Faith Acre Farm

31 Day No Spend Challenge

2012-01-31T10:12:00.004-07:00

Well, last post I said this is it, no more FAF. Part of me wants that to be the case. I want to finish up or move on or something. But since I've not done any of those things and I want to talk about something...then I guess this is the best place to talk about it.
We've got something big, something huge, something beyond us, something expensive, something only God can work out for us, coming up. It's going to require a lot of money and that's something we don't have much of. So to kick off the process, we are going all out for a No-Spend Month.
Naturally, hubby and I tend to be on the frugal side but there is always room for improvement, no? A typical month in our home sees about $350-400 going out on food, toiletries, pet food and misc. household goods. As it is, that is way below national average for a family of 5. We preserve as much as we can in the harvest season, make as much as we can from scratch and eat simple, frugal meals. We also make as much of our personal and cleaning products as possible. But we still hope to cut that amount down even further this month.
Another area we are below average, but still want to cut out is dining out & entertainment. We typically eat out a few times a month, as cheaply as possible, but it still adds up to be around $75 a month. Netflix is our main source of entertainment and really isn't too bad at $17 a month for one DVD at a time and unlimited instant plays. However, we only watch one movie per week on Friday night, so that ends up costing us $4.25 for one rented movie! This month we are going to put our Netflix on hold and watch only our own DVD's or ones we borrow from friends. There is also Redbox at only $1 per movie if they are carrying anything decent to watch as a family.
So here is a breakdown of where we are planning on cutting back:
-Groceries - We have a large amount of food preserved from last summer/fall, a pig and a half worth of meat in the freezer, fresh eggs everyday, bulk wheat, rice, lentils, oats, peanut butter, jams, potatoes, onions and winter squash and most of it needs to be used up over the few months.
I will keep $50 set aside for fresh produce and dairy. We buy raw milk from a local family and I'm not including that in this challenge at all, since we can't just stop buying it and then start up again later.
Goal to Save: $300.
-Dining/Entertainment - Holding Netflix, eating in and not out, mustering up the will-power to stay far away from Starbucks, skipping the monthly homeschool skate day, opting for trips to the library and visiting with friends instead.
We will eat lunch out with hubby once this month, but will keep it cheap - $20.
Goal to Save: $100.
-Pets/ToiletriesMisc. - The animals are stocked up on food from our last shopping trip and will be fine this month.
We may need to go on a toilet paper ration, as there are only 11 rolls in a house full of girls right now. I bet we can stretch this, but if not I'll use a few $ out of the grocery money to take care of it. All other toiletries are a go. We use homemade soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and have plenty of shampoo & conditioner in stock.
Goal to Save: $50.
-Gas- Staying out of the stores also means saving money in gas used to get to the stores! I have one appointment a week to attend in the next town over, we have church on Sunday only a few miles from home, and a couple baby showers to attend. My goal is to only fill up with gas once this whole month! We usually go through two tanks of gas at $60.00 each time.
Goal to Save: $60.
All in all, we hope to save around $510 this month!! If we even save $300, I'll be happy!

Well..I Guess This is it.

2012-01-06T11:33:00.002-07:00

I just now realized that, while trying to declutter my photo albums in Picasa, I deleted a couple years worth of pictures from my blog. After researching and researching, I have found that there is no way to undelete these pictures and I'm just outta luck.

This upon realizing just last night that somehow I am also missing a huge portion of digital pictures (2005-2008) that are no where to be found. Not on my hard drive, not on Picasa, not on a random CD laying around. That's a big chunk of life to be missing.

Trying so hard not to cry...

I think this may well be the end of Faith Acre Farm blog.

Flowers from the Sun

2011-07-20T19:15:00.002-06:00

Aren't Sunflowers the cheeriest?

Goin' Grannies

2011-06-16T21:06:00.004-06:00

(Carina's Craftblog)

Don't you just love the bright, cheerful, vintage look that granny square afghans give to a room?There are countless combinations and color schemes you can do with them! Not to mention they are a great way to bust your stash of odds & ends yarn.

(Attic24)

These beautiful grannies have inspired me to make one of my own. I have no real scheme worked out yet, but I'm going to start my own little granny along. Can't wait to share the results!

(Two Seaside Babes)

Nursing Cover

2011-06-15T18:56:00.005-06:00

All these babies! Made a nursing cover for another dear friend who had a son last month. I used this tutorial for most of it, while switching over to this one for some added tips.

The first tutorial has you cut the fabric a little bit smaller than I think it should be for most moms. The friend I made it for is on the small side, so it works. But make it a few inches bigger if you aren't a bean pole. K? Thanks.

I also didn't feel that the fabric was thick enough to not ever be seen through, so I sewed a plain, lightweight material on the back just for added modesty.

Make Your Own: Breadcrumbs

2011-06-01T08:33:00.006-06:00

Why spend money on breadcrumbs when you can make your own at home for pennies? If you bake your own bread, you have the added benefit of knowing exactly what is in them and that they are full of healthy ingredients!

I'm slightly obsessed with anything I can make myself. My goal is to start a series of posts on how to make anything from soap to breadcrumbs to deodorant, yourself! I realize these types of posts are a dime a dozen these days, but I'd like to have them here all in one place easily accessed by my growing daughters.

SO without further ado:

How To Make Your Own Breadcrumbs

We keep a bag in the freezer for any little bits of leftover toast or bread that has gone stale. These can stay in there frozen for months until you collect enough to make a big batch of crumbs. Label the bag so other family members can easily throw in that extra piece of toast no one wanted.

Break the bread into smaller chunks while still frozen and toss into your blender. Turn blender on a medium setting until you have a nice fine crumb.

In my experience, there will always be a few stubborn pieces that do not want to blend up. I just fish them out and add them to the next batch of bread to blend up.

There you have it. A nice fine crumb perfect for breading pork chops or chicken or whatever you use breadcrumbs for in your home. I keep them in a mason jar on a shelf in my fridge.

Linked up at:

Our House is a Very, Very, Very Fine House

2011-05-30T12:02:00.003-06:00

I was asked by someone months ago to please, pretty please post a picture of our new home. We've been here for almost 6 months and while I'm still getting used to the size (over 4,000 sq ft!), it's beginning to grow on me. This picture was taken in June of 2010, when it when it was first put on the market. It looks remarkably the same now, only with more weeds in front ;).

Come on over and visit with us! I'll show pictures of the inside soon.

Duck, Duck, Nightstand

2011-05-27T09:02:00.007-06:00

Something about those "before" pictures. Just not nearly as fun to take as the "afters" are they? Well, still I hope you get the idea here. These little nightstands were handed down to us recently and they needed a little pick-me-up from their current mousy brown state. Per the color scheme, you should be able to tell that they are going in the girls' very blue & green room.

As for the little duckie bank, well, Saige saw him (in a pile of interesting hand-me-downs) and just had to have him. I just couldn't see putting him in their room and throwing off all that great matchy-matchy chemistry we've got going on in there. So I had a proposition: The Duck gets a new 'do or it's a no go. She agreed. We now have a happy duck in an eye-piercing shade of green not found in nature.

Another fun & frugal project done for pennies on the dollar with leftover paint!

Saige's Desk - Before and After

2011-05-06T08:30:00.000-06:00

We were given this little desk a few years back and it was lovingly used by my eldest daughter just as it was. Recently though, we have been working on re-doing her room, so it had to be updated to match. While the room isn't yet finished, the desk is all done and I wanted to share a picture of the before and after.

The Before picture is not so good (taken by my 8 year old), but the only one I had. You get the idea of the outdated-ness of it. But it had great lines and character!

After:

The white paint (Behr's Satin Moon) was purchased to repaint their beds, so it was already on hand. The green spray paint has been used for numerous projects as well. The biggest chuck of cost was on KILZ spray primer...this desk took a whole can which is around $6. So for the whole desk I'd guess we came in at around $10!

Shower Blessing

2011-03-17T09:15:00.004-06:00

Had a chance to host another baby shower for one of the sweetest mommies and babies I know. This shower had an added element of sweetness to it: the guest of honor actually attended! That's right, we were blessed by the presence of the precious little man himself.

Once the party got started, I set the camera down and never had a chance to pick it up again. Next time, I assign someone the job of picture taker! However, I did snap a few before anyone showed up.

Decorations are fun, but the lovely ladies who filled the chairs were even better! Sorry I forgot to take "during" photos!

I Needed It.

2011-02-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

I needed it. That slug in the gut.

That "It's been right here all along, why couldn't you SEE it??"

I needed to GIVE it and stop DEMANDing it.

After a fitful couple days of dealing with what I thought was someone else's problems, the mirror shows a strong reflection of ME.

It's me that needs the change, it's me that needs to love, it's me that needed this post.

Candied Nuts...Healthier

2010-12-04T11:53:00.003-07:00

One of my all-time favorite Christmas goodies is Candied Pecans. Oh.My.Yum! This recipe from The Nourishing Gourmet is a great way to enjoy these salty/sweet little beauties without refined sugar. I used a maple syrup/Sucanat combo that turned out wonderfully!

These make a great Christmas gift wrapped in a cellophane bag using raffia or ribbon to tie it closed.

Lovely Christmas Gift

2010-12-02T16:23:00.004-07:00

For your young ladies or any special woman in your life. Just bought two of these beautiful and encouraging 2011 Scripture Calendars for my young ladies to hang in their rooms. It is good for them to have scripture on their "doorposts".

Thankful...

2010-11-26T15:19:00.005-07:00

...giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

So Thankful. Can't begin to say how thankful. For Life, the now and especially the eternal.

Garden Update 7/27/10

2010-07-27T17:21:00.006-06:00

This year the garden is doing much better at growing weeds than anything. We've never had an "in-ground" garden before, only raised beds, so I think that has a bit to do with it. Not to mention the neighbors told us that the little garden plot has given the previous occupants more weeds than they could handle as well. Makes me feel a little better knowing it isn't just me.

Anyway, on to the goods...

The harvest isn't huge yet but we have enjoyed our fair share of yummy items. Our harvest totals so far:

(I must note that we had the coldest, wettest spring in years. So we are almost a month behind on a lot of the warmer weather plants.)

- 5 Gallons Raspberries (still picking!)

