Thursday's Happenings

I'm trying to stay in the habit of posting, so I thought I'd post some of the day's happenings...

We had a busy morning at home, just enjoying our time. Seems like we've had someplace to be every day this past week, and it's nice just to relax a little bit.

After lunch, we took #1 to work, and ran a few errands before heading home. Picked up a pair of flip-flops for a mom's party I'm going to on Saturday, then went to Walgreens. They had a huge bunch of grocery items on clearance, and I got some things for our trip to Iowa. After our $40 shopping trip (yikes), I filled up the van (YIKES). Well, I didn't fill it... the pumps cut off at $75, and to be really honest, I didn't even look to see where the gas gauge fell after starting the van.

When we got home, the girls played in the basement, and I did a little sewing. I used a couple of curtain panels that were given to me, and made a bag for groceries. All of our local stores are selling re-usable cloth grocery bags, and I thought with all of the fabric I have available, it would be great to use it on grocery bags. I'll post a picture soon. The girls all want one for themselves. Thought I might try to get a bag done for each of them to take on our vacation.

Well, I need to pick up #1 from work, and we have a busy evening. Kids are going to a homeschool social, and DH & the younger sibs & I are going to grab a bite to eat and run a couple of errands on the way home.

D

This Week's Greatest Deal (so far...)

Last night, #1 son had a half-hour guitar lesson, so our family loaded up and went to Target. We were planning on purchasing a rolling ice chest we had seen on a clearance rack the week before. There were approximately 8 coolers on the shelf when we had seen them the first time, so we weren't worried about them being gone.

Well, we rounded the corner of the aisle they were on before, and it was bare. Nothing. Nada. No $29.99 ice chests marked down to $20.00. My heart sank, and I couldn't help but be a little perturbed at DH and his quest for the best deal in town. I took a deep breath, and walked further down to where the regular ice chests were. DH was still searching, thinking maybe they had moved the summer clearance stuff further back. I spied (on the very top shelf) four rolling wheels, and a square ice chest on its backside. It looked a little out of place, as I'm sure I did, trying to reach it being 7 months pregnant. When I got a look at the sticker, I knew it was the ice chest we had seen the week before. Cynthia Rowley for Target Summer 60 qt. rolling Igloo Cooler (Originally $29.99 - or did I mention that before?) Well, we didn't see a clearance sticker on it, but took it to a price checker, and you won't believe what we saw.... $7.49!!!!!!!

I was in disbelief. I scanned it again to make sure it wasn't some mistake. We are the proud owners of a new ice chest. Total with tax: $8.12. If I wasn't so wiped out from all of the excitement, I would post a picture.

D

How long has it been?

I've been thinking about starting a new blog lately, but decided just to start blogging on this one instead. We'll see how it goes, and if I keep it up, maybe my reward will be a fancier new blog.

I've been reading several blogs, and some have links where you can share your menu or maybe a kitchen tip, and I've wanted to participate, so I may give that a try too! Boy wouldn't that be something, being able to add a link!? For someone as non-techno-savvy as me, it would be a real accomplishment.

To say our family has been busy lately would be an understatement. This summer, #1 turned 13, and started a volunteer job, and we've been busy with his schedule. We are expecting a new baby in our family ("Cinco"), in August, and mom's energy level is not what it used to be. It seems to be all I can do just to keep bread available, dinner on the table, and groceries in the house. We are trying to be more aware of our driving, so I consolidate most of my errands on the days #1 has to work. This means a couple of days a week I actually stay home. Today was one of those days. I've worked on my sewing room, trying to get some things organized, but it's hard to see any progress.

Today I baked four loaves of bread, breakfast bars for DH's lunch, and cleaned. Dinner tonight will probably be chicken spaghetti. It's rainy outside, and that sounds like a good dinner choice. I'll probably use Pioneer Woman's recipe and have an extra casserole for the freezer. That will be very handy when the baby comes.

Dianne

What I baked today...

This morning, we woke up late for church, so it was a cold cereal morning. After returning from church (late) we grilled carne asada tacos and I made two dozen whole wheat tortillas to go with lunch. By the time lunch was eaten and put away, it was 3:00pm. I worked for a little while on a project for my geography class, then we went to kids choir. Dinner was homemade waffles, with butter & syrup or powdered sugar. They taste like funnel cakes! My kitchen looks like a tornado hit it!! I joked several times that I was probably the only crazy woman from my church that came home and rolled out two dozen homemade whole wheat tortillas. Bet everyone who ate out has a clean kitchen. But what they don't have is homemade whole wheat tortillas leftover for tomorrow.

Also, our okra crop came in today. One pod. It's a nice one though. Still can't decide whether to boil it or fry it.

D

Long time, no blog...

Well, I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. So much has happened. We went on a great summer vacation, school has started, my baking has started again as well. Most of my summer was spent avoiding cooking -- if at all possible. Now that the weather has turned cooler, I am back to baking. I had planned on doing a breadbaking tutorial, but my mill was acting up. After sending it to be repaired, I have been baking a couple of times a week. Maybe sometime next week, I'll take some pictures during the process.

BTW, To follow up the last post - we brought in our old microwave from the camper after about two months. It wasn't unbearable to live without one. We just had to plan a little better. Heating leftovers in a steam basket was quite the experience - and warming anything dirtied twice the dishes. Since I do most of the dishwashing around here, I caved, and we brought in our $29 e-wave - it has two dials... very fancy.

We're taking a field trip on Monday to the State Fair. I'm sure I'll post about that next week.
Dianne

Ode to Convenience Lost

Oh, how I'll miss your powerful ways,
The convenience of cooking with microwave rays.
You took up much of my counter-space,
Whatever will I put there in your place?
This morning when you sparked, I could have cried,
I knew right then that you were fried.
So now, a more efficient planner I must be,
No last minute defrosting for me.


My microwave bit the dust this morning at 6:45. Right in the middle of finishing dh's breakfast. I penned the poem not long after. I'm accepting the death of my microwave as a challenge to see how long I can live without one. I didn't use it for cooking very often, mostly bacon, defrosting meat, and softening butter for baking. The top 5 things I'll miss about my microwave are: 1. softening butter, 2. cooking bacon, 3. defrosting meat, 4. cooking frozen & fresh veggies, 5. melting butter for popcorn. Aside from the fresh/frozen veggies, sounds like I could do without the rest - we're eating too much bacon and butter anyways.

Cut #1 daughters hair today... 6 inches off. She is very happy with it, and I must admit, I did a pretty good job. I'll try to post a pic soon.

We had 47 people over for dinner Sunday evening. Grilled burgers and hot dogs, and everyone brought buns & chips. We had so much fun getting to see friends we haven't seen in a while. We've had company every day for over a week now.

Well, we've got one more day of VBS. It has been fun, but the kids are worn out. Glad it's over tomorrow.

Upcoming Bread Tutorial

I've been pretty busy at home lately, but in July (after our vacation), I plan on posting a step-by-step breadbaking tutorial. My aunt wanted my bread recipe at a family reunion over the weekend, and I thought it would be a fun way to show her how to do it. This is the aunt that when I told her I had a blog, she said "I'm sorry, I think maybe a laxative would take care of that."

Baking bread causes me to slow down and prioritize. I really enjoy turning out a finished product. With housework and child-rearing, there are many days that your work seems fruitless. Dishes just get dirty again, floors don't stay clean for more than a few minutes, and there are always meals to fix, laundry to wash, and someone around my house is always hungry. When I bake, there's something to show for my efforts. Plus, the real payoff is in knowing that my family is eating healthy fresh 100% whole wheat bread - and it tastes great!