In the Storm

just a taste

in addition to the digital a b c book i am creating for my grandsons, ian and wyatt, i have begun a recipe book for my kiddos for christmas. major project that i know will take the remainder of the year.

i found a 4x6 template on line that i am using for each recipe: photo + recipe. i realized it would be so easy to then print out 4 sets of each 4x6 recipe just like a photo (so often one can find large discounts for printing larger numbers of photo prints in 4x6 size). then, i'll just put the recipes in a photo book for 4x6 photos; possible decorate each book and call it done. of course it will be even easier to add 'photo' recipes too!

here is just a taste to wet their whistle:

each category will be color-coded: main dishes are a deep pink. i'll probably color-code for appetizers, snacks and desserts, soups & stews, sides, sandwiches and salads

if i haven't made the recipe in a while or don't have a picture i have no problem going on line and finding a similar photo because i'm making them for family and not selling. i doubt there will be many of those because i have been taking food pictures for a long time and should be able to find what i need.

the story behind this picture is hilarious. i'd made this when ash and the boys were here and everyone scarfed that there was this tiny bit left to photograph. it got eaten too.

abc's

a couple more pages for my grandsons' abc album.

loved this picture of ian and wyatt - had to use it!

decided to just go in order from here on out. so I've got a, b, c, d, e, and here is f, which is now one of my favorites

I've done G and here is H.

I also did Y before deciding to go alphabetically.

The rest of the completed abc pages can be found here or just select categories and A B C Book.

Enjoy!

weekend project #2

this past weekend while the cats (hoosier man and georgia boys were at scout camp) were away this little mouse was playing. i mentioned earlier my weekend project: herbs; well, i didn't stop there. after i finished my herb potting and planting i completed another project.

sitting on the backburners i needed to complete a 3-tier snack tray. and i love it. it isn't perfect (i.e. technically, it is a bit off-centered) but it really doesn't bother me. this is what i did:

supplies: 1 malamite dinner plate, 1 malamite salad plate, 1 malamite cereal bowl (Target); 2 clear glass candlestick holders (Dollar Store); and, E6000 super glue

1. Ring the bottom of 1 candlestick hold with E6000. Center on the dinner plate and press gently down. Walk away for at least 24 hours allowing it to dry (i say this because i learned the lesson that if you don't let it go it comes loose)

2. Ring the top of the same candlestick with E6000. Center the bottom of the salad plate on the top of the candlestick. Walk away for at least 24 hours allowing it to dry.

3. Repeat steps one and two for the next candlestick and bowl.

4. Voila! it's complete!

you could get really creative and mix up dollar store malamite plates/bowls; paint plain white or clear glass ones that you find from the dollar store also. i found this set from Target and thought it was delightful. Love the blues/grays.

homeschool 101: school supplies

last week we received the box from christian books.com with our curriculum for next school year. i love school supplies. one of the ladies from our small group seemed to think it was amazing that we already had our curriculum for next year. thankfully God provided the funds, i worked up a plan for the year so we were able to go ahead a get the curriculum. did i mention i love school supplies and text books.

the same lady i mentioned is also head of our co-op and she passed on information regarding the boys' physical science class. they will not have a notebook for the class (like their human anatomy class this year) but the co-op has a subscription to LAP books for each of the science classes. visual learners love lap books. both john and jarrod at least in  part are visual learners. i've downloaded the physical science LAP book for each of the lessons. the chore will be cutting each of them out before co-op begins again next fall.

i'm excited to start geography with the around the world in 180 day curriculum. it looks like alot of fun. and grammar - well - grammar is grammar. not my favorite but we (and i truly mean we) - are learning alot.

with the curriculum in our hot little hands just thinking of next year's school sends me giddy. looking forward to the new co-op classes for the boys. and especially thankful they aren't taking writing!!! there i said it; i cannot tell a lie. this year has been such a trying year just because of writing. we'll have to revisit writing probably again in 10th grade but that is then...

so, just a revisit of our 2012-2013 curriculum:

Exploring Creation with Physical Science (C-op)

Wordly Wise 9 (Vocabulary)

Easy Grammar (Daily Grams)

Around the World in 180 Days (Geography - begin)

Algebra I (first half); Algebra II (second half)

Art: Drawing and Design (Co-op)

Bible History (World History): (Co-op)

Spanish II (Co-op)

Bible: Pilgrims Progress

weekend project

after work today i headed to home depot for herbs. they had everything i wanted except chives. i'm starting small: rosemary, basil, cilantro, thyme, and dill. i simply asked one of the garden experts at home depot (i overheard her conversation with someone else and she sounded very knowledgeable) and she led me to the pots, and soil i'd need. we discussed plant food but they were out of the smaller bags and she felt it really wasn't necessary - just keep 'em watered.

after picking out my herbs, soil and pots - i got terra cotta - i headed for the paint department for some chalkboard spray paint. again i asked the expert about how many cans i'd need and she assured me one can would be sufficient.

it took about an hour to hour and a half from start to finish: tape off a spot for spray painting with the chalkboard paint, letting it dry in the sun (the rain had stopped and the sun was coming through nicely), and repotting the herbs with an organic potting soil for herbs and vegetables. finally i grabbed some white chalk and labelled my pots.

dill, basil, rosemary, cilantro, and thyme - they all smell amazing! perched on my kitchen garden window.

