Wanna bite?

These are basically like the Rugelach in NT.

I soaked-
2 1/2 cups wheat flour in 1 stick of softened butter, 1/2 cup of homemade cream cheese, and 4 ounces of store-bought cream cheese (1/2 a pkg).

The next morning, I mixed in-
1/2 cup cane sugar, 1 T vanilla, 1 t sea salt.

I divided the dough in half and rolled out two rectangles about 1/4 inch thick.
I then brushed with-
melted butter (1/2 a stick) and sprinkled with 3 t cinnamon, and 1/2 cup cane sugar.
(NT also uses crispy nuts-not all of my kids like nuts even though they are nutty ;-)

Roll up and slice into half-inch thick pieces. Bake at 300 for 45 minutes.
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.
These are almost bite-sized which makes them a perfect treat for kiddies!

So yummy and easy!
FOR MORE RECIPES AND KITCHEN TIPS, PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE SITES!
TAMMY'S RECIPES
BLESSED WITH GRACE/TEMPT MY TUMMY
FOREVERWHEREVER/TASTY TUESDAY

I See Trees of Green...seed packets too!

.....and I think to myself....what a wonderful God! :-) The Lord has been so good to our home! So faithful, over and over.

One of the things that I wanted to do for our home, was to have a mini-orchard area in our back yard(actually a suggestion by a friend:-). -Our yard had NO trees or shrubs up until 2 years ago and we planted a few shade trees and a couple of apple trees. The thought was posed to me; "why not plant more food-bearing trees when you are able?" Well, I had never thought of that!

Well, some one sent my husband a 'gift for our lawn/garden'! With that gift we purchased 2 trees and a few other things, but today, we were able to plant the peach and pear tree in my little 'mini-orchard spot'! And, with the Lord's blessing, those trees will one day feed my children! How exciting! I am sooooo grateful for them!

And as if that isn't exciting enough, a friend sent me a package in the mail with several packs of seeds of allllll different kinds! From wildflowers to sugar snap peas!

God is truly good!
For more about Gratituesday, visit Laura's!

Dealing with Divorce Part 9

Okay, here's one that really makes you go "hmmm" BUT I do understand the dilemma.

When you get a divorce, regardless of fault or circumstances, you should distance yourself from your former in-laws. You are no longer related to them and your blood does not flow through their veins.

Not only is it weird, strange, and odd; but it can also lead to big trouble down the road. And I really don't care what modern pop-culture tells you, it confuses a child.

Now, I do understand that sometimes, especially down the chain of relatives, you can develop deep feelings- but feelings do not replace blood. It is best that you sever a relationship with your formers spouses great aunt, than set up disasters later.

If you remarry one day, how do you think your spouse will feel about you being tied to a relationship with someone that is directly tied to your ex? And, on the other end of that, can you EVER imagine being buddies with a sister-in-law who still talks to your husbands ex-wife??? You are setting yourself up to hear things that you don't want to hear or have things told that you didn't want repeated! Break the ties! Yes, all of them.

What if they send word that "they love you" or "they miss you"? Not a word is how you answer that.

Also, I've never known of a woman in particular who when keeping tabs with the former family members, regardless of fault in the divorce or how sweet she was, who was not talked about as "silly" behind her back. No matter how much the family had "like her", they still thought it odd for her to come around or keep contact.

MENU PLAN MONDAY:

SUNDAY:
-kid's choice
-leftover homemade pizza for kids, leftover butter beans for adults, leftover banana bread, grapes
-Burgers

MONDAY:
-Cream Cheese Pastries (N.T.)
-Chicken Chapattis, grapes
-Flounder, brown rice, side salad, cauliflower salad

TUESDAY:
-soaked millet
- 3Cheese Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage (something like this), mini cheesecakes
-Turkey Sausage Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans


WEDNESDAY:
-millet
-turkey patties, whole wheat rolls or buns, spinach, sweet potatoes
-popcorn chicken, potato wedges, corn, chocolate frosty

THURSDAY:
-kid's choice
-Cheeseburger (wheat)Macaroni, broccoli, choco-wheat cake
-Roast, potatoes, carrots

FRIDAY:
-soaked oatmeal
-Enchilada Bake, Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins, cranberry slushies
-Creamy Chicken Enchiladas , chips and salsa

SATURDAY:
-kid's choice
-navy beans, cornbread, creamed corn,, gingerbread cake
-Scalloped Potato and Ground Beef Casserole, green peas, Amish Bread

Click HERE for Menu Plan Monday!

Rush on Turning Your Lights OUT

RUSH: By the way, you people that are unable to resist the tug of popular sentiment and are going to participate in this childish and foolish symbolic, meaningless act of turning off your lights at 8:30 on Saturday night for an hour, just remember something. In California, when they mandate that everybody start driving a bunch of little lawn mowers with a couple seats on them, to save the environment, and to save energy, the state realized after not too long a period of time that fewer gallons of gas sold meant a loss of tax revenue. So they talked about raising the tax on gasoline. In North Carolina, Raleigh-Durham area, the Golden Triangle, as it's called, during a drought they limited the use of water. And when people followed the law and used less water, the city got less revenue from sales and taxes on water and so they raised taxes on water.

I can't say it any other way. I know this might offend new arrivals here who think I'm pompous and arrogant and so forth, but if you are stupid enough to think that turning off your lights for an hour on Saturday night's going to do anything other than raise the cost you pay for electricity, you need to think again. It isn't gonna make one Sam Hill's worth of difference to anything. I know you'll feel better about yourself, and I know you think I'm trying to deny you feeling better about yourself. That's not it at all. I just hate people acting as sheep, engaging in worthless, meaningless things that will end up resulting in the loss of freedom. If you willingly, because of some initiative put forth by an actor and a singer, if you are willing to turn off your lights for an hour, then how willing will you ultimately be for them to come along and order you to do it.

Well, I know I mentioned that they're going to have videos of what people do when the lights are off. That's what the website says. We know that when the lights go off in a power failure nine months later, bammo, got more human beings and more abortions, depending on who got pregnant. So it could end up, this hour off could end up producing more people which will ultimately threaten the planet far more than any one hour without electricity in your house. So make sure that you get a condom. Make sure you get a condom from China so that it has lead in it. Get prepared, either up the contraception or go out and get a condom and prepare for your hour of darkness. Saturday night at 8:30, so that you don't mistakenly raise and elevate the US population, which of course will put stress on the planet down the road.

FOR THE REST OF THE TRANSCRIPT CLICK HERE!
(he told in the earlier part of the program how he lit up his whole house!;-)

WATCH AND SEE!

One Scarred Hand.....

This song has continued to bless my heart for years. It was a regular 'special' in the church that I attended when I first got saved, years ago.
It is a blessing to know, that the brokenness of our lives today CAN BE MENDED!
Praise His Name!

Why I can't be a tree hugger.....

Talk about idolatry:


This must be what happens to Cabbage Patch Kids when they grow up!
(or the by-products of the 70s -- I don't know which)
Also makes me grateful that they didn't have youtube when I was a teenager!
These poor folks- whew, when they grow up....if they ever do....
*******************************************************************
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Finding Weight!

