Anyhow, this week, I was trying to make sure things are being used in the freezer. Meat has been expensive, so the freezer may need restocking after a bit. I have not seen chicken cheaper than .99 a pound recently and ground meat is $1.49 at the cheapest, which is hard!
So, we will see how we do this week!
Menu plan:
Wednesday: Boiled potatoes, beets, cucumber and tomato salad (hopefully, I have some in the garden), maybe the rest of the green beans
Thursday: Crockpot soup, bread
Friday:Crockpot pork roast, mashed potatoes, garlic carrots, applesauce
Saturday: Leftover roast strips, egg noodles, gravy, coleslaw
Saturday: Meal at church- something with rice, frozen broccoli and whatever i can figure out, it may be soup, I am not sure yet. Dessert of some kind
Monday:Fried rice with some bits of roast, carrots etc. salad
Tuesday: Lasagna, salad, homemade french bread
Lunches this week: Leftovers, soup, turkey ham sandwiches, PB, or turkey, Homemade cookies.
I have to make more zucchini bread and cookies today. Tomorrow I am going to a bridal shower that I have to take care of the food.
I read several books this week so far and have not had time to write them down. I realized I have not been writing down the children's books I have been reading. That is a shame!
Tomorrow is another day and I am so, so tired. I feel like it should be the end of the week already and for some reason life is a bit tiring for me, but I will keep going.
I don't see how people have the energy to think about politics and other issues, I have enough in my house to keep me going!
We got so much done in the last couple days though! F. fixed a couple boards in the porch that needed fixing. It has to be painted though before it is too cold, so one of the warm days we will do that. It looks like a dark red type stain/paint was used, I have no idea what color to use. The house is a khaki color, what color do you make the porch? I canned another 14 jars of jam yesterday, I finished the huge job of the office/schoolroom/library, and got everything ready for school today although I have to figure out where I placed two subjects......
Anyhow, Good night, I have been working on really enjoying my children and enjoying being with them as they do grow up fast and I keep feeling like I am missing one.....but it is just that my littlest one is getting big and they are all so big!
I could use some fast breakfast ideas that do not require cooking.....I was thinking about making some waffles and using fruit jam on them instead of syrup, but I would have to make them ahead of time.
Susan May Warren, Susan Meissner, Camy Tang and others are all going to be there! There is a really long list! I even went to look at train tickets, which I found it was only $280 round trip to go that week, but alas, I realized I have other duties that week and I should not be even considering spending money for a train ticket to go see authors and visit my friends whom I miss dearly there.....
So, all of you who live in or around MN, please go and visit them for me. I may have to see if I can get someone to take a book there for me to get signed, although it is not as exciting as doing it in person!
I have a great bunch of things to accomplish and my older boys are not home yet and the younger ones are being quiet, which is not always a good sign! It is sort of cold in here, so I think I will can peaches and warm up the house if I get brave enough to get my jars down! I hate it that you usually find spiders in boxes of jars.
We hiked a little, it was a easy trail that even the little ones could do, but about a mile and half or so. There was a playground, and we built a nice fire, read books and played around. We cooked hot dogs, marshmallows, biscuits on a stick and beans and rice in a cast iron pan and had hot tea. (The boys love to eat, what can I say? Most of it surrounded food!)
It was alot of junky food, but we all ran around alot and it was good! I brought two dirty, tired boys home and bathed them and the others called me several times, but are doing fine out there.
They were all so cute and having so much fun, I really wished for a camera. I took a couple of pictures on my phone, but it made me see that I really have to just buy one even if it is not the best!
Check it out! Tanya has some beautiful stuff and they are giving away one piece by her!
Wednesday: Spanish rice and chicken, tortilla chips, salsa, salad
Thursday: Borcht, bread
Friday: Taco salad
Saturday: Spaghetti, meatballs and salad
Sunday: Crock pot Taco soup
Monday: Tator Tot casserole, green beans
Tuesday: Enchiladas, spanish rice and salad
Some books i read this week:
Pick a New Dream by Lenora Weber
Tarry Awhile by Lenora Weber 247 pages (It was like seeing old friends to read these books! They are some of the favorite books from my childhood that i can read over and over. Beany is so real and it is more real life stories, with all kinds of different issues because of lack of communication, irresponsibility, or lack of money. They are fun and they are a great place to learn frugal meal planning!
