~~It's Friday~~

 

Outside my window~   I am thankful that all the rain we've had lately has started to green up our lawn.  The bad thing is. . . the grass will shortly begin to die as we hit our six plus months of winter. . .

I am thinking~   Thinking about  doing nothing today. 

From the learning rooms~  Nothing yet from the school room.  Need to organize some desk areas and a book shelf.  The manuscript book I ordered arrived last week.  Lesson plans done.  I think we are about ready.  Next week. . . we'll decorate and maybe buy a package of fat pencils for sweet little fingers.

From the kitchen~   Not sure what's on the menu today.  We've been spending our Sunday's with the bachelors recently.  We've been bringing them over here a lot to save $$ on the going out to eat budget.  Last week we enjoyed hamburger gravy and rice, the week before Parmesan Baked Cod.  This weekend I think I'll make Beef Tips with Egg Noodles and gravy and blueberry cheesecake.

I am wearing~   May I admit, I am still in my pajama's?  With my bad bedtime hair?  Morning breath?  Okay,  I admitted it.

I am creating~   Will maybe spend a few minutes today copying pictures to the proper disks to take to Wal Mart and print pictures.  I tried printing a few of Maggie and #1 son.  After 4 sheets of photo paper and two ink different ink cartridges, I gave up.  Then I will start adding those pictures to albums.  I was inspired by hutch5 last week to add some decorations to some plain areas of my home.  Maybe I'll do that next week too.

I am going~  I am making plans to take at least one son on a picnic/swim date next week to a lake I heard about.  It cost only $5 for the whole day.   I also want to make a trip to Burlington Coat Factory and the thrift store for some clothes for my son's.

I am reading~   A Slice of Murder  by Chris Cavender

I had a pulse out last week about a web sight I found for lists of mystery authors~  www.cozy-mystery.com  She has a list of  no profanity/faith based authors as well.  I am always looking for decent reading mysteries.

I am praying~ Praying for our little family.  We have some big changes coming up.  Praying that all will go smoothly with #1 sons dream of joining the Coast Guard.  Praying he will do well with this last term of college.  Praying always for wisdom for myself and my husband.  Pray especially for my husband as he leads us according to the Lord's direction.

Around the house~  Listening to a silly movie playing that the boys are watching.  S-T-U-P-I-D   Smelling a mulled cider candle.  Thinking about having a snack.

One of my favorite things~   Clean sheets, fresh popcorn a good book. 
 

I am sharing~  We enjoyed three days of forced family bonding time this week.  It was peaceful and relaxing even if it rained most of the time we were gone! Here is the evidence that we spent three days camping in the rain.

 

The first few pictures are taken before the rain began.  The next day and  half, was pretty wet.  We forgot to pack the big tent.  The boys slept in the van.  We threw a big tarp over the tent so it did stay pretty dry inside.  This was a great camp sight.  Behind me was a dry creek bed and a hill covered in forest.  We were alone in this area. 

The recent rains made all the fungus active.  It was so neat to see all the color and shapes of the mushrooms.

 

 

After rain

Before rain (Camping in June)

Dingman's Falls

A visitor

Male bonding time...  4 hour canoe adventure, in the rain.

 

Have a great weekend friends!

 

Baby Holding~ Round II

 

Yes. . . I am still smiling.  What a sweet baby!

Anastasia Grace

 

~~It's Thursday~~

Outside my window~ A clear day,  with fall in the air.  We're getting a break from the humidity.  I am praying for all my xanga friends that are in the terrible heat and  the flooding rain!
  I am reminded of the verse  "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences and earthquakes, in divers places. . . And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all the nations; and then shall the end come."  Matthew 24-6,7 & 14

I am thinking~  I think we are going on a family adventure next week.  Camping, canoeing and cycling.  I am thinking about getting all the camping things ready.  I've already got a bicycle borrowed for myself.  The weather 'should' be better (cooler) than the last time I went camping.  I am looking forward to this!

I am thankful for~  The Lord took care of the bachelors over the weekend.  He always answers prayers.  Thankful for my husbands steady employment.  Thankful for being able to day dream!

From the learning rooms~  I have finished lesson plans for the first 9 weeks.  We're going to try double days at first then see where we are after those 9 weeks.  I am thinking that curriculum with #2 son is far more advanced than it was 15 years ago with #1 son.    We went and purchased school room decorations on Monday.  We'll probably decorate around Labor Day weekend.  I'll be sure to post before and after pictures of that project. 


