At the request of my mother-in-law! :-)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Kids being creative!
The kids have been drawing on some big huge paper that we were given. They had a great time yesterday. See their pages for pics of their individual projects!
Hooray! A rainy day!
We are so thankful for the 4" of rain that we received over the last 36 hours. It was a nice, gentle, calm rain - perfect for the ground to soak up. We opened up all our windows and enjoyed the sounds and the cool breezes and the clean scent of rain. It was wonderful! We had been in a drought, with huge cracks in the dry, dry ground. Everything was brown and dying. So we are very thankful!
Oh, and we had a visit from a pair of hummingbirds drinking from a feeder hung in our open window. Seemed one of them was at the feeder every 5 minutes throughout the day. I wonder if they need to drink more to stay warm? There is a picture on my Photos page. I took about a hundred and that one is my favorite. Fun, fun!
Oh, and we had a visit from a pair of hummingbirds drinking from a feeder hung in our open window. Seemed one of them was at the feeder every 5 minutes throughout the day. I wonder if they need to drink more to stay warm? There is a picture on my Photos page. I took about a hundred and that one is my favorite. Fun, fun!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Dinner last night...
What was for dinner at your house, or what's for dinner tonight? Leave a comment and tell us!
Dinner last night was chicken thighs with spicy plum sauce. All diet approved! We really liked it - this is the 2nd time I have made it, but the first time we grilled it and burned it - so had to try again! Here is the recipe I used as a guideline:
Spicy Plum Chicken Thighs (submitted by Beth Curran of Crozet to our Horse and Buggy Produce CSA).
Sauce Ingredients:
2 Tbsp peanut oil
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
1 Thai chile, coarsely chopped
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 lbs red or purple plums, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
Sauce Preparation:
Use side burner or grill. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add ginger, chile pepper, cinnamon and cloves and cook for 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook until plums are soft and mixture has thickened. Place mixture in a food processor and mix until smooth. Let cool.
Grilling:
8 chicken thighs, skin on , bone in
Plum Sauce
Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat grill. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Grill, on 1 side for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn the chicken over, brush with sauce and continue grilling for 3 to 4 minutes, turn over and brush with sauce. Continue grilling and brushing with the sauce until the chicken is cooked through, approximately 12 to 15 minutes.
Yield: 4 servings.
Dinner last night was chicken thighs with spicy plum sauce. All diet approved! We really liked it - this is the 2nd time I have made it, but the first time we grilled it and burned it - so had to try again! Here is the recipe I used as a guideline:
Spicy Plum Chicken Thighs (submitted by Beth Curran of Crozet to our Horse and Buggy Produce CSA).
Sauce Ingredients:
2 Tbsp peanut oil
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
1 Thai chile, coarsely chopped
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 lbs red or purple plums, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
Sauce Preparation:
Use side burner or grill. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add ginger, chile pepper, cinnamon and cloves and cook for 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook until plums are soft and mixture has thickened. Place mixture in a food processor and mix until smooth. Let cool.
Grilling:
8 chicken thighs, skin on , bone in
Plum Sauce
Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat grill. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Grill, on 1 side for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn the chicken over, brush with sauce and continue grilling for 3 to 4 minutes, turn over and brush with sauce. Continue grilling and brushing with the sauce until the chicken is cooked through, approximately 12 to 15 minutes.
Yield: 4 servings.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
A stinky situation...
This spring when I was cleaning out the flower beds, I raked out a bunch of leaves from under the big rose bush... and was shocked to find 2 chicken eggs!!! We have not had chickens for at least 2 years, so this was quite the surprise. I gingerly picked them up and set them into this pot. They felt pretty light and I was curious what would be inside at this point - but not brave enough to crack them. Well, as you can see... there is only one there now... when our friends were over for dinner Saturday, their oldest son picked one up and was surprised at how easily it broke - and how bad it smelled, LOL!!! To satisfy my curiousity, I looked inside and there was a black yolk and that was about it, but oooooweeeee did it smell.
A few pics from the gardens...
