We're Crafty

This is what we are making today.

Hopefully ours will be as cute as these. If they are, I'll post a picture or two.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Packin' on the pounds...

My mom carried this dip to all sorts of functions when I was growing up. It was always a hit and

super simple to make. After I married, it became a standard around the holidays. During the last few years of mom's life, she couldn't have it due to dietary restrictions so we didn't make it. Now that she's gone, I'm making it in her honor. This dips for you, Mom!

If I were more organized, I would have a picture of the 'Cast', but I'm not. So here's the list instead:

2 blocks of cream cheese, softened

1 jar sliced dried beef, diced

2-3 green onions, chopped

1 can black olives, chopped

Toss it all in a bowl and stir. I use the KitchenAid. I'm lazy like that.

It'll look like this:

Serve with crackers and enjoy!

Unattended Children or Why We School Year Round

This afternoon I ran to the store to pick up a few previously forgotten items. This is what I returned to find.

Rock on.

Just ranting....

I really have a love/hate relationship with Freecycle. It's a wonderful concept - passing unwanted items to others who have use for them. That's the part I love.

Getting said persons to actually pick up the items they were so eager to receive is a different story all together. It becomes very frustrating. This is the part I hate.

We've been decluttering and clearing out so I've offered a lot of items. Only a handful have actually been taken. My front porch looks like Goodwill puked on it. This Thursday is the deadline for my fellow Freecyclers. No more excuses. No more extra time. No more. I'm done. I'm hauling it ALL off on Thursday come h*** or highwater!

The end.

MPM and Construction

It's going to go something like this:

spaghetti, foccacia, salad
chicken something, steamed broccoli*
grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, tomato soup
chicken nuggets, 'cafeteria' mac n cheese, green beans
tuna sandwiches, pickles, carrot sticks

oriental noodle bowls with turkey and veggies

*If you're thinking we eat a lot of broccoli, we do. It's the one vegetable that the whole family likes.

That's as far as I can think right now. I don't have much in the way of a menu.

But I DO have construction photos!

This is what we started with:

An enclosed garage.

On the other side of the exposed studs is our miniature laundry room.
See:

It's tiny. Seriously. It's only as wide as the washer and dryer.

Once it was opened up:

And now:

Plenty of room for laundry baskets, some shelving, a drying rod and best of all I won't be face down in cat's box when I put clothes into the dryer! I'm so excited!

The outside:

To the left is our chest freezer, water softener, hot water heater and a whole slew of junk! There will be a small storage area. Hopefully we'll keep it neater than this!

Here is the room being framed:

And the closet, which is outside the room. Which hurts because this addition won't be considered a bedroom since there is no closet inside. However, it does give the boy more useable space.

Sheetrock going up:

And here it is insulated:

I know you were just dying to see that pink fuzzy stuff. You're welcome.

See that table? I have special plans for that. If I'm successful, I'll post about it.

'Till next time...be blessed!

Merry Christmas to Me!

I mentioned earlier that my camera was on the fritz...here's the replacement:



Oh yeah!

I also stated there were some things I'd like to check off my list. Exactly NONE of them have been completed! Instead, we have been making preparations for a family member to move in with us. This is a corner of our enclosed garage which we call a den. We have been working frantically to clear out this room so that the construction can begin. Nevermind all the school stuff and sports equipment!

If you can make it out, there is an outline of a soon-to-be new room for my son.
Maybe next week my neighbors will get their cookies. Maybe.

Everything's a noun

We are reviewing nouns today and if you could hear my son you would think we've never covered this before. For the last two hours we've played the 'make mom crazy' game. It goes like this:

ds: Is tv a noun?
mom: Is it a person, place or thing?
ds: It's a thing.
mom: Then it is a noun.

4 second pause

ds: Is dog a noun?
mom: Is it a person, place or thing?
ds: It's a thing.
mom: Then it is a noun.

4 second pause

ds: Is Santa a noun?
mom: Is it a person, place or thing?
ds: It's a person.
mom: Then it is a noun.

4 second pause

ds: Is pillow a noun?
mom: Is it a person, place or thing?
ds: It's a thing.
mom: Then it is a noun.

4 second pause

ds: Is tree a noun?
mom: Is it a person, place or thing?
ds: It's a thing.
mom: Then it is a noun.

4 second pause

ds: Is lamp a noun?
mom: Is it a person, place or thing?
ds: It's a thing.
mom: Then it is a noun.

After an hour and a half"
ds: Mom! EVERYTHING'S A NOUN!
mom: Yes, son, everything's a noun.

