Sew God's Grace

I love making things up for gift baskets.  What can I say; I like looking at something and saying, "I made that!"  I found a recipe for Orange Poppy Seed body scrub on a Facebook group called Homemade Haven.  I had to try it out for myself.  Here's the recipe as per Andrea Anhorn: Orange and Poppyseed Body Scrub 1/2 cup poppy seeds 1/2 cup sweet almond oil (or olive oil, or whatever!) 3 drops of orange essential oil Mix in air tight container, some suggest using a spoon to scoop into hand to avoid water gettin in and watering it down. I found sweet almond oil on Amazon.  I used an 8 ounce jelly jar to put the scrub in. I used Avery name badges to make labels for the scrub.  I used microsoft word--simply go into "mailings" and select "labels and envelopes."  Select the number from the Avery product or dimensions and start designing.  I always print out a sheet on blank paper first to make sure it will line up with the label page...

I love making two meals that I just have to cook once for!  Last night, I made Grilled Taco-Spiced Chicken.  Find it here at Betty Crocker's website:  Grilled Taco-Spiced Chicken.    Having no barbeque or chile sauces in the house, I had to improvise on the sauce.  Evan and I created a mixture of ketchup, cumin, brown sugar, & chili powder.  The kids loved it.  I served the chicken with green beans, sliced apples, and Schwann's sweet potato fries.  I made 6 chicken breasts so that there would be left overs.  I cut the leftover chicken into bite-sized pieces.  Then I made four Chicken Roll Ups (idea from my mother-in-law, Lois).  Spread a big spoonful of refried beans on a tortilla.  Then place shredded cheese and cut-up cooked seasoned chicken on top.  Fold the ends of the tortilla in and roll up.  Wrap in aluminum foil.  I placed mine in the fridge for lunch today.  Bake at 375...

Isaiah's Hope I have had the pictures for this quilt ready to go for a long time.  However, posting it for me has been hard because I made it for a little boy that I thought I would meet this month.  We were due on January 21st.  This, however, was not meant to be.  At fifteen weeks into the pregnancy, we discovered that our little boy had passed away.  I had made quilts for my four previous children, so it felt weird not making one for Isaiah.  Though it was a sad process instead of one of joyful anticipation, I am glad that I made it.  Having another "something" to remember him by has been comforting for me. The finished size of this quilt is 50 by 70 inches, which is great for a baby floor quilt or makes a good  throw size for an adult.  One of us often snuggles under Isaiah's quilt during "movie night" downstairs.  You will need five coordinating fabrics.  Pick your favorite fabric to use as the large block....