Friday, March 30, 2012

Stranger in the house

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family.

The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey.

But the stranger... He was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry.

The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind. Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.) Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honour them.

Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home - not from us, our friends or any visitors. After our long time visitor stayed longer - he became more daring however, and even got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol, but the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing..

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?....We just call him 'TV.'

(Note: This should be required reading for every household!)
He has a wife now....we call her 'Computer.' Their first child is "Cell Phone". Second child "I Pod "

HARDLY ANY CONVERSATION IN
OUR HOUSE ANY MORE..........

Please Enter the Giveaway

http://doingmybestforhim.blogspot.com/2012/03/give-away.html
Go to the above link and leave a comment telling me something about yourself to enter. Just a few more days until I draw.
Enter as many times as you want, just tell me something new each time.
Thanks.

Storm Shelter Entrance

This is a neat idea for an entrance to a storm shelter. Its in the kitchen island. You could maybe make the table flip up so its easier for older folks to get down the stairs.


Bright eyed at 4:30am

She looks like she is ready to play not go to sleep. Its okay mom and dad, she will grow out of this. But boy she sure looks cute. Course I got a full nights rest, lol.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Amazing Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 jar (18 oz) peanut butter
6 cups of cornflakes
3 oz good quality choc
Combine sugar & corn syrup, bring to boil, add peanut butter mix well, add corn flakes, mix well, drop on wax paper, drizzle with melted choc. When cooled eat these cookies with reckless abandonment..

3.2.1. Cake

Ingredients:


1 box Angel Food Cake Mix

1 box Cake Mix - Any Flavor

2 Tbsp Water




Directions:

In a ziploc bag, combine the two cake mixes together and mix well. For each individual cake serving, take out 3 Tablespoons of the cake mix combination and mix it with 2 Tablespoons of water in a small microwave-safe container. Microwave on high for 1 minute, and you have your own instant individual little cake! Keep remaining cake mixture stored in the ziploc bag and use whenever you feel like a treat! You can top each cake with a dollop of fat free whipped topping and/or some fresh fruit.


Helpful Tips:

This recipe is called 3, 2, 1 Cake because all you need to remember is "3 tablespoons mix, 2 tablespoons water, 1 minute in the microwave!" Try various flavors of cake mix like carrot, red velvet, pineapple, lemon, orange, etc. Just remember that one of the mixes has to be the angel food mix; the other is your choice. The flavor possibilities are endless!

source: http://cake.betterrecipes.com/3-2-1-cake.html

Butterscotch Pudding

This pudding is simple to make and absolutely to die for! You will love it!
Recipe Ingredients:
1 quart raw milk
1/3 cup non-GMO cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
1 cup Rapadura (or Organic Sucanat)
1/4 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon butter
3 eggs
Recipe Instructions:
Beat the eggs very well in a small bowl, set aside.

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine all the ingredients except the eggs, and whisk together. Then, on low heat, cook the pudding, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Remove from heat. Mix 1/4 cup of the pudding into the eggs very well and then pour it back into the pan of pudding and whisk it in well.

Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving or store it in your refrigerator.

.source: http://eatnourishing.com/recipe/butterscotch-pudding-recipe/

I dont have some of the fancy ingredients so I will just use what I have. I bet it will still be good.
This recipe is by my friend Yolanda. She was featured at this other web site, isnt that cool?

Ginger Destroys Cancer




Ginger, a cousin spice of super anti-cancer substance turmeric, is known for its ability to shrink tumors. Astoundingly, it is even more effective than many cancer drugs, which have been shown to be completely ineffective and actually accelerate the death of cancer patients. Commonly consumed across the world in small doses among food and beverage products, the medicinal properties of ginger far surpass even advanced pharmaceutical inventions.

The subject of one study based out of Georgia State University, whole ginger extract was revealed to shrink prostate tumor size by a whopping 56% in mice. The anticancer properties were observed in addition to ginger’s role in reducing inflammation as well as being a rich source of life-enhancing antioxidants. But what about cancer drugs? Could this simple spice really topple the advanced pharmaceuticals that are often touted as the ‘only option’ for cancer patients by medical doctors?

It turns out that cancer drugs are not only severely ineffective at permanently shrinking tumors, but they actually make tumors larger and kill the patient more quickly. More specifically, the tumors have been found to ‘metasize’, meaning they come back bigger and more stronger than their original size. What’s more, the ‘metasizing’ was found to be very aggressive. According to scientists Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, the premium priced drugs were little more than death sentences for many patients.

“Whatever manipulations we’re doing to tumors can inadvertently do something to increase the tumor numbers to become more metastatic, which is what kills patients at the end of the day,” said study author Dr. Raghu Kalluri.

These are the very drugs considered to be the scientifically proven solution by mainstream health officials.

Meanwhile, ginger presents virtually no side effects and has been used as a food product by many cultures for countless centuries. Instead of creating super tumors, whole ginger extract was shown to exert significant growth-inhibiting and death-inductory effects in a spectrum of prostate cancer cells. Over 17 other studies have also reached similar conclusions on ginger’s anticancer benefits, with the spice being shown by peer-reviewed research to positively impact beyond 101 diseases.



Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/ginger-destroys-cancer-more-effectively-than-cancer-drugs/#ixzz1qWvq4d13
http://naturalsociety.com/ginger-destroys-cancer-more-effectively-than-cancer-drugs/


I need to learn more about tumeric and how to use it. I think it is used in curry and I bought some but I dont know how to use it. Any ideas?

Canning dry beans

In a canning group I am in on facebook they talk about canning dry beans from the dry state. I have been wanting to give it a try and today is the day. In the canner I have 7 quart jars, 2 with black beans, 2 with pinto beans, 2 with navy beans and one with kidney beans. I used the same spices in all the jars. I think I should have used other spices in the navy beans but I will just use these two jars for chili. We like mixed beans in our chili anyway.

The spices I used were: 1 T. dry onion flakes, 1 t. garlic salt, 1 T. pinto bean seasoning (I had purchased this in a large jug from Sams a while back. It smells really good).

If ham ever goes on sale I would dearly love to make a whole canner full of navy beans with onion and ham bits in them. I love ham and beans and it would be so nice to be able to just pop open a jar of them at a moments notice.