... we are in a drought now, so there is not much left that isn't completely brown and dried up - but here are a few things. The pumpkin came from the mysterious "volunteer" plant near the front porch. Between the deer and the drought, things are pretty sad out there. :(
Puzzle
The girls and I pulled out a puzzle to work on. We have a table in the kitchen just the right size and Heather chose one from a pack of them we received for Christmas. I must admit, I worked on it the most, but the kids did enjoy sitting down with me for a few moments every now and then. It is a mother with her son and daughter on mother's day - a pretty victorian-era picture. Here is a picture of the work in progress!
Bulletin Post!
My new camera has arrived, and I have one lens 18-55mm and the correct memory card in hand - there will be lots more pictures as I learn, and they may not all be pretty (as in focused - good light, etc...)! :D Here are a few of my very first ones with the Canon Rebel - of my kids of course. I am about half way through reading the manual, which is 180 pages long!!! I am enjoying the dof, but struggling with getting the crisp images that I want, without blur. I am forcing myself to not use flash too - which has a huge learning curve! Fun, fun, fun!!! :D
Monday, August 18, 2008
Bathroom blues
There's nothing like sleeping on the bathroom floor at 4am so that you don't continually wake your husband by tripping over the dog while running to the bathroom. Sick tummies are the worst :(
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Minnesota Trip synopsis (the "good")
"God works all things together for good for them that love Him."
The trip was super stressful, but some good lessons were learned. Two of the most important are probably these:
*I cherish my husband's physical presence and covering more. I truly missed having him by my side to get through things. It was hard for him to not be with us and able to help too!
*We need to pray more about such things. Thank you Amy for pointing that out - tactfully and sweetly - I stubbornly didn't "get it" for a while, but it is very true and I am finally able to admit it.
Some great things about the trip:
Of course, not everything was negative - just seemed that way some days! :-) I was so happy to see my grandparents again, and my sister and her husband and 3 precious boys, and to visit my friend Heather and her family! Mom and I got some good time together during the week at our house (getting lots of housework done - thanks so much mom!), and while traveling in the van. Mom drove MUCH of the way on the trip there, both days. That was very helpful to me. I got LOTS of barn photos on the trip there! I got to know Amos and Ethan better, and see what a great wife and mom Angela is. I was able to meet sweet little Reuben before he got too big, he is a beautiful and very calm, quiet baby. We had a lovely time at Joe's parent's farm, playing and visiting several times. We had some nice, quiet afternoons while Angela and her boys napped - that was very relaxing. Our children and I had some good conversations and times of prayer together in our little basement room. I enjoyed drinking pots and pots of coffee with my mom! :-) Mom, Angela and I had some nice evenings doing puzzles and watching movies. I had my first slice of key lime pie, yummy! Will was able to catch many, many toads and tree frogs. Heather was given the opportunity to take care of some kittens from the farm, her job was to feed, water, and "tame" them - it was a great thing for learning some responsibility and keeping her busy. The kids all got a tractor ride at the farm. Will had a good birthday party while there, with a spaceship pinata and store-bought cake (a rarity). We enjoyed seeing lots of seagulls and herons and lily pads and cat tails. We enjoyed the county fair, the kids had some fun rides - including the roller coaster for Rose (a long time dream of hers), and saw lots of great farm animals. Another day we went to a big, new park and then to swim in a mine pit! My children were given some great exposure to what it is like to have a baby and younger children in the house, and in the car. I got a new appreciation for my mom's life with 7 children - Angela's and my children are: Heather (10), Rose (8), Will (6), Amos (4), Ethan (2), and Reuben (newborn)... that was my mom's kids - EXCEPT there were twin 4 year olds!!! It was great fun to have the stair-step kids in one house, but the days were definitely full - and there were 3-4 adults most of the time! As always, after traveling, we appreciate home and our own routine and our daddy much more too. :-)
Okay, I think I am done processing it all now. On with the day!
The trip was super stressful, but some good lessons were learned. Two of the most important are probably these:
*I cherish my husband's physical presence and covering more. I truly missed having him by my side to get through things. It was hard for him to not be with us and able to help too!
*We need to pray more about such things. Thank you Amy for pointing that out - tactfully and sweetly - I stubbornly didn't "get it" for a while, but it is very true and I am finally able to admit it.
