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Welcome! I am glad you are here. Join me with a cup of your favorite beverage and see what is going on in my life and what is on my mind. I would love to have you join my site and you can do that on the left side where it says 'followers'. And please leave a comment! Thanks for visiting.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

What's Cooking - Cooking Tip

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Tip: Use beaters from a hand mixer as a make-shift whisk. Just hold one beater in your hand and whisk with it. It works great for smaller tasks.

I use whisks a lot when cooking or baking. They're perfect for beating eggs, sauces, batters, or combining dry ingredients. But sometimes they are all dirty when I need one, so this is handy to know.



Tuesday, July 30, 2013

'Tis Home, Sweet Home - AWOL

Yes, I am AWOL today. Didn't get a post written as I was working on Bible study. I still have at least one more day of work on it and then I can put it away for awhile. There is a post ready for tomorrow and some here and there so there may be another one missing before I get back on track. See you soon.

Monday, July 29, 2013

This 'n' That - Frugal


This 'n' That - Frugal


This was posted on my Facebook wall today, and had to laugh, because, yes that is me.
 
 




I am guilty of doing this. But I do use them. I use them to line wastebaskets instead of buying the ones made to fit and might come in pretty colors plus a nice scent. The shopping bags are so much easier to use as they have handles to use to take the full ones out, then I use those handles to tie them shut before putting them in the large cans. I will put several in the wastebasket at one time so that when the top one is full, there is already another one ready to be filled.

I also use them for scooped cat litter. I use the clumping kind and have to scoop at least twice a day. The grocery bag just fits in some old litter pails I had kept. These are heavy duty plastic pails with a strong wire handle and a lid. I don't get litter in those any more so am glad I kept a few. That is so handy for the used litter since I can put the lid on and keep the odor in the pail until time to take out the garbage. And with the handles on the bags, I tie the full ones closed and dispose. I don't get hands dirty that way as well. I have seen an ad for a container made just for that purpose but it is expensive. And it doesn't look very big - not big enough for my cat as it would have to be emptied several times a day. Again, I put several bags in at one time so there is always another bag ready to be filled.

And I use those bags to take the recycle items out to the garage. I have a mesh waste basket in the kitchen that holds those items until full, then take to garage. That includes newspapers, magazines and other paper, and the plastics that can be recycled. Then I empty the bag in the recycle tub the city issues for pickup. Those empty bags then go into a container in the garage or put in the car for putting loose items, like mail, that need to go to the house or trash that has accumulated, like fast food bags and cups, in the garbage can. When I get too many a large bagful will be taken to the collection box in Walmart for recycling.

The only garbage bags I buy are the tall kitchen bags for kitchen waste and the larger black trash bags for the final disposal of cat litter and all the rest of the trash/garbage. You might say, why not just put it all in a garbage can instead of using bags. I don't think my garbage man would appreciate it since I now divide up the week's used cat litter into two bags otherwise one bag would be too heavy for me to lift and he most likely would not take it either because of weight limits. All this litter is because my cat is old and is peeing more than normal. I often wonder what the garbage man thinks every time he picks up my two heavy bags each week. I am sure he can't imagine how an old lady could generate so much heavy stuff to get rid of. Then again, maybe he has figured it out when he sees all the empty litter containers in the recycle tub.


Here is something else that can be done with the bags. I think I might have to try this later. I don't get red or green grocery bags so will have to put some other colored decorations on it. The link to the blog where the instructions are found is below the picture.
This pretty wreath is made from plastic shopping bags! And the ribbon is a mesh produce bag. Love this idea.
Plastic Bag Christmas Wreath by Kathleen George.

 

http://craftsncoffee.com/2013/07/16/christmas-in-july-go-green-and-make-a-white-plastic-bag-christmas-wreath/

There is also  a chicken made with the bags for those of you who collect chicken things. It is quite cute.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Faithful Friday - Something to Think About - part 2

Faithful Friday
 
More One-liners
 
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
 
Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
 
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
 
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
 
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
 
God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"
 
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
 
He who angers you, controls you!
 
If God is your Copilot - swap seats!
 
Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!
 
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
 
The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
 
We don't change the message, the message changes us.
 
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to ---- discourage him.
 
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
 
Father, bless the person reading this in whatever it is that You know they need.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Down Memory Lane - Favorite food

 
My favorite food even then! Yes, that is me. I loved sweet corn then, and I love it now. It was probably a good idea to eat it outside as it got messy! I can almost taste it now. I guess I will have to buy some the next visit to the grocery store or Farmer's Market. Mom had a huge garden, but Dad would plant long rows of sweet corn at the end of the field corn rows, so we always had plenty of corn to eat fresh, and Mom canned a lot. Years later, when home deep freezers became popular, she would also freeze some.
 

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

What's Cooking - Homemade Orange Marmalade Recipe

I love orange marmalade. I saw this on Pinterest and it looks so easy, so I plan to make this in the future, the next time I have oranges in the house. Right now all I have is a few small Cuties tangerines. I like to put orange marmalade on vanilla ice cream so if this doesn't get thick enough for jam, I can use it as an ice cream syrup or on pancakes and waffles. YUM!

homemade orange marmalade

Homemade Orange Marmalade


1 orange
1 Tbsp. water
1/2 cup sugar

Cut the un-peeled orange and place it into a blender or food processor with the water. Pour the mixture into a saucepan with the sugar and boil for 15 minutes.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

'Tis Home, Sweet Home - Dragon Tree


 MY DRAGON TREE



In the far left of the picture on the left is my dragon tree shortly after I moved to this house. The picture on the right is the tree today, about 6+ years later. Would you say it grew? This plant was given to me at my husband's funeral and at that time it was maybe 2 ft tall.
 
 
 
 
It is a little hard to tell in the pictures, but the top leaves have reached the ceiling!
 
 
 
Here is another picture, trying to show it a little better, but it really doesn't do it justice. The center leaves in the top cluster are touching and curled over a bit. The others that are curled over at the ends is just the natural curve.
 
The question is -- what can I do about it? The only room that has a higher ceiling is the kitchen, and there is no place in there where this plant will fit without being in the way. I don't want to get rid of the plant since it is a remembrance of my husband.
 
I have often wondered why this is called a dragon tree. But now, as I look at it, I can see the resemblance to head and neck of the Chinese dragon costumes used in parades. Do you see it?

Monday, July 22, 2013

This 'n' That - Decluttering

 
 DECLUTTERING
Here are some of the things I have decluttered so far. They aren't out of the house yet, but as soon as I get a box in from the garage, they will be donated. I am thinking about listing a couple of the cookbooks on our local swap FB page, but if they don't sell, they will be donated with the others. There are also several different Curves member diet guides and a Curves hardcover book that I might also try to sell first.

1. 5 cookbooks
2. 5 Curves books
3. small glass dish ( I have several nice crystal dishes, don't need this cheap glass) I never use it
4. 2 wicker bread bowls - maybe used once or twice since moving here. I kept one fancier one if I ever need one for dinner buns
5. 5 white dish towels ( they are sort of silky and don't dry well)
6. 1 dish cloth that is going to the rag box
7. 4 fleece squares - I cut to use on Swiffer sweeper but now I only have carpeted floors and don't use a Swiffer
8. about 7 (or more) white flour dishtowels (not pictured) that I gave my daughter. I still have more than enough to last me forever.
9. 1 small white platter (also didn't get a picture as I gave it to my daughter) I had ordered it online and was disappointed that it wa so small and shallow. Should have sent it back but it was a clearance item, and naturally I thought I would use it anyway. But that didn't, and isn't going to happen.

I don't have pictures yet of the stacks of magazines and papers culled from file folders. I might also take pictures of the newspapers that will be going to the recycle tub as they tend to pile up before I get them all read, and then the whole stack gets taken out. But that is a recurring thing so not really downsizing.

So I have a good start and need to keep the momentum going.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Faithful Friday - Something to Think About

Faithful Friday
 
Christian One-liners
 
Don't let our worries get the best of you, remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
 
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited - until you try to sit in their pews.
 