I used 1 level cup of dry beans in each quart jar, then the spices and topped them off with boiling water with a 1 inch head space. I will process them in a pressure canner at 10 pounds for 90 min. Or one and a half hours.

Let me do a cost analysis on this.
7 cups beans (bought in bulk at the cannery, except the kidney beans). If a pint is a pound the world around and a pint has 16 oz. then a pint holds 2 cups. If I bought the beans in a 25 pound bag and each pound yielded 2 cups then a 25 pound bag yields 50 cups of beans.

The beans cost between 16.00 and 18.55 so I will use 17.00. Don't ask how I came up with it, it just sounded like a good number. 17.00 divided by 50 equals 34 cents per cup. Each dry cup yields 3 cups cooked or two cans store bought. So for 34 cents plus cost of propane I get a quart jar of beans. If I bought two jars at the store to equal the quart it would cost about .89 each or 1.78. By canning my own beans I am saving at least 1.44 less propane. This is times 7 for a canner full. So say its costing me .44 a jar for the propane which I don't think its that much but for arguments sake that's what I will use. I still save $7.00 per canner full of beans I can at home. Good enough for me, plus I know exactly what is in them.

Please let me know if I messed up on my calculations so I can fix them. Thanks

Edited to add: The beans are out of the canner and seem to be sealing fine. They sure smell good. In addition to making ham and beans I would also like to can up some baked beans and pork and beans from scratch. Sure is cheaper this way. I just need a huge room to put all my jars of food and I would can like crazy.

Easy Recycled Bird Feeder

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Great Grandma and Grandpa and Kastyn

This is my mom and my granddaughter. They are both so beautiful. Great grandma and Kastyn. March 2012

This is my step dad Don and Kastyn. Don is a sweet and loving man who has loved our family from the time he became a member of our family. Great grandpa and Kastyn.

From the youngest to the oldest we sure have a beautiful family.

Soup or Sauce [S.O.S.] Mix

Ingredients
2 cups powdered non-fat dry milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup instant chicken bouillon (regular or low sodium)
2 Tbsp dried onion flakes
2 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a recloseable plastic bag, mixing well.
Equal to 9 (10.5 oz) cans of cream soup.


To substitute for 1 can of cream soup
Combine 1/3 cup of dry mix
with 1 1/4 cups of cold water. Whisk until well blended.
Cook and stir on stove top or in microwave until thickened.
Add thickened mixture to casseroles as you would a can of soup.
Or just eat it! :-)

Storage
Store in closed plastic bag or air-tight container until ready to use. It does not have to be refrigerated.

source: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/03/soup-or-sauce-sos-mix.html

Dish Soap

This is a recipe I found for dish soap~

1 (7-oz) bar ZOTE or Octagon soap (or 1-2-3 brand soap) {Or cut a 14-oz bar in half}
5 qts. water
1 c. baking soda
1/4 c. washing soda
1/4 c. lemon juice

Grate bar soap and place into a heavy stockpot. Pour in water & stir. Heat over medium heat, stirring often until soap is melted. Remove pot from heat and add in baking soda, washing soda & lemon juice. Stir to mix well. Allow mixture to cool then pour into a seal-able container or reuse your store bought soap bottle.

(As the mixture cools in the pot it may begin to gel up and separate itself from the water. This is ok. Simply mix with whisk before filling containers and it will be fine.) This batch makes enough to fill a gallon milk container and (2) 16-oz soap bottles. So you certainly get your money's worth from it.


To use: Use as you would any store bought detergent. It cleans well, but you will notice that you don't get a lot of suds from it as you do with commercial brands. So don't let the lack of suds and bubbles fool you.

*Note about the 1-2-3 brand soap. I saw this soap next to the ZOTE at the store and thought why not give it a try. It was a few cents cheaper than ZOTE but is only 12+ ounces unlike ZOTE that is 14 ounces. But either way, I thought it would be worth a try.
Pam's notes:
I used half a bar of regular soap and it turned out great. she is right it does not really suds up, but after washing my glasses it really does clean well. the recipe made three juice bottles full and i pour the extra bit in my current soap bottle that had a couple tablespoons of soap left in it.
Pam
source: http://trooppetrie.blogspot.com/2009/11/home-made-dish-soap.html

Scented Laundry Booster

■Fill a plastic (I use glass) container with baking soda then add a few drops of essential oil to preference (start with about 2 drops per cup). Stir well with a wooden stick or spoon (not one used for cooking). Seal the container and set aside for two weeks.
■After two weeks use it as a laundry booster (1/2 cup per load in the wash or rinse cycle–your choice). Do not add any commercial fabric softener.

I made this and use it for carpet fresh, now I am going to try it for a laundry booster. I hope it will help get things clean and make them smell good in the process.

Liquid Hand Soap

While I am on the subject of liquid soap I thought I would post this hand soap recipe.

1 bar soap (6 oz)
1 TBS honey
1 tsp glycerin
water

Directions

■Grate bar into small flakes, toss in blender.
■Add 1 cup boiling water and whip.
■Add 1/2 cup room temperature water and stir in blender.
■Add honey and glycerin, stir.
■Allow mix to cool (15 minutes) then whip again.
■Mixture should be 2 cups at this point. Top with cool water until mixture measures between 5 and 6 cups, whip.
■Pour into containers and allow to cool (do not put lids or caps on yet).
■After an hour, close containers. Mixture will thicken up.
■Shake before using as needed.
Optional: You can make this with herb infused water, just strain before using.

Source: Adapted from Pearls of Country Wisdom by Debora S. Tukua

Another homemade version:

Save bits of leftover bars (or grate one) then toss in a glass mason jar and top with boiling water (about double the amount of soap bits). Stir then seal with lid. Shake jar a few times while the water is cooling to get rid of any clumps. Once the mixture has cooled, stir well and add a few drops of essential oil if you wish to have a scented version.

To use: Pour mix into bottle then top with water as needed to get the right consistency (shake well). If for some reason the mixture is too thin, simply melt a bit of grated soap in a little hot water then add to first mixture to thicken.

I have made the second version and am not totally satisfied so I will try the first version and see how I like it.

