Her Peculiar Life

The Three Ladies Next Door ...

2012-02-15T10:51:00.000-06:00

... are very friendly and welcoming. They recently moved in so, yesterday, EJ and I walked down the road to introduce ourselves. All three immediately came out to greet us. We aren't sure how long they will be living next door to us. As far as we are concerned, they can stay as long as they'd like. They are excellent neighbors.

The Treadmill

2012-02-10T10:29:00.001-06:00

For me an hours walk outdoors on a nice day seems like only moments. Put me in a canoe or row boat on a pond or lake and I'll happily row for hours. A bicycle ride with the children, serendipity. BUT put me indoors on treadmills, stationary bicycles, rowing machines or any other mechanical exercise equipment and in my world it's akin to torture.
Mr.B wants to loose some weight and since it's been dark for hours by the time he gets home (dark arrives between 4:30 & 5:00 up here during the winter months), he bought himself a treadmill. He's been gently encouraging me to also use it.

This morning I decided that since I've began my garden planning, I should increase my physical activity otherwise, when gardening season arrives my mussels will be screaming at me. While in my pj's ... 5 minutes @ 1.5mph, no incline; 20 minutes @ 2.7 mph, 6% grade incline; 5 minutes @ 1.5 mph, no incline. Average heart rate - 100 beats per minute; 197 calories burned; 30 of the most BORING minutes of my life.

Really? Only 197 calories burned? I suffered through a 1/2 hour of complete & total YAWN for only 197 calories? I'd better get in the shower before I raid my secret stash of chocolate.

Shhh...

2012-02-04T09:06:00.000-06:00

... if you listen closely, you'll hear the frost touch the ground as it falls from the trees.

He Just Couldn't Wait ...

2012-02-03T17:08:00.000-06:00

...until spring when Mr.B & Grandpa had planned to put a swing up. So, he did it himself & now he's having a blast!!

EJ on his homemade swing

This is Important to Me ...

2012-02-03T15:19:00.001-06:00

I've spent the last couple hours on the internet researching the non-profit organizations we donate to. Unfortunately, the organizations' web-sites did not satisfy my curiosity to "REALLY Know Where the Money Goes" (see previous post for clarification). Thus I've drafted the following letter to send via e-mail or U.S. mail. For me, this issue is a serious matter of conscience. If it is as important to you as it is to me, I encourage to you investigate also.

Date
Organization / Foundation Name
Address
City, State, Zip

RE: allocation of revenue

Dear Sirs,

Via various news broadcasts, it has recently come to our attention that many non-profit organizations often allocate, donate and/or “funnel” revenue into other non-profit organizations. For example, news headlines have brought to our attention that the non-profit Susan G. Komen Foundation donates funds to Planned Parenthood and many other non-profit organizations.

We have been a faithful supporter of Organization's / Foundation's Name for several years. It is our desire to continue supporting non-profit organizations we personally believe are responsible and worthy. However, in light of recent revelations regarding many non-profit organizations re-directing funds into other non-profits, we find we must investigate the organizations and foundations we currently support. In good moral conscience we can not allow our surplus resources to be used to support any entity that violates our faith and/or personal morals.

Pointedly, does Organization / Foundation Name donate revenue to other non-profit organizations or entities? If so, would you please provide us with a list of the organizations and/or entities you support? In an effort to be responsible to our faith and our moral conscience we have decided to temporarily suspend all charitable giving until we have a response from each organization we currently bless with our surplus resources.

Eagerly awaiting a response to our inquiry,

Signature

Do You REALLY Know Where the Money's Going?

2012-02-03T12:24:00.003-06:00

WoW! Do I feel really stupid or what? I had NO idea that the non-profit Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Prevention and Cure(s) donated revenue to Planned Parenthood and other non-profit organizations each and every year. (see article here: http://news.yahoo.com/susan-g-komen-apologizes-cutting-off-planned-parenthood-163217680--abc-news.html ).

Although we've never personally donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, this is an eye opener and a fine example as to why we need to be VERY cautious as to where we donate our surplus resources. An immediate investigation into the organizations we do humbly try to bless is a priority. We never want to find that our generosity is, or could possibly be, funneled into another organization or industry that violates our faith, morals and/or our conscience.

Do you know where your donated resources are going?

Frugal Feasting Friday

2012-02-03T11:22:00.007-06:00

About a year and a half ago, I realized that I had put on a few more pounds than I was comfortable with. Being a major foodie, I know that cravings for full flavored and exceptional textures are my downfall. I also know that many of the popular diets and programs out there may have helped me loose weight initially but, once the weight was lost I'd return to my old eating habits and begin the yo-yo dieting cycle of so many others. So, how did I loose weight and still eat all the foods I love to cook? The secret for me was counting calories. The concept was simple, I had to expel more calories per day than I consumed. I began by taking a serious look at my caloric intake. I discovered that while I cooked, served and ate fairly healthy meals, my portion sizes were very over sized. Portion control and being conscience of pairing lower calorie dishes with the higher calorie ones was the system that worked for me AND it was far more cost effective than any other dieting plan I've ever come across. In only 3 months I lost 40 pounds AND I've kept the weight off for an entire year.

Today's Frugal Feasting recipe is great for breakfast on-the-go. It contains highly nutritional spinach, is less than 300 calories and cost only $0.74 per serving.

Florentine Egg McMuffin

(8 servings)

8 English muffins, toasted
8 1oz. slices of cheese
6 eggs
1 tbsp. milk
salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp. butter
4 tbsp. onion, finely chopped
2 c. fresh spinach, chopped

Place a slice of cheese on one half of a toasted English muffin. Set aside. In a medium bowl combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Whisk until lemon colored. Set aside. Over medium low heat, melt butter in skillet; add onion and saute' until translucent. Add chopped spinach and stir until it begins to wilt. Pour egg mixture over spinach mixture and cook over medium-low heat stirring occasionally until eggs are set. Spoon egg mixture onto English muffins to make a Florentine Egg McMuffin sandwich.
281 calories per sandwich

Make it to-go: Cool sandwiches to room temperature. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container or plastic bag in freezer until ready to use. Remove from plastic wrap and re-heat in microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Want to reduce the calorie count to only 178 calories per sandwich?: serve the sandwich open faced with only 1/2 an English muffin, substitute egg whites for whole eggs and replace the cheese with a reduced fat variety.

Cost breakdown per serving:
English muffin $0.15
spinach & onion $0.11
cheese $0.25
egg $0.13
milk & butter $0.10

TOTAL: $0.74 each

Guest Post

2012-01-31T11:53:00.001-06:00

Remember Me?

Look how big I've grown!

Can you believe it took them more than three months to name me Smudge? What kind of a name is that?

Menu Day & Recipe

2012-01-31T11:41:00.004-06:00

Last week's meal planning didn't go as, well, planned ... nor did last night's supper for that matter. Regardless, of the glitches I continue to press forward. Here's what I have on the supper menu this week.

Since I forgot to turn the oven on last night, Mr.B and the littles had toasted scrambled egg and fried bologna sandwiches w/ a garden salad. They LOVE this sort of food. Me? not so much, I chose a bowl of raisin bran cereal.

Tuesday - I'm going to try to get yesterday's supper on the table this evening: meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, buttered corn
Wednesday - lentil & spinach soup, garlic bread sticks
Thursday - crunchy shrimp scampi, rice pilaf and a spinach, apple & walnut salad
Friday - pepperoni, green pepper & onion calzones
Saturday - black bean burritos, Mexican rice
Sunday - roast w/ gravy, roasted root vegetables and a garden salad

What are you planning to cook this week?

Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad
(adapted from Keeping It Simple web-site)

2 apples, cubed
4 tbsp. lemon juice
8 c. fresh spinach
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 c. walnuts OR pecan halves, toasted
crumbled goat cheese OR shaved Parmesan cheese

Toss the apple cubes in 2 tbsp. lemon juice. In a small bowl whisk together remaining lemon juice, olive oil, cider vinegar and honey. In a large bowl toss apples, spinach and dressing. Top with toasted nuts & cheese.
4-6 servings.
NOTE: the original recipe calls for walnuts and crumbled goat cheese; however, since goat cheese is not a readily available ingredient in my region & I often do not have walnuts, I substitute pecan halves and shaved Parmesan cheese.

"They are grown men ..."

2012-01-27T09:37:00.002-06:00

Each time our "big" boys come home to visit Mr. B gets a little sideways with me. Why? Because he says I continually treat them as if they are still boys.
To be truthful, I have had a difficult time "cutting the apron strings". O.K. I admit, I keep trying to re-tie them. But it is really, really hard to let the big boys be grown-ups when the following takes place:

:: AB, who is now 27, arrives home with strep throat & insists that he thinks it will clear up on it's own in a couple days. I loaded him in the truck the next morning and took him to the clinic. Two doses of antibiotics and he was feeling almost well.

:: I go upstairs and peek into the boys' room. It literally looks like a tornado touched down in there. AB (27), JP (21) and EJ (10) are "hanging out", aka wrestling. Not only do I need to tell them to settle down but also remind them that I am not a maid. I instruct them to make their beds and clean up. A few moments later while in the kitchen and I hear JP say, "Hey, if you guys don't start helping me clean, I'm going to tell mom."

Yeah, they're grown men alright.

Will I Ever Get Used To ...

2012-01-23T12:02:00.000-06:00

When I wrote about our family moving to a VERY rural area, did I mention that the population of our entire county is less than 950? No, that's not a typo. To say there are a few cultural differences is an understatement. As the title of this post indicates, "Will I ever get used to ..."

** Receiving telephone calls from complete strangers inviting us over to their home for a social? Yup, that actually happened last week. After finishing the phone call Mr. B asked who had phoned. Here's a recap of our conversation.

Me: "Oh, that was Mr.O. He and his wife are having a social for the area home schoolers this Friday. He invited us."
Mr.B: "When did you meet them?"
Me: "I haven't."
Mr.B: "Well then how does he know we home school and how did he get our number?"
Me: "Welcome to small town America. It appears that EVERYONE in two counties know who we are, that we home school, where you work AND they even know our address and phone number."
Mr.B: "humm."

The children and I accepted the invitation and had a wonderful time. We not only met two new home schooling families but also had an opportunity to get better acquainted with two other families we'd met back in November.

** Writing a personal check & NOT being asked for multiple forms of identification, two phone numbers, and a sample of my DNA. Again, everyone knows everyone up here. Although many folks do not know us personally, everyone seems to have an unquestioning trust trust for anyone who lives in the county.

** Teen aged girls and moms of teen aged girls volunteering babysitting services, although we've only briefly met one time! Where we come from, one is wise to be VERY cautious when hiring childcare personnel.

** Not only are the cars left unlocked, these people leave their keys in the car! I'm sure they all think we are totally paranoid - not only do we lock our vehicles, but we also set the anti-theft alarms.

** Unlocked houses. Yes, it appears that EVERYONE up here leaves their homes unlocked as well. One of Mr.B's co-workers left his house unlocked while he was out of town for three weeks. When Mr.B asked why he would do something like that, the co-worker responded, "Well, it's winter & you never know when someone might need to get inside to warm up." By the way, a fellow church attendee recently stated the same rational when OG inquired why folks around here leave their homes unlocked. I wonder what their answers will be come summertime?

More Christmas Photos ...

2012-01-19T15:23:00.001-06:00

Below is a "keeping it real" photo. It's me giving my annual speech: "This is the wrapping paper & packaging bag. Please open gifts one at a time and carefully to ensure that yours, or someones else's, gift(s) do not get lost or thrown away in all the mess. Again, be sure to put your wrapping paper in THIS bag after opening EACH gift." Yes, I do ... I give that speech every year. No, I am not a neat freak. I do not tolerate any drama from gifts getting accidentally tossed in the trash.

OG & EJ's Christmas photo for the scrapbook.

Our ONLY 2011 family Christmas photo - and yes, EJ is grabbing himself (BIG sigh): story of my life ...

Making the Transition

2012-01-17T10:05:00.000-06:00

If you glance to my sidebar, you will notice that I've changed my profile description. I removed the Titus 2 verse and have replaced it with a sentence inviting readers to follow along as I chronicle our family's transition, not only into a new home, but also into a new community and a new culture. I believe chronicling our family's transition is part of obeying Titus 2's command for the older women to mentor the younger.

The need or desire to move to a new area has never been a necessity like it is now for many families. Although reports indicate a slight improvement in our nation's economic downturn, I continually hear of families and individuals having to make the tough decision to leave their established communities to obtain employment. It is my prayer that our family's experiences will be a light of encouragement to others who also find themselves not only in new communities and new cultures but, far away from extended family and friends.

I have many acquaintances whom I know to various degrees. However, I have only two friends. In my world friends and acquaintances are not the same. I hold my friends as dear and close to my heart as I hold my own family. I can be 100% me with my two friends. They know me and have seen my good (which is pretty great), bad (which is really bad) and my ugly (imagine the bottom side of mud - yuck!) AND they still choose to like and love me. They are my loudest cheerleaders and, besides the Lord, my greatest supports during times of trials. I know that if I need something, these two ladies will be there to help me anyway they possibly can. I truely love them they way I love my own family.

I am a fairly friendly person who doesn't have too much trouble finding and making acquaintances, but since I have trust issues (yes, I wrote that out loud) it is very difficult for me to make genuine friends. Right now I am trying to figure out how to live day by day, week by week without the companionship of my friends. Yes, we have the telephone, e-mail, the postal service and prayer, but being 1,500 miles away from them has forced changes in our relationships. Most days I am fine. I have LOTS to keep me busy therefore, I don't have much time to dwell on how many miles actually exist between us. But, I occasionally find myself desiring to invite them over for a meal, or out to the movies for a chick flick. My heart breaks when I hear that one has been ill and I'm not there to help lighten her load by cooking supper for her family or running an errand. Knowing that if they need me to help them, as they've helped me so many times in the past, I'm not there - I'm too far away. All I can do for them is pray, listen over the telephone or send a note of encouragement. I can't give them a hug, or hold their hand or cook them a meal. Yup, cooking meals - that's my thing.

Mr.B and I worked tirelessly and saved to extremity for 15 years to achieve the purchase of our new country home. During all those years of work and saving, I didn't fully grasp that the Lord could, and eventually would, bless us with our dream 1,500 miles away from "home". How will this aspect of our transition play out? Will I recover from leaving my friends? As time passes will we adjust to the distance between us? Will I ever have the blessing of cooking supper for them again?

Kept It Simple

2012-01-16T13:47:00.001-06:00

As you all know from my previous post, this Christmas season found me arriving "late". However late I felt I was, our children fully expected Christmas decorations. My philosophy of keeping our Christmas decor simple was a relief this year. By keeping it all simple, I was able to decorate and take down in only a couple hours. Since time was a precious commodity this year, I've never been more thankful for my "keeping it simple" philosophy. Here are photos of our Christmas decor.

Welcome, please come in. - I think the snow capped bows just look like Christmas, don't you?

Yes, we are still using our $5 "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. I know this photo makes it look like we totally spoil our children with too many gifts, but we really do bless them with only 3 each - when you have 5 children & a very small tree, it looks like there is far more than there really is.

A little garland & stockings. The hearth, this is where I really do think less becomes more. Now, if I could just convince Mr.B to eliminate the television and it's accessories ...

Just a few small poinsettias set in a sugar mold graces the Christmas morning breakfast table. I like serve our holiday meals buffet style from the kitchen counters.

Belated Merry Christmas & Belated Happy New Year !!

2012-01-06T10:02:00.001-06:00

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late .... Yes, this holiday season has been a season of "late" for me. It hasn't even been a week since we celebrated the New Year & I'm already LOL at myself.

Two house moves within 5 months of each other seems to have been too much for me. Yes! I'm blaming my end of the year "lateness" on that. It seems many folks, especially my family, think I am super woman and can literally leap tall buildings in a single bound. I keep telling them they have me confused with another super hero. Prior to our cross country move in April, it had been nearly 17 years since we'd moved houses. I was definitely out of practice and that move still didn't get me back up to speed for the 2nd move in October. I still have things to unpack, organize and an entire room (our basement den) to put together.

By the time Thanksgiving rolled around I was still trying to find my bearings and was relieved that since our big boys wouldn't be home until December 29th, I'd get an additional week to prepare for our family Christmas celebration. Even with an extra week, I didn't catch up - HA! HA! We put our Christmas decor and tree up on December 26th! Our Christmas / New Years cards were mailed only 4 days prior to Christmas BUT THEN 90% of them were returned to us on Dec. 27th for additional postage. I didn't make it back to the post office for stamps and mailing until January 3rd. Yes, I did ... I mailed out those happy wishes and blessings more than a week after Christmas & three days after the New Year! I figured that most of our friends and family would need a little "pick me up" after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays had subsided. I, being super woman, was totally up to the task of spreading good cheer a week (or two) after the big event(s).

Our family celebration and time together has been very calm and relaxing. Since our museums and parks are closed during the winter months, we have literally been hanging around the house. Well, we have left a couple times ... we went to church on New Year's Day. And when I say we, that includes Mr.B, my dad, AB, JP, OG & EJ (at the last minute BT was not able to make the trip out). I'm sure as time progresses, I will converse with other church members about my family so, I was blessed to be able to introduce them. We also enjoyed a nice New Year's pot luck after the service. We introduced the southern tradition of New Year's day black eyed peas and cabbage to the locals. A couple days later we drove 45 miles to our nearest "city", population 4,800, for a few electrical supplies - AB has been installing ceiling fans for me, **big smile**. Yesterday I drove JP 60 miles to the next larger city in the opposite direction, population est. 13,000, for a hair cut, dry cleaning pick up and a Dairy Queen blizzard. This little drive also afforded JP the opportunity to snap a couple photos of the bad lands.

Since we have not been out sight seeing or exploring during this visit, I haven't hustled or bustled one bit. I am really enjoying just cooking (lots of cooking), "hanging out" and relaxing with our children. Last evening the kiddos played another game of Monopoly ... as usual JP won and EJ cried. JP has lost only two Monopoly games in his entire life & EJ always cries because JP bankrupts him, and everyone else. Although I'm not too fond of the crying, the predictability of my children's personalities is comforting.

This holiday season I am totally laughing at my "late" self (and had a couple moments of self doubt, but we won't focus on that), and have found this Christmas and New Years to be very Merry, very Blessed, very Calm and very Bright. I pray your holiday season was a joyous as mine is turning out to be.

Menu Day & Recipe

2011-12-20T08:14:00.000-06:00

Since our family will be celebrating Christmas a little late this year, my weekly menu plan is pretty standard.

Monday - fried eggs, bacon, toast / leftover spaghetti / garlic sauteed shrimp in a vegetable medley, spinach salad

Tuesday - yogurt w/ granola, bananas / garlic butter & Parmesan spaghetti, apple wedges / Pioneer Woman's tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches

Wednesday - apple cinnamon oatmeal, toast / pb&j sandwiches, cucumber slices / sweet & sour chicken over rice, egg rolls

Thursday - bagels w/ cream cheese, orange slices / crockpot Swiss steak, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli

Friday - spinach & cream cheese omelets, English muffins / hot dogs, salad / taco salads

Saturday - biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, hash browns / vegetable soup, crackers / beans & rice, cornbread, cold vegetable plate (sliced tomatoes, onions, bread & butter pickles)

Sunday - blackberry muffins, fruit salad / jalapeno & bacon wrapped roasted pork tenderloin, black bean & corn salad, zucchini & mushrooms, coconut cake

Here's a recipe from this week's meal plan:

Zucchini & Mushrooms

3 Tbsp. olive oil
4 med. zucchini, cut crosswise
1/2 lb. small white mushrooms, quartered
2 med. garlic cloves, minced
1 small fresh jalapeno, seeded, veins removed and finely chopped
salt & pepper to taste

In a large skillet heat 2 tsp. olive oil over medium-high heat. add zucchini and cook, stirring, until crisp-tender. Season with salt & pepper; set aside in a bowl. In the same skillet add the remaining oil, mushrooms and garlic. Cover and cook stirring frequently, until the mushrooms release their juices, 3-4 min. Return the zucchini to the pan. Add the jalapeno. Cook, stirring until heated through, 1-2 min.
Serves 4

I'm Dreaming of ...

2011-12-14T11:18:00.000-06:00

... a White Christmas. As we draw nearer to Christmas, my heart rejoices each time I gaze out my windows, walk the 1/4 mile down to our mailbox or drive into town. The snow and frost covered branches just seem to bring forth an atmosphere of Christmas. As I gazed out our bedroom's French doors this morning, I was greeted with the following beauty. So, I stepped out onto the deck and snapped this photo to share with y'all.

