Sunday, December 12, 2010

new member of the family



In between getting back from out of state and doing our share to the local HAM Radio group holiday dinner.We adopted a dog.

She is a black lab/retriver with possible other mix in there. Medium size dog. Was going by the name of Kira which is now Miss (Or Missy) Kira. She was at a no kill shelter in Urbana OH for 2 yrs. I have yet to figure out why no one wanted her because she is a really good dog.Housebroken, doesn't bark excessively, lets you know when she wants out or in. Doesn't get in to things when you are gone or asleep. Since she is almost 4 the "puppiness" is mostly out of her.The shelter is having financial problems and was looking at closing is why I looked on their website.Glad I did.

So If you do NOT want to adopt an animal, you can donate to your local shelter. As the shelter where ours came from said to the local paper.IF every person in the county donated $1 each they would have enough money to run for quite awhile.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Nativity Colletcion by Robert J. Morgan



The Nativity Collection by Robert J. Morgan Published by Thomas Nelson

The reason for the season…if you struggle with feeling this or know someone that does this book of short stories can help you find the answer. With examples of different cultures and different outlooks and places in our society Robert J. Morgan guides us to the place where we are all the same.

This is a great book to share with an older child about the meaning of Christmas.

I have already given a copy of this book to a couple friends as a gift and would encourage anyone else to do the same, along with buying one for your self.

http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781404189744?id=4708389750852#customer-reviews

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friday, December 3, 2010

new cookies

We always bake cookies and make candy for the kids as part of their Christmas present from us. Snickerdoodles and buckeye candies are a must. SO since I am not home to bake right now and hubby isn't going to start with out me I decided to surf the internet for some new cookie recipes...I might actually decide on something instead of all the OOOOOOH that looks good, that looks easy and are you kidding me ones LOL

Hope everyone is staying on budget, and remembering it's not the actual gift it's the memories you give.

Blessed Be Juls

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Dec 1

Twenty five days until Christmas.

What Am I doing? Not a thing towards getting ready.Hubby is holding down the house while I work out of state these first two weeks of Dec.

I did send out my Christmas cards before heading out.The outside of the house is decorated BUTTTT

We are moving before Christmas, top that with finishing the painting of the open staircase at my daughter's family and doing Christmas cookies and candy along with presents for all the family that I haven't even started shopping for.

I hope I still have hair left on my head after I get back and start pulling it out.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Tday

We have already had our Tday dinner last Saturday. Plenty of food, family and friends. I still have a good amount of my dishes,pots and pans in at my daughter's.Instead of having turkey again or ham again we are having steaks.Giving the turkeys a break HA HA

I am also still painting the area of her open staircase in the foyer.

On top of that we lucked into a new place so we will be moving.Must be our pay backs for complaining when the kids would have us move them in the winter. Bigger place, less rent and in the country. Can't beat that combination.

I have a couple weeks work,another blessing.

I have candy and cookies to make for the kids also.

Have a Blessed Day

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Coming attractions HA HA



This is a picture of last year's Thanksgiving dinner that my youngest took. You will notice that neither her or I was in the kitchen.I gave her the camera and told her to take pictures. I was banished from the kitchen by my son who took over the stove and finished the remaining dishes and made his homemade mac n cheese as requested by his sisters. Kind of funny since I taught him how to make it.Guess he changed it some, what ever gets me out of making it. HA HA

We hold our dinner the Sunday before that way we don't conflict with non-custodial visitation,in laws or those in food service wanting to work the weekend after Thanksgiving Day.

Why am I tell you this...because I have disappeared into the land of painting right before cooking dinner this coming Sunday. I call it remodeling because when ever I paint the old homestead it becomes a remodeling due to the repairs that have to be done before I can paint it.The kids voted last year and decided to move the dinner back to the old homestead( Sorry to my eldest and I wonder if she will do it again next yr) with the condition I get the house ready for the dinner, cook certain dishes and clean back up. NO biggie been there and had done that several years...what I didn't factor in was painting and installing new flooring and ceiling in the foyer that is 8 ft by 17 ft. A foyer that has an open curving staircase with a wall that goes up 20 ft.

I have found that even years after a fire your house will still develop issues due to the fire.

I have found by experience that I can put together our standard Tday dinner of over 100 dishes in 3 days. This year is only 61 dishes, 48 of them are mine to do and then the pies which last count was over 20 not touching other desserts and cakes. Can you tell we like to eat? We also like leftovers from this dinner and basicly no one cooks for a couple days after.

I best get going...today is rolling along whether I do or not.

Monday, October 25, 2010

7 wks later another death



This is Cookie when she was healthy and happy before she got a tumor on her spleen.She was a joy and prancing like the princess we felt she was.



I took this picture yesterday when she was sliding down hill so fast.She wasn't eating and had already lost 20 lbs but was "blowing up like a ballon" in her stomach area.By 1 AM this morning she was struggling.I was surprised she made it through the night.She insisted on being out side in the coolness of the night and laid in the gravel of the driveway. I laid in the gravel beside her and held her with prayers of GOD not letting her suffer.

We got her in to the clinic and had her put to sleep.Though my heart is broken I know I looked inside my heart and placed hers above my own.She's on the other side playing with Tasha (2/25/2010) and Sam (9/7/2010).Of course when I get to the other side Tasha and Sam are going to nailing me for cooking a turkey for Cookie and not them.

Blessed be those that love us unconditionally, accept us as we are and greet us with love and affection no matter what our moods are.

I miss you Cookie...I love you even more.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

My Dad and the old times



This is my Dad.He is 83 and proud of it.

I spent a day interviewing him for my next book.It was a good day.Not only because I got plenty of back ground for my next book which is always sweet when I don't have to spend 150 hrs doing so but because I got to spend the day with my Dad talking about his childhood.

He talked about the "greens" he would go pick so they could be fixed.Poke weed, dandelion,Blue Devil(chicory) etc, talked of the berry patches,nuts(even chestnuts when they were still around) apple and plum trees that was around where he lived.The garden they grew wasn't be enough to feed them through the year.There was no electric, they heated with a coal stove that also was their cook stove.They had one kersone lamp for the whole house which was 3 rooms of average size.No bathroom, an outhouse and a wash basin.Times were hard, poverty was normal in this small village in southern Ohio.The house I remember his dad and sister living in was "poor" by current standards back when I was a kid, was actually living high on the hog for his family.We talked of lack of medical, herbal medicence,clothing and items most of us wouldn't think to even know about let alone ask about.

Groceries were bought weekly when there was work.Dried beans,lard,salt and pepper,rice,24 lbs of flour(they made 9 loaves of bread Tuesday,Thursday and Saturday), corn meal,oatmeal,evaporated milk,bologna( only for his dad's lunch for the coal mine)and potatoes.This was kept on a table about 2 ft wide and 4 ft long close to the table they ate at.

His Dad(Grandpa) and he both hunted and fished for what meat they ate.The only time they had eggs was on Easter.Then they could have as many as they wanted fried with fried potatoes.

They didn't keep leftovers as it would spoil before morning in warm weather and when it cooled enough to keep it outside the critters would help themselves.Trash cans,or things we take for granted were not there.

The only vegetables and fruit they ate was what they could grow and cold pack(waterbath) or find growing wild.

When they moved to the last place there was room for several gardens, a chicken coop( an egg at breakfast was a daily celebration right along with the noodles they could make), 4 rooms and 2 coal stoves. A well on the place instead of going 100 yards(estimate he said) to get a couple buckets of water for what ever it was needed for.The only saddness that touched them when they moved was his mother( my grandmother) had just died in her 40's.They buried her on his 16th birthday, with his youngest sister only a couple yrs old.

