Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Fall Fruits Festival - Pumpkin




Today is Tuesday. Day two of Lisa's Fall Fruits Festival. And today's fruit is...pumpkