Food Blog Updates!

If you haven't been by the Full Bellies blog in a while, Ive updated the past few days with some with some very yummy recipes.

We all know there's nothing better than homemade bread and especially if it's artisan type bread. What if I told you that you can do it yourself? No, don't look at me that way, I'm serious, it's not a joke, you can make your own artisan type bread, with that wonderful crust and the big holes inside *snicker*

EASY BREAD

Five Senses Saturday!

Good Morning everyone, I don't quite know what I have planned for this day other than the usual housecleaning, mopping and laundry etc.

Oh I also plan on updating the blogs, all of them, food and books and tv etc...so watch for those later on today.

For now, I leave you with my Five Senses Saturday, it's been such a long time since I've done this and I miss it. Enjoy!

::Hear::

- Barlow Girl "Never Alone" on the computer

- Lawns being mowed outside
- The kids playing games on the computer
- Pugs sniffling around on the couch
-The keys on my keyboard as I type

::See::

- My grass needing to be mowed
- Merlin on the TV
- The sticky spots on the kitchen floor needing mopping
- My husband's tired face as he arrives home in the early morning hours
- My children's laughing faces as they play

::touch::



- The hose outside as I turn on the sprinkler
- New Yarn as I get it ready for Dishcloths
- The pages on my new book
- The barbecue grill as it lights for the first time this summer
- The creamy soft "Safari Body Lotion" as I slather it on my legs

::taste::



- Monkey Bread....YUM
- The bitter taste of my Vitamins
- Homemade fresh bread
- The first sip of a glass of ice cold water
- Homemade butter



::smell::

- The monkey bread as is bakes
- Fresh picked lemons
- Lavender dishsoap
- My kids warm soft necks straight out of the bath
- Burgers grilling outside

Go Go Pets Giveaway!

I'm sure by now you've seen the cute commercials on tv for these adorable little hamsters.

I'm also sure by now, your little ones have asked you for one or two and all the cute attachments that come with it.

Let me tell you about this wonderful new toy, see I'm a mom who likes buying toys for the kids but there are some that even you will admit that you spend so much money on and they hardly if ever play with them.

When I was asked a while ago if I would be interested in reviewing these, I jumped at the chance and then I received in the mail....set it all up and let the kids go at it, but let me tell you that before the boxes were even open the kids were jumping around screaming in joy and trying to contain their excitement.

The verdict....it was a HIT, and I don' t mean just a "oh it's nice" kinda hit....I mean humungous, play for hours the first afternoon and beg to start again the next morning kind hit.

I even got in on it because watching these adorable little hamsters running through their maze and wheel and then turning around and heading to the garage where they step into the car and literally drive off, was just beyond anything I could have expected out of this toy.

Go Go Pets are manufactured by Cepia and they are the world's first innovative, realistic, interactive, plush, and artificially intelligent hamsters that talk and move around in their own playsets.

If you want to learn more about Go Go pets be sure to visit their website at www.gogopets.com.

Now here is the cool thing, for such a cool toy they are so inexpensive, their retail for $6.99 each hamster and the playsets begin at $14.99 at stores like Walmart and Target.

I asked the kids to join in today and tell you all what exactly they love the most about the Go Go Pets, I think this way you can get the perspective of a 10 and 6 year old.

Jasmine (10 years old) - They are really fun to play with, they are so cute, it's like they have a mind of their own. My favorite part is the exercise wheel because they look so cute when they go on it and they are really funny cause sometimes they stop and go backwards and sometimes they fall on their sides and you have to help them. My favorite hamster is Mr Squiggles.

Nicholas (6 years old) - I really like it because they know where to go and they're so cute and fuzzy. My favorite part is the slide because they go down it and you can make the little ball go with the hamsters and sometimes they get stuck at the top and it looks like they're dancing. My favorite hamster is Pipsqueak.

****************************************

Now here is the best part.....Go Go Pets wants me to giveaway one hamster and one car/garage playset. Believe me, you will want to enter this contest and let all your friends know about it too. You won't want to miss the look on your kids face when they open this toy and start playing with it.

Here's the deal, it's very simple:

The contest is open to participants in the USA only.
Leave a comment and a way to contact you, if you don't have a blog please leave an email

That's it. The contest will run from today until next week friday, then I'll draw a random number from the comments. Good Luck!

Slow Cooking Thursday

I apologize for posting this so late, but guess what? I actually got to sleep in today, for the first time in more than a year YAY. *snicker*

Mr Linky's usual linkies are not working, so we have to use Image Linkies, all you do is click on the green "Mr Linky" and it will open up the list for you to add your name to.



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.

Crock Pot Chocolate Kahlua Cake

This moist cake is amazing served warm straight from the slow cooker, along with a small scoop of light vanilla bean ice cream.

Ingredients:

1 box (18.25 ounce) devil’s food cake mix

1 cup fat-free sour cream

1 cup 1% low-fat milk (or use nonfat or 2% milk)

2 large eggs, a higher omega-3 brand if available

2 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute

3/4 cup Kahlua liqueur (or similar)

Directions:

1. Coat inside of slow cooker with canola cooking spray.
2. In large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, sour cream, milk, eggs, egg whites, and Kahlua by beating on medium for about a minute.
3. Pour cake batter into prepared slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
4. Cut cake into about 16 wedges. Serve each slice with a small scoop of light vanilla bean ice cream (using a cookie dough scoop), if desired.

Yield: Makes 16 servings

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic members: Journal as 1 portion medium dessert.

Nutrition Information: Per serving: 210 calories, 4 g protein, 33 g carbohydrate, 5.5 g fat, 1.4 g saturated fat, 29 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 314 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 23%.

Summer List

Have you ever made a summer list with your kids?

I usually make one every year but never thought to share it with you all, but the kids and I have been hard at work today, thinking up ideas and making plans for the summer, so I took a pic to show you how easy it is to come up with one that you can hang in your kitchen and just check off as you do the activities.

In between list making, we also cleaned the house. I tell you there's nothing like having the kids help clean, dust, sweep etc. They learn to appreciate what you do and also realize what their negligence with toys and messes all over mean to mommy.