One quote I thought was a big difference to show how our times have changed was in Tarry Awhile. Beany is engaged to be married and it seems all around them people are rushing into getting married and she and her fiance are waiting until he has his degree.
"And there is another thing. i hear these married guys on campus, whose wives are working and footing the bills, and they live n fear and trembling of their getting pregnant. it kind of makes me sick. I mean, we want to have kids and well, it seems so wrong for what is called a blessed a event to be a tragedy." page 84 of Tarry Awhile
I also read Crimson Roses by G.L. Hill. 319 pages- I love her books too! They make me want to go re-vamp my wardrobe in cute little dresses that are neat and look nice!
Dogwood by Chris Fabry it was like 300 something pages. - It was a very different book, I did not expect the ending at all! Talk about a weird twist!!
The Sovereign's Daughter by Susan Warren and Susan Downs - 286 pages- It was a "what if" story of if The Last Czar had smuggled one of his daughter's out and a servant took her place and died in her place. It was very interesting, but highly unlikely.
Wiser than Serpents - Susan Warren 347 pgs. - Another Susan Warren book with Russian characters. i love the sprinkle of Russian words, but wonder if people enjoy it as much if they do not know what she was saying!
- First locate fruit- make sure there is no extra things in the fruit box besides fruit
- Wash jars- load dishwasher with jars- start and quickly check on 4 year old to make sure he is not getting into something or using your peaches as baseballs.
- Start water boiling for peeling peaches- run down to check on boys as they are climbing on something they should not be. Run upstairs again, water is boiling.
- Locate lemon juice, stainless steel spoon and start peaches so you can peel them. Wonder if the time you caught your 4 year old and 6 year old with the lemon juice if they mixed sugar in with it.
- Peaches are peeled, chop and measure them. You miss your glass measuring cups you broke last week, but use the one remaining. Start cooking with lemon juice and pectin.
- Remember you forgot to measure sugar, run to get sugar and run back to quickly stir in between dashes.
- Catch 4 year old with something red on fingers. Stick him in corner where you can see him, while stirring jam.
- Realize that you need to boil more lids and rings, dash to garage to find them.
- 4 year old is wailing he is hungry. Tell him to have patience, while you add sugar to now boiling jam.
- Bring jam back up to a boil, leaving for a second to heat up leftover spaghetti for said 4 year old.
- Arrange jars on counter, realize frantically you did not lay out the wide mouth funnel and go through drawers looking while dashing back to keep stirring. Can't find it!
- Decide to ladle jam in jars without funnel, while glancing at 4 year old to make sure he is not getting spaghetti on new shirt, I tip a jar of jam over, because I am doing it one handed. Jam is starting to pour down the clean cupboard! i rescue some jam, but lose a bunch.
- i carefully wipe and put lids on jam and arrange them in canner. 4 year old wants to go somewhere else besides kitchen and since I cannot chase him, I hurry.
- Jam gets into the canner somewhat crooked, but there was two inches of water over it, that is what counts I figure......another batch, you think? (I find the wide mouth funnel in the drawer where it belongs, hiding and it escaped my frantic search!)
i got some really nice jelly jars from a garage sale for free and paid $3 for a box of lids and rings. Some of them are antiques I cannot use, but maybe I can sell them!
My oldest son is in pain because after trying a gymnastic antic that failed when he fell off his bunk bed head first onto his head, his neck and upper back hurts. I talked to the doctor and she would like to see him so I will be going there tonight. "sigh" I also drove about 30 miles to get a free art easel. It is nice!
i just feel so drained! I am so, so tired......i just wish I could sleep and sleep and sleep some more!
instead I am going to make a list of some specific jobs I have to get done and get them done! How does that sound for a goal? I have to figure out how to replace a bathroom faucet. I am not sure if is a hard job or not, but I think i broke ours!
