I just wanted to let everyone know that we're not pregnant anymore. I started having a miscarriage on Friday evening, and it happened late yesterday (Sunday). I'm doing ok, just a little sad and tired.
For my IRL friends who I've talked to over the last few days, I'm doing much better. Thank you all so much for your kind words; they've helped me more than you'll know.
God is good, and we're getting through this time. I've had more help from friends than I know what to do with, and I feel more loved than I ever have before.
We're leaving in a few minutes to go on vacation until Friday, and when we get back, I'll do a better post. And don't worry, I'm going to totally take it easy while we're gone.
Thanks in advance for your prayers!
Monday, July 14
Monday, July 7
Monday Meal Plan
Here's my plan for the week. Our schedule is a little wonky ... but really, when is it not?
Monday 7/7 (John opens)
lunch: leftover purple hulled peas and cornbread, and strawberries
supper: stuffed squash
Tuesday 7/8 (John is off, and I've got my first checkup with the midwife. Yay!)
lunch: turkey sandwiches
supper: leftover squash and a green salad
Wednesday 7/9 (John is a mid, and he'll be gone for lunch and supper)
lunch: wraps* and soup
supper: clean out the fridge leftovers. Or maybe pizza. :)
Thursday 7/10 (John opens, and I've got a XanGo meeting that evening in Austin)
lunch: black bean, pepper, and cheese quesadillas
supper: spaghetti with meat sauce and a green salad
Friday 7/11 (John is a mid, and will be gone for lunch and supper)
lunch: wraps* and fruit salad
supper: kids choice (I do this once a week, on a night that John's at work)
Saturday 7/12 (John opens, and we'll be packing for the river)
lunch: sandwiches
supper: crock pot roast
Sunday 7/13 (John opens, we've got church, and we'll be finishing up our river preparations)
lunch: roast leftovers
supper: chopped beef sandwiches
*Wraps are a big favorite around here, because they're so durned versatile. You can put basically anything in them. And I've given up on the whole wheat tortillas because 1) my husband hates them; 2) they're kind of a pain in the butt and more expensive; 3) pretty much everything else we eat is whole wheat; and 4) I found the. world's. best. tortillas. at a place here called Jalisco's. They make them fresh every day, they're super cheap, and they're the best tortillas I've ever had. And I've had more than one or two tortillas. I'm just saying.
That's my week. What are you eating this week?
Monday 7/7 (John opens)
lunch: leftover purple hulled peas and cornbread, and strawberries
supper: stuffed squash
Tuesday 7/8 (John is off, and I've got my first checkup with the midwife. Yay!)
lunch: turkey sandwiches
supper: leftover squash and a green salad
Wednesday 7/9 (John is a mid, and he'll be gone for lunch and supper)
lunch: wraps* and soup
supper: clean out the fridge leftovers. Or maybe pizza. :)
Thursday 7/10 (John opens, and I've got a XanGo meeting that evening in Austin)
lunch: black bean, pepper, and cheese quesadillas
supper: spaghetti with meat sauce and a green salad
Friday 7/11 (John is a mid, and will be gone for lunch and supper)
lunch: wraps* and fruit salad
supper: kids choice (I do this once a week, on a night that John's at work)
Saturday 7/12 (John opens, and we'll be packing for the river)
lunch: sandwiches
supper: crock pot roast
Sunday 7/13 (John opens, we've got church, and we'll be finishing up our river preparations)
lunch: roast leftovers
supper: chopped beef sandwiches
*Wraps are a big favorite around here, because they're so durned versatile. You can put basically anything in them. And I've given up on the whole wheat tortillas because 1) my husband hates them; 2) they're kind of a pain in the butt and more expensive; 3) pretty much everything else we eat is whole wheat; and 4) I found the. world's. best. tortillas. at a place here called Jalisco's. They make them fresh every day, they're super cheap, and they're the best tortillas I've ever had. And I've had more than one or two tortillas. I'm just saying.
That's my week. What are you eating this week?
New Hack Post
Hey all you homeschoolers ... I just put up a new post over at Homeschool Hacks, mostly consisting of my schedule, and what material we're using this year. So, if you're interested in seeing how I roll, head on over and check it out.
And to everyone else, have a great day!
And to everyone else, have a great day!
Friday, July 4
Friday Confessions
Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.
As you might know, I have no children right now.
(insert Brea either doing the Happy Dance, or taking a nap just because she can)
The older kids are with John's mom, and David is with my mom. I go pick them all up tomorrow afternoon. Since they've been gone, I've had some time tosleep in late get stuff done. Time to play on the internet finish up some projects. Time to watch lots of the Discovery Channel think deep thoughts about life. Today's confession?
I totally want to be an Alaskan crab fisherman.
However, there are several problems with that. Let's talk about them:
1) I don't eat shellfish (with the exception of crawdads, and then only about once every two years). I think if I worked on a crab fishing boat, I'd have to eat crab.
2) I am extremely sensitive to motion. I can't handle being the passenger in a car for 15 minutes without getting nauseous, so I'm pretty sure I couldn't hack it on a boat for days or weeks at a time, in what seems to be fairly bad weather many times.
3) I really, really, really hate the ocean. My idea of living in hell is being stuck on an iceburg for eternity. Which brings us to
4) I hate being cold. We've talked about this in the past, so you know that this is no secret.
5) It's all guys. I am not a guy. You do the math.
6) Those guys are gone from their families for really long stretches of time. I get cranky when I have to spend more than 2 hours away from home.
7) Did I mention the part about hating the ocean and being cold?
8) I'd have to come into contact with Edgar, and I might have a problem with that, because I really, reallylove admire him.
This is Edgar. He's my homie.
(He did a really good interview, a livechat, here. It's pretty funny.)
Edgar works on the Northwestern. His brother, Sig, is the captain. Edgar is the deck boss and engineer. Their family is Norwegian.
Here's Edgar with his brothers. Sig, the captain, on the left, and the other brother whose name I can't remember, on the right. The other brother avoids the camera at all costs, so we don't know much about him.
(Google tells me that the third brother is Norman. Sorry about that, Norm!)
It seems to be a prerequisite in crab fishing that you have to smoke. I think maybe when you fill out the application, there's a question that says, 'Do you smoke?' and if you say no, they just throw your app away.
But it's not just Edgar thatI'm completely and utterly obsessed with I like. This is Johnathan and his brother Andy. They're co captains of the Time Bandit.
They're very funny together. They take turns driving the boat. I like their crew, too.
This is Phil. I used to be really afraid of Phil, but now I know that he just has to pretend to be tough. He's really a big softie.
Phil is the captain of the Cornelia Marie. His two sons, Jake and Josh, are also on the boat. Arguments and yelling ensue, often. But everyone is always friends afterwards.
A few episodes ago, Phil had to be airlifted off the boat, because he was coughing up blood. They thought he had broken a rib. Or three. But when he got to the hospital, it turned out that he had a blood clot that started in his leg, passed through his heart, and was in his lungs. Hence, the coughing blood. We haven't found out yet if he'll be back on the boat this season. It's all very suspenseful, I tell you! (And he's not helping himself by sneaking out of his room, going outside, and smoking. I'm just saying. Phil probably smokes at much at the rest of the fleet, combined.)
There's other boats the Discovery Channel follows, too. Keith is the captain of the Wizard. Sten is captain of the North American. And Rick is captain of the Early Dawn. Keith is pretty funny, but he's a little too prone to drama for my tastes.
Now, this is not a show you can just watch one episode of and be hooked. If you haven't seen it before, wait for a marathon to come on, sit down with the world's largest pile of laundry, and watch you some Deadliest Catch. You won't be sorry.
(Don't worry, we don't have to keep this one from John. He knows and is totally ok with myobsession um crush um no wait, obsession with Edgar this show. He was sick a while back, and basically spent two days on the couch, when they happened to be running a Deadliest Catch marathon, and he's also obsessed, too, which is funny, because John never gets excited about any TV, unless it's the Astros, but they way their year is going, we really don't need to get into that right now. I'm just saying. Wouldn't be good for my blood pressure, which wouldn't be good for the baby. For real.)
(Bleeping Astros. Grrrr ...)
As you might know, I have no children right now.
(insert Brea either doing the Happy Dance, or taking a nap just because she can)
The older kids are with John's mom, and David is with my mom. I go pick them all up tomorrow afternoon. Since they've been gone, I've had some time to
I totally want to be an Alaskan crab fisherman.
However, there are several problems with that. Let's talk about them:
1) I don't eat shellfish (with the exception of crawdads, and then only about once every two years). I think if I worked on a crab fishing boat, I'd have to eat crab.
2) I am extremely sensitive to motion. I can't handle being the passenger in a car for 15 minutes without getting nauseous, so I'm pretty sure I couldn't hack it on a boat for days or weeks at a time, in what seems to be fairly bad weather many times.
3) I really, really, really hate the ocean. My idea of living in hell is being stuck on an iceburg for eternity. Which brings us to
4) I hate being cold. We've talked about this in the past, so you know that this is no secret.
5) It's all guys. I am not a guy. You do the math.
6) Those guys are gone from their families for really long stretches of time. I get cranky when I have to spend more than 2 hours away from home.
7) Did I mention the part about hating the ocean and being cold?
8) I'd have to come into contact with Edgar, and I might have a problem with that, because I really, really
This is Edgar. He's my homie.
(He did a really good interview, a livechat, here. It's pretty funny.)
Edgar works on the Northwestern. His brother, Sig, is the captain. Edgar is the deck boss and engineer. Their family is Norwegian.
Here's Edgar with his brothers. Sig, the captain, on the left, and the other brother whose name I can't remember, on the right. The other brother avoids the camera at all costs, so we don't know much about him.
(Google tells me that the third brother is Norman. Sorry about that, Norm!)
It seems to be a prerequisite in crab fishing that you have to smoke. I think maybe when you fill out the application, there's a question that says, 'Do you smoke?' and if you say no, they just throw your app away.
But it's not just Edgar that
They're very funny together. They take turns driving the boat. I like their crew, too.
This is Phil. I used to be really afraid of Phil, but now I know that he just has to pretend to be tough. He's really a big softie.
Phil is the captain of the Cornelia Marie. His two sons, Jake and Josh, are also on the boat. Arguments and yelling ensue, often. But everyone is always friends afterwards.
A few episodes ago, Phil had to be airlifted off the boat, because he was coughing up blood. They thought he had broken a rib. Or three. But when he got to the hospital, it turned out that he had a blood clot that started in his leg, passed through his heart, and was in his lungs. Hence, the coughing blood. We haven't found out yet if he'll be back on the boat this season. It's all very suspenseful, I tell you! (And he's not helping himself by sneaking out of his room, going outside, and smoking. I'm just saying. Phil probably smokes at much at the rest of the fleet, combined.)
There's other boats the Discovery Channel follows, too. Keith is the captain of the Wizard. Sten is captain of the North American. And Rick is captain of the Early Dawn. Keith is pretty funny, but he's a little too prone to drama for my tastes.
Now, this is not a show you can just watch one episode of and be hooked. If you haven't seen it before, wait for a marathon to come on, sit down with the world's largest pile of laundry, and watch you some Deadliest Catch. You won't be sorry.
(Don't worry, we don't have to keep this one from John. He knows and is totally ok with my
(Bleeping Astros. Grrrr ...)
Tuesday, July 1
Summertime
I love summer. I really do. I wish we weren't in such a drought at the moment (I saw on the news this morning it's been labeled 'extreme'). Some rain would be REALLY nice. But I like the summers.
And I've been very busy this summer, so I apologize for lack of posts. In the last few weeks, I've gone to the Republican State Convention in Houston (well, John went, and I stayed with the kids at my mom's house in Katy), made peach butter, bought 5 ugly new chickens (they just finished molting and have no tails), been slightly but not very morning sick, had my XanGo friends from Phoenix in for a weekend, had two appointments with a bakery here in town about the owner carrying XanGo in the store, received two new kittens from a friend of mine, dealt with my oldest son turning 6 (and I still don't approve, for the record), had a party for said son, gone to book club, tried to nap, tilled my back garden and planted 5 or 6 different kinds of winter squash and 3 kinds of okra, and general (but unsuccessfully) tried to keep my house and yard in decent order. And napping. I'm a great fan of taking naps at the moment. :)
So that's where I've been. I'll have something interesting later today or tomorrow, promise. John's mom is taking the two older kids for three nights, starting tomorrow, and my mom is taking David on Thursday and Friday night. I'm getting everyone back on Saturday. Free time!!!!! I don't know what to do with myself. I have so many projects to get done, and unfortunately, John is working every night that the kids are gone. We'll do some stuff during the day, but I see some good movies in my future. And just think ... I can watch them at 5 in the evening if I want to!! Oh, how wild and crazy am I???? I know. Very wild and crazy. :)
And now, I'm off to sequester two of my chickens, play with the kittens, make some apple butter, deal with a daughter with a stomach ache, and get everyone packed today. Woohoo!!
