Whew!!

I confess, I am a lazy blogger. I figure that if I blogged all of the time, then I would have nothing to blog about. Well, that’s my story and I stickin’ to it!

Let me update you on our lives.

Birthday Bash We celebrated 5 birthdays on August 21st with about 50 of our dearest friends. Kyla’s birthday is in July. Steve, Caitlyn, Brendan & I all have birthdays in August. We enjoyed lots of food & fellowship. The big kids all played tag (versions that I don’t remember existing when I was a kid), while the younger set splashed in the pool or played on the swingset. There was even a short impromptu time of praise and worship complete with bongos!

Church Campout Labor day weekend we spent a couple of cold nights with some wonderful people from church.

September was busy with picking veggies, canning tomatoes and getting school good and started. Our friend Tom gave us a ton of corn that we cooked & froze – some of it with friends and singing!

So far this month we have: Celebrated our 8th anniversary – when we were blessed by our bible study group bringing dinner and dessert before study time. Canned about a million pounds of apples, made salsa, plum sauce, jalapeño jelly & apple pie filling. & my dear husband was laid off thanks to the Asylum on the Potomac cutting the budget to the space program. (How do you like your change now?) But we are doing pretty well and Steve has very marketable skills, we just prefer not to move, especially to where it is hot most of the year!

Well, God Bless You and thanks for putting up with me and continuing to read this blog.

Our Schoolroom

We are so blessed to live in a big house with great space for our homeschool.  When my sweet husband and I looked at this house, I did not even notice that there was a pool table and foozball table, I only saw all the space for homeschooling my kiddos.  It took about a year to decide to get rid of the pool table and rip up the carpet to make the room below.  We painted the floor, but I would still like rugs, it gets cold here in the basement.

These are desks and bins that my dear husband built for us last summer.  There is one more to left, but it was bare and I like this corner.  The bare one to the right is Brendan’s spot to keep his books (we are still waiting on some) but he works in his room.

These two desks are Kyla’s (right) and Ryann’s (left).   Steve will be building shelves like those for the other two desks.  Can you see the solar system on the ceiling?

  THIS is our library! I have always wanted a library in my home.  It is next to the schoolroom, separated by the stairs from the main floor above.  It is a bit messy, but I have toddlers.  This is also the room Brendan gets kicks to when we have company, the futon is not very comfortable as a bed though.

The tan-ish chair is very comfy and I insist on sitting there to read to the kids.

We have 2 massive bean bag chairs, a small one and lots of cushions.  The fireplace is not very effective, but the hearth is a great stage or extra seating.  I would love to see a flat screen TV (a small one) above the fireplace so that the monstrosity below can go away and we can build a reading nook.

The brown and purple structure next to the doll house is a puppet theater that my wonderful husband built for the girls for Christmas (I sewed puppets).  Yes we have video games, and my son left them out, but they aren’t always out and they are limited on their play (until we get a Wii and mom starts playing too).

I do hope to remodel the library too, but for now it is cozy and I love it.

Sunday Dinner – August 1, 2010

…or zucchini frittata by a novice.

WARNING: There are a lot of pictures in this post!

Well, Sunday dinner at our house is not the feast you see on TV or other people’s kitchens.  We eat leftovers for lunch and breakfast for dinner.  By breakfast, I sometimes mean eggs.  So, we often have quiche, but with our abundance of zucchini already I wanted to try something different.

I went out to the garden and picked some of the ingredients, onions and basil, but some free-loading zucchini hitched a ride into the kitchen even though there were several in there already.  I used some that I picked yesterday.

 

The players: zucchini, 8 eggs, onions (the recipe called for green, so I used red and chopped some of the stem also), and cheddar cheese.

Okay, I lied, the recipe was for a corn frittata but I was out of corn so I replaced it with zucchini, it also called for chopped roma tomatoes, but mine are not roma, nor are they ripe so I skipped them (they would have been lovely).

Basil being snipped into the eggs (that was tedious so I did the chiffonade thing with the larger leaves).

I also decided to play around with the camera and tripod.  I set it on top of a bucket of peanut butter (that’s right a bucket) and used the timer feature.  You can see the lid of the bucket-o-peanut butter in the pictures, but I wanted to keep it real (and I was too lazy to crop too excited to share this recipe with you).

Mix the basil into the eggs.

These are onions that bloomed so they were a little tough, but sautéed up just fine.  I only sliced 2 of them, 3 would have been better.

 

Chopping the zucchini!

 

Starting the onions in my favorite cast iron skillet.

  

Adding the zucchini.

Because my man likes meat, I also cooked some sausage for him.  Mama, how did you make the patties so round? Don’t tell me, I hate to touch raw meat!

My favorite spatula (Cephalon) for the eggs.  I don’t think there were enough eggs, 10 would be better for this recipe, but when Brendan is with us, I will have to double it for sure.

I didn’t do so well on the stove-top part, almost burned the eggs.