I have peaches to take care of and school to start. Do we have to start school this week?
Anyhow, life has been well, busy to say the least.
We had some friends from church that moved away and they left quite a bit of stuff in the garage to get rid of so some ladies in the church and others decided to have a garage sale for them. It was alot of work over three days and I am really tired out. they did well at least!
On Friday I had decided to bake some bar cookies, one pan for us and one for P. to sell at the garage sale. So was almost done and T. and my nephew started arguing so I turned around and must have knocked something so that my two glass measuring cups fell out and shattered everywhere. I had to throw everything away, and clean and clean and clean to get rid of any glass. It was very sad, but I did not want to take a chance! i ended up remaking bars and a brownie mix later that night for him to sell. Oh my! Now, i have to buy new measuring cups! I used those every day pretty much!
I am still in the process of getting my school room done. i am beginning to doubt I will ever get it done, but there is a light at the end of the long tunnel. I need to do a few more shelving things and get things in order finally and put away in a organized way so i can start school!
I discovered today that i am helping alot more than I thought with a bridal shower and wedding and the person that generally helps is so overwhelmed she cannot help too much. I am struggling with knowing what to do as I do not want to take on too much either. So, I have the shower on Thursday, wedding on Saturday and then MOPS starts on Monday, and the homeschool kickoff is monday as well in the first week of September. Oh, also i have a book review and contest to post that day too!! i am thinking that I may have to do the baking before then so it will be a simple thing to just pull stuff out of the freezer and serve, rather than worrying about doing it all that week. I am supposed to bake quick breads for the shower and organize the baking of cookies for the wedding reception too. One thing I found very funny, and I am not sure if it will strike any of you as funny. It may be how I grew up, in a large family 2-3 dozen cookies is nothing......
Someone said today that they have a recipe that makes 5 dozen cookies and if they make that big of a batch of cookies something about letting their family have some and having plenty to share. In our house, growing up a regular batch of cookies makes at least 10 dozen, if not 15.......If I bake cookies, I do not ever bake less then 8 trays of 15 cookies usually. I freeze some usually so they last while, but if I make a recipe that is small and says 5 dozen cookies, I would always double it!
Well, when you have at least 12 people eating, everyone could have two-three cookies and they were gone and I would have to bake again right away. That is one snack time!!! So, anyhow, I have to re-shape my thinking I guess when it comes to cookie baking!
So, life goes on here! I still have not bought a new camera, but we did get a new table and got a great deal for a nice table. God really blessed us with it! So, maybe I might have the money to buy a camera now from what I saved on the table!
i got kind of sun burnt yesterday, I guess the last days of summer have been great! The boys went swimming yesterday and today as it was the last days the pool was open, well, P. went yesterday and they all went today.
Well, I am out of flour...I have to check on my blog when I last bought all that flour, but i have to buy more. I think it usually last 6 months! I can grind my own, I guess!
Some of the books i read this week:
Wind River by Toni Morrisey- 302 pages
Copper Star- Suzanne Woods Fisher-287 pages- story of young german woman who comes to America as she was part of the resistance in Germany, but was also a Jew.
Some books that i have not read in a long and time and decided to re-read them as they are always good. Francena Arnold is a very interesting author with deep hard hitting stories.
Then am I strong- by Francena Arnold- 252 pages -A story of a young lady who has had vision problems and trouble conquering fear.
Straight down a crooked Lane- by Francena Arnold 256 pages- In this story Mary Jo meets and marries a young man very young against her parents wishes really and discovers the hard way how life can still have joy, but can be like going straight down a crooked lane sometimes.
Thursday:
Sloppy Joes, Cucumber salad and roasted potatoes, cookies
Friday: Meatball sandwiches, salad, peach crisp
Saturday: Mashed potatoes, meat gravy, green beans
Sunday: Spaghetti, meatballs, salad, garlic bread
Monday: Stir fry with rice
Tuesday: Boiled yellow potatoes, zucchini, beets, cucumbers if there are any in the garden
On Friday we were walking and stopped at a little homeschool store on the way for a rest and i bought two books to read aloud this year, but one as I was walking, the name looked so familiar! As i looked some more, I got excited as I realized that it was the same author that had written a book I read long ago and really enjoyed. I could never remember the title or the author really, just what the cover looked like and they were a little different, but really enjoyed it. They took place in Germany after the war ended and the girl had great danes.
