Pam's Mc-Ramblings

And yet another month has slipped by.

2010-10-27T17:06:00.000-04:00

Here it is, folks...the end of October. I still don't have any fall decorating done.
When I was young, I never understood the old folks who would say, "Time goes by so quickly."
I. totally. understand. now.
I think its because I find lots of things to occupy my time...and some of them eat up a lot of my time (with my permission, of course). I do some things when I *should* be doing others...and time slips away from me.
So maybe when I say that time goes by quickly, what I'm really saying is I need to manage my time better.
hmmmm....

This is my 100th post.

2010-09-17T06:11:00.000-04:00

And I sure wish it were noteworthy. But it's not. My blog is called McRamblings for a reason. I tend to ramble and not say anything of consequence. But then, you knew that, especially if you've been with me for all 100 posts.

I just wanted to tell you that I got up at 5 this morning (not unusual) and immediately dug into the boys' algebra book (that's the unusual part). This semester's algebra book is set up this way: two worksheets that the class does together to explain the technique, then several problems to reinforce the technique. I studied the technique so I could teach it...then couldn't stop until I'd solved all the problems. I love a good puzzle...and I could have went on, but ran out of problems.

I'm just weird that way. :-)

Have a good weekend, my friends.

Well, August came and went without much hooplah.

2010-09-15T05:14:00.000-04:00

So...I didn't blog about it. We kept busy with work and activities, as usual. We picked bushels of apples...gave many away and froze as much as the freezer would hold. And I still. had. apples. So, for the first time in my life, I made huge batches of applesauce and I canned them. The kids helped, of course. I can't do all that I do without the help of my children.
We were also given tomatoes, so for the first time in my life I was able to can tomatoes without A) having to pay for them...or B) having to pick them. In fact, the only thing I've had to purchase this year was canning lids.
Hubs found time to install a ceiling fan on our remodeled porch. He and the boys painted the porch floor and it's holding up nicely. I forgot to pick up paint for the storm door, so that's not done yet. In fact, so many things aren't done yet I've decided not to depress myself by telling you about them...so that's all I have to say about that.

Meanwhile, life goes on. Dad has been in and out of the hospital since July. He's 83. 'nuff said.

OH, and we attended a wedding last week. The bride is my daughter's age.
>>freak out<<
When did I get this old? I was too busy living life to notice.

And yet once again my favorite time of year has rolled around. Thank you, Lord. Hubs and I are planning a getaway at one of the most beautiful places on earth to celebrate our anniversary. I hope to take many pictures...some of which I want to share with you. I'm just thoughtful that way. :-)

What we did over the holiday.

2010-07-07T17:39:00.008-04:00

Vacation pics will have to wait. We've been BUSY!

Doing what, Pam?

I'm glad you asked!

Ever since we purchased this house I've hated the way they put aluminum siding on the porch posts. Hubby has been unhappy with the porch railing. So last weekend we did some demolition...

...taking all that ugly siding off the porch posts....

(side note: if Hubs only knew what was under the siding he was straddling, he wouldn't do that b/c it turned out there was a big ole yellow jacket nest between the inside and outside panels)

Anyway, what was I saying?

...oh yeah. We were THRILLED beyond belief to find that the posts were in excellent condition.

So then we moved onto the railing--tearing each section down and building it back up.

This is what the left side of the porch looked like with the solid railing.

As I said before, Hubby didn't like the solid panel railing. Personally, I thought it was ugly, too, but I liked the privacy it provided.
But alas, that is no more...

...because we tore it off.

Then we made it all pretty again.

The view from the porch side. See the stacks of aluminum there to the right that we pulled off the porch? The box is full and the bigger panels are stacked up in front of it. It was taken to the recycling center the next day. I was soooo glad to get rid of it.

The view from the front again. We had bought new patio furniture earlier this year and now people can see it. Personally, I'd rather people minded their own business and didn't eyeball my porch, but that's just me. Hubs is happy. I'm happy that he's happy, so it's all good.

We sat on that furniture and there was a nice breeze that flowed through the porch. We purchased an outdoor ceiling fan and it will go on this side of the porch above said furniture--just as soon as Hubs runs the electrical wire to it. That's another project for another weekend.

We used treated lumber, so we have to wait until it dries out to paint it. Everything will be white when it's all done. Unless I change my mind. Which has been known to happen.

While tearing the railing out we got a glimpse of what our house looks like under that aluminum siding. This, we were not so thrilled to see.

It's that old shingle-type house covering and it's made to look like brick.

I was really hoping for some wood siding.

Anywho, that's what we did last weekend. My hubby is a genious. He did all this without prior experience and without blueprints. He had a design in his head and he made it happen. I'm so proud of him. Did I mention that the temps were in the 90's both Saturday and Monday (the two days we worked on the porch)? Yup, it was hot and HUMID! My kids were great, though...every one of them worked without grumbling through this whole process. Wish I could say the same for Hubs and I--we get grouchy when it's that hot.

Hope you had a happy Independence Day and were able to enjoy the fireworks. Saturday evening we cleaned up, popped 5 batches of popcorn on the stovetop and met up with some friends to watch the fireworks in town. It's a tradition that we take either popcorn or in-shell-peanuts for everyone to snack on while we wait for the fireworks to begin...since we arrive *early* at our favorite viewing spot. To be very honest with you, I can't tell you if the fireworks display was good this year or not...I was so tired I didn't care. That and I was sitting with my closest friend and was enjoying her company.

Happy July!

2010-07-01T23:22:00.000-04:00

I'm spending way too much time on Facebook and not enough on my blog. One single solitary post in May, none in June and now it's July.
Oddly enough I didn't have anything to say all that time. Isn't that out-of-character of me?
Anyway, we've been camping twice this year already. Once at Lake Erie (I have lots of beautiful pictures to share!) and once at a beautiful State Park that we love to visit (I didn't take the camera out of the bag once while we were there.)
So...Happy Independence Day everyone!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T00:01:00.001-04:00

May you feel blessed today.

Spring is in the air.

2010-04-28T17:59:00.003-04:00

Spring has finally come to the Ohio Valley. It has been slowing making an appearance all month, but today I can finally show you the wonderful blooms. My gardening friends (okay, I only have one -Deb- but it sounded good, right?) will appreciate today's pictures.

The lilac bush is beautiful. Wish you could smell it. {achoo!}

My favorite flower. It's my favorite because it came from my parent's farm.
...and because I've never seen this particular Iris anywhere else. It grew wild on the farm.

The Hostas have finally made an appearance after their long winter nap.

The neighbor's Parrot tulips were beautiful this year. Sadly, I didn't make it out there to snap a pic in the morning, when they're most spectacular.

The pink Dogwood at church is blooming
...but not the white one.

The Azaleas are looking marvelous this year.

Even the Dandelions are a welcome sight.
After a winter of seeing so much white, the colors of Spring are all welcome.

Of course, all this changes and the Dandelions will be a weed again starting next month.

Just sayin.

Once upon a time a woman started a blog...

2010-04-26T15:36:00.002-04:00

the end.

Not really...but lately it looks that way, doesn't it?

I went to a Bridal Shower this weekend. In the past year, several of the kids at our church have gotten married off. Well, they aren't kids...but they WERE when we moved here and started attending this church.

So one of these use-to-be-a-kid is getting married in June. Her name is Jill, and I went to her Bridal Shower yesterday. It was very nice. She got a boatload of gifts. I found out from her mother that they put a bid in on a house last week. Jill refuses to get too excited about it just yet. She's a smart girl.
I'm not one of these bloggers who carries her camera everywhere she goes and snaps pictures and tells interesting tales about the people she meets or places she goes. Unlucky you.

No, I'm the kind of blogger who tells you that the table was decorated with a pale purple tablecloth and chocolate kisses wrapped in shiny purple and blue foil were sprinkled down the center. These kept us somewhat entertained (and hyped up on sugar and caffeine) while Jill opened a boatload of presents. Until 3-year-old Ben came running over to my table with a half-empty bottle of water and announced, "Fight wiff me!" No, folks, I'm the kind of blogger who tells you that I snatched up my empty water bottle and had a sword fight with a 3-yr-old.

He won.

Ahem.

Moving along. Is this a good time to mention that I won one of the Bridal Shower games? My prize was a bottle of Avon shower gel and a scrubbie. To which I announced that it was the PERFECT day for such a gift and since it was pouring down the rain I was going outside to try it out.

I just can't understand why nobody wants to sit beside me at these things.

Life is full of disappointments...and other lessons a mother must dish out.

2010-04-05T20:08:00.000-04:00

Last week I realized that Easter was nearly upon us and I hadn't done any shopping for said event.

Uh-oh.

So off to the store we went, me and my brood (sans daughter, who was working).   I carted the boys down the candy aisle of the nearest mart store and made them pick out candy. It was torture, just ask them. {snicker} I think it was the biggest haul they've ever made.

While they were busy planning a massive sugar overload, I asked them what *else* they wanted in their baskets. Normally they get a little bit of candy and one or more non-candy items--some, if not all, will point to the reason for this celebration.  We don't emphasize the basket in our house, but use it as a bit of fun.

Anyway, this is where I back up and mention that I really *had* thought about Easter weeks before the event. I *had* asked the kids what they wanted back then and only one of them came up with an answer.  The 17-year-old wanted a laser pen. Like the red pointing lasers...only this one was violet.

So when I asked them at the store what I could got them for their baskets, he bulked. He had already told me what he wanted and it wasn't at the mart store. So he pouted instead of telling me what *else* I could buy.

Then, just 3 days before the event he came to me with ideas. Mind you, we live in a small town. Shopping choices are the grocery store, the gas station and a dollar store. So when he said he wanted a new flashlight--a **GOOD** one--I asked, "can I get that at the dollar store?" No, I could not--and it wasn't looking like we were going out of town before Easter. Poor child.

So on Easter morning as he dug through his basket he found.....a violet laser pen. It was at this moment that I pointed out to him that life is full of disappointments--but today wasn't one of them.

Ahhh, life is good. Thank you, Jesus.

The FINAL chapter of 15 Random Things You Never Needed to Know About Me

2010-04-03T10:20:00.001-04:00

....because it's Saturday and tomorrow is Easter and I have a MOUNTAIN of work to do--so naturally I think it's time to work on the blog. Got it?

31. Sprite or 7-UP?
Whichever is in the house when I'm sick. Did your mom do that? --give you 7Up when you had an upset tummy? Do people drink it any other time?

32. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work?
Nope...I've never had that formal of a job or education. Dh has always had to wear a uniform, though. We're night and day, my man and I.

33. Last thing you bought at Walgreens?
We don't have a Walgreens in the area, so I only visit one when I'm on vacation. It's been a year, but I think I bought folders the last time I was there. Not just any folders, mind you...these had gross versions of food wrappers on them....reminding of the garbage pail kids cards I used to collect when I was a kid.

34. Ever thrown up in public?
I have NO idea why this question is here. Let's ignore it and move on, k?

35. Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love?
All the money in the world won't get you through the tough times--gimme my true love.

36. Do you believe in love at first sight?
That's a toughy. I believe in lust at first sight. Love is something that grows and develops with care if you work on it.

37. Spongebob or Jimmy Neutron?
Who?

38. Did you have long hair as a young kid?
Sometimes....until I wouldn't brush it and it would get all tangled and mom would take me to the hairdresser and have it all cut off. It always grew back. Fast.

39. What message is on your voicemail machine?
"HI, thanks for calling the McL's. We're not answering the phone right now, so leave a message." BEEEEP
I'm. so. creative.
When my oldest son was 3 I changed it to, "I can't come to the phone because I'm cleaning up yet another mess, so leave a message and I'll call you back if I can." It was a very frustrating time for me. He's 17 now and cleans up after himself most days.

40. Where would you like to go right now?
ha-ha-ha...you've got to be kidding. I *need* to go to the kitchen and start working on Easter dinner. But instead I'm doing exactly what I want to do...so I'm content and I'm not dreaming of Hawaii or some other far-away place. Not that I'd turn down a free trip to Hawaii, mind you.

41. What's the name of your pet?
Mimi. She's a retired racing Greyhound and was named when we got her. Her race name was "Come By Me", but they never call them by their race name so that they won't become distracted by people shouting their names during a race.

42. What kind of back pack do you have, and what's in it?
I have a clearance backpack that I purchased new...oh...3 years ago for a couple of bucks. It's light green and silver and black. It still looks new. There is nothing in it right now. It's my vacation backpack. I'm obviously not on vacation. ...in Hawaii or anywhere else. Not that I'm bitter.... Moving on:

43. What kind of tennis shoes do you have?
I just bought my first pair of Easy Spirit shoes. I have a narrow heal, so it's hard to find shoes that I don't walk right out of. I'm also hard on shoes and they don't last long. So far so good.

44. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Hmmmm....probably my daughter. Before that it was my Mom to tell her we'd be visiting her and dad today. Another reason that I really shouldn't be working on my blog instead of working on tomorrow's dinner.

45. Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny?
Bugs Bunny. I can't stand that shrill voice of the mouse. And in all the years that we've been to Florida visiting my snowbird parents, we've never taken our children to see the Mouse in it's Florida habitat. Even though we were 30 minutes away from Disney. Shamu, on the other hand, we visited. That's just how we roll.

Have a blessed Easter, dear friends and family. I love you all. Please remember our Savior each and every day...not just when reindeer and bunnies are in the stores. HE's alive. HE has risen.

It's time again for 15 Random Things You Never Needed to Know About Me

2010-03-28T22:55:00.002-04:00

As noted before I copied this list....so since I only did 15 the first time, I won't bother explaining why the numbers start at 16. Prepare yourself, there are 45 of these mindless questions altogether. :-)

16. Do you know all of the words to the national anthem? You betcha. Don't put me on the spot and ask me to sing it, though--I'll freeze. Just wait...I'll randomly burst out in song some day. Let's just hope its a song you want to hear and you can at least recognize the tune. :-)

17. Do you shower in the morning or at night?   {sob} We don't have a shower. I take a bath in the mornings, though.

18. What is your favorite pizza topping?   Lately it's been plain cheese. But when I make my own I load it up with veggies. Mmmm

19. Chips or popcorn? I love my popcorn! Real butter, please. Salty buttery popcorn.

20. What cell phone provider do you use?    Verizon...it's the only one that knows where Mudville is.

21. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? ...Seriously? Do people do this? Not me.

22. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? No, I'm not a girly girl.