Time to flip the sausage.  I used to always forget which sausage I put in first until I read a tip from Cooks Illustrated.  Start at the handle and work clock-wise (or counter clock-wise, suit yourself).  Now, I always remember.

Under the broiler!

 

Melty cheese.

Happy cook!  I am wearing one of my favorite aprons!

Reviews: Ryann said, “yum”.  Kyla said, “it’s like quiche without the crust” I am sure she liked it, she had seconds.  Tara was not happy about the almost burned parts.  Steve liked it.  Caitlyn ate it, but would not comment.

Oh, I liked it too.

If  you want an actual recipe, e-mail and I figure it out and send it to you.  I adapted it from a recipe out of the BH&G cookbook.

Garden Update

Here is the squash patch.  I love that it gets so big.  I am afraid that the pumpkins will be in the neighbor’s yard and up the swing set before long.

Squash blossoms are so pretty!  I have five kinds of squash here and all the blossoms look the same.  At least to me. 

  The zucchini are coming! The ZUCCHINI ARE COMING!!!

The tomato forest!  That fence is at least 6 feet high, and the garden is raised about 6 or 8 inches.  These are the same plants that I started in egg shells!  Oh yeah!

I can’t wait for these to ripen.  Nothing like fresh tomatoes in EVERYTHING!!!

Borage because the I read it was beneficial for tomato plants.

More future sandwich fixin’s.

Fennel, because I like it and same as the borage.

  Basil…who needs a reason, it’s good!

There are more sections yet un-photographed, but they don’t look so good well!  Weeds, too many weeds!

I have already ripped out the sugar snap peas, they are supposed to grow up the poles and they didn’t, they were just a mess.  I showed them.

The cucumbers, lettuce and radishes are doing pretty well, but very weedy. The raspberries are rockin’ out again this year!

There are a lot of things for me to re-think for next year’s garden.   I am definitely starting more from seed next year!

Heavy Sigh

I haven’t blogged in quite a while, thanks to computer issues. I would not call them resolved, but maybe they are. My techie friend walked me through restoring my laptop back to factory settings. That was scary. We survived and I hope to be back and blogging soon.

Here’s a quick update:

Brendan has been “away” for a couple of months and will be home on Wednesday if everything goes as expected (famous last words?).

Kyla turned 12 and went to her first Bible Camp last week. She had a blast! She also learned some great songs. I am reminded of all the fun camp songs I learned and still know from my youth (was that really so long ago?).

Ryann has had some major dental procedures for someone so young, she was brave and is so over it.

Tara has completed potty training and boy am I happy!

Caitlyn is talking up a storm and I am sure that we will be able to understand her soon.

Steve has been working on the pool and other home projects, relieved that congress voted to keep some money in NASA and therefore his job. He is also adjusting to his company's new 9/80 plan. While I like him having every other Friday off, I don’t like the 9 hour workday.

I have been volunteering at the Center for Pregnancy Choices a few hours a week and hold the position of Financial Advisor, but really I am just the accounts receivable clerk, or one of them. I love my Wednesday evenings, especially when we go out for pie after closing.

I am also recovering from my second miscarriage in less than a year. I hope the doctor will be able to determine the cause. We decided years ago to let God control the size of our family so we know this is all part of His plan. I do want to know what is causing the miscarriages, mostly because I want to be healthy for my grandchildren. My heart grieves for the little ones I have lost, but I rejoice that they never knew the pain of this world and are in heaven with Jesus!

We are preparing for homeschool to start in a few weeks and I am trying to work on some kind of schedule that is neither rigid or too flimsy (for lack of a better word). I have a quirk that causes me to rebel against rigid schedules, pray that we find balance and are able to accomplish a lot this year.

Well, I need to get on with the scheduling and other mundane tasks (laundry and breadmaking for starters.)

God Bless!

Confessions of a Yarn Addict (really?)

All of my life, yarn has been there.  My mother used to crochet afghans and I still have some of her creations in my house, they remind me of my childhood.  One of them went to Desert Storm with me (and back).

She tried to teach me to crochet.  I wasn’t interested, at least I thought I wasn’t.  I remember getting frustrated just chaining, I guess I thought it would be too hard.

On one of our first family vacations, I bought a book on how to knit and attempted to learn myself on the way.  I had moderate success, especially after my MIL gave me some hands on instruction.  I never finished anything, nor did I get past purl.

Almost two years ago (on another family trip), I bought a book on how to crochet.  I got all the way to double crochet and quit. 

We did a lot with the knifty knitter, but nothing exciting.

My friend, Cathy is always crocheting and I got the bug again.  So, I gathered my stuff and bought some cute yarn and she got me going again.  Mostly, I make dishcloths and washcloths, but I did make a pot holder. 

That was over a month ago and I am still going.  I have yet to attempt a triple crochet, but I have done some bobbles and clusters.

In short, I haven’t been sick, I’ve been crocheting.

Where Does My Help Come From?