And I've been very busy this summer, so I apologize for lack of posts. In the last few weeks, I've gone to the Republican State Convention in Houston (well, John went, and I stayed with the kids at my mom's house in Katy), made peach butter, bought 5 ugly new chickens (they just finished molting and have no tails), been slightly but not very morning sick, had my XanGo friends from Phoenix in for a weekend, had two appointments with a bakery here in town about the owner carrying XanGo in the store, received two new kittens from a friend of mine, dealt with my oldest son turning 6 (and I still don't approve, for the record), had a party for said son, gone to book club, tried to nap, tilled my back garden and planted 5 or 6 different kinds of winter squash and 3 kinds of okra, and general (but unsuccessfully) tried to keep my house and yard in decent order. And napping. I'm a great fan of taking naps at the moment. :)
So that's where I've been. I'll have something interesting later today or tomorrow, promise. John's mom is taking the two older kids for three nights, starting tomorrow, and my mom is taking David on Thursday and Friday night. I'm getting everyone back on Saturday. Free time!!!!! I don't know what to do with myself. I have so many projects to get done, and unfortunately, John is working every night that the kids are gone. We'll do some stuff during the day, but I see some good movies in my future. And just think ... I can watch them at 5 in the evening if I want to!! Oh, how wild and crazy am I???? I know. Very wild and crazy. :)
And now, I'm off to sequester two of my chickens, play with the kittens, make some apple butter, deal with a daughter with a stomach ache, and get everyone packed today. Woohoo!!
Tuesday, June 24
Lions and Tigers and Bears ...
OH MY!!
Sam is going to be 6 on Friday. I'm very upset with him, because I thought we had an understanding. I agreed to let him turn 5, and he agreed not to get any older. I think he's just being very disrespectful, and I do not, under any circumstances, approve of him getting older.
Next thing you know, Evie is going to be trying to turn 5!! (That would be the end of August. Apparently, she also doesn't listen to her mother.)
What's this world coming to? Seriously? I don't know how much longer I can take all of this.
Sam is going to be 6 on Friday. I'm very upset with him, because I thought we had an understanding. I agreed to let him turn 5, and he agreed not to get any older. I think he's just being very disrespectful, and I do not, under any circumstances, approve of him getting older.
Next thing you know, Evie is going to be trying to turn 5!! (That would be the end of August. Apparently, she also doesn't listen to her mother.)
What's this world coming to? Seriously? I don't know how much longer I can take all of this.
Wednesday, June 18
Ah, the Life of a Homeschooler
Seriously, I spit out my coffee sorry, pregnant people don't drink coffee herbal tea when I saw this.
Seriously!!!!!! Come on, you other homeschoolin' mamas out there! You know it's true! Give me some love.
(Except in our case, wethreaten bribe politely ask our kids not to talk about Star Wars or Transformers at church, only to have every. single. other. kid. bring it up. So I guess I don't feel quite so bad ...)
Seriously!!!!!! Come on, you other homeschoolin' mamas out there! You know it's true! Give me some love.
(Except in our case, we
Wednesday, June 11
Works-for-me Wednesday
I'm pretty sure there aren't any guys out there reading my blog, but on the off chance that there are, I'm going to say this just once: TURN AWAY. NOW. This is a girls-only post. You don't want to read this if you aren't a female. (I almost said 'you don't want to read this if you don't have a va-jay-jay' but my mom would get upset at me for that. So I won't say that part.)
Ok, here's something that works for me. (And check out Rocks in my Dryer for more awesome tips!) After David was born, and he was about 6 weeks old, I started having a very hard time nursing him. I'd already nursed my other two, and other than an extremely fun bout of mastitis, I hadn't had any issues. All of a sudden, nursing HURT. And itched. I was very confused. So After about 6 days of crying each time I fed David (I actually cried each time. I'm not exaggerating.), I finally called Laurie, my awesome midwife. After listening to me for a whopping 7 seconds, she said, 'Well, Brea, you've got thrush. Make a 10-1 water/white vinegar solution, and rinse off a few times each day, and every time you shower.'
Thrush? What the heck is that? Turns out, it's basically a yeast infection. Babies can have it in their mouths, too. (David didn't.) I was sure I would never be able to fix it that easily, just using a very diluted vinegar solution. What with the searing pain and all. But hey, I'm game for just about anything once or twice, so I decided to give it a whirl.
Oh. My. Goodness. Oh me of little faith. Within one hour of using the rinse just twice, I could tell a massive difference. Now, it was slightly uncomfortable at first. But nothing compared to the thrush.
And here's the great part, because I know the majority of you are reading this thinking, 'But I don't have kids,' or 'I'm done with the nursing part of my life,' or something like that. BUT. Thrush is a yeast infection. We all know where else yeast infections happen, right??? Those nasty over-the-counter remedies from the store are ... well, nasty. Seriously. The next time you feel one coming on, mix yourself a water/vinegar solution. 10 parts water to max 1 part vinegar. You might want to start out even weaker than that. Use a peri bottle, or even just use a wash cloth. Trust me, this totally works!!!!
And I'm keeping it in mind this time when the baby comes. So I don't go through the torture again. (Oh, and if you ever have a baby with thrush in his or her mouth, there's an easy fix for that, too. All you do is run up to the store and buy some acidophilus, the powdered kind, in the little capsules. Break them open, put a little on your finger, and put it in the baby's mouth. Totally safe for the baby, and really funny to watch, too!)
Ok, here's something that works for me. (And check out Rocks in my Dryer for more awesome tips!) After David was born, and he was about 6 weeks old, I started having a very hard time nursing him. I'd already nursed my other two, and other than an extremely fun bout of mastitis, I hadn't had any issues. All of a sudden, nursing HURT. And itched. I was very confused. So After about 6 days of crying each time I fed David (I actually cried each time. I'm not exaggerating.), I finally called Laurie, my awesome midwife. After listening to me for a whopping 7 seconds, she said, 'Well, Brea, you've got thrush. Make a 10-1 water/white vinegar solution, and rinse off a few times each day, and every time you shower.'
Thrush? What the heck is that? Turns out, it's basically a yeast infection. Babies can have it in their mouths, too. (David didn't.) I was sure I would never be able to fix it that easily, just using a very diluted vinegar solution. What with the searing pain and all. But hey, I'm game for just about anything once or twice, so I decided to give it a whirl.
Oh. My. Goodness. Oh me of little faith. Within one hour of using the rinse just twice, I could tell a massive difference. Now, it was slightly uncomfortable at first. But nothing compared to the thrush.
And here's the great part, because I know the majority of you are reading this thinking, 'But I don't have kids,' or 'I'm done with the nursing part of my life,' or something like that. BUT. Thrush is a yeast infection. We all know where else yeast infections happen, right??? Those nasty over-the-counter remedies from the store are ... well, nasty. Seriously. The next time you feel one coming on, mix yourself a water/vinegar solution. 10 parts water to max 1 part vinegar. You might want to start out even weaker than that. Use a peri bottle, or even just use a wash cloth. Trust me, this totally works!!!!
And I'm keeping it in mind this time when the baby comes. So I don't go through the torture again. (Oh, and if you ever have a baby with thrush in his or her mouth, there's an easy fix for that, too. All you do is run up to the store and buy some acidophilus, the powdered kind, in the little capsules. Break them open, put a little on your finger, and put it in the baby's mouth. Totally safe for the baby, and really funny to watch, too!)
Monday, June 9
250th post ... and a secret!!!
Good morning, blogosphere!!!! This is my 250th post!! I can't believe it!! I love blogging so much, and having ... you know ... like 4 people read what I write. One is my mom. I'm ok with that, because she's supa-cool!!
In other news, we'll be painting Evie's room this week before we leave for the convention. A very pretty yellow color, since I know you were super curious. Now you know.
Oh, what? Stop rambling and tell the secret? Well, I guess since I'm telling you, it's not so much a secret, as a surprise. Ok, here goes:
That would be a picture of a pregnancy test. See the faint vertical line in the first little window? That means the test is positive. Soooo ...
I'M GONNA HAVE A BABY!!!!!
I'm due on Feb 10. John and I are really, really excited. Well, I'm really, really excited, and John is excited. He's a guy. It's not really 'real' to him yet. (It never gets 'real' to him until we're asleep, and my giant belly is resting against him, and the baby kicks so hard that he wakes up. That's when it's real.)
I love how well that man knows me. When I told him, his face lit up, and he gave me a huge, and we talked for a minute or two, and then he asked me, 'So, who else knows?' He's good. My answer? 'Well, only Kristie, because I needed help deciphering the test.' He said, 'So only one person besides me? And you've known for 4 hours? I'm impressed!'
In the past, John has been lucky if he's in the top five people to hear. :) I'm basically the worst secret-keeper in the history of the world. I'm good with others' secrets, I mean, just not my own.
So if you would be praying for me, and the baby, that we would both be healthy, and that this pregnancy would be easy and with mo problems that'd be wonderful. Yes, we're planning on doing another homebirth. :)
Have a lovely day!! My stomach is turning, so I'm going to lay down for a bit, before working in the garden this afternoon.
In other news, we'll be painting Evie's room this week before we leave for the convention. A very pretty yellow color, since I know you were super curious. Now you know.
Oh, what? Stop rambling and tell the secret? Well, I guess since I'm telling you, it's not so much a secret, as a surprise. Ok, here goes:
That would be a picture of a pregnancy test. See the faint vertical line in the first little window? That means the test is positive. Soooo ...
I'M GONNA HAVE A BABY!!!!!
I'm due on Feb 10. John and I are really, really excited. Well, I'm really, really excited, and John is excited. He's a guy. It's not really 'real' to him yet. (It never gets 'real' to him until we're asleep, and my giant belly is resting against him, and the baby kicks so hard that he wakes up. That's when it's real.)
I love how well that man knows me. When I told him, his face lit up, and he gave me a huge, and we talked for a minute or two, and then he asked me, 'So, who else knows?' He's good. My answer? 'Well, only Kristie, because I needed help deciphering the test.' He said, 'So only one person besides me? And you've known for 4 hours? I'm impressed!'
In the past, John has been lucky if he's in the top five people to hear. :) I'm basically the worst secret-keeper in the history of the world. I'm good with others' secrets, I mean, just not my own.
So if you would be praying for me, and the baby, that we would both be healthy, and that this pregnancy would be easy and with mo problems that'd be wonderful. Yes, we're planning on doing another homebirth. :)
Have a lovely day!! My stomach is turning, so I'm going to lay down for a bit, before working in the garden this afternoon.
Sunday, June 8
Oat Pancakes
Also known as The Best Pancakes EVER. Please disregard my last recipe, I was young and silly and didn't know the error of my ways. I'm so sorry!! But seriously, we usually have these at least once a week. I always double the recipe and have a few left over, which we either have for snacks in the afternoon, or I freeze for a later morning.
Oat Pancakes
by Anita Cogburn
1 c oats
1 c whole-wheat flour, or white whole-wheat flour
2 T sugar
2 t baking powder
1 t salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 c milk
1/4 c white vinegar*
1/4 c oil
Add vinegar to milk, and let sit for about 10 minutes (until it looks like buttermilk). Combine oats, flour, sugar, powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well, and set aside. Combine all the wet ingredients, and mix into the dry bowl until just combined. Do not over mix!! Pout batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form and just start to pop on the surface of the pancake. Cook until second side is golden brown.
*You're adding the vinegar to the milk to make buttermilk. If you happen to have buttermilk on hand, then just use 1 1/2 c buttermilk, and no vinegar.
I know!!! How simple is that!!!! Ok. So go forth and make these pancakes. In the morning. Pour hot syrup on them. Add pecans. Or sliced strawberries. Or those super cool mini chocolate chips. Your kids will love you, your husband will be so happy that he'll forget he married you and propose on the spot, and did you see all the ingredients? If you don't count all the syrup (which of course I don't), these pancakes aren't too bad for you!!!
You could quadruple this recipe, which I've totally done when I've got family in town, and make your family think you're the best cook ever, or you could quadruple the recipe for you and your normal family, freeze the leftovers, and have pancakes every morning for a week. Or, once a week for like a month, and not have to cook but once. I'm just saying.
(PS-tune in tomorrow for my 250th post, and a fun, super top-secret surprise!!!!)
Oat Pancakes
by Anita Cogburn
1 c oats
1 c whole-wheat flour, or white whole-wheat flour
2 T sugar
2 t baking powder
1 t salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 c milk
1/4 c white vinegar*
1/4 c oil
Add vinegar to milk, and let sit for about 10 minutes (until it looks like buttermilk). Combine oats, flour, sugar, powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well, and set aside. Combine all the wet ingredients, and mix into the dry bowl until just combined. Do not over mix!! Pout batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form and just start to pop on the surface of the pancake. Cook until second side is golden brown.
*You're adding the vinegar to the milk to make buttermilk. If you happen to have buttermilk on hand, then just use 1 1/2 c buttermilk, and no vinegar.
