Forest Life Twirly Skirt

I have made a skirt from this pattern before, but had lost my instructions for it.  http://fromanigloo.blogspot.com/2010/06/tea-party-ruffle-skirt.html

Spent about an hour searching the internet to find the tutorial for it yesterday.  I decided I should post it here on my blog so I will be able to find it the next time I decide to make one.  The instructions are great and she tells you exactly how to measure to make it just the right size for your child.

I made Abby's first one from the dimensions she used for her little girl and it fit her from about age 4-6.  It still fits her in the waist now, but is too short to wear without leggins underneath.  Abby is just a little over 4 ft 3" tall now and her waist is about 26".  Here are the dimensions for the one pictured here:

Waistband- 4 3/4" x 36"

Ruffles- 7 1/4" x 72"

Connecting strip- 5 3/4" x 39"

I made myself a new zippered pencil pouch using strips of the selvage.  With the girls getting all these new school supplies, I thought I deserved a little something new for my last year of nursing school. 

Baked Beans

Not that I really think anyone is reading a blog I only post on once a year now, but if I don't put the recipe here, I know I will lose it.  And heaven knows I won't remember it the next time I'm ready to make them even though I can tell myself I will remember and don't need to write it down.

Finally made baked beans that we all liked.  Sorry, no picture....  I realize this is a massive amount of beans, but I started with the huge #10 can of pork and beans from Sam's because that is where I was and honestly, they only cost $3.88 so I would have spent the same amount of money buying several smaller cans somewhere else.

# 10 can pork and beans
2 cups bbq sauce (I used 1 cup Jay's mustard sauce and 1 cup original sauce)
1 onion (diced)
2 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
½ cup brown sugar
6 slices bacon
1 tbsp chili seasoning
1/8 tsp chili powder

Fry and chop up the bacon. Remove from pan. Add 1 tbsp oil (or bacon drippings) to a pan and sauté diced onion and minced garlic over medium heat until onions are soft. Mix together bbq sauce, brown sugar, chili seasoning, and chili powder. Drain most of the juice from the pork and beans. Mix beans, bacon, bbq sauce mixture, onion, and garlic together in a baking dish. Cover and bake @ 300F for 1 hour.

Notes:
* I would have added some diced jalapeno or other pepper if I had any already, but I didn't and didn't want to buy 10 at Sam's when I would only use 1.
* I might try making beans from scratch next time, just because I felt they were kinda mushy and overcooked by the time I cooked them long enough to let all the flavors mingle together.