God is really working on me.  He is so good and faithful!  I thank Him that all I have to do is call on His name and He hears my prayer.  If you do not know Jesus, He knows you and wants you to know Him.

That said, we are in another trial right now.  Two months ago, I would have been a completely useless puddle of tears.  This time, while the trial is harder and more gut wrenching, I am able to pray throughout my day with a strange peace.  My flesh cries out for action, more emotion, but those things will not fix anything.

We are taking action, it is not dramatic.  We are not leaving things to solve themselves either.  It may seem like we are fine and nothing heartbreaking is happening in our family, let me assure you we all hurt.  This sucks and I don’t like any of it.  I hate that my precious child has chosen the path he is on and I hate the examples that glamorized this life to him.  I want to scream and cry and hurt others because my pain is deep.

But in the midst of all this, there is peace that surpasses all understanding.  There is hope beyond hope.  There is love that is as deep as the sea, as high as the heavens and as wide as the universe.  I will fear no evil.  If God is for me, who can be against me? 

My God loves me and my children more than we can fathom.  I rest in Him.  He is my rock and my stronghold.

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.

² You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.

¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,"

¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them!

¹⁸ Were I to count them,
       they would outnumber the grains of sand.
       When I awake,
       I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
       Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
       your adversaries misuse your name.

²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
       and abhor those who rise up against you?

²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
       I count them my enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.

²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
       and lead me in the way everlasting.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – 5/3/2010

Outside my window... lilac bushes budding.

I am thinking... about housework.

I am thankful for... friends who share their stuff (like carpet shampooers).

From the learning rooms ... waiting on mama to finish blogging and cleaning the carpet.

From the kitchen ... bread and maybe leftovers.

I am hearing ... strange sounds from Kyla’s room underneath me.

I am wearing ... rolled up jeans and a blue t-shirt.

I am creating ... a cleaner home.

I am going ... to be honest with you about my weight (one day).

I am reading ... the Bible almost everyday, and a couple other books when I have time.

Around the house ...carpet drying and children playing quietly (or out of earshot).

One of my favorite things ... green.

A few plans for the rest of the week … root canal tomorrow.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...  

  One handsome kid!

See more Simple Woman’s Daybooks or add your own here: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

I know you’ve noticed….

There are some ads on my blog now.  Yes, I am hoping to make a buck - anything to get us out of debt, you know  - so click away.  I do not chose them, but they are based mostly on what I blog.

There is/was one in particular I would like to draw your attention to:  The Total Transformation Program.  If you are having problems with your kids, this is going to help.  My dear cousin and sister have used it and ours came in the mail yesterday. 

I just wanted to put that out there.  Thank you and God Bless.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – 4/19/2010

Outside my window... the sun setting over the mountains.

I am thinking... about planting things.

I am thankful for... new mercies everyday.

From the learning rooms ... nothing it is evening.

From the kitchen ... fresh bread, granola in a bit.

I am hearing ... little girls getting baths.

I am wearing ... capris and a t-shirt, no shoes.

I am creating ... simplicity.

I am going... to celebrate Sharon’s and Bethanie’s birthdays.

I am reading... the Bible & Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

Around the house ... after dinner chores and quiet.

One of my favorite things ... campfires.

A few plans for the rest of the week …Bible Studies (our weekly fellowship and I am joining the Ladies study on Thursdays).

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...  

My girl climbing the ladder to the loft in my office.

See more Simple Woman’s Daybooks or add your own here: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Great Local Bookstore

I just bought a bag o’ books for only $7 at Jenson Book Outlet !!

There were tons of books!  I think one Saturday soon, I am going to pack a lunch (and dinner?) so that I can really dig for books. 

I fit all those books into that plastic bag and paid only $7 +tax.  Two of these I am really excited about:  For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay and I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris. The others, I will have to look at more thoroughly as they were not on my list, but I feel like I got them for free as I would have paid at least $7 for one of the ones on my list anywhere else.

The folks working there were very friendly and helpful. 

So all you local friends, go check them out!  Not local? Visit their website!

The Seedling Experiment – Phase II

My darling tomatoes have exceeded my expectations!  I am so excited! These…

 

have grown into ….

these!

Having no experience, I guessed that it might just be time to put these seedlings in bigger pots.  I bought peat pots at Wal-mart, 22 for $2.00. I also bought a large, flat, clear plastic storage bin to set them in.

My friend, Cathy was here last night and wanted to help.  So did Kyla.  I filled each pot about 1/3 full and they cracked the shells and put them in the pots. 

Then, I filled them with more organic potting soil.

Then, Cathy watered them and I took pictures.

So, to clarify:  we cracked the shells and loosened them but did NOT remove them.  So, this:

not this:

I don’t remember if I mentioned the onions in my last seedling post, but I put them in dirt in disposable brownie pans last week,

they sprouted very quickly and are now outside as I understand they can tolerate cooler temperatures.

The bell peppers are finally sprouting.

Grow peppers, grow!