23. Orange juice or apple juice? Orange...or better yet...Orange Pineapple Banana. Mmmmm

24. Who were the last people you sat at lunch with? My husband and youngest son. We made toasted subs.

25. Favorite chocolate bar? I've stopped eating chocolate. From experience (because I occasionally stop eating chocolate, then fall off the wagon so-to-speak) I know that what used to be my favorite chocolate no longer tastes good. Sorry, it's true--your taste buds stop liking it. But when I was eating chocolate, any *REAL* chocolate was good (and if it had nuts or coconut, even better). Can't stand the chocolate *flavored* stuff. Ew.

26. Who is your oldest friend and how long have you known each other? My oldest friend is Cindy. We've known each other for over 40 years.

27. When was the last time you ate a homegrown tomato? Last summer. It will be late July/early August before we'll have homegrown tomatoes again. I just said this weekend how I missed **REAL** tomatoes. Hothouse tomatoes are pretty, but tasteless. Nobody sells acid-y tomatoes any more! That's what make 'em good! When your mouth gets sore from eating too many, you know you've got a good crop. Mmmmm

28. Have you ever won a trophy? Yeah, in High School I won several awards for Office Education competitions and classes. Sad, huh?

29. Favorite arcade game? Asteroids!

30. Ever ordered from an infomercial? Can't say as I've ever been sucked into THAT black hole.

There you have it. Maybe I'll get the last 15 finished this week. ttfn

Random Thoughts

2010-03-25T06:20:00.000-04:00

....cuz that's how my mind has treated me lately.

I used to love blogging...but lately I can't seem to find my voice.
I'm not usually at a loss for words.
I am, however, shy.
I love Jesus.
I'm still learning how to express number 4.
I may complain, but it just shows that I'm not perfect. Don't judge me.
Speaking of complaining, I'm very frustrated with the local school system right now concerning required testing.
I might lose my cool over number 4. Which will only make me look bad, so even though I want to contact the Principal, I shouldn't.
This afternoon my son will take the driving test to get his license.
He's a very good driver and will pass unless he gets too nervous.
Tomorrow I will be very frustrated with the insurance company when I inform them we have a male teenage driver in the house and they tell me how much my insurance will go up.
Prepare to see fireworks Friday. See number 8.
I soooooo need a vacation.
I will get not one, but TWO vacations this year.
I made the reservations at two campgrounds earlier this week, so now we *have* to go on vacations.
hehehe
Spring is not my favorite season. I've nicknamed my location as Mudville for a reason.
The mud is worse this year. There is some sort of water leak coming from the house up the hill from us.
More frustration...because nobody seems to own said house. I don't have the time or energy to fight this battle.
With all these minor things, I do realize there is a bigger picture. God is in control. His timing is perfect. His ways are perfect.

15 Random Things You Never Needed to Know About Me

2010-03-09T16:25:00.001-05:00

Here's a partial list that I saw on Amber's blog. I so stole it from ya, girly! She did 45 random things. I will do the other 30 another time. If I don't forget. I'm doing a lot of forgetting lately.

1. What is your name spelled backwards?   M-A-P   Pretty clever, eh?

2. What did you do last night? Lounged around all evening...being lazy. Daughter and I watched "Sleepless in Seattle".   :-)

3. What was the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? Music

4. Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery? WHY would I do THAT!?!?!? No.

5. When was the last time you swam in a pool? The last time we were in Florida. What...three years ago? There are no pools at the campgrounds we vacation at--only lakes.

6. What are you wearing? Comfy clothes--a big blue long-sleeve t-shirt and blue lounge pants. Oddly enough, blue is one of my least favorite colors.

7. How many cars have you owned? Ummm...5..maybe 6. I can't remember.

8. What is the type of music you dislike most? Anything with disrespectful/rude lyrics.

9. Are you registered to vote?   You betcha!

10. Do you have cable? Nope. Good thing, too--looks like they've made the news over this Awards ceremony. Watch out--cable price will be on the rise.

11. What kind of computer do you use? A plain black Asus.

12. Have you ever made a prank phone call? Who, me? And tarnish my halo? 0:-) (DON'T SAY A WORD, CINDY!)

13. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? Neither. I'm afraid of heights!

14. What is the furthest place you ever traveled? Hawaii. Mom and Dad dragged me there when I was 15. I sooooo didn't want to go....and I sooooo didn't want to come home. Had a fab time. Thanks for the memories, Mom and Dad!!! Sorry I was such a teenage snot about the whole thing. Now that I have teenagers of my own, I see just how rude and self-centered they can be.

15. What's your favorite comic strip? Baby Blues

BTW, I had to turn the comments off. T.R.O.L.L.S. are among us.

I have a confession to make.

2010-03-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

I love to watch old musicals. There, I said it.

Some of my favorites (in no particular order) are:
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Kiss Me Kate
Sound of Music
Annie Get Your Gun
Calamity Jane
These are a few of the movies I could watch over and over again.

And then there are the ones I like to watch on occasion. Like:
Fiddler on the Roof
My Fair Lady
Grease
Mame
Royal Wedding
Holiday Inn
White Christmas

But then, we don't usually have time to watch movies, so all of them are watched on occasion. LOL

Who wants to come over for a movie night? I'll provide the popcorn. :-)

My name is Pam and I'm a font-aholic.

2010-02-22T16:19:00.000-05:00

I love fonts. What are fonts, you ask? Fonts are typeface...and you can change them to suit your mood. I love that.
When I'm designing a new header for the blog or a newsletter or just about anything, I search through my large collection of fonts to choose just the right one to convey the message. I have fonts that make you think "Western" or "Beach" or "Childish" when you see them--before you even read the words. I love that about fonts.
Sadly, I can name the fonts they use on billboards and advertisements. If I can't name it, it will drive me crazy until I find it. I know! I need a life.
I love the gentle, romantic swoop some fonts have. And the crisp, clean lines of others. And still others with uneven, carefree elements call to me.
I know there are other font-aholics out there. Why else would there be so many websited dedicated to fonts? But for those of you who are not, I'm betting you're sorry you read this post and are thinking, "Well, that's two minutes of my life I'll never get back."
I'm sorry. I'm just being me. :-)

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-17T06:02:00.000-05:00

Did you have a nice Valentine's Day? I did.
After church, we stayed home and relaxed. All day. No, I'm not kidding. It was wonderful. We didn't rush around and go here and there...we stayed home. With three kids and numerous responsibilites, that just doesn't happen. On Saturday I got to stay home while hubs did the running around. I was scanning a big pile old pictures that Mom had picked out to be put on the digital photo frame I had bought her for Christmas. Since hubs was going to be in a town that has stores, I told him what to get me for Valentine's Day. Even though I told him weeks ago that it was coming, I knew he hadn't done anything about it. So off he went and did a perfect job of picking out my practical present. I guess hoping he'd pick up a flower bouquet was too much to ask...but I'm not complaining. Really, I'm not.

On to a weather update...cuz I know you really want to know. It's still snowing. It hasn't stopped for days and days. The local weather forecast says it might stop briefly on Thursday. I hope; we all need a break. Now everyone is concerned about it all melting. We live near the Ohio River....you do the math.

Snow pictures!

2010-02-10T21:21:00.000-05:00

It snowed last weekend. Boy howdy, did it snow. First we got the perfect packing snow on Friday. The boys had a blast playing...making snowmen

and snow forts and snowballs.

And it looked pretty in the trees...

Then overnight we got more snow. It covered up the tracks the boys made building the snowmen

and this snow was colder and didn't pack well, so the wind blew it into drifts.

My daughter tried to measure it in the back yard, but found it was 10 inches deep in the shortest area and 20 inches deep in the tallest area. Doggone wind. She put pics on her Facebook, if you're interested.

I never did hear the "official" snowfall amount.

These pictures were taken in the morning.

Then in the afternoon, unexpectedly, the sky cleared to a brilliant blue and the sun shone bright. It was beautiful.

Same closeup of the same tree...only the sun has melted the snow and changed it to ice in the top layer.

The sunshine was wonderful, but didn't stay long. It has snowed every day since Friday. Snow is in the immediate forecast. No warm up in sight for us. I just hope it doesn't all melt in the same day. What a mess that would be!

You know it's cold in your house....

2010-02-10T20:39:00.000-05:00

...when your Greyhound keeps curling up in a ball and covers her nose with a paw to keep it warm.

BTW, her nose is still cold when she unexpectedly presses it on your bare skin. Just sayin'.

Oh yeah--we got snow.

2010-02-06T11:28:00.000-05:00

So I'm laying in bed last night and thought I'd watch a little TV while I waited for the heating pad to warm up my feet enough so I could sleep. I turn the TV on and within seconds......pfth...the electric goes off....followed by a blue flash of light outside and a ...bzzzzzz. Oh yeah--the transformer blew. The good news is that the heating pad had warmed up, so we were okay for a little while.

That was 9:30.

About 3:30 this morning dh woke up--because that's the time the alarm usually goes off. He'd went to bed about an hour before I had, so he was surprised to hear that the electric was off. Then he couldn't sleep--because he doesn't usually sleep at this early morning time. So guess who he wanted to talk to? Good news is...I'd gotten nearly 6 hours of sleep and was up to the task. So while he's contemplating whether or not our orange extension cord would be heavy enough to run the furnace if he fired up the generator....TADA...the electric comes back on. I know because I had left my bedside lamp on . Ooops.

So we all went back to sleep (the kids woke up because they'd left their lights on, too) and when it was daylight the guys happily trekked outside and shoveled....and shoveled....and shoveled all that wonderful snow for about an hour. Meanwhile, dd and I lounged around and had a leasurely morning. :-) Life is good.

Pictures will come later.

Hello, dear friends!

2010-02-01T18:25:00.002-05:00

Does anyone still check this blog? I'm sorry. Really, I am.
My browser was messing up, so I downloaded Firefox and sorta lost all of my bookmarks...and I FORGOT about my blog. Can you BELIEVE that?
I can.
But don't get me started about meno
....pause.

So...what's new with you?

Lemme see...since I last blogged....

we had Christmas.
...that was nice.

and we had New Year's
...that was ok.

and we had MLK Day.
...eh.

and oldest son had a birthday but since it was on the same day as a funeral for a friend (in which he was asked to be a pall bearer), we had to postpone the celebration. He had fun with friends on a snowday two days later. It was "awesome"...or so I hear.

and tomorrow is Groundhog Day.

Yup, that brings us up to speed.

Tomorrow also marks the first day of oldest son's first scheduled drive at driving school. In Ohio, minors have to take a drivers' ed class before they can get their license. He just turned 17 and can't wait ONE MORE YEAR before going for his driver's license...so it's off to class he goes. Our 19-year-old-non-driver couldn't be out-done by her brother, so she's taking classes, too. Her *final* drive is tomorrow. She says she's doing well--even went on the highway. She refuses to drive out of town for us, so I dunno why she wants a license. Mudville is small enough to walk everywhere we need to go. Mind you, *I* don't walk---but she's much younger than me.

So anyway, now that my old browser is working (sometimes) I'll try to get back here more often than once every 6 or 7 weeks, k?
See you soon....

}}sigh{{

2009-12-15T17:13:00.004-05:00

Sometimes you can stay ahead of life. And sometimes it gets ahead of you.
This has been one of *those* months.

Lots of stress at work. The computer caught a virus, the printer/copier ran out of toner and the bulletins and Cantata programs weren't run off. Oh, and the powerpoint computer went wacko. But God is working it all out. And through it all, even though there was/is a ****LOT**** of stress, God gave me a peace...and He still is.

He's amazing that way.

And there's been some stress at home, too. The husband of my dad's last living cousin (get all that?) died and the funeral was today. I hauled all the kids to the funeral home yesterday...a one-and-a-half-hour trip ONE WAY. Today I have lots of stuff to get done. I did manage to do most of it. The 3-pound roast is cut into pieces--part of it is in the veggie soup on the stove and the rest is in the freezer for the next round of soup. Both packages of sausage has been processed and frozen--the sage sausage was put into patties and the Italian sausage was browned and ready for pizza. I didn't get any cookies or candies made and I didn't return items to the store that I was over-charged for, but I'll do that another day. Tomorrow after work I have to run the kids down to my folks' to go Christmas shopping (an hour drive one way), then dash back home to get the oldest to work--and the other two to church. Then Thursday it's back to my folk's after work to decorated sugar cookies (an annual tradition). The dad of my *best* cyber friend died suddenly this weekend. His funeral is Friday--and I really want to go to be there for her. We'll see. It's nearly 3-hours away from here. Friday night is our church's Christmas fellowship dinner. It's also my mom's birthday. I was told last night (by my sister) that we're taking Mom out to lunch on Saturday, we just don't know whether it will be at the restaurant that's a half-hour from me...or the one that's two hours from me. I know which one *I* choose, but *I* am not in on the planning of this. (Do you get the feeling that it's a long drove to *anywhere* from Mudville? I do.) Then Saturday night is the Boy Scout dinner. Sunday is full, too. I think I have "breathing" scheduled for some time next week. If not then, definately the week after. If I last that long.

So there you have it. That's my list. A few things can be checked off, but most of it is on the yet-to-do side.

If I don't make it back, I want to wish you and your families a very merry CHRISTmas, dear friends and family. I'm sorry, but cards didn't make the to-do list.

Merry Christmas!

2009-11-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever heard/seen Brad Stine? He's a smart-aleck Christian comedian. Just my style. Cuz...as you all know...I'm a real smart-aleck myself. :-)
Well, a few years ago he teamed up with Go Fish and made this recording:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ&feature=PlayList&p=584EFE756F44F04F&index=0
So when I saw these buttons

at Christian Book Distributors, I bought them. They arrived this week...in a plastic ziplock bag (very fancy packaging). I ordered enough for everyone in my family (the guys' buttons are still in the bag b/c they don't want to wear theirs until after Thanksgiving)...but as people at church are seeing them and commenting, I can see that I should have ordered more.

My pantry.

2009-11-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

Since you've been bored with pumpkin posts, I thought I'd keep with the food theme. Earlier this fall I think I posted that I would show you my pantry when we were done canning.
Every time I tried to snap a picture of it, the camera wouldn't work. It turns out the batteries died.
Right. There. In. My. Camera.
It was awful.
So I bought new batteries, charged them up and...got busy with life stuff.
But I hadn't completely forgot.

And while I realize that you haven't exactly been waiting on pins and needles for this picture, I do want to prove to myself that I am not a slacker. I did not, however clean this up before snapping pictures. You'll have to suffer through it.