It was a extremely hard life that got harder when the Great Depression came.

As I watched his face as he walked through those memories, saw the wisdom gathered and stored to get him through these times of stock market turning down and wiping out his retirement pretty good.Knowing that he is okay financially due to living that hard life.Seeing the food he has stocked up on to feed himself including the apples he was making into pies and dumplings for this winter...I understand even more that my attachment to the old ways and old days aren't just a whim or passing fancy but a tribute to those that went before me and survived an existence that none of us of this generation can really understand and some just can't comprehend.

so this is for Dad and all those that walked in his shoes...

Bless you for showing we can also survive if we use the wisdom that was gained before us.

Blessed be

Thursday, September 23, 2010

A Day of Celebration

Autumn Equinox
First Day of Autumn (which started at 11:13 LAST night)
Mabon

We celebrate this day,thankful for cooler weather(ok,thankful when it finally gets here) and thankful for the harvest that is coming in from the fields.

The heat of the summer is still lingering, I started gearing towards canning the late summer/early fall harverst as I have starting canning apples for sauce and looking at the pumpkin I bought to can this week.

This is the day I "fall" clean from top to bottom, decorate the house with fall colors, decorate my stand with squash( this year it is a pumpkin instead of gourds, beans, grains, nuts and an apple.I also have a cinnamon apple candle lit on it and a pot of applecider, cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange zest simmering to scent the house( not to drink, that I will make this afternoon for the evening meal).

The evening meal with be spiced hot cider( maybe iced instead),corn chowder, pork chops with apples,roasted root veggies and carrot and raisin cake for dessert.

With grateful heart of blessings that have came our way and continue thru the year.

Blessed Be

Thursday, September 16, 2010

chicken

Kroger's had whole chicken for sale for 88 cents/lb here.These were regular chickens not roasters but a 5 lb fryer is still 5 lb of chicken so I picked up 4 of them.

The largest 2 went in the freezer double wrapped to protect (besides I am weird over possible chicken leaks).I know I will make at least 3 meals out of each one when I roast them. It wouldn't be unusually to end up with 4 meals if I make chicken and dumplings or chicken soup with the carcass.For around $5 per chicken that is around $1.66 per MEAL if I only make 3 meals out of one and $1.25 per MEAL if I make 4.

The other two smaller ones I cut up. I don't do a pretty job when I cut up a chicken but the pieces are recognizable.I ended up with 4 thighs which is 1 meal, 4 legs which will be a second meal,4 breasts which will be another 2 meals and I cut the wings in 3rds so the 2 larger parts will be wings for appetizer night( we eat them as a meal in a restaurant might as well at home) and the tips went in the dutch oven with the fat and backs along with an onion, 2 regular carrots and 2 stalks of celery and water.Popped in the oven to do it's thing to make broth which will convert to soup or dumplings. Figuring what it costs the smaller 2 chickens came to $8.84 with at least 5 meals out of them that is $1.77 per MEAL.Knowing I have the chicken scraps and veggies in the dutch oven cooking( heating up the kitchen again with the oven)I will have 2 more meals ( one with dumplings and one with noddles) out of it.I figure the chicken scraps are free since the cost was figured into the other meals. The jumbo onion cost me $1, the 2 regular carrots costs me 20 cents total and the 2 stalks of celery costs me 30 cents total( yes I actually counted how many stalks and how many carrost there was and divided the cost out).SO for $1.50 I have the beginnings of another 2 meals.

I make my own noodles but I know for around a dollar or so you can buy a bag of noodles..okay it might be $2 now days. Dumplings can be made with a can of biscuits( cheap and cut in fourths) for around $1.20 last time I bought biscuits.


Figuring that as an estimate...for $1.75( or $2.75 for chicken and noodles and $1.95 for chicken dumplings for a meal ...that's a good deal.

storm is rolling in so I must go...

Blessed be

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

YOUR MONEY GOD'S WAY

YOUR MONEY GOD’S WAY by Amie Streater

If I was with in traveling distance to attend church with this lady I would in a heart beat. Down to Earth and real is the way I would describe her and this book. She gives us ( and admits she’s done it to herself) a real kick in the pants with false beliefs and how we make dumb, dumber and dumpest choices concerning our money.

She lays the ground work for you to turn it around and do it GOD’S WAY.

This is a book that every high school student should study and it wouldn’t hurt any of us, even those that are doing well in their money matters to read and reread through the years.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sunday, September 12, 2010

weekly chores



Ever hear of the saying Monday wash day,Tuesday ironing day,Wednesday sewing day, Thursday odd job day, Friday cleaning day( bed linen was changed this day but not washed until Monday), Saturday baking and bath day and Sunday the day of rest????

Sunday the day of rest. This one I seem to struggle with the most. GOD took a day of rest so why do I think I have to work more than he did?

As I write this it runs through my head I need to clean out the 3 refrigerators to make sure there is nothing that needs to go in the trash as it goes to the curb tonight.If I was being a good steward of my food there wouldn't be food going in the trash to begin with. I didn't do any baking yesterday so I need to make the granola bars for Hubby's lunch box today since he works tonight(his Monday.


Monday wash day is my favorite especially when I can hang clothes on the line.Though tomorrow will be a late start as I have to go to the doctor's for a check up since I've been down sick to the point of pneumonia.

Tuesday ironing day...been there done that.The best thing I can say now days if I absolutely must iron something it is going to be sprinkled with water and frozen for at least 20 min before I iron...makes it easier.Spent many years doing ironing for a living out of my home.

Wednesday sewing day...hummmm...you mean you aren't suppose to wait until the laundry basket,box or trash bag you have it stored in doesn't explode all over the place before doing it?

Thursday odd job day.I think Thursday has over ran ALL the other days of the week as this seems to be what side tracks me from doing what I should be doing instead...except laundry on Mondays.

Friday cleaning day...sigh...I really liked it when I cleaned on Monday but that no longer works because of Hubby working 3rd without overtime so he is here by 7 am( Sunday night is his Monday) and wants to go to sleep.Midget house is too small for me to move around much without waking him up so Fridays is better I guess since he doesn't work Friday nights.Still I side track a lot with Thursday odd jobs.

Saturday baking and bath day. The bath part is understandable LOL.Those that don't know, in the old days you carted water by bucket, heated it on the stove that was fired with wood(corn cobs, coal etc) and then dumped it in a metal tub that was what would be about the size of a good size round trash can cut in half.Took your bath (cleanest to dirtiest in same water) then dumped it out.Not something you cared to do every day.They did daily take what is fondly called sponge baths or sink baths...in other words "WASHED UP" using a pan of water( still heated on the stove) instead of the full bath.

Baking was done on this day for the week. When the kids were little we went through a loaf of bread each meal.Take it back in time and I would have had to bake at least 21 loaves of bread a week if not more due to working more manual labor then we do now. Along with cakes, pies and cookies on Saturday.This would not be throwing a mix together or thawing out dough but making it and letting it rise( sometimes twice) before baking.It wasn't unusual when I was baking bread to bake 3 loaves with a sheet cake under them at the same time.

Have a Blessed day

Saturday, September 11, 2010

corn cob jelly and syrup





first my days have been completely in taking care of Sammy in his final days here with us in this world so this got shoved back..again...some more...

Corn cob syrup and jelly...

don't matter which one you are going to make both start the same.

12 corn cobs that have had the corn cut off...I used ones that I cut off the corn for freezing.

