Christian homemaking

Bad blogger bad bad blogger-goodbye for now

2011-09-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

I have figured out that I only blog when it is easy and convenient for me. I know that is selfish and I am sorry to any of you that had any hope of me putting out regular posts.
All I have ever really wanted in life was to plant roots deep and have a quiet life. I have finally come the the realization that is never going to happen for me. I am constantly uprooted and tossed about on the wind. Half the time I don't know if I am coming or going. Right now my only focus ( despite having to move and having no where to move to) is getting my daughter through school and ready for life away from mom and dad. I really just want to quit everything right now ,God wants me to be a vagabond and I hate it and it makes me depressed. I honestly don't care about church or moving or any productive thing I could be or should be doing. It feels like it is all too much and that I am drowning. I hate thinking about my son it makes me unbearably sad. I go back and forth between praying for him and trying to forget I ever had a son. I am simply just a shell of myself going though the motions to keep my household running. I promise to blog again when I can pull myself together. Again I am sorry I have not done all the wonderful things that I had so hoped to do.

The Parable of the Lost Son

2011-04-24T10:49:00.001-07:00

¹¹ Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. ¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. ¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
²⁰ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring^[b] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ²⁴ for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
²⁸ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. ³⁰ But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
³¹ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. ³² It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

The brown sugar video

2011-03-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

I have broken this up into 3 short videos so you didn't have to watch 5 min. of mixing. : )
So the ingredients are: 1 cup of sugar and 2 Tablespoons molasses
Instructions: Pour 1 cup of sugar into mixer add 2 TB molasses to sugar . Turn mixer onto stir or low setting for the initial mix and the up to the first or second setting to mix . Mix for about 5 min. stopping once or twice to stir any molasses off the sides of the bowl and back into the sugar.

Brown sugar slightly postponed.

2011-03-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

I'm very sorry I didn't get the brown sugar video up this week but I expect to have it done for you and up on the site in the next few days. : )

Stay tuned- next week - Brown sugar

2011-03-09T15:36:00.000-08:00

Next week I will be posting a video on how to make brown sugar at home.

You might say well I don't use it very often and its pretty cheep to buy. That's OK this is good to know in case you have the (emergency ) oh no, I don't have enough or I forgot to get some at the store or even for something you decided to whip up at the spur of the moment. Like croutons this is easy and good to know how to do.

Croutons from Scratch

2011-03-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

Ingredient list:
4 slices of bread
2 TB Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. each of seasonings
2 TB olive oil

Instructions:
cut bread into 1 inch cubes
They can be sliced with a knife ,cut with scissors or torn for a rustic look. They can be cut smaller if you prefer but remember to cut the cooking time to compensate for the smaller cubes.
Choose your seasoning ,your cheese and your oil.
Mix your seasoning ,cheese and oil into a small bowl
then pour in bread cubes and toss well.
Put in 325 degree oven and bake for 10 to 15 min. or until crisp to the touch.

I hope you enjoyed this video and are ready to make some croutons of your own. : )

Ladies you have been heard

2011-03-02T10:34:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your comments. I am really excited to start this !
Videos on from scratch cooking is definitely doable.

I love to try out new things in the kitchen and I have had hits and misses for sure.

I am going to start with spices because they are a fun way to liven up foods you already make.

Have you ever added a little dried yellow curry to your mac n cheese ?

Understanding spices

This link will tell the main uses for most of the herbs and spices in your kitchen.

But with that said, You shouldn't be afraid to try an herb or spice in a new way.

Cinnamon

This is one just for cinnamon

My oatmeal cookie recipe uses cardamom

Spices
a visual tour

A red powder made from grinding dried sweet red peppers; used as a garnish and seasoning. The color varies from bright orange-red to deep red, depending on the peppers used. Most commercial paprika comes from Spain, South America, California and Hungary. Hungarian paprika is thought to be the finest, and will be labelled as from the Szeged region. In Hungary there are six classes or types of paprika ranging from delicate to hot. To maintain the stronger taste that consumers expect, some spice companies add cayenne to heat up Hungarian paprika. Commercial food manufacturers use paprika to add color. If a food item is colored red, orange or reddish brown and the label lists "Natural Color," it is likely paprika. Paprika releases its color and flavor when heated. Thus, sprinkling ground paprika over colorless dishes may improve their appearance, but does little for their flavor. Similarly, if you want to color the contents of a dish, stir the paprika into a little hot oil before adding.
Ingredient
Season: available year-round
How to store: Paprika deteriorates quickly, so it should be purchased in small quantities and stored in a cool, dark place for no more than 6 months.
Matches well with: cauliflower, chicken, crab, fish, goulash, lamb, potatoes, rice, shellfish, stroganoff, veal
The info above is from Food.com

I like to use smoked paprika in potatoes and cheese sauces.

Curry ,turmeric and paprika can all be used to color foods in small amounts. Which I learned from trail and error trying to color my homemade mac and cheese. My personal preference is paprika because it imparts a nice color and a nice flavor. As a side note a tsp. of hot sauce in a large dish of baked mac n cheese really takes it to a whole new level.

My next personal favorite spice is CHILI POWDER which is actually a mixture of spices. It also has variations of hotness.
Chili Powder recipe

I like to buy most of my spices in the bulk section at Winco Foods , I know it has equivalents in most states here in the U.S. It a warehouse type store. You will pay significantly less for your spices. Now I said most because there are certain spices they just have not carried in the bulk.
How long can bottled spices be kept; what is the shelf life?

They don't go bad but they will lose flavor over time.

Next is spice storage :

Store in cool place away from light. Do not store in a window or in sunlight. Heat and light are not a friend to your spices. With that said I keep my most used spices right out on the stove because they will not last long enough to be affected enough for me to tell. Now all of my lesser used spices are in a drawer away from the heat of the stove.

Those of you who know me know that I don't like onions or garlic. I do use both onion and garlic powder sparingly in some of my cooking. That is what led me into a whole world of other spices just waiting to be explored.

This is a list of spices I use all the time: creole seasoning,black pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, yellow curry, cayenne, dry mustard. I also use several kinds of salt. I only use regular salt to put in boiling water for pasta and in baking because otherwise the amount called for is affected. So alternatively in my cooking I use either kosher salt, Sea salts- flake salt (larger than kosher) I like it on home fries, fine and coarse .

I hope this has been helpful and please post any questions on spices that you have. This was really kind of an overview but I can certainly write about any specific spices and how you could use it.

Like to cook ? Hate to cook? tell me why !

2011-02-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

Watch for up coming post on cooking for the kitchen impaired.
Please leave comments and questions about what you would like to see or know about.
I will even try to make a video if you would like.

We will be discussing things like : What is that spice ? and What do I do with it?
How much can I really do with a crock pot?
I will also tell where I was, Where I am and where I want to be. Cooking wise that is. : )

Love: More than a feeling

2011-01-28T22:59:00.000-08:00

We are assured of God's love again and again in scripture and in Christ's death for us.
Romans 5:8 ; 1 John 4:9,10
Love isn't simply to make us feel good. Rather it is an action that often demands very practical and even uncomfortable ways of giving love.

Love is NOT optional- We are COMMANDED to love one another. ( 1 John 3:11, 23 ; 4:11)
Love IS demonstrative- Our love for God is demonstrated in how we love others. ( 1 John 3:14; 4:7, 20)
Love is ACTIVE, an act of the will- We must DO acts of love. If we close our eyes to the needs of others,our love for God is called into question. ( 1 John 3:17)
Love is Responsive- We can love because we have first been loved and are loved by God.(1 John 4:19) God's love causes us to respond lovingly to others. ( 1 John 4:21)
A few other scriptures to read : Romans 5:8; 1 Cor. 13:13; 1 John 5; 1 Cor.13; Gen. 2; 2 Sam.6;
Prov. 5; Hos. 2; Amos 3; 2 Cor. 13; Heb.12; Song 2

Deeper love ...
down to our very soul
It's there we have an anchor who will not let us go;
The Lord who calmed the sea is the One who sees us through;
He's given us...a deeper love.
By: Diane Machen

All About Love
Question    Answer    Reference
The source of love                         God                 1 John 4:7-10,16
The model of love    Christ 1 John 3:16
The manifestation of
love by believers Love for others    1 John 4:21
The extent of love Sacrifice of life    1 John 3:16
The results of love    Abiding presence
   of God and life 1 John 4:12,16; 1 John 3:14

Lord, You are the beginning, the end,
and the very essence of love in me
. Open my eyes to see as You
see and love others through me.
By: Sandy Smith

The attributes of love reflect both feelings and loving acts .( 1 Cor.13:4-8.) True love is characterized as :
patient and slow to anger
kind and gentle to all
unselfish and giving
truthful and honest
hopeful and encouraging
enduring,without end.

Love:
Agape (gk.) -Indicates a choice to serve God, to love your neighbor,to accept without expecting something in return

Love:
Philos (Gk.) -Refers to esteem and affection reflected in the loving concern friends have for one another.

Eros (Gk.) -Describes appetitive, self-centered love, including sexual desire and physical craving.

Stergos (Gk.)- Alludes to affection, especially among family members.