Liquid Laundry Soap

I was surprised that I did not have a recipe for liquid laundry soap on my blog. I have recipes for soap mousse, fabric softener, bleach alternative and several other recopies but nothing for liquid laundry soap. I intend to remedy that right now.
Some of my family like to use the liquid laundry soap and some like the soap mousse and some don't care one way or another. I had at one point been able to purchase several jugs of liquid laundry soap for a small price so I have not made my own for quite a while. The stock of store bought soap is down to almost nothing so now is a good time to make a batch of my liquid laundry soap to replace it. I have saved a few of the bottles from the store so I can fill them when the soap is ready.
Here is the recipe I use for liquid laundry soap.

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

■Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
■Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
■Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
Once the mix is cool I add several drops of essential oils. Lavender, tea tree or other fresh smelling type.
■Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).
Since I put mine in used laundry soap bottles I shake before use not stir.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Texas in the spring

The bluebonnets are so beautiful this year.

Letter from the future

Letter from the future to All Christian Ministers and their Congregations.

.by David Roberts on Sunday, 25 March 2012 at 21:36 ·

.It is 2016 and your search for a youth minister to replace the previous one is not going well. The first two seemed like such a perfect fit, the families and children liked them both. Unfortunately, neither one passed the required DOJ licensing requirements to work in Christian Ministry. Something about both of them participating in a Pro-Life rally in 2012 and radicals like that cannot be hired by a congregation who wants to keep their tax exempt status.

You had seen the results of those "purists" who insisted that as a minister, they still had the right to speak their mind, preach the Word accurately. The congregations were forcibly disbanded as a hate group, the buildings were confiscated, one is a Mosque now, the other is a government reeducation center. The ministers and their families, and a few of the more vocal members were incarcerated three years ago as enemies of the state. Their homes, funds and more were taken and given to pro-gay counselors to reimburse them for the therapy needed by those who heard the preachers teach that homosexuality is a sin. To date, there is no trial scheduled for any of those involved.

No, in 2012 and before, it was just easier to preach the Beatitudes, the Ten Commandments and selected portions of Scripture. After all, before it was about not offending people, keeping those tithers and contributors happy so it was easy to skip the hard subjects. Now, well it's just not worth it. You lose your job, your home, your freedom. It's just better to stick to the easy subjects. Forget sin, forget sacrifice, stay under the radar.

God forbid that your congregation get targeted by the CAIR organization and end up with vandalized property, or with a visiting Islamist who kills members of the church in protest. No, it's just best to keep searching for your future youth, preaching or music minister under the auspices of the Department of Justice guidelines and don't rock the boat. Keep your focus on Social Justice, Collective Salvation and redistribution of wealth and toss that unnecessary bothersome message that excludes so many people from Heaven.

After all, when it was still protected, Free Speech gave you the right to preach the Gospel. But Free Speech had to go, and we all stood silent.

When it was still protected, the Right to Bear Arms meant that a tyrannical government was held in check, lest they forget they were a government of the people. But it had to go, after all, it was for the children's sake and we all stood silent.

When it was still protected, the Third Amendment guaranteed that our private homes were our private homes and no one could be forced to allow soldiers to live with them. How unfair was that? Now, with the Agenda 21, any greedy individual with more rooms than he or she needs must give one or two of those rooms over to house the unfortunate. But we all stood silent.

When it was still protected, the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Amendments required law enforcement to have a warrant to search your home, your car or your office and if arrested you did not have to testify against yourself. You had a right to a speedy trial, by a jury of your peers. But when NDAA passed it assured us that only those who the government considered a threat would be arrested without a trial, without a warrant, and without a trial of any kind. Justice moves so fast now. But we all stood silent.

As each right enumerated in the Constitution evaporated, we stayed silent. We capitulated. We didn't want to risk our tax exempt status, didn't want to offend members of the church or our community. So as we look around at life for the Christian minister in 2016, look to the past. Look to those who refused to take a stand for those rights and thank them wholeheartedly for freeing you from the responsibilty and the hassle of teaching and preaching the truth. Thank them for accepting Social Justice as the job of the church, after all, the Gospel never fed anyone. Did it?

.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Cute Snack Bags

Isn't this a cute idea to send in a child's lunch or for snacks at a party? This uses one snack size baggie.

Just paint some old wooden clothes pins and add pipe cleaner antenna and wiggle eyes.

he he

My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned because I couldn't concentrate.

Tootsie Rolls

1 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup non-instant powdered milk
Cook honey to 255 degrees (hard ball). Do not overcook. Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Mix cocoa and powdered milk well and stir into honey. Pull like taffy until gloss is gone . Roll into rolls.
source: 1 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup non-instant powdered milk
Cook honey to 255 degrees (hard ball). Do not overcook. Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Mix cocoa and powdered milk well and stir into honey. Pull like taffy until gloss is gone . Roll into rolls.
source: http://www.storefood.com/Recipes/tootsie.html

We used to make taffy when we were kids. I will have to try this recipe. I love anything chocolate and really love tootsie rolls.

Snack Cake Recipes

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
½ teaspoon vanilla

Mix dry ingredients. Stir in liquid ingredients completely. Pour into an ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

Applesauce Cake: Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir 1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice into the flour mixture. Reduce water to ½ cup and stir in ½ cup applesauce.

Chocolate Chip: Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped nuts into flour mixture. Sprinkle 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips over the batter in pan.

Double Chocolate: Sprinkle ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips over the batter in pan.

Maple Nut: Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir ½ cup chopped pecans into the flour mixture and ½ teaspoon maple extract in with the water.

Recipe submitted by Christine, Lawrence 1st Ward, Topeka, KS Stake.

source: http://www.mormonchic.com/recipe/recipebox/pages/foodstorage.asp
I have been wanting recipes for small cakes. When I make a regular 9x13 cake much of it goes bad before we can get it eaten.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Enter the giveaway

Be sure to enter my give away for a dish cloth and pot holder hand crochet by me. Go to this post and enter. Feel free to enter as many times as you wish. Just tell me something different about yourself each time you enter. I will draw the winner on April 5th. Good luck

http://doingmybestforhim.blogspot.com/2012/03/give-away.html

Planting the garden

The girls got quite a bit of the garden planted today. They planted a patch of potatoes, 24 tomato plants, 6 jalapeno, 6 red bell pepper and 6 green pepper plants. We already have radishes, lettuce, spinach and romaine lettuce planted a couple of weeks ago.