From the kitchen~  I've gone back to following a menu the last couple weeks...I just haven't posted it!  I think tonight we'll grill hamburgers and make homemade french fries and eat on the back patio.  We'll probably have the bachelors over for lunch after church Sunday.  For that meal I'll be making hamburger gravy and serving it over cooked rice.  Broccoli with cheese sauce,  pistachio salad and brownies with ice cream for dessert.

(Remembering some good Alaskan food with great fondness!)

I am wearing~ Olive green today.  Capri's and short sleeve tee with bare feet and orange toenails.

I am creating~  Got most of the supplies for the photo album project.  I'm going to try to print some of the pictures here at home to save expense.  We'll see if that actually happens.  I'll probably update my photo wall at that time as well.


I am going~  Making plans for tomorrow...to take over lunch and spend time with the new baby and her Momma too!


I am reading~  Read an okay mystery this week. 
Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews  Not sure what the rest of her books will be like.  This one wasn't bad if you like female detective heroines.




I am praying~  I am praying for myself.  Praying about taking some correspondense classes.  Praying about our next move.  Praying for other personal stuff.

I am hearing~  I am hearing a quiet house.  The boys went to a park for a walk/hike.

Around the house~  The house is pretty clean.  I have a dishwasher full of clean dishes to put away.  I am going to make lunch shortly and eat it outside, then water my dry flowerbeds and tomatoes.

One of my favorite things~  My manly mans' arms, popcorn, singing birds, water noises, baby smells.

  I am sharing~  My manly man brought me flowers on Tuesday. . .  AFTER hearing a sermon at church Sunday and Monday nights about "Treat your wife like a deer and she'll fawn all over you."  I love getting flowers but did he really think of them or was he guilted into doing it? 


Have a great weekend friends!

Recipes

 

 

Easy Chicken Bake

• 1 pkg (6 oz) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken
• 1-1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 can (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/3 cup Breakstone’s or Knudsen Sour Cream
• 1 bag (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package; set aside.
2. Mix chicken, soup, sour cream and vegetables in 13x9-inch baking dish; top with the stuffing.
3. Bake 30 min or until chicken is cooked through.

Apple Pie with Crumb Topping

5 c. apples, cored, peeled and thinly sliced 1/2 c. sugar 1 t. cinnamon 9-inch pie crust Gently toss apples with sugar and cinnamon; arrange in the pie crust. Sprinkle with topping; bake at 350 degrees until apples are tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. Makes 8 servings. Crumb Topping: 1/2 c. sugar 1/4 c. brown sugar, packed 1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1/4 c. wheat germ 1/4 c. butter 1/4 c. flaked coconut Combine first 4 ingredients; cut in butter with forks or a pastry cutter until crumbly. Gently toss in coconut. Slice of Sunshine Cake 18-1/2 oz. pkg. yellow cake mix 1/4 c. applesauce 4 eggs, beaten 11-oz. can mandarin oranges 8-oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed 3.4-oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix 15-1/2 oz. can crushed pineapple Combine first 4 ingredients together; mix well. Pour batter into a lightly greased 13"x9" baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center removes clean; set aside to cool completely. Blend remaining ingredients together; spread over cake. Keep refrigerated. Serves 16. **thank you dear internet for my photos today!!

~~It's Thursday!~~

(Yep...that's the real color of my lawn.  I don't water it.  I like a small water bill every month.  The trees would soak up a lot of water too.)

Outside My Window~   Outside my window it's cooler with occasional sprinkles.  I long for a great thunder storm with lightening. . . some good, soaking rain.  I know. . . I am weird.

I am thinking~  I am thinking about getting some lesson plans organized for our 1st grade year.  Looks like I need to order manuscript book instead of cursive.  I also am going to go to the college bookstore tomorrow to purchase #1 son's books before I run out of money! 

 From the kitchen~  Chicken breasts and stove top with cream of chicken soup in the crock pot.  Tomorrow is my big grocery shopping day.  I'll be heading over to Sam's Club for meat and salad dressing along with my usual trip to Aldi's.

 I am thankful for~    I am thankful for the life I have lead.  I am thankful that I serve the Lord.  I can admit I have made mistakes but I don't want to live my life over.

I am wearing~   Khaki capri's, pink tee and bare feet.  I still need to have a home spa day and paint my toes and work on a manicure. 

  I am reading~   Went to the library last week but haven't read anything worth recommending.