Homemaking in the Bible

2011-01-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

Household tasks

Women have traditionally invested much of their time in the daily tasks that are necessary for maintaining the family household. These things are commended in PROVERBS 31:10-31 and the admonition instructing women to be "homemakers" (Greek oikourgos, Literally means "homeworkers" in Titus 2:5
These tasks were routine :

drawing water ( Genesis 24:19,20,43,44)
grinding grain ( Isaiah 47:2 ; Matthew 24:41 ; Luke 17:35)
spinning wool, weaving fabric, making clothing, laundry (Provervs 31:13 ; Acts9:36-42)
preparing food (Proverbs 31:21)
caring for children (Proverbs 31:210

Social tasks

offering welcome, food, and rest. HOSPITALITY (Genesis 18:6 ; 1 Timothy 5:10)

Spiritual tasks

Women have always played a vital role in the spiritual nurture of their children. They,by nature of time invested and their own natural nurturing skills, have a unique role of influence and responsibility for instruction.

Shaping the spiritual values of children (Deuteronomy 6:7-9 ; Proverbs 31:21 ; 2 Timothy 1:3-5)
Preparing for the Sabbath- filling the oil lamps, cooking special foods in advance of the Sabbath, drawing extra water.
For many generations in Judaism, the wife and mother has prayed for her family after lighting the candles on the Sabbath.
Someone in the family would then recite Proverbs 31:10-31 in her honor. (how awesome is that?)

Ladies: to those of you who work either because you want to or by circumstance have no other choice I say this to you: We have been sold a lie ! We cannot have it all ! When we attempt to have it all something or someone will suffer. Be honest enough to realize that work or home takes the higher place in your life.
It is almost always home that suffers most because work leaves no room for home nor does it care.
Home is more forgiving and more neglected. It takes a huge amount of time and energy to keep a house in tip top shape -husband and children fed home cooked meals -and your time and love given to each of them.
Being home is a full time job their is no doubt about it. If you work outside the home you are only working part-time in your home.
I often hear women say things like that a clean house is overrated and home cooked meals are not important.
I don't believe them I believe it is a defense mechanism formed out of guilt from not fully caring for their home.
I know this because I did it myself. Working ladies I do not tell you this too be hateful. What I am asking is that we do not continue to spread this lie that you can work and have family without any loss. It doesn't mean they still cannot choose to work but they need to know it with their eyes wide open.
In my own case when I worked both home and work suffered because my allegiance was split between the two.
I know the first thing some of you will say is that there are women that worked outside the home in the Bible.
Yes this is true. I am not saying it is wrong to hold a job. I am saying holding a job and caring for a household is more hours than there are in a day and you will never do both fully.

Headship: servant leadership

2011-01-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

Headship is a responsibility that a man should assume with much humility and not with pride-fullness.
As defined in scripture it is first assigned to man during the act of creation.
Man was created first (Gen. 2:7) and woman created as his helper so he was not alone in his dominion over the world. (Gen. 2:18)
She was always part of God's devine plan for fellowship,continuing the generations, and doing the work of God. (Gen.1:26-28)
This is verified when Adam is ultimately responsible for for their disobedience because he received the directive concerning the forbidden fruit directly from God. (Gen. 2:15-17; 1 Tim. 2:14) Eve was only aware of the command through her husband.
The apostle Paul clarified how headship was established as he reiterated the order of creation and stated that the woman was created for man not the other way around. (1 Cor. 11:2-12)

Paul did not appeal to the curse on man or the fall as a reason for man's headship; rather ,he appealed to the act of and purpose for the woman's creation before the fall.
Marriage was designed by God to be a picture of his own relationship with his people,then to pattern the relationship between Christ and his church.
The fall introduced sin and the relationship between man and woman was distorted.: Loving servant headship was replaced by tyranny and a desire for power or indifference and or unwillingness to offer spiritual leadership.

In biblical headship , the husband is assigned the primary responsibility for Christlike, servant leadership in the home. (Eph. 5:23-29) The wife is then expected to respond in honoring and affirming her husband's leadership ( Eph. 5:21,22,33 ; 1 Pet. 3:1-4)

A balance between leadership and and servanthood is a must.

Our Lord is the pattern for this leadership, his servanthood defined leadership (Luke 22:26 ; Heb. 13:17)

Headship should not just prescribe who does what but rather it should be the basis for moving forward the goals of the family.

The Husband should as the leader of his home encourage his wife and children to give allegiance to Christ and to depend on him.

The husband is to lead his wife in a partnership that glorifies God.

In loving headship .the husband humbles himself to meet the needs of his wife. Loving ,nourishing, and cherishing her as a treasure ! (Eph. 5:25-29 ; 1 Pet. 3:7)

This was paraphrased from notes in my Woman's study bible.

I hope this may be a blessing to someone somewhere.

holidays with Rosetta Stone Homeschool

2011-01-03T22:46:00.000-08:00

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To win this program, copy these paragraphs and post them in (or as) your next blog post, and/OR post about this contest on your facebook page. Then go to the original page at http://www.triviumpursuit.com/blog/2010/12/28/rosetta-stone-giveaway/
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The after Christmas blues

2010-12-27T15:27:00.000-08:00

What holiday's do you love or hate ?

Do you get the after Christmas blues?

There is always an excitement and a build up of sorts during the Christmas season for me.
And today I am feeling the blues. All the festive bits and bobs are still up but somehow they don't shine quite as bright today. I am ready to take them down but loath the work it will take to do it.

I don't really look forward to new years day.
I am always kind of off on my own and board.
Chris plays poker with his Uncles which is fine but I am just kind of standing around with the rest of his family being the odd man out. It's not that they don't like me or anything it is just that feeling of being alone in a room full of people. I would love to spend new years hanging out with a few friends sometime.

Valentines day is just around the corner and Chris gets me lovely roses and chocolates but he doesn't like the holiday and it's just a little lonely when you can't reciprocate.

I have high hopes of going out for green beer on St. Patty's day.

Easter is nice and I am sure we will have a lovely service at Church. No more easter egg hunts for us.

December daybook

2010-12-14T18:03:00.000-08:00

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... Lots of rain- lots and lots of rain
I am thinking... about getting my boots on so I am ready to head out to the ornament exchange.
I am thankful for... My friend Dianne, who would do anything for me

From the kitchen...spritz cookies w/ peppermint frosting, cupcakes
I am wearing...my purple shirt and my black leggings.
I am creating... Christmas cards
I am going...to an ornament exchange tonight
I am reading... blogs. lol
I am hoping... for many Christmas blessings
I am hearing...rain drops so many rain drops
Around the house...its beginning to look a lot like Christmas !
One of my favorite things... Gingerbread cooking in the oven-can't you just smell it?
A few plans for the rest of the week: humm I'm not sure yet
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

U.S.A

2010-12-09T22:26:00.000-08:00

A Poem by : Rosemary & Stephen Vincent Benet
Written in 1933

So we march into present

and it's always rather pleasant

to speculate on what the years ahead of us will see,

for our words and thoughts and attitudes,

all our novelties and platitudes,

Will be rather ancient history in 2033.

Will they find us wise - or silly?

Looking backwards, willy-nilly,

At our queer old-fashioned costumes and our quaint old-fashioned ways?

When our doings face the ages,

printed down on textbook pages,

Will they cry, "This savage era" ? Will they sigh, "Those were the days!" ?

I don't know- you may be wiser.

Time's a curious capsizer

of a lot of reputations that seemed certain to endure,

while he'll sometimes make his heroes

out of people, once thought zeroes,

for the most well-grounded reasons, by the solemnly cocksure.

So, instead of prophesying

(Which is fun, but rather trying)

Who they'll pick to be our great ones when the books are on the shelves,

Here's the marching panorama

of our past and present drama

- and we shan't know all the answers till we're history, ourselves.

The things I miss

2010-12-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

I miss ... The smell of babies right after a bath.
I miss... dandylion heads
I miss .... being called Mommy
I miss... snuggling with my children
I miss... Kissing booboos all better
I miss... teaching firsts
I miss ... toys all over the floor
I miss.... The playground
I miss... the laughter and giggles that only little ones do

I really do miss all those things, they were good things.
But they had to make way for new things.

I love... being hugged by a teenager
I love.. sharing some asked for advice
I love.. watching my children grow big and strong and independent
I love... hanging out with kids ,watching movies
I love... deep conversations that you can't have with a five year old
I love... that they are growing up

Even though it hurts and I feel a loss I am better for every moment I have shared with my children. For every season of their lives. I thank God he saw fit to give me children I didn't deserve and made me a better person for it.

No Pictures : (

2010-11-29T17:15:00.001-08:00

Why I am Thankful this Thanksgiving

2010-11-29T13:58:00.001-08:00

I just want to share with you some of the reasons I felt blessed during this Thanksgiving season.
1. I have a beautiful home with plenty of room to have those I love over.

^{Exodus 3:8} So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

2. I have been abundantly blessed to be able to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for 19 people.
Genesis 9:3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. 2 Corinthians 9:11You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 3. I have a husband who understands and supports my desire to hostess.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her4. I have been blessed with family -not a perfect Norman Rockwell family but a family.He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[a] respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 1 Timothy 3:4-5

The Simple Woman's Daybook : Ticia

2010-09-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

The Simple Woman's Daybook

~*~*~*~*~

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... the sun is starting to set with just tiny hints of pink among the clouds

I am thinking...That I am enjoying some alone time. Well if you don't count the dog and the cat.