Some great things about the trip:
Of course, not everything was negative - just seemed that way some days! :-) I was so happy to see my grandparents again, and my sister and her husband and 3 precious boys, and to visit my friend Heather and her family! Mom and I got some good time together during the week at our house (getting lots of housework done - thanks so much mom!), and while traveling in the van. Mom drove MUCH of the way on the trip there, both days. That was very helpful to me. I got LOTS of barn photos on the trip there! I got to know Amos and Ethan better, and see what a great wife and mom Angela is. I was able to meet sweet little Reuben before he got too big, he is a beautiful and very calm, quiet baby. We had a lovely time at Joe's parent's farm, playing and visiting several times. We had some nice, quiet afternoons while Angela and her boys napped - that was very relaxing. Our children and I had some good conversations and times of prayer together in our little basement room. I enjoyed drinking pots and pots of coffee with my mom! :-) Mom, Angela and I had some nice evenings doing puzzles and watching movies. I had my first slice of key lime pie, yummy! Will was able to catch many, many toads and tree frogs. Heather was given the opportunity to take care of some kittens from the farm, her job was to feed, water, and "tame" them - it was a great thing for learning some responsibility and keeping her busy. The kids all got a tractor ride at the farm. Will had a good birthday party while there, with a spaceship pinata and store-bought cake (a rarity). We enjoyed seeing lots of seagulls and herons and lily pads and cat tails. We enjoyed the county fair, the kids had some fun rides - including the roller coaster for Rose (a long time dream of hers), and saw lots of great farm animals. Another day we went to a big, new park and then to swim in a mine pit! My children were given some great exposure to what it is like to have a baby and younger children in the house, and in the car. I got a new appreciation for my mom's life with 7 children - Angela's and my children are: Heather (10), Rose (8), Will (6), Amos (4), Ethan (2), and Reuben (newborn)... that was my mom's kids - EXCEPT there were twin 4 year olds!!! It was great fun to have the stair-step kids in one house, but the days were definitely full - and there were 3-4 adults most of the time! As always, after traveling, we appreciate home and our own routine and our daddy much more too. :-)
Okay, I think I am done processing it all now. On with the day!
Minnesota Trip synopsis (the "bad")
Outline of Events that Caused Us To Ask:
"What were we thinking? "
"How could so many things go "wrong" in 3 weeks time? "
"Was it worth it?"
*I made plans, with Tom's blessing, to travel to MN when Angela had her baby
*We checked into flying, but couldn't settle on a date or find tickets for not too much $
*We decided to fix the Astro's transmission and drive
*Our home a/c stopped working
*The transmission place said the Astro did not need a transmission, just a tune-up
*The home a/c was fixed with little $ - praise God!
*The Astro had a tune-up and we decided to get a 2nd opinion on the transmission
*We had a rebuilt transmission installed in the Astro
*Paid for the tune-up, tires, etc... and found out the a/c hose from front to back had a hole in it
*Decided to go without a/c
*Discovered my debit card was being charged without my knowledge by a website (see below)
*Called my BP credit card to tell them I would be traveling and where
*Left for our trip
*Van broke down 1.5 hours away - "rear end went out"
*Got van towed to repair shop
*Decided to have work done there and rent car to come home
*Picked mom up in rental and brought her home with us
*Got lots of work done on cleaning house, but ate lots of the food we had left for Tom
*Van completed a week later - got rear axle replaced, a/c hose fixed, a/c recharged, rear brakes, repairs on van now total about $4,000!
*Mom, kids and I leave for mom's house and then on to MN
*Pick up van on the way, engine light stays on and it runs rough when a/c is on, but we leave
*Arrive at mom's and realize her dh really doesn't want her to go
*Sleep for the night
*Rise very early, have b'kfast out and hit the road - mom does come
*Stop for gas and realize BP card is not working ("card not recognized")
*Call BP and they will send new card, other was old due to their changes - will take a week to get them!
*Arrive at grandparent's in Indiana, have lovely time
*Leave bright and early for MN - long drive!
*Arrive at Angela's - hooray!!!
