Round Two: A Durham Thanksgiving

Being married means double the holidays!

We hosted our very first Thanksgiving at our house for the Durham side of the family.

 Michael's first turkey! Thanks Autumn for the perfect turkey gift!

 We started with a delicious tomato soup that Becky made. 

Michael created a pomegranate, molasses glaze for the turkey (probably the best thing I have ever tasted) and we made a sweet potato gnocchi... which was perfection! Top it off with some roasted vegetables and we had a lovely non-traditional Thanksgiving meal. We will be creating that sweet potato gnocchi many more times! I will post the recipe soon!

Family really is the best!

A Goodwin Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving at my parent's house is very traditional. 

We always sit at the same place at the table.

The menu is always the same, 

including a family recipe "Aunt Tilly's Mashed Potatoes"

And the following day always includes decorating for Christmas. 

The jumping jack tree!

I love family!

Homebody

home·bod·y  (hmbd)

n. pl. home·bod·ies

One whose interests center on the home.

That's what I am. I like to be at home. 

I like to read in bed when it is light outside.

I like to watch movies with my husband.

I like picnics.
I love cooking. And creating. And even cleaning and organizing.
I was made to be domestic.
And I can't wait to have a family. 

Sorry it has been a while since I have posted some DIYs! All my crafting lately is for Christmas presents and I don't want to share those just yet! :) 

downsizing

This blog really changed the way I view my stuff. 

I spent one afternoon reading about how it can be so easy to put so much worth in the material things around you. The blogger continues the topic by talking about American excess. I was convicted reading this blog realizing how many times I felt like I needed something that really wasn't that important. I wanted to downsize and get rid of the junk around me. 

Well I got home that afternoon and my house had been robbed. Both of our computers were stolen. My first reaction was "oh well, it is just a computer". Then I was sad that my pictures from the last 4 years were all gone (I am very sentimental). Then I felt icky and violated. But overall I was very surprised in how, once I got through the initial emotions, I was still ok. 

It is so much more freeing to live relying on God's provision. And to not feel consumed by 'consumerism'. 

My first step in downsizing:

I took all my clothes and put them in piles of: Keep, Not Sure, Don't Need.

I got rid of bags of clothes. 

There was so many shirts that I love but never wear or they have holes in them so I decided to make a quilt!

I was really surprised how fast it was to make!

Now I have an organized and cleaned out closet and dresser.

Next time I will tackle my craft closet and bathroom closet!!

"And my God will supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Jesus" -Philippians 4:19

Heating pad DIY

I was cold and my back hurt. 

I really wanted one of those microwaveable heating pads.

So I decided to make one.

All you need is some soft, durable fabric

and some beans, lentils, rice, etc. 

1. Cut the fabric into two rectangles measuring: 6in x 18in

2. Pin the fabric right sides facing each other and sew the rectangles together, leaving a small opening to fill with beans.

3. Flip inside out so the good side is showing. 

4. Fill with beans. I used a 2 lb bag. 

5. I wanted it to have a good smell so I took some lavender from a candle I had and added it to the bag. (Just 2 pinches) 

You could also add cloves, rosemary, rose petals, etc. 

6. Sew the opening closed.

7. You could stop here but then the beans would shift from one side to another. 

8. So I sectioned the beans into four equal parts and sewed a divider.  

9. I then added straps so I could tie it to my leg, neck, back or anything to keep it in place. 

10. Microwave for 3 minutes and you will have a nice heating pad that will last about 30 minutes. 

Enjoy!

herb garden

So we bought our house mid July and we didn't have time to plant a garden this season. We use a lot of herbs and wanted to have fresh herbs available. So an indoor planter it is!

By the way, you can not buy seeds ANYWHERE during the fall. We tried 6 different shops, from Home Depot to Walmart to Ace Hardware and a local nursery. They don't sell seeds... We had to gather up packets from relatives.

Michael built a narrow box perfect for 8 mid size terra cotta pots. And he attached it to the kitchen window. 

 One week later, the seeds are starting to sprout!

I wanted a way of identifying what the seeds were so I decided to make chalk board paint! 

My recipe is not the ideal mix of ingredients! I had some sanded tile grout and acrylic black paint. I mixed about 1/2 teaspoon of grout to that entire tube of paint.

I started with a toothpick until all the grout was mixed in with the paint. 

With sanded grout it turned out...grainy. It still works fine, just not the ideal texture. 

I painted a rectangle onto the planter.

Here is blog that has a great DIY for chalk board paint. Just use un-sanded grout and latex paint. 

2 1/2 weeks later, they are growing! So excited to have fresh herbs!

Another restful sunday

A Sunday the way they should be:

1. We started off with breakfast. We tried to make biscuits stuffed with eggs, cheese, red peppers and bacon. Not quite what we expected but it was still delicious. 

2. Picnic in the park, conveniently located behind our house.

Michael made pâté again, recipe found here

We mastered the art of self-timer. 

3. Then home again for lunch..or early dinner. I chopped some zucchini and blanched it. Topped it with cooked ground turkey, roasted tomatoes and a red pepper puree. 

4. Michael wanted to get on the roof. I couldn't get up there so Michael built me a ladder :)

it was lovely. 

5. Late dinner with Turkey meat balls, asparagus, mashed potatoes and purple cabbage. 

I love weekends where I wake up on Monday feeling relaxed. 

It was the perfect balance of getting things done and not doing anything. 

I love being married and spending my days with my best friend.