I got this book called The long Way Home by Margot Benery-Isbert, which is the author of the book I had read. I think her dog died in the war and she she ended up helping with other displaced dogs or something. Anyhow, I was excited over this little thing, as I figured I would never figure out the book.
I am working on read through that book, but only while I have extra time by my computer, so it may take awhile, but I read a few other books this past while, not as many as I would like!
Summer of Joy by Ann Gabhart 347 pgs.
Painted Dresses Patricia Hickman 342 pgs.
The Outsider by Ann Gabhart 342 pgs.
The days of Ofelia by Anita Dianmant 226 pgs. (older book about a lady who moved to a Hispanic country and a little girl she befriended)
My heart just felt so sad for the young girls who are torn away from their families and have their coaches become their families, but not only that, a family with so little human nature or love that they desired status over their daughter, which was probably their only child.
It made me just so thankful that although our country has many problems, we are blessed in so many ways. I do not have to worry that my child is going to be taken from me to be a celebrity, even though they may show talents of one nature or another.
We went to dinner over in ID. which is really not far from my parents, at a friend's house. T. had so much fun as it was safe, there was piles of dirt, trikes to ride and fun things to do. It was so nice! We went back to moms and spent the day visiting. I made tacos with shredded meat and homemade salsa, they ate with chips. The boys went swimming alot as my parents bought a nice above ground pool to swim in. It is a little chilly, I guess, but the boys enjoyed it.
We then came home and I brought the company with me. It was fun to have a house that everyone could stay in and sleep comfortably. There was lots of space to spread out and we fixed breakfast here. We got a nice break and treat when we all went out to dinner. It was fun! It was loud of course, as there was a very large group, like over 25 people there. But my sister was our waitress and not only is she a very pretty waitress, she is a excellent one too! She had a mess to clean when we were gone, but I think the tip she got made up for it! It is nice to pay the tip to someone you know, isn't it?
I am tired as I do not think I have talked that much in over a year.... When you see people that have known you for that long too, it is funny! We have known them for almost 25 years, well at least the husband!
I had 10 people staying here though and it was so peaceful though! I really, really enjoyed it! Now, I really need to get that table! I actually found out today a tip on someone who had a table for sale, so I am going to go look at it!
So, in brief, my fun weekend and I have a bunch of things I need to do this week to get ready for school, plus I have paperwork to get in for my doula work that has to be done this month. That sort of stresses me as I am not sure if I did it all right! We will see!
We then got ready and went to the lake, my aunt and uncle have a little cabin on a lake so I sat in the quiet and read a book, while the boys really tired themselves out swimming around and having fun! They ate lunch out there and, we came home. It was really nice! The house is still a mess, but my husband decided to let a Kirby salesperson show him the vacuum so my rug got cleaned in the living room, which was nice, but I think I discouraged the guy as I am such a cheapskate and was honest to let them know I would never spend that much on a vacuum, no matter how bad they made me feel! They were nice about it at least and they gave us a candle too. They work great, I just am not willing to pay that much for it. It took the stain right out of my area rug!
Anyhow, I really should figure out what I am going to do with the green beans as I need either a new ring on the pressure canner or something, but I was thinking about dilly beans!! Yum! I might end up freezing them though....we'll see! I got a big bowl full, fresh beets, spinach, avocados, tomatoes......sounds like a good meal!
Anyhow, I figured it was time to post my menu as I have been winging it this week and it did not go so well! I made a pot of sauce yesterday, so I have that made and I got an eggplant at the produce place, I have to make salsa as I have tomatoes that were given to me that I have to use up.
