Where is the time going?

Time is flying by and I'm certainly not posting as often as I would like! I've been so very busy getting ready for the upcoming holiday and I do not always have the time I would like to be able to spend blogging. Later on this week I will be posting some more recipes, my gift baskets, and some other gifts that I have been making. In the upcoming weeks we will be looking towards February which includes my oldest son's birthday and Valentine's Day, of course.

I got this from Mary's blog!

The first five people to respond to this post (via the comments section) will get some form of art made by me. The only catch, of course: as with most memes, if you sign up, you have to put this in your own blog as well.


Although I am not always the craftiest person, I do have my moments!

It's Here!

The Christmas Season is here!

I've been trying to update for a few days now but haven't had the opportunity as DH has been using the digital. However, now that I am here blogging, I realize I need not have fretted about it since blogger is not currently offering the picture upload option. Well, that's just ducky!

So, I have a lot of time to make up for and I offer you these two ideas.

The first is an easy, no sew craft that I picked up from an old Woman's World. Simply take a Santa hat or a stocking (I bought mine from the dollar store!), stuff with stuffing (I used fiber from an old pillow) and hot glue the opening closed! That's it! Sooo cute!!




















The materials, the stuffing, and the gluing closed!




















The finished pillows on the couch! The kids fell in love with them so I had to make two more of each. Please excuse the mess of my husband's office in the background. He's getting ready to move it's local.












The next is a fast and easy fudge recipe that I got from an email list I am on. The possibilites are only limited to your imagination!

1 12 oz bag chips (chocolate, peanut butter, mint, cherry, ect. whatever you want)
1 container frosting (any flavor you want. Not whipped)

Generously grease a 8x8 inch pan. Melt the chips in the microwave or over low heat. Add the frosting and mix until well combined. Pour into pan and let set! That's it! So far I've used chocolate chips with cream cheese frosting, cherry chips with chocolate frosting, and mint chips with chocolate frosting.

As soon as I'm able, I'll post pictures! And I'll be back tomorrow with more fun ideas!

Around the corner

Thanksgiving has passed and you know what that means! Christmas is right around the corner! Now, I know there a lot of you out there that have started putting out Christmas decor. In fact, I'm sure some of you have even put up your tree. I, however, can not even fathom putting up anything until December 1. I don't if it's because I primarily have Winter decor with a few Christmas touches and don't count my Winter season starting until December or if it's because I want to enjoy the Autumn season just a bit more. Whatever the reason, no cheery Holiday decorations in my house until Friday!

In fact, I even got a Christmas card(!) that is sitting forlornly on the counter, waiting to be placed somewhere!

The one thing I have started doing though is my holiday goodie making! So far I have pumpkin fudge, mock turtles, mallownut bars, and double peppermint bark all sitting in the freezer patiently waiting to be packaged up and given as gifts. I will be sharing those recipes and more with you as the weeks progress. Also on the list of goodies to make are thin mints, hard candy, peanut brittle, buttery cashew crunch, sugar cookies, chocolate covered peanut butter balls, and chocolate covered peanut butter cracker sandwhiches. Oh, and pretzel kisses (for lack of a better term) and truffles. I think that's everything!

I will also be sharing my simple Christmas/Winter decor (everything fits into three boxes!)

Turkey and the stuffing
Gravy in the boat
Let's all give a shout
For Thanksgiving--it's the most!
----Rhonda, age 6

Taking a Thanksgiving Break

I thought I'd take a little break from Thanksgiving chit chat and talk about something else, especially with Winter and all of it's wonderful holiday's.

Have you ever thought about the way your house smells? Is this a question you even want to contemplate? If you are a vigorous or even moderate homemaker, your house most likely smells like whatever you clean with. And thus I give you this idea, gleaned from Brocantehome, in which Alison proposes giving your house a signature scent.

When I read of this idea I though it was brilliant. I make my own cleaners anyway and it would be easy enough to add wonderful fragrence to them. However, I of course had to go one step furthur. With my love of the Seasons and the way they are different, each having its own uniqueness, I decided to find a signature scent for each Season in my home. I have chosen lavendar for Spring, orange (or lemon) for Summer, rosemary for Autumn, and peppermint for Winter. Think about the scents you like and how they may fit into your home for a signature scent.

My favorite is a very simple recipe. It's for carpet fresher (like Love My Carpet, ect.) Simply fill a container (an old parmesean cheese container works fabulously!) with baking soda. Add 11-15 drops of essential oil of your choice. Shake. Let sit overnight. To use, simple sprinkle generously on the carpet and let set an hour. Vacuum up.

A Tip!

"Think you could freeze it with one slice missing???"

This was a question posed to me recently in response to my pumpkin pie recipe that I posted. Here's a little tip I got from Paula Deen...

Cut a small sliver of pie to taste it, cover the top with whipped cream and no one will ever know!

Centerpieces

Here are a few great ideas for Thanksgiving centerpieces!

1. Hollow out small sugar pumpkins. Fill with water and Autumn flowers!

2. This idea comes from Nick Jr. Magazine and is one that I am going to use this year. While dinner is cooking, let the kids go outside and gather nuts, leaves, berries, twigs, ect. Put all the findings in clear vases and set on the table. Not only is it a fun activity for kids, but it produces an attractive centerpiece too.

3. Place a small glass inside of a larger one. Fill the space between the glasses with cranberries. Fill the smaller glass with water and flowers.

And while it's not a centerpiece, I must say I *love* this idea from Monica over at Homespun Heart!

Well, guess what I did today? I made the pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Already?, you may ask. But of course! Making pies ahead of time is one of the things you can do to get ahead of the game. Other things you can make ahead, freeze, and serve on Turkey day without stressing are stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, and other desserts. Heck, you can cook the turkey, slice and freeze it too, but I like to cook that on the actual day.

