.cinnamon sugar + salt.

I love pretzels. Especially the big soft ones. Even more especially when they are covered with cinnamon sugar. Yum. So I wanted to share a new favorite recipe for homemade pretzels. If you've been over to my house within the last month, chances are I've served these. (I'm a little bit addicted!) This recipe is so easy, you can even do it with two crying children sitting at your feet. Don't ask me how I know that. 

Click the read more below to find the recipe for yummy homemade pretzels

.britain + sewing.

If you read this blog regularly, or know me in person, you might know that I love to sew. I love fine fabrics, ribbons, thread, yarn, all of those "notions." And so, I was recently introduced to a show produced by the BBC that I feel was written just for me: The Great British Sewing Bee. It is just delightful. 

I stayed up way past my bedtime watching the first episode last night and then used little boys' nap time today to sneak in the second episode. I am getting over a very bad sinus infection and still do not feel up to snuff, so watching this enchanting show is just what I needed this week. 

If you love the gentle art of sewing, or the British, or both, I highly recommend this lovely show. It is currently not available in the United States, but thanks to YouTube, we can watch the episodes that way.

 

Watch the first episode here, then come back and tell me how much you loved it!

.hymn + sunday.

Please join me for a new Sunday series where I will share verses from my favorite hymns, the stories behind the songs, and verses from the Bible.

How Great Thou Art

written by Carl Gustav Goberg

"O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy hand hath made.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!"

Did you know that "How Great Thou Art" was originally a Swedish poem? Author Carl Goberg wrote the poem after witnessing a spectacular lightning storm. It has since been translated to English and put to a meloday and sung all over the world. 

Something I thought was funny - up until 1894 this hymn was sung in 3/4 time. From 1894 on, it has been sung in 4/4 time. 

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You visit him?

Psalm 8:3,4

.sarah + me.

I have been working with textiles lately...fabric, vintage linens, ribbon, thread. It is such a pleasure for me to work with my hands in that way. 

I was watching one of my favorite movies, Skylark. I have loved this movie ever since I was a little girl. The textiles in it are beautiful. The embroidery on each outfit worn by Glenn Close is gorgeous. The quilts are intricately pieced. I love that they went to such detail when making this movie. 

photo credit

Isn't her dress so elegant and beautiful?

.band-aids + boys.

This week my oldest boy had his first real "injury." Being himself, and a boy, he has had his fair share of knocks and bruises, but this was the first time he was really conscious of what was going on.

It's just a cut, no stitches or anything like that...antiseptic ointment and a band-aid (or two or three) were plenty. There were a few tears, until he realized he was bleeding, and then the tears stopped. He watched with interest and fascination at the little drops of blood as we cleaned and cared for his "owie." I think he was rather proud. Which worries me. I suppose this mama will have to get used to doing first aid. I'm a decent seamstress, do you think they frown on mamas doing stitches? (Just kidding about that last part; if the situation warranted it, we would seek medical attention immediately.)

.the marine corps + me.

I have a love-hate relationship with the Marine Corps. Today is one of those days when I just hate it. It's hard. And today it feels too hard. But the other I day, I wrote the following, and wanted to share:

Life as a military family can be frustrating, scary, and just plain hard.

But every once in a while...

...I see the American flag flying and remember the men and women who have given their all for this country I love.
...I spend time with those who serve and am humbled by their integrity, devotion, and camaraderie.
...I walk on this soil so grateful to feel safe and free.
...I catch a glimpse of my husband in uniform and I am so proud and honored to be his wife.
...I am grateful that my boys are surrounded by true heroes to look up to.
...I know that my sacrifice and my family's sacrifice is temporary, but the difference we can make is eternal.

"Courage is endurance for one moment more..." - Unknown Marine Second Lieutenant in Vietnam

.inspiration + me.

I live in an apartment with 3 men (1 big one and 2 small ones). I love each of them dearly, but sometimes I need some space to myself! I try to keep my decor very kid-friendly and man-friendly. If you have been to my home, you know that it is all in a palette of blues, greens, and teals. So I decided this week that my office needed to be something different. Something feminine. 

So that is one of my new projects. My starting point and palette inspiration is a beautiful Liberty of London fabric: 

Although my husband is teasing me because the background is still teal (when I told him pink, he thought I meant ALL pink), the corals and floral print are a bit of a stretch for me, and certainly don't match anything else in my home. I am excited! It's always fun to work on something different from "the norm". And this house could use some pink, I think!

.seasons + laundry.

"There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens"

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Right now my season includes a lot of repetitive household tasks (chores) like:

laundry - two little boys are awfully messy

vacuuming - one little boy loves to put things in his mouth

changing diapers - probably my most frequent chore

doing dishes - we do eat all the time

A new mother of a teeny tiny baby recently asked me how I got anything done. I hate to admit I laughed. I don't feel like I get anything done. But I guess I must. Our clothes were clean when we put them on this morning. And we did eat dinner on clean plates.

So I told her the truth. It's just a season. It gets "better". Although I still don't know what happens to my day. Most of my projects are still sitting there waiting to be worked on. But that's okay. This is just season. And honestly, I rather like folding laundry. Weird, I know.

.my daddy + sewing.

The first Christmas after I was married, I received a very special gift: a sewing box. It is the same sewing box that my mother and grandmothers had - handmade by my daddy. 

I love it. I love that my daddy made it. I love that it connects me to the other women in my family. I love that it makes me feel so grown up. I love keeping a current project in there and pulling it out to work on. 

Do you have a sewing box? What do you keep in yours? I have several notions that I always keep in my box. 

a seam ripper - for those all-too-often mistakes

a marking pen - excellent for tracing embroidery patterns

a ruler - to be exact

needles - well, it is a sewing basket

lotion - just to feel girly

sewing scissors - Gingher, couldn't sew without them

thread scissors - also Gingher

a pincushion and pins - my Christmas present from my mama

a tape measure - my newest addition

isn't he cute?