It's actually working!

Ya'll. The 30 Day Shred is actually working. No, I don't know how much (if any) weight I've actually lost, but...

...I can run up a slope of my yard without huffing and puffing and feeling like I'm going to die!

So for all of ya'll out there that are wondering...it works! I was inspired before to do this DVD, but now that I have experienced the results, I am doubly excited to see this through! Yay!

Oh, why was I running up the slope? My brother came over yesterday to help me plant trees. He wanted to do the actual planting, but first we had to dig holes. Boy, wish I knew how he could dig a hole. I would have recruited him last week. :)

Thanks again, bro.


Anyway...I was running up to the faucet to get some water for one of the trees. I noticed that the effort wasn't much of a strain and I wasn't even breathing hard! Yay for me!

So, don't give up "Getting Shredded" ladies.


Until next time...

Chocolate Friday - Chocolate for Breakfast

Well, it's Friday and that means chocolate. Actually, pretty much any day means chocolate. But this is the day you get to find lots of recipes that have chocolate in them. Get ready! Set! And Go! - over to Lisa's at Stop and Smell the Chocolates.

That was breakfast yesterday morning at our house. Yes, my oldest asked what was for breakfast...I mentioned oatmeal...she asked if she could make a cake...I said sure why not. And there you have it. Our "healthy" breakfast. The frosting was homemade. 2 - 8 oz blocks of cream cheese, 2 cups powdered sugar...mixed together and instant frosting. Yummy-yum-yum! A great way to start the day!


Until next time...

8's Great (something I've never done before)

8's Great

Ok, Lisa from Stop and Smell the Chocolates tagged me for this. I've never actually done this before so here goes:

8 Things I Look Forward To

1. Losing weight with JM 30 Day Shred
2. Harvesting our orchard in a couple of years
3. Having another birthday bash for the kids this summer
4. Visiting the Creation Museum in KY
5. Blogging
6. Chocolate anytime
7. Re-vamping an RV
8. Having another baby IF the LORD gives us another one

8 Things I Did Yesterday

1. Level one of the 30 DS
2. Blogged
3. Read other blogs
4. Prayed
5. Memory verses
6. Worked on my roses
7. Worked with the kids
8. Played with the kids

8 Things I Wish I Could Do

1. Lose weight quickly!
2. Visit Montana
3. Read all the books on my wishlist
4. Visit Lancaster County, PA
5. Be more consistent with Bible reading
6. Keep the house clean
7. Visit my family in OK and TX
8. Visit Australia

8 Shows I Watch
I don't watch TV so I'll list some shows/movies I've watched on DVD lately

1. Fireproof
2. Facing the Giants
3. 18 Kids and Counting
4. Come What May
5. Faith Like Potatoes
6. Straight From the Heart
7. The Black Stallion
8. Top Ten Questions about Genesis and Creation with Ken Ham

8 Bloggers Tagged

1. Arlene from Ever Joyful
2. That Crazy Goat Woman from Just Kiddin' Around
3. Tanya from The Test of a Teacher
4. Mikki from The View From My Beach Chair
5. Scott from Scott & Leisa Rogers & Family
6. Kimberly from Raising Olives
7. Rachel from Musings of a Future Pastor's Wife
8. Mama Belle from The Bayou Belles and Their Beau

If you've already been tagged for this or just don't want to do it, that's fine. If you do it, let me know so I can go read yours.



Until next time...

15/52 photos of me

Carin's challenge: 52 photos of mom, once a week, in front of the camera. Go for it!

Here's me again:



I always have fun trying to get a pic with this one. She's a character.

Now it's your turn. Go to Carin's and link up your own picture. It's not too late to join!

Until next time...

Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

I know several of you out there have gardens. We started one and are still working on it. We'll have (hopefully) corn, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, zucchini, cantaloupe, and I can't remember if there's anything else. But the big thing is...

see this?



and this:



and this:



The first picture is a line of stakes marking the spot for fruit trees. The next is a picture of one of the actual trees. The third is the bottom of the yard where several other stakes are located. They don't show up well because they are green.

