Yeah for the Blue, Red, and Purple!

We've been super busy lately!  Our week of 4-H festivities was fun and crazy all in the same breath!

Saturday Isaac (age 10) showed his doe, Pixie, at the Summer Doe Show!  She took Champion in Senior Nubian Dairy Doe, Champion in Senior Dairy Doe, and then Reserve Grand Champion in Dairy Doe.  He had quite the loot to bring home between his ribbons, trophy and banner!  We are so proud of him and our Pixie Lou!  We're hoping to breed her this fall and the other kiddos would like to give a try at showing her babies!

In the foods category...

Rebekah received a red ribbon for her tea ring.

Hannah received blue and reserve champion ribbons for her rolled biscuits.

Isaac received  a red ribbon for his applesauce muffins.


In the cake decorating category...

Hannah and Rebekah received blue ribbons for their cakes.

In the Lego category...

Isaac and Noah received blue and honor ribbons for their Lego creations.


In the Arts and Crafts category...

Isaac received a blue ribbon for his punched tin art.

Hannah and Rebekah received blue ribbons for their rag dolls (I forgot to take a photo.)

Noah received blue and honor ribbons for his colored pencil drawing of a Prothonotary Warbler.

In the wood science category...

Noah received blue and honor ribbons for his wood book shelf he built.  (Again...forgot to take a photo.)

In the sewing category...

Hannah received blue and honor ribbons for her pillow.

Rebekah received blue, champion and state fair ribbons for her craft organizer pillow.  (It's showing at the state fair this week!)  (She also got a trophy at awards night for her pillow -- those receiving champion ribbons receive trophies.)

Phew!  That's not all!  This fall they'll be showing their black australorp hens and auctioning them in fall judging.

Well!  I guess that's all there is to report for 4-H!  Things are going to be a little quiet around the bloggy for a while.  School for hubby starts in two weeks so we'll be getting back into the swing of things.  The oldest two kiddos start at a biology lab co-op, dance starts for two of the girlies, and of course we're still keeping busy with piano (we do that year round!)

We have a remodel coming on some time this fall.  We're splitting our play room into two rooms.  Once room for a school room, the other for my mom.  She has a hard time going up and down the stairs.  We'll also be rearranging kiddos around into different rooms.  I've been revamping a few things in the house as far as schedules, closets, etc.  The book Large Family Logistics has been a real big help in getting a few things tweaked with our routine.

My etsy shop is keeping me busy.  Good thing for sure!  I really appreciate all of your orders and sending folks my way!  My goal for last month was three signs a week.  I reached that goal!  I have a new goal!  I would like to be able to ship out five signs per week!  We'll see how the Lord works that out! 

Well I'll leave with you Hannah's Champion Biscuit recipe...and the sausage gravy recipe that goes with it!  Yumm!

Enjoy!

Sausage Gravy
1 lb. sausage
3/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 1/2 cups milk
Brown and crumble sausage (don't drain it). Add flour, salt and pepper and stir. If the sausage is dry, you may need to add a bit of shortening when adding flour. Add milk while stirring. Heat until it starts to boil and reduce heat and continue to stir until thickened. Makes about 5 cups of gravy.

Homemade Biscuits
4 cups flour

1 tsp. salt
8 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cream of tartar
4 tsp. sugar
1 cup shortening
1 1/3 cup milk
Sift dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles course crumbs. Add milk all at once and stir until dough follows fork around bowl. Roll 1/2 thick.* Use a large glass or a canning jar to cut biscuits. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 30 biscuits.

*Note: The key to light and fluffy biscuits is not to work the dough too much.