But it wouldn't have been such a great day without our afternoon snack, which is usually around 3pm and in the form of either fruit, yogurt or a sandwich OR on those extra special days.....something more extravagant like Monkey Bread. To me, it takes but a few minutes to throw it together and cook, but to the kids, it is this amazing dessert that makes them ooooh and ahhhhh. Oh I can't wait to see the memories they have of childhood when they are one day sitting with their own children and grandchildren.

I'm off to fix dinner, then I'm hoping to start working on a bunch of ideas to make Summer Simpler, as soon as I get them all together, I'll share them here and then I hope you too will share some, maybe we can help each other come up with ways to have a great summer without all the tv watching and video game playing.

Have a great night everyone.

Did you know?

That getting into the swing of summer break and no school, is a lot of work?

You didn't know? Well neither did I and let me tell you it's taken me by surprise.

You may be wondering what we've been doing, where we been, well no where.

At home....sitting quietly and loudly at times, laughing and fighting at others, watching tv and playing computer games, eating or drinking, sleeping or running. There's a little bit of everything going on and I'm not quite into the Summer Break routine....you know the one? No rules, schedules, no getting up early and rushing, no appointments to keep.

It feels good, it's what we crave all year long and then it's upon us and the first few days seem to be a blur, I'm trying to find that middle ground. I'm trying to sleep in which I haven't been able to do because our bodies are still programmed to get up early and start the day.

So I apologize if my blogging seems a bit sporadic these first few days, I'm just trying to catch my breath and find my way, but I'm sure in a day or two I'll be back to full time blogging.

All this summer talk has gotten me feeling nostalgic, thinking of my own school breaks, how I looked forward to them so badly and how the last day of school seemed to drag, the clock slowly ticking.

Remember how when we were little time seemed different? It still does sometimes, you know when you're enjoying something and having a lot of fun, or out doing something with the family time just flies but then in other instances it's like eternity?

My brothers and I had so much fun during those weeks off of school, there was no thought about going back, it just didn't even enter our minds, we were too busy playing outside, building go karts, eating popsicles and staying up late, going on picnics with the kids from the neighborhood.

Remember how back then everyone would go outside and play? You actually saw kids riding bikes and playing hopscotch and running and hiding and jumping and having fun. It's all changed hasn't it?

The only danger back then was not hearing greatgrandma call you in for dinner and going hungry until the next morning.

So I'm hoping to bring a little bit of my childhood to my children, I'm not sure exactly how yet, but I want to go back in time and remember the things we did and maybe bring some of those to the future and introduce them to the kids.

What about you? What sort of things did you get up to during your Summer school breaks?

Handsome Man's Birthday!

36 years ago this wonderful man was born and I can only thank God that I was blessed enough to be chosen to spend my life with him.

He has been the absolute best husband, friend, father, provider and soldier that we could have ever wished for.

So Curt, Happy Birthday honey, I wish you many many more and that I'm always there holding your hand on your special day.

I love you handsome man of mine....thank you for making our lives so wonderful!

Don't Blink.....

Another year just went by, a whole year, a time when I thought that I would have more of my little boy in kindergarten and my little girl in fourth grade.

But things don't work that way do they? You blink and it's gone.

We just got home from the school, Nicholas had his Kindergarten Field Day/Graduation thing going on, Curt and I got to go and watch the kids play outside and then head back into the classrooms to receive all kinds of goodies, finishing off with their Graduation Certificates and Report Cards.

I promised I wouldn't cry, but I should know that it's a promise I seldom keep because you see, the minute the teacher starts getting teary eyed, I find myself reaching for the kleenex and crying along with her. It's always such a bitter sweet moment.....the immense feeling of pride for you child knowing that they've grown and learned through a whole year and are now beginning a new period in time.....but there's also the sadness, knowing that it's a whole new classroom next year, new kids, new teacher and new bonds that have to be established.

We've been extremely lucky with the teachers our children have had, they have been nothing but the best, devoted, warm, kind, smart and absolute blessings to our lives.

Here's Jasmine with two of her friends.....and below the whole Fourth Grade class...bunch of little nuts they are, I told them to make funny faces for me LOL

So with that, it's done.....we are officially on Summer Break and when we return to school, I will have a Fifth Grader and First Grader. Boy do I feel old LOL

But all of this emotion today got me thinking about how quickly time flies and how one day I'll be sitting at home alone......there won't be any toys hanging out in the bathtub

when I go to sit down on the couch, I will no longer have to push all the stuffed toys aside to find a spot

there will be no little chihuahas hanging out above the tv

or little shoes thrown about in the hallway

when I fix dinner, I'll no longer have to remove the GI Joes from the counter

or listen to endless hours of Spongebob on the tv

and I'll be able to see the door of my refrigerator because it will no longer be covered in dozens of pictures made by little hands whether at school or at home

but thankfully, today is not that day.....I won't have to sit alone because I'm surrounded by laughs and giggles, by the loud tv with cartoons, by the music eminating from the game being played on the computer and the excited voices rehashing their final day of school.

No....for today......I'm going to enjoy every.single.second that I have with these extraordinary LITTLE human beings and thank the Lord for blessing me with them.

Slow Cooking Thursday

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.

HONEY MUSTARD BEER BRATS

* 10 fresh bratwurst sausages
* 1 green bell pepper, sliced into long strips
* 1 red bell pepper, sliced into long strips
* 1 large sweet onion, sliced into rings and separated
* 2 cloves garlic, sliced
* 2 bay leaves
* 1 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring
* 2 cups honey mustard barbecue sauce
* 1 (12 fluid ounce) can beer, or as needed
* 10 hoagie rolls, split lengthwise

1. Place half of the bratwurst in the bottom of a 5 quart slow cooker. Arrange half of the green pepper, red pepper, and onion over them. Layer the remaining bratwurst over the top, and top with the remaining red and green bell peppers and onion. Throw in the garlic and bay leaves. In a separate bowl, mix together HALF of the honey mustard sauce, liquid smoke and beer. Pour into the slow cooker. Add more beer if necessary to cover everything in the pot. Cover, and cook on Low for 4 to 5 hours.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate. Remove bratwurst from the slow cooker, but leave onions and peppers inside. Place bratwurst on the grill and baste with some of the remaining honey mustard sauce. Turn occasionally until slightly charred.
3. Place bratwurst on rolls, and use tongs to pull out a few of the onions and peppers from the slow cooker and drape them over the sausage. The onions and peppers are very tasty so don't forget this part!