*Bank says they will deactivate my debit card and send a new one so there are no more fraudulent charges - ask Tom to send the new one when it arrives (along with new BP card)
*Cell phone company send back warranty phone and I have to get a new one -no Alltel stores where I am, so Tom buys one and mails it to me
*I have to mail loaner cell phone back within the week, new one arrives just in time
*Angela's washer stops agitating and has to get repaired - couple days with no laundry and 11 people!
*While the repairman is there for the washer, he looks at her oven thermostat/regulator and accidently drops a tool on it and completely breaks it - no oven for a week! (11 people, remember?)
*Pipe under Angela's bathroom sink springs a leak, wait a few days for Joe to return and repair
*Mom decides to fly home so her dh will be happy
*Major behavior issue with Will causes some serious stress
*Drive mom to the airport
*Debit card and BP card arrive in mail at our house - but Tom doesn't realize they are there (!)
*Tom calls, missing us and stressed with office work needing done - can we come home?
*We go to county fair - my camera breaks
*I get cash to travel with since I won't have debit or BP card (hate traveling with cash)
*We say sad goodbyes, leave bright and early for Iowa
*Visit a friend in Iowa for one night - very nice time
*Leave early next morning - alarm didn't go off, so should have been earlier!
*Drive, drive, drive...
*Our invertor that allows the TV and small fridge to plug in stops working, take a long stop to buy a new one for my sanity
*Drive, drive, drive...
*Very sad can't take more time and visit family in Illinois like we had planned
*Drive, drive, drive...
*Around 4pm, a/c compressor freezes and it is HOT and I am tired!!!
*Drive, drive, drive...
*Arrive home around 3am - after over 18 hours of straight driving
*Whew - I am exhausted!!!
"What were we thinking? "
"How could so many things go "wrong" in 3 weeks time? "
"Was it worth it?"
*I made plans, with Tom's blessing, to travel to MN when Angela had her baby
*We checked into flying, but couldn't settle on a date or find tickets for not too much $
*We decided to fix the Astro's transmission and drive
*Our home a/c stopped working
*The transmission place said the Astro did not need a transmission, just a tune-up
*The home a/c was fixed with little $ - praise God!
*The Astro had a tune-up and we decided to get a 2nd opinion on the transmission
*We had a rebuilt transmission installed in the Astro
*Paid for the tune-up, tires, etc... and found out the a/c hose from front to back had a hole in it
*Decided to go without a/c
*Discovered my debit card was being charged without my knowledge by a website (see below)
*Called my BP credit card to tell them I would be traveling and where
*Left for our trip
*Van broke down 1.5 hours away - "rear end went out"
*Got van towed to repair shop
*Decided to have work done there and rent car to come home
*Picked mom up in rental and brought her home with us
*Got lots of work done on cleaning house, but ate lots of the food we had left for Tom
*Van completed a week later - got rear axle replaced, a/c hose fixed, a/c recharged, rear brakes, repairs on van now total about $4,000!
*Mom, kids and I leave for mom's house and then on to MN
*Pick up van on the way, engine light stays on and it runs rough when a/c is on, but we leave
*Arrive at mom's and realize her dh really doesn't want her to go
*Sleep for the night
*Rise very early, have b'kfast out and hit the road - mom does come
*Stop for gas and realize BP card is not working ("card not recognized")
*Call BP and they will send new card, other was old due to their changes - will take a week to get them!
*Arrive at grandparent's in Indiana, have lovely time
*Leave bright and early for MN - long drive!
*Arrive at Angela's - hooray!!!
*Bank says they will deactivate my debit card and send a new one so there are no more fraudulent charges - ask Tom to send the new one when it arrives (along with new BP card)
*Cell phone company send back warranty phone and I have to get a new one -no Alltel stores where I am, so Tom buys one and mails it to me
*I have to mail loaner cell phone back within the week, new one arrives just in time
*Angela's washer stops agitating and has to get repaired - couple days with no laundry and 11 people!
*While the repairman is there for the washer, he looks at her oven thermostat/regulator and accidently drops a tool on it and completely breaks it - no oven for a week! (11 people, remember?)
*Pipe under Angela's bathroom sink springs a leak, wait a few days for Joe to return and repair
*Mom decides to fly home so her dh will be happy
*Major behavior issue with Will causes some serious stress
*Drive mom to the airport
*Debit card and BP card arrive in mail at our house - but Tom doesn't realize they are there (!)