Here's the pumpkin pie recipe I used today:

1 9" graham cracker pie crust
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 small box instant vanilla pudding (I used sugar
free)
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350*. Whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, egg, and milk until well blended. Add in the pudding mix. Mixture will start to thicken. Pour into crust. Bake at 350* for 30 minutes. Allow to cool. Cover (I used the plastic piece that comes with the crust) and freeze. Take out the day before serving and place in the refrigerator to thaw. Serve with real whipped cream for a homemade touch!

Decorating for Thanksgiving!

I love to decorate for the Seasons as well as for different holidays. I try to keep it simple! Here are the Thanksgiving decorations. This is a simple cornucopia that I made.






Here is the lovely Mrs. Staggs in her new home! Isn't she beautiful? She has made herself quite comfortable amongst the pumpkins and mums. I just accuired the metal pumpkins, turkey, and Give Thanks sign recently. I got them at a party supply store on sale! The mums were .88 cents a bunch and I think there are three bunches in there. The candles were $1.00 a piece. The candle holders were a gift several years ago from my mom. Mrs. Staggs, of course, came over from Merryville!

History of Thanksgiving Part 2

At the turn of the century, retailers were using Thanksgiving to get a jump start on Christmas sales. Newspapers would count down number of shopping days until Christmas and, in 1921, Gimbel's held the first Thanksgiving Day parade to kick off the shopping season. In 1939 however, trouble arose. Thanksgiving was the last Thursday of the month and though that was usually the fourth Thursday, in 1939 it was the fifth. That meant only 20 shopping days until Christmas! So, still trying to dig themselves out the Depression, the National Retail Dry Goods Association asked PresidentFranklin Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving back one Thursday, saying it would boost sales. He agreed and announced the change. Political debates abound and since his change was only binding with federal employees and in DC, govenors of individual states had to ratify the decision for it to apply [to their own states]. In the end, 23 states celebrated Thanksgiving on November 23 and another 23 celebrated on November 30. Texas and Colorado celebrated both days and Minneapolis celebrated from November 23-November 30. However, retail sales did not go up as predicted. In fact, some retailers believed all the confusion caused the sales to drop. Fearing future presidents might do something similar, several congressmen introduced legislation to make the change (making the fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving) permanent. So, Roosevelt signed the compromise and Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the fourth Thusday in November ever since!

I hope you've enjoyed this look at the history of Thanksgiving. In upcoming weeks we'll be looking at ways to enjoy a relatively stress free Thanksgiving, traditions, and recipes!

Thanks again to Uncle John!

History of Thanksgiving Part 1

Today we continue our fascinating look at the history of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving started as a Northern holiday. All the Northern states celebrated it, but no Southern ones did. This isn't to say it hadn't been tried. Congress tried in 1777 and George Washington tried in 1789. Then, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed two days of Thanksgiving. One, on August 6 for Union victories and one on November 26 to celebrate a year "filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies." He did not intend to celebrate another Thanksgiving, however when General Sherman captured Atlanta in 1864, he again proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving. After Lincoln was assassinated, other presidents turned it into a tradition as a way to honor him. By the 1890's Thanksgiving was celebrated in almost every state in the Union.

On November 26, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a compromise bill: that Thanksgiving would always fall on the fourth Thursday in November, whether it was the last Thursday of the month or not. Why? Find out tomorrow as we go to part two!

Thanks again to Uncle John!

Happy November!

I thought I would start out the month with talking a little bit about the upcoming holiday. Today, I'll be dispelling some myths that you may or may not know about Thanksgiving!

Myth #1:The settlers at the first Thanksgiving were called Pilgrims.

Truth:Early Americans called all early colonists "pilgrim" and it wasn't until the 20th century that it was used exclusively to name the folks at Plymouth Rock.

Myth #2:It took place in November.

Truth: It was between September and mid October, after the harvest. It was a three day festival too!

Myth #3: They had a feast every year.

Truth: There is no evidence supporting this. The harvest was bad and they had new Pilgrims to deal with.

Myth #4: They ate turkey.

Truth: They ate deer, fish, clams, oysters, berries, plums, water, and beer.

Why is it celebrated in November? Why on the fourth Thursday? Why do we eat turkey? Join me tomorrow as I delve into the first part of the fascinating history of Thanksgiving!

all myths and truths presented today were taken from Uncle John's Ultimate Bathroom Reader

She's Here!!!!!

I'm so excited! I recently won a contest that Mrs. Staggs was having over in Merryville. The prize? A beautiful Mrs. Staggs doll! And she arrived this morning. Bonnet tied, basket full, and pumpkin plump. She is absolutely adorable and I love her! Thank you so much, Mrs. Staggs! I just love her. I will be posting pictures soon! Now I just need a Mr. Staggs to go with her! lol!

Eureka!

I think I've figured it out! You may remember when I was whining in a previous post about having nothing of note to blog about. Well, I have thought of something. Why I didn't think of it before, I don't know. Anyhow, in addition to blogging about my journy from Horrible Housewife to Domestic Diva, I will be discussing Celebrations!

Although I don't do much of it, I love to entertain. I have lots of fun ideas for different celebrations, some frugal, some not. Ideas that encompass food, games, decor, favors. All sorts of things. It's a bit late for the upcoming holiday, so I will begin next week with Thanksgiving, starting with a fascinating history you may not know about. Until then, look for my thoughts and recollections on Halloween, coming soon.

Just because

I have been bothered of late with certain vibes I am getting from some people. I think (and I do believe I am correct in this thinking) that certain "friends" do not want me hanging around simply because I have four young children. Now, all of these "friends" are female, they are all married, however, only one of them has any children and she just has one. They often get together and do things. I know this because one "friend" will sit and talk to me about what they all do. Am I wrong to be hurt by this? Just because I have four children doesn't mean I can't go do things too. Just because I have four children doesn't make me any less of a person. It's not like I talk about them ad nauseum. It's just frustrating to me and I'm not sure what, if anything, to do about it. Just needed to vent.

Progress is still being made! Currently I am working on stripping a freestanding cabinet and a freestanding drawer unit. Also repainting a shelf. A few other things to tidy and the kitchen will be done!!! Then I will move on to the downstairs bathroom.