Double-Daring Book for Girls!

Oooh do I have something awesome to share with you today. You all know about the Daring Book for Girls by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz right? Right?

Well, guess what, they have a new book out, The Double-Daring Book for Girls and I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this amazing book. Why? Well because I agreed to join in the Double-Dare Party for this book.

I'm supposed to do a throwdown with you all, find a great craft or idea in the book, do it myself, share it with you and then issue a challenge for you to do the same, beat me at whatever game or craft I choose.

But it's hard people, so hard to just narrow it down to one. I mean, I could challenge you all to Waltz and video record it to share, but I somehow think that wouldn't work *snicker*

I could also challenge you to tie a sarong and see who's faster, but I don't think I could do it myself, I don't have the fabric and the time and the coordination and blah blah blah, I'm full of it, aren't I? LOL

But let me tell you about the book and I think the fact that I have a 10 year old daughter is just perfect, because we sat down with this book in our hands and started browsing through the pages, Jasmine's face lit up with all the information,ideas and stories, it made me wish that I had a book like this when I was growing up.....especially being an only girl, this would have been just the thing to keep me busy.

"Sand Castles", oooohhh I can imagine being at the beach and building just the right one.

"How to catch fish", well now I've always wanted to go fishing, can't believe I never have, maybe this summer we'll delve into that.

And I really could have used the section on "Slumber Party Games" when Jasmine was having all these sleepovers last year.

Ok but back to the challenge....I have to challenge you, I'm sorry but I just do and I think you'll enjoy what I am throwing your way, and hey if you do decide to try it, I would love to see your posts on it.

There's so much goodness jam packed into this amazing book, I think if you have little or big girls, this is a great gift.

So now, you've all been anxiously awaiting my choice haven't you....again, it was so hard to pick just one activity or craft. But finally after going over it a couple times, I decided I wanted to make the Red Paper Lanterns on Pg 68. So easy and so adorable and I can already imagine making tons more in different colors.

(Click on thumbnails for bigger pics)









My challenge to you is this.....I want you to grab yourself some paper and get to work, I want to see at least ONE lantern adorning your blogs, you think you could do that? Just let me know if you do and be sure to leave me a link so I can come and check yours out.

If you want to learn more about the book, be sure to check out their website or buy the book yourself at Amazon.

Are you up for the challenge?

Teacher Gifts

It's that time of the year again, school is about to end and I'm trying to figure out what to give the kid's teachers.

I usually do homemade gifts but with all the sickness and other stuff going on around here, it completely slipped my mind.

So now, here I am, trying to figure out what to give them.....just 3 days before school ends. Oh Lord what did I get myself into.

I think that I need to turn to what I do best and what I'm good at, and that is crafts, using my hands to create something and also, I believe that handmade goodies are always appreciated right?

Here's what I've come up with so far, the kids kinda pushed me in this direction because they both said they wanted apples for the teacher....so I thought, well, if I can make donuts and cupcakes, I'm sure I can make an apple? Right? Right...well I set off looking for a good and easy pattern and I did find one or two.

What do you think so far? I've made two red apples and my idea is to make 3 each for each teacher, so a red, green and a yellow apple. I just hope they like it.

But now this is where you come in and help me out, I want you to give me ideas for homemade gifts....here's the catch though, I don't want to spend any money, well I couldn't even if I wanted to, with my car needing repairs and Curt's birthday on Friday too, cash is kinda tight this month.

Here's what I'm looking for, easy, inexpensive, homemade, something I can make in 3 days (I know I know, I'm asking for a lot, but help a girl out).

Will you help me? If you do, I'll even give you a big helping of Bubble Pizza? Yeah?

Happy Homemaker Monday

On my bedside table:
Montana Creeds: Dylan by Linda Lael Miller


On my TV:
Dancing with the Stars
Paranormal State
True Blood
Robin Hood Season 3


On the menu for tonight:
Bubble Pizza, Salad


On my To Do List:
Clean the house
Put away laundry
Finish making crochet apples for teacher gifts


New Recipe I tried last week:
Mustard Herb Chicken Breasts


In the craft basket:
Summer skirts and dresses for Jasmine
Crochet Apples for Teacher Gifts


Looking forward to:
Summer break in 3 days, that's right, just 3 more days. YAY!


Homemaking Tip for this week:
I'll come back to this one later, I honestly can't think of a single thing right now


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Tapping into Joy by Marie


Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
That everything you go through in life is there for a reason, everything has a purpose and as hard as it may be to get through at that particular moment, later on, sometimes years down the line, you are able to look back and reflect and realize exactly what it is you were supposed to learn.


On my Prayer List:
A friend who was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer
My grandmother Odete, she was in the hospital last week
My husband and children


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works . . . I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
-Psalm 104:31, 33 (NIV)

The beginning of my Summer Reading!

It's no lie that I love books, paperback or hardcover, big and small, leatherbound or not, new and old.

So while I was out running errands today, I ran across a new little shop that is opening up at our local BX, it is still in it's beginning stages, with little shelves, a small white desk in the corner and tubs full of books. Used books, the kind of books that I just love getting.

I think it's because I look at it as giving them a new home and then I wonder too just who the previous owners were, where did they live, what did they do, did they enjoy the book while sipping a hot cup of tea or coffee or were they snuggled in bed under the covers.

I browsed for a little while and walked away with 6 books, my first six on my Summer Reading list and I'm so thrilled.

Now I know there are all sorts of Reading Meme's out there, and as great as they are, they are not for me, I always feel overwhelmed and like I'm on a schedule to make sure I get them all read so I can review them on the blog. So I thought it would be easier to just embark on my very own Summer Reading program, where if I read the book great and if for some reason I don't get to them, that's fine too.

So what do you say? Do you want a peek at my first books on the list?



Montana Creeds Series by Linda Lael Miller

Montana Creeds: Dylan
Montana Creeds: Logan
Montana Creeds: Tyler



The First Time by Joy Fielding

Mattie Hart has spent the past 16 years destroying the evidence of an unfaithful husband: she has brushed aside countless scraps of scribbled phone numbers, thrown away hotel receipts she finds in her husband's coat pockets, and ripped up love notes. Finally, with the recent discovery of yet another indiscretion, she realizes that shredding physical evidence has done nothing to prevent her emotional fraying. Yet before Mattie can confront Jake, a high-profile defense lawyer, and come to grips with the fact that he has never loved her, he moves out of their beautiful suburban Chicago home and into his latest young paramour's apartment. And then Mattie receives some devastating news from her doctor: she has Lou Gehrig's disease. Struggling with a guilty conscience, Jake moves back home to care for his wife and repair relations with their angry teenage daughter, Kim. After a bout of furious denial, Mattie finds herself in the compromising position of depending upon a man whom she has never fully trusted. She also must convince Kim that her previously absent father will be there for her in the future. This is rich stuff. While skimping on plot, Fielding has created an adept study of three flawed characters who, after years of playing head games, must learn how to communicate. Despite such heavy psychological drama, the tone lightens as together these three vanquish inner demons. In the end, even as the novel races toward tragedy, Mattie prevails. Fielding has again pushed a seemingly fragile heroine to the brink, only to have her fight back, tooth and nail. This time, though, death is not the greatest threat.




Ransom by Julie Garwood

Gillian finds the key to resolving her troubled past in handsome Scottish chieftains Ramsey Sinclair and Brodick Buchanan. With the cunning and courage of the daring Scotsmen and with the friendship of a new ally, Brigid, Gillian at last fights the unscrupulous Baron Alfred, laying claim to her home, her family, and her father's reputation. But in the presence of the mighty warriors, Gillian and Brigid discover that desire can be a weapon of conquest, betrayal can slay trust in a heartbeat, and the greatest risk of all is surrender - to the deep emotions of unexpected love.



Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting...for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all...

It's true. He doesn't. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her...eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas’s world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he’s not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love...with his own fiancée!




Secrets of A Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle's most intriguing--and persistent-- admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition... but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.

Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon--and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon's passionate embrace and tempting kisses... and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.



Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter….

*******************************

I'll be adding more along the way because honestly these will be gone FAST with me *snicker*

BTW, thank you all for the great book suggestions yesterday, I have taken note of all the titles and will be looking for them at the library and the store.

So now you tell me, do you do summer reading lists too and if you do, do you prefer fiction or non fiction? If you do have a book list posted on your blogs, let me know, I would love to come and see :)

May brings sad memories for me!

Image credit: Allposters

You know how there are some people that have a certain month they don't like? Maybe it's because they think they have no luck during that month or it reminds them of a sad moment in time?

For me it's the latter, it's the fact that since May of 2001, I have held this immense sadness inside me, this photographic memory of a certain place and time in my life when I lay in bed, crying in physical and emotional pain, begging God for an answer, a reason to why I was suffering.

Just a few weeks prior, at the end of April 2001, I had gotten confirmation of the one of the happiest moments in my life, I remember sitting in the bathroom with that pregnancy test and smiling, a huge grin spread across my face. I literally jumped for joy, this was it, this was our second child, it was just perfect, Jasmine was two years old and I thought the difference in age was just right.

But things weren't meant to be. I didn't know it at the time, but in just a few weeks I would be back in that same bathroom, sitting on that same toilet in shock, watching almost in an out of body experience like, as I lost that baby.

The pain that rips through you is unimaginable, it's nothing I could ever sit down and describe, I cried and I lashed out at God at first, I was so frustrated, why me? Why did this happen? I had done everything right but yet it didn't seem to work and I found myself blaming my body, after all I was supposed to have kept my child safe but I didn't. The feeling of guilt was overwhelming, no matter how many times the doctor said "It's not your fault, there is nothing you could have done to prevent it".

The worst part was the looks when people found out, or the unfeeling words from those that didn't quite know what to say but yet felt compelled to offer some kind of advice. But when you're going through a miscarriage, the LAST thing you want to hear is "it's for the best"....or "it just wasn't meant to be".

I used to sit there, bite my tongue and think "what the heck do you know about me and what is best or not?". It was the grief speaking, I was so blinded by it that I had no patience whatsoever for anyone.

I remember the first month I walked around in a fog, I cried every time I went to the bathroom, every time I wiped it was a reminder that I was wiping away what could have been. I would never get to hold this baby in my arms, to see him/her take their first steps, go to kindergarten, smile and laugh and call me mommy. That hurt, it still does to this day.

May just does that for me, I may be having the best of time, but when this month rolls around, the memories come flooding back and they hit me like a ton of bricks. Especially around Memorial Day, the day it happened. You learn to deal with it, but you never forget.

I didn't stay mad at God for too long, a few days at most before I quickly changed my tune and knew that I would never get through it without Him. So instead of turning away, I turned towards Him......I clutched my hand in His so tightly and let Him lead me through it.

I just knew deep inside that I would get pregnant again and have a perfectly beautiful and healthy baby, but little did I know that I would have to endure another miscarriage just a month later.

When it first happened again, I was in utter shock and the fact that it wasn't an easy straight forward miscarriage, just added to the pain. There was a D&C and ultrasounds and weekly blood tests and even a Methotraxate shot.....yes chemo.

So yes, May became that month for me.

Nowadays as painful as the memories are, I have to remind myself that I did lose two beautiful babies who are now in heaven, but if I had one or both, would my sweet handsome Nicholas be here? Things happen for a reason, I know that, obviously at the time I didn't want to hear it, all I wanted was for people to just support me and if they didn't know how to react or what to say, a simple "I'm sorry for your loss, will be praying for you" would have sufficed.

I'm not sure why I was led to write this post today, other than the fact that I'm feeling sad I felt a strong need to put it on the blog. Maybe it will help someone out there going through a miscarriage, maybe it will bring some comfort to someone, I don't know.

I do know that there are many women out there who have suffered miscarriages and my heart goes out to every single one of them, I only wish that when I went through it, I had blogging in my life, it may have helped a lot.

Slow Cooking Thursday

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.

