I'm on the mend...

{giveaway} NEWS...Xenia, expect some mail soon,
YOU are the winner of the handmade coin purse! This was our table at the Russian Fest, Rob took a turn there...I was happy to see while I sang folk songs he started making "matroshka" cards...he's quite the artist.

Shortly after the fest, I began to feel stomach pains, thought it was gas...but it persisted and I ran a fever. Sunday I tried to go to church, then finally Monday night went to the ER. At 3am Tuesday after drinking "contrast" (awful stuff that makes your insides glow), I had a CT scan, which revealed I had appendicitis and a minor perforation. So, at 7am I was moved into the surgery room...

Wednesday, I discovered I cannot have vicodin, had a horrible reaction (panic attack, strained my stomach muscles, blurred vision, dismal thoughts, I prayed through it all, but just felt like I was going crazy). Hannah took that photo of me above Thursday, yesterday, when we got home. I have ice packs on my belly. It really hurts when I cough or laugh.
I'm so happy to be home. I'm thankful for my wonderful family and friends, who've brought over food, flowers and helped out with watching the girls. Rob took yesterday off work, but went back today.
Saw an empty chrysalis when we got home...discovered the new, wet, crumpled butterfly and Rob helped her get outside so she could dry her wings...guess she flew away. I loved seeing the cycle of life!

We're babysitting a turtle...

Tomorrow is the Russian Fest and here are some of the goodies I've made to sell:...lots of piroshki. I've used the leftover egg whites to make some meringues and coconut macaroons...yum!I've been crocheting and sewing some yo-yo's with buttons and such...to make some hair clips:
This is the preschool class pet...a 3 inch red ear slider turtle...who we are watching for the weekend! I am enjoying being back at work (just 20 hours/week)...I get a lot more done at home, too!
We're homeschooling Hannah and Olivia again this year. Things are going okay...we're going to give this a try!

A chrysalis...on our piano

This is how our caterpillar (who Olivia named "Milkweed") looked last night...
...and this is what we saw when we woke up this morning!!! The vase (of now dying flowers) is on our piano.

Short hair...

Just a few more days...til I announce the winner of the {giveaway} for the purple corduroy change purse!
Our caterpillar has been growing and growing...this morning it seems to have attached itself onto one of the branches, like it's going to hang there and turn into a chrysalis!We celebrated the Dormition last week, almost everyone was wearing blue in church. One woman brought lots of beautiful flowers to put on the icons...

The smallest pumpkin in our patch this year...I wanted to give it to Isaac (my sister's baby), but Hannah and Olivia can't part with it.

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Oh, and did you notice the haircuts? Olivia had 10 inches cut off and Hannah had 12 inches cut off...donated to Locks of Love!

I bake at night...

Pumpkin Bread (we planted our pumpkin seeds the beginning of May, so we have ripe pumpkins)2 cups pumpkin pulp (bake half pumpkin, scrape flesh from skin)
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup coconut milk (99 cents at Trader Joe's)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
4 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour (I like King Arthur's)
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts

Mix wet ingredients in large bowl, then dry ingredients in smaller bowl, then pour the bowl of wet ingredients into the large bowl and mix thoroughly. Makes 12 muffins and 4 small loaves (I use the Pampered Chef mini-loaf stoneware) for me... Bake at 350 for 15-25 minutes (muffins are done quicker).

*We do not have central air in our house...we used 1 window unit air conditioner a few times this summer, but have gotten used to the warm weather. Anyhow, I certainly don't want to contribute more heat to the already hot house, so bake at night, or early morning, when it's cool...Olivia discovered this little fellow on the bouquet of flowers we had in the middle of our table...it's going to be a monarch. They love milkweed. Getting fatter and fatter...

We spent a few hours at the park yesterday, visiting friends...isn't that a lovely picnic spot?
Olivia walking their new puppy...

Expired driver's license?

Oops! Got a postcard in the mail saying my driver's license expired a few weeks ago...yes, we were on vacation, driving out west on my birthday...I am now 32. Costs $24 for renewal here in Ohio. So, here's the new one (notice all the pink, my husband wasn't isn't thrilled about it):

Wednesday we celebrated the Lord's Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, and in our church, everyone brings baskets of fruit to be blessed afterwards. It's one of my most favorite traditions! I took some wonderful photos last year, and was disappointed because I forgot my camera...

Don't these petit fours look divine? Well, believe it or not, they're vegan. Check out the recipe. My dad's birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I think I'm going to try to make these for him!

Summer evening walks...

* if you didn't see my {change purse} giveaway...scroll down!

Yesterday we took the training wheels off Olivia's bike (a friend came over, who is just 5 and can ride without training wheels), so we're working on that...

I had to plant some pretty flowers by the compost bin.

That sunflower wasn't too tall...most of them are getting really tall...6 feet or so.

Rob is tilling up a portion of the garden, where the lettuce and onions were...we are getting in LOTS of tomatoes right now. Anyone want a pumpkin? This is the first year we ever planted pumpkins....guess a bit early.