Wednesday: Pizza, salad
Thursday: Taco salad
Friday: Gone for dinner-to moms- bring cereal, meat
Saturday: Gone for dinner-to moms- cereal, chicken
Sunday: Tacos, salsa
Monday: Eggplant parmasan, spaghetti
Tuesday: Sloppy joes, carrot sticks
Books I read;
Winter Turns to Spring: Gary Chapman and Catherine Palmer 293 pages
Snow Angel Jamie Carie 284 pgs
The Duchess and the Dragon Jamie Carie 294 pgs
Daring Chloe Laura J. Walker 332 pg.
By Susan May Warren
Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko
When she put her dreams on hold to help run the family
ranch, she never imagined they would slip out of sight. Luckily for
Stefanie, those dreams are about to come knocking at her door.
Lincoln Cash has gained fame and fortune on the big screen, but a crippling secret leaves him one last chance to make his mark on the movie industry. With dreams of hosting a new film festival, Lincoln intends to remodel a sprawling ranch in eastern Montana to make it the new Hollywood hot spot.
Unfortunately, a house fire threatens his plans. So does oppositionfrom
His new neighbor Stefanie Noble, who's not thrilled about his
Tinseltown changes. What Lincoln and Stefanie don't know is that the fire won't be the last disaster to threaten Lincoln or his future. Someone is out for revenge... but who? And who is the real target?
This book is another good book with a bit of a mystery twist to it. I really enjoyed reading it! Stefanie is happy at the ranch, she loves horses , right away in the book though rescuing horses in need gets another horse she loves into trouble. She cannot help rescuing the children as well that cause the fire on the great Lincoln Cash’s house, which cause her to see another side of him then the suave, cool guy and she is not so sure she even likes him anymore. Stefanie is seeking to find her place, but will the troubles from Lincoln’s past destroy her dreams?
I enjoyed this book! It was a fun read with some romance as well as dealing with other issues like cutting, forgiveness, and what the lack of it will do for you. I really liked the fact that even though it was a fun romantic stories, it had those aspects of real life in it.
The book is 355 pages long, large trade paperback.
You can buy this book here from CBD
About Susan: Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen
novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep's Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader's Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.
Link to her website: http://www.susanmaywarren.com
Contest: Please post the contest on your blog tour post so your readers can
play along too!
Grab your magnifying glass and join me on a Fact-o-Find!
Answer these questions about the bloggers on the tour and be entered to win
a $50 gift certificate to the movie theater of your choice (you know so you
can see some of Cash's great movies *G*)! Email Amy your answers
(amy@susanmaywarren.com)
Ready, get set, giddy-up!
1. Which blogger is adopting a girl from China?
2. This word 'featherbunkle' is found on which blog?
3. Which blogger is supporting the 'Pickens Plan'?
4. Which blog is "The Cutest Blog on the Block"?
5. Which blogger is a S@HM and also a wife, daughter, sister, friend,
nursery director, and woman that is just trying to keep it all together?
