Kinda funny kinda not

Yesterday I wrote about making a pot of liquid soap. I let it sit on the stove all day. I was making sure the consistency was right when it cooled down.
Last evening my sweet husband was washing dishes. He asked what was in the pot and I said its a pot of soap.
For some reason he thought I said its on to soak, so he poured it down the drain and washed the pot. I was busy crocheting a new pattern so I was concentrating on my stitches.
He proudly announced, "Look who did the dishes", at which time I looked up and noticed the pot gone from the stove and the self same pot upside down on the drainer.
I tried not to get mad but I did a little bit. At least the drain is clean and I had enough of the ingredients I needed to make another batch.
He was really sorry.

It's a lot more funny today than it was then.

Washable sandwich and snack bags

My husband likes these better than plastic bags because then he says his sandwiches don't get soggy. He wraps his sandwich in a paper towel and then slips it into the bag. When he eats lunch he uses the paper towel for a napkin.

These are the reusable, washable sandwich and snack bags I have been making today. Once I got the right ends on my snap thing, it worked very good. Last night I kept messing up the snaps so I just tried again today and finally figured out that I had the wrong ends on the pliers thing and then wowie zowie it worked like a whiz bang.

This one is a twin bag to take two kinds of snack.

Liquid hand soap and other stuff

This morning I cooked up a batch of my liquid hand soap. It can be used with or without water and is handy to carry in a tool box, on a boat or what ever. My son in law sells my Pink Monkey Soap products at the place he works in Branson. Branson 2 for 1 on the strip. If you ever go to Branson, tell him his mother in law said to stop in and say Hi and he will hook you up with a good deal on tickets.

I am also sewing this morning. Right now I am making reusable fabric snack bags. Yesterday while I was sewing reusable fabric sandwich bags and idea struck me. I kept thinking of a few small children I know who would love to have a little bag to carry a few snacks in to the park, zoo or beach. I then changed my pattern up a bit and made the cutest little snack bags.

I am in a sewing mood lately and I also have to get everything rounded up that I need to take to Dodge in two weeks. I will be picking Mollie up on the way and then we will be having a baby shower for Kaleena while we are there. I think I have everything under control and have not forgotten anything, but you never know. I know for sure I need to pick up some cute napkins.

Tomorrow, Jeff needs to go to Victoria so I of course have a list of things I want to do while we are there. Buy wool yarn for crocheting soakers, look for material with Koala bears on it for some projects for the new baby and a few other things.

I hope you are having a pleasant and productive day.

This n that

The beans didn't quite get done so I reboiled them for 15 min and put them back in the thermal cooker over night, I have not opened them yet to see if they are done.

I have been sewing the last few days. I am making burp cloths, reusable snack and sandwich bags, neck coolers and now I am working on diapers. I cut several out a while back but then got intimidated and stopped. Yesterday I took one I had cut from scraps and just sat down and sewed it. Its not near as hard as I had anticipated. I think it will be something I will enjoy making.

I need a fabric allowance. Money to spend on material for all my projects.

Jeff wants to go to Victoria on Saturday to get his glasses adjusted so maybe I can shop for fabric while we are there.

Bread failure

Yesterday I mixed up a small batch of no knead bread to try to bake in my thermal cooker. I followed a recipe on a thermal cooking blog. I let the bread rise and placed it in an empty wax cereal liner and placed it in the pot. I put water in the bottom pot and boiled for 10 min. I then placed the boiled water and the bread in the thermal cooker and went to bed. This morning the bread was only half cooked. I think I should have boiled it longer.

Last night I soaked beans for baked beans today. I love Yolanda's baked bean recipe as do all my family. This morning I added all the ingredients for baked beans after I had rinsed the beans a few times. I then boiled the beans on the stove. This time I poured boiling water in the thermal pot while I was boiling the beans. I boiled the beans for about 15 min. Then I poured out the hot water and placed the beans in their pot into the thermal cooker and quickly shut the lid.

At about 4:00 pm I will check the beans and if they are not done I will boil them on the stove for a bit. Once I figure out how to use this thermal pot it should be a good addition to my low fuel arsenal.

I have yet to try solar cooking again but I did buy some turkey bags. That way when I am in the mood to try it I have what I need on hand.

