Little Peaceful Valley

So Random Saturday

2012-02-11T19:59:00.000-06:00

So Random Saturday...how about that name for a meme? Someone go do it because I am so inconsistent at blogging I drive away most of my readers. Got to be a patient woman to put up with this blog (or blogger, for that matter.)

Anyway, back to my completely random links:

First, are cat parasites secretly controlling your brain? (ht. Mama Minutia) No really. This is simply the most terrifying and fascinating article I have ever read. I kept looking to make sure I actually was reading The Atlantic and not some crazy conspiracy blog. By the way, I do like to read those sometimes. Go read it, it is truly insane. However, it brings up some interesting ideas about sin to me. Some people could read this and then think we are not responsible for our own actions? (i.e. sins) What do you think?

Secondly, whatever happened to Susan McDougal? Do you remember who she is? She went to jail during Whitewater. And now she is a chaplain at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital! I did not see that one coming. I'm not judging...I don't know her at all, but when I googled her, that was just not what I was expecting to see. The reason she came up...my husband and I were discussing my brush with fame when I was in high school, because I had my picture taken with Jim Guy Tucker. So I googled him, which led me to her. Yes, people don't realize I'm quite the celebrity. Hehe.

I'm Feelin' Crafty...

2012-01-30T19:30:00.000-06:00

Isn't this so cute?

I stink at all things crafty. Really. By the time I am done crafting, sweat is pouring off my head and I am ready to yell at the kids for breathing too near me. What can I say...sometimes I'm intense. But lately I have been feeling the need to create something.

It started out when my daughter and I went to Wal-Mart the other day. I am honestly appalled at how the girls dress today. I sound like my grandma. Not that there dress was so revealing but it is so slovenly. Just a big sloppy mess. Then Caroline and I spotted a young Mennonite girl shopping at the same time and she had on a pink dress and a white cardigan with a white bonnet.

I looked at my daughter and I said...I don't care what anyone else says, but the way the Mennonite girls dress looks better than the way the modern girls dress. She agreed. By the way, we were dressed a little like slobs ourselves. My daughter likes the Aeropostale clothes from the mall. They are cheap but super tacky. Sorry if that hurts anyones feelings. I think they are the uniform for teenagers around here.

So I began looking for cute, modest clothing for all of us. And honestly I haven't really found any. So I started looking for modest patterns. I found the Sense and Sensibility Patterns. I'm not sure we want to look like we stepped off the Titanic. Okay, really I do, but I don't have the nerve. Although I predict that style is going to make a major comeback because of Downton Abbey. Which I love...love...love... I do think the Swing Dress very cute. I don't think I can sew it though. See paragraph 1.

Instead, I think I may attempt that cute embroidery from Clementine Patterns and forgo any dress making. But if anybody knows of a place to get cute modest dresses, please, please, let me know. Or maybe some super simple patterns, too?

Ready, Set, Garden!

2012-01-21T21:58:00.000-06:00

It has been so warm here. I mean really warm. I am in Zone 7a. Also, it's a little dry. This worries me a slight bit, but we shall see what the summer will bring. Hopefully, normal rainfall. Today, my grandmother kept the kids all day and leaving my husband and I with nothing to do. My darling husband, who tries to read my mind, suggested that we take a drive to the nearest Big Town and shop. And surprisingly enough, I turned him down, mainly, because I am trying to save money. And in Big Town, I waste a lot of money. A lot.

Instead, I went with him to move some equipment which he needed to do for a job. And we had lots of fun. For free. We ate BBQ and stopped at Atwoods and an old-fashioned, small town grocery store. I needed bologna and cheese. I also bought a Fels-Naptha bar, which I haven't seen anywhere else, but there. I think I may try my own homemade laundry detergent and it's a necessary ingredient.

Do you have an Atwoods where you live? I don't really know how to describe it. I guess farm supply. Anyway, when I got there I was seized by "the gardening fever." I had already promised my husband that we were not going to garden this year because it drives him crazy that I won't go into the garden in July...too hot. But alas, I could not resist. Therefore, be it resolved...that this year I am going to try to keep up with how much I spend on the garden. And go into the garden this summer. It wasn't my fault because Ferry-Morse seeds were 40% off. What was I supposed to do?

I bought:

Kale, Dwarf Blue Curled, Vate's Strain

Peas, Melting Sugar (Snow Peas)

Peas, Alaska (Wilt Resistant)

Arugula

Lettuce, Bibb (or Limestone)

Tomato, Better Boy Hybrid

Spinach, Bloomsdale Long Standing

I found in my junk drawer:

Kale, Unknown Variety, bought from Nursery in the fall

Spinach, Unknown Variety, bought from Nursery in the fall

Turnip, Shogun from Nursery

I didn't really need the kale or spinach, but oh well.

Grand Total for 2012: $6.47

My Thoughts about Communes and Other Random Things

2012-01-20T16:08:00.000-06:00

--- 1 ---

I'm a little late in getting my quick takes done because last night I was busy GETTING A MASSAGE! Oh yes, and it was awesome too. It was a present from my mother for no real reason and I loved it. I even got a salt scrub on my back. Okay, you can keep reading. I'm through rubbing it in now.

--- 2 ---

I finished reading Sweet Potato Suppers this week. Warning: This is not a Christian book by any stretch of the imagination. This book is about life on The Farm in the 70's. The writing style is a little strange. In other words, the author rejects any use of quotation marks...so in lots of places I was scratching my head thinking, "Who said that?" But I enjoyed it and it has made me think about how we treat each other is important. I'm afraid to admit, but as a Christian, I often forget about this.

--- 3 ---

Now I am wanting to join The Farm or some other commune. Maybe this one? I am really just pretending and no I 'm not really about to join a commune. Not for now at least. The main problem being that I have too many kids to join. It seems that the members of the communes don't want want to work to support my children. Go figure.

--- 4 ---

One more thing about communes and then I am done. The Farm in the 70's was so pro-life. Not really that pro-family because the founder was in a six way marriage at one time. But hey, I'll take what I can get. This was the policy at The Farm:
"Don't have an abortion. You can come to The Farm and we'll deliver your baby and take care of it, and if you ever decide you want it back, you can have it" (Ina May 1975, 375). I wish we had a place like that now. Only three women actually left there babies there.

--- 5 ---

I have subscribed to Bon Appetit for several months now and, honestly, I haven't been all that impressed. This month looks awesome though. I think I am going to make the Onion Bisque and maybe the Fried Chicken. But most the the recipes look great this month. Maybe I am biased because it is a southern food issue though.

--- 6 ---

I am going to eat here in about two hours. Get the Swiss fondue if you ever get chance. It is quite yummy. And they bring a huge amount. That is all I am getting and maybe a little wine. If your really hungry get the filet minion to go with it. Or the quiche. In fact, the quiche is great and a decent value. Now how to make time pass quicker. I'm getting hungry.

--- 7 ---

Totally random thought, but did you see that Paula Deen has Type 2 Diabetes?

Thanks for reading.

Spread the Word (Vol. 1)

2012-01-17T20:12:00.001-06:00

Nothing can minister to people better than God's Word. Nothing. Period. Not the wisest teacher on this planet. I believe this.
I have had a really tough year. I'm not ready to blog about it yet. Honestly, I may never be ready.

But what I can tell you is...that the only comfort I received came directly from the Bible. Not from man. And actually I found the verse that got me through these hard times on this lady's blog, who doesn't even know I exist...she posted some Bible Verses she wanted her children to memorize. And right before everything went wrong, I had been reading her blog post. This was the verse:

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the

goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage,

and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14

I can not describe to you the comfort this verse gave me during that terrible time. I decided that I would encourage women to Spread the Word. Because we can't know who will read our blog and find what they needed. Just like I did.

Would you please prayerfully consider joining me?
If you want to participate, all you need to do is just link to a post with a Bible Verse in it. In fact, it can be just a Bible verse that you are thinking on. I think that is what I am going to do in future weeks. The Spread the Word button is in the sidebar if you want to grab it, but it is not required. Neither is a link back here either.

Baby Steps (Step 1)

2012-01-16T19:14:00.000-06:00

I have completely quit trying on my diet. Sometimes there is just no need to try. And right now is one of those times. Are you ever like that? I swear sometimes dieting just make me eat more. And I am in that mode right now.

Like tonight I made leftover rice pudding and I had to make my kids try it. They are so picky, I actually told them they had to try my rice pudding before they could have ice cream. What kind of kids are these? They have to be bribed with ice cream to eat a bite of dessert. They all took a bite. And the hilarity ensued. Is that how you spell that? My son actually gagged. I thought the rice pudding was good. So if you want to make your kids gag, make this recipe. More for me.

So I have decided, since I am in binge mode, and ate a ton of rice pudding and did not gag once. I am going to set itsy bitsy teeney weeney goals that I might be able actually be able to keep. So for this week my goal is: cue drum roll...

Step 1: Drink only non-caloric drinks this week.

Tada! That's it. For me this means only water and unsweetened tea. If you want to baby step with me, it can mean whatever you want it too. I'm not drinking diet drinks because I think they make me want to eat sugar. I'm not sure this is true for everyone.

If you want to make your kids gag, here is my almost exact recipe. But I thought it was delish. Who you gonna trust?

Rice Pudding

3 c. cooked Riceland rice (approximate)
1 can Carnation Evaporated Milk
half a can of water
2/3c. sugar
2T. butter
1T. Vanilla Extract

Mix in saucepan and cook for 40 minutes on low uncovered . Stirring regularly. It will get really thick and form kind of a mound. Stir in vanilla off heat. Eat half the pan. Last step is optional.

To me this kind of tastes like homemade ice cream mix.

Tasty Tuesday

Need a Button?

2012-01-14T22:09:00.001-06:00

I found the coolest thing ever. For real. But you all probably already knew about it.

I have been kicking an idea around in my brain since last night. And to put the idea to work I needed a button for my blog. More on the idea later. So I decided to buy a button off of etsy. (This girl was so sweet and fast to respond to my questions) But then because of my massive ego, I decided to make a blog button. I googled. And low and behold...I found a blog button with grab box generator. Woo Hoo!

However, before you can use this you need to make yourself a blog button. I did it like it says here up until step three. For step three I used the generator. And voila, now I have a blog button.

Neat-o!

In the interest of full disclosure, it did take me approximately four hours of messing with html code before I found ~~in complete desperation~~ the generator online. But after I found the generator...easy peasy.

One Life to Live and Now "It's About You"

2012-01-13T18:41:00.001-06:00

I hope you didn't think this was going to be some profound post about godly matters because it is actually about "One Life to Live"...the soap opera. Today was the last day of OLTL. It had been on for 40 years. Forty years is a long time. And ABC just up and cancels it to put on The Revolution.

Lest you think, I am some deranged soap opera addict, I have only recently started watching it. Mainly after I heard it was being cancelled. Don't ask me why, I have know idea why I do half the things I do. Part of me thinks it is cruel to just lightly cancel something that has been on for forty years. It seems almost disrespectful. I also have been watching General Hospital. OLTL is much better than General Hospital, in my expert opinion. Yep, I said it.

I'm not opposed to soap operas really. When I catch a glimpse of one, it reminds me of my childhood...sick days, days at the babysitter, Grandma's house, really pretty happy times. So I equate soap operas with playing hookie from school. Good times.

Today, Caroline, 11, and I sat down to watch the last episode of OLTL today. And...it was naughty. I was surprised but there was a sex scene on the last episode. What?!? I guess I am naive, but she had to turn her head several times. I thought it would be basically all goodbyes. Also, an illegitimate child was born to two teens. Yuck!

TV is such a cess pool. The Supreme Court is currently deciding whether or not networks should stop being censored and we can all hear the naughty words which people on cable pay to hear. We will also get to have nudity too. Good grief. We have an antenna and only get ABC, CW, and PBS. I am getting ready to take down the antenna. It is not that I am such a prude. I like several shows on ABC, but in general, it is not fit for children. And what bugs me the most is when my kids are watching something, ABC will play racy commercials during family shows. The nerve!

Caroline actually made a petition she wanted to pass around at church asking ABC to stop showing scary or dirty commercials to kids. I agree. But I also feel like trying to drink the water at the sewer plant after someone squirted a little hand sanitizer in it. It's just too little.

I am sure the Supreme Court will allow the networks to do whatever they want. Big business rules. The Family pays.

As for OLTL, I think its absence will probably make no difference to the general morality of television. I am sure The Revolution, the show taking its place, will be just as depraved. Maybe more. It appears to the type of show in which women search for satisfaction by taking better care of themselves. And we all know women give too much and need to put themselves first. She said sarcastically. Just the name...The Revolution. Blech! It's subtitled "It's About You." Just what this country needs...another show that shows fat women as stupid idiots who only need some Spanx*, make-up, and more time away from their kids to be happy. By the way, I own Spanx* and they have not added meaning to my life.

Just a warning, this link shows women in underwear. I didn't notice until I had already posted it. Oops!

