. Full of grace and kindness. It does fit her, and she delights in it.
She rested all day and finished this wonderful master piece.
She got it on Saturday when her and her brother and Daddy went to the grand parents and then out shopping. She said "this is where she and Dash are going to live after they grow up and get married". She said a " lot of children could live here". She is going to adopt.

We all had a wonderful weekend.
Friday we all had our Family date night. Daddy got a small Christmas bonus so we all went out to dinner together to Pei Wei for Chinese wok fried fresh food. I was given a coupon for a free dinner because they goofed mine up. The hostess just came up to me and asked so I told her and she returned with a $10 gift card. We then went to the light display in a community that had a Santa. Dash spoke with him while Dove had nothing to do with him. She does not sit on strangers laps (which is fine with me). We then went home and watched two Walton's on DVD. It was a wonderful night.
The weekend was full of sewing.
We played a wild game of Monopoly last night.
I love having time together.
Better said making memories and setting time aside to do it .
Today I sewed all day on beloveds with shall we say inches to go after at least 8 feet of hand stitchery!
Dash has all the hand work yet too. I will break it out as soon as I am sure the kids are asleep.
Another great day!

Dash Hawk's time with Mom

Mom and I made a phone for my family
mom and i had so much fun
making the phone
The above was typed by Dash...

The Invasion

Michelle over at " Life in the midst of writing " just made my day check out this great post!

Roasted Leg of Lamb with curry

2 Tablespoons curry powder
2 Tablespoons ground cumin
1 Tablespoons sea salt
2 Tablespoons kelp powder (sea vegetable)
1 Tablespoon five-spice powder ( I had non so I used clove powder)
1 leg of lamb

Combine all spices and rub over dry meat.

I roast mine. It can be boned and butterflied (opened), and broiled.

Supper tonight and a day of thought provoking aromas.
When I have a leg of Lamb roasting I always think of the exodus from Egypt.
How much courage it took to leave. For a people to be so thoroughly fed up with bondage that they would walk away with their shirts on their backs.
Then once to be rid of the abuse be so profoundly annoyed with God for the difficulty of living independent. Leaving the familiar is hard. Taking the courage to strike out on our own is a very bold thing to do. It takes great courage to exit our past and walk into an unknown future.
Grumbling about the difficulty of it all is so natural a response. But it kept them from all that lie before them...before us.
It is in this that I give thanks with a grateful heart for my freedom. It was hard won. Yes walking through he desert of the battle is challenging, yes hard... Yes Manna can get boaring at times but oh the joy of its provision.
When Moses hit the rock in anger because he got so fed up with the complaint of the people he error ed. It was that he lost patience with it all.
All the whining and griping...I mean really He just stopped the whip on their backs ...but they were used to the whip...freedom can (in all it's glory ) be rather uncomfortable when it is new.
The generation that got out from under the whip never knew the full freedom.
I wonder about our generation?
I am free.
I see the generation under mine, my own children...
Removed from the whip that was my bondage...
What a land of promise they have before them.
Flowing with milk and honey.

It's the Lamb.

Two children home sick

Well I wonder how I am going to get this sewing done??
This will be interesting.
Kids are sick with chest colds and sinus this morning. I will take them into the Doctors to see if they are alright. Beauty had a sinus infection that may not have cleared and Dash said his chest hurts. I gave him some albuteral (asthma) and the cough is still pretty bad. So... I don't SEW for them anyway...not today.
Please pray for my children's health. Thank you .

Well I'll make my Beloveds' gift then today :)

Blogging with a purpose Award.

Denise just honored me with this thoughtful award.
Please visit this site to read about the award. Thank you so much
She wrote:
4)Donetta at "A Life Uncommon" This lady is very special to my heart, her life has been anything but easy. But, it is through those hard times, that she has so beautifully shined. I love you all.

How thoughtful and timely. Thank you Denise.
My Beloved spoke to me last night about my blog. He lovingly told me how much he felt like he got to know a deeper side of me more by reading my posts. With a busy life and little time for each other this blog has really helped me to slow down and open my heart. Share my thoughts and ideas, And express my deep compassion for the world around me. With the loss of memory (head injury) I have been able to restore a sense of focus and acuity. Beloved and I lay awake and interceed for your lives. We feel very strongly for all of you.

Sewing and crafting a homemade Christmas.

My Week End has been full of activity.
Beloved took the young ones to the Grand Parents on Saturday so I could set to task.
I dove right into a full day of intense efforts.
I began with these. I have had these cut out for over a year. This is the first Christmas where I can create this for my daughter. Between surgery,car accidents and illness I have been delayed the joys I am knowing now.

As I started my process I was without a vital supply. fusible batting. I started to go shower to leave the house ( I did not want to use my sewing time at a store) , but then it occurred to me!
I had purchased some "wonder Under" on my date night last weekend. I decided to make my own! I had enough larger batting scraps and the wonder under fusable adheasive

Look at God provision here!
That is perfectly enough to fit the pattern ! Is that just too cool!

I got both houses made and had enough cake board to do the first one.
I have yet to hand stitch the openings closed.

Sewing tip* When sewing crafts see how I place my pins set back away and then I just put the peddle to the metal and remove the pins after on the cutting table. I must redeem every moment and work wisely.

This is the house set up, it ties and then folds flat for storage.

Some have used zippers or Velcro for the sides. I just used what I have. I really did not want to go to a store!

Speaking of stores... Years back when a party store was having a 40% sale I invested (yes invested ) in the spools of ribbon one of every color. I still have a supply of the small spools too. I am making an effort to use them up. Some whoever are a rich metallic nature.
This is all kept in a wheeled cart in a closet in the other drawers are the party supplies, gift bags and such. I just pull the drawer out when I am wrapping several gifts. I will use a complimentary mix of colors and tie the packages. Then use the edge of my scissors to curl it.