- 5 Gallons Cherries (done)

- 8 cups Spinach (done)

- 4 cups Lettuce (done)

- 10 Radishes (let the rest go to seed)

- 3 quarts Snap Peas (done)

- 1 quarts shelled Peas (done)

- 10 golf-ball sized Beets

- 1 lb Green Beans

- 2 lbs Purslane

- 4 medium sized Zucchini

The tomatoes, corn, pickling cucumbers, Armenian cucumbers, long island cheese squash, cabbage, marionberries, peaches & nectarines are all looking great! Can't wait for more goodies :).

Menu Plan 7/26 - 8/01

2010-07-27T17:10:00.003-06:00

Monday:

~Breakfast: Yogurt &Toast

~Dinner: Leftovers (A friend took me out for a b-day dinner!)

Tuesday:

~Breakfast: Leftover Pancakes & French Toast

~Dinner: Garden Medley Rice (whatever ripe from the garden served over rice), Roasted Beets & potatoes

Wednesday:

~Breakfast: Toast & Yogurt Smoothies

~Dinner: Grilled Steaks & Grilled Zucchini

Thursday:

~Breakfast: Eggs & Bacon

~Dinner: Tuna Cheese Melts & Fries (Saige's night to cook)

Friday:

~Breakfast: Rice Pudding

~Dinner: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza

Saturday:

~Breakfast: Toast & Eggs

~Dinner: ? Butchering Turkeys w/friends, so possibly a potluck w/them.

Sunday:

~Breakfast: Leftover rice pudding, yogurt or toast

~Dinner: Parma Sunday! We go to in-laws for lunch/dinner :).

Roll the Burden

2010-07-26T06:31:00.002-06:00

"Roll the whole burden of life upon the Lord. Leave with Jehovah not thy present fretfulness merely, but all thy cares; in fact, submit the whole tenor of thy way to him. Cast away anxiety, resign thy will, submit thy judgment, leave all with the God of all....The ploughman sows and harrows, and then leaves the harvest to God. What can he do else? He cannot cover the heavens with clouds, or command the rain, or bring forth the sun or create the dew. He does well to leave the whole matter with God; and so to all of us it is truest wisdom, having obediently trusted in God, to leave results in his hands and expect a blessed issue."

Found at: Girl Talk - Roll Your Burden

July 22, 2010

2010-07-22T07:21:00.003-06:00

Today I am 32. The early morning finds me sipping coffee and reading my bible in bed. Sweet hubby made coffee, his own breakfast and lunch this morning...so I could sleep in. I try hard to focus on blessings, thankfulness, love....but the lonely thoughts still find their way in.