I am thankful for...the little moments each day that make me smile.

From the learning rooms...Krystal was able to tear herself away from facebook long enough to get all her schoolwork done.

From the kitchen...nada ! I am on break after doing applesauce on Monday. Ok I still have to make dinner - chicken alfredo

I am wearing... my hippy shirt that reminds me of my Momma.

I am creating...lists of things to get done before my daughters 16th birthday

I am going... to pick up my parents this weekend

I am reading...Baker encyclopedia of christian apologetics by: Norman L. Geisler

I am hoping...That the ladies meeting tomorrow is productive.

I am hearing...the t.v. and it's annoying but I am to lazy to get up and shut it off at the moment.

Around the house...it's not looking too bad, it could use a little straightening and fluffing.

One of my favorite things...bubble baths,candles and soothing music to ease away all the tension of the day

A few plans for the rest of the week: Pick up some of the item for my daughter's birthday and help my Dad fix something around my house.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Twiced baked potatoes

2010-09-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Wash them up

bake them up

time to scoop out the potatoes

empty shells ready to stuff

fluffing up the potatoes

all the good stuff gets mixed in

filling them up- high tech huh

filled and then topped with bacon and cheese

Finished and frozen until firm

Twice baked potatoes

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bagged and into the freezer
Gsv asked about cooking them. AHH good question ! I either pop them in the microwave or cook them in the oven on 350 for about 30 min.

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pictures of the house

2010-09-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

The new gate

The kitchen looking toward the living and dining rooms

Looking down the back steps into the left side of the backyard

Standing on the back porch looking out toward the left side of the yard.

The new flooring in the bathroom

Snug as a bug in a rug

2010-09-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

We are happily living the good life here in Woodland. We are all moved and mostly settled.
I'm loving the new house and even though it was quite a trial moving in it really feels like home.
I really haven't decorated much I am feeling a bit out of my element with vaulted ceilings .
The layout in the living room is a little odd but I've got it workable now. I really like NOT having my washer and dryer on either side of my stove. They are now neatly tucked away in their own closet. I see myself giving lots of things away when I finish clearing out my garage. I am entirely to disorganized to have a yard sale. It's just not me. My kitchen is so nice and easy to work in. It has lots of cupboards and storage.
Food is a big thing at my house and an efficient kitchen is essential.

MOVING-nuff said (no not my blog)

2010-07-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

I am tired and broke ,my nose is full of cardboard dust and tomorrow is moving day. Yet I am still excited to be moving. They house is empty in some rooms and over flowing in others, typical moving craziness. My prayer is that everything goes efficiently and quickly without any snags. I know I am asking for a lot but dang it I am sure going to ask it . I am very thankful to the Lord that he set events in motion that brought us to this move.

Day book 7/16/10

2010-07-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

Outside my window... Late afternoon sunshine warm and dappled with shadows.

I am thinking... That I need to plan dinner.

I am thankful for... God and his blessing on my life.

From the kitchen...Coffee..........yummy !

I am creating... a mess of cardboard boxes.

I am going... to move in two weeks

I am reading... facebook

I am hoping...that our move will be a blessing to us and to others.

I am hearing... the t.v. playing in the background.

Around the house...I have panicked animals who know something is up !

One of my favorite things... is time with my family.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting the carport cleaned out and making a trip to the dump.

Morning Needs prayer

2010-07-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Morning Needs

O God the author of all good, I come to Thee for the grace another day will require for its duties and events. I step out into a wicked world; I carry about with me an evil heart. I know that without Thee I can do nothing, that everything with which I shall be concerned, however harmless in itself, may prove an occasion of sin or folly, unless I am kept by Thy power. Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe.

Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error, my affections from love of idols, my character from stain of vice, my profession from every form of evil. May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore Thy blessing, and in which I cannot invite Thy inspection. Prosper me in all lawful undertakings, or prepare me for disappointments. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, Who is the Lord? or be poor, and steal, and take Thy name in vain.

May every creature be made good to me by prayer and Thy will. Teach me how to use the world and not abuse it, to improve my talents, to redeem my time, to walk in wisdom toward those without, and in kindness to those within, to do good to all men, and especially to my fellow Christians. And to Thee be the glory.

Movin' on up ! ..........

2010-07-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't done much in the way of blogging lately. I have been packing up and getting ready to move. Today I am attempting a mixed berry jelly. I have never made a successful jelly so wish me luck !
Or better yet say a pray or give me some advice ! : )

Fixin' up the place

2010-06-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

I am a pack rat ! Yep there I said it, I am. I will hang on to something until it falls apart and is completely useless. I can usually throw it out after that. :)

Anyway my chairs are one of those things that I have never been able to let go of. I have gone through four tables since I got these chairs. My chairs don't even match my current table! Oh well.

So in keeping something so long they need upkeep and care which I have always tried to do.

I wash them up and tighten the bolts and I don't let anyone lean them back on two legs.

AND... I have had to recover the seats,which is what I have just done here.

I have recovered them three times over the years so they have had four different covers.

The first: the one it came with was some sort of beige tweed that my small children promptly destroyed despite my best efforts and chair pads.

The second: My first recover. I got smart after the fabric fiasco and recovered them in red vinyl . I loved it so much that when those wore out I did them in red vinyl for recover number two.

And for my latest recover I did them in fabric once again. It is the first time in thirteen years I have fabric on my chairs. Yeah ! The kids are 18 and 15 now and never eat at the table anyway.

So as I write this I am enjoying my nice fabric covered chairs !

Oh yes I almost forgot- I'm still using the original padding that came on the chairs!

At least for my chairs the process of recovering is really easy.

Four screws to unscrew from the bottom of the chair and the seat comes off.

The fabric is stapled so all that needs done is to pull all the staples, it's time consuming but not hard.

Simply use the old seat cover for a pattern to cut the new covers.

Lay on your new covers ,turn over, staple, screw down and your done !

Biblical submission to your husband

2010-05-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

What is the dictionary definition of submission?
submission

What is the biblical definition of submission?
http://bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=155

Do we have a biblical example ? Yes we do .

http://preachersfiles.com/abigail-a-woman-of-integrity/

What kind of housewife ,homemaker, wife, mommy ,sister ...ect.... we are all comes down to what kind of women we are.

Are you following God's directions for you ?

We submit in different ways all the time.

For some reason in our sin nature we rebel at the thought of the headship of our husbands.
We want them to do what God has told them to do. If we choose to take headship away from our husbands because of our own need to feel in control we have taken away what it is he has been told to do by God.

We live in a society that sees submission as weakness.
We live in a society that says men are unnecessary.
Can you name one TV program that shows the husband as a strong head of his home?
NO? I'm not surprised. They are portrayed as weak,bumbling and stupid. Anytime a man is shown being a man he is portrayed as some sort of neanderthal.
So I guess it is no wonder women don't submit to their husbands . They can't really be trusted to do whats best for their family. OUCH-
If after reading the scriptures on God's word about being a submissive wife and you still can't trust him to do the right thing it is time to look into yourself and ask why.

Why can't I submit to my husband?
Can you make a list?
Are these things that you have listed insurmountable obstacles?

Are the things that you have listed failures of your husband?
Are they attitudes and fears within yourself?

You can be a godly and submissive wife even if you do not have a godly husband.

What exactly then am I submitting to right?
You are allowing yourself to put trust in the person you married to have a final say.
That's all. It doesn't mean that you say OK do whatever you want dear and I won't say a word.
You are to willingly submit not blindly obey.
God doesn't want you to follow your husband into sin.
God knows he gave you an imperfect man. And I am just guessing here but you are probably not the perfect woman. Knowing our imperfection he still told us to submit to our husbands.

The Virtuous wife

2010-05-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

We have talked about what it means to be a homemaker and how that covers the many hats of womanhood.
Today I want to talk about being a wife.
This was prompted by a question my daughter asked.
It resulted in a lengthy discussion that ultimately led to my husband and myself explaining the importance of caring for you marriage.

We must order and structure our lives to create harmony and to get the best results possible .

FIRST: God
SECOND: Marriage
THIRD: Children

My daughter took real issue with the order in which I took care my life.
So it led me to take her through why we do things in this order.

God first because all good things come through him . Our relationship with him has the trickle down effect of making marriage better and properly caring for your children.

Marriage next: It works in a similar fashion , A well cared for marriage creates harmony in the home which in turn makes a good home for the children.

Children after: My daughter felt like that meant last or garbage. That is surely far from the truth.
It is because I love her so dearly and want her well cared for that I make sure that I put God first and marriage right after. It is for her benefit.

So what is a virtuous wife? We have seen the example in proverbs and it's a pretty tall order.
This poem tells us not who she was but what she did. And I suppose what we do really makes up who we are.

To cut it down a bit it really shows some very important characteristics.
She was:
virtuous

trustworthy
industrious
organized
and loving.

This are all things that are not out of our reach.
Verse 30 tells the key to her success:
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
(Proverbs 31:30, New King James Version)
She first feared and reverenced God.
Every woman can take a close look at this and let it be a help to setting priorities in managing your time, resources and gifts God has given you.

Wives are women of strength.

2010-05-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… I see trees bending in the wind gray skies and rain.