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
 
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
 
The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.
 
When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
 
People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
 
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
 
Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
 
If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
 
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
 
Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
 
Peace starts with a smile.
 
I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?
 
A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.
 
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
 
Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Down Memory Lane - Snow!

I thought you might like to see something cold on these hot summer days.
 
 
The snow was deep in March 1951
 
I was 8 years old. It is a little hard to see in the lower photo, but there is a path from the back door, where Mom was standing to take the picture, out to the gate posts. That is Dad scooping the driveway. All snow removal was done by hand scooping. Tedious work. Not only did the driveway have to be cleared, but paths to each building - barn, hog house, chicken house, feed house, garage. Look close and you see me riding one of the work horses. Behind me, the white building is the brooder house for baby chicks, and to the right is the hog house. Far right, outside the picture is the highway.

A better picture of me riding the horse down the driveway. Look how high the snow piles are. Some are higher than the top of my head as I sit on the horse. It was a lot of work to sling that snow so high. And by thelooks of the slush on the driveway, it must have been heavy, wet snow too. Isn't that horse a beauty? I think both of them were roans. I love horses and I always begged for a regular riding horse, and not one of the old work horses. But I never got my wish.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

What's Cooking - Busy Day Mexican Casserole

Busy Day Mexican Casserole
 

I can't say this is the most appetizing picture, but let me say that I found this new recipe quite tasty and easy. So for you busy mothers you may want to try this one (the rest of you as well). This is a crockpot dish and one that you can keep ingredients on hand for an easy meal.

Busy Day Mexican Casserole

1 10 count package of frozen burritos
1 large can enchilada sauce
1 pint fresh salsa
1 pound shredded cheese

Put all but the cheese in the crockpot. Cook on low for 4 hours. Half hour before serving add the cheese to melt it. Serve.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I used the hot, spicy kind of burritos, but use whatever kind your family likes - beef and bean, chicken, etc.
I only had an 8 oz package of shredded cheddar and thought that was plenty of cheese, so would suggest using whatever amount you like. Someone had suggested it sounded like too much liquid but I did not think so. You can see on the plate that it is not runny. I think the melted cheese thickens it.

I used fresh salsa found in the produce section of the store, or might find in the deli area. I would think that you could use your favorite jar of salsa when you can't get to the store for the fresh, or make your own fresh salsa. Many of you make your own burritos and freeze them, so by all means, use 10 of those. I am lazy so used the frozen ones from the grocery store as the recipe called for. Some day I will make the effort to make them myself and freeze.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Computer problems

I am just letting you know that my computer quit working Friday. I didn't try it again until today and it is working so far, but I have a hunch it will leave me again, so if I don't get more posts done, just know that I am having problems. I can still access the internet at the public library, but won't be able to load pictures, plus my available computer time is short there. Hope to get back here again soon. For now I have a whole bunch of catching up to do.

Monday, July 8, 2013

This 'n' That - Nothing

I just spent all afternoon scanning old photos, then uploading them to the blog for future Down Memory Lane posts. But I have nothing prepared for today!

I did pick up one idea that I saw on another blog a couple of days ago that I hope to do this year. She was doing a year of 'less' - in other words, decluttering. She would take pictures or write about all the things she got rid of day by day. I have been trying to declutter for a few years now and never quite get to the point I want to be. So by doing this, I hope to be spurred on to make a point of getting rid of 'stuff'. I might be a little slow in getting started as I have some other things that I need to work on. My posts may be a bit irregular for this next week or so as I really, really need to work on that last Bible study lesson for this fall. I said I wanted to have it finished before summer, but here we are with the first week of July already gone and I haven't started it yet. So that has become my priority for this week.

I will start off on the decluttering that I did the other day. I threw out 3 pair of underwear that should not have been worn as long as they were! They were so bad that I would not take a picture of them to show you. There are a few others that should be removed as well, but they aren't as bad so will wear them at least one more time. I will have to save my pennies so I can buy another package of new underwear. I also have some bras that should have been tossed a long time ago, so some new ones are on the list to buy as well.

