A pinch of this....

I've been trying to compile a bunch of recipes that take just a few basic ingrediants. Squirreling back flour and rice and beans is fine,, but if it came down to it... what would you do with them? The concept sounds simple and it is really, but I want recipes that are awesome so it doesn't feel like we're eating out of our stockpile, ya know?
Today I ran across this recipe at Amber's Delectable Delights and it fit the bill so I thought I'd give it a whirl. The only thing I did different is I used whole wheat flour instead of regular.


These took a lot of time but they weren't hard at all! I'll DEFINATELY make these more often! They are SO SO GOOD! But do me a favor, don't let the raw chicken slide out of your hands and fall on your freshly baked batch of bread that took all day like I did,,, OK?

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I could have really used a few dehumidifiers today,, what about you?!

That's Life.

Cats hunt. It's what they do. Our cats have been making short work of the yard rodents.
Ground squirrels
Bunnies
Moles
It's not pleasant but they're just doing their job ya know? Yesterday, one of the cats injured a smallish rabbit. Now, I'll rescue them if I think they'll heal but if not, I just let the cats finish them off. Yesterday I made a bad decision. I picked up the rabbit and took it to the underbrush where it could get away. Apparently, it was injured worse than I thought because the cats were terrorizing it again today. This time his front leg injuries were very bad. I called for Chris to get the gun and put this poor creature out of it's misery. Well, the bunny still had enough life in him to scurry away, all the while landing on it's face. It was very pathetic and sad. This erratic scurrying made it very hard to shoot with any kind of accuracy.
This is when T2 saw what was going on. He was HORRIFIED. He bawled and cried. We all tried to explain to him that we were helping that poor bunny, we weren't being mean but it was to no avail. This was a life altering bad day for T2.
I ended up having to grab the bunny's backside to hold it still while Chris put it out of it's misery.
I thought of burying it in the garden but then I decided I didn't want to run into a rabbit carcass later so we buried it elsewhere to keep the critters away.

I'm torn between telling T2 to "toughen up" and feeling sorry for him.

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We could all use one of those Orlando vacations after today!

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Key Ingrediant.

I was reading Stephanie's Blog and she has run across the coolest website! Look what I was able to do with my Rootbeer Float Cake recipe! The site is called Key Ingredient. There is so much to see there! I could tell you but Stephanie said it best! So head over to her blog and read about it and then get on over to Key Ingredient and sign up!

Rootbeer Float Cake (Light)

I'm trying to behave. I really am. I was just in the mood to bake today. So I came up with a cake on the light side.

Rootbeer Float Cake

1 box of yellow cake mix

1/2 cup of no sugar added applesauce

12oz of diet rootbeer

1 tub of Cool Whip Free (sugar free, fat free)

12 marchino cherries with the stems

Now, here comes the mega hard instructions.

Put the cake mix in the bowl. Toss the rootbeer and the applesauce in. Mix. Bake for 35m at 350 degrees.

That's it. I'm not kiddin. Best. Cake. Ever. No one would ever know that it only has 188 calories and 3 grams of fat. It's about 4 Weight Watchers points if you're counting.

BTW,, don't be jealous of my loverly vintage Corel Ware harvest gold plate.

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Popcorn machines are really handy but check out the cool ones at http://www.stargatecinema.com!

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Lucky.

I don't know if I should be annoyed or feel lucky. Maybe I'll just be both. I got my lovely check from the Cabell Co. Clerk the other day for my service as a poll worker. I didn't expect it until June so I suppose I'm lucky because it came early. Do you know where I found it? Well, actually I didn't find it, T2 found it.
In the road. Yes, it was in the road. He brought it in to me dripping wet and with multiple tire tracks on it.
I freaked out a little bit but just felt relieved that it had been found. On this day, the mailman had delivered our mail to our door because I'd received a package. We have a REALLY long driveway and our box is at the end of the drive and across the road. Later that evening, Chris comes home and says, "did you notice mail in the road?" "I saw some mail around our box this morning". So,, uh,, my check (which wasn't chump change, it was a sizable check) had been in the road since the day BEFORE!
How lucky am I that someone didn't pick it up! I am annoyed that it was in the road tho. I have 2 theories.
Theory #1
Our box lid doesn't open all the way and it's really hard to get the mail in and out. The mailman probably didn't notice that it didn't make it in the box.
Theory #2
My lovely uncoordinated children dropped it in the road upon retrieving the mail. This is the more likely of the 2 theories.
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Need new bathroom faucets?
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Silly Old Bear Hat!