I know!!! How simple is that!!!! Ok. So go forth and make these pancakes. In the morning. Pour hot syrup on them. Add pecans. Or sliced strawberries. Or those super cool mini chocolate chips. Your kids will love you, your husband will be so happy that he'll forget he married you and propose on the spot, and did you see all the ingredients? If you don't count all the syrup (which of course I don't), these pancakes aren't too bad for you!!!
You could quadruple this recipe, which I've totally done when I've got family in town, and make your family think you're the best cook ever, or you could quadruple the recipe for you and your normal family, freeze the leftovers, and have pancakes every morning for a week. Or, once a week for like a month, and not have to cook but once. I'm just saying.
(PS-tune in tomorrow for my 250th post, and a fun, super top-secret surprise!!!!)
Saturday, June 7
Stuffed Squash ... my favorite!!
Mmmm ... I get hungry just writing that title. This is probably my absolute all-time favorite summer meal. Make sure you buy as many of the ingredients from your local farmers' market as you can; it just doesn't taste as good if you have to go to the store for everything (unless you don't live within two hours of a farmers' market, in which case I suggest either moving, or planting a really great garden). And you can do anything with this recipe! Substitute to your heart's content!!
Stuffed Eight-Ball Squash
by Brea!
4-5 eight ball squash (a kind of zucchini, actually!)*
2 cups brown rice, cooked (measure out two uncooked cups, and use the whole amount in the recipe)
1 lb ground meat (I like to use venison, but beef or turkey would work great, too)
3 bell peppers: red, gold, and purple (or whatever colors you like), diced
1 large or two small red tomatoes, diced
1 yellow or orange tomato, diced
1 c finely diced carrots (optional)
1/2 sweet onion, diced
3-6 cloves garlic, diced
extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
fresh Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 350. Heat a really big stock pot 2/3 full of salted water. Either cut the top off the squash, or (I like to do this) without removing the top, cut the squash in half, from top to bottom. Remove all the seeds (this isn't like doing a pumpkin, you can just use a spoon), and throw them out or feed them to the chickens. When your water is boiling, place all the cut squash in the water for about 3-4 minutes, not enough to fully cook them, just enough to take a little of the crunch out. Remove, and set aside to drain and cool.
In a large frying pan, brown the meat, onion, carrots, garlic, and if you don't like crunchy peppers, the peppers. (Since I use venison, I have to add olive oil at this phase to make it brown correctly, but if you're using regular ground beef, you might want to brown the meat and veggies separately, then mix them together once you've drained the fat off the meat.) Turn off the heat, and add the peppers if you haven't already, tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, and the rice, then add a few tablespoons or freshly grated Parmesan to make sure everything binds together. Mix it all really well (you might need to use a really big bowl if your pan isn't ginormus), then start filling your squash.
NOTE: Make sure your squash doesn't have any water in it!! If you have to use a paper towel to soak up the water, then do that, just trust me, you do not want water in your squash.
Add as much filling as you can to each squash**; don't be afraid to really pack it in there. Just don't break your squash. Place all the filled squash on a large baking sheet (if you cover it with foil first, clean up will be really easy, and you'll thank me later!), and add a sprinkle of Parmesan to the top of each squash, just for fun. And because it tastes awesome. Place the pan in the oven, and bake for about 10-15 minutes, just enough to let everything get all warm and yummy and good smelling and the squash to finish cooking.
Remove from the oven and serve pretty quickly, while it still looks pretty, and I recommend bowls and not plates, it just makes life easier. Enjoy!!!
*I guess you could use some really big regular squash or zucchini, but I've never tried it. Just make sure that they're really big, big enough that they'll hold plenty of filling once you scoop out the seeds and pulpy goo.
**Yes, you will have filling left over. Lots of it. So either invite a million people over for supper and make 12 servings instead of 5, or do what I do: put the extra in the fridge, and have it for lunch the next day. It's sooooo good reheated the second day.
ps- this recipe is insanely healthy, especially of you don't use ground beef, but don't tell anyone. It tastes almost sinfully delicious!!!!
Stuffed Eight-Ball Squash
by Brea!
4-5 eight ball squash (a kind of zucchini, actually!)*
2 cups brown rice, cooked (measure out two uncooked cups, and use the whole amount in the recipe)
1 lb ground meat (I like to use venison, but beef or turkey would work great, too)
3 bell peppers: red, gold, and purple (or whatever colors you like), diced
1 large or two small red tomatoes, diced
1 yellow or orange tomato, diced
1 c finely diced carrots (optional)
1/2 sweet onion, diced
3-6 cloves garlic, diced
extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
fresh Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 350. Heat a really big stock pot 2/3 full of salted water. Either cut the top off the squash, or (I like to do this) without removing the top, cut the squash in half, from top to bottom. Remove all the seeds (this isn't like doing a pumpkin, you can just use a spoon), and throw them out or feed them to the chickens. When your water is boiling, place all the cut squash in the water for about 3-4 minutes, not enough to fully cook them, just enough to take a little of the crunch out. Remove, and set aside to drain and cool.
In a large frying pan, brown the meat, onion, carrots, garlic, and if you don't like crunchy peppers, the peppers. (Since I use venison, I have to add olive oil at this phase to make it brown correctly, but if you're using regular ground beef, you might want to brown the meat and veggies separately, then mix them together once you've drained the fat off the meat.) Turn off the heat, and add the peppers if you haven't already, tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, and the rice, then add a few tablespoons or freshly grated Parmesan to make sure everything binds together. Mix it all really well (you might need to use a really big bowl if your pan isn't ginormus), then start filling your squash.
NOTE: Make sure your squash doesn't have any water in it!! If you have to use a paper towel to soak up the water, then do that, just trust me, you do not want water in your squash.
Add as much filling as you can to each squash**; don't be afraid to really pack it in there. Just don't break your squash. Place all the filled squash on a large baking sheet (if you cover it with foil first, clean up will be really easy, and you'll thank me later!), and add a sprinkle of Parmesan to the top of each squash, just for fun. And because it tastes awesome. Place the pan in the oven, and bake for about 10-15 minutes, just enough to let everything get all warm and yummy and good smelling and the squash to finish cooking.
Remove from the oven and serve pretty quickly, while it still looks pretty, and I recommend bowls and not plates, it just makes life easier. Enjoy!!!
*I guess you could use some really big regular squash or zucchini, but I've never tried it. Just make sure that they're really big, big enough that they'll hold plenty of filling once you scoop out the seeds and pulpy goo.
**Yes, you will have filling left over. Lots of it. So either invite a million people over for supper and make 12 servings instead of 5, or do what I do: put the extra in the fridge, and have it for lunch the next day. It's sooooo good reheated the second day.
ps- this recipe is insanely healthy, especially of you don't use ground beef, but don't tell anyone. It tastes almost sinfully delicious!!!!
Thursday, June 5
things, they are a-brewin'
That's right, they sure are!! But all is well at the Stewart casa, have no fear. But the next few weeks are going to be pure insanity for moi and the family. Honestly, I can't wait!!! We've got lots of stuff to do this weekend, and will be making at least two trips to Austin. I think John's cousin is driving down from Dallas, so I really hope I'll get to see her, at least for lunch or something.
Then the Republican State Convention is next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We'll be driving to my mom's Wednesday evening, and coming home either Saturday or Sunday. And next Sunday is Father's Day, in case that little fact had slipped your mind.
We purposely exposed the kids to the chicken pox about a week and a half ago (doesn't seem like they're getting sick, unfortunately!!), and we're under quarantine, but that'll be lifted just before we leave for Convention. So we'll actually be able to go to church on Father's Day!! If we come back home by then, that is. We're not exactly known as The Family Who Makes It On Time, if you know what I mean.
Then Florence and her husband, Christoph, are coming in the following weekend, and I'll be having not one, but TWO XanGo events at my house. I'm really excited!!! (Live in Austin metro? Email me and come out to my house!! Saturday, June 21, at 2 or 6. Mark your calenders!!) My friend Carin is having two events at her house that Sunday, so I think I'm going to drive up for one of those. I miss Carin, and I'm totally excited to get to see her!!
And many other things. I'm tired. But happy. Watched Elizabethtown last night, and I enjoyed it. Watching The Business of Being Born tonight, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it. I've heard so many people talking/blogging about it; I can't believe it's taken me this long to get it!
On that note, my children are making those annoying screeching noises that they're so inclined to make when it's past their eatin' time. Feed me, Mom, blah, blah, I'm so hungry, blah, blah, Can I eat chocolate for supper, blah, blah, blah ... :) I sure do love my angels!!! I'll put some pictures of David's new haircut tomorrow. He looks so flippin' CUTE!!!
(ps- If you know my dear, wonderful friend Sarah {and believe me, your life is a little more empty than you know if you don't know Sarah}, make sure you call her tomorrow and wish her a happy birthday. Cause she rocks. Even if she is thinking about leaving Texas. Which, frankly, reasonable people do not do. But let's be honest, no one has ever accused her {or me} of being reasonable. And she has a good reason. But I digress ... Sarah is going to be 25 tomorrow!!!! YAY!!!!!!)
Then the Republican State Convention is next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We'll be driving to my mom's Wednesday evening, and coming home either Saturday or Sunday. And next Sunday is Father's Day, in case that little fact had slipped your mind.
We purposely exposed the kids to the chicken pox about a week and a half ago (doesn't seem like they're getting sick, unfortunately!!), and we're under quarantine, but that'll be lifted just before we leave for Convention. So we'll actually be able to go to church on Father's Day!! If we come back home by then, that is. We're not exactly known as The Family Who Makes It On Time, if you know what I mean.
Then Florence and her husband, Christoph, are coming in the following weekend, and I'll be having not one, but TWO XanGo events at my house. I'm really excited!!! (Live in Austin metro? Email me and come out to my house!! Saturday, June 21, at 2 or 6. Mark your calenders!!) My friend Carin is having two events at her house that Sunday, so I think I'm going to drive up for one of those. I miss Carin, and I'm totally excited to get to see her!!
And many other things. I'm tired. But happy. Watched Elizabethtown last night, and I enjoyed it. Watching The Business of Being Born tonight, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it. I've heard so many people talking/blogging about it; I can't believe it's taken me this long to get it!
On that note, my children are making those annoying screeching noises that they're so inclined to make when it's past their eatin' time. Feed me, Mom, blah, blah, I'm so hungry, blah, blah, Can I eat chocolate for supper, blah, blah, blah ... :) I sure do love my angels!!! I'll put some pictures of David's new haircut tomorrow. He looks so flippin' CUTE!!!
(ps- If you know my dear, wonderful friend Sarah {and believe me, your life is a little more empty than you know if you don't know Sarah}, make sure you call her tomorrow and wish her a happy birthday. Cause she rocks. Even if she is thinking about leaving Texas. Which, frankly, reasonable people do not do. But let's be honest, no one has ever accused her {or me} of being reasonable. And she has a good reason. But I digress ... Sarah is going to be 25 tomorrow!!!! YAY!!!!!!)
Monday, June 2
Monday Meal Plan
So, in an attempt to keep my life a tad more organized, I'm going to try something new for a few Mondays. Please don't skip Feel free to skip the next few Mondays, or read over my lists and get some inspirations. If you want any recipes, just ask me and I'll try to post them. (Also, I'll be posting my amazing Stuffed Squash recipe later this afternoon!)
Monday, June 2
red beans and rice with cornbread
Tuesday, June 3
chicken-fried steak, squash fritters, and fruit salad
Wednesday, June 4
chicken tacos with corn and salad
Thursday, June 5
leftovers/clean out the fridge
Friday, June 6
oven brisket (mmmmm ...) with mashed potatoes and salad
Saturday, June 7
swiss chard over penne pasta
Sunday, June 8
chopped beef sandwiches and fresh green (and purple- and black-hulled) beans
What are you eatin' this week? What's your favorite meal? Give me some ideas!! :)
Monday, June 2
red beans and rice with cornbread
Tuesday, June 3
chicken-fried steak, squash fritters, and fruit salad
Wednesday, June 4
chicken tacos with corn and salad
Thursday, June 5
leftovers/clean out the fridge
Friday, June 6
oven brisket (mmmmm ...) with mashed potatoes and salad
Saturday, June 7
swiss chard over penne pasta
Sunday, June 8
chopped beef sandwiches and fresh green (and purple- and black-hulled) beans
What are you eatin' this week? What's your favorite meal? Give me some ideas!! :)
Sunday, June 1
AARRRGGGGG!!!
Is anyone else having issues with StatCounter? I'm starting to get more than a little frustrated over here ...
Help me, please!!!!!!
Help me, please!!!!!!
Saturday, May 31
A Few Links
Good morning! My mother-in-law and a friend are in town this weekend, so I don't really have time for a real post. Instead, I'm just going to pass along some of the things I like.
Mrs Fussypants has posted the Frump Fighting Manifesto ... I love this woman. Seriously. And she has a new baby boy. Find his pictures, and be ready to drool.
Amy at Humble Musings has a great post about Subway excluding homeschoolers from an essay contest. I totally agree with what she's saying.
