Blueberry Triffle

Sunday, Andrew and I got together with some friends for a lunch potluck. We had burgers, potato chips, potato salad, and some watermelon. We brought the dessert. I was going to use my go-to and make schoteroos, but then I saw this dessert on my mom's blog and knew that I had to try it. But, I changed it just a little.

Blueberry Triffle

2 cans fruit pie filling; cherry, strawberry, blueberry... your choice
20 -25 sugar cookies, broken
1 batch white chocolate mousse (below)

White chocolate mouse:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons sugar
8 ounces cream cheese - softened
6 ounces white chocolate, melted

To make mousse:
Beat cream n bowl until it thickens, add sugar, beat until stiff peaks form.
In another bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add in the white chocolate and beat until smooth.  Stir in the whipped cream mixture.
To assemble the trifle;
Place one can of pie filling in the bottom of a trifle bowl.  Sprinkle half of cookies over top,  then half of cream cheese mix.  Repeat layers.

I love blueberries, so I used blueberry pie filling. The cookie need to be crispy so that they break well. I could not find a sugar cookie that would work, so I used Biscoff cookies. (If you haven't tried them, you need to. But beware, they are addictive!) It was the perfect combination. Everyone loved it. Definitely something I will make again!

Bubble Soccer!

Every year our youth group has a senior night to celebrate those that are graduating and leaving us. We always do a dinner and then a fun activity, be it at the church or out somewhere. This year the activity was bubble soccer. But first, a lovely dinner of lasagna!

Doesn't it look nice?

These little cups had M&M's and skittles in them.

After giving our food some time to settle, it we were all ready for the main event!

This is what the balls look like. Although I was busy taking pictures and did not play, I am told it is just like wearing a backpack. You put the straps over your shoulders and hold on to handles in front of you. The game is just like a normal game of soccer, except you can hit people and bounce around!

Our first two teams, ready to go!

Most of us hung out on the balcony around the gym for the best view.

Some waited downstairs for their turn.

These girls were ready to win!

And someone (not the only one) got stuck on their head. It was funny to watch their feet kick around, hoping to flip back over!

It was a fun night. I don't doubt that we will be renting this again! The kids, and kids at heart, had a lot of fun!

Great Grandpa Peter's Chair

I am so excited to share this with you. Years of work have finally paid off. 

A few years ago I got a chair from my grandpa. It had been his father's chair, but had been neglected and was in the basement collecting cobwebs. He didn't want it anymore, but wanted it to go to a good home where it would be loved and appreciated. I jumped at the chance to have a family heirloom. I knew it would take some work to get it looking good again, but I also knew that my wonderful dad would be just as excited to fix it up as I was. So, the process began.

This is the chair before. My grandpa had re-upholstered it himself at some point, so the fabric is far from close to what I imagine it originally was.

He had also added some stuffing to make it a bit more comfortable. As you see, this isn't normal chair filler.

Yes, that is insulation.

It was originally built with a spring seat. 

First, we had to dismantle it and mark all the pieces so we could put it back together.

We were excited to find the tag still attached from when it was made. We didn't put it back on afterwards, but I did keep the tag.

Then came stripping off the old finish.

Once that was done, we could fix any problems and put it back together.

There was one problem we decided to keep. At some point one of the arms broke and it was fixed with a long bolt. We loved the look so much that we left it alone and put the bolt back in place.

Then we got to put some new stain on it.

Unfortunately, at this point in the project it had to sit a while before getting finished. Dad and I had reached the end of our knowledge and were not sure how to finish the upholstery. Plus I got busy meeting Andrew and getting married. As much as I wanted it finished, we didn't really have a place for it at our last apartment anyway. So, it waited for a couple years. 

But, not anymore. Just yesterday we got it done. 

We didn't want to re-use the springs. They were old and untrustworthy. So, we put some plywood down for a seat and cut out some 4 inch thick foam.

It was a messy business...

...and required a number of tools. (Sorry mom. We used your knife!)

Then it was time for the fabric and tacks.

Only the corners left. 

And here she is all done and in her new home. She isn't perfect, and Dad and I definitely learned a few things along the way, but I am happy with how she turned out and so happy to have been able to save her and keep her in the family.