I read.... a nice wecome card from the dentist

I worked on........ really getting the house spit spot

I listened to.... christian talk radio this morning and an 80's music station this afternoon

I ate... a banana for breakfast, half a grilled cheese sandwich ,half a banana and a couple of snack crackers for lunch. I will have leftover tacos for dinner.

I drank... lots of coffee

I smell.... Incence that I burned in the house today.

I feel..... a little tired but satisfied with my accomplishments.

I need.... a cup of cocoa.

2010-04-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… I see humming birds in silhouette against a stark and graying sky

I am thinking…of up coming appointments and my 16th anniversary next month

I am thankful for…the blessings in my life I sometimes take for granted ,like being an at home mom, dental insurance and a supportive family.

From the learning rooms…I learn more from them than they learn for me ,more often than not these days

From the kitchen…dirty dishes. Would someone like to come clean them? Any takers? No? see how you are

I am wearing…blue jeans and a favorite top
I am creating... messes !

I am going... to the doctor this week to have them check out why I am have joint pain in my hands.

I am reading….MacBeth and a guidepost magazine

I am hoping…to get my teeth fixed as soon as possible so I can smile again
I am hearing…the bathroom fan and my daughter trying to get the cat to smile

Around the house…things are calm and I'm thankful for it.

One of my favorite things…is coffee

A few plans for the rest of the week: Kick the kids into gear to help me with some more spring cleaning

Scripture thought for the day….:For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant from now on all generations shall call me blessed. Luke 1 (Mary's song)

I've not been a very good blogger lately

2010-03-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

I really haven't been a very good blogger lately. But its just because I have been to busy being a good homemaker.
Everything is going pretty well.
I was able to buy some new curtains for my living room. They are much heavier than my old ones. I got them on clearance at Bed Bath and Beyond ! Yeah clearance !!!!

I have been doing a lot of deep cleaning lately just kind of getting ready for the warmer months.
Today I cleaned the oven.

I just seem to be staying really busy. It's a happy busy and it is a good thing.
I have been tackling clutter. Clutter likes me ,I actually think that there is some sort of magnetic force that draws clutter to me ! So I am in a battle with the clutter. I am valiantly fighting the paper tiger ! I'm not sure I'm winning yet but I am fighting !

I stocked up on cleaners a couple of weeks ago so I could really dig in with my cleaning.
Most of it was bought at the local dollar store. It works great and it saves me money !
Right on !!!

I gave up on making homemade laundry soap for now. Mostly its just lazyness. I have better ways to spend my time. Old cat in foreground new curtains in background !

Blessing to all on this glorious Saint Patrick's day !

My digital studio review

2010-03-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

I have to say as a disclaimer I still have not touched on everything My Digital Studio can do.

First I would like to say that I bought My Digital Studio over Creative Memories digital version because I like Stampin' Up's! designs and colors not because of features.

My Digital Studio is user friendly for the most part. I figured out most things without searching out information on how to do it. With that said I would have really have like to have seen a good walk through of the program and what it can do included with the program. I took me a week to figure out how to add pages to my project.

Again please remember I was just going through it intuitively.

The good :

Drag and drop

designer paper for the punches

Easy resize of the punches- grab and pull

mirror,flip,opacity,rotate

The bad:

To resize paper you must double click and bring it into a new window, that is O.K. but there are no rulers to let you know how big you are making your piece of paper.

To re-size stamps and embellishments you must double click and bring up the pixle size of the item and enter new numbers to increase or decrease the size. BUT- It does let you choose to keep the ratio or not which allows you extra room to play with the image (so this is both good and bad).

Overall I like the program and it is pretty user friendly.

I don't regret buying it and I am having lots of fun. I don't think any of the bad would have been a deal breaker for me. I will say that if you like Stampin' Up! products and want a simple easy to use digital system this is the program for you. If you really want to stretch your artistry and abilities then this program will only take you so far.

So as much as I like My Digital Studio I will probably purchase Creative memories digital software as well.

I know this did not turn out to be a really comprehensive review but I hope it can be helpful in someway to someone. I may come back in a month or two and be able to give you a better review.

Thanks for reading, Leticia

hard copy scrappin'

2010-02-17T17:39:00.000-08:00

Homemaking: an art or a science

2010-02-16T15:40:00.000-08:00

I got to thinking about how personal homemaking is.

It is different for everyone.

What are your priorities ?

Mine are keeping everything running smoothly first and keeping things clean second.

Now that doesn't mean I have a filthy house, it just means if you drop by in the middle of the afternoon it's not likely to look like a magazine cover !

I think that some people are very scheduled and some are very fly by the seat of their pants when it comes to keeping their home.

Me? Well I fall somewhere in the middle. I have rules that keep things from getting too messy or piling up.

I like to make lists but I often forget to utilize them.

I make schedules and stick to them for awhile.

For me homemaking is truely an art . I feel like I have created something when my home is just the way I like it.

What is it for you?

Digital scrapbooking

2010-02-15T09:29:00.000-08:00

Yes I have finished another one alread ! Woo hoo.
I set this for a medium pixel size and the quality at about 80 %.
The layout was inspired by My Little Sketch Blook
The colors were from a Splitcoaststampers color challenge. CC257

digital scrapbooking

2010-02-11T22:56:00.000-08:00

These are my very first pages of digital scrapbooking and card making. I am using my digital studio put out by Stampin' Up!

It is not what I would call difficult to use but I did get a bit frustrated and wasn't able to find out what I needed to know in their help menu. I start to figure it out pretty quickly however and had lots of fun with it. After a couple of weeks of using it I will come back here and write a review on it.

It looks like my computer ate the card I made. Oh well. This is not my best scrapbooking of course I am just getting to know the system.

What is homemaking? a definition

2010-02-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

My friend is starting a new homemaking blog and it got me to thinking what exactly makes up homemaking.

First off I would like to here from all of you. How do you define homemaking?

The management of a household: So how do we define management ?

Management in all business and human organization activity is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives.

SO this can a husband and wife working together for the betterment of their home environment or an entire family be it kids or live in parents-whatever.

I do not believe homemaking is the sole job of the woman in charge.

Though she is certainly the leader who's job it is to make sure all thing that need to be done get done.

Homemaker- Somebody who maintains the upkeep of a house they live in.

O.K. so what defines upkeep?

Is she re framing windows and repairing the plumbing? Or is that scrubbing toilets and sending out the bill payments?

While the definition can be broad and all of us have things we do differently there must be some common duties that define homemaking.

Lets see if we can agree on some basics.

Keeping the home clean. I think that is pretty universal. Maybe not? You tell me.

Basic upkeep of appliances and home furnishings. How far that goes with each person would vary I would think. Some may just let their husband know "hey the fridge is making noise" others may pull out the fridge and clean the fan.

But it is the matter of keeping on top of what is happening in your home that is at the heart of it.

One last question. Is child rearing homemaking? Can they be separate? A woman can be a homemaker without having children. But if a woman does have children does the very definition of homemaking change for those individuals?

I really hope everyone will chime in on this !

Music-fun-friends

2010-01-09T13:47:00.001-08:00

These are my boys showing off their guitars

Jesse got his just a few months back & Andrew just got his new one this month.

I think music is a really great outlet for kids.

We are getting Krystal a drum set.
She has been taking lessons for a few months now.
I'll keep you posted on the hunt for a drum set.

Food-what I eat

2010-01-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

The picture is from dinner quite awhile back but I wanted to put up a picture because I dislike blog posts without pictures !
Ever wonder what everyone else eats?
I do, and with the numerous things I won't eat I'm sure most people eat differently than me.
nothing is measured but I eat off of a 7 in. saucer.
The lists are not necessarily in order of breakfast, lunch and dinner but is what I ate each day.

Monday January 4th 2010

1 piece of toast w/ butter
1 orange
1 banana
2 handfuls of peanuts
1/2 pepperoni and colby/jack cheese sandwich
handful of chicken in a bisket crackers
oven fries and fried spam-
5-1/2 cups of coffee with flavored creamer

Tuesday January 5th 2010

1 package instant oatmeal-maple and brownsugar
2 handfuls of peanuts
homemade bbq beef burrito
1/2 banana
chicken rice-a-roni
sweet and spicy sticky chicken
broccoli
1/2 orange
3 cups of coffee w/ flavored creamer

Wednesday January 6th 2010

1 package instant oatmeal-maple & brown sugar
1 banana
2 handfuls of peanuts
1 orange
chili cheese fries
6 cups of coffee with flavored creamer
homemade tortilla pizza- Ingredient:
(1 flour tortilla, 1/8 tsp. olive oil, italian seasoning, 1/4 cup shredded mexican blend cheese, 7 pepperoni.) broiled in the oven for a few minutes. it runs about 335 calories with 21 grams of fat so its not something I would eat everyday for lunch but its pretty tasty.

So what does and average day look like for you?
I am avoiding junk foods right now because I gained a few pounds over the holidays. Rich comfort food and sweets are my weaknesses. What are yours?

I love potato soup and cinnamon rolls, I could eat chocolate everyday.
I used to eat too much bread but I am better about that now.
What have you gotten away from eating that has been a healthy change?