As I lie here praying and crying with mingled emotions of joy and sorrow, blessings and curses, hopes deferred and not yet realized, God places a song in my heart.

~~~They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles...as eagles! They will run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord...to wait.~~~

So I turn the thin pages until I find it. Isaiah 40:31. This version says *hope* instead of *wait*. I find myself waiting in hope. Soaring on wings like an eagle, not groveling like a worm.

This 32nd year of life I will wait in hope. I will hope during my wait. God promises me another year of His strength. What more do I need to carry on?

Isaiah 40:27-31

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God"?

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Cheas & Perries ;)

2010-07-15T07:33:00.000-06:00

I've been trying to post these pictures without success for over a week now. Blogger is having some issues or something!

Fullness of joy, fullness of bellies...I love this time of year: summertime, harvest, hands to work hearts to God. My cup overflows when I sit back and take in what the Lord provides...the nutritional goodness, the many little hands (which are growing bigger everyday) to make light work.

Our Cherry tree gave us an abundant harvest of sweet red morsels this year. We came away with 2.5 gallons in the freezer for later use in pies, baking and smoothies...1 quart dried to throw in with a handful of soaked/dehydrated pecans, and finally 8 jars full of Cinnamon Cherry Sauce to be drizzled over pancakes, yogurt or ice cream (did I mention the failed jam part ;)?! None of this could have been done with such ease if my beloved hadn't picked up a wonderful cherry pitter on his way home from work :).

This was our first year growing peas to shell. Of course we couldn't help but pick many of those young, skinny little pods to be eaten fresh and whole :). The shelled peas were such a treat at the table, but we did not pick enough to freeze or preserve in any way. We picked the last of them yesterday, only to find that they had lost all their sugar and were far too bitter for human consumption :(. Let that be a lesson learned...peas must be picked sooner than later ;).

This Week's Menu Plan

2010-07-11T23:59:00.001-06:00

It's been a long while since we've been able to have a week in which I can actually plan a menu and sit down at the table with my family and eat. Well this is the week!

We're on week 4 of our monthly food budget, meaning there is no money left and haven't had any for at least 2 weeks! I go on a "big shop" once a month to get bulk items and the majority of the groceries, then if there is any money left over I'll use it for smaller trips to pick up perishables. Most times I run out after week 2.

Never fear though, the fridge is full. There is enough bulk in the pantry to keep us fed for months and the garden and orchard are starting to produce so we can't go hungry now!

Monday:

~Breakfast: Toast & Eggs

~Dinner: Buttermilk Soaked Pancakes, Fresh Berries

prep - grind & soak millet & oats for pancakes

Tuesday:

~Breakfast: Homemade Granola & Yogurt w/cherry sauce (read: Failed Cherry Jam ;)!

~Dinner: Fried Brown Rice w/Garden Fresh Peas

prep: make artisan bread

Wednesday:

~Breakfast: Leftover Pancakes & Eggs

~Dinner: Spaghetti w/Homemade Marinara, Broccoli, Artisan Bread

prep: make bread

Thursday:

~Breakfast: Peanut Butter & Jam Toast

~Dinner: Cheese Quesadillas for children, Mommy & Daddy - Dinner Date!

prep: make yogurt, make cinnamon biscuits

Friday:

~Breakfast: Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits & Yogurt

~Dinner: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza

prep: chop onions & garlic for hashbrowns

Saturday:

~Breakfast: Hashbrowns, Bacon & Eggs

~Dinner: Grilled Chicken Thighs, Roasted Potatoes & Beets

Sunday:

~Breakfast: Leftover Biscuits/Toast/ Yogurt & Granola etc.

~Dinner: Leftovers

Notes:

-Have lots of leftovers in the fridge for Sundays...makes it truly a day of Rest! ;)

-Lunches are comprised of leftovers, Tuna or PBJ Sandwiches, or whatever else we find in the fridge!

Lake Tahoe

2010-07-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

The last weekend in June we had a Family Reunion in beautiful Lake Tahoe. I kept forgetting to bring my camera out, but on the last day there we finally got some pictures. This was at Pope Beach in South Lake Tahoe.

You'll see the swimsuits we made for the girls from this pattern. They turned out so cute and modest. I love the protection they offer from the sun and from wandering eyes that don't need to see precious little girl skin.

Saige

Emarie

Ryleigh

Ryleigh and her cousin Grace

Emarie, Saige & a cousin?

Saige w/Taylor & Nadia (both cousins)

Dear hubby Kev, getting help from Gracie.

Uncle Roger burying Madison.

Uncle Vern, Papa & "Uncle" Tom :).

Happiest 9th, My Sweet Em!

2010-07-01T07:23:00.005-06:00

My little "Cheekers", my preciously sweet little Emarie turned 9 in June. This girl is a delight to her daddy and mommy, a soul full of compassion for the hurting, a sister who loves with all her heart and a bookworm like I've never seen :).

Have a blessed 9th year, my sweet cheeks! We LOVE you!!

Summer Rainstorms

2010-06-23T06:00:00.003-06:00

As a kid I remember loving when the clouds would roll in and cover the searing hot sun. Along with reprieve from the burning rays came glorious, cool little drops of water. It seems that my children are no different.

With the threat of a thunderstorm rolling in, they took action...swim clothes and a race to the trampoline. What is more fun than a trampoline? A wet, slippery, scare-mommy-to-death trampoline!!

Sorry for the long distance pictures, I was taking them from the safety of my house!

Ryleigh is a bit more cautious, like her mama :). She wasn't about to go out in the rain with out her 'brella!

Frugal Fridays

2010-06-22T16:53:00.007-06:00

My Grandma, Mom, Sister, Auntie and I have been gathering in my home every other Friday. What started out as a planning luncheon for my Grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary, morphed into a series of get-togethers to share and teach frugal homemaking skills. I have been blessed to be able to share some of my experience with them.

Here are a few snapshots of the learning fun we've had :).

My Aunt, Mom and Sister...making Strawberry Freezer Jam for the first time!

Working together, we made 32 pint jars in about an hour.

Each jar worked out to be about $1.00 each. Very economical and delicious! Freezer jam uses far less sugar than traditional canning, so it's much healthier too.

Grandma did a great job keeping the grandgirls and great-grandgirls busy!

~~**~~**~~**~~

Another Friday we tackled sewing. My Aunt wanted to make a cover/holder bag for her beach umbrella and my little sister made a purple gingham head scarf.

My little sister uses a bandanna as a pattern while my mom (who already knows how to sew) supervises.

Grandma and Gracie watch my Aunt as she sews for the first time in her life. And she picked rip-stop nylon to work with on her very first project! Ambitious, no?

"What you making Mommy??" Gracie is always full of questions. My Aunt rocked the sewing machine, you would never know she hadn't touched one before!

The bag she made. We had no pattern, just went off measurements from her umbrella. It turned out so nice. It looks great and is very functional.

I didn't get a finished picture of my sissies' cute headscarf, but it was made with this adorable purple gingham. Cute! Meggie did a great job as well, on her very first time using a sewing machine.

~~**~~**~~**~~

We've had so much fun doing this, not only are they learning new important skills, but we are spending some much needed family bonding time together. Thanks Grandma, Mom, Meggie & Barb for your participation, it's been fun!

How about your family? Friends? Know of anyone who would enjoy and benefit from your experience and skills? Share them, pass them on and build some great memories and lasting relationships while you're at it :).

Pardon My Dust

2010-06-18T09:24:00.001-06:00

I'm going to be messing around with my template over the next few days, so pardon any wierd looking things you may see. When you can only work in 15 minute increments, it is hard to complete a task :). So no worries if it seems a little odd. Once it is done, I will add some new posts as I have been neglecting my poor little bloggy lately :).

Saigey Turns 12

2010-05-05T14:17:00.009-06:00

I wish someone would have told me 12 years ago, how fast the time would fly. I look at her and cannot believe the wonderful young lady she is becoming. Thought I'd share a few pictures of Saige's sweet special 12th day.

Each girl gets to choose the entire menu on their special day. They have no chores, no school and can sleep in as late as they want! The end of the day is spent enjoying birthday dessert, opening presents and snuggling with daddy. Humble it may be, but these girls love it.

The morning starts out with homemade Cinnamon Rolls.

Mmm. Can't wait!

Although piano is something she can opt out of on her birthday, she would never. It's a love-thing.

Perfecting her recital song. She chose this one because: "It's one of your favorite hymns, mama".

The most requested birthday lunch in this house. Couldn't be easier.

Beenie Weenies.

Sweet handmade card from youngest sissy.

Another precious hand drawn card from middle sissy.

LEGOS. The most requested birthday gift in this house! This set was from Em & Ry. They worked hard picking weeds to earn the money for it.

Saige has been wanting a jerky-gun for years and Great-Grandma finally made it a reality! She made some incredible jerky.

Hamburgers. In the hail. Yes, hail. Daddy is never one to shirk though!

This girl loves two things: Animals & Coloring. Here ya go babe.

"No, WAY! Your old camera?? YESSSS!!!"

Growin' taller means a bigger bike. We were so blessed to be given this hand-me-down Specialized mountain bike from hubby's boss.

By far the easiest birthday cake I've ever made. She really wanted nothing more than a simple mint-chocolate ice cream sandwich :).

Happy Birthday my sweet punkin. You are growing into an amazing, talented, fun girl who loves the Lord and family above all else! We are so blessed by you.

Feminine Frocks

2010-04-09T09:11:00.005-06:00

Sarah Mae challenged us to get up and get dressed before 8:00 am. Not just dressed, but un-frumpily dressed. Now to make a confession, I can't stand being a frumpster, so I tend to dress in, at the very least, a jean skirt and complimentary top. What usually goes undone if I am staying home that day, is my hair & make-up. But then I find myself praying that no one comes to the door, drops by for an unexpected visit or needs me to meet them somewhere in 5 minutes.

I only ended up with 2 days of photos, but I did fem-it-up the whole week. And, no, I didn't wear brown the whole week, even though that's my color.

So without further ado or should I say up-do?, here are some pictures taken by my sweet daughters who very obviously don't get to handle the camera very often ;).

Oh and the apron...I just made that a few minutes before and thought it would be good to make sure my "daily uniform" was purdy too.

Who can resist adding a little farm-life to the picture ;). Moo.

Great Authors Webinar Give-Away

2010-04-05T18:01:00.003-06:00

Ladies Against Feminism is having a give-away for Vision Forum's Great Author's Webinar. Authors such as Doug Phillips, Voddie Baucham, Kevin Swanson and more give live lectures on their books and engage in Q&A as well.

We would love to attend this! If you would too, head over to Vision Forum, or enter the give-away going on now at Ladies Against Feminism.

Seeds of the Heart

2010-04-01T07:20:00.004-06:00

What good are the seeds planted in the soil to feed our physical bodies, when the seeds planted in our hearts to nourish us spiritually are not being tended to?

My heart is burning with anguish at what has been left untended in my home. Hearts.

The strong, steady heart of my husband. The tender, pliable, moldable hearts of my dear daughters.

Lord, I ask forgiveness for being so caught up in the daily to-do's that I have lost sight of Your perfect will for me. To honor, love, respect and submit to my husband. To do him GOOD all the days of my life!

To lead, mold, train, encourage, inspire these lovely little charges you have given me...our daughters. To raise them up for Your glory, to be kingdom builders. To be wives and mothers with godly vision.

These are the seeds I need to water. These are the seeds that deserve my every ounce of attention. Heart seeds.

Yay! Raw Milk!

2010-03-29T19:53:00.002-06:00

We have been blessed beyond measure to find a local farm that is selling shares of raw milk! It is far more spendy than store-bought dead milk...but the benefits your body reaps will save you in the long run!

If you are in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho and are interested in local, farm-fresh, organic foods then please visit: Pleasant View Farms.

Menu Plan 3/15-3/21

2010-03-16T08:46:00.002-06:00

Monday:

B: Kefir Smoothies, PB Toast

L: Tuna & Crackers

D: Taco Salad

Tuesday:

B: PB & Banana Toast

L: Leftovers

D: Apple Chutney Pork Chops, Rice, Green Beans

Wednesday:

B: Granola & Yogurt

L: Grilled Cheese Sands & Tomato Soup

D: Shredded BBQ Beef on homemade rolls, Peas

Thursday:

B: Kefir Smoothies, PB Toast

L: Leftovers

D: (Saige's night to cook) Fettucine Alfredo & Broccoli, homemade sourdough

Friday:

B: Kefir Pancakes

L: Pork Fried Rice

D: Homemade Pizza

Saturday:

B: Granola & yogurt

L: Leftovers

D: Fingersteaks, Home Fries, Salad

Sunday:

B: Daddy's famous hashbrowns & eggs

L: Tamale Pie, Salad, Dessert

D: Leftovers

Going Seedy

2010-03-01T16:22:00.006-07:00