Double Double Yolks and Other Mudane Things

2012-01-12T19:22:00.000-06:00

* 1 *

This morning it was freezing here. So we slept in and did not do homeschool. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow. I got up and made a "real" breakfast. We had sausage, scrambled eggs and toast. But when I cracked my fresh eggs, I had not one, but two double yolked eggs. Weird! Expecially since I haven't had even one for probably five years. Yes, I do actually keep up with things like that. Now that really is weird!

* 2 *

I made The Girl That Ate Everything Chewy Oatmeal Cookies today. Before I made them I read one of the comments that said they were puffy. She was right. They were puffy. I think Martha Stewart's Anytime Oatmeal Cookies are still better. But these are pretty good and easier because you get to melt the butter. Hip Hip Hooray for Melted Butter!

* 3 *

Tonight, I also made BBQ Shrimp tonight inspired by the Homesick Texan. Except I didn't have the lemon so I used a lime. And I didn't have thyme so I left it out. And I used precooked frozen shrimp, instead of raw. And I used crushed red pepper instead of cayenne. Other than that it was exactly the same. Haha!

* 4 *

And I only let my dear diabetic daughter eat two tiny shrimp. Not that I am mean, okay I am, but I have some real questions about the safety of farm raised Thailand shrimp from Wal-Mart. And quickly google it. That article was the first to pop up and did not make me feel better.

* 5 *

We finished the King of the Golden River here this week and its free on the kindle. Another plus is the kids actually liked it.

* 6 *

It is a free reading selection from Ambleside Online, which I use in my own strange way. I plan on sharing my way in a later post. I love Ambleside and its completely free.

* 7 *

If you own a kindle and use Ambleside Online, you must look here! It is a complete list of all the Kindle Ready Ambleside Online Books. And many of them are free. Thank you so much whoever made that site!!!

A Good a1c and Pancakes

2012-01-11T19:13:00.001-06:00

I couldn't sleep last night. I tossed and turned. I was so worried. You see, today is our bi-annual trip to see our Pediatric Endocrinologist at our Children's Hospital for Eliza's, 5, Type 1 Diabetes.

Every six months, we go down there and every six months they tell us we are doing it wrong. Really. And to make matters worse, I hadn't called in blood sugars since the last visit! At our clinic, they have a nurse available four days a week to call in blood sugars and if she sees a problem with the numbers she will change it for you. But I never called. I meant to, really I did. But if I saw a problem I just changed it with the intent to call later.

So last night, I was having a full blown anxiety attack. I woke up my husband and 12:00 a.m. and yelled at him a little.

"Why did you let me do this?"
"They are going to yell at me!"
"I am afraid I've messed this up."
"I've made the basal rate too high, should I go change it now!?!"
"It's too late!!!!!!"

You get the picture and...it wasn't pretty. Basically, it was full blown hysteria.

In fact, it was so bad, my husband took off work to go with me. I think he was afraid I was going to make things worse. Or be arrested.

So we went. AND she had an a1C of 7.3!!! The best it has ever been! AND they said just keep on doing what we were doing!!! Thank you, Jesus!

I'm not saying don't call in your blood sugars, I am going to try to do it this time around. I just am so happy all my fears didn't come true today. And after all this, Husband, Eliza, and I all sat down to a delicious meal at "Pancake, Pancake*." Don't ask me how ihop became known as "pancake, pancake" but that is what we all call it.

Because how better to celebrate a good a1c than pancakes.

The Goodness of the Lord

2012-01-10T19:57:00.001-06:00

I have been much better lately. I feel better. I have completely given up on my diet though. Oh well...Maybe later. I have been thinking about gluttony as a sin and how I completely overlook it. Ravi Zacharias has a interesting podcast called the Problem of Pleasure that has had me thinking. (ht Ordo Amoris) Thinking about gluttony to be exact but...

this is not what this post is about or is supposed to be about anyway. I have been thinking about the goodness of the Lord. Just how good he is. No matter what happens I can rest in that knowledge. We have been reading At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald (free on the kindle.) We haven't finished it yet, but I will tell you we are to the part where North Wind is going to sink a ship. The book appears to be an allegory about the problem of pain and suffering versus the goodness of God. And it has really made me think about the Goodness of God. About what I know to be true and how much I actually say out loud. Not very much.

6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. Psalm 145:6-8

So when I was sitting in church, I thought if I don't talk about the Goodness of the Lord, who will? I know the Lord doesn't need me and could raise up the rocks to sing his praises. Everyone was sharing their problems and last year was a doozy for most of us in my church. Lost wives, children, poverty, and sickness, all had reared their head last year and left us all reeling.

But I decided, that I would focus on his goodness. His great goodness. I know he is good...and I just wanted to let the world know.

Monday's Late Weigh-In 11/21/11

2011-11-21T17:42:00.001-06:00

I am so tired tonight. I spent a whole morning at the eye doctor's office with the baby. Then I went for a walk. And now I don't know if I am ever going to get done with all my chores tonight.

My Martha Stewart Oatmeal Cookie Fail didn't effect my weight loss too much this week. So let's cut straight to the chase...

Last Weight 164 lbs
Today's Weight 162 lbs

Total 2 lbs lost this week!

Grand total: 8 lbs so far.

A Few Rewards, A Fail, and My Exercise Update 11/18/11

2011-11-18T16:21:00.001-06:00

I bought myself a pair of Black Glitter Tom's Shoes. If you don't know what they are, well then consider yourself in good company, because I didn't know what they were until recently. Not until my best friend texted in me, and I quote, "I love, love, love Toms." And then she ordered me to go out an buy myself a pair. So I obeyed...

I like them, but I would like to apologize to the people at Toms Shoes in advance...because me, a thirty seven year old housewife liking them has basically guaranteed that they will soon be permanently out of style. Sorry...

Here is another reward I bought...SHORTS. I have not worn shorts for at least 10 years. However, the other night on the treadmill, I got so hot in my capri pants, that I wear every single day around the house, that I decided I MUST buy a pair of shorts. These are Adidas Marathon Shorts and I love them. They are super soft. And don't swish when fat thighs rub together. Last time I bought shorts they were made of some type of plastic that swished. Yuck! But that was in '95. So I called the same best friend and she told me to buy these. They were only 16.50 at Dick's Sporting Goods.

The best part was I tried on an XL and they were too big. So I had to buy a L. WooHoo! I'm afraid these run big, but don't tell me if they do.

Also, I made a major mistake and I made Martha Stewart's Anytime Oatmeal Cookies. I think this is a pretty good oatmeal cookie recipe. It doesn't taste like baking powder or baking soda at all and I have found most oatmeal cookie recipes to taste that way. I am sensitive to those tastes. Also, it comes with a printable that you can cover your canister with...very cute. I didn't try that.

Okay, I made a double batch with every intention of taking the to a neighbor who's wife is very sick. Honestly! When I got out my Kitchen Aid Mixer, I noticed that a tiny piece of plastic was loose on the paddle, Hmmm....this could break off, I thought, Naaaa! It won't.

WRONG!

It broke off and disappeared in the cookies. And I had a vision of them choking to death on it, so we kept the cookies. Elizabeth, the 5 year old found it and spit it out. Whew!

I ate way to many of these cookies last night. But I think they are sort of healthy, they do have oatmeal, right? I'm back on the B-Diet today though.

Finally, the moment you've been waiting for...the EXERCISE UPDATE

November 12-4.89 miles, 1:31:59

November 14-3.57 miles, 1:07:09

November 15-2.52 miles, 44:45

November 16-4.90 miles, 1:29:21

November 17-3.20 miles, 50:50

Have a good weekend!

Am I His Friend or His Disciple?

2011-11-16T07:49:00.001-06:00

We have a Bible Study every morning at breakfast. Don't be too impressed. It is very basic. I wolf down my food and try to get done while the little mouths are still full. I read straight from the Holy Bible. We use a version of the King James, just because I like it better. And every day my son looks and me and says, and I quote, "I have no idea what that just said." Then I try to explain. It's our way.

Also, I feel like I need to add my husband is never here for this. He leaves for work too early so I lead it, so if your a momma leading Family Bible Study don't feel bad, because I always do. Also, we go through one Veritas Press History Card every day for one week and I am combining the Bible Cards and the History Cards. Everyday I just read it. And we review the other cards. So we are doing just one big timeline.

Finally, we use Simply Charlotte Mason Bible Verse Memory System and do one verse a week. We review them everyday. I cannot recommend this highly enough and it's FREE!

So our reading today was in Mark. We read Mark 3:21.

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Wow! I had never noticed this before, Jesus' friends thought he was crazy when he was out in the wilderness making disciples and giving them new names.

Sometimes, I'm afraid I act more like his friends than his disciples. When some things happened in my life...I have just wanted to stop and say to him, "What are you doing?"

I should be out in the wilderness getting a new name. Instead, I seek to grab Jesus and stop him. Hmmmm. Going to have to think some more about this.

Any thoughts?

Black Beans and Brown Rice

2011-11-15T07:56:00.002-06:00

I eat this everyday.

Three times per day.

Really.

But I actually really like it. I mean a lot. Maybe love is a better word. I eat it for breakfast. I don't know, but I crave the stuff. Maybe I am deficient in some vitamin or mineral. I don't take vitamins. So it could be.

The Ingredients (minus 1 Tablespoon of Butter)

Must rinse the beans very well.

Black Beans and Brown Rice

1 cup Brown Rice

1 can Black Beans

4 or 5 Chicken Bouillon Cubes (this is your salt, adjust accordingly)

2-2 1/2 cups of water

1 T. Butter

Boil the water in a medium saucepan. Use the lower amount of water if you like it crunchier or more if you like it mushier. I like it in the middle.

Add the bouillon cubes and butter and bring to a rolling boil.

Add the cup of rice and the canned black beans, which much be rinsed.

Wait for it to come back to a boil. Stir once.

Cover.

Reduce heat to LOW.

Cook for 45-50 minutes. Let it stand at least 10 minutes before serving.

Keep in the refrigerator for a filling meal on the B-Diet.

Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the finished dish, but you can see a picture of it here with some chicken.
This post is participating in Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Monday's Weigh-In 11/14/11 Other Mundane News

2011-11-14T14:23:00.001-06:00

I have decided to weigh in on Mondays. Seems like as good of time as any to me. I was going to do it on Sundays, because that would have been exactly one week since I started the B-Diet. But I am way too lazy to try to blog on a Sunday, so that kind of naturally went away on its own. I find it easier to start diets on Sunday mornings for some reason. I don't know why...

Did I mention dry red wine is on the B-Diet? I know I left it out, sorry. I am adopting the same rule for red wine as a Diet Coke...which is...I can have it when I am out to dinner as a special treat. In will be in place of the huge chocolate dessert I used to order. A girls gotta do,what she's gotta do. I was raised to never drink alcohol. Were any of you raised that way? Ok, here is my totally amateur recommendation for wine. I am certainly not an expert but I think this stuff is pretty good...Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin. And here is a review from someone who knows more about it than me. Of course, that is just about anyone and everyone.

Okay, back to the weight in. I am putting my starting weight on here because 1. No one who knows me reads here. Whew! That makes this easier. 2. I think it will help keep me honest. 3. I think I promised I was going to put a before picture on here, but then I actually looked at the before picture and totally and completely chickened out. So here goes:

Start Weight 170 lbs
Mondays Weight 164 lbs
For the Grand Total of 6 lbs lost this week. YAY ME!!!!

For you knowledgeable people out there, I know a lot of this is water and I don't expect to lose this much every week.

Also, I have been looking and the B-Diet is basically the Paleo diet with beans. I am going to do some more research into this, but it is a little ironic since totally don't believe in evolution. At all.

Have a good week!

Exercise Update 11/11/11

2011-11-11T14:38:00.001-06:00

I am doing pretty awesome on my walking this week, I must admit. But for once,I am really enjoying it. I feel like a monk when I am out there walking. It is so meditative for me and gives me time to ponder the things of God. And many other things, too, I'm afraid. Didn't some monks walk around and meditate? I can't remember what they were called...if you know let me know. Also, I need to tell you that after I fininshed my walk today, I came in and ate two packages of nuts, a thing of applesauce, and four pieces of bologna, goodness! What's up with that? I'll have to work on it.

So here is a quick update.

November 6-4.67 Miles, 1:33:24
November 7-4.58 Miles, 1:28:26
November 8- On the treadmill because of the rain, so no stats. I HATE THE TREADMILL!!!!!
November 9-4.93 Miles, 1:31:12
November10-4.82 Miles. 1:30:09
November 11-4.69 Miles, 1:26:23

Have you tried Runkeeper? In fact, it has GPS and will tell you exactly how far you have gone. It is fantastic and tells you all you need to know and the best part...it's free on the iPhone. I can't say enough good stuff about it.

Breakfast on the B-diet-Black Bean and Brown Rice Scramble

2011-11-09T08:22:00.002-06:00

I have decided to call the B.E.T.H-Diet the B-diet. Just because it is easier to type. And I am super lazy.