*Tom calls, missing us and stressed with office work needing done - can we come home?
*We go to county fair - my camera breaks
*I get cash to travel with since I won't have debit or BP card (hate traveling with cash)
*We say sad goodbyes, leave bright and early for Iowa
*Visit a friend in Iowa for one night - very nice time
*Leave early next morning - alarm didn't go off, so should have been earlier!
*Drive, drive, drive...
*Our invertor that allows the TV and small fridge to plug in stops working, take a long stop to buy a new one for my sanity
*Drive, drive, drive...
*Very sad can't take more time and visit family in Illinois like we had planned
*Drive, drive, drive...
*Around 4pm, a/c compressor freezes and it is HOT and I am tired!!!
*Drive, drive, drive...
*Arrive home around 3am - after over 18 hours of straight driving
*Whew - I am exhausted!!!
It shipped, it shipped!!!!
Hurrah, hurray! My camera could be here as early as Friday - but likely early next week. I can't WAIT!!!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Guess what I just ordered??? :D
EOS Digital Rebel XTi Black 10.1 MP Digital SLR Camera (with EF-S 18-55 mm Lens)
I am SOOOOOOO excited! It doesn't ship for 2 whole weeks though - waaaah!
I was just asked to photograph a friend's wedding (don't worry - I told her, I am NOT a professional, and I have never shot a wedding before BUT I am happy for the opportunity and will be happy to snap away and see what we get!). I am super excited about it all!
I am SOOOOOOO excited! It doesn't ship for 2 whole weeks though - waaaah!
I was just asked to photograph a friend's wedding (don't worry - I told her, I am NOT a professional, and I have never shot a wedding before BUT I am happy for the opportunity and will be happy to snap away and see what we get!). I am super excited about it all!
Friday, August 08, 2008
Homeschool Court Decision
From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
Homeschoolers Win Landmark Case
In a 3-0 decision the California Court of Appeal reversed its earlier ruling which would have required homeschoolers to be certified teachers in order to homeschool. (HSLDA) More >>
(Link above for more info!)
Homeschoolers Win Landmark Case
In a 3-0 decision the California Court of Appeal reversed its earlier ruling which would have required homeschoolers to be certified teachers in order to homeschool. (HSLDA) More >>
(Link above for more info!)
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Website Warning!
I have had a bad experience with a website and wanted to put a warning out. 2 years ago, for Will's 4th birthday I ordered him a pair of pin-stripe engineer overalls to match daddy. They cost $6 + shipping. On July 8, they suddenly charged my debit card $69.99 - and today I discovered another charge of $79.99! I have contacted my bank and each time they investigated, removed the charge from my account, and sent me a new debit card. When I talked to the lady today, she said that they had lots of calls regarding this company and that they must be having some sort of computer system errors???!!! So... watch your statements, especially if you have every purchased from www.classiccloseouts.com . Their website is not suspicious really - I have purchased from many just like it, but going back I see that they don't have contact information listed other than 24/7 e-mail assistance, which they don't reply to... I got their phone# from my bank and when I called after the first charge, it was busy constantly. Today I did get an automated answer, but each dept that I tried to talk to (called back 5-6 times) only spit me into voicemail - and yes, I did leave a msg at each "dept"! We will see what happens, but I am thankful that my bank will work with us on investigating the charges. Very frustrating!!!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Home again, home again... jiggety jig!
Arrived home at 2:30 this morning. Drove for 8 hours Thursday and almost 19 hours on Friday. Resting LOTS today! Thank you for all the prayers and support.
Amy sent over a large basket of food and groceries, for which I am eternally grateful. As I was driving the last leg of the journey, my mind was racing to what would need done today... I am so thankful that I can wait until Monday morning to go grocery shopping! Thank you my dear sweet friend. :-)
Amy sent over a large basket of food and groceries, for which I am eternally grateful. As I was driving the last leg of the journey, my mind was racing to what would need done today... I am so thankful that I can wait until Monday morning to go grocery shopping! Thank you my dear sweet friend. :-)
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