I also use wired ribbon that I got very cheep several years ago. I have recycled it three times, once it was on the Christmas tree, Then a Garland now for the gifts.

Speaking of gifts. I have a few ideas for you.
I make something I coined "Keep Pens". By using floral tape on ink pens with a silk flower(use wire nippers to cut them) and glue to ends, you'll have a "Keep Pen" (nobody will take it :) They are great gifts for receptionists and such. I like giving them in a wrapper that makes them look like flowers. They are very light weight to mail also.

Another idea is this... When you find nice frames on a clearance get them!
Buy a nice calendar or use favorite images frame them and give as gifts.
These are scriptures. When purchased in a store were talking $45 or so...
Here each one has $3. invested in them and hour of time each (Clean the glass both sides and make sure your glass is dry then remove the backing and frame them. Add a hanger the saw tooth type is best and you have a very beautiful classy gift. Not so good for mailing glass breaks :)

This I finished just for me!

I worked on this while I down loaded the images.
So here I sit and now it is time for me to close. Beloved is calling me to come for showers and to go to bed.
I hope you all had a great weekend!

Menu Plan Monday

This is the most important part of my Menu this week and here after

I worked very diligently and finished the tree today.
My niece (five years younger than I) made these Place matts and the runner that is on the island, for us, years ago.

The sung praises of Christmas music and family around the table.

The actual menu for next week proves challenging. The "eating for blood type meal plan gets very expensive after the 6th day. It is not working as a stand alone so I need to be creative and tweak it. Because I matter I will not just give up on it like I did last week. I see that this is the best thing for me health wise, so I begin again.
It is still in process.

My blog is a treasure...Jaye said so.

She wrote...
Then ya have Donetta with one "N" hahah inside joke... ..Donetta Donetta is just so full of, it what is the it? it is information she just is so in touch with so many different aspects of life... I just love her.

My name should be spelled Donnetta to be pronounced correctly. I have been told I'm full of it! :) Ha! But never so nicely:)
She knows I love her too. Thanks Jaye. I treasure you too Lady.

Urgent Call to prayer for a child. Please.

Please pray...I am taking Kyle to the ER...He either fainted or had a seizure and I need to be sure there is nothing neurological. He had a hard time coming out of it.

This just in from my Dear friend . Please join me.
Thank you.

Sunday Smiles

"At Spiritually Unequal Marriage"

The children camped out last night with such exuberance declaring! Only three more days of school next week and we can camp out all we want!
Camping out means sleeping in the same room together.
I see Dash peeking around the corner to see if I notice they are awake. The glee!!!They just noticed the bulge in their stockings (Christmas) It is a little bag of "coal" a lump of coal. It is gum. I think it so fun to give them expectation. Oh the chatter and giddy revelations of new stuff to examine.
They are independent this morning. Two little souls searching out the thrill of adventure.
Speaking of adventure...My day free to work on the children's gifts yesterday ended in a fine on for me. My dear MILove encouraged me to take time off in my free day just for me. I was very tired after my marathon sewing project so after a wonderful hot shower i did so, even taking the time out to iron a shirt just for me. I had several gift cards that were in y bill fold for some time and I had just received another the night before. So I went to the Wal-Mart and got more batting. There was ONE cart left at the curb just for me. :) It was fun to just walk in and grab just what I wanted. And The very last item awaited me, as I with gratitude noticed. Upon leaving a young teen had arms full of fire wood so I gave him my cart much to his delight. The door man smiled and blessed me with an appreciative smile.
Leaving and onto the bookstore where to my delight this old card in my bag was worth $20 so stuffed toys for the kids and a dark chocolate Godiva bar for me :) I spent $.13 cents.
Onto Pei Wei (Pay Way) The night before when the hostess asked me of our meal.. She returned with a $10 gift card because it had been improperly prepared. So I got to go again last night and get an order take out. I ate in my car under a street light in the parking lot (with my doors locked). I decided to turn on the radio instead of the CD, and to my delight it was Garrison Kieler and "A Prairie Home Companion" BLUE GRASS GOSPEL! Oh man it was so perfect!
I said " I love you too" to Abba. They did a Gospel quartet of an old Tennessee spiritual I just enjoyed it so much.
Then onto a Walgreen's drugstore and I got the kids some more candy canes and a little nativity set to fill up the last few days of the advent calendar. If you are still with me here is the adventure.
While I was shopping a man passed me and oh I felt this darkness that I looked up into his face and oh the darkness! I felt strange and a fear came over me. I turned it to wisdom. I watched in the store mirrors as he cased the store to rob it. I watched him go to the photo counter and he was thinking it over . When I went to the pharmacy to report him. It was closed. It then clicked that I had authority here. I said softy for the enemy to stop and for him to leave this store NOW, In the name of the Lord Jesus Now go! I then walked toward the front of the store keeping my distance. Again in the very soft tones I said Leave here now in Jesus name. I headed toward the register where the teenage cashier was out of his place and straightening a shelf. The Man was moving toward him. I stayed back and just thought Now! leave! The man who was 10-15 feed in front of me turned toward me and looked so evil at me and as if an invisible force was pushing him went out the door looking angry at me (he was very thin and was probably on crack cocaine).
I cashed out and told the cashier what had just happened (how the man was about to rob him). He was so thankful and appreciative. The young man escorted me to my car thanking me. It was so powerful!
The gift of fear is wisdom. I was so proud of my courage to move out of the fear and into the authority of Christ. It was His authority and the man heard nothing audibly that I said.