All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.
Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.
As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.
Green Chile-stuffed Chicken Breasts
4 boneless, skinned chicken breast halves, pounded thin 3 ounces cream cheese 3/4 cups shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese 4 ounces green chiles 1/2 teaspoon chili powder salt and pepper to taste 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1/2 cup hot enchilada sauce
Combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, chiles, chili powder and salt and pepper. Place a generous dollop on each flattened chicken breast, then roll up. Place chicken rolls in the slow cooker, seam-side down. Top chicken breast rolls with remaining cheese mixture, soup, and enchilada sauce. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours.
I often think how incredibly lucky I am, or rather, blessed, that I can do so many things, some well and some not so well, others not at all, but for the most part I consider myself a pretty creative gal.
I think it all came from the amazing strong women in my family, women who have fought the odds and have struggled through most of their lives but always with a smile on their faces, women who knit and who crochet, who cook and who bake, who sew and who darn, who sing and who talk and have this intense love for the family and the Lord. Ahhh would it not be for their faith, I don't know where they or ME would be today.
After all anything that happens to your family happens to you too right? It's all a big circle and when you do something it tends to reverberate and send off all these little waves that affect all the members of the family.
So when I think about my childhood and I think about the things I've learned, I smile and I am overwhelmed with love and with pride and ever so thankful that I had the role models to teach me how to be a woman, how to take care of a home, how to be a wife and how to be a mother. All things that I could have learned by myself, but it makes it that much more poignant when it's been passed down from generation to generation....when you have a problem or a question and you know that no matter who you ask they will have an answer and not just one that they've heard somewhere, it's something they've learned through their years of life experience and it's advice that comes from "being there and doing that".
As I sit today and watch my 9 year old old start to turn into a young woman, I often wonder just how she'll turn out, will I have the same strength and courage that my greatgrandmother, grandmothers, mother and stepmother had, will I know how to answer her and give her the guidance she needs in her life?
I think the answer is yes, because I was taught by the best so how can I not know how to pass that on to Jasmine?
What got me thinking about all this is the fact that while watching some of the young girls around here, it struck me how little they knew about cooking or cleaning, most of them don't even want to know how to do these things, they laugh it off and say things like "we can just go out to eat everyday"....or "that's why I plan on living near my parents so my mom will do my laundry".
I would rather my daughter was prepared and knew how to do everything, obviously doesn't mean she will like it, chances are she'll probably turn her nose up at ironing, scrubbing toilets and dishes, but I want her to have the tools she needs to go out there on her own and know that if mom is not around, she can take care of herself, at least make a meal and have clean clothes. That's a starting point.
But as I was saying, I'm blessed, blessed because thankfully my daughter shows an interest in some of the things, she wants to cook and she loves cleaning (I did too until it became a daily thing, now not so much). So I'm showing her everything I can and hope that one day, she may come to feel the same way I do about the wonderful women in my family.
I love you Bio, Avo Jacinta, Avo Odete, Mae and Nela!
I leave you with a question:Are you planning on teaching your daughters everything you know, or do you want to leave it up to them whether they want to learn or not?
It's just one of those days, one of those woman days that you want to sleep away....but I can't, so I'm going to sit down with a hot water bottle, a good book, my pugs and a cup of tea.
I'll be back tomorrow feeling much better I'm sure.
Do you have a tip on cooking, cleaning, homemaking, kids, marriage, travel or anything that you would love to share? Feel free to join in!
I'm running late today aren't I? It's one of those days, sorry ladies.
♥Try making flavored butter to spread on warm biscuits or bread...it makes them extra special and it's so easy. Just blend fresh, minced herbs to taste with softened butter, cover and then chill at least 2 to 3 hours so the flavors will blend.♥
♥Pick up an old-fashioned medicine chest at the next tag sale...it makes a great place to store spices. Adhesive-backed cork attached to the mirror makes keeping track of shopping lists easy!♥
♥Spreading meringue so it touches the edges of the pie crust is the secret to keeping it from shrinking....works every time.♥
One of my favorite childhood memories is this marble cake that my stepmom used to make.
Hubby started a new shift today which means he won't see the kids until the weekend and they're sad and missing him already so I decided to make a meal that would be all about comfort, one of my favorites from when I was growing up, Shepherd's Pie and Marble Cake, and one that brings me wonderful memories....I hope it does the same thing for them.
If I was a liquid I would be... diet coke *snicker*
If I was a sin I would be... gluton
If I was a mineral I would be... Ruby
If I was a metal I would be .. Gold
If I was a tree I would be... maple
If I was a fruit I would be .. strawberry
If I was a flower I would be... lily
If I was the weather I would be .. thunderstorm
If I was a musical instrument I would be... guitar
If I was one of the elements I would be... air
If I was a color I would be... pink
If I was an animal I would be...dolphin
If I was a sound I would be... rain
If I was a song lyric I would be... You called and I came running, You cried and now I'm here So hold this faith, accept our faith, These are little fears
If I was a song I would be... "Bring the Rain" by Mercyme
If I was a music genre I would be... ballad
If I was a perfume I would be... White Diamonds
If I was a feeling I would be... honesty
If I was a book I would be… an historical romance
If I was food I would be… a big juicy steak
If I was a place I would be ... the beach
If I was a taste I would be... coffee
If I was a scent I would be… air dried laundry
If I was a word I would be… mommy
If I was a verb I would be… moving
If I was an object I would be… a skillet
If I was a clothing item I would be… a pair of jeans
If I was a body part I would be… eyes
If I was an expression I would be… smile
If I was a cartoon character I would be… Minnie Mouse
If I was a movie I would be… Where the Heart Is
If I was a shape I would be… circle
If I was a season I would be… Fall
If I was a quote I would be… There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. ~Jane Austen
Hi everyone, come on in and see what's in my daybook!
If you want to join in, just go visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman, read the guidelines here and then add your name to Mr Linky. There are so many other participants sharing their day, I'm sure you'll enjoy looking through them :)
FOR TODAY
Outside my Window... wind, halloween decorations threatening to fly away, and my hummingbird friend chasing off all the birds that come near the feeder. It's pretty funny to watch.
I am thinking... that I wish I could be back in my warm bed, under the comfy covers and off in dream land...I couldn't fall asleep until about 1am and kept tossing and turning all night. I am tired.
From the learning rooms... I'm loving the McLeod Daughters series and since they're set in Adelaide, Australia, I've been reading up on it.
I am thankful for... the wonderful parent/teacher conference I had last week, my kids are doing amazing in school and it's always a pleasure to hear that.
From the kitchen... For breakfast I have Blueberry muffins in the oven, lunch will be leftover Veggie Lasagna and dinner is Shepherds Pie.
I am wearing... jeans and a white tank top, got my slippers on right now.
I am reading... Miss Julia Throws a Wedding by Ann B. Ross. I just started it last night but it's so funny, I'm enjoying it, can't wait to read a bit more today.
I am hoping... that hubby doesn't stay on Swing Shift for very long. I can't stand it, he only gets to see the kids on the weekend and they miss him terribly.
I am creating... a closer relationship with God.
I am hearing... Absolute silence, the children are still asleep, so are the dogs, so is hubby. My coffee pot just finished so not even the dripping sound is coming through.
Around the house... One basket of clean clothes to put away and some tidying up in the living room. I did all my cleaning yesterday so the house is looking good.
One of my favorite things... hearing my children laugh
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Grocery shopping on friday and trick or treating at night, nothing else.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
This is where I try to get more of you to watch it, because well, because I like talking about something and knowing that my readers actually KNOW what I'm talking about, without going "huh? what?".
While searching through Netflix about a month ago, trying to add more movies to my Queue, I stumbled across McLeod's Daughters and my first thought was "well I don't know, it's set in Australia and I'm in the States, I'll probably be confused half the time with what they're saying or going on about."
But something caught my attention, I think the fact that it's a story about women for a change, I mean yes there's men in there too but it's focused on these 5 extraordinary women running Drover's Run, a farm.
So come with me and I'll tell you a bit about the story, if by the end of this post you're not running out to get the series, then I don't know what to tell you LOL
The show is filmed on location on what had been a working farm (until it was purchased in 1999 by the show's production company) in South Australia near Adelaide. The interior scenes at Drovers Run are filmed inside the farm's 150-year-old house....and what a gorgeous house it is, every time I watch the show I find something else about it that I absolutely love.
Drover’s Run is a large cattle property 180km from the nearest town and 400km from the nearest city. The property has been in the McLeod family for generations.
Jack McLeod became the owner of Drover’s Run after inheriting it from his father. Jack, his wife and their young daughter, Claire, ran the property together until Jack’s wife died while giving birth to Claire’s baby brother Adam, who also died during the birth.
After the death of his wife, needing a helpmate for Drover's Run and a mother for young Claire, Jack hastily remarried the beautiful Ruth, a city girl, and they had a second daughter, Tess.