In other news...youngest DD took a tumble and got a gash on her forhead. Took her to the emergency room and they glued it. It's looking a lot better!

Had conferences for oldest DD and oldest DS. They are both doing great!

Gearing up for the holidays. Really need to get started on some of my gifts!

Progress!

Here it is! The after photos of my kitchen. At least, for the cabinets! lol! Still working on other areas. Don't those glass jars look wonderfull? I love them! I have a jar for white sugar, brown sugar, flour, powdered sugar, cream soup mix, dry milk, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, chocolate chips, baking coco, and solid baking chocolate.

Also from the thrift store...

A few other goodies found at the thrift store! First, these wonderful vintage patterns. I love the shirt dress! Now to find some fabric! lol!








I also found these: a skirt for me and three pairs of pants for my youngest.

Phase One

Inspired by Mrs. Cat's blog, I decided to put my dry goods into pretty glass jars. I hit the jackpot at my favorite thrift store! Aren't they fabulous? They've been washed and dried. I hope to fill them later today and get an after picture up here!

A taste of Autumn has arrived. Woke up to cooler than normal temperatures today and while it has warmed up a bit this afternoon, it still isn't as hot as it has been. To celebrate this early Autumn day, I decided to make Pumpkin Soup for dinner. It's a new recipe but it sure does sound tasty!

Pumpkin Soup

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups pumpkin puree
3/4 cup green onions, chopped
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp curry powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups milk

Heat oil in a pot over medium high heat and saute
onion until very sort. Add rest of ingredients, except
for the milk. Cook uncovered for 15 minutes. Add milk
and continue to cook for another 5 minutes (do not
boil!) Salt and pepper to taste.


Salad, rolls, and some chocolate pudding will round out the meal.

Bluebirdblogs! If you haven't checked this site out, you must! Susie does some wonderful work (click on the Gallery link to see) and right now you can enter a drawing to win a design!

I'm a sheep...

*Sigh* I've been thinking and thinking about what to blog about. There are lots of really good blogs out there and I've resigned myself to the fact that mine is not one of them. lol! Nonetheless I still want to keep it up as it is something I do enjoy doing. So, I thought to myself, Self, what is that we do? What can we blog about? Well, I do some craft things. I do crochet. I knit. I bake and cook. I clean. Nothing exciting. I'm certainly not an expert on anything. I game, but I doubt anyone wants to read a blog entirely about pen and paper RPG's or LARP's. Especially since I don't play in many. And alas, I'm not that witty either.

So, I thought I'd follow the masses and just share some things. I will start with the decluttering/organizing of the house. Join me as I go from Horrible Homemaker to Domestic Diva!

DH was home last night. Complete shock there! lol! Anyway, we had a nice little date night. After we (well, actually, all the credit goes to him!) got the younger kids to bed, we watched MirrorMask. Very good movie. I highly recommend it if you ever have the opportunity to see it.

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814


Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Goodness! Time sure does fly! I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted. Lots of things are going on here! We've had two birthdays these past few weeks. Henry, the youngest, turned a year old on the 14th and Amelia turned two on the 24th. Roy and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on the 22nd and he has a birthday on Monday.

The bell choir will be starting up again soon...I'm anxious for it t begin.

I have got to get started on some gifts! Seems like I have a list a mile long of things I need to make! lol!

Other than that there isn't anything new going on!

"We're having a heat wave...a tropical heat wave"

Somehow I don't think Marilyn was talking about her ac conking out (again!) And with record temps last week it was hotter than hot! The kids and I camped out at the IL's for a few days and DH weathered it out at home with the cats and several fans. It's fixed now though and hopefully it will stay that way!!!

School is getting ready to start soon here at Wisteria Corner. This past week we went and got new school supplies for the two oldest and some new clothes. Rhonda said she wasn't looking forward to going to school this year because of homework (first grade...she had homework last year too.) I told her if she wanted to stay home with me that that was fine but she'd still have homework at home too! That surprised her! lol! She opted for going back to school so she can see her friends.

Other than that, there's not much going on. I've started looking at some online catalogs for Christmas gift ideas. Still working on getting the house in order, but it's getting there. That's about it!

Back from the shore!

The kiddo's and I had a lovely time at the shore, although we spent more time in the pool than in the surf! I do have the ornament to share with you. I'll be doing that tomorrow for the Sewing Circle. Oh, and my wonderful Mr. Walker bought me some vintage patterns off of ebay. Can't wait until they get here and I can share them with you. Can't wait to use them either!

It's a very drab day here in Wisteria Corner. I'm really hoping we get some rain here; it's badly needed.

Lots to do here today to get ready for Sewing Circle tomorrow. Please join us!

Going to the Shore

The older kiddo's and I are embark to the shore with my mom for a few days. We're all looking forward to it! When I come back I'll have a picture of the dishcloth I've been working on plus a Christmas ornament craft to share :)See you in a few days!

Well My Dears, today is a date night here at the Walker house. That usually means bowling, however tonight, Mr. Walker and I will be taking in dinner and a movie. It's a very gray day here in Wisteria Corner. Hopefully it will rain later on today; we sure do need it!

Yesterday was quite fun! The volcano errupted gloriously...the kiddo's loved it. Later on we made their favorite chocolate chip brownies.


Brownies (with variations)

these make a soft, fudgy brownie

1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Add chocolate and mix well. Add flour. Spread in a greased 8x8 inch pan and bake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Variation 1-chocolate chip brownies-Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.

Variation 2-Mallowmar brownies-after brownies have cooked, put mini marshmallows all over the top (you want to really cover the brownies!). Put back in the oven until the marshmallows are melted. Let cool and frost with 1/2 can Chocolate Fudge Frosting.

Variation 3-Cream cheese brownies-Make a filling with 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened; 1/4-1/2 cup sugar [depending on taste]; and 2 eggs. Spread half of the brownie batter in the pan (will be thin), spread cream cheese filling over. Drop remaining brownie batter over the top of the cream cheese and bake.