Last week I also bought 16 fireproof bricks to build a 16 brick rocket stove. I need to figure out where I want to put it and build it and try cooking on it as well.

We have a propane stove here in the RV as well as a fairly large toaster oven to cook with. I am trying to learn methods of cooking that use less fuel because we are spending $22.00 per month on propane. I know that is not bad but I would like to learn to use as little fuel as possible. You never know when you will need to know this type of skill.

I was featured

I wrote a very poorly written article that actually got chosen to be included in a contest at a pretty famous blog.
You can read my article here.
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/how-to-make-homemade-soap/#comment-46535

CHEERIO-CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER BARS

CHEERIO-CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER BARS

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1810,144181-230196,00.htmlContent Copyright © 2011 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.

1/2 c. corn syrup
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. peanut butter
3 c. Cheerios
1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
Butter 9"x9"x2" pan. In large pan heat syrup, sugar and salt to boiling. Stir in peanut butter, remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour over Cheerios and chocolate chips. Refrigerate 1 hour.
I doubled this recipe because I wanted it to fill a 9X13 pan.

Peanut Butter Crackles1

Peanut Butter Crackles
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. peanut butter
5 c. corn flakes
Melt the sugars and syrup together over med. heat. Add vanilla and peanut butter, stirring until melted. Remove from heat and add corn flakes. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Cool.

Please pray for my daughter

My second daughter, Kaleena is very sick with the flu. She is pregnant and had just gotten over the first tri mester of sickies. She lost her first baby so of course she is extra concerned. She threw up and had diarrhea all yesterday and has started in again today. She has lost 5 pounds and I am just asking anyone who reads this to intercede with God for her today. Thank you.

No NURSING HOME FOR me!!!

No nursing home for us. We'll be checking into a Holiday Inn!
With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old and too feeble. I've already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn.
For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it's $59.23 per night.
Breakfast is included, and some have happy hours in the afternoon.
That leaves $128.77 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies.

Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc.
Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap.$5 worth of tips a day you'll have the entire staff scrambling to help you.
They treat you like a customer, not a patient.

There's a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free.
The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp).
To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays.
For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there.

While you're at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps building up.
It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today.
And you're not stuck in one place forever -- you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city.

Want to see Hawaii? They have Holiday Inn there too.
TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem.. They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience.
The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they'll call an ambulance . . . or the undertaker.
If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation.
The grandkids can use the pool.
What more could I ask for?So, when I reach that golden age, I'll face it with a grin.

AIDS WARNING!
To all of you approaching 50 or have REACHED 50 and past, this email is especially for you......

SENIOR CITIZENS ARE THE NATION'S LEADING CARRIERS OF AIDS!HEARING AIDS BAND AIDS ROLL AIDS WALKING AIDS MEDICAL AIDS GOVERNMENT AIDS MOST OF ALL, MONETARY AID TO THEIR KIDS! Not forgetting HIV
(Hair is Vanishing)I'm only sending this to my 'old' friends.
I love to see you smile.

Cheerios® Caramel Crisp Bars

Cheerios® Caramel Crisp Bars
A Cheerios® Challenge recipe! Surprise! Cereal, chocolate and caramel mixed up in a bar makes a super tasty low-fat day starter. From eatbetteramerica.
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:50 min
makes:36 bars
Bars
6 cups Cheerios® cereal
1 bag (14 oz) caramels
3 tablespoons water
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup miniature semisweet candy-coated chocolate candies for baking
Chocolate Glaze
1/4 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips
2 teaspoons shortening
1. Butter bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2. In medium microwavable bowl, microwave caramels and water uncovered on High 2 1/2 to 4 minutes, stirring after each minute, until smooth. Pour over cereal; gently stir until well coated. Add marshmallows; gently stir. Press evenly in pan, using buttered back of spoon.
3. In small microwavable bowl, microwave glaze ingredients uncovered on Medium (50%) about 1 minute or until mixture can be stirred smooth; drizzle over bars.
4. Sprinkle bars with candies. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until bars are firm and glaze is set.

For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered.
Stove-Top Directions: Butter bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside. In 1-quart heavy saucepan, heat caramels and water over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Pour over cereal; gently stir until well coated. Add marshmallows; gently stir. Press evenly in pan, using buttered back of spoon.