Red Wine & Rosemary Pot Roast

3-lb boneless pot roast
¾-tsp salt
¾-tsp pepper
2-tbsp vegetable oil
3-cloves garlic, minced
4-onions, quartered
1-cup beef stock
1-cup tomato juice
1-cup dry red wine
2-tsp crumbled dried rosemary
3-tbsp all-purpose flour
2-tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Sprinkle beef with salt & pepper
In a large Dutch oven, heat oil medium-high heat
Brown meat all over and transfer to plate
Drain fat from pot
Fry garlic and onions over medium heat stirring occasionally until soft, about 4 minutes
Add stock, tomato juice, wine and rosemary, stirring and scraping up brown bits from bottom
Pour into slow cooker
Add beef to slow cooker
Cover and cook on low for 10 hours until meat is tender
Transfer meat to cutting board and tent with foil; let stand 10 minutes
Thinly slice the beef across the grain and arrange on a platter
Cover and keep warm
Meanwhile, whisk flour with ¼-cup water
Whisk into slow cooker
Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes or until thickened
Stir in parsley
Serve with beef

Makes 8 servings

Reading and Relaxing!

The past few days I've been trying to catch up on reading, I go through phases where I either read constantly, every day, a few books at a time....or.....I don't read for months on end.

That's where I'm at right now, in that in between stage where I'm craving a good book and the smell of the pages (please tell me you smell books too or I'll forever feel like a freak of some kind). So that's what I'm doing, I am still enjoying the pioneer books but I also have two others that I need to review.

One of them is the new Double Daring Book for Girls, I'll have a post up next week and I'm going to throw down the gauntlet, I'll be challenging some of you to join me and play along, trying this or that project from the book. Oh don't worry, it won't be anything that out there or impossible to do....maybe I'll make you tie a sarong and take a pic to share with the blogging community. LOL Only NOT!

I've also realized that I've had the same Netflix movies sitting on my DVD player for the past, oh, month at least? Thank God for no late fees, but I guess I should get around to watching them, maybe tonight after American Idol.

And can I just say while on that subject, that maybe I'm the odd ball around but I can't stand Adam? I think he's a great performer for the Theatre or Broadway but I just can't take the screeching he does. It's a little too much. Feel free to throw tomatoes at me, I know most of America thinks he's amazing, along with some of the judges who coddle him so much it's nauseating. LOL

Now that I got that off my chest, I think I'll go back to my books, but before I leave I want you to tell me what book you're reading right now or just finished, tell me which one I absolutely need to read this summer.

And if there's an author that you think I will enjoy, let me know, I'm trying to make a list for my Summer Reading.

Well Hello there.....

Come on in out of the sun, it's a scorcher out there. Of course that's for us folks here in Arizona, I'm not sure how the weather is going for you all in the other states, but here? Goodness gracious, I'm already hating stepping outside the door.

So anyway, it's Monday afternoon and here soon I'll have to start fixing dinner, but I thought I would stop in first and do a little post on this ol' blog of mine. I feel like lately I've been sorta, kinda, maybe neglecting it a bit, not intentionally, mind you, but life has just been happening around me and I have to attend to it.

I mentioned earlier in my Happy Homemaker Monday post that there's sickies in the house again, but it's actually not that bad. Curt got sick with a cold for about a day or two but he's fine now...Jasmine just has an ear infection, which is so weird because if you remember correctly, 3 weeks ago she had one in her left ear and strep throat. Now it's her right ear....oh and let me tell you something, when the doctor says "come here let me show you", just think twice.

I am all for being educated and learning new things and I'm glad I did look into her ear because it's absolutely fascinating to me, but in another way I thought, gross, with a capital G.
I wonder if it's easier just not knowing what our insides look like, I mean...really?!?!?!

It started yesterday afternoon with her saying she couldn't hear out of that ear, she could hear her heart beating through it and it felt blocked like when you're on an airplane. By this morning she continued complaining and as much as I don't want to be that mom that runs to the doctor for every little thing, I don't like playing with ears and infections, those can become quite serious if not taken care of.....after seeing what it looks like, boy am I glad I took her in.

The doctor prescribed Amoxicillin but told me to hold off on it for two days, to use just the drops he's giving me and the motrin and see if it clears up on it's own, if it doesn't then start her on the antibiotics. We both feel it's better not to just give her another dose of antibiotics seeing as she was just on some 3 weeks ago, UNLESS, absolutely necessary.

She's doing fine though, unfortunately, we had to walk to pick up Nicholas from school and being outside just hurt her ear, she's in bed now trying to get some rest and complaining of ear ache, poor kid. Bring on the summer already, we're sick of this.

Now the weekend....oh the weekend, where to begin. Maybe with the fact that it was not exactly how we had planned it. See in the Air Force if a Jet breaks down, it has to get fixed...THAT day, come rain or shine, snow or a tornado, whether it's flying or not, weekend or week day, Mother's Day or other special day.....so it went. The kids were beyond frustrated because Curt works swing shift which like I've talked about before, he goes in at around 2pm and doesn't get home until late, very late, sometimes 2 or 3 am, which means the only time he sees the kids is on the weekends.

Well when the weekend rolled around, he was stuck at work for 13 hours on Saturday and 12 hours on Sunday, fixing Jets. My first reaction on Sunday was to get really irritated, I thought "you have to be kidding me, it's Mother's Day" but then I had to remind myself that this is Par for the Course.

Curt woke up extra early yesterday, made me a wonderful breakfast and I had all these sweet gifts waiting for me on the kitchen table. It was his way of making it up for me somehow for the fact that he wouldn't be here. He's such a wonderful husband.

Let me show you how well my family knows me, and before I do, let me just say, I don't like expensive gifts and jewelry and such, I'm extremely easy to buy for and everytime I get gifts from my family, I'm reminded of how well they know me.

Am I the only one who could spend hours playing The Sims? *snicker* I don't know if it's the fact that I can make a family and decorate a home and play them, it's the whole housekeeping thing in me, I can have veggie gardens and beautiful flowers LOL

And he got me Kahlua, for my Kahlua Don Pedro's....some vanilla ice cream, a little bit of milk, a shot of Kahlua and mix it all up in the blender. YUM!

My kids, they know my love for chocolate AND coffee....and not just any coffee but the Godiva Creme Brulee. Yum is not even enough to describe it, you have to try it.

Some of the cards from the kids, they are so sweet :)

This just cracked me up, I couldn't stop laughing. I had this gift from the Pugs....yes from the Pugs and the card was the funniest thing ever.....and of course some Calgon bath products.