6. Which blogger is taking the Southern Reading Challenge?
7. Which blog asks 'How may we serve you'?
8. Which blogger refers to her son as 'super good big guy'?
9. Which blogger is a self-proclaimed 'Starbucks Addict'?
10. Which blogger is a big Trekkie?
8/4
Martha at Our Family's Adventures
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Martha/
Trish at Books for Moms
http://www.booksformoms.blogspot.com/
Sunny at Life in the Estrogen Ocean
http://estrogen-ocean.blogspot.com/
8/5
Deborah at A Cup of Joy
http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/
Julie at Waves of Grace
http://juliecarobini.blogspot.com/
Camy at Camy's Loft
http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/
8/6
Amy at Amy's Random Thoughts
http://amychristopher.blogspot.com/
Gina at Portrait of a Writer
http://portraitofawriter.ginaconroy.com
Lena a Christian Writer's World
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
8/7
Leticia at My Daily Trek
http://leticiasworld.blogspot.com/
Laura at Lighthouse Academy
http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com
8/8
Melissa at Breath of Life
http://breathoflifeministries.blogspot.com/
Lori at Laurel Wreath's
http://laurelwreathsreflections.com/
Ronie at Supernatural Craving
http://www.supernaturalcraving.blogspot.com
Erica at On the Right Path
http://onthewritepath.blogspot.com/
8/9
Deborah at Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/
Heather at Fresh Sweet Peas
http://www.freshsweetpeas.blogspot.com
Christy at Christy's Book Blog
http://christysbookblog.blogspot.com/
Beth at The Writing Road
http://thewritingroad.blogspot.com/
8/11
Cee Cee at Book Splurge
http://booksplurge.blogspot.com/
Kate at A Simple Walk
http://asimplewalk.blogspot.com/
Dineen at Kittens Come From Eggs
http://dineenmiller.blogspot.com
8/12
Joy at Five J's
http://fivejs.wordpress.com/
Paula at Grace Reign
http://www.gracereign.blogspot.com/
Rel at Relz Reviewz
http://www.relzreviewz.blogspot.com
Deena at A Peek At My Bookshelf
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com
Patty at Girlfriends in God
http://patty-girlfriendsingod.blogspot.com
8/13
Peg at Sips & Cups Cafeteria
http://www.peggyblannphifer.blogspot.com
Cara at Cara's Musings
http://carasmusings.blogspot.com/
Pattie at Fresh Brewed Writer
http://www.freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com
Amy at My Friend Amy
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/
AnnMarie at More Than Just A Mom
http://afriedrick.blogspot.com
8/14
Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
http://thenearsightedbookworm.blogspot.com/
Kelli at The Zen of Motherhood
http://www.thezenofmotherhood.blogspot.com
Teresa at Joy In the Journey
http://www.teresaslack.blogspot.com
8/15
Lynetta at Open Book
http://www.lynetta.blogspot.com
Betsy at Betsy Ann.Writer At Large
http://www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com
Susan at His Reading List
http://hisreadinglist.blogspot.com/
8/16
Tiffany at A Fiction Filled Life
http://ambermillerauthor.blogspot.com/
Pamela at Pammer's Ramblins
http://pammer.blogspot.com/
Lauren at Baseballs and Bows
http://baseballsandbows.blogspot.com
Brittanie at A book Lover Forever
http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/
Have fun!!!
Thank you all for entering and making this a great giveaway!
You can see her website www.naturallyhealthy.org
I really liked it because she is so balanced. She does not say "Herbs are the cure-all", but she has a very detailed and well balanced approach to natural medicine. She talked about female and hormonal issues the first night and the next day, more on general health issues. She has exact dosages on what to take, what not to take, why it will work and why it will not work in a scientific manner. She tells why some things will not work on certain people and why they will on others.
She had this new formula she came up with for treating yeast in both man and wife with some oils called Intimate Solutions that smell really nice, there is one that soothes and repairs as well as another that helps get rid of Group B Strep.
I feel like I am so much more knowledgeable about what I should be using for the children and not at other times. I would encourage everyone to buy her books, and if there is one of these near you to attend!
Books read this week:
I read half of a few books
I am working on Naturally Healthy Woman by Shonda Parker
I read though;
Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser 414pages (I really enjoyed this book and the one about Jane by her. This one was about Martha Washington and I learned more about her than I knew before)
In Search of Home by Harvey Yoder 235 pages (I will have to write more about this book as it was excellent. it was the true recent story of a Muslim family who became Christians)
I was a early reader, I started first grade at 5, but not everyone is ready for that. I watch these little children being forced into a mold of overachieving, mostly because their parents feel it is fun, it is a good reflection on them as parents and if they do it, why not try? Then we see the struggles with reading, the people who are suddenly not normal because they are starting first grade at age 6. I was 5 in first grade, but I was 10 in 4th grade. I was not behind at all, but some people would probably say I was now.
I am just wondering if we are really doing what is best for our children when we push them too fast, and too soon. Do we cause more problems?
I love the first stages of school when they are are just starting and love it. But there are children who cannot handle 8 subjects in one day of school at age 5 or 6! Does this put them in a spot where they are abnormal and not as smart as other children?
I think not, but I may be a minority!
I want my children to be smart, it may mean though that I will have to re-adjust my expectations and allow them to work at a slower pace at times than some children.