Tess and Claire were devoted sisters, and even as Ruth struggled with the loneliness of living in the country and the harshness of life in the Australian bush, the hasty marriage began to show cracks. Eventually, unable to take the strain, the fragile Ruth abandoned Drover’s Run, and took 5 year old Tess back to the city, leaving behind Jack and Claire.
The show starts with the arrival of Tess (on the left), she receives a letter stating that she's inherited half of Drover's Run, but being a city girl and not really wanting anything to do with the cattle, she plans to sell her half.
Claire (on the right) has been running Drover's Run on her own since their father's death and it's all she has, but the property has a lot of debt so she can't buy out Tess's half. They go back and forth a bit, obviously Claire is upset that she hasn't seen Tess for 20 years and now she returns only to try and get rid of everything that Claire has worked for.
It's so amazing watching these two sisters reconnect and Tess decides to stay on and help Claire with the debt, but it soon becomes her home too and one she can't walk away from.
Now apart from Tess and Claire, there's another 3 women in the farm. Meg Fountain, the housekeeper and 'mother figure' in the show, is a warm- hearted woman, who embraces life no matter which way it turns. Like Claire, Meg has invested her life at Drover’s Run. She has a daughter Jodi, who absolutely hates living in the farm, she wants to travel the world and be a city girl, but when she does horribly in her exams at school, Meg forces her to stay at Drover's. Jodi isn't too thrilled at first but she does learn to accept the farm life.
One of my favorite characters is Becky. She's got a bad reputation in town but she's just a sweet girl dealing with a lot of baggage. She gets into some trouble when her boss does something unforgivable, Tess and Claire step in and she moves into Drover's Run.....of course Becky says she'll only stay if she can work for her board, so she does and becomes one of the most important women on the farm. She also becomes Jodi's best friend and though Meg doesn't really approve at first, she finally caves in.
But of course you can't have all these women without some handsome men around, and that is where the Ryan brothers come in. They live on the neighboring farm, Killarney with their father Harry and mother Liz. I truly enjoy watching the boys working for their own farm but also ready to lend a hand to the ladies at Drover's.
Right now we're watching the story of Tess and Nick develop and I'm loving every single second of it, I can NOT wait to see where it goes.
There are just so many emotions going on in the series, it's a rollercoaster of happy times and sad times and you laugh and you cry and you cheer them on and you want to see where these women will go. It really is a feel good show for me.
Here's some more pictures of the show:
Here's some of the music from the show, the artist is Rebecca Lavelle.
You know how no matter how big of a To Be Read pile you have on your bookshelves, you still can't help but get more from the library? Or walk by a bookstore and feel the need to buy yet another book, though you have the last 5 or so you bought sitting on that same shelf saying "read me, read me"?
I used to think that I could fight it, if I just tried hard enough I could overcome the need to read constantly, to grab books, to smell the pages (please tell me I'm not the only one that does that)...but it's stronger than me, so even though I have yet to finish 4 books from the library, I rechecked them out and ended up coming back with 1...ok maybe 2....actually it was 3. Still don't believe me do you? Alright, I'll come out and say it, 6 books.... but one is a cookbook so that doesn't count right?
Anyway, let me share with you what I checked out....before I do though I just have to tell you what Nicholas just said LOL He took his firetrucks and put one on top of the other in a way to make a rollercoaster kinda thing...then he says "look mommy, look at my new contraption". LOL
Sorry, but I don't even those those words so to hear a 5 year old say that just shocks me, in a funny kinda way LOL
Carmine's Family-Style Cookbook -Anyone who has visited Carmine’s flagship Times Square restaurant knows that Carmine’s food is the best of classic Italian cuisine—each dish prepared simply to bring out the most vibrant flavor and make anyone who tastes it smile and reach for seconds.
Miss Julia throws a wedding by Ann Ross - Elizabeth told me about this series and unfortunately this is the only one that my library haves, but if I enjoy it I'm sure I can find the rest on paperbackswap or amazon.
I just received my next 3 DVD's of McLeod's Daughters so guess what I'm going to do now? *tee hee*
Oh btw, I'm sure you've noticed the template change again. This is the one I was working on when I messed something up last week, didn't have a chance to finish it until this morning...so don't worry, I'm keeping this one up for a bit, I just love the banner picture, makes me think I'm out on a farm somewhere surrounded by beautiful flowers, butterflies and warm sunshine.
Dinner tonight is a Vegetable Lasagna, as always the recipe will be up on the food blog later. Breafast tomorrow will be Waffles with Vanilla Custard...YUM....recipe will follow too.
Enjoy the rest of your saturday, I know I'll enjoy mine :)
You know those days when you don't have much to say because it's better shown in pictures? This is one of those, I hope through these you can take a little peek into what I've been up to.
Dishes in the sink this morning, they didn't fit into the dishwasher last night and though I hate going to bed with dirty dishes laying around, I had such a headache that I did just that....and surprise surprise the world didn't end.
Everything looks so much better when the dishes are done and the sink is spotless.
I moved into the laundry room to do a load of darks and now I realize there's a light blue sock in there, on the right. I don't know how I missed it going in, guess it was stuck to something else.
While that was going, I took a quick walk to the mailboxes across the street.
Then it's out back to restock the bird feeder. Boy can these birds eat, I'm constantly refilling this thing.
Since I was out there, might as well start the sprinkler too
It's about lunch time now, how about a Chicken Ranch Club from Lean Cuisine. Who knew they were so tasty?
After lunch I quickly baked up two loaves of bread, it's a new recipe that I was trying and it may not be the best looking bread in the world but I tell you, as simple as the recipe is, I'm surprised at how good it tastes. By far one of the best breads I've baked in a LONG time.
Of course I have to taste it, I mean, I couldn't have told you how good it was had I not sliced it quickly and slathered on a ton of butter....that's how I like my bread, with so much butter than you can't see a crumb LOL
With bread in hand I sat at the computer to check my email and Google Reader
I had some books to add to my shelf, so that's where I went next. Of course I stood in front of that bookshelf for about 30 minutes, just going through the titles and feeling all this happiness knowing that from 3 shelves, 2 and a half are books to be read. But we won't think about that next time we head to the library will we?
I walked by the kids rooms ready to do some major cleaning in there, only to realize that my kids are actually pretty neat. I mean, no clothes or toys all over the floor? Yes there's a baseball bat by the bed, but other than picking that up and fixing his bed covers (I don't know why they look like they've been folded, unless it was his attempt at making his bed)...what else do I need to clean?
The 9 year old girl's room, well now there is where you expect to see a tornado go by....and yet.....pretty neat and clean, minus the unmade bed she forgot. Still not bad though.
Wellmy house is clean, the laundry is done and so are the dishes and I think I'll just sit down and read a little before I have to pick up the kids from school.
I'm playing along with the sweet Susanne. You can check out the guidelines and details here, if you want to join in.
Here's mine for this week:
#1 - Getting wonderful reports from the teachers on both my children, it makes me smile to know that they're amazing students. (also makes me wonder who they take after, since I was never that great at school LOL)
#2 - The cooler weather, we actually enjoy walking to school in the morning and don't feel like we're melting onto the concrete.
#3 - Being able to delve into the wonderful pages of the book I'm reading, it's been a learning lesson for me, a HUGE one.
#5 - Finishing the first season of McLeod's Daughters, with a tear and a smile on my face, I'm really enjoying this show, it delivers such a wide range of emotions.
Change is something I've gotten used to in my life, I mean, how could I not being a military wife? With all the deployments and change of station around us, I would be in serious trouble if I turned my nose up at it.
But still when I think about breaking the norm and trying something new, the first feeling I get is this sick one in the pit of my stomach and then the what if's flood my mind and drive me insane. What if it doesn't work? What if you think it's good but in the end it's horrible?
After reading all your comments on Google Reader I decided to just go for it. It was either that or remain with Bloglines which seems to have something against me (and many others out there, I've noticed). I prayed that it would go well and sure enough it did and I'll even say this, I love it, I think it's WAY better than bloglines, in every sense. So I'm now a Google Reader *snicker*
If you're thinking of making the switch but are worried, don't be. It even gives you the option of transferring all your links from Bloglines, something I found out AFTER I manually did them, all 200 of them. LOL I'm surprised I have my little fingers intact with all the mouse clicking and the typing of url's.
I've got all my blogs organized into folders with my Daily Reads, Craft Blogs, Food blogs etc. And I even noticed that I have 170 subscribers to Diary of a SAHM and another 290 to my Food blog. WHOA, where are all you people? Please don't be shy, stop in and say hello, I promise I don't bite.
Alright now that that's out of the way, I had the Parent/Teacher Conferences this afternoon and I walked out of there on cloud nine. Not just one, but both of my children are absolutely brilliant in school....Jasmine is a straight A student and so is Nicholas, though at this point they're not being graded by A's and B's. The highest they can get is an E for Excelling and he had straight E's. Both teachers couldn't tell me enough what hard working, extremely smart and well behaved children I have and how they love having them in their classrooms.
That's something that all parents love hearing isn't it? It makes you stop and realize that you're doing something right, somehow, somewhere, something is clicking and something is being instilled in these little human beings. It makes me feel a lot better about their future, knowing that I'm teaching them to be hard working, respectful human beings. Thank you Lord for blessing me with such amazing children.
