Living From Scratch: Crock Pot Hot Process Soap – LOTS of pics!

Living From Scratch: Crock Pot Hot Process Soap – LOTS of pics!: I'm so excited to share this with you! I knew people made their own soap long ago and there were some people crazy enough to still do it, b...

I can't wait to try this. I'm so excited. So Simple. I think I've found another great blog!

Senior Advisory Meeting

Patrick Country High School held their first meeting of 2012 about college preparation, FASFA, and deadlines that must be met. This was not the first time I have attended this annual meeting. I had hoped to get my husband to go along thinking it might help him see some of the rigorous events that will take place. Of course he bailed out on me and Tori. I suppose it is easier to stay in the dark. It also makes it easier to complain about the various things that are going to take place within a few months. It was a real eye opener for Tori too. Before she had come to live with us she had fell way behind in school and lost one grade and was on the verge of losing another. Through hard work and the grace of God, she has caught herself up and is doing quite well but to get this done she has a tremendous load when it comes to school. She has taken on extra classes to graduate on time. I'm praying that she doesn't become overwhelmed. Judging from her face and her heavy breathes, she was feeling stressed.

I am personally grateful for these guidance counselors that Patrick County High School employees. They are very informative and they cover all the gray areas of college preparation. When I graduated from high school there was almost no information given unless you knew the question to ask or the directions you were trying to take. This is probably why our school Patrick County are so successful.

The meeting was totally geared to students but they also touched on areas that I have been trying to work out in my own life. Ms. Lackey, the counsellor showed statistics on income and job retention that definitely affirmed I probably need to further my education. I am a high school graduate but I have no post-graduate  education. In 1989, this wasn't a problem work was plentiful for those willing to do it. That is not the case now. I'm not really convinced it will help me in finding a better job. I also wonder where are all those professional jobs at because they are not in Stuart, Virginia. This is just another thing to pray about.

Thank you for stopping by Southern Direction Blog and thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and concerns. As always have a very blessed day.

Primitive Cat On String

This is a re-post. 

I pulled these out the other day.

Their a little crazy but they make me happy to look at them,

so I thought they might make you happy, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So  I was feeling a little crafty today. I am more of a do-it-yourselfer than artistic or crafty but that is what makes primitive crafts a good choice for me. I had been thinking of doing something featuring cats and this is what evolved. It's not a complicated so I just kind of winged it. I'm sure you can too. 

Here's my cats on a string. If you like another animal or shape as long as it's fairly simple it should work out fine.

First, I drew a simple cat head out of paper and cut it out.

Next, I selected the plaid flannel from my stash of clothe.

I thought the browns gave it an old feel.

Then I pinned my pattern to my fabric and cut two set.

The more I looked at the fabric I was convinced it didn't look aged enough.

That's when I took the leftover morning coffee and a teaspoon of salt along with my material; brought it to a boil and let it soak a bit.

When my clothe was dry; I sewed, stuffed and attacked the twine.

Miss-matched buttons added that crazy cat feel and voila!

My cats on a string.

Don't worry. Lack of perfection just adds to the whole primitive feel.

Thanks for checking out my DIY.

Have a blessed day.

Hummingbird Through the Window

Can you see him??

 

Oh my, can you see my dirty window?

 

Saturday At Chantilly Farm

What a fun way to spend a Saturday. We loaded up and drove up to Floyd, Virginia to Chantilly Farm. They were putting on there annual car show. The town of Floyd is a wonderful artisan community but it is also deeply steeped in the old southern tradition. I am quite ashamed that I forgot the camera but in the rush of getting out the door I didn't realize I had left it until we were about half way there. Oops.....

The town of Floyd is amazing; main street is full of artisan shops and speciality restaurants. Don't let me leave out the music that bubbles right out from every corner. They had a very nice Farmers Market going on but we didn't have time to stop but it was full of vendors and folks.

We had to keep focused on our destination. Chantilly Farm is on out of town and the drive leads you through the beautiful rolling fields and working farms, tractors, trucks, and various farm equipment. It is makes a country girls heart feel very at home. We passed a white frame church that was simple and quite beautiful, rolled on through a crossroad and we were there. There we found the huge rolling field full of old classic cars, trucks, and tractor. There is a deep love for old cars here in the south and the folks at Chantilly coupled that with a stage with local bluegrass bands, barbecue cookers, sweet pastries, and don't forget the corn hole tournament. My husband tried to not be a total kid as he rummaged through parts hoping to find those special things he needed for his own projects.

With our bellies full and our interests peeked we rolled on back down the winding mountain road to home. It is well worth the gas. I hope to go back to Floyd again with my camera in hand. I'll be sure to share with you. If you get a chance to travel in the southern direction stop by Floyd,Virginia; you'll love it.