4 second pause

ds: Is sister a noun?
mom: Is it a person, place or thing?
ds: It's a person.
mom: Then it is a noun.


He won. Mom is officially crazy.

MPM

Since nothing was consumed on the specific day it was planned for last week, I am taking a different approach to my meal planning. This week, I'll just list the meals and not assign them to a day. I'm such a rebel like that.

turkey chili, cornbread, apple slices
baked rosemary chicken, mashed potatoes, broccolli
tuna noodle casserole, peas, fruit salad
taco cups, spanish rice
sandwiches or fin-for-yourself night
broccolli cheese soup, crusty bread, pears
Friday is always pizza night! Woo Hoo!


I had wanted to try some new recipes this week, but we have too much going on. I'm just going to stick with tried & true's.

Also, I am studying Tammy's site with great excitement!

Other items I would like to check of my list this week:
6 dozen cookies for neighbors
For the freezer: 2 pumpkin pies, 1 pecan pie, another blueberry pound cake, pan of chicken enchiladas, farmer's breakfast casserole
3 bookcases reduced to 1 Ha!
Unclaimed Freecycle items to Goodwill
a pedicure!!!!


Praying that you all have a wonderfully productive week!

Prodigal

This afternoon as I clean my 'den', Casting Crowns is playing in the background.
I cannot tell you how many times I've actually lived the lyrics of this song. But I am so grateful for the Father's unending grace and forgiveness!!


Prodigal

Living on my own, thinking for myself
Castles in the sand, temporary wealth
Walls are falling down, storms are closing in
Tears have filled my eyes, here I am again

And I've held out as long as I can
Now I'm letting go and holding out my hand
Daddy, here I am again, will you take me back tonight
I went and made the world my friend, and it left me high and dry
I dragged Your name back through the mud
That You first found me in
Not worthy to be called Your son
Is this to be my end?
Daddy, here I am
Here I am again

Curse this morning sun, drags me in to one more day
Of reaping what I've sown, of living with my shame
Welcome to my world, and the life that I have made
Where one day you're a prince, the next day your a slave

And I've held out as long as I can
Now I'm letting go and holding out my hand
Daddy, here I am again, will you take me back tonight
I went and made the world my friend, and it left me high and dry
I dragged Your name back through the mud
That You first found me in
Not worthy to be called Your son
Is this to be my end?
Daddy, here I am
Here I am again

Too easy

This cake is way too easy. Dd made it earlier in the week and thankfully I set aside some for a friend. I fear I would have consumed it ALL.

Try it out.

Berry 'Pound' Cake
Preheat oven to 325
1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup oil (we used applesauce)
2 cups berries (we used frozen blueberries)

Mix together: cake mix, eggs and oil.
Fold in berries.
Pour into greased bundt pan and bake for 1 hour.


(Now, I added a glaze, but the recipe doesn't call for it.)

Also, is it still a pound cake even though it's baked in a bundt pan? All the pound cakes I've had were baked in a loaf pan. Am I sheltered? Is it a pound cake because of the ingredients? It has nothing to do with shape does it?


P.S. I would post a picture but my camera DIED!!!

Menu Plan Monday

Hi Folks! It's Monday again, all day!
Last week was so easy, I'm doing it again. I've allowed for a lazy leftover night to prevent that whole pizza ordering, budget killing moment we had last week.

Monday: pork chops with potatoes and carrots, fruit*
Tuesday: beef & vegetable soup with cornbread
Wednesday: chicken enchiladas, chips, salad
Thursday: leftover soup & cornbread/or whatever you can find
Friday: chicken fried rice, egg rolls, egg drop soup
Saturday: chili with cornbread muffins
Sunday: restaurant for dinner, b-fast for supper


If you are not familiar with MPM, please hop on over and check it out!

*Yes, I know we had this last Monday. Kids & dh requested a repeat.

MPM Update

This was the plan:

Monday: salmon/steamed brocolli & cauliflower/wild rice
Tuesday: pork chops/cabbage/carrots *added potatoes
Wednesday: spagetti/focaccia bread/salad
Thursday: chili dogs/chips/salad*
Friday: homemade chicken noodle soup/fruit salad
Saturday: chimichangas/spanish rice/chips

This is how it went down:

Monday: As planned
Tuesday: As planned, added potatoes fruit salad
Wednesday: As planned
Thursday: Couldn't stomach the thought of chili dogs. Used Saturdays meal.
Friday: Got really lazy and ordered pizza.
Saturday: Leftover pizza
Sunday: As planned (fast food) for lunch, b-fast for supper.

I call this Success and will be participating again. This week, right after I hit 'publish'!