Silly Old Bear Hat

Materials

Red Heart in Harvest Gold

Lion Cupcake in Lemon Drop

Size 8 short circ.

Size 8 DPNs

1 marker

Sized to fit a 2 year old. It's shown on a baby doll but it's very very loose.

Holding both yarns together, cast on 54 stitches placeing marker to identify beginning row.

Work 3 rows of seed stitch

Work in Stockinette Stitch until piece measures 4.5 inches

Reduce 2 stitches over the next row. (52 stitches) change to DPNs when it's comfortable.

Knit 11, K2tog

Knit one row plain

Knit 10, K2tog

Knit one row plain

Knit 9, K2tog

Knit one row plain

Knit 8, K2tog

Knit one row plain

Knit 7, K2tog

Knit one row plain

Knit 6, K2tog

Knit 5, K2tog

Knit 4, K2tog

Continue in this manner until there are 8 stitches left on your pins. Cut yarn and draw through remaining stitches and pull tight to gather. Weave in stitches.

Ears (make 2)

Cast on 5

Purl plain

K1fb, K1, K1fb, K1, K1fb (8 sts)

Purl plain

Knit plain

P2tog, P6, P2tog

K2tog, K4, K2tog

P2tog, P2, P2tog

Cast off by K2tog twice and passing first reduction over last reduction.

Leave a long tail as this will be your sewing yarn.

Sew ears to the hat wherever you think they look good!

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In the market for new kitchen faucets? I know I am!
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Tri-state Homeschoolers Picnic

It was cold, a little wet and definately grey and overcast. It didn't stop the kids from having a good time though! We had a pretty good turn out despite the weather. The kids also brought their water guns and soaked each other to the bone. It's a wonder they all didn't get pneumonia.
Wow. That's the most elderly thing I've said all day!

Our school year is over and our assessments have been okayed. I now have a 7th grader and a 4th grader. Time marches on doesn't it?

I only need a few more books for next year's line up. A couple of Daily Grams books and T1's Teaching Textbooks lessons. (that's the biggy).

We've already begun our 2008-2009 school year. We're using:
English From the Roots Up both boys
Easy Grammar Plus T1
Easy Grammar 4 T2
Daily Grams 4 T2
Daily Grams 7 T1
Saxon 54 T2
Teaching Textbooks 7 T1
Apologia Science (Astronomy or Zoology 1,, haven't decided) both boys for one more year for T1
Spelling Time T2
Big States Time T2
WV History T1 No link here, we have an old text book and will use lots of extra books
Painless Writing T1
Painless Spelling T1
Learning Language Arts through Literature T2

Now that's just the bare bones. Of course we'll do much much more. There will be Science Club, Co-op, Project Day and Unit Studies. Then there is all the Internet stuff too!

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used cisco, new cisco, referbed cisco. Yeah,, I don't get it either.
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Saturday Yard Sales!

So, this morning I got to feelin' froggy and I started banging pot lids through the house and told the boys to get their clothes on, we're going yardsaleing. The sun was out and it wasn't RAINING! I had to strike while the iron was hot!

The kids were... confused? Befuddled? Reluctant?

Whatever... they complied, they knew better than to object when mama gets like this. It's better to go with the flow.

So we piled in The Silver Gas Hog and headed out willy nilly looking for sales. At our first stop, T1 scored a CD holder, ( He claimed he "NEEDED IT") and a copy of The Top 10 of Everything for 2006. T1 loves loves loves these types of books. He sucks up info on what is the biggest, the fastest, the most expensive, the hardest etc... like a sponge.

I got a copy of Ayn Rand's Fountainhead. I'm dying to read it! That's a lot of entertainment for $1.00!

We hit a few more with little or no luck. It looked like everyone else thought it was going to be rainy, too. No one was out.

I decided that while we were out we'd trek on up to Milton and see if there was anything good. We hit a sale on Rt. 60 where I picked up a copy of Chemistry for Dummies and a Holt Grammar Guide for $1.00 total. Ok, so we're up to $2.00 for the day,, still not bad, eh?

