Garage Sale Find

We were able to go last Saturday to several sales. This was my favourite find!! It's another inspiration for sewing and quilting. So, I began my red homespun quilt. I put together 3 rows Tuesday night. Last night I went to continue, and to my great dismay, the electrical cord had come apart!! So, I went and embroidered!! I copied someone else's design of a girl with a fishing pole and Number 1 will be starting that as soon as I can find the embroidery floss!!! I will get handwork done!!

It's All Gone...or it will be soon!!

This was just a wonderful combination for a summer dessert!! I made my Scrumptious Chocolate Cake and my Scrumptious Chocolate Pudding. I will not call it what it is not, Mousse, but it is sooo YUMMY!! I found this recipe online for a "Dairy Queen Ice Cream", but it was not up to par, so here is my Scrumptious Chocolate Pudding:

Make chocolate whipped cream


1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup honey
1 Tbsp cocoa

A good chef tastes his food and modifies it to his liking. These are approximates.

2 env. Knox gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
4 cups milk
1/3 cup honey (3 Tablespoons)
1 tsp. molasses (for a vanilla type flavour)

Mix gelatin and water and let stand. Heat milk (do not boil). Remove from heat and add honey and gelatin mixture. Cool milk mixture. Fold or whisk in whipped cream. Refrigerate until set and eat. Freezing makes it too hard and when set out to thaw a bit will begin to separate.

This made a HUGE bowl for our family, but I'm sure no one has a problem with it!! Don't forget you get the full benefits of the gelatin and there is no sugar or artificial yuckies!! Though, if you don't have desserts often, it's filling. Remember, for those who still have sugar, it's not as sweet and may taste too much like honey.

Sewing for Modesty

I've been inspired for attire from Eyes of Wonder!! I love to sew and design and have been for the past 25 years!! I love the simplicity, especially the pinafores for the little girls. All the women's clothing is feminine and modest. The prints and colors are lovely! How they've altered this peasant blouse is just perfect with the skirt shown!

I love the regency clothes from this site!! And this site has a mountain of modest and feminine clothing sites. I enjoy looking and getting ideas, since I don't often use patterns unless it is exactly how I would like it or I am making it from a very slippery material like satin.
As I progress in my chores, I hope to start sewing...which for me the start is deciding who needs what, picking a fabric (which I have!) and then starting to make it! I think right now, the girls would most benefit from a couple of skirts/bloomers and reversible pinafores! Lord willing, maybe I might be able to start tomorrow night, since it's late!! Will update you on that. (I've already been sketching!!)

More Cooking

The last few days I've been on my feet making double or triple batches. Today I made this wonderful Chicken 'n' Rice. Just like most everything I make, it's "Not Your Mama's Cooking"! I sauteed the Onions and Garlic in Olive Oil then added the Carrots and Celery. I used the chicken that was leftover that I had frozen and added that right before I put in the rice ingredients and broccoli. Cook for 10, let rest for 10, voila...and you've got dinner in no time at all (especially with the pre-cooked meat).

As I'm posting this, dh showed me the moon and so I had to take a picture...com'on, it's a digital camera, and how far away is the moon?!

Count Your Blessings - Monday

I know this is a day late, but I wanted to do this. There are few in this group, but they seem to be like-minded. So, once again, I will count my blessings!!

1. I have my perfect husband - who daily helps me grow in the Lord!! (ROFLOL!!)

2. I have 5 wonderful, healthy, extremely smart (4 yr. old is reading!!), willing to learn and beautiful children!! (What can I say: they're my children and I am biased!!)

3. The raspberries are almost in full fruit...we are all learning to wait until they are very red!!

4. I am feeling GREAT this morning and have been able to think clearly and do soooo many regular chores and am almost caught up in every area!! --almost :)

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

5. God is Faithful, Merciful and so much more!!

"Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."Psalm 29:1-2

For more Count Your Blessing Monday participants, click here.

Too Funny

Found this from someone's blog, but had to put it here! You MUST read the description!

Thankful Thursday

I am trying this. I am thankful always, but I don't often "think on these things". My dh has always stopped me when I was on a downhill trend and said to name 10 things I am thankful for. Doing that alone made things much better! So I begin:



1. The last 2 mornings I have been able to wake refreshed before anyone else and read the Word!! (That alone should count for 100!)



2. The weather is starting to be normal for this time of year, cooler!



3. I have LOTS of tomatos to put up for winter chili meals!



4. I have 2 baskets of laundry to fold and I will officially be caught up! (for about 1 day)



5. I plugged in my sewing machine, which is the 1st step in starting to sew again. (which I haven't done for the past 2 years)



I am thankful to post today, I won't count that since I only listed five. Blessings and remember,



"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 15:13



"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15



"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Proverbs 17:22

If you'd like to find out more about Thankful Thursday,

click here or on the Thankful Thursday Picture

Not Your Mama's Spaghetti!