Some one asked me recently about losing weight and honestly- I'M MUCH BETTER AT FINDING IT!!!

So that's what I thought I'd post about today! If you are looking for some ways to FIND weight, I CAN HELP YOU!

Now, some of these I've just heard about but there's lots that I can tell you WILL WORK, from personal experience! (*and please feel free to share any of your findings!)

Okay, so here goes; how to FIND weight:

-eat lots and lots of pre-packaged very processed food
-consume large amounts of white sugar and white flour with large amounts of fats (talk about sticking to your ribs!)
-watch soap operas...or anything else, alllll day long
-DO NOT exercise- ever!
-keep lots of snacks and junk foods in the house "for the kids" -wink-
-be sure to eat store-bought ice cream-everyday!
-eat out at fast food restaurants often and, the faster the better!
-deep fry as much food as possible- there's a video on youtube of a battered and deep-fried Big Mac that my DH says he'd love to try!
-drink lots of soda pop, especially the diet kind
-NEVER EVER drink water-whew- that'd be crazy
-Absolutely NO whole grains- that fiber just might pull some fat out of your system and we cannot have that, no-no
-(this is my personal favorite tip for finding weight) eat more Chocolate (notice that is a big C- Chocolate deserves lots of attention particularly the ones rich with caramel and the like)
-spend more time praying about your weight! The more time you spend on your knees, the less calories you are burning (but it is a deterrent from REAL spiritual development.)
-do not play with your children- do you know how many calories that could burn?!!
-be a Reader of the Word and not a Doer (just sit around reading, don't get up and get spiritual)
(do I sound a little like the Screwtape Letters here?)
-make the others in your home do all the work! You can't find weight by getting up and looking for stuff!
-do not walk any pets!
-(this is another one that I guarantee work!) Do not keep up with how much food that you eat! Eat off the kids plates, straight out of the pot, and lick all bowls as you go! You are CERTAIN to find extra weight this way and you won't even know HOW you did it!
-Whenever you cook something, be sure to eat 2 servings right away! Eat one as you 'sample' what you've made; THEN get an EXTRA serving when you give everyone else some! See how clever!
- Don't ever eat fruits and veggies if you can help it unless they are super processed and smothered in lots of things that will pack on pounds! Like uhhhh, poptarts! Yeah, I think those would be good. Huh? It's not real fruit? Oh, well, -then that's all the better!
-Every time ANY ONE in your house has a snack- you have one too! That includes the nursing baby- hey when he nurses- grab a donut or an entire bag of Doritos!
-Don't make ANYTHING from scratch- you might miss some pound-packing ingredients!
-Talk on the phone- A LOT. You don't burn much calories this way and you can munch while your friends talk and talk! And the more gossip that you listen to- the more you'll have to tell the next person which means you can be on the phone even longer; just sittin' around!
-Don't go near an exercise machine of any kind. Huh? What's that you say? You haven't even been on it in a year? Listen, you need to just get rid of it because you could actually be tempted to use it!
-Consider more schooling. You could get by with sitting around doing a lot of "studying". But don't even think about using the education that you get, unless of course it is a sit down job.
-Always make room for seconds. You are sure to find extra pounds this way. And the more you train your tummy to this, the better he'll get at it and if you work reallll hard, you could possibly make it up to thirds! Woo hoo!
-Don't even think about joining a gym or fitness center. And make sure that all the do-gooders around you know that you are NOT interested in such places.
-Stay focused because you often will get to a place, after you've found several pounds, where you develop health issues that might assist you in finding more weight. Yes!
-Always clean your plate like your mama told you! (How many times did she have to say it?!)
-Try to get to know 'Giant Despair'! Nothing like a good case of good ole depression and feeling sorry for yourself, to get you to eatin'! Comfort food will do the trick, and lots of it!
-If you are a female, be sure to have a few babies and get fat as a cow when you are pregnant. Some of the weight may come back off but it is an excellent time to pack on a few pounds.
-I know this one is a little wack but hear me out. Consider going without a shower for longer periods of time. This would serve several purposes. But it would help keep you feeling more uhmm, couch-y!
-Make sure you surround yourself with a BUNCH of tender-hearted people during this stage, as they will be sure to tell you how GREAT you look!
-Along the lines of the above, consider wearing pajamas all day long or at least big and baggy clothes. You don't want them to feel tight, you might eat less! OH and, buy even bigger clothes the next time you go shopping- gives you more of an incentive to 'grow into them'!
-And lastly, make deserts for every meal and by all means, make enough to eat between meals too!

And that my dears, wraps up my tips for FINDING WEIGHT!
Please feel free to add things to my list as I'm sure I've forgotten some!
Click here for more FRUGAL FRIDAYS!

More Daniel Brennan, on Glen Beck!

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU PRAY WILL JUST STOP TALKING AND NEVER BE HEARD AGAIN...BUT THERE'S OTHERS THAT YOU HOPE NEVER SHUT UP!
THIS GUY IS ONE OF THEM!



Glen Beck is doing a great job on his new Fox program too!

WOW!

I HEARD THIS ON THE RADIO TODAY:
"Daniel Hannan, MEP for South East England, gives a speech during Gordon Brown´s visit to the European Parliament on 24th March, 2009."
And then I heard the commentator say, "Can you come to America?"



Oh for more of these fellows!

Picnics on the Porch..Works for Me!

My kids love it when I find opportunity to make an average day and little more fun!

We don't have sandwiches a lot around here and near never have 'chips' but I surprised them today with sandwiches and chips and these cool little drinks, along with cinnamon graham crackers. (*please note: I did get some veggies on the sandwiches!)

It was soooo nice and fun! The wind was blowing (as it is bringing in a rain) and the birds were singing and the cows were across the street moo-ing! It was so much better than sitting in the house!!! :-)

Picnics on the Porch! -Works for Me!

Prices my way....

LEO'S
-strawberries $1.49 16oz crt
-bottom round roast $1.69lb
-ground beef $1.29 lb
-vine ripe tomatoes .69lb
-Loin End pork roast .99 lb
-grapes .99 lb
-mushrooms .99lb
-3lb med. onion
-Idaho potatoes $2.69 10lbs

ALDI (woo hoo)
-USE YOUR $5 COUPONS THIS
-eggs grade A large .49
-grapes .99
- 4lb naval org. $1.99
-milk whole $2.29***
-fryers .79lb***
-butter $1.49***
-bananas .49lb***

KROGER
-sour cream cott. cheese 16 oz $1
-8oz Kraft cheese 3/$5
-tomato and chicken noodle soup 2/$1
-Quaker cereals- buy for pay $1.50 per box
-Butterball Turkey Bacon and Smoked Sausage 2/$5
-jumbo cantaloupe 2/$3
-organic bananas .68

***All of these are advertised prices unless marked with ***

Cream Cheese-Cherry Braid...

FOR MORE KITCHEN TIP TUESDAYS, VISIT TAMMY'S RECIPES!

And for more TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAYS, VISIT BLESSED WITH GRACE!

And for more TASTY TUESDAY, VISIT FOREVERWHEREVER!

Today was a good day for peeking in my oven, wanna see?