Sewing Circle Heat Wave

Well Dear Friends, no Sewing Circle was to be held at my humble abode yesterday. Late Tuesday afternoon the air conditioner decided to konk out. While DH and DFIL tried to fix it, MIL, myself, and the kiddos went to their house where it was decidedly cooler. They had no luck fixing it on Tuesday so we spent the night with the DIL's. Thankfully they were able to get it up and running late yesterday!

Not to let the whole day of sewing go to waste I worked on a new dishcloth! Picture will be forthcoming when it's completed.

Off to errupt a volcano with the kiddos.

Perils Of The Deep

Yesterday my Dear Parents took Miss Rhonda and Master Padraic to the River for a swim. They were having a grand time until Miss Rhonda walked into a jellyfish. Luckily they were heading towards the end of their river visit. She was a trooper! Although she couldn't walk after the initial stinging (that nasty thing got her good on both her arms and legs), she felt much stronger after an ice cream!

Now My Dears, I must be off. Wednesday is not too far off and I must get the house in order for the Sewing Circle!

New and improved?

Well, I've been inspired of late (most noteably by Mrs.Stagg's and Mrs Clarice Fox- Hughes) and have decided to change the look and feel of my blog. I hope to be a bit more entertaining and inspiring to others.

Now that you're here, would you like to come in for tea? Just make yourself comfortable. Cookie? Miss Rhonda helped me make them this morning. Oh yes, she's doing just fine. My hair? Thank you! Yes, I just got it cut at the fashionable Clip N' Curl. Before I forget, the Ladie's Sewing Circle is meeting here on Wednesday. Stop by if you get the chance to see what we're up too!

Why yes, I'm updating!

Have a few minutes so I thought I would jump on and give an update! Not a whole lot going on right now although we are gearing up to do things! lol! I've been slipping in my homemaking. Not badly, but enough that I walked through the house and made a list of things that need to be in each room. I'm slowing going through the list. Some jobs are bigger than others!

I was thinking of training the kids the other day. I've really fallen by the wayside on this one and really need to set things straight. I've made the two older ones a list of things they need to do every day and they will have their own folder. One of the things on that list is that they each need to do a job from the job box. Such jobs could include helping to clean the bathrooms, helping with laundry, ect. The older two are also going to start helping me in the kitchen more.

Well it's been a week since I started my eating plan and I've lost 6 pounds. I'm pleased with the results so far :)

Tonight we are going with the IL's to see some fireworks. Should be fun!

Well, I've got to run and get some things done!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my super duper Dad! I love you!!!

Of course, Happy Father's Day to my sweet husband without whom we would not have our beautiful children :)


Tomorrow is the first official first day of Summer Vacation. Well, okay, really it was last Thursday as the last day of school was Wednesday, but I'm counting it as tomorrow since it's the start of the new week. Anyway, I'm going to be subbing for Christi at the summer program in the morning (get a little extra cash!) tomorrow and then I have to finish up some laundry. I'd like to clean out the car but that all depends on how much work DH has to do tomorrow. I may have to save it for later in the week.

Last Thursday was Rhonda's birthday. Six...it's hard to believe. She is turning into such a big helper and such a little lady!

Not much else went on last week. Pretty quite here!


Sunday's Supper

Appetizer
What is a word that you use that would not be considered common? Hmmm......no idea!

Soup
What theme of calendar do you have on your wall this year? It's a Mary Englebright that my mom got me for Christmas.

Salad
Name 3 people you speak with by telephone a regular basis. My mom, my MIL, DH. Exciting life, huh? lol!

Main Course
If you could buy a new outfit for someone you know - who would it be and what would you purchase for them? Oh my...Perhaps a new pair of pants and a new shirt for my DH.

Dessert
What is the last beverage you drank? A coke!

My baby is growing up...she'll be 6 on Thursday. We're having a party today so her school friends can come. Yesterday we spent a lovely day with both of the Grandma's. After cheerleading(!) practice we met at the mall, had some lunch, and then-then-my big girl got her ears pierced. After getting her hair cut last week it's almost too much. She's already getting excited about being in first grade (even though she'll have more homework!) She got a special award at her K graduation. She was the only one to get an Outstanding in art for all four quarters.


Do you love to cook? Do you like murder mysteries? Check out Diane Mott Davidson! I recently got turned onto her through the Paperbackswap (mentioned in a previous post) and am thoughougly enjoying Goldy and crew. I've found quite a few recipes to try out too!

Well, I've got to be going. Today is out last bell performance of the season, plus Rhonda's party. Lot's to do! Have a great day!

My, my! What a busy week it has been and it's only going to get busier! I have a few moments now so I thought I would post and uphold my committment that I let lapse a few weeks back! Earlier this week I found a fabulous forum that reignited my love of crochet. I have been spending lots of time there and am honored to be testing one of Anna's gorgeous patterns! (She is building her website even as I type, so check back!)

Now in addition to the dress I'm knitting for Millie, the top I'm supposed to knit for Rhonda (though it might turn into crochet! lol!), the knit corset top for me, the pj bottoms for my mom, and the baby blanket I'm making (whew!), I've added a necklace and jewelry bag for a friend's birthday, two purses, and a crochet top for me. And testing!

Pad's last day of school was last Tuesday. Hard to believe it's over for him for the Summer. Rhonda is almost done. She has this week and then three more days. Plus, next Sunday we are having her birthday party (few days before the actual day) and I play bells that morning. It's our last performance of the season. Deborah (our choir director) did say she had some arrangments for sextuplets so I told her I was interested. We will be practicing just for fun during the Summer.

One of Roy's Aunts and a cousin are visiting this weekend. They are staying with the IL's. So nice to see them!


Sunday Supper

Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how funny do you think you are? Not very...maybe a 3 or 4. Not something I work at though.

Soup
Name a local restaurant would you recommend to a visitor to your town or city.
Hmmm....Crab Shack is good if you like seafood.