This comes from Amy's sidebar. All Inflation's Little Parts ... a really fun, really fascinating, and slightly depressing interactive chart.
This is a very sweet post about why this mom moved her family from the suburbs to the Slanted Little House is West Virginia, where there are Chickens in the Road. I love this psst, except that she picked the wrong state ... I mean, if she wanted an area far enough out that she couldn't get pizza delivered, why didn't she move in on my street?? Seriously.
Jessica at Farm Fresh has the cutest little girls. Ever. I'm so not kidding. I wish they didn't live so stinking far away, because I want them to come over and play withme my kids. (And yeah, the older one has a stuffed animal in a sling. LOVE IT!!!)
Jenni at Just Chicken Feed is funny. Very, very funny. Her most recent post is about Double Standards, and she has one about hot sauce and chicken wings that mad me laugh so hard I had tears in my eyes. She teaches her kids the correct names for all parts of anatomy, which makes her husband cringe. I think I love her.
Holly's daughter has five brothers. It appears to be wearing on her psyche.
Amanda at Shamelessly Sassy is good. She's very, very good, and I want her to be my new best friend. One time she chased an ice cream truck, and she's not a fan of too much make-up on 5-year-olds. (She's also not G-rated. If you're easily offended by language, don't go there.) I don't know where she lives. I wish it was Paige, Texas, but I think that might be asking a little too much.
Heidi, the Minnesota Mom, likes to go places that have strange art. I don't get the art. Maybe I'm just too unrefined.
And one final thing. If you have a sweet little boy who loves to be outside, and you've got all kinds of moral objections to chemicals (like ant killer), get over it. Fire ants love little boy feet as much as little boys love to stomp in dirt. Fire ant infested dirt. Kill fire ants, however you must do it, or else you'll spend several days feeling guilty about something like this:
Or this:
And these are quite a bit worse than the look. I counted 56 bites on this foot. I am the world's worst mother. Please don't tell anyone from my church, or maybe they won't let me around their kids anymore. And then I would be sad. Because at lease if I'm not having babies, I can play with other people's babies. I'm just saying.
Mrs Fussypants has posted the Frump Fighting Manifesto ... I love this woman. Seriously. And she has a new baby boy. Find his pictures, and be ready to drool.
Amy at Humble Musings has a great post about Subway excluding homeschoolers from an essay contest. I totally agree with what she's saying.
This comes from Amy's sidebar. All Inflation's Little Parts ... a really fun, really fascinating, and slightly depressing interactive chart.
This is a very sweet post about why this mom moved her family from the suburbs to the Slanted Little House is West Virginia, where there are Chickens in the Road. I love this psst, except that she picked the wrong state ... I mean, if she wanted an area far enough out that she couldn't get pizza delivered, why didn't she move in on my street?? Seriously.
Jessica at Farm Fresh has the cutest little girls. Ever. I'm so not kidding. I wish they didn't live so stinking far away, because I want them to come over and play with
Jenni at Just Chicken Feed is funny. Very, very funny. Her most recent post is about Double Standards, and she has one about hot sauce and chicken wings that mad me laugh so hard I had tears in my eyes. She teaches her kids the correct names for all parts of anatomy, which makes her husband cringe. I think I love her.
Holly's daughter has five brothers. It appears to be wearing on her psyche.
Amanda at Shamelessly Sassy is good. She's very, very good, and I want her to be my new best friend. One time she chased an ice cream truck, and she's not a fan of too much make-up on 5-year-olds. (She's also not G-rated. If you're easily offended by language, don't go there.) I don't know where she lives. I wish it was Paige, Texas, but I think that might be asking a little too much.
Heidi, the Minnesota Mom, likes to go places that have strange art. I don't get the art. Maybe I'm just too unrefined.
And one final thing. If you have a sweet little boy who loves to be outside, and you've got all kinds of moral objections to chemicals (like ant killer), get over it. Fire ants love little boy feet as much as little boys love to stomp in dirt. Fire ant infested dirt. Kill fire ants, however you must do it, or else you'll spend several days feeling guilty about something like this:
Or this:
And these are quite a bit worse than the look. I counted 56 bites on this foot. I am the world's worst mother. Please don't tell anyone from my church, or maybe they won't let me around their kids anymore. And then I would be sad. Because at lease if I'm not having babies, I can play with other people's babies. I'm just saying.
Wednesday, May 28
Works-for-me Wednesday
Good morning! This is the "Mom, I'm Bored!" edition of Works-for-me Wednesday. Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer needs help. Her kids get out of school soon (like, tomorrow!), and she's a little panicky.I can't much help her. My kids are younger than hers, so the activities are pretty different. However ... my children have already learned, at such tender young ages, what a very, very bad idea it is to come to me and say, 'Mom, I'm bored!' I simply delight in hearing that phrase. It makes my heart sing. It also makes my house clean. Sometimes, I make them fold laundry. But that ends pretty quickly. They have smaller arms than moi, so one time, I made Sam clean that really gross space between the fridge and the counter. Eww!!
Sometimes, they end up with yard duty. Everything out of the yard! Toys, baseballs, sticks, trucks, etc. They've had to weed the garden before. (Insert evil grin here) One time, I made them clean out all the things they'd thrown in the chicken yard over the previous weeks. You may not know this, but we Stewarts are the
But I'm not always mean. Really. I try to stay on top of things, and when the kids start getting antsy, I give them some help. Sometimes that means stopping what I'm doing and reading with them. If I've got cookie dough chilling in the fridge, like I do this morning, then I'll let them make cookies (I'm the one putting the trays in and out of the oven, of course!) by themselves, which is a really big treat. They do art projects. A stack of construction paper, a pair of scissors, and a glue stick will keep my kids well-occupied for over an hour.
But here's the most important thing I'll say to you this morning: I make sure that my kids are not always entertained. Life is not always entertaining. Sometimes, as adults, they'll be bored, and it's very important to me that my kids know how to pick up a book or sit down with one sheet of paper and one pencil and keep themselves quietly occupied for at least an hour. It's one of the things we practice, come to think of it. But I'm not mean about it. It's something we worked up to, them sitting still with one book and one pencil and one sheet of paper, for a full hour.
But I have to admit, I've got it kind of easy. We've got almost 2.5 acres, and it's really skinny and really long. Only the first half-acre or so has been totally cleared of brush, and we've got paths and small, hidden clearings throughout the rest. The kids each have a walkie-talkie that they have to take with them when they go out there, and I've got one so they can communicate with me. They've been known to leave the house after breakfast, come back around 10 for an apple and some water, and not show back up until lunch. Because they've never been allowed to watch much TV, it's not something they automatically start asking to do.** I've also been known to put a bounty on bugs that eat my tomatoes, so the kids can earn some money if they bring me a jar full of bugs (we count them as we throw them to the chickens).
So, that's what works for me. What do you do to keep your young'ens out of your hair?
**That's a lie. They ask me to watch TV about 27 times each day. But they know that 90% of the time, it just ain't gonna happen, so they're not in the least bit surprised or upset when I tell them, 'NO.' I mean, 'no.' I usually say something like, 'Do you have a fever?' 'Are you bleeding from the head?' 'Did a snake bite you?' 'Is your arm broken?' 'Are you throwing up?' Or something like that. If the answer is 'no,' then they really don't get to watch TV.
Sunday, May 25
What to Write?
Seriously, I've had about 10 different posts swimming around in my head, and I can't coherently form any of them. So I'll just mix and mash them all together in one (probably long and rather confusing) post. :)
New Orleans was interesting, to say the very least. I can absolutely understand, now, how people fall in love with that city. Lyndsey lives Uptown, not far from the Garden District, if that means anything to anyone. Her part of the city didn't have any damage from Katrina, flood or wind. Walk about 10 minutes in several directions, and it's a whole 'nother story, though. Her graduation was at the SuperDome, the first one since the hurricane. The music was great (when was the last time you heard someone say that about a graduation??), the whole thing was very laid back, and many of the concession areas were open, so during the (very long) intermissions, you could get chicken strips, fries, and a beer. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
We went to a crawfish boil at a friend's house, and I got to eat crawdads with this guy. It was very cool, and he laughed at a few jokes I made. (He had also had more than a few drinks, but we don't have to talk about that. We'll just pretend that I was the really small, cute, witty girl from Texas in the cowboy boots who really knows how to put away crawfish, and fast.) It was a small crowd, maybe 20 people total, but they had ordered 150 pounds of crawdads. People, I was in heaven. As a general rule, I don't eat shellfish, but if I'm going to break a rule, I'm going to do it right.
I was going to write an entire post about the Civil War. (Don't let out that sigh of relief just yet. I'll probably make yousuffer through read my theories of warfare, politics, changes in battlefield tactics, and so many others ... I just don't have the energy to put into it this morning.) We read The Killer Angels in our book club a while back, and it's one of the best books I've ever read. The whole thing is about Gettysburg, the battle and the few days leading up to it. I re-read that book a few weeks ago, then went to the library to get Gods and Generals, which covers the months before Lincoln was elected through the days before Gettysburg; and The Last Full Measure, which covers from the days after Gettysburg through just after the war.
If you've never read any historical fiction, and never read any again, I cannot stress enough how much you would benefit from these books. I couldn't put them down, and read the first and last one in less than four days. And if you take some of what you read to heart, you'll probably come away deeply saddened for a little while, but also deeply grateful. I cried like a baby at the end (and middle, and maybe the beginning) of each one.
Anyway. I'll go more into that later. And I promise to give you a fair warning so you canskip the post find a time when your attention won't be distracted so you can really take it all in. :)
I've also been incredibly busy with XanGo. I was really disappointed a little while back, because I just couldn't seem to get the business end off the ground. However, I've had some help from the most wonderful woman, Florence, who has really been teaching me how to build my business. And here's the crazy part (are you ready?): I've actually started making money!! I know!! No one is more surprised than I am, believe me. Unless maybe ... wait. Yeah, John is definitely more surprised that moi. Skepticaljackass man that he is. Know what? It's a product I'm in love with, and if I never made a dime after today, I don't see myself without this stuff. So that helps, and I think it comes across when I talk to people.
We tried to expose the kids to chicken pox earlier this week, so even though they haven't gotten sick, we're still under a three week quarantine. Woohoo!! Goodness, I've never prayed, let alone prayed this hard, for all of my children to get sick. Preferably at the same time.
I've been planning for next school year, when we'll start formal school with Sam and Evie. And teach David how toeat play with play dough. With the help of the ever-wonderful Kristie, I've been doing lots of work and research on all that stuff. (That's right, I'm way articulate like that, and plan on doing a bang-up job of teaching my kids to write good.) (And yes, I know it's supposed to be 'write well.' I was being sarcastic.)
I love this time of year. It's just starting to get really hot (we've been mid- to upper-90's last few weeks), but it's not totally unbearable yet, and my tomato plants are putting fruit on at an amazing rate, my corn is just shooting up, and the Farmers' Market has the most lovely I've ever seen. And everything is still green around here! The heat hasn't smothered everything yet. The summer wild flowers and plants, like the coreopsis and bee balm and blackfoot daisies and cactus plants, are everywhere, and the color is just wonderful. My new morning glories are putting off beautiful flowers, too. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.
And I've either got allergies, by which I'm not usually affected, or I've got the beginnings of a cold. Who makes it all the way through the winter without truly getting sick (even though her whole family was down for the count several times) , and then gets a cold at the end of May??? Seriously? Time to beef up on the immune boosters. My kids should be the sick ones. Life, as it turns out, isn't always fair.
On that note, I'm going to read with the kids for a while, make lunch, and take a nap after I put in a post-lunch movie. Or I may reverse that order, and do nap/movie, lunch, then reading. I'm wild and unpredictable like that, I tell you.
New Orleans was interesting, to say the very least. I can absolutely understand, now, how people fall in love with that city. Lyndsey lives Uptown, not far from the Garden District, if that means anything to anyone. Her part of the city didn't have any damage from Katrina, flood or wind. Walk about 10 minutes in several directions, and it's a whole 'nother story, though. Her graduation was at the SuperDome, the first one since the hurricane. The music was great (when was the last time you heard someone say that about a graduation??), the whole thing was very laid back, and many of the concession areas were open, so during the (very long) intermissions, you could get chicken strips, fries, and a beer. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
We went to a crawfish boil at a friend's house, and I got to eat crawdads with this guy. It was very cool, and he laughed at a few jokes I made. (He had also had more than a few drinks, but we don't have to talk about that. We'll just pretend that I was the really small, cute, witty girl from Texas in the cowboy boots who really knows how to put away crawfish, and fast.) It was a small crowd, maybe 20 people total, but they had ordered 150 pounds of crawdads. People, I was in heaven. As a general rule, I don't eat shellfish, but if I'm going to break a rule, I'm going to do it right.
I was going to write an entire post about the Civil War. (Don't let out that sigh of relief just yet. I'll probably make you
If you've never read any historical fiction, and never read any again, I cannot stress enough how much you would benefit from these books. I couldn't put them down, and read the first and last one in less than four days. And if you take some of what you read to heart, you'll probably come away deeply saddened for a little while, but also deeply grateful. I cried like a baby at the end (and middle, and maybe the beginning) of each one.