This is the only breakfast I am eating right now. Mainly because I really love it. No really I do!. It is not only very filling as you can probably tell from the pictures. But it is really good and easy.

Okay, so I made up some rice and black beans yesterday. I will give you my recipe in the next day or two when I have to make up another batch. I keep it ready to go in the fridge. Also, I had about a quarter of a chicken breast left over from lunch yesterday so I chopped that up and added it too. But any lean meat you like can go into this or you can eat it vegetarian. That's what I usually do. Heat this up in the microwave.

Scramble two eggs in a little butter. These are homegrown eggs-see how yellow they are. Yummy! When the eggs are almost done add the already warmed bean and brown rice mixture. Mix gently.

Here is the finished dish. This is my portion the kids won't touch the stuff and look at me sideways as if I am crazy. I eat it with Taco Bell Restaurant Mild Sauce. I bought it at Wal-Mart. But if your not sure get an extra packet next time you are a Taco Bell. You could use salsa. But I don't like salsa except at Chili's because salsa has to be thin, NOT thick and chunky. Definitely should not be like ketchup. Blech!

This is my side dish. A cup of Musselman's Natural Unsweetened Applesauce. In my opinion, this is the only brand to eat and I eat one with almost every meal. I bought Mott's but it was not nearly as good and Baby Ann is getting most of it. She is really two, but she is still my baby.

I am going to try and discover some more breakfasts that I like and really fill me up. Of course, there is always eggs cooked any way with a little lean meat, but for right now I like this better.

The B-Diet

2011-11-08T14:18:00.003-06:00

I've actually decided that the B-Diet sounds better, even my huge ego couldn't take seeing my name in front of it. Ha!Ha!

The B.E.T.H. Diet...how does that sound? Pretty cheesy, actually. But I have decided to go on a diet and I figure...Hey, why not name it after myself? Got to love that ego. I've lost three pounds in two days following the Beth Diet, so now I am a weight loss expert who is completely qualified to help all overweight people. Okay, really I'm not, so I am hereby disclaiming any responsibility for you if you try this diet and it kills you, too bad because I am admitting right here that I am not in anyway qualified to tell anyone anything about healthy eating, nutrition, or losing weight or anything else for that matter. So from here forth, you are taking your own life into your own hands.

First, the name...well it had to be named after me, so I have been brainstorming some ideas for what the B.E.T.H. Diet is going to stand for...one option being Becoming Entirely Too Hot. Good grief, that sounds so trashy, but I kind of like it. The other option being that it could stand for some things you can eat on my diet. For example, Beans, Eggs, Tea, Hot Sauce??? The H is giving me a hard time. Any ideas?

Secondly, THE RULES, these must never be broken or you will die or not lose weight, whichever is worse to you. Just kidding here people!
     1. No wheat in any form. None! I saw this book called "Wheat Belly." I didn't actually read the book, but I think I got the message in the title. Plus, everyone is on a gluten free diet and many of them lose weight while on it...so why not?
     2. No dairy. Except butter in moderation. Moderation means you can fry your eggs in a little, not eat a whole stick for dessert. The reason for this rule is I never can do low carb, like Atkins or South Beach because they allow dairy and if dairy is allowed....let's just say that is all I will eat. I am allowing butter because I think margarine is not good for you, and it doesn't taste as good to me. But if you are really lactose intolerant then you can have margarine or olive oil or whatever you like. I'm obviously not getting any money from the dairy industry.
     3. No sugar and no sugar substitutes. This is the hard one. I love sugar....L.O.V.E. it. But it makes me feel bad and moody and fat. AND no sugar substitutes for one very simple reason...they make me want to eat real sugar. Okay, sometimes I have a Diet Coke if I'm out to dinner somewhere, that's like my dessert.
     4. No soy. But only if you think it makes you bloat. I think it makes me. Is that too much information?
     5. Walk 4 miles per day. I think it was Bob Greene, Oprah's man, who said you need to walk this much, and I really can't see any results unless I do. I also reserve the right to add in some weigh lifting later, but not now.

Now here's what you can have...(I reserve the right to add to this list, since I am flying by the seat of my pants on this thing...)

Unlimited eggs
lean meats
brown rice
beans
green veggies
fruits (don't just eat this)
a reasonable amount of nuts per day
tea
water
spices and seasonings
hot sauce or taco sauce (you'll see why later)
dry red wine (when you are out to eat but not at home)

Now, some more explanation, what you don't know about me is that I am a very picky eater. To the point it is obscene. Get this, I DON'T LIKE SALAD! I know I am a terrible person. I don't like most veggies either. I mainly only like the things in the excluded categories above. So I made up this no wheat, no sugar, no dairy diet specifically for me. But I like to see things in writing, so I thought I would write it down and share it with the entire world. So that's it, I am going to post some recipes of what this looks like in practice this week and maybe I will get my nerve up and post a "before" picture showing what terrible shape I am in...maybe?

What exactly is going on here?

2011-11-07T15:26:00.000-06:00

Don't ask me.

No, I'm kidding. Sort of.

I haven't been able to decide what direction this blog is going to take. Should I write about God, who I love, but am certainly no expert about? Or should I write about cooking, but I hate taking all those pictures of food? There are so many great "mommy" blogs out there I feel like I can't really compete with them either. Because first I am not such a great mom...and secondly, I don't want to do things with the kids just so I can blog about it. I'm not saying anyone I know does this, but sometimes I suspect. I read this quote a while back by a 16 year old girl and it still haunts me, she said something basicallly like this..."Facebook (or blogging) puts so much pressure on me to look like I'm having a good time, but now it's not about the party I go to anymore, it's about the pictures I take at the party." Or something like that. Wow!

It's about looking like your having a good time. God save me from that! I do not want my life to be reduced to just "looking like I'm having fun." Just going through the motions. Nope, I don't want any of that. Maybe I am so adamant about it because I have done it so much in my life. I am 37 years old and many of those years have been spent going through the motions. So no more. I really want to be the person who puts a picture on Facebook or here that shows me the way I look right now with a sloppy pony tail and yoga pants. O man, that's bad. Hehe! And I want the caption to read...sometimes the party is fun even though you look like crap. Like today. And sometimes the party sucks, even when you look awesome.

Anyway, back to this blog, I'm still not sure where it is going. And I don't care. Somedays this place here with my very few followers haunts me...:"Go forth and write something profound," it whispers. "I will when I have time!" I yell. Ha!

Delicious Breadsticks for a Birthday

2011-07-21T21:16:00.000-05:00

Tonight was Caroline's 11th birthday party. It was just family. Mainly because I have strong feelings about big birthday parties, as in "I hate them." I asked her this morning what her requested birthday meal for the evening would be, knowing good and well I really didn't have many ingredients for anything ~~too elaborate~~.

She requested breadsticks. Bless you my child! Hey, breadsticks are something I can do. I usually keep flour and yeast around the house. Usually when I make breadsticks, I don't measure anything. I just throw flour, yeast, oil, salt, and a little sugar in the Kitchenaid and let her rip. Who knows what they are going to be like...sometimes good...sometimes not. I usually make a lot of dough and half becomes pizza. This method is a little hit or miss so beware.

But these breadsticks are divine. No really, they are. Since it was her birthday, I actually measured the ingredients. Wow! I am really going all out on this birthday party thing. Anyone want to nominate me for mother of the year? I made a double batch and half became pizza. I have to say the breadsticks were better than the pizza. They are really that good. I also love her blog, she is who I would be if I wasn't so terminally lazy. However, I do covet her husband and kids a little because they are serial chicken killers. Sidenote-I have the irresistible urge to raise a bunch of broiler chicks and chop their heads off. Don't judge me. My husband refuses to participate in this carnage. He likes chickens. I want to eat them. Enough said.

Happy Birthday, Caroline! Someday maybe we can butcher chickens together. A Mom can dream, right?

This is the part where the doubts start...

2011-07-20T19:29:00.001-05:00

No sooner than I posted my homeschool plans for next year. WHAM! Major doubts start creeping my way. What is wrong with me??? I start thinking I could put all three in school next year and sit on my rather large behind and watch t.v. while eating bon bons of course. And wow, that sounds really tempting. So for two days, I have hem hawed around. Never mind, the fact I have already bought all the stuff and it is sitting here staring me in the eye. However, I have decided to proceed as planned...my reasons are

1. I already bought all the homeschool stuff.
2. When it is three degrees outside, I do not want to drive my kids to school. Just keeping it real! This saying always makes me laugh.
3. I do not wish to be sick all winter.
4. Elizabeth has Type 1 Diabetes and my husband and I are the only ones who have ever managed it. This is a biggie. The school nurse is only there half a day and it would be a teacher's aid poking her finger. That weirds me out.
5. I don't like teacher's dictating to my family how we spend our evenings...such as, read this book, practice handwriting, whatever.

Okay, you may notice that there is not one mention of God in my reasoning. But I have a reason for that, I LOVE THE LORD, but I have never felt like I had to homeschool to please HIM. I just have never had that conviction. Honestly, I wish I did because I feel like it might make it easier. I am not judging those who do, but I am just lacking it. Maybe it will come later, I don't know.

That being said, I do worry about what they are learning there. Here is a cautionary tale, when I put my Caroline into 5th grade last year, guess what they did the first day she was there? The had to sing a song about how her (and everyone else's) Grandpa was a Monkey! Oh yes! Her first day of public school. I must tell you now that I don't believe in evolution AT ALL. It requires too much faith on my part. The odds are too small for it to actually be true. Needless to say, she was horrified with the teacher and was worried that some in her class might actually BELIEVE it. That's my girl!

Now, that being said, I do think apes are quite smart based on my own personal experience. When I was at the zoo with my kids last year, I was making smart alec comment to a gorilla. Yes, I am that immature. They weren't terrible, just things like "who's a big boy?" and "aren't you just a precious baby?" I wasn't making any faces, just being a smart alec. That gorilla stopped in front of me...paused, and through a big pile of poop my way and ran off. I think it knew I was making fun of it. So beware what you say around them...they are listening.

Finally, here is a recipe that I made last summer and LOST the recipe. But now it is found. It is really good, I think...here was the general reaction of my mother and husband. "Good grief! This stuff is terrible!." Pause for 30 seconds while they ate. "Give me some more!" I would say that was the general consensus. Mine, too. I liked it, but not the first bite. I did change it and use cheese tortellini and I cubed the Provolone. Also, I used salami and pepperoni. I also really loved this blog. She has lots of recipes I will use. Enjoy.

Antipasto Pasta Salad from America's Test Kitchen

Homemade Tortillas

2011-07-13T08:17:00.002-05:00

Homemade Tortillas

I am running out of cooking inspiration. I think it is because it is the summertime and brutally hot. But it did rain today...a little. Thank you, Jesus! I am finding myself running around to the children and hubs asking desperately if it would be okay to have cheese and crackers for dinner. I know...I am the Mom, but still.

Furthermore, there have been some real dogs I have cooked up lately like Spicy Pasta Salad. Blech! They all can winners, right Ree? The chickens have to eat too. They liked it.

Tonight, I defrosted frozen some leftover taco meat. I decided we would have soft tacos. But, alas, there was not one Mission Tortilla in the house. Not a single one. So I decide to make these. First time I have ever attempted anything like this. I was pleasantly surprised and the kids liked the all except Eliza, who said Mission does it much better than me.

Homemade Tortillas

adapted from the Joy of Cooking (the only adapting was I doubled the recipe, hee hee)

4 cups bread flour (bought in bulk from Sam's Club)

2t baking powder

2t salt

1/2 c. Crisco

1 1/2 c. hot water (I microwaved this and it was HOT!!!!!) recipe says 115-130 degrees

Added the flour, baking powder and salt to the Kitchen Aid and then beat in the Crisco. Then I added the hot water slowly. I would say it was a scant 1 1/2 cups. Let the machine go for 6 minutes. Shaped it into 16 balls. Let it rest for 20 minutes. Rolled it out till it was then and cooked it in a medium-hot skillet till brown spots appeared (30 sec) and then flipped them and repeat (about 15 sec).

They turned out pretty well, but they were not exactly round. My husband even got into the act of rolling them out.*** They were easy to roll out and he did just as good a job as me. Almost.

***Now, here is a small op ed piece. I was watching Regis and Kelly this morning and they had a piece called "Fix My Man." Women wrote in describing what was wrong with their husbands and Regis and Kelly would fix the offending husband. Well, here in the South, fix means to neuter...like I got my dog fixed. I think it means the same thing to Regis and Kelly because they had a woman on who said she had two kids and was pregnant and she worked part time. Also, she was really tired and her husband needed to learn how to cook for her. Good grief Lady!!! He works all day and he is supposed to come in and cook her supper. I think Regis and Kelly really should have named the show "Neuter My Man." I am done ranting now. Now go make some tortillas. They're cheap!