Here are what's left of the green beans we canned last year:

Here are the tomatoes,

grape juice,

and salsa

that we canned this year....with glimpses of the home-canned spaghetti and pizza sauces.

And while I don't EXPECT to get snowed in this winter, I AM prepared in case we do. We have enough store-bought peanut butter to hold us over for weeks. We're about due for a blizzard. Any year now. If you run out of food at your house, just strap on the snowshoes and come on over--I'll share.

Mmmmmm...Pumpkin Pie

2009-11-20T16:22:00.001-05:00

Last night I baked a pumpkin pie using my fresh pumpkin puree. That's it, hot out of the oven and decorated.

Some assembly was required to get it to that point, though.

After making a pie crust, I mixed these ingredients together,

and poured them into the crust.

Hmm? What did you say?

Oh, what's this?

This is the leftover pie crust that I rolled out and cut with the tiny pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter that I bought while hubs and I were in Amish country last month. Cute, eh? I had just pulled them out of the oven--did you notice the potholder in the bottom corner of the pic?

When the pie was done baking I put those pie-crust-pumpkins on top of the pie.

Like so.

I love those tiny cookie cutters. I bought an apple one, too. I'll use it to cut the vent holes in (what else?) an apple pie next time I make one.

Who can handle all that cute-ness?
Next week I'll give you step-by-step instructions on gutting and butchering a deer.

Just kidding.

Pumpkin Puree...what I didn't tell you.

2009-11-20T16:05:00.001-05:00

Jen,
If you're going to make your own pumpkin puree, here are a few tips:
Cut the pumpkin in half...top to bottom,
scoop out the insides with a cheap plastic ice cream scoop. I have two plastic ice cream scoops. They aren't good to scoop out ice cream, but I use them for lots of other things. Put the pumpkin innards in a bowl and deal with them later.
Clean the inside of the pumpkin, scraping it with the ice cream scoop (I suppose a spoon would work, too--just don't know how *well* it would work).
Put the pumpkin, cut side down, on a cookie sheet and place in a 350 degree oven for *around* an hour (it all depends on the size of the pumpkin). Turn the pumpkin half over and test the pulp with a fork for doneness. You want it to be soft.

Mmmm...pumpkin puree!

2009-11-17T15:08:00.008-05:00

So far this fall I've done up 8 pie pumpkins into puree. I bought 3 of them in Amish Country when hubs and I took our little Anniversary trip there last month. While I was baking them, oldest son came home from helping an older couple from church with several pumpkins--one of which he was told was a pie pumpkin. I quickly cut it open, gutted it and popped it in the oven with the other three. It wasn't really a pie pumpkin--just a small pumpkin, but it worked out fine. I usually just cut up the Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins, but I may never do that again...at least not for pies. I'm sold on the pie pumpkins.
Anyway, I picked up four more pie pumpkins at Walmart last week and baked them last night. Let me tell you--Walmart is NOT the place to buy them. They were a little "juicier" than the ones from the Amish farmer (actually, he was a Mennonite) and the shells...oh, the shells were a story in themselves! Two of the pumpkins had such thick shells that *I* couldn't cut into them with my sharp knife, so I called my oldest son---the one who looks like a football player. *He* had trouble cutting them open, but he didn't give up (like his Mama).

After scooping out the goodies,

I stacked them up. Check it out.

*NORMALLY* the shells are flimsy and collapse when you scoop out the pulp. They should NOT be able to hold their shape like this. It was bizzare!

Then I had all this wonderful pumpkin meat (pulp).

So I puree'd it.

Then I measured it and packed it into bags for the freezer. I had 7 bags--2 cups each.

Actually, I kept one bag in the fridge to make a
pumpkin pie.

Or maybe some pancakes and muffins. I haven't decided.

But with all those pumpkins comes pumpkin seeds. I'm so glad I saved some out of the first batch to use as planting seeds for next year. (I sure don't want any thick-skinned, juicy pumpkins growing next year!) Then I roasted about a quart of pumpkin seeds for eating from that batch. I have at least that much this time, too. I just boiled them in salt water,

dried them, then slow roasted them in the oven to dry them out.

Now the guys have something to take for snacks while hunting.

Next week I'm going to help our youngest son bake his Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin to make Pumpkin Butter for Christmas gifts. He's so excited.

A new set of clothes...

2009-11-08T17:56:00.000-05:00

My oldest son wanted to go shopping today after church. I wanted to go for a walk in the beautiful, warm sunshine. Hubs decided we'd go shopping.
So we drove a half hour to town and our first stop was (insert name of home improvement store here). He'd seen a tool set in the ad that included a canvas bag and drill bits. So I helped him find it (read: after walking down the aisles and not spotting it *I* was the one to hunt down a store worker and ask for it). After that I took the youngest boy with me and we went to look at the mistint paint.
Many of you have heard the stories about how I've painted the entire interior of our home with $5 a gallon mistint paint. It's about the only reason I go to this store.
We had to look for where they'd moved it (once again---as if they're afraid people will find it). It was on a shelf with other clearance paint items. There were two gallons of mistints and they were on an upper shelf. I tipped the first gallon towards me so I could see the color on the lid. It said it was grey. So I grabbed the one behind it and tipped it forward. I never saw the lid--but the paint was white. Very, very white. And it was now all over me.
Oh. Yes. It. Was.
You know what? They're going to do MUCH better job at making sure they fasten the lids down on paint from now on.
When we finally got to talk to the manager (another story in itself) he asked if there was anything in the store we wanted. I looked at him. And blinked. OF COURSE there were things in the store that we wanted--but I'm not the type of person to take him to the cleaners over it. I looked at hubs--he had the same thought. We said nothing. The manager offered to give us a shopping card. I said that sounded fair because I obviously had to buy new clothes and it would offset that cost. So he took us to the service desk and talked to another manager. When he came back to us he said to go purchase the clothes and bring the receipt back and they'd reimburse us. Oh, and the item that was in the cart--he was giving that to us, too.
So hubs is happy that his tool set was free. I got a new shirt, jeans and shoes. And we will be able to sleep tonight.
But you know what the strangest thing about this whole deal is? Nobody batted an eye and me walking around the store covered in paint. Nobody! Even at the store where I purchased the new clothes I ran into someone I know and she just said "hi" as if there was nothing strange about my appearance. Just minutes before that I looked at hubs and said, "People pay real money to look like this!" He agreed.
I smelled like latex house paint. And my clothes were getting stiff. I was not enjoying the look.
Hubs just smiles and says I took one for the team.

So...I'm all over it now.

2009-11-05T21:55:00.000-05:00

I was over it long ago...but life got busy.
Anyway, the post I had written...you know, the one that got eaten by Blogger...was a clever post all about how I read on a message board somewhere that candy corn and peanuts together tasted like a Snickers.
So. Sorry. You. Missed. It.
Cuz this post isn't nearly as clever (or funny).
I could have been my BEST-WORK-EVER!
But we'll never know, will we?
{wink}
The following day after my post was ate by Blogger and I went on strike, I mentioned the candy corn/peanut thing to my BFF and she said she had tried it. She thought it tasted more like a Payday, though. Still good. So I told her that someone suggested adding chocolate chips. She thought that really would make it taste like a Snickers.
But neither one of us went right out and tried that theory.
There's always next year, right?
But you know what, when dh and I were in Amish Country for our Anniversary celebration, I remember seeing bags of candy corn with peanuts mixed in. It all finally made sense the day I read that message board.
So, hey, if you're too lazy to mix your own candy corn and peanuts then take heart. Someone out there is willing to do all the "work" for you. And charge you for it, of course.

Blogger ate my blog

2009-10-27T13:21:00.002-04:00

I had a post all written out Friday when...*poof*...it disappeared. I got so frustrated that I shut the puter down.

Bet you're wondering what it was about, huh? Huh? HUH?!?

You'll have to wait. I'll get over it and try again one day. soon.
But not today. Today Kroger is having a 1-day sale. Gotta go shop!

Happy Birthday, sweet Daughter

2009-10-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Just a week after our second anniversary you were born into this world. You were beautiful then and you're beautiful now.

It's hard to believe you've grown this old. It's a good thing that I haven't aged along with you.

Your dad, OTOH, has gotten quite grey. But he's still a handsome old man.

Happy Anniversary to us!

2009-10-18T12:51:00.003-04:00

This week I had the awesome privilege of sharing our 21st anniversary with my husband. This year we {gasp} got away from the kids--just the two of us--and enjoyed a couple of days in each other's company.
We love this time of year. It seems that every year on our anniversary it is dubbed the peak time for viewing the fall foliage. It is so very nice of the weather people to recognize the importance of that date.
Anyway, we went to prime Amish Country in Ohio. Not the normal, every day Amish country that we're in the thick of...but the commercialized, highly marketable Amish Country that, in truth, has little to do with the Amish people. Mennonites are who you usually see working at the stores. But that's another story for another day.
The leaves were beautiful. I tried to get some pictures with my camera phone, but somehow it reset itself back to the original settings and it takes small pics again. So...use your imagination.

tada! a tree!

And in this pic, if you squint and tilt your head just right, you'll see a humongous scarecrow sitting on the porch roof of this building. I think they sold furniture. We didn't stop. Not even to take the picture--which explains its off-kilt slant and the blurry car in the foreground.

In fact, we stopped for very few things. When I say "we" I, of course, mean my husband--since he did all the driving. For some reason we were in a hurry to get...nowhere. And we couldn't stop anywhere on the way. He's a funny man....even on a quick getaway retreat he still can't slow down and relax. I love him more than words can express.

Happy anniversary, wonderful man. We're growing old together!

Mom's Angel Food Cake Pan

2009-10-07T08:00:00.004-04:00

I remember watching a sitcom one time where a newly wed woman was fixing a roast. She cut it in half and put it in the oven. Her new husband watched with wonder and finally asked her why she cut the roast in half. She rolled her eyes and stated that he obviously knew nothing about cooking.
Later, curiosity got the best of her and she called her mom to ask why she always cut the roast in half before putting it in the oven. Her mom told her that it was always the way they fixed it and it always turned out just right.
Later, the mother called *her* mom and asked why she always cut the roast in half before putting it in the oven. Her mom said, “Because it wouldn’t fit in the pan.”

Funny, but true--we do things out of tradition and we don't know the reason we do them.

When we go out I don’t get Carrot Cake because it always tastes like Spice Cake (which I’m never in the mood for) and it always has Cream Cheese frosting.
I remember when I was a child mom made the best Carrot Cake. It was made in an Angel Food pan, so it was tall with straight sides and a hole in the middle. It was sliced in wedges, not squares. She never put Cream Cheese Frosting on it…probably for no other reason than she likes cake without frosting. Besides, it never really needed it. The edges were wonderfully crispy—and who would want to ruin that with frosting?

Yesterday I decided to recreate that for my children. I made Carrot Cake from my mom’s recipe using her Angel Food pan. Everything was going well right up until it was in the oven for a couple of minutes. I looked in and the batter was leaking out the bottom of the two-piece Angel Food pan and dripping on the oven floor. I put a cookie sheet on the shelf under it and hurriedly called my mother to find out what I had done wrong and if I could salvage it.
“WHY is the batter leaking out? I used your recipe and your pan!”
“It’s because it’s a two-piece pan,” she said. Then she went on to explain that Angel Food cake doesn’t have any oil in it, therefore it doesn’t leak out of the pan. Carrot Cake has oil in it. “It would have been better in a Bundt pan.”

That’s when it hit me.
Mom didn’t have a Bundt pan until some time in the 80’s. She had always used the Angel Food pan because that’s the only pan she had. Matter of fact, I don’t remember her baking sheet cakes when I was younger, either. They were always two-tiered round cakes. I had no idea why I was using the Angel Food pan instead of a Bundt pan other than the fact that it’s the way my mom always did it.

She assured me that it would be fine if I set the pan on a cookie sheet—that it would soon stop leaking. She was right. It turned out well and is delicious.

Next time I’ll use a Bundt pan. But I still won’t put frosting on it.

So what about you--are you doing things out of tradition? At home? At work? At church? Are you afraid to do things in a different way just because "this is the way we've always done it"? Traditions aren't a bad thing, but if we get hung up on them, it's not healthy.

Blessings to you, my friends.

Brownies

2009-10-06T15:10:00.003-04:00

In my last post I mentioned a brownie recipe, but I didn't share it. Well, I felt so bad about it that I just *had* to come here today and post it for you. So as soon as I put the carrot cake in the oven that I made from Mom's recipe, I dashed right over here to post this brownie recipe.

You love me for being me, right?

Hershey’s Best Brownies

½ cup vegetable oil or melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
½ cup unsifted all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Hershey’s cocoa
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped nuts, optional

Blend oil or melted butter, sugar and vanilla in large mixing bowl. Add eggs; beat well using spoon. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread into a greased 9-inch square pan. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Cool in pan. Frost with Creamy Brownie Frosting. Cut into squares.
Yield: about 16 brownies

Creamy Brownie Frosting
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
3 tablespoons Hershey’s cocoa
1 tablespoon light corn syrup or honey
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Cream butter or margarine, cocoa, corn syrup or honey and vanilla in small mixer bowl. Add confectioners’ sugar and milk, beat to spreading consistency.

Chocolate Syrup

2009-10-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

Years ago I worked in the accounting office for a grocery store chain. One day a store employee walked into my office with a pamphlet in hand. She told me how her grandmother used to make the best brownies from the recipe was on the back of the Hershey's cocoa box. Only it was no longer there--so she wrote the company. They sent her this pamphlet that had not only the brownie recipe, but several other recipes. She asked if I would make some copies for her so she could share with her mom and sister. I told her I'd be glad to on one condition...I got to keep a copy for myself. :-) While I had to agree, the brownie recipe was good *AND* easy (I declared I'd never buy another boxed mix) the recipe that has stayed with me nearly 20 years later is the chocolate syrup recipe. I have several boxes of brownie mix in the cupboard, but I haven't bought a can of syrup since I began making this. Its quick to make and tastes a *lot* like the canned stuff. Give it a try:

Hershey's Cocoa Syrup

1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
dash of salt
1 cup hot water

2 teaspoons vanilla

Combine sugar, cocoa and salt in saucepan.
Gradually stir in water.
Cook over medium heat. Boil 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Pumpkin Recipes, part 2

2009-10-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

Here are more of our favorite pumpkin recipes:

Pumpkin Pie Fudge
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup mashed pumpkin
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 package (12 ounces) vanilla flavored baking chips
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation Directions:
Using butter or margarine, lightly grease the sides and bottom of a medium saucepan.
Place the sugar, evaporated milk, pumpkin, butter, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in the saucepan.
Stir constantly over medium heat.
Bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 12 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the baking chips and marshmallows until melted.
Stir in the nuts and vanilla.
Pour into an 8-inch square pan that has been lined with foil and greased.
Chill mixture until set.
Cut into small squares to serve.
Cover and store in refrigerator.