The Christmas grinch

2009-12-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been a Christmas grinch?
I can rarely lay claim to that title but this year it was mine.
It might as well have been stapled to my forehead.
You see there was no Christmas presents at our house this year. Now don't get me wrong I don't think Christmas is about presents and my kids are old enough to understand that there was just no money for it this year.
Here is where I got grinchy. Me and my husband have worked very hard to make ends meet while trying to pay off medical bills we owed. It's that 2 steps forward 1 step back.
I was frustrated that for all our hard work we had failed to provide for our family. It's painful to feel like a failure as a parent. So here I am wallowing in self pity and the property management company call us on Christmas eve to ask about the rent. Seriously -on Christmas eve? I didn't answer and he left a nasty message that made it clear he thought we had spent our rent money on Christmas presents and that just made me all the grumpier because it couldn't be farther from the truth.
Anyway- Sometimes God takes us by the hand and shows us what is really important.
I was reading the local news and here was this headline about a 15 year old boy who died Christmas eve- hit by a car. And the story said his mother put his presents on his bed. She just didn't know what to do with them.
My heart broke for this mother! And I just felt so stupid for caring about weather or not I could provide gifts for my kids. My kids are gifts, precious gifts from God. I needed to be reminded that having those we love with us a great gift that can slip away so quickly and so easily. I rather my kids never have a Christmas present than to have presents I can never give them.
And as I thank God for my kids this Christmas , I pray for that mother who will not see her baby again until she meets him in heaven.
Thanks unto to God who sent his only son to die for our sins, the one who gave us the greatest gift of all-everlasting life.

Times they are a changin'

2009-12-29T12:22:00.000-08:00

Time has a way of slipping away from us. It doesn't matter what we are doing, good times or bad . Time marches on and one day you look up from the daily grind and everything has changed.
I guess what brought about this post is that my son (my eldest child) is turning 18 in January.
I have enjoyed my kids so much and now its all changing. Andrew is getting started into adulthood and that is exciting and new but its also heartbreaking to know I may not see his face every morning anymore. In some ways I feel like I'm going through a loss.
It's not just Andrew though, Krystal is a full fledged teenager with all the trappings that go with it.
Emotional , sometimes defiant. Her and her daddy are often at odds with each other. But seeing Andrew becoming a man makes me cherish my time with Krystal all the more.
I do look forward to a time when I don't have to play referee! I do get to quit doing that right? O.K. maybe not.
I honestly can't imagine my house without kids its.
I know it sounds crazy with so many people who can't even wait for their kids to go off to kindergarten. I have really enjoyed raising my kids and I guess I will just have to learn something new to focus on once they both leave home.
Any advice out there for those who have been there and done that? Anybody in the same boat?
If I can say anything to parents out there raising kids it's don't blink, and enjoy every moment you can. It truly goes by so fast.

For Kelly

2009-12-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

Kelly , you can be sure my prayers are with you as do this. Remember the battle has already been won.

Many blessings, Leticia

Handmade Cards

2009-12-08T09:09:00.001-08:00

The Polkadot card: was made by my daughter for her Gramma on her birthday. She used stamps and punches from SU! Ribbon from Michael's and misc. papers.
The rose card: I made for my mother for her birthday.
All is SU! except the gray filigree type paper. The stamp sets were Roses in winter and Sincere salutations.

This one I just did for fun and someone will get it one day when it seems like the right person needs it.
So I actually wrote down everything for this card so here it goes:
SU! markers: brocade blue,bordering blue, more mustard, pumpkin pie, so saffron, barely banana, pretty in pink, regal rose, chocolate chip, creamy caramel.
SU! cardstock: pretty in pink, rose red, regal rose, creamy caramel, whisper white.
Stamps: SU! Brighter tomorrow, a stamp a bella stamp(don't know the name of it.)sorry.
And last but not least Michael's $1 ribbon

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T03:59:00.001-08:00

A day for Thanks and for Giving.
I wish each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

This is my first lattice top pie. I was really happy with the way it turned out.

The larger rolls in a circle are Hawaiian rolls which I wanted. My husband didn't want those kinds so I made regular rolls(the smaller ones in the square pan) for him.
He is so spoiled! I also made him two crust less pumpkin pies because he doesn't like pie crust. I love pie crust!
My daughter made a apple butter pumpkin pie and I made two mixed nut pies. They are done like pecan pies only with mixed nuts instead. I only intended to make one mixed nut pie but I accidentally doubled the butter in the recipe so I had to double the batch!

A little scrapbooking

2009-11-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

I have gotten one scrapbook page done since the last one I posted. I know what a bum! Anyway this one I did using the little wallet sized photo that I got from my niece. She is so cute in her polka dot dress and white sweater. The polka dot paper (from Stampin' Up!)was a perfect match.
Most of the scrapbooking items I use are from Stampin' Up! but I am always open to trying new products. You never know what great new thing is out there. So always feel free to tell me about stamp and scrapbook products that you think are great.

I'm Back

2009-11-04T16:18:00.000-08:00

I back y'all

Hey all I am back and will be getting bloggy with it real soon. I hope to catch up with all of you and what you have been blogging about.

One quick update to get started. My son got his drivers permit. His Dad was so proud !

Scrap and stamp challenge page

2009-08-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

Scrap and Stamp Saturday

I didn't write down all my page info but I used wild roses stampin' Up! stamp set.

The power of prayer

2009-07-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

I want to share with you a story of how the power of prayer worked in my life.
I came from a family of smokers. Both my parents and my older sister and her husband smoked. I remember the smell of nicotine on my Dad's hands from when I was small enough to be eye level with them. It didn't repulse me. I loved that smell and I didn't even know what it was. Anyway ,the year I turned ten me and my friend Amber snuck up to her room with some ill gotten cigarettes (sorry Lisa)! So we light up and poor Amber gets sick immediately. Then there was me- I loved it from the first puff. Sometimes I think I was born to it. My Dad had started sneaking cigarette butts at five.
By fourteen I was a pack a day smoker. And I was usually stealing them. (Tales of a teenage delinquent)
Then by fifteen my parents had given up trying to stop me and started buying my cigarettes so I would stop stealing them. I make no excuses for myself. I was addicted and was going to get them one way or another.
Next I was pregnant with Andrew and they tell me I have to quit. They may as well have told me to hack off my own arm with a steak knife. To make a long story shorter I was living in the hospital and was forced to quit. As soon as he was born I started again. The addiction is not in the nicotine alone that's for sure.
When I found out I was pregnant with Krystal I started weaning myself off them and had quit by the time she was born. I started again as soon as she was born.
I had been smoking outside from the time Andrew was
born. Every winter I would get pneumonia but did I want to quit? NOOOOOOOOOOO!
Knowing it was bad for was not enough to make me not want it. My husband had already quit and hated my habit.
I loved to smoke- I don't know how else to put it.
So I started praying. I prayed that God would make me not love to smoke anymore. I know just praying to quit was not enough. I needed to not desire it.
It took about a year-I was living with my parents (bad time in my life) with a house full of smokers.
I got up grabbed a brand new pack of smokes. ( I was a two pack a day smoker.)
I opened it up -and realized I didn't smoke anymore!
It was just gone absolutely gone!
I can't take credit for it- God did it, I was healed and I was a non smoker.
No withdrawals, no cravings ,nothing, it was just gone.
Let me tell you -I am a believer in the power of prayer.
I don't believe you always get what you want when you pray. I do believe that when it is aligned with Gods plans for us we will see miracles!

My 34th birthday party

2009-07-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

Ok here are some photos from my party.
I took pictures with everyone who dressed up.
I don't have a good picture of me right after I did my hair (it fell quickly-no aqua net) or my cake because my card reader quit working this morning. So if I will ever be able to get those on here I don't know. So here are the ones I do have.

It was a good time for the most part. There was lots of BBQ and a little music. We also had 80's movies running in the house. We did some trivia and gave away some prizes.

Both of my sisters and my friend Dianne dressed up!
Yeah them!

Dianne is in the green framed photo- She has a really cute side ponytail (remember those?) and preppy turned up collar.

The blue frame with the hearts is me with both my sisters.
The dark haired one is my older sister Lisa. She is 8 years older than me. The blond is my little sister Seana. She is 1 year younger than me.

Church

2009-07-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

We have been going to a new Church.
It's called Clover Valley community church.
We were really flitting in the wind for awhile and not finding a place we really fit. We really love this new church ,everyone we've met and Pastor Dave and his wife. We were warmly met by a church member named Bob who made it his goal to greet us every Sunday and remember our name. He is a very nice man and I am thankful that God a brought so many wonderful people into our lives.
I have a good friend who is a believer but not a church goer who introduced us to this church. You see these church members had been coming into the store where she worked and made such a huge impression on her she felt compelled to tell us about these "real" Christians she met and how they weren't "cardboard Christians". Testimonies like that really make you take a look at yourself .
You have to ask yourself am I a living testimony of Christ who saved us every day and every where I go?

Keeping the plants alive

2009-07-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

I have never been any good at keeping plants alive indoors or out. So I am very proud to show off all my living plants.
I have also been busy getting the yard and house ready for my totally 80's birthday party.Things are looking pretty good now and it should be a good time. I will post pictures on Sunday or Monday.

The basket with the salmon colored flowers were from Mothers day. So it has been alive for a couple of months.
The hodge podge in the green pot is 2 kinds for ornamental
grasses and I don't remember what the other stuff in there is. I guess it will be a surprise. The single plant in the woven basket is an orchid Chris got me for Valentines day. So that has stayed alive for 5 months. The then and now pictures are of my other orchid that I have had for more than a year now. In the second picture it is not in bloom. It is however doing really well and is in need of re-potting.
The other then and now is my sage. I got it last summer so it has lasted a year. To be fair though my basil and chives died. So that's y news for today.

