Woke up two days ago to everything covered in snow. I didn't even know we were expecting any, such is the crazy weather here.
But it does provide us with such beautiful shots. Matter of face, the minute it starts snowing, I'm making sure my camera is charged and ready to go.
A quick glance down our street, I love this neighborhood, it's so quiet.
Save for a cow mooing here or there....this photo just gives me the giggle, I don't know why, I think it's the white covered face, she was looking down for the longest time and then suddenly popped her head up to look at me and it just cracked me up.
It was the perfect snowball and snowman making snow...if you know what I mean. It's got to be just right or it doesn't work, and this one was just right.
Don't know about you all but I wouldn't want to be pelted with THIS size snowball LOL
There can never be a single snowman making session that comprises of JUST making the snowman, because there is always a sneaky someone throwing some stuff around.
Here is my Nicholas getting one to the noggin from his Uncle Miguel.....
The task at hand was eventually completed, and boy was that one big snowman.
The rest of the day was spent indoors staying warm, and I of course, enjoying my crochet.
And to quickly show you how my Crochet Mood Blanket is coming along...
The first week is already joined and I am so in love with it already :)
Right, well now I must get off, it's dinner time and then I'm taking a very hot shower to help my pulled neck muscle and getting into bed to binge watch Heroes with the hubster. My kind of Friday night.
April Appleton is so annoyed at her older brother that she searches the Internet for a spell to turn him into a dog. When the spell works, April realizes she has more powers than she ever dreamed of! Now she has to figure out how to turn him back to normal before her parents find out. She has little time, but with help from her friends Grace and Eve she finds a book of magic that will hopefully reverse the spell. Will it work, and will April’s newfound magic save the day?
About Talia Aikens-Nuñez
Talia Aikens-Nuñez wanted to be a meteorologist, a politician and a lawyer. She never thought she would be a writer. It was the birth of her daughter that caused her to start writing. Raising a bilingual child inspired Talia to write multicultural children’s books. Talia’s family loves nature so much that she and her husband vowed that they will always try to live close to water. She, her husband and daughter live on a river in Connecticut with their daughter Isabella.
Find out more about Talia at her website and connect with her on Facebook.
My thoughts:
It was such a cute quick read. Obviously it's geared towards kids, but I read it as well as it looked like a fun story.
What made it funny were the things she had to go through and do to try and turn her brother back into himself after accidentally turning him a dog.
I had my son and nephew read the book, and even though they're boys and in the 10-12 age range, they both thought it was a funny book and enjoyed it.
Thank
you to TLC Book Tours for providing me with a review copy.
2 pounds, 3-⅓ ounces, weight Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, Cut Into Large Cubes
1 whole Onion, Peeled And Halved
2 cloves Garlic, Peeled
1 whole Small Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Quartered
1 can (156ml Can) Tomato Paste
1 can (about 400ml Can) Coconut Milk
1-½ teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Curry Powder
1 Tablespoon Garam Masala (Indian Spice Mix)
2 whole Dry Red Chili Peppers (optional For Extra Heat))
2 Tablespoons Water
1-½ Tablespoon Cornstarch
1 bunch Coriander (optional, For Decoration)
1. Place chicken cubes inside the slow cooker.
2. Place therest of the ingredients (except chili peppers, cornstarch, water and coriander) in a food processor bowl and process together until the mix is smooth(ish). Pour sauce mix on top of the chicken, mix well, add hot peppers if using any, then close the lid. Cook on low for 6 hours.
3. An hour before serving, mix together water and cornstarch until the cornstarch is completely disolved. Add to the chicken curry and mix well. Place the lid back on for the rest of the cooking time.
4. Serve on top of steaming white rice, something wonderfully aromatic like jasmine or basmati rice. Decorate with lots of chopped coriander. Inhale. So good!
It's been such a busy day. I just realized as well that I tend to start a lot of my posts this way, but I am not making this up, it really is the way it goes around here.
I feel like some days I open my eyes and I'm already busy doing something and then I don't stop until around midnight. Geeze!
We started off quite early this morning with another trip to base, this time to get my daughter's hair cut. She has been needing one for a while and I just couldn't take her split ends anymore.
There now....much better and she is totally rocking the bangs. I love this child to death, she brings us so much joy. The haircut suits her but in a way it makes her look much older and I find myself staring at her and wondering where the time is flying to.
Remember when I started my blog back in 2006, she was this little munchkin with curly red hair, now she's an almost 15 year old. *sigh*
My boy also got his haircut but I didn't manage to snap his photo, he's been hiding from me all day LOL
After the haircuts, we came straight back home and I got right into laundry and house cleaning and dishes etc. I also got dinner in the crockpot as today was and is still quite cloudy and cold. I tried out a new recipe for a Slow Cooked Coconut Chicken Curry and it was delicious. Got a big thumbs up from the whole family so it's on the list to make again, and so easy too. I'll share the recipe tomorrow morning when I upload it to the blog.