Beautiful flowers.....

And lastly, yesterday afternoon, the kids and I stepped out into the front yard for a few minutes, just to get some fresh air and enjoy the afternoon breeze.

This little cat is constantly around the houses here in the neighborhood, I'm not sure if it belongs to someone or if it's a stray and truth be told I'm not going near it. I'm allergic to cats to the point where the cat came up to me and just rubbed itself on my leg and that was enough to make my nose start itching and my eyes watering.....look, I'm not a cat person but I can admire a pretty animal, so I grabbed the camera and just snapped some pics. From a distance LOL

So there you go, a peek at my exciting life. Oh and I almost forgot *snicker.

My car has decided to not even start for me, so until this coming weekend when we plan on getting it fixed (because Curt was stuck at work, therefore not getting to my car), I am driving the kids to school in Curt's big ole truck and walking in the afternoon's. You should see me coming down the street in that huge thing LOL

It's like driving a bus, good grief.

Alright, I have to get on out of here, I'm supposed to be making Salisbury Steak for dinner, but the kids have requested Grilled Cheese and Ham sandwiches with Zestie Cheesy Fries....so that's what we're having.

Have yourselves a wonderful Monday, stay out of the sun, stay in from the cold and I'll see you back here tomorrow.

Happy Homemaker Monday!

On my bedside table:
Knit Two
Two books for reviewing on the blog


On my TV:
Dancing with the Stars
Paranormal State


On the menu for tonight:
Salisbury Steak, Salad


On my To Do List:
Take Jasmine to the doctor this morning, she's complaining of ear ache
Iron 3 loads of laundry and put away



New Recipe I tried last week:
No new recipe, just revisited an old favorite..... Ham and Cheese Chicken Rolls


In the craft basket:
Summer Skirts


Looking forward to:
Summer break in less than two weeks.....can't wait.


Homemaking Tip for this week:
When the kids come home from school, I immediately go through their backpacks, throw out any junk, put aside what is to keep, and sign any letters or notes that need to be returned. I pack Nicholas' snack and his folder back into the backpack and set both backpacks near the front door.
Saves a lot of time when we're running around in the morning.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I loved my mother's hands by 4 Reluctant Entertainers...what a sweet post.


Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
That even with all the sanitizing and disinfecting I've done lately, there will still be sickies. Curt caught whatever we had and is sick with a cold, and somehow Jasmine is complaining of an ear ache and is off to the doctor this morning.

I think the biggest lesson for me has been to let go, do my part and then just go with the flow when things happen and not make a big stink about the fact that I can't control who gets sick and who feels this or that.


On my Prayer List:
My family
Troops


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name,
I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20 (NAS)

I love these faces!

There is something so sweet about the look of concentration on little one's faces.

You can never really figure out what they're thinking about.....





The joy of feeling well. The happiness of being outside in the fresh air....

of walking around with umbrellas shaded from the hot Arizona sun....

And the sidewalk chalk waiting on the picnic table, ready to decorate the patio.

It's what spring lazy days are all about, isn't it?

Slow Cooking Thursday

I'm having a really hard time with the linkies today, I don't know what is going on.....just add your links to the comments and I'll post them on here. Sorry ladies!



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.

Image credit: Gather.com

CHICKEN SOUP

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken breasts, skinless & boneless
12 cups water
One onion, chopped
1/4 tsp pepper
Any leftover rice, pasta or potatoes from the fridge. If none of these are availble add 1/2 c instant rice.
Any little bits of veggies leftover in fridge or freezer.
Celery (optional)
Salt to taste (I use about 1/2 tsp)

How to make this recipe:
Cut the chicken breasts in one inch cubes. Place all ingredients in slow cooker.

Cook on low 5 to 6 hours. Notes: This makes quite a lot for my family (of 4). I usually freeze half for another time.

Serves 8 - 12



MJ - Portuguese Stew
Mari - Maui Chicken
Kim - Marinated Chicken Tenders
Renee - Spring Veggie and Chicken Stew
Newlyweds - Crockpot Pinto Beans
Blessings Beyond - Chicken Tacos
Sherry - Hirino Psito Slow Roasted Pork
Lisa - Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff
Cassandra - Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy
Lori - Barbecue Pork

She was the most influential woman in my life!

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I've talked many times about the most influential and pivotal woman in my upbringing. My greatgrandmother Ema. Without a doubt, this woman was one of the most important in my life, apart from my mother and my stepmother and grandmothers, my greatgrandmother Ema was around me most of my life, she was there during the scariest and happiest times.

I would sit for hours at the kitchen table, with a cookie in hand and a cup of tea with milk, listening to her voice. This soft, sweet and sometimes demanding and strict tone, but for the most part, I sat there entranced by her stories, the things she had been through which were for me not only interesting but sad. I felt immense sadness listening to her talk about her mom passing away when she was just 4 years old, how she became the woman of the house, cooking and cleaning and taking care of her father, setting the table and sitting down to dinner with her own glass of wine when she was merely 8 or 9 years old.

See nowadays we look at that and think "are you kidding me? I wouldn't give my child a glass of wine" but for some reason, it seemed to be acceptable back then. It stuck with her, she drank that glass of wine for lunch and dinner EVERY.SINGLE.DAY of her life until the day she died.

The reason I'm talking about her again is because while speaking with Jasmine yesterday about my childhood and the family, it struck me again just how blessed and lucky I was to have such a woman in my life. To know that from the moment I was a wee little one, she had such a positive impact on who I am today.

She didn't sugar coat things, you won't ever hear me say that at any point in time, she glossed over life and marriage and having children. Far too many times she flat out said "it's not easy, it's life" and I thought to myself, well that doesn't make me really look forward to anything. But just as quick she would smile and she would go on about how much she loved her husband, my greatgrandfather.

She was but 16 years old when they got married and he, a strapping handsome 29 year old. I think for her she saw a way out of the life she was living. This was a girl who lost her mother at 4 years old.....came home from school at 13 years of age, walked into the kitchen, and found her father dead. He had hung himself....and if that in itself wasn't traumatic enough for her, she lost her older brother to a fishing accident, where he got struck by lightning. I mean this could all be part of a movie or book but it's not, it's real life and the fact that she survived all this just shows what a strong woman she was.