*********************************************

Pumpkin Mousse
1 ½ cups milk
½ cup canned pumpkin
3-ounce package of instant vanilla pudding mix
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
7 teaspoon ground ginger
7 teaspoon ground cloves
1 ½ cups whipped topping

Stir together the milk and pumpkin in a mixing bowl.
Add the pudding and spices and whisk until thickened.
Fold in whipped topping and chill.

***********************************************

Pumpkin Ice Cream Makes about 2 quarts.
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
1 cup packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup half-and-half
½ teaspoon grated orange peel
¼ cup orange juice
2 cups whipping cream
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into ice cream canister. Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions.

Pumpkin Recipes

2009-10-01T08:00:00.003-04:00

In honor of my color scheme, I've decided to share some of my favorite pumpkin recipes.

Making your own pumpkin puree is so easy, you'll flip when you realize how much you can save by doing it yourself. Simply cut a pumpkin in half (it doesn't matter which direction--but it doesn't roll if you cut it from the stem down while it's sitting upright). I've found that cleaning it out is made easier by a cheap, plastic ice cream scoop. I'm not a fan of the slimy innards, so I don't usually keep the seeds. Once clean, place the cut sides down on a baking sheet and bake it at 350 for an hour to 90 minutes...depending on its size. Once its soft, flip the pumpkin over and scoop out the tender flesh and puree in a food processor, discarding the outer shell. Put the puree in freezer bags (I measure 2 cups for each) and freeze.

Once you have all that lovely puree, you're gonna want to make something. My youngest son loves to make pumpkin butter and all three of my children love pumpkin muffins and pumpkin milkshakes (just make a vanilla milkshake, adding 2 TBS pumpkin puree and 1/4 teas. pumpkin pie spice).

Pumpkin Spice Makes 8 teaspoons
Ingredients:
4 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
2 Tsp Ground Ginger
1 Tsp Allspice
1 Tsp Nutmeg

************************************************

Pumpkin Butter Recipe Yield: 3 Cups
2 1/2 c Pumpkin; cooked, mashed
3/4 c Sugar
1/4 c Apple cider or orange juice
1/2 ts Cinnamon, ground
1/2 ts Cloves, ground
1/4 ts Allspice, ground
1/4 ts Nutmeg, ground
Combine all of the ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Cover and chill.

************************************************

Pumpkin Chip Muffins
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
16 ounce can pumpkin
1 cup applesauce
½ cup vegetable oil
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups (a 12 ounce package) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, applesauce and oil until smooth.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips.
Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups ¾ full.
Bake at 400° 16 to 20 minutes or until muffins test done.
Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
Yields about 24 standard-size muffins.
*Can substitute carrots or zucchini for pumpkin or raisins for the chocolate chips.

************************************************
Tomorrow we'll tackle Pumpkin Fudge, Mousse and Ice Cream.

Ah, Autumn...

2009-09-30T13:34:00.002-04:00

Even though this hasn't been a textbook year weather-wise, it's still so nice to have Autumn/Fall here. You won't hear me complaining about the cooler temps and the fallen leaves. Granted, because of the wacky weather, the leaves are falling early--some even before they change color. But still, I just adore this time of year. There's just something about Fall. Love is in the crisp, sweet air. Hubby told me last night that he'd taken our Anniversary off (to surprise me) and that last week he'd also scheduled the following day off...making a 4-day weekend for us! He asked if I wanted to go away somewhere with him--just the two of us. YES!

So, what's your favorite season?

Tomorrow I get my kitchen back!

2009-09-15T22:12:00.008-04:00

The tomato juice is made

the pizza sauce is made

and the last of the grapes were used up in making juice today.

Tomorrow the kids and I will pack away all the canners, rings and equipment and I'll have my kitchen countertops back. I've been canning for nearly a month and I am sooooooo ready for this stuff to disappear for another year.

Tomorrow I think I'll start making up batches of cookie dough to freeze for later--when it's baking season. You know, drop oatmeal or chocolate chip cookie dough onto trays, freeze them, then bag 'em up with baking instructions and pack back into the freezer. Then, when you've got the oven heated up from baking a meatloaf or a casserole, you can just pop a sheet of cookies in the oven in no time and VIOLA! there's dessert.

I love it when I look like super mom! :)

Besides, now that I'm in perpetual motion mode, I have to do SOMETHING lest I look like a slug. The winter cometh...and I really do turn into a slug on those dark, depressing days.

Oh...Allie, I just want to thank you for all your encouraging words. You don't know how much it means to me to find a friendly comment after I've posted. Thanks for being there for me, friend! I'm sorry for all the times you've asked a question and I haven't answered. You deserve better. I love you, man! ;)

Critters...again

2009-09-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

In late July and early August I blogged about some of the critters in our world...and promised pics of others.

Well, today is the day, my friends.

You're barely able to contain your excitement. I can tell these things.

So without further eloquence, meet:

the salamander,

the baby bass,

and the uninvited bat.

Yes, that's a badmiton racket. You don't think bats let you pick them up and move them out of the house, do you? I don't allow my boys to touch a bat--and you KNOW that *I'm* not going to touch one. Besides, you have to STUN them before you can move them--hence the racket.

We also had three toads...but I made the boys turn two of them loose. It's really difficult to catch enough crickets for three hungry toads. And we have crawdads. I don't know how many we have today. The boys keep catching them and putting them in the same tank. Crawdads are territorial, you know. You can fill in the blanks on why the population keeps dwindling. I don't know why I don't have any pictures of these critters. I handed the camera to the middle child with instructions to bring me pics...but these are all I got for my troubles. Oh well, it will give me something to blog about later.

TTFN

Been a little busy.

2009-09-13T20:53:00.012-04:00

This past month has been a doozy....both at home and at work. 'Tis the season and if you don't keep moving, you'll either get run over or you'll run behind. Speaking of running, I'm feeling a little *blah* because I've neglected my treadmill. More thoughts on that in a sec... First lemme brag on how I've been working on my homemaker skills:

So far I've put up 60 pints of salsa

12 quarts of grape juice (no pic) and 10 quarts of spaghetti sauce

and tomorrow I *plan* on working on pizza sauce. This time I'll *try* to follow the recipe.

You see, I don't usually use a recipe when I cook. We've been making salsa for several years now...and its still a question of how its going to turn out because I don't know how hot the peppers are this year. ...until I make a batch. Then I can adjust the heat for every following batch. Hubby gets to try the first batch of salsa...it's *usually* spicier than I like it. I'm selfish that way. He will tell me how spicy it is, then I know how many peppers to put in the next batch depending on if I'm making mild, medium or hot.

So when I still had **at least** another bushel of tomatoes left after doing up the salsa, I decided to make something else with it instead of just canning them straight. I'm stupid that way--thinking I need to pile more work on an already busy schedule. Up until this year, the only kind of tomatoes I've canned has been chopped (for soups) or salsa. So I looked up some spaghetti recipes and combined the things I liked about them and made a batch. ONLY...I thought they didn't use enough spices--oregano, basil, etc--so I added more. I think by the time I finished adding I had **at least** twice as much as the recipe called for. Yeah, it was overkill. So today when I made lunch I used a jar of homemade AND a jar of store-bought to dilute it. No complaints from the family. Maybe I'm just sensitive.

So...that's why I said I will try to follow the pizza sauce recipe. No guarantees....I'm not known for following recipes. I almost always add my own touch. My philosophy is that every recipe is just a guideline...a suggestion. If I choose to follow it, good. If I choose to add or take away, good. The bad part is that I rarely make something the same way twice--so if you liked it today, you'd better enjoy it...because tomorrow I'll try to improve it.

That's just how I ride. :)

I don't just mess up *food* recipes, either. I'm talented enough to mess up other recipes, too. I bought all the stuff needed to make homemade laundry (powder) detergent. One night last week I gave Timothy the job of grating the soap. He loved it. So then I let him be in charge of measuring the ingredients and mixing them up in the food processor until they formed a powder. I'm such a fun mom. He did a great job. So he ran to his room and got a load of laundry to try out the new detergent. YES! He's finally going to wash some clothes! (Don't get excited--it didn't last.) The homemade detergent worked wonderfully. So I did a load with those messy towels that the salsa leaked onto. Not only did it lift the stains, those towels looked whiter than the ones in the drawer! I was so pleased. So the next day when we put the ingredients away, I said something about the box of Washing Soda. My daughter corrected me...Baking Soda. No, it says right here on the box...Baking Soda. ACK! I *know* the crumpled box in the laundry isle that I reached behind to get this box said Washing Soda, so I never thought to look at *this* box. I won't make THAT mistake twice. {sigh}

I can get in trouble in my spiritual life by not following God's "recipe", too-- I can't take the same approach that I have with cooking. I will mess it up EVERY time if I pick and choose things from God's Word. We have to read the Word and follow it, no varying to the left or right. The gate is small and the way is narrow (see Matthew 7:14)...so we need to make sure we stay on the right path.

I hope and pray that all my cyber friends are spiritually fit. Keep working on those spiritual muscles. We're only in this world for a short time.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

2009-08-14T21:47:00.004-04:00

I *LOVE* August! I'm tellin' ya, that first bite of ripe tomato straight from the garden...UGH! So good!

Another of my favorite things about August is....it's Blackberry season!

My boys went Blackberry picking today.

HeHeHe {skipping around the house with joy}

So what did I do? I baked a pie, of course!

It was delicious. With ice cream.

Then I put the rest in the freezer on a cookie sheet.

Hello, my pretties. I love you. All of you. I show no favoritism.

Once they were frozen, I measured them and bagged them to be put in the freezer--to be made into pie another day.

I usually mix the pie filling and freeze that, but I decided not to do that this year. I'm flexible that way.

Shhh...don't tell anyone...but those two bags aren't the first ones to be put in the freezer this year. I have more. HeHeHe {skipping around the house} {again}

I am SOOOOO having Blackberry pie in the dead of winter when it looks like THIS outside. That's a link to my very first blog post, BTW.

{sigh} All is well in my world. Well, it will be as soon as I buy three bushels of tomatoes from the Amish farmer down the road and can 30 quarts of chopped tomatoes and 50 or 60 pints of salsa. I predict more skipping around the house to come.

Finally made it to the Teacher's Store

2009-08-13T19:24:00.004-04:00

It might be my last trip for a few years. Maybe forever.
Why?
Because the local Teacher's Store caters mainly to the Elementary sect now.
We searched for an hour to find enough stuff for my 11th-grader. We ended up finding a few things in the clearance sections (spread throughout the store--including upstairs where there is NO air conditioning). We worked for that discount, I'm tellin' ya.
It's a sad, sad thought that I won't be going back and fingering through all that neat, schooly stuff.
My 6th-grader will be working on the same stuff he did last year. Sadly, he decided he didn't need to do school last year...and didn't. So I'm ordering replacements for the few workbooks that he wrote in and he's doing it all again--and then some. Yeah, you guessed it. Welcome to puberty, child.
OH! This year's fun item from the Teacher's Store was.....drum roll please...PENCILS. Pencils of all things! But, that's all they wanted. The 11th grader got one that says, "My Teacher thinks I'm SPECIAL!" ....which cracks me up--and did him, too. The 6th grader got one with his favorite critter...frogs. And for my graduate I got a West Virginia pencil . We live in Ohio.
So...what's new with you? I want to visit my folks this weekend...but it's filling up fast, so that might not happen.

My life is uber exciting.

2009-08-12T14:27:00.003-04:00

Or not.

I have a list as long as my arm of things I SHOULD be doing....but I'm not.

Why do I put things off?

I have to send a letter to the school Superintendent about how last year went (good for one child, not so well for the other) and pick up the application to homeschool for this coming year. Public school starts next Wednesday in our town. I really, really need to get these things done.

I had a birthday last week AND I remembered to get the license renewed on the vehicles. {using finger in the air to strike one up for me for getting something right}
So there's that.

I NEED to get over to the teacher's store to pick up school books for the high-schooler. Then I need to place the order for the 6th-grader online. The little darling needs a few replacement workbooks in the same curriculum he used last year....sixth grade...again. What IS IT with boys at this age? They suddenly have no ambition to do anything but play. Oh wait...little boys have never had ambition to do schoolwork...just play. Sorry...was freaking out about normal everyday stuff.

But then...lately I have only wanted to play, too. So, I guess I shouldn't feel so bad about the boy doing it. Only I'm an adult and I have to snap out of it. I have responsibilities. I have duties. I have....oh nevermind. I think I'll go bake some zucchini cookies. A lady at the library gave me a new recipe.

More critters.

2009-08-06T17:35:00.002-04:00

The other day I posted about some of the critters the boys catch and release. I've been wanting to post about the ones that they've kept...but my middle son hasn't taken the pictures for me yet. I'd do it myself, but I like to encourage him in things that he's interested...and this year it's photography.
Anyway, today while I was at work I saw this butterfly. It landed on the landscaping rocks in front of me and waited for me to get a camera, all the while slowly opening and closing it's beautiful wings in the sunlight....then it danced and flittered around me for a minute or two before it landed again.

Does anyone know what kind of blue and black butterfly this is?

God's green Earth

2009-07-30T19:39:00.006-04:00

During the winter I showed you some pics taken by my brilliant middle child.
I think it's about time I showed you some more, don't you?
Good, I thought you'd agree. {snicker}

It's summer in my neck of the woods and since I have two boys, you know what that means. They do a lot of catch-and-release of little critters. They keep them in a bucket or aquarium for a few days, then let 'em go. Here are a couple of this summer's ~~victims~~ scientific observations.

Zucchini

2009-07-27T18:51:00.002-04:00

I know how to spell that word "real good." I have to...I need to look up recipes every year.

This year I planted six HILLS of zucchini. Three seed in each hill. Each hill had at least two seeds take off. A couple of them had all three produce a plant.

Yeah. You know what's coming next.

I don't usually have a problem getting rid of our extra zucchini...but then again...I don't usually plant that many at once. You see, ideally I would plant a few seeds in May, then a few more in June.

I lost my head in May and planted the whole packet of seeds.

So I just got back inside from picking this weekend's crop. Nine, count them...NINE more zucchini to add to the six that are already on the countertop. Two of them are biggins.