I am watching~   Started a new series.  Not sure how I heard about it.  Definitely more of a guy show.

 

((I Spy))

Around the house~   I vacuumed really good this morning.  You know, under the couch cushions, under my bed, behind my nightstands and along the edges of the floors.  Put on a new candle, Tropical Melon.  Dishes are clean.  I need to water my garden. 

(I did have to vacuum around these...)

I am Praying~   Praying for the bachelors...still.  Mickey couldn't get his key to work in the main house door on Tuesday.  He got someone to break the door in for him.  Mickey is now miffed that his landlord expects him to pay for the repairs.   My manly man went over last night to asses the damage and decided the repair will take more time than he can spare this weekend.  We have told Mickey's guardian . . . we'll see what happens.  Mickey will continue to call me until it gets done even though I am not in charge of the situation.  (I answer my phone...)

  Upcoming Plans~     I'm going to start work updating my photo albums like I had planned six months ago.  It will be a good project to do before I start home school.  We're starting to plan what we want to do for our anniversary this year.  Camping?  A drive up to Maine?  A 4X4 trip in the refurbished (AGAIN) Toyota?

(She is being put back together...slowly )

Sharing with You~  I found some good blogs recently that I can recommend for you to browse.  

www.5dollardinners.com

www.notsoidlehands.blogspot.com

www.tickleberryfarm.blogspot.com

www.bigredkitchen.com

www.ayankeeinasouthernkitchen.com

www.se7en.org.za

www.foodformyfamily.com

Have a great weekend friends!

 

Baby Holding

 

Congratulations to our dear friends!  A baby daughter.  What a fantastic blessing.

  

Anastasia~  A revival from new, resurrection, reborn

Grace~  favor, blessing

9 pounds 10 ounces, 22 inches long

(He commented he liked them this way...'warm, cuddly...asleep!')

 

Fabulous Fair Times

 

 

The last few hotels we have stayed in, have had the cutest little kitchens.  Fully equipped and ready to cook.  If I didn't have so much 'stuff' in my kitchen, this is the size of kitchen I'd love. 

I hope that you all will forgive today's post.  I took lots of pictures and the pictures tell a story.  So if you don't like looking at pictures...skip this post!

He thought this little closet would make a fun bedroom for himself.

After our swim in the hotel pool on Saturday we drove down the road to the antique mall and spent a relaxing hour browsing the merchandize. 

We took a drive through the country after dinner and found this church and had a chuckle over their sign.

 

We also saw this pretty little church and behind it was the old school house.

Back to the hotel to watch a movie before bed.

Our snacks.

After a great breakfast waffle breakfast in the hotel Sunday morning, we headed off to the fair.

We watched the cattle showmanship competition.

 

I love this one...it had such pretty eyes.  It was a bit excited to be in the show ring as well, so it kept kicking up it's heels, it's eyes reflected its excitement. 

A goat pillow.

This big goat loved to be petted and paid attention to.  It was watching two women talking off to the right.  Its eyes would watch whomever walked by.

Getting licked by a miniature goat.

I enjoyed the small animal barn.  We saw some amazing geese, ducks, chickens and rabbits. 

 

I loved all the spots!

"Hey!  Where did they all go?  Guys?  Hello?"

Beautiful color on this little bunny.

This was my husbands favorite part.  He even brought home a brochure for this tractor.  Now we just need a place to put a tractor such as this!

Leaning how to spin his own wool.  After the demonstration, he said he wanted his own spinning wheel.  He was going to learn how to knit his own clothes after he spun hair from Banjo our dog.

 

Fair food.  Yes, this was mine.  Tasty!!

My favorite event was the fiddle competition.  These brothers won first place for their age category.  We found out later, that they are all homeschooled!

 

This little man on the right was only 5 years old.  He was adorable!  I believe he was second place winner.

This was #2 son's first experience with a mime.  He wasn't sure what was going on.  He was very reluctant to get closer to the mime.  I was crying from laughing so hard at my son.  Later he asked if the guy was 'real' or fake.  He thought it was a robot!

Scenery.

Fun house mirror maze.

The ferris wheel with Mom and Dad.  He is afraid of heights, so he was petrified.

 

Fishing for a prize.

 

Almost done.  We are fair-ed out by this time.  Eating one last snack and then heading back to the hotel.

Sunset over the corn field.

 

Have a great week!  Hope you enjoyed the trip to the fair with us