In the Storm

Warm Bacon Potato Salad

 
Oh my, this was good! Very simple to make and no mayonnaise. I never get potato salad right but this was fantastic! Wouldn't mind attempting changing up the vinegar to balsalmic or some dijon mustard instead. But the Creole gave it just enough a flavor kick to take it over the top. Makes my mouth water.

Warm Bacon Potato Salad

Vinaigrette: 

½ cup white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Creole mustard

1 tablespoon sugar

Potato Salad: 

2 ½ pounds red or white potatoes, diced into 1 in cubes

6 bacon slices, fried and chopped

1/2 red onion, diced

Freshly ground pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1-2 teaspoon dried dill)

For the vinaigrette: Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Add potatoes to a pot of salted cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes until just tender. Drain and place in a large bowl.

Add cooked and chopped bacon pieces, diced red onion, freshly ground pepper, minced garlic and dill. Gently combine. Add vinaigrette to vegetables and again gently combine.

Baked Hot Dogs

 
we had some leftover chili so i planned this meal around the leftover chili. it was a different way of serving hot dogs. this recipe went over well with my man and my boys. when i went to the grocery to purchase my favorite smoked sausage brats all they had were beef brats so i got those and was very disappointed in the flavor. we love our Johnsonville Smoked Sausage Brats over hot dogs any day! Enjoy!

Baked Hot Dogs

8 hot dogs or smoked sausage brats

8 hot dog buns

4 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 can of chili, or 1 ½ cup leftover chili

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1 medium onion, diced

Mustard

Sweet relish

Preheat oven to 350F. Spread the inside of the hot dog buns with mayonnaise and sweet relish. Add desired amount of mustard. Fill the buns with the hot dogs and place in a 13x9 baking dish. Top each hot dog with chili, cheese, and diced onion. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350F for 45 minutes.

a couple pages

 
this one is from the boys' birthday back in july. just trying to get some scrappin' done with photos still on my computer (that desperately need to come off and be saved elsewhere)

 
elizabeth put pictures up on her facebook page and i snagged them. my plan is to make a separate book for everyday photos and a book for her air force career. this is the left side of a two page spread.

 
ella's first day of preschool. this is the right side of the one above.

10 on tuesday - clouds

 
1. i worked yesterday and observed this...

 
2. and stood in awe of this...

 
3. and was amazed at this...

 
4. and smiled at this...

 
5. and remembered...

 
6. to thank God...

 
7. for His creation...

 
8. for giving me this upwelling joy...

 
9. whenever I see...

 
10 clouds formed by His hands...just for me.

homeschool 101: our day

 
our typical day begins with bible study. we follow that up with history and reading. both involve read-a-louds from a few books that includes a fiction, historical-based novel. Probably the boys' favorite part of the day. We take care of vocabulary assignment, easy grammar, and spelling if we are doing that then we head back to the den, and the computer, for the Saxon Math lesson review using the DIVE dvd. Following math we knock out the Spanish lesson since it is a computer-based program also. There is usually some kind of Human Anatomy and IEW Writing work as well.

it is a filled day that begins about 8 am and goes until the boys get their individual work done. Usually around 2 pm. But sometimes John procrastinates, or daydreams and he takes longer. Jarrod usually stays on track so he can play, watch a show, or play a 1/2 hour of x-box.

lately i've been having the boys take care of chores before we begin school just so i know they get accomplished. but really now that we've been going strong now for almost two months and with the addition of co-op classes the boys are taking in alot and learning alot.

i really don't sweat it if our day gets shortened and we only accomplish co-op classes, or just get a math lesson done and reading. john and jarrod would be fine if all we did was read-a-loud. ha ha, like, not!

gifts...

 
#39 little sneaks

#40 five straight days of work

#41 understanding husband

#42 a day off from co-op

#43 our history curriculum that offers us lots and lots of books to read and no textbook

#44 the books of Ezra and Haggai

#45 cloudy skies that help keep the house cool

#46 sorting bills and having the money to pay them

#47 Micah 6:8

#48 crossing paths with hubby him going to bible study then work me coming home from work; he stops in the middle of the street to give me a kiss goodnight

#49 little faces and bodies that you just want to pick up and snuggle with; hold and not let go

and so begins...

 
my far away daughter, serving her country, and my granddaughter beginning school in another state and probably the first of many different schools in different states and maybe even different countries. but see, i did the same with my daughters. ella seems to be taking it in stride. and i'm still proud of my daughter doing what she is doing - even if it means i don't get to see them much. 

diy

 
i found this on pinterest. but it is sold here.

i fell in love with it and wanted to re-create it for our bedroom. it'll look nice up against gray walls.

 
i started with a 20 x 20 white canvas. and a whole bunch of dark wood letters. a tube of E6000 glue, and a can of white spray paint.

 
it turned out pretty darn good. in fact i love it. it isn't exactly like the original but i'm thrilled with how it turned out.

 

10 things on tuesday I dandelions

when i was little and living in pennslvania with my family i remember dandelions in the yard where we lived.

 
1. i remember the yard full of them at times.

 
2. i remember blowing the dandy out of those lions

 
3. i never thought much about them other than the enjoyment of picking and blowing on those dandelions and watching the 'flower petals' float away.

 
4. then i forgot about dandelions.

 
5. where do dandelions grow?

 
6. i wonder. because i don't find many dandelions anymore

 
7. and some how i've made my way back to loving dandelions.

 
8. dandelions are at the mercy of the wind. and the wind is controlled by God. what are a dandelions purpose except to grow in a field. and flitter about to and fro pollunating more field of their loveliness.

 
9. and for the young to pick and blow and move to the next and pick and blow and watch dandelion float away in the wind

 
10 and the not-so-old, but older, enjoy them.

 

 

all photos via pinterest

my plan for