We used to talk about marriage and motherhood, what it entailed, what it would be like and what was expected of me as a wife and mother. It's all things that nowadays I tend to think about and wonder if I'm giving my daughter the right advice, the right idea about life without making it all seem peaches and cream or really hard to deal with.

So I guess to me the best thing is to do what my Greatgrandmother did for me, tell me the truth, not lie about anything and answer all my questions as fairly and truthfully as she could, even on those subjects that would be taboo. I still remember the day she tried to tell me about her wedding night, she described it as "I was so nervous, I was shaking, the bed was shaking and nothing was happening...YET". Hahahahahahah

She talked about modesty and romance and mother duties and how to clean a home, when to have dinner ready for your husband and what pots and pans are best for cooking this or that. Stuff that maybe at the time I thought was completely unneeded by me, I mean I was young, what did these things matter when right after we were done chatting I would go back to playing with my dolls or painting pictures and waited for the dinner call, which I didn't have to prepare.

But I am so glad I kept all that information tucked away inside me, there are so many days that I go back and remember some advice she gave on how to clean something or home remedy and apply it to my daily life. Tried and True Advice from this amazing little lady who lived such a full life surrounded by family. She never stopped smiling and she never stopped working, she puttered around the kitchen with her walker until her last days, she cooked, she cleaned, she gave out orders from the table, she asked for specific meals or a little favorite snack.

She had her rituals, she had to have wine with lunch and dinner, she had to have tea with milk and toast for breakfast but coffee on Sunday's.....she always had a banana or something else after her meals, usually Saltine crackers, and she always used butter, pure, yummy butter, no such thing as margarine on her bread.

And you know what? I soaked all that in, all of it, even things I thought I had forgotten, I go back to and remember and I'm so thankful for that, my only wish if I could change anything, is that she would be here today, so that I could call her on the phone and ask a question or advice or even just laugh about a mishap I had or something I did at home that was dumb.

I am going to try my best to be that woman for my daughter, to be the pillar of strength and information that she will carry with her for the rest of her life, the kind of things she'll pass on to her own children. I don't think I'll ever be able to match the unbelievable, amazing woman that my Greatgrandmother was, but I'm sure I can do her proud.

So I want you to take a moment and think about who that woman was for you, who was the most influential woman in your life and tell me a little about her, I want to honor them all, the mothers and stepmothers, grandmothers and greatgrandmothers or maybe it was an aunt or a sister, let's give them the praise they deserve.

Getting out of the funk!

All the sickies around here have had us in a funk, well me especially, I just didn't have the energy or patience to do things I normally love.....like cooking and baking and stepping outside to enjoy the fresh air.

It felt like we were playing a game of musical chairs with the flu, but thankfully it seems to be dissipating and we're all starting to feel like ourselves. To me, it means grabbing the camera and snapping some pictures and being back in the kitchen where I feel most relaxed.

I had 3 overly ripe bananas sitting on the counter, so I whipped up a delicious Banana Bread. Smells heavenly in here!

I went outside this afternoon and found this. We've had some pretty strong winds here lately and they seem to knock all the lemons off the tree and other than the fact that some hit the ground and become a little mushy......I actually don't mind the wind's help, makes picking lemons even easier :)

I don't know where the little one went, but I found this broken egg shell in my front yard and just had to smile, isn't it just the cutest little thing?

So life goes on here, we're having some stuff to deal with when it comes to future plans and immediate plans. The main thing is that we do NOT like Arizona, we've pretty much been sick constantly since moving here and we've also had some issues with the public schools.

It comes down to whether we can handle it all for another year or two, or we make plans to have me and the children return to Idaho while Curt finishes out his career here. It's hard, extremely hard to make a decision of this magnitude, so we'll see how things go.

Other than that, we're counting down the days until Summer break, I think the kids and I are both ready to call it quits for a few months and just relax, get up late, stay up late, enjoy the summer days of nothing planned and just doing whatever strikes our fancy.

I keep reminding them and myself that we only have 16 days left. WooWee, can't wait!

Well the dinner dishes are calling my name, then it's baths and homework and all that fun stuff before we can sit down on my bed and watch American Idol.

I hope you're all having a wonderful Tuesday. I'll see you back here tomorrow morning for my "wanna try" post.

Happy Homemaker Monday

On my bedside table:
Knit Two
Pioneer Sampler
Bunch of Pioneer Books
Two books for reviewing on the blog


On my TV:
Five Mile Creek Season 1 (STILL...it's taking me forever)
Paranormal State


On the menu for tonight:
Shrimp Egg Rolls, Salad


On my To Do List:
Laundry, Sweeping and Mopping.....
Post office to FINALLY mail off Crystal's crochet goodies (with all the sickness around here I haven't had a chance, sorry Crystal)


New Recipe I tried last week:
Nothing new


In the craft basket:
Nothing, I need to get something going


Looking forward to:
Both kids back at school today, but only for another two weeks before school is OVER. Thank goodness. Looking forward to our trip to Texas in June and seeing family.


Homemaking Tip for this week:
When frying something, you get left with all that oil. If it's still clean, you can reuse it for the next time you need to fry something else, but if it's to be thrown out.....don't just dump it into the kitchen sink, it will clog it up.
Let it cool down in the pan, then pour it into a ziplog bag, then dispose of it in the trash.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Haven't been reading blogs, hope to do that today.


Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
You can never use enough sanitizer, especially nowadays. I keep bottles everywhere in the house and even in my purse.


On my Prayer List:
My family - praying that we're done with all the sickies around here


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Proverbs 15:22-24(KJV):
22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

Enjoying the Pioneer Ways!

I've often spoken about my interest in the Pioneer ways and the simple times, I've shared my thoughts and I've showed you pictures and information that I came across while researching those days.

Recently I talked about 3 books that I had ordered from Amazon and I was so excited when they arrived a few days later. I haven't had much time to sit with them because they came in right in the middle of the sickness pandemonium going on around here. I've slowly peeked here and there, and have been dying to get into them more.

Today I'm taking it easy, I'm trying to get over this bronchitis and just feel run down, so I'm taking it easy, laying in bed with my afghan, watching the clouds move on in outside and surrounded by my Pioneer books, my laptop and my camera. Yes, it feels good to be relaxing.

