Baptists may not dance, but...

We do have fun at parks. Some of us from church picked up pizza from Jet's, last night, and then headed to a local park to enjoy each other's company.

Proverbs 31 Entrepreneurship

It's on my heart to not only be able to wisely use the income my husband earns but also to use my position as a keeper of the home to bring in some income as well. I am on my knees before the Lord in this as I do not wish to embark on anything that does not have his blessing. I do not want to build a multi-national company or get "rich". That is not my intent. I am just blessed/cursed with an entrepreneurial spirit. My husband is for the idea as long as it doesn't take me from my current responsibilities and I very much agree. I would love to hear what readers see a need for in their lives or what products you would consider purchasing. Here is a list of some ideas I have:

1. Lampshade design (adding flare- fabric, beads etc. to basic bases.)

2. Cushion design (Unique home decor)

3. Handbag design (Unique handbags, totes, purses)

4. Video Production (Produce videos on home skills and arts from a Godly perspective.)

5. Game inventor (Games for children or adults to encourage and equip for Godly service.)

6. Homeschool tour provider (Organize and lead tours for homeschoolers)

7. Herb grower (sale of fresh herbs for cooking and crafting)

8. Vegetable grower (sale of fresh veges or u-pick)

9. Flower grower (sale of cut flowers or u-pick)

10. Provider of fresh eggs (Have never kept chickens before- a desire for the future)

11. Bread maker (not a bakery)

12. Cheese maker

13. Calligrapher ( for hire)

14. Greeting card maker

15. Photographer (still life, stock photos)

16. Pie maker (not a bakery)

17. Cookie maker (not a bakery)

18. Dessert maker (no store front)

19. Cookbook writer

20. Writer of e-b00ks, novels, non-fiction, magazine, newsletter

21. Designer of home fashions (pot holders, aprons, table clothes etc.)

What would you utilize and at what price points? Feel free to add something that didn't make it on the list. Please note, I do not currently have all the above skills but they are things I am interested in and would be willing to learn/perfect for income purposes.

Three recipe victories!

With the change of the weather to a more fall like pattern here in Michigan, I have been able to feel like I can cook more of a variety of "warmer" things. I tried three new things and the family voted them all wonderful.

1. From Seasonal Delights: Potato Chowder- I added garlic and some canned chicken to the recipe but other than that it was straight from the directions. My original plan was to add sausage but I didn't get it defrosted in time.

2. From Seasonal Delights: Tea with cream, sugar and vanilla. The kids were asking for hot chocolate but my stash is still secured away in our tent trailer as we have one more vacation trip coming up this weekend. I decided to try this recipe- hoping it would be sweet enough for their liking. Yep! Everyone but the 3 year old liked it. For the record she doesn't really like cocoa either.

3. From Musings and Mommy Stuff: Jendi's cake with fruit recipe that she just posted a few days ago. I chose to use blackberry filling. Even my husband who doesn't really like cake, liked this recipe. It was quick and easy too!

Here are the links: http://sdquarterly.com/ for the Seasonal Delights web magazine. They are offering a free year's subscription (4 issues) during the month of September. I recommend signing up for it. They've done a great job. http://jendisjournal.wordpress.com/ Look for the post on Sept. 8th titled- Fruit Swirl Cake Recipe. Luckily I got the last piece (to eat and for a picture!)

Homeschool Field Trip

Kudos to Classic Corners Inc.- Fine Art and Framing of Hudsonville, MI! For my children's art class on Friday we were studying how artists use light in their work. So of course I wanted to show them the work of Thomas Kinkade- The Painter of Light. One can look at his work online and in pictures (like the calender we have) but I wanted them to see what happens in one of his actual paintings when the lights are lowered and brought back up. (Lights seem to come on and go off.) We don't have an actual gallery in our immediate area but Classic Corners advertised that they have Kinkade paintings so in we went to see if they had light set up for dimming etc. They did and they were great to us. They allowed us to work the lights ourselves and take as long as we wished. Then I allowed the children to each pick a small postcard of his work and went to pay and we were told that we could have them free of charge. Then the man at the counter asked if we wanted to borrow a video tape on Kinkade. Yes! Of course! He came back with two tapes. One for us to borrow for a week and one for us to keep. How generous! Just for taking the time to be kind, helpful and go out of his way for us, even though we weren't there to purchase anything, he gained our patronage because I will go back to the store before any other if I need any services they provide and I will recommend them to others. My kids asked if we could get a Kinkade painting- not knowing what art goes for. I laughed and told them that since we couldn't live in one of his paintings, wear it as clothing or eat it that it was not feasible at this time. They will have to make due with their postcards and our calander.

A picture for this post will come as soon as my techy husband comes home. I'm having trouble with downloading them from camera to computer for some reason.

Update: The process is working just fine today with no help from the DH. Technology is so fickle!

New breakfast favorite

My kids have a new favorite breakfast that is quick and easy to make: Cinnamon Toast! Toast your bread and add butter, sugar and cinnamon. For seven pieces of toast I melt 1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup) in the microwave for 30 seconds and add 2 tablespoons of sugar and a couple of healthy dashes of cinnamon. I stir it together and then apply to the toast using a pastry brush. I have a photo of the finished product but I'm having trouble transferring it from my camera to the computer so I need to wait until my techy husband comes home before I can post it.

Update: I forgot to have my husband look for the problem but I just decided to try it today and wouldn't you know it... works just fine. I transfered pics from my camera to the computer just fine. I really don't care for technology. It's fickle!

Book Review! A must read!!!!

When I was at the library the other day I found this book. HEIRLOOMS FROM LOVING HANDS- MAKING MEMORIES TO CHERISH FOREVER by Sandy Lynam Clough. I almost didn't check it out but I am so glad I did. It is a light, refreshing read that speaks to any woman with a heart for home. The author is full of simple wisdom regarding family traditions, heirlooms and the joy of making things with your hands. She shares wonderful memories of her past to inspire the reader's future. She lends simple suggestions for things that can be implemented by the reader in their own home. The book is full of beautiful illustrations drawn by the author. Women with only moments to spare in their day can pick up this book, read a page and come away inspired and refreshed. Here is an excerpt: Children ask their mothers to make many different things for them... paper crown or angel wings. Although few of these survive childhood and achieve heirloom status, a mother who takes time to make anything for her child creates for him a lasting memory of her loving hand and attentive heart.

This book is a joy that I highly recommend.

Reagan turns 3!

My baby had her 3rd birthday today. She had so much fun. She got a big girl bike and a yellow (her favorite color) cake. She spent most of the day insisting she was still two because we hadn't opened presents yet or had cake. A word to the wise... if you notice, in the picture of Reagan and her cake, that the cake is cracking... it is. I forgot to trim the bottom layer and just plopped layer two right on top. Doesn't make for a good foundation. TRIM YOUR CAKE LAYERS LADIES!