We are embarking on an adventure. A small orchard in our large yard. The bare spot in the 3rd picture is our vegetable garden. We had already started that when the orchard idea came. I wanted a few trees and bushes. My husband went all out. We'll put the berry bushes in the back of the house. We don't have those yet.

I also have "frivolous" flowers. I say "frivolous" because they don't produce useful, edible fruit. At least, I don't think they do. I know you can use rose hips in tea, but that's about the extent of my knowledge on that.

One of my rose bushes:



This one had a couple of yellow roses right after I got it. Then I transplanted it from the pot to the ground. Nothing so far. I'm guessing it has to adjust to it's new location.

Some of my fellow gardners:







the merely observers (well, they helped a little :))








Oh and our little miracle when we cut down the dead tree (pictured above with the kids climbing on it):



Can you see the little fruit tree right next to the dead, cut-down tree? There was another one on the other side but the picture is not too good. Ah, I'll let you see it anyway. What's another picture?



Now don't worry if you don't see the tree in this pic. Like I said it's hard to see. I can barely see it and I took the picture! If you look really close, right above the mulch is a white tag. You can kind of follow the "stick" attached to it and see that it passed straight through the branches. Such a blessing!

Well, that's my garden and orchard adventures for the past week. We are still waiting more trees and berry bushes, plus some vegetable seeds. This is turning into a great homeschooling project. (We kind of just go all year).

The final project will include:
1 medium size vegetable garden
1 small melon garden
1 patch of 12 berry bushes in the back (1 blackberry, 2 blueberry, 3 red raspberry, 3 yellow raspberry, and 3 black raspberry)
1 small orchard (Standard trees: 4 Red Jonathan Apple, 4 Granny Smith Apple, 2 Red Delicious Apple, 2 Yellow Transparent Apple, 3 Stanley Plum, 4 Bartlett Pear, 2 Red Haven Peach, 2 Hale Haven Peach, 2 Elberta Peach, 2 Early Richmond Cherry, 2 Black Tartarian Cherry, Dwarf trees: 3 Yellow Delicious Apple, 3 Red Delicious Apple, 3 Elberta Peach, 3 Kieffer Pear, 3 North Star Cherry, 3 Nectarine, and 2 Sugar Sweet Cherry bushes) a grand total of 49 trees, bushes!
I also have to find a spot for 2 pecan trees, 1 almond tree, 2 weeping willows, and 1 Scarlet Red Maple.

That is not including the misc. roses and flowers I've also gotten.

Whew! Now you know why I've been busy lately. So, anyone else have gardens and/or fruit trees to tell about?

Until next time...

Creation or Evolution?

Probably most of my readers will agree that we were created. But do you know how to answer the questions asked by others that don't believe? Or that don't know what to believe?


There are two really good speakers that I enjoy listening to on the topic of Creation. One is Kent Hovind. Yeah, I know all the hoopla surrounding him and his arrest. But that doesn't mean he has very valid points on Creation. Another is Ken Ham.




I recently received a free DVD from Vision Forum. It's called Top Ten Questions About Genesis and Creation. It features Ken Ham. Now Kent Hovind is very knowledgeable and he's had many debates on Creation vs Evolution. We like watching his seminars and he's really very funny. However, some people can't take his brand of humor. He is a bit sarcastic. If you like the information, but not the personality, I suggest Ken Ham. I like both approaches. Ken Ham is from Australia and the accent is enough to keep me listening. Seriously, though, he has a lot of information and all very interesting. (And this from a person who barely tolerated science in high school). I especially like the conversation he repeats between him and a 6 year old. "Mr. Ham, who made God?" I don't remember the exact response from Mr. Ham, but the conversation ends up with him saying there would have to be a bigger, bigger, bigger, bigger, bigger God to create the bigger, bigger, bigger, bigger God to create the bigger, bigger, bigger God to create the bigger, bigger God to create the bigger God, to create God. See what I mean? Subtle humor. It's great video to watch. It says it's 59 minutes long, but it doesn't seem that way. I wanted to learn more and was actually disappointed when it was over. We have more of his DVDs, and this one from Vision Forum was a pleasant watch.