We still have the cucumbers, yellow and zucchini squash and okra to get planted. We are going to try really hard to keep the garden weeded better this year than we did last year.

I also am hoping for a good tomato year because we have eaten all the tomatoes I had canned a couple years ago and so I need to can a bunch more.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Ham Radio license part 6

Ham Radio license part 5

Ham radio license part 4

Give away

I will be giving away one hand crochet dish cloth and one hand crochet pot holder on April 5th. I will choose the color. To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me about how many children you have. Contest limited to US residents only.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Easy double pie crust


Please be sure to note that this is not my recipe and I did not write the article, it is from the Hillbilly Housewife. I do not use shortening, I use olive oil or lard. Just wanted to make sure you all knew this.




■2-1/2 cups flour
■1 teaspoon salt
■3/4 cup shortening
■6 or 7 tablespoons of water
■waxed paper or pastry cloths






I have a confession to make. Pie crust intimidated me for many years. I never actually witnessed my own mother make pie crust, and when my Granny made it, it seemed to just magically appear on her rolling pin. So many recipes were unavailable to me though, as long as I avoided pie crusts, that finally, I decided I would just learn how to make it. That is when I discovered the secret: The crust is easier to manage when it is rolled out between waxed paper or pastry cloths. Eureka! With this one discovery, I have taken the pie crust bull by the horns and made it my own. Pie crust is fun and easy for me now. And if I can tackle this small bit of culinary success, believe me, everyone can.

First get out your trusty big bowl. Measure the flour and salt into it. Stir it up, to evenly distribute the salt. Measure the shortening with a 1/4-cup measuring cup. Scoop up a full quarter cup of shortening and level off the top. Your fingers will get messy. It is just a fact of nature, once I accepted this, making pie crust got a lot easier. Now scoop the shortening out of the cup and plop it into the bowl of flour. Measure the shortening again, 2 more times, making 3/4 cup all together, be sure to level off the top of it each time.

Now, use a fork or your fingers to mix the fat into the flour. I will use my new pastry blender. You don’t want it too well mixed, but it should be in small crumbly pieces. Then add your water. Mix the dough up with the fork, or your hands until it forms a ball of dough. Knead it a few times to make sure it holds together well. Add a little more water if you need to.

Divide the dough in half, forming it into two balls. Rip off two sheets of (roughly) square shaped waxed paper. Lay the first sheet down and pat out a pie crust ball into a thick circle on top of it. Lay the second sheet of waxed paper over the pie crust. Now you have a sandwich, the pie crust is the filling, and the waxed paper is the bread. Use a rolling pin or a sturdy jar or glass to roll out the dough between the sheets of waxed paper. The dough is quite manageable in this state. Roll it out as thin and big as you like, 12″ diameter is standard. Now, gently peel off the top sheet of waxed paper, being careful not to rip the crust. It should peel off quite easily, despite the wrinkles in the paper. Place the waxed paper back down on the crust, and flip it over. Peel the other side of waxed paper off too, again being careful. Do not replace the second sheet of waxed paper. Now get your pie pan and lay it upside down over the pie crust. Slip your hand under the waxed paper lined side of the pie crust,and place your other hand on the pie plate. Gently invert the two together. Remove the final sheet of waxed paper and you should have the pie crust nicely centered in the upright pie pan. Gently adjust the crust in the pan, being careful no to stretch it into shape, but only to coax it carefully. If you stretch pie crust, it will shrink back while it bakes. Sad but true. This means you have to get the pie crust plenty large enough to fit into the pie pan when you roll it out.

Let the extra crust hang over the sides of the pan. Roll out the other half of the crust the same way you did the top half. You can reuse the same waxed paper. When the second crust is thin, set it aside.

Fill up your pie crust, using the filling of your choice. Mound the fruit slightly in the center if you like a pretty peaked top on your pie. Loosen both layers of waxed paper on the second crust. Remove the top layer of waxed paper, and carefully invert the crust on top of the pie filling. Remove the final sheet of waxed paper and toss them into the garbage. Trim the crust so it extends about 1/2 an inch beyond the rim of the pie pan. Cut and paste with any dough scraps if you have thin spots. Fold the edges of the crust under and crimp them with your fingers or a fork to seal the edges. I flute the edges by pinching them with my fingers into a pretty rim, but this is not necessary. It is pretty easy though, with a little practice. Like playing with play-dough almost. Cut slits in the top of the pie for steam to escape. Bake as directed.

For a single crust pie, just cut the recipe in half. Or make the whole recipe and refrigerate or freeze the other half for later. To pre-bake a crust, bake it at 425° until it is golden brown, about 10 or 15 minutes. Poke it all over with a fork before baking to prevent air bubbles from forming.

This is much harder to describe than to actually do. I was very clumsy about learning this skill. My pie crusts are not fancy, they are sturdy. I do not make the most tender flaky crust on the block, but if I can figure out how to do this, then anyone can. This recipe is exceptionally easy to handle, and the waxed paper method really lightens the task. I now consider pies an easy and quick dish. I didn’t always, but practice really makes all the difference. Lard and animal fats make flakier crusts than vegetable shortening. Vegetable shortening still makes a very good pie crust though, and no animals are harmed in the making of it.

I’ve made reusable pastry cloths from hemmed pieces of old pillow cases or sheets. Cut them about 18″ square and hem or zigzag all the edges on the sewing machine. Then use them just like the waxed paper and toss them into the washer when you are done. They actually work better than the waxed paper, and are much cheaper and more ecologically friendly.

All-purpose white flour and unbleached white flour both make very tender pie crusts. Whole wheat pastry flour, made from soft wheat also makes a very tender, flaky crust. Plain whole wheat flour, or whole wheat bread flour makes a sturdier crust. I like sturdy whole wheat crusts on pot pies and quiches, but it takes kids a while to get used to them.

source: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/easypiecrust.htm



Just for clarification, this post is copied from Hillbilly Housewife at the link above. I did make my own pastry cloths just like she describes though. I dont want anyone to think I wrote this post.

