AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

Well a Happy April Fool’s Day to you there! How are you doing this day of days? I’m good… it was a busy day yesterday for our house. Doctors, cleaning, planning, etc. The doctors appointments went good… got tons of Rx’s LOL, DD got her final Gardasil shot and the Meningitis shot, and the DS18 got his physical for football spring camp and then next school season. I think my pharmacist hates it when I come… seriously… cause I brought in a combined 11 prescriptions today alone! LOL I could start my own pharmacy. And that’s only 1 months worth LMAO! I did also find out that I lost another pound according to the scale at CVS! YAY! That’s 8 pounds this month! WOOHOO! We didn’t go to the beach because we weren’t on the island long enough for the water to be warm enough to go in. Also didn’t go to Pier 1 cause they were still closed by the time we were done. So we came home and piddled LOL!



I started painting the yellow squares on the cabinet doors yesterday when we got home from the Doctor’s appointments. I used that blue painters tape, and let me tell ya… IT SUCKS! I had to go back and straighten up each square I “painted” by hand! It was a lot of hassle if ya ask me! I won’t be using it again! This picture is the first cabinet door after the touchups. Once I get the wallies on there though, it will be so cute! I just have to wait til I have the cash for them to order online… cause nobody around here has lemons! UGH! This kitchen is truly gonna end up being a DIY! But I am having fun LOL!



All this painting is getting me in the crafty mood! Well since today starts Autism Awareness month, I will begin sewing my little heart out with Autism print goodies. I have learned so much in my journey to make his life easier, and I will learn everyday for the rest of my life! Autism effects 1 in every 150 children and that gap is closing every year. It is more common in boys than girls. The puzzle piece was chosen to “represent” autism. It means different things to different people. The ASA is quoted as saying “The puzzle pattern reflects the mystery and complexity of the autism spectrum. The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with the condition. The brightness of the ribbon signals hope—hope that through increased awareness of autism, and through early intervention and appropriate treatments, people with autism will lead fuller, more complete lives.” Although there are a few underlying meanings as well, one being is that a high percentage of children with Autism play with puzzles. The reason being, puzzles are a 1 person game that do not rely on any interaction from anyone else. The interpretation of Autism comes from Latin defined as “oneself”. Here is how I see it. My son is the best gift God could have ever given to me. Even with his Autism. He is a puzzle you never know where the next piece is going. Anyone can put a puzzle together to see the pretty picture in the end. I hope that once all the pieces come together, everyone will see just how beautiful and smart these children are. Don’t focus on the Autism, focus on the child.

One of the things I will be making is a cute traveling Crayon tote for kids. It’s a great travel item for when you are going to the doctor, taking road trips, etc. It has single slots for crayons, as well as pockets for coloring books, etc. It would also be something neat to maybe put in an Easter basket (which is Sunday ya know!). Put some crayons and a book or 2 from the Dollar store and they make great items to donate to children’s hospitals and foundations, too!



Craft Idea of the Day: Jungle Crayon Bag

Supplies:

2 pieces jungle print 10” x 17”
1/2 yard red solid
7/8 yard royal blue solid
1 yard green solid
1/2 yard yellow solid
2 spools variegated Woolly Nylon
6” x 1” strip red hook-and-loop tape
1 spool blending serger thread
Embroidery threads to contrast with fabrics
All purpose threads to match fabrics
1 ¼ yards 1” wide red webbing for handles
Can of temporary Spray Adhesive
Seam Sealant
Basic Sewing supplies and tools

Intsructions:

Outer Bag:

1. From red solid fabric, cut 2 pieces 17* x 14”. From Royal blue fabric cut 2 pieces 17” x 17”.

2. Machine embroider a 3” to 4” band on one 17” edge of each red piece with appropriate jungle animals.

3. With variegated thread in both loopers and blending serger thread in left needle, serge top 17” edge of jungle print pieces and red pockets.

4. Place 3 fabric layers together and spray with adhesive. With right side of each piece facing, sew all layers together along unsergered 17” edge.

Inner Bag:

1. From red cut one piece 17”x 8”. From Royal blue cut one 17”x12”. From yellow solid cut one piece 17”x20”. From green cut one piece 17”x32”.

2. Embellish both 17” edges of each strip with appropriate machine embroidery.

3. Serge both 17” edges of yellow, red, and blue pockets. Layer red and blue pieces. Mark 1” intervals on red fabric and stitch through both layers on marked lines.

4. Layer all 4 fabrics and spray with adhesive. With red stitch thread, stitch a horizontal line across the center of the red pocket to complete the crayon partitions.

Assembly:

1. Place inner and outer bag layers together, wrong sides facing. Spray with adhesive.

2. Serge around all outer edges with variegated thread in both loopers and blending serger thread in the left needle.

3. Place seam sealant at all corners and allow to dry completely and then trim all serger tail threads.

4. Cut Red webbing in two 20 ½ “ lengths for handles stitch both ends to outer bag front. Leave 2 ½ “ of webbing from top edge to bottom of webbing piece, all being stitched to bag in a rectangle pattern and then an “X” in the center.

5. Cut hook and loop tape in 1” segments for fasteners. Place two fasteners between the jungle print and red pockets, each side of outer bag. Center one fastener between red and blue pockets, each side of outer bag.

Now, I know some of you are saying that it’s a cute idea, but you don’t have a serger, right? Don’t worry cause I don’t have one either. I will be dressing the edges with ribbons, etc. and using good old fashion sewing. There won’t be any cutesy embroidery on mine, but they will be awesome with the puzzle prints representing autism! When I get one done I will post the pictures!

Now I bet all that reading made you hungry right? Well, as you know this is casserole week, and with me living on the Gulf Coast and always talking about seafood, you should have KNOWN that it was going to come into play SOMEWHERE LOL! Here is a great recipe for some serious seafood scrum-diddly-umptousness!



Seafood Casserole

Ingredients

1/3 cup minced onion
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup light cream
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon chopped pimento
1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
1 cup flaked cooked crabmeat
1 cup peeled cooked shrimp
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

Directions

In a saucepan, saute onion in butter; blend in flour. Add milk and cream; cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Remove from the heat; stir in salt, pepper, pimiento, water chestnuts, lemon juice, parsley, crabmeat, shrimp, rice and half of the cheese. Spoon into a 2-1/2-qt. casserole. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese just before serving.

Alright gang, that about does it for me today. Its gonna be a day full of cooking, cleaning, sewing, and shopping! LOL! I am feeling speedy and spunky so its gonna be super crazy running day! Ya’ll be safe in whatever you find yourself doing today and I will see you tomorrow. HUGS!!