Grandma's Raisin Puffs

Cook together till water is all used up:

            1 1/2 c. raisins

            1 c. water              COOL.

Mix together:

            1/2 c. shortening or lard

            1/2 c. margarine

            1 1/2 c. sugar

            2 eggs

            3 1/2 c. flour

            1 tsp. soda

            1/2 tsp. salt

            1 tsp. vanilla

Add cooled raisins.

Roll into walnut size balls.  Roll in sugar.

Bake on greased cookie sheets

                 375°   12-15 min.

YUM!!

 

Walker took a break from his legos to eat a cookie.

Morgan declined the cookie, but enjoyed playing with her "girl legos" :) 

Both sets of legos are from Pappa and Grandma's and are used often.

Rachel

Iris Gardens

Monday the kids didn't have school and we'd decided to go to the Iris Gardens.  The boys weren't overly impressed about having to look at flowers, but they were happy to be with friends because Charity's family were with us, too.

We were supposed to have gone Friday, but Bronwyn was sick and we postponed it.  That ended up working the best, because it was a beautiful day (nicer than Friday and the only sunny, warm day this week)!!

I'd been there before with parts of my family . . . many years ago with the 4 oldest and then again later with some of my middle children.  I don't think any of  them really remembered about it.  It is a beautiful, free place to go to.  Schreiner's Iris Gardens is about 1 1/2 hours south of us.

We got there around 11:00 and decided to eat first.  We'd brought picnic food.  They have picnic tables there on their beautifully manicured lawn.  After lunch we started walking around, after making sure everyone was going with someone.

Their beds have irises around the outside, with other flowers in the middle.  Almost all of the irises are named and you can buy them there.

Some pretty pictures of the gardens.

Some close-ups of some of the irises I liked.

Some other pretty flowers.

There were several of these Fringe trees throughout the gardens.  They were very pretty!

I tried to take "2 year" pictures of Morgan, but it was kind of a fruitless effort.  She moved SOOO fast.  By the time I could take a picture, she'd be on to the next place.  Here are a couple I got.

 A real classic "Morgan" face!!

My lovely sister, Charity.

They had these neat benches along one side of the gardens . . . in all the colors of the rainbow.  I wish I would've gotten a picture of them!

Jason, Morgan and Hunter.

Walker

 Tara, Morgan, Mindy and Bronwyn

 Tiffany, Brady, Monica and Jason

 My good little boy, Tanner:)

Me with all of my children (except for Reid).

The whole group of kids.  Twelve of mine and 10 of Charity's.

Charity and a little more than half of her children.

 A couple shots of their test fields on our way out.

On our way home we stopped at the outlet stores.  I was done shopping early so I was just sitting in the van.  I laid Tanner on top of the ice chest between the seats.  He was pleased to be free of the car seat and able to move.

If you live close and want to go visit the gardens, they're open through June 9th.  And did I say?? . . . they're FREE to visit and FREE is a good price:)

Tanner's Baptism

Tanner was baptized on April 30th.  We've never waited so long for any of our children, and I was beginning to wonder if the baptism outfit was even going to fit!  Back when Reid was a baby, they made outfits short and wide, so the outfit fit perfectly . . . they just kinda looked like shorts!

It was difficult to think that someone besides Pappa would be baptizing one of our babies.  Before, we never had to wonder who we would ask.  It was just a given that he would be the one.  In the middle of our indecision, David ended up going to New Hampshire, so it got put off for longer.  Then we decided to have Chet and Brenda as sponsors, and they were going to be coming out here, so we waited until they got here.  Mike and Missy were also sponsors, but were not able to be here.

It was a little bittersweet . . . our last baby who was baptized had two grandmothers and two grandfathers at her baptism.  Tanner had only one grandfather.

Spring Blog Sale

As is the usual case after a bazaar, I have things left that I would love to sell!!  Even though I hardly made anything new for this bazaar, even less than that sold:(  So, I bring my goods to you, here:)  Shipping will be extra.

I made a few new puzzles.  These are the two I have left.  The blocks are appoximately 3 1/4" square.  The smaller puzzle is made with Mort Kunstler Civil War pictures.  The larger one are all John Deere pictures.  Each puzzle makes into 6 different puzzles.  Also included in the Civil War puzzle is a paper describing each puzzle.  Pictures of the puzzles are on two sides of the boxes.  The Civil War puzzle is $32 and the John Deere puzzle is $40.

The boys made a couple birdhouses again.  They are $20 each.

I decorated some tiles.  The first two are 6" and are $7.50 each.

The next two are 12" and are $12.50 each.

This last one is 9" x 12" and is $12.50.

Magnets are $6 a set.

Cards are $1.75 each. 

Organizer wallets are $8.00 each.

I have some blankets left.  They are $22.00 each.

 

***SOLD (above blanket)***

This beautiful ruffle blanket is $30.

  

I have 2 burp cloths left.  They are $6.00 each.

***SOLD  (above burp cloth)***

***SOLD  (above burp cloth)***

These baby towel and washcloth sets are $12.50 each.

***SOLD (above set)***



Hope you find something here that you want:)  I'd love to hear from you.  Have a beautiful week!!