Homeschooling Plans for 2011-2012

2011-07-13T07:15:00.001-05:00

I have decided to homeschool next year. Whew! Glad that decision has been made! That decision was rough!!! Here is what we are using. Note: This post is really a reminder to me, but in case you're interested...

Caroline-dd 11
Saxon Math 7/6 with Art Reed DVDs
Hake Grammar 6
Institute for Excellence in Writing SWI-B
All About Spelling
Read 30 minutes (Sonlight reading suggestions)
Listen to read alouds

Dale-ds9

Saxon Math 3
Apples and Pears
Dancing Bears
Read 30 minutes (Sonlight)
Listen to read alouds

Eliza-dd5

Saxon K
Teach your child to read in a 100 easy lessons (after this I may use IEW Pal or McRuffy K)
Developing the Early Learner workbooks
A Reason for Handwriting
Read some? (Sonlight K readers)
Listen to Read alouds

At our morning meeting, we are going to read the Bible (currently Matthew), use Simply Charlotte Mason Scripture Memory System with verses from Doorposts, and read Character Sketches (cause I want to be like the Duggars). Okay, I only want to be like the Duggars a little bit. Also, using Veritas Press History Cards and maybe a little Lyrical Life Science.

Pretty simple plan. Now if I can just stick with it! I know it is really light on History and Science, but we have got to get the 3R's down this year.

Random thoughts

2011-07-12T19:15:00.000-05:00

First, I have quit couponing. I know, I can't believe it either but it just wasn't giving me the return on my time I was spending. I got really serious about it. I had a secret coupon guy who was giving me a bunch of inserts and I was getting tons of stuff for free. Then, he quit his job, so no more inserts. And know everyone is so crazy, I can't even get inserts from the paper anymore. Someone is stealing them all before I get to the paper machine. Boo Hoo. I know not really a big deal. So I surrender. No more couponing for me. I am just going to follow the sales cycles and stock up when the price is right. I think I will probably spend less money in the long run.

Second random thought, I ordered 25 chicks from Murray McMurray. They got here on Monday. The kids picked out what breeds they wanted and I just let the order whatever they picked. (This is a big step for me because I am a control freak to the nth degree.) The nice thing is I don't have to take care of them AT ALL. Plus, because it was 107 degrees here today. I am not giving the little darlings any heat. My Grandma laughs at people who order chickens in May, so I am trying it her way. I call it the Great Depression Method of raising chicks.

Third random thought, it is a drought here. The garden is pitiful!!! The peppers are even sad and wilted. I think I may see a camel come up the road any minute now. So no depressing pictures of my sad, sad garden.

A Garden Update with A Picture of Our Mud

2011-05-07T09:54:00.002-05:00

I would take some more pictures of our mud/garden, but I afraid that someone would have to throw me a rope to drag me out...it probably would take a tractor, too. Now that image makes me laugh! Anyway, the potatoes are happy, but haven't grown much. The green beans came up but quite sparsely, but since no one really likes them anyway...I think we will have enough for the kids. The tomatoes and peppers have hung in there like champs. They are Mennonite tomatoes and peppers because my Mennonite neighbors grew them, so that could be the reason for their tenacity.

But my squash, zucchini and cucumbers have behaved terribly and all three are refusing to come up. (They are in the row straight down the middle...with nothing in it.) So I sent my ten year old daughter to replant them today. And no...she did not get stuck in the mud, but she is much smaller than me. The okra which was not supposed to be planted until the first of May anyway, did not come up either...so the entire row will have to be tilled up and replanted. And the corn is there but is only about three inches tall.

And look I remembered...I actually did take a picture with my phone. Lovely mud isn't it?

Scope and Sequence for Elementary Grammar and Composition Using FREE Vintage E-Books

2011-04-27T18:01:00.001-05:00

This is a general compilation of what I believe to be the general consensus from a thread on the Well-Trained Mind Forum. I have to give all the wonderful ladies, who know way more about this than me, a huge THANK YOU for sharing all this wonderful and FREE information. I haven't been happy with a lot of the grammar and composition material I have purchased. I won't name them all but there have been at least five. I have an addiction to curriculum, I tell you. So when I stumbled along that awesome thread I knew I wanted to have a free language arts curriculum through eight grade. This being said...I play pretty fast and loose with grammar on this blog. It's more of a do as I say, not as I do kind of thing with grammar, but my kids don't read here anyway.

One caveat or two...I have yet to use any of these books. Other than a cursory glance, (but it only takes a second to fall in love) I can not vouch for the content of these books. For all I know, there may be some very un-politically correct things (or worse) contained in these books. So I strongly advise that anyone using this curriculum, read ahead and know what you're handing to you sweet little children. I don't want to be accused of corrupting the youth. Another caveat...I can't guarantee that your children will get a so-called good education, that they will pass "No Child Left Behind," or become proficient in anything other than video games or television. ( I am talking to myself here.) However, I will say my 93 year old grandmother went to school only until the eighth grade and she can write and spell much better than me. I wouldn't say that is hard evidence, but it is enough for me that these old-timer seem much smarter than us youngsters. I'm just saying.

Please feel free to comment on any flaws or mistakes you believe are contained below because I am a perfectionist and would like this to be as complete and perfect as possible. Thanks so much and enjoy.

         Completely FREE Elementary Grammar and Composition

First Grade:
     With Pencil and Pen
     OR
     Primary Lessons in Language and Composition, Maxwell

Second Grade:
     Sheldon's Primary Language Lessons
     OR
     Primary Lessons in Language and Composition, Maxwell
     OR
     Grammar-land, Nesbitt OR Audio Version

Third Grade:
     First Book in English, Maxwell
     OR
     Sheldon's Primary Language Lessons, cont.
     OR
     Two-Book Course in English, Hyde
AND (for composition)
     Progressive Composition Lessons Book One, Brautigam

Fourth Grade:
     First Book in English, cont., Maxwell
     OR
     Sheldon's Advanced Language Lessons
     OR
     Two-Book Course in English Book One, cont., Hyde
AND (composition)
     Progressive Composition Lessons Book One, cont., Brautigam

Fifth Grade:
     First Book in English, cont., Maxwell OR Introductory Lessons in English Grammar, Maxwell
     OR
     Sheldon's Advanced Language Lessons, cont.
     OR
     Two-Book Course in English Book One, cont, Hyde
     OR
     Two-Book Course in English Book Two, Hyde
AND (composition)
     Speaking and Writing Volume Three, Maxwell
     OR
     Progressive Composition Lessons Book Two, Brautigam

Sixth Grade
     Introductory Lessons in English Grammar, Maxwell
AND (composition)
     Progressive Composition Lessons Book Two, cont., Brautigam

Seventh Grade
     Advanced Lessons in English Grammar, Maxwell
AND (composition)
     Progressive Composition Lessons Book Three, Brautigam
     OR
     Good English Oral and Written, Elson

Eighth Grade
     Advanced Lessons in English Grammar, cont., Maxwell
AND (composition)
     Good English Oral and Written, cont. Elson
     OR
     Progressive Composition Lessons Book Three, cont., Brautigam

The Best Place to Hide From a Tornado

2011-04-26T22:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever said something and immediately knew that you shouldn't have said it? Because I have. This Sunday I told my Mom after The Sad Thing happened (which I am still not ready to write about and it doesn't involve my husband...my marriage is good) that I wasn't scared of anything anymore and I wasn't scared of storms anymore. Probably should not have said this...

Storms. I have been afraid of storms since I was a little kid. Partially because my entire family is afraid of storms. When I was little my Grandpa would just take off to the storm cellar and you better follow or get blown away because HE WAS NOT WAITING. I'm telling you that will warp a kid. I had recurring dreams about tornadoes. I have issues, but you knew that.

So tonight I took my daughter to gymnastics class and had a date with a girlfriend to got to the local taco joint and chow down on Taco Tuesday. So at 5:00 we cancelled. Tornado warnings were all over the place and the taco joint was about an hour away from our homes. My friend mentioned in passing that her church had a basement. She made it home. I SHOULD have left when she did...but I didn't because I'm not afraid of anything anymore. Yeah...right.

Next thing I know the sky turns black and the tornado sirens go off. I run to the gym and call my husband. "What do I do?" He calls a friend who says we can stay in his safe room (which my awesome husband built by the way) and its five minutes away.

Leaving the gym, I noticed the clouds were really dark. So I drive super fast...one little problem...I didn't know where the friend lived.

I look behind me and what do I see... a funnel cloud (following me.) Had to add that because it rhymed. Let's just say when I spotted the cloud...I became unable to follow my husband's directions. As in I could not tell my left hand from my right. Oh yes! And there was a little screaming and crying...me, not him.

So I took off to my friend's church because I knew where it was...and we got there safe and sound...and scared to death. The tornado never did hit there and I was probably out of it's path the entire time. But the storms kept coming. So I got to spend 2 hours with the Pastor of a Reformed Presbyterian Church and his wife and eight children. They were all delightful.

What did this experience teach me?

1. I am still a big chicken. Even though The Sad Thing happened, I still want to live and not be cavalier about my life.

2. Church really is the best place to hide from storms both literal and spiritual.

3. And I should never boast...because, well, that doesn't seem to work out too well.

Bible Study and Earth Day

2011-04-22T19:18:00.000-05:00

This winter was very, very, very dark. (Did you know your not supposed to use "very" in so-called "good" writing? I am not a good writer.) Dark in ways I cannot even begin to discuss, but for all I know someone may be trying to escape the same type of darkness or a different darkness or maybe it's all the same. So I will share a little of what has been helping me.

Jesus...He is the light of the world. Today He gave his life willingly on the Cross. And then He rose again.

This is a slight aside...today is not Earth Day...today is Good Friday. As I drove the kids to school this moring...yes, they are still in school but only for five more weeks and then never again!!!! That nightmare is for a different post! I asked them if they knew what today was...I got two responses...Number One was "Black Friday." I said, "Close but no cigar, kiddo!" Number Two was "Earth Day." Besides the fact that my heart sank when I realized what a pathetic job I was doing raising my children. (I have been a little distracted from the job at hand.) I was horrified to learn that Earth Day was on Good Friday. I wanted to stop the car and turn right around and go home , but I didn't...mainly because we have missed so many school days we are getting letters from the principal. They make me laugh but they make the husband MAD. So on Good Friday...my kids were learning about ways to "save the earth."

Save the earth...that's already been done I say...by Jesus on the Cross. Maybe not the Earth...but the folks on it.

So back to the darkness of this winter and how I have been dealing with it...

This is my new way to have Bible Study:

1. Pray. Whatever I can manage...it is usually close to the same thing everyday. I can't help it.

2. I just copy the verses out of the Bible. No commentary from me...no requests. Just straight Bible verses. (I am currently doing II Corinthians.) It is sloppily written. No work as a scribe for me. Why am I doing this? Because I honestly could not pray or concentrate on the Word of God for any length of time. My mind would just not let me. And I was looking at some Charlotte Mason materials which encourage copywork for the very young. So I thought, I am not too old to benefit from some copywork of my own. I am a super fast reader. It is a blessing and a curse. I think I became that way in law school out of necessity, BUT it greatly slowed down any real comprehension. This way makes me slow down and savor God's Word.

3. There is no required length of copywork. Sometimes it is a whole chapter...sometimes it is one verse. I get weird when there is some type of requirement. It is the legalist in me...so no bonus points for either length or neatness.

4. Listen to Scourby's KJV Audio Bible. I got this for Christmas after hearing Mrs. Duggar listens to it during her quiet time. I put on what ever cd contains the verses I have been copying. BUT when I say listen...I don't sit and listen for the whole entire cd. I listen when I can, but I take care of the little kids and have lots of interruptions. I do the best I can. I may only catch a snippet here or there but I figure that is better than nothing.

So that is my Bible Study Method for right now. I really hope this helps someone. Happy Easter!

²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26, King James Version)

Light that Candle

2010-11-04T22:18:00.000-05:00

I bought a candle tonight at Hobby Lobby. This is groundbreaking news, I know, but bear with me. I would love to show you a picture of the candle but I am too lazy to go take a picture. So I'll just describe it...it is a gold color with a cross on it and the candlestick is a burnished wood with gold highlights. It's a little bit loud, but I like it.

"So what's with this boring story about my candle?" you may ask.

1. Well, it has been a terrible week. Things have not really improved on the job front for my husband. And to make matters worse we lost the opportunity to make some money based on a teeny tiny technicality. Yup! One little detail and someone else got the job and the money and the fame.

2. I have been a rotten wife about it all. I was just so mad. Not at my husband, but at God. Really. It doesn't take much to make me mad. So there was a lot of "Why...Why?...WHY!?!" around here. I know it is so ridiculous. But I can be ridiculous. I mean it was just a stupid job. But this is my schtick...when I get disappointed in one thing it turns into an all out pity party...Why did dd4 have to get Diabetes, why don't my kids behave, why is there suffering in the world. You get the picture...it's ugly sin, I'tell you.