From there we mosied through the town. I was on the lookout for a babydoll. I need one to try my handknits on to see if they fit. The next stop was a winner. I picked up this baby who was very very VERY well loved. She was 50c and she looked to be the right size. By all accounts I should have left her in the box but I just couldn't. I was drawn to her. When I picked her up, she just FELT good,, you know? So I paid for her and brought her home. I cleaned her up and look.....

Isn't she sweet? While I was cleaning her up, I discovered that she was wearing her origninal outfit and it had a tag in the neckline that said "Victoria" Madame Alexander. Then while I was brushing her hair (Lordy, did it need it) I noticed that her neck said ALEXANDER 1966. I've scored a Vintage Baby Victoria Doll! The first Baby Victoria's were named for Queen Victoria. Mine isn't worth much but I love her.

At the next sale we stopped at T1 hit the goldmine. He saw a table with a few gunstocks on it and when he saw one in particular his poker face completely left him. Now I've tried to teach these kids to haggle and have a good "I could care less if you sell this to me or not" face but T1 is just AWFUL at it! I made him walk away. Just walk away. We walked back to the car and discussed it. The stock had a $15.00 price tag on it. Neither of us knew it's worth but we had a good feeling about it. I gave T1 a ten dollar bill and told him to offer it, if he took it, it was ours,, if not,, we walk away. T1 agreed that if he took it,, it was fate.
He asked and the man was hesitant but it was getting late in the morning so he broke down and accepted the offer. The more he held it, the more he loved it. I figured at the very least they could play with it and maybe he could hang it on the wall.
When we came home and daddy looked it up and examined the markings we found that T1 had been correct, it's a 1916 WWI German Mauser Kar98 stock. Worth up to $200.00.
Pretty sweet no? Here's a picture. You have to understand,, T1's a gun NUT,, next to cars that is!

Not a bad day for $12.00 and gas!
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Cat5e Keystone jack
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Freebies! Freebies! Freebies!

From CurrClick!

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Rainbow Cupcakes

I'd like to tell you that these were so much fun to make and that I was totally going to work this recipe into my regular rotation but I'm not.

They're cute though aren't they? Kinda Hello Kitty and Rainbow Bright with a cloud on top, no?

The concept is easy. Split your cake mix into six different bowls, color them with gel food coloring, layer the batters in your foil cupcake liners, and bake. You use foil because the paper ones will look gross from the outside.

I'm tellin' you what,, every bowl in my kitchen was dirty. I'm serious, every one! Do you know what happens to cake batter when you stir it too much? The glutens turn into elastic! Now, how are you supposed to get your food coloring in without mixing too much? I was positive that these were going to turn out like rocks! They didn't but still, the cake batter was so hard to get plopped into the cups! If someone was really industrious, 6 icing bags with large tips would REALLY BE HANDY, but alas,, I don't have 6 icing bags, so a spoon and patience it was.

I made these for the Tri-State Homeschooler's picnic yesterday. They were a big hit! I won't be making them again for quite a while though!

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Do you find yourself needing wood blinds ? I never have! After looking at the ones from Selectblinds, I have to admit, they're very pretty!

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Are you a coffee drinker?

Are you a coffee drinker?

I find either you are or you aren't. There is rarely ever an "in between".

I love coffee. I didn't always but I've come to determine that I'd just never had a good cup before!

Now I'm not picky about my coffee. I don't roast my own beans and pay top dollar. I just enjoy a coffee that doesn't turn my face inside out when I drink it black.

I think the history of coffee is very interesting. Did you know it originates from Ethiopia? It is said to have been the cause and cure of many a war. In the civil war when they ran out of green beans (not the veggie, actual green coffee beans) to roast in a skillet or their tin cup they often used chicory.

Chicory is that purple flower that you see growing along the road sides. It has a long tap root that can be roasted or put in salads. I love the idea of foraging for foods. I try not to bug Stephanie too much about this! I definitely want to try making my own chicory coffee this year. I've read that it's very flavorful and rich.

I'm the only one in my house that enjoys coffee so I have a little 2 cup coffee maker. Actually I think it's a 4 cupper but I think that's relative to the size of your cup! I'm used to making coffee in my little coffee maker so when I had to make a whole 12cup pot at our band concert last week, I totally screwed it up. It was awful. It tasted like motor oil! (and looked like it too!) Note to self: If one tablespoon makes 1 cup, that doesn't mean that 12 tbsp makes 12 cups. No, no it doesn't!
Needless to say.... I won't be buying any espresso machines anytime soon!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope every mama feels loved and appreciated tomorrow! My people treated me today because we'll spend most of tomorrow zipping around to our moms' houses. First of all, Chris got me a awesome Mom's Day gift! He got me a new craft light.