6 cups of water to cover corn

bring to a boil and simmer for 30 min.

strain (I don't strain because I like corn particals in my syrup and jelly)

now here is where the difference lies....

FOR JELLY you need to have 3 cups of corn juice so if there is not enough "juice" add water until you have 3 cups. Add 1 pkg of pectin and bring to a rolling boil.Stir in 3 cups of sugar and boil for 2-3 min or it reaches jelly stage.Pour in to clean jelly jars and process in canner according to the same directions as apple jelly.

FOR SYRUP measure what ever corn juice there is...for light syrup add 3/4 cup of sugar, medium syrup would be 1 cup of sugar and heavy syrup would be 1 1/2 cups of sugar. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer for 10 to 15 min until all sugar is dissolved.

process in canner same as apple jelly.

I do use corn cob jelly and syrup on corn bread or Mexican desserts...

I will note here that any time I have a jelly that doesn't set...it gets used as a syrup instead.

Friday, September 10, 2010

OUT LIVE YOUR LIFE by Max Lucado



OUT LIVE YOUR LIFE by Max Lucado...good book, interesting comparsion between people(us) of these times and those in the Bible times. Thought provoking...a little on the dry side for my personal taste. I do think the title does not reflect the writing inside the book...I would have named it something more in line of "We are
st like them" or "Same as you and me".

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thursday, September 9, 2010

death of loved one

 
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He was in the slammer as a vagrant.Unloved and unwanted because he was disabled. I asked him if he wanted to come home with me and he stood up and said yes.He was honest, he was a begger and a theif, disabled and unsure of his age but he would do his best to follow the rules and get along with me and mine.

For five months and two days, he was a blessing beyond what we ever thought he would be.With in days he knew he was home and safe, that we loved him and accepted him as he was.As his lower back disks gave out and caused him to no longer be able to get up on his own or sometimes not even stand, he never stopped showing his love and how grateful he was.At the clinic he laid in my arms, not whimpering from the pain he must have felt but nuzzling to show both hubby and me that he loved us, that it was okay. I held him until his heart beat no more with grief to match the love.

Our only comfort is knowing he is now running on all four legs, playing as he wanted...no as he needed to be and easily picture him sharing bread with our Lord

GOD BLESS YOU SAMMY...Sam I am, I am Sam...Sammy Wammy...Samuel Adams Sheltie.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Book Review Cast of Characters by Max Lucado


CAST OF CHARACTERS Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon GOD by Max Lucado
The Cast of Characters in people from the Bible. Max Lucado does his magic and makes them come alive for us. He places them in our times with our troubles and worries. I not only found myself in this book but several of my friends. Well worth the reading, especially when you need to look at those of faith in the Bible outside their times.
This would be a great book for someone that feels they can’t “measure” up like those that did in the Bible.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

sorry , I got side tracked

I got side tracked wrapping up the food needing canned, froze etc. and then I felt I had to finish up inventorying the dry goods part of my pantry...so I forgot to post pics and recipe for corn cob syrup. I have now placed it on my to do list for the first of next week when I get back into OH.

so speaking of my pantry....I inventoried all of the drygoods...not refrig( never will as it changes way too often)and freezers are still on the to do list. BUT everything else is done. I put it on an excell( yes I broke down and figured out how to do it) and then broke down the categories to each "sheet" in the "workbook" NOW as long as I input what I buy and use daily ( or put what I use daily on a note to do on desk day) I won't ever have to wonder if I have something or need something and actually go look. I even did a need to buy sheet so I can stock up on what is missing with sales BUT NOT BUY what I already have.Each sheet says what the item is, wheither it is box,can good,jar or other container and where it is in the house or garage.

THe reason I spent a week of several hours doing this..to use up what we have instead of buying more and then pitching something down the line because it's too old to eat.So I can actually find where I put that spare bottle of ketchup at LOL. So I NOT buying what we already have and not getting what we actually need AND FINALLY not having to buy anything except basic so the grocery money can actually go to pay on some bills that have popped up that we don't have enough in the budget to cover.

LIKE...a bridge for my teeth because after 50 some yrs of having great teeth, I broke a molar into 4 pieces and had to have it pulled and now need a bridge that the ins will not cover completely.I am gratfeul they will cover part of it but really wonder if I didn't have ins if I could find a cheaper way to get the bridge.

We won't mention that Christmas is a little more than 17 wks away.

Have a great day.

Blessed be

Friday, August 6, 2010

canning tomatoes



Yep it's canning season.This is tomato,homegrown basil and garlic. This is all of the tomatoes I have gotten off 12 plants. They aren't doing very well this year for me so regrettfully I have to chose between buying some from the farmer or buying canned tomatoes through the year...sigh.

Tomorrow I plan to pick up more corn to cut off the cob and freeze.I will make corn cob syrup from the cobs (recipe next post).I hope to also pick up cucumbers to make bread and butter pickles and dill pickles.It's been almost 20 yrs since I have done cucumber pickles.I pickled beets when I overflowed with beets a couple yrs ago.They turned out well.

Got to go clear freezer area to put all this corn LOL

Have a good weekend

Monday, July 26, 2010

Mondays and garden






It's Monday so the clothes are hanging on the line( ok I took the picture BEFORE hanging the unmentionables)I usually try to get the bedding done on Monday but it didn't get done so it's on tomorrow's laundry.

I didn't start the home blessing.Except for Sammy our sheltie, shedding small yorkies the house is in good shape.Cookie,our husky,border collie mix, isn't shedding much since I butched her hair.I think I could have shaved Sammy bald and he would have still shedded yorkies.


I cleared some of the garden up...things no longer growing and producing got pitched and containers cleaned and put away to go to lock up. The pumpkin vine now needs 2 pictures to get all of it. I've picked enough sweet basil to fill the dehydrator.Took a good whack at my finger so had to stop and play doctor with it.Have Thai basil, spicy basil and boxwood basil also but I have finally got it staggered enough to not hit all at once. Chives will need done after this batch of basil. Have tomatoes and hot peppers to can in the next day or so.

Decided to hit the local fair tonight so dinner will be there. Hubby will have to rein me in like always...I definately will eat too much too fast and it won't necessarily be healthy.I mean, come on...it's the fair. Elephant ears,Belgin waffles,lemonades,fries, deep fried veggies(NOT pickles),cotton candy and maybe a caramel apple just for appetizer of course HA HA.Then I'll have to walk 10 miles to burn the calories back off.

have a blessed day

Monday, July 19, 2010

Monday Home Blessings and Laundry

Monday is my favorite day of the week. A fresh start of the week no matter if I am in state or working out of state.

I love washing the laundry and hanging it on the clothes line.Especially the bed linen.Nothing beats that fresh air smell on the bed and night clothes.

Hubby enjoys the lower electric bill.

I also do my homeblessing on Mondays. That is the term from www.flylady.net for house cleaning. It's a hit the middles not a pull out the furniture and sweep behind cleaning.I will admit I was the windows and not just the mirrors. I enjoy clean windows.

I do try to do the decluttering on Sunday. First most of your time cleaning is decluttering and second trash goes Monday morning...it's out of here LOL

Everyone have a good day

Saturday, July 17, 2010

dry rub recipes

Sorry D I didn't post the dry rub recipes.

So here they are...

ANY MEAT DRY RUB

By Chef Julia L Owings Personal Chef

4 Tbsp ground cardamom
4 Tbsp ground ginger
1 Tbsp ground turmeric
3 Tbsp ground cumin
3 Tbsp ground coriander
2 Tbsp ground allspice
1 Tbsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp cayenne
1 tsp ground cloves

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl or jar. Store in an airtight container for up to two months

Bring meat to room temp. Lightly coat meat with a light oil (I use safflower or grape seed oil but canola would be fine) then rub dry rub in to meat. Allow at least 30 min for rub to set before cooking.