Salad
What's a lesson you were lucky enough to learn the easy way? Just be yourself!

Main Course
Where would you like to be 5 years from now? In a bigger house. Other than that, I really love my life :)

Dessert
If you could see the front page of a newspaper from June 2, 2106, what would you imagine the headline might be? Oh goodness! How about "Man Gives Birth to Baby!" LOL!

Off to get some things done! Oh, and Kayla, if you're reading this...thanks so much for posting Mrs. C's site! It was the kick I needed to start decluttering again :) Just one more room to go and then some odds and ends! Oh, and the garage, but that's a whole nother story!

Oh Goodness!

Has it really been that long since I've posted? Boy, I've been neglectful! It's been so busy around here. Rhonda's Kindergarten is coming to an end. Padraic has one day left. We've had picnics to go to and we are gearing up for summer! I've slowly been decluttering. Our house is looking better and better. I'm able to keep more areas continually clean and it doesn't take as long for me to clean up. Here soon I'm going to tackle the garage. My plan is to get all of my stuff organized down there and then have DH do his stuff (sound like a good idea hun?) I'd really like to get the whole house, garage and all, done by July.

I found this site linked from an email. If you love to read or have a lot of books you'd like to get rid of, check it out! You do have to register, but it's free.

Not a whole lot going on today. I have some seeds I'd like to plant, but don't know if I'll get to them today or not. I have laundry to do (as usual!) My weekly menu to plan. I'm feeling kind of blah today. Hope I perk up soon!


Here's my Sunday Supper

Appetizer
How old were you when you got your first credit card? Gosh, I don't remember. I think I was 18 or 19 maybe? I don't have it anymore though. No credit cards here!

Soup
When was the last time you felt out of place?
Hmmmm....I don't usually go anywhere where I feel out of place.

Salad
Did you have a curfew when you were a teenager? If so, what time did you have to be home?
Yep. 10:00 on week nights, 12:00 on weekends.

Main Course
Name a person from history with whom you feel you have something in common.
Sylvia Plath

Dessert
When you read a newspaper, which section do you go for first?
The comics, of course!

Well, I'd best go and get something accomplished today! I promise I'll to post more often!

~Kayla~ said...

If only I were that disciplined! *sigh*

I'm guessing that's in response to my cleaning schedule. Perhaps I should mention that it's not always adherred to! But, it's there for me and some things are now getting done automatically. My kitchen, for example, takes about 10 minutes for me to clean (focus area not included) because I don't even have to think now about what has to be done. I just grab my wet cloth and go! lol! I have *got* to get caught up on laundry! That's on my agenda for today! I always get it under control, say I'm not going to let it pile up again, and then bam! Guess what happens? Grrrrr.... One day it will all work out I'm sure!

Sunday again! A pretty uneventful week here. Have decided to finally do something about this extra weight I'm carrying around.

DH has consented to running a game here at the house. It's going to be Pendragon. I'm excited! Been awhile since I've been able to play in a game!

I've been doing pretty well with keeping up with the downstairs of the house. I have three areas that need picking up and it will be pretty clean! Okay, four. Five if you count DH's mess. Those areas are: The cabinet under the sink in the bathroom, underneath the sofa and two chairs, the table (working on clearing that off today), and the shelf on my desk. I've got to do some catching up on laundry. It's hard to work upstairs sometimes! Here's my schedule:

Monday-HBH (if you're a Flybaby, you know what that means. If you're not, go here!) Mine consists of dusting (Rhonda does low places), wiping down glass surfaces (Padraic does), and making sure table is clear. I also have a focus area that I do each week. These are: cleaning under the sofa/chairs, vacumming the funiture, cleaning under the sofa/chair cushions, sweeping the ceiling.

Tuesday-Bathrooms. Pretty self explanatory, I think. Focus areas here are: oiling the bathtub, cleaning under the upstairs sink, cleaning under the downstairs sink, changing the decor downstairs (it's seasonal). I also wash towels on this day.

Wednesday-The Kitchen! I do my most work in here. Clean the microwave, wipe down dishwasher, stove, and refridgerator. Get rid of old food. Wipe down can opener. Clear counters and wipe down. Wipe down cabinets. Clean crumb trap on toaster and wipe down. Wipe down light switches. Wipe down windowsills. Sweep and mop. Focus areas here are: cleaning out fridge (including freezer), cleaning oven, scrubbing floor, cleaning out cabinets.

Thursday-My free day. I usually spend it at my MIL's house.

Friday-Kid's room/Our room. Change the sheets, dust, make sure dressers and trunk are clear. Wipe down washer and dryer. Vacuum. Focus areas here are: Pantry, closets, under the beds, dresser drawers.

Saturday-Deck. Wipe down table. Wipe down sand and water table. Make sure grill is in order. Sweep deck. No focus areas here.

Sunday-Ah, rest! lol!

Well, that's my cleaning schedule in a nutshell. I'm sure I've forgotten things, but you get the idea. Until next week!

Jenn

Ugh! It's Sunday already. Spring Break just flew by! I've been very hard at work trying to get the house in order plus do a few personal things. Everything is coming along nicely though I'd hoped to be done with the house by today. Still have a bit to do on it. Maybe by next Sunday everything will be ship shape! I have my To-do list all ready :)

My bargain find of the week: while shopping at my local grocery store for some items I forgot during my past two trips at a different store (yes, two!), I found a box of 18 count Christmas cards marked down to 0.87 cents! Now I have all Summer to get them signed and addressed-no excuses this year! lol!

Pad has a birthday party to go to today. As I mentioned, I'd like to do some work on the house. The front yard needs work. I have meat from Costco to repackage. Oh, and the conclusion of The Next Food Network Star to watch! Have a great day!

Peeping...Saturday

My Mom is a big Elvis fan, so when I found this fabric at a discount store, I had to get it. It took awhile for me to figure out what I was going to make with it though. I originally decided to make a tote bag, apron, and oven mitt. Then one day it dawned on me--pajama bottom pants! What a perfect option! So it will be a tote bag and pagjama bottom pants! The tote bag is being made with the fabric on the bottom and the pants with the fabric on top. I'll post a picture of the finished items.