2009-07-11T10:01:00.001-07:00

Not 2 much in the way of pictures this week.
My life has a bit out of whack the last 2 weeks.
My Mom and sister came and stayed 2 weeks -don't get me wrong I love them but I am a person of routines .
This seriously messed with my routines!
I am glad to be getting back to normal and gearing up for my birthday party.I have planned an 80's themed bbq bash. I just want to have some fun and see my friends and family. My sis-in-law P.Jaye is making me a rubic cube cake. Yes I will post pics. She is not a professional cake decorator it's just a fun hobby for her.Oh yeah did I mention it is 80's dress required! How fun is that???
Anyway the foodie pic is : teriaki bbq-ed steak kabobs ,jasmine rice flavored w/ fresh grated ginger and coconut milk then topped w/ brown gravy, broccoli steamed on the grill in foil.

Homeschooling with humor

2009-06-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

I think as a homeschooler you have to develop a pretty thick skin. People repeatedly say ignorant things to you and you really have to have a sense of humor about the whole thing or you would find yourself angry at these people.
I have found that most people are just curious but because of their ignorance on the subject they make broad statements about homeschooling that tend to be offensive. Most people don't mean to. All we can do is have a good sense of humor and take that moment to educate them.
My son had a funny moment yesterday at the skate park.
A new boy had showed up and while talking with my son he asked him where he went to school. My son told him that he was homeschooled. The boy then said to him"you must not be very social huh". All of my sons friends just started laughing at him and told him that my son was the most social guy there.

Conservatism

2009-06-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Krohn is a 13 year old homeschooler who has written a book called: Define Conservatism

Honey peach porkchops

2009-06-22T09:36:00.001-07:00

This was a dinner I did the other night.

Meat: spice rubbed oven baked pork chops topped w/ peaches and honey.

Side: Jasmin rice made with grated fresh ginger and coconut milk.

Vegetable: asparagus cut into 1 inch pieces and cooked with the rice.

The pork chops were cooked at 375* for about 30 min.
First I did a spice rub on the chops -put them in the pan and added frozen peach slices and then drizzled them all with honey.

I cooked the rice in a rice cooker -substituting 3/4 cup of coconut milk for 3/4 cups of the water called for. I added some fresh grated ginger , salt and a little olive oil as well.

All I did with the asparagus was cut it up and throw it in with the rice at the beginning of the cook cycle.

Presto a quick and easy dinner anyone can make.

Side note: If you like garlic and or onions you could saute them in a bit of olive oil with the ginger before adding to the rice cooker.

Photography

2009-06-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

My daughter Krystal has always expressed an interest in nature photography. She seems to have a really good eye for it. We have tried to encourage all artistic outlets they have taken an interest in.
So I thought I would share a few of her new ones with you today. She took these pictures with our cheap 5 year old 3 megapixel Kodak digital camera. So she is pretty lucky to get good shots at all. But she always does!

Sewing creations

2009-06-12T21:17:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

More food from the foodie

2009-06-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Raised doughnuts - fattening but yummy. A rare treat is so sweet.

Today I will share with you some of my food fixings from the last 2 weeks. Tomorrow will be sewing creations.

Home canned strawberry vanilla jam. I made my jam from fresh local Washington strawberries and vanilla rum.
Really good stuff!

The last one here is last nights dinner. I started with whole wheat rotini noodles , then I added a homemade cheese sauce along with steak and broccoli and shredded cheese. Then I topped it with homemade panko bread crumbs mixed with butter to top the whole thing off. It went into the oven at 350* for 30 min.

Krystal's new apron

2009-05-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

This is an apron I made for Krystal with some left over material from some curtains I made.

The face of abortion

2009-05-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

Most teenage pregnancies end in abortion

Meet some women who chose abortion and their stories

My son is the face of what could have been.
He is the boy who could have been murdered.

I want to tell you a story about a little boy who had the whole world against him.
His name is Andrew and his is my 17 year old son.

Andrew's mom was a 15 year old girl who believed a boy when he said he loved her. She was a very foolish girl who found herself pregnant. Andrew's father said I'm not ready to be a father. He told Andrew's mother she should get an "abortion".( Abortion: I want my son to be brutally murdered in his mothers womb .) Such a small word with such huge consequences. This girl told her parents about the pregnancy and they said to the girl the choice is up to you. That included killing Andrew. So far the idea of murdering an innocent baby was no big deal.Andrew's mother said NO I want my son to live.

Well things didn't go well in this pregnancy and at 5 months along Andrew started to come to early. So here we have the 15 year old girl alone and frightened in a dark room in a hospital. The only thing she wanted was comfort but that was not what happened. A new person came in and said to Andrew's mother You should just let this baby be born now and let him die. It will be like it never happened and Andrew's mother could go on with her life like Andrew never existed. Again Andrew's mother said no ! My son will live.

Life continued with much difficulty but Andrew hung on . His whole church praying for him. I don't know if they judged this girl but they cared deeply for the sanctity of life.

The hour comes and Andrew must be born even though he is still 2 months early. And again this girl is asked to sacrifice Andrew for herself. They said to her you have your whole life ahead of you. Things do not look good. Just sign these papers and you can choose to save your life over Andrew's. The girl again said NO! My child will live-Andrew will live. She watched her own parents cry as she signed paper work that would save their grandchild over there child. They would have chose to save her just as she had to choose Andrew.

Andrew was born and his mother lived . It did not mean that life was easy in fact Andrew's life was in danger many more times in the following year but never again in as much danger as the 7 months before he was born.When he didn't even have a fighting chance.
Many wanted Andrew to die before he ever had a chance to fight but fight he did.

At one point Andrew's mother watched as his heart stopped and they brought in the tiniest little paddles you've ever seen to revive him. They said he would have brain damage ,he quit breathing for too long.

Andrew lived and Andrew thrived because one scared teenager believed that no baby should ever be murdered.
She was no hero for the pro life movement she was just a girl who trusted God above all. "He said he knew Andrew before he was knit in his mother womb."

I am so thankful every day that Andrew's mother trusted God above man because Andrew is precious soul that the whole world would have missed out on.

I was that girl and if I could have my little 3 lb. 10 oz. son and raise him and care for him than others can too.
No one has to kill their baby. People do for many reason but they DO NOT have to. Andrew is living proof of that.
He is the boy that lived.

some links and new foodie photos

2009-05-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share the links to where I got the recipes for the lasagna , lemon bars and the sweet & spicy sticky chicken from 2 posts ago . The new pics are cheesecake bars and pecan crusted salmon. I also did some brown sugar pork chops but I didn't get a picture.
If you haven't noticed I am a big fan of Allrecipes.
Anyone who know me knows I own a lot of cook books but this is like the ultimate cookbook. Any recipe I want at my fingertips. No more hunting through 15 cookbooks trying to remember which one it is in! And even better almost all of them have many review from people just like you and me. I know that this trusty shortcut is one I will use again and again.

Honor and thanks

2009-05-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

With Memorial day tomorrow I just want to send out a thanks to all of those who have served our country so well.
From the bottom of my heart I thank each and everyone of you.
Our military are the backbone of this country made on the backs of Americans.

Thank you very much, Leticia

Just a little down time for Ticia

2009-05-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

I have been a really busy girl.
I have finished a couple of sewing projects and have a few more in the works. I have also been trying out several new recipes so I will start blogging on this in the next couple of days.
Here are a couple of quick pics. Lasagna -my first ever!
Sweet & spicy sticky chicken with jasmine rice and sauteed asparagus.
Lemon bars.

Racoons are NOT cute

2009-05-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Ok maybe some of them are kind of cute but they are still hairy little thieves. They got the cat food yesterday. They managed to drag it off the porch into the yard ,knock it upside down and open the tote the cat food was in. And do you think they were nice enough to cover it back up when they were done? Oh no the rest of it got soaked in the rain. So I replaced the cat food and brought the tote in the house until I can find a way to keep them out of it.
Fast forward to last night- I hear this loud sound like a trash can being moved, I assume it is the neighbor taking in his cans. I was so so so wrong! I went out to feed the dog in the morning and what do I find? The racoons pushed the garbage can of dog food off the porch onto its side ,pulled off the lid and ate themselves silly! Thankfully the dog food that was left was still dry. So today racoons are not cute they are expensive!

Sew what! book review

2009-05-08T14:58:00.000-07:00

I was asked by mindingmomma to right a review of this book
(Sew What ! Skirts)
and comment on it's difficulty level.

I guess the first thing I should say is a novice can make these skirts. What is a novice? You should be comfortable making a straight stitch and have some basic knowledge of your sewing machine . Lastly to make the skirts in this book you will need to know how to read a measuring tape.

It explains sewing jargon in the book.It is also full of lots of photos but I would not say it is step by step in photos.
It does walk you through everything you need to know to make these skirts.

If you can measure you CAN make a pattern using this book. None of these skirts are difficult. The most complicated thing to do in this book is a zipper and they don't all have zippers!

Most of these skirts call for 2-3 yards of material. Now if you are a little fluffier than average you will want to buy more fabric than that.

