Girls in the kitchen

The other night my husband and I went on a date.  I love to go out to eat and then head over to Lowes and see what project I would LOVE for us to begin.  I think my husband just loves the going out to eat and humors me by going to Lowes and looking just so I'll go on a date.

Anyway,  while we were out,  I asked out very handy 15 year old daughter to make some cupcakes for pot lunch the next day.  She called to say we were out of eggs,  (I'll tell you why in the next post!)  and please pick up some.  In my eagerness to get to Lowes and plan the project,  I forgot. 

Two days later she and her sisters decided to bake and decorate the cupcakes.  I had leftover icing from a couple of other baking projects and this is what they came up with. 

Not sure if the pic shows it well enough but they called it "Tie Dyed" icing.  It sure tasted good. 

The sprinkles are for fun.  I love the creativity of my girls.  They are learning to take what is available at home and make something good from it.  I pray as I live with and love on my girls, (and boy!)  they learn from me that contentment with what God has given us really does make us more joyful. 

I would guess from all the crafting going on at my house right now that they have already started learning it.   I haven't visited a Hobby Lobby or other craft store in weeks and they seem to find all they need right in the craft closet. 

Here is a link to My daughter's blog and all the crafting she is doing. 


thanks for reading,

Reb

What's Growing!!!

Did anyone else have spring fever in JANUARY?   Boy,  did I ever.  About a month ago my husband and kids filled in the raised beds. 

 I was so excited to plant an early spring garden.   Here in Arkansas we can grow 3 seasons of plants.  I searched in all the nooks and crannies and found seeds galore.  I guess I had been buying for a couple of years and I only had to buy one package of sugar snap peas.  I planted it all and then caged the chickens so they wouldn't EAT IT UP.  They did that in the fall and I was a little irritated. 

Look what 3 weeks or so does,  well,  actually what God did in those few weeks.

I go out every day and look at the plants....I even  TALK to them.  I believe it  helps.   Anyway,  my mouth just waters thinking of eating peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach,  radishes,  onions, cabbage, broccoli.  YUM YUM. 

thanks for reading,

Reb

Menu Monday

  I had trouble this week coming up with food ideas.  Some weeks are like that for me.  I think I tried so many different foods this winter, my family wanted down home and casual.  Last week chicken rice casserole went over great, so did breakfast. 

So this week I am trying to be "American" in my food choices.  Which is kindof funny because I have Mexican, Italian, and Irish on my menu.  But that is truly AMERICAN.

Mon.--Chipotles Barbacoa Beef with Cilantro Lime Rice---oh my goodness--my favorite Mexican restaurant ever.  I first ate at this place a couple of years ago in Dallas.  Some wonderful Texas ladies took me and no when I think of Mexican,  my heart goes there.  I can hardly eat anywhere else. 

Tues.--Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with salad and homemade bread sticks.  I was having a difficult time coming up with menu items this week so I let kids pick.   They like pretty fancy food. 

Wed.--We have some wonderful long time friends coming over so I will be making Corn Beef and Cabbage with green beans,  rolls, and my Mamma Nell's pound cake.  Yum!

Thur.--Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Fri.--Scrambled Eggs,  Sausage,  Muffins

Sat.--Pizza Calzones with raw veggies

Sun.--Family gathering so menu to be announced.

That's it for my week.  It looks to be full. 


thanks for reading,

Reb

Weekly Menu

Last week we just ate from the fridge, leftovers, some cooking, and a little of this and that. Dinner out two nights and pizza one night. Not good on the budget(is there one?) oh, yes, the budget!!


Here is the plan for this week.  I am only buying lettuce, corn chips, frozen fruit juice, and pasteurized milk to make my own yogurt, sour cream, and possibly cream cheese.

Mon.  Potato soup, homemade bread, and salad.  We need some healthy food after last week.

Tues.  Chicken/cheese/rice casserole and green beans

Wed.  Beef stew using cheap steaks and leftover homemade bread

Thur.  Two man-size eating friends coming  over  so lots of baked spinach lasagna with salad, french bread, and chocolate lava cake in the crockpot

Fri. My brother and family coming over for traditional sausage/eggs/hashbrown casserole, apple muffins, and orange julius

Sat.  Bean and cheese dip with corn chips and raw veggies

Sun.  Potluck!!!   My daughter's famous chicken pot pie,  and pound cake


This should help the budget and our health.  We sure need both this week.

thanks for reading,

Rebekah

Linky Parties

It seems life is so crazy right now, not only the busy crazy but emotional crazy and I don't handle lots of strong emotions too well. ALL that to say......I am trying to link to some parties to help me get "my groove on" with this. I actually have posts come to mind all the time, but SOMETIMES they sound more like horror movies and heresy...and really who want to read about that on a blog...you can get that on the 5:00 news.


In my life this week...dinner for a friend who just moved to a new house,  errands and a sushi date night with my husband,  AO family we just met coming over to visit,  one child going on a weekend camping trip with NO RUNNING WATER OR TOILETS.   Needless to say, I will not be going with her, 




In our homeschool this week...reading good books,  planning my 9th graders last term for the year,  (love looking at all the books available.  Who would ever WANT to read a textbook when you can read other things that give better info?)  Going to the Heifer project and watching baby lambs being born f10 FEET AWAY.  God is truly a God of miracles,  daily. 



Places we're going and people we're seeing...enough said above about camping and Heifer Ranch.  I really like that we are home all weekend.  Good for my soul.


My favorite thing this week was...feeling better than last week,  making cookies with my little girl,  completely cleaning the schoolroom,  and watching my garden grow and grow.



What's working/not working for us...math is working,  going to bed at a decent hour,  reading a couple of good books aloud  (Children of the New Forest  and Mary Emma and Company) , both books about hard working families who live and love together, 

Not working,  still slow in my recovery from the flu.  I hate how it puts me at a slower pace of life,  but I will TRY to reap benefits.



Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...I am planning/scheduling my 9th graders last term.  Tweaking and pulling books of the shelf.  She wants a little independence as far as choosing when to read each book each week.  I want her to enjoy what she is learning, but not at the expense of NOT LEARNING!!



A photo, video, link, or quote to share...my link is my daughter's blog. http://craftycrafteen.blogspot.com/ She is busy making and selling headbands that are beautiful.  Contact her if you would like to purchase one. 

thanks for reading,

Rebekah