2. I had been a rotten mother too. I haven't been wanting to homeschool. I have been a yelling, insane crazy woman. I really have laid on the couch for the past week. Doesn't Proverbs 31 talk about "she layeth on the couch and watcheth Soap Operas all day?" Are you sure that's not in there? Fine.

So I finally opened my Bible (in the Kroger parking lot, I might add) which I had not opened in a month and turned to:

²¹And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

²²For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

²³If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

²⁴And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

²⁵For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. (Mark 4:21-25, King James Version)

So why did this make me decide to buy a candle at Hobby Lobby? Well, I thought this verse was really saying, "Look Beth...you're not fooling anybody into thinking what an awesome wife and mother you are, especially not your family...so drop the act." I started to pay attention and I kept reading. But I really didn't understand verses 24 and 25. I thought "Is this about the job?"...so I read the footnote in my Bible. The footnote says...it is about the Word. What measure I take out of God's Word, then I will get more measured to me...and if I take nothing, what little I have will be taken...

Whoa!

Now see above, where I said I hadn't opened my Bible in a month...and you can see where this is going. So I decided that my problem wasn't money, or the lost job, or homeschooling, or my weight, or my anxiety...or whatever....

My problem is my measure I am using...So that is why I bought the candle....

I am going to light that candle...everyday...and measure out as much of God's wonderful words in the Bible until my cup runneth over.

Conflicted?...That would be an understatment.

2010-10-18T21:44:00.000-05:00

I'm conflicted...(just in case you couldn't tell)

about more children
about homeschooling
about a job
about my home

just about everything...

BUT I loved this post...go read...it's brilliant.

Playpen or cage?

2010-10-12T18:41:00.001-05:00

This morning I threw my back out. I have never done this before...Daughter11months took off up our stairs (for the second time) and I caught her at the second one to the top. She is fast...I'm telling you. I muttered to her, "That's it, girlie...you're headed to the cage." Don't call Human Services. The cage is not really a cage but what our family calls the playpen.

When I reached down to get her, I felt a pop and then terrible pain....Let's just say she didn't go to the cage. She escaped and I was stuck at the top of the stairs. Yelling..

I crawled to my chair. I have sat here ever since.

What does this have to do with who I work for? Nothing really.

Except lately, I have been pondering who I blog for, homeschool for, have lots of children for, serve healthy meals for (ha-this never happens)...

I have been a little worried that I am caught up in a subset of Christian Culture...that maybe I am becoming legalistic in my faith or lack thereof...that my playpen feels a little like a cage.

So I asked our preacher..."So Preacher...how do I know if I am becoming legalistic?" I also told him I would make a great Pharisee and if I had my choice I would like grace applied to me but I would like to apply the law to everyone else. See how nice I am...I am a lawyer.

His answer was great...First, he says...he was positive I would have been a great Pharisee. But the real question was...was I doing these things to try please God or man?

And honestly...I am not so sure which one it is.

There is a very real possibility I will be joining the workforce soon, the kids will go to public school and having more children is not an option now. Not because this is what I want...but maybe it is. Some days I love my playpen...some days it feels like a cage. Sometimes circumstances dictate and they are dictating now...what our lives are going to become. Is God in these circumstances? I hope so. I have great anxiety about the changes in my (our) life...

Applying grace to my life...without any concern to what man thinks...well, the freedom in Christ makes my head spin a little.

Grace is revolutionary!

Viva la revolucion!

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.

Disclaimer: I believe homeschooling and lots of children are good thing, why else have I been doing these things...I am just not sure I am going to be able to continue. All you mamas doing this are awesome!

Playing Hookie (or is it Hooky?)

2010-10-03T12:11:00.001-05:00

Hookey, Hookie, Hooky...However you spell it, I'm playing it. Skipping church and blogging. I don't have to tell you what a terrible person I am....you know.

I've got a pretty good excuse though, my little girl, 11 months has a strange rash from head to toe. I would take a picture but I am too lazy for that today. She had a 104.5 temp on Wednesday night so Thursday we loaded up and went to the doctor. After waiting an hour and fifteen minutes, the Dr. came in and spent...I am not kidding...maybe two minutes. Maybe...I am being generous.

Didn't push on her belly, but maybe they just do that for show anyway...I don't know. Didn't feel her lymph nodes...which are swollen by the way. Basically just proclaims it was an ear infection and WHOOSH out the door she went....

I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. Speechless, I tell you...which is difficult for me. The nurse comes back in hands me a prescription...and we go off to Wal-Mart.

Then we wait one hour at the pharmacy...because THEY messed up her birthday. Get erythromycin. Also get projectile vomiting from the erythromycin. Call back, get Duricef. Get rash from head to toe from Duricef.

Then we all play hooky from Church and Mama puts it all on her blog.

I actually did go to Church for a little while today...because the adult Sunday School teacher is a ER doctor so I ~~made him~~ asked him nicely if he would look at her rash...

So ~~Sunday school teacher~~ ER doctor's opinion is....drum roll...I am a crazy overprotective mother and I should give her the Duricef because the rash looks viral to him and she needs the antibiotic for her ears...

Ta Da! Who says no one posts anything fascinating on Sundays...

Three Little Cups of Ketchup

2010-08-23T23:17:00.000-05:00

Tonight was a challenging night. Very challenging...

First, it was my four year old's first night of gymnastics. Now I don't necessarily believe 4 year olds need extra curricular activities, in fact, I am thoroughly convinced they don't need them. In spite of being old enough to know better...I signed her up anyway. She begged and her older sister is a competitive gymnast, so we were going to be at the gym anyway.

Surprisingly enough... it all went well. She enjoyed it. But June, my daughter, has Type 1 Diabetes and physical exercise can make her blood sugar go too low, so as soon as we got in the car I checked it...it was 53. It really shouldn't get below 80. So I gave her two Glucose tablets and away we went to McDonald's.

When we got there...there was a lady with two daughters in front of us. The girls were around 10 and 12, I would guess. And Mom was making them pay for their own fast food with their own money....IN CHANGE. I was patient for all of about 2 seconds and then I started to mutter, breathe loud, shift my weight from foot to foot. Not my best moment of Christian love.

Now I must say most of the time I am in favor of mom's making daughters buy their own junk food but June's blood sugar was low. I had my son, 8, and baby, 10 months with me too. Everyone was hungry.

On and on it went. The girls didn't have enough money. Finally after 3 separate transactions, it was my turn. And...I...was...mad.

Mad at having to wait. Mad at my kids for being impatient. Mad at myself for getting mad.

So we order...

Get our cups and go to get ketchup. But I can't get the ketchup...because getting ketchup at McDonald's is a two handed job and I have the baby on my hip. I am just standing there staring at the ketchup machine. Thinking this just keeps getting better.

When I hear a soft, southern voice behind me..."I'll get your ketchup for you." It was the lady from the line...the lady I was so mad at...

"No, that's okay," I muttered and looked down.

"No, really...I'll take it to your table. How many?" She insisted.

I gave up...I humbled myself.."Okay." I sighed. "We need three." I looked at the floor.

So I walked over to the booth and let the lady bring me ketchup. It was truly like she was heaping coals on my head I felt so guilty.

I had been so angry with her...and she was being so kind to me.

I sat there still brooding...I was still not happy, but now mainly because of my sin.

Finally, I realized I could not rest until it was made right...I am a Christian, a disciple of Christ, his hands and feet on this earth...so I went over and apologized to a complete stranger in front of her children for being rude. Of course she waived it away...and said I had not been rude, but we both knew it wasn't exactly true..I had been.

But tonight, before I go to bed, I am thankful for a kind lady, who is raising her daughters right and who was kind to me at my worst...and for three little cups of ketchup.

A Wasted Summer

2010-08-19T22:12:00.001-05:00

I can't believe how long it has been since I wrote a post...

Today, was the first day of school for all the little children in my area, in my mind it means the end of summer, even though summer isn't officially over.

Truthfully...nothing has happened this summer. Nothing. And it is all my fault.

I wish I could go back to the May 10th post. Regain all that lost time. Make this summer fun, educational, loving-everything that it wasn't.

But I can't.

Want to know what I have done the entire summer? Basically, I have sat around on my behind staring at this computer screen...absolutely paralyzed with indecision.

I couldn't decide what curriculum to use for homeschool. In fact, I couldn't decide if I even was going to homeschool...

Should I go practice law because the economy looks dismal? Should I wait one more year? What will happen to my career? Will I even have one?

Should I have another baby? (got to get going on this because I will be 36 in a few months)

On and on it goes.

As my mother and I were walking on Monday evening, even though the weather is much too hot...I told her I had finally made up my mind I would, in fact, homeschool another year, not practice law, ummm, the baby thing remains undecided. (But God sends babies, so I'm not sure I even should get to decide this, but that is another post.)

But then I confided in her that I wished I could get this summer back. I had squandered it...hid it like the talent in ground...but generally I was feeling better. Unfortunately, my indecision had undone a lot of the work I had done around my home and with the kids. Basically, I was like the foolish woman tearing down her own house, all because I couldn't make up my mind.

Then, because she is a wise mama, she said, "You know indecision is akin to fear. They are almost the same thing."

She is so right. I wasted this summer because I was paralyzed with fear...fear I would make the WRONG decision. I would decide the wrong way and destroy my children, my family, my own soul...I can not even began to tell you the awful things I would imagine in my mind.

However, my problem was that I wasn't trusting in the Lord. I was trusting in my own weak mind to make the right decision. EVERYTHING HINGED ON IT. What a joke! I don't think I have that much power. I know who has the power and it ain't me. I was and am truly convicted of my lack of trust in Jesus. As if MY decisions are so earth shattering. God is on his Throne. All is well.

So this is it...a cautionary tale...lest some other fearful mother waste her summer like I did fearing and fretting over nothing.

I thank God today is a new day as well as tomorrow (God willing)....I'm living it for HIM.

Blessings in the Mail

2010-05-10T19:51:00.000-05:00

Look what I got in the mail today....

I have never won a giveaway on a blog...and I. can. not. stop. entering.
Everytime I see one I have to sign up. I always say "well, you never know." But I have yet to ever win. Ever.

But today was just like winning but only better because...
a giveaway is random...this was a intentional blessing from a friend. So wonderful!!!

I can not tell you how long I have wanted this book, probably years, seriously...and today a much wiser dear friend sent it to me for absolutely NO reason...Wow! Some chocolate kisses were in there too. Yummy!

It was truly a special blessing to me and my family (the kisses) on a dreary, rainy day...like today. With rumors of tornados on the news. Yikes!

Thank you, Trisha! I can't wait to read it. But to tell the truth the Hershey Kisses are long gone : )

No Whining!

2010-05-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

I'm afraid I've been doing that a lot on here lately. My last post just didn't suit me, it rung with "poor me." So I took it down. Whining is becoming a BAD habit around here...for everyone, including me. How does it slip up on me so quickly?

New rule for me...No Whining!!!!

I think I should have already learned this...like 30 years ago.

Today, I am trying to do this...

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Have a good weekend!

P.S. For those of you that got the whining post, I'm going to do the giveaway...I think.

My Favorite Story

2010-04-28T18:50:00.000-05:00

I am feeling rebellious...so I took down my Honey from the Rock page, where I listed all the multitudes of blessings God has given me. I was participating over at Holy Experience. There are SO many blessings to write about, but I just wasn't updating it regularly...shame on me, really...I am a terrible person. I do not deny it, but I do try to thank Him personally everyday. Truthfully, sometimes I'm not so great at that either..

So I replaced it with my favorite story..but before you write me off as the worst Christian ever...

I wanted to give you a chance to come read it if you want to...so here it is...

Gone fishin'

2010-04-26T14:34:00.000-05:00

Where have I been? Why I was gone fishin' of course!

No, not really. But my son did. He caught 38 perch and 1 big catfish. Bless his heart...the poor kid couldn't hardly lift the thing.

We ate all those fish, too, for Sunday dinner. It really took me back to my childhood. We used to catch fish and eat them all the time. But now, I'm not sure how much is safe to eat. But one bite and I was instantly 8 years old again, the same age as my son. My Grandmother cooked all those fish. She is one tough lady at 82. She was the one who taught me to fish for my supper and to clean a fish.

I am so thankful...for a son who brings home fish and for Sunday dinners at Grandma's.

I've grown older but Grandma's fried perch taste the same...I can't hardly describe the taste...salty, crunchy, and a little muddy. Why they tasted justed like home...I was glad to go back for a moment.

My (Least) Favorite Time of The Year

2010-04-17T08:36:00.001-05:00

I'm not enjoying this month so far. For one, I have hay fever so bad I actually dread going outside...Secondly, I homeschool and this is my very first year. Therefore, don't really listen to me about anything having to do with homeschool. So now I am re-evaluating everything we have used this year. Argggg!

And. This. Is. Stressing. Me.