As soon as the weather gets a little cooler, I start pulling out my knitting. Funny thing though, I hardly ever finish the projects I start LOL That has to be the one area in my life where I have yet to master, but I'm determined to finish this scarf for Jasmine because I really want to start knitting the little preemie hats for the Knit One, Save One Campaign. For the scarf I decided to challenge myself a bit and am working on a pattern called "My so called scarf". I LOVE it.
And while I was grabbing my camera to snap that photo, I walked by the couch and something caught my eye. The silly Lola was taking a nap on her favorite spot, the corner of the couch pillow but it's not so much that she was napping, it's the WAY she was laying that just cracked me up.
What mom? What do you need, can't you see I'm trying to sleep?
Oh to be a dog in this house, or a child, OR a husband, anything but a plant, those I don't think anyone would want to be. Poor things, that's why I have plastic ones and even those are looking mighty weak lately.
Well I'm off to figure out what to make for dinner, yes I have a menu and no, I don't feel like anything I've written on there. It's one of those days where everything looks good but yet you don't feel like having any of it that moment? It's a toss up right now, I could do Spaghetti w/ Bacon, Portuguese Bean Soup, Barbecue Chicken Pizza or Portuguese Chicken and Rice. Why can't we just have them all? Would that be bad? I mean would like the Food Patrol Police people thingies whatever, come out and arrest us and possibly put us on a diet. On second thought, I better pick one fast, the minute my body hears the word diet it goes beserk and I'll find myself raiding the refrigerator at 1am.
Yeah better decide soon....well I'll go and do that, hope you're all having a wonderful day.
All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.
Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.
As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.
Ok, had this one last week and it was so good, so good, so good, it's back on my menu for next week. YUM!
I was tagged by the wonderful Tamy and thought this was such a fun one. You'll have to go over and see what my name came up with, I had to laugh because even Tamy knows that it suits me perfectly LOL
If I mention and link to you, you're tagged, and I hope you'll play along!
Mari needs a big shot of ice cream. Well now I think this is perfect considering Mari is happy today, go over and read her post to see why.
Linds needs her coffee break. So do I Linds, so do I. LOL
Nancy needs to learn what the moon is. I had no clue that Nancy didn't know, but guess she'll have to fix that huh?
Gailneedsto ask for her drinks the same time that she is asking when the bar is open. Well now, LOL, ok Gail, you'll have to tell us all about this and hopefully you had the camera along, it will make great bloggy material *snicker*
I'm beginning to think that any word starting with BLOG in it is just cursed or something. I am having the worst time trying to keep up with my favorite blogs in Bloglines. It's just not updating at not and there's so many red exclamation points that it's making me dizzy.
What's worse for me is going a whole week thinking that someone hasn't updated and then suddenly 10 new posts pop up and I realize I've missed out on all the fun. Really Bloglines, why do you do torture me so?
I'm thinking of switching to Google Reader to keep a list of my favorites, any Google Reader experts out there want to tell me the pros and cons? Is it worth it? Is it better than bloglines or just as annoying?
Anyway, I promise if I haven't been by your blogs it's not because I stopped enjoying them, but because I have no idea you're even blogging.
I'm sure you've noticed my template is different and this time it wasn't so much that I wanted to change it, but more like I was FORCED to change it. While trying to install something into my sidebar I ended up completely messing up the template, it was just awful, there were lines where they shouldn't be, there were links popping all over the posts and I lost a couple of things. I'm not sure if this is a look that I like, but it will do until I have the patience to redo it or find one already made.
I have a lot to babble on about so you'll have to bear with me or just leave, no...wait, don't leave, just bear with me? I'll try not to confuse you too much with my constant change of subject, but I like to write as I talk and as I think and I guess maybe this will scare you a bit wondering how I can go all day with such a random train of thought swimming around in my little head. LOL
I'm almost finished with the book "The Invitation" and I'm finding myself stunned and shocked and in awe of what I'm learning. The story is fiction but the way that Nancy Moser has written them and explained things and brought the Lord's word into it, makes you stop and think, and I like that, I like to be challenged. So I find myself relating to these people and learning along with them.
For example, there is a part in the book where one of the chosen, Walter (who is a reporter) is sitting in his hotel room after having a conversation with his mentor, Gabe, about how TV nowadays does not have family values in mind. The mentor wants him to watch some sitcoms and tell him what he thinks. So Walter is sitting there in his room and the TV just goes beserk, it starts switching channels on it's own even after he unplugs it, it keeps going.....here's a quote:
The television flipped through the channels of it's own accord.
"A disgruntled man murdered___" "...embezzled 2 million___" "Condom distribution___" "A bus blew up today in___" "Angry protesters???"
"Enough!"Walter said. He pointed the remote at the TV, pressing all the buttons. It was out of control.
"There was a bombing raid today, killing__" "Tomorrow, watch men who love women who love women." "___brought a gun to school and started___"
I read this in silence, at first I tried to deny it, I thought, not really, it can't be that bad, I mean I love television and I watch it all the time, it's not THAT bad, is it?
And then I decided to see for myself, I took the remote control and changed the channels one by one and wrote down the first thing I heard, here it is:
"at the heart of our service is the long time credit rating system__" "could be winning thousands of dollars__" "there are thousands of americans sleep deprived__" "she got a new boyfriend and started smoking marijuana__" "yes ma'm I cut myself last week__" "leading cause of teen death__" "news woman attack random__"
I don't think I can even go on, I'm actually sick to my stomach right now. I will be honest and admit that I usually don't pay attention, the TV will be on in the background while I'm doing housework or cooking and I'm not really listening....if I did I doubt I would be as enthusiastic about it as I've been. I'm not saying I'll stop watching TV altogether, but I think it's opened my eyes to maybe taking a little bit more time when I'm choosing programs to watch and especially the kids viewing, it's not the first time that I've switched a cartoon on them because I found it to be disgusting and quite violent.
Do you have a tip on cooking, cleaning, homemaking, kids, marriage, travel or anything that you would love to share? Feel free to join in!
♥One thing I do in my car, is to put dryer sheets under the seats. They are an inexpensive way to deodorize the car and keep it smelling clean and fresh.♥
♥A lot of you have asked me how I manage to do so much and still have time to read or relax. The answer is....I don't waste a single minute of my day. While something is in the oven with the timer on, I will usually fold laundry OR do dishes. Or if I'm about to iron and am waiting for the iron to heat up, I'll do a quick sweep of the kitchen, or organize the paperwork on the counter. I never just sit unless I'm completely done with everything.♥
♥If you're making rice for dinner, make some extra. Freeze in one-cup serving containers and it's handy to reheat later in the week for a quick lunch or dinner.♥
♥To keep my cutting boards smelling fresh, I rub them thoroughly with lemon wedges. Pays to have that lemon tree out back LOL♥
feeling... tired but content with a spotless house
enjoying... the sound of birds chirping outside and no other sound to distract me
wondering... whether I can wait for my new McLeod's Daughter DVD or just watch it online
listening... to Casting Crowns on the computer
drinking... iced water
wanting... to say thank you to all the wonderful blog friends who continue to stop by and comment
loving... the thought of my wonderful family being home for the day in an hour or so
looking... forward to getting into bed, resting my tired body, watching some tv and finishing my book
******************************
I just finished dinner and trying a new recipe....Mexican Potato Casserole and OH MY WORD....you need to run and get the recipe because it was DELICIOUS!
Hi everyone, come on in and see what's in my daybook!
If you want to join in, just got visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman, read the guidelines here and then add your name to Mr Linky. There are so many other participants sharing their day, I'm sure you'll enjoy looking through them :)
FOR TODAY
Outside my Window... birds at the feeder on my lemon tree.....a few scattered wispy clouds across the sky.
I am thinking... that I need to start the coffee pot or I won't be able to function at all.
From the learning rooms... nothing much, still reading up on Gettysburg a bit.
I am thankful for... for the relaxing weekend we had and for the time spent with my husband and children.
From the kitchen... For breakfast it will be chocolate donuts, for lunch will be a grilled cheese and tomator sandwich and yogurt.....Dinner is a Mexican Potato Casserole.
I am wearing... my robe and slippers, haven't gotten dressed for the day yet
I am reading... The Invitation by Nancy Moser. This book is amazing and I've found myself crying in so many parts but also opening my eyes to the Lord's message. Love it.
I am hoping... to get the floors swept and mopped and all the laundry put away.
I am creating... finishing up my Home Binder and going to start knitting for the Knit One, Save One campaign.
I am hearing... Absolute silence, the children are still asleep.
Around the house... craziness and chaos waiting to be cleaned and organized.
One of my favorite things... laying in bed, watching one of my favorite series from Netflix. McLeod's Daughters
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Parent Teacher conferences this week, a run to the library and a stop at the base Airman's Attic to donate some items.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
It's no secret that I have a special affinity for English Cottages and English Villages, so with the weather being just right for a nice drive, I thought I would set off on a Bloggy Drive to some of England's Villages. Why don't you come along with me?