Sorry for no update during the week.


Appetizer
What movie soundtracks do you own?

Hmmm...a few. Flash Gordon, Chicago, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls. I think a few more but these are the ones I can remember off the top of my head.

Soup
How much cash do you usually carry with you? Usually none. In the rare case I have cash on me, it's usually no more than $20.

Salad
Are you more comfortable around men or women? Why? A lot depends on the situation and the capacity in which I know the people in question.

Main Course
What is the most mischievous thing you remember doing as a child? I don't remember being mischievous as a child. About the only thing I can remember doing was getting mad at my Grandmother and climbling the tree in our front yard so she would think I ran away and feel bad.

Dessert
Who is the funniest member of your family?

That's tough. My husband can be quite amusing. Then again, when the older two start playing they can be pretty darn funny. Of course the cats never cease to bring a laugh with some of their antics.

Sunday Supper?

Well it's that time again! I was really hoping to post this Friday but time just got away from me. So, instead of a Friday Feast we are having a Sunday Supper! lol! I'll most likely post my Friday peek tomorrow.

Feast Eighty-Seven

Appetizer
Name 3 things that you think are strange.

Me, how good carrots and peanut butter taste together, unexplainable stories.

Soup
What was the last ceremony you attended?

A friend's wedding in September. Oops, that's not right. There was a Baptism at Church in January.

Salad
What is one lesson you have learned in the past year?

To manage money better


Main Course
Tell us about one of your childhood memories.

For as long as I can remember up until I was in high school, Saturdays were the best day of the week. My dad and I would get up and watch cartoons. He would make me the best buttered toast for breakfast! Sometimes he'd go to the 7-11 and get me some donut gems or a Hostess lemon pie. Always with a coke or an orange crush. We would watch Rocky and Bullwinkle, Speedy and the Chopper Bunch, Scooby Doo, and of course, Bugs Bunny!


Dessert
If you could extend any of the four seasons to be twice as long as normal, which season would you want to lengthen?

Spring! Because it would extend through the summer and melt into my other favorite season, Autumn!

Totally forgot I wanted to post the cauliflower casserole recipe. Did I mention my 19 month old *loved* it!

Cauliflower Casserole

3 cups cauliflower florettes, cooked
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 small onion, finely chopped (I used onion powder)
4 oz cream cheese, cubed
2 cups cheddar/mozzerella cheese

Mix cauliflower, mayo, onion, cream cheese (it's okay if the cream cheese is still "chunky"), and i cup of cheese. I also added salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder. Put into a loaf pan or other baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Super dish!

Well, this is the first day of the Proverbs 31 challenge. I was awake for the sunrise but not because I wanted to be. No, my 7th month old Peanut had me up and I just could not get back to sleep. He's teething and everytime I would start to doze back off he would wake up. I don't know, maybe he's in on me doing this challenge and just wants to help me out! lol

Dinner was hamburger steak with cheese and a delicious cauliflower casserole. I thought it was pretty fabulous! lol! Tomorrow we will be having beef stroganoff, noodles, homemade biscuits and perhaps a dessert. Not sure yet about the dessert and if so, what it will be.

Hoping I have a better outlook tomorrow about getting up before the sun rises!

*sigh* What a trying week it has been. A little background: In late September 2005 my mom went into the hospital for a hysterectomy (they thought she had tumors in her uterus.) Turns out she didn't have tumors on her uterus, but on her bladder (still there) and a larger tumor (some rare nonmalignant thing-leave it to my mom! lol! She found out later that just about everyone on duty in the hospital in the medical field came by to see it because it is so rare) in her uterus. They did go ahead and do the hysterectomy plus a coloscopy because her utereun wall, her bladder, and part of her colon were all fused together and they ended up having to take out part of her colon. This past February (the 15th to be exact) she went in to have the reverse coloscopy. After both surgeries she had some seepage from the wound site and a fairly difficult recovery. Two weeks ago she went out with my MIL and they went to lunch. The lunch made her sick and that evening she was in such pain that my dad took her to the emergency room. They did an ultrasound and found out that her gallbladder was full of gall stones. Her surgery was this past Wednesday (March 22) and everything was fine. Until Friday. Now she can't keep anything down and she's been feeling naseous. So, she was admitted back into the hospital today so they could put in an IV and keep her hydrated. Whew! I just feel so bad for her. Please keep her in your prayers for me. It would mean a lot.

One of the lovely ladies over at Prairie Homemaker posted a link to this blog and it's challenge. I've been talking to myself about becoming a Proverbs 31 woman but admittedly have done little about it. Shame on me! I think this is the kick in the tush I need. I'll be posting on my progress.

Here's something else I found during my blog rounds. Thank you Christi!

Feast Eighty-Six

Appetizer
How would you describe your personal comfort zone?

My comfort zone is very small. I'm claustraphobic. It really bugs me when people crowd me when I'm in line at the store!

Soup
What is your favorite tree?

Japanese Maple

Salad
List 3 foods you'd like to include in your dinner plans for tonight.

Pasta, beef, sour cream

Main Course
What is the best advice you've ever been given, but didn't heed?

Hmmm.....if the advice is good I will usually heed it.

Dessert
On a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest), how much attention do you feel comfortable receiving from others?

Depends on who is giving the attention! Probably a 5.

Peeping Friday

I was reading some blogs and found this idea. Okay, so I know it's not Friday! Yesterday was a bit busy, to say the least! Mom came home from the hospital (she's doing well, just very sore.) Anyway, here is my first peeping Friday...a small glimpse into what I'm doing.