Frugal Feasting Friday

2011-12-02T09:40:00.000-06:00

During the holidays large gatherings of family and friends for meals and fellowship can easily blow one's grocery budget. For families already living on a very tight budget, the expense of special meals and traditional treats can really add to one's financial stress. It is so sad, but very true, that some families must choose between a traditional Thanksgiving and/or Christmas meal(s) and gifts for their children or even paying one or more utility bills. I remember all too well that there was a time when our family had to make those sorts of tough decisions.

I generally try to keep my Frugal Feasting Friday meal suggestions under $2.00 per serving. However, I realize that with Thanksgiving only one week behind us and Christmas only 3 weeks ahead, there are families who simply can't afford $2.00 per serving meals if they are going to enjoy traditional celebrations. So, today I am sharing a meal that cost less than $1.00 per serving and packs a TON of flavor!

Lentil-Tomato Soup
(adapted from November 2011 Taste of Home Magazine, pg. 43)

4 1/2 c. water
1 tbsp. bacon grease OR oil OR butter/margarine
4 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
2/3 c. dried lentils, rinsed
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
2 tbsp. minced fresh parsley OR 1 tbsp. dried parsley
1 tbsp. brown sugar OR 1 tbsp. white sugar & 1tsp. molasses
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 clove mined garlic OR 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. dried dill weed
1/4 tsp. dried tarragon (optional)
1/4 tsp. pepper
salt to taste

In a stock pot, saute the onions, carrots in bacon grease over medium high heat until the onions begin to turn clear; stir in the garlic. Add the water and lentils and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Stir in remaining ingredients; and return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
6 servings

Spicy Oven Sweet Potato Fries

3 medium sweet potatoes
2 tbsp. olive oil OR cooking oil
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Peel and cut sweet potatoes into wedges. In a large mixing bowl combine oil, sugar, chili powder salt & pepper. Add the sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Place seasoned sweet potatoes onto a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for about 12 minutes, turn and continue to bake for another 10-12 minutes or until fries are tender. NOTE: I prefer to place my oven fries on a baking rack placed over my baking sheet - thus, I don't have to turn the fries mid-way through the baking process and they come out crispy on both sides.
Serves 6

Best Dinner Rolls
(adapted from Taste of Home magazine, November 2011 pg. 61)

These really are the BEST dinner rolls ...

1 c. whole wheat flour
3 1/2 to 4 c. all-purpose unbleached flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 tbsp. active dry yeast OR 1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
1/2 c. water
2 tsp. butter
2 eggs
1 egg, lightly beaten (optional)
Toppings, below (optional)

In a large bowl, combine whole wheat flour, 1 c. all-purpose flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a saucepan, heat the milk, water and butter to 120-130 degrees. Add to dry ingredients; beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Add 2 eggs; beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft, sticky dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl and turn to coast dough. Cover with greased wax paper and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down . Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 24 portions. Shape into balls. Place the dough balls in two 13in. x 9in. greased baking pans (12 each). Cover with greased waxed paper and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. If desired, brush lightly with beaten egg and sprinkle with desired topping(s). Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool slightly serve warm. NOTE: You may freeze 1/2 of this dough in a zip lock bag and thaw for later use. After thawing allow to rise, punch down and proceed as directed - dough that has been frozen will take about 2 hours to rise the 1st time.
Makes 24 servings.

Toppings:
*2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese and 1/2 tsp. dried minced garlic OR garlic powder
*2 tbsp. chopped sliced almonds, 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, 1/2 tsp. dried basil, 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
*1 tsp. poppy seeds, 1 tsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. dried minced garlic, 1 tsp. sesame seeds, 1 tsp. dried minced onion
NOTE: Get creative with your toppings. If it's summer time and you have aromatic herbs growing in your garden, substitute fresh herbs. Don't have dried minced garlic, mix fresh minced garlic into the egg wash. You can also shape these rolls into rosettes, twists or other desired shapes for visual appeal.

Estimated Cost Breakdown:
Lentil-Tomato Soup - $0.41 per serving
Spicy Oven Sweet Potato Fries - $0.39 per serving
Best Dinner Rolls - $0.19 per serving

Total Cost Estimate for Entire Meal: $0.99 per serving

Disclaimer: The recipes for Lentil-Tomato Soup and Best Dinner Rolls have been adapted from recipes found in the November 2011 issue of Taste of Home magazine. For some reason I never follow recipes exactly as directed, adding my own "spin" or techniques that I think enhances the flavor profiles or nutritional value. If you'd like the recipes exactly as published, please visit www.tasteofhome.com.

The Inspired Word of God

2011-12-01T08:53:00.000-06:00

Miss Sarah, over at As Lilies Sewing, has posted an excerpt from a thread on a forum she recently participated in. I enjoyed reading it so much I wanted to share it with all y'all.

http://www.asliliessewing.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-do-we-know-bible-is-inspired-word.html

Menu Day

2011-11-28T11:16:00.002-06:00

Ah! Ha! Not only am I getting a Menu Day posted for the second time this month BUT this week it's on time ... This week's meal plan includes:

Monday
Breakfast: Cheerios's & Pop Tarts ( I was EXHAUSTED this morning and didn't wake up until after 7! )
Dinner: French bread pizza, pineapple slices
Supper: chili & cornbread

Tuesday
Breakfast: bacon & cheese crescent roll-ups, apple wedges
Dinner & Supper: Out ( Dr.'s appointment in the "city" ie. 250 miles - one-way)

Wednesday
Breakfast: homemade egg mcmuffins, apple wedges
Dinner: grilled cheese, tomato soup
Supper: chicken broccoli bake casserole, carrots

Thursday
Breakfast: pancakes & sausage
Dinner: vegetable soup, crackers
Supper: Salisbury steaks w/ gravy, mashed potatoes, steamed spinach

Friday
Breakfast: oatmeal, toast, fruit
Dinner: peanut butter & jelly, fruit
Supper: Italian vegetable pasta, salad

Saturday
Breakfast: blackberry muffins, fruit, yogurt
Dinner: vegetable soup, buttered bread
Supper: grilled steaks, loaded baked potatoes, salad

Sunday
Breakfast: twice baked breakfast potatoes, fruit salad
Dinner: corn chowder, herbed biscuits, salad

I know that I could take a more frugal approach to Tuesday's meal planning by packing lunches & even a portable picnic supper that could be eaten in the car because it is now too cold to eat outdoors. However, since we now live where there aren't any restaurants or drive-thru's, we are actually excited about the opportunity to eat a couple nice meals in restaurants.

Thanksgiving's Make-Over-Madness

2011-11-26T10:49:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving was two days ago and even by declaring yesterday as leftover buffet day for dinner AND supper, we still have leftovers. Are we all really in the mood for another Thanksgiving meal? Well, honestly Mr.B and Grandpa would be completely satisfied eating the same things day in and day out; but not me! I like and crave a wide variety of foods.

So, what will I do with all the little bits we have left today? For starters I turned the candied yams (yes, I had planned to prepare twice baked sweet potatoes BUT, the grocer carried only yams) into pancakes topped with maple flavored syrup & chopped pecans. I will re-make the mashed potatoes and 3 tbsp. carrots into potato cakes ( http://herpeculiarlife.blogspot.com/2008/06/potato-cakes.html ) for today's dinner. Some of the roasted chicken will be used in our chicken quesadillas, charro beans and Mexican rice for supper this evening. The remaining chicken and stuffing will be turned into a chicken broccoli bake casserole (substitute roasted chicken and broccoli in this turkey Florentine casserole http://herpeculiarlife.blogspot.com/2008/12/thanksgiving-musings.html ) and placed in the freezer for a quick meal during the Christmas season hustle and bustle. What do you have planned for your Thanksgiving leftovers?

Here's my recipe for Candied Yam Pancakes

Candied Yam Pancakes w/ maple flavored syrup & chopped pecans

1 1/2 c. pureed candied yams
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 1/4 c. milk
2 tbsp. cooking oil
1 1/2 c. all-purpose unbleached flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

In a medium bowl combine yam puree, eggs, milk and oil. In a larger bowl combine all dry ingredients. Stir wet ingredients into dry. Mix until moistened, do not over mix. Cook on a griddle over medium heat until batter bubbles, flip and continue cooking until golden. Repeat with remaining batter. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen pancakes. Note: if a thinner batter/pancake is preferred add more milk, 1tbsp. at a time, until disired consistancy is reached.

Thanksgiving, a short re-cap ...

2011-11-25T11:24:00.001-06:00

Although our entire family was not able to be with us, we still enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving. Besides a huge meal that brought all sorts of compliments my way, (Did you know that a second helping is the best compliment one can give a southern cook? Third helpings are equal to praise and adoration.) we received very nice, lengthy telephone calls from our 3 big boys. It is always a joy to visit with them, even if only via telephone.

After we thanked the Lord and asked Him to bless our meal, EJ wanted everyone to share what they have been most thankful for this past year.

EJ - is thankful for food to eat and a bed to sleep in
OG - is thankful for her home and family
Mr.B - is thankful for his family
Grandpa - is thankful for family & friends
Me? - salvation through Jesus Christ

I hope your Thanksgiving was as lovely and blessed as ours. What have you been thankful for this year?

Menu Day & Recipe

2011-11-22T13:27:00.001-06:00

Not only am I a day late with this post, but it's been, what seems like forever, since I logged a Menu Day post.
Since I've incorporated my new shopping strategy, meal planning has been super easy. Having a large variety of foods readily available has kept me from driving nearly 100 miles round-trip to the grocer each week. I simply "grocery shop" right in my own kitchen!

Monday - hamburgers & cowboy beans
Tuesday - chicken-a-la-king, sauteed apples & onions, bacon-mushroom Brussels sprouts
Wednesday - chili dogs, oven fries
Thanksgiving - appetizers: deviled eggs, artichoke dip w/ crackers / meal: roasted chicken, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, gravy, twice baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, & buttered carrots / dessert: chocolate cream pie, pumpkin pie
Friday - left over buffet
Saturday - quesadillas, beans, rice
Sunday - chicken & dumplings, salad, garlic cheese toast

What do you have planned for supper this week?

Bacon-Mushroom Brussels Sprouts
(adapted from a recipe published in Taste of Home)

4 c. halved fresh or frozen brussels sprouts, if frozen thaw
5 strips bacon, julienned
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. sliced mushroom, drain if canned
1/2 c. water
1 chicken bullion cube
salt & pepper to taste

Steam brussels sprouts until tender, keep warm. Cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove & drain on paper towels. Saute onions & mushrooms in drippings until tender. (do not add canned mushrooms as this point). Add water & bullion cube. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered 3-4 minutes until broth is reduced by 1/2. (if using canned mushrooms add after broth is reduced). Stir in brussels sprouts & bacon.
serves 4-6

Blindness

2011-11-18T10:14:00.005-06:00

2 Corinthians 4:4

1599 Geneva Bible: "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds, that is, of the infidels, that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, which is the image of God, should not shine unto them."

1611 King James Bible: "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

1978 New International Version Bible: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

1982 New King James Version Bible: "whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them."

There have been times when I have asked, "Why". Why are there people in my family who continue to reject the love, grace and salvation of our Lord? Why do they seemingly refuse to believe in an all powerful, Omnipotent God who has certain requirements and expectations of us? Why do they seemingly refuse to believe that just as there really is a heaven (they all seem to believe in heaven), there is also a very real hell? According to the Bible, regardless of the translation I search, it is because their MINDS are blinded by the enemy.

Romans 12:2

1599 Geneva Bible: "And fashion not yourselves like unto this world, but be ye changed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God is."

1611 King James Bible: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

1978 New International Version Bible: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

1982 New King James Version Bible: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Blindness of the mind and renewing of one's mind. These verses bring back memories of my own born again salvation. Once this supernatural occurrence took place, it was as if someone flipped on a light switch. As if all my prior perspectives had been formulated by the shadows of viewing life through a dark and dimly lit room. When the proverbial light was turned on, I had a clear view and perspective. Things that I once thought were "not quite so bad" OR "although I didn't agree on some things personally, I could understand where another person found it acceptable", instantly became appalling.

Today I live life with a different perspective than most of my family. I spend a lot of time with people who's minds are blinded like mine used to be. Sometimes it is a very hard life. It can take a toll on one's emotions and spiritual strength. It is hard to live a life contrary to one your family lives. My family often becomes very aggravated with me because I don't and won't allow participation many things. My family often becomes aggravated with my steadfastness to attend church regularly - basically, it sometimes interferes with their own "fun" plans. By God's grace alone, I have continued a steadfast walk with Him and through the years my family has come to accept that I am "different". They have started accepting that as I mature, I become more steadfast. But that doesn't lessen the toll on my emotions or strength as one would expect. No, my burden seems to increase.

My burden has increased because I know that if they died today, they would not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They do not know the Lord. Thus far, it seems most have no desire to know the Lord. For many years I've prayed, "Lord, please bring salvation to name." "Lord, I beseech you to have the Holy Spirit move upon name's heart and bring salvation to him/her." "Lord, allow the "right" witness to minister to name's heart, so that he/she may accept you as Saviour." I was studying my Bibles this morning, actually I was searching scripture for an answer to another topic. When the Word of God really spoke to my heart through 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Romans 12:2. For so very many years I've been praying that God brings salvation to these people and their hearts be changed. God has answered everyone of those prayers. Thanks to Jesus Christ's atoning death on the cross and His glorious Resurrection, EVERYONE has the gift of salvation readily available. I was praying for something already provided. A change in their hearts? That one has also been answered. I've watched my family members become more compassionate, more caring, more understanding, more generous. But I haven't seen any of them accept God's free gift of salvation.

Could it be that I've been praying incorrectly? I've been praying that salvation come to them through a change in their heart when the Word of God clearly states that the MIND is blinded by the enemy and that transformation comes through the renewing of the the MIND. Today, I leave you with a new prayer for mine and your lost loved ones. I pray that the blindness of their MINDS be swept away by the illumination of the light and knowledge of the Gospel of Christ and that they be transformed to know and accept God's good, acceptable and perfect will by the renewing of their MINDS.

A New Shopping Strategy

2011-11-09T09:28:00.002-06:00

We've moved to the country - really, really far into the country. We are so far out that I mentioned in a previous post that the only access to the internet is via satellite. Have I also mentioned that we must travel 60 miles one-way across the state line to access the closest Wal-Mart or McDonald's? I am certainly NOT complaining - we moved out here on purpose - we WANTED to live really, really far out in the country.

We experienced our 1st snow of the season this past weekend and within the next few weeks we will begin accumulating mountains of it. Being a southern girl I am not accustom to driving in snowy, icy conditions. I think it's best, and something I'm sure the locals will appreciate, I avoid the highways and byways when the weather conditions warrant a more experienced driver.

Needing to prepare for the months that driving 100 miles round trip to the grocer will not be feasible and desiring to keep our grocery budget as low as possible, I've started utilizing a new shopping strategy. I've made up a projected 6 month grocery supply list. (By the way, this list is really long - it includes everything from snacks to personal care products). When the sale papers arrive on Friday, I compare ALL the sale items to see which grocer has the best prices for any of the items on my master list. I then plan out which and how many items I will purchase from each store and purchase ONLY sale items (I do not pay full price for anything). Did I mention that the stores are across the street from each other - how convenient is that? I also carry my sales papers with me into the store to ensure that I purchase the exact item that's on sale. (I hate getting to the register and discovering that the "flavor" I selected was not the "flavor" that was advertised.) Once I've purchased the needed amount of any item from my master 6 month supply list, I do not purchase additional amounts of those products - no matter how low the current sales price. I must remember to stay within a budget and we can't eat an extra 6 bottles of shampoo, regardless of how cheap it may be this week.

Items are being marked off my list and our shelves are filling up. I hope that by the time the mountains of snow begin to arrive within the next few weeks, I will be ready to park my car in the garage and venture out only on Sundays for church.

A Dusting ...

2011-11-07T07:48:00.001-06:00

This is the sight we saw as we gazed out the window yesterday morning. Our 1st snow of the season - isn't it beautiful?

A Few Little Blessings

2011-11-04T11:36:00.004-05:00

Good Morning!

This is the morning view from by bedroom window, sun porch and breakfast nook, aka future mud room.

Getting ready to make a birthday wish ...

EJ isn't the only one in our family with an October birthday.

There's nothin' like it

Here's something we can't find up here. We thank God for Mrs.A and UPS.

Full of, Mmm Mmm Good stuff.

This week we enjoyed the following recipe from "Forgotten Recipes" complied by Jaine Rodack -
I served it with brown rice and sauteed yellow squash. Since I prepared this for just the littles and myself, I reduced the steak, onions and mushrooms by half.

1949 Steak, Country Style (pg. 101)

2 lb. round steak
seasoned flour
1/2 c. butter, divided
2 onions, sliced
1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms
1/2 c. water
2 tbs. grated cheese
1 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 c. sour cream

Cut steak into serving pieces and dredge in seasoned flour. Melt 1/4 c. butter in large frying pan and add the onions and mushrooms. Cook until the onions are tender and the mushrooms are just lightly browned. Remove the onion mixture from the pan and set aside. Add the remaining butter; when melted add the steak and brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the remaining ingredients and return the onion and mushroom mixture; stir well. Return the steak to the pan, cover and simmer on low until meat is tender enough to cut with a fork. Note: if sauce gets too thick while simmering, stir in an additional 1/4 - 1/2 cup water.
Serves 6-8

I'm Back ...

2011-10-26T14:23:00.001-05:00

Has it really been over a month since my last post? We have been unbelievably busy since our move & the internet was not connected until last week. But here I am and ready to give you all a brief update.

My days have been filled with unpacking and organizing. I seriously thought we had fewer things than we actually do. After all, we hauled off literally truck load after truck load before leaving Texas. The unpacking is almost complete. I still have some organization to finish in the basement, unpacking for our winter recreation room and organizing my sewing and scrap booking supplies.

For the past 2 1/2 weeks ALL my spare time has been filled taking care of a special little guy. About 4-5 weeks ago, our mama cat, Spook, had a litter of 6. Samson, the dog, found the kittens and disrupted the "nest". Unfortunately, Spook abandoned the litter. When we discovered what had happened all but two kittens had passed. We placed the two remaining in a box on a towel wrapped heating pad while I drove 45 miles (one way) to find baby animal formula and an eye dropper. Within three days we were down to one kitten. We estimate that he is now about 5 weeks old. He is teething & today I started him on wet kitten food. I hope to have him weaned within the week. We are still deciding on a name. Some ideas we've had include, patches, miracle and spot.

Our un-named rescued kitten. Isn't he cute?

This past weekend EJ celebrated another birthday. He enjoyed a supper of smoked BBQ ribs, LOTS of macaroni and cheese and a banana nut cake with vanilla frosting. He was (and still is) thrilled with his gift - a hunting bow. Unfortunately, Mr.B has already taken it into the shop for a repair - EJ "dry fired" it and we don't have the vice equipment to repair it YET. (I'm sure Mr.B will soon acquire all that sort of stuff). But the bow is repaired and EJ now spends time everyday practicing his shots.

EJ trying out his birthday gift

"I wish for ..."

We are really enjoying our new home. Mr.B and I still "pinch" ourselves just to make sure we aren't dreaming. We consistently see deer, pheasants, prairie chickens. We hear coyotes and owls at night. The ducks that had called our pond home this past summer have flown south for the winter. But EJ finally figured out what was making a "slapping" sound in the pond - beavers! Yes, he saw three just last Friday.
Fortunately, Old Man Winter has delayed his arrival. Mr.B and I are working hard to get our place ready for snow cover. I plan to post some photos of our area soon. I'd especially like to share one of the the beautiful sunrises I wake up to each morning.

I hope you, my dear readers, have a wonderfully blessed day.

Old School

2011-09-22T17:30:00.001-05:00

Well, after driving 250 miles per day (round-trip), today will be my last visit to our temporary housing. We (OG & I) have finally moved everything out and finished up the cleaning.
Mr.B was supposed to get the satellite t.v., internet, and phone connected. He has procrastinated. Meaning we have only telephone service at our new house, for now. The satellite t.v. people will not be out until the end of October - HA! HA! HA! - I wish you all could be at my house to watch the very funny withdrawal Mr.B will be experiencing until then - HA! HA! HA!. I don't know when the internet will be connected - he keeps forgetting to phone that company ... So, until the internet gets connected this will by my last post. I hope to get back on-line soon and give you all an update on the unpacking and Mr.B's progression through television withdrawal.
See you soon!

P.S. - we have moved so far out into the country we can not get internet through our telephone service - we have to have satellite internet, which is a different company and separate phone call.

You want me to pack this entire house by when?

2011-09-17T00:00:00.001-05:00

The littles and I arrived back to our temporary housing yesterday afternoon. I've finally finished the painting and the carpets have been professionally cleaned. The heating/AC guy has come out and taken measurements for the gas line installation on my new range. Unfortunately, I was not successful in finding a professional moving company to pack and move our belongings. I had to break the news to Mr.B yesterday evening.

Well, Mr.B came home early today. Real early. 11:00am early. He hastily informed me that I needed to grab my purse and the littles because he needed me to go with him to pick up a U-Haul truck from a town more than 100 miles away (that's the closest one he could find, nothing local was available - no surprise there). We arrived back "home" around 4:30. He told me that a couple guys he works with are going to help us move. I inquired as to when this was supposed to happen (expecting Sunday afternoon or Monday morning). He told me they'd be here at 8:00am TOMORROW morning!

I responded with, "You mean I have less than 14 hours to pack this entire house?"

Mr.B replies, "It will be O.K. I don't think it will take you more than a couple hours. How about I run up to the store and pick up a few steaks to throw on the grill?"

Me: "Are you kidding? It took 4 professional packers 6 hours to pack our house when we left Texas. I really don't think we have time to cook anything. I think you should call the pizza guy."

Mr.B: "Well, O.K. if that's what you want to do."

Me" "Well, I'm not hungry and I've a house to pack - I don't have time to eat much less cook or clean up after anyone else who has cooked."

Mr.B: "I was trying to help you out."

Me: no response, as I hurriedly entered the house and immediately began organizing my tape, scissors, box marker and ...

As of right now, midnight, OG and I have packed every room except the kitchen. I plan to take a 5 hour nap and pack it 1st thing tomorrow morning. I hope Mr.B has made plans to pick up McDonald's or bakery muffins for breakfast tomorrow morning, because I still don't have time to eat OR feed anyone else.

Dear Mr. Business Owner,

2011-09-16T10:12:00.002-05:00

photo courtesy of photobucket.com

The fall of 2008 marked my husband's and my first visit to your town. Our mission: deciding if we wanted to move our family to the area. Although my husband had been offered a promotion that would require a relocation to the area, employment / job security was NOT a deciding factor for us.  The promotion was an offer, not a requirement to retain employment.

Our primary decision to relocate was based upon a very long held desire to move to a small, rural community. We viewed the employment promotion and relocation as an opportunity to achieve this goal. We relocated to this area with plans to raise our family and retire in the area.

We understand and realize that since our 1st visit to the area almost 3 years ago, this town's population has doubled. The rapid population influx due to job availability has afforded you and the local townspeople experiencing several areas of "growing pains" such as rapid increases in traffic, business transactions, housing availability issues, over crowding in the schools, etc.

For many years, my family has gone out of our way to patronize locally owned small businesses. We believe in an entrepreneur spirit and fully support it when possible. We diligently avoid the "Wal-Mart's" of our society. However, the high work ethic and personal service we've become accustom to experiencing with small, locally owned businesses does not exist with you. Although, I have done my best to exercise patience while you, Mr. Business Owner, adjust to the rapid population growth of this community, I am exasperated. Your employees are rude, have VERY poor work ethics and have made it very clear that you are not interested in increased profits that my family's hard earned income will bring you.

Where I come from, small, local entrepreneurs welcome increased profits. Where I come from, business owners have a driving desire to grow their businesses. At the very least I am shocked that you and your employees have welcomed us with a message of, "We don't want you here, AND we will do everything we can to make sure you leave as soon as possible." Essentially, through your employees and business practices you have sent a very clear message that you personally have a poor work ethic and are not interested in increased profit margins.

I have never been in a satiation where I have felt as if I am almost begging a business to accept my money.   Well, I want you to know that, I am not the sort of person who will beg you to take my money. You need to remember your town's history. This population growth is temporary and will depart, just as it did 25 years ago causing a high number of business closures. You may rest assured that you will not have an opportunity to re-earn my business if or when that exodus occurs.

When that exodus does occur, I will continue to drive to neighboring towns and cities and shop via the internet where my business is desired and appreciated. I will also continue to politely and causally inform the other residents of this area of my non-local resources and encourage them to utilize those resources.  I have found that even with shipping / freight charges, my internet purchases are often a higher quality and less expensive than your offerings. But please note, that even when it costs more, I still refuse to do business with you. Best of all, when traveling to distant cities and towns or shopping via the internet, I am not forced to politely accept poor service from you or your employees.

Thank you for your time.

Mrs.B

Please Note: This letter is not being sent to every business in our new area. However, it will be sent to several select businesses that have consistently provided poor and or rude service. Such as the town's only dry cleaning business whose employee told another employee, in a hushed tone thinking I wouldn't overhear, not to assist me to my vehicle with large bulky items because, "she's not from here".

2011-09-02T09:13:00.000-05:00

clip art courtesy of photobucket.com

Not only are we busy with all the details of moving into our new home, we are also busy changing a few paint colors, having the carpets and air vents professionally cleaned, etc. I will return to blogging as soon as we are settled. I miss you and will be back soon.

A Huge Sigh of Relief ...

2011-08-19T19:52:00.003-05:00

It is finally over ... we closed on our new home TODAY!! Because the seller had significantly different decor than I, the next several days will be spent painting. We plan to move out of our temporary housing within the next 2-3 weeks.

We had some very tense moments on Tuesday this past week. The underwriters had some questions regarding the appraisal report and then they rejected our farm & ranch insurance. By early afternoon it was looking like there wouldn't be any way to meet the buy/sell contract deadline. But because of the army of people who've been praying for us, God came through in a mighty way.

The appraiser responded to the questions promptly. Our insurance agent contact her corporate office where she was given the name and number of a supervisor in the underwriter's office. In turn, she convinced the underwriter to accept the farm & ranch insurance, which, by the way, saves us nearly $1,000 per year in insurance premiums. After moving these mountains, God continued to show His mercy, grace and power. Our loan officer contacted us for a faxed signature to "lock in" our interest rate - which turned out to be lower than originally quoted! After that, our loan officer, real estate agent and the title company representative worked like tornadoes to get everything completed so we could close at 11:00am today.

I don't know why, but I am astonished at how God brought everything together so quickly when it looked like it would never be possible. I am embarrassed to admit that I became very discouraged. But, He's proved to me, again, that ALL things are POSSIBLE with God.

So, which house did we purchase? Well, the farm house on 25 acres, of course.

Asking & Believing

2011-08-15T13:32:00.001-05:00

photo courtesy of photobucket.com

First, I want to thank everyone who has been praying for the purchase of our new home. I am confident your prayers are what is moving this process along AND helping me keep my cool. I've never in my life heard of, or known anyone, who had so many delays in the purchase of a new home. Our situation has certainly turned out to be unique. Remember, our home in Texas, once we finally got it on the market and accepted a fair offer, it took only 6 weeks from the signing of the buy/sell contract to the closing. That sell went so smooth, I guess I became a little spoiled. Regarding the new home we are purchasing, it has been 3 months since we signed the buy/sell contract.

"Gary" the appraiser FINALLY submitted the appraisal report at approximately 8:45am this morning. Our loan officer immediately sent it to the underwriting department marked EXTREMELY URGENT. She has also talked with the person handling our contracts and that person has agreed to make ours a top priority. So, we are now waiting, yet again, this time for an approval from underwriting. An approval this afternoon would be optimal, but realistically tomorrow afternoon is most likely.

Everyone is really under a time crunch with this deal. We are currently operating within the automatic 15 day extension period on the buy/sell contract. The seller is so frustrated that, at this moment, she is unwilling to agree to any additional contract extensions for the closing. Our deadline for closing on this property is 5:00pm, Monday, August 22, 2011. We, our realtor, the seller's realtor and our loan officer have done everything that can possibly be done in advance to get this sell to closing before the contract deadline.

So, I find myself asking you dear readers for additional prayers. Our prayer is that everyone involved, from this moment forward, understands the urgency of this transaction and works diligently to complete and submit their portions of this transaction so that we close on our new home BEFORE the deadline.

I look forward to reporting, with a shout of praise, that our Lord moved the mountain! This time next week, I look forward to sharing the good news with you - that our family is packing up and moving to our new home.

Thank you all for your continued prayers.

A Lovely Week ...

2011-08-13T09:38:00.001-05:00

Despite the worrisome news regarding the purchase of our new home, (and the prospect of loosing quite a bit of money that has been pre-paid for various fees, inspections, etc. - you know 1 1/2 yr. ago we lost a bit on a previous home purchase when we discovered the owners had an IRS lean on the property and were not legally capable of selling at that time .... GRRRR!) I think it is important to acknowledge the lovely blessings the Lord has poured upon me this week.

My first blessing came when we decided to let OG & EJ attend vacation Bible school at the church we've been attending while in our temporary home. OG & EJ have been involved in church their entire lives, but this week's VBS was first for them. It just seems as if we've always had something else scheduled or planned when VBS time rolled around, thus negating their involvement. VBS actually provided several blessings for our family - God really knows how to get a 2 for 1 out of His blessings!

Since OG is now 12 and about to enter 7th grade, (did I just type 7th grade? I ask, yet again, where have the years gone?) she had the privilege of working as a helper. She LOVED it !! AAANND, I enjoyed all the nice compliments and positive feedback she received - it has been a terrific boost to her self perception. Being so far away from her friends in S.E. Texas, and still apprehensive about making friends here because we are planning to move very soon, this opportunity has been wonderful for her.

VBS provided EJ with a very constructive and active routine. He is the "poster child" of little boys and the busier we can keep him the better every one's day. There were far more boys in his age group than girls. Another blessing. For some reason, we are the parents of 4 boys and 1 little girl, yet the majority of our friends and acquaintances have always had daughters OR if they do have boys there seems to always be a HUGE age gap in their ages. EJ had such a terrific time playing, learning, crafting, singing & dancing with lots of other boys his age. It was such a joy to see how excited he was to attend VBS.

I was blessed by a unique situation through VBS. I did not volunteer. I did not attend. I dropped OG & EJ off @ 8:30 am and picked them up at 12:20 pm everyday. Since Mr.B and my dad were at work, I then came home to quiet. The living room box was not blaring non-stop bla, bla, bla. No one knocked on the door while I was in the bath. I didn't have to stop in the midst of painting my toenails to get fetch anything. I opened a box of zingers and didn't have to share my little cupcake! I made lunches and no one said, "What are you making? Oh, I don't like that." I got to meditate on the Lord without anyone interrupting ... Until this week, I've never had daytime hours that did not belong to others. Prior to becoming a stay at home mom, my mornings were spent rushing the boys off to pubic school and me racing into work. When I left the workforce and came home full-time, I had a newborn, a toddler and a Jr. high homeschooler. VBS provided me with a blissful break. I am so thankful the Lord gave me this gift, this memory is one I am sure I will cherish for quite some time.

The crescendo of blessings this week culminated in meeting a fellow blogger - in person!!!! Mrs. SP and her beautiful children met us at one of our local parks yesterday. I had an incredibly wonderful visit with her! I am so excited about getting to know this sweet sister in Christ better. Long story short, I began reading her blog, Oh, I guess a little more than a year ago??, and through reading a few of her post, I began wondering if she lived close to where Mr.B and I had been trying to move. I inquired, she e-mailed and Yes! she did. So, since we are now moved to the area, earlier this week she and I made plans to meet each other in person. She was friendly and welcoming and her children were precious and lovely. I look forward to seeing her and her family again, very soon.

Regardless of how our housing situation turns out, I must remember and focus on the abundant blessings the Lord has showered upon me this week. He reminded me of how much He loves me. He reminded me of how important I am to Him. I am so grateful He chose this particular week to shower me with love. (insert: deep breath and sigh).

Fervent Prayers

2011-08-11T15:59:00.002-05:00

photo courtesy of photobucket.com

Hello my sweet and faithful blog readers. A couple days ago I e-mailed a prayer request to most of my e-mail contacts. Today, I have decided to share that request with you, my dear readers.

As you all know, I've been very excited about the home we are in the process of purchasing. You also know that we have been waiting a VERY long time for the appraiser to submit his report. We've been waiting too long - more than 3 weeks. Our Buy / Sell Agreement stated that were were supposed to close on Monday, but has an automatic 15 day extension clause. Because the appraisal report was not in before Monday, and still isn't in, the closing did not happen. All this is COMPLETELY out of our hands. Although the buyer has to pay for the appraisal, the lender's underwriter chooses the appraiser. State law prevents the buyer and seller from having any say in who does the appraisal work.
As of today, the seller is at her breaking point. These delays have wreaked havoc in her plans to move out of state and she is madder than a nest of hornets. She has voiced the ultimatum that if the appraisal report is not turned into the lender by Monday morning, she will break the buy / sell contract and withdrawal from the sell.
I know it is hard for most anyone to believe, but there is a severe housing shortage in this area. We've met entire families living in RV's and tents - not because they don't qualify for mortgages or lease agreements, but because there simply isn't any available housing. Our lives have been on hold for 2 years and 9 months. I honestly don't know how much longer I can continue in this situation.
My realtor spoke with the appraiser early this afternoon. "Gary", the appraiser, promised he'd have the appraisal report turned in early Monday morning. However, please note that he promised to have the report turned in by the end of July, then by Aug. 5th, then by Aug. 10th and has not yet submitted anything.
I ask you, dear readers, please join me in fervent prayer. I pray this appraiser keeps his word this time. With tears streaming down my face I pray that this trial comes to end - that our family can be settled and begin moving on and living our lives.
The Bible tell us, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For everyone one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" Matthew 7:7-8 KJV
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive". Matthew 21:22 KJV
"He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them" Psalms 145:18 & 19 KJV
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3 KJV
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24 KJV

Although this appraiser has given me three occasions to NOT trust him, my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, has given me every reason to Him. I realize that in the natural things look very dismal, but I serve the Living God of the supernatural and He is able to move mountains when necessary. Our family's desire is that we close on this home next week so we can give God ALL THE GLORY for bringing it to pass.
Dear readers, thank you so much for joining me in prayer. Thank you for believing with me that our Lord will be glorified with a shout of praise when we close on this house.

Floor Plans

2011-08-06T11:41:00.003-05:00

Question: An open great room OR a segregated kitchen?

After many years of living in apartments and trailer homes with segregated kitchens, I always dreamed of having a large open kitchen, dining, living room combo, aka the great room. When I purchased our previous home nearly 16 1/2 years ago the kitchen was segregated. So, the dream of a great room where I would not be isolated from gatherings while preparing snacks or meals continued to be a dream.

During this relocation process our desire for a great room configuration continued. But we've never eliminated looking at homes that have segregated kitchens because, after remodeling our old house, we've discovered that we could always knock down a couple walls if necessary. Four months ago, the littles and I moved into our temporary housing with Mr.B. We are currently living in a three bedroom, 2 bath trailer home that has the great room configuration we've always dreamed of. While working in the kitchen, I am "right in the middle" of everything going on in the living room area. A dream come true, right?

NOT !!! Mr.B has, in my opinion, an addiction to television. If he is awake and a television is present, that noisy box is blaring. True crime shows, political debate programs, newscasts, hunting/fishing shows ... on and on it goes - a never ending barrage of blah, blah, blah (he doesn't even turn it off when we have guests). Now, those of you who know me personally know that I can go days, even weeks, without turning the "box" on. I like and enjoy silence. I have many interests that keep me occupied and thus, I have do not have a need to be entertained by the television. Please don't get me wrong, I do enjoy watching an occasional movie and generally, when living in S.E. Texas away from Mr.B I did make a point to catch a news broadcast every 7-10 days. Because of newspapers and free newspaper reading via the internet, I've never found a t.v. to be a necessity.

During the past 4 months, I have discovered that while a great room configuration would be nice for social gatherings, it is not practical for our family's day-to-day living. We home school at the kitchen table - the noise of the television is a constant distraction. I spend a lot of time working in the kitchen - the television is a constant distraction and annoyance. If I want to read a book, I have to isolate myself in the bedroom, if I want to read some blogs or post on my own blog, I have to wait until Mr.B is gone, so the television is not a distraction. When trying to talk with the children or have a Bible lesson, we have to isolate ourselves in a bedroom, because, again, the television is a huge distraction. And my #1 "nails scraping a chalkboard moment", trying to enjoy a nice family meal while Mr.B and the little's heads are turned to stare at the box! - I've given up trying to have a mealtime conversation.

This has been another lesson to me that we need to think through very carefully the things we wish for. I have been the driving force behind our family's desire for a great room configuration, but now that I'm living with one - I've learned that I did not realize the full implications of how negatively that type of floor plan would affect our daily lives. It is ironic that I am now very happy that the home we are currently purchasing has a large segregated eat-in kitchen. I'm confident I will find myself isolated during a few social gatherings, but regarding day-to-day living, I will welcome the quiet and isolation as the littles and I work on our daily tasks. Most of all, I will, once again, welcome daily family meal times without that blaring box.

When we first put an offer on our new home, 3 months ago, I thought this home was a 9 out of 10 because of the segregated kitchen. Now, because of the segregated kitchen, I expect our new home to become a perfect 10!

& More Waiting ...

2011-08-05T15:27:00.001-05:00

Can you believe it? Come Monday, we will not be closing on our new home. The appraiser finished his appraisal 3 weeks ago, BUT has yet to submit his report. Everything else is completed and all is ready to go to closing. However, the closing can not and will not happen until the appraisal report is submitted. I am baffled as to why this relocation process has been SOOO drawn out. Not only am I perplexed, I am also exhausted.

My prayer: "Lord, move upon the hearts and minds of the appraiser, and everyone else involved in this home purchase process, to complete their tasks in a timely and professional manner. Lord, bring our wait to an end, settle our family into our new home so that we and our children will have a peace and security and we may go forth and begin serving you within our new community. In Jesus name, Amen."

Inspections: 3 of 3 DONE ...

2011-07-27T15:34:00.001-05:00

photo courtesy of http://www.photobucket.com/

We have received the water quality inspection report on the home we are purchasing and, HooRay!, all is thumbs up.

The house appraisal took place about 10 days ago and the report is due by the end of this month. We are eagerly awaiting and praying the appraised value will be satisfactory. The appraisal report is the the last hurdle we have to clear before going to closing.

Our prayers are that in only 12 days we will be ready to move into our new home and FINALLY be settled.

Which house are we buying? hint: because of the lack of landscaping, I will have the opportunity to design "edible landscaping" for my home.

Waiting, Waiting & Waiting ...

2011-07-12T16:54:00.001-05:00

How much longer will we have to wait?  Just as I began typing this post I received a phone call from our realtor informing us that the appraisal on the home we are in the process of purchasing is scheduled to take place this coming weekend. Unfortunately, my realtor warned me that this particular appraiser has a history of taking up to 5 weeks to submit his paperwork AND he has a history of low-balling his appraisals. If he takes a long time, then the closing date will have to be pushed back accordingly. If he grossly under appraises the property the entire deal could fall through resulting in another year of living in limbo and temporary housing. I am now praying that the appraiser works quickly AND the property appraises at purchase value. This relocation process has worn me down. Thus far, we are at 2 years and 9 months. I've never in my life heard of a relocation taking this long - not even for the pioneers setteling the west by wagon trains. This whole process has certainly been an exercise in patience. Mr. B has far more patience than I, apparently God thinks mine needs to be improved.

While waiting we have been keeping busy. OG is indulging in a 2nd dose of softball.  Ball season is during the summer up here verses the spring down in Texas. So far, her team, Fusion, has played in two tournaments. Fusion took the championship during the first tournament. However, they did not fare as well during the second. They have another scheduled in a couple weeks. We are hoping they will have a good come back. !!Go Fusion!!

EJ only played two games in his 2nd round of baseball. 4 weeks ago he broke his arm during a bicycle crash. He's missed most of the season up here. But a broken arm hasn't stopped him from practicing his roping.  Everyday he has been outside roping his bucket and the two back legs of a sawhorse. One of these days he may be good enough to learn how to rope off a horse.

This coming weekend we are planning a little excursion out to my dad's mountain cabin. The littles are very excited. They LOVE visiting grandpa's log cabin and living, for a few days, "the way they did in the olden days". Grandpa's log cabin is off-grid. He heats it with a wood stove and cooks on an antique wood burning cookstove. He also has an antique icebox to keep some of his food cold. Last month, grandpa installed a flush potty, in the past we've always used the outside privy. I am very excited about not having to fumble around in pitch black darkness to find the outhouse in the middle of the night. A few years ago he installed a gravity fed water system for the large claw foot soaker tub. Last year he put in a propane water heater so we now have HOT running water in the bathroom. I really enjoy living without electricity, but have only tolerated the "no running water" aspect of the cabin. When Dad brought the plumbing up to the late 19th century, I was beside myself with glee. I've never even minded heating water on the stove - I just hated having to haul it and the excessive rationing of a very limited supply. But that's all over now, the plumbing has come into the 20th century - HooRay!! The cabin is now, in my opinion, perfect ... well, except for a few choices in decor, but hey! it's not my house - it's my dad's.

For all you out there who have been praying for us during our long relocation journey, Thank You. You will never know how much we appreciate it. Hopefully, our prayers to be settled in our new home will be answered very soon.

Insptections: 2 Down, 1 to go ...

2011-06-22T13:13:00.000-05:00

I found a cute house inspection clip art, but blogger is not loading it so, on without a "photo" ...

Yesterday was inspection #2 on our new home, the house inspection. The inspector found only 2 issues that the homeowner will need to address. While there, the homeowner phoned my realtor to ask what time they could return home. While on the phone, they happened to also inquire about how the inspection was going and my realtor told them about the 2 issues. The homeowner immediately agreed to address them.

HooRay!!! We are clicking along in the process. The water well inspection should take place within the next couple weeks and the appraisal is also scheduled. However, the appraisal will not take place until next month.

While at the house, the littles and I had an opportunity to choose bedrooms. These decisions were, of course, guided by me and based on the best fit for our furniture. I can honestly say I am so very excited and eager for things to move forward quickly. The coming weeks will certainly be a test of my patience.

Which house did we select? hint: There are quite a few trees on the property.

Saturday's Super Supper

2011-06-11T20:16:00.001-05:00

As previously mentioned on this blog, we really enjoy Mexican food. Today was a fairly lazy day around the B house so, I decided to spend some time in the kitchen preparing an authentic Mexican meal. Unfortunately, up here in the North I do not have access to many of the traditional Mexican ingredients that are readily available in Texas. Thus, I had to improvise with the ingredients I could find. Today's supper menu included, Guisado de Carne y Chile Poblano (Beef and Green Chili Stew), Mexican Rice, Pico de Gallo, homemade Four Tortillas and Flan (custard).

Here are my improvised recipes for Guisado de Carne y Chile Poblano and Flan:

Guisado de Carne y Chile Poblano

serves 8

2 tablespoon bacon grease or vegetable oil

2 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 pound grilled stew meat

2 celery ribs, coarsely chopped

12 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 large ripe tomatoes, coarsely chopped

4 cups chicken broth OR 4 cups water & 4 chicken bullion cubes

5 4oz. cans diced green chilies

1 teaspoon. salt, or to taste

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

lime wedges

Heat the oil in a large stewing pot over medium heat. Heat and cook the onion, stirring until it begins to brown. Add the grilled stew meat, celery, garlic, oregano, cumin, tomato, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil; then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until stew thickens. Add the chilies. Season with salt and pepper. Cook an additional 10 - 15 minutes to blend the flavors. Serve hot with lime wedges & flour tortillas.

Flan
serves 8

1 cup sugar
1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 1/2 cups whole milk
5 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Warm 8 6oz. ramekins on a cookie sheet in the oven. In a heavy saucepan, cook sugar over medium heat, stirring frequently, until melted and golden brown, 6-9 minutes. Quickly pour equal amounts of caramelized sugar into the warmed ramekins. Set aside.
Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees. In another saucepan bring 2 - 3 cups water to a boil. In a blender, put the sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, eggs, yolk and vanilla. Mix on low speed 1 minute.
Pour equal amounts of custard into the ramekins. Place them in a larger pan and place in the oven. Carefully pour the boiling water into the larger pan until it reaches approximately 1 inch deep. Bake the flan 20-25 minutes or until the custard is set and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the water bath and cool completely on a rack. When room temperature, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight before serving.

These recipes are adapted from Marge Poore's, 1,000 Mexican Recipes. If you and your family decide to try them, I hope you all enjoy them as much as we do!

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

2011-06-08T09:12:00.003-05:00

A couple weeks ago I was perusing my cookbooks and decided to try Ree Drummond's, author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Spicy Pulled Pork recipe (pg. 94-95). On shopping day I scouted out the meat section of the local grocer. Food prices are significantly higher up here than down in S.E. Texas, thus, I ended up paying $22.84 for a 6 lb. pork roast, that's nearly $3.81 per pound! I knew I definitely didn't want to waste a single bite of this roast.

Good news! Not only is Ree Drummond's recipe fantastic - the only change I'll make next time is an addition of red pepper flakes - but, I used this pork roast as the foundation for FIVE meals. Reducing the cost per serving to $1.14 and keeping all 5 meals under $2.50 per serving. Also, using the the left over roast in four of the meals was a real time saver.

Here's what I prepared:
Spicy Pulled Pork w/ corn tortillas, pico de gallo, sour cream, avocado slices and pinto beans
Dinner, aka lunch, of the above left overs
Pulled Pork BBQ sandwiches w/ sliced onions, bread & butter pickles, macaroni salad
Pulled Pork enchiladas, Mexican rice and charro beans
Pulled Pork smothered in gravy over mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and green salad

What's your Waste Not Want Not Wednesday tip?

Inspections: 1 down, 2 to go ...

2011-06-07T14:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, the county sanitarian went out and inspected the waste water system on the house we are in the process of purchasing. He gave it a thumbs up! So now we will proceed with the the water well and house inspections. After that, the property will be appraised. If all continues to go well, we should go to closing on our new home in early August.
I am cautiously excited and praying that we do not run into any snags. We appreciate your prayers, too.
Hint: The house we selected is in a very peaceful location.

On The Hunt ...

2011-05-27T08:44:00.001-05:00

Within two weeks of moving into our temporary housing, we reved up our search for a new home. Up here in the extreme north, one generally has only 5 months to search for / sell a home. During the rest of the year everything is either under a thick blanket of snow or very soggy from the spring snow melt, also known as "mud season".

If we don't find what we are looking for by the end of summer most of our house hunting will be over until late next spring. Through our 2 1/2 year search, we've learned that occasionally, one or two homes may come on the market during the winter months, but it is rare.

So far, for us anyway, the internet seems to be the most effective method of searching for prospects, especially since the towns are extremely small, and many miles apart. A couple weeks ago when we drove down to see a home about 100 miles south of us, the process took nearly all day. Also, because the communities are so small the realtors only notify buyers of prospective listings through their own agency - they absolutely will not search competitor's listings on your behalf (our welcome to small town politics). It's all very weird and leaves most of the "leg work" on the buyer's shoulders.

However, after searching for just the right place for 2 1/2 years (our first trip up was Oct. 2008), Mr. B and I found a place we think will work for our family. Last week we made an offer AND yesterday the seller accepted!!!

The whole process is not a "done deal" just yet. We still have to make it through the inspections and the appraisal, but it seems we may be on our way to moving into a new home.

You know, yesterday as I went before the Lord with thanksgiving, I first had to repent for my lack of faith and for allowing discouragement to settle into my heart. Mr. B's job transfer and our move has been a long drawn out process. When Mr. B first came up here we never imagined our family would be separated by 1,600 miles for more than 2 years. When the littles and I were visiting during the summer of 2009, we found what we thought would be the perfect home for our family, but we continually ran into all sorts of road blocks and almost a year later we withdrew our offer. After finishing the remodel work on our home in Texas, we found out I had to have surgery to correct a birth defect in my heart that was progressively getting worse. When we FINALLY put our home up for sale, the market was so depressed, it took 9 months to sell. These detours and the separation, took a toll on me, emotionally and spiritually. Fortunately, we serve a merciful God who is willing and waiting to grant forgiveness, so He can generously bless us.

Although I knew God was in control, I was unable to see where He was taking us, an awful feeling for anyone who is a control freak, like me. Of course God knows that - He was giving me an exercise in faith. Why would He do this? To make me stronger, to teach me another lesson in depending on Him. He desires to be our everything. He desires us to fully trust and depend on Him, just as a newborn fully trusts and depends on his/her mother.

The home we put an offer on is more than I ever dreamed we'd be blessed with. BUT, as mentioned above, it is not yet a done deal, so I'm going to keep you all guessing and report updates as they unfold. Time moves at a slower pace up here and as of right now we are looking at a closing date in early August. Won't you join us in our praise and thanksgiving to the Lord?

Spaghetti with Bacon & Eggs

2011-05-25T09:14:00.004-05:00

We are finally getting somewhat settled into our temporary housing. So, today I thought I'd share a quick, easy and frugal breakfast with you. Our family really enjoys this dish. It could also be paired with a salad for a quick dinner or supper. This recipe doubles and triples very well.

For this recipe you will need:

2 Tbsp. olive oil

5 oz. bacon, cut into matchsticks

1 clove garlic, minced

12 -14 oz. cooked spaghetti (I like to use left overs)

3 eggs, room temperature

3/4 c. Parmesan cheese, grated (can substitute other flavors of cheese)

salt & pepper

In a large bowl whisk together the eggs and cheese. Set aside. In a medium frying pan, over medium heat, fry the bacon and minced garlic in the olive oil. When the bacon is slightly crispy, add the left over spaghetti. Cook until the spaghetti is hot, stirring frequently. When the spaghetti is piping hot, pour the bacon and spaghetti mixture into the egg mixture, and stir to combine well. The heat from the spaghetti and bacon fat will slightly cook the eggs. Stir in salt & pepper to taste.

Note: You can also use freshly boiled spaghetti. After draining, immediately pour the hot spaghetti into the egg mixture, stir well; then add the hot bacon and fat, stirring well again.

Serves 4

This recipe was adapted from "Pasta - irresistible recipes for perfect pasta", pg.171.

Cost Breakdown:

spaghetti - $0.99

bacon - $1.29

Parmesan cheese - $1.98

olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper - $0.60

Total: $4.86 OR $1.22 per person

Moving, Unpacking & Moving ... Again?

2011-05-15T12:15:00.009-05:00

Well, it has been a month since my last post. So, I think it's about time I log an update.

We went to closing on our house in Texas without any hitches. After 2 years and 4 months, the littles and I have been reunited with Mr.B. We've moved completely across the nation from the Gulf Coast to the Canadian border, many of our belongings have been moved into a storage unit and the rest we've moved into Mr.B's trailer house, in a trailer park, while we search for another home. Oh, and I've unpacked, expect for pictures - don't know why I haven't been able to bring myself to unpack those yet ...

Last week I began perusing the real estate sites, again. I found the above pictured gem - a restored/remodeled 1920's 4 bedroom, 2 bath farmhouse on 25 acres only 4.5 miles off the interstate AND it's within our budget. Yesterday, we drove over 100 miles south to give her a look over. Yes, I said over 100 miles south of where we are currently located. Why would we look for a home that far away from Mr.B's job? Because his company is thinking about transferring him - again!! Only this time it isn't completely across the nation - it's only about 150-160 miles south of where he's currently working.

WoW ... The more we think on this little place, the more we love it! There are only 3-4 other homes between it and the interstate on the county maintained 4.5 mile gravel road. The east, west and south views are all farmland / pasture and the view when looking north is of a nice stand of trees followed by pasture. No matter the direction, there is not another house or barn within eyesight of this place.

As you can see in the above photos, the kitchen has been beautifully remodeled. This is an example of the beauty and quality the owner has put into the rest of the home. Accessibility to the interstate for Mr.B's commute to various work sites is very convenient- especially during winter months. Last year, this region received over 100 inches of snow.

Why did we not make an offer on the home yesterday? Because, as of right now, Mr.B's job transfer is not certain. We need prayers for an answer as to which region of the state he will be located so that we will know where to focus our search for a new home. If we knew for certain he would eventually be transferred south, we would begin the purchasing process of this home immediately. During the past two years, we have missed a couple opportunities to purchase other homes (but maybe they weren't missed opportunities, maybe it was the Lord closing some doors, especially since we are possibly looking at another job transfer). Unfortunately, homes on small plots of acreage don't come along too often in this region of the country and consequently, they sell VERY fast.

Won't you all join us in prayer as we continue sailing this journey of uncertainty? Not only am I growing weary, but just yesterday morning OG expressed that living in "limbo" has exhausted her. She, too, is ready for the family to be settled.

Sowing, Tending & Harvesting OR Sometimes Moving On ...

2011-04-12T13:38:00.005-05:00

**Note: Blogger is not cooperating with me today with regards to hard returns. For some reason, it won't publish my paragraph spacing or even allow me to begin a new sentence on another line. Sorry, for the lack of paragraphing. The other day while out watering the garden, my little EJ asked me why I was tending a garden we wouldn't get to eat from. I told him it was the right thing to do, because when the new prospective owner(s) made an offer on our house the garden had been planted and they were most likely expecting me to tend it until we leave. Yes, I said until we leave. Our house finally has a buyer and we are scheduled to close early next week. HooRay! After two years and four months of separation, we will finally move north where Mr.B works. In the meantime, that short conversation with EJ got me pondering. How many times do we fail to sow into God's kingdom because we aren't planning to be around or involved long enough to minister/disciple or reap a Kingdom's harvest? How often to do we abandon what we've sown because our life changes causing us to know that we won't be around to see or benefit from the harvest? Although we won't be here to reap the harvest from our garden, if the new owner(s) take up the tending where we leave off, they'll have enough produce to eat all summer and probably have some left over to give away. However, if I abandon the work I started before the new owner comes in and takes over everyone, including me, is robbed of a blessing. Likewise, when we fail to sow or tend into God's Kingdom simply because we know or suspect that we won't be around for the harvest, we are robbing God. I think we Christians should be mindful that often times we may only be sowers, other times we may come along and tend to what others have sown. And then there are times when we either take part in bringing in a harvest we didn't sow/tend or we move on and others bring in the harvest we prepared. In the end it is God whom we should be striving to please and glorify. Ministering for the Kingdom only when we ourselves benefit is an atempt to bring glory to ourselves, not God. Our family may not eat any of our garden's bounty this summer, but knowing that our work could benefit someone else is a huge blessing to me.

Wishing You the Luck of the Irish ...

2011-03-17T08:21:00.015-05:00

I have always had a fondness toward history, especially history associated with my ancesterial roots. The maternal side of my family is of German ancestory and the paternal side of my family is of Irish ancestory. As a matter of fact, my paternal Great Grandfather was one of nearly one million Irish who immigrated to America during the late 19th century to escape Ireland's Great Potato Fammin.

Today, I'd like to share a little bit of St. Patrick Day history with all of you. Please note: the following information was copied from www.history.com.
Oh yeah, by the way, did you know that the color traditionally assiciated with St. Patrick's Day was blue, not green?

Who Was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.

Taken Prisoner By Irish Raiders
It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. (There is some dispute over where this captivity took place. Although many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in County Antrim, it is more likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.) During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)

Guided By Visions
After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice-which he believed to be God's-spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.
To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely held notion that Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland.)

Bonfires and Crosses
Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish. (Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. The Irish culture centered around a rich tradition of oral legend and myth. When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick's life became exaggerated over the centuries-spinning exciting tales to remember history has always been a part of the Irish way of life.
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

St. Patrick's Day Symbols and Traditions:

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday known for parades, shamrocks and all things Irish. From leprechauns to the color green, find out how symbols we now associate with St. Patrick's Day came to be, and learn about a few that are purely American invention.

The Shamrock
The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

Irish Music
Music is often associated with St. Patrick's Day—and Irish culture in general. From ancient days of the Celts, music has always been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an oral culture, where religion, legend and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs. After being conquered by the English, and forbidden to speak their own language, the Irish, like other oppressed peoples, turned to music to help them remember important events and hold on to their heritage and history. As it often stirred emotion and helped to galvanize people, music was outlawed by the English. During her reign, Queen Elizabeth I even decreed that all artists and pipers were to be arrested and hanged on the spot.
Today, traditional Irish bands like The Chieftains, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are gaining worldwide popularity. Their music is produced with instruments that have been used for centuries, including the fiddle, the uilleann pipes (a sort of elaborate bagpipe), the tin whistle (a sort of flute that is actually made of nickel-silver, brass or aluminum) and the bodhran (an ancient type of framedrum that was traditionally used in warfare rather than music).

The Snake
It has long been recounted that, during his mission in Ireland, St. Patrick once stood on a hilltop (which is now called Croagh Patrick), and with only a wooden staff by his side, banished all the snakes from Ireland.
In fact, the island nation was never home to any snakes. The "banishing of the snakes" was really a metaphor for the eradication of pagan ideology from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within 200 years of Patrick's arrival, Ireland was completely Christianized.

Corned Beef
Each year, thousands of Irish Americans gather with their loved ones on St. Patrick's Day to share a "traditional" meal of corned beef and cabbage.
Though cabbage has long been an Irish food, corned beef only began to be associated with St. Patrick's Day at the turn of the century.
Irish immigrants living on New York City's Lower East Side substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish bacon to save money. They learned about the cheaper alternative from their Jewish neighbors.

The Leprechaun
The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is "lobaircin," meaning "small-bodied fellow."
Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their much-fabled treasure.
Leprechauns had nothing to do with St. Patrick or the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, a Catholic holy day. In 1959, Walt Disney released a film called Darby O'Gill & the Little People, which introduced America to a very different sort of leprechaun than the cantankerous little man of Irish folklore. This cheerful, friendly leprechaun is a purely American invention, but has quickly evolved into an easily recognizable symbol of both St. Patrick's Day and Ireland in general.
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

Other St. Patrick Day Facts:

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

The First St. Patrick's Day Parade
The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.
Over the next 35 years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.
In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies decided to unite their parades to form one New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. Today, that parade is the world 's oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants.
Each year, nearly three million people line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Savannah also celebrate the day with parades involving between 10,000 and 20,000 participants.

No Irish Need Apply
Up until the mid-19th century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to a million poor and uneducated Irish Catholics began pouring into America to escape starvation. Despised for their religious beliefs and funny accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the country's cities took to the streets on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.
However, the Irish soon began to realize that their great numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the "green machine," became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in America.

Wearing Green Around the World
Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore and Russia.
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows.

The Chicago River on St. Patrick's Day
Chicago is famous for a somewhat peculiar annual event: dyeing the Chicago River green. The tradition started in 1962, when city pollution-control workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges and realized that the green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday. That year, they released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river—enough to keep it green for a week!
Today, in order to minimize environmental damage, only 40 pounds of dye are used, making the river green for only several hours. Although Chicago historians claim their city's idea for a river of green was original, some Savannah natives believe the idea originated in their town. They point out that, in 1961, Savannah mayor Tom Woolley had plans for a green river. Due to rough waters on March 17, the experiment failed, and Savannah never attempted to dye its river again.
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

Easy Corned Beef & Cabbage Recipe

This afternoon the littles and I will enjoy a traditional Irish American meal of Corned Beef and Cabbage. I am using Taste of Home's Slow Cooker Corned Beef Supper recipe.

1 onion, sliced
4 carrots, chunked
4 small potatoes, chunked
1 small corned beef brisket w/ spice packet
1/3 c. unsweetened apple juice
2 whole cloves
1 tbls. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. prepared mustard
1 small head cabbage, wedged

Place onion in slow cooker. Top with carrots, potatoes and brisket. Combine the apple juice, cloves, brown sugar, orange peel, mustard and spice packet; pour over brisket. Cover and cook on high 3 1/2 - 4 hours.
Add cabbage wedges; cover and cook 20-30 minutes longer or until meat and vegetabes are tender. Strain and discard cloves; serve pan juices with corned beef and vegetables.
3-4 servings / Recipe doubles well

Home Tour

2011-03-07T15:25:00.004-06:00

You know, I got to thinking the other day (yes, I know, that is sometimes dangerous, but I did it anyway) that it's been over a year since we finished our remodeling. I had promised to post photos of the completed work, but forgot to do it (imagine that).

So, if you'll grab a cup of coffee, hot tea or cocoa, I'll happily give you a quick tour.

Front of house and yard last spring before the foilage filled in.

Our cozy living room. I've since hung a nice A.T.Cox print over the sofa.

The dining room. This is also where our home schooling takes place.

My kitchen where I've prepared thousands of meals.

(tour is continued in next post - Blogger doesn't let me post more than 5 photos per post)

Home Tour, Continued

2011-03-07T15:21:00.005-06:00

Main Bathroom
OG's Room

Boy's Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Well, there you have it ... a tour of our little home. I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into our lives.

Frugal Feasting Friday

2011-03-04T08:23:00.004-06:00

Sorry, I don't have a photo for this segment of "Frugal Feasting Friday". However, I do want to share my very frugal and incredibly fast Bratts-N-Kraut recipe with you. You'll have this meal on the table within 20-25 minutes. I always serve bratts-n-kraut with potato hash.

Bratts -N- Kraut
(3 servings)
2 Bratwurst Sausages
1 14oz. can sauerkraut, drained & rinsed well (note: the more you rinse it the less sour it will be)
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. butter

In medium skillet, over medium heat melt butter. Add sliced onion and bratts. Cover skillet and "steam", turning bratts and stirring onions occasionally until bratts are cooked through, approximately 10 minutes. Slice bratts into 1" pieces. Add sauerkraut, sugar, and pepper mix well. Continue to cook over medium heat, uncovered, until sauerkraut is heated through.

Potato Hash
(3 servings)
3 potatoes, diced
1/2 onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 tbsp. oil or bacon grease
salt & pepper to taste

Heat bacon grease in skillet (I prefer cast iron for this dish). Add potatoes, onions and carrots. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onions begin to weep (edges begin to sweat and turn translucent). Cover to trap steam. Cook about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until potatoes are tender. Season with salt & pepper.

Cost Breakdown:
Bratts - 1.40
Sauerkraut - 1.09
Onion - 0.37
Potatoes - 0.39
Carrot - .0.14

TOTAL: $3.39 That's only $1.13 per person.

Waiting For Superman

2011-02-27T18:04:00.005-06:00

photo courtesy of photobucket.com

This afternoon I watched a documentary entitled, "Waiting For Superman" by Davis Guggenheim, Director / Co-Writer, and Billy Kimball, Co-Writer.

This documentary is a review of our nation's pubic education systems. The realities brought to light in this film left me stunned. The realization that most parents genuinely believe this dysfunctional and broken system is the only option they have for their children's education brought tears to my eyes.

Portions of this film follow 5 families and their quests for improved education options. It was painfully obvious that not a single one of these families had ever considered the option of homeschooling. As a matter of fact, from the perspective of the film it appears these families are not even aware that home education may be an option. If they are aware of the option, it is not one they have considered.

The U.S. education system is completely broken. Parents of school aged children MUST take IMMEDIATE action to change this. There are several avenues available for change. Will one and only one avenue work? No, not in my opinion. Every student is unique in his or her own way. Each has individual strengths, weaknesses and goals. However, I sincerely believe the freedom for a parent to choose the educational avenues they personally think are best for their children is not only where America should start but is ultimately the tool that will bring forth the most improvement in educating our nation's youth.

More than 100 years ago we, U.S. citizens, turned control of our children's education over to local, state and federal government bureaucracies. Today, public education is the largest monopoly in America. The NEA and AFT unions have used campaign contributions to bribe our government representatives to implement policy, regulations and laws that benefit the unions and it's members - not our children. The documentary, "Waiting For Superman" shows exactly what the teacher's unions and our government agencies have produced, and quite frankly folks, we ain't gettin' squat for our money.

The"Waiting For Superman" web-site seems to promote "fixing" our educational woes through improved teachers, public schools and charter schools. The standard rule of tracking the progress through these venues is by administering standardized testing - which I am personally opposed to. I oppose standardized testing specifically because it promotes a "teaching the test" mentality - a disturbing reality in my own public school district. Real education and real learning does not come through memorizing particular facts that allows one to score well on a standardized exam. It comes from genuinely learning a given area of study which then produces a student who is equipped with the knowledge, thinking, and analytical skills necessary to score well on an exam. I strongly believe in individual accountability, competition and individual choice. I think the accountability, choices and decisions should rest entirely upon the shoulders of parents and the educational venues the parents choose, not teacher's unions and government representatives.

There are several grass-root movements seeking to improve the quality of education in America today. Two of my personal favorites are Parental Rights. Org and Alliance for the Separation of School and State. Both seek to promote and protect parental freedom and choice in educational decisions for children. "Waiting on Superman" is also a grass-roots movement seeking change and more parental choice in education. I encourage all to watch the documentary "Waiting on Superman", I think it will drive home the severity of the crisis that is commonly known as education in America. I hope this documentary will encourage you to become involved in seeking avenues of improved change in educating our nation's youth.

Thinking About It Thursday

2011-02-24T10:29:00.004-06:00

What's that on the horizon?

Is it a coming storm?

Is it destruction and chaos?

Is it ...?

Mark 13:5-8 (NIV)

5 "And Jesus said, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name saying, "I am He," and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows."

Luke 21:25-28 (NIV)

25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waters roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

I Thessalonians 5: 1-10 (NIV)

1 "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have not need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep at night, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."

2 Thessalonians 2: 1-4 (NIV)

1 "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let none deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

Hebrews 10: 23-25 (NIV)

23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of our ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

2 Peter 3: 1-18 (NIV)

1 "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless, 15 and consider that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation - as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are somethings hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."

My paternal grandmother was born in April 1906. Mr.B's maternal grandmother was born in November 1912. Both women loved the Lord. Both studied the Bible and prepared to live their lives for the coming of the Lord AND for a long life and natural passing. My grandmother lived in retirement approximately 11 years. She worked outside her home until she was 68 years old. She expected the coming of the Lord to occur during her lifetime and was spiritually prepared, but also worked and prepared for a time of waiting on the Lord. She passed at the age of 79

Mr.B's grandmother lived in retirement for nearly 40 years. She began working outside her home in her early 40's after the passing her husband. She continued working into her mid 50's until an injury forced her into early retirement. She also expected the coming of the Lord to occur during her lifetime and was also spiritually prepared, but worked and prepared for a time of waiting on the Lord. She passed at the age of 95.

One only needs to read a few articles in the local newspaper or listen to a couple news broadcasts from radio or television to know that our world is churning in chaos. As bleak as our times are and as distressing as our futures appear to be, we must remember that the past 100 + years of world history have also looked just as unpromising. Mine and Mr.B's grandparents endured nearly a century of chaos. They experienced our nation's and the world's worst ever financial collapse, numerous wars (2 of which were world wars), and countless numbers of worldwide natural disasters.

Knowing that the past 100 or so years has been filled with just as much chaos and uncertainty as we are currently facing, does that mean that we should ignore God's Word to prepare, watch and wait for the coming of the Lord? After all, our grandparents expected the rapture to occur during their lifetimes and alas, they lived long and natural lives. Does that suggest that we solely focus on surviving in this sin cursed, chaos filled world until our passing at a very old age? OR, since this accelerated chaos has been sustained for more than 100 years should we ignore growing old and live today like it's our last, after all the coming of the Lord must be imminent?

My answers are "No" we should never ignore the Word of God; and "Yes" we should focus on living in this sin cursed world for a long time; and "Yes" we should also live each day of our life like it is our last expecting the Lord's momentary arrival. By the time mine and Mr.B's grandmothers had reached the end of their lives, there weren't many things that would rile them up. They had lived long enough to know that all things, no matter how horrendous or fantastic, would eventually pass. But one thing that would rile them up, even into old age, was the lack of preparation they witnessed within the Christian community.

They seemed to consistently witness Christians who were so convinced that the coming of the Lord was near, they lived irresponsibly and didn't prepare financially or materialistically for a long life and entered retirement years severely impoverished and / or became burdens upon their families and society. Their self-worth diminished to absolute shame. They also witnessed Christians whose primary focus was preparation for a long physical life at the peril of preparing spiritually. Some of these "lukewarm" Christians are still around and living a comfortable retirement, but they've allowed themselves to slip so far spiritually, that one wonders if they even have a relationship with the Lord. Other's passed away quickly and younger than expected without time for repentance - all their worldly preparations performed in vain and a sense felt by others that they were not spiritually prepared to meet the Lord.

It is imperative that we Christians exercise good stewardship both financially and spiritually. The Word of God clearly states that no man can accurately predict the coming of the Lord. God's Word also clearly states that Jesus Christ will return for His church. The Bible instructs us to prepare, to watch and to wait. The life experiences of others coupled with common sense tells us to also prepare for a long life because we may need to exert some patience in waiting for the Lord's return.

I will not attempt to predict when the coming of the Lord will occur. But the Bible tells us that it is drawing near. In this context the word near is relative. According to humanity's understanding 100 years is more than the average man's life expectancy. However, 100 years according to God, the Beginning, the End, the Alpha, the Omega - in the scope of eternity, 100 years is but a twinkle of the eye. What I am saying is that it is in our best interests that we Christians watch, wait and prepare for God's timing - which leads a reasonable man to prepare for both, the immediate coming of the Lord AND a long life of waiting for His return.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

2011-02-23T10:11:00.004-06:00

Cloth Napkins

Last week my very well used green & white plaid tablecloth became pinned between the table and a chair's armrest. When we attempted to pull the cloth off the table for cleaning, a large rip occurred near one of the edges. This tablecloth was one of our "everyday" tablecloths and was close to 20 years old. Eventually, even the most sturdy of fabrics will gave way. Instead of throwing it out, I decided to re-purpose it by sewing up 10 "new" cloth napkins. Not only did I get 10 free cloth napkins but I've also prevented additional waste being dumped into the local landfill, saved a tree or at least part of one, and prevented a small amount of paper making chemicals from being dumped into our environment. AND I'm not spending Mr.B's hard earned income on a piece of paper that was created with the intention of being thrown into the trash - talk about throwing money away.

Cloth napkins are small and don't take up much room in the wash. By adding them to almost any load I happen to be washing, I don't use anymore water or laundry soap than usual. I eventually hope to collect enough cloth napkins to use them exclusively.

Recycling old fabric into cloth napkins ... a very frugal idea.

Around The World in 3 Days ...

2011-02-16T15:51:00.003-06:00

A couple months ago one of my friends, Mrs.P, asked me if I'd like to attend a quilting lesson hosted by a member of her church. We would learn a "quilt as you go" strip pattern called Around the World. Since I am a very amateur quilter who LOVES all things quilting, I heartily responded "Yes".

After a trip to the fabric store, a short lesson and a delicious meal enjoyed with my dear friend, I eagerly started my first "quilt as you go" 45" Around the World. I must report, although I am an inexperienced quilter, this is the EASIEST quilt pattern I've ever encountered. I learned my quilting basics from my grandmother - way back before rotary cutters and machine quilting. Back in the day, even a simple Patchwork was, well, work - all be it satisfying work.

Now, I am guilty of being too overly excited and charging ahead of my dear friend. We had planned to embark on our quilting projects together, this being her first time. Early this week she found out the repairs on her machine would cost more than purchasing another one. I was such an eager beaver, I absolutely couldn't wait and forged ahead without her - leaving her standing dazed and confused in my dust and wondering where I had gone. Not too good of a friend, am I? I sincerely hope to redeem myself by embarking on another "quilt as you go" 45" Around the World. This time, I plan to exercise patience and wait until Mrs.P has obtained another machine. Then we will work on our projects together - that is, if she'll ever speak to me again ...

2011-02-04T16:02:00.003-06:00

This afternoon as I was visiting a few other blogs, I noticed that Sarah from "As Lillies Sewing" is having a give-away. In celebration of adding beautiful handmade dolls to her Esty store, she has decided to give one away. Sarah is accepting entries until February 16th. So hurry on over to "As Lillies Sewing" (http://www.asliliessewing.blogspot.com/) if you'd like to enter her drawing for the above pictured doll.

Enchilada Salsa de Chili en Polvo

2011-01-25T18:19:00.009-06:00

This past Christmas our eldest son, AB, gave me a new cookbook entitled, "1,000 Mexican Recipes" by Marge Poore.

With Mexico being our neighbor, many Texans LOVE Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. Our family is no exception. So, you can can imagine the smile that stretched across my face when I began reading many of the recipes contained in this book.

This evening was OG's turn to prepare supper for our family. She reviewed this week's list of meal ideas and selected Beef Enchiladas, Charro Beans and Mexican Rice. She has never prepared any of these dishes so, I knew when she made this selection she would need a little supervision (aka help).

For years I've been preparing my own personal version of a red enchilada sauce that I'd concocted using a recipe out of the Betty Crocker Cookbook as a foundation. This evening I decided we would try Mrs. Poore's recipe. I made a couple very minor adjustments, but we found this sauce to be so delicious, I decided I just had to share it with you. I assure you, if you like authentic style enchiladas, you'll LOVE this enchilada sauce. I am looking forward to trying many of Mrs. Poore's other Mexican recipes!

Enchilada Salsa de Chili en Polvo

(Chili Powder Enchilada Sauce)

Makes about 2 1/2 cups

2 Tbls. vegetable oil (for added flavor I used bacon grease)

1 Tbls. all-purpose flour

1 8oz. can tomato sauce

1/4 c. chili powder (Mrs. Poore suggests pure New Mexico or California chili powder)

2 c. beef broth or chicken broth (I used vegetable broth, because that's what I had on hand)

1 tsp. dried oregano (Mrs. Poore suggests Mexican variety)

1/2 tsp. ground cumin (OG measured incorrectly and added 1 tsp.)

1/4 tsp. salt, or to taste

large pinch of sugar (after a taste, I made this addition myself)

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook the flour, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in the tomato sauce and chili powder until well combined. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring, then reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Sauce may be stored in refrigerator for 5 days or frozen for 3 months.

To make 12 enchiladas: Spread 1/4 c. sauce over the bottom of a greased 9x13 in. baking pan. Warm 12 corn tortillas in microwave. Dip a warmed corn tortilla in hot enchilada sauce. Lay tortilla in the baking pan and spoon 2 tablespoons taco meat onto tortilla, roll up and place in pan seam side down. Repeat with remaining 11 tortillas and taco meat. Spoon remaining sauce over enchiladas. Top with 1 cup shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted and enchiladas are heated through. 6 servings

P.S. OG prepared approximately 85% of tonight's meal by herself. The entire meal was DELICIOSO!!

2011 New Year Update

2011-01-13T11:55:00.003-06:00

Our family has, yet again, begun the New Year with the loss of a loved one. My brother-in-law, JL, passed away on the 3rd of January. He will be greatly missed by our family. He was a jester who mercilessly teased EVERYONE. He was also an example of generosity. Not only had he dedicated 27 years of his life as a fireman, he was always the guy one could count on to pitch in and help out when ever or where ever needed.

This loss has been especially hard on Mr.B. He has lost both sets of grandparents, both his parents and now his only sibling. To make matters worse for Mr.B, JL was two years younger than he. JL's passing was quick and unexpected. This is yet another reminder to cherish each day we have with our loved ones, it may be the last day we spend with them.

Mr. B had enjoyed a nice telephone conversation with JL the evening before his passing. I am thankful Mr.B had the opportunity to spend a little time with him, even if it was via the telephone, before he passed.

My prayer for you: is that you take a little extra time this week to connect with those you love and care about.

A Funny Boy ...

2010-12-26T17:10:00.003-06:00

Yeah, I know my last post suggested I wouldn't blog anything until after the New Year, but this is funny and I wanted to share a good laugh with you all.
Picture this ... It's the afternoon of December 24th. Mr. B has agreed to take EJ to the Dollar General to finish up his Christmas shopping. EJ has a $10 budget and wants to buy for his 3 older brothers and grandpa. (Note: Mr.B, decided to "help" EJ out with a little extra cash & he'd asked me to pick up popcorn seasoning for BT, who enjoys a big bowl of popcorn while watching movies).
Mr.B and EJ enter the store and EJ immediately begins walking back to the household cleaners section. He stops near the Swiffer Dusters.
Mr.B: "What are we doing back here, Toot?"
EJ: "Well, I was gonna get Grandpa a swiffer for all that stuff he has in his cabin, but it's $13 dollars."
EJ takes off and heads down the stationary isle.
EJ: "Here, I'll get him these pens. He's old and old people like to write." (note: Mr.B is almost near tears trying NOT to laugh out loud.) While on the stationary isle, EJ also picks up a word search book for his brother JP.
EJ then cruises over to the personal care isle.
Mr.B: "Alright, Toot, what are you buying now, shampoo?"
EJ: "No, I'm gonna get AB some deodorant."
At this point, Mr.B can not hold his laughter in any longer and through a very hearty laugh he suggests that they leave the Dollar General and make a quick stop by the hardware store for AB's gift.

Wishing You and Yours ...

2010-12-19T15:26:00.004-06:00

a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

I am one of those people who absolutely LOVES blessing others with gifts. Christmas is a very exciting time of year for me because it is the PERFECT opportunity to bless our Sunday school teachers, music teachers, coaches, etc. with a little thank you.

In less than one hour I made these cute little Christmas stockings using remnant fabric that I picked up for only $1 and small pieces of left over trim from various projects. At less than $.017 each, they make adorable and reusable gift wrap for the recipient. They are the perfect size to stuff with all sorts of small gifts. Teachers appreciate pens, pencils, notepads, erasers, paperclips, bookmarks, travel sized lotion and body wash, etc.

This year we also blessed a few folks with homemade snowman soup, aka, homemade hot cocoa mix in a snowman mug with a peppermint "stir" stick. Snowman soup is one of my favorite gifts and almost anyone who knows me personally has received this at least once. I think this is the BEST hot cocoa mix I've ever had and I'd like to share it with you.

HOMEMADE HOT COCOA MIX

(gleaned from a t.v. program many years ago)

1 2lb. box powdered Nesquick chocolate milk mix (I use the store brand)

2 tbsp. ground cinnamon (optional)

1lb. confectioners sugar

11 oz. non-dairy creamer

1 8qt. box non-fat dry milk

1 10 oz. bag mini marshmallows (optional)

In a VERY large bowl mix the chocolate milk mix and cinnamon until combined well. Add the confectioners sugar and non-dairy creamer, mixing well after each addition. Stir in 1/2 the dry milk until blended well. Add remaining dry milk, stirring until mixed well. Stir in marshmallows. Store in a large airtight container in a cool dry pantry.

To Use:

Add 2-3 tablespoons cocoa mix to a mug. Add hot water, stir and ENJOY. For a special treat top with homemade whipped cream and use a peppermint stick to stir.

Makes about 75 mugs of cocoa mix @ about $0.16 per cup & far tastier than what you'll find on the grocer's shelf.

Well, although I've been away from the computer this week, today the Christmas stockings covered a Make It For Less Monday and a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday. I also squeezed in a Frugal Feasting Friday with the homemade cocoa mix.

During the next couple weeks I plan to enjoy my family and won't be around the computer. I leave you all with the following prayer:

Lord, I pray my readers and their families experience a blessed Christmas season. As we approach the celebration of the birth of Christ, your abundantly generous gift to all mankind, help us to remember WHY Christ came. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17 NIV). Amen.

See you next year!!

Blessings,

Mrs.B

Frugal Feasting Friday

2010-12-10T17:38:00.008-06:00

Shake-N-Bake pork chop / chicken coating was a household staple in my mom's pantry when I was a girl. Yup, my mom was a "modern" cook who utilized ALL the prepared and quick fix products available at the time. (Just for the record I learned all my basic cooking skills while living with my uncle and aunt during my early teen aged years. My aunt J was / is a fabulous home cook. ) As a young girl I LOVED pork chops and chicken baked in shake-n-bake. But once I left my mom's house, I never ate it again. Mostly because my aunt J didn't cook with the stuff and once I was out on my own, I couldn't afford the stuff. As the years passed, I forgot about it.

Recently, I ran across a homemade recipe that claimed one couldn't tell the difference between this recipe and the store bought shake-n-bake. This evening I decided I'd give it a try and after a bit of tweaking (you know me, I can't leave any recipe in its original form), this homemade shake-n-bake REALLY DOES taste exactly like I remember it as a child!!

I don't know if making it yourself is any cheaper than the name brand, but whenever I have every single ingredient already on hand, it makes absolutely no sense in my mind to go out and purchase a boxed product made out of the same ingredients sitting on my own pantry shelf. So, here's my tweaked version of the homemade shake-n-bake recipe I recently came across (sorry, I don't' remember the web-site I gleaned this from - but I don't want anyone to think I've taken credit for a recipe that isn't my own).

HOMEMADE SHAKE-N-BAKE

3/4 c. cornflake crumbs
2 tsp. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder

Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until ground into course powder. Mixture will coat 4 pork chops or 4 pieces of chicken. I think this recipe would double or triple very well.
To Use:
Place homemade shake-n-bake in a gallon sized plastic bag. Add pork chops or chicken. Shake vigorously. Place meat on a lightly greased baking sheet. Lightly spray meat with with olive oil or other baking spray. Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until juices run clear.
Serves 4

P.S. tonight was the first time the littles have ever had shake-n-bake, the big boys have never tried it, and it seems the littles LOVED this stuff as much as I did when I was a kid.

Talking Points...

2010-12-07T14:39:00.007-06:00

This afternoon, OG decided to write President Obama a brief letter outlining a few suggestions on how to stimulate job growth within the U.S. economy.

After writing the letter she decided to send carbon copies to Vice President Joe Biden and her U.S. Representative, U.S. Senators, State Representative, State Senators and State Governor.

As she was addressing the envelopes we had a very short conversation that went something like this:

ME: "What would you do if someone from one of these offices contacted you regarding an interview?"

OG: "I'd say YES!"

ME: "How would you prepare for the interview? Would you write up some talking point notes, etc.?"

OG: (Looking up at me with an are you kidding me expression) "What would I WEAR !!"

End of conversation ...

Frugal Feasting Friday

2010-12-03T18:06:00.006-06:00

As well as saving money in the kitchen, I also like to save time whenever possible. If you've read my previous post you know that we have begun prepping for our family Christmas celebration. Since I cook most of our meals from scratch, cooking large specialty meals on the few occasions when everyone's home is a time consuming task. Through the years as I've searched for time saving techniques that work for me, I've found the freezer to be one of the best.
As mentioned in previous posts, our family often enjoys homemade pizza on Friday evenings. Well, this week instead of preparing one spinach alfredo pizza for the littles and me, I prepared two. I baked one for our supper tonight and I placed the other in the freezer for our planned pizza buffet night the week following Christmas ( remember, I've made a meal plan for the week everyone's home ). Of course, one pizza will not be enough to feed my crew of 8 (I have two who can inhale an entire pizza on their own), but over the next two weeks I will triple our pizza recipes and freeze the extras. On pizza night, instead of standing in the kitchen making pizza pies one after the other, I'll just pop the made ahead frozen ones in the oven, toss up a nice garden salad and in 30 short minutes I'll have a favorite and frugal meal on the buffet counter for my gang.

Spinach Alfredo Pizza

Dough:
(the following measurements are for one pizza - this recipe doubles and triples well)
1 tbsp. yeast
1 tsp. sugar or honey
1 c. warm (115 degrees F) water
2 tbsp. vegetable or olive oil
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. flour, all-purpose whole wheat or a combination of both

Toppings:
(if making 2 or 3 pizzas, double or triple the following quantities)
7 oz. store bought alfredo sauce (approx. 1/2 jar)
1/4 c. parmesan cheese, grated
3 c. fresh baby spinach, chopped
2 c. mozzarella cheese, grated

In a medium bowl combine yeast, sugar or honey and warm water. Set aside until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in oil and salt. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a well floured surface (I prefer to use my pastry cloth) and kneed slightly. Shape into a disk and roll out into a 15" disk. Place dough onto a well oiled baking sheet. Roll edges to form pie shape. Spread alfredo sauce evenly over dough using the back of a large spoon. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over sauce followed by chopped fresh spinach. Evenly sprinkle mozzarella cheese over spinach. Bake in a pre-heated 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.
Makes one 14" pizza /8 slices.

To Prepare Spinach Alfredo Pizza for the Freezer:
Follow above directions for preparing pizza dough. Before spreading dough with alfredo sauce, combine fresh spinach and sauce in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for approximately 2 minutes, remove, stir. Sauce will have turned green. Spread spinach & sauce mixture over dough and sprinkle with parmesan cheese followed by mozzarella cheese. Allow to freeze in the freezer for 3-4 hours before wrapping securely in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil.
To Bake:
Remove wrap from pizza and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melty and gooey & edges of crust are browned to your preference.
Makes 8 slices

Here is a photo of a frozen spinach alfredo pizza:

Cost Breakdown:

homemade dough $0.74

store bought alfredo suace $1.15

baby spinach $1.00

parmesan cheese $0.60

mozzarella cheese $1.75

Total: $5.24 per pizza OR $0.66 per slice

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

2010-12-01T08:14:00.010-06:00

(clipart/photo is courtesy of vkme over at www.photobook.com)

The official countdown to Christmas has begun ... only 25 days!

So, today's Waste Not Want Not topic will be effective use of time during this very busy season.

It may be 25 days until Christmas, but I've only got 22 days left to get ready!! All my guys, Mr. B, the big boys and Grandpa, will begin a parade of incoming flights on the 23rd. Our family's personal taxi service, ME, will pick the first up the morning of the 23rd and pick the last up the evening of the 24th. They will be flying in from all over the U.S., some from the west coast, some from the east coast and some in between. They all will be home for a minimum of EIGHT DAYS !!! (Whoo! Hoo! - you all should be jealous - I'm getting at least 8 whole days with the most wonder fellas I know!!!) That means the littles and I have a lot of prep work to finish before the 23rd.

This single most important tool I can utilize in managing the next 22 days effectively is to WRITE out a plan. Yeah, for the past couple weeks I've been mulling ideas over in my head, but today is the day I will write out EVERYTHING I need and want to complete before everyone begins arriving.

After getting all my "to do's" down on paper, I will then prioritize all those tasks. What do I need to do vs. what would I like to do. For instance, the greatest gift I can bless my boys with are their personal favorite home cooked, from scratch meals. Therefore, I MUST have my meal plans, kitchen prep work and shopping for those meals completed before they arrive - otherwise, I will end up spending ALL my time isolated in the kitchen resulting in no time with my family. I have to finish some gift shopping (only 3 to go - all the rest was completed while in my p.j.'s, via a wonderful little tool called the internet) and have a few homemade gifts to finish up. I also want the house to be tidy and organized before they arrive. When you are expecting to go from only 3 to 8 overnight, things need to be in good order so the new arrivals will have a place to stash their luggage and personal belongings during the visit. And of course, I'd like to put up a few Christmas decorations, which means a trip to storage (we've already packed all our seasonal belongings and put them in storage in preparation for our move). There are a few others, but I think you get where I'm going with this.

I have three weeks to complete my prep work. So, I will yet again prioritize my list into three weeks and assign myself various tasks that need to be completed each day. I will divide my weeks into 5 days. This will allow us to maintain our Sabbath and give us 1 extra work day for "make-up" work each week, just in case something goes awry.

I know that for many "making a list & checking it twice" is not your idea of holiday cheer. But I promise the hour or two I spend writing out this plan will keep me focused during the next three weeks enabling me to utilize my time effectively. When my boys arrive on the 23rd, I will have everything I need to complete and most of what I want to complete finished. My family will come home to a wife/mother/daughter who did her "homework" resulting in a joyous, relaxing time of fellowship and togetherness.

So, get off the computer. Get your note pad, pencil and calendar and start planning for your family's big get together. I pray you and your family have a BLESSED Christmas season!

Taking a Stand

2010-11-29T09:13:00.006-06:00

Today, all scripture references are quoted from the NIV Bible.

Today, I have decided to write about a topic that has been heavy on my heart for a while. Within my extended family, it is a controversial and divisive topic.

In the Apostle Paul's first letter to the Church of Corinth sexual immorality had been brought to his attention. Causing him the need to address that sexual sin within the church is not to be permitted. In chapter 5, verses 1-8, we find a man who had taken his father's wife and to Paul's chagrin, the church of Corinth had been accepting to this - even the unsaved, Gentiles, didn't engage in this particular practice of sexual sin. Paul admonishes the church of Corinth for glorifying such an act. (1 Cor. 5:1-2: It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles - that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that the he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you." 1 Cor. 5:6-7; Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.")

In Chapter 5, verses 9-13, Paul instructs the church that God judges the unsaved, whereas the church judges the brethren. Paul instructs the church to turn away and not even eat with fellow brethren who are engaged in sexual immorality, covetous, idolatry, revelry, drunkenness or extortion. Please note again, Paul leaves the judging of the un-saved to God, and instructs the church is to continue its witnessing to the unsaved world. It is clear from this passage that we are not to condone or glorify sexual sin among brethren. (1 Cor. 9-13; I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler , or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore, put away from yourselves the evil person.")

As we continue reading down to Chapter 6, verses 9-11, we find Paul warning us not to be deceived. He emphatically stresses that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Paul also reminds us that we were once the unrighteous but through Salvation in Jesus Christ we have been sanctified and justified. (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards or revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the Kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.)

It is with a heavy heart that I report that there are MANY unsaved in our family. Although heavily exposed to the Word of God and Christianity, the majority on both sides of our families have intentionally rejected salvation through Jesus Christ. We have found that most of the unsaved in our family have bought stock in the lie that being a nice, successful and "good" person is enough. However, we all know that the Word of God tell us, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."- Romans 3:23. I am sure there are many others out there who find themselves surrounded with unsaved family members.

Today, I am not addressing sin among fellow brethren. I want to address how do we, as Christians, interact with unsaved family members who actively engage in sexual immorality? (I've met many who refuse any association with unsaved family who engage in sexual immorality; causing a great devide.) According to 1 Cor. 9-10, we are to continue an interaction with the unsaved so that we can maintain a witness to them. We personally have many unsaved in our family who are guilty of marital relations outside of marriage and even some who have justified adultery. We also have family who have found themselves dating others who have family members in same sex relationships.

Does 1Cor. 5:9-10 indicate that I am to allow the unsaved to bring sexual immorality into my home? 1 Cor. 6:18 says, "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body". In order to maintain a righteous witness to the unsaved, I think it is very important that I say, "No". Unsaved family members are and continue to be welcomed guests into our home. We love them and pray for them. Most are very nice people and we enjoy hosting them. However, they are NOT permitted to engage in immoral behaviours while in our home. We do not allow unmarried couples to share a bedroom. Contrary to what they think or assume, I do not judge our unsaved family members, that's God's job. However, as a Christian, and as a parent, I must maintain a Biblical standard in my home.

Unfortunately, I often find myself in the situation of unsaved family members avoiding fellowship in our home. Most of our family lives out of state, those who live in state live hundreds of miles away. When they visit it is expected that they will stay for several days. Unfortunately, we find many don't visit because we do not allow them to share a bed/bedroom with their unmarried friend. We've had friends of family members who didn't want to meet us because they assumed we would be mean and judgemental regarding the sexual immorality they, or even their own extended family members, are involved in. On occasion, we've experienced this with our grown sons' friends. Sometimes when our sons have shared our Christian convictions some of their friends make a decision to not meet us. (I wonder if my sons shared this information with a negative tone? ) Again, I want to stress that although I take a stance regarding Biblical standards, I am not rude or mean to the unsaved who come into my home. To do so, would not be very "Christian" of me. It is my Christian duty to demonstrate the love of Christ to not only fellow brethern, but also to the unsaved.

I find this topic to not only to be one of Christian standards, but also one of common courtesy. Most smokers are considerate and do not become offended when non-smoking friends and family do not allow smoking in their homes. The smokers simply abstain from smoking inside the homes and cars of non-smokers. Why, then, have I experienced the unsaved becoming terribly offended when we Christians expect them to abstain from sexual immorality while in our homes? I've been accused of negatively judging them. I maintain that my judgements aren't necessary, God is very well capable of that. But, I am responsible for maintaining an environment of Biblical standards in my home. I am responsible for any and all sinful behaviours that I allow into my home home which could have an un-Biblical influence on our children. I can not completely and fully shield my children from sin. It is everywhere. We can not even drive down the road without seeing an inappropriate billboard or walk into a grocery store without seeing someone who needs more clothing. Just because our society is accepting of and drowning in sin, does not mean I must allow it into the sanctuary our home. I certainly can not send a message to our children that sin is acceptable. If I fail to teach them that sin has severe consequences, then how are they supposed to recognize their own need for salvation?

I pray that our unsaved family members will come to understand that we too were at one time separated from God by our own sins. I pray that they will come to understand that our firm stance regarding the issue of guarding our home against sexual immorality is not a judgement directed at them, but is a standard that we must maintain as a witness to, not only our children but, them. I pray they will, soon, accept the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ and turn away from their sin.

Frugal Feasting Friday

2010-11-26T15:49:00.013-06:00

(photo: L-Mrs. A; R- Mrs.B)

Today's Topic: Hosting Guests / Little $$$

God did not bless me with a biological sister, however, more than 10 years ago, He blessed me with Mrs.A.
She and I have not only become the closest of friends but we've also become sisters. Even our children think of themselves as cousins. Because of the poor and sinful choices I made as a teenager and young woman, I lost most of my extended family. But, a few short years after accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, God blessed me and our family with Mrs.A. She and hers have literally become our extended family. I will forever praise and thank the Lord for blessing us with her.

This afternoon the littles and I had the pleasure of hosting Mrs.A for lunch! On her way to our house she picked up a movie AND some dark chocolate covered raisins -- yum-0. I've often visited with folks who often feel intimidated in the area of hospitality. They don't think their entertainment skills are polished enough, they worry they can't afford elaborate meals, appetizers or snacks OR they simply worry their home is not decorated well.

Today, I want to drown those fears and anxieties. First of all, when others accept an invitation to your home they are choosing to spend time with you and your family. Most do not make this decision based upon the meal or entertainment you are providing. Very few worry about your decor. Others come into your home because they desire to spend time with YOU.

Now, of course we all want our homes to be clean and neat (not necessarily spotless) when hosting others. The one thing our guests do not want to experience when they visit is a hostess who is so worried about making everything perfect, she doesn't have any fun or have any time to spend with them. If we don't have time to visit with our guests or if we don't have a pleasant time ourselves, then what's the point of hosting others in our homes? It took me many years to learn that when guests arrive at my home, they are there to spend time with ME. Do they enjoy a tasty meal? Of course. Do they feel more comfortable if the house is tidy? Of course they do. Do they expect or want me to nervously run around trying to make and keep everything perfect while they are there? NO! Is an expensive, extravagant and above board elegant dinner party the reason they came? NO!

This afternoon I served my dear sweet sister, Mrs.A, stuffed eggs, taco soup, garlic bread and water or iced tea - inexpensive, tasty, filling and SIMPLE. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Mrs.A enjoyed snuggling under a throw quilt, sitting on a pillow on our living room floor while OG played with her hair during our viewing of the movie she brought. We all leisurely snacked on, yum-o, dark chocolate covered raisins. We had a FABULOUS afternoon. It was easy, casual, relaxed and filled with the blessing of just being with those who love you. If you often or occasionally find yourself intimidated by hosting others in your home, please, take a deep breath and keep it simple.
Here's my VERY frugal and simple taco soup recipe:

TACO SOUP

Soup:
1 lb. ground meat (today I used elk)
1 med. onion, chopped
1 qt. chopped tomatoes w/ juice
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
3 6 oz. cans water
1 batch taco seasoning (recipe here: http://herpeculiarlife.blogspot.com/search/label/recipes%3A%20homemade%20mixes )
1 bay leaf

Toppings: (optional)
broken tortilla chips
chopped lettuce
sour cream
diced tomatoes
grated cheese
snipped green onion OR fresh chives
diced avocado
sliced olives

Place soup ingredients in large soup pot. Mix well. Cook over medium heat for 45 min. - 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.
I prefer to serve the toppings on the side so everyone can add whatever and however much they personally desire.
Serves 6

cost breakdown:

ground elk: free (a friend blessed us with more than 50# earlier this year)
tomatoes: $1.18
onion: $.34
tomato paste: $.20
taco seasoning: .$34
toppings: $2.00
stuffed eggs: $.50 (cost is for mix-ins - we sell our extra yard eggs to pay for chicken feed = free eggs)
garlic bread: $.96
iced tea: $1.60

TOTAL: $7.12 OR $1.19 per person
(note: if you had to purchase the meat and eggs your cost would increase to only $9.61 OR $1.60 per person.)

Happy Thanksgiving & A Few Odds and Ends

2010-11-25T10:13:00.005-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to All !!!

Last Friday I had to have oral surgery to remove a wisdom tooth and Mr. B flew home from the bitterly cold north to help with the children while I recovered. Since he was home, we celebrated our Thanksgiving last Thursday evening. Today Mr. B is back up North, and the littles and I are enjoying a relaxing day of piddling around and not doing much of anything.

We pray you and yours enjoy a blessed day filled with many smiles and the makings of very happy memories.

Recently I've spent about an hour a day reading posts by MaryAnn from over at "A Joyful Chaos" ( http://ajoyfulchaos.blogspot.com/ ). I've really enjoyed the sweet precious memories she has generously shared about her Amish childhood. A while back she wrote a post entitled "Odd Things About Me" and I've decided I'd also like to share some "odd things about me" with my readers. I hope some you do the same as I always find it fun and interesting to learn new things about others.

1. Do you like bleu cheese? Yes. I love all sort of cheeses - it's one of my favorite foods.

2. Have you ever smoked? No - Well, I tried to puff a cigarette once, gagged and to this day I can't fathom why anyone would desire to smoke.

3. What color Kool Aid was your favorite? I've never liked Kool-Aid

4. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes. I don't like being touched by people outside my family.

5. What do you think of hot dogs? I like them only on occasion. For instance, when camping or at a cookout & then I like to roast them over a fire until the outside is slightly charred.

6. Favorite Christmas movie? It's A Wonderful Life, of course.

7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Milk

8. Can you do push ups? A few.

9. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I actually have two favorite pieces. A diamond rose patterned dinner ring that belonged to my maternal grandmother AND a "mother's" ring that belonged to my paternal grandmother. I don't wear either because I do not have pretty hands.

10. Favorite hobby? Gardening.

11. Do you have A. D. D.? Medically speaking no - but some days things are so crazy around here one would think I do.

12. Do you wear glasses/contacts? No. However, I have started wearing low strength reading glasses for small print, threading needles, crochet and embroidery.

13. Middle name? Begins with letter J.

14. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. a. I am excited about my husband and the big boys coming home for Christmas. b. I wish our home would sell so the littles and I can move north to be with Mr.B. c. Our weather is warm today - doesn't "feel" like Thanksgiving.

15. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, milk, sweet iced tea

16. Current worry? N. & S. Korea - what will this mean for my JP who is active duty Navy.

17. Current hate? Living in "limbo". For almost two years our family has been considering or trying to move north where Mr.B works. Much of our life has been "on hold" while we've been house hunting, trying to sell our current house, etc.

18. Where would you like to go? North so the littles can be with their daddy.

19. Do you own slippers? Yes. Since we do not wear street shoes in the house, our hardwood floors make them a necessity during winter.

20. What color shirt are you wearing? White & pink.

21. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No. I like 600 or more thread count cotton for summers and when up north during winter I like heavy flannel.

22. Can you whistle? Nope.

23. Where are you now? Dining room

24. Would you be a pirate? No.

25. What songs do you sing in the shower? I usually don't sing. I am VERY inhibited about my poor singing abilities.

26. Favorite Girl's Name? Esther

27. Favorite boy's name? Andrew

28. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing

29. Who last made you laugh? OG and EJ

30. What vehicle do you drive? 4-wheel drive Expedition - GREAT for traveling to the north and when all our kiddos are home, everyone fits.

31. Worst injury you've ever had? It's a toss up between a broken tailbone and a broken knee cap.

32. Do you love where you live? No. But it is much better than many other places I've lived so, no complaints.

33. How many TVs do you have in your house? One. Before I married I didn't have a t.v. However, marriage to Mr.B has changed that - I firmly put my foot down to owning only one.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

2010-11-22T15:10:00.004-06:00

Ahhh, air dried bed linens. Every Monday evening as I crawl into bed at night, the scent of freshly washed and line dried bed linens takes me back, so many years ago, to Grandma's house.

Memories of my paternal grandmother, or Grandma as I called her, are my most treasured memories. As a little bitty girl she was my best friend. As a young girl, she was still my best friend. Even as a teenager, although we were separated by 1,000 miles, it turned out that she was still my best friend.

Grandma was 60 years old when I was born. It wasn't long before I became the apple of her eye. "Babydoll" was her name for me. She called me that even after I'd become a mother myself. When OG was a little bitty girl, my dad often commented on how much she was like me when I was little. If that is true, I can easily see how I quickly became so special to Grandma. OG was the sweetest and happiest little girl.

I remember as a small child living in Grandma's home. A little bitty 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom frame house. She didn't have a car. She didn't have air conditioning. She didn't even have a washing machine. But ahhhhh - love ... she had sooo much love and she showered me with it daily.

When I was little she used to wash the laundry in the bathtub. She used an old plunger handle to stir and swish the water. She'd drain out the wash water and fill the tub with clean rinse water and stir and swish the soap out of the laundry. She did this twice - "wash once, rinse twice" she'd say. Then she's hand wring the laundry and place it in a basket and carry it to her little back stoop where she had a wringer attached. As she fed the laundry into the wringer, she often times let me turn the crank, it would fall into another basket. She would then haul the laundry out to the clothes line and pin it up to dry.

On hot summer evenings, after my bath I would never use a towel to dry off. I'd put my jammie's on while I was still damp. Grandma would then help me brush my teeth and she would brush out and braid my knee length hair. My jammie's would be damp from the bath water when I climbed into her bed. She had a large fan in the window that blew a gentle breeze across the middle of the bed and it would make us just cool enough to fall asleep. Each night I drifted off to sleep with the scent of line dried bed linens and Grandma softly singing old Celtic tunes to me ... "you take the high road and I'll take the low road and I'll be in Scottland 'fore ye ..."

Line dried bed linens - if love had a scent, that's what it would smell like to me.

Frugal Feasting Friday

2010-11-19T09:34:00.005-06:00

There was a time when instant dry milk was all our family could afford. Times have changed and we are now blessed to be able to generally drink organic whole milk, sometimes we are blessed with raw milk - Mmmm the best.

However, I still find uses for the budget friendly instant dry milk. I like to keep a quart sized container of dry milk mixed up and ready for use in my fridge. I use it in baked goods, macaroni & cheese, cream type soups, gravies, puddings, custard type pies, etc.

Last evening we enjoyed our Thanksgiving early by celebrating with Mr.B who came home to assist me while having a wisdom tooth removed later today. Chocolate cream pie is Mr.B's favorite dessert, thus I HAD to make one for our early Thanksgiving celebration. Here's my chocolate cream pie recipe that, of course, uses instant dry milk.

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE

Pudding/Pie Master Mix:

5 1/2 c. sugar

2 3/4 c. all purpose flour OR 2 c. cornstarch

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 c. instant dry milk

Combine all ingredients and store in a air tight container in a cool dry place. Makes about 10 c. mix. (see additional recipes for master mix below chocolate cream pie recipe)

Chocolate Filling:

1 1/4 c. pudding/pie master mix

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. cocoa powder

2 3/4 c. reconstituted instant dry milk

2 eggs, well beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

3 tbsp. butter

1 baked 9-10 in. pie crust ( recipe here: http://herpeculiarlife.blogspot.com/2010/11/frugal-feasting-friday-belated-again.html )

Cream Topping:

1 1/3 c. heavy whipping cream

1/4 c. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

cocoa powder OR bittersweet chocolate squares (for garnish)

In a medium pan, combine master mix, sugar, cocoa powder and 1 c. reconstituted milk. Stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat, gradually adding remaining 1 3/4 c. reconstituted milk, stirring constantly until mixture begins to boil slightly and thickens. Remove from heat. Gradually add 1/2 hot pudding mixture to the beaten eggs while stirring constantly (this is called tempering). Slowly blend egg mixture back into the pudding mixture. Cook an additional 1 minute, stirring constantly until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and butter. Cool and pour into a prepared pie crust. Refrigerate.

In a medium COLD bowl (place it the refrigerator for 20 minutes) combine whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat with a hand mixer on high speed for 3-5 minutes until cream stiffens into a whipped cream texture. Spread whipped cream over the chocolate pie filling. Grate bittersweet chocolate over the top of the whipped cream OR sprinkle with cocoa powder. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

makes 8 servings

This pie also freezes well. If frozen, thaw in refrigerator before serving.

*To make chocolate pudding: increase milk to 3 cups

*To make vanilla pudding: increase milk to 3 cups, omit cocoa powder and 1/4 c. sugar

*To make vanilla pie filling: omit cocoa powder and 1/4 c. sugar

*To make coconut cream pie: prepare vanilla pie filling, stir in 1 c. shredded coconut when adding vanilla and butter. Sprinkle additional coconut over whipped cream topping

*To make banana cream pie: prepare vanilla pie filling, stir in two sliced bananas when adding vanilla and butter

*To make a meringue pies: omit whipped cream topping and top with your favorite meringue recipe, bake until peaks brown slightly, cool and refrigerate.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

2010-11-17T08:53:00.004-06:00

Composting -

Composting is a terrific way to reuse organic matter. It will feed your vegetable garden, flowerbeds and lawn. I rarely purchase fertilizer because rich compost will provide you with all the fertilizer your plant life can consume. Composting is a simple task that even apartment dwellers can do - it is great for those container gardens I often see apartment dwellers tending while out on their patios.

For many years, I had a homemade compost bin made out of three pallets turned up on their sides and held together with baling wire. We simply deposited our organic matter in a pile in the bin. During dry periods, I would water it to keep it moist, not wet, and 2-3 times per month I would use a pitch fork to turn / stir the piled up matter. Last spring I purchased a composting barrel that turns with a crank. It was a 2009 clearance model so, I bought it at a deeply discounted price. I think a composting barrel would work well for folks living in an apartment who have limited space. However, I've also met folks who use a large black garbage bag for composting as well.

Here's a list of organic materials we have put in our compost bin:

shredded paper
dryer lint
vegetable & fruit scraps
grass clippings
leaves
old hay from the hen house / rabbit pens
chicken manure
5 gal. buckets of the baled, yucky water from the stock trough (I do this 1-2 times per month / I also pour this water on my flower beds -the plants LOVE it)
rabbit manure
vegetarian feeds that have gotten wet & are no longer usable
horse manure
cow manure
dead plants that did not die from disease or fungus

Things we NEVER put in our compost bin include:

meat or processed animal products, such as milk or cheese
animal feces from any carnivorous animal, such as our dog
garden or flowerbed plants that have a plant disease or fungus (it is best to dispose of these in the burn pit OR in the trash)

So, in the end don't waste those kitchen scraps and other organic materials by throwing them in the trash. Save some money on your gardens, flowerbeds and lawn by reusing it in the form of FREE compost.

Make It For Less Monday

2010-11-15T13:35:00.008-06:00

Today, I'd like to share another penny pinching idea with you. Almost every time I venture into a Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's Fabric or other sewing / crafting retailer, I make sure to stop by the deeply discounted remnant section of the store. Here in this area I've had the pleasure of finding all sorts of wonderful fabrics, trims, yarns, etc. always discounted a minimum of 50%, often times as much as 90 - 95%.

Recently I found the above floral valance and matching throw pillow fabric, 1.5 yards, marked down from $12.00 per yard to $5.78 for the entire 1 1/2 yard remnant. Also in the discount bin was the sage & gold tasseled valance trim, 1 7/8 yard for only 1.98! I had some left over pillow stuffing stashed away from a previous project, so for less than $8.00 I made TWO window valances and a matching throw pillow for my bedroom. Now, that's a bargain and I'm loving the "face lift" this beautiful fabric gave my room.

So, next time you venture into your local sewing / crafting center make sure you stop by the remnant section, you never know what kind of gems could be there waiting for you.

Note: I always set myself a remnant budget of $5 - $25 depending upon what I can afford at that given time. Also, there are times when nothing in the remnant bin strikes my fancy. In that situation, I just tuck my remnant money away for another day.

Frugal Feasting Friday (Belated, Again)

2010-11-13T15:32:00.007-06:00

Yes, I know ... I am "tardy" again with a Frugal Feasting Friday post ... What ever are we going to do with me?

Today's frugal feasting tip: Stretching a 2 pie recipe into 3 pies. Earlier this week I volunteered to donate a couple pumpkin pies to our church for a bake sale. Yesterday, I realized that I was out of the disposable aluminum pie pans that are perfect for bake sales. So, off I went to my local dollar store to purchase a 3 or 4 pack for, well, a dollar. However, my local store was out of 9 & 10 inch plates, all they had in stock were the 8 inch size. I purchased a three pack.

My pumpkin pie recipe makes two nice 10 in. pies, with only 8 in. pans what would I do with the left over pie crust and pumpkin filling? I decided to try "stretching" two 10 in. pumpkin pie recipes into three 8 in. pies tins. Guess what? It worked beautifully. By 8:00 am I had three beautiful, perfect pumpkin pies - no overages or shortages. So, I took two to the bake sale and the littles and I shared a LARGE slice of the third when we returned home this afternoon ... a Thanksgiving tease.

Here's my pumpkin pie recipe, it will make two 10 in. pies OR three 8 in. pies.

Pie Crust (from Amish Cooking pg. 182 - This is, by the way, the BEST pie crust recipe you'll ever find anywhere)

3 c. sifted all-purpose flour

1 c. shortening

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg, slightly beaten

5 tbsp. ice water

1 tsp. vinegar

Mix flour and salt. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in shortening. Combine egg, water and vinegar. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture until a soft dough forms. (If necessary add more ice water 1/2 tsp. at a time). Divide dough into two or three equal portions. Refrigerate while making pie filling.

*When ready to roll out the pie dough, I have found using a floured pastry cloth and covering your rolling pin with a floured knit rolling pin tube (a clean stray sock with the toe cut out also works well) is a tremendous benefit - I highly recommend purchasing these - they are machine washable and can be reused for years.

*I've found the easiest method of transferring the pie crust from the pastry cloth to the pie plate is to roll the pie crust around the rolling pin and then un-roll the crust over the pie plate. I then trim and /or fold under the excess and flute the edges.

Pumpkin Pie Filling

2 15 oz. cans pumpkin

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

2 14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk

4 eggs, slightly beaten

2 10 in. unbaked pie shells OR 3 unbaked 8in pie shells

Mix pumpkin, vanilla, and ground spices well. Add sweetened condensed milk and eggs. Stir until well combined. Pour equal amounts into unbaked pie shells. Bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue to bake another 35 - 40 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool pies completely before cutting. Refrigerate leftovers. This recipe freezes well; thaw in refrigerator.

Makes 2 10 in. pies / 16 servings OR 3 8 in. pies / 24 servings

Frugal Calorie Tip:

When each pie is sliced into 8 servings, the 8 in. slices result in a smaller serving than the 10 in. slices- thus, fewer calories.

Thank A Veteran

2010-11-11T16:03:00.003-06:00

(photo courtesy of: samanthaTSU at www.photobucket.com)

Today, I'd like to encourage you to pray for our U.S. military, active and veterans, and their families.

Whether you take great pride and fully support our military OR even if you disagree with the jobs and missions they are assigned to carry out, I gently remind all that because of the job they do, they personally ensure your freedom to hold and express your opinion. Because of this, I think our veterans and military personnel, from the highest ranking down to the newly enlisted, deserve our utmost respect and, of course, prayers for protection, guidance and wisdom regardless of our personal opinions.

Yes, I am biased in my own opinion(s). I am a proud mother of a U.S. Air Force Veteran and I am currently a proud mother of an Active Duty U.S. Sailor. I've previously written about the mixed feelings and emotions I experience, endure and contend with as a mother of active duty children. Feelings of pride and hope coupled with feelings of worry and uncertainty.

Regardless of any emotion I, as a mother, may be experiencing at any given moment, I always carry a feeling of gratitude. I am grateful that my sons, and all the others who have gone before them and all those who will come after them, were and are ready, able and, most of all, willing to enter into service for their fellow countrymen - even service for those who disagree with or despise them.

I hope today you will take a moment to offer a prayer of thanks for the men and women who have made personal sacrifices to serve our nation and also show some gratitude to those who are currently serving our nation. Because of them, we all have the freedom to hold the ideas and opinions we carry.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

2010-11-10T07:07:00.005-06:00

We are in our 7th year of home schooling and can you believe that we've never purchased a single ream of copy paper for school worksheets or assignments? Recycling the back side of paper is the key to this environmentally friendly money saver. It's simple, if the back side of an 81/2 x 11 sheet of paper is unused, instead of throwing it away, I draw an "X" across the printed side and place it in our "school paper" drawer for use in our printer/copier.

I "recycle" almost every piece of 81/2 x 11 sheet of paper that comes through our home. I not only use recycled paper for school work; I also use it when printing off Map Quest directions, misc. copies that I need to keep on file, non-business correspondence, shopping lists, etc. Most of our recycled paper arrives via junk mail but I've also had friends donate scrap paper from their offices or home businesses. Basically, I reuse anything that doesn't need to be kept on file.

So, if you are looking for another way to pinch a penny or two, consider recycling the unused side of copy paper. Do you have a Waste Not Want Not tip you'd like to share?

NOTE: NEVER use documents / papers that contain social security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or other information that could possibly aid someone with identity theft - identifying documents / papers should ALWAYS be cross-shredded and securely disposed of.

Frugal Feasting Friday

2010-11-05T18:15:00.005-05:00

On Friday evenings I generally like to keep our meals quick, simple and fun. We often enjoy homemade pizzas or nachos. However, today, we finally awoke to cool autumn temperatures - low 40's ... why some folks here in S.E. Texas would even consider that down right COLD. I know better than that ... although I am a native Texan, I have had the opportunity to live and visit elsewhere. From personal experience I've learned that 40 something does not constitute COLD weather.

This morning's cooler temperatures did put me in the mood for some good old spicy comfort food, like chili and cornbread. (Yeah, I know, many yanks like their chili over pasta or rice, but here in Texas, we eat it with a SIDE of cornbread, garlic bread or crackers.) So this evening I will share my quick, simple, and frugal chili recipe with you.

Chili and Cornbread

3 1/2 c. cooked pinto beans, (1 lb. pkg. dried)
1/2 lb. ground meat (today I used elk, but you can use beef)
1 tbsp. bacon grease (omit if using store bought ground beef)
1 qt. tomatoes w/ juice, diced
1 lg. onion, diced
1 tbsp. Spanish paprika
2-3 tbsp. chili powder (less for mild / more for spicy)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. all-purpose seasoning
salt & pepper to taste
water

In a large stock pot, stir together all ingredients. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbly. If too thick, stir in water until desired consistancy is reached. Reduce heat and simmer an additional 20 minutes. Serve immediately with a side of cornbread ( http://herpeculiarlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/fried-green-tomatoes.html ).
Makes 6 servings.

Frugal Time Tip: Cook dried beans (1/2 the price per oz. of canned) ahead of time and freeze them in 1 or 2 cup portions. Whenever a recipe calls for cooked beans, they are cooked up and ready for use. I generally cook mine overnight while sleeping by using my crock pot. Cooking dried beans while sleeping or out of the house is a huge time and money saver.

Cost Breakdown:
1 lb. dried beans, $0.98
1/2 lb. ground beef, $0.99
qt. tomatoes $1.18
onion $0.34
spices $0.50 (est.)
homemade cornbread $0.78 (8 servings)

Total: $4.77 OR only $0.76 per person

2009 - 2010 Histroy Trail

2010-11-05T15:35:00.007-05:00

A few months ago, (June '10), I shared photos from our 2009 Nature Trail. Today, I'd like to share a few photos from some of the history field trips we've had the opportunity to experience during the last year and a half. Whenever we travel, we try to incorporate various field trips. I think the opportunity to experience re-enactments and visit historical museums helps history come alive in a child's mind giving them a better understanding of the times they've studied.

Renaissance Festival - 2010, Plantersville, TX

OG and a home school mate in period dress. I think they are dancing in this photo.

Birds of prey demonstration.
Bell Instrument. It is played by one person using a pulley type system. Quite amazing!

Demonstration of the Gutenberg Press. If it had not been invented, would we have unrestricted access to the Holy Bible today?

Blacksmithing demonstration. This is a trade that remained virtually unchanged for centuries. There are still folks who use traditional blacksmithing methods even today.

2010-11-05T15:24:00.003-05:00

Naval Air Base Museum - 2010, Pensacola, FL

Board singed by Navy personnel stationed in Baghdad during the 1st wave of the Iraq War post 9/11.

Sea landing Bi-plane from the early 1900's

As modern as this jet looks, it is antiquated by today's standards. Notice how the wings fold up and in. It is designed this way for transport and use on and from aircraft carriers.

2010-11-05T15:09:00.004-05:00

Indian Arts Festival - 2009 Ft. Union, MT

We had the privledge of attending the Indian Arts Festival held at Ft. Union last summer. It was very interesting to learn a few facts about early Americn Native American culture.

Tee-pee: traditional mobile shelter used by Native Americans in early history

Elk Antlers

Demonstration of Brian Tanning an Elk Hide: Did you know that every animal's brain contains the exact amount of brain matter to needed to tan it's hide?

Demonstration of one of many Native American Dances

Demonstration of another Native American Dance

2010-11-05T15:02:00.003-05:00

Mount Rushmore's Museum - 2009, South Dakota

It was so cloudy during our visit to Mt. Rushmore, we couldn't see the faces carved into the mountain. Instead,we saw the majestic image of the U.S. Flag flying in front of a very thick haze. We also toured the museum. Steam engine equipment used as part of the blasting/carving process.

Another display explaining the process of "carving" these huge images into the mountain rock.

2010-11-05T14:48:00.004-05:00

Lewis & Clark Trail Rendezvous Re-Enactment 2009, Ft. Union, MT

These photos are from the re-enactment of the early American Rendezvous along the Lewis and Clark trail. Each year the fur companies from the east would meet up with the trappers and Native Americans out west to purchase furs and hides. The rendezvous served as not only places of commerce but also as a place of rare entertainment and socialization. OG wearing her prairie dress.

Buffalo Hide Press

Annual Supply Manifest

Replica of one of the many shelters that would be used by American trappers and Native Americans alike.

2010-11-05T14:40:00.003-05:00

Gunsmithing

Indian Finger Weaving

Period Dress & a Buffalo Hide Boat

Replica of General Store

Fort Union

Belated Frugal Feasting Friday

2010-11-01T19:49:00.004-05:00

You all know that I usually have a plan and I always mean well, but sometimes life just throws us curve ball and we end up dropping it. So, I'm a few days late with a Frugal Feasting Friday post. I apologize for my tardiness.

Any of you who have been following my blog for any length of time know that for over 20 years our family lived on a very lean budget. Our family has three birthdays in the month of October, so, today I am going to share our family's frugal birthday tradition that was started 26 1/2 years ago with the birth of our first son, AB.

Years ago, we couldn't have afforded a lavish birthday party and numerous gifts no matter how much we may have desired it. However, we still wanted our children's birthdays to be special and memorable. So, for the past 26 1/2 years we have done the following:

**Birthday parties are limited to only family members.
**Mom and Dad select ONE budget friendly gift for the birthday boy or girl.
**Brothers and sister each give ONE gift. (the littles have a $5 store bought budget or $5 materials budget for homemade & they must use their own money)
**Mom cooks, from scratch the birthday boy or girl's favorite meal.
**Mom bakes the birthday boy or girl their favorite cake.
**We all eat supper together.
**We light the birthday candles and sing while the birthday boy or girl makes a wish and blows them out.
** We open gifts and take photos.
** We enjoy birthday cake and sometimes ice cream.

That's it. Very simple and very frugal. Have our children ever felt like they've missed out by not having a huge party or an excessive amount of expensive gifts? Not to my knowledge. Each of our children have always seemed very excited about their approaching birthdays. Like other children, ours are very eager to let everyone they know their birthdays are approaching and they always seem to have fun and are happy and thankful for their gift(s). The big boys, who are now grown, seem to have fond memories of birthday time around our house. I personally think the key to this is the consistency of the same tradition from year to year and from child to child.

Here's a couple photos from last week's birthday celebrations.

EJ, opening his gift from OG - some new rubber fishing worms and a new lure.

OG making her wish before she blows out the candles on her German chocolate cupcakes.

Another photo of OG, posing with her gifts.

This year, both EJ and OG requested seafood meals for their birthday suppers. I had some shrimp and crab meat left over and decided to make up a pot of Seafood Etoufee (a creole dish with just a bit of spice). Here's my recipe, if y'all try it I hope y'all enjoy it as much as we do.

SEAFOOD ETOUFEE

1/2 c. vegetable oil (no substitutions)

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. onion, diced

1 c. celery, diced

1/2 c. bell pepper, diced

3 large cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tsp. Cajun seasoning

1/2 c. fresh parsley, finely chopped

3 dashes hot sauce

1 small can clam juice

1 pint tomatoes, chopped

1 c. chicken broth (estimated amount)

1 lb. raw, uncooked seafood (shrimp, crab, scallops, fish, creyfish, etc. or any combination)

1/2 stick butter (no substitutions)
3 c. hot cooked rice

green onion, chopped for garnish

In a heavy stock pot or cast iron dutch oven stir together vegetable oil and flour to make a roux, about 20 minutes. (Roux: equal parts oil and flour cooked over medium heat stirring frequently until mixture turns brown and smells nutty. Roux is an essential component of many Creole and Cajun recipes).

Add onion, celery, bell pepper, parsley and hot pepper sauce. Add clam juice and tomatoes. Stir, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes stirring occasionally. The mixture should be about as thick as stew, if it is thick like gravy stir in enough chicken broth to thin out mixture. Add seafood and stir. After 3-5 minutes (when seafood is cooked through) remove from heat and stir in butter. Serve 1 cup of etoufee over 1/2 cup of hot cooked rice, garnish with green onions.

Makes 6 servings.

Frugal Feasting Friday

2010-10-08T15:24:00.003-05:00

This past Saturday I had the following conversation with my EJ.

Mom: "Hey EJ, would you like a treat after you finish cleaning the hen house and coop?"

EJ: "Oh Yes! What kind of treat?"

Mom: "How about a banana split?"

EJ: "OH!! Yes, Yes, Yes!!"

This very excited response is immediately followed by a sudden pause of silence. Then ...

EJ: "Mom, what's a banana split?"

How's that for terrible parenting? My poor, deprived, little EJ has lived a long life of 8 years and doesn't even know what a banana split is!! How, oh! how can this be?

It is because poor, deprived, little EJ's mom is a MAJOR TIGHTWAD. I realistically can not bring myself to spend $3 or more on a banana split Sunday at Dairy Queen, Sonic, Baskin Robbins, Marble Slab or any other specialty ice cream shop. Especially when we lovely folks down here in S.E. Texas have all the Blue Bell ice cream those folks at the Blue Bell ice cream factory can not finish eating. Why, there simply is not a store bought ice cream better than Blue Bell. (for those of you who don't have the privilege of Blue Bell, I extend my sympathies... everyone down here knows that at Blue Bell, "they eat all they can and sell the rest" - they really do ... employees can literally eat all the ice cream they want for free directly before their shifts, on breaks or directly after their shifts).

I usually have only one flavored dessert sauce on hand at any given time hence, usually a plain old Sunday not the extravagance of a banana split. However, this past Saturday I felt industrious and made three, yes THREE flavors. The total costs of all three homemade sauces & whipped cream, the ice cream, and the bananas is a little more than $12. However, by making the sauces and whipped cream myself and purchasing the Blue Bell and bananas from the grocer, I can make around 10 banana splits. That's only a cost of about $1.30 each vs. the $3 ea., or more, from the specialty store.