Seeds. The thought of them makes my heart get all mushy and sappy. Seeds, oh how I love you! Last year we saved seeds from a few of the heirloom plants that we grew. Today I am happy to report that our seed-saving is a success! Everything germinated during our test germination.

What a blissful sight to open up those folded, wet paper towels and see little seeds with even smaller tails hanging out of them. Hurray! Now we can place our order from Seed Savers, knowing next year there will be even fewer seeds we'll have to buy.

Questions on how to germinate heirloom seeds? Try this You Tube Video:

Legalize It!

2010-02-20T11:10:00.006-07:00

This may be a cute song but don't miss the message!! It is SO true and needs to be done.

****http://www.letslegalizeit.com/****

We are huge RAW MILK fans here and just recently lost our source of fresh from the farm raw milk through family. It's been hard. We've gone back to buying from the store but we cut back drastically on our milk consumption because of it. We no longer have an ice cold glass of milk to wash down those brownies or homemade cookies. It's sad.

In our search here in South Western Idaho we have found one local farm where we can buy a share of a cow and then proceed to pay $10.00 per gallon for the creamy white stuff. NO matter how much we believe in raw, that just will NOT fit into our budget.

So for the time being, we have found a source of non-homogenized and low-temp pasteurized whole milk for $6.00 gallon to bide us until Idaho either starts approving some Grade A raw dairies or we get a cow of our own.

Think you're good by using organic milk? Think again. See my post about the dangers of organic milk here.

Almost Time to Plan the Garden

2010-01-18T07:33:00.002-07:00

Every February I love to settle down with a cup of coffee and a seed catalog. What fun to plan and dream what this year's garden is going to produce for our family. Over time we have become less concerned about hybrid variety, disease-resistant and mega-producing and more aware of non-GMO, no Monsanto, heirloom, and open-pollination.

Last year we bought our seeds almost exclusively through Seed Savers Exchange and were delighted with the results! They have great germination success and the plants produced abundant food for our family and some to share.

Occasionally though, we'd drop by Home Depot, Lowes or any other place with a garden center to pick up a few packets of seeds that we weren't able to or forgot to get from the Seed Savers catalog. Well, this year we are going armed with this list in order to know which seed companies to avoid (Monsanto dealers).

I highly encourage you to read over this list and possibly print it out so you are knowledgeable about who you are buying your seed from.

Curious as to why you should avoid Monsanto?

Read on: http://www.mandyblankenship.com/2009/03/avoiding-monsanto-seeds/

and then just Google Monsanto...there is a wealth of information out there. Be informed!

Goodness, I'm still alive!

2010-01-11T07:17:00.004-07:00

I disappeared again. Seems I have a knack for that :). Truthfully, there are times when blogging is just a chore I don't want to do...like a little kid putting off taking out the trash as long as possible. And then, suddenly, this insatiable desire wells up inside and I just gotta get back over here and let y'all know whats going on!!

We moved. Again. This time I hope we stay for longer than 10 months, which has been our going average the last two years.

No more small house woes to share with y'all...nope. We've gone from 750 square feet to over 2000! This is the biggest home we have ever lived in, by a long shot. There are empty shelves and cupboards and floor space galore! Praise God with me!! I am LOVIN' the space :).

Got lots of projects to work on though. Most of the windows have no blinds or treatments what-so-ever. I forsee many hours bent over the sewing machine...in my new craft room! What more could a lady ask for??

Pictures to come soon.

Menu Plan: 11/23-12/6

2009-11-23T07:07:00.002-07:00

We shop every two weeks for groceries. This works for us because 1) hubby gets paid every other week and 2) we buy a lot at Costco, which usually lasts us a good couple weeks.

My monthly "Household" budget is currently: $600 per month. Groceries take up $400 of that, working out to $200.00 per shopping trip or $100 per week. That amount includes all toiletries animal food and household items needed. We don't always use the entire amount and the extra goes toward other categories such as gifts, school-supplies, clothing, home decor, eating out, etc.

We did our shopping last Friday and the totals came to:

Winco: 36.64
Costco: 63.50
Lowes: 12.55

Then we used some of the leftover amount to purchase goodies for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. The total for the boxes came to:

Walmart: 49.74

This pay-period I have some irregular expenses as well such as my bi-annual purchase of Mary-Kay from my mother, which came to be a whopping $15.00. Then there was the monthly purchase of our water (we refill 5 gallon jugs) for $25.

I'm pretty happy with how this pay-period's budget stretched. SO without further ado, the menu for the next two weeks:

DINNER:

-Mushroom Pork Chops, Rice, Salad
-Chicken & Quinoa, mixed veggies
-Thanksgiving Dinner X 2(two families, two nights) (bringing sweet potatoes & rolls)
-Pepperoni Pizza
-Lentil-Rice Tacos
-Leftovers X 3
-Turkey Soup (inevitably we'll bring home leftover turkey :)
-Butternut Soup, rolls, salad
-Chili & Cornbread
-Eating out on a Special Family Sunday
-Game Night with Family (bringing chips & dip)

LUNCH:

-Leftovers
-Tuna Crescent Sandwiches, Apples
-PBJ's, carrot & ranch
-Cheese Quesadillas, Apples
-Turkey Sandwiches, Thanksgiving leftovers

BREAKFAST:

-Oatmeal
-Peanut butter toast
-Yogurt & Granola
-Pancakes

SNACKS:

-Pumpkin Bread
-Apples & peanut butter
-Crackers & Cheese

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-04T15:49:00.004-07:00

Dinner's on the table.

Super-Second Hand Finds

2009-11-04T06:45:00.003-07:00

We've been shopping second hand and garage sales for at least 10 years now. I remember back about 5 years ago, our Sunday afternoon "family time" would be to head to Goodwill after church to find some great deals. All 5 members of this household wore clothing supplied almost soley from thrift stores or yard sales. Whenever we would pull into the parking lot, our van would be among two or three other cars there. But in the last year we've begun to have difficulty finding a parking spot! Thankfully, even with all those other people shopping there, we are still able to find a good deal now and then (even with the steep increase of thrift-store prices!!).

Our latest booty:

Spankin' New Pampered Chef 9x13 Stoneware baking dish. New: $46.00. Paid: $3.99.

Brand New Keds (womens size 7.5) for Saige: New: $25.99. Paid: $2.99.

Nice Eddie Bauer Jeans for myself: New:$59.50. Paid: $5.99.

So on average, thrift store prices are roughly 10% of the retail, non-sale price. Pretty good if you ask me!

I did buy some other things as well, such as a nice pair of Mudd boots, brand new Bitten jeans, a cute skirt for Saige, a wooden slotted spoon and a couple of little plastic toys to make the ladies happy. None of those items could be found "new" on the web, thus no price comparison :). I'm still thrilled about the purchases none the less!

I Heart Crochet

2009-10-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've gotten out the old hook & yarn. My heart was stolen for a little bit by long legged shiny things that go by the name of knitting needles. There is room in my life for those glittering twins, but after spending an hour with my old friend the hook today...I realized how much I missed it. Crochet.

A little peek at what my afternoon consisted of: Creating a matching hat for a sweet little "feeties" outfit. The heart meant much more than a embellishment to adorn that hat. It was a reminder. A reminder that crochet was and is my first yarnie love.

Long Island Cheese Pumpkins

2009-10-27T06:44:00.007-06:00

Funny name, great pumpkins! Named for their resemblance to a "wheel of cheese", perhaps you all have seen these flat, buff-colored pumpkins, perhaps you haven't. At any rate, I want to encourage you to buy one if you come across one, or purchase seeds to grow your own next year.

They have a wonderfully smooth, non-stringy textured flesh which is a beautiful deep orange in color. Their seeds are (in my humble opinion) superior in munching quality to a jack-o-lantern's. And they deliver in the pumpkin-taste test when put into pies or baked goods! Easy to grow, beautiful to look at, reigning in taste and texture, these guys are the prince-of-all-pumpkins!

These and more, agree. We ended up with 17 cheeses from just two plants. Each one weighs between 10-13 lbs and yields approx. 1 cup of puree' per pound. Even after giving a few away, we are going to have plenty of pumpkin to satisfy our needs over the next few months. The cheeses are great keepers too, when kept in ideal conditions (cool, dry, dark place) they can last until spring!

Menu: Oct. 26th-Nov. 8th

2009-10-26T06:40:00.005-06:00

We were blessed with 1/2 cow and a whole pig from my dear in-laws. So the freezers are full and menu planning will be a breeze with all this meat on hand!

DINNERS:

-Chili & Cornbread
-Sloppy Joes, Roasted Potatoes, veggies
-Pork Chops, Roasted Potatoes, Spaghetti squash
-Lentil Rice Tacos
-Pepperoni Pizza
-Winter Squash Soup, Bread
-Chalupa & fixin's
-Breakfast Burritos
-Spaghetti, veggies, bread
-Cabbage, Bacon & Noodles
-Potato Chowder, Bread
-Tuna Cheese Melts, veggie
-Hamburger & Rice, baked buttercup squash, bread
-Zucchini Pancakes

LUNCHES:

-Leftovers
-Tuna or PBJ sandwiches
-Quesadillas

BREAKFASTS:

-Quinoa Pudding
-Oatmeal
-Toast & Eggs
-Peanut Butter Toast
-Kefir Smoothies

SNACKS:

-Pumpkin Bread
-Applesauce & Cheese Sticks
-Dried Fruit & Pumpkin Seeds
-Cookies & Milk

A Little Fall Inside

2009-10-13T15:37:00.004-06:00

It's very fallish outside and I just can't help but decorate for my favorite time of year. Usually I'd have everything out a month ago, but taking our trip put it off. We don't own much in the way of fall decor, but this year we brought home a large variety of winter squash from the produce stand we worked at. How neat that our decor is also a menu item ;).

Menu Plan Monday 10/12-10/26

2009-10-12T13:22:00.003-06:00

Well we are back from our week-long vacation and I am so ready to get back into the routine of life around here. First things first and that means getting a menu made up. It's amazing how much smoother life goes when there are menus made.

DINNERS:

-Chicken & Quinoa, veggies, bread
-Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, veggies, bread
-Pepperoni Pizza
-BBQ Beef sandwiches, roasted potatoes, veggie
-Lentil Rice Tacos
-Chili & Cornbread
-Quinoa & Black Beans, chips & tortillas
-Taco Salad
-Chili Cheese Potatoes
-Chicken Tacos
-Potato Soup, bread
-Roast Beef w/potatoes & carrots, bread
-Tuna Melts, veggies
-Sloppy Joes, veggies
-Leftovers

LUNCHES:

-Leftovers
-Tuna sands
-PBJ sands
-Turkey & Cheese sands
-Grilled Cheese & Tomato soup
-Quesadillas

BREAKFASTS:
-French Toast
-Peanut Butter Toast & fruit
-Eggs & Toast
-Pancakes
-Muffins
-Oatmeal

SNACKS:

-Pumpkin Bread
-Banana Bread
-Applesauce, crackers & cheese
-Cookies & Milk
-Crackers & Peanut Butter

I Will Be Back...

2009-09-16T12:56:00.005-06:00

Yes, one of these days I'll get back to my bloggin' time :). But right now the abundant harvest beckons. Our days are filled with working at a local produce stand and canning during spare time.

We leave on family vacation the first week in October and then we start school right after that. So when will I be back, who knows for sure, but I will return :)

And when I do there will be lots of pictures and information about:

~Working at a locally-grown produce stand

~Canning my eye-balls out
~Family vacation
~New budget & debt information
~Weight-Loss
~Our 12th Wedding Anniversary
~This year's curriculum choices
~Soapmaking & Holiday Bazaars

Enjoy the Indian Summer and we'll see ya in the Fall!

Snaggle-Tooth

2009-08-12T17:27:00.004-06:00

If she knew I titled this post with that name, she would not be a happy girl. But take a look at these pictures...what else could I have named it?

She only lost one tooth here, but because of the other one being so loose it caused a very large space to occur. This snaggle-toothed...uni-toothed...whatever you want to call it...look only lasted a couple days, but thankfully we got pictures to commemorate!

The day after the above photos were taken, Ry's smile revealed that ever-so-cute toothless grin :)

Eh...What's Up Doc?

2009-07-28T15:00:00.004-06:00

Enjoying carrots straight from the garden.

Harvesting Chickens

2009-07-28T10:58:00.002-06:00

We helped some dear friends "harvest" their 50 Cornish-Cross Chickens (a.k.a.: Meat Birds) on Sunday. It was a great time of productive fellowship! Visit Leia's blog to see some highlights.

Menu Plan Monday 7/27-8/04

2009-07-26T21:16:00.001-06:00

Going to be interesting! Riding off the July 5th groceries still...trying to stretch it over a whole month. Thankful for garden produce: Beets, Cabbage, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Carrots, Cucumbers etc...to help us through this time. Also generosity of others who freely share what they have: berries, cherries, raw milk, day-old gleanings from stores, farm-raised meat, etc. God is always providing.

SO with that in mind...it's a Make Do kind of menu. And I'm also not going to list the meals by days anymore. I find that some days certain recipes just don't work out as planned. It's much better to just have a list of ideas and go from there.

DINNERS:

~Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes (crockpot), grilled zucchini

~Lentil Rice Tacos

~Cabbage & Bacon Fry, homemade bread

