Menu Monday!

That bean soup was AWESOME!!  If you like Campbell's Bean and Bacon soup, this taste's just like it!!  I added a full pound of bacon and a whole can of tomato paste.



Monday-  Veal Parmesan with spaghetti noodles, Rosemary bread, Green salad

Tuesday-  Salmon Patties, mashed potatoes, garlic broccoli, chocolate brownies

Wednesday-  Hawiaan chicken, rice roni, snow peas, fruit salad

Thursday-  Green Salad, baked potatoes, leftovers

Friday- Taco's

Saturday-  Sloppy Jo's, tator tots, cole slaw, fruit, coffee cake

Sunday-  Clam Chowder with sourdough bread.

~~It's Thursday~~

For Today...

Outside my window...  It's very cold.  Other parts of the country are colder. 

(our giant icicle- over 4 feet long!)

I am thinking... I am thinking I am envious of you more southern ladies who have had a chance to do yard work (April Jo .)  I am remembering it's strawberry season in California. . . big sigh.  I am remembering  the moderate 70 degree southern California days.  I am thinking that a lot of things will be happening this year, oh my!  

From the learning rooms... Clock review, measuring review,  -ed- ing,   Looking at finishing up our school year April 30th,  I am going to start looking at other curriculum for next year.  Do any of you have any good curriculum recommendations for me?

I am thankful for... That God continually meets our needs over and above what we need, BEFORE we even ask for anything.  I am thankful for the love of my husband.  I am rejoicing that I enjoy the company of my children and am thankful for #2 son keeping me company as our nest has grown smaller.

From the kitchen... We enjoyed more leftovers from the kitchen last night.  #1 son sure was good at keeping the leftovers eaten for me.  And I am trying to cook smaller meals   Tonight- Cornish Game Hen dinner.  I am going to make chocolate peanut butter cookies after school this morning as well.

I am wearing... It's late in the morning.  I am still motivating myself to get going.  I am in my fuzzy purple robe with my wild morning hair.

I am reading... I ordered the Sean and Leanne Touhy book, "In A Heartbeat"  it should arrive today.  I loved their story, and the movie.  I believe the Lord has really blessed their lives because of how they give of themselves.

I am hoping and praying... Hoping and praying for so many things.  Family, safety, desires of my heart, my husband, church searching, my children, spiritual growth, that I may be a blessing to others.

I am creating... Still working on that picture project, I really just need to place an order then pay for them, then get to work on photo albums.   I did a tiny bit of decorating in Aaron's room.  All the decor, bedding and furniture I have given to him so that room may be empty in the next few months anyway.  I am not sure how I will replace what he takes with him.

 

I am hearing... Heaters running!  Wind chimes sounding.  A child thumping around.

Around the house... Everything is fairly clean!  All the Christmas decorations have been put in the attic.  I had been short one storage box.  Still an unfinished car (or two) and car parts laying around.  Aaron's Mazda is coming back together.  More parts are on their way for that as well.I am getting spring fever.  I want to re-arrange furniture but not sure how I could do that.  I want to go work in my yard.  I wonder how my 'garden' will do this year?

One of my favorite things... Missing the west coast and everything about it.  To me, it is one of my favorite things.

 

(palm trees, eucalyptus, pepper trees, mountains, lakes, logging roads, rainy winters, the coast, the valley, eastern Oregon, Deschutes river, lava flow, old friends, good churches)

A few plans for the rest of the week... School at the library tomorrow, we need the change in routine.  Medieval Times with friends on Saturday.  A new church to try on Sunday.

Something to share...

I am wishing it was warm enough outside for this...

Have a great weekend!!

Boot Camp Journal

I have access to the USCG boot camp web sight.  The recruit companies post something each week about what they are accomplishing.  This is the company my son Aaron is in.  (I am not certain, but it sounds like my son could have written it.??)