Poultry Dry Rub (covers 3 Cornish Hens or 1 chicken, double for a turkey)

By Chef Julia L Owings Personal Chef

1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons chili powder (I add a pinch or so of Ancho chili powder if I want a healthy kick)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine.

If using on the grill or broiler WATCH like a hawk due to sugar burning and turning black.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

rubs and marinades

Hubby came in awhile back( read in there that I was getting ready to leave for GA and then got back in time to leave to go to my son's to babysit his cats while he was out of state)and asked that when I got time if I could write down some of the dry rubs and wet sauces I use for us.He had a friend he wanted to share them with.So finally I got around to printing a couple of them off.

The one I forgot to mention because both him and I do it automaticly when we don't want to throw something together is a no brainer.

Zesty Italian Salad Dressing

Yep, that simple. Steaks,beef or pork roasts,chops, poultry, possible lamb.We don't eat much lamb but I would try it in a heart beat. Marinate it or just dump it on say about 30 min before you go to cook it. Seafood I would only marinate it 10 min the longest as the vinegar in it will "cook" it and you could end up with mush.

Meat will absorb flavors better if you allow the meat to be room temp BEFORE applying the rub or marinade.

I do more dry rubs and marinades in the late fall,winter,early spring.I want the kick of spices to get me thru the dreariness of the weather.In the summer time it is all about wet sauce or BBQ sauce.

We like Bobby Flay's Chipotle-Molasses BBQ sauce.If I don't have any made up then we use what ever BBQ sauce I have in the pantry(depends on coupons and sales). I mix it one bottle of BBQ sauce with one bottle of dark beer or one bottle of BBQ sauce with 1/2 cup of Jack Daniels single barrel whiskey.( if I want a strong whiskey taste I use old #7).

My mom made a great BBQ sauce and I plan to get it off her so we can try it in a week or so when I am back from babysitting kittie kitties.

Enjoy the day

Wet Eagle



this is a wet Eagle. I got his pic thru an email forward from a friend.Today this is what I feel like.

Just soaring along, doing what needs to be done and trying to keep food on the table and wham, it's a battle and I end up totally soaked, worn out and exhausted.Like the Eagle there is no vacation in sight. It's a fight everyday to survive.

Someone needs to lend me their GPS so I can find a very tall tree to sun myself and dry off safely.I am sure though if my kids don't find me, my mother will and she will most likely tell me to quit hogging the limb.

Monday, June 28, 2010

EMBRACING YOUR SECOND CALLING book reveiw



EMBRACING YOUR SECOND CALLING BY Dale Hanson Bourke.

When you reach a certain age, life changes wheither or not you are ready for it to. SO what now? is the question most of us ask ourselves.
Dale Hanson Bourke helps find those answers in her book. EMBRACING YOUR SECOND CALLING.

She doesn’t give you pat answers but suggests resources to find the correct answers for yourself. She’s been there and done that. Dale talks about her busyness when the kids were little and she was working fulltime to when everything changed as the kids left home and she dealt with coming out of her career of her youth.

I needed this book when I was 40 and struggled through that year.In my fifties I am glad to see I am not alone in the struggles, glad to see that some of my choices as a young mother and then an elder( try not to use that word OLD) have been on track in comparison to others.

WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR STRUGGLES.

May GOD grant me the wisdom, patience and humor today.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

when it rains it pours and floods

the weather suits my mood and emotions at this point. A great sunny day would be wasted for sure.

We thought we were making the turn to see the light at the end of the tunnel in our finances...what we got was a total cave in.Hubby agreed to see a financial lawyer over it. I hate losing everything we have worked for during the last twenty years but I can't handle the stress of bad choices.

SO the grocery budget will take the hit again along with some other things.

Hopefully the internet won't be one the things to take the hit.

I'll keep you updated

Monday, June 14, 2010

menu plan Monday




check out the banner and the blogger I got it from. Her addy is on the banner

Menu for this week is( please note veggies can change by what needs used up in refrigerator or garden. Right now the lettuces are going crazy)

MONDAY
marinated flank steak( hopefully it will be cooked on grill)
mac and cheese
mixed veggies

TUESDAY
ratatouille
butter noodles
smoked sausage

WEDNESDAY
marinated chicken breasts(grilled if possible)
rice
what ever fresh veggie that needs ate

THURSDAY
stuffed shells with red sauce
crab cakes
salad from the garden

FRIDAY
shredded chicken sandwich
mac salad
crudite and dip

SATURDAY
pork chops and gravy
mashed potatoes
okra mixed with tomatoes
spinach

SUNDAY Fathers Day
ribeye
baked potato
salad from garden
AL Lane Cake (Yankie version)

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I am back



worn out and frazzled but at least here for a week or so LOL.

Here is a pic of my son's kitties that I was babysitting while moving him while he was out of state. Cuddles in the black cat and he definitely likes to cuddle. Bailey is the gray cat.She is a cat for sure LOL

Now that I am back here I've started the deep cleaning of our own place.Not as bad as I thought it would be since I missed my regular spring cleaning but still in need of a good scrub. In the midst of it all I am also moving the pantry items around and checking out what needs used up. I need to start making desserts before it over runs all the pantry.

Dinners have been what ever needs used up as I go. Last night was chicken satay made with coconut milk, turmeric,cumin and coriander for the marinade along with avocado salad (lettuce in garden is over running us).

Tonight is going to be soft tacos, refried beans and more lettuce.

have a great day, got to go finish scrubbing the kitchen cabinet doors.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

away from internet

due to going to my son's while he is out of state I won't have access to internet.

Not only is he depriving me(LOL) of internet since he took his laptop and I can't connect to his provider...I am cleaning his new apt, packing his old apt, moving him, unpacking him and cleaning his old apt all while he is gone.

do you know how tempting makes it to hide things from him????

More to his fear, I will move things in, things that are his that his sister and I have stored for him for over 7 yrs. ...His fear is well founded !!!!!!!

I'll be back on the last weekend of the month.

take care and Blessed Be

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Book Review You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be by Max Lucado

When I opened the package and took out this book, I thought…hummm, small and short, won’t be much here. I totally forgot that good things come in small packages and many times they are packed full. Full of the knowledge of the life God wants each and everyone of us to live.

Max Lucado lets you know that God has a plan that was tailor made just for you and you alone. He doesn’t just ask you “what is your gift” but offers the way of finding out what your gift is if you don’t already know. How many of us do know?

I will read this book several times over, knowing each time I will find another gift that will help me get back to being everything that God wants me to be.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be by Max Lucado

When I opened the package and took out this book, I thought…hummm, small and short, won’t be much here. I totally forgot that good things come in small packages and many times they are packed full. Full of the knowledge of the life God wants each and everyone of us to live.

Max Lucado lets you know that God has a plan that was tailor made just for you and you alone. He doesn’t just ask you “what is your gift” but offers the way of finding out what your gift is if you don’t already know. How many of us do know?

I will read this book several times over, knowing each time I will find another gift that will help me get back to being everything that God wants me to be.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mothers Day




May your MOTHER'S DAY be BLESSED

wheither you had children or not, if the child is by blood or love

if you teach or preach

BLESSED BE

Monday, May 3, 2010

Plan B By Pete Wilson book reveiw


Plan B What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?
By Pete Wilson

If you are lost, drifting, or know for sure where you are going, this book is one you NEED to read. Pete Wilson is down to earth in relating every day reality with Christianity.

I felt as if I was sitting around drinking coffee with an old friend with no secrets between us. A friendship with no judgment, no criticism and total acceptance of all my strengths and flaws.

I’ve been off Plan A for years and know for sure I would have made better choices with my reactions and actions when Plan B came along if I would have had this book.
I am sure this book in on my list to buy for others for Christmas.

I just can't say enough about this book except for you to go buy it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Sunday..day of rest and prepping for the week

Sunday is the day I try to rest and prep some for the coming week.

Tomorrow I will be going to the grocery store with my youngest and two of her children.

So I have the menu planned for the next 11 days I am actually here.I have the grocery list for those meals and coupons to match.

I am winging the 15 meals I will put in the freezer for hubby while I am gone to babysit "grandkids" for my son while his is out of state for classes contected with work.Grandkids being his cats.I know most think a guy having cats is weird.It was the better choice for him since he wanted to come home to some thing since he wasn't coming home to some one.He works two jobs and many times is gone for 12-16 hrs a day 7 days a week on top of living in apartments. Dogs need interaction, dogs need outdoor time and he wasn't going to be there to do that.When he needs a doggy fix he comes home and visits his dog,Cookie, we have.

SOOOO I have a to do list for before I go and one for while I am there which includes me packing up his apartment,moving him to his new apartment and unpacking him and then cleaning the old apartment WHILE he is gone.

AND while doing that amongst my own work for myself. I am to fix meals for HIS freezer.The cats just aren't willing to start dinner for him (snicker)and he is tired of crock pot cooking for one even though he also packs his lunch from it. Fast food wore out quickly.He likes his vegetables and he likes variaty and he has a strict budget.

Tonight is chicken stirfry...uses up the veggies that need used up and is a good dish to make extra to freeze for hubby.

Have a great day

Blessed be

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

White bread

this is the recipe for the bread I made when the kids were growing up.

some notes to be added to it,

lukewarm is close to the temperature of the inside of your wrist.

it says shortening but in this house that can be anything from lard,bacon grease,butter or crisco(few and far between)

I've lowered the sugar to 1/4 cup or even switched it to splenda using their guidelines but I wouldn't go less than 1/4 cup.

flour...I use bread flour for a heavier loaf(filled the bottomless pits up better) to all-purpose flour (for hubby and me). I've also used less than 7 cups to make the dough and a few times more than 8. Flour depends on moisture in the air etc when it comes to amounts you will add.

figure 10 minutes for kneading and I have used a rolling pin to "beat" the dough instead of just kneading it.

you can freeze this dough when you get it to the point of putting it in the pan to raise. Just shove it in the freezer in loaves.When you are ready for it, thaw in greased loaf pan and let rise then bake as you would if it hadn't been frozen.


WHITE BREAD


½ CUP LUKEWARM (105-110 DEGREES) WATER

1 TABLESPOON OF YEAST (OR 1 PACKAGE)

1 TEASPOON OF SUGAR

2 CUPS OF LUKEWARM (105-110 DEGREES) WATER

½ TEASPOON SALT

1/3 CUP SUGAR

2 TABLESPOONS SHORTENING

7-8 CUPS OF FLOUR

IN A MEASURING CUP, DISSOLVE YEAST AND TEASPOON OF SUGAR INTO ½ CUP WATER, LET IT REST 5 MINUTES.

IN A LARGE CONTAINER, MIX THE 2 CUPS OF WATER WITH THE SALT, 1/3 CUP SUGAR AND SHORTENING.

ADD YEAST MIXTURE TO LARGE CONTAINER

GRADUALLY ADD FLOUR.

KNEAD UNTIL SMOOTH AND ELASTIC.

PLACE INTO GREASED BOWL (CONTAINER), COVER AND SET IN WARM PLACE (OUT OF DRAFTS) TO RISE UNTIL DOUBLE.

PUNCH DOWN AND FLIP OVER.

LET RISE AGAIN.

PUT IN 2 LARGE BREAD PANS OR 3 MEDIUM BREAD PANS THAT HAVE BEEN GREASED

LET RISE UNTIL DOUBLE AGAIN

BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 30 MINUTES.

ME ME ME

It's Wednesday. This is the day I try to take time for myself...you know the woman...no not the wife, the mother, the daughter, the friend ,the employer, the employee or what ever...time for the woman, me, myself and I.

OF COURSE I still have to do the laundry, cook the dinner, do my work (which isn't making a dime at the moment)wheither or not the "woman" is screaming for chinese take out or dinner at a real Italian restuarant, a new pleasure romantic book she hasn't read fifty million times already, a manicure and pedicure that she isn't giving to herself, flowers, candles and old soft rock music. Just naming a few there.

I want to curl in bed with junk food, good movies and a good book( so much for that because I have to wear 2 different pairs of glasses to do that)

I want to soak in a BIG bathtub that doesn't have doors on the tub.

I want I want I want...

why does that remind me of a whiney child??? LOL

so instead since I will be at the computer for most of the day. I decided to use the laptop. I can move it around the house and at least sit in the sun and pretend it is warm out.

So do something for your self that will make you smile today...have a ME DAY

Blessed Be

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

taxes and food


Spring has sprung and right along with it the pollen. But still I can look at the blooms of flowers and know that with in a few weeks I will be planting containers of veggies

tax day will be here in a couple days.We had to file for an extension as a few pieces of important papers didn't get to us since we moved.I guess calling and telling them your new addy doesn't count as changing the address.

SO in that process knowing that we are going to be owing big time for the first time ever(I am not worried since pop already had to go this route and can hold our hands) and add on top of it other debts from our medical proceedures required by our ins but not paid in full for ( I think if it's required it should be pd for in full and not by my health fund) and back debt on the house we lost in foreclosure.Sore subject and not one I am getting into today.

money is going to be very tight.We don't qualify for bankruptcy under the new rules in OH and I am not really wanting to do a chapter 13 slow pay BUT I have pulled their figures for the budget they put you on to live on for the Ch 13.

I plan on Hubby working 40 hrs, he would be one of the last to be laid off if the plant shut down and he has a month's worth of vacation we can use for cash instead of time off if needed.BUt I am not working. Between clients moving, economy and my heart failure, work is pretty much not there.

Some areas we are doing great in, others I just wonder where the figures came from and then others I wonder where in the world I went to.

IN the kitchen I can cut costs so that is where I went to.Hubby watches Food Network, wants to try a recipe, I go for it.After all I am a Personal Chef. I think of some ingredients I want to mix up with some different spices, I go for it.After all I am a Personal Chef.That would be excusable but the reason I took the course thru USPCA to be a Personal Chef was to justify the spice and conditments in my pantry to begin with.

A few weeks ago I inventoried all the freezers( got rid of one deep freezer) and condensed down any thing that there was two of in the refrigerators( we have 2 and the landlord has one).When I get back to the house( I am out of state for 3 wks) I will inventory the pantry.I plan to use everything up and start fresh with the new harvest that will be coming in this summer.

The GOvt allownece for food in a ch 13 of our area is $537.00/month for 2

that is $17.70 /day for 2

breaks down to $8.85/ day for 1

breaks down to $2.95/meal for 1

It's going to be an interesting couple of yrs in my kitchen.

go out and enjoy the weather,

Blessed Be

Friday, April 9, 2010

A CENTURY TURNS



A CENTURY TURNS New Hopes, New Fears by Dr. William J. Bennett

In A CENTURY TURNS Dr.William Bennett, using his skills as an author, historian and educator has given a breath of life to the shaping history of 1988 with George H.W. Bush to 2008 to the election of Barack Obama. A CENTURY TURNS shows just how far we have traveled in the last 20 yrs.