This past weekend I used one of the two biggins I picked LAST WEEK by cutting it open, scooping it out and frying it in the deep fryer. Dh wasn't crazy about that. It's been ages since I've fried our food, so we're not big on fried food anymore.

Today I used a regular sized one by chopping it up and putting it in the pan of taters and onions. Nobody knew it was there. he.he.he.

It's too hot/humid to bake zucchini bread. Anyway, I did that last year and put about three loaves of bread in the freezer. We didn't eat it before the freezer burn got to it so I won't be doing that again. In years past I've grated up the biggins and put them in the freezer to bake into breads later when it's cool outside, but never used it up before the freezer burn got to it, so I won't be doing that this year. And I've pretty much zucchini'd all my ~~usual victims~~ er, friends.

Does anyone want any zucchini?
Please?

The joke's on me.

2009-07-25T10:20:00.002-04:00

Back in May I titled one of my posts "Been MIA lately". Actually, there's only one post in between THAT one and THIS one. That title belongs HERE.
Anyway, the summer is in full swing here. Today we will be wrapping up the last of the summer camps. There were three....count them, three....this year.
Actually, now that I think about it, there have been three for several years now.
The first one is a family camping vacation.
The second one is church camp, where usually only one of my teenagers attended...but this year two of them went.
The third one is Boy Scout camp. Dh goes to camp with the boys--and I miss having him here, but they really like that he's there...so it's a trade off. That's where they've been all week and I expect them home any minute. With laundry. And stories. Dd and I didn't get to do nearly enough girly stuff together. We spent one entire afternoon at the 4H project judging. It was even less organized this year than in years past. This is her last year in 4H. She's an adult now.
If anyone still reads this blog, I'm sorry that it's been so dry lately.
More updates later. TTFN

Graduating Class of 2009

2009-05-27T14:14:00.009-04:00

The graduation was last Saturday. It went well. Katherine felt special, which was everything I wanted for her. She didn't wear a traditional cap and gown. Everyone who knows us well knows that we aren't very traditional.

Instead she wore a sash and headband (with a cap and crown attached). Both said, "Princess Grad".

I'm surprised that nobody has put out a webpage with ideas and suggestions on hosting a homeschool graduation. For those of us doing it for the first time, it's intimidating. In the end we decided to do our own thing. I wrote a speech. Her father presented her with the diploma. Then she gave a speech.

A friend grabbed my camera and took pictures, otherwise I wouldn't have any.

*I* forgot to take any pictures! Can you believe it? That was my only regret from the day...that I didn't get any pictures of the guests. After everyone ate (of *course* I fed them all), the teens got a game of softball together and played outside in the heat and humidity. We older folks stayed in air-conditioned comfort and talked. :^) I'm so glad I put on all the invitations to "dress casual." I think everyone was comfortable, therefore we all had a good time.

We are so blessed. I just can't say that enough. We are blessed with friends, with family, with fincances and support. I could go on and on....but I won't. Thanks for reading.

Been MIA lately.

2009-05-19T22:32:00.002-04:00

Did you miss me?

This graduation thing has come up QUICKLY! Faster than I had planned. I'm a list-maker, so stay with me while I write this all out so I can see it.

The cake is ordered and paid for. There's a 3 dollar coupon in this week's ad for this week's cake orders. It couldn't have been in there LAST week, could it? {sigh}

Most of the food is bought. In fact, I think *all* of the food is bought. Now it just needs fixed. Any volunteers?

The photo collage is coming together. By that I mean...I have the tri-fold board and the pictures. Some assembly required. That's the sticker. When I laid the photos out on the white board, I didn't like it. It needed a background. After much consideration and some discussion, I decided to lightly spray paint it. It seemed like the best option. Katherine wants blue and purple on it. Do you know how difficult purple spray paint is to come by here in Mudville? We went to town and still had a time of finding the right colors. {sigh} I wasn't about to drive to the big town this late in the game, so we settled. Now to just finish it in time.

What else? Oh, decorations are bought. We *need* to start decorating so I can see what we've got and if we still need anything. It's been over a year since I started buying for this event and I can't remember what all we've got.

I need to get the tableware out and make sure we have enough.

What am I forgetting? Answer quick--the graduation is Saturday afternoon.

Typos

2009-05-08T21:59:00.005-04:00

I hate making typos. It must be the perfectionist in me. Sometimes it bothers me when I read a typo. Not from friends, but from "professionals". The desktop background that I have at work has a typo on it. I can't enjoy it because once I saw the typo, that's all I see.

But most of the time they make me laugh. Take this one, for instance. It made me laugh...so I saved it. It's from a paid ad in a local newspaper many years ago.

Yeah. You read that right. You too can own your very own 15 foot fool. I am VERY curious about the "accessories" that come with it. Is it a "he" or a "she"?
So many questions. So few answers. I could go on and on...but I'll let YOUR imagination take you were it may.

BTW, spellchecker found no typos in this post. But there is one. I left it in just for kicks. It's good therapy for my perfectionist ego to make a few mistakes every once in a while. It keeps me grounded.

Just thought you might want to know.
TTFN

Okay, here's my River Barge story...

2009-05-04T08:00:00.006-04:00

When dh and I were first married

we rented a little house that sat right along the riverbank. The Ohio River riverbank, that is. It was just big enough for the two of us and we were so happy to be living as a couple. Both of us worked full time jobs. He drove a delivery truck and had to be at work at four o'clock every morning. I worked an office job and had to be at work around eight o'clock (they were very leniant). Anyway, since we lived 40 minutes away from work, he would get up at three...and being the loving, newly-married wife, I'd get up with him and see him off to work. Then I'd stay up and do the housework, write the Thank You notes and do all those other mind numbing tasks. Sometimes my job would be slow and I'd come home a little early...and sometimes it was stressful and I had to work late. All of this would eventually take its toll and I'd be extremely tired by the time I got home from work. On one such evening I went to bed as soon as I got home...thinking I'd just take a little nap and get right up to fix supper.
Well...I ended up taking a big nap...in a deep, deep sleep. I woke up when dh came running in the room and called out my name. I woke up disoriented because it had become dark while I slept...and dh was excited about something.
It turns out (as he tells it to me) that a barge was traveling down the river. When they travel at night they use a spotlight to keep track of the shoreline so they don't run aground. Nothing unusual about that. But on this particular night this particular barge was shining it's spotlight on our house. Specifically...on our bedroom windows.
And it was blowing it's airhorn.
Dh's imagination got the best of him and he thought maybe I was standing at the window dancing for the barge-hands. Or so he says. We'll just have to take his word for it, I guess.
*I* never saw the barge light. And *I* never heard the horn.
And I certainly wasn't dancing in the window.

What is it like in your part of the country?

2009-05-02T08:00:00.008-04:00

Last week when we traveled to my parents' house to take the Senior Portraits, I snapped a few pictures since:
A) I had my camera in hand

and

B) my 16-yr-old wants to drive every chance he gets.

I've been wanting to do a blog on this every since I opened my blog account. Well...actually...since before that. I have a friend (HI COLLEEN!) who lives in Colorado. I live in Ohio. She was in West Virginia (get out the map if you need help with this, people) and so...since she was so close...we hopped in the car and drove over and saw her. The conversation drifted to the terrain and the differences in the two areas and she asked me something along these lines: "How can you stand this? I feel like I'm boxed in!" And you know what? I never really thought about it. I've lived in the hills all my life. When you travel, you're either on the hilltop, in the valley, or in between going up or down. (Life is kinda like that, too.)

So here we go.
Since we're in the hills, it's a good place to have livestock.

Cattle are popular.

And when you're on your way up to the hilltop or down to the valley, you have to go through a lot of twists and turns. If only I'd have waited one more second you'd have seen the next turn after this one. Sometimes you really zig-zag!

And sometimes it straightens out.

Going down...just so we can go up again.

You can't tell it, but through these closest (bare) trees you get your first glimpse of The River. We're on the hilltop here. We have to go to the valley to get to The River.

And down here the road is flatter and straighter.

Every time I mention The River on the web, someone always asks, "What River?"
The OHIO River, of course!

Where the barges run up and down The River all day and all night.

And that reminds me of a story...
Remind me to tell it to you later. Woo-Hoo!

Wow! Has it really been a week since I last blogged?

2009-05-01T21:40:00.004-04:00

Happy May Day, everyone!
This week I've:
**ordered prints from Wallyworld of the Senior Portraits for family and friends,
**written out the invitations for the graduation/party,
**strolled down memory lane while perusing through a big box of snapshots--picking out ones to be put onto a photo board for the graduation/party,
**strolled down memory lane while perusing through files of photos on the computer--picking out ones to send to Wallyworld to be printed so they can be put on the photo board for the graduation/party,
**visited my parents. again.
**oh yeah, we went camping until Tuesday. Back to work on Wednesday. Boy, was it a hurried/busy half-week at work! I'm glad it's over!
**enjoyed the company of my children. All week. Well, I enjoyed it most of the week. Occasionally--not so much. But that's another story for another day.

Okay, I'll tell you a short story. But that's it for now. I mean it now--don't whine for more.
My oldest son got mad at me Wednesday morning. I'm not entirely sure why...but he's 16, so that's probably reason enough. Anyway, he had promised a lady from church that he would help her get her herb garden in this week. Wednesday was the day...so I dropped him off at her house, sour mood and all. Several hours later when I picked him up he was a different boy. All smiles and talkative. He told me, "You can't stay in a bad mood around that couple!"
I'm so thankful to God that He has placed some good, godly people in our lives.

What I've done been doin'...

2009-04-25T20:37:00.008-04:00

I've got graduation on my mind.

So far we've...

... shopped for decorations and paper products. *check*

... planned the menu. *check*

... bought the invitations, set the date and time. *check* *check* *check*

... made out the guestlist (*check*) only to have several people from church ask if they were invited (oops, oversight on my part). (*uncheck*)
... printed out a diploma because the one I ordered won't be here in time. *check* Found a really nice frame for it. *check*
... taken photos, narrowed them down, printed the proofs. *check* *check* *check*
(Shelly, I looked into the place where you got your pics and the closest one is the same one you used. Thanks, anyway!)

Wanna see? I knew you would.

We each have our favorites. Her daddy doesn't care for the ones of her peeking around the corner of the barn...but it shows her playful side, so we'll definately order a few of those prints. We'll let him pick out which one to use for the big frame. BTW, most of these were taken at my parent's farm. The one by the water was taken at the local park. The one with the guitar was taken at church. We've been travelin'!!!

Okay, now I'm off to pack. We're going camping for a few days in an attempt to unwind and regroup. I'm so frazzled I can't think straight. "See" ya later next week. Be good. :)

Finally Friday.

2009-04-23T13:49:00.004-04:00

Don't go bursting my bubble by telling me it's only Thursday.

I need a vacation.

Between work, planning a graduation, and hormones...I'm beat. I didn't get K to a photographer in time to get her pictures taken, so I am doing them myself. We need to get these done, K. Do you hear me? I need to move on to doing the photo collage and planning the meal.
And you know what? I just did a mental check and other than a week's vacation in June, I don't expect to get any reprieve until sometime in August.
Mother's Day, Father's Day (and the appropriate banquets at church), the graduation and it's party, a wedding in another state, VBS, youth camp, scout camp, the church picnic, 4H activities, Boy Scout outings....UGH!

{deep breath}

I think I'll just take it one week at a time. The days fly by too fast to take them one at a time.

Bills.

2009-04-16T08:09:00.003-04:00

It has come to my attention that bills are due. Again.
Ugh.
You know...after more than 20 years of writing checks and buying stamps and running around town to pay the *local* bills (so I don't have to spend the stamps I just bought)...you would think I would either:
A.) be so used to doing it that it would be a habit by now.
B.) set up my online account to automatically pay them every month.
or
C.) deserve a break.

I choose option C.
Sadly, the utility companies don't agree.

The older my children become, the busier I get. The busier I get, the faster the days roll around. It's the middle of the month AGAIN!?!?! Wow...didn't we just have one of those a month ago?

So...I need to buck it up and get out the checkbook.

Ugh.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T17:24:00.004-04:00

For the message of the cross is foolishness

to those who are perishing, but to us

who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

Happy Resurrection Day, dear family and friends!

Ahhhhh.

2009-04-11T14:01:00.003-04:00

It's one of those peaceful moments in my life. All is well with my soul. I'm happy and I know it.
My husband and two teens left yesterday morning with the church youth group to go to an annual Christian concert event. They arrived back home an hour ago. I've talked to all three--hearing all the exciting news--and now they're resting. My girl had the most sleep--3 or 4 hours. Doug, who had to drive one of the vans, slept for 2 hours. My boy stayed up all night and HE is the one who is most talkative.
He's growing up. And it makes me smile. When I witness those touching moments when he's being the protective or helpful big brother to his little brother...and when I see how he teases his big sister one moment and the next he fiercely protects her...it just touches my heart. My oldest boy is growing up and becoming a man--and I like what I see. Good job, sweet boy. You're going to be OK in this world. Our job of raising you is almost over and in a few short years you will step out on your own. May God continue to be your focus and guide. Blessings to you.

Cooking....again.

2009-04-07T16:12:00.003-04:00

I was stumped for what to fix for supper tonight. Timothy helped me peek in the cabinets and fridge. In the freezer there was 3 packages of various types of fish. Doug doesn't like fish, but the kids and I do. We can have some fish for lunch tomorrow...but that will never work for supper. There was also a package of meatballs, some browned ground beef and various vegetables. Leftovers were in the fridge--not much help there. The pantry is pretty well stocked. The family has eaten all the sliced bread in the house, though. It's snowing outside and I don't want to make a run to the store. So I have to make do with what I have on hand.
Hmmmm...what to fix?
Several years ago I made a list of foods I frequently make that the family loves. So I got that list out and looked it over. I'm not in the mood for any of the soups or stews. Fried bologna and grilled cheese sandwiches are out....no bread. I had just made spaghetti...so not that. Or lasagna. A-HA! Here are a couple of winners: Taco Bake Casserole...or...Meatball Sub Casserole.
I pick...

....drum roll please....