The book is broken down like this:

1: how to use the book

2: basic skills

3: and then the following chapters are broken down by the type of skirt it is.

This book allows you to make the skirts custom to you! Not just Jane Average.

I personally like it because I am not average!
I can now make the waistline and hem line sit where I want them to. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Happy Sewing !

Technical difficulties

2009-05-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

I am having some technical difficulties and will be back and blogging as soon as possible.

Scrapbooking snapshots

2009-05-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

Recently someone stole a tote from my house and it happened to be filled with family photos. The loss is devastating , it's like a heavy weight on my heart.

I'm telling you this because it has been the driving force that has really pushed me to take the photos I have left and scrapbook them. To get them in a place that they can be enjoyed by everyone.

This page is of my son,my niece and my grandmother.
It's the only photo I have left from that time frame.
I hope you enjoy it.

Da Bella's strike again

2009-04-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

Selling ourselves short

2009-04-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

This is a subject that has been on my mind for quite sometime.
How many times have you had someone ask what you did today? Did you say nothing? Was that so far from the truth it was laughable? What did you say? Have you ever asked yourself that question?

The life of a homemaker can be terribly boring that's why!
We think oh nobody wants to hear about the stuff I do all day.

Unfortunately we create an identity for ourselves to others.
We leave people assuming that we do nothing all day or that what we do is not important.
Are you the person your friends always impose on?
Is it because when you are asked what did you do today you said nothing.

We all know that we don't do nothing ! A house wife with no children is running their household- they are keeping their home neat and tidy, most likely running all the household errands and balancing all the bills and appointments . And that's just scratching the surface. Add children into the equation and you've added a whole additional level of responsibility. If you homeschool -Well as you know -you should be labeled a saint! And no you don't have time to go to the walmart in the middle of the afternoon!
So the next time you get that question ask them if they actually have the time to hear about all you do.
Or tell them you single handedly ran your entire household today and you will be busy doing the same thing tomorrow!
This is a job that garners no credit from the world at large.

I hope this caused you to pause and remember you are
doing a job that your were called to do by God.
Know that what you are doing is good and worthy.

DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT

A new drawing

2009-04-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

I wanted to see how my drawing skills had improved over the last year. So I redid a drawing of a little girl I drew 9 months ago. I think I got a little ahead of myself on this one-maybe in a bit of a hurry. But I feel like there is definatly some improvement. The face shape is much better for sure. The darker one is the newest one. I worked on creating more contrast,better face shape and features. I was not able to blend it out as well. There is a softness I prefer in the first one but over all I am happier with the new one and it has helped me to gauge how far I have come and where I still need work.

A treat for Ann

2009-04-24T17:52:00.000-07:00

I made up this little box set for my friend Ann who moved away to Cali. a few years ago. She was up recently and we had a great time. It was too short for sure and I wanted to do something nice for her. She is a hairdresser by trade so this bella stamp was perfect.

A new sewing book 4 me

2009-04-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my friend Melissa and I headed to the Barnes & Noble so she could find a book she was looking for.
We found her book after a nice employee pointed it out to us. If it had been a snake it surly would have bit us!
I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the book she got but it was pretty awesome. I will post what it is when I remember.

Anyway I went looking around for Patricia Cornwell's new novel and got side tracked in the craft section. No surprise there huh! I managed to wander into the sewing section and found a ton of great sewing books. So I am just browsing through them and sipping my starbucks when I find this brightly colored little book called
(Sew what! SKIRTS- 16 simple styles you can make with fabulous fabrics)
by: Francesca Denhartog & Carole Ann Camp
This book teaches how to do your measurements and make your own patterns. I did my first skirt from it using some material I had laying around. I decided on the wrap around skirt. It was easy and it was fun. So check it out!

Oh I almost forgot- apparently the dog wanted you to see his bum too, ugly huh?

sewing & stamping

2009-04-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I finished her night shorts tonight. This was a great home economics project. I bought the materal on sale at Joann's fabrics. The pattern was also bought at joann's . I modified the pattern to make it shorts. The pattern was actually for night pants. It is a Simplicity pattern. This pattern will make small to 3x. My son and daughter's were both done in small. The pattern # is 3643 in case anyone might want to find it.

The cards were inspired by Melissa's 5 for $5 card class.
You can check out her awesome work at Simply Pink
I used my new cuttlebug embossing folder to make the leaves. The darker one was colored by rubbing my kiwi kiss stamp pad across the raised area the other is hand pained with kiwi kiss and shadowed with going grey.

The pictures are of my friends Ann and Jarod and of their baby Audrey. The are now hanging down in a row in my hall.

Sewing and scrapbooking

2009-04-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

I decided to make a scrapbook page of my drawing. I think it really made the drawing take on new life and brought out the personality of my daughter.
The shorts I made for my son. They are flannel pajama shorts but he liked them so much he would like some more for everyday wear. WOOHOO!

An apron for my sister

2009-04-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

This apron is for my older sister Lisa. She has been wanting one for a while now. It is reversible. This one was easier than my last reversible one because it was only done with one color. The pictures are not very flattering of me or the apron.
This apron hangs a bit oddly on me because I made it for my sister who is about 5 inches taller than me. So the waist ties will hit her much higher.
Never let taller people take your picture!

a new apron and a new drawing

2009-04-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing crafting and homemaking go hand in hand.

Here are a couple of shots of the newest apron I made.
It has mother of pearl buttons at the neck for adjusting the length.
This was another very quick project. The most time consuming part was sewing on the bias tape.

This drawing was done from my baby picture. It is not perfect but it is a decent representation of me.

Simple Sewing

2009-04-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

I made a pattern from a skirt I already had and liked. I shortened this skirt just a bit for summer. It was quick and easy. It takes about a yard and a half (for my size) to make this skirt. It is made in three panels. One in the front and two in the back. I didn't think to take a picture of the back.
The whole process-took about an hour including cutting a pattern and ironing open seams.

2009-04-02T20:40:00.000-07:00

I am related to these winners.

Lucky me !

I grew up with Michael. He has been messed up his whole life. He was never quite right. I only met Teven's mother once so I really have no idea about her.
But I really find it ironic that Althea (Michael's mother -my aunt) once called cps on my parents. Funny we all turned out normal law abiding citizens. None of us are up on murder charges. I guess she should have have removed the plank from her own eye first. I hope both of them are convicted for what they have done. And I hope that man that they hurt recovers fully and finds justice. There is no excuse for what those two did. I feel terrible for my aunt and uncle and for his siblings . I am sure this is terrible for them no one wants to be related to monsters.

A girl's got 2 eat !

2009-04-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

This was a dinner I cooked up sometime last month. It was one of my favorites.

Everything is made from scratch here.
The Au gratin potatoes are made from a white sauce . I like to use wondra (that is a super fine flour for sauces). I like to layer white and cheese sauces between the layers of potatoes. Everyone has there own way of making them but that is mine. I always peel and par boil the potatoes first.

The asparagus is fresh, I sauted it in olive oil and creole seasoning.
That is my families favorite way of having it but usually steam it .
It is just a little healthier that way.

The salmon was poached in the oven with a butter and brown sugar sauce.
It is also spiced with cayenne pepper and black pepper for a bit of a bite.
My family is not used to fish so it gets pretty dressed up so my family will eat it.

Easy and yummy.

Wedding scrapbook page

2009-03-25T20:03:00.001-07:00

The papers are all from Stampin' Up!
The rub on sayings and the stickers are from K and company.
The chipboard is also from Stampin' Up!
The layout is my own.

The photo is of 2 of my mother in laws.
My father in law (Lloyd) didn't make it to the wedding with his current wife Jean.
So the ladies in the wedding photo are my husband's mother Barbara and his (ex) step mother Cathy.
Both are great women and I was proud to have them at my wedding.

A few creations

2009-03-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

If you have not figured it out yet I love to create.
This time it is card making but I love all things creative.
I am just totally hardwired that way. I really don't think there is any creative medium I wouldn't try. I have had modest success in almost everything I have tried.
I was reasonable successful selling rubber stamps for several years.
But I am no salesman. I am not built that way at all! I have always worked with my hands and am not a very social person. I have muddled through a few jobs working with the public over the years. Which only proves that you can do what you hate, just not very well. When I went into selling stamps I really thought you had to be creative to make it. Not so! You need to be a salesman and a people person. I am probably more creative that most of the top sellers in rubber stamps. I realized though that is not what it takes to make it. You have to know your product inside and out (and I did.) you have to be very budget conscious ( I was not). You really have to have a personality that draws people in. (I did not). It was a very interesting learning experience for me. It is certainly one I don't regret but I learned something very important- I'd rather be creative than sell stuff.
The reason being that you should sell to make money, me- I sold to buy more stuff to be more creative! And now that I don't sell anything I have lots of time to create and maybe one day the things I create I can sell-so I can buy more stuff to be creative with!!!!

St. Patrick's day

2009-03-20T23:02:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Cards and cleaning

2009-03-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

I made a couple of cards today to send out to a couple of my aunts.
I included cleaning in the title so you don't think all I do is sit around stamping and eating bonbons!
I did a deep cleaning of the kitchen today that included cleaning all the appliances, washing down all the cupboards and drawers ,sweeping ,mopping and rearranging the cupboards. Yesterday I did a total cleaning on my vacuum cleaner. I cleaned it inside and out. I washed all the removable parts in soapy water along with the washable filter. I knocked all the dirt I could out of the hepa filter. Boy that thing is running good now! It has suction again like it is brand new!

