Something Borrowed..Something Green, PInk, Yellow, but No Blue

This morning has been very calm and peaceful.  Just what the Lord knew I needed after Crazy Monday.  Which is EVERY Monday. 

I walked outside with my favorite son and we stopped and listened.  We watched a Blue Jay peel bark off new branches and plucked small twigs, most likely to build a nest with his mate waiting in the branches above.  I have never seen a Blue Jay in the process of  making his nest.  We were fascinated.

Next we heard a humming sound that seemed to get louder by the nano second.  A colorful Ruby Throated Hummingbird buzzed by our head to let us know he was watching us.  We looked as he drank sugar water from our feeder, then zoomed out to meet his mate waiting in the Rose of Sharon bush close by. 

Then we watched a large bumble bee land on the Azaleas and proceed to find all the pollen he could, and flit to another flower to do the same. 

Don't be shocked....but I borrowed my daughter's camera and am now going to show you a picture.

Can you see the black spot in the middle?  I am thankful I could give you this shot, but I do wish it were clearer.  His colors were so deep.

My youngest daughter scrambled around under a HUGE hosta and found a frog.

  We had to find a house for it and try to feed it a worm.  Not sure how that is going.  Will let you know it's fate later.

Next we looked at the chickens.  Can you see in the middle of the tree?

There were four chickens hiding in there.  They are so silly.

  Pretty soon they will be too big and I am sure a fight will break out.  They are constantly battling for "queen"  and so far there are no winners.

We decided to head to the garden and see what has grown in the last 12 hrs since I last drooled walked by.  Oh look what a week does to a garden!!!  I am in love with growing things. 

These are beans.   I love how they send up tiny tendrils that curl and seek out a place to catch hold.  I try to go by and gently place them on the line.

Lettuce.  We had a wonderful salad last night with this lettuce and some spinach.  I am sure it was extra healthy.  See the little fern like plants growing in between?  I guess the kids planted carrots and lettuce together.  We'll see how it works.

This is a long post,  but with a camera in hand there is so much to talk about.  SEE???   These are some plants growing around the house.  I am NOT a green thumb.  In the past I have only successfully grown hostas and ferns.  But I think with age I have more patience.  At least with plants.  Hopefully God will help me transfer that to people. 

Wasn't that so much more interesting than just words?  Thanks to my eldest who loaned me her camera. 

My husband thought a post about all the camera's I have had in the past and what has become of them would be interesting.  I couldn't really remember much,  so I think I can't post on that.  Maybe a post about how things get lost,  children break things,  and life is crazy homeschooling with four kids would be better.  Or maybe one on forgive and forget and buy a new one would be good.  I will have to ponder this. 

thanks for reading,  (and looking!!)

Reb



http://peacecreekontheprairie.com/memes-hosted-here/nature-study-tuesday-info%22

Still Eating out of the Freezer




I did NOT realize how much food we had in the freezer.  I can go two more weeks not buying meat.   I don't know if that's good or not.  I think it would be good if we had bought things using a budget and stocking up.  But I think it was just buying. 

I have been looking at using coupons,  and I must confess. it is very confusing to me.  And time consuming.  And confusing.  And I don't use most of whatever it is that has coupons.  I could probably use them on paper goods and hygiene products,  but really that is about it. 

I looked at snippets of the new show Extreme Couponing.  I must admit it was interesting to see how much STUFF they could buy for so little. But when I saw all the shelves they had to buy to hold the STUFF, how much storage space they needed to house the shelves,  how much STUFF they had,  I had questions about the saving money part.  Then I really watched the snippets and thought a few thoughts.  Those people are either a) bored and need something to do  b)  have a fixation with paper, scissors, notebooks and scanners,  or c)  should really be over on the Hoarders show.

So I am confessing on this blog once and for all....I DON'T USE COUPONS AND AM VERY VERY GLAD OR HAPPY OR RELIEVED OR SOMETHING.

There,  I feel better and now on to the menu for the week. 

Mon.  Chicken salad in pita bread using lettuce and spinach from our garden.  How fulfilling.  And hopefully filling.  he he

Tue.  Fajitas with chips and homemade salsa.  Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake.  The recipe is from Weight Watchers and is very moist and delicious.

Wed.  Baked Talapias with fried okra and sweet potatoes.  Yum, Yum.

Thur. Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.  I think this has been on the menu for 4 weeks now.  We just haven't gotten around to making it.  Not that we went out or anything...I think I was just too tired the nights we were supposed to and...I am NOT giving you any more excuses.  We just didn't and we will should and you will know next week.

Fri.  Breakfast.  Pumpkin bread,  scrambled eggs,  organic sausage.  The coffee cake from last week was AMAZING!  One of my skinny children ate 3 helpings and snacked on it the next day.  I will post a recipe soon...with pics from my husbands camera.  I hope.

Sat.  Pizza from Little Caesars.  It is work day at the church and I will be TIRED.

Sun.  The men cook breakfast at church after our Resurrection Service,  then  a BBQ back at church that night.  Probably a salad and cake. 

Next week I will still be using things out of the freezer.  It will be VERY creative and I will be scouring the internet looking for ideas. 

thanks for reading,

Reb

Pictures and other Thoughts

Let's begin with other thoughts.  I have pondered and wondered...studied and tested....and it is very true.   I would blog more often if I had a....

CAMERA!

I am a very visual person and love to see photos on others blogs.   It helps me understand and FEEL the intention of the blogger.

So....what would I be blogging about if I had a camera?

