From the Kitchen ...

Now that our weather has turned cold and old man winter has brought us our 1st real snow, 6" not a little dusting like the photos from a couple weeks ago, I have had the opportunity to spend more time in the kitchen.  I've started baking bread again & thanks to a tip from my dear friend, Mrs.A, Mr.B LOVES it.  Despite being uninspired lately, I've also been planning our meals again.  OG & EJ have been joining me in the kitchen by preparing one supper meal each week & cleaning the kitchen one evening each.

This week's meal plan includes the following:

Sunday - mock chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans
Monday - tamale pie, Mexican corn
Tuesday -crock pot vegetable soup, bread & butter
Wednesday - homemade pizzas: spinach pesto, sausage & green pepper
Thursday - EJ's night: meatloaf, broccoli, corn
Friday - OG's night: Salisbury steak w/ gravy, macaroni & cheese, carrots
Saturday - spaghetti w/ meatballs, garlic bread sticks

What are your supper plans this week?

Curiosity Got the Cat

Not long after dinner today, I was working in my office.  OG was upstairs practicing guitar in her bedroom.  EJ was supposed to be in the basement den playing with his farm set & Lego's.  Suddenly, I hear a muffled cry, "HELP! HELP!".  It's EJ's voice.  I hurry to the kitchen threshold and call out, "Where are you?"  As OG comes running down the stairs, EJ hollers, "Downstairs!"  I rush down the basement stairs and find that EJ decided to TEST his coon/fox trap.  Well, it works!

As funny as we all thought this was at the moment, I am thankful we weren't outside working, or worse, he wasn't outside in our current 12 degree, 6" deep snow testing his trap where we couldn't have heard his cries.

Another Granny Square Afghan

While away on my blogging break, I used my spare time to complete this twin sized granny square afghan.  This colorful afghan was created with remnant yarns collected from other projects and 2nd hand stores.  I love its bright cheeriness, don't you?

What Kept Us Busy?

Now that I've returned from my blogging break, I thought I share a "few" photos highlighting some of the things that kept us so occupied.

1.  Mr. B spent several weekends working with the littles on their shooting.

OG missed that one.

EJ not only shot this one but a total of 9 out of 10

2.  4-H and County Fair

OG & Samson receiving a blue ribbon in the 4-H dog show

EJ's Best in Show for his archery display

OG's Best in Show for her shotgun display

EJ with his Interview judge for his shotgun project

The front of our 4-H club's parade float

No one ever told Mr. B the b-day hat should go on TOP of his head!

Just a cutie riding in the county fair parade

3.  Hauled home and stored 35 straw bales for our chickens, lambs and garden.

4.  EJ's and OG's 1st day of school.

All dressed and eager to go ...

... to 1880's country school!

EJ at his seat w/ his slate behind him.

Recess!

The 1880's school room.

5.  Grandpa had another birthday!!

Chocolate cake w/ chocolate frosting is Grandpa's favorite.

 6.  More tractor & clean up work.

 7.  EJ played pee wee football and had a TON of fun!!

Although the orange team has the ball in this photo, our blue team was undefeated this season.

EJ is down front in the nose guard position

 8.  Food preservation - this may seem like a lot to some folks, but if the freeze had not got our garden so early, we'd have had 2-3 times this.  As much as we harvested, we are still a very long way from supplying our family for a year.

33 qts. carrots; 60 pts. green beans; 12 qts. spaghetti sauce; 4 pts. salsa; 7 1/2 qts. dill pickles; 15 pts. bread & butter pickles; 3 1/2 pts. bell peppers; 6 1/2 pts. green onions; 8 qts. zucchini; 9 qts. yellow squash; 2 gal. broccoli; 14 pts. turnips; 29 cantaloupes; 1 pumpkin

Well, that's some of what we've been up to during the past couple months.  I am now preparing for Christmas.  I have two of the children's homemade gifts completed & 3 more to go.  Upon completion, if I have any time left I will make a few gifts for extended family and close friends.

What have you been up to?  Are you finished or just getting started with your Christmas preparations?

Looking for Encouragement?

Yes, I am a conservative person.  I hold to and practice very conservative beliefs and ideas.  Needless to say the 2012 election results are a huge disappointment to me.  Fortunately, God has placed wonderful people in my life who are blessed with the gift of encouragement.

For those of you who, like me, may need some encouragement regarding the elections please stop by Marcia Wilwerding's blog, eHomebody.com and read her post entitled, "A Word of Encouragement to Godly Women Following the Election 2012".  Her post is most uplifting.  Here's a link:

http://ehomebody.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-word-of-encouragement-to-godly-women.html

Praying you find blessings in your day,
Mrs.B