Meatball Sub Casserole!
My teenagers are excited. I haven't made this for a couple of years.
There won't be any leftovers tonight!
Try it out:

Meatball Sub Casserole

1 pound frozen meatballs
1 jar (28 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
2 garlic cloves, minced

1 loaf (1 pound) Italian bread, cut into 1” slices

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
½ cup mayonnaise (no substitutes—don’t use light or fat-free)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Combine spaghetti sauce, water, garlic and meatballs in a heavy saucepan. Heat for 15 minutes, or until meatballs are thawed and heated through. Cool.
Arrange bread in a single layer in an ungreased 13” x 9” x 2” baking dish (all of the bread may not be used). Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning and pepper; spread over the bread. Sprinkle with ½ cup mozzarella. Pour meatball/sauce mixture over cheese mixture; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until heated through.

How about a recipe?

2009-04-04T17:33:00.002-04:00

I'm still working on getting a few more wedding pics up...and maybe a couple of our engagement pics. I was working on them the other night and I asked my daughter..."Why does your dad look like a Mexican in all of these?" She came rushing over to the puter and said..."Yeah, he does!"
For the record...he's not. I don't have anything against *any* nationality. I just happened to fall in love with an Irish man. Who evidently looks Mexican in old photos.

ANYWAY...
I thought I'd share Mom's recipe for Strawberry Pie. I made it Monday. It disappeared as soon as I took it out of the fridge. Yeah, it's THAT good. Make it for your family this week. They'll love you for it.

Pie Crust:
1 (and) 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup milk

In a pie plate, combine flour, sugar and salt.
Combine oil and milk; pour over flour mixture; stir with a fork.
Press into pie plate and prick with fork well.
Bake at 425 degrees for 12 to 17 minutes. Cool.

Strawberry filling:
1 package strawberry gelatin
2 cups hot water
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons corn starch

Combine in a heavy saucepan.
Boil 7 minutes, stirring constantly.
Cool.

Once everything is cooled down, put strawberries in the pie crust (Mom leaves them whole....I cut them up. It will not take an entire quart of strawberries.) and pour the filling over them--making sure that they all get coated. Put in the fridge until it's set (an hour? maybe two? sorry--I've never timed it). Serve with whipped cream.

Falling Behind

2009-04-03T13:20:00.002-04:00

I'm falling behind. The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get. Every have those times?
I've had a stress-filled morning at work. When I got home I discovered I had left my cell phone (I use it as a clock) on my desk at work. I have to make another trip out. Yesterday's adventure has not helped my stress levels to stay down:
Yesterday I got my hair trimmed. I *finally* had a haircut that I loved. You guessed it, the hairdresser did her own twist on it and it's ugly. It used to frame my face...now my bangs (which I'm not supposed to have) are about mid-ear level. It gets better--when I pull the bangs to the front, one side is over an inch longer than the other. It used to have layered look all around the bottom edge...now it's cut...well...odd. I feel like I'm wearing a helmet of hair. It's as if she cut the top layer twice and forgot to cut the bottom layer. I don't know if she was going for a mullet look, but she missed that mark, too. But that's as close to describing this weird look as I can muster. I have been unable get this wild cut to tame down enough to look decent. I haven't decided what to do about it other than let it grow out enough to have someone different try to get *my* style back. I hate this. I've known this gal since she was a baby. I used to teach her in Sunday School. She certainly didn't butcher my hair on purpose. But I won't be returning. I can't even get her to fix the uneven edges unless I'm willing to wait until next Wednesday or Thursday (the only two days her shop is open). So now I either have to pay someone else to fix it or take a whack at it myself. Decisions, decisions.
Tomorrow is a new day, gals. Let's hope its a good'n.

Weddings

2009-03-30T22:01:00.004-04:00

Weddings have been on my mind today. One of the message boards I frequent is talking about weddings. I just had a young couple over for dinner tonight...and since they are getting married in a couple of months, the wedding is high on their list of topics to discuss.

{sigh}

Weddings are a lot of stress...so why does anyone romanticize them?

Who cares! Let's look back at mine.

I remember our wedding day. I remember when my Dad gave me away. I turned to him, kissed him on the cheek and said, "I love you Daddy." As he turned away to sit with my Mom I heard him sniffle.
I remember my cousin (who is one day older than me and was my best friend growing up) had a hard time at my wedding. I was standing in the reception line, being greeted and congratulated by everyone...then my cousin comes by. TO THIS DAY I still wonder what it was she was trying to tell me. She was crying so hard I didn't understand a word of it. Bless her heart. Her emotions triggered MY emotions. Thanks a lot, Cuz.

But all-in-all it was a nice ceremony. Actually, it was probably the shortest ceremony that everyone attending had ever been to! Our minister was **SO** nervous! More than *we* were! He forgot some things...like the scripture that we had agonized over for days to pick out. In the blink of an eye (well, almost) he was announcing us as Mr. and Mrs.

Then my niece...how adorable was she!?! She was two years old and did a great job. The dress she wore was the same one that *I* had worn at her age when I was a flower girl at a wedding. I don't remember my experience as a flower girl and I'm guessing that she doesn't either.
Poor thing was so tired and needed a nap and wasn't afraid to show it.
{sigh} I miss being able to fit into that dress...as well as my skinny jeans. But I wouldn't have missed out on these last 20+ years. I may never be this skinny again...but I will ALWAYS have the love of this wonderful, quirky man.

Something weird happened to my last post.

2009-03-30T21:59:00.001-04:00

It didn't show up until today...two days after I *thought* I had posted it.
Weird.
I've got more to say...but I'm too weirded out to write it right now.
ttys

Shopping

2009-03-28T18:24:00.003-04:00

Well, my guys have been out of town this weekend with the Boy Scouts...doing the Boy Scout thing. The usual...camping, rock climbing/repelling, cave exploration, fire, food and mud.

So this left my daughter and I with a rare couple of days to enjoy each other's company. And what did we do? SHOP, of course!

We have shopped at lots of stores in the two closest towns...and enjoyed a wonderful visit with my all-grown-up niece at her apartment. It has been a great weekend.

She had to go to work an hour ago...so it's just been me and the dog here at the house.

Hubby just called and said they were on the way home...so it won't be quiet for long.

Just thought you might be interested in what's new here. How has your weekend been going?

Quirks

2009-03-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Here's another one of my earlier writings. Enjoy.

Quirks

Towels. My kids fold the laundry. One of my quirks is that the towels have to be folded in a certain way. They lay in the cabinet better and they look neater when they’re folded this way. It’s not complicated. It’s not like I’m asking for them to fold a napkin swan. Simply fold long ways twice and then over. Tada!

Now, the kids aren’t wonderful at putting away the laundry they fold, but that’s a kid thing and doesn’t annoy me very much. You have to let some things go and pick your fights. Do you know that saying—is this the hill you want to die on? You know what that means, right? If the last memory that my kids had of me was me yelling, “You didn’t put the folded laundry away!” that would be so sad.

So one day while I was putting away the towels I noticed that my little towel-folding rebel had been at it again. That irked me. In order to get them to fit in the cabinet I had to turn them so that the folded edge was to the side instead of facing the front. Later I was irked again when I got ready to take a bath and I pulled out one of those wrongly folded towels and it tumbled on my face instead of coming out of the cabinet neatly (understand, the cabinet is mounted above the bathtub—high above it). WHY can’t they remember—fold twice long ways, then once over? Tada!

God has a sense of humor. I know this because of two things: First, I have a sense of humor and I am made in His image. Second, sometimes He just CRACKS ME UP!
He wants us to “pray without ceasing” and to me that means we can have a conversation with Him all day long—not only while we’re on our knees. So, here I am in the bathtub, and God decides that now is a good time to answer me. The problem wasn’t that my child was a towel folding rebel—the problem was that I was allowing Satan to use this minor (and it IS minor) inconvenience to PUSH MY BUTTON!

So I let it go.

No longer was I going to allow Satan the enjoyment of watching me to get my Irish up whenever I saw a towel folded once long ways then short ways then again long ways. What a relief! That burden was no longer mine to carry! I instantly felt better instead of bitter.

Then I got tickled. Being a visual person, my mind tends to make up a mental picture if there isn’t a visual image. I imagined Satan, lying back in an easy chair with some cute demons at his side fanning him with palm leaves and feeding him grapes. He decides he’s bored and needs entertainment, so he reaches over beside him and pushes a little button and sits back to watch the action. Nothing happens. He sits up and pushes it again. And again. PushPushPushPushPushPushPushPush Nothing happens. I have disconnected that button! Then I picture him frantically grabbing the wires and trying to reconnect it. Is it red to blue? Black to green? He’s twisting the wires together, but still the button doesn’t work. It won’t work because I let it go.

This is fun! I have POWER over Satan! What else can we let go, Lord? You know what, He’s showing me!

Symmetry Art

2009-03-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Four years ago we did some symmetry math which lead to symmetry art. I know it was four years ago because I found this picture in with the pictures of my 16-year-old son's 12th birthday party. I'm so good at sorting out and labeling my photos. Not.

Anyway, check out what we did:

Basically you find a picture that shows symmetry (or draw your own),

get two pieces of contrasting construction paper,

cut one in half and draw half your design on it,

cut it out and paste the positive and negative halves on the full sheet of construction paper.

Pretty cool, huh?

Bring on the outlaws...

2009-03-18T22:31:00.002-04:00

My knight in cardboard armor is ready for 'em.

Timothy spent the afternoon playing with a cardboard box, a Boy Scout knife and a wild imagination.

Gotta love that boy.

Exercise.

2009-03-17T08:10:00.006-04:00

That might be a four-letter-word. I have a love/hate thing going on with exercise. I love how I feel when I get exercise...and I hate doing it. I especially hate walking. I don't know why. Maybe it's because my fingers always swell up when I walk. But that seems to be the preferred exercise of some of my friends.

"Pam, why don't we go for a walk tonight after work?"

No thanks.

So explain to me why, when I got up this morning, I dug out some summer clothes and hopped on our new treadmill?

My husband has been using the exercise equipment at work. He *was* lifting weights (and had some AWESOME muscles, I might add) when he switched to all cardio...AKA...the treadmill. I miss him. He works out for an hour each night after work. (Shh...I miss his muscles, too.) That hour didn't seem like much at first, but it has really cut our family time because we have Scout and Church activities nearly every night during the week.

So...we went shopping last night and brought home a treadmill. We've been researching them for weeks and last week we decided which one to buy. Last night we had time to go to the store and get it. (Remember? I live *miles* from any mall or big chain store--so it's a big deal to "go to town.") By the time it was assembled, it was too late to work out. So *I* am the first one to work out on the thing because dh (dear hubby) couldn't get woke up enough this morning. (I had the "luxury" of taking half an hour to wake up.)

So here I sit...all sweaty...typing out my morning's adventures while I cool down. I need to get a bath and go to work. I hope you'll make some time in your day to get some exercise. Your body with thank you for it.

P.S. In January I mentioned that I had joined a friend in a health challenge at her work. Our final weigh-in was last Friday. For the nine-week challenge, I had lost......drum roll please....eighteen pounds. Yeah for me! I'm hoping the treadmill will help me stay on the downhill-slide (so to speak).

Things are back to normal around here...

2009-03-14T12:15:00.002-04:00

Everyone is mostly over the cold. Boy Scouts is keeping us busy every weekend again (it must be Spring), and the kids are all looking forward to school lessons to be over with for the year.
Today the Scouts held a Pancake Breakfast fund raiser. It sounds like they made out pretty well. I'm so proud of all the boys...they really pitched in and were friendly and helpful. We have a great group of guys.
Last night my husband and I got to enjoy a Date Night out. Our church organized a dinner-and-a-movie night. We ate at a local pizza shop (actually, it's the one where our daughter works--and she "got" to be our waitress for the evening), then went to the church to watch a video. Around 30 people participated. Everyone agreed that they had a good time. It was fun!
Oh, you want to know what the above picture is about? It's just my husband and daughter having a "moment." My husband volunteered to drive a van load of teens to a Christian concert a couple of years ago. He grabbed one of our puppet wigs and wore it--the entire day. The teens loved it. He said he had his picture taken DOZENS of times that day. He loves to tell about the drivers on the interstate. The teens would wave at them as they passed the van, so they'd be smiling by the time they reached the driver--then they'd sort of freeze when they saw him...a big man in a bright pink wig.
That's my wild and crazy family. I love 'em all and wouldn't change a thing.
TTFN

Words of wisdom for the teens....

2009-03-09T18:54:00.000-04:00

First off...I'm not going to get into the whole dating/no dating debate.

I just want to say that I've seen so many of my children's friends who are dating (both ps and hs) and, quite frankly, I'm upset with them. The trend these days seems to be to start at the top--in everything you do. Does anyone see a problem with that?

Excuse me?
{tap, tap, tap} Is this thing on?
Good. Listen up! 'cause here are my words of wisdom to you:

When you start with "I love you", there's no place to go from there but down.

Thank you.
This has been a public service announcement from a concerned mother. Now go clean your rooms.

Update on us.

2009-03-06T22:11:00.002-05:00

Hi guys. Long time to blog.
The cold/flu has been making the rounds in my house. I was the first to catch it (as previously mentioned)...then the boys...and now my daughter has it. Poor thing.
She and I seem to get the flu worse than the males in this house. The good news is that it only lasts about 4 days and you feel better. Alive, even. Meanwhile, life goes on. I didn't miss any work. I work in an office alone. Most of the time, I'm the only person in the building--besides my kids if they follow me to work. So I didn't think anything of going to work with a cold. Little did I know that the cold chills weren't from the cold temps outside, but from the fever within. Our thermometer is broke. WHY is it that you never know these things until it's too late? It's not like I could run right out and buy another one.
But you know what? I never really know that we have the flu until the SECOND person gets hit by it. You know how that is, right? Tell me I'm not alone. Please.
Anyway, by the time I got home from work, I was exhausted. After resting for a bit, I had to haul laundry downstairs and toss it in the washing machine. A mundane task, mind you...but it wore me out. At what point do you think it dawned on me that I needed to be in bed? Never. I couldn't think clearly. I just took frequent breaks. Even climbing the stairs--something that I do a hundred times a week--left me huffing and puffing. I reasoned that my lungs were worn out from fighting the green gunk that I was coughing out of them. {Insert clanging bells and giant red flags here. Nevermind, I couldn't see 'em.} So when the clothes were done in the washer, I hauled them outside to hang on the clothesline. WHY was I hanging clothes outside in 30-something degree weather you ask? Because my dryer decided it was tired of providing hot air. {Side note--after 65 dollars of parts, dh finally found the right one and VIOLA!, it works.} The laundry is all caught up just in time for the next round.
So anyway, I'm feeling MUCH better. Just a cough remains. The boys are coming out of it. Dd is going to milk this for all its worth.
I don't blame her.
A girls' gotta do what a girl's gotta do. :)
Hope all you guys stay far, far away from the flu.
And to anyone who may have seen me this week: I'm REALLY sorry if I exposed you to the flu. I didn't know that it wasn't a simple cold.