After getting the crockpot going, I started two loaves of my Buttermilk Bread which I've posted here before, but nonetheless, if you missed it, here is the link to that recipe if you want to try.
While the bread was rising, I started a Date and Nut Loaf which is a big favorite around here, especially of my sister in law's, she just adores this loaf. I do too, it's so good and even better when you slather on some butter. Yum!
So most of my afternoon was spent in the kitchen, which I don't mind at all. I have to tell you that the past 6 months have been such a huge adjustment and one thing that kind of took a back seat was my cooking. I mean, I still cook every night but I haven't been trying new recipes or posting any on the food blog, and that is something that I'm now ready to get back into. I've missed it dearly.
Once everything was baked and out of the oven, I still had about an hour before dinner was ready, so I started my crochet square for day 7 of my Crochet Mood Blanket.
It's coming along very nicely already. I wasn't going to join any squares until the end of the year, but I've decided to just start joining every week and so far I'm loving it. I'm using the Flat Braid Joining method, you can find the tutorial for that through Google or on Youtube.
Just love the colors. Today's color is grey though to match the cloudy skies outside.
I'm also thinking that I may do a few smaller blankets as I make this one. It would be easier for me to just do 2 or 3 squares a day and make say, 3 blankets? The main one is going to be for my bed and that will be quite a big one, but the others I may do lap blankets and give to the all the kids for Christmas.
Anyway, just a thought.
And now I think I deserve a cup of hot tea, a warm blanket, and a book so I can finally put my feet up and relax a little. Yes, I think that is exactly what I'm going to do.
Brrrrr it's cold this morning. Hope you all had a good weekend and are ready for the week ahead.
We had a good relaxing weekend though it always seems to go by so fast, I am not sure I'm ready for another whole week of business.
As per Miss Ruthie Aileen's request, I have added in the "Plans for this week" category :) You will find it right under the To Do List. Enjoy, and if any of you have other suggestions, just let me know.
As I look outside my window:::
15 degrees at the moment and very cold but we're supposed to get up to 36 today, so that will warm us up a little. There's still lots of ice on the ground, cars and roof tops.
Right now I am:::
Enjoying my first cup of coffee with Irish Creme Creamer, but I'm actually not a big fan of the creamer so I can't wait until it's finished so I can get a different one LOL
Thinking and pondering:::
On schooling, have to make sure everyone is caught up and finished for this semester. Also thinking about our moving claims which we have yet to hear back on.
On my bedside table:::
Sat up on Saturday night with my brother and sister in law and uploaded a ton of books to our Kindles and tablets. Hayley told me about a book author which I had never heard of before but he writes along the lines of Dean Koontz and Stephen King. John Saul.
I downloaded some of his books to my kindle and am currently reading The Blackstone Chronicles and REALLY enjoying it. On my tv tonight:::
Hubby and I started watching Alphas and we're enjoying it. I still have to watch the last episode of Death Comes to Pemberley. Also have a ton of series to catch up on. We got a Roku for Christmas and I'm enjoying exploring it, do any of you have one and can give me some tips and ideas on free channels etc?
Listening to:::
My hubby and the pugs snoring away and the crackling of the fire.
On the menu for this week:::
Preparing the new Menu, so not sure yet. For tonight I have some Elk that was gifted to us, so I guess I'll prepare that somehow. Monday - Costoletas de Porco a Moda do Minho ( Portuguese Pork Chops) Tuesday - Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken Wednesday - Rissois de atum c/ batata frita (Tuna Rissoles) Thursday - Peixe com natas (Creamy Fish bake) Friday - Sausage Rice Saturday - Tomatillo and Cilantro Chicken Enchiladas Sunday - Chicken and Rice Soup, Sandwiches
On my to do list:::
Laundry to put away, few items to iron
Mopping
Cleaning house
Homeschooling
Plans for this week:::
Tae Kwon Do with the kids tonight, Wednesday and Thursday
Tiffany has dancing every day except for Friday
Tuesday I have to make a run to base with Jasmine for a haircut and then a quick pop into the commissary to pick up some chicken thigs
What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Working on my Crochet Mood Blanket. You can watch it's progress on this post, I'll be adding the squares as I make them. My simple pleasure:::
Ironing.....I know half of the population just scoffed as they read that, but truly, I love it.
Lesson learned the past week:::
That nothing is impossible, and with a little patience and effort, everything works out. Menu planning lately has been quite a juggle of easy recipes, big enough meals for 8 and keeping it cheap, but God has taught me that it CAN be done if I just apply myself to it and make a lot of things at home instead of buying premade.
Looking around the house:::
Need to give my bedroom a vacuum and dusting, same as the living room. The kitchen needs to be swept and mopped and dishes from dinner need to be packed away so I can wash the ones from breakfast. We have 2 Christmas decorations outside that need to be brought in and packed away.
From the camera:::
Hubby and I at Bruneau Dunes
Prayer List:::
Family and friends. Bible verse, Devotional:::
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 1 Peter 1:13 NIV