So, this Frugal Feasting Friday I'm going to share recipes for homemade dessert sauces with you. Please remember these sauces are also very yummy over pancakes, waffles, French toast, brownies, etc. Best of all these sauces take less than 10 minutes from start to finish to make :-)

Homemade Hershey's Chocolate Sauce

2 c. granulated sugar

1 c. water

1/2 c. unsweetened Hershey's Cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

In a large sauce pan whisk together the sugar, water and cocoa powder. Heat, stirring constantly over medium heat. When mixture comes to a full rolling boil stir and boil for a full 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla and salt. Allow to come to room temperature before pouring into a pint size jar. Store in the refrigerator.

Homemade Butterscotch Sauce

1 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. milk

1/3 c. butter (do not substitute margarine)

1/4 c. corn syrup

1/8 tsp. salt

In a large sauce pan combine all ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Boil and stir for a full 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Pour into a pint jar. Store in the refrigerator. This sauce will thicken up while in the fridge. Just scoop some out into a small bowl and soften either in a hot water bath or in the microwave.

Homemade Strawberry Sauce

2 c. sugar

1 c. chopped strawberries

1/3 c. water

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is melted. Remove mixture from heat and pour into a blender or food processor. Process until smooth. Return mixture to pan and bring mixture to a boil stirring frequently. Once the mixture begins to boil stir constantly and boil for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Pour into a pint sized jar, store in the refrigerator. NOTE: with the exception of bananas, you can substitute any of your favorite fruits (fresh, canned or frozen), in this recipe.

Back To (Home)School ...

2010-10-03T20:30:00.005-05:00

During the past week or so I've read a few blogs and it seems most folks have "back to school" posts up. Since we home school year round, taking time off as needed for Mr. B's travel schedule (aka visits home), family visits, holidays, etc., we generally don't have any "back to school" trauma, events, expenses ... yes, I said expenses.

I was shocked to learn that my neighbor's kindergartner's school supply list included items such as a flash drive, dry erase markers, file folders in various colors, post-it notes, etc. I was even more shocked to find that after refusing to purchase items such as the flash drive, dry erase markers, etc., her little kindergartner's school supply list still cost more than $135.00!! My neighbor stated that if she had purchased everything on "the list", she would have been out more than $200.00 ... AND her child will not bring a single school supply item home at the end of the year. This, of course, does not include the expenses of school clothes and the $2.10 per day school lunches.

I remember when my older boys were in public school and the supply lists began morphing into an office supply vs. a school supply list. I was one of "those" parents who would stay up until 2AM writing, in permanent marker, my child's name on EVERY item I sent off in his back pack. Yup, I labeled every single file folder, box of chalk and pencil with my child's name. As I remember, back then the school never returned the crayons, pencil bag/box, map pencils, etc. at the end of the year either.

Thus, I come to the point of my post. Many parents have told me they'd love to home educate their children, but they simply can't afford it. They assume the curriculum is too expensive. Most parents, we certainly always have, generally keep "real" school supplies (glue, scissors, constructions paper, crayons, colored map pencils, etc.) on hand at home for various crafts and entertainment. When adding up the expenses of public education, I continually wonder how anyone can afford public school?
"School" Supplies
$200.00 per child

Lunches - our district attends school 183 days per year (yeah, one could always brown bag it, my older boys did, but I seriously do not personally know a single family whose children take their lunches to school now days.)
$384.40 per child

Field Trip (budgeting for only ONE per year)
$15.00 per child

That's a total of $599.40 per child and that does not include school clothes/uniforms OR extra curricular activities such as, cheer leading, sports, cosmetology, art, etc.

May, 2010 was our seven year anniversary since we chose to liberate our family from our state's public school system. After visiting with my neighbor, I decided to figure out exactly how much money we've spent on curriculum home educating our children during the past 7 years. (I am a type "A" personality and thus, a record keeper - I have all my home education receipts on file). During the past 7 years, we've spent a total of $2,582.24 on home schooling curriculum, that's an average of $368.89 per year for up to 3 students. We haven't purchased "school" clothes in seven years. Our kiddos have play/work clothes and church clothes. Since we home school, we don't need "school" clothes or uniforms.

Our first year home schooling was our most expensive year as we were educating only 1 child. Years 2-4 we educated 2, year 5 we were educating 3, years 6&7 we are now back down to 2 (JP, our 1st child to home school, was graduated from high school 2 years ago). I have met several home educating families who spend upwards of $2,500.00 or more per year, per child. Because of this, many often wonder how we educate our children so frugally. Here's a few things I do: (And believe it or not, I've actually met folks who home educate for as little as $50 per year, per student!).

1. We do not participate in satellite schools, distance learning schools or programs that take care of record keeping, etc. These "services" are, in my opinion, very expensive AND I personally think they restrict our family's personal freedom in educational choices. When using these programs / services the family must use the program's/ service's curriculum, one is restricted to grading period deadlines (not good for families who travel often), etc.

2. We do not use computer dependent curriculum. Not only are they expensive, can not be re-sold, but we can not save it and pass it down to younger children because of expiration dates.

3. We search for, find and purchase used text books and teacher's manuals. After all, if my kiddos were in public school they'd be issued used text books. Used curriculum is literally 1/2 the cost of new. 95% of ours is purchased through our local home school curriculum stores.

4. Because of an 8 year gap between JP and OG, when JP had completed his curriculum to our satisfaction, we re-sold the books. Our local home school curriculum stores will buy back used curriculum at 25% the cost of new. Occasionally, I've sold our used curriculum to other home schoolers at 50% the cost of new, so I've always recouped 50 %-100% of our initial investment (remember, I generally purchase used curriculum at 1/2 the cost of new).

5. There is only 3 years between OG and EJ, thus I save OG's curriculum to use with EJ. When EJ finishes to our satisfaction, I re-sell that used (twice by our family) curriculum which allows us to recoup at least 25% of our initial investment.

6. We use the public library. After all, our tax dollars have already purchased all those books.

7. If we need the sort of information generally found in an encyclopedia, we use the internet to look it up.

8. Many of our school supplies have been in our craft cabinet for years. We only add to them when needed. Thus, we literally spend less than $15.00 per year on consumables like glue, construction paper and maybe a new box of crayons every now and then.

Hummmm, $368.89 divided by 3 = $122.96 per student (WoW! that year we spent less than the public school supply list for all our curriculum).
$368.89 divided by 2 = $184.45 per student (WoW! still less than the public school supply list!)

Well, after considering how much money we've saved by home educating, I don't think our family can afford to place our children in public school ... Not that we'd ever want to go back to that ...

Oldest Man In the U.S.

2010-09-21T17:14:00.003-05:00

I am sure many of you saw this ( http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100921/ap_on_re_us/us_world_s_oldest_man ) article on the yahoo news today. If you didn't, it is worth a "click" and short read. The gentleman pictured at right is named Walter Breuning. He was born in 1898, that makes him 114 years old.

As I read this story, I thought of Mr. B's wonderful grandmother who as born in 1912. I also thought of all the history Mr. Breuning and Granny, as we all liked to call Mr. B's grandmother, experienced through out their lives.

I always enjoyed visits with Mr. B's Granny, because she always had so many first hand accounts of history to tell. She was also eager to share not only the events but also the mood and thoughts of her generation and culture during the many changes she witnessed. Sometimes I think I garnished more from her, regarding 20th century history, than from all the stacks of history books I've read.

Since I lived a significant portion of my childhood with my own grandmother, who was 60 years my senior, I've always held our older generations in high esteem. Many of them have a wisdom, a hind sight, and of course experiences that all of us could learn from, if we'd only allow them teach us.

If you have an elder in your family or neighborhood, I urge you to spend some time with them. I promise as they share their life's history and perspective, you will be abundantly blessed with a wealth of knowledge and information you never expected to receive.

An Announcment ...

2010-09-01T22:26:00.006-05:00

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, our daughter, OG, was graduated and "Crowned" as an "Honor Star" from the Missionnettes Stars Program.

"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: That ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing; being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Colossians 1:9-12 (KJV)

We are proud of her accomplishments and look forward to her continued growth in the Lord.

Today's Frugal Feast

2010-08-22T13:50:00.013-05:00

... Sounds like a good blog title, doesn't it? ( Hmmm, looking over my archived posts, realizing how many recipes I've posted, AND admitting that I am a MAJOR foodie, maybe it is time to change my blog title. ) Oh! sorry, just thinking out loud ...

Aside from cooking and eating good food, what do I like to do best? Save money while cooking or eating good food! Eating well doesn't have be expensive. It does, however, take a little time, imagination and creativity.

The daily food budget for our family is $13.15 per day. This amount feeds my family breakfast, dinner, supper, desserts, snacks, special meals with guests and holiday meals. But I am always trying to come in well under the $13.15 plan. Let's take a look and see if I came in under budget today.

Breakfast $0.84 per person
(served 2 people, I wasn't hungry this morning)
peanut butter & jelly on a large slice of toast, orange wedges, 8oz. glass of milk
slice of homemade bread = $0.04 ea.
homemade jelly = $0.10 tsp.
peanut butter = $0.07 tbsp.
oranges = $0.34 ea.
milk = $0.29 per serving

Dinner $1.40 per person
(served 3 people)
BBQ chicken sandwiches, cowboy beans, dump cake, water
homemade bbq sauce = $0.07 tbsp. (I used 2 tablespoons per serving)
leftover roasted chicken = $0.45 per serving
homemade cowboy beans = $0.27 per serving
thinly sliced onion = $0.04 per person
bread & butter pickle slices = $0.16 per serving
dump cake = $0.34 per serving

Supper $0.61 per person
(served 2 people, Sunday is my Sabbath & I do not eat an evening meal on Sundays)
garden salad, leftover cowboy beans, water
garden salad = $0.34 per serving
homemade cowboy beans = $0.27 per serving

Grand Total for today = $7.10 including dessert!
How would a family of four fared today if everyone ate every meal? $11.40, OR $1.75 under budget. What will I do with the leftover funds? Well, apply it to another meal later in the week or month (or maybe I could add it to my shoe fund ...), OH! sorry, I was thinking out loud again.

I am sure many of you are familiar with the old standard cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple dump cake recipe. However, as part of today's Frugal Feast, I decided to use what I had on hand vs. purchasing additional items, ie. canned cherry pie filling and canned crushed pineapple. As you know, I am always frugal minded while in my kitchen.

Frugal Feast Dump Cake
(12 servings)

1 box yellow cake mix
OR
2 c. cake flour, 1 1/2 c. sugar, 3 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt

1 qt. homemade pear pie filling
2 peaches, pitted and peeled & tossed in 2 tsp. lemon juice to prevent browning
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
zest of one orange

In a greased 9"x13" baking pan spread pear pie filling. Evenly distribute sliced peaches over pie filling.

Evenly sprinkle cake mix over pie filling and fruit mixture. Do Not stir.

Evenly drizzle melted butter over cake mix.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 50 minutes, until golden and bubbly.

ENJOY!

Please take the liberty of substituting any combination of fruit filling, like I did with my homemade pear pie filling and peaches - you never know, the combination just might be a blue ribbon winner. Note: if you really want to WOW your family serve dump cake warm with a dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream, Mmmmmm!

A Little Homemade This & That

2010-08-08T18:46:00.009-05:00

For the past 13 years I've fed my family on a budget of $400 per month. Thirteen years ago I was feeding a family of 6. During the past eight years our older boys have grown up and set out on their own so, I am now feeding a family of 4 on the same $400 per month. BUT let me tell you, that $400 per month certainly doesn't go as far as it did 2 years ago, let alone 13 years ago. One must also keep in mind that since Mr. B is currently living very far from home, my $400 grocery budget is divided between two households. Now, Mr. B doesn't have extravagant dining habits, but he certainly isn't quite as frugal as I am when in the kitchen and certainly not in the grocery store. His lack of knowledge when it comes to cooking from scratch has reminded me how very expensive pre-prepared foods are.

Most folks who know me personally, know I generally shop only the dairy and produce departments of our local grocer. Throughout the years I have sought and found less expensive alternative food sources for bulk foods such as flours, cornmeal, oats, grits, sugars, honey, spices, olive and cooking oils, etc. Mr. B enjoys hunting and fishing, and has plenty of friends who enjoy the same, this has kept my freezer well stocked for more than a decade. Until this summer we have also enjoyed many harvests from our vegetable garden. I've maintained my little herb patch and we continue to enjoy a few fresh and home dried herbs.

On a recent trip to the grocer I took a stroll down the spice and ethnic foods isle. Since most of my spices are purchased in bulk from sources other than the local grocer, I was utterly SHOCKED at how expensive some of these little bitty 2 oz. or less bottles of spices were - some were almost $7! Even the typical spice blends were outrageously priced. For example, a brand name 1 oz. foil package of taco seasoning was more than $2 - the generic store brand was closer to $1.30, but that still had me taking a second look just to be sure I didn't need to schedule a vision exam. I thought, "Are these people serious? $1.30 for a 1 oz. package of seasoning?"

With all that said, I, very long windily, come to the point of this post. I have for you today two homemade spice blends AND a recipe for Dragon Sauce, which is similar to sweet-n-sour sauce which, by the way, we love for dipping our egg rolls in when I make my fried rice supper. When compared to the grocery store prices, these recipes can be made for pennies on the dollar. I also suspect they are healthier since they don't contain anti-caking agents, MSG or many other ingredients that most of us have a hard time pronouncing.

Taco Seasoning Mix

2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. dried onion powder or dried onion flakes
1/2 tsp. salt
1/s tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, add to ground meat just as you would a store bought foil package.

Asian Spice Blend
(I use this in my fried rice and spicy stir fried noodles)

1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. lemon grass
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground tumeric
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt

This recipe makes about 3 tablespoons of spice. I generally add all of it to my fried rice ( http://herpeculiarlife.blogspot.com/2008/10/fun-week.html ) and spicy stir fried noodles (http://herpeculiarlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/stir-fried-noodles.html ), HOWEVER, we like ours spicy. I suggest that you start with only 1 tablespoon of this spice blend and add more accordingly for your and your family's personal pallets.

Dragon Sauce
(similar to sweet-n-sour sauce found in many Asian restaurants. - Try basting it over baked chicken ... Mmmmm good!)

3 cups fruit nectar (you know, the liquid from canned fruit you generally pour down the drain)
3 tblsp. cornstarch
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. vinegar
1 1/2 tblsp. soy sauce

In a small bowl or mixing cup whisk together 1/2 c. fruit nectar and cornstarch until smooth. In a medium sauce pan combine 2 1/2 cups fruit nectar, sugar, vinegar and soy sauce; when mixture begins to simmer, stir in cornstarch mixture. Stir continuously until sauce is thickened and transparent. Store left overs covered in the refrigerator. Makes 3 cups. Note: Instead of pouring canned fruit nectar down the drain, collect it in a freezer container and thaw when you have collected enough to make dragon sauce.

Pinching Pennies

2010-08-06T14:59:00.003-05:00

Hey Guys!

This morning I read an article on yahoo news by Amy Bell entitled "5 Generic Products That Are Just As Good".

In these tough economic times, if you aren't purchasing the generic products mentioned in this article, you may want to give them a try. If you find they are just as good as name brand, as Ms. Bell has found, you have nothing to loose and plenty of your hard earned cash to save.

Here's the link to the article:

http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-110214-6160-2-5-generic-products-that-are-just-as-good?ywaad=ad0035

Psalm 143

2010-08-03T07:35:00.005-05:00

Hear my prayer, O Lord,

Give ear to my supplications!

In Your faithfulness answer me,

And in Your righteousness.

Do not enter into judgement with Your servant,

For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

For the enemy has persecuted my soul;

He has crushed my life to the ground;

He has made me dwell in darkness,

Like those who have long been dead.

Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me,

My heart within me is distressed.

I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Your works;

I muse on the work of Your hands.

I spread out my hands to You;

My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.

Answer me speedily, O Lord;

My spirit fails!

Do not hide Your face from me,

Lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,

For in You I trust;

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,

For I lift up my soul to You.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;

In You I take shelter.

Teach me to do Your will,

For You are my God;

Your spirit is good.

Lead me in the land of uprightness.

Revive me, O Lord, for Your name's sake!

For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

In Your mercy cut off my enemies,

And destroy all those who afflict my soul;

For I am Your servant.

(Psalm 143 NKJV)

Pantry Cooking

2010-07-25T18:53:00.004-05:00

After 20 months of Mr. B working and living almost 2,000 miles away from home, Mr. B and I have decided to go ahead and sell our house here in S.E. Texas, move the family close to his employment, and rent while continuing our search for the right home. Since our house is officially up for sale, I have been and will continue to cook from my pantry stores. I'd like to use up as much of our "stock" as possible before packing up to move. With this in mind, today, I decided to use up one of the quarts of pear pie filling I have stored and bake a beautiful pear pie.

I have gleaned several resources for this pear pie. For the decorative top crust, I was inspired by the stunning fruit pie photo found on pg. 63 of "Taste of Home's" Aug./Sept. 2010 publication. My pie crust recipe is adapted from the 1st recipe found on pg. 182 in "Amish Cooking" by Pathway Publishers - this is , by far, the BEST pie crust I've ever eaten. The pear pie filling is adapted from the Apple Pie Filling recipe found on pg. 91 of the "Ball Blue Book of Preserving". Below is my pear pie recipe:

Pear Pie Filling (adapted from Apple Pie Filling pg. 91, Ball Blue Book of Preserving)
Yield: about 3 quarts

6 lb. pears, peeled, cored and sliced
2 c. sugar
1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 tbls. lemon juice

Toss pear slices in a small amount of lemon juice to prevent darkening. Combine the sugar, flour and spices. Drain the pears; stir into the sugar mixture. Let stand until juices begin to flow, about 30 minutes. Stir in 2 tbls. lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until mixture begins to thicken. Ladle pie filling into sterilized quart jars, leaving 1/2 in. head space, remove air bubbles, top with lids and screw on bands. Place in boiling water canner, fill with hot water 2 in. over lids. Cover and bring to a rolling boil. Boil 45 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Place hot jars on cooling racks and allow to cool down to room temperature. You should hear the "ping" of the lids sealing as the jars cool down. Label, date and store in a cool dry place for up to one year.

Pie Crust (adapted from pg. 182, Amish Cooking by Pathway Publishers)
Yield: 2 single crust pies OR 1 double crust pie
2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. vegetable shortening
1 egg
5 Tbls. ice cold water
1 tsp. white vinegar

Sift the flours, spices and salt into a medium sized bowl. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture until mixture forms course crumbs. Beat the egg; add the water and vinegar. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Stir with a fork until a soft dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured pastry cloth. Gently kneed the dough, 3-4 times (DO NOT kneed the dough excessively). Divide the dough in half. Form the halves into disks and roll out, using a cloth covered rolling pin, until it is about 2 inches larger than the lip of your pie plate. "Roll" the dough around the rolling pin, transfer to the edge of the pie plate and "unroll" the dough into the pie plate. Repeat with other half of dough.

Assembling the Pear Pie

Prepare the above pie crust recipe. Line the pie plate with bottom half of the pie crust. Pour 1 quart of pear pie filling into bottom crust. Top the pie filling with other half of the crust. Trim and crimp edges, cut vent holes, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 -40 minutes or until pie crust is golden brown.
Note: to make the decorative top shown in the above photo, after rolling out the top crust, cut it into 4 1/2 inch and 2 1/2 inch long "petal" shaped strips. From the middle of the pie, fan the 4 1/2 inch strips out to the edge of the pie plate. "Fill in" the spaces by fanning the 2 1/2 inch strips around the pie. Cut a few small round "disks" and place them on the center to resemble the center of a flower. There is no need to cut steam vents into this decorative top crust as it is not a "solid" crust. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and bake as directed above.
Yield: 6 large slices, 8 medium slices, or 10 small slices

Romans 8:28

2010-07-05T11:48:00.004-05:00

(photo courtsey of www.photobucket.com)
Hey Y'all!

I am SOOO excited ... Last week I clicked in over at Mrs. M's blog, Frugal Home Living,(http://www.frugalhomeliving.blogspot.com/), to find she was holding a give-a-way for a gift certificate to CSN on-line stores. Since Hurricane Alex was making its way toward the S.W. Texas coastline, she shared her frightening childhood memories of going through Hurricane Alicia. She asked her readers to, in turn, share their own storm memories as part of her give-a-way competition.
I never expected to win when I shared my own terrifying memories of Hurricane Alicia - (isn't amazing how bloggers can live so close to each other, or find out they grew up near each other, and yet, most have never met in real life?).
I have won very few competitions in my life, so I never expected my storm experience to even put me in the running for a win. But, you know, God's Word tells us in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (KJV)
Thank you Mrs. M for selecting me! I feel so very honored.