Anyway. I'll go more into that later. And I promise to give you a fair warning so you can
I've also been incredibly busy with XanGo. I was really disappointed a little while back, because I just couldn't seem to get the business end off the ground. However, I've had some help from the most wonderful woman, Florence, who has really been teaching me how to build my business. And here's the crazy part (are you ready?): I've actually started making money!! I know!! No one is more surprised than I am, believe me. Unless maybe ... wait. Yeah, John is definitely more surprised that moi. Skeptical
We tried to expose the kids to chicken pox earlier this week, so even though they haven't gotten sick, we're still under a three week quarantine. Woohoo!! Goodness, I've never prayed, let alone prayed this hard, for all of my children to get sick. Preferably at the same time.
I've been planning for next school year, when we'll start formal school with Sam and Evie. And teach David how to
I love this time of year. It's just starting to get really hot (we've been mid- to upper-90's last few weeks), but it's not totally unbearable yet, and my tomato plants are putting fruit on at an amazing rate, my corn is just shooting up, and the Farmers' Market has the most lovely I've ever seen. And everything is still green around here! The heat hasn't smothered everything yet. The summer wild flowers and plants, like the coreopsis and bee balm and blackfoot daisies and cactus plants, are everywhere, and the color is just wonderful. My new morning glories are putting off beautiful flowers, too. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.
And I've either got allergies, by which I'm not usually affected, or I've got the beginnings of a cold. Who makes it all the way through the winter without truly getting sick (even though her whole family was down for the count several times) , and then gets a cold at the end of May??? Seriously? Time to beef up on the immune boosters. My kids should be the sick ones. Life, as it turns out, isn't always fair.
On that note, I'm going to read with the kids for a while, make lunch, and take a nap after I put in a post-lunch movie. Or I may reverse that order, and do nap/movie, lunch, then reading. I'm wild and unpredictable like that, I tell you.
Thursday, May 15
YAY!!!!!
Oooooooh, I leave tomorrow morning, and I'm so stinkin' excited!!!!! Lyndsey (and New Orleans), here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, May 14
Works-for-me Wednesday
Good morning! I'm back for another edition of Works-for-me Wednesday, hosted by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. Check out her page for lots of other great WFMW ideas. :)Today, I'm going to cover practicing with your kids. Practicing what? I'll get to that in a minute. But first, I have a confession to make. I haven't been so good about doing this lately with my kids. I've been
And this is an idea I got from the Jeubs. They have 13 children. If they say something works, you can bet I'm going to try it! Anyway. Practicing with my kids. Evie has never been very skilled at going to bed politely. Translation: Evelyn has a complete and total nervous breakdown each night around 8:30. It's great, let me tell you. A ton of fun. A barrel of monkeys.
After reading Love in the House, I decided to try this 'practicing' thing on my kids. The basic principal is this: you take time during the day, when nothing else is scheduled or planned, when you (the parent!) are calm and relaxed, and you practice area that could use some work. We started practicing going to bed in the middle of the day. Like 10 in the morning. I would say, 'Ok, kids, we're going to practice going to bed with pleasant attitudes. I can't wait for Dad to see how well y'all do the next time he's here at bedtime!' (John was working a long stretch of closes, so it was going to be three or four nights until he'd be around for bedtime.)
So for three days, two or three times each day, I would randomly practice making the children go to bed. They thought it was the best game ever. And they were doing a great job. I was so excited to show John. And nervous. I really hoped it would work!
Then next evening John was at home, 8:30 rolled around. John told the kids to brush their teeth, and was surprised by the lack of whining and the general air of obedience. But he had no idea what was in store. When teeth were brushed and we had finished the chapter of the book we were reading, I told the kids, 'Ok, y'all go up, turn out your lights, get in bed, and I'll be in there n five or ten minutes to say your prayers.' John gave a sigh and winced, waiting for the
BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED!!!!!
The kids gave me a great big (if not slightly conspiratorial) grin, said, 'Yes, ma'am, I'd be glad to!' kissed us goodnight, and ran upstairs and got into bed. I pretended like nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and said, 'I'll go say their prayers. Can I get you anything on my way back?' He was still a little dumbstruck, so he didn't answer. When I got back downstairs, that's when I got the third degree. I finally broke down and told him how I did it, and he was amazed.
We've used practicing for lots of things. All the kids stay with us during church service (families are supposed to worship together!), and it's hard to control three banshees for that long. We started 'practicing church' here at home, and haven't had many problems since then. It's been great!
So that's what works for me. Practicing stuff with my kids. Any comments? What works for you?
Washing and Packing!
In 48 hours, I'll be on an airplane, headed to New Orleans to see one of my best friends graduate. And I'll be going ... get ready for it ... ALL BY MYSELF!!!! That's right, no kids, no husband, no chickens, cats, random birds or snakes. If I wasn't worried about 1) getting lost, and 2) my family needing me, I'd be very, very tempted to not even take my phone. I'm just so very excited!!! I leave Friday morning, and my flight gets in to Austin Sunday evening.
My mom is driving up tomorrow evening, which is super cool of her. (THANKS, MOM!!!) John's pretty excited about this, because he'll be able to take the older kids to do something cool in Austin on Friday, like go to Barton Creek or Hamilton Pool, and not have to worry about taking the baby with them, because David will be here with Mom. Not that John doesn't love to go places with the baby, he does, but it's just much harder to do anything water-based with a very squirmy 19-month-old who has no fear of anything whatsoever. Except the little rooster, who likes to chase and attack him on a semi-regular basis. But we don't need to go into that now. :)
So I'M SO EXCITED and I get to see my friend Lyndsey. And I get to meet some of her friends, and put some faces to names I've been hearing for 4 or 5 years.
And all today I'll be terribly busy washing clothes and packing clothes and unpacking and repacking my bags, because I'll be there for two nights, so obviously, I'll need about 27 different outfits, complete with shoes. Lots and lots of shoes. But I will be smart enough to wear flip flops on the airplane, in case the airport people decide I look like a terrorist bomber and want to scan my shoes. Because, I'm telling you, you never can tell about those little short girls that live in the country. They can be mighty feisty and stubborn, I hear. Seriously. Just ask John.
And I'll be washing sheets and cleaning my house and weeding the garden and making sure that there's enough food available while I'm gone so John doesn't have to worry about that.
Will y'all please pray for me? I'm very nervous about flying. I mean, not about the safety of flying, I have no qualms about that. I'm afraid I'll get lost, or my luggage (which will be all carry-on) will get lost (HEY! Fears aren't always rational, ya know!), or someone will speak unkindly to me, and you know what? John isn't going to be there to hold my hand, literally and figuratively, and help me. Because as much as I like to 'play' grownup, I'm not. I'm really just a little kid. Don't tell anyone. :)
My mom is driving up tomorrow evening, which is super cool of her. (THANKS, MOM!!!) John's pretty excited about this, because he'll be able to take the older kids to do something cool in Austin on Friday, like go to Barton Creek or Hamilton Pool, and not have to worry about taking the baby with them, because David will be here with Mom. Not that John doesn't love to go places with the baby, he does, but it's just much harder to do anything water-based with a very squirmy 19-month-old who has no fear of anything whatsoever. Except the little rooster, who likes to chase and attack him on a semi-regular basis. But we don't need to go into that now. :)
So I'M SO EXCITED and I get to see my friend Lyndsey. And I get to meet some of her friends, and put some faces to names I've been hearing for 4 or 5 years.
And all today I'll be terribly busy washing clothes and packing clothes and unpacking and repacking my bags, because I'll be there for two nights, so obviously, I'll need about 27 different outfits, complete with shoes. Lots and lots of shoes. But I will be smart enough to wear flip flops on the airplane, in case the airport people decide I look like a terrorist bomber and want to scan my shoes. Because, I'm telling you, you never can tell about those little short girls that live in the country. They can be mighty feisty and stubborn, I hear. Seriously. Just ask John.
And I'll be washing sheets and cleaning my house and weeding the garden and making sure that there's enough food available while I'm gone so John doesn't have to worry about that.
Will y'all please pray for me? I'm very nervous about flying. I mean, not about the safety of flying, I have no qualms about that. I'm afraid I'll get lost, or my luggage (which will be all carry-on) will get lost (HEY! Fears aren't always rational, ya know!), or someone will speak unkindly to me, and you know what? John isn't going to be there to hold my hand, literally and figuratively, and help me. Because as much as I like to 'play' grownup, I'm not. I'm really just a little kid. Don't tell anyone. :)
Friday, May 9
Friday Confessions
Ok, so we've covered a few things on previous Fridays.
You know about theimaginary affair I'm having.
If we meet, and I weighed 250 pounds (which honestly, would not be flattering on my 5' 2" frame!), you'd know why.
Maybe we could watch bad TV together sometime? Or listen to some musicthat might make your ears bleed?
I have a secret life.
And of course, I was a very, very, very bad big sister. (Back when I was still bigger than my brothers, both of whom are now well over 9 feet tall. At least it seems that way to me.)
Remember how we talked about not telling my husband about these things? Well, to be totally honest, he knows. He's about as far from stupid as you can get, so yes, he knows. But I'm serious about this one: YOU CAN'T TELL HIM!!!!! It's a real secret, one that he can never, ever know. He'd be mad at me for weeks. And take mytrouble-causing precious children and leave me. This is serious, people!!!!!!
I think anyone who knows me, knows how I feel about coffee. I love it. I would die for coffee. Me and coffee, we're like thisclose. Brea + coffee = BFFE. Seriously.
I've had some issues before with the drink of the gods, though. Each time I get pregnant, it ain't planned, so I don't have time to slowly wean myself off thecrack juice smack good stuff caffeine. I get horrible headaches.
(One time, my mom called me and seriously thought that she had brain cancer, or a benign tumor at the very least, because her head was hurting her so bad. She was in tears. I was wearing a green shirt. I don't know why I remember that, but I do. Sorry. Anyway, she was so miserable that she was about to call someone to drive her to the doctor. I asked her if she had had any coffee that morning, and she said no. I told her to make a really strong pot, have two or three cups, and call me back in like an hour. I totally felt like a doctor. Her headache went away!! She was having caffeine withdrawals! And I totally established, yet again, how brilliant I am.)
(Mom, I'm sorry I shared that. But it was too good to pass up. Please still come and visit me next Thursday. I'll have some of your favorite coffee creamer.)
Ok, I digress. Sorry. Anyway, David is over a year and a half, I wantseventeen more babies another baby, and apparently, we can never plan these things. So if I do end up pregnant, I don't want to go through those headaches, on top of the morning sickness, yet again. So I've started making the switch over to a lower-caffeine coffee.
For the love of all that is good and right and pretty in this temporary world, DON'T TELL MY HUSBAND. He really doesn't know. I started about three months ago, by adding one-half spoon of decaf to the six spoons of regular coffee.
Ever few weeks, I would add one-half scoop more decaf, and one-half scoop less regular. At this point, we're drinking half-caf coffee. I can live with that.
Ok, I know this might now seem like that big of a deal. But it is, trust me!!! You don't believe me? Well, here's what John looks like when he wakes up in the morning and the coffee isn't finished brewing. Sam snapped this about a week ago with the old digital we've been letting him play with.
I'm not kidding. He is not a pleasant person to be around before he has his coffee. Well, I find him rather pleasant, actually. The kids don't have any issues with his, either. I guess he's just an acquired taste ... or something.
Here he is after he has that first cup. For real. I just took this picture yesterday morning!
Mmmm ... isn't he just dreamy? Doesn't he look nice in his work clothes?
You know, I so rarely post pictures of John and me together. It's just that one of us is usually taking the pictures, so we never seem to be in the same shot. But a friend of ours did manage to get this great, totally candid picture of the two of us chatting a few weeks ago.
Am I having a great hair day or what!?!?
I know, I know. Again, I digress. Sorry.
Coffee. Yeah. I changed our coffee without my caffeine-loving husband having a clue. His energy level hasn't changed one bit. He seems to have more, actually (which I attribute to the fact that he's been drinking this fabulous juice each morning!). But, if I told him, he'd start telling me how tired he's been lately, and how he's had no energy, , and been totally sluggish at work, and if I asked him how long he's been feeling that way, he'd stop, look at me suspiciously, and ask me when I started jacking with the coffee. I'm just saying.
So maybe we'll just keep this between the two of us, mmm-kay?
And yes, those are my real eyelashes. God has been very good to me. For real.
You know about the
If we meet, and I weighed 250 pounds (which honestly, would not be flattering on my 5' 2" frame!), you'd know why.
Maybe we could watch bad TV together sometime? Or listen to some music
I have a secret life.
And of course, I was a very, very, very bad big sister. (Back when I was still bigger than my brothers, both of whom are now well over 9 feet tall. At least it seems that way to me.)