In 1-quart saucepan, heat glaze ingredients over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth; drizzle over bars. Sprinkle bars with candies. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until bars are firm and glaze is set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.
Nutritional Information
1 Bar: Calories 90 (Calories from Fat 20); Total Fat 2g (Saturated Fat 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 50mg; Total Carbohydrate 17g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 8g); Protein 1g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 4%; Iron 4% Exchanges: 1/2 Starch; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Crunchy Trail Mix Bars

Crunchy Trail Mix Bars
Nuts about Nuts
Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats from nuts may help lower blood cholesterol. But fats are high in calories so keep portions small.
Special Touch
If you plan to take these to a gathering, cut them into bars and place on a plate hiding in your cupboard that you want to recycle. You won't need to carry the plate home when you ask your host to "pass it on."
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MultiGrain Cheerios® cereal combines with trail mix for a super on-the-go grabber in 30 minutes. From eatbetteramerica.
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:30 min
makes:36 bars

4 cups MultiGrain Cheerios® cereal
3 cups trail mix (seeds, nuts and dried fruits)
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1.Grease 13x9-inch pan with shortening, or spray with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cereal and trail mix; set aside.
2.In 2-quart saucepan, melt margarine over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, flour and corn syrup. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3.Pour mixture evenly over cereal mixture; toss to coat. Press mixture in pan. Cool 10 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows.
Nutritional Information
1 Bar: Calories 130 (Calories from Fat 45); Total Fat 5g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 70mg; Total Carbohydrate 18g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 12g); Protein 2g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 2%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 2%; Iron 15% Exchanges: 1 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Cheerios® Marshmallow Bars

Cheerios® Marshmallow Bars


Tips
Make it Different
Instead of Cheerios® from the yellow box, you can use the same amount of MultiGrain Cheerios® or Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal.
Nutrition Informaion:
What could be better than Cheerios® and marshmallows in a bar!
Prep time:
15 Min
Total time:
1 Hr
Makes:
24 bars
Ingredients
· 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
· 1 bag (10 1/2 oz) miniature marshmallows (6 cups)
· 5 cups Cheerios® cereal
Directions
1. Butter 13x9-inch pan.
2. In large microwavable bowl, microwave butter and marshmallows uncovered on High about 2 minutes, stirring after every minute, until smooth.
3. Immediately stir in cereal until evenly coated. Using buttered back of spoon or hands, press mixture firmly in pan; cool. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered.

Orphans Unlimited Report

From: "Brenda Lange"
Date: July 9, 2011 10:07:10 PM CDT
To: Subject: Blog, Saturday, July 9, 2011
As all you Americans were waking up on Saturday, our water well team was completing the deepest well we’ve had to drill so far.In a Meluco County Village Called N’Coripo, they hit TONS of WATER at 52 meters (169 ft.).
Everyone was dancing and having a party, as these people have long suffered without a source of clean drinking water.YOUR LOVE GIFTS are making this possible and the Lord Jesus and Orphans Unlimited thank you for your awesome generosity that is saving 1000’s of lives.

Blessings, Bush Bunny Brenda

We also thank you for your prayers for the Meluco mission station’s need for water. We are confident that God will show these men where the water to drill in that area. The team promises to not give up.

Fruit and Nut Snack Bars

Fruit and Nut Snack Bars
We raised the bar on snacks with these sweet treats—great for lunch boxes, on-the-road nibbles and wrapped in a tin box as a gift! From eatbetteramerica.
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:50 min
makes:36 bars
Snack Mix
4cups Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal
1cup dried tropical three-fruit mix (from 7-oz bag)
1/2cup sunflower nuts
1/2cup dry-roasted peanuts
Syrup3/4cup packed brown sugar
1/2cup corn syrup
1/4cup peanut butter
1teaspoon vanilla

1.Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix snack mix ingredients; set aside.
2.In 2-quart saucepan, mix all syrup ingredients except vanilla. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
3.Pour syrup over snack mix, stirring until evenly coated. Press mixture firmly in pan. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store tightly covered.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.
Nutritional Information
1 Bar: Calories 100 (Calories from Fat 30); Total Fat 3g (Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 60mg; Total Carbohydrate 15g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 10g); Protein 2g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 2%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 2%; Iron 6% Exchanges: 1/2 Starch; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.