Barnard Castle
Our first stop will bring us to Barnard Castle, which is a town in Teesdale, County Durham, England named after the castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth.
Set in County Durham, Barnard Castle is a historic market town. I'm already loving the area, I mean look at the streets and the old buildings.....maybe we should hurry though, looks like it's going to rain.
The castle was founded by the Normans shortly after the conquest, but enjoyed its heyday under Bernard de Bailleul during the latter half of the 12th century. The castle passed into the hands of the Balliol family (of which the Scottish king, John Balliol, was the most important member), and then into the possession of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. King Richard III inherited it through his wife, Anne Neville, but it fell into ruins in the century after his death. The remains are now in the care of English Heritage.
**************************************
Barnby Dun
Barnby Dun is a village and civil parish situated north of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It is twinned with Kirk Sandall and the parish has a population of 8,524. Barnby Dun was home to the Thorpe Marsh Power station before its closure in the middle 1990s. It has a fourteenth century church, St Peter & St Pauls. At present Barnby Dun is an ever growing, thriving village.
**************************************
Bilston
And here we are at Bilston, situated in England's West Midlands region. There is quite a bit to see around here, there's the Lighthouse, there's a couple museums OR we could go for a swim?
Bilston Town Hall
St. Leonard's Church
Situated just two miles south-east of Wolverhampton, it was extensively developed for factories and coalmining. Many houses were constructed in the Bilston area. Between 1920 and 1966, the council replaced most of the 19th century terraced houses with rented modern houses and flats on developments like Stowlawn, The Lunt and Bunker's Hill. Bilston has had a market in the town centre for many years.
**************************************
CASTLE NORTHWICH
It's been so much fun but I'm getting a little tired of all the traveling we've done today, so I think this will be our last one for now.
Northwich is a town in Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane. The town is about 18 miles (29 km) east of Chester and 15 miles (24 km) south of Warrington.
The area around Northwich has been exploited for its salt pans since the Roman period, when the settlement was known as Condate. The town has been severely affected by salt mining with subsidence historically being a large issue. However, recent investment in mine stabilisation is set to change the town with the 'Northwich Vision' providing a roadmap for a programme of development work into the future.
Northwich's main shopping area
St. Helen Witton Church
Town Bridge
I guess we'll end this visit at one of my favorite places, the library.
Northwich Library
**************************************
Well I hope you enjoyed this drive as much as I did, I think maybe next Sunday we'll go to Scotland or Ireland? We'll see!
Funny story about this pumpkin, this is just a plain ol' pumpkin we picked up at the Pumpkin Patch. After bringing it home I wanted to do something different with it, so I got out a craft knife and randomly made squiggles all over it. Set it on my window sill and left it, two weeks later this is what it looks like, it's turning green. That is NOT pain.......ugh, I meant PAINT LOL, I didn't paint it all. How amazing huh?
When I was at the library last week, I picked up 3 books by an author that I had NEVER heard of. I don't know why I picked her books but for some reason I felt compelled to do it.
Yesterday, I had just finished reading "Schoolhouse Brides" and was looking through my library books to pick another book and again, I felt that I just HAD to read "The Invitation" by Nancy Moser.
Nancy Moser is an inspirational speaker and author of three previous books that highlight her keen biblical insights and bright sense of humor.
I guess at this point in my life, I'm being led to read these books for a reason. There has to be a lesson or something that I'm meant to get. Within the first 5 or 6 pages of the book, I had tears in my eyes and it's not that I was reading something sad or earth shattering, but I couldn't stop the tears from forming. I sat up in bed last night with the book tightly clutched in my hand and as the words flowed across the pages, I could feel myself completely captivated by the story, wanting to know more and feeling this intense calm. It was as if the Lord Himself was sitting next to me, reading page by page.
Julia, Walter, Kathy, and Natalie: four ordinary people with little in common. Until each of them receives a small, white invitation from an anonymous sender. It reads: "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed...Nothing will be impossible for you. Please come to Haven, Nebraska." At first, they all resist.
But amazing circumstances convince them that they should heed the call and go to Haven. In this rerelease of The Invitation, Nancy Moser crafts a captivating story of everydaypeople who come to realize that even a small faith, combined with a heart led by God, can change the world.
What would you do if someone just appeared before you and handed you an invitation and you open it up and this is what it says:
*Insert your full name here* is invited to Haven, Nebraska. Please arrive August 1. "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you".
How would you react to knowing that God has invited you to join Him in His work?
I have faith, I've always had faith, as a matter of fact I've lived my entire life with faith, and I have gone through some weird unexplainable things that can only be attributed to God. But yet when I started reading the book and how these four people got these invitations, I stopped for a second and thought "Now what would I do if it were me getting this mysterious invitation?".
They all got their invitations 4 days before August 1st, when they were supposed to be at Haven, Nebraska. Would I be able to just go on faith and pack some things and get on the road to a place I had never heard of and didn't even know exist, without knowing for sure if this truly was a request from God or just a joke, a prank by someone, or even worse, a dangerous trap by someone?
I think as Christian we all have bumps in our lives, those times when we stop and wonder if the faith we have is enough to get us through the current storms in our lives. I know I have faith in the Lord, but just how much do I have?
It's something I struggle with daily and I think this book is supposed to show me that it's enough, that as long as I trust in the Lord, there is NOTHING that I can't achieve and can't do.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." COLOSSIANS 3:12-14
And as I wrote that scripture, the tears have started flowing, because it hits close to home and speaks directly to some family issues we've been dealing with. WOW!
I knew there was a reason for reading this book and I think right here, right now, I just got a small glimpse of ONE of the lessons I'm going to be taught.
I urge you all to read this book along with me, I would love to do a sort of a small bloggy book club and at a later date, discuss with you all what we each took from this series.
There is 3 books in the Mustard Seed Series, starting with this one "The Invitation", then "The Quest" and ending with "The Temptation". I can not wait to get through all three and share my thoughts with you.
Today is picture day at the kids Elementary School and I'm excited because Nicholas gets to start having his own School Photos added to the wall. Before they left this morning I snapped a quick picture of both, Nicholas wasn't too impressed, as a matter of fact I have no clue what he's doing in this photo LOL
But after a few tries of "smile Nicholas" and "Please just let me take your picture", I gave up, he'll just do what he wants to :) My sweet little boy!
Then I took one of Jasmine and my heart skipped a beat. Just when did she go from my little baby to a 9 year old beautiful young lady? They grow up so fast and it really does seem to be in the blink of an eye and I know there's nothing I can do to stop this process, it's part of life.
I smile at the big girl she is now but my heart also aches for the little baby she used to be. Gosh it's hard being a parent.
I had such a crazy busy day yesterday, I must have walked into the house and back out again for errands at LEAST 4 times, I'm usually a lot more organized but it was one of those fly by the seat of your pants days.
I ventured into the commissary for groceries which, if you've been to one ON PAYDAY you know the nightmare it can be. Not just military families but we have one of the biggest military retiree's community, about 70 000, so they all come shopping too. But for some reason yesterday was ten times worse than it usually is, aisles were crowded, there were shopping carts, kids, elderly couples, frazzled moms and the electric scooter thingies. Yeah it was nuts. But I managed to get everything taken care of before I had to pick up the kids from school.
We came home and after their snack we sat at the kitchen table and made some little ghosts to hang out front. They're SUPER easy to make and the kids had a blast.
All you need is some white fabric of any kind. I have about 10 yards that I picked up at Walmart from their $1 fabric bin. It was perfect, and for the inside of the ghosts I didn't have any batting so we used paper crumpled into a ball, cut the fabric into squares, placed the ball in the middle and gathered up the fabric around it, tied it with some fishing wire and then the kids used markers to draw on faces......VOILA!
They look darn cute hanging out there!
Thank you all for the comments on my Home Management Binder, honestly when I first heard about them I reacted like some of you "I just don't have time for making one". But it's actually SO easy and SO quick, I honestly don't know how I made it all this time without one. I have it sitting on my kitchen counter inside a basket that I got for free at the Airman's Attic back in Idaho. It's perfect for this purpose.
Inside I have my Home Management Binder, you can see it peeking out from behind, then I have 4 folders, one for each family member. I open my mail right in front of this basket and then throw out what is junk or add whatever belongs to each one to their folder. Like military mail that comes for Curt, Catalogues or Magazine subscriptions in mine and the kids school paperwork goes in theirs too. I go through their backpacks as soon as we get home in the afternoon, trash what isn't needed and sign any forms that require my signature. I put them back in their backpacks OR if they are not needed the next day, they go in their folder.
I DO check the folders every morning to see if something in there needs to go with them. Other things I put in their folders are pictures they've drawn for me, or notes they write, they love drawing and during the day will come to me numerous times with pictures in their hands, I put some on the refrigerator but there's so many, it's hard to find a place for them, now they have one.
I also have my coupon book in that basket and my digital camera, battery recharger and a small pencil bag with pens and pencils.
It's amazing how much this little basket has cut down on my clutter in the kitchen, no more counters full of piles of paperwork and magazines.
But enough about that, I don't want to bore you with all my babbling, so I'll leave you with a question.........
How do YOU deal with all the paperwork clutter and especially all the school paperwork that comes home everyday?
All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.
Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.
As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.
Ham Tetrazzini
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms 1 cup cubed fully cooked lean ham 1/2 cup evaporated milk 2 tablespoons white wine or water 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish 1 package (7 oz) spaghetti 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the soup, mushrooms, ham, milk, wine or water and horseradish. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Add the spaghetti and cheese to slow cooker; toss to coat.
I've wanted to make one for my family for a while now but never got around to it and just couldn't think of what to put in there, so last week when Eden posted about hers I said "that's it, I'm making one TODAY".
Eden is so sweet, she emailed pretty much all the forms she used in her own binder and then I also took a look around the web and got some pretty neat ideas from other ladies too. Slowly it's coming together, it's not yet finished but I wanted to show you what I've got so far and maybe inspire someone else to make one. I don't know how I ever lived without mine, it really is a life saver.
So here we go:
I had some pretty fabric laying around, so I went ahead and covered my folder with, just used a little bit of hot glue and it worked well. I then glued a cover sheet onto it, it just says the name of the family and has a cute graphic and a Bible Verse that I love.
On the inside pocket I have a few cute pencils. I'm going to get one of those mesh pencil holders and use that for all my pens and pencils etc, but for now it will do.
The first section is my Schedules. This is where I keep all our schedules which usually change each week depending on the shift that Curt is work.
Next section is my Menu Planning and Grocery Shopping. I have a printable monthly menu, pantry list, grocery list and also coupons. I'm using the ones that Eden sent me, but you can also download some great ones here. Monthly Menu Planners & Grocery Lists.
Next section is my Calendar and I use this form that you can download and print for yourself.
Next is the House Cleaning Section. I have a ton of Fly Lady forms for cleaning, I don't use her personally, I tried before and it just wasn't for me, but I think she has some great ideas for decluttering and cleaning so I keep those in the folder.
Next is my Brain Files. Now while looking around online at other Home Binders, I found this and thought is was an awesome idea. You can download the files for yourself, thanks to Little Turtle Mama.
They're split up into days of the week and each day focuses on a room to clean. I think it's great because usually I'm more of a "try to clean every room EVERY DAY" kinda gal and it can get overwhelming. This will help me stay focused on just one room per day.
Next section is our Monthly Budget, Eden sent me the form she uses but if you want one for yourself, you can download some great ones online.....OR ask Eden for hers? LOL
Next section is my Contacts. I'm using both the form that Eden sent me plus another really great one I found online.
You can find it here, Phone Resources and print it for yourself. It has a place for family phone numbers, schools, doctors, vet, local hospital, neighbors etc.
In this section I also have menus and take out pamphlets for some of our favorite restaurants.
I still have a few sections to work on......the next ones will be:
Birthday & Christmas Lists - it will have a page for each family member that lists things they've requested and ideas for Christmas and Birthday presents
Bible Study - I'll keep track of Bible Reading schedule, Bible Study notes or devotionals etc.
Blogging Friends - I have quite a few of my bloggy friends addresses and will keep a list with their blog name, real name and info. It will make it easier for when I send out Christmas cards or want to surprise someone with a little gift in the mail.
Family & Health Records - shot records for the kids, I'll keep a record for each family member of shoe sizes and clothes sizes to make it easier to update as it changes, doctors visits and yearly well exams.
Hobby and Home Decor Projects - I always find some great projects in magazines and never know where to put them, this way I can clip them and add them to the binder.
And that's pretty much it, I'm sure as time goes by I'll probably add different sections to it. Hope I gave you all some ideas for your own binders and if you make one for yourself, I hope you share it with all of us too :)
You get four for one today, this is what happens when life gets busy and you don't have time to post what you're supposed to and since I don't want to just stop with my 31 Days of Autumn, I figured I would play catch up.
Do you have a tip on cooking, cleaning, homemaking, kids, marriage, travel or anything that you would love to share? Feel free to join in!
How many of us struggle in the morning to get everyone out the door and it just seems like nothing we do can lessen the chaos around us?
I've been trying to find ways to make the mornings run smoother and I came across some great tips by Joseph Klein who is a father of two young daughters.
Go with what works Weekday mornings go more smoothly when the routine is streamlined. Rule number one, avoid introducing anything that might be new or unexpected. That means don't spring an out-of-the-ordinary breakfast cereal on your finicky eater or expect your husband to take on a new chore. Instead, use the weekend to test drive new processes or tasks you'd like to incorporate. Reichlin also advises calling family meetings on the weekends that include the kids (if they are old enough to contribute). Let them know if there is going to be a change during the morning routine, and get their feedback.
Turn up the tunes A little music can do wonders in bringing order to the morning chaos. Reichlin suggests marching music for those mornings that need a little jolt and some down tempo music when wild moods need to be calmed.
Offer distractions Always have some backup activities on hand for when you need a break. Coloring books, a quality television show or video, or a favorite toy can keep kids occupied while you take a few minutes to get your own morning tasks completed -- choosing the day's clothes, filling your purse and tote bags, and so on.
Take turns If you and your spouse both leave the house in the morning, here's a good rule of thumb: the parent who leaves the house first is the one who showers and dresses first, while the other attends to family needs. Then switch. This increases the chances that at least one of you will get out of the house on time.
Offer limited choices -- the night before As you have probably discovered, giving kids (or even yourself) too many outfit options can leave you in a heap of clothes (both literally and figuratively). Offer your kids two or three choices of outfits the night before. And when you head over to the kitchen, apply that same school of thought to their lunches and snacks.
Rise and shine Alone time is such a scarce commodity when you are the head of a family. Consider setting your clock a little early to get a jump start on the morning before the needs of your little ones take over. Reichlin says that waking about 20 minutes before anyone else can offer precious moments of peace and solitude.
Don't stress over the small stuff Not everyone can, or wants to be, Martha Stewart. Sometimes beds are left unmade and dirty laundry doesn't quite make it down the chute. Gail Reichlin suggests creating a list of housekeeping chores in three categories: Chores that always get done; sometimes get done (depending on the day and time or who might be visiting), or never get done (because it's just not worth your time and effort). Check the always list daily, the sometimes list weekly, and the never list when the kids are out of the house.
Not the time Let's face it, as much as you want to get everything done, the morning is not the right time to sort through your mail or catch up with old friends. Stay focused on your morning routines.
Know your day Is it Tuesdays that your husband has early meetings in the office? Reviewing your schedule the night before can help you manage your morning with plenty of confidence and focus.
Expect the unexpected Allow enough time in the morning for those sudden ailments, and oh-so-untimely tantrums. When faced with a meltdown, Reichlin advises this strategy: kneel down so you are at your child's level, lightly touch his or her shoulder and use short and simple explanations so you can regain control of the situation.
Keep the routine It sure feels good to catch those extra zzz's on weekends, but that change in the routine can really throw your early Mondays out of whack. Reichlin suggest families use weekends for together time. So try waking everyone in your family early and plan activities as a group.
I was tagged by Autumn and this one looks like fun to do...thank you Autumn :)
The instructions are these:
* Go to your Sixth Picture Folder then pick your Sixth Picture.
* Pray that you remember the details.
* Tag 5 others.
At first I thought I would have a hard time because I keep all my photos in ONE folder, BUT inside that main folder I have them organized into sub folders like 2000, 2001 and then in THOSE it's organized by month. Yeah I know, I must have been nesting when I did that LOL
So here we go, the Sixth Picture Folder is
December 2003, Nicholas was 8 months old and Jasmine was 4 and a half. I always crack up at his expression in this photo, he wasn't quite sure what was going on.
Now to tag 5 others:
Mari at My Little Corner of the World Renee at 2 Peas in a Pod Sarah at Another Bend in the Road Jessica at Farm Fresh Michelle at Michelle's Family Life
Hi everyone, come on in and see what's in my daybook!
If you want to join in, just got visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman, read the guidelines here and then add your name to Mr Linky. There are so many other participants sharing their day, I'm sure you'll enjoy looking through them :)
FOR TODAY
Outside my Window... the sun is shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky. There's a cool breeze outside and it feels just wonderful.
I am thinking... that time just flies by. It feels like it was Friday just yesterday and now here we are, Monday again.
From the learning rooms... I watched the Most Haunted 7 hour Live Event from Gettysburg and LOVED it. I'm now going back and researching and learning as much as I can about the battle and what happened.
I am thankful for... this cooler weather that seems to be around. You all know I'm in Arizona and we've still had upper 90's weather, so this feels great.
I am hoping... to get all my housework done today, whenever there's a long weekend it seems a tornado has come by to visit. So I have a load of laundry going right now, the dishwasher is running and after breakfast I'll get the floors swept and mopped.
I am creating... a Home Binder thanks to my sweet friend Eden. I got the ideas and all the forms from her.
I am hearing... The washers going, Nicholas playing in the back yard.
Around the house... craziness and chaos waiting to be cleaned and organized.
One of my favorite things... talking to my grandmother on the phone, she's always been one of my biggest cheerleaders and supporters and I love her to death.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Grocery shopping on Wednesday and Saturday we have some errands to run.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Lions at the Kruger National Park, nothing like seeing these up close and personal.
Oh I just hate doing this but I have so many wonderful favorite blogs in my bloglines account and if I don't stay on top of it and check everyday, I end up with this little notification telling me that there are "300 + New Items".
While I would love to just go through everything and see what's going on in your neck of the woods, the fact is that I honestly don't have the time for it. So I did what I had to this afternoon, I sat down at the computer and hit "Mark All Read". I feel awful but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do right?
So with that said, I do intend on catching up on the blogs tomorrow, when I have a little more time, thanks to the long weekend and my kids being off school until Wednesday. Is it bad that I'm already dreading the bickering and fighting between them? What is it with siblings, they love each other to death but put them in the same room...wait, same house for a day or two and that's it. It's like watching longtime enemies trying to contain themselves.
Yesterday we did some pumpkin carving and decorating outside in the front yard....we're not done but it's looking a lot more like Halloween outside here. For the first time in what seems like forever, I stepped outside around 7pm to see the lit pumpkins and I felt cold. Cold enough where I ran back into the house with my teeth chattering, a clear sign that I'm no longer used to the cold of Idaho and the day we return I'll have some serious issues on my plate. LOL
It feels wonderful though, there's nothing like being able to leave the house and enjoy yourself without feeling like you're melting with every step you take.
Friday night I spent watching the Most Haunted Live event, all 7 hours. I can't believe I stayed up until 3am watching this, but you know as much as I enjoy paranormal shows, that wasn't the reason for me staying up so late...it was because of the location the team was at. Gettysburg!
You all know that I'm not American, but my husband and children are and therefore I have an appetite for learning the history of this beautiful country that I now call my home. Obviously I have heard of Gettysburg before, I mean, who hasn't? But to learn about exactly what happened, to go through the different houses that were situated in the town where the battle took place all around and to learn about the history of this amazing event, was just unbelievable. It's definitely at the top of my list of places to visit.
Dinner tonight is simple and quick, Pumpkin Pancakes. We LOVE doing breakfast for dinner on the weekends, especially on those days when we've been out of the house all day, or watching movies, playing games or enjoying the playground and today is one of those lazy days.
I wish I had more to talk about but I'm having one of those blank days, so much to say and can't think of a single thing. Hope you're all enjoying the long weekend.
My kids are BOTH off to school, praise the Lord. My little boy is feeling so much better just after two doses of the antibiotics and allergy medication. His nose has stopped running, he wasn't congested at all last night and the humidifier helped a LOT too. Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers, wish I could personally give you a hug, but a cyber hug will have to do.
I have the house to myself which means I'll be able to get the floors swept and mopped without having little feet constantly running on top of them. Dangerous AND annoying when you're busy mopping isn't it? I have about two loads of laundry to wash and hang outside on the line, then finish baking my cinnamon rolls and get the Slow Cooked Chicken and Dumplings going.
Then I have a couple more Advent Calendar envelopes to get through and I want to start my new ornaments for the tree too. See, I have a really big family and they're so far and it's sad that we can't be together during the holidays, so I decided to make either fleece stars or hearts or something with the name of each family member embroidered on. It will make me feel closer to home :)
Now let me show some more photos of my day, while the kids were out in the backyard playing yesterday afternoon, I happened to walk to the door and this caught my eye:
This is new LOL
I have no idea what was so interesting up on the picnic table that Lola thought to get up there...is she trying to seem taller for the big dogs next door?
One of our nightly routines include homework with Jasmine and the way we do it in our house is that anything to do with languages and english and spelling, comes to mommy. The minute she pulls out the math, then we're in trouble LOL
I'm HORRIBLE at math, I still count on my fingers and toes *snort*
They're already doing Algebra but honestly I don't recall doing this kind of Algebra until at least 6th or 7th grade if that. This is ridiculous, I'm so glad she understands it cause I get a headache just looking at the paper.
Well my cinnamon rolls are ready, so I need to get going on the laundry. Here I made quite a few so help yourselves to one or two :)
I don't really do meme's, I don't know why, maybe because there's so many that I feel overwhelmed and then I feel bad tagging people that don't want to be tagged LOL
But I've been tagged for this one a few times this past week and just yesterday by Sherry, so I figured I may as well get it done :)
Here are the rules: Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on your blog. Write six random things about yourself. Tag six people at the end of your post. Let each person know he or she has been tagged. Let the tagger know when your entry is up
**Random Facts about me:**
1. I can't swim.....you may be laughing, but I really can't, just never wanted to learn and there's days I wish I had, but it doesn't stop me from getting in the pool and floating around. Weird huh?
2. My dream is to live on a ranch somewhere in Idaho
3. I once sang in front of about 5000 people (will never do it again LOL)
4. I absolutely love anything to do with the paranormal and will watch any show on the tv about ghosts and hauntings and whatnot.
5. If I could go back in time, I would definitely want to live in the medieval times, even though that means dirty and stinky. Not looking forward to that, but I don't know what it is about that era that I love LOL
6. I was born in Mozambique, then lived in Zimbabwe, Portugal and South Africa.
I'm supposed to tag someone but I can never pick, so if you haven't done the meme and want to do it, go for it, if you've done it then don't worry about it LOL
It started like any other, but as I got the kids ready for school I realized that it's time to stop hoping Nicholas feels better and to give in and admit that I've done all I can as a mom to make him better, but this cold or bug or whatever it is, is bigger and stronger than me. I made a quick call to the doctor and was lucky to get in this morning.
So after dropping Jasmine off at school, I came back home with my boy and did a bit of housecleaning before the appointment at 10am.
Nicholas is a little apprehensive of doctors, I think all kids feel scared of the unknown and I explained over and over that he would be fine and he did surprisingly well. The verdict......He has a sinus infection and allergies. My poor baby. Now before you think I'm a horrible mother who let this go on, he had a runny nose for a week now but it had been clear, yesterday it changed and being a sinus sufferer myself I could tell that things were getting worse, the doctor is glad that I brought him in straight away because we caught the infection right as it's starting. Thank Goodness.
He stayed home the rest of the day but is returning to school tomorrow. He's been put on Claritin and Amoxicillin so I'm sure by tomorrow morning he'll already be feeling 100 times better. Thank you for all the prayers, they do help and we feel them daily :)
So here I sit, with a miserable little boy who is just happy to be in mommy's arms, snuggled up close, with the kisses on the forehead raining down every few minutes. At times like these I want to shut out all the world, I want to sit in that same spot with my little one and keep him just like that until he feels better.
But it didn't last for too long, after some mommy love he asked to play the Wii and then quietly sat on the couch....the back screen door open and a cool breeze blowing the curtains.
The sound of the sprinkler in the front yard and it's woosh woosh woosh hitting the side of the house
While I took the opportunity to refill the hummingbird feeder with some fresh food. Boy do they love it, it's so much fun watching them fight each other for it, imagine airplanes during air combat and that is what you will expect to see.
We set off to pick up Jasmine from school who was only too happy to see her baby brother. First thing she asked was how he is, what is wrong with him and then quietly said "can he die from it?". And THAT just made my heart stop, the worry in her voice was overwhelming and it choked me up because no matter how many times they bicker, and boy do they bicker constantly....they love each other and they can't imagine a life without the other. It's a beautiful thing to see.
I explained that he wouldn't die, he would be just fine and she said "Oh good, because I would miss him so much". My beautiful girl, my little lady, where has the time gone?
Walking in the door they couldn't contain themselves, the love they have for the other was shining through like nothing I've ever seen.
So dinner is in the oven, Roast Fish and Potatoes and Pumpkin Cake Roll for dessert.
After I got that going I quickly finished my little pumpkin decoration for my kitchen window sill, it's not exactly what I wanted it to look like, but it's different and I think it looks cute.
So I'm off to set the dinner table, pull out some bread dough from the freezer into the refrigerator so I can make some cinnamon roll for breakfast. As soon as Curt gets home dinner should be ready and will sit down to eat and then later tonight just as the sun goes down, I'm hoping to rediscover one of my favorite hobbies. Star gazing and Astrophotography!
I pulled out my telescope last night and got some photos of the moon and Jupiter and it's moons. I only wish that with the camera I could really show you the moons around the planet, it's just breathtaking.
All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.
Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.
As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.
SNOWY DAY BEEF STEW
Ingredients: 1 medium-size onion, finely chopped 2 medium-size carrots, cut into 1/4' thick slanting slices 1 pound small thin-skinned potatoes, scrubbed and cut lengthwise into quarters 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced 2 to 2 1/4 pounds lean boneless beef round, trimmed of fat and cut into 1 cubes 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons dry thyme 1 can (about 14 1/2 oz.) stewed tomatoes 1/4 cup red wine or beef broth 1 package (about 10 oz.) frozen peas, thawed salt
Directions: In a 3 1/2-quart or larger electric slow cooker, combine onion, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms. Coat beef cubes with flour, then add to cooker and sprinkle with thyme. Add tomatoes and wine. Cover and cook at low setting until beef is very tender when pierced (8 to 10 hours). Skim and discard fat from stew, if necessary. Stir in peas. Increase cooker heat setting to high; cover and cook until peas are heated through (10 to 15 more minutes). Season to taste with salt. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
"Wow I'm impressed, the levels on everything are outstanding, your blood is great, your liver and kidneys are great, you have no cholesterol, no diabetes, perfect levels for everything, wish all my patients were like this".
And I sat stunned and wondering just how I get to eat everything I want and still be in such amazing health.....then I thanked the Lord, right there and then, thanked Him for blessing me and for watching over me.
I walked out of the doctors office this morning with a huge smile on my face and feeling as if 30 lbs had been lifted from my shoulders, because let's face it, when you're sitting in that waiting period between the blood being drawn and the doctor giving you the results, you worry and you imagine and you set up all these different scenarios in your mind....what you don't do that? That's just me? Oh well LOL
I can't believe we're halfway through this week already, where does the time go? And how can I get some back?
Thank you all for the great comments on yesterday's post about kids and sickness, if only you had been around when I had my first baby and used to rush her to the ER if she so much as breathed differently LOL Isn't it amazing how much we change and grow as parents as the years go by?
Do you remember the first time you brought your FIRST baby home? I walked into the house and sat down and then suddenly it hit me, here I have this tiny fragile helpless baby that I need to do everything for and Lord knows I couldn't even do everything for myself yet LOL But you look at them and wonder "how will I make it through?" Every little cry sends you into a frenzy, you check their breathing a couple of times a night which makes it impossible to have a good night's sleep, you monitor everything they do, how many wet and dirty diapers, how many ounces of milk did they eat, are they hungry, should you give them more?
It's a rush of information and questions coming at you. But we all survived it and when the next baby comes along you adopt the motto of "if it's not bleeding or there's no protruding bones, they're fine" LOL Sad but true isn't it? I mean you still watch them like a hawk but you learn to trust your instincts and trust yourself and realize that there is NO PERFECT parent, there is no perfect of doing things, it's a learn as you go process and in many ways you continue down that path until the day you die. You don't ever stop being a parent, the issues and struggles just change as they get older.
If you stuck with me this far, I applaud you because I'm in one of those blabbering days, I'm sorry, I wish I could stick to one theme, but I guess I write as I speak. Now I'm worried cause I switch subjects so often people probably thing I'm ditzy LOL
Oh well.....I have some laundry to do today and also will be baking a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll, YUM, I'll have the recipe up on the food blog later. Dinner will be Mrs H.'s Oven Baked Ribs, some curly fries and corn on the cob.
I'm also hoping to finish Season 1 of McLeod's Daughters which I'm just loving right now. I find myself devouring all the episodes as soon as I get them and then anxiously waiting for that little red envelope from Netflix in the mail.
And that's it, Nicholas still has a bit of a runny nose and if he's not better by tomorrow I'm making an appointment for the doctor, poor thing is tired of this cold and so am I. Kids are doing great in school, Jasmine is at the highest level of spelling and math and reading for her class, we're so proud of her :)
Nicholas is also doing outstanding in kindergarten, he's been coming home and saying things like "200+200+200=600". UH.....WOW! LOL We throw some numbers his way and he's actually pretty good at math. We're blessed with very smart children :)
So that's it for me, I'm going to get my things together to start the Pumpkin Roll. Can't wait.
I absolutely hate it when my kids are sick, it just upsets me to no end. If I could take their pain and their discomfort away for myself, I would in a heartbeat.
When I had Jasmine 9 years ago I only wish that blogs were around, that YOU all were around for advice and ideas. Nowadays there's so much information out there and there's so many blogging friends always willing to give some advice or that are going through the same thing you are.
So I thought, why not help out all the new moms out there today. I want all of my readers, whether you always comment or are a lurker, to come in and talk about Kids and what works and what doesn't for colds and flu's and stomach bugs and all that non fun, scary stuff for us parents.
Here's some of the things I do when my kids are sick:
1 - One of the things that I do that I learnt from my stepmom, grandmother and greatgrandmother, is for diarrhea. Basically you boil 2 cups water and 1 cup rice. When the rice is cooked drain the water into a cup and let it cool. Add a dash of sugar or natural honey to sweeten it a little, it will help with the diarrhea and settle the tummy.
2 - For colds I try not to give any sort of medicine unless they're running a high fever. I stick to keeping them hydrated, lots of fluids, juice etc. At night time I rub some vicks on their chest and back to help with the congestion and coughing, helps them sleep really well too. For coughs and sore throats, I also give them a teaspoon of honey with a little dash of cinnamon, it really does help.
3 - If it's a stomach virus, then I remove all dairy from their diet for a few days, I give them Ginger Ale and 7 Up, toast and no sauces or heavy meals.
Here's some questions for you guys:
1. When your child has a fever, what medicine do you give them, do you stick to one or do you do the whole Tylenol/Motrin alternating and HOW do you do it?
2. When it comes to stomach bugs, how do you deal with it, what are your true and tried home remedies or over the counter meds that you know for sure will help?
3. What about diarrhea, how do you deal with that?
4. Kids are playing outside and one of them falls...cuts and bruises, how do you deal with those?
5. For burns, what do you use?
Let's talk kids and health, who knows who will stop by and be in need of some advice from other parents.
Do you have a tip on cooking, cleaning, homemaking, kids, marriage, travel or anything that you would love to share? Feel free to join in!
♥♥ Scoops of ice cream are a perfect garnish for warm autumn pies and puddings. Serve them in a snap....simply scoop ahead of time into paper muffin liners and freeze on a baking sheet.♥♥
♥♥String dried apple slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise on sturdy thread to make swags for the kitchen♥♥
♥♥Throw a pumpkin painting party! Provide acrylic paints, brushes and plenty of pumpkins....invite kids to bring their imagination and an old shirt to wear as a smock. Parents are sure to join in too!♥♥
Hi everyone, come on in and see what's in my daybook!
If you want to join in, just got visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman, read the guidelines here and then add your name to Mr Linky. There are so many other participants sharing their day, I'm sure you'll enjoy looking through them :)
FOR TODAY
Outside my Window... bright sunlight, chirping birds on my lemon tree and some cars driving by either on the way to work or home from the end of their shift
I am thinking... that I'm sick and tired of this cold virus going around, Nicholas is once again at home from school sick. This is ridiculous!
From the learning rooms... been watching lots of interesting shows on the television...we all actually sat down yesterday and watched one on sharks and saw a shark biopsy being done. It was pretty gross but so neat too. The kids loved it.
I am thankful for... feeling a million times better since I stopped taking the birth control pill.
From the kitchen... For breakfast it will be leftover Portuguese Cookie Cake, for lunch I'll probably make some hotdogs for Nicholas and a scrambled egg (he says it's his recipe lol), Dinner will be Sausages in a Tomato and Onion Sauce.
I am hoping... to get all my floors mopped today, put away the last load of laundry. Also hoping my little one starts feeling better.
I am creating... a clean and tidy home
I am hearing... the pugs barking at something out back, Curt ironing his uniform in the kitchen and the sound of the air conditioning.
Around the house... Pumpkins from our trip to the farm this weekend, living room to be tidied up after the weekend
One of my favorite things... my husband hugging me when I've had a bad day, it's like I count the minutes for him to walk through the door and when he does everything seems better.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... I have a doctors appointment on wednesday to get my test results for the cholesterol and diabetes annual testing I do, also getting a referral to get an EKG done of my heart, just as a precaution since there's heart disease in the family.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Horse Stables at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. I used to drive by these almost every day and really miss them :)
We had a full day yesterday and oh how much fun it was.
At around 9 am we were all still walking around the house, trying to wake up and still in our pj's when we started hearing loud ambulances, fire trucks and police cars. My first thought was "Oh no" because we've had a tragedy here on base last week. We don't know for certain what happened, other than I was driving the kids to school last tuesday and the street just beneath me was littered with emergency vehicles for most of the morning.
The rumor is that it was a suicide. Incredibly sad and heartbreaking, I had to drive by that street a day after it happened and there were still cops outside and yellow police tape all around. It literally gave me shivers and brought tears to my eyes, I keep imagining the pain and grief this family is going through. I ask that you say a little prayer for them, whoever they are.
Anyway, when we first heard all the sirens, my heart stopped, next thing I know they're turning into our street and then I'm really weirded out and then it hit me....Oh it's the Fire Department Parade that is happening downtown, but the base always joins in and does it's own for the base residents, they throw out candy for the children and it's just fun to watch.
We literally scrambled into clothes and ran outside to catch it.
Nicholas was SO excited to see Sparky and even more when he started waving....
It's just one of those great perks of living on a military base. Free parades!
After the parade was over, we finished getting ready and headed to the Tolmachoff Farms in Glendale. I had NO idea the farm was there, I mean it's in the middle of a neighborhood and surrounded by houses, but boy was I glad I found it. They are open all year round and have great events during the holidays, they have "pick your own veggies" during the month of November.
And they have pumpkins, all sizes and pretty cheap....they also have a Haunted Maze during October, a Family Maze, a Mini Maze, a Tomato cannon, face painting, bouncing castle, food and drinks, a petting zoo, train ride for the kids, playground etc. They have a lot of things to do.
We had a great time, came home with 6 pumpkins and some other goodies and we're definitely returning for more pumpkins to carve for Halloween. If you're anywhere near Glendale, I suggest you go by the Tolmachoff Farms.
Here's some photos from the outing:
I could stay in this area all day LOL
These horses were so sweet
This little guy stayed really still looking at the camera until I got the pic and then he ran away LOL
Mooooooo
The kids thought this ostrich was hilarious, she kept doing this weird head dance thing
We decided to try the Mini Maze, the family one takes about 45 minutes and we weren't up for that. Even in this one we stopped a few times to enjoy the hay stacks.
The kids with their balloon pirate swords
Now this was hilarious, we told them to sit still so we could get a photo and Jasmine decided to stick her head right in and then says "Uhhh my head is stuck" LOL Hence her weird expression....hahahahaha.....is it bad that my reaction was to laugh first and THEN go help her? hahahah
Mmmmmm.....let me tell you this morning we had buttermilk pancakes and we tried out the syrups. The Blackberry syrup is to die for and the Toasted Pecan Syrup... OH.MY.GOODNESS it tastes just like a Pecan Pie. We're definitely heading back for some more.
The pumpkins....the biggest one in the back is like 20 inches high and it was only $9.
It was a beautiful day, it felt like fall here in Arizona. The skies were cloudy, there was a bit of a wind and it even drizzled a couple of times. Perfect weather for enjoying the Pumpkin Patch. We're heading back again soon and then again in November for the fresh veggies.
After we left we we're all starving so we swung by Burger King and grabbed some lunch. The rest of the day was spent doing absolutely nothing, just reading, watching tv, playing on the computer and being lazy. It was so dark outside that I had my lamps on and candles burning.
We made it home just in time for me to run back out to the library to return the books that were due and to pick some new ones up.
My little Nicholas is sick again, I tell you this cold is just awful, it seems to come and go. He got through it and was fine for a week, just a bit of a runny nose during the day and congested at night, but now he's back to running a fever and feeling yucky. I've decided to keep him home from school tomorrow, it's not helping for him to be out there amongst all the other sick kids when he's obviously still fighting this virus.
And that's it my friends, that's what my Saturday was about. We had a beautiful sunset yesterday right after the clouds cleared out.
Now I'm off to fix some lunch for the family, finish off the laundry and take out my maple sausage for tonight's Lasagna. I'll have the recipe on the food blog later.
I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend. I'll see you all back here tomorrow for Simple Woman's Daybook.
So I go to the mail box this morning and I find my new Cath Kidston Catalogue. I literally did a WHOOP outside much to my neighbors enjoyment, I guess it's not everyday that he sees a woman whooping at the mail box. LOL
Just look at this stuff, I am in love with Cath Kidston, I've been oggling her website for ever and a day and literally drooling on the keyboard at the beauties she has.
I was just talking purses with Mari earlier, and look at these ones.....*drool*
I could have TOTALLY used the passport holders and the claps purses when I traveled to South Africa....or the luggage tags OR the travel purses. Really I could have deck out in all Cath Kidston for my trip.
I need these pj's like I need the autumn weather from Idaho, which if you know me, you KNOW how badly I need it LOL
So I'm just going to continue drooling over these and maybe just possibly, if finances allow, indulge myself in a tiny teeny little purchase. *sigh*
While I look through my catalogue I'm going to enjoy a slice of heaven, my Portuguese Cookie Cake is just perfect for this friday afternoon. I really should wait until the kids come home from school before diving into it, but.....I can't come up with an excuse other than I really really really really want a bite.
Oh before I forget, let me show you the sunset we had last night, it was absolutely gorgeous.
As it got darker........
I've started taking the kids outside to play in the backyard, every night. We got out for about an hour before bath time and the craziness of the night routines, I've found that not only do they love being outside when the sun is setting and able to play with the beautiful pink and orange sky above them, but they love seeing the day get darker, listening to the night sounds etc.
By the time we come inside, they've worn out the last bits of pent up energy and they're ready to calm down and go to bed. It works perfectly and all I really have to do is go out there, sit on the chair with my camera in hand and enjoy the cool night and my children's laughs. I mean....who knew something so simple could be so enjoyable?
So instead of going straight from dinner to video games or TV or whatever, do something different tonight, go outside with your children and enjoy the sunset, talk about the stars coming out, gaze at the moon and listen to the night sounds. You'll love it.
I can't tell you how glad I am that it's Friday, I'm ready to see my husband for longer than an hour before work each morning. The kids miss him and want some time with daddy too, so this weekend couldn't have come sooner for us.
So what else is going on here...hmmm....let me see.....right now I have the Best Chili Ever in my crock pot and it's making me drool all over my keyboard. I'm not kidding, the scents emanating from that kitchen shouldn't be legal, they could easily drive a woman to eat, eat large amounts of food. Tsk Tsk Tsk
Being that it's the start of the weekend, the kids are allowed to stay up late, so they'll be playing their computer games and the Wii etc....and I'll be watching my newest favorite series from Netflix. McLeod's Daughters.....I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying these.
When elderly Jack McLeod dies, leaving his his heavily mortgaged family farm of Drover's Run, to his daughters, Tess returns home to the place where she had left more than 20 years before. Jack was first married to Prudence and they had a daughter Claire and a son Adam. Tragically both Prue and Adam die during childbirth, leaving Jack alone to raise Claire. A few years later he meets and marries a city girl, Ruth Silverman, and they have a daughter, Tess. Growing up, the two girls had been very close but were separated when Ruth took 5-year-old Tess back to the city.
Tess, who recently lost her mother to breast cancer, returns to Drover's in the hopes of cashing out and opening a cafe in the city, but is disappointed to be met with a less-than-rosy financial picture and the open resentment of her older sister. After Claire fires the male workforce, the sisters, with the help of housekeeper Meg Fountain, her daughter Jodi, and local girl Becky, decide to run the property themselves.
Definitely a must-see. I watched the first disc in one night and couldn't wait to get the next ones in the mail.
So that's what is going on here, now I'm going to go visit the rest of the blogs on my favorites list, let me tell you there's some great posts out today....here's two that I think you would enjoy:
♥♥Nancy did an excellent post called "Turn the Channel"...you HAVE to read this.
♥♥Linds did a great post on the blogging world entitled "Thank You"
Ok now I'm really out, I'm craving cake and Cath Kidston and my children and curt and coffee and cooking and crafting....wow....just a bunch of C's in my day.
If you don't make ANYTHING else this weekend, you have got to make this cake.
Let me tell you a little bit about it, this is one of those Portuguese desserts that you would find after a hearty meal at home. If you're portuguese you have had it at least once in your life, but probably more.
Imagine, cookies, butter cream, coffee....all rolled into one flowery looking yummy cake that will make you ooooohhhhh and ahhhhhhh.
Boy this one brings back childhood memories, the same kind that I hope my children will one day have.
All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.
Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.
As always, share your slow cooking recipes but if you REALLY REALLY don't have one and still want to participate, then you can share any kind of recipe.
Impossible Apple Pie
8 tart apples -- peeled, sliced 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp allspice 1/4 tsp nutmeg 3/4 cup milk 2 Tbsp. softened butter 3/4 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 cups Bisquick -- divided 1/3 cup brown sugar 3 Tbsp cold butter
Combine apples -- cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg in slow cooker. Toss thoroughly. Combine milk soften butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and 1/2 cup Bisquick. Spoon over apples. Combine the remaining 1 cup Bisquick and brown sugar. Cut cold butter into mixture until crumbly. Sprinkle this mixture over top of apple mixture. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours until apples are soft.
I'm a Christian SAHM
and wife to my Air Force
Husband.
We have 2 extremely active
kids, Jasmine and Nicholas.
It's a crazy and hectic life
at times with the kids and
the dogs, Lola and Bella.
We live a good, simple life
surrounded by chaos at time,
but always in the hands of God.
![[sctbutton.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xAj8rOWXm24/SNBBTK2Dp4I/AAAAAAAACQo/wKRipi5joKc/s1600/sctbutton.jpg)
![[sampda5e192b5d50302d.jpg]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H4gJ_N_UChw/SP-q2Lly_gI/AAAAAAAAES0/58iZUTl5cPI/s1600/sampda5e192b5d50302d.jpg)
![[EasyHamTetrazzini.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tgj9zUyLF6E/RoK1062GzMI/AAAAAAAABjM/3cotUN7X9nw/s1600/EasyHamTetrazzini.jpg)
Posts