Remember how we talked about not telling my husband about these things? Well, to be totally honest, he knows. He's about as far from stupid as you can get, so yes, he knows. But I'm serious about this one: YOU CAN'T TELL HIM!!!!! It's a real secret, one that he can never, ever know. He'd be mad at me for weeks. And take my
I think anyone who knows me, knows how I feel about coffee. I love it. I would die for coffee. Me and coffee, we're like thisclose. Brea + coffee = BFFE. Seriously.
I've had some issues before with the drink of the gods, though. Each time I get pregnant, it ain't planned, so I don't have time to slowly wean myself off the
(One time, my mom called me and seriously thought that she had brain cancer, or a benign tumor at the very least, because her head was hurting her so bad. She was in tears. I was wearing a green shirt. I don't know why I remember that, but I do. Sorry. Anyway, she was so miserable that she was about to call someone to drive her to the doctor. I asked her if she had had any coffee that morning, and she said no. I told her to make a really strong pot, have two or three cups, and call me back in like an hour. I totally felt like a doctor. Her headache went away!! She was having caffeine withdrawals! And I totally established, yet again, how brilliant I am.)
(Mom, I'm sorry I shared that. But it was too good to pass up. Please still come and visit me next Thursday. I'll have some of your favorite coffee creamer.)
Ok, I digress. Sorry. Anyway, David is over a year and a half, I want
For the love of all that is good and right and pretty in this temporary world, DON'T TELL MY HUSBAND. He really doesn't know. I started about three months ago, by adding one-half spoon of decaf to the six spoons of regular coffee.
Ever few weeks, I would add one-half scoop more decaf, and one-half scoop less regular. At this point, we're drinking half-caf coffee. I can live with that.
Ok, I know this might now seem like that big of a deal. But it is, trust me!!! You don't believe me? Well, here's what John looks like when he wakes up in the morning and the coffee isn't finished brewing. Sam snapped this about a week ago with the old digital we've been letting him play with.
I'm not kidding. He is not a pleasant person to be around before he has his coffee. Well, I find him rather pleasant, actually. The kids don't have any issues with his, either. I guess he's just an acquired taste ... or something.
Here he is after he has that first cup. For real. I just took this picture yesterday morning!
Mmmm ... isn't he just dreamy? Doesn't he look nice in his work clothes?
You know, I so rarely post pictures of John and me together. It's just that one of us is usually taking the pictures, so we never seem to be in the same shot. But a friend of ours did manage to get this great, totally candid picture of the two of us chatting a few weeks ago.
Am I having a great hair day or what!?!?
I know, I know. Again, I digress. Sorry.
Coffee. Yeah. I changed our coffee without my caffeine-loving husband having a clue. His energy level hasn't changed one bit. He seems to have more, actually (which I attribute to the fact that he's been drinking this fabulous juice each morning!). But, if I told him, he'd start telling me how tired he's been lately, and how he's had no energy, , and been totally sluggish at work, and if I asked him how long he's been feeling that way, he'd stop, look at me suspiciously, and ask me when I started jacking with the coffee. I'm just saying.
So maybe we'll just keep this between the two of us, mmm-kay?
And yes, those are my real eyelashes. God has been very good to me. For real.
Wednesday, May 7
Works-for-me Wednesday
So I'm not doing what Shannon is doing this week. She's doing Doesn't Work-for-me Wednesday. I'm doing a Reverse Works-for-me Wednesday. I need your help!! Please, HELP ME!!!!
(Well, we all know I have issues in other areas, like donuts, I love a man who isn't my husband, and, well, I was a very mean sister when I was younger. But I think that's more than any of you can fix in just one comment!!)
So. Here's where I need some help. And I'm going to open up and be honest here. I need help with my grocery budget. My household budget (John gets upset when I call it an 'allowance,' so we've agreed on 'budget') is around $600 each month. This goes for anything I buy. Food, drinks, trips to SAM'S Club, diapers, Sonic, Whole Foods, and any various outings I choose to make, like grabbing a cup of Starbucks on my way to my book club. When it comes down to it, I spend around $450 each month on actual food groceries, and that feels like waaaay too much to me. I know some of you are very talented at the food budgeting, so HELP ME!!!
Here's some things you should know:
*We like to eat well. I will not feed my family hot dogs and mac & cheese because it's cheaper. (If I eat hot dogs, it's because I have a craving for hot dogs. My mom is going to throw up when she reads that. She hates hot dogs. I didn't get to eat them when I was growing up. But I digress ...)
*I will not make anything that has Cream of Fill-in-the-Blank Soup in it. So don't give me links to cassaroles if Cream of Fill-in-the-Blank Soup is an ingredient.
*I'm getting a freezer today. A big freezer. A chest freezer. I'm so excited, I can't even tell you. So I can start buying more things in bulk; I can also start making 3 and 4 times the food and freezing it. YAY!!! So if you've got a great recipe that freezes really well and is fairly healthy (but see above!), please give it!!
*I don't care how healthy a recipe is; if it doesn't taste good, I absolutely will. not. eat. it. I'm just saying.
*I don't do the coupon thing, because everything I buy is generic, so even with coupons, the name brand stuff still costs more. Yes, I do compare on a regular basis.
So, do you think you could help me cut some corners and save some money? I'd love to get to the point where I'm spending under $400 each month on food. Please, I'm begging you!!! Help me!! Let me know what works for you!!!!!
(And if you can't help me, please leave a comment and let me know you stopped by. I just love comments; they make my whole day!!)
(Well, we all know I have issues in other areas, like donuts, I love a man who isn't my husband, and, well, I was a very mean sister when I was younger. But I think that's more than any of you can fix in just one comment!!)
So. Here's where I need some help. And I'm going to open up and be honest here. I need help with my grocery budget. My household budget (John gets upset when I call it an 'allowance,' so we've agreed on 'budget') is around $600 each month. This goes for anything I buy. Food, drinks, trips to SAM'S Club, diapers, Sonic, Whole Foods, and any various outings I choose to make, like grabbing a cup of Starbucks on my way to my book club. When it comes down to it, I spend around $450 each month on actual food groceries, and that feels like waaaay too much to me. I know some of you are very talented at the food budgeting, so HELP ME!!!
Here's some things you should know:
*We like to eat well. I will not feed my family hot dogs and mac & cheese because it's cheaper. (If I eat hot dogs, it's because I have a craving for hot dogs. My mom is going to throw up when she reads that. She hates hot dogs. I didn't get to eat them when I was growing up. But I digress ...)
*I will not make anything that has Cream of Fill-in-the-Blank Soup in it. So don't give me links to cassaroles if Cream of Fill-in-the-Blank Soup is an ingredient.
*I'm getting a freezer today. A big freezer. A chest freezer. I'm so excited, I can't even tell you. So I can start buying more things in bulk; I can also start making 3 and 4 times the food and freezing it. YAY!!! So if you've got a great recipe that freezes really well and is fairly healthy (but see above!), please give it!!
*I don't care how healthy a recipe is; if it doesn't taste good, I absolutely will. not. eat. it. I'm just saying.
*I don't do the coupon thing, because everything I buy is generic, so even with coupons, the name brand stuff still costs more. Yes, I do compare on a regular basis.
So, do you think you could help me cut some corners and save some money? I'd love to get to the point where I'm spending under $400 each month on food. Please, I'm begging you!!! Help me!! Let me know what works for you!!!!!
(And if you can't help me, please leave a comment and let me know you stopped by. I just love comments; they make my whole day!!)
Tuesday, May 6
Still Here
I promise, I'm still around. I've just been really busy, and pretty distracted on top of that. And I'm in a bit of a funk at the moment. Nothing to worry about, just one of those things that lasts for about two days, and makes me think, 'Hmm, I need to spend more time outside with the sun on my back, and less time inside being exceptionally inefficient and getting nothing done even though I'm busy all the time.' You know, one of those things. :)
On the upside, I've learned how to make jam, and it's sinfully easy and delicious. And I've learned that, if you totally mess up, and the jam never sets and is kind of runny, if you then take it and heat it up a little, it makes pretty much the best pancake syrup. Ever. I've got a new pancake recipe that makes this one taste like sawdust in comparison, and I'll try to post it later today.
You know, I haven't been baking much in the last few weeks. That always helps my spirits. Maybe I'll make some cookies and muffins and take them to some friends ... Hmm, I feel a little better just thinking about it!! :)
On the upside, I've learned how to make jam, and it's sinfully easy and delicious. And I've learned that, if you totally mess up, and the jam never sets and is kind of runny, if you then take it and heat it up a little, it makes pretty much the best pancake syrup. Ever. I've got a new pancake recipe that makes this one taste like sawdust in comparison, and I'll try to post it later today.
You know, I haven't been baking much in the last few weeks. That always helps my spirits. Maybe I'll make some cookies and muffins and take them to some friends ... Hmm, I feel a little better just thinking about it!! :)
Wednesday, April 30
Works-for-me Wednesday
Hi everyone! Yes, our trip was wonderful. The Renaissance Festival ruled, although I've never seen so much cleavage in my entire life ... including the 27 months I've spent pregnant and looking down in amazement at my own growing breasts. (My mom is totally going to tell me how inappropriate that statement was the next time I talk to her. It's ok, Mom, I know. See? You don't even have to tell me now!!) I'll try to post more about the trip tomorrow.
And now ... the only thing I seem to have been posting lately ... Works for Moi Wednesday! Check out Rocks in my Dryer for more great tips ... and I really mean that. I learn some great stuff from these ladies each week. I don't have much exciting this week; I think next week I'm going to do a reverse WFMW, and ask for your advice on something.
This week, I'll just tell you about my cleaner I love. I make it myself, and it works better than anything I've ever bought. Also, chemical cleaners tend to give me a wicked headache, so I try to avoid them as much as I can. Here's how to make the stuff I use:
1 empty spray bottle
white vinegar
rubbing alcohol
dish soap
water
(this is already sounding complicated, isn't it!!)
Fill the bottle 1/3 full with vinegar. Add two to three glugs of alcohol (this bigger the bottle the more glugs, obviously). Add a few squirts of soap (I use maybe a tablespoon; I don't like too much soap). Fill the rest of the bottle with water, shake, and viola! You have a great, cheap disinfecting cleaner that works of pretty much every surface, including glass!!!
So that's what works for me. Anyone else make their own cleaning products?
And now ... the only thing I seem to have been posting lately ... Works for Moi Wednesday! Check out Rocks in my Dryer for more great tips ... and I really mean that. I learn some great stuff from these ladies each week. I don't have much exciting this week; I think next week I'm going to do a reverse WFMW, and ask for your advice on something.
This week, I'll just tell you about my cleaner I love. I make it myself, and it works better than anything I've ever bought. Also, chemical cleaners tend to give me a wicked headache, so I try to avoid them as much as I can. Here's how to make the stuff I use:
1 empty spray bottle
white vinegar
rubbing alcohol
dish soap
water
(this is already sounding complicated, isn't it!!)
Fill the bottle 1/3 full with vinegar. Add two to three glugs of alcohol (this bigger the bottle the more glugs, obviously). Add a few squirts of soap (I use maybe a tablespoon; I don't like too much soap). Fill the rest of the bottle with water, shake, and viola! You have a great, cheap disinfecting cleaner that works of pretty much every surface, including glass!!!
So that's what works for me. Anyone else make their own cleaning products?
Wednesday, April 23
Works-for-me Wednesday
We're back from our trip!! We had a great time, other than the fact that we spent at least 17 hours in the car over three days. Luckily, John hates driving, and I get carsick if I'm not driving, and the kids do fairly well in the car, so everything worked out for us. :)
(If you're here from Rocks, and looking for the marriage wfmw, click here for last week's tip. I have no idea how Mister Linky works, so I don't know why last week's tip is on the list. Anyway ...)
So, in the spirit of spending46 17 hours in my car, I thought I'd post some tips that work for me when traveling with my kids. (For more great tips from other incredibly wise and creative people, visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer at her Works for Me Wednesday page.)
We have a portable DVD player, but we don't like to use it. In fact, it gets more use upstairs in the loft than it does in the car. I don't know that it's even been in the car in the last few years. But I digress. Before we take a trip lasting more than 45 minutes (which is often, because we kind of live in the middle of nowhere), I always start by cleaning out my car. Then, I get a gallon ziplock bag for each child and write their names on their bags. In the bag goes (depending on the length of the trip): a small bottle of water; a box of raisins; a little bag of something higher in protein, like cashews or walnuts; a pencil or two; a new box of crayons (the 8-pack kind; I have about 20 of these hidden in one of my cabinets!); a new or mostly empty coloring pad; and for longer trips, a new little book. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but those are the basics.
We own about 20 gazillion books, so I make sure to rotate the ones that stay in the car fairly often. My kids love the Where's Waldo? series, and they also love coloring books, so I usually buy a new one before any long (over 2 hours) trip. We've also been known to bring whatever read aloud book we're in the middle of reading, and get through a few chapters on the road.
I make sure to have their Bible tapes in the car before we leave, because I don't mind having those in the background for several hours. :) I usually bring my mp3 player to listen to when John and the kids are asleep ... which is often. My family is full of great car sleepers! I love it when my kids sleep in the car!!