When it comes to sweets, I just can't get enough! ;-)

But I'm seriously trying to work on my 'white sugar consumption' so I put that new practice into play with this recipe!

Here's the original recipe and a little more instructions.

And here's how I made it, making adjustments with some wheat flour and cane sugar, etc.

Sponge:

1 tablespoon instant yeast1 tablespoon cane sugar1 1/2 cup warm milk 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Dough:

2 eggs,1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, 1/3 cup cane sugar, 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

Cherry Filling (or blueberry or apple or?)

2 cups cherries, 1/3 cup cane sugar1/4 cup arrowroot (or cornstarch), 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Egg Glaze

1 egg1 tablespoon milk

Cream Cheese Filling

1pkg cream cheese, 1/4 cup cane sugar,1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract,1 tablespoon egg glaze

The directions I followed as per original:

For the sponge: mix the sugar, yeast, and flour together in bowl. Pour in the warm milk. Beat until smooth, then cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 1/2 hour.
Add the eggs, salt, sugar, and one cup of the flour to the sponge. Beat until smooth. Then add the butter in small chunks and beat well. Add the remaining flour a handful at a time and mix in until a soft but kneadable dough is achieved and the butter thoroughly incorporated.
Knead the dough by hand or with a mixer until it is smooth and satiny, about 5 minutes.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise and room temperature until doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Deflate the dough, recover the bowl, and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, make the fillings before shaping the loaves.
Blueberry Filling: combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat while stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool.Egg Glaze: combine the egg and milk in a bowl and beat until combined.Cream Cheese Filling: combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined
Once your filling has cooled off, take the dough out of the refrigerator and gently deflate it. Divide it into two pieces. Use a rolling pin to shape each piece into a thin (1 cm.) rectangle.

Spread your fillings in the center of the dough.

At an angle, slice the sides of the dough into tabs approximately 1 inch wide.

Alternating from side to side, fold the pieces in over the filling. When possible, gentle press on the tabs to seal the folds.

After it has been fully folded, glaze the braid with egg wash. Cover loosely with plastic (I place the entire baking pan in a clean kitchen garbage bag). Set aside to rise until doubled in size, approximately 45 minutes. While it is rising, preheat the oven to 350.

Just before placing the braid in the oven, glaze it again with any remaining egg wash. Bake on the center rack of the oven for approximately 35 to 40 minutes, rotating it once after 20 minutes so that it bakes evenly. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for at least half an hour before slicing.

Gratituesday....

I've been waiting soooo (im)patiently for their promise to be filled....

You remember me tellin' you that they were building ME an Aldis here?

Yeah, well, they did! They had their Grand Opening the other day (and I didn't even attempt to go near the place).

Well, DH decided to (sneak and)stop by the place- without me! Sooo, I kept on and on (begging and whining) until he offered so generously to let me go with only half a crew of kids! I was out the door in 5 minutes! (Everybody had their shoes on already so we didn't have to go looking for any! ;-)

Would you believe they had milk for a whopping $2.29 a gallon?!?!

And a dozen of eggs for a gigantic .49 cents a dozen?!!?!!

I'm so grateful for another frugal grocery store in our town!

What are you grateful for this week? Please visit LAURA'S for more about Gratituesday!

MENU PLAN MONDAY....how do I plan my menu?

Could it be too soon for a Spring-y Lady Bug Cake?

It is so exciting to see the weather changing!

***
Menu planning:

Well, as most of you know, I do shopping Once-a-Month. Planning the shopping trip is either done by 'sales' or by a pre-written, month-long menu with all needed ingredients listed. OR a mixture of both.

Lately, I've worked around sales. Whatever was on sale is what I bought and worked my menu plans around those items.

I don't keep up with 'every little sale'. I mostly look for the 'real foods'. Meats, fresh fruits and veggies, and then frozen veggies when they are on sale (.99 or less for 16 oz).

When I work by sales, I simply keep a list (or have the kids help me make one) of what's in the freezers and plan from that.

If I pre-plan menus before I shop, I write out about 28 lunches and suppers and shop to have all supplies on hand and work from that menu throughout the month. (I have found this method to often be the most frugal, but it takes me about 4 or 5 days to plan the menus, make a list of ingredients, figure out what's on sale where, and then do the actual shopping. With the 'sales' method, I take less than an hour to write out what's on sale and where, then 2, or maybe 3, days to go do the actual shopping. And then, of course, to see what coupons I have! :-)

Now, on to, MENU PLAN MONDAY and what to eat, this week!

SUNDAY:

-leftovers from the freezer: pancakes and oatmeal-millet fritters

-bologna cups, green beans, corn

-Dutch's Holy Hamburgers (that's what my kids call DH's hamburgers), cantaloupe

MONDAY:

-millet

-creamy chicken spaghetti, cornbread, sweet potatoes

-Creamy Chicken Enchiladas, steamed cauliflower

TUESDAY:

-soaked oatmeal
-Enchilada Bake, chips with black bean salsa

-Sausage-cabbage bake, potatoes, purple hull peas

WEDNESDAY:

-kid's choice
-Frugal Meat Dish, speckled butter beans, gingered carrots

-Chicken Chapatis, fruit smoothies

THURSDAY:

-biscuits and sausage gravy
- red beans and rice
-Breaded Fish, Focaccia, green beans

FRIDAY:

-kid's choice
-turkey sausage, leftover red beans, corn
-Italian Goolash, peas and carrots

SATURDAY:

-coconut millet

-Homemade chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, purple hull pea

-Meatza Pie, potatoes, spinach

More sharing...

I have been so blessed by a series on another blog called "LESSONS FROM BUTTERBERRY FARM".

The writer's name is Kendra and this series is about her visit to her friend's farm and the many things she learns as she studies to become more self-sufficient! I just love them and thought some of you might too!

Oatmeal Millet Fritters......

If you think that I'm going to tell you to fry your leftover oatmeal and millet to be frugal-- you are sooooooooo right! -Soaking that stuff takes way too much time to simply toss it out!

I took about 3 cups of leftover oatmeal and about 1.5 cups leftover millet, beat a couple of eggs in with a pinch of baking powder, and enough wheat flour (or white) to make it sticky enough to drop by spoonfuls into hot butter in the fry pan! :-)

Cover in a little syrup or fruit and you are sure to get smiles from your kiddies!

Another link...Artisan Bread

Tammy mentioned this site a couple of posts ago and while looking around, I found this neat idea for Artisan Bread. There's a video on there you can watch and there's also another one HERE that I think may be a little better.

This is a very simple recipe; 4 ingredients!
You mix them in a bucket, allow to rise and put it in the refrigerator until you want to use it.
You don't punch it down, you don't knead, its a wet dough that 'improves with time'. You often see these types of bread in Kroger and Walmart, near the bakery.

I've been having a bit of fun with it, trying to use some whole grains in it!

A link....

Those of you who are familiar with Nourishing Traditions are probably familiar with Sue Gregg as well....But just in case you are not, I wanted to point you to her site. It's all about "Whole Foods" and she also deals with soaking grains. She has lots of things that you can purchase but there's also some free recipes as well.
Here's the link:
Sue Gregg Cookbooks

Beef Enchiladas from scratch....