I know, sounds odd doesn't it? Well, I'd scrimped and saved and bought myself one a few years ago and a little over a year later... it broke. $180.00 down the drain. I was so mad. I never even considered buying another one because of the injustice of it all. Well, apparently the OTT brand lights are being discontinued. I can't imagine WHY! ha ha Chris was able to find a different brand of light comparable to my old one. This one is from Daylight . I couldn't be more thrilled. I love it!

Then we all went to dinner. Of course every restaurant in town was packed to the gills so we went to Bob Evans. It was practically a ghost town there. It wasn't one of our best Bob Evan's experiences but it was nice just the same.

Happy Mother's Day all you Moms!

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Need new luggage? That would make a nice Mother's day gift, that is, if that's what she wants! Otherwise,, it might send the wrong message! ha ha!

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May Rain Days

What is it about May?

I can't recall one picnic in May that I've attended in the last... say... 5 years that wasn't cold and or rained out. Sometimes it's still sunny but wet. Today we're getting the picnic fun tri-fecta!

Cold.

Overcast.

Raining.

Oh,, fun stuff for sure! But we'll still go and the kids will still have fun and we'll eat too much and chit chat and have a good time.

At least there will be no bees and wasps right?

This marks the official end of the school year for us. We have not more scheduled functions to go to except the occasional play date. We're supposed to go to another picnic for our co-op on Tuesday but that is also election day and I won't be able to go because I'm a commissioner for the polls. BOOO!

I mentioned in my last post that my oldest will be 12 soon.

TWELVE.

I'm not taking it hard, no not at all. I'm just obsessing over it and can't stop thinking about what a mile marker this is!

He'll be in 7th grade. That meant Jr. High when I was a kid. Now 6th grade is when they go. I just can't imagine that!

12. His last year before he's officially a teenager. I will be the parent of a TEENAGER. Oh. God. Help. Me.

12. When I was a kid, this is when I had to stop playing soccer. All the boys got huge all in one summer. They were bigger and stronger and taller and all the sudden I was playing ball with what felt like fully grown men! My boy is that age now.

12. This means I only have half as many years until he comes home and says "I joined the Army today"

::::in through the nose,,, out through the mouth,,, deep cleansing breaths,,, OMG,, don't hyperventilate::::::

From birth to 6 went as quickly as a blink of an eye and the days are moving faster and faster. I'm torn between

A)making sure they don't get away from me and planning ahead

B)spending our time before we get it.

I'm bad about doing that, I plan ahead and then rush us through. Then I wonder where the time went.

Time in a bottle, that's what I need.

Cue the Jim Croce music. ( Does the picture make sense now?)

Speaking of time,, I have to leave the house in 30 minutes and I'm still in my jammies! Have a wonderful, cold, rainy day!

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How apropos is it that I just wrote about having a teenager and now I bring to you a link for an acne treatment . Just another one of the many horrid things to come in the next few years!

Blue.

Blue #1.
I bought a Ball Blue Book today. This will come in handy in the coming months. We're working really hard on our garden and I don't want all of our hard work to go to waste. I tried to can some things last year but I didn't really do that well.
Why didn't I spend a whole $5.78 on a Ball Blue Book last year?
Blue #2.
My friend Christina took me Funny Bone Comedy Club here in Huntington this evening. I expected the comedians to be a little off color but this guy, Steve Marshall, was BLUE! Oh my goodness. I'm hard to embarrass and my cheeks were red for the entire show. Most of it was funny, don't get me wrong, but wow... some things should be left to the imagination. People walked out, that's what I'm sayin!
Blue #3.
I'm going to miss our co-op end of the year picnic! It didn't even occur to me that it was on the same day as the Primary election. I'm a poll worker and I'll have to be there ALL. DAY. Yuck. I'm beginning to think that the pay isn't going to be worth it! So yeah... I'm a little blue about that.

Blue #4.
My eldest child will be 12 in a few months. TWELVE. How did this happen? I have one more year until he's a teenager. Yes, you must whisper that word. But here's the blue thing, he wants an ipod for his birthday, a blue one. When did we graduate from legos to ipods?