If I can find anything good at the library or Half-Priced Books, I try to get books on tape or CD, and this not only provides the kids with something to do, but it also gives us great conversation starters when they get tired of listening.
We always try to schedule in extra travel time for long trips, so we can make stops whenever we need to without feeling stressed. When the kids get out of the car, I encourage them to yell and move around as much as possible to get the wiggles out. Yes, you'll get some really funny looks if you try this, but who cares??
I have a friend whose daughters know how to crochet, so she always buys then a new skein of yarn before each trip, and the girls work on knitting projects if they get bored; I'm planning on teaching Evie how to crochet in the next few monthsif I don't kill her first um if she doesn't kill me first if I can.
For longer trips, I make sure each kid has a pillow and small blanket, and I keep the car a little cooler than normal, because it makes it easier for them to sleep. Have I mentioned how much I love it when my kids sleep in the car? Because I do. Seriously.
So there's a few of my traveling-with-kids tips. It's what works for me. Does anyone else out there have any travel tips? What helps keep yourpunks kids happy in the car?
(If you're here from Rocks, and looking for the marriage wfmw, click here for last week's tip. I have no idea how Mister Linky works, so I don't know why last week's tip is on the list. Anyway ...)
So, in the spirit of spending
We have a portable DVD player, but we don't like to use it. In fact, it gets more use upstairs in the loft than it does in the car. I don't know that it's even been in the car in the last few years. But I digress. Before we take a trip lasting more than 45 minutes (which is often, because we kind of live in the middle of nowhere), I always start by cleaning out my car. Then, I get a gallon ziplock bag for each child and write their names on their bags. In the bag goes (depending on the length of the trip): a small bottle of water; a box of raisins; a little bag of something higher in protein, like cashews or walnuts; a pencil or two; a new box of crayons (the 8-pack kind; I have about 20 of these hidden in one of my cabinets!); a new or mostly empty coloring pad; and for longer trips, a new little book. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but those are the basics.
We own about 20 gazillion books, so I make sure to rotate the ones that stay in the car fairly often. My kids love the Where's Waldo? series, and they also love coloring books, so I usually buy a new one before any long (over 2 hours) trip. We've also been known to bring whatever read aloud book we're in the middle of reading, and get through a few chapters on the road.
I make sure to have their Bible tapes in the car before we leave, because I don't mind having those in the background for several hours. :) I usually bring my mp3 player to listen to when John and the kids are asleep ... which is often. My family is full of great car sleepers! I love it when my kids sleep in the car!!
If I can find anything good at the library or Half-Priced Books, I try to get books on tape or CD, and this not only provides the kids with something to do, but it also gives us great conversation starters when they get tired of listening.
We always try to schedule in extra travel time for long trips, so we can make stops whenever we need to without feeling stressed. When the kids get out of the car, I encourage them to yell and move around as much as possible to get the wiggles out. Yes, you'll get some really funny looks if you try this, but who cares??
I have a friend whose daughters know how to crochet, so she always buys then a new skein of yarn before each trip, and the girls work on knitting projects if they get bored; I'm planning on teaching Evie how to crochet in the next few months
For longer trips, I make sure each kid has a pillow and small blanket, and I keep the car a little cooler than normal, because it makes it easier for them to sleep. Have I mentioned how much I love it when my kids sleep in the car? Because I do. Seriously.
So there's a few of my traveling-with-kids tips. It's what works for me. Does anyone else out there have any travel tips? What helps keep your
Saturday, April 19
See You on the Flip Side
Well, we're about to head out. Hope everyone has a simply lovely weekend, and I'll be back with a new post (hopefully) and some pictures on Tuesday. Please pray that we would have safe travels, and that my kids would behave themselves. :)
Thursday, April 17
Spring!!!!
Oh, I love this time of the year. These are some of my favorite weeks. See, in Texas, especially here (Central Texas) on south, we don't really have four defined seasons like other places in the country. We have several months of summer, a few weeks of fall, a month or two of what we call winter (certain people in Minnesota and Iowa need to stop laughing. It's winter to us, ok??), a few weeks of spring, and then back to summer again. It's good for growing things like okra and tomatoes, but greens like lettuce are impossible to grow when it gets hot. Of course, I can grow greens all the way through the winter ... but I digress.
Spring. Love it! Everything is so wonderful and green right now. Not two weeks ago, all my Post Oaks looked awful. Post Oaks lose their leaves every winter, and we just end up with lots of huge gray sticks growing out of the ground. In the last two weeks, all the oaks have put leaves back on at a rate that takes my breath away each year.
I think God's favorite color must be green. Drive out somewhere, to the middle of nature, and what do you see? Green. I can't wait to see the Millennial Earth, when nature is no longer affected by sin, and goes back to the way it's supposed to be. Imagine the most beautiful spring day you've ever witnessed. Then imagine it ten times more beautiful. Then think about this: what you're imagining is only a glimmer of how things will be One Day.
We're having friends out later, and I plan on pouring my coffee, grabbing a muffin, and not being inside for more than 5 minutes the rest of the day. I love watching my kids play outside with their friends; it's one of the best things about living out here (almost) in the country. Mom is driving up tomorrow for a day trip, and I'm so excited to see her!! On Saturday, we leave for Dallas and the Renaissance Festival, then we're going to church with John's cousin Pam on Sunday, the driving out to see my grandparents for a few day. It should be a great trip, lots of driving, and busy and fun!
OH!! I can't believe it took me this long to mention this: Sam is riding his bike by himself! John took Sam's training wheels off on Tuesday evening, and they practiced riding around in the grass (makes those falls easier to handle, ya know?) for about 30 minutes. I looked out my window yesterday morning, and Sam was riding down the driveway by himself!! He didn't even need me to help him get started or anything!! When did my boy get so big? I swear that he just moved out of his crib last week or something, and now he knows how to use a power drill and ride his bike without training wheels. And he doesn't need my help.Pardon me while I go cry for a little while, mmmK?
Hope everyone has a lovely, wonderful, fun and fabulous day!!
Spring. Love it! Everything is so wonderful and green right now. Not two weeks ago, all my Post Oaks looked awful. Post Oaks lose their leaves every winter, and we just end up with lots of huge gray sticks growing out of the ground. In the last two weeks, all the oaks have put leaves back on at a rate that takes my breath away each year.
I think God's favorite color must be green. Drive out somewhere, to the middle of nature, and what do you see? Green. I can't wait to see the Millennial Earth, when nature is no longer affected by sin, and goes back to the way it's supposed to be. Imagine the most beautiful spring day you've ever witnessed. Then imagine it ten times more beautiful. Then think about this: what you're imagining is only a glimmer of how things will be One Day.
We're having friends out later, and I plan on pouring my coffee, grabbing a muffin, and not being inside for more than 5 minutes the rest of the day. I love watching my kids play outside with their friends; it's one of the best things about living out here (almost) in the country. Mom is driving up tomorrow for a day trip, and I'm so excited to see her!! On Saturday, we leave for Dallas and the Renaissance Festival, then we're going to church with John's cousin Pam on Sunday, the driving out to see my grandparents for a few day. It should be a great trip, lots of driving, and busy and fun!
OH!! I can't believe it took me this long to mention this: Sam is riding his bike by himself! John took Sam's training wheels off on Tuesday evening, and they practiced riding around in the grass (makes those falls easier to handle, ya know?) for about 30 minutes. I looked out my window yesterday morning, and Sam was riding down the driveway by himself!! He didn't even need me to help him get started or anything!! When did my boy get so big? I swear that he just moved out of his crib last week or something, and now he knows how to use a power drill and ride his bike without training wheels. And he doesn't need my help.
Hope everyone has a lovely, wonderful, fun and fabulous day!!
Wednesday, April 16
Update
Hey, homeschooling moms with younger kids, toddler and preschool age, I've put up a new article at Homeschool Hacks just for you!! Go check it out, be encouraged, and know that you're not alone. Homeschooling rules!!
Works-for-me Wednesday
Time for another something that Works for Me, thanks to Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer. For more tips, check out her Works for Me Wednesday page.This isn't a house tip, or a kid tip. This is something that works for my marriage. As you all know, I am a very bad housekeeper. SuperMom I am not, and there are many things I'm very good at, but keeping up with housework just ain't one of them. The only real thing John and I have ever fought about is our home, and usually when family is coming out for a visit. I must say, though, that these fights have become fewer and much farther in between, and this is one of the reasons.
I read a wonderful book a while back, and was totally inspired by it. It recommended finding out the top three (or two, or five, or twenty-seven) things that are important to your partner. So one morning, I caught John on his way to do some work out back, and I said, 'Will you be thinking about the things that you'd most like for me to have done when you get home from work? I'd like to sit down and talk about it later, if that's ok with you.' Yeah, like any guy is going to turn that offer down! Later that day, while the kids were asleep, we say down and had a great talk.
It turns out that the things that are important to him, are things that weren't on my radar. At all. I don't notice the coffee table, except when I run into it, but John loves it when he comes home and the coffee table is cleared off. Ok, that's an easy one to do. Check!
Ditto the kitchen table. Now, I notice this one a little more, but I didn't realize how important it is to him. I can do that, too. Check!
Floor clean under the table. Well, I already told y'all my method for that. And it's been working wonderfully.
You see, there were things that I was working very hard to get done before John got home, like having the porch cleared off, or the bathroom counter wiped down. And it turned out that he didn't really care about those things. But the things I wasn't getting done were the ones that were driving him postal. And it wasn't that he felt that I wasn't getting enough done. He would just rather me do certain things before I move on to others. (And I'm not saying that he doesn't like a clean porch of bathroom. He does. He'd just rather that I clean the coffee table and kitchen table before I move on the the bathroom and porch.)
And it works both ways. John never noticed that he leaves his shoes all over the floor. Makes me postal. Dishes left in the sink? Ditto. And once I showed that I was willing to listen to what's important to him, he was even more willing to listen to things that matter to me.
It's a process. This talk that we had was about two years back, and I've come a long way since then. It's just something that I continue to work on, and John has had to learn to bring things up when he notices them, and not stew on them and get upset before he ever tells me about it, because chances are that I haven't even noticed the thing that's driving him crazy.
It's all about communication, people!!! Talk to your SO, and even more importantly, be sure to listen when they have something important to say. (And ladies, make sure you don't spring a laundry list of complaints on him out of nowhere!!!!!!! This is a very, very, terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad thing to do to him!!!)
So that's what works for me. Any thoughts or questions? What works for you?
Tuesday, April 15
Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins
Hello, lover! Where have you been my whole life? I had no idea what I was missing ... Seriously, I've made these at least six times in the last three weeks. In my defense, I've made meals for multiple (two) friends and taken this as dessert. Stop looking at me like that! They really are that good! And if you use the flour I recommend, and follow my recipe, they're relatively guilt-free. Or, at least, they're more guilt-free than your average chocolate muffin. I'm just saying ...
Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins
modified by Brea!
3 oz softened cream cheese
2 T sugar
1/2 c very finely chopped nuts*
scant 1/2 t vanilla
1 c whole wheat pastry flour (white whole wheat flour)
1/3 c sugar
5 T unsweetened cocoa powder
2 t baking powder
scant 1/2 t salt
1 egg
3/4 c milk
1/4 c olive oil
In a small bowl, cream together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Add nuts, and set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.** Combine egg, milk, and oil in another bowl (or mixing cup), and add to dry ingredients. Batter will be somewhat thin and lumpy. Spoon 1 T batter into each greased muffin cup. Drop one T cream cheese mix on top, then one more T batter on top, making sure the cream cheese is totally covered. Bake immediately at 375 for 18-20 minutes.
*I like to use almonds, because it's not something most people would expect, and it adds a great taste.
**Sift the flour and the cocoa at the same time, so you get all the itty-bitty lumps out of the cocoa.
This recipe isn't super-sweet, and I love it. It's not worth eating cold, so if you're not going to eat the muffinsstraight out of the oven and burn the cr*p out of your tongue, hypothetically speaking of course! warm out of the oven, be sure to heat them up for about 10 seconds in the microwave, and have a big, cold glass of milk ready.
Now, go make these. Now. For real. Stop sitting here. You and your family can thank me later.
Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins
modified by Brea!
3 oz softened cream cheese
2 T sugar
1/2 c very finely chopped nuts*
scant 1/2 t vanilla
1 c whole wheat pastry flour (white whole wheat flour)
1/3 c sugar
5 T unsweetened cocoa powder
2 t baking powder
scant 1/2 t salt
1 egg
3/4 c milk
1/4 c olive oil
In a small bowl, cream together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Add nuts, and set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.** Combine egg, milk, and oil in another bowl (or mixing cup), and add to dry ingredients. Batter will be somewhat thin and lumpy. Spoon 1 T batter into each greased muffin cup. Drop one T cream cheese mix on top, then one more T batter on top, making sure the cream cheese is totally covered. Bake immediately at 375 for 18-20 minutes.
