HOPE

Check out this video about an amazing inspiration to so many...9 Minutes of Hope on The Ellen Degeneres Show site.

An accomplished author, climber, speaker, and cancer survivor--Sean Swarner shares freely about his struggles and his journey--to provide HOPE to all.

I went to school with Sean in Willard, Ohio. I am encouraged by his story, and thought we all could enjoy some "good news" in these times!

Apron Giveaway at Not Quite June Cleaver!

I love aprons...there's just something so nostalgic about them. I wear one almost daily at home, and have collected several vintage ones, and made quite a few new ones myself! My Grace enjoys donning one of her lil aprons when she's cleaning, cooking, or playing with her toy kitchen stuff. She put on her "spotty apron" this afternoon to do her dishes and straighten up the living room. ("spotty" = multi-colored polka dots!)

Today I re-discovered a favorite blog about aprons, and all things domestic-ish...visit Not Quite June Cleaver to share in the Apron Addiction, and while you're there, enter to WIN an apron! Enjoy her GREAT list of links to other Homekeeping, Homeschooling, Cooking, Green, etc. blogs and sites!

Snow Day Soft Pretzels

Last Wednesday, the kids had another snow day. The kids and I decided to bake soft pretzels. We tried a new soft pretzel recipe, and were pleased with the results. Kneading the dough, rolling out long ropes of dough and shaping the dough into pretzels was great fun!

Bay's way of saying "I love you" to Grace and Mama.

Miss Grace stirring up the yeast mixture.

Here you can see how many shapes & sizes were created with our double batch of pretzel dough.

My favorite one...I think I like the swirly-ness of it! This was one Bay made.

A successful traditional pretzel shape, made by Grace.

Grace made an "A", for whatever reason.

Bay even fashioned a "Chevy Bow Tie" out of some of his dough.

SEE what fun baking pretzels is!