Homemade Whole Wheat Noodles, Homemade Mini-Meatballs and Homemade Garden Fresh Marinara Sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese

This was a mmmm-mmmm delicious meal!! And as you can see, enjoyed!! Plenty of good food and good reviews!!

Whole Wheat Noodles

2 1/3 cups Flour

2 Eggs

1/3 cup Water

1 tsp Olive oil

1/2 tsp Salt

a pinch of Basil (opt. or marjoram or sage)

Mix ingredients, knead for 8-10 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes. Divide into 4. (If using only whole wheat flour, make sure you let it rest) Roll out, cut into strips. ( I used a pizza slicer) Can cook immediately and/or freeze extra. I made a double batch...used all my counter space and even some cookie sheets. Note: The coarser your flour, the coarser or grainy/almost gritty your noodles. High marks and highly nutritious!!

These were easy to make. Much easier and faster than whole wheat bread!!

Mini-Meatballs

2.5 lbs Hamburger

2 Eggs

1/4 Medium onion

2 Cloves garlic

6 Premium Unsalted Crackers

salt, pepper, parsley to taste

Mix ingredients. Roll/form into 1" balls. Place on wax paper (optional) on cookie sheet and freeze. Great for any skillet or quick meal!!

Garden Fresh Marinara

3-5 Large tomatos

1/4 Medium onion

2-4 Cloves of garlic

1/2 cup Carrots

1/2 cup Celery

salt, pepper, dried basil, oregano to taste

***I added approx. 1/3 cup of Tostitos Salsa (I didn't have green bell peppers and didn't add sugar/honey or tomato paste)

Sautee garlic, onion, carrots and celery in a bit of olive oil. Add tomatos and spices and cook til done/warm.

****I added the already cooked meatballs and frozen noodles to this and cooked it til everything was "al dente"

Making extra and freezing it helped with several more meals with very little prep time!!

Our Seventh Wedding Anniversary

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

I Corinthians 13:4-7

I am SOOO hungry!!

I'm sure I could add the audio effects of my stomach growling. As I try to catch up, I smell my 7 A.M. roast that I just checked and is all deliciously done; the meat falling off the bone, the vegetables' flavour permeating the meat and juice. All it lacks is some "Bosch Potatoes"!!

If you hadn't noticed, we've been uber-busy. Now that it seems things are slightly better, we are working 16 hour days (or midnights), but we are digging in our heels and "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:14

Praise Reports:

*Healed Ankle

*2 Babies Potty Trained (3 yr-boy & 22 mo-girl)

(This is by no means a complete list of all prayers answered)

There has been so much accomplished that I have to categorize and post at a later date. I'll try not to wait so long.

I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES!!

Psalm 34

"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."


KJV

Granny Along

I've been bitten by the Knit/Crochet/Quilting Bug. I learned that I could be doing handwork while I watch little ones and do my work later. I've had a much more relaxed day, but that might be because I'm still in my pajamas!! Anyway, this is my 1st time to make a granny square with directions with the intent to make many squares. I had to keep these from many hands wanting all the swatches!! I found two old knitting swatches from eons ago and finally took them off the needles. I made this one sorta-kinda in a pentagon and learned where to make it less or more for it to lay flat. It's in a dark red, navy blue and green with a charcoal border. I don't know the fiber content of the navy, but the red is acrylic and the other two are wool. I know, but these are my scraps and I love how they look together!! I will most likely make squares so I can put them together. If I wanted to make pentagons or hexagons, they would probably be coasters or hot pads for tea kettles. If you would like to join me, let me know. If you can send (e-mail) pics of progress, I'd be glad to post them with your notes or comments!! I'm planning on making one per day. So, in about 2 months I should have enough for a throw, if I don't get sick of them. I would LOVE to make Ellen Bloom's "Vintage Afghan" on grannyalong (dot) blogspot (dot) com. I think it's an easy way to start if you don't want to switch colors.

Italiano!

I was hunting for something else to make with the hamburger, potatoes and onions. I came across this recipe and decided to fix it. At the table I added cottage cheese. It was like...mmmm...lasagna, ummm,uh, ok, potatoe lasagna...lasagna cassarole...CASSAROLLI!!! I raise the flag to lay claim to this new word for this dish. Tonight, I make-a cassarolli! (obviously said with an accent--yes, italian)

Hamburger
Onions
Garlic
Salt
Pepper
Basil
Parsley
"Tomato Concentrate" -I had it, it sounded close enough to tomato soup
I forgot I wanted to add Celery
Oh, and the beans...the recipe said kidney, but I figured Garbanzo, Split-Pea, Black-Eyed Peas, Pintos and Lentils would work.

Yeah, Cook Meat...add spices, throw in crockpot and forget it til the Potatoes are done(roughly 3hrs on High). Real Difficult. Oh, the Beans had already been soaked and cooked.
The recipe said to cook meat then put all in the oven to cook for 2 hours (1hr covered, 2nd uncovered) I didn't want to think about a spill-over on the element...so the crockpot.

Clouds and wind without rain!