Blahs.

2009-03-03T13:24:00.002-05:00

I finally went to the Doctor yesterday. I haven't been feeling well. I know...I didn't tell you. I don't like to complain (okay, I *do* like to complain, but only to those who love me)
The good news is that my Cholesterol, Tri-g's and Sugar levels are all normal/acceptable.
The bad news is I have an infection.
Wanna know what's worse? A couple of hours after leaving the Dr's office I felt a cold attacking me. Now I'm coughing and have chest congestion.
I'm a mess.
But have no fear...I'll be feeling better soon.

The end of another month...

2009-02-28T08:00:00.001-05:00

February is coming to an end.

Sorry to break it to you that way...all sudden and everything.

I mean...you were going to find out anyway. Right?

The good news in all of this is that we'll soon be seeing some of these:

How many of us are still writing "2008" on stuff?

{holding hand up} I am.

My dog. She's so ladylike.

2009-02-27T08:14:00.009-05:00

She crosses BOTH pair of legs when she's relaxing.
Pardon the messy floor.

This picture was taken six years ago.

Since then we've constantly maintained a

neat and tidy house with no clutter.

{hysterical laughing}

Yeah. Right.

It was a dark and cloudy Thursday.

2009-02-26T13:49:00.005-05:00

The temperature is a little warmer today, but the clouds are hanging thickly overhead. No sunshine for us today.

I was reading Mark, Chapter 1 the other day and something really struck me. Epiphany style. I've been wanting to get here for two days so I could share this with you.
Towards the end of the verse, Mark 1:45 says, "Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in the desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter." (KJV)
I have a wonderful study Bible that has four versions side-by-side. I love comparing the translations and allowing each one to soak in. Here's how the Amplified and NIV translate that same verse (I added the emphasis.) : "Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in the lonely places. Yet the people still came to Him from everywhere."

Wow.

Jesus is in the lonely places. So many people are suffering from depression or disappointments or loneliness and they are in a lonely place. This gives us all hope! Jesus is there...in the lonely places. If you find yourself hurt or lonely or depressed...take heart!...Jesus will meet you there in that lonely place that your mind takes you. He's there. He's always been there for me!

Tax time.

2009-02-23T08:11:00.005-05:00

I finished figuring our taxes this weekend. Normally I have it done as soon as we get the W-2s, but it's been pretty busy around here, so it took me a month to get around to it. Actually, I probably still wouldn't have them done if my husband hadn't asked this week if they were done. Oops...kinda didn't make time for them, Huny.
I don't mind figuring them up since:
A) Numbers are my "thing"
and...
B) With three kids we get a refund.
It smacked me in the face this weekend that point "B" will one day soon be over with. My kids are growing up....which is good. But I won't be able to claim them...which is bad. Oh well, we all knew it would come one day, right?
When I was in college and was stuck being in charge of the computer lab on weekends (back in the day when the computer was in a room by itself because it was so big) I made up my own little tax form and printed it off. It was a tiny little thing compared to the books we get in the mail nowadays. It only had two points and it went something like this:

1) How much money did you make last year?
2) Send it in.

Now mind you, I was in college and didn't have to file a tax return...so I thought it was all very funny.
Not so much now that I'm all grown up with a family of my own.

Have you finished filing your tax return?

Check "yes" or "no".
__yes __no

Sunday's ramblings

2009-02-22T08:10:00.004-05:00

I'm waiting for the canned cinnamon rolls to get out of the oven. I hate those things...but my family likes them. Why do I buy them? Because I enjoy sleeping instead of getting up early and waiting for dough to rise. Because they were on sale. For real cheap. I'm thrifty that way. Any minute now the smell of canned cinnamon rolls will waft through the house and get everyone out of bed. Everyone but my oldest son.
He was up before I was and has already consumed a bowl of cereal. He thinks he's starving every second of every day. Problem is, in the winter time there are no yards to mow and no fields to clear...so it's starting to show on him. This summer he'll trim right down. We'll have to beat the girls off with a stick, I tell ya. Especially since he's going for his Lifeguard merit badge at summer camp.
It snowed last night. Everything has a fresh coat of white over it. It all looks so CLEAN. Much better than all that depressing brown. My friend, Deb Mc, has been writing about beating the winter blahs. Check it out: http://creativesoulbydebmc.blogspot.com/
I love reading her blog. She is an awesome photographer and she inspires me to take better pictures. She also has invited me to tour the Dr Pepper plant with her. I love that woman. One day I'll get over there and we'll drink every sample they throw at us and we'll have a good ole time.
Oh, remember those painful self-shot profile pictures? Both of my teenagers offered to take pictures of me. I just couldn't put them through that.
*snap* {look} ARGH!
*snap* {look} ARGH!
*snap* {look} ARGH!
You get the idea. They're sweet kids. Remind me of that tomorrow, ok?
Gotta run...the family is starting to stare at me and ask...when do the rolls come out of the oven? Thanks for reading.

I have a profile picture!

2009-02-20T20:00:00.001-05:00

Did anyone notice?
I spent the afternoon trying to get a picture of myself.
I hate that!
But even though *I* know what I look like, I have never met some of you and *you* don't know what I look like. So to prove that I'm a real person, I spent the afternoon taking a hundred pictures, deleting most of them and settling on a couple to keep.

And you know what I like about the few pics that I kept? It's that you can't see the white hair! I'm not going grey....I'm going white. My hair is very dark brown, so it has a salt-and-pepper look to it.

But these are the best ones. I made my oldest boy help me pick. Ignore the stuffed turtle growing out of my head in this one:

Here are the only other pics of me on my computer. I'm not one to stand in *front* of the camera. I'm usually the one *behind* the camera. The camera is NOT good to me....as you can see. Here's me dressed up like a Hillbilly at our church's theme night:

See...I'm holding a camera! No, not in that hand...I'm holding dh's gun for him...the OTHER hand.
I cropped this one to use as an avatar on a message board.

And this one I cropped to use as an avatar on the same message board. It was taken by a gal at church. I was taking pics of our church picnic and she appeared in the viewfinder with her camera pointed at me. I laughed, pointed at her and said something clever, like...YOU! The next day she emailed me the photo and told me I HAD to put it on the church's website along with the other picnic pictures. I hate that.

But THIS is the reason why it took me a hundred tries to get a picture of myself. Because when I see a camera pointed at me, I do goofy stuff...like smile weird...and raise one eyebrow.

I need help.

I'm not perfect.

2009-02-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

I ended yesterday's post with the comment "It's true, I'm not perfect."
Let me explain.
I'm a perfectionist. It drives me...and those around me....insane the way that I pay attention to details. I can't help it. I've tried. I think it's woven into my being.
So Sunday morning one of my nearest and dearest friends pointed out a typo I had made--printed in the Sunday bulletin for all to see. And IMMEDIATELY she said, "You're not perfect and I was the one to tell you so!"....cracking up the entire time. She was hysterical. She wasn't being mean...she was being honest. I thoroughly enjoyed her laughter. She's a dear, sweet friend indeed.
So here I am...sharing with all of bogger-dom that I'm not perfect. And you know what? I'm okay with that. Because if I can't laugh at myself...with friends...I need to get my head on straight.
I can't wait until another of my friends is home from Kentucky. She's gonna love this story!

Volcano fun

2009-02-19T08:00:00.004-05:00

I love looking back through my old photos. (Remember? They were lost for a while.) I enjoy seeing the vacations we took and the normal every-day stuff we did that I thought was interesting enough to snap a few pictures. A couple of days ago I shared pictures of a project that my youngest enjoyed doing. I'm gonna show you some more that I found.
A couple of years ago (when Timothy was going through his spiked hair phase) I found a unit study on volcanoes. It had several suggestions...but the ones that caught my eye used play clay. {wink} You know what I'm talking about without me having to mention a name brand. We had tubs and tubs of it. Since I had two teenagers and a pre-teen in the house, it was just going to waste. So we dug it out and he started making volcanoes.
First he made a couple of models of what he thought volcanoes look like.

Then we moved to the kitchen...cuz things were about to get messy. I took the tray out of the microwave (because it had a raised edge to catch any spills) and cut a plastic bathroom cup down to about an inch tall. I put some baking soda in the bottom of the cup and put vinegar into four other cups. Timothy selected four colors of play clay and we tinted the vinegar to match. The idea is to make the volcano errupt, then put clay everywhere that the "lava" went...building it up as you go. Here we've done white and green. It's not a fast project because you have to sop up all the vinegar before you can put the clay down.

Pour in the blue vinegar...

...mentally map where it spread,

sop it up and...

...put down the lava.

Repeat with red.

And here we have a finished volcano model.
We had a lot of fun. We ended up cutting it in half and looking at all the layers. Somehow, I failed to get a picture of that. My oldest was watching me select the photos yesterday and asked to see that picture--Huny, it doesn't exist. She couldn't believe it. {sigh} It's true, I'm not perfect.
Oh well...let me know how it goes if you decide to make one.

Wordless Wednesday.

2009-02-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

Dayton Air Force Museum

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

Learning can be fun!

2009-02-16T08:00:00.008-05:00

Over the years I've used a lot of free resources from the library and the internet. One of our favorite printable learning pages are from the LearningPage website: http://www.learningpage.com/free_pages/home.html
Sign up as a member and you're on your way to some exciting adventures.
Here is Timothy working on a mural. For bugs. I printed 15 pages for the mural. He colored them, cut the borders off and we tacked them on the wall. Then he colored all the bugs, cut them out, tacked them on the mural...

...then pretended to be afraid.

They have fact sheets and K-2 themed math, science and language sheets.

He's still talking about the dinosaur one. And the ocean one. And he loved learning to read with the Tommy Tales. Check them out.

A romantic dinner.

2009-02-15T14:37:00.005-05:00

Last night we got together with friends and enjoyed a candlelight dinner. Albeit, the candlelight part was MY idea, but it was the middle of the day when I suggested it. It never occurred to me that it would be dark out by the time we sat down to eat.
The truth is...I hate eating in the dark. And candlelight is just a tiny step up from "dark".
I don't like eating at restaurants with "ambiance". Bleck. All that means is...they're saving money on the electric bill and you have no idea what they're actually serving. Is it beef, pork or dog? Who knows? I can't see it.
I have a thing about that.
It's one of my "things".
I have a thing about a lot of stuff.
I have issues.
Do you still love me?

We divided up the cooking. My part of the meal included the salad, the pork chops and some cut up fruit for dessert. Here's how I fixed six chops:
I quickly browned the chops in a hot skillet, sprinkling seasoned salt and course-ground pepper on top. Once browned and not cooked through, I transferred them to a roasting pan. Over top of them I put a thinly sliced small onion and some thick sliced fresh mushrooms. (a small can will do in a pinch) Then I mixed a can of cream/mushroom soup with a half a can of water and poured it over everything else. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over top, cover the pan with foil and pop it in the oven with the baked potatoes for half an hour. (My friend was in charge of the potatoes...the oven was set at 350.) Since one of our chops was a lot thicker than the others, we had to bake it for another 15 minutes before it was done.
Oh, and for cutsie-ness, I took the red pepper that I was cutting up for the salad and thinly sliced it vertically twelve times, saving the curvey part of the top of the pepper (a hook shape)---and I used two to make a heart on top of each chop. C'mon---it was CUTE!

Saturday

2009-02-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

Boy Howdy, did yesterday's post about a hat get LONG!

Don't worry. I won't do that to you two days in a row. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

A hat named CLYDE.

2009-02-13T08:00:00.003-05:00

A few years ago we went to the Ohio State Fair. The State Fair is filled with all sorts of wonderful things...most of which we didn't partake. Not that we have anything against Fried Oreos and foam fingers, but we were there for 4H judging. Oh sure, we perused through the freebies building. You know the one. It's full of businesses hoping to catch your eye so you will buy their product or services. They give away yard sticks, magnets, notepads, key chains and pens to show you how serious they are about their business.

Anyway, by the time judging was over and we had a sack of freebies we were beat...so we headed out. On the way out was the Dickies booth. The fellas all REALLY, REALLY wanted to stop there because they were giving away the chance to drive a race car. No, not an actual race car. They strapped themselves into a chair and grabbed a steering wheel and watched the huge TV screen and pretended to drive a race car. When they were done they got a Dickies ball cap to remember that moment forever and ever. Great fun for those full of testosterone. Or so I hear. I don't have a picture of that. But I *do* have a picture of what my daughter and I did to kill time while the fellas were standing in line. We pretended to fight a bull. That's right. I can just hear you now: "Golly, I wish I was there to pretend to fight a bull." You might think it's great fun to stand in front of a green screen in a hot, closed-in trailer on a hot August day. Or not. But we also got a Dickies ball cap to help us remember this moment until our photos became available to download from the internet two weeks later.

When we emerged from the trailer we noticed the daily parade was in session. By then the fellas had joined us, so we positioned ourselves to watch the parade. It was a nice little parade with THE band (what other band would there be at the Ohio State Fair?), some kids and a team of Clydesdales pulling a wagon. (Don't get ahead of me, k?)

Right next to the Dickies trailer was a booth where they were giving away samples of a new cheesy snack cracker, so we all grabbed a snack before leaving. It was there, with cheesy-yellow-powdered fingers, my teenage daughter decided that her hat needed a name. What could she name a hat that came from the Ohio State Fair after she fought a bull for it? Clyde, of course. What do you expect from a horse lover?

My quirky dog.

2009-02-12T15:01:00.006-05:00

The first picture in yesterday's post is of my dog, Mimi. She's a retired Greyhound. Several years ago we were involved in a "rescue" group that helped find homes for retired Greyhound. We fostered several dogs. I forget the count now. Anyway, Mimi was our second foster dog. From the second she got into my station wagon, I could tell this dog had a Princess attitude...and that's what I called her all week. Princess Mimi. She stayed with us a week and was adopted out right away. She left on a Saturday. She came back the next day--Sunday. I'll tell you the rest of her story another day.
She's getting old now and no longer sleeps upstairs with the rest of the family. Occasionally she'll venture upstairs to make sure we're still there or alright or something. Who knows what a dog is thinking. But she rarely sleeps in our bedroom.
Yesterday was stormy. Last night was worse--with high winds, beating rain, and the *BOOM-BOOM* of transformers blowing out.
Last night, about 1 AM, she came into our room and laid down.
Whenever she's scared at night, she will sleep on the floor at my husband's side of the bed.
Whenever she's sick at night, she will sleep on the floor at my side of the bed.
And whenever she just wants to be near us, she will sleep on the floor at the foot of the bed.
She was on my side of the bed.
Great.
But it must've just been a case of the jitters giving her a queasy feeling...because she got up in 15 or 20 minutes and trotted off downstairs for the rest of the night.
Whew! Dodged the bullet that time.
Hope you guys all have electric today. I forgot to turn my puter off last night...so it was a bit messed up this morning and I couldn't get online. All is well in my world now. :)

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

2009-02-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

What? Did you want to sit here?