Wanted

I am looking for a 1950 Singer 318W sewing machine. Do you or anyone you know have one in good working order for sale? If so please let me know. Thanks.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Tis True

Today's society does not value even human life, everything is disposable, the young, the old and every body in between. I will always love you means until I get a better offer or I get tired of you. Till death do us part means until I decide we are done. Commitment has no meaning today.

Do you have a good lemon cake recipe?

I am hungry for lemon cake. None of the recipes I looked up appeal to me. Do you have a good lemon cake recipe? If you leave a recipe in the comment section I will publish it here on my blog. Be sure to leave your name and where you found the recipe if its not your original recipe.

Cinnamon Cake

2 Cups Sugar
2 Cups Milk
4 Cups Flour
1/4 Cup butter or margarine (cut into small pieces)
2 teaspoons baking powder

Mix everything and pour in a 9×13 greased and floured baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake for 50 minutes at 350* or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

This is great as a dessert or my family actually loves it for breakfast warm with a little margarine/butter on top. This is referred to as the poor mans cake. Enjoy!

source: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/dessert/cake

Spice Cake

2 cups of flour self-rising
2 cups of sugar
Jar of apple blue berry baby food
cup of walnuts (I would probably leave this out because I rarely use nuts in cooking)
3 eggs
cup of oil
2 teaspoons of cinnamon

Mix together and bake at 350 until knife comes out clean.

I thought this recipe was interesting because it uses baby food fruit. I had just seen another recipe for fruit frosting using baby food fruit and powdered sugar so this caught my eye. I bet you could make the frosting with more baby food fruit.


source: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/dessert/cake

Homemade Chocolate Frosting

■6 tbsp butter (softened)
■1 cup powdered sugar
■4 tbsp cocoa powder
■3 tbsp milk
Sift together powdered sugar and cocoa. In a mixing bowl cream together softened butter and sugar/cocoa. Add milk a little at a time to control the consistency of the frosting. It may take a little more or a little less milk depending on how you like it.

Tip: If you would like a little extra rich chocolate flavor you can melt ½ cup of semi sweet chocolate chips in your microwave and stir into the frosting.You can also fold in your favorite nuts.Just make sure you don’t serve it to someone with a nut allergy.

source: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/dessert/cake

I think I am going to make it

I have been sick for the last 5 days. I got sick the day before we left Kansas while I was visiting my dad in the nursing home. Every day we went to visit him while we were there and each day we would take him out to smoke. Its not too horrible except that he cant hold his own cigarette and so you are pretty up close and personal with the smoke. The last day we were there there were two other people outside smoking. You would think that being outside would not be a problem but it was. We were sitting on chairs in a sort of alcove of the building so there was not a definite breeze going by. Anyway, I lit dads cigarette for him and started choking and became so sick. The chest tightness and sore throat lasted 5 days. Today I feel like I am going to live but my throat is still sore. Jeff got sick too. I am sure glad I quit smoking years ago and Jeff quit many years ago. It sure didn't make me want to start again. I don't see the appeal anymore.

I will post some pictures from our trip once I get completely better. Take care everyone.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

missionary update


Brenda and goat mascots at FUMC in Bulter, PA


Sunday school children at FUMC presenting Brenda with her goat gift.


From: "Brenda Lange"
Date: March 17, 2012 6:45:19 AM CDT
Subject: Blog March 17 , 2012

BUTLER KIDS DONATED “ KIDS” FOR OUR KIDS!

The Sunday School Children of First United Methodist Church in Butler, PA heard our plea for goats and ducks for our orphans in Mozambique.
They surprised me last Sunday with a check that will buy 64 goats and 50 ducks!
They even had LIVE GOATS on stage with me as they presented the check!

I asked the Lord last Sept. to help me expand our goat herd to 100 goats, and He’s making it happen.
At present we have 10 adult goats in Balama which have produced 7 new baby goats since last September.
Since December, nine goats were donated by individual sponsors.
Thanks to these generous donations, we can now expand our herd to 90 goats!

These goats and ducks will serve as our breeders to provide “starter herds” for our older orphans living in remote villages.
Those orphans interested in raising goats or ducks will attend a training class to learn how to properly care for and market these animals.
Goat meat and duck eggs/meat are in high demand in Mozambique, making this a very profitable way for our orphans to make a living.

THANK YOU to all of you who have made this goal a reality!

"Bush Bunny" Brenda Lange


LOVE GIFTS TO:
ORPHANS UNLIMITED, INC.
11152 WESTHEIMER RD., PMB 391
HOUSTON, TX 77042

LOVE GIFT TO: ORPHANS UNLIMITED in RSA
Standard Bank-Hatfield
(branch code) 011-54515
Name: Orphans Unlimited
Acct. # 017743036

PERSONAL NOTES TO BRENDA
brenda@orphansunlimited.org
ALL OTHER INQUIRIES:
LINDA FERGUSON
linda@orphansunlimited.org
phone: 979-234-3422 or 713-854-9197
Brenda’s Blog is Posted at:
www.orphansunlimited.org/blog
or SUBSCRIBE to receive the blog by e-mail.

BUSH BUNNY FLYS TO AFRICA ON APRIL 3RD.


I’m still traveling around TX these next 2 weeks, as well as packing 300+ lbs of luggage for Africa.
Your love gifts have provided us with badly needed medications, vitamins, and audio Bibles that will bless the multitudes of children we serve each year.
How do I get it all over there?
Some of the visitors listed below will bring an extra suitcase that I have pre-packed for them.
That way there is no extra cost for transport.


2 MIGHTY WOMEN OF GOD ANSWER GOD’S CALL

TWO women will join us this spring who have given long term commitments.
Both will begin management and children’s ministry training upon their arrival.

Leona Phillips from South Africa joins us April 13th, and brings with her an executive administrative background and a true heart for Jesus and missions.
Lynn Heddleson, Canton, Ohio, an experienced short term missionary with a love for Jesus, brings with her a career in management and teaching, as she trains men and women to drive city buses.
Both young ladies will need your prayers for accelerated cultural and language learning, as they tackle the Portuguese language as well as the Moz. culture.

