Occupy

Here's just another update on what we've been doing.

I'll start with the boring stuff

Workouts and Exercise:

Well, hubby asked if I wanted to work out with him lifting weights...what can I say, "YES!". It's a completely different mentality than working out to lose weight. In fact, I'll be gaining weight , but I will definitely be leaning!! Hubby's done this workout before and had amazing results! We work out twice per week-yes, only twice-all the major muscle groups. You workout to "failure", this in turn makes your body produce the growth hormone hGH, which makes it easier to put on muscle. I've already improved in lifting 50-100% more! We are not changing what we eat (nothing to change there!!) and I'm already seeing benefits in lifting everyday things as well as more energy! I'll let you know how it goes!!

House/Packing:

Yesterday I packed ALL of our storage items, having switched seasonal clothes & put away all non-essential items. (I have one closet I couldn't reach to do and I actually packed up almost all of my knitting things-gasp!) Hubby is taking them to a storage unit (we don't have a garage) until we move to make more room for a better house showing. Our house is now on the market to generate interest as hubby finishes the last of the work. We will have private showings. If we apply ourselves, we should have everything done and ready in as little as two weeks with the max. of 4 weeks. Hubby has been working on the back room, put in a closet last night and finished reinforcing the floors under the tiled upstairs kitchen. He has the ceilings and walls to dry wall, then mud. He likes to have several running projects, while he waits on things like the mudding to dry he is able to work on one or two more.

I am so very excited as this ball rolling downhill is increasing in speed!

It was fun to consolidate all the boxes and I had 3 more buckets (rubbermaid type containers) and 6 boxes that were suddenly empty!

I've been called "The Queen of Organizing and Alphabetizing", so naturally, as I excel in one area, my mind is quick to plan the next step in another area (but all comes from God as He gives wisdom and out of His mouth comes understanding!). I've possibly figured out a weekly menu for our family:

Sunday: Meatloaf & Mshd Spuds

(beef meal-since we are finishing the last of our cow)

Monday: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Meatloaf and Salad

(leftover day)

Tuesday: Veggies & Noodles with White Sauce &/or Marinara

~BREAD~

Wednesday: Lentils and Rice

(this will be once per week)

Thursday:B'fast-Oat Cereal

Lunch-Leftovers

Dinner-Eggs & Toast (b'fast everyday)

Friday:Creamy Chicken Noodle Veggie Soup

(soup or stew day)

~BREAD~

Saturday:Leftovers (also made pumpkin bread)

This has already eased my cooking schedule-though I spent yesterday going full steam for 17 hrs. I got up at 6 this morning (after only 4 hrs of sleep) and finished putting away the bread and straightening the kitchen AND I was able to read the Word-very refreshing-while I watched the pinks and reds in the sky. Yup, it's cloudy & it's supposed to be raining right now, but the high is supposed to be 73 degrees!! A wonderful day, now, if only we could dodge the raindrops and go outside!! I was getting a bit upset because it was raining/going to rain, but then the Lord showed me that He was cleaning the air for us! Yesterday, the neighbors decided to burn (at least this time it wasn't trash) and the wind blew most of the smoke right into our house. So, today, the Lord blesses us with rain to clean the air & we are able to open our windows again...umm, right after I find the screens.

Schooling:

#1 & #2 will be finishing the Math 2 by the end of the 'school year'. (It only took them 3 months to finish the second book) I need to get Math 3 (or maybe reassess to see if they could skip a grade with a bit of added effort on my part). I need to think of what Math to do for #3. I'll look into the Math 1 and see how it is. I need to get a workbook for writing for him & start that as well. I'll probably couple #3 & #4 in a grade, since she is right there with him. Then #5 always does everything with #4 and will want to join her....hmmmm, incorporating 3 beginning students is a new challenge for me. That would increase my classroom size-I'd have 5 children at the table. I had the younger ones for less time and different types of lessons-more verbal-than the older two. By the way...we year-round school. Learning doesn't stop, neither have we.

Knitting: (more boring stuff)

I finished my vest 2 weeks ago. I really like it...just the right warm without getting in the way while I work! I finished almost one sock, but I won't be wearing wool socks until next January-ish. My shawl I also packed, it will be quick to finish-when I have the umption! I am already thinking of things to sew. I would love to make the girls matching sundresses for Sundays and 1 or 2 matching dresses for everyday. We'll see, the little girls already have a number of summer dresses, so maybe I'll just be sewing for #1-unless G'ma T is willing to get out a few of the "heirloom" dresses. I remember a sleeveless lavendar dress and maybe one or two more. I haveta remember when we stop by on our WAY TO ARIZONA!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I'm calm. I'll go, since this is getting a bit lengthy.