1.5 lbs ground beef

browned with 2 medium onions, finely chopped

1/4 cup chopped bell peppers

Season with 1 1/2 chili powder, 1/4 to 1/2 t oregano, 1 t parsley, 1/2 to 3/4 t cumin, 1/2 t garlic powder, 1 t onion powder 1/4 t black pepper, and 1/4 t sea salt. *and add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup water, cook for about 5 more minutes.

Fry the corn tortillas in a little butter to keep them from cracking and tearing when you roll them up! It only takes a few seconds per side; you will see when they become bendable without cracking.

For the sauce;

one can of tomato sauce

1/4 t oregano,
1/2 t chili powder,
1/4 t cumin,
1/4 t garlic powder,
1/2 to 3/4 t onion powder,
dash of black pepper; heat through.

Spoon meat mixture into tortillas, roll up and place in a sprayed baking dish. Top with sauce and whatever shredded cheese that you have on hand. Bake at 350 for approx. 25 minutes until cheese is melted and sauces are bubbly.

(*Served here with corn chips and black bean salsa.)

Rocky Road Fudgy Candy...

After placing these plates in front of my children for supper tonight, I told them; "Say this 3 times fast "Mom, we are sooooooooooo lucky!" Go ahead now."

They looked at me, then back at their plates, and just ignored me!

So again I said, "Say it 3 times fast: "Mom, we are soooooo lucky!"'

You know I met with the same response!?

Then I finally said, "Okay, if you don't say it, you can't have these!"

You know they actually said it after they saw these?

;-)

I saw a recipe today and decided to try it but change it up just a little.
On stove top or in microwave, melt:
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup of extra crunchy peanut butter

Mix well and allow to cool slightly for a minute or two.
Stir in:
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup mini marshmallows

Pour immediately into a buttered 8x8 or 9x9.
Tuck in the fridge to chill for an hour or so until you can slice it.
You may wish to store in the refrigerator.
1 cup of peanut butter

Breaded Fish....

Dip fish (I used tilapia, any white would be good) in 1 large well-beaten egg.

Then dip in bread mix:

(whirl in blender or food processor:)

3 cups of bread crumbs (I used several slices of whole wheat and a slice or two of white so it wouldn't taste so wheaty ;-) ..and remember I'm cooking for 8!

1 heaping teaspoon of paprika

1/4 t rosemary

1 T parsley

1 t onion powder

Use 1 1/2 T butter to grease baking sheet or pan with edges. Heat the pan in the over before placing fish on. Bake breaded fish at 400 for approx. 15 minutes until it flakes with a fork. (May want to broil for about one minute before removing from oven for crispness.)

****

Served here on seasoned brown rice (with onions and garlic), buttered Amish bread, and slaw.

****

Baked Fish, Works For Me!

What's on sale this week in my area......

Here's a FEW things!

Leo's
Ground beef $1.29 lb
5lb flour and cornmeal $1.49
Chicken breast .99
Bananas .49
Grapes .99
JIF 18oz $1.69
PictSweet Frozen Veggies 16oz .99

Dollar General Market
15lb Idaho Potatoes $3.50
4lb oranges or 5 lb grapefruit $2.50

Food Lion
Sweet potatoes .69
Celery .99
Whole Fryers .89 (Walmart is .88 I think)
Chuck Roast $1.89

Kroger
Jumbo Cantaloupe 2 for $3
12 Double Roll cottonelle $5.99
Wild Salmon Fillets $4.99
3lb Mandarin Oranges $3.99
Organic Cameo Apples .98lb
Pineapple $2.99

(Walmart had Organic Carrots for .88 lb)

Kitchen Tip: lettuce

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!
*********
Lettuce will crisp faster if you add a few slices of raw potato to the cold water used to soak it in!

***************
Click HERE for the recipe for the Shamrock Cookies for Saint Patrick's Day!
*****
For more kitchen tips, visit Tammy's Recipes!

Gratituesday..............

My life is simple, and I'm thankful that it is! We spend as little time as possible outside of our home. Now, we do go outside, and we do go to places that we need to go, but we don't have a lot of obligations outside of our immediate home. -and for that, I'm glad!

There are times that I wish we could go here, there, or yonder-- and someday we might! But, for today, I like making my home 'the place to be' by keeping things simple! I like that my children are growing up, for the most part, with a contentment for their home! With five boys (and one girl), I think this is important for their future and - it appears to be God's will, as this is the life He gave us for now.

But anyway, I'm thankful for it this week! (especially after a busy week of running last week!)

What are you grateful for this week? For more about Gratituesday visit Laura's!

Chocolate Roll with Almond Filling

Remember my ole Smokey Mountain Cookbook that I told you about? Well this is a tasty treat from it!

I loved the Pumpkin Roll and have been wanting to try these, especially with this tasty and frugal filling! Perhaps it will tempt your tummy too!

1/2 C flour

1/2 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

1/4 t soda

4 eggs

3/4 C sugar

1 t vanilla

6 T cocoa

Beat eggs and sugar until very thick and light. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Turn into buttered and wax paper-lined 10x15. Bake 15 minutes at 350. Turn onto a tea towel that has been sprinkled with powdered sugar. Quickly spread with filling. Roll up and wrap tightly with the tea towel and allow to cool. ***(make filling before cake so the cake does not cool while you are making...if the cake cools before you roll it up, it will be more likely to crack and break while rolling up) Slice!

ALMOND FILLING:

2/3 C sugar

4 T flour

1/4 t salt

1 1/2 C milk

2 egg yolks

1/2 t vanilla

3/4 t almond extract

2 T butter

Mix sugar, flour, and salt in top of double boiler. (I don't have one so I use a big pot with boiling water and a smaller pot on top; be careful.) Add milk and cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add a small amount of hot mixture to the beaten egg yolks. Return to double boiler and cook 2 minutes. Add vanilla, almond extract, and butter. Cool.

Roasted Turkey Breast......

These are so easy to cook!

They can be found on sale for about the same price as a chicken! (About $5 to $6.)

You get lots of white meat- AND it cooks up in about 2 1/2 hours!!!

You'll see here that I cooked it like I do my Hot Chicks and my Roast dinners, with potatoes and carrots. It helps keep this meal frugal and easy!

I season with poultry seasonings; sage, rosemary, thyme. I also like to use a shake of ground mustard, black pepper, parsley, paprika, sea salt, onion powder, and sometimes a few other things!

I bake it at 325 for about 2.5 to 3 hours for about a 5 to 6 lb turkey breast.

(This served my family of 8 and enough meat was leftover for a casserole!)

Monday's Menu

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

(Click here for the recipe for the above cookies.)

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday!