FOOD BUYING TEAM FOR MAY AND JUNE


God has provided a powerful team of experienced people to help us move 550+ TONS of corn and beans this year.
We plan to enlarge our processing team, making it possible to sack and stack 40 tons a day vs. our 25 tons/day last year.

Don Hitsman from Michigan, an experienced missionary who supervised the barns for us last year.
Kaylan Vollmering, experienced short term missionary, graduate of TX A&M, and current RN student at Concordia Un. In Austin, TX.
David Abel, experienced missionary and Agronomy student at Kansas State, Un.
Bryce Vaughn, AFA council member and Agricultural student at Nebraska Un.

We are very excited to work with this awesome team of people who will arrive in mid May to help us fill the barns for 2012.

Blessings,
Bush Bunny Brenda

Baking Powder Biscuits


I don't use margarine or butter fakes, I only use real butter, so I would replace his fake butter with real butter.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Can you believe a hair did this damage?

This is Kastyns little sweet toe. I was playing with her the other day and took her socks off so I could play with her toes. I noticed a hair so I pulled it and she cried. At first I thought the wrinkle was a fat crease but as I looked I realized that it was a hair wrapped around two of her toes. Jeff and I took her outside so we could be sure we had gotten the hair removed. It was wrapped tightly around the second toe and somewhat around the third toe. We have no idea how long it was there but I found it and took it off on Saturday or Sunday and Kaleena says it still looks like this.
Who would have thought a hair could do that? Of course Kaleena feels like the worst mom in the world. I told her she was just getting started to just wait. Silly girl. We all do things like this and it doesn't mean we are bad parents. Its called life.

Should a Christian have a stocked pantry?

Why prepare?
Protection of our families is part of providing for our families:
1Ti 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
In the context of this verse the Noah Webster's 1828 defines the word 'Provide' as: PROVI'DE, v.i. To procure supplies or means of defense; or to take measures for counteracting or escaping an evil.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

This is who has been keeping me busy

This is spring break and we have been enjoying our newest grand baby, Kastyn. She just turned 3 months old and is a sweet little thing and of course so very smart. One more day with her and then we head back home. We sure have enjoyed her sweet personality.

Happy Birthday Dana

The pillowcase on the left is the one I made for Shelby for her birthday and the one on the right I made for Dana for her birthday.


Shelby got a Tinkerbell blanket and Dana got one with deer on it. Dana's birthday is tomorrow. She will be 12 years old. She is my oldest granddaughter.




Happy Birthday Dana.


♫ ღ ♪ Happy Birthday To YOU! ♫ ღ ♪
Happy Birthday To YOU! ♫ ღ ♪ ♫ ღ ♪
Happy Birthday Dear Dana.!
♫ ღ ♪ ♫ ღ ♪ Happy Birthday To YOU! ♫ ღ ♪

missionary update







BALAMA UPDATE FROM ERIC DRY AND LINDA STANLEY IN MOZAMBIQUE

While I’ve been sharing God’s vision with all of you in the USA, Eric, Linda, Monica and Joy were working faithfully to manage our ministry and orphan programs in Mozambique.
This is the latest news sent this week.

CHRISTIAN RADIO EXPANDS TO A 3RD LANGUAGE!
ERIC SAYS:
You can tell the Evans Baptist Church, LA, that the Maconde language programs began broadcasting today (March 9) at 3pm. Please thank them from all the Maconde speaking people in the Balama district. This is the first time EVER that MANY of them will hear the TRUTH about JESUS. These programs are in the form of stories acted out by several persons, it sounds really good.
Radio Mpakhira Onhupi (Eric’s radio name) is now broadcasting seven (thirty minute) programs a week in THREE languages in two counties. God is moving in amazing way’s! ($10/30 minute program is all it costs to get the truth about Jesus to over 230,000 people.)

BELOW IS LINDA’S LATEST NEWSLETTER A LATEST PHOTO OF DIXON (the malnourished baby featured in our 2012 DVD disk).
He is now healthy at 7 months of age.
When we rescued Dixon in November, 2011, he weighed only 7 lbs. at 4 months of age (emaciated and near death).
Thanks to your love gifts, we can buy life saving baby formula and food so that Dixon as well as 100’s of other malnourished babies are saved each year.
Blessings and great THANKS from our Balama team,
Bush Bunny Brenda










Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ
Mozambique is continuing to have rain and will have for another month. It breaks my heart to see so many babies sick from Malaria and so many other diseases which seem to multiply in the rainy season. We loose more babies to Malaria and diarrhea than anything else and it seems like it is more this year. Perhaps it’s the same but it seems to be more to me.
Baby Dixon came to us shortly before I arrived and Brenda fought to keep him alive. He is now in our baby program and is a happy and healthy baby.
Look at that smiling little face
Praise God for the little Dixons that are all helped through our Baby project.
We have been able to visit a few of the village churches since I returned. I love going to the outer villages to preach the word and see God moving among the people.
Two girls from South Africa named Monica and Joy have been here helping us with many things and have been a blessing to the people. They both sing so they have been helping to record the radio programs as well.
As of this week Eric has expanded the radio ministry from 3 times a week in Balama to include another 3 times in the larger town of Montepeuz. The gospel is now broadcast 6 times a week in Portuguese and Makua on 6 different days.
Today is prayer walk day. Once a week I go with the ladies prayer walk from the church and we walk to homes in the village to pray for people who are sick. Today we also will visit a family who had a death in the family to pray with them.
Everyday comes with new opportunities to show the love of God around us. One of my Favorite songs is “Wont you be my love” by Mercy me. It speaks to my heart about the love we are supposed to take to a broken world.
All we have to do is look around us to see hurting people no matter where we are.
Your mission field may be next door or where you work. Don’t miss the opportunity God has placed in your life to minister to others.
Love in Christ
Linda Stanley







Again, our most heartfelt THANK YOU from all our Balama Team,



Double Blessings,



Bush Bunny Brenda




"Bush Bunny" Brenda Lange


LOVE GIFTS TO:
ORPHANS UNLIMITED, INC.
11152 WESTHEIMER RD., PMB 391
HOUSTON, TX 77042






LOVE GIFT TO: ORPHANS UNLIMITED in RSA
Standard Bank-Hatfield
(branch code) 011-54515
Name: Orphans Unlimited
Acct. # 017743036






PERSONAL NOTES TO BRENDA
brenda@orphansunlimited.org
ALL OTHER INQUIRIES:
LINDA FERGUSON
linda@orphansunlimited.org
phone: 979-234-3422 or 713-854-9197
Brenda’s Blog is Posted at:
www.orphansunlimited.org/blog
or SUBSCRIBE to receive the blog by e-mail.