I love Paula Deen. She has to be one of my favorite people on the Food Network. She just comes across as so warm and genuine, you just know that she has to be that way in person! One of my seceret dreams is to be able to go to Savanah and dine at her resteraunt: The Lady and Sons. So, for Christmas, my mom gave me two Paula Deen cookbooks, one of them being "Just Desserts". Well, there was a recipe in there for Cheese Fudge. I've seen this recipe before but I've never really thought about making it. Seeing it in Paula's book convinced me that maybe I should try it out. So I did. And is it ever good! You really can't tell there's cheese in it! Go on...I know you want to try too!


Peanut Butter Cheese Fudge

1/2 pound Velveeta cheese, sliced
2 sticks butter
1 cup peanut butter (I used a litle more than that)
2 pounds powdered sugar


Melt the cheese and butter together. Stir in peanut butter until smooth. Put the powdered sugar in a bowl. Pour the peanut butter/cheese mixture over the powdered sugar; stir in. You will probably need to use your hands to knead it all together. Dough will be stiff! Pat into a greased 9" square pan . Press a papertowel on top to absorb excess grease (from butter). There is also a recipe for chocolate fudge using the same basic recipe, but I prefer peanut butter! (Sorry Kayla! lol!)

100 Things about me!

Per Kayla's blog, here's 100 things about me!

1. I was born in Key West Florida.
2. I've lived in Virginia my whole life.
3. I've visited France.
4. I've visited England.
5. I play handbells.
6. I love trying to be more frugal.
7. I love to cook.
8. I love to bake.
9. I would love to homeschool.
10. I can play the piano.
11. I have four children.
12. Two girls; two boys.
13. They were born in steps.
14. I wouldn't have it any other way.
15. I love chocolate.
16. I love peanut butter.
17. I love to make candy.
18. I own a firearm.
19. I know how to use it.
20. I own a recurve bow.
21. I know how to shoot it.
22. I made the arrows for it.
23. I made it for the SCA.
24. I wish I had more time for the SCA.
25. I love to read.
26. My favorites are mysteries.
27. I can usually read a book in one day.
28. I love the Harry Potter books.
29. I love to sew.
30. I love to give homemade gifts.
31. I can knit.
32. I can crochet.
33. I can tat.
34. I wear glasses.
35. I try to learn a new skill every Summer.
36. This year it will be Italian.
37. I want to learn how to can.
38. I'm a SAHM.
39. I have my degree in Early Elementary Education.
40. I miss my job.
41. I was an assistant at the preschool my son attends.
42. But I love being a SAHM.
43. I need to be more organized.
44. I'm getting there!
45. I love to decorate for the seasons.
46. My favorite seasons are Spring and Autumn.
47. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.
48. I'm very patriotic.
49. I watch tv
50. My favorite tv show is Monk.
51. I play Bunco.
52. I love to wear skirts.
53. I have my kids do chores (gasp!)
54. I love the beach.
55. I would love to live in the country.
56. I'm trying to cultivate a green thumb.
57. I would like to live in a bigger house.
58. I know it will happen; I just have to be patient.
59. My husband and I were engaged for seven years before we got married.
60. We dated a week before getting engaged.
61. We had known each other a month.
62. I like to play games on pogo.
63. I can swim really well.
64. When I was younger I swam on teams during the summer.
65. I had my first "job" when I was 14.
66. I volunteered with the summer reading program.
67. I had my first paying job when I was 15.
68. I worked the concession stand at the pool.
69. I am just now learning to manage my money better.
70. I am slowly getting more organized.
71. I am overweight.
72. I'm trying to work on that.
73. I'm planting a container garden this year.
74. I'm a terrible procrastinator.
75. I played basketball and tennis in high school.
76. I love fruit.
77. I don't eat enough of it.
78. I'm trying to be a Proverbs woman.
79. I love to play with my kids.
80. I've never broken a bone.
81. I try to make things from scratch as much as possible.
82. I can tap dance.
83. I love musicals.
84. I've never bought anything on ebay.
85. That's not to say I haven't found anything I would like to buy on ebay!
86. I try to update my blog once a week.
87. I love to read other peoples blogs.
88. I like to watch movies on Disney channel.
89. I like to wear aprons!
90. I like to scrapbook.
91. I like to make cards.
92. I love just about every kind of music.
93. My maternal great-great Grandmother was Jewish.
94. I make my own baby food.
95. I have two cats.
96. I'd like to have a dog.
97. I love to do logic puzzles.
98. I'm very content with my life.
99. I dye my hair.
100. I love my DH!

We've all been a bit under the weather the past few days. We're recuperating nicely though, just in time for the weather to go from nice to cold again and for us to get sick!

My sweet baby is cutting his third tooth!

I may have a summer job working at the preschool I worked at the past two years. A little extra income foe me and some summer fun for my two oldest kids...sounds good to me!

I made a delicious recipe this week. It's from a wonderful cookbook that my lovely MIL is letting me borrow. Since it was a new recipe and I wasn't sure if we'd like it, I haved it, but I needn't have worried! It was a hit! Even my SDH who doesn't like cobbler loved it!

Fresh Strawberry Cobbler

4 cups strawberries
2/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp sugar
Cobbler Topping (recipe follows)

Make cobbler topping and set aside. In a saucepan combine the 2/3 cup of sugar, cornstarch, and water. Cook and stir til thick and bubbly. Cut any large berries in half. Add berries to mixture in saucepan; cook and stir till bubbly, about 5 minutes more. Stir in vanilla. Turn into 2 quart casserole. Drop topper into 8 mounds on top of hot fruit. Sprinkle with the 1 Tbsp of sugar. Bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve with vanilla ice cream!

Cobbler Topping

1 cup all purpose flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 butter or margarine
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk

Stir together dry ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly. Combine egg and milk; add to dry mixture. Stir just until moistened. Continue as directed in recipe.


And here's the highlight of my week:

My oldest DD was playing with some stick on letters her Grandma had gotten her. She took a "T", handed it to me and said, "here Mommy! This one's for you!" (She's 5.5) "Oh! Thank you!, " I replied. "And what does the T stand for? Tolerable?" I giggled. She said, "No! T is for Terriffic!" Then she turned to me with that sweet, sweet smile that just melts my heart and said "But you're more than terriffic Mommy!"