*I like to use almonds, because it's not something most people would expect, and it adds a great taste.
**Sift the flour and the cocoa at the same time, so you get all the itty-bitty lumps out of the cocoa.
This recipe isn't super-sweet, and I love it. It's not worth eating cold, so if you're not going to eat the muffins
Now, go make these. Now. For real. Stop sitting here. You and your family can thank me later.
Wednesday, April 9
Works-for-me Wednesday
Good morning! Here we go with something that Works For Me, courtesy of Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.This is more for stay-at-home moms with younger kids, or for homeschooling moms. Do you have trouble getting your mornings started? I used to really struggle with this. I'd get up when my kids
I view being a mom as having a job. Sounds silly, but changing the way you think about something can change the way you do something. If I had a real job, I would have to be dressed and be to work on time, so why not look at my life in the same way? I started this a few years back, when I was getting up with John before he went to work. He'd have to be up (with his clothes ironed-my job) at 6:30 to be at work at 7:30 on days that he works mornings, and my kids are almost always up by the time he leaves. So I started setting my alarm for 5:30 every morning. I snooze a few times, but I'm almost always up by 6. You should try it! You don't have to be up that early, just whatever time is good for you. Make yourself a cup of tea, or coffee, and have a quick bite to eat. I sit down with my Bible for about 20 minutes, sometimes more, sometimes less, and have some quiet, peaceful time by myself.
I always eat before my kids are up, unless I'm going to make a big breakfast when John is home, like pancakes, quiche, bacon and eggs with toast (are we seeing a theme? I have seven hens that lay eggs, so we eat a lot of eggs around here!). If I do that, then I'll usually just have a banana or something. While the kids are eating, I read from Proverbs (a chapter each morning) and we work on our memory verse for the week.
When I'm up before everyone else, even if it's only 10 minutes before the kids come downstairs, everyone's day seems to go smoother. It's a small thing to do that makes such a big difference. You should give it a try!
That's what works for me. What works for you? Do you have any special morning routines? How do you start your day?
Monday, April 7
You know what I'd like to see?
Good one, Jessica!! This short post made me laugh out loud this morning. Go check it. :)
We've got a sick baby, so I probably won't be round for a day or two. David woke up with a 103.9 fever last night, and while it never got any higher, it hasn't dropped a whole lot. And he threw up. And woke up every 45 minutes ... when he slept that long. Yeah. It was a great night. On the upside, he's been even more snuggly than normal! I love snuggly babies ...
John is off today and tomorrow, which is good, because Ihave so many projects for the two of us to do it's not even funny can't wait to spend some quality time with him. Please keep us in your prayers!!
We've got a sick baby, so I probably won't be round for a day or two. David woke up with a 103.9 fever last night, and while it never got any higher, it hasn't dropped a whole lot. And he threw up. And woke up every 45 minutes ... when he slept that long. Yeah. It was a great night. On the upside, he's been even more snuggly than normal! I love snuggly babies ...
John is off today and tomorrow, which is good, because I
Sunday, April 6
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!
Hey everyone, just popping in to quickly note that I've made some changes on my right sidebar. Some new links are up, and I've got a button now for Homeschool Hacks, a very neat homeschool site! Mrs Fussypants (the one I wrote about here) asked me to be a contributing editor, despite the fact that I assured her several times that I haven't the faintest idea what I'm doing, and I'm totally flying by the seat of my pants with I'm still pretty new to this homeschool thing. And yet, there I am! I think I'll mostly be giving tips for people just starting out, because that's where I am right now with my kids. I've already done two articles ... or one article, and one post with some links. I think I'll be doing 1-2 posts per week. Anyway, I'm super-excited!
On a much sadder note, I have a prayer request for everyone. My dear, dear friend just found out a few weeks ago that she's pregnant, and is in the process of (probably) having a miscarriage. Her husband's grandmother just passed away (not unexpectedly), so the whole family is out of town for a while. Please be praying for her and her husband, and her five children, all of whom were really excited about having a new baby. She's been very practical about everything, and is completely trusting in the Lord; I look up to her so much! (I hope she doesn't read this later ... it sounds like I have a crush on her or something!) Anyway. Please keep them in your prayers.
I'll be back with some new pictures soon. Hope everyone has a good week!!
On a much sadder note, I have a prayer request for everyone. My dear, dear friend just found out a few weeks ago that she's pregnant, and is in the process of (probably) having a miscarriage. Her husband's grandmother just passed away (not unexpectedly), so the whole family is out of town for a while. Please be praying for her and her husband, and her five children, all of whom were really excited about having a new baby. She's been very practical about everything, and is completely trusting in the Lord; I look up to her so much! (I hope she doesn't read this later ... it sounds like I have a crush on her or something!) Anyway. Please keep them in your prayers.
I'll be back with some new pictures soon. Hope everyone has a good week!!
Friday, April 4
Get You!
David loves to play a game called Get You. It always comes out of the middle of nowhere, and he seems to really want to play at all the wrong times, like in the middle of the sermon on Sundays. Here's how it works. David is doing something normal, like trying to eat a live chicken, or repeatedly flushing the toilet, or trying to walk around in John's boots. All of a sudden, he stops what he's doing, looks at you, and yells, 'GET YOU,' and runs off. This is your cue to chase him, hollering, 'I'm gonna get you!! I'm gonna get you, David!!' Which is his cue to shriek with laughter, run faster, turn to look at you, and narrowly miss running to the door frame or bookshelf or piano. Sometimes, he doesn't miss. That's a whole 'nother story.
Anyway, as soon as you catch him, you have to tickle him like a crazy person. He'll laugh even harder, until he suddenly stops. And politely says, in a very calm voice, 'down please.' And as soon as you put him down, he screams, runs off, and says, 'GET YOU!!!!!' This can go on until he passes out from exhaustion, you realize that supper is burning on the stove, or he doesn't miss the door frame, bookshelf, or piano.
It's a hard life, man, but someone's gotta do it!! :)
In other David developments, I have some fun news (and if you're one of those kidless people who gets really freaked out by all talk of toilet-training, just stop reading here. This isn't gross or anything, but I just wanted to warn you). From the time I changed David after he woke up yesterday morning, to the time he woke up from his nap around 5pm, he only wore ONE diaper. That's right, we only used ONE diaper for that boy from 7:30 am to 5pm. We just take him and set him on the toilet every few hours, and he usually goes, and he's starting to learn to tell us when he needs to go. Yay! But yesterday was an even bigger deal, because we were in Austin running errands for a large chunk of the day.
I plan on being far more consistent with our next baby, and having him/her toilet trained before s/he can walk. I can be done, I promise you, because we almost succeeded, and I know families that have been successful with it. It's the easiest thing in the world to do, especially when you start when the baby is really young (like a few weeks old), and are consistent. That was our downfall, lol, the lack of consistency. Oh, well. Live and learn! Let me know if you're expecting, or have an itty-bitty baby and want more information on this subject!!
Anyway, as soon as you catch him, you have to tickle him like a crazy person. He'll laugh even harder, until he suddenly stops. And politely says, in a very calm voice, 'down please.' And as soon as you put him down, he screams, runs off, and says, 'GET YOU!!!!!' This can go on until he passes out from exhaustion, you realize that supper is burning on the stove, or he doesn't miss the door frame, bookshelf, or piano.
It's a hard life, man, but someone's gotta do it!! :)
In other David developments, I have some fun news (and if you're one of those kidless people who gets really freaked out by all talk of toilet-training, just stop reading here. This isn't gross or anything, but I just wanted to warn you). From the time I changed David after he woke up yesterday morning, to the time he woke up from his nap around 5pm, he only wore ONE diaper. That's right, we only used ONE diaper for that boy from 7:30 am to 5pm. We just take him and set him on the toilet every few hours, and he usually goes, and he's starting to learn to tell us when he needs to go. Yay! But yesterday was an even bigger deal, because we were in Austin running errands for a large chunk of the day.
I plan on being far more consistent with our next baby, and having him/her toilet trained before s/he can walk. I can be done, I promise you, because we almost succeeded, and I know families that have been successful with it. It's the easiest thing in the world to do, especially when you start when the baby is really young (like a few weeks old), and are consistent. That was our downfall, lol, the lack of consistency. Oh, well. Live and learn! Let me know if you're expecting, or have an itty-bitty baby and want more information on this subject!!
Apple Coffee Cake
This is amazing. A. Maz. Ing. For real. I made this a few days ago, and it was gone within 24 hours. And I confess: I've never made anything other than pie crust with shortening, but this cake called for it, so I decided to try it. Wow. And wow. And did I mention, amazingly wow?? So make this. And be prepared for people to worship you. It came from the same cookbook as this yummy cake. I've been in a baking mood lately, can you tell?
Apple Coffee Cake
by Lisa Whitt
topping:
3/4 c brown sugar
3 t cinnamon
3 T softened butter
batter:
1 1/2 c whole wheat pastry (white whole wheat) flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
3/4 c sugar
1/4 c shortening (I used Crisco all-vegetable)
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1 t vanilla
2 cooking apples*
For topping: Mix cinnamon and sugar. Cut in butter. Set aside. Core, peel, and slice the apples. Set aside. For batter: Combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Set aside. Beat eggs until foamy. Stir in milk and vanilla. Add egg/milk mix to flour/sugar mix and stir until just blended. (It should be lumpy!) Pour half of the batter in a greased 9-inch pan. Arrange apples over batter. Sprinkle with half of the topping. Cover with remaining batter and cover with remaining batter. Bake at 347 for 35-40 minutes.**
*I have no idea what cooking apples are. I used three small-ish Fuji apples, and it turned out great.
**You do not want a soggy coffee cake. It is better to over-cook by three to five minutes than to under-cook by the same amount. If in doubt, just cook fro another five minutes. Remember, tis cake is supposed to be served with coffee or a cold glass of milk. And did I mention that it tastes WONDERFUL?? Because it does. I'm just saying. :)
Enjoy!
Apple Coffee Cake
by Lisa Whitt
topping:
3/4 c brown sugar
3 t cinnamon
3 T softened butter
batter:
1 1/2 c whole wheat pastry (white whole wheat) flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
3/4 c sugar
1/4 c shortening (I used Crisco all-vegetable)
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1 t vanilla
2 cooking apples*
For topping: Mix cinnamon and sugar. Cut in butter. Set aside. Core, peel, and slice the apples. Set aside. For batter: Combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Set aside. Beat eggs until foamy. Stir in milk and vanilla. Add egg/milk mix to flour/sugar mix and stir until just blended. (It should be lumpy!) Pour half of the batter in a greased 9-inch pan. Arrange apples over batter. Sprinkle with half of the topping. Cover with remaining batter and cover with remaining batter. Bake at 347 for 35-40 minutes.**
*I have no idea what cooking apples are. I used three small-ish Fuji apples, and it turned out great.
**You do not want a soggy coffee cake. It is better to over-cook by three to five minutes than to under-cook by the same amount. If in doubt, just cook fro another five minutes. Remember, tis cake is supposed to be served with coffee or a cold glass of milk. And did I mention that it tastes WONDERFUL?? Because it does. I'm just saying. :)
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 3
Checkin' in!
Hey people! How's life? Surprisingly enough, I've been raaawther busy. Everything green outside is exploding. My kitchen has also been exploding, but in a slightly different way. I've been on a massive baking kick when I haven't been outside. I'll post some recipes either tonight or tomorrow. They're soooo yummy; you'll thank me and curse me in the same breath. I'll give you a little teaser for one of the recipes: Apple Coffeecake. Mmmmmm ...
John's been having some drama at work; it doesn't directly involve him, but his general manager (GM), and so his schedule has been ten different ways of wonky. It's been a little stressful on moi, just because I haven't really known what his schedule is going to be, but I know it's been stressful on him, too, so I haven't been harping on it.
Evie ran a fever all day yesterday, but seems to be doing much better today. No fever, but still fairly puny. And of course, we're going into Austin today to run errands and have lunch with Heather and Jim, so I expect that she'll be really, really mellow by this evening!
My garden is going nuts. I'll try and post some pictures by the end of the week, but I'm amazed at how fast (and beautifully) everything is growing. It's so cool!! I love to watch God's handiwork.
Hope everyone has a great day! Please leave me a comment and say hello; I just love comments!! :)
John's been having some drama at work; it doesn't directly involve him, but his general manager (GM), and so his schedule has been ten different ways of wonky. It's been a little stressful on moi, just because I haven't really known what his schedule is going to be, but I know it's been stressful on him, too, so I haven't been harping on it.
Evie ran a fever all day yesterday, but seems to be doing much better today. No fever, but still fairly puny. And of course, we're going into Austin today to run errands and have lunch with Heather and Jim, so I expect that she'll be really, really mellow by this evening!
My garden is going nuts. I'll try and post some pictures by the end of the week, but I'm amazed at how fast (and beautifully) everything is growing. It's so cool!! I love to watch God's handiwork.
Hope everyone has a great day! Please leave me a comment and say hello; I just love comments!! :)
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