Magic Milk Shakes




■1-1/2 to 2 cups ice water
■1-1/2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
■2/3 cup sugar
■1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
■1 teaspoon vanilla
■1 to 1-1/2 trays of ice cubes, as much as you can spare
■2 tablespoons corn oil plus a 5-second squirt of non-stick spray for emulsification purposes
Place all of the ingredients into the blender, including the oil and the non-stick spray. Use less water for thicker milk shakes and more water for shakes that are easy on your blender motor. The blender should be about 3/4′s full. Place the lid on. Process for a full 2 minutes. Pour into cups and serve. Makes 4 – 12oz servings. For preparation tips please see below.

I love this recipe because it makes very rich milk shakes without any ice cream. I don’t always have ice cream in the house because the kids eat it so fast. With this recipe we can have delicious frosty milk shakes for a fraction of the cost of those using ice cream. And all the ingredients are on the pantry shelf.

Reader’s Tip: A reader named Chris made these with Splenda replacing the sugar measure for measure and said they turned out perfectly. If you like Splenda, then this tip would be a great way to reduce the calories and make them sugar-free. Thanks for sharing Chris!

Variations:

■Add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee for a mocha shake
■Add 1 very ripe banana for a chocolate banana shake
■Add a big spoonful of peanut butter for a decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake.
■Add a few broken red and white candy mints for a refreshing Chocolate Mint shake.
■To make Vanilla Milk Shakes, omit the cocoa powder, reduce the sugar to 1/2-cup and add 1 tablespoon (yes a full tablespoon) of vanilla flavoring. For a french vanilla milk shake crack in an egg too.

source: Hillbilly Housewife

Friday, March 9, 2012

Heavenly Chocolate Brownies

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups white sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 sticks butter or margarine or 12 tablespoons, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup walnut pieces

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa, sugar and salt. Add the eggs, butter, and vanilla. Mix well with a spoon. Pour into a sprayed 8 x 8 inch baking dish and spread out evenly. Sprinkle chocolate chips and walnuts over the top. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 35 – 40 minutes. Makes 10 to 12 brownies depending on size you cut them. Enjoy!

source: http://networkedblogs.com/uYfqj

Oh Thank You So Much



I like to sew and crochet. I make many pot holders, dish cloths and other things. These things are mostly given away, traded or sometimes sold. Rarely do I give myself these things. Many times I would love to have some of the things I make but I give them away instead. Today I decided to throw away my old worn out pot holders and give myself a pretty set of new pot holders. I wonder why I don't do that more often?

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Free speech for all or just some?

"I should be able to express moral views on social issues, especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years, without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach 'tolerance' that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I'm in the public square."
Kirk Cameron

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

I need this today

Psa 27:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psa 27:2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Psa 27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Psa 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Psa 27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

Psa 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
Psa 27:9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Psa 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Psa 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psa 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

Psa 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Tote bag redo

This is one of the first feed sack tote bags I ever made. It was a learning experience. A lady wants this bag and as I was looking at it I decided I could not send it to her because it is not good enough.

I ended up reworking the bag and doing a better job. I was even able to add an inside pocket. Now I wont be ashamed to send her the bag. Its good to know I am getting better and better at these bags. At first I had no idea what I was doing. I can whip them out fairly quickly now. I like the reworked bag better because its not so huge but still plenty big.



Tuesday, March 6, 2012

5 ingredient Soup

5 Ingredient Soup

1 15 oz can refried beans
1 pint/15 oz can broth
1 pint/15 oz can corn
1 pint/15 oz can black beans
1 pint/15 oz can diced tomatoes (original recipe calls for rotel)

Mix refried beans and broth until combined. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 10 minutes.

by: Lynn Szwalkiewicz..

Replacement High Chair Cover/Pad

It looks a lot better on the actual high chair.

Before my youngest granddaughter Kastyn was ever born her parents bought a used high chair. I offered to make a new chair pad/cover. Its finally done and good thing too because Kastyn is about ready to sit in her high chair. This is obviously not her high chair but it was the best way I knew to show it off. I have since finished the circle area near the bottom with bias tape and cut the center of the circle out and clipped the button holes which will allow the straps to go through. It isn't a piece I would take to the fair and enter but it will serve its purpose. Its also reversible so maybe they can get a little more wear out of it before it has to be washed.




Blue Jean Messinger Bag







I made this messinger bag for my oldest granddaughters birthday. She loves cammo. The main part of the bag is made from the leg of a pair of jeans that Jeff wore out. The pocket is from a pair of Joy's jeans. I save the legs, pockets and zippers of worn out jeans. Usually the girls pockets are cuter than men's jeans but I do save them as well. I love unicycling and remaking things out of things that would normally be tossed or given away. It makes me feel like I am being a good steward of the money my husband makes for our family.





3 Bags made this morning

I made these three tote bags this morning. Last week the neighbor gave them to me and I was under the impression they were for me to use. Last night she text ed me and asked if the bags were done? oops. I misunderstood and thought they were for me not for a customer. I got busy and made them this morning so she can take them to whoever wanted them.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Pedal power wheat grinding

Tis True



Houston pastor asks church members to get tattoos for Lent



Designer Scott Erickson, left, and Pastor Chris Seay join other community members at Ecclesia Church in Montrose who have gotten tattoos.


HOUSTON — Asking his congregation to get permanent tattoos as a part of their Lenten observances may be one of the craziest things Ecclesia pastor Chris Seay has done at his artsy, pop-culture-savvy Montrose church. The tattoos represent the Catholic Stations of the Cross as a part of the church's art exhibit for Lent called: Cruciformity: Stations on the Skin.






Though the church hoped to get just 10 people to volunteer to get the tattoos (one for each station of the cross), between 60 and 80 people are got inked for the project. Their tattoos display different scenes from Station of the Cross, following the story of Jesus' death and resurrection.