So here is my list so far --

3 pair of undies

That's it for now.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Faith Friday - Obedience

FAITH FRIDAY
 


Obedience
 
I wonder if this is the kind of obedience God would like to see from us.


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(I thought the video would be here. If it isn't please click on the link and I hope you can see it.)

No asking "Why?" No procrastinating. No whining. No debating if it is really God speaking. No ignoring the commands. No refusing to act. Instead, there is adoration, obeying with a smile on the face, doing what you are told and eagerly waiting for the next command.

It took a lot of patience and perseverance to teach that dog to do all those things. Think of the patience and perseverance that God has in teaching us that His way is the best way, and the right way. When we don't learn the lesson He is trying to teach us, He does not raise His voice, does not curse at us, but very patiently gives us another lesson, and another, until we finally get it.

Thank you Lord, for being so patient with us, and not giving up on us. Amen

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Down Memory Lane - Happy Birthday America!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
 
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Two hundred and thirty seven years ago America gained its Independence and became a free nation. Does it seem that this country has forgotten the reason the why and how this took place? I am hearing all the time that schools are not teaching true history, and that our kids are now history illiterate. How sad! I have to admit I didn't like history class very much. But that was mostly because I can never remember dates and timelines, so when it came to taking tests, I didn't do very well. And it is quite possible that the teachers did not make it interesting enough to be memorable. It also seems to me that the people in Washington, DC, have lost sight of the history of our country and the direction our forefathers wanted this country to go.
 
Do any of you remember an old tv commercial with an Native American was looking down at the destruction man has done to earth, then turns to the camera with a tear rolling down his cheek? That is the way I feel today with our government.
 
Today is a national holiday. There will be firework displays tonight or some time during the weekend. Picnics, barbecues, foods and decorations with lots of American flags and red, white and blue colors. Some people with have a flag flying at home, but even more will not.
 
I hope you will each take the time during your celebrations to remember why we have this holiday and wave your flag.
 
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Happy 4th!



Wednesday, July 3, 2013

What's Cooking -- Good Cookies

WHAT'S COOKING
 
GOOD COOKIES
 
 
 
 
It is impossible to show you how good these cookies taste. Let's just say, you can't eat just one. At least I can't, but then I am a sugarholic. This is one of my favorites.
Now I don't necessarily like making cookies. I would rather make bars because the bars take a lot less time. Cookies are what I call 'putzy' baking. But I do love to eat homemade cookies. And I think I have solved my problem with making them. Make the dough, form into balls, and FREEZE them before baking! Call me a slow learner. I discovered this after joining an internet group of frugal women who do a lot of cooking and baking, plus reading several blogs. Isn't the internet wonderful? In fact, the day I made these cookies, my friend Rhonda, over at if you do stuff. . . stuff gets done posted about her cookie baking too.
 
Since it is hard for me to stand very long at one time, I can mix up the dough and make the balls all while sitting at the table. I did have to use my hand mixer, which isn't quite as efficient as the stand mixer, but it works, and much easier than dragging the heavy mixer out, plus the rheostat (or whatever it is called) seems to be going out as it doesn't keep the speed regular. All of a sudden it will take off like lightning, and then slow way up, or somewhere in between. That makes using a bit tricky! Can I say the mixer is old?
 
I put the balls of dough on cookie sheets and put them in the freezer until frozen, and then transfer to some square ice cream pails that I have. They fit in the freezer better than the round ones. If you are wondering where to get the square ones, Walmart sells a line of ice cream in them and is cheaper than the other brand in pails. I didn't want to use plastic bags for these as I can see them getting squished and broken with other stuff on top of them, even if they are frozen.
 
Now, when I want a cookie I can take a few out and bake in the toaster oven. The tray that came with the oven holds 4 cookies at a time. In the summer the toaster oven is nice as it doesn't heat up the house as much. It also uses less power than the big oven. I really hate to turn the big one on to make just a couple of little things, and it takes longer to preheat as well, so lots of electricity being used in the process. And this way, I am not tied to the kitchen while all the cookies bake, one cookie sheet after another. That can take 1/2 a day. And then I have all those cookies cooling on the table, too, and who can walk past without grabbing one or two each time? Not me.
 