~~~Zucchini Stir-fry w/brown rice~~

~Spaghetti, steamed zucchini, homemade bread

~Brown Rice & Black Bean Casserole

~Hamburgers, grilled cabbage, grilled potatoes

~Chicken Calzones

~Lentils and Rice with Fried Onions (Mujadarrah), homemade bread

~Breakfast: Eggs, Bacon, Hashbrowns

LUNCHES:

~Leftovers

~PBJ's, Carrot sticks

~Banana Maple Pancakes

~Tuna Sandwiches, Fruit

BREAKFASTS:

~Kefir smoothies, toast

~~~Banana Bread~~

~Zucchini Bread

~Eggs & Toast

~Granola & Yogurt

SNACKS/DESSERTS/EXTRAS:

~Chocolate Zucchini Bread

~Cherry Cobbler

~Carrots & Dip

~Homemade Raspberry Yogurt

~Cherry Clafouti

~Cherry Muffins

~Raspberry Lemonade Popsicles

~Iced Mochas

Organizing Junkie has many more menu plans to check out....go see :).

Cabbage

2009-07-23T09:36:00.001-06:00

Check out our Cabbage over at my Garden Blog.

Birthday Blessings

2009-07-23T07:34:00.005-06:00

This birthday, I had the immense pleasure of taking the day off! No cooking, cleaning, laundry, animal chores, garden work...nothing! My little ladies took care of everything, to bless me on my birthday.

I was incredibly blessed. And incredibly humbled...that God has given me such amazing, smart, talented, hard-working children.

This mommy's heart was filled to the brim yesterday watching those three little ladies working together in a collabrative effort to bless the socks off their mommy.

Thank you Jesus!

Tackle it Tuesday - Girl's Room

2009-07-14T11:29:00.005-06:00

This is a room I've been meaning to get to since we moved here in February. It's July, but we have finally gotten to it! The girls and I removed all the toys, junk, and stuff...threw it into bags or boxes and moved it to one of the outbuildings. With a blank canvas we could then picture what needed to be done in the room.

This is a tiny house, with tiny rooms. We have three little ladies all sharing a room with barely enough space for a queen size bed. And yes, they all three sleep on the bed. They love each other :)! Above is what greeted you as soon as you opened the door. MESS! Ugh. I hated going in there and the girls did not enjoy being in their room at all. Floor space was at a premium and there was only enough empty floor to walk in a path around the bed.

Now, as soon as you walk in, there is a nice empty space in front of the bed; plenty of room for play! We removed the big green dresser from the room and it made a huge difference!

This doesn't show the front of the closet very well, just a peek of it with the mirror on it. Just another view here of how nasty this room was.

Ahh, now the bookcases aren't so overwhelming to the girls and they enjoy browsing the book selection.

We were using the closet for toys, since there wasn't any floor space. Again, all toys are patiently waiting in the bunk house to be sorted through and pared down. But I am happy to report that we can now use the closet for clothes!

Hubby built these shelves in a matter of hours, with wood we salvaged from another project, so we could get rid of the big dresser. I can't tell you how nice it is to have shelves instead of drawers! Now the girls can actually see all of their clothes, instead of the incessant digging to find that favorite shirt. We were able to move their dresses back into their closet and out of ours! The shoes were loving organized by Ryleigh, so pardon the strange heaped appearance of them all.

The next step is to go through all the toys and pare them down to just a couple baskets. The empty spots in the closet will be the toy's new home. Over all, the girls are enjoying the clutter-free space and feeling much more relaxed in their room.

What's everyone else tackling today?

Beets, I'm in Love!

2009-07-09T19:27:00.002-06:00

So I didn't get a picture taken...we consumed them too fast! Next year, I'll be growing an acre worth of beets...just for this amazing way to eat them:

Cut the tops (save!) and roots off of fresh beets. Scrub them down and cut them into 1/2 inch slice. Arrange them on a roasting pan, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt & pepper. Roast at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until al dente.

Meanwhile, cut the hard stems from the beet greens and wash them. Cut or tear them into pieces. Saute some onion & garlic in a few tablespoons of olive oil until brown and caramelized. Turn the heat off and throw the greens in the pan. Stir until greens are wilted.

Serve the roasted beets over the beet greens, with a little butter & salt on top.

Oh my goodness...Why did I never know how AMAZING these were? Even the little ladies gobbled down their fair share :)

Tree House

2009-07-08T16:41:00.004-06:00

Not a tree "house" in the truest sense of the word, but good enough for my little ladies :)

Monday Menu Plan: June 22 - June 28

2009-06-22T14:45:00.005-06:00

Our little lettuce garden is still going like crazy, so we'll be having a few more nutritious salads. We have just one head of our homegrown broccoli left and Saige wants to use it up in her Alfredo recipe this week. An abundance of eggs & milk leads to lots of creamy yummy menu items! Also need to use up one of the last homegrown/home-butchered Turkeys from last fall and today being in the low 70's, I figured it was a great day to roast the bird from it's frozen state.

DINNER:

MONDAY- Roast Turkey, Baked Potatoes, homemade rolls, Green Beans

~pick meat off turkey & start broth in crockpot overnight.

TUESDAY- Turkey & Noodles, Salad, homemade Bread

~make more bread dough for fridge

WEDNESDAY-Turkey Alfredo w/Broccoli, homemade rolls

THURSDAY-Spinach Quiche, Salad, Bread

FRIDAY- Lentil Rice Tacos

SATURDAY-Hamburgers, Salad, Oven Fries

SUNDAY-Shared Meal @ Church. Bring: Tangy Tuna Mac, Glazed Carrots, homemade rolls, Blender Coconut Pie

BREAKFAST:

-Granola & Yogurt

-Toast & Eggs

-PB Toast & Kefir smoothies

-Pancakes, Bacon & Eggs

LUNCH:

-Tuna & Crackers

-Meat & Cheese Sandwiches

-Leftovers

-PBJ's

SNACK:

-Applesauce Muffins (homemade applesauce)

-Kefir Popsicles

-Popcorn

-Pudding pops (made w/homemade pudding)

Head over to Organizing Junkie to see other inspiring menus!

Birthday Trip

2009-06-16T19:14:00.007-06:00

For my sister-in-law's birthday, we headed up to the hills for a scrumptious picnic lunch and the best ice cream cake I've ever had (and she made it herself!). We also celebrated Em's b-day since hers is in just a few days.

The Birthday Girls!

Daddy and his birthday girl!

The scrump-dilly-umptious, coffee-toffee-almond-chocolate ice cream cake that Tammy made!

Family photo time :) Me, my handsome hubby and our little ladies.

Menu Plan Monday 6/8 - 6/14

2009-06-07T18:55:00.000-06:00

MONDAY: Brats & Rice, Salad.

TUESDAY: Crockpot Pizza, Salad.

WEDNESDAY: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans, Bread.

THURSDAY: Bean, Rice & Cheese Burritos.

FRIDAY: Lentil Rice Tacos

SATURDAY: Spaghetti, Green Beans, Bread.

SUNDAY: Birthday Picnic w/Family.

BREAKFAST:

-Granola & Yogurt

-Peanut Butter Toast

-Kefir Smoothies & Toast

-Pancakes

LUNCH:

-Leftovers
-Meat & Cheese Sandwiches, apples

-PBJ's, carrots

-Nachos

Etsy Shop

2009-06-05T07:32:00.004-06:00

It is RARE for me to post about a shop or a place to spend money on unnecessary items, but oh my goodness I cannot keep quiet about this Etsy Store I came upon.

BirdsNbeez has some of the most elegant and unique jewelery I have seen in my entire life. For what they are offering, the prices are incredibly affordable. Here are some of my favorites (hint, hint to anyone b-day shopping for me soon! ;):

Are they not beautiful? I'm not really "into" jewelery either, but I would definitely sport one of these amazing creations around!!

Why Am I Doing This?

2009-05-23T08:24:00.003-06:00

As you can see, there hasn't been much of anything going on around here (my blog, that is). Why? Well for one, I was feeling pretty nasty there for a while. But that's not truly it. Am I so completely busy that I don't even have time for the internet? Nope.

So what's going on? Well, I guess God is working on me and making think long and hard about this "blogging" stuff. I could write it all out, but I just happened upon a blogger friend's blog this morning and she pretty much said exactly what's on my mind (apart from the tall, skinny girl stuff. 'Cuz we all know that ain't me ;).

There may be an announcement in the next little while...of me taking a Summer Sabbatical. Not saying for sure, but it's certainly a thought on the forefront right now.

Sick

2009-05-18T07:46:00.002-06:00

So when life get's overwhelming, what should you do?

Get sick.

Sure! That'll give you time for rest and to stew ;)

My to-do list hasn't gotten any smaller :) No, in fact it's grown. But it'll all have to wait as I contracted some kind of something. Something that has me in bed, still in jammies and within .02 seconds from the restroom. Ick.

Time to lower my expectations and stop to smell the roses.

Whatever gets done today, gets done. Whatever doesn't, will wait. And for that I will thank my Heavenly Father.

Overwhelmed

2009-05-12T07:12:00.002-06:00

Sorry I haven't been on a posting binge lately. I am overwhelmed....with life. My to-do lists are reaching to the floor and my home and family seems to be out of order, desperately needing some tending to. Things are going on all around me, but I am stuck in this bubble of....of....self-pity? despair? nah, those are too strong of words. I dunno, if you can think of a good word to define my blah and overwhelmed state...let me know ;).

Mother's Day was a wonderful day. Kevin and the girls took me to the mountains for a picnic by the creek. Afterward we had dinner with my mom and grandma. It was a refreshing time, just what I needed. If only every day could be like that....*sigh*.

Tah-tah for now, hope to be back posting regularly soon.

Food Waste Friday

2009-05-08T12:24:00.004-06:00

Being in pantry-cleaning-out mode, I've been careful not to waste a thing lately. Well, nothing that is, except some poor little home-grown sprouts that were forgotten about. I shouldn't say forgotten about, I guess maybe I just couldn't come up with something to do with them. We hadn't eaten any salads this week...and usually we thrown heaps of sprouts on our salads, nor did we have any sandwiches. So um, I suppose I'd better come up with more ideas for my sprouts or start making a smaller amount of them.

They didn't become a complete waste....we added them to the compost bucket.

See the Frugal Girl for more Food Waste Fridays.

My How I Love You

2009-05-05T18:38:00.006-06:00

I love these girls. They are so real, so loving, so forgiving. It humbles me that God chose me to be their mother. Wow. Thank you sweet Lord for my precious blessings.

Cheapo Jigglers

2009-05-02T12:22:00.006-06:00

Jello Jigglers that is :) Up until now, my children didn't even know what Jello Jigglers were. Since Jello isn't something we usually ever buy, make or even eat...I can understand why this jiggly mass of fun was so foreign to them.

In the cupboard I keep a supply of unflavored gelatin packets, just in case I need them for....for....something. Well, there is definitely something to use them for now!

Cheapo Jigglers

Save juice from a can of pineapples, peaches, pears, cherries...etc. Here I saved the juice from a can of pineapples & maraschino cherries, leftover from Saige's birthday cake.

Mix the juice together with water until you have 2 cups. If the juice is very unsweetened, you can add 1/4-1/2 cup of sugar. The cherry juice was plenty sweet, so we didn't need sugar.