Well, I guess I should update! lol!

Things have been about the same here. We did have some company tonight which was nice. They have a little girl Amelia's age, so it was nice for the two of them to play.

I've decided I really do need to do something about this extra weight I've got. More on that when I start losing some of it! lol!

Mom's doing really well. Her wound is smaller than it was the last time and the Dr says it's healing really nicely!

Our friend Matt called yesterday from England (where he lives) with the great news that he got a job! He's been unemployed for quite awhile, so it was nice to hear he got one. He works with computers and apparantly the demand isn't as great over there as it is here. The only downside is that he has an hour comute both ways. He also mentioned he should be able to come visit this summer.

I think that's about it for my week...

I've been thinking about a recent post in K's blog .
The post was an inane article about aprons and K's response to said article. Then I thought about Miss Maggie's Apron Evangism. So I got to thinking...why do I wear an apron? What is it about a simple piece of cloth that I enjoy wearing? The answer is simple: it defines a small part of who I am. Who am I? I'm first and foremost a woman; a woman who knows exactly what she wants and gets it. I am a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a cook, a doctor, a manager, an artist, a photographer, the list goes on. Fine, you say, so what does that have to do with an apron? Well, I'll tell you. Putting on that apron makes me feel strong and capable. I have a purpose. Without an apron on it's so easy to just sit; wearing an apron makes me accountable. I fly through housework in my apron. I am Wonder Woman in an apron. Sure I can clean and cook in just my clothes, but it's more fun to be a superhero!

Well! I was all set to update yesterday and got sidetracked! So here I am today. Woke up to a light dusting of snow. I'm wondering if we might get some more. We haven't had a "big" snow yet this year; in fact, it's been several years since we had some "severe" snow. We really are due for something big.

Mom had surgery this past week, a reversal colostomy. She's doing well. Still in the hospital though. Her Dr. says she will be released Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday!

Yesterday we played bells (Canon in D). After the whole family plus the ILs went to the VLM to see Crunch, a 150 year old, 165 pound turtle and Crumb, the baby. They had all kinds of reptiles on display including a huge yellow and white boa constrictor and a gilla monster. It was a lot of fun and really cool!

Not much else went on. Pretty boring here!

Sunday again and I'm still updating! Must be some kind of record for me! lol! The Winter Olympics started Friday so we've been enjoying that. My poor little man was sick this week too, but he got over it quickly! What else happened this week? Well-

I'm struggling to be more thrifty and frugal. Monday I cut some chicken breast off the bone to cook for dinner and decided I would take the meaty bones and boil them with some carrots and spices and make chicken stock. All well and good except I forgot all about it until the next morning when I saw it still sitting on the stove! I'm learning though!

Henry has discovered baby food so I spent some time this week making my own. I did this for Amelia too and we had a wonderful transition to "table food" with her. I wish I had done it for my other two. It's certainly not hard! I have some sweet potatoes to make up today too.

I found a beautiful picture I forgot I had of the Twin Towers. Several years ago my mother and I took a trip to New York and I took it while we were there. I'm going to enlarge it and have it framed.

I'm starting to plan my container garden for this year. I need to go back to the library and check out the book "Container Gardening for Dummies". I may try my hand at potatoes this year! We certainly go through them.

Not much else going on. See you next week!

Superbowl Sunday

Another week has flown by and here I am! So far, so good. Let's see...this week:

Wednesday was my In-Law's 35 wedding anniversary. It was also my little man's 4th birthday! We all went to Red Robin to celebrate and had a great time!

Friday was JoAnn's 50th birthday. Her daughters threw an "Over the Hill" party. Since we play bunco together I got her some large foam dice and a bag that says "JoAnn's Bunco Dice"! They were a hit!

Sunday we had little man's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. Four of his friends from school (Jackson, Philip, Nathan, and Gabe) were there to help celebrate and a good time was had by all!

After the party we went to MIL's house to watch the Superbowl and lend our support to the Steelers! MIL is from PA so it's Steelers and Penguins all the way! Luckily the Steelers did win 21-10.

Baby boy got two teeth! I'm very surprised as the other three got theirs so late. It doesn't hurt to nurse though, so I'm continuing to do so though he is starting to eat more food. Speaking of which, I really need to make up some cubes soon!

That's it from me this week. I'm off to bed!

Well it's that time again. My how the week flew by! Today I made a Honey Bun Cake for breakfast that was super good. Can't wait to make it again. Then we all went to the Virginia Living Museum for a special Underwater Adventure Leggo exhibit. As a final stop, we took the kids to McDonald's as a special treat. Now we're home and I'm planning my week.

We had company this past week. Rhonda made a cheese pie for us to enjoy for dessert.

Thursday was conference day for Pad. He's doing well in his preschool.

I worked on our curriculum. Although I would love to homeschool, I am just not able to at this time, so I do what I call "extended learning." I have a few things left to flesh out in February. Better get a move on that! lol! I did come up with a great idea for the spring/summer though. We have passes for Busch and so we will be doing the different countries. We'll start with Ireland in March :) Perhaps it can be an ongoing spring/summer curriculum with more depth being added every year as they get older. Also, we will be studing the various animals, specifically the bald eagle and the wolves.

Well, that's about it here. See you next week!

Been a busy week as usual around here. Rhonda and Padraic are still enjoying school, Millie added up and okay to her vocabulary (for a 17 month old she's pretty perceptive!), and Henry just cute his first tooth!

Today I played handbells in the choir at church and them picked up the kids and we went to our IL's house to watch the Steeler/Bronco game. She's from PA and a big Pittsburg fan! She's having a Superbowl Pary since the Steelers won 34-17!

Well, I didn't get much sleep last night, so I'm going to try and get some now!

New Year, New Blog

Well, this is my new blog. Seems like I lost just about everything when my computer went kaput several months ago. Anyway...

This will be updated a minimum of once a week; a little more if I can swing it. We'll see how it goes.