SUNDAY:
-pastries and bagels with cream cheese
-Enchilada Bake with chips and guacamole, leftover Cinnamon Bread
-Baked Turkey Breast, potatoes (I cooked it like this), carrots, mac-n-cheese

MONDAY:
-pastries and millet
-Chicken nuggets and fries, slaw
-Sausage Rolls, Cranberry Crisp, cheesy cauliflower

TUESDAY:
-pastries and soaked oatmeal
-sloppy joes, potato salad
-Tilapia, potato wedges, hushpuppies, slaw

WEDNESDAY:
-pastries and brown rice
-Corn tortilla Bake, black bean salsa
-Roast, potatoes, carrots, cornbread

THURSDAY:
-soaked oatmeal
-(leftover)Turkey and rice bake, cabbage
-Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green peas, Choco-wheat Cake

FRIDAY:
-millet
-Beef Pie (with leftover pots.), corn, Wheat Rolls
-Creamy Chicken Enchiladas ,taco soup

SATURDAY:
-kid's choice
-Quick Spaghetti, bread
-Meatza Pie, spinach, potatoes

FAITHFUL SHEPHERD, FEED ME

FAITHFUL SHEPHERD, FEED ME
by
Thomas B Pollock



Faithful Shepherd, feed me
In the pastures green;
Faithful Shepherd, lead me
Where Thy steps are seen.

Hold me fast, and guide me
In the narrow way;
So, with Thee beside me,
I shall never stray.

Daily bring me nearer
To the heav’nly shore;
Make my faith grow clearer,
May I love Thee more.

Hallow every pleasure,
Every gift and pain;
Be Thyself my treasure,
Though none else I gain.

Day by day prepare me
As Thou seest best,
Then let angels bear me
To Thy promised rest.

Spreading the Wealth

"According to their tax returns, in 2006 and 2007, the Obamas gave 5.8 percent and 6.1 percent of their income to charity. I guess Michelle Obama has to draw the line someplace with all this "giving back" stuff. The Bidens gave 0.15 percent and 0.31 percent of the income to charity.

No wonder Obama doesn't see what the big fuss is over his decision to limit tax deductions for charitable giving. At least that part of Obama's tax plan won't affect his supporters.

Meanwhile, in 1991, 1992 and 1993, George W. Bush had incomes of $179,591, $212,313 and $610,772. His charitable contributions those years were $28,236, $31,914 and $31,292. During his presidency, Bush gave away more than 10 percent of his income each year.

For purposes of comparison, in 2005, Barack Obama made $1.7 million -- more than twice President Bush's 2005 income of $735,180 -- but they both gave about the same amount to charity. That same year, the heartless Halliburton employee Vice President Dick Cheney gave 77 percent of his income to charity. The following year, in 2006, Bush gave more to charity than Obama on an income one-third smaller than Obama's. Maybe when Obama talks about "change" he's referring to his charitable contributions."
-Ann Coulter

Which way is it?

As the Church goes, so goes the world
OR
as the world goes, so goes the Church?

...I don't know of a soul who isn't looking to the current events and thinking "what on earth is wrong with people?" "the world's gone mad" "the whole country is going liberal" "would the real conservatives please stand up" "what about what the Founding Fathers said?" "separation of church and state?!?!" "look at the Church!" "there's less Christians now".........

And yes, I wonder about all of that too.

But I tried to start the examination with myself first.
Am I more liberal than I used to be? Have I obeyed God's Word as I should have? Have I let parts of it be washed away with liberal teachings 'about it' rather than what it actually says? Have I voted? Have I made my voice count? Have I taught my children? Am I letting television, radio, or games 'train them up in the way they should go'?

Has my salt lost its savour?

Am I salty? Am I a light on a hill? (Matthew 5:13-14) Or am I just like the rest of the world? Do I dress like them? Do I talk like them? Do I watch what they watch? Do I listen to the same sort of things that they listen to? Do I go to the same places that they go? Are my priorities similar to theirs? Do I believe every word of the Bible? (2Tim. 3:16) -Even most of the world believes SOME of it!- Do I really believe EVERY word of it?

Now, it is very hard,, in flesh, to live up to all of it. And that is why we so desperately need Christ's righteousness, BUT it is quite another thing to say "I don't believe that part of it". Is that where liberalism starts? With me? With my home? With my church? With my community? With my town? With my state? With my beloved country?

It really is a big deal to add to it or take away from it, isn't it?
Does it start with the world or the church?
...........OR WITH ME?

Dealing with Divorce part 8

Allow the other party to remain faithful to the financial support of the children.

Some have said "it's alright if you don't pay, then you don't see, then I can get away from you".

But it is better for your child if they remain in contact with the other parent. It is better for his self-esteem, his entire emotional system, and to help in proper relational development. And, what a person pays for, they will remain accountable to and for.

We are a slave to, that we owe to. Sometimes it takes the financial accountability, to remind some, of the indebtedness that we have to our children.

For the sake of the child, accountability is best.

Dealing with Divorce part 7

A touchy subject this one is, so I will be brief.


Leave sex out of it!


If you are going through a divorce, do not, DO NOT, allow sex to complicate the matters. Sex WILL confuse your emotions and make you feel certain things that may not be appropriate under the circumstances. If you are divorced, then you would be having 'sex outside of marriage' which would be considered a sin, right?


You may think, "it's just sex and we're settled on the divorce". Well, what do you think the kids are thinking? Do you want them to have false hope or confused morals? Isn't the divorce confusing enough?


What if there's a pregnancy as a result? Or worse, what if one partner has been promiscuous and there's a transmission of a disease? ...It's just better to cut all ties until or unless, God heals the entire marriage.

Have you seen this new bread?

These were so different that I couldn't resist!

They are made by Arnold (which means NO high fructose corn syrup ;-) and they are whole grain! They are in the bread isle; I found them at Walmart. We ate them with tuna salad and a spinach salad for lunch the other day.

Aren't they cute?

Egg-cellent!

There's ONE advantage to having a teenage driver; you can send him down the road for eggs!

He brought back 8 dozen of these beauties!

Yeppers, nothing like fresh eggs to cheer a gal up on a wet and chilly weekend! Hmm, what to cook, what to cook....

Green eggs and ham, Sam I am?

Cookies for Saint Patrick!

(I re posted this just for St. Patty's and for all of the HEAVENLY HOMEMAKERS out there!
Yes, I know it is not a healthy treat, but it is tasty and lots of fun!)

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are my favorite homemade butter-sugar cookies. They are a firm cookie that will hold up for days and will transport easily. My kids loved them too! The recipe was attached to the cookie cutter that was used to make these. It was bought years ago but we've never grown tired of these cookies. I think you will find them irresistible!
HOMEMADE SUGAR COOKIES
1 cup margarine (I prefer butter.)
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine flour and salt and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix margarine, 1 cup of sugar and vanilla. Add remaining sugar and eggs, and beat. Continue to beat on low while slowly pouring in flour mixture. Chill thoroughly. Roll dough 1/8 to 1/4 thickness on a greased cookie sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes in preheated 400 oven. (The cookies don't really 'brown'.) Let cookies cool before decorating.
BUTTERY COOKIE ICING
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter (softened)
1 T milk
1 1/2 t vanilla
Blend butter and powdered sugar. Add milk and vanilla, mixing until smooth. Add food coloring as desired. After decorating, allow icing to set before stacking cookies.

GRAINS to water...

