The Many Reasons I Love Fall

Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year! Here are some of the many reasons why:

Sarah and my birthdays are in October

I love watching the leaves change into beautiful colors of red, orange and yellow

Pumpkins: carving them, decorating with them, etc.

The weather here in Humboldt County is beautiful in the fall, (usually)

The kids have loads of fun with Halloween, dressing up, etc.

Here are some fun fall pics. I think Justin shares in my joy of fall!

Gown for Baby Rickstrew

I designed and made a baby gown for a baby shower for a friend of mine, (Tracy.) I made a pattern from a vintage baby gown I had been given for Sarah when she was born. The pattern was easy to make because there are no arm holes or sleeves since it's one piece. The little flap that closes at the front was a bit tricky, but other than that it was pretty fast and easy. I found some super soft flannel with a beautiful vintage print and did an embroidered R monogram on the front. Tracy loved it!

Grandma's Blackberry Buckle

When I got married my Grandma gave me her old recipe cards. She moved out of the farm house and into a smaller house some years ago and had a big estate sale. I got her antique lunch box tin she used to store her recipes in. She told me she used to carry this kind of a lunch box to school when she was a girl. It's missing one handle, but I think it adds to its charm.

One of the recipes I've been wanting to try is her Blackberry Buckle. She used to make it for us when we were kids and we loved it. Her farm had loads of blackberries growing on it, and we kids used to go pick bucket fulls so we could have cobbler. I made the recipe the other day and it was delicious and brought back good memories. Here is the recipe:

Blackberry Buckle

Blend and add:

1/4 c. butter

1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

1 c. flour

1 tsp baking powder (sifted)

1/4 tsp. salt (sifted)

1/3 c milk

Spread in greased pan and cover with 2 c. berries

Mix 1/2 c. sugar

1/3 c. flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Cut in: 1/4 c. butter

Sprinkle over the berries

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 min.

(Double recipe for 9X13 pan.)

Thrift Finds

I absolutely love to go thrift store shopping! I haven't been for a while, so in the spirit of fun and economizing, Justin and I went on a thrift store adventure the other day. I found the cutest hand embroidered vintage tea towel, (also known as the modern day kitchen towel), and an adorable vintage hand made butterfly hankie which I plan to use on a little girl dress in some way or another. Justin found this vintage metal ambulance which had been very well loved. He wouldn't leave the store without it, so what's a mother to do! My stuff was $5 and Justin's ambulance was $15, which was a bit of a splurge, but he plays with it non stop so it was worth it.

Whirl Wind Weekend

After having the best birthday ever the weekend was jammed packed with fun! My parents came up for the weekend from Sacramento to visit us and took us out to Rita's for my birthday dinner. Rita's is my all time favorite restaurant here in town. The Mexican food is soooo good and the margaritas rock. If you haven't tried Rita's you need to!

Saturday the life group that meets here at our house did a garage sale fund raiser for a family who had their house burn down in a fire. Our church has been encouraging the life groups to do service projects. We thought this would be a good opportunity for us to help someone in need in a tangible way.

My parents took me out for some birthday shopping in the afternoon and I got the cutest pair of shoes, thanks dad and mom!

That night we went to a pumpkin carving party Ron was invited to by a co-worker. The kids had a blast, as did Ron and I. Here are some pics of the weekend festivities:

The beautiful pumpkin artistry created at the pumpkin carving party. Mine is the left back one. All the kids said, "that pumpkin is scaaary!" when they saw it. Justin cringes when he walks past in on the porch, bad mommy!

Ron focusing on the serious art of pumpkin carving.

Sarah, "Take my picture and put it on your blog mom." Sarah modeling her new coat and rhinestone bracelet Grandpa and Grandma bought her.

Grandpa and Justin having some cuddle time.

Where Do I Go From Here?

As I was writing the post "37 Things About This 37 Year Old" I began pondering about my life and I started thinking about the fact that I will be 40 in three years. Then I started asking myself, "Have I accomplished everything I had hoped to up until now in my life?" "Where do I go from here, what plans do God have for me now?" I think I'm beginning to understand the phrase mid life crisis! There are so many dreams I have accomplished from having kids to traveling the world and lots in between. But, there are also many dreams I have yet to see happen. I decided to set some short term goals for myself for the next 3 years. Basically, things I want to see happen before I'm 40. Here's the list:

1. Finish my art degree. (I'm half way there already.) I've had this dream since high school when I fell in love with art. I've dabbled in various mediums for years, but have decided to go with graphic design. There are several reasons for this: Firstly, I can do this career from home, so I can still be with the kids. Secondly, I can do work via the Internet so I can go out side of the area for jobs.

2. Buy a home. This is contingent on the economy of course, but with God all things are possible! I've always had a dream to buy a home, but it seems that as time goes on that desire gets stronger. I moved so much growing up and never really felt like I had a permanent home. I want my kids to have that security. I also want to have a home where people can come hang out and feel God's love.

3. Get my health up to speed. I've come a long way on this one, but I've got a ways to go. My pregnancy with Justin was a rough high risk one and it's taken me a while to fully recover health wise. I had a heart surgery this year to correct an arrhythmia I had suffered from since I was 13. It has changed my life in a great many ways for the better! I've been able to get my thyroid up to speed which has increased my quality of life so much. My health is better over all, but I'm not where I want to be yet. Someday I hope to write a book about my health journey, but that one is more than 3 years away!

4. Last but not least, and most importantly, realize what God has for me next and step into it. I've been feeling for a while that God has a new season coming for me. The past few years have been full of a lot of changes for us as a family with Ron going through school, graduating, starting a career, etc. These years have been a long season of waiting. I think I had been on the mountain top for so long spiritually that coming back down to the valley wasn't what I wanted or expected. After all, it's supposed to keep getting better and better, right? Anyway, I don't know exactly what God has in store, but I'm sensing it's going to be something that will challenge my faith, (in a good way), and take me into a new, fresh season.

37 Things About This 37 Year Old

I've lived 37 years on this earth as of today! I thought it would be fun to write 37 things I've done in my life thus far:

1. I was born in San Francisco on October 17, 1971

2. I moved about 12 times growing up and have lived in 4 states: California, Oregon, Colorado and Washington D.C.

3. I used to live only a few miles from Disney Land

4. I've been to the Grand Canyon when I was a teenager

5. I played the flute in school

6. I was a model for my uncle's paintings when I was a kid

7. I used to spend summers on my Grandparent's farm in Oregon

8. I met Jesus when I was 4

9. I went to an inner city performing arts high school and graduated in 1990

10. I've worked in church ministry off and on since I was 16

11. I've been to Mexico twice on mission's trips

12. I went to Kauai when I was in high school

13. I learned French in middle school and Spanish in college

14. I was a dance instructor in my 20's

15. I've led several dance troupes

16. I graduated from Bible School

17. I married Ron in 1995

18. I was a youth pastor

19. I graduated from College of the Redwoods with 2 Associate Degrees

20. Ron and I helped create and manage a coffee shop

21. I've had 2 kids, (Sarah in 1998 and Justin in 2006 without pain meds)

22. I have 3 babies in heaven

23. I’ve had an amniocentesis (with Sarah)

24. I had post partum depression

25. I've had 2 major surgeries

26. I've had and recovered from several chronic illnesses

27. I'm an artist and have recently become a mosaic artist

28. I've recently become a children's clothing designer

29. I've created and painted stage props for professional productions

30. I've been published in a local publication

31. I had a used on line book store

32. I've done professional alterations

33. I've made 6 quilts

34. I've done art shows locally

35. I've been to England and Scotland twice

36. I've been to Canada

37. I've lived 37 whole years!