Where and who we are stands on where and who we were and it gives us the bases of where we go and who we become. History is that bases BUT most times it is as dry as dust and boring to those of us that aren’t historians and history teachers like my own brother. Stating that, A CENTURY TURNS is a breath of life in history. Dr. Bennett’s personal thoughts, feelings and memories combined with the facts of the times were a joy to read.

I wished I had A CENTURY TURNS available when I was in school and again when I was home schooling my own children. I’ll be buying a copy for my brother for his birthday.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Thursday, April 8, 2010

rain on the way and today's meals

Rain is coming YEAHHHHHH.It will knock down some of the pollen and I won't have to shower and change clothes every time I've been outside for any length of time.I actually had a green cast to my hair yesterday from the pollen...yuck.

today for lunch I am having homemade beef and vegetable soup that I brought with me along with a ham sandwich. Tonight though I will be cooking chicken breasts,whole grain medley and asparagus. Not sure what spices I will use on the chicken since I have a really good selection on my herbs and spices with me.What ever it will be throwed in an electric skillet to cook.I have enough chicken to make 2-3 meals total. I'll marinate some of them with Italian salad dressing and cook them in the crock pot tomorrow. If any isn't eaten then they will go into wraps. pitas or on salads.

Have a blessed day, stay safe

Blessed be

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

and time flies

when you over load yourself ( or the boss does) with things that have a deadline.

At the moment I can take a breath...maybe two...oops overload is right there again.

Sitting in GA in a motel room, looking at my nice red car that appears green now that it is covered with pollen...YUCK

I am looking at attending 2 wedding receptions, 2 baby showers and 1 wedding anniversary with talk of an engagement party with in the next 3 wks right along with my deadline for the revision of my fiction book and my reveiw that is due for another book.

Dinner still must be served as none of us is rich nor do we prefer eating out anyways.

SO tonight is smoked sausage. kraut and leftover mashed potatoes I brought with me. Canteloupe for dessert, maybe some cheese and crackers for an appetizer, depends on how hungry we are.Simple, quick and not drive thru food.

Take a break and take a breath( try to avoid the pollen )

Blessed be

Thursday, March 25, 2010

recipe for son in law

yesterday while my youngest and her hubby was here , he asked for my recipe for antipasta. I've gave to them a couple times but it keeps getting lost.

I never seem to make enough of it for family dinners and when I do thinking I will have some left for hubby and me, the kids walk out with it.

so here it is to share with you

quick and easy antipasta

in a medium bowl, place 2 jars of whole mushrooms ( drained) 1can of whole black olives(drained) 1 pint of cherry tomatoes( rinsed well and drained) 1 small onion cut in small dices, 1 heaping tablespoon of minced garlic, and enough pepperoni( or salami) to suit yourself. I use pepperoni stick and chunk it to bite sizes, a friend of mine uses presliced pepperoni. What ever you chose. I then dump a bottle of Italian salad dressing on it ( or make my own dressing with basmatic vinegar, olive oil and my own Italian herbs and spices)

The family prefers I just leave it in the bowl but when I serve it when working as a personal chef, I place 1/2 cup full ( drained) on a bed of good lettuce and place a couple tablespoons of the dressing in a small cup on the side.

Enjoy

blessed be

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Has it been that long??

It's been busy here, one crisis after another for almost a solid week. Things seem to settle down a bit. Chaos will start reining with several grand kids in ball and me going south for 2-3 wks for work.

MEAN TIME It's St Paddy's day...sigh...only one day and so many recipes. I did decide to slowly( since I don't use the crock pot that much) roast my corned beef as I will use the left overs for Reuben's. I'll fry potatoes and onions together and fry a very small cabbage.I think I will make scones instead of soda bread and I haven't decided over dessert.I did put a couple Samuel Adams Irish Red beers in the frig.We probably won't drink them but they are there if we want them LOL

Both hubby and I are in a group that is trying to lose some weight and/or inches. As I no longer have any shorts left from last yr.I would like to buy smaller size than last yr instead of larger when I go shopping at the local Goodwill.I might go with summer dresses instead, something to think about.

Have a Blessed day

Sunday, March 7, 2010

menu for the week of March 7th - 13th

Sundays I spend writing up what I did during the week, write up what I need to get done the coming week.Make sure my daily and week list reflect what is going on. Note which zone(www.flylady.net) I am in and basicly get myself ready to handle with coming week without losing my head or creating more chaos for myself.

Since the trash cans go to the curb on Sunday night for Monday pick up. Sunday is also my day to clean out the frigs, straighten up freezers and the pantry.I write this week's dinners on the white board beside my Flylady calendar in the hall way (it's right by the bathroom).

This week I decided to have the following. I haven't worked out bfasts or lunches or snack even though doc is breathing fire about my lousy eating habits.

These weeks dinners are

Sunday(tonight): pork pot stickers with dipping sauce,Teriyaki beef with assorted veggies stir fry with fried rice

Monday : pot roast with mushroom gravy, parsnip and potato mash, baby carrots, veggie salad

Tuesday: chicken, mushroom and spinach alfredo lasagna,citrus spinach salad and hot bread

Wednesday (which is ME DAY) : leftover pot roast and arugula panini, salad of pineapple and winter greens with a warm roasted chile-cocnut dressing, oven baked french fries.

Thursday : codfish in ginger soy cream,stuffed roasted eggplant rolls,leftover parsnip-potato mash made into patties.

Friday ( our grandson's 13th bday party of pizza for dinner) lunch will be cheddar biscuits with ham,stuffed baby peppers and a salad ( hubby doesn't work Fridays as his work week start Sunday night)

Saturday: baja style fish tacos, homemade refried beans with cheese, spanish rice, salsa and tortilla chips and chocoflan for dessert.

maybe I can work on bfast,lunch and snacks after I get tonights dinner done...no promises

Blessed be

Saturday, March 6, 2010

still hard but getting thru






It's still hard to be without Tashy. Still wake up in the middle of the night crying for her, over her, missing her bulk and warmth against me.She was my cuddler.I look inside my heart and know I placed hers above my own with letting her go.

Each day the memories are a little( okay, very little but I was a widow so I understand the cycles of grief) easier to handle.



Cookie our other dog was really struggling.She has always been part of the "pack" and being alone wasn't working for her.

SOOO



I went to the shelter and found Sam .He is 4-6 yrs old and a sheltie.He has a bum leg/shoulder but that is okay with us. I have CP and hubby has issues walking too, so he fits right in since Cookie has seizures.

In some areas he slide right in, (didn't take long to remember where the treat cabinet is or when treats are given LOL).Other hand, he doesn't want to go out, I have to either carry him or take him by his collar even though we can tell he was an inside dog. Food is not safe left sitting anywhere he can get in including when I am carrying in the groceries( my other dogs never messed with the groceries)Lost steak this week.MY lesson learned.


He is a couch potato or a recliner guy take your pick. He is friendly but not a cuddler and prefers the couch to sleep on.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend

Blessed Be






Thursday, February 25, 2010

In loving memory of Tashla Marie( Tashy)




at 2:30 this morning our lab ( named LaTasha Rene by our youngest, Tashala Marie by me ,aka Tashy, Tash, Beached whale, horse, snowdog,and snowangel)that would have been 11 on March 15th that has hip dysplasia fell while getting off the trunk that she used for a step to get off and on our bed.Her hind legs completely gave out on her and she didn't recover. I watched her for 2 hrs crawl thru the house from the bedroom to the kitchen door to go out.Hubby carried her back in when he got home from work this morning.