Basically how this works is I worry about what curriculum I should be using from now until about December when I give up and decide it's too late to do anything about it. Then I am okay till about April (now) when I must start it all over again. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

And everyone has an opinion. The first question I keep asking myself is am I up to doing this again next year? My husband basically is okay with putting them in school if I want too. He is so sweet, he likes homeschooling but he worries I need a break. My friends think I am crazy...but basically I have decided...I AM homeschooling for another year, I think.

Secondly, both my little students are not strong readers. I need a awesome reading program...I can't just grab books and tell them to read. It just doesn't seem to work with kids who hate reading. I am thinking of just spending ALL my money on Sonlight 5 and letting my third grader follow along. I worry that Sonlight will be too hard for me and too expensive. It does seem rather expensive for what you get, but I might be able to piece it together used if I decide now....

I also use Saxon Math. I actually think this is a good program. I may review it later one here so we are keeping this one. In fact, this is the only program I am somewhat sure we are going to use next year.

This year we used Beautiful Feet Early American History, and we have all liked it but it is too easy for a 5th grader. I was pushing it by using it on a 4th grader. But I highly recommend it.

I also used Shurley English 4. This program is rigorous. I liked it and my daughter really learned grammar. I have reservations about it because I'm afraid she is going to turn completely into a grammar person and hate reading. I want her to love to learn. And like reading. So I am thinking that maybe a gentler approach like Sonlight might be better. HELP ME?!?

I really want to decide now, spend all the money, be committed and then forget about it...Any opinions?

I fired my babysitter...

2010-04-14T13:48:00.000-05:00

I had to let her go...sure she was there whenever I needed to get something done and she worked for free, but she was showing my kids things they didn't need to see and wasting their time...so I unplugged her.

Okay, I know that is silly, but I took the TV out of our playroom on Monday. I still have the one in the living room but it hasn't been on more than two hours all week, I promise. I read this and it made me think about what I wanted my kids head filled with...

This could be one of the best things I have ever done. Things have been so much better around here. The kids actually play with each other instead of fighting all the time. Every five minutes there was a fight about the TV.

"Mom, she's changing the channel...Mom, I want to watch Arthur, but K. wants to watch Barney...He's blocking the TV!!!!!!" It was driving me crazy...not to even mention that the little mouths in this house were getting way to smart...if you catch my drift. So Monday morning, I asked my husband to get that thing out of there...and has been a million times better. It's like something out of the "Sound of Music" around here.

Another reason, I love getting rid of all (video games were included) my electronic babysitters is that it makes ME feel like a better mother. And when I feel like I'm doing my job well that God gave me, that makes me feel happy. I'm not judging...because there are times when mothers are merely trying to survive the days...believe me I have been there many times...and if the TV gets you through those tough times, well we all do what we have to do. I would just say be sure that the TV isn't CAUSING those rough times, because I think it actually was around here.

One more thing we are doing is this. We just started today. I have three little plastic cups with names on them. I found half price Easter M&M's at Walgreens last night. So if you say sweet words to others you get sweets, (only at supper, because K. is diabetic), but if you say mean words you get...

Okay, I don't have any black rocks like Trisha, so a girl's got to use what she has, right? And what I found was some OLD, OLD unpopped popcorn with a dead moth in it...so that's what you get if your mean...

So, no TV and popcorn with dead moths...aren't you glad I'm not your mother?

Fighting the Dreaded Coupon Burn-Out

2010-04-12T08:23:00.003-05:00

Coupon burn-out...all couponers get it and I've got it now. It seems to follow weeks of good deals that I am snatching up right and left. Right now, I'm not seeing many good deals which is discouraging. But I've had coupon burn out before...and I lived to tell the story and you can too. Here is what worked for me...

1. Quit clipping coupons...I used to clip and I had my coupon carrier filled to the brim, but I got tired of spending a hour on Sunday...so now I never clip. My system involves manilla file folders. I just put the date on the outside and file them with the oldest dates in back and the newest in the front. Now I just clip what I'm pretty sure I'll use. I do miss some deals this way...if I find something on sale and I don't have my coupons with me...someone else leaves with my bargains, but what is your sanity worth anyway? If you're tired of clippin'...quit clippin'. Here is my file...a little messy and it says some of my law classes on the labels, but I am all about recycling.

2. Keep buying papers. I buy two papers every week, or more if I know something good is coming...and when the Bayer Meter coupon comes back I'm buying 50. If you are really burned out, don't even look at the inserts, just shove them in the file and forget about them. Here's what will happen if you don't keep buying papers...awesome coupons with long expiration dates will be in those papers you didn't buy and you'll be sad. Also, who knows when you'll get fired up and ready to go again and you don't want to wait to get started.

3. Use those coupons you've already clipped. (only on what you need though) This really helps me. The reason I say this is when deals are sparse, .50 off full priced yogurt may not be the best deal, but it is still .50 in your pocket. Sometime I do save coupons...for example I printed off four of the 1.50 off Oscar Mayer Bacon coupons and I saved them and saved them. Well, they were getting ready to expire so I used them at Wal-mart today. The bacon still cost me 6.xx for four pounds, but that is still a good price. Couponing is a little like gambling though, you got to know when to hold them...know when to fold them...(Forgive me, I do like some old Kenney Rogers.)

Another reason is that it will make you feel a little better. I was getting tired of couponing and didn't really feel like going to the Kroger Mega Sale...so I just decided if I had a coupon for it and it was part of the sale, I was going to buy it. I didn't even count how many deals I did...but it felt good to spend all those coupons and this is what I got for 73.54...

4. Keep signing up for FREE food on the internet. The main reason I say this is because who knows when you're going to get it. Sometimes the coupon comes in a week...sometimes it takes three months...and sometimes you never get it. But free is free...and you still have to feed your family something.

5. Don't beat yourself up when you have to pay full price. Sometimes mothers just don't have time to do all this...do what you can and forget the rest.

Hope this helps...I quit couponing for about a 6 months and came back with a vengence...

This post linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Yikes!

2010-04-10T09:56:00.000-05:00

One reason I have not been blogging...
1. I have fluid in my ear and it is driving me absolutely batty. I finally broke down and went to the doctor and now am on Augmentin. Yay! The bad news is it has been three days and no change...I'm worried it won't work.

AND

2. This is such a lame story (you have my permission to laugh)...but I sent a email to a blog I had read for a really long time. This blog doesn't allow comments, but is constantly asking you to email privately.

It was just a little note. Really just three lines...Thanks...love your blog...yadda.yadda.yadda. You get the picture. Guess what I got back.

An autoresponse form letter...what!?!...it is making me rethink a lot about what I see and read on this computer.

I don't think it was un-Christian or anything like that...it just made me feel, well, bad. I guess it made me feel I was wasting my time. Sort of like I had written a letter to Brad Pitt... run to my mailbox and instead of a letter from Brad Pitt, its a letter from the Brad Pitt fan club asking me to join. In my mind, I keep thinking, really Beth, you are way too old for this. It makes me laugh, now...

For the record, I'm not really a Brad Pitt fan, but I am so out of touch with modern actors, he was all I could think of...now that's funny.

Making the Perfect Pitcher of Iced Tea (in the Microwave)

2010-03-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

I am a Southerner and I love my iced tea. Umm, I also loved it with a lot of sugar. Ideally, it should look something like pancake syrup-dark and sweet. But that all had to change... when my daughter, K.E. , who is only 3, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The dietician doesn't make you quit all sweet drinks but my family basically started drinking water with meals...sometimes, we have juice (or Coke), but not often.

That brings me to my tea...it has to be unsweetened, which basically goes against everything I was raised with...like I said, pancake syrup. But I still need some caffeine to get me through the day, so I had to learn to make a good pitcher of unsweetened iced tea. Iced tea is a cheap source of caffeine, too. I paid .68 for 100 tea bags at Walgreens. That makes each pitcher less than .03. Now that's about right.

Let me just say...sugar covers a multitude of sins in tea making. So I had to perfect my method to have drinkable tea...this is it.

Perfect Iced Tea

4 regular sized Lipton Tea Bags or 2 Family Sized ones (doesn't have to be Lipton, I like Lusianne, too)
water
(see I said this recipe was easy)

Find a four cup measure, preferably made of glass. (I'm scared to microwave plastic.) Fill with water and place the tea bags in the measuring cup.

Microwave for 4 minutes. DO NOT BOIL!!! This is important...not a tiny bubble, the water needs to be as hot as it can without boiling. You'll probably have to experiment because we all know that microwave times vary.

Remove the cup from the microwave. The tea color will all be on the top of the water, and if made now the tea will be much too weak. It should look like this.

Now wait until the tea color spreads to the bottom of the cup. It took mine about 7 minutes. It should look like this...

Remove the tea bags. I gently press them, and I do mean gently. Pressing too hard will make the tea cloudy.

Pour into a 12 cup pitcher. Then refill your measuring cup two more times and pour it in the pitcher. Stir. I don't wash my measuring cup, I figure the hot water and the double rinse will keep it clean. I'll leave it up to you.

Voila! Perfectly clear tea!

Thankful for Home

2010-03-29T07:00:00.009-05:00

I am a lawyer. That is strange to say because I have never practiced law. Nope...Never. I got saved during law school and instead of God calling me to be a missionary in Africa, he called me to be a missionary at my home. Peculiar.

Last weekend I went out with a dear, dear friend, who just happens to be a high powered attorney and her husband who is a college professor. We agreed to meet at a near by local restaurant. When we got there, I glanced at the table and my pulse quickened...papers. Legal papers I thought. Yay!!! I get to look over some documents. She is going to ask my opinion. Somebody cares what I think. I was so excited.

Ummmm, not so much...it was the menu. Yup.

So the conversation turned to when was I going to get a job. I may have mentioned it myself...my friend was in no way unkind. She is a sweetheart. When not in court...

I said maybe I might volunteer at legal aid half a day on Fridays. The entire table quickly agreed, my husband included, it would be so good for me.

Yes...
Yes...
It could work.
Just. four. hours.

My friend said she knew somebody, who knew somebody, and would get me the number of the guy who ran it.

On the way home, I chatted exitedly to my husband...this was going to be great...I could fulfill my Christian duty to the poor and helpless. I could defend the defenseless. Christianity at its finest.

Then I got home...

And my sweet little five month old girls face was red and tears were streaming down her little fat cheeks. She did not like me being gone. Not even for three hours with friends. Not at all...

And the magical spell was broken...

I came back to my senses as if from a dream...

I knew where Jesus had sent me...it was to the helpless and defenseless...

in my own home.

I didn't want to miss what I had been called to do...I wasn't ready to leave this mission field even for a minute.

Legal aid is a good thing, I'm gonna work there someday, but today, I am where I am supposed to be and

I am thankful..

Friday Final Failure

2010-03-26T21:39:00.000-05:00

I didn't make it to Kroger OR Walgreens this week. I know... I can't believe I missed a week of a MEGA sale, but I really am trying to stay under a 100.00 a week. I really didn't see anything at Walgreens this week I had to have. Also, last Saturday, I made a mistake and actually dared to enter a Wal-Mart. Well, there went the whole budget in about an hour. I have heard it said for every hour you spend in Wal-mart, you will spend 100.00-I'm just saying.

As soon as we got into the store o' doom, my husband informed me that we needed oil. No, not cooking oil for 2.00 but vehicle oil for BOTH our vehicles and top it all off with two oil filters which was 50.00. Okay, it wasn't all his fault because I spent the other 50.00 on bread, cheese, lunchmeat...just the basic things we use around here. My frugal friday tip is stay away from Wal-mart.

So I have no awesome pictures of all the free stuff I got, but I'll do better next week. I hope.

The 80's Salmon Croquettes

2010-03-23T22:03:00.004-05:00

This recipe takes me back. My mother made these all the time when I was a kid which was in, you guessed it... the '80's. I always really liked them, too. This recipe is her's. In fact, when I called to get the recipe today, guess what she told me...don't burn yourself. I have been married for 16 years, have four kids, and cooking a large part of that time and she's worried about me burning myself. Of course, she should be because I can not cook without some type of injury. So when the oil popped on me, I had to laugh...

The 80's Salmon Croquettes

1 can of Salmon
1/2 sleeve of saltine crackers
1 egg
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 or 2 heaping T. of corn meal (I used self-rising)

1. Pick the skin and bones out of the salmon. Reserve the liquid in the salmon can. Okay this is gross to me, but its worth it. And your never going to get all the bones out, just do the best you can. My mother says her friend who used to be a fisherman, said this step isn't necessary, but trust me...it is.

2. Crush half a sleeve of saltine crackers. I just used my fingers for this. Add salt and pepper.

3. Add salmon, egg, salmon liquid and 1 heaping Tablespoon of corn meal. Mix it up. I put the salmon juice in a bowl and let it settle a bit because mine had little bones and skin in it. Then I poured it off trying to leave the solids in the bottom and not in my croquettes. I also used 2 heaping tablespoons because I like a lot of filler in mine. But this was almost too much, you'll just have to use your judgment on this part. This was a heaping tablespoon to me.