ONE CUP:
BARLEY - 3 CUPS WATER COOK 1 1/2 HOURS YIELD:3 1/2 C
BUCKWHEAT - 2 CUPS WATER COOK 20 MINUTES YIELD: 2 1/2 C
BUGHAR - 2 CUPS WATER COOK 20 MINUTES YIELD: 2 1/2 C
MILLET- 3 CUPS WATER COOK 45 MINUTES YIELD: 3 1/2 C
ROLLED OATS- 1 1/2 C WATER COOK 15 MINUTES YIELD: 2 1/2 C
WHOLE WHEAT- 2 C WATER COOK 1 HOUR YIELD: 2 1/2 C

This chart is from a little cookbook that I've had for years.
It does not mention soaking grains but with most of these you could soak them in this amount of water overnight with a little lemon juice added to the water. Wheat may need to be soaked longer.

Food Growers, BEWARE!

Have you ladies heard about this recent bill (not yet passed from my understanding)?
The bill can be read at:
OpenCongress

Perhaps you would like to see this commentary about the bill. According to this commentary "this bill would essentially outlaw family farms".

I think its time to flood our representatives with calls and emails again!

Work Kitchen, Work!

You gals know how I love to make my kitchen work while I sleep, right?

Well, while I'm dreaming, my kitchen will be working on all of these tonight!

*2 jars of buttermilk culturing (ahhh-- love buttermilk!)

*1 jar of lemonade kefir soda (from my old kefir lime culture---ahhh-- love this and now after seeing mommie drink it for a while, I have several littles who now ask for some too! -and just a little of this does the trick!--if you haven't tried the kefir sodas, may I encourage you to do so?)

*1 bowl of flour soaking in acidified (with lemon) for muffins

and

*1 bowl of flour soaking in kefir and butter for bread (mmm I've missed you wheat!)

Any body else making their kitchen work while you sleep?

(By the way, if you are thinking that you don't have time for this; I don't either, that's why it's working while I'm sleeping! ;-) But I did put it altogether in just a few minutes while my children were eating their "night time snack" and getting ready for bed. It took me 25 minutes to grind wheat, put all of this together, and fix their snack and feed it to them!)

Kyler...how many teeth are you missing and...

Should you really be eating anymore candied papaya?

Field Trip!

We got to go to the Mennonite Community to pick up my wheat the other day, woo hoo!

And, as if that wasn't a great thing all on it's own...
We found some very yummy Amish Roll Butter!
We also stopped at a little diner there that served us some yummy ice cream!
And we also found some other yummy treasures...Millet! Carob powder! Arrowroot! Black-strap Molasses!
And you see those Nesquick barrels.... its not Nesquick in them...
it's milk! mmm! Yummy real milk!
We were able to find some one way out there in the country who just happened to have some extra that day! I'm hoping and praying that it turns into a way to get more eventually but for this day...we have some wonderful real milk!
What a field trip!
My kids had so much fun that they begged me to go back, the next day!
(We also got to see some very interesting things while we were there, like the leather shop and an a man on an old-fashioned horse drawn plow!)

Kitchen Tip...Milk and Vinegar

My kitchen tip this week is short and sweet!

Don't just blot up spilled milk, treat it with a little vinegar to keep it from really becoming a STINKING problem! And, rinse your cleaning cloth out and pour vinegar in it to keep it from getting stinky too!

This comes in real handy for those of of us who live in an "obviously-not-female-designed" house that has carpet in the dining area! ;-)

For more Kitchen Tips, go here this week!

Gratituesday......

This week I'm probably getting ready or am on my way to get wheat, while you are reading this!

:-)

I'm very grateful for this provision as I've been out for quite a while and well...that just makes a person more thankful when they are able to get something that they've had to wait for!!! :-)

Isn't God so good and kind...to teach us to wait and then to reward those who wait!?! (Is.40:31)

For more about Gratituesday, visit Laura's at Heavenly Homemakers!

MENU PLAN MONDAY

I'm so excited about this week, I get to go pick up my wheat berries! I've been out for months and was finally able to order it! Yippee...but that makes my menu a little tricky for a couple of days; I am going to have to preplan so the cooking will be done on the day I need to go pick it up. My hungry tummies around here are much happier if momma plans and that's part of the reason I love MENU PLAN MONDAYS!



SUNDAY:
-pastries
-salad,slaw,sloppy joes
-chicken nuggets and fries, Honey Wheat Chocolate Chip Muffins
**snacks: popcorn, grapes

MONDAY:
-pastries and millet
-hamburger soup with leftover muffins and strawberries
-salmon loaf, mashed potatoes, green peas, Strawberry Sour Cream Pie
**snacks: carrot and celery sticks with dip, homemade granola

TUESDAY:
-pastries and soaked whole grain corn grits
-Meatza Pie, (Joy's) cranberry beans, slaw, grapes
- Roast Potatoes Carrots, cornbread, strawberries and powdered sugar
**snacks: grapes, pretzels, plums, apples

WEDNESDAY:
-kid's choice
-chicken nuggets and fries, slaw, grapes
-Creamy Chicken Enchiladas, guacamole and chips, black bean salsa
**snacks: Cherry-Berry Kefir Smoothies, buttered popcorn

THURSDAY:
-millet
- Grab Bag Casserole , green beans, Caraway-Rye Biscuits
- Stuffed Meatloaf and French Bread, lima beans, Cranberry Crisp
**snacks: Triple Berry Smoothie, pretzels

FRIDAY:
-kid's choice
- Enchilada bake gingered carrots
- mushroom burgers on homemade buns, potato wedges, Sour Cherry Pudding Pie
**snacks: Peanut Butter Flax Bread and jam

SATURDAY:
-Soaked oatmeal
-Turkey Bologna Cups, potato salad, Cinnamon Bread
-Homemade Hamburger Pizza, leftover cinnamon bread
**Snacks: Laura's Flourless Peanut Butter cookies

Meat, this week, and it pays to ask your local grocer!

This week, hamburger meat is on sale for $1.29 at a local grocery store. It's been a long time since I've seen it for that price!

So I called the meat department and ask them to have 30 pounds of it ready for me! They bagged it in three, ten-pound bags for me and I sorted it into freezer bags when I got home after we got plenty out to make about 15 hamburgers! I will have enough for 22 meals! (And we had a splurge on hamburgers- a rare favorite around here!) The cost was 38.70! Woo hoo!

Now, they also had a special running on roast so I told him to have me $40 worth of roasts ready when I came in. They brought me out 8 reallllly good-sized roasts!

Those two purchases alone just about takes care of a months worth of suppers!

They also had chicken tenders on sale for 1.49 a pound. Now, I know chicken can often be bought whole and on the bone for a cheaper price, but this is an excellent price for a quick meal to have on hand and it's certainly better than hotdogs or bologna sandwiches! -and its all white meat!
These are perfect for my quick and frugal fajitas/chapattis , which my family loves and it's so convenient on those wacky days when you are in a rush. (And $3 worth of meat should do the trick for those!-and keep that meal around $5!)

The best part about this run to the store is that Dh was nearly beside himself when he laid his eyes on all of that fresh beef!

But, consider asking around next time you see a few good prices. They can grind you up fresh meat (no browning day old beef for me!) and you can stock up on a good price!

Washing Machines...what's the difference?

I went out on a venture recently to try to find out what the difference was between those fancy-looking front loader washing machines and just regular old-fashioned 'normal' washing machines.

It seems that there really IS a difference.
The front loaders actually use only about 1/3 of the water since they never actually 'fill up'.
It seems that they squirt a soapy water through them, while tumbling them off and on.
And then spin that out and run rinse waters through them while tumbling them and then
at a rate twice as fast as a normal machine, spin the water out.

So, they have two 'high points' from my findings. The first is they use lots less water. According to the 'sales pitch', they use somewhere around 12 gallons and the 'normal' machines use somewhere between 40 and 50. The second is that they spin about 1000 or more RPMs whereas the 'normal' machines spin around 400-500 RPMs, which means lots less drying time. According to estimations, they can dry in half the time.

Those two points are enough to make the machines a consideration I think. There's only one thing (other than they cost more) that I could find out that may make some 'if-y'. The machines using less water and tumbling the clothes, rather than agitating them in a tank full of water is certainly less wear on your clothes but for those who think there should be lots of water and lots of soap, this would require a new way of thinking! And well, sometimes our thinking is hard to change! :-)

But trying to determine how this actually figures in $$$$ is a little complicated.
But lets just pretend that your dryer is costing you $30 a month. You usually dry
the loads on 70 minutes, with one of these washers spinning more water out, you could cut your drying time in 1/2. That's a savings of about $180 a year.

And let's say you use 25 less gallons of water per load and you wash 10 loads a week. That's a savings of around 250 gallons per week and about 13,000 per year which is somewhere around $60 depending on where you live.

So, my conclusion is that these machines could likely begin to pay for the difference in price in two years, easy. And if your like me, you keep your machines until they won't go any more! At least 12 years or so! So in my opinion, it is a considerable investment when your next one spins its last revolution!

Another tale from The Far Side...Real-life Drama

I told you all a story several weeks ago about a strange and wacky trip to Walmart and told you that trips like that are part of the reason that I like to shop once-a-month.

Well, how about another tale?

I had actually forgotten this story until the children reminded me and you'll see why they can't forget it! ...It became a "lesson" from which I taught my children about a lot of things!

To start with, all of us were on this trip, all 8 of us! We needed to run into Walmart (and I mean run, for you see, I really like to get in and out of there as quickly as possible!).

....So, we are checking out and thinking that we are going to get out this time without incident and feeling pretty happy about that. Well, we have something like a paper carton of ice cream and a bottle of soap and a small box of laundry powders and the cashier is putting them all in one bag. Normally, I don't even pay any attention to how they are bagged because I'm usually making sure the kids are doing what they are told or I'm still unloading the buggy. Well, the cashier just happens to say something about bagging them that way and my DH said, "Well, as a matter of fact, I would like the ice cream bagged separate." (We live like half an hour from town and its just safer that way, ya know?) Well, the cashier goes on some big 'green' spill and says that she is going to bag them that way to save on bags and something about landfills and blah blah blah. Well, my mouth just dropped and so did the kids. My kids are used to being taught to respect and submit to their elders (they had never seen someone challenge their parents in that manner! must have been a real shock, ya know!?) and they've heard the story of my first job a thousand times and how my boss held to the policy that "the customer is ALWAYS right".

Well, my DH did not want to make a scene. He simply said that we live in another county, and picked up another plastic bag and laid it in the buggy. But as soon as we got to the van and me and the children were in, he did step out of the van and call the manager!

Now, just in case you don't see the problem...our order was more than big enough to cover her whole day's pay- and much more than that plastic bag cost! And we were paying for these items and didn't want the chance of them being ruined before we made it home! (ice cream+liquid soap+powdered soap= a potential mess) ..AND, she brought it up and we made a request and she DID THE OPPOSITE! And did I mention that WE WERE PAYING FOR THE STUFF!!???

So, you know what my kids got on the way home don't you?
"What's wrong with what she did?"
"When you are employed some where, how does the employer make money to pay you?"
"Should you be nice to the people who pay your employer so he can pay you?"
"How will you do business?"
"Shouldn't you always try to accommodate your customer?"
"Should you tell your customer how YOU are going to do what they want OR should you let the
customer tell you how to do what THEY want?"
"When YOU are employed by a company, and represent that company, should you really promote your own ideas and agendas that could be contrary to the job that you are expected to do, WHILE YOU ARE ON THE JOB?"
"What kind of attitude should you have if you are working with and for the public?"

Just this past week, I purposely went to a store where I'm treated better as a customer to avoid a store where I was not treated properly as a customer. (And I just might write and tell them that I did and why! And as frugal as I am, I was willing to pay slightly more for service in this purchase.)

Teach your children well! No one else will do it!

After School.....

Just because most of the books are put away doesn't mean that its time to put the learning away!

(Learning 'after school' Works For Me!)

Two of the boys in the picture below are working on the computers doing their 'typing'.

My little girl is in a chair with the above book in hand reading to her brother (we were so excited to see the library get these- we've seen them at BAM and long coveted them).

One of the boys is waiting for a turn on the pc.

Another of the boys is trying to figure out the above project from the library copy of "The Girls' Book of How to Be the Best at Everything" so he can show her how to make the above (little yarn pom-pom balls).

And one little fellow is standing there thinking that he is actually going to dodge my flash!

:-)

BTW, we did get the boys version of the book above once too. Some of them didn't find it too fun to find their pj pant legs tied together, while others thought the book was a blast! Go figure!

Either way, they were learning and reading and that Works for Me!

Dealing with Divorce part 6

Do not play games and try to be The Good Parent! The "winner" if you will.


So many families get locked into 'her fault-his fault' and 'good guy-bad guy' that they continue this game with the kids through 'parenting', long after the divorce.

Now, it may be true that there is a good and bad parent, but you DO NOT have to turn this
into a game! You simply refuse to play.

If there's bad stuff, handle it in court or with a phone call to the emergency services in your area. But the silly stuff like "he bought that, I bought this" or the "I took them to the doctor because they wouldn't" or the "I feed them good food and you feed them junk" or "I had to buy their shoes" or "I had to take them to get their hair cut"........ all of that should just be done when it needs to be done by whomever the child is with! Simple as that! And where there is a difference in details, just let it go! It's not a "legal issue" if your ex feeds the children Big Macs all weekend. You just tell your children, this is the way we eat here.
Or whatever the case may be.


If it doesn't get done by the other parent- YOU JUST DO IT! Don't expect a trophy! Don't expect an award! Don't even expect any acknowledgement of any kind!


So what if you take them to all their dentist appointments, to all their church activities, to their yearly check up, to the grocery store, to the library every other week, etc... If the other parent wants to gloat because they took the child to the doctor once (and you didn't) so what! Big woopdeedo!

Let them have that one! Just smile and let it be known that you are glad they were watching over them! The end!


Just be the children's parent! And be the best you can be! And don't expect anything from anyone else. If there's an emergency, notify the right people but don't play games! Do not seek to be The Good Parent-- just be a good parent!

Dealing with Divorce part 5

STOP being selfish!
You can't control the other person but you CAN control yourself!