Let me show you a little of the wonderful books I got, they're not only full of information but they're told in story form, so I can sit back and read a story but also learn about what they were doing and even get recipes and ideas to make some of the things for myself.

Let's take for example the first one which is called Secrets of the Great Old-Timey Cooks. With recipes like Mock Macaroni, Jam Windmills and Coconut Stack Cake....and also kitchen secrets from contemporary pioneer women, vintage photos, folk remedies and chores.

I love looking through the vintage photos, imagining what it must have been like living in those times.

Here's a recipe from the book for Apple Butter:

Effie's Apple Butter

Fill a 6 quart pan with peeled, cored, sliced apples. Effie combines different varieties, depending on what she has on hand. Add enough water to keep apples from sticking as they cook. (The SECRET is to add almost no water, and constantly stir your apples on low heat until they're cooked.) When the apples are cooked, take a potatoe masher to them until no lumps remain. Add:

2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
2/3 cups sugar (personal preference)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup vinegar

Pour into a crock pot and cook 2-4 hours (or more) on low. You can can the hot apple butter or pour cooled sauce into jars and refrigerate for about three weeks.

****************************************

Now let me show you a bit from The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life. This book is so chock full of goodness, I just can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it is. I actually sat down and looked through it for a few minutes and Jasmine was right next to me, she was amazed at the wonderful things on the pages and all that we could make together.

Who doesn't want to know how to steep the perfect pot of tea? I certainly do.

I think for me the one thing that makes me turn my nose up is the fact that hygiene in those times was just not a big deal. I can not imagine having a bath only once a week OR a month or every couple of months, not shaving, you know.......the stuff that nowadays us women could not do without.

Imagine taking a bath only once in a while.....my word, I can't even think of how badly some of these people smelled LOL

This book is also filled with the sweetest stories. I think that is what caught my attention to begin with, it's not just a book of facts or crafts, it's read like a fiction book with stories thrown in here and there.

Mix Lavender Linen Waters....I LOVE lavender and I love the linen water, I have this cute little bottle that I spray on the clothes before ironing and it leaves them with this sweet clean wonderful scent.

This book teaches you how to make your own.

What you will need:

Sealed jar or container
2 teaspoons lavender essential oil
5 tablespoons 100-proof vodka
1 cup distilled water
Spray bottle

Combine the lavender oil and vodka and shake vigorously. Add the distilled water and pour into a spray bottle (glass is preferable).

Shake gently before using. To use, mist on clothes before ironing your linens. Use it on your Sunday best, petticoats, work clothes, whatever and whenever you want to smell crisp and fresh. Heck, spray it on your curtains before pressing.

Yields approximately 1 1/2 cups.

****************************************

The last book I got was A Pioneer Sampler and oh my goodness, what a great book it is.

I actually sat down with the kids the other night, we were all feeling poorly, but cuddled in my bed with this book in hand and read two chapters.

It's sort of like reading Little House on the Prairie. We follow the life of the Robertsons in 1840 in a backwoods farm.

I think my kids were amazed at how much work the little kids in the book had and exactly what they did, it's hard for them as modern children to wrap their minds around the fact that these young kids had chores that included getting up really early in the morning and tending to the animals, or carrying big buckets of sap to make maple syrup.

It shows you how to dye fabric using flowers and vegetables. How neat is that?

Just like the previous books, it's full of wonderful stories that always follow with details and illustrations and recipes.

For a tasty pioneer snack, mix one cup of honey with 1/4 cup of butter. Spread some on toast or a cracker. Store the rest of the honey butter in the refrigerator.

Here's Sarah's homemade Ink Recipe:

Mash walnut shells and boil them until the water is a deep brown. Add vinegar and salt to the boiling water to set the color. Add lampblack for a black color.
(To make lampblack, ask and adult to hold a small dish over a lit candle and collect the black soot).


So there you go, three books that I think anyone would find and interesting read, not just for the adults but the kids too.

I'm off to go read a bit more, there's so many projects I want to try and so many recipes I want to experiment with. Most of all, I just want to relax and be transported back in time, back to simpler times.

If you have any books you think I would enjoy, let me know in the comments section. I'm always looking for new reads.

Missed me????

I feel like it's been years since I've blogged anything other than the meme's. I miss it, I miss sitting down and just blabbing about my day and what is going on around here.

For those who didn't know yet, Nicholas and I both have Bronchitis and we're on day 4 of the antibiotics. I'm just ready to feel better, I'm ready to get rid of this annoying grating cough and the general unwell feeling, I'm ready to be back to me, the normal (whatever that means lol) crazy, talking, crafting, cooking and mommy me. Someone throw me a life line please, I need it.

Nicholas has missed all week of school, we did try to send him back yesterday but I got a call at noon from the nurse asking me to pick him up, his stomach was hurting a lot. I think it was from the Zythromax which kinda killed my tummy too, but I picked him up and went straight to the doctor's office. He examined him again and said not to worry, he is fine and looks good, it's just the Bronchitis and the body trying to fight the infection.

Anyway, enough about that stuff. You may be wondering what I've been doing with myself, well, nothing much.

I did try to go through all the blogs on my Google Reader yesterday. Hahahah that's all I will say, because when you sit down and see Google Reader (657) you can't help but smile, there's no way I can read and comment on all the blogs, so I did it, I hit "mark all as read". Yes I did, and I know I've missed out on all your posts, but I think I need to just start from fresh or I'll never catch up.

I don't have anything planned for this weekend, other than a quick trip to Walmart and a trip to the mechanic to see if they can figure out what is wrong with my Durango. It's making the weirdest sound, it's like I'm driving down the road in a huge sprinkler LOL
It's also leaking the Anti Freeze and it's at the point where I put in water and it just goes in the top and out the bottom. So sad.

So there you go, nothing exciting happened OR happening soon. I'm counting down the days until school ends on the 22nd, I am ready to have my kiddos home with me all day and sleeping in late and staying up later and so forth. I'm also looking forward to at least 3 months of NON sick days without all the germs and virus' being brought home from school.

Right now, I'm off to go try and catch up on some tv, I haven't watched much at all this past week.

I hope you're having a wonderful friday night and have an equally wonderful weekend.

God Bless,