4. Mix well. Use a heaping tablespoon and form into patties with your hands.

5. Now you can refrigerate the salmon croquettes or fry them now. I refrigerated mine for about an hour, just because I wasn't ready for them yet.

6. Heat a large skillet on medium to medium high heat. I can't cook on high on my stove or the fire dept. will come. Pour about a 1/4-1/2 inch of vegetable oil in the bottom. It needs to come about half way up the side of the croquettes.

7. When oil is hot, place croquettes in skillet and cook on one side about 4-5 minutes. It depends on the heat of your skillet. Wait until the first side is really brown...don't turn to fast or they might fall apart. Also, test the oil with a little piece before you put them all in.

8. Serve while hot.

These are so good. My kids will actually eat these and they are picky. They thought it was chicken and I didn't correct them. Also, this recipe only made about 8 croquettes, so you might need to double if you have a large family. We didn't have any leftovers...at all. The kids eat them with ketchup...so do I.

I leave you with the wise words of my mother..."don't burn yourself."

This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday

My Girl Sophie

2010-03-22T19:53:00.000-05:00

Not the baby, the giraffe.

Her name is Sophie and she is extremely popular at our house right now.

You may be asking what a tightwad farmer's wife like myself is linking to a $14.95 teether when that is as much as I spend on groceries for a week. First, it was a gift. And secondly, and more importantly, I thought it was a cute picture.

Breaking the Garden and Potato Planting Time

2010-03-20T11:51:00.003-05:00

We broke our garden yesterday. That's what they call it here.

The tractor is way, WAY too big for the job, but SOMEBODY borrowed our little tractor and its been gone a quite a while. In fact, I flagged down my husband when I saw the plow actually disappear under the ground. I didn't want to break the ground too deep. He said he would go shallower next time. I don't know why he puts up with me.

The plow was free. My Dad said that the plow was no good and that we could have so... we got it for free. It works fine for us, but we may or may not know what we are doing.

This is the ground all broken. It was a little deep, I think. The next step would be to disc up the ground but we don't have a disc. Oh well. We'll make do. So my husband just tilled up enough for us to plant with my little tiller.

Around here, the old timers say "you must have your potatoes in the ground by Saint Patrick's Day." I'm a little late but not too bad. Don't ask about the boots, tucking his pants in them drives me crazy.

What I've been told about planting potatoes-Mr. A, our older neighbor who used to be a professional organic farmer says...1. Don't fertilize your potatoes until they are up a little, because fertilizer will rot them. 2. Don't pay any attention to how you cut them-Just cut! We tried his methods last year. They both were successful, and also saved us work. Cutting seed potatoes drives me crazy...trying to get an eye in each little piece. Just cutting in big chunks works better for my temperment.

We planted two rows, which were a little crooked, but my Grandpa always said you can get more in a crooked row than a straight row." The last little bit of the second row is in onion sets. I plant those the same way...just drop them in...I don't pay any attention to which end is up. It has worked for me so far.

So far on the garden we have spent-10# seed potatoes @ .49lb = 4.90 (We bought Red Pontiac.)
                                                       1# Onion sets @ 1.40lb    = 1.40
                                                       Radish seed                      =    .50

                                                       Total spent                        = 6.80 (not counting the diesel used to break the garden)

This year, I'm trying to record my costs of my garden. Also, I am trying to grow a garden just like my Grandparents did...we'll see how it goes.

For more on my garden-click here.

My Pitiful Walgreens Trip

2010-03-18T22:42:00.001-05:00

That's it...not too much to brag about. There is another hand sanitizer in the car. They were a dollar so I decided I would use them as filler because I bath my children in it. I'm hooked on the stuff. I had trouble with this trip. Probably because I did not plan well enough what I was going to do. I had two Colgate RR from two weeks ago, so I couldn't use them to buy the Colgate this week. It was kind of a disaster. And then while checking out the catalina machine jammed...oh yes, it was one of those trips.

Spent 12.00 in RR

Plus 7.xx (can't remember exactly) Out of pocket

Got back 14.00 RR

Also, the Chocolate was on sale for 1.07 at my store if that helps anyone. (It was delicious. Look close at that box and see if you notice anything--like its empty)

My Kroger Trip

2010-03-18T22:33:00.001-05:00

The Mega Sale is on at Kroger!!!! Run to Kroger...No wait, first look at my picture...

The best deal was the Bumblebee tuna. I got 8. And the Ronzoni Pasta, got 8 of those, too. It's hard to see but there are 8 Tennessee Pride sausages in the plastic bag, and they were .90 a piece. I had some .55 tear pads. My Kroger only doubles up to 8 like coupons. The Clorox wipes were on Manager's Special for 1.49.(Oh, and I bought a Shamrock and donated 1.00 to the MDA.)

Manu. coupon savings. 35.20

Bonus coupon savings 12.45

Kroger plus savings 58.58

(its crazy not to have a Kroger Card, so I don't usually count this)

Grand Total 36.62 (saved 76%)

The Simplest Way To Save Money

2010-03-18T22:05:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I can be a little slow to catch on... But this year, I decided to follow Aimee's lead and buy nothing extra until after Easter. When I was just beginning to learn how to save money, I would hear tips like "shop at garage sales" or "clip coupons and buy things on sale." The usual ways. In fact, someone would post a question on a forum I would frequent, "how do I save money, I've got 100.00 to live on for two weeks." The usual reply would be shop at a thrift store or make your food from scratch.

I'm not saying these aren't good tips (I do most of them) but I've got a better one.

If you've only got 100.00 to make it through for two weeks...

Don't buy anything.

That's right...that's my awesome tip. I know, everyone already knows my awesome tip. (And I'm not talking milk for the baby here people, if you need that you HAVE to get it.) I'm talking about all the things we think we have to have.

For instance, I'm pretty good at following my own rule except when it comes to homeschool materials and books. I love to spend money on them so much that we have an entire house full of them. No, I am not kidding. So I am thinking of next year already and wanting a some things the kids could work on this summer. I found myself getting ready to order this (used of course.) But I realized we have so many other workbooks around the house, I could just use something I already have.

Let me offer another example, I made my Wal-Mart shopping list this week, because I really don't shop at Wal-Mart much because they don't double coupons and I can usually do better at Kroger. All the list had on it was a notebook, ream of paper and bleach. That was all I really needed. But today, when my daughter finished a notebook full of math and needed to start another one, I started digging around in my office and found an old one that my three year old had scribbled on (the first few pages only). It cost .10 when school started. I don't know what one costs now, I am guessing a dollar. Saving me a whopping .90, but more importantly I didn't buy another notebook that I really didn't need. I just can't take anymore stuff in my house.

Therefore, the simplest way to save money is to not buy anything. Duh! Why didn't I think of this before...

This post is linked to Frugal Fridays at Life As Mom.

Forsake Not the Geeks

2010-03-12T21:48:00.006-06:00

Isn't that written in the Bible, somewhere? Come on, help me out here. I heard a guy on the radio say it so it must be true. See, I am a geek. And no, I am not kidding.

Its not that bad, really. It got me through law school, even though that really hasn't helped me out as much as I thought since I became a wife and mother. I was technically a wife and mother while in law school, but not really, if you catch my drift.

The problem is that when I go to church, or anywhere, for that matter, I am immediately taken for what I am...a geek. With unruly red hair and thick glasses, I'm quite easy to spot, but no one usually does. In fact my hair is so unruly and I. Can. Not. Get. Time. For. A. Haircut. I catch myself actually looking at my nine year old with the scissors and think well she does pretty good with that paper, maybe she could do something with this mop on my head. But I digress...

Anyway, I have always longed for close Christian friends. And twice I have thought I found them only for the relationships to end with a soul crushing rejection that I blame on my geekiness and complete inability to fit in. For example, at one church we tried to fit in, everyone went to dinner after church, but us. One day, one couple's ten year old daughter asked us to come along , and we did. I know, but we were so lonely, shall I say desperate. Let's just say, The Group made it clear we weren't welcome and that was that. Read this for more about unkindness among the devout. I've been guilty myself.

One mistake we made was trying too hard to fit in. We didn't fit and I knew and they knew it. Also, I think people in the middle are largely overlooked. People notice homeless people want to minister to them, As well they should, I say "me, too." And they notice the rich, beautiful svelte people and want to minister to them. Dare I say "me too" here? But, well, the frumpy housewife with too many kids, ummm, not so much.

So how do I survive rejection(s)...count it all joy and try to forget about it.

But I would rather tell what rejection has taught me...and it is so simple...

Don't. do. it.

Yup, pretty simple, right?

Maybe.

Do unto others...Jesus did say that.

and forsake not the geeks. (Okay, I made that up, but I think that is what He meant.)

This post is linked to Faith Barista.

My Shopping Trip to Kroger

2010-03-10T14:40:00.003-06:00

I made my weekly trip to Kroger last night and there weren't really that many deals. All this cost 25.47, which I thought wasn't too bad.

The freebies were the Betty Crocker Pouch Potatoes. They were on sale for .67. You can print coupons for .40/1 here, here and here. I bought five. Barilla Piccolini are on sale for 10/10.00. There was a .55/1 in the 3/7SS. My Kroger doubles up to .60 so these were free. I got four.

I didn't go to Walgreens. There just wasn't anything I thought was that great of a deal. But I have to go next week because I have 12.00 in Register Rewards to spend.

So if you didn't understand a word of this, you must not be a couponer.

Why not? (it saves me so much money)

If interested, Clippin with Carrie has the best Walgreens deals. She never misses one.

Southern Savers does exhaustive coupon match-ups for Kroger and Walgreens.

I think these two are the best.

Pictures of the New Farm

2010-03-10T10:08:00.001-06:00

We recently bought 105 acres. Here are a few photos of it.

It has beautiful creeks running all through it.

Plenty of antiques, too.

Free Okra

2010-03-09T08:25:00.041-06:00

When I was burning off the garden, I found these...do you know what these are?

Okra pods!

And with the help of two darling girls...this is what we ended up with....

Okra seeds can be saved because they are not a hybrid (usually). In fact, my 93 year old Grandma asked me if I had saved my Okra seeds and she was around during the Great Depression (though not that old.) So I do what Grandma says...she knows frugality.

This post is linked to Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom.

Step One-Beginning the Garden by Setting it on Fire

2010-03-08T09:29:00.003-06:00

This is my garden. Yes, I am well aware it is on fire.

The first step in growing a good garden is burning off the old, dead grass. (I'm sure I could draw a spiritual analogy-maybe I'll think on it.) "Burnin' off the garden" is what my 93 year old Grandma calls it and she says it is a requirement. You'll have to excuse me, if I believe her over other so called experts, but I am confident she knows what she is talking about. She has grown a garden to support and feed her family for at least 75 years, so if she says burn it...well, I burn it.

My garden is rather large. I fenced off an acre which was probably about 3/4 of an acre too much, but oh well, live and learn.

Here it is after shot...

Looks promising...

Updated here.

This post is linked to 5 Dollar Dinners.

Starkist Tuna Coupon.

2010-03-04T08:10:00.002-06:00

Print 1.00 off Starkist Tuna Pouches.
This will make it about .07 at Wal-mart.
Don't forget to print two (hit back, refresh, retry) to get another copy.

The Subway Story

2010-03-02T09:34:00.001-06:00

Sorry to disappoint, but this is not a story about me riding on a subway. This is my story about me eating a Subway. Big difference. One seems glamorous (this may be because the nearest subway is a 1000 miles away-it might not be that cool if I had to take one to work everyday). The other not so glamorous. Especially the way I do it.

So on our date night, my husband and I used to go to Subway, that is... until The Incident occured (that's what I like to call it).

I was always suspicious of Subway. One because I don't really like vegetables. There I said it. Now go ahead and judge me...I am a terrible person. So when the server or helper or whatever you want to call them would begin questioning me about what I want on my sub...I would say mustard and pickles or only ranch or whatever I was in the mood for at that moment. And the server would raise her eyebrows a little and look at her co-worker. I KNEW they were talking about me. I could tell they were thinking "Look at that fat girl...put some veggies on that and take off that ranch." Okay, I don't know that is what they were thinking, but for the sake of the story I'm leaving it. Did I mention that I am paranoid?

Well, this night I am making polite chit-chat with the worker and she mentions car seats and how she saw the local police chief with his kid not in a car seat. So I chime in with my opinion...which I am not sharing right now because I don't want anyone to attack me.

After a few seconds, she says, "Are you having one?" Now what would any reasonable person take this to mean? Another sub maybe because I WAS STANDING IN LINE AT A SUBWAY!!! But alas no, I am not that quick and since we had been talking about children and I have four and that is always what is on my mind...well, guess what I thought she meant?

I THOUGHT SHE WAS ASKING IF I WAS PREGNANT.

So what do I do?

I answer..."Nope, just had one three months ago."

I tell you that girl looked at me like I was the craziest insane fat girl she had ever seen order a Subway with out any veggies...and the whole restaurant got quiet and my husband stared at me slack jawed. (And things I say NEVER suprise him.)