"And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them,

Occupy till I come."

Luke 19:13

Knitting Kit GiveAway

Go leave a comment at FUZZY THOUGHTS by Friday for a chance to win a Scrap Chaps Knitting Kit! Quite adorable, just like the other knitting patterns at her Etsy shop!

Grease for the Squeeky Wheels

For all you out there that must have pictures, I thought I'd grease the wheel.

So this is the floor in the kitchen. Tiles are real, with real mortar and real grout. It was fun to help hubby, I mostly cleaned up and he did the actual hard work! I'm looking for a before picture...hold on.
Here's a sample of the old peel 'n' stick linoleum that was in the kitchen. The black dots are the staples used to hold down a thin layer of plywood underneath.

Finished making the bread while hubby worked on moving and putting in the lights. I've also been knitting the last two days! I'm making a shawl and thought you'd like to see it.
Click on it to see a bigger image. It's called the Weaver's Wool Mini Shawl...all the others I've seen on ravelry have been mainly solid or in chunks of stripes, but nothing like mine!

Have a good day and don't forget to be a blessing!

Yes, Going like the Energizer Bunny!

Well, last night was our first night in our brand new bedroom upstairs. Hubby moved us out of our room and he painted it last night (or rather, early this morning) and he'll be carpeting it then moving on to the children's room after they are moved into our old room. Then he'll start tiling the kitchen and bathroom. He is going NONSTOP!!

We went to the grocery store the day before yesterday--ahhh, what a pleasant break from the construction zone!! We were out running errands and the like for 4 hours and were ready to be home again. I am cooking lots more now that the kitchen is a bit more organized and I don't haveta run upstairs or send someone (my "fast like a bunny" little ones) to get ingredients or pans. I'm also JUST starting to drink enough water again! Amazing how you can get "sick" so quickly by not having enough water!! I was "suffering" from many things including a couple of pinched nerves, headaches, tummy aches, lethargy, brain fog....all this caused by not drinking water. So you know, I would drink juice mixed with water (1/2 'n' 1/2) or a few glasses of milk and maybe a cup of tea. NO WATER. Now that I'm just drinking (in addition to other liquids) at least 1/2 gallon of water I'm doing much better!! I had stopped working out so I didn't need quite as much water. Like I said, things are much better and I look forward to getting more done as well as always helping hubby with the house.

I guess I got upset with all you alls. Yes, most of you don't leave comments, but I was going by the 50-100 hits I get on my blog per day and thought some of you needed to really say something. Well, come to find out, the hits are a total from all my blogs. I'm guessing that the majority of hits are for the knitting patterns. I don't apologize for getting upset, 'cause I'm still waiting for some family and friends to comment. I'll give 'em the excuse that maybe their computers are broken, yeah, that's it. They really do care and would comment! Ok, I'll go with that!! (chuckle)

I am surprised that I'm still able to (and still desire to) knit! I'm halfway through a scarf, but I ran out of yarn, so now I'm working on thick wool socks for me. It's been cold and won't be warming to a warm temp for several months still. We all are enjoying being downstairs where the sunlight (when it does come through the clouds) shines in and warms the room. The children like racing to a sunny spot whether to do their schoolwork or to just sit and be warm. They remind me of our old cats! Speaking of schoolwork, since we started again (after all the traveling and moving) they are doing well and understanding it quickly and working quickly while doing it even neater and more precise!!

I'm thinking of doing a video of the house when it's done. I think it would work better and you'd be able to see more than just a series of pictures. I haveta figure out how to put a video in, but that's still down the road...something to look forward to! It's looking great!

Ok...what else. I need to feed the children (and me-go figure) the homemade vegetable noodle soup. Maybe we'll have tuna and cheese and crackers, too! I need to make bread, but I haveta wait. That's ok, we got chips and crackers at the store, so no lack of carbs!

Here's what we had for breakfast: (serving 7)

Scrambled eggs, Refried bean and cheese burritos, oats with raisins and molasses and gingermonhoney cereal. Finally heard, "I'm soooo full!" So, gotta run and do this again and think of dinners.

Have a good, be good and good!

Ciao.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - With A Glass of Milk

I must preface by saying that we have our sweetness levels reduced since we don't have many sweets. You may want to ice them or for the pumpkin recipe use a cream cheese frosting, just suggestions. It is mandatory to have these with milk. Swap out the raisins for chocolate chips even with the pumpkin.