Nice haircut, Tim.

BTW....I've lost 12 pounds now. YAY!

Colleen to the rescue!

2009-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Sunday I wrote about losing things. Among them...my lost brain cells.
Let me back up.

Several years ago (what's it been Colleen, five years?) I met an online friend and her family. We enjoyed an afternoon taking in the beauty of God's green country. I've never been the same since. And here's why:

She stole my brain cells.

Oh, she's a sneaky one.

She CLAIMS that it was an accident...that they got all mixed up.
I can't dispute that.

So...I'll just say...Thanks for returning them, Colleen.
Hey! Are you sure these are mine? I thought the blue ones were yours! Oh well...they don't look like you used them. hehehe

On to more important things:

Remember all that snow I showed you last week?

Forget about it.

It's gone.

*POOF* Just like that.

Well, actually...not "just like that". It took several days of above-freezing temperatures for it to melt. Now all that's left of it is the huge piles at the end of driveways and parking lots.

But don't worry...it will be back. Winter has not had the final word. Yet.

And then guess what?

Spring. With all it's beautiful flowers.

Irises are my absolute favorites.

Confession time...

2009-02-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

I have a "thing" about dishes.

There. I said it.

It's true. I love dishes. And what's worse is I don't know when to stop collecting them.

But aren't these salt cellars the most ADORABLE dishes you've ever seen? I love, love, love them.

I was at a flea market last summer and came across them. The fella running the stand told me I could HAVE them. For FREE! I love a bargain. He said they were the last two left out of a set of eight--the others broke in transit. {sob!}

Since bringing them home and washing them up they haven't seen the inside of the cabinet more than seven or eight days total. Since summer. Yeah--we use them a lot. They usually sit on the countertop so they're handy for us to grab. Nearly every day I wish I had the other six...there just aren't enough of them to go around. Sometimes I use them to put spices in so they're handy while I'm cooking. Sometimes my daughter uses them to pre-measure out ingredient when she's baking. Any one of us use them to hold dipping sauce.

My husband bought some more salt cellars, but they just aren't the same. These ones are very simplistic and look like miniature bowls. The ones he found were fancier. They just weren't my style. Two of them are cut glass. Pretty! But certainly not for every day use. So he tried again. He found a set of four. They are square with a round hole in the middle. Hmmm. Close, but no cigar. Since they are solid glass, they're heavy. Not only that, but they're only about as tall as that AA battery. Nice try, Honey...but I really like the sloped out sides of my favorites. It makes it easier to grab the spices out.

While I truly appreciate his efforts, I've never used any of them.

As you can tell, not only do I love dishes, I could go on and on about them. Tomorrow I'll tell you all about one of my plates.

Just kidding.

Ever lose anything?

2009-02-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

A few days ago when I posted about Timothy when he was 6 years old, I knew JUST the perfect photo that I wanted to use. But...
I. could. not. find. it.
It was lost. I was a picture of him, wearing a wine-o cap, standing in front of the gecko tank at the zoo.
You know the one, right?
It's adorable.
It was lost.
Well, today I went through my backup discs from way back...and I FOUND it!

And you know what? He's wearing a ball cap. And he's standing in front of the Mudpuppy tank. At least I was right about him being at the zoo. He's still adorable, though.

I do have a picture of a gecko at the zoo. It's one of my all-time faves. Maybe that's where I got confused. It doesn't explain the hat mix up, though.
And you know what? I'm not even sure this is a gecko. Does anybody know what this critter is? Obviously I have lost my mind.

Then I got to looking through the rest of the lost pictures that I hadn't yet missed.

A summer vacation at Lake Erie:

Where we went fishing, of course.An April vacation in Florida. Oh how beautiful the white sand beach and the blue, blue water. This was the year that dolphins came around while we were there.Christmas 5 years ago.

My oldest playing soccer.

And as I strolled down memory lane the rest of the family crowded around the computer. As we relived some of our adventures it occurred to me that I need to make a bigger effort of taking pictures. I'm not one to carry my camera with me everywhere I go. I *LOVE* my digital for the fact that I can see right away if I need to adjust exposure, lighting or focus. I wish my 35mm did that! Do you know how much film that would have saved me?

Anyway, we agreed that we need to go back to Lake Erie...maybe this summer. And we'll all miss our Florida vacations now that Mom and Dad have moved back to Ohio. Maybe one day we'll venture out with our camper and visit a beach closer to home. Until that time, I still have my pictures. I know where they are.

Now, if only I could find my lost brain cells.

The hopper is empty!

2009-02-07T08:00:00.005-05:00

One of the features that I like about this blog setup is that I can write a few posts and either tell it to post it on a certain day or I can save it as a draft and work on it again later. I like this because sometimes life gets in the way and I can't find time to play. This week has been one of those weeks for me. I've had to run here or dash there. And yesterday I worked most of the afternoon and part of the evening making props for our puppets to use Sunday.
I had told the Puppet Team that we were going to do it together...but the only one who has a crafty bone in her body had to make an emergency trip to Kentucky this week. Instead of torturing the rest of the team, I tackled the project myself. So, with my family offering words of encouragement, I painted and crafted until we have three nice props that hopefully will last a few years.
And guys...I KNOW you don't mind that I went ahead without you this time. You can thank me tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow...I'd better get to writing it's post!

Reflections

2009-02-05T08:00:00.003-05:00

One night, when he was six years old, Timothy appeared at my bedside. When he saw I was “awake” (more like startled into consciousness by the feeling that someone was at the bedside, WATCHING me) he climbed into bed and snuggled in close. Very close…like a second skin. He said he “just wanted to sleep with me.” Uh-huh. Since he is my third child I knew there was another reason.
After a while of snuggling I told him that he had to go to his bed. This is where the truth came out. He wailed, “My bed is broke!”
Now, once upon a time it alarmed me when he said his bed was broke, but the child’s mind was still learning the language…and such a hard language it is! You see…when you get up in the mornings, you must make your bed…therefore, when it is unmade, it must be broken!

…aren’t we this way with our Heavenly Father. When something is wrong, we go into His presence, but hem-haw around—as if He didn’t know something was wrong. Sometimes He must prod us to get us to tell Him what is bothering us. He cannot help us unless we ask.

Yes, I went into Timothy’s room and he turned on the light to reveal that the sheet had come undone at the foot of his bed. As I tucked it back into place, he heaped praises on me and thanked me for fixing his bed.
Thank you, Lord, for helping put the “undone” things back in place in my life.

You only WISH it were Wordless Wednesday.

2009-02-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Tip o'the Day:
When you're on a diet and your pants are getting loose...don't wear the silky underpants.

Note to self: Buy a belt.

Stop me if you've heard this one..

2009-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Years and years ago...when we first got married...I couldn't cook. I just "never" had time to tag behind Mom in the kitchen to learn the ins and outs. Truth was, I had no interest in being domesticated. I was a country girl. Dirt under the fingernails. Hair cut short so it would be out of the way.
I am not the same girl.
I truly enjoy cooking for my family. I love cooking from scratch and using fresh produce. I like to experiment with new flavors and textures and create new dishes. I just never write any of it down...so it's all lost. Remember, menopausal hormones are eating my brain cells.
A few years ago we made friends with Fred and Jane. As it turns out, Fred has a thing about dull knives. He hates them. With a passion. So one day Fred took my knives home with him and sharpened him. My life has never been the same since. WOW, what a difference a sharp knife makes! So every few weeks Fred would drop in and collect my knives. Then Fred got smart and loaned my husband a knife sharpener. Very soon afterwards we bought a good knife sharpener of our own. Since then both of my teenagers have bought a knife sharpener for themselves. We've all been converted to the Sharp Knife Club. (Remember, we're a Boy Scout family--there are lots of pocket knives floating around here.)
Fred is also the one who invited us to learn to butcher deer. We'd help, bring home some meat, and eat venison for a while. Now, as a family, we have butchered two deer on our own and helped another friend butcher a cow. (Remind me later to tell you the "I'm cutting up a cow" story.)
So...I'm not doing too bad for a girl who couldn't cook and didn't eat red meat all those years ago.

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

2009-02-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

I can remember my Mother telling me how HOT it was in the room. I didn't think it was hot, but she insisted. I never really understood that...until a few years ago.
But now it is all too clear. Sadly.
But I try not to insist that it is hot. I just look around the room and gather the clues before I open my mouth. I know--it's shocking to think I've learned to do that, isn't it? Usually I just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. But the thing about menopausal hormones is that they eat up brain cells faster than you can replace them--so now I've forgotten what I was going to say before I get a chance to say it. So, you see, it's not that I've learned to hold my tongue. It's that I'm forgetful. Severely forgetful.
But I digress.
As I was saying, I look around the room to see if anyone else is sweating buckets before I comment on how immensely hot it has gotten. Usually the answer is...no. But if I'm in a room with my closest friends, who are also going through this journey, then I can feel free to say what's on my mind and they will sympathize with me. Friends are that way. At least mine are. God has blessed me with some of the most wonderful girlfriends who encourage and uplift one another. I hope that He will do the same for you. And to my friends I say...THANKS for being there for me.
Excuse me now while I melt into a puddle. Are you sure it's not hot in here to you?

I am a C-H...

2009-02-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N

And I have C-H-R-I-S-T
in my H-E-A-R-T

And I will L-I-V-E
E-T-E-R-N-A-L-L-Y

This song has been running through my head since I typed it up for our Kid's Choir songbook. (I'm the secretary at our church.)

It occured to me that I haven't properly introduced myself. In my profile it says that we're active in church...but I didn't make it clear *what* church. We are followers of the Christ. We are Christians. And we are offended by all the political-correctness going on that completely excludes us.

Prepare yourself. I will share more on this later.

I'm on a diet.

2009-01-31T11:00:00.000-05:00

So my friend, Dottie, called me up one day in early November and asked if I wanted to be on her team for the "Biggest Loser" contest at her work. It didn't start until the second week of January, so I said "sure!"

January came quickly and it was time to face the music.

I know she's been praying for me and boy-howdy has it helped.

As of Tuesday's weigh-in, I've lost SEVEN pounds. Yippee! Granted it's just a drop in the bucket, but still it's a great start.

What does all that have to do with the cookie picture? My lovely daughter has been on a baking kick lately. She made these beauties last week. They are Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies. Melanie found the recipe last winter. If you like Chocolate-Covered Cherries, then this is the cookie for you. Unless you're on a diet. Then forget I said anything and stay FAR AWAY from this recipe. I'm happy to report that I did not partake of my daughter's baking skills and eat two dozen of these little beauties. I didn't even taste one. I didn't even lick my fingers when I was helping her make them. Aren't you so proud of me? :)

I bet you're wanting the recipe now, huh? Okey-dokey:

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
· 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
· 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
· 1/4 teaspoon salt
· 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
· 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
· 1/2 cup softened butter
· 1 cup sugar
· 1 egg
· 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
· 1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries
· 1 (6 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips
· 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
PREPARATION:
Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl, set aside.
In another bowl, beat butter and sugar on low speed until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, beat until well blended.
Gradually add in the flour mixture and blend well until smooth.
Shape into 1 inch balls by rolling a small amount of dough between the palms of your hands.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Using thumb, press down center of ball making an indentation.
Drain cherries, reserving the juice. Place a cherry in the center of each cookie.
For frosting: In a small saucepan, combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Heat over low heat until chocolate is melted. Add 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon reserved cherry juice and stir.
Spoon about 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry. If frosting gets too thick, add a little more cherry juice.
Bake in oven at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
Makes 48 cookies (there are 30 cherries in a jar, so some will need cut in half)

I'm beginning to see a pattern here.

2009-01-30T15:04:00.000-05:00

It snowed last night. And again today. Are you surprised? Don't be.

Just so you'll know...the big talk around town is that the weather forecasters are saying that a huge storm could hit us Monday. It didn't take me long to make the rounds around a town this small--but trust me...that's what everyone is talking about. Not that the 3+ inches of snow we got last night ON TOP of the 6 or 8 we already have wasn't big news, either. They predicted 1 inch by tonight. They were off just a *little* bit.

So anyway, I thought I'd show you a couple more pics of the snow. There are some that my daughter took yesterday. She's really good at photography, too. I like her closeups:

The sun came out and she caught it glimmering through the iced-over tree limbs. Gorw-geous!

Day 1...finding something to say

2009-01-29T19:54:00.000-05:00

Hi guys. Thanks for visiting my blog. I started it on a whim....and you know what? Now that I'm looking at this blank page, my mind is following it's lead. Blank.

I fixed meatloaf with all the trimmings tonight. Actually, I prepared the meatloaf yesterday when I had 4 pounds of ground beef that needed used or frozen. Today I fixed the mashed taters (and a baked tater b/c I don't eat mashed ones), green beans, corn, and fluffy warm homemade biscuits.

Are you getting hungry yet?

Well, here's something to get your mind off food. Snow.

My 16-year-old son took these pictures yesterday. We had snow, then during the night it rained and all the trees and ground had a thick layer of ice when we woke up. Then it snowed. And snowed. All together there is 5 or 6 inches of precipitation on the ground.

So, with all that heavy "global warming" on the tree limbs, they're getting mighty heavy. Here you see our Blue Spruce. It's not very blue, is it? Actually...now that I take a closer look at these picture...they're all in shades of grey. Such is winter.

And here's a small glimpse at our little town. As some of you may recall, I affectionately refer to it as "Mudville." When all this "global warming" melts, it will be apparent why I call it Mudville. Here in Eastern Ohio, there really isn't much flat ground. Most of it is hills. Lots of up-and-down hills. I plan on getting some pics to show you later. I know, I know...you can't wait. {snicker} Anyway, any time it rains all that water follows gravity and runs downhill. This could create problems...and often does. Such is life in our part of the world.

So there you go...my first day's ramblings. Aren't you glad you came by to visit?