Her health had been deteratting as it was, potty accidents, ear infections one after another etc.We had already talked of letting her go the last time her legs gave out on her but she recovered with a limp but she did recover.This time she couldn't even stand after several hours.

Those that know me, know Tashy (along with Cookie) are more like my four legged children than just a dog. Tashy spent a lot of time helping me get up when I could not stand, lent a shoulder for me to weep on, put up with me cuddling her even when she really wanted to be left alone to sleep.

I get thru this day with memories along with the heart break. Of our last night together with her sleeping beside me with her head on my shoulder.Not something she usually did, that would have been her using my feet as a pillow and not tolerating me tossing and turning "her Pillow"

Cookie who will be 10 on April 15th has seizures so we also know our time is limited and precious with her.
I can picture Tashy now in heaven , and for the first time being able to run and jump like she could never do , not even as a puppy, in this life..Ten bucks says she still won't retrieve or fetch.

Blessed Be Tashy I love you I always will love you and miss you

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

catch up

Finally was well enough to go to store. Took 4 trips and 3 days but everything is stocked up again. Now if we can get the veggies ate before they go bad( I'll blanch and freeze them first)If there is room in freezer LOL

In celebration of me going to the store, of me being well enough to go to the store and the day AFTER our anniversary we had ribs from the local butcher shop that smokes ribs on Fri( they do other things M- TH)That feed us Friday and Sat since neither of us was home for lunch those days.

Sunday I made Anne Burrell's (food network) excellent meatballs to add to my own homemade red sauce.I don't really care that much for meatballs, Mama Marie's in Covington GA and my daughter Kate's is about the only ones I like( I don't even like my own).THESE are EXCELLENT.I did add more garlic to the recipe after tasting the taste pattie. I ate 6( maybe more) before I got them in the sauce and then 5 more on my plate and then 3 more while ridding up the table and kitchen even after hubby took my plate away because I was making myself sick BUT made myself sick sick sick anyways and it was worth every bite.Reminded of the commerical of "the best _______ I ever ate" and Neely says he ate and he ate and he ate...yeah that was me. I snuck two out of freezer the next day and nuked them YUMMMMMM.

Monday I had a procedure so I bought a fried chicken from Wal Mart for my lunch to go with the apple and unsweet tea I had. Good thing because the Hawaiian pulled pork in the crock pot was not done after 8 hrs like the recipe said it would be so we had the chicken for dinner also. Took the pork 11 hrs, made that note on the recipe because it was good pulled pork. I fixed it this morning for sandwiches for my bfast and hubby's dinner ( he works 3rd so bfast is actually his dinner)

cleaned up the kitchen, packages leftovers for the freezer, caught the laundry up, now it's time to loom until I leave for the doctor's to find out what is going on with this nasty cough I've had for 6 wks that comes and goes.I would like to take a deep breath WITHOUT hacking up the lungs when I do.

until the next time

Blessed Be

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

snow and sick...sick of snow also

Tashy our snow dog that we bribe to come in.She makes my joints ache let alone her own.We don't let her stay out long since she is so old and disabled as it is.

Cookie our house"cat" dog, the one we bribe to go out.She is old too but acts like she is 2 or 3

back yard that hubby snow blowed to get the dogs to use the yard to potty in instead of the drive way right at the kitchen door


the ice sicle that I watch grow daily while I sit on the couch sick with a head and chest cold. Wouldn't be surprised to see it reach the ground.


and that is how it's been since I got back from GA on Friday.I haven't made it to the store between me being sick and the weather. Glad I had a full pantry even though now we are out of fresh veggies ( except for a few carrots left)and fruit.I did have hubby pick up milk after his class on Friday since he got in before I did
today I feel better, not well, but could do things...right ...like do too much and collapse tomorrow and get even sicker than I have been. Old enough to know it, BUTTTT thankfully the weather is keeping me house bound or I would go anyways.
I have a really good menu for the next 4-6 wks and I want to pick up the groceries for it and get started on it...not eat leftover casseroles out of the freezer or hodge podge meals out of the pantry. I don't want my green veggie to be okra( sorry to my loved ones that love it).
I don't think I've had fresh brocolli in 3 wks...whine whine whine. LOL. Definately spoiled about not eating in season.Need to work on that, veggies and fruit in season cost a lot less.
well Time for next round of meds...
be careful, be safe, be blessed

Monday, February 8, 2010

on deadline and still have to cook


I am on deadline on a revision of a fiction novel I wrote back in Nov. Now deadline is April 1st but I know me.Worse I know revision is 10 times harder than the first draft.
I am also over due on finishing the afghans I made for Christmas last yr.The grandkids got theirs but I am still working on the adults. SO I am hauling butt trying to do that while working in GA.
My group here in GA have gotten together to work out a program to help people adjust to having less money for groceries than they normally have.
I went to Krogers and Walmart( as when you are broke you have to pretty much do one stop shopping) and priced out a weeks worth ( 7 bfast, 7 lunches and 7 dinners) for one person with only $20 for groceries for that week( paper goods and cleaning products not included).
Krogers had better sales ( reality is you have to use the sales to do this) than Walmart and they also had a better choice of smaller items.( something I noticed between here and Sidney/Urbana OH area ).I came in at $19.58.
Yes you have to cook and you have to plan ahead. You have to not waste, those veggies need washed before you peel them because you are going to make veggie broth with those peelings for a meal on down the line and that chicken carcuss( or just bones) are going to make broth also. That pinto bean soup is 3 meals so you have to portion it out so you don't eat 2 meals in one.
I did compromise and buy Bisquick. You can make pancakes, biscuits , dumplings and pie crust .
I would have bought flour, yeast,baking powder, baking soda, corn starch and cream of tartar instead to make bread and noodles etc but it wouldnt' fit in the $20.
Still with everything I have going on, even though I am giving a "food" allowence while here in Ga. I cook in my motel room. Electric skillet and crock pot does just fine. I use my steel bowl for washing dishes etc. As I sit here I know that I have a pot of soup (canned broth from home, chicken from leftover rotissere chicken, diced carrot and celery , sliced mushrooms, a can of Italian flavored diced tomatoes and a can of black beans in the crock pot. A "sandwich" of Italian slipper bread( also made at home and brought) spread with pesto, sliced left over chicken, roasted red bellpeppers, provolone cheese and lettuce is waiting to be cut and ate.I also know the leftover soup will have rice added to half of it for the next round of soup. the other half will get ramen noodles broke up in it.
so until the next time

have a great day,
blessed be

Sunday, January 31, 2010

last day of Jan Eat from the Pantry challenge


Tonight is also take the trash can to the curb so I cleaned out refrigerators and am very proud to answer not one bite of food went in the trash. I have ended up with about 1/2 cup of cooked spinach in the taco casserole along with the last of the taco meat, last of the hamburger, last of the salsa con queso, the last of the stale tortilla chips along with the last of the sliced black olives. I will top it with the last of the salad, last of the tomatoes and last of the salsa....but not the last of the sour cream. Might add more cheese, have taco cheese and con queso cheese in frig

Since I will be gone for 2 wks starting Tuesday, I made dinners for the freezer for hubby, there is some lunches for him to pack for work the first week I am gone.The following week he will be at classes for work on first so will just buy it.