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups oats
1.5 tsp baking pwd
1.25 TBSP cinnamon
1 cup honey
1/2 cup sour cream (or yogurt)
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 cup butter (1.5 sticks)
1 cup raisins (or up to 1/2 cup more if desired)

Sorta drop, but mush into a cookie shape (they don't fall down) on an UNGREASED cookie sheet. Bake at 375F degrees for 12-15 mins.

*Variation:
1/2 small can or 1/4 large can of Pumpkin substituted for the Sour Cream/Yogurt
add only 1 tsp each of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.


The weather is clearing and now we wait for the pears. I'll take pictures. Since we didn't go out while it rained the past 2 days, we had about 1.5 cups of raspberries today. Everyone had a goodly amount!
I'm posting patterns on my handwork site and have been busy with that and finishing lots of knitting. I am keeping myself from starting yet another project until I have finished quite a few. Busy, busy, busy! Prepared the taco and pizza meat and we had the leftover soup/stew with grilled cheese sandwiches. Correlating the shopping with the meal planning has been a challenge to keep meals going when "regular" ingredients are lacking.
We are truly blessed to have our needs provided by our Jehovah Jireh - our Provider! I am finding myself automatically going to the Lord for everything, in prayer AND thanksgiving! Days are more peaceful and organized. Now on to the tongue! I am learning and will have what I say!


"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
Mark 11:22-24

What do you say that may be a curse, rather than a blessing?
I just can't do this, I don't know how to handle this, How will I ever get to this?

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Phillipians 4:13

Read the previous verses also. God has given me the ability to handle everything that comes my way.

"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
Proverb 16:3

If I go to the Lord first...I will have His help, strength, peace, joy and all good things! I CAN do ALL THINGS!!

Ok, just wanted to share how I've been blessed this past week! How have you been blessed? How can we rejoice together in what the LORD has done in our lives? Ok, last verse:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Phillipians 4:8

We are to not only speak what is right, but to also think. So dwell on these things, mull them over, mentally ruminate and your life will show fruit!

Mmm...PIZZA!

I forget how much we enjoy eating pizza. I finally found a way to make it that has a whole lot more protein! I make the crust out of Naan Bread and roll it thin, sauce, toppings, bake and EAT!

I know that it is contrary to my heritage and being this close to Chicago, but I really like the thin crust NEW YORK style crust/pizza!

This pic is from the other time I made it. You can make personal size, medium, or one panfull size. This recipe makes enough for our family (of 8-well, 7 eating) for 2 meals!

Ok. This is the simple way, here it is all laid out:

Naan Bread
3 cups of flour (whole wheat)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp yeast
1 tsp honey
2 TBSP oil
4 TBSP Yogurt
3/4 cup warm water

Mix dry, then add wet, and lastly yogurt. Let rest for about 20 mins. Then I roll it and patch it onto a pizza pan (a cookie sheet works too)

Sauce
1 can (32 oz) tomato concentrate (it's the walmart brand and ONLY has tomato pulp-no salt!)
1 TBLS salt (still using Real Salt)
2 TBLS oregano
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/3 large onion
1/2 head (several cloves) garlic

Toppings

*I cook hamburger with salt and onions-use what I need and freeze the rest for next time I make pizza...helps alot
-also cooking the onions with the hamburger, flavors it differently than if I put them as a topping. When I've added onions as a topping, my pizzas always came out watery!
*sliced black olives
*grated mozzarella cheese -I do this

These are the topping we like, keeping away from my favourite of pepperoni which have nitrites and other oddities. I had headaches for years when I ate white flour crusts and pepperoni!

Throw together and cook in oven at 400F degrees for about 12 minutes. Lower temp, cook longer and get a crisper crust.

I have made a cornmeal crust and mixed beans and meat and added the cheese and olives and it was like a mex-pizza!!

Enjoying the cooler weather. It's between 62-65 degrees now, except for the next few days of being in the upper 60's and barely into the 70's! Wonderful cooking weather and even better to sit in the sun outside while the children play and (what else?) KNIT!

Need to go make bread, wake babies and prepare to go outside again!! (change the laundry, too)
Ciao for now!

I Finally Did It!!

I wrote & published my very first free pattern!! It's for socks & I'm making a pair right now, just to be absolutely sure it's correct. Also, my husband is very pleased when I knit him socks and I have to make up for the first 3 pair that were either too big or just not quite right.

I've been trying to knit more or should I say, applying my time!

I made Pumpkin Bread (thing/stuff) for b'fast this morning. (I'll get around to fixing that error for the recipe.)

Not much else, it's considerably cooler (just around 80F with next to no humidity!) and I'm thinking of putting on socks!

Okie dokie everyone...Still working on articles for my sites as well as those patterns. Need to go for outside time right after we eat. Have a blessingsfull day!

Ciao.