Put the juice in a saucepan and pour in 2 packets of unflavored gelatin. These come in boxes of 32 packets, for around 5-6 bucks. So each packet comes out .16-.19 each.

Heat the mixture until the gelatin has dissolved. It doesn't need to boil, just look in there when it gets all steamy and see if the gelatin granules are there anymore.

Pour the liquid into an 8x8 pan. Chill for 6-8 hours.

Cut out in fun shapes and let the children rejoice!

Cleaning Out The Pantry

2009-04-30T12:00:00.002-06:00

So I'm cleaning out the pantry. Technically we do not have a pantry, but the word encompasses all that extra food/supplies we keep in whatever areas of the house we keep it in.

I'm challenging myself this next 2 week pay period, to buy as few groceries as possible and use what has gathered in my cupboards and freezer. Granted, we've only lived here for 2 months and brought very little food with us when we came, but I believe with a few necessary items, we can stretch it out for another 2 weeks. That would basically be 4 weeks without grocery shopping. I need to grab a few things like fresh produce, milk, cheese, butter, & sugar.

I'll be sure to share my menus and any stretching/substituting ideas I may learn from this. I have a few up my sleeve already and have scribbled out 15 meals that I can make with what's on hand (and the few things I pick up next week). Fifteen meals will easily get us through 2 weeks of dinners and lunches.

With the money I do not spend on groceries, I plan on getting a few things that I never have enough money left over for. Things like printer ink (wholly moly this stuff is spendy!) & compost for the garden. Anything left after that is going to be squirreled away in my savings envelope.

Of course my pantry stock will have to be built up again, I realize that. But I'm hoping to compile a more organized method to my madness of shopping. There should be a small amount in my bi-weekly budget that I dedicate to pantry stock. If I get nothing that trip for pantry, the money goes into a "stock-up" envelope...or something to that effect. Maybe I'll even keep a Pantry Inventory...maybe not.

Happy Birthday Saige!

2009-04-27T07:47:00.007-06:00

Our eldest child turned 11 this weekend. I cannot believe we have an 11 year old! But how thankful I am that we do. She is such a blessing to our family, I just cannot imagine life without her. From her comedian antics to her hard working ethic...this girl is a true gem to us! Thank you Lord for our sweet Saige!

Birthday Dinner of choice: French Dip Sandwiches, Salad, Salt & Vinegar chips, Cream Soda.

Saige chose Pineapple Upside Down Cake this year.

Littlest Sis, Ry, putting 11 candles on the cake.

Singing Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu.

Blow 'em out sweetie!

She did it!

Saige got a new set of Lego's from Daddy & Mommy and a bag of Sour Gummi Worms, from her sissies. What a blessed, fun day!

Menu Plan Monday 4/27-5/03

2009-04-27T01:00:00.002-06:00

MONDAY
-Spaghetti, Salad, Bread

TUESDAY
-Beef Stew (use leftover Beef from Au Jus sands), bread & butter.

WEDNESDAY
-Bean, Rice & Cheese Burritos, Bell Pepper Slices

THURSDAY
-Loaded Baked Potatoes

FRIDAY
-Lentil Rice Tacos

SATURDAY
-Family B-day Party. Bring: Potato Salad

SUNDAY
-Family B-day Party (other side of family). Make: Chicken Tacos.

BREAKFAST
-Granola & Yogurt
-Oatmeal
-Toast & Kefir Smoothies
-Pancakes

LUNCH
-PBJ's
-Nachos
-Quesadillas
-Leftovers

SNACK
-Granola & Yogurt
-Fruit & Cheese
-Cookies & Milk
-Popcorn

Frugal Friday ~ Budget Baby Shower

2009-04-24T07:43:00.005-06:00

Last week a friend and I did a baby shower for another dear friend. Having a very limited budget, I decided to do as much as I could in homemade fashion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Homemade Chocolate cupcakes, with vanilla buttercream frosting. Even though I did buy the food coloring special for this event, those little pots of Wilton coloring will last the rest of my life and probably be handed down to my daughters when I pass away..No?

Thankfully I had Daffodils growing right in my backyard, so we didn't have to purchase those. The jars are courtesy of my cupboard. Ribbon was purchased.

Reusing a gift bag, probably from a girly birthday (we have a few of those each year). The tag was made using up the ribbon scraps from the flower arrangements and a square of fabric from my stash.

Here's the table in the *free* banquet room at a local restaurant. I lined a cardboard box with a cut of fabric from my stash. The balloons, plates & napkins were purchased by the other friend who helped do the shower.

The momma is going to cloth diaper (Yay for her!) so I made a little set of cloth wipes for her. Also included in the gift, but not pictured was a bag of Bummi Wash from my store.

Belated Easter Pics

2009-04-20T16:55:00.004-06:00

My friend Brandy made the girls' dresses. Aren't they lovely?

Revamping My Template

2009-04-20T08:02:00.002-06:00

It has been brought to my attention that several people have been having problems viewing my blog lately. Funny thing is, it seems to only be people I know in real life! LOL! So, this plain jane look will have to do until I have a few hours to sit and work on it.

Menu Plan Monday 4/20 - 4/26

2009-04-17T13:31:00.011-06:00

MONDAY
-Friends house @ Dinner. Bringing: Coconut Blender Pie

TUESDAY
-Pancakes w/strawberries

WEDNESDAY
-Chicken Pot Pie

THURSDAY
-Tuna Noodle Casserole (didn't make this last week, had leftovers instead) Green Beans, Rolls

FRIDAY
-Lentil Rice Tacos

SATURDAY (Saige's B-day Dinner of choice)
-French Dip Sandwiches, Potato Chips, Salad
-Pineapple Upside Down Cake & Ice Cream

SUNDAY
-Shared Meal @ Church-
Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Potato Salad, Carrot Sticks, Choc. Chip. cookies.

BREAKFAST
-Granola & Yogurt
-Oatmeal
-Toast & Kefir Smoothies
-Pancakes

LUNCH
-PBJ's
-Grilled Cheese
-Nachos
-Leftovers

SNACK
-Banana Bread
-Fruit
-Popcorn
-Cookies & Milk
-Fruit Juice Jello Jigglers

Food Waste Friday 4/17/09

2009-04-17T11:12:00.005-06:00

Found a bowl half full of salad on the bottom shelf in the way back of the fridge :(. We love salad around here and with produce costing so much, this was a huge bummer. Man, avocados are the yummiest, but they look like something unmentionable after a few days . Blech.

Sorry for the blurry pic, I had to shoot fast 'cuz the camera battery was about to die.

Go see Frugal Girl and let her know you did way better than I did today!

Menu Plan Monday 4/13 - 4/19

2009-04-13T14:34:00.003-06:00

MONDAY

Bean, Rice & Cheese Burritos

TUESDAY

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, Salad

WEDNESDAY

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches & Tomato Soup

THURSDAY

Tuna Noodle Casserole

FRIDAY

Hamburgers & Oven Fries

SATURDAY

Lentil Rice Tacos

SUNDAY

Get-together w/friends. (Bring-a-dish)

He is Risen!! He is Risen Indeed!

2009-04-11T22:00:00.004-06:00

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Have a wonderful Resurrection Day!

Food Waste Friday - 4/10

2009-04-10T09:20:00.000-06:00

Well, I didn't get a picture of what actually got wasted. It was an apple, that shouldn't have gone bad yet, but it decided it wanted to join it's core buddies in the compost pile. I went to grab it to add to hubby's lunch and my finger went right through the bottom of it. Bleck. So I am happy to report that nothing went to waste due to my lack of using it :)

I did manage to save a few things that wouldn't have lasted another few days though.

These little Grape Tomatoes were starting to look about 95 years old. I searched for moldies and found none, so in the blender they all went. The tomato puree will be frozen for later use. It makes delish tomato soup or any other tomato based thing you're wanting to make.

This is my "starter" yogurt for homemade batches. Instead of leaving in the fridge and forgetting about it, I spooned it into ice cube trays and froze, then plopped them all into a gallon sized bag. When I need to make yogurt again, I just pull 4 of these out and let them thaw.

There was also this pot of rice leftover from bean & rice burritos last week. The lid had been bumped and was not on all the way. So the rice had gotten kind of crusty looking on top. My solution was to add a cup of salsa and heat it up on the stove. It worked wonderfully and we ate it in our tacos last night!

Check out Frugal Girl to see what other people are ~~wasting~~ saving .

Show & Tell

2009-04-08T21:32:00.003-06:00

I was looking through some pictures from a while back and found all kinds of things that I made, that I have never blogged!

Here's a little Onesie dress I made for a friend's new baby.

Cute little iron-on patch was from Joann as was the fabric. Plain socks with some bargain-bin ribbon sewn on. The onesie was from a package found on clearance. This was a fun and frugal gift that only cost around $5.00.

Here's another one that I made for the above baby's big sister on her birthday.

This is also a Onesie dress, but this time I made a pair of bead socks to go with it.

Check out these links for great tutorials on how to make onesie dresses and ribbon socks.

It's been a long time (2 years or so) since these little flower clips were made, but I thought I would share them anyway. They are simply a crochet flower with a french clip sewn on the back.

And finally...a pair of wool crochet soaker pants, for that future baby we *hopefully* will be blessed with someday.

Just a Quick Note

2009-04-08T13:07:00.003-06:00

I've gotten a lot of great comments and encouragement on my Household Budget and I wanted to hit on a couple things real quick.

First of all, this is NOT a vent or complaint. If I have come across that way at ALL, I sincerely apologize and will be sure to keep that in check. My hubby works hard and it has taken me many years to learn to be content with what we have. But I in no way am unhappy about this situation or what God is providing us. If anything, I feel so blessed to even have money to buy groceries and clothes!! I wish you could see me smiling right now, not frowning and stressed out! LOL!

Second, this isn't a new thing. We've been on a tight budget and learning frugality for many years. So thankfully, it's not like I've gone from unlimited cash flow....to this all in a short time.

I am hoping that by writing this all out it will help motivate me in those little things, like skipping that latte or packing a lunch on errand day instead of getting a Costco hotdog for a $1.50. You know, the little stuff :)

Plus, I was hoping that I can be of encouragement to others as well. If they can see how I stretch a modest budget like this, maybe it will help them with their own. I have many tips to share that I have learned over the 7 or so years we've been pursuing thrift and I hope to learn much more from all you frugalista's out there too!

So, with all that said, I hope to start sharing more about our budget and lifestyle soon!

Household Budget

2009-04-07T12:08:00.000-06:00

Every pay period hubby takes cash out for me to use on the Household Budget. We live on a smallish income so my household budget, consequently, is sorta small too.

I get $200.00 twice a month, so a total of $400.00 a month. Not too shabby, but I do have to stretch it pretty far. My allowance entails the following items:

-Groceries
-Clothing
-House needs/decor
-Dining out
-School/Office supplies
-Gifts

So far I haven't done a very good job at making it stretch and find myself in a bind a week after payday. My hubby is a sweet man and has always bailed me out, but I am trying to work hard on not needing bailouts ;). Hubby needs to know that he can trust me with what he gives. I need to be a content and thankful steward with what the Lord provides.