I've already decided that we will eat from the pantry again in Feb so I am taking my notes of what is in the pantry and what I will need to buy.

lesson learned this month: it does not help to stock up on something, then put it in a spot you don't normally use to store it.. I doubled the month non-food items by putting the first buy in the garage and then forgetting that it was there. I know make notes that I post in my control journal( http://www.flylady.net/) which is where I am building my pantry list very slowly LOL

until we meet again

blessed be

Thursday, January 28, 2010

eating from the pantry


I am worried...we ate mostly from the pantry.Did eat out a few times, examples like when son re-enlisted, my bday ..more of a celebration than "oh I don't want to cook thing."

I do have empty spots in the pantry and freezers. The two refrigerators are full but that is because the 3rd refrigerator died and I had to quickly shove condiments in to the other two.

I guess I should first say that my groceries is food, non food( dog items, paper products, meds etc) and eating out including that cup of coffee at the gas station ...

STILL we spent $786.02.That was AFTER the savings of $102.52.Hubby just shrugged and said "you saved over 10 % and your goal was 5%...I'm more like "have I lost my every loving mind!!!!"

Granted my fool proof savings plan was not in affect.Namely my youngest that can make you justify spending money on better t paper than the cheap stuff didn't go with me.

I kept the receipts for the whole month to see what I bought and where I can cut because that is just way over the budget.

Twice I bought non-food for a total of $488.67. Except for toilet paper we are set for the coming month. I make my own laundry soap for my HE washer.Have for over a yr and I use white vinegar for fabirc softener. Still buy cheap dryer sheets for when I use the dryer. Part of the reason I love 50 degree and warmer weather is I can use the clothes line.Give me a Monday morning that is decent and I am happy with hanging out the laundry...I side track. I made a list of what I bought and then removed what was really not needed and wouldn't affect our lives.Namely I elimated some of the dog treats...they get carrots now instead of a certain treat and I break biscuits, dentals etc in half so everything will last twice as long should cut that bill in half. I also have started using purple rags from http://www.flylady.net/ really thought I was going back wards there. I use one for windows and mirrors,one for bathroom and one for the kitchen cleaning , throwed them in the wash with throw rugs.I have noticed the paper towels that used to not last a week are now still hanging around for 3 wks or more. There is no lint on the mirrors and windows and I am a wash the windows weekly freak.In the old house I washed the windows inside and out every week since they tilt in.
Eating out was $125.72 that included feeding our son.That is about double with our normal eating out.I have already planned a nice meal for Valentines day and our anniversary.
Foodwise was on budget..$293.15.I planned for $300 for the month.NOW add this in to that amt.I bought meat for Feb because it was on sale and it was just too good of a price to ignore. ( I did get it with youngest's blessing) That meat cost $111.65 OF the $293.15.Meaning I spent $181.50 for food for this month alone not including the eating out amt.
non-food is definately on the radar to be cut down
best get back to the pasta sauce making and I roasted a turkey last night for dinner so I need to debone it and make broth from the carcuss .
Blessed be

Monday, January 25, 2010

home canning

Yes I can year around. Fruits and veggies in season are no brainers of canning. I don't can much meat beyond my mock mince.

BUTTTT

regularly I can broth and pasta sauce.

Yesterday I made beef broth, chicken broth and veggie broth AND pasta sauce with meat and veggies and pasta sauce plain.I processed the quarts last night after a dinner of corned beef hash and french toast ( used up the last of the store bought bread). Tonight after dinner I will can the pints before going on to making more veggie broth. Still trying to catch up with that from Tday and Christmas.Have 5 gal bags of veggie peels still in freezer.

on top of this I am putting an extra cooked dinner in freezer for hubby to eat while I am south working for 2 wks....

on top of trying to catch up some what on the never ending to do list....

have a blessed day

Saturday, January 23, 2010

thinking of spring

Feb is just next week...

TO some Groundhog's day on Feb 2nd foretells of the spring to come

For Celtic or Pagans ,Feb 1st is Imbolic or Oimelc festival to celebrate Brigid who started out as a Celtic goddess and later became revered as a Christian saint.

This festival was replaced by the Catholic church with Candlemas that is held Feb 2nd

To gardners, this is the time to think of what to plant in the garden, seeds to start now, what worked and what didn't.

For me, it's a time to start the spring cleaning. I start with decluttering the month of Feb and then the actually scrubbing of walls and floors in March and then in April change out the heavy drapes/curtians and bedding for warmer weather items and pray I don't freeze in bed due to a cold snap here in OH.

With where we are renting any gardening will have to be done in containers so I will start looking at what containers I can use, what I have and what I need.Seeds I have LOL though I imagine I will do a walk thru the seed catalogs any ways.

Have a blessed day

Friday, January 22, 2010

my money saving at the grocery store and home



I take my youngest. Really.Even though she is my baby ( who is an adult that has worked full time, been laid off and buried one of her own children) she is my baby.

We started going to the store together when she totaled her car. Funny how you learn things about your kids.

Coupons are required and if you don't have any you get the lecture.

If it's not on the list you don't buy it.You have to give her your list unless you have proven you can stay to the list...and on budget.( she prefers you to bring cash or a debit card)

If you list buy 2 then you better have a really really good reason for buying 3 and just being on sale is NOT enough.

name brand does NOT go in the cart unless there is NO store brand of that item.I told her that her dad didn't want the store brand fritos because they were greasy.She called him and told him to put them on paper towels, nuke in microwave for about 10 sec and then blot with another paper towel.Now if I am going to the store with her( she does have a car again) he will stop and do the "chip shopping" .LOL

I drink coke classic in a plastic or glass bottle.Any soda pop in a can( or any Pepsi) will trigger my acid reflux and I prefer coke classic.Her answer was to not buy ANY. Hubby gets it with the chip run along with his Vernors ginger soda.It's not like we drink a 12 pk a week...maybe a 12 pk a month if that.Don't think of buying water unless she's tasted your water and agrees it is nasty.

She doesn't buy paper plates( she is 25 yrs old with a family of 6), she washes dishes after every meal( no dishwasher).She doesn't buy paper napkins.( face cloths stand in line of napkins)She doesn't buy paper towels( will use them if given to her) has rags for that.She doesn't buy tissues,cheap toilet paper will do. If I hadn't been there ( hee hee) when she was born I would swear she wasn't mine

Her brother ( okay he is my son SMILE) is single, not married and has not lived with anyone beyond barricks. He doesn't buy paper plates( I thought it was required of single guys),he doesn't buy paper napkins( uses cloth ones like his mom), doesn't buy paper towels often( when he has none he lays his cooked bacon on a cooling rack and lets the grease drip into a meat platter, then scraps the grease into a bowl for using to fry his eggs or potatoes in later), doesn't buy tissues BUT does buy a really good toilet paper because he doesn't want to blow his nose on cardboard.
I wonder where their habits came from.

I used cloth napkins when they were growing up instead of paper napkins. Still do that most the time unless I get given paper napkins.I am still using up the paper napkins that someone gave me for Tday dinner. My kids blame my mother for me having paper napkins and paper towels.Yes I grew up with that right along with the box of tissues so I guess they blame her for that one also.

BUT I make my own laundry soap, fabric softener, shower cleaner, use windshield fluid for window cleaner, baking soda for scouring powder, vinegar,baking soda, and boiling water to keep drains cleared,a damp rag to dust with ( furniture oil once a month)laundry soap to scrub the carpets and I have been known to take the bottom off the empty box of tissues and put a roll of good toilet paper in it with the cardboard tube removed beside my bed.

I've also been known to add a scoop of coffee grounds to the old batch to make a second pot of coffee.BUT hey, I'm not as bad as Grandpa and do it until half the pot is actually grounds instead of coffee.

Have a blessed day