This was taken this evening, to the northeast, as a mini front moved through.

We trimmed and mulched around most of the blueberries today for a few hours.

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."

I realized if I apply my time, besides running a country, I could get in my stitching! I have this lovely embroidery that I plan on making into a quilt with some red toile of women doing outdoor chores.

At naptime I was able to begin a lesson. Number 1 thread the needle the first time!! I see a sampler in the next couple of weeks! This was all inspired by the granny-along! I think I will be rotating the embroidery with a traditional granny square afgan.

All the Beautiful Flowers

The past couple of weekends we have been planting Raspberry plants. Digging in the sandy soil is not difficult, but it is still good work!! The little ones were digging in the old garden spot and filling it with water, making mini ponds about 1.5 feet by 5 or 6 feet. Their white socks were no more, but were as dark as the soil. I think it was last week; we finished putting in more fruit trees. It’ll be nice to pick our own fruit…like last year’s pears!! The pear is already flowering as well as the apple and cherry trees. It's beautiful. I hope we can put in some regular garden vegetables. Last year we had so many cherry tomatoes...I should have made lotsa salsa. Maybe this year, with onions and garlic and peppers!! These are the end of the season berries last August.

Mmmmm...Homecookin'

Breakfast was slightly, but pleasantly different. Making Eggs 'n' Toast every morning can get monotonous. I included leftover-leftovers! :) For dinner last night I took leftover mashed potatoes and put them with a hamburger gravy. (Carrots, celery, onions, garlic, salt and a bit of parsley saute in a white sauce and added to the cooked hamburger.) It was yummy!! This morning I took the leftover gravy and put it with biscuits and had eggs on the side. Gingermon (just ground cinnamon and ginger) and honey on the biscuits!! I usually make a chicken potpie with leftover mashed potatoes.

I have, now, some Nutty Bread rising (I put every nut and seed in it) and I need to make another batch of just Oatmeal Bread.

Pumpkin, Sunflower, Millet, Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, Sesame, Ground Flax, Oats. With Cinnamon, Ginger and Nutmeg.

I hope to also make my scrumptious Chocolate Cake.

Chocolate

It's cold again and might snow. The aromas of a newly baked chocolate cake are in the air.

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)

3/4 cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup milk

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry blender. (You can beat the batter like other cakes, I just found that this saves extra dishes.) Add liquid ingredients and stir until well blended. Put in a GREASED 15x10x2 or just try something new and fill any pan 1/2 to 3/4 full and adjust bake time. Bake at 350 F for 20 mins. When it pulls from the side of the pan...it should be done. Rotate this with Pumkin Bread, Banana Bread and Cookies for easy, fast, warm desserts that are perfect with a cup of tea!

It has a mild flavor, not rich...*taking another bite*...this is enough sweet for me. If I should make it any sweeter, the honey will change the texture, consistency and baking times.

Read to Me

I didn't realize the awe that children have for a good story. I've read plenty, including Green Eggs and Ham, but the fascination and questions of intrigue that followed after reading several chapters in Little House in the Big Woods amazed me! I am so happy to see them listen and watch their faces as their minds paint pictures. I am looking forward to story time now, which happens to be several times during the day. :)

Another backyard pic from the last snow we got that drifted to 3 or 4 feet. (drifts not shown, but on standby)

With the change in weather, I put on my wool leg warmers (the arms of a favourite sweater I shrunk) and turned on the oven. I made a batch of whole wheat bread, tried putting pumpkin bread in a muffin pan and round cake pan (I was able to shave off the top burned layer and turn it over for a perfect top!) and made a beef and potato stew for dinner.

April Showers

As I sit down with my tea, the sun comes through the clouds and makes the room brighter than the light bulbs. (A truly odd occurrence, since the windows are north facing) The tea is chamomile, fennel, spearmint, ginger, red raspberry leaf and nettle. It tastes pretty much like newly mowed yard, but it helps with a myriad of things!! I could add abit of honey and/or lemon juice or peel, but that's just an extra step.
If you need a tea to help you go to sleep or just extremely relax, Lavender is perfect! Don't have it during the day unless seriously stressed. I had trouble staying awake yesterday. The first time I had it I was so calm and turned into Perfect Mama: so very soft spoken.

DinnerTime

I will be, if I remember, posting my meals. It'll be the start...of something beautiful...I mean, the menu planner with pics and possible recipes. There is no sugar, no white flour, no processed products allowed. I am only writing now because I haven't thought of anything to make yet.

This Chicken Pot Pie/Shepherd's Pie is probably what I'll be making. Now what am I going to do with those beans...?

The name says it all.

Bella: Italian for beautiful

Mama: Universal for the best

Prairie: Where I live (mainstreet is just 10 steps away, just past the old oak)

Life: Still not sure, but learning to deal with it every day

The picture is out my back deck around 6 a.m. one day about a year ago-I think.

Can you hear me??!!

I am typing my very first blog!! ...I am getting my first writer's block, I'm sure I'll soon recover. Until then, ciao.