Flower card:
I used the layout from the front cover of the SU! catty as a starting point.
Cardstock: kiwi kiss,orchid opulence,so saffron
Ink: old olive,lavender lace,so saffron,lovely lilac
Stamps: Sincere salutations and a flower from a set I don't remember the name of.
Accessories: Non SU! ribbon and a button, scallop punch

Butterfly card:
I used the layout from pg. 17 of the SU! catty.
Cardstock: pretty in pink,so saffron,very vanilla
Ink: lavender lace, kiwi kiss,so saffron, regal rose, staz on black
Stamps: It's a good thing
Accessories: Non SU! ribbon, circle punch-to round corners

dance

2009-03-17T20:16:00.001-07:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

a couple more scrapbook pages

2009-03-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more scrapbook pages I have done in the last few days.
The first one was fun to do in the primary colors. I don't usually use bright colors like that. It is of my maternal grandmother and her first 5 great grandsons.

the other was done entirely with stampin' up1 papers.
Old olive and chocolate chip being the primary colors I used on this page.
The photo corners and the title were done with my cuttlebug.
The top picture is my aunt Nancy (youngest) My mom Janie (middle) and my aunt Judi (oldest) In the bottom picture it is my sister Seana (youngest) my sister Lisa (oldest) amd myself (middle).

scrapbooking family photos/ my goal weight

2009-03-11T14:42:00.000-07:00

I am working on scrapbooking the family photos I have left. I am honestly not one to hang a bunch of photos on the wall so this is a great way for me to display them.

The photo of me was taken when I was in my early twenties after I had both my kids.
I was down in the 120's there for a short time. I have not been able to maintain that since having kids. Before kids I weighed in the 85-110 range. I don't have any hope of getting back to that but I would be much healthier in the 120's than I am in the 140's.
I know that doesn't seem like a lot to some but being under 5' and small boned carrying around 143 pounds is not fun. I have changed my eating habit and I am sure my body is glad for it but I have not lost any weight . I know I am really going to have to get back into a more active lifestyle to have a shot at dropping this weight.
My goal is to loose twenty pounds. Current weight 143 lbs. I will weigh myself once a month. I think I am going to do some measurements too so I can watch my inches.
I think inches are usually more telling than the actual weight anyway.

Freaky froggy drawing, whole wheat english muffins,shortbread cookies

2009-03-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of pics. of my freaky froggy drawing. I was drawn in pencil on stampin up cardstock.
A couple of nights ago I made some whole wheat and flax seed english muffins. They were a big hit. Chris wondered why we had ever bought them .
Krystal made brown sugar shortbread cookies last night because we all had a sweet tooth. Yum yum yum!

This is my Comal (tortilla pan)

2009-03-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

This is my tortilla pan. I would really like to find a press. They run about 15 to 20 bucks. Not bad for such a handy little gadget.
I actually made some more for lunch yesterday and was able to get them a bit rounder than before. Both the kids tried their hand at it too.

Trying my hand at corn tortillas

2009-03-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Corn tortillas : or tortilla de maíz: in Mexico and Central America, a flat dough made from corn dough boiled in water and cooked on a metal or mud cooking surface.

Corn Tortilla Recipe

Normally a comal is used to cook the tortilla: COMAL:A comal is a griddle or grill typically used for cooking foods based on a tortilla, including quesadillas, a folded tortilla filled with cheese and/or meat heated on the comal.

I have one but I just used my griddle.I don't however have a tortilla press.

Tortilla press

I tried rolling mine out covered in plastic wrap but that didn't really do the job I wanted.
I used parchment paper and that worked pretty well, but I think that maybe a plastic freezer bag might even work better.

Mine could be called round only if using the term very loosely! But hey I think round is over rated anyway!

A tortilla press is on my list of kitchen gadgets I must have.

Our tortillas (Me and Krystal made them.) came out really tasty and we will make these often!

NEW CARDS & MY STAMP RACK

2009-02-27T20:04:00.001-08:00

These are some new cards I made.
The different stamps used were House mouse, Stampingbella and Stamping Up!

My Hubby got me a new rack and lots of plastic shoe boxes to organize all my stuff.

Chris' B day

2009-02-25T19:33:00.001-08:00

My husband Chris turned 34 this year. His sister Patricia set up a surprise birthday party at an arcade called Ground Control. It has all the old arcade games like astroids, area 51 and lots of pinball games. It is for adults and children until 5:00 pm then it has a live band and serves alcohol. We went at noon. It was crazy hard not to tell where we were going but I think he had it figured out anyway. Everybody had lots of fun.
My husband shares his birthday with his cousin Jeff's daughter Hannah.
She turned 10.

Fresh eggs and my new tv

2009-02-18T16:20:00.000-08:00

Lets see now first I will tell you about the eggs.

My parents friends raise chickens and I have started buying eggs from them.
I will buy eggs from them rather than the store because they are fresher and they are not going through any chemical processes. I also think it is great fun to see what color eggs I am going to get!

I also got a new TV and stand today. Ok my stand is actually a buffet but it was the item that worked best for me. The TV is a 42" LG. It is pretty strange seeing everything so big!

We still won't be watching regular tv, just movies ,gaming and the TV shows we get on the internet.

Straightening my hair

2009-02-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

This is how long my hair is when it is straightened with a flat iron.
And how it looks curly.
The other picture is of my daughter after I used the iron on hers.
She just has a little bit of nature curl in her hair.

This is not something I will make a habit of because the heat is bad for your hair and I am trying to grow mine out.

My daughter in my comfy chair

2009-02-13T20:21:00.001-08:00

This is my happy place.
I have moved things around since these pictures but its still my favorite place.

Pro life 12 year old

2009-02-12T16:49:00.000-08:00

No doubt this little girl is an activist in the making. Good for her! Way to be heard! If only I was so eloquent.

Rubber stamps, food

2009-02-11T19:41:00.001-08:00

These are some of the fresh fruits that I am keeping in the house at all times now.

Those are the cinnamon rolls I need to make much less often.

And those 2 plastic shoe boxes now hold my gigantic stamp collection.
About 1 ft. x 1 ft. and a lot lighter .
Yep I have unmounted all but my biggest stamps(background and very large stamps).

I want to say there is about 50 cd cases there.
Going unmounted is taking a little getting used to but it was the only way to keep my stamp collection now that I don't have a room for it.

Dinner dinner everywhere

2009-02-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Nothing you see here came
from a box or a can.
It wasn't that hard to make
it from scratch and it didn't take that long to make it.
Keeping in mind I am at home full time.

Au gratin potatoes
brown sugar glazed-poached salmon
asparagus pan seared in olive oil and spices

(Thanksgiving)
Quick and easy dinner rolls
mashed potatoes and brown gravy
corn
au gratin potatoes
ham

Omelet w/ peppers,mushrooms,cheese and ham

alfredo w/ pork and mixed vegetables

Eggs
bacon
latkes

Some of it is healthier than others and we are working
on fixing that right now. We have added more fruits and veggies to our diet and I have been steadily reducing the size of meat and side dishes.

a bad hair day-or two ! and cleaning the house

2009-02-06T20:16:00.001-08:00

I have had more than just a few bad hair days and this is just a sampling.
I didn't like the color of my hair and beached it often turning it into straw. I do not advise bleaching your hair.

I have also had my hair straightened twice with a chemical straightener. Before that I used the relaxers made for black people. I loved my hair straight but after 2 straightenings it had fried my hair and wasn't nice any more. I cut it off up at my ears after that. I have those pics on a hard drive that is not hooked up right now so we will have to wait on those. I do have 2 pics of my hair straight.

Anyway on to other things- I was doing some deep cleaning yesterday. And the washing machine really needed some attention. So I'm going along cleaning it up and pulling off any part not bolted down so I can get into the nooks and crannies.
Well eventually I wanted to get it even cleaner so I looked up the service manual on line so I could see how to take it apart.
I was able to take off the tops to the bleach and softener dispensers and I was able to take the lid off and apart to clean it all up inside and out.
I then ran a hot,heavy,empty load with bleach to finish up the cleaning. It looks great and I am pretty happy with it. But I could be really dangerous with a service manual I rarely know when to stop!

Growing my hair out

2009-02-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

I don't know what order these pictures will end up in when I post them so I will do my best to explain which is which.

The kind of blurry one where my hair is kind of straight and fluffy->

I had just trimmed about an inch off of it. It is puffy because I used a hairbrush on it. If I had continued to brush it,it would get bigger and bigger.

The one with the striped shirt
is from near the same time
but with my hair done as
usual. I comb it while its
wet and add some hair gel.
Those were both from
a few months ago.

The other two are from today. The picture that looks closer up is when my hair was still wet. And the other picture is of my hair mostly dry.
I lose 1-2 inches of length when its dry. I never blow dry it. It would a giant ball of fluff. And it would dry it out.
I admittedly have never tried the new hair dryers so they might be better.

This is my natural hair color. There is no dye in it.
This is not a perm.

Tomorrow I will put up some bad hair pictures for you.

P.s never let someone taller than you take your picture.

My son took the last two here and they are not flattering.

Please ignore my fat arms-gotta work on that!