Now, if you don't have a whole hour to devote to watching about Creation, here's a link to get your Creation fix. It's called Creation Minute with Eric Hovind. This is Kent Hovind's son. He gets the job done without the sarcasm of his father. :)



So, if you are looking for answers to those questions about Creation. Look no farther. Get either of these DVDs or watch Creation Minute with Eric Hovind. You'll get your answers.



Until next time...

Chocolate Friday - Dirt Cake

Lisa has had a yummy week over at her spot in bloggy world; Stop and Smell the Chocolates. It's been all about cake. And today is the topper, the icing on the cake so to speak. Chocolate Cake!! Does it get any better than that? So without farther ado, here is my contribution to this sweet week.

Dirt Cake (trust me it's good)

Ingredients:
chocolate cake mix, whichever one you like best; I get the one that looks the closest to black as possible. I can't remember the kind right now.
2 boxes chocolate pudding
milk (according to directions on pudding boxes)
1 regular tub cool whip, softened
1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 package oreo cookies or equivalent
optional: brand new, clean flower pot, gummi worms, fake flowers, plastic toy insects.

Bake the cake according to instructions on box. While the cake is baking mix together the pudding; again, according to the instructions. Add cool whip. Mix together cream cheese and powdered sugar, then add that to pudding mixture. Grind oreo cookies in the blender. After cake is done and cooled so that you can handle it, layer in pan, bowl, or flower pot: cake, pudding mix, oreos. Make a couple of layers. You can layer the worms in with it or put them on top. Add the flowers and insects on top for decoration. This is a neat and fun cake for kids to make. And it fits right in with summer and things growing.



Now go check out Lisa's place and find more chocolate cake recipes and other cake recipes. I'm telling you, this week, Lisa's was the place to get your sugar high. Sweet!

Until next time...

14/52 photos of me

Well, it's that time again. Carin from Forever in Blue Jeans has issued the challenge. I've accepted. Here's my picture:


*sigh* Sad, I know. I've been pretty busy this week and Thursday was here before I knew it. I had to sneak in a pic with my sleeping baby. Well, at least it's adorable. He is. Not me.

Can you tell I'm aching? My muscles are screaming at me. I'd rather they give me the silent treatment. I'm hurting in places I'd forgotten I had muscles. Just so you know, the last time I was in good shape was back in the Air Force. That was in the last decade. Hey, for that matter, that was in the last century! 1995-1997 to be exact. So, I've got a lot of time to make up for.

But, thanks for all the encouragement from you other suckers out there. :) You know what I mean. Honestly, who in their right, ever-lovin' mind would voluntarily let someone bully them into inflicting pain upon themself? Yeah, me. Well, at least I get to kick myself in the butt and not let someone else do it. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go watch this, this, and this. And that's just level one. Yeah, I thought so, too. No, actually, I have no idea what you're thinking. Duh!

Can you tell I'm in a mood? Ok. Well, I'm stopping now. Sheesh!

So, to see some more moms who are usually hiding out behind the camera, go visit Carin.


Until next time...

Blueberry Cake for Lisa's Cake Week

Hey, remember Lisa is having a Cake Week over at Stop and Smell the Chocolates? Well, today is the day you go over and link up a cake or cupcake recipe. And get some more great recipes. Hey, I need all the dessert recipes I can get. If I don't make it through the 30 Day Shred, at least I can have someone smuggle in some cake to me on my death bed. It might even revive me. Well, a gal can hope anyway.