And then she figured out what I was talking about and her face turned red and mine turned red and I mumbled something about a Chicken Bacon Ranch toasted-no veggies.

That is the story about why I am banned from Subway forever, or at least until I can go in there without blushing...which may be Saturday because a girl can only go so long without her Subway no veggies.

The Monday Meal

2010-03-01T16:45:00.042-06:00

My third child, K.E., has Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. She was diagnosed when she was two. I am going to blog her story when I can. We have known probably for 10 months. So I have decided that I am going to figure the carbs on one meal a week. That is all I can manage right now. (I do figure carbs the best I can from this book.) I figure though I am going to be cooking for her for the next 16 years at least so I might as well have some exact numbers.

Taco Soup (adapted from this recipe.)

2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 can pinto beans
1 can whole kernel corn ,drained
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix -(opt.) I used 3 tbls.
1 pkg. original hidden valley ranch dressing(dry) I used 3 tbls.
2 1/2 cups water or more, to make soup broth
6 flour tortillas cut in strips and fried (baked in oven with oil and served on the side)
sour cream for garnish
Brown ground beef and onions in a large pan, drain off fat. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for an hour or so. Garnish with tortilla strips and sour cream.

Amount Per Serving (from this site.)

Calories 397
Total Carbohydrates 56.5g

Okay, it doesn't look that great in this picture, but it was pretty yummy. I thought it needed salt, but I think everything needs salt. My husband loved it. It was a wee bit spicy for me. I used fire roasted tomatos (that explains the black specks and one must ALWAYS explain the black specks). I didn't put the corn tortillas in it or fry them. At the last minute, I decided to put the in the oven and bake them with some oil and salt (lots). This recipe is so easy. My kids could probably make it and there was enough left over for tomorrow night.

Now the bad part was the kids would not touch it...but I have the pickiest kids on the earth. No Joke. I hate vegetables but they hate vegetables AND everything else. So they ate all the homemade tortilla chips. (I'll try to show these later on there weren't any left from tonight). So they ate some leftover (should say stale) garlic breadsticks and I made french fries on the other half of the tortilla pan.

As a side note, I love my new pot. My husband got it for me for Christmas. Okay, I ordered for my sister-in-law but loved it so much I kept it. (I didn't pay that for it-it was a lighting deal for around 40.00 before Christmas). Good thing she doesn't know about here. She got this instead, which I loved but her, well, not...so...much...You could have heard crickets when I gave it to her. And that is why I love Christmas, the memories last through out the year.

Free Tickets

2010-03-01T08:00:00.002-06:00

A strange thing happened Saturday night. It was our date night. Every Saturday, if my mother-in-law cooperates, we go out on our date. We used to go to Subway (which I embarassed myself at sooo bad-I'm telling that story next) and to Wal-mart. Exciting, huh?

Last night, instead of Subway (because of my embarassment) we went to a local fast food place. When we went in we were both talking about feeling a little guilty because we had not taken my son, E.D. to see the wrestling (or wrest'lin as I like to call it) at the the activity center. Now in case you are not from the South. Wrestling is a big thing.

No, I do not let my kids watch it on t.v. because it is obscene now with all the half dressed women not to mention now the wrestlers all seem to be evil. But when I was a kid, small groups of wrestlers would come and put on live shows. It was called Mid-South Wrestling and it was a right of passage as a child. Both me and my husband had both been as kids.

Anyway, when we walked into the restaurant the local radio station was on and guess what? They were giving away free tickets to the wrestling match. The deal was the first person to call and tell them who they had been interviewing would win two free tickets. So I called, I had NO idea who they had been interviewing but I was going to guess based on the flyer hanging on the wall.

The phone was ringing...
but then I heard...
they took another man's call and he answered, "It was the Grim Reaper." The announcer said "You won."

Then....

Click! The guy got disconnected. Announcer says we'll take the next call...

And it was...ME! So being the copycat that I am I said "The Grim Reaper." And bang, I won the tickets.

I went to pick them up...And guess what I said. "Thank you very much!" And "can I have one more?" (I don't know what got into me) The sweet girl with headphones on said "Sure."

So we raced home, picked up my son, nephew R.T. and my Dad (who had to buy a ticket). I had to miss my date night but it was worth it. And they all went to see this.

How's that for training up a child? Now if he tries any of those moves on me or his sisters I will put him in the Figure Four or Pile Drive him, I mean, I'm not that old yet. I'm still calling into radio stations.

Walgreens 2/28-3/6

2010-02-27T10:30:00.002-06:00

These are the deals that I am planning on doing this week. You can find the ad here. If you are not familiar with Walgreens this seems like a good tutorial. So here goes...

Transaction #1

Buy 3 Huggies Wipes at 5.99 = 17.97
Buy 2 Nivea lip care at 3.99 = 7.98
Total before coupons = 25.95

Use 1 Nivea BOGO (RP 2/7/10) -3.99 (hopefully, I'll let you know how it goes)
Use 1 Nivea In-Ad Coupon - 6.00
After coupons = 15.96

Use 9.00 Register Rewards

Total Out of Pocket = 6.98, get back 5.00 RR

Transaction #2

Buy 3 Scott Bath Tissue at 6.99 = 20.97
Buy 2 Nivea lip care at 3.99 = 7.98
Total = 28.95

Use 1 Nivea BOGO (RP 2/7/10) -3.99 (hopefully, I'll let you know how it goes)
Use 1 Nivea In-Ad Coupon - 6.00
After coupons = 15.96

Total OOP=18.96, get back 5.00 RR

I know this is a little high, but our brand is Scott Toliet Paper and it is 9.00 at Walmart, so I think this is a pretty decent price. It works out to be .39 a roll for Scott and in my opinion it lasts a lot longer.

This is soooo goood!

2010-02-03T13:18:00.000-06:00

When I read this I almost had to cry because I have been Eve tricked out of paradise. Luckily, I got to go back in...

To Spank or Not...

2010-01-11T15:10:00.000-06:00

Insights from a mom of a large family who appears to have it together...here and here.

You Know Who You Are...

2010-01-04T12:11:00.000-06:00

For everyone feeling the heat from too much holiday, too many resolutions, to many commitments and promises to themselves and everyone else...read this.

Sunday (and Everyday) Reading

2010-01-03T15:09:00.005-06:00

I am began my New Year with The One Year Bible (New Living Translation) and I have made it three whole days. That is actually pretty good for me. I struggled between this and The One Year Bible (King James Version.) I am not the type of Christian who believes it must be King James or nothing, but I am the first to admit that the King James is pure poetry. When I quote the Bible to a misbehaving child (with my finger pointed of course) I want it to be in the King James. But I also must admit after having my fourth sweet little babe, I am quite brain dead and even in my brighter times was not always entirely clear on what the King James was saying. With the New Living Translation, voila, no thinking involved. Just read...and enjoy.

However, I was so torn about the decision between the two, I asked by husband what he thought. His enlightened response was read whichever I wanted. So I picked the NLT, which is very unlike me to pick the easier thing to do. However, I am still a little torn because the NLT will say things like, he created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human.” Genesis 5: 2. And the KJV will say "male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." The King James just sounds better to me, but in light of my terrible case of "mommy brain" I think I will just stick with the New Living for now.

Perfect...

2009-12-31T20:40:00.000-06:00

This is the way I want to begin my New Year...

New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-31T08:30:00.001-06:00

I love New Year's Resolutions! I think it is the hope that gets me every year. The hope that this year will be better than the last and that I will be better too. I am always a little wary of people who don't make New Year's Resolutions. Have they just given up on ever being better? Or maybe they are just realistic...I don't think Chrisitanity offers much hope on us actually changing ourselves. Paul said "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." Enough said..

Now, knowing this have I actually ever kept my New Year's Resolutions. Nope...not really. I have kept one in 35 years and that was last year. I resolved to not buy any more cookbooks. Basically, I have been cooking for a long time and it is my favorite hobby, but honestly, I have a cookbook for every recipe under the sun. I can use what I have. Now I did recieve a few as gifts this Christmas and I am going to review them later. I am continuing this one, but will continue to accept them as gifts, because it's is rude to turn down a gift. : ) So this year I continue to fight my cookbook addiction.

My Other New Year's Resolutions are:

1. Read the Bible and Pray Everyday as an individual and as a family. I need to do this so bad...I love the Lord, but with the new baby I have been so remiss. Maybe do this, too.

2. Get back to the habit of doing Motivated Moms again. This literally changed my life...I am reviewing this sometime in the future, but trust me it is the best. Don't be intimidated.

3. No electronic media from 8:00-3:00. This includes the entire family. This time is sacred for homeshool.

Okay, I really need to stop now, before I make a hundred. Oh yeah, and I am blogging 7 posts per week, but I talked about that below.

Snow

2009-12-30T09:23:00.000-06:00

Trying this one more time...

2009-12-29T10:44:00.003-06:00

Well, one New Year's Resolution is...get back to blogging! I need to write something, even if it is only the mundane things I do around here everyday...so here goes nothing...literally.

French Toast

2009-04-11T17:19:00.002-05:00

My daughter, who is 8, harassed me all day yesterday for my French Toast Recipe. I finally relented and took the time to write it down for her.

This morning, before I got up, she had set the table and was getting ready to make French Toast. Her daddy helped her make it while I took a shower. It was really good. So good in fact...I didn't get any pictures because we ate it all...

French Toast

2 T. melted butter
2 T. flour
2 T. sugar
pinch of salt
4 eggs
1 c. milk
10-12 slices white bread

Add everything in this order except the bread or the flour won't mix in with the milk. Soak bread quickly or it will fall apart. Fry it in butter in an iron skillet. Yummy!!! Serve with Maple Syrup. This is the best French Toast and I made this recipe up myself...

Making a Menu Plan (and then facing reality)

2009-01-03T23:41:00.002-06:00

I had a great menu planned:

Monday: Sunday Gravy with Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Salad
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Soft Tacos, Refried Beans, Corn
Thursday: Ham and Brie Sandwich and French Fries
Friday: Homemade Pizza and Breadsticks

Then I went to Wal-Mart to get all the ingredients. Well, lets just say that the Sunday Gravy was going to cost about 20.00 bucks. Now, I love to cook, but I am not going to pay 20.00 for spaghetti sauce. So, I had to modify the recipe and I will post what I actually make...I still ended up spending 126.xx. I need a budget...

I will say that I found one good deal, I had 3 Suave lotion coupons for a 1.00 off and they had the small Suave lotions for .97 so I made .09 when I bought them...that was my only good deal though.

My Christmas Toy

2009-01-03T10:12:00.004-06:00

For those of you that actually know me and know my absolute ineptness at doing, well, basically anything at all...may be wondering if I am actually taking the beautiful pictures on here and the answer is, get ready...YES!

Mom and Dad, for Christmas, bought me a Nikon D60, which I love...and this thing takes the best pictures ever, I am not kidding...see for yourselves.

Yes, I am a spoiled brat and a princess, now that we got that out of the way... now you all must suffer by seeing a picture of basically everything I cook and do...

This is what I am wanting next...to go with my camera and a tripod (Haven't picked one out yet). It seems like a reasonable purchase to me. However, because I am saving my rewards from my Amazon Visa it could be a while.

I am working up to putting adorable pictures of my children on here but I still lack the nerve. Plus the bacon sits still, the kids run around...See my problem : )

It has been implied by a dear friend that I am using this as excuse to NOT study for the bar, this is preposterous as I am studying 12 hours a day. Okay, maybe not yet, but I am going to start Monday...no REALLY I Am...

American Made Saturday Morning Breakfast

2009-01-03T09:38:00.003-06:00

Every Saturday we have a tradition on Bacon and Eggs...sometimes with toast (like this morning) and sometimes with homemade biscuits and gravy. Anyway, we don't have many traditions around here but E, my 6 year old son, is the enforcer on this one. He loves bacon. So we usually have it every Saturday.

However, this morning, Dale, my husband made a comment about the orange juice probably being made in China...but he was wrong. It actually was made in Florida, and the Farmland Bacon (which is the best) is a made by a farmers' cooperative. And the eggs are made by the chickens in the back yard. So are traditional American Breakfast is truly American.

By the way, I only paid .50 for the bacon. Farmland is the best your going to find in the supermarket and every now and again there 2.00 off coupons so when Farmland is on sale for 2.50 (it is regularly 3.00), I get it for .50. I wish I had bought some more...

Sorry, this was all that was left....

Sullivan's No-Knead Bread

2009-01-02T10:48:00.003-06:00

I am a little bit behind the times...this bread has been written about by everyone but me in the whole world. But somebody has got to be last (but I bet it won't be me). This stuff is great and easy. I made this loaf for my dear mother who is recovering from surgery. However, I ran out of time and let it set in the refrigerator for two days instead of on the counter for 18 hours and it was still beautiful. Here is the recipe...

Yes, I did bake this bread and take the picture : )