1.  I have a brilliantly dressed Cardinal outside my kitchen window chirping and eating on a window feeder I found at a garage sale last week.  I would love to show you but alas...

2.  We have added 2 more chickens to the coop.  They came from the co-op where there were 10 chicken on Tues and only 2 left by Thur.  Something found a fast food chicken eatery close to home.  I had to save the last 2.

3.  The chickens are growing so quickly.  My husband and son built a door over the coop entrance to keep out the "somethings".  Wouldn't you love to know the book I got it from and what it looks like?

4.  I have "something" hopping around my house today.  She is awfully cute.  Wish I could show her to you.

5.  We made some DELICIOUS choco oatmeal cookies with all Great Value ingredient.  You would love to see them,  I am sure.  NOT that I am pushing Great Value products, but as my son say,  "I wish we would buy other products.  I don't like the blue and white stuff.  Isn't it cheap?"

6.  My mom used to make a LOT of my clothes, and I LOVED it.  She has so many grandkids she makes things for now,  I am usually ignored  being gracious and giving my once coveted personal seamstress to the children.  But this year I begged, cried,  pleaded  asked her to make my Easter skirt and I can't wait to show you how it turns out.  OH....I think you may not get to see it.  BOO HOO

7.  We have a very full week with  school stuff and church stuff and shower stuff and friends over stuff and Easter stuff,  but if I don't get a CAMERA SOON  you may not see any of it. 

8.  Why do I feel the need to go on to 10?  I think I will stop here.  There is more...TRUST ME!  

So I will try to take my whining and complaining elsewhere...and appreciate the fact that I can blog.  With black and white words.  And hope they bring about pictures....IN YOUR MIND!


thanks for reading,

Reb
 ps.  Because I couldn't stand it, I found a picture online of the book I mentioned my husband and son used.  But it is only a portion of one.  I would love to show you the wonderful illustrations inside..but....

Getting to Know Me..Five Questions at a Time

1. What is your favorite sign of spring?



The first warmish day,  birds singing,  daffodils popping up,  keeping my windows open all day.  I LOVE SPRING!!

2. What was your best birthday ever?

It's difficult to choose.  I have never liked being "in the spotlight" even for birthdays.  I am ok with not much celebrating.  That being said,  I have had a few surprise parties that were very thoughtful and fun.    My 21st was a surprise party involving Cajun dancing and great friends and family,  my 25th was another surprise from my husband and 3 week old first born (not sure she helped much),  my 40th was a surprise involving my ENTIRE church. 




3. What is your favorite dessert?

DO I have to choose?  I always ask for Key Lime Pie made with real key lime juice for my birthday dessert, so maybe it is that.  Or creme brule from Brave New Restaurant.   Or homemade chocolate chip cookies when the going gets tough.  OHHH,  I hate making these kinds of decisions.





4. What is the best excuse you've ever used to get out of a ticket?

Ok,  Look,  I can't get out of a ticket to save my life.  And for some reason I have more than my husband, mother, and sister put together.  My last ticket I tried to tell the guy I had just gotten one and to please be nice.  He pretended he didn't know I had one, and I said,  "Come on.  You were just checking up on me.  You had to have known."  I get a little irritated when they pull me over and I think it shows,  so I don't get out of tickets.  BOO HOO


5. Do you wake up before your alarm, with your alarm, or after hitting snooze several times?

Before, with and after and sometimes I don't hear it.  It depends on...lots of things.  My IDEAL is to get up right before the alarm and have a wonderful hour with my tea, bible, and quiet.  I dream of this, and revel in it when I get make it happen.  When all my children are gone, my mom says I will miss the noise, the activity, but I don't think I will ever miss the craziness that comes with waking up WITH my children and not BEFORE them.  We'll see.  I have a ways to go.


Now you know,

thanks for reading,

Reb

What's Cookin'?

Here we go again.  Food, food, food.  I love food, but I don't like thinking about it all the time.  I mean,  I DO think about it all the time, but I don't like it.  I think THINKING about it makes me gain weight.

We didn't eat all the meals I thought we would from last week, and I am not sure why.  So,  there are a couple of repeats on here.  I also pulled out the spring/summer menu list to refresh my memory on what we like when it gets HOT.  And it has been HOT for spring.

Do you change out your menu ideas when the seasons change?  I would love to get some new ideas.  I would also love to grill more,  maybe grill a couple of times a week and eat leftover meat with salads and pastas.  Which means I need to learn how the grill works and how to grill well.  Nothing worse than dry, burnt meat.

So here it is.

Mon.  Corn Beef Pasties.  We had leftover corn beef and I will make buy pie crusts to put the leftovers in and bake them.

Tue.  Crunchy Poppy Seed Chicken Salad with rolls

Wed.  Beans and lime/cilantro rice  (By the way,  the Chipotle Barbacoa was AMAZING.   My kids loved it,  I loved it, and it would be great to serve to guests.)

Thur.  Fettuccine Alfredo with salad and bread sticks.

Fri.  Coffee cake, bacon/egg casserole, and fruit

Sat.  Hot dogs, homemade baked fries, and edamame (I know, weird veggie but I am NOT going to the store for anything other than milk this week.)

Sun.  Probably a Wendy's run to be with the church family.  We need to eat together more often.  He He

Hope your menu and eating goes well.  I would like  to add great discussion to our menu,  so I may be bringing questions and thoughts to stimulate the mind as well as the belly.  I think they go well together.

thanks for reading,

Reb