Now for the recipe. My recipe calls them Ranger Cookies. In some of the other church cookbooks I have, very similar recipes are called Crisp Cookies, Krispie Cookies, Everyday Cookies. These are crisp cookies. And they can be called Krispie Cookies because they have Rice Krispies in them.

This is an old recipe that has been around for decades. The one I used came from the book above. Don't you think it looks well used and old? I had also written in the top right corner "Very Good" to remind me that this recipe has been tried and approved. I don't remember what year I started this book, but am thinking it was in the early 1960's, maybe even late 50's. My mom had one similar to it before I got married, so daughter does as mother does.
 
 
RANGER COOKIES
 
Cream:
1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
 
Add:
2 eggs
1 cup oatmeal
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups Rice Krispies (or other cereals which need to be used up)
1 cup coconut
 
Mold into balls. Bake at 350 F. degrees for 12 minutes. Makes 6 dozen.
 
Some of the other similar recipes added raisins, chocolate or butterscotch chips or nuts. This is a good recipe for using up a little of this and a little of that, or whatever you have on hand. But the cereal, oatmeal and coconut are must-haves as far as I am concerned.
 


This is one of my favorite tools for cookie making. It makes a nice size cookie and all are the same size. It is easier to use than two teaspoons. I also have a larger one that makes Monster Cookies, or either can be used to make meat balls.
 
Happy baking!

Monday, July 1, 2013

July?

It is July 1 already? Half the year is gone and went quickly. Believe me when I say time goes much faster the older you get! And it will soon be the 4th of July - Independance Day - fireworks, maybe a parade or two, neighbors setting off loud 'bomb's' that make me jump in the evenings (and don't appreciate), kids with sparklers. Those were always one of my favorites as a kid.

Here is something fun to do for the holiday.






Patriotic Eggs
  • 8 eggs

  • food coloring

  • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp dry mustard
  • dash pepper
  • dash onion powder
  • paprika for dusting

To hard boil eggs: place eggs in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring eggs to a boil. Cover and remove from heat. Let sit for 10 minutes. Drain eggs and cover with ice water. Peel shells off of eggs once cooled off.

To dye eggs: place eggs in a container and cover with water. You will need 20 drops of food coloring per 1/2 cup of water. Measure water that you pour over peeled hard boiled eggs and add the appropriate amount of food coloring. Allow to sit in food coloring mixture for 2 hours. Remove from food coloring and dry off.

Deviled Eggs: Slice hard boiled eggs in half. Remove yolks and mash. Add mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, dry mustard, pepper and onion powder. Stir well. Pipe yolk mixture into egg white halves. Sprinkle with paprika. Store in the refrigerator.

This 'n' That - More

Guess what? As I was digging around in my closet I found another bag with some yarn! Actually, when I looked in it, it was a bag I had set aside because it had some granny squares in two colors and some skeins of yarn to match. When I was given this among a bag of other yarn, I thought I would continue making the squares and make something with them to put on the church auction, since it was a church member that gave them to me.



But as I was looking them over the other day, I realized that was not going to happen. Look at the next picture closely.



See the difference in size? They weren't all this bad. Most of the white ones were close to the same size, but the brown ones were different. Some were the same size as the white, some only slightly larger, and then a few like the one above. There is just no way I can put these all together into one afghan or table runner. So. . . . . take them apart and knit more caps. As I was unraveling them, I found that the majority were done left handed, which is great since I am also, and so they would have matched up quite well. But there were a few that were done right handed! So there had to be more than one person making them, right? This just shows that stitch gauge is important, especially for things like this. The size doesn't matter as much as it does for clothing, but these do have to be uniform in size in order to fit together. Now I have about 10-12 brown and white caps to add to the 120 I already had. I suppose I could have re-stitched each square to get them the same size, but making the caps was faster as I didn't have to sew all the squares together at the end.

I am wondering if this original project is just another UFO that someone decided she was not ever going to finish it, or if she just got discouraged because the squares weren't all the same size?