“We're going to have a lot of people who don't go to a church and who are in the tattoo culture,” said Seay. “We hope that as you pause and look at this art, God will speak to you about who he is and what he's done for us. I want to declare to them, `Hey, you're welcome here.’?“ Seay estimates half the Ecclesia community has a tattoo. They're more popular than ever among young people, with about 40 percent of Americans under 30 sporting ink, according to the Pew Research Center.




In Christian communities, religious-themed tattoos are relatively common. Christian satire blog Stuff Christians Like lists “tattoos for God” among contemporary Christian trends, noting the use of body art as a tool for evangelism. There is still a debate, often cultural and generational, about whether it is appropriate for Christians to get tattoos. “There are definitely some Old Testament passages that have something to say about (tattooing), but we don't think they have weight in this contemporary circumstance,” said Seay, a Christian author, Baylor grad and third-generation pastor. “If we thought the Scriptures were prohibiting it, we wouldn't be doing it.”






Sunday, March 4, 2012

Reclaimed wood raised beds

Space saving bed

This is a really neat idea. I like how it provides for three children to each have a bed of their own and also that they can be compacted into the area of one bed to allow play room when not being used to sleep. I wonder if this idea would work in a camper? Notice too that the bottom bed has legs so it isnt so low to the floor. I really like this idea.


Tag Rag

This is a taggie I made this morning for Kastyn. Its about 12 inches square. These can be made any size and you can use any ribbon and rick rack you have. I cut my ribbon pieces 5 inches. The color on the pix isn't very good one side is a lime green with flowers and the other side is a sort of purple cloudy print.
Be sure that you do not leave these in the crib or where the baby is sleeping because there is always he possibility that they can wrap their tiny fingers up in the ribbon. If this concerns you you can remedy that by only sewing one end of the ribbon into the seam and tying a knot at the other end.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

31 Status

Corn Dog Bites

CORN DOG BITES

1 cup self rising flour
2/3 cup cornmeal
1 Tbsp sugar
... 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1 pkg hot dogs
Oil for frying

Combine first three ingredients in a large bowl. Combine 2 Tbsp oil,
egg, and buttermilk; stir into flour mixture, mixing well. Cut each
hot dog into 5 pieces. Dip each piece into batter coating
completely. (Use wooden picks to aid in dipping). Heat oil to 375.
Fry pieces until golden, turning once, draining on paper towels.

recipe by: Lani Olson Thompson

Friday, March 2, 2012

Do you know these songs?

When I was a child I had two uncles serving in the military. One was in vietnam and the other was in Germany. Brothers both serving at the same time. We were very patriotic and loved our country. We knew most of these songs by heart and sang them while we played. Do you know these songs? Do your children know them? Sad to say, my children do not know them. My husband is a vet, his dad is too and all 7 or 8 of his brothers are vets. Lets learn the songs of our branches and service and be proud of our country again.

U.S. Air Force

Off we go, into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun.
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, give 'er the gun.
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one hell-uv-a roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame,
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force.

Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky.
To a friend we send a message,
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old;
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast,
The U.S. Air Force.

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue.
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they lived, God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wing, ever to soar.
With scouts before and bombers galore,
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force.


U.S. Army

First to fight for the right,
And to build the nation's might.
And the Army goes rolling along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting until the battle's won.
And the Army goes rolling along.

Then it's Hi! Hi! Hey!
The Army is on its way,
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where'er we go,
You will always know,
That the Army goes rolling along.

Valley Forge, Custer's ranks,
San Juan Hill and Patton's tanks,
And the Army went rolling along.
Minute Men from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.


U.S. Coast Guard

From Aztec shore to Arctic zone,
To Europe and Far East.
The flag is carried by our ships,
In times of war and peace.
And never have we struck it yet,
In spite of foe-men's might,
Who cheered our crews and cheered again,
For showing how to fight.

We're always ready for the call,
We place our t rust in Thee.
Through surf and storm and howling gale,
High shall our purpose be.
"Semper Paratus" is our guide,
Our fame and glory too.
To fight to save or fight to die,
Aye! Coast Guard, we are for you!

SURVEYOR and NARCISSUS,
The EAGLE and DISPATCH,
The HUDSON and the TAMPA
The Names are hard to match;
From Barrow's shores to Paraguay,
Great Lakes or ocean's wave,
The Coast Guard fought through storms and winds
To punish or to save.


U.S. Marine Corps

From the halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We will fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean.
We are proud to claim the title of,
United States Marines.

Our flag's unfurled to ev'ry breeze
From dawn to setting sun.
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun.
In snow of far off Northern lands,
And in sunny tropic scenes,
You will find us always on the job.
The United States Marines.

Here's to health to you and to our corps
Which we are proud to serve.
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever looked on Heaven's scene,
They would find the streets are guarded by
The United States Marines.


U.S. Navy

Original Lyrics

Stand Navy down the field, sails set to the sky.
We'll never change our course, so Army you steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll up the score, Navy, Anchors Aweigh.
Sail Navy down the field and sink the Army,
sink the Army Grey.

Get underway, Navy, decks cleared for the fray,
We'll hoist true Navy Blue so Army down your Grey-y-y-y.
Full speed ahead, Navy; Army heave to,
Furl Black and Grey and Gold and hoist the Navy,
hoist the Navy Blue

Blue of the Seven Seas; Gold of God's great sun
Let these our colors be Till all of time be done-n-n-ne,
By Severn shore we learn Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true With honor over, honor over all.

Revised Lyrics (by George D. Lottman)

Stand, Navy, out to sea, fight our battle cry;
We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y
Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam,

I WON



I love to read Jennifer's blog over at Double Nickle Farm. She lives in New Mexico and tell about the life there and her sweet family.


Jennifer is having a cookbook give away each month this year and can you believe I won the Amish cookbook? I am so thrilled.


You may want to read Jennifer's blog and enter for her next cookbook give away. Here is her blog address: http://doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com/


Thank you so much Jennifer.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Jar Pincushion


This is such a neat idea.



source: http://www.craftbits.com/project/canning-jar-pincushion

Think