Coast Guard Recruit Company November 184 weekly journal posted Feb. 1, 2011

	TRACEN Cape May, N.J. U.S. Coast Guard
November 184 weekly journal Graduation 3/11/2011
WEEK 2 We started our first week as a formed company. We have a long week ahead of us. On our quarterdeck we have our week schedule posted along with any medical and dental appointments for that day. We get up at 0530, take morning muster, and go get ready for the day. If people are late which is unacceptable, our company commander has us get in a push up position and stay there until muster is complete. It teaches us to stray alert. It also teachers us discipline. That’s the word we hear all the time. After we take muster we have either 10 or 15 minutes to change into our uniforms of the day, shave, and brush our teeth. We go to the galley to eat breakfast. Now there is a rumor that military food is terrible. We can assure you it's not true. The military has a buffet type line where you walk your tray and ask for what foods you want on your plate. The food is fresh, it's filling, nutritious, and tasty. No one complains about the food here in Cape May, NJ. After breakfast we either go to class or we go to the gym to work out. We each were given a physical fitness log to keep track of our performance during boot camp. WE have 8 short weeks to get in shape and pass our physical fitness tests. Boot camp is both mental and physical. Our classes are demanding, we have a lot of information to process in a short period of time. This week we learned about ranks, how to read them properly and how to properly greet them on base. We also learned about the Military Uniform Code of Justice. They are laws for military personnel. They are much stricter than civilian laws in many ways. Coast Guard as any service takes pride in Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. We are reminded of that everyday. We also had a class on "How to cope with Military life". We were taught about services available to us if we need help dealing with stress and if your families need help adjusting to constant relocating. Marching is a big part of military way of life. Everywhere we go, we march-left right left. We are slowly starting to march together in unison. It takes practice and we have a lot of it on a daily basis. We are constantly learning new drills while marching. We received a demilitarized version of a M-16. It can't fire a bullet however we are learning how to properly take care of it. We learned how to properly hold the M-16 while marching. We did sniper drills, that’s when we hold the piece. Shoulders not touching your body for 20 minutes. Its hard, we do them when we aren't paying attention during M-16 drills. Another drill we do with the M-16 when we don't ease the piece properly to the ground, its called "Piece I.T." The drill consists of different exercises that use the M-16. WE met our mentor this week. Master Chief Bordell. He talked to us, shared his wisdom of 27 years of service. He answered our questions we had about life after boot camp. He informed us about what we should expect when out on a cutter or a small boat station. We discussed schools, how to get promoted which ratings take leadership roles, and benefits offered us by U.S. Coast Guard. He was the "coolest" Master Chief we met. We can't wait to talk to him in week 05. We started our night watch on Friday. There are 06 people during each watch, each watch is 01 hours. There are 02 people that stand at the podium at the front door while other 04 road around the building making sure everything is in order. Watch starts at 2100 and ends at 0600. Everything gets documented, time you leave, time you come back, and any emergency gets documented. We learned about "RAMP". RAMP is a motivation program that helps recruits get back to the level their shipmates. Helps them both physically and mentally. Teachers them discipline and teamwork. RAMP is a 05 day program, its geared toward recruits who don't follow United States Coast Guard Core Values, they may face reversion or other disciplinary actions. We already seen is happen to few of our shipmates. Week 02 has come to an end. Little by little we become more unified through team building drills and discipline. Week 03 is upon us and we are "Fueled and Ready to Train"

Wordless Wednesday :-)

ICE!!

Xanga Mainpage

After continually seeing your comments about the trashy xanga mainpage I wrote them today.  It is not the first time I have done this.  I'm not sure if xanga leaders pay attention.  I peeked at the main page today after someone else posted about it,  and I was again reminded why it digusts me to go there.  If it is not explicit pictures it is explicit wording highlighting someones blog page.  ENOUGH XANGA!!  Why can't we have a "G" rated xanga homepage and "G" rated leads into someone's TOP BLOG.  I know that mainpage has driven many people to blog elsewhere and has driven many of my friends to only read my blog and not comment for fear where they will be led.

I am able to avoid the xanga mainpage when logging into my account by first pulling up my own main page and then clicking in the right hand corner where it says 'sign in.' That takes me to a generic sign in page with no pictures and then takes me my sight.  I don't sign off my page just 'X' out of the browsing session when I am through.

Today I commented on the pornographic and explicit xanga homepage here~

www.xanga.com/ideas   (search for betheelou under 'new ideas')

www.help.xanga.com

www.help.xanga.com/about/contact   (Customer Service/category- OTHER)

www.xanga.com/ReportContent.aspx 

and I messaged xanga Natalia (who has tried to help me on other xanga issues in the past)
natalia.xanga.com

Hope this helps them change that xanga homepage!!

Menu On Tuesday!

Monday-  Leftovers such as~ beef stew, shepherd's pie, salad, hash brown casserole (whew!)

Tuesday-  Aldi's premade combination pizza's with added bacon, onion and cheese on top

Wednesday-  Garlic Roasted Cornsih Game Hens, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, sauerkraut, peas and carrots, dinner rolls?,  monster peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

Thursday-  Veal Parmesan with either raviolis or spaghetti noodles, rosemary bread,  Ceasar Salad

Friday-  Chicken Nuggets or corn dogs with french fries, cooked corn

Saturday-  Maple Salmon, Rice a Roni, garlic broccoli

Sunday-  Bean with Bacon Soup, grilled cheese sandwiches

Terrific Tuesday With a Recipe

Today's theme~ canned peaches!





www.campbellskitchen.com

Pork Tenderloin with Peach and Pecan Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 green onions, sliced (about 1/4 cup)

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Golden Mushroom Soup

1 can (about 15 ounces) sliced peaches in juice, drained, reserving juice

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons honey

1/4 cup pecan halves, toasted and broken into large pieces

Hot cooked rice

• Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the pork and cook until well browned on both sides.  Remove the pork from the skillet.
  
• Add the garlic and onions to the skillet and cook and stir for 1 minute.  Stir the soup, peach juice, soy sauce and honey in the skillet and heat to a boil.  Cook for 5 minutes or until the soup mixture is slightly reduced.
  
• Return the pork to the skillet.  Stir in the peaches.  Reduce the heat to low.  Cook until the pork is cooked through.  Stir in the pecans.  Serve the pork and sauce with the rice.  Sprinkle with additional sliced green onion, if desired.

-------------------------------------------



Oh! So Easy Peach Cobbler

Blend 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter into a 9X9 baking dish.  Stir in 1 cup each of, self rising flour and milk.  Pour 1 (15 oz) can UN-drained sliced cling peaches over top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until golden.  Serve WARM with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.