Thus the whole reason I am going public with this information. I need accountability. If I have to come here and tell you that I can't buy my children socks to cover their cold tootsies, because I really had to have that Starbucks coffee the other day (and the day before that), I am going to think twice about buying that coffee. Sad, that I have to give myself ultimatums like this. Sad, that I just can't be perfect or something. But hey, we gotta do what we gotta do.

Okay now on with it....

This pay period, Kev could only give me $150.00 instead of my usual $200.00. We had to buy 200 gallons of propane a week after we moved in, so that kind of threw us off budget. So I am cutting back this month in order to make up for that.

So, I started out with $150.00 Then had to buy a hose so we can water the yard & garden this year. $40.00 for a hose and I'm left with $110.00 for the rest.

Today was grocery/errand day. I go every 2 weeks. Em and Ry needed some flip-flops for the spring/summer so we stopped by Old Navy and picked up 2 pairs. One thing we do on errand day that I may need to cut out is going out for lunch. It's pretty much the only time during the month we go out to eat.

COSTCO: $51.74
WINCO: $39.69
CARLS JR: $9.37
OLD NAVY: $5.30

So I now have $3.90 to get by until the 20th. Normally, I wouldn't be cutting it this close, but having to buy that hose and propane kinda kicked my budget in the butt. Guess we should of packed a lunch and skipped eating out this week. Well...I'm learning.

My goal for the next two weeks is to get by with what is in the house. I am going to stick to the Depression Era Mantra, so that hubby doesn't have to break the piggy bank open for me.

2 Years Ago

2009-04-06T18:28:00.004-06:00

I googled my old blog and had so much fun going back through the posts. I thought it would be neat to show a post from this time of year, two years ago. It was sweet and simple, but it was what was going on with us at that time.

April 4, 2007
Got Chicks?

WE DO!
Today we picked up:
2 Barred Rocks
2 Rhode Island Reds
2 Buff Orpingtons
2 Banties
2 White Cornish Cross
1 Auracana
YAY for SPRINGTIME & Sweet little babies :)

Watercress..Yes!

2009-04-06T16:57:00.009-06:00

I've heard that Watercress is good to pick in any month with an "R" in it. If this is factual, then April will be the last month for decent Watercress this year. What do I know though? Honestly, Watercress was one of those fancy culinary ingredients that I doubted I'd ever lay my hands on, and frankly didn't care if I did.

All is different now. Now, we are incredibly blessed with an entire stream full of this wild wonder, right in our own backyard. When the landlord casually informed us of the watercress upon moving in, we raised our eyebrows in wonderment. Could it really be? Could we possibly have this copious plant growing in our little redneck of the woods? :Squee:: How delightful!!

So as with anything new we want to learn, we turned our attention to the trusty Google searchbox. What joy overcame us as we realized the gold mine that was growing in the swampy stream out back. What a treasure of nutrients this little green plant holds! Full of calcium, potassium, Vitamins A, K, C & B3, skin clarifying and blood purifying! I am all over this little gem :).

It is incredibly easy to harvest as well. Just grab handfuls, right under the leaves and pull. Since they are rooted in the water, they come up with ease. At the sink, I just pull off the root base and rinse the greens well. They make a great addition to any salad or substitute for other greens.

Here is a list of recipes I am going to try right away. I am so grateful to our good Lord who has provided this free, scrumptious and incredibly healthy green!

Seed Starting

2009-04-03T07:00:00.001-06:00

I'm so nervous. It's not like I've never started seedlings before. But the last time I did was 4 years ago with some astronomically priced, state of the art seed starting system. So why am I nervous now?

'cuz I done started my seeds redneck style this year.

Materials used:

-Plastic Container that once held gigantic Costco sized pie

-Toilet paper tubes, from our very own bathroom

-Clip on light from the chicken house

-Daylight CFL bulbs that I can't stand using in the house because that blue light makes me wish I was blind.

-Potting Soil

cut toilet paper tube in half

cut slits evenly spaced around

fold tabs down like a cardboard box

fill tubes with potting soil. (do not forget to poke hole in bottom of container for drainage). mark the pots for identification purposes.

steal a light from the chicken house..or where ever you can find one

clear a spot & pad heavily with newspaper, cardboard or old towels to catch drainage

put the plastic lid on the pie pan. poke holes in it first for ventilation!

play around with light until you get it nice and close to those little pots.

So now I get to sit back, relax and obsessive compulsively check the little buggers every 10 minutes to be sure all is well.

Happy Drawer

2009-04-02T09:58:00.006-06:00

This drawer makes me happy. Why, you ask, would a drawer full of yard sale, thrift store and clearance napkins and dish towels make me happy? It's because of what it represents.

This drawer full of discounted linens means a pocket full of more money and a landfill less full of waste. Money that wasn't spent on paper napkins and paper towels. Landfills, minus 7 years of this family of five's napkins.

It tells me of simplicity, frugality, caring for our earth and resources and being a good steward of what the Lord has blessed us with.

I've never taken the time to add up how much these simple squares of cloth have saved us, but I imagine it is in the hundreds. The time, soap and water used to wash & fold them is so minimal we barely even notice.

What simple thing do you have that just makes you smile, because it represents something so huge and meaningful to you? Visit Green Baby Guide for more Thrifty Green Thursday ideas!

Seed Organization

2009-03-31T00:00:00.000-06:00

Years past I would just throw all my seeds in a bag or a bucket or whatever I had lying around. Then I'd forget to plant certain ones at certain times or forget I even had them altogether. Sometimes it takes a few unorganized attempts at a thing, before I finally get my head on straight. Anyway, this is just a very basic, very frugal way to organize my seeds. Just thought I'd share.

Just a shoe box and some old file folders, cut to fit.

As you can see, my filing system is so..so..basic. :) I guess I could get totally scientific and latin-ific on ya, but all I really needed to know was which seeds to plant when.

One great tip for crops that you succession plant, is to write the date of each planting on the seed packet. Then you'll know exactly how long it's been.

This year I am also keep a ~~detailed~~ basic journal of planting dates, weather, soil condition, seed harvesting, etc. etc. Once I get it all ~~carefully put~~ slapped together, I'll show you :)

Grandpa's Victory Garden

2009-03-30T20:40:00.002-06:00

A heartfelt, informative and inspiring story. Read about Grandpa's Victory Garden.

Cinnamon Granola

2009-03-30T11:51:00.009-06:00

I've been making granola for about 5 years now and over that time have tried many many different recipes. After quite a bit of tweaking and changing, I came up with my family's favorite recipe. I'd like to share it with you.

Cinnamon Crunch Granola
Makes 10 cups

8 cups rolled oats
2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup (raw) sesame seeds
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup oil (I use coconut oil,melted butter works too)
2 tsp vanilla

1. In large mixing bowl, combine first five ingredients.

2. Combine brown sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and cook and stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add oil and vanilla.

3. Pour syrup mixture over dry ingredients, stirring to coat. Grease two 10 x 15-inch jelly roll pans (or cookie sheets) and pour half of the granola in each pan, spreading evenly (do not press down though!).

4. Bake at 275 degrees for 60-70 minutes, until lighly browned and toasted (but not burnt!).

5. Cool in pans on wire racks. Using a spatula or pancake turner, flip granola in large chunks after about 10 minutes of cooling. When granola is completely cooled, store in an airtight container or ziplock bag

~~I have found that a mason jar full of granola, tied up with a pretty ribbon makes a lovely last-minute, frugal gift.~~

Menu Plan Monday 3/30-4/5

2009-03-30T08:36:00.004-06:00

Still workin' on that bunch of apples from last week, I think we're half way through them! Lot's of eggs and milk this week too, so you will see recipes trying to use those up. I also have a bag of potatoes that needs to be gone this week, or else they will all grow eyeballs and have to be thrown away. What else...oh yes, salad fixin's (lettuce, sprouts, tomatoes, etc.) are on the downhill stretch of their life in the fridge, so we'll try to get those all gone as well.

MONDAY

-Chili & Cornbread

--Banana Cream Pie

TUESDAY

-Potato Soup, Salad & Kefir Rolls

WEDNESDAY

-Taco Salad (using leftover chili)

THURSDAY

-Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, Salad, Yeast Rolls (double & freeze for Sun)

FRIDAY

-Lentil Rice Tacos, Apple Crisp

SATURDAY

-Chili Cheese Potatoes (using leftover chili)

SUNDAY (Share Meal @ Church)

-Spaghetti Mac, Green Beans, Yeast Rolls, Coconut Blender Pie

BREAKFAST

-Cream of Rice (2)

-Toast & Eggs (2)

-Granola & Yogurt w/Fruit (2)

-Hashbrowns & Eggs (1)

LUNCH

-Leftovers (2)

-Egg Salad Sandwiches, fruit

-Nachos, fruit

-Cheese Quesadillas, fruit salad

-PBJ's, Carrots

SNACK

-Banana Bread

-Dried Apple Snacks

-Apple Sauce & Cream

-Ritz crackers & Peanut Butter

-Peanut Butter Cookies & Milk

Butter Wrappers

2009-03-26T08:23:00.005-06:00

Just a quick tip today, as we are expecting some lunch guests soon....

We keep a little red container (reused of course!) in the cupboard that is a perfect fit for butter wrappers. Every time you open a new stick of butter, there is still enough left on the wrapper to lightly grease a pan! Try it!

For more Thrifty Green Thursday tips, head over to Green Baby Guide!

Menu Plan Monday 3/23-3/29

2009-03-22T22:00:00.004-06:00

This week we've got 20 lbs of organic Fuji Apples to work on! Got a great deal on these through our food co-op, no they aren't fresh, but the price was right at .70 cents a pound for organic apples. I'm figuring on applesauce, apple desserts and lots of apple snacks.

I'm also wanting to focus on using lots of beans this week.

MONDAY

-Shared Meal @ friends' house. Bring ?

TUESDAY

-Blueberry Pancakes & Eggs

WEDNESDAY

-Chili & Cornbread, Applesauce & cream

THURSDAY

-Taco Salad

FRIDAY

-Lentil Rice Tacos

SATURDAY

-Chili Cheese Potatoes

--Apple Crisp & Ice Cream

SUNDAY (Company day!)

-Hamburger Stroganoff, Salad, Garlic Toast

--Apple Brown Betty & Ice Cream

BREAKFAST

Fruit Salad
Eggs & Toast
Oatmeal
Apple Crumb Cake

LUNCH

PBJ Sandwich
Cheese Quesadillas
Beanie Weenies
Leftovers

SNACK

APPLES in all sorts of ways!

Hanging Outside Already!

2009-03-19T09:44:00.005-06:00

Yesterday I found an awesome deal on Craigslist! Two indoor drying racks for $15.00! I quickly emailed and offered $10 for both & pick up right away. She took my offer and away I went.