So here's my cake recipe: (sorry I don't have a picture)

Blueberry Cake

Ingredients
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter at room temp.
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp gated lemon rind/peel
2 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
Blueberry filling (see recipe below)
Topping (also below)

Stir together flour, baking powder, and soda. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, at medium speed, thoroughly butter, sugar, vanilla, and lemon peel. Beat in eggs one at a time, then sour cream. At low speed gradually beat in the flour mixture until blended.

Turn about 1/3 of the batter into a greased and floured 9 inch tube pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the Blueberry Filling. Repeat layers. Spread with remaining batter. Sprinkle with topping.

Bake on the rack below the center in a preheated 350 degree oven until cake tester comes out free of batter, about 50 minutes. Loosen edges and around the tube and turn out on rack; cool completely. Invert on a cake platter.

Blueberry Filling:
2 Tbsp sugar
1 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped medium fine

Topping:
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

This makes a good breakfast. :)

Enjoy your cake. For me.

Until next time...

30 Day Shred that everyone loves - NOT!!!

So. I've succumbed. Yep, that's right folks. I have invested in *gasp* the 30 Day Shred. Oh, yeah, you read that right. Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. 'Shred' is right. I feel like every muscle in my body has been shredded. I'm on day 2. I'll be sure and update ya'll - if I can still function, that is.

Until next time...(if I live thru it)

Cake Week at Lisa's

Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolates is having a Cake Week this week. Go over and visit her and get some great cake recipes.

She's also got giveaways!

So this week you can have your cake and eat it too! Check it out!


Until next time...

Chocolate Friday - 4 Layer Dessert plus more!

My week has been full of chocolate. Full! I tell ya'! It all started with Mother's Day. I went to visit my mom and she had a dessert she had made earlier in the week. She had a little left over and we finished it off, then my oldest made another pan of it. There was about half left over from that one. We took it home and ate it the next morning for breakfast. :) I didn't get a picture of it (bad me), but I do have the recipe. It's from my aunt, and I don't know where she got it from or if she just made it up. It does not have to be baked for very long at all, how 'cool' is that? (pun totally intended there) Great for the upcoming summer months. You can actually bake the crust in the morning before it gets hot and it will be ready for the rest later. Here goes:

Four Layer Dessert

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup pecans, chopped finely
1 stick butter
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 large tub cool whip
2 boxes instant pudding, chocolate fudge flavor
3 cups milk

Directions:
1st layer: melt butter, mix with flour and pecans
press into 9X13 pan and bake on 350 for 18 minutes
let cool
2nd layer: blend cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 cup of cool whip until creamy
spread on the cooled crust
3rd layer: blend pudding and 3 cups of milk until thick
spread on top of 2nd layer
4th layer: cover with the remaining cool whip

Let it set for about an hour before eating...if you can!
Number of servings: Depends on how well you like it...several.
Prep time: 30 minutes

So, that's the yummy dessert that started all this madness. It went on to include this:



And this:


Then, Wednesday my two-year-old turned 3. We had this:



and this:



aaand this:


Yes, that is chocolate cheesecake. I had the one that was all chocolate.

And the birthday boy got a small cake all his own:


He had to finish it off the next morning, too.

Just so you know, I usually bake their birthday cakes. This time, my dear husband offered to pick one up on the way home. I was all for that if it didn't mean I had to crank the oven up. That way I got cheesecake, too. :) Yay for me!

And every day I eat one piece of this:

It's hard, but I limit myself to just one piece.

So that's why my week was FULL of chocolate. How was yours?

Head over to Lisa's at Stop and Smell the Chocolates and find more chocolate-y recipes.




Until next time...

13/52 photos of me

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!
**************************************

The above taken from Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans.

And now, my submission for this week.


Just keepin' it real, folks.


Until next time...

Tomorrow last day for Vision Forum sale

If you missed my giveaway on a new DVD from Vision Forum don't despair, you still have another day to get these newly released DVDs at an incredible price. But tomorrow is the last day for this sale so go check them out!
Go here for the great deal!

Until next time...