as you can tell my pots are perfectly, imperfect. it really was my intent for them not to be exact.

big news: i planted herbs!!!!!

and i'm so excited! and i've checked off one of my 13 projects before 2013.

currents l 05

(source)

(i want this print)

waiting for someone to receive a surprise

planning a week in the life at the end of April

dreaming of hard wood flooring with a beautiful throw rug

admiring the skills my husband has developed over the years

hoping for more weight loss at my next weigh in

needing to walk more

desiring to swim

returning to projects started but incomplete

searching for contentment and peace

keeping calm through homeschool struggles

assessing learning styles

deciding to lay aside battles

remembering what Jesus did on the cross

developing fresh ideas for next years homeschool co-op class I’ll be teaching

considering which herbs to grow: basil, chives, dill, rosemary, oregano, and cilantro

enjoying a quiet weekend

struggling through institute for excellence in writing with the boys

thanking God for the resurrection

found the currents via lee

40 recipes l 14

Baby Red Potatoes and Green Beans

2 pounds baby red potatoes

1 pound green beans

1 teaspoon sugar

½ stick butter

4 garlic cloves, minced

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Freshly chopped parsley

In a large pot place scrubbed and cleaned potatoes with the sugar, enough salt for cooking potatoes, about 2 teaspoon, and water to cover potatoes plus room for the green beans. Bring the potatoes to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Add the green beans and boil for another 7 minutes until green beans are tender crisp. Drain in a colander and return to pan. Melt the butter with the minced garlic in the microwave. Pour over the potatoes and green beans and gently coat the vegetables. Sprinkle with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, combine. Serve with freshly chopped parsley.

40 recipes l 13

i saw a recipe for stuffed baby peppers awhile back, read the recipe, but wasn't able to save it for some reason - or just didn't - for some reason. i searched again online for the one i had found that i wanted to make and couldn't find it. i did however find a slew of other recipes for stuffed baby peppers, and after finding them, to my delight, in the commissary, i picked up a couple bags ready to try my hand at my own recipe. they turned out yummy! baby bell peppers are sweet so i added a bit of a bite with some garlic and a bit of kick with some crushed red peppers. i will definitely make these again but i might just use some of the ingredients from other recipes that i found, like: ricotta cheese (ooh so creamy), or some spicy crumbled sausage. please enjoy this appetizer or side dish.

Stuffed Baby Peppers

4 oz softened cream cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan

1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese

16 baby bell peppers, red, orange, and yellow

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Olive oil

Preheat oven to 350°. Brush a baking sheet with olive oil and set aside. Blend all cheeses together. Season the mix with pepper, garlic, and crushed red pepper. 

Remove stems, seeds, and membranes from the peppers.  Fill peppers with a tablespoon of cheese mix.  Rub peppers with olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes.

contentment.

the barn is almost complete

i cannot tell a lie. i have had mixed feelings about this barn. on the one hand it has been an amazing project that hoosier man and georgia boys have been able to put together from start to finish: from drawing up plans to putting the roofing on. the work done has been well-thought-out, well-constructed, and just plain good. hoosier man saved a ton of money by using 'free' windows, and hand me down siding. go hoosier man! but, after all is said and done it still has been a chunk of money.

my mixed feelings come in when i look at our front and back of the house and we still have no deck after living in the house for 14+ years (which we have talked about and talked about but because I haven't saved for it, it hasn't happened); the discontent there is we didn't save for the barn either; then there is our carpet throughout living room and hall. it is thread bare (i mean you can see the backing); no wood floors to replace it. because i haven't saved for it. and the lone cabinet still lays in the garage unfinished and not put together...

i know the source of my discontent.

i just haven't found that place in this situation of contentment. so when hoosier man is super excited i truly am excited for him but that discontentment creeps into my being trying to rob the excitement i want to freely give; to freely have.

nothing i can do about any of this except give my discontentment over to my God - and rest in His provisions. it is only their I find contentment. it is there i don't see a thread bare carpet but the roof over our head that shelters us from the storm. the home God blesses as we open our doors to a small group of believers for the study of His word. i don't see the lack of back porch or front porch but his amazing creation as i walk out the door: the clouds he regales me with just because he know how much i love the clouds; i don't see a barn instead of...(place discontentment here) but I see a labor of love, a time of bonding with his sons, proof again and again hoosier man is hard working, full use of gifts honed over the years.

so flee discontentment. get behind me. you're not welcome here.

5 by 5

5 of my favorite movies (not necessarily my top 5)

1. The Princess Bride

2. Star Trek: The Future Begins

3. Raiders of the Lost Ark

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

5. Miss Congeniality

5 favorite vegetables

1. zucchini

2. green beans

3. tomatoes

4. broccoli

5. red peppers

5 favorite blogs/websites

1. ali edwards

2. karen russell

3. pioneer woman

4. Elise Blaha

5. Embrace Life

5 things I want to do this year

1. whitewater rafting

2. walk to the library with the boys; have school at the library; eat lunch at the mall and walk home

3. spend a lot of time at the beach this summer

4. grow herbs

5. weekend with hubby somewhere

5 recipes on my list to try and cook

1. Spicy Pop Pulled Pork (a PW recipe)

2. Queso Blanco Dip

3. Baked Shrimp Scampi (Barefoot Contessa)

4. Tomatillo Sauce (Simply Mexican)

5. homemade guacamole