Today it's going to be 70 degrees outside so I decided, since my clothes line isn't finished yet, to take my indoor racks...outside! My fingers were nearly froze out there, but it's all worth it! Did you know that it costs nearly a penny a minute to run a clothes dryer? Sometimes more depending on the cost of electricity in your area. Use this handy calculator to find out how much it is for you.

Visit Green Baby Guide for more Thrifty Green Thursday ideas!

WFMW~Organic Pest Control

2009-03-18T14:12:00.012-06:00

Anyone have these little buggers taking over your home and yard? They're called Box Elder Bugs and, while they aren't harmful, are the most annoyingest buggies out there. Well, I really hate houseflies too, so maybe the second most annoyingest among all insecta family.

I know we've all been taught to respect our elders, but I'm teaching my children that THESE elders are an exception! I did do a bit of online research (umm..I googled it) and wasn't too pleased with the different options of ridding ourselves of these guys. But one of my dear friends back in Washington told me a little trick that really seems to work!

All you do is fill up a squirt bottle with soap & water, then spray the poor little dears to death! I just used our resident window & mirror cleaner bottle. It's normally filled with vinegar, soap, rubbing alcohol and water and today it was almost empty, so with a couple skirts of dish soap and water I was armed and dangerous!

Watch out little elder bugs, here I come. Here they are, taking an afternoon siesta on the side of our garage. They won't even know what hit 'em! Rain's not in the forecast today...

Uh oh, that's not rain guys....RUN! See how nice and wet they are?

Awww, this is almost sad :(. Poor little guys, drowning in a bubble bath. I feel bad....for a second.

So that's it. Natural Organic Dish Soap (or any plain old bottle of Dawn or Palmolive) & Water will do it for these rampant pests.

See what's working for others this Wednesday over at We Are That Family!

Seeds Are Coming!

2009-03-17T08:05:00.004-06:00

I am so excited! Last week I ordered seeds from Seed Saver's Exchange and will be getting them sometime this week. Seed Saver's is a great place to buy open-pollinated and heirloom seeds, so that you can save your seeds without getting some strange alien plant next year.

This year we are growing:

Beet, Detroit Dark Red

Cabbage, Early Jersey Wkfld

Cucumber, Longfellow OG

Lettuce, Amish Deer Tongue

Lettuce, Mascara

Melon, Pride of Wisconsin

Spinach, Bloomsdale

Squash, Buttercup

Squash, Black Beauty Zucchini

Squash, Long Island Cheese

Watermelon, Small Shining

Herb, Cilantro

We also have Amish Tomato and King of the North Pepper transplants coming when planting time arrives (May 15th here in Southwestern Idaho).

Then for our fall crop we're going to add some Italian Garlic!

I've also horded a few packets of random seeds from last year. Off the top of my head I believe they are Giant Sunflowers, Radishes, and Pumpkins. We may opt out of the pumpkins so they do not cross-pollinate with our other squash.

We are a squash loving family (summer & winter) so I was relieved to see that squash comes in four different families and you can safely grow one from each family without cross-pollination. Joy of all joys that my beloved Buttercup & Black Beauty Zucchini are in different families...so we can grow them both!

As for potatoes and onions, well, they are grown in abundance for cash crops around here and very easy to glean leftovers from a field. So as for now we are putting our efforts elsewhere. Maybe next year!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-16T13:17:00.010-06:00

We've been blessed with an abundance of eggs, milk and poultry thanks to Kev's parents! And we hit a great deal on fresh baked bread for .50 a loaf last week, loaded our freezer up with 20 loaves and gave away about 10. So we will really be utilizing those items in this week's menu.

A note about my menus...I usually only schedule dinners on a weekly basis. For Breakfast, Lunch and Snack, I do a general list to pick and choose from through the week.

MONDAY

-Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans, Garlic Toast

TUESDAY

-Pancakes, Eggs & Bacon

WEDNESDAY

-Crockpot Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

THURSDAY

-Chicken Noodle Soup, Salad, Rolls

FRIDAY

-Lentil Rice Tacos

SATURDAY

-Macaroni & Cheese, Carrots, Garlic Toast

SUNDAY (Shared Meal @ Church)

-Tangy Tuna Mac, Carrots, Chocolate Zuchinni Cake (made w/sour milk)

--BREAKFAST--

Oatmeal (2)

French Toast

Eggs & Toast (2)

Rice Pudding

--LUNCH--

Egg Salad Sandwiches, Apple Slices

PB&J, Carrots

Chicken Sandwich, Apple Slices

Cheese Quesadillas

Leftovers

--SNACK--

Stuffed Eggs (aka deviled eggs)
Popcorn
Peanut Butter Cookies

See other's menu plans over at $5 Dinners, today!

Using It Up...Bananas & Caramel

2009-03-16T12:23:00.007-06:00

I'm on a mission to eliminate all food waste in our home.
Food will either be: eaten, given to the dog
or put in the compost pile.

Today's goal was to use up this half-used packet of caramel, left-over from a gifted brownie mix. We used as much caramel as we could on the brownies and still have some left over. Instead of tossing the half empty packet into the trash bin, I put it in the fridge until I could figure something out.

Well, my dear friend Katie had us over for lunch last week and served us a yummy, simple salad of sliced bananas, chopped walnuts and cinnamon. It was delicious and my little ladies couldn't help but ask for seconds while we were there.

So today, with a bunch of fresh yellow bananas sitting on the counter I decided to give Katie's salad a try here at home. Only, I didn't have walnuts...but did have a few lonely pecan crumbs waiting to be used up and that...oh yes...that sorry little packet of caramel.

So there is my use-it-up recipe for the day. I hope to be able to share many more recipes and ideas with you! Oh and I must tell you to visit The Frugal Girl for many more ideas on elimination food waste.

New World Order

2009-03-12T07:40:00.001-06:00

Hat tip to Teresa.

Did I Ever Tell You Why We Moved?

2009-03-10T07:42:00.004-06:00

We had heard rumors of a huge power line going in somewhere in the vicinity of where we lived. Not until one Sunday morning about a month ago, did we realize how close that vicinity was. Our little chunk of land was smack-dab in the middle of the "red-zone". The "red-zone" was the proposed route that this 500,000 kilo-volt power hog was going to take. Building a home on that land was going to be impossible.

Hubby and I had been living with his parents while we saved the money to build on the land. All the sudden we have no idea if our plan is going to work anymore. So while we wanted to stay and fight this power-line, we also wanted to get on our own again and see where God was going to take this whole thing. So we ended up in this adorable little rental, but kept up with what was going on with the power-line.

Thankfully, we were in good company for the fighting. People all over Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon were/are busy putting up a stink about this whole deal. The amount of privately owned land "they" ("they" being Idaho Power) were going to be using was inconceivable!

I have to hand it to the citizens of Baker, Malheur, Canyon & Payette Counties...they have been putting up a great fight! As of just yesterday, we have heard that the power-line route is going to be re-written and the sub-station that caused it to barge right through our property is now "off the table"! Praise God!

That doesn't mean we will be building on the land tomorrow, but it gives us hope for the future. Does God still want us to build there? We don't know but are constantly seeking His will in this.

Free Sambucol & Dove

2009-03-03T13:10:00.003-07:00

We go through Sambucol during the cold & flu season, like it's going out of style! So when I heard of this deal, I could NOT pass it up. Thankfully we have Walgreens locally...seems like every time a deal like this pops up, it's at a CVS store, which I've never seen with my own eyeballs locally, ever. They just do not exist in this half of the US.

Since we make & sell our own goat milk soap, the free Dove deal didn't appeal to me. However, it just might to you, so head on over!

Tax Returns

2009-02-27T07:46:00.002-07:00

Well, we got our tax returns back already. Although it is a large amount and will help us personally, financially, I can't help but wonder why it is that we get more money back from the gov. than we actually paid in? I realize I shouldn't complain. I am thankful that the Lord has seen fit to supply our needs this way. But to me, it's just not smart governing of our (the nation's) money.

Sorry for the mini-rant.

Again, I AM thankful for this money. We will be paying off a whole credit card, which will take our debt down significantly. Last year when we first moved back to Idaho, we were $20,000 in credit card debt. OUCH. We are now almost to the half-way point of that sum being gone! After this credit card is payed off, we will be down to $11,000 roughly in cc debt (in 1 year!) God is good!

We purposely set a bit of the return money aside for other things as well.

~Seeds for this years garden (and subsequent years, as we will be saving them)

~A new (used) oven (the one in this rental is not good)

~Brakes and misc. things for the vehicles

~A vacuum (we have all hardwood floors, but it is hard to sweep all the rugs)

That certainly is not an exhaustive list. But I just had to share how good our Lord is. He certainly takes care of our needs and even some of our wants.

Still Here

2009-02-25T15:51:00.002-07:00

I am still here! Yes I am!

We moved into a cute, old, tiny house last weekend and I've been busy unpacking. Once things gain a resemblance of an actual home, I will take pics to show our new place.

Valentine's Day Fun

2009-02-12T17:54:00.004-07:00

Friends gathered at our place today for festive finger foods, fuzzy heart making and sugar cookie eating!

I was having so much fun, I forgot to take pictures. Here are the few that I did manage to get.

Favorite Hymns

2009-02-03T20:47:00.003-07:00

I love hymns. Oh I love them. My heart soars when I sing them and the doctrine, the beautiful words are like nothing else. I thought I would share with you all some of my favorite hymns. Wish I could sing them for you, but this will have to do for now. Besides, I could never do them justice.

Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul--The Lord is on thy side!

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide.

In ev'ry change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul--Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul! thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as he has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul! the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul! when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last

Skirts for a Friend

2009-01-23T11:25:00.007-07:00

A dear sweet sister of mine back in Washington, is heading to Africa soon to pick up her two adopted daughters. Since it is culturally unacceptable for a lady to be wearing pants around over there, she needed some skirts.

I made all the skirts and my sis-in-law Tammy made the dress. They were difficult to do because of the slippery fabrics, but I found that my sewing abilities were broadened by jumping into this. They aren't perfect by any means, but they were made with lots of love and I think they all turned out nice. Now I just hope they fit her!

Also, Mom-in-law helped out tremendously as well as my neighbor and friend, Emily.