Your happiness, your loneliness, your comfort, your feelings, and on and on... are LAST! You enlisted in last place when you put yourself in a position to become a parent. You HAVE to get over it and what you can't get over you have to FAKE!

The world will tell you things like; "You must make time for yourself. You have a right to be happy. You should date. You have to put yourself first sometimes." But I'm telling you that you must put your children first.

I heard of an adult one time who said, in reference to their own children; "if I put them first, then I'll never have anything!" Doesn't that sound all grown up? No it does not but it does capture the essence of what I am saying.

The children's feelings, needs, wants, and desires must be put above your own. This includes your desires to want to argue back with your ex and even defend yourself verbally; it cannot be done. If the child's ears are around, protect them!

Be the 'grown up' and 'wear' this attitude: "its all about my kids".

Dealing with Divorce part 4

Don't discuss too much with the children, especially if they are very young.
However, as they get older, there will be things that have to be explained
but you can be tactful.


As they are growing up and learning right from wrong, they will see certain things out of you and out of their other parent. You MUST be honest for best results with your children. If you sinned, and your child knows it; it would be better that you express your regret rather than act as though you did no wrong. Kids can learn that you are human. They can learn that even big
people can make mistakes... and RECEIVE FORGIVENESS!


But there will be times that perhaps a child doesn't understand 'why' the other parent did something. Some times it will be acceptable for you to express kindly to the child that it isn't 'our business'. But do it lovingly! Other times, you may need to encourage them to ask the other parent. Some times they may not feel like they can. If that be the case, give them a safe place to hurt and express their feelings without bashing the other person.


There may come a time when the child bashes the other parent. You and the child may have the misfortune of dealing with a very selfish act out of the other parent. Its okay to tell your child; "I don't like it either. I'm sorry that you have to hurt this way. I'm sorry that they did that. ..There's nothing that I can do about it, but I wish that I could."


With little children, work hard to keep things in perspective. Their perspective! All they can see is they love Mommie and they love Daddy. They want both! And you know what, they deserve both! But when/if it does have to be so, make sure that you let them talk and you let them ask questions.

And keep yourself in check. A 3 year old is not the person to tell your troubles to. Let the 3 year old keep healthy emotions towards the other parent as long as is possible. If the other parent blows it- that's one thing, but if YOU blow the other parent, you might blow yourself with this child!


They will get older and they will understand. They will see things. They will learn. Let them be little and simple concerning evil. Rom 16:19 Let the focus be growing up and being happy.
Make 'right now' the best that it can be!

Frugal Puppy Training...

Just because you want to invest your life and love in a puppy, doesn't mean that
you have to invest in stocks at the local dog trainer's place!


There are some great shows on these days that will teach you VERY practical
tips on how to train your puppy. There's "It's Me or the Dog" and "The Dog
Whisperer".


What if you don't have these channels?
Check your local library!


And you wouldn't believe the free information out their on websites! There's even
free ebooks from many sites.
Youtube also has videos, tons of them! Many from trainers and many from the
above mentioned shows as well.
This is one of my favorite Yorkie tricks videos.

God Bless Rush!

At the CPAC, Rush was awarded the "Defender of the Constitution"Award!

Who could deserve it more?

I thank God for Rush!

I thank God that we still have good men, fighting!

It's hope!

We need Rush; we need to pray for Rush and others who are fighting for true political conservatism!

Gotta love Fred.....

I was sooooo excited to hear that there's going to be a brand new
FRED THOMPSON SHOW! (on radio)

Woo hoo!

It will be taking the place of the O'Reiley Show down here around the
Nashville area.

Fred is a great voice for the conservatives and I believe that he would
have been the best choice in '08. Nonetheless, his voice on radio will
be of great value to encourage the conservative heart that still beats
down here in the south!

God bless the USA!

Dealing with Divorce Part 3

REAL SIMPLE: Don't talk to your ex.

I know, I know...the courts tell you that you have to. The judge will too. They will make you go to "parenting classes" and they will tell you to talk with your ex too.

It is complete insanity to think that the two of you can SUDDENLY get along!

Now, if you can...okay. If you both can be rational, okay.

But most of the time, that is NOT possible on one side or the other AND NOT TO MENTION- you just paid a lot of money to get AWAY from that person because you didn't WANT to talk to them anymore! Right?

Okay,
now I know there's child support...but you have the courts to handle this. There's even Child Support Services if you can't afford your own attorney. There's sports and/or school... SEND A NOTE! The teacher does to you, right? Send it to them! How hard is that?

Anything else, mail a letter. Not even an email because that can give place for stupid banter back and forth. Just mail them, and time it to where the kids won't be there in case it is a touchy subject.

Be a grown up and stop fussing over the past. Deal with the current issue in a matter of fact tone in a letter.

Example: Little Jimmy needs an extra pair of shoes for a wedding. I cannot afford to buy another pair right now since I bought him tennis shoes last week. Could you buy them for him?
He wears size 3.
That 's it.

OR

Little Jimmy had to see the doctor on Wednesday and they gave him an antibiotic. It needs to be refrigerated and he is supposed to have it 3 times a day with meals. He had a fever but hasn't ran one in two days. If his temperature goes back up, I would need to get him back to the doctor.
That's it.

You send notes in the mail or in an envelope on their suitcase. (If you have babies, that will complicate things and there may have to be more communication. But if your kids can talk, then they are the ones who are still related to this person, not you.)

Don't be silly about it, just matter of fact. Be quick. Be short. Be unemotional in all dealings with your ex. If they become emotional, hang up, leave, just get away from it.

If they refuse to be rational and you have to deal with them on the phone, tell them you are recording the message to use next time in court- AND DO IT! You stay calm. Do not engage in the fight. Just say, I won't tolerate your abuse, and hang up.

Write them a letter, mail it, let them know that you will not tolerate abuse nor will you expose the children to any 'episodes'. You will be peaceful and quiet. Then explain how you will exchange the kids.

Ex.
If the kids are old enough, pull right beside the car in a public parking lot, and let the child take his bag to the car. If not, ask them to have the door open and you will set the child in their car with his bag, but that you will not discuss anything in that process. And refuse to! Any advance towards a violent situation should be reported immediately. But do all you can to keep things completely peaceful for your children.

If they approach you in a threatening manner, hold your cell phone and call for emergency service.

Listen, do you really think that they are going to take you to court for "not talking to them" if you have a stack of phone recordings and police documentation of violent outbursts? Now, on the other hand, don't be silly! Don't overreact. If they start about something, just say, I'll write or; we can discuss this at another time, and let them know you are in a hurry.

And don't be foolish about current issues. If your ex is spending on stupid stuff and not paying you like they are supposed to...HANDLE IT IN COURT! Their frivolous spending is NONE of your business....not paying child support is a legal matter that you can do something about.

If your ex is taking the child support and spending it foolishly, you still put your child first! And you must be a grown up and look at what the support is allotted for. Its payment for the entire upkeep of the children. It helps pay rent, light bills, water bills, etc. And if you have a mother that you are paying child support to who is still trying to stay home to raise your child, have the sense that God gave a goose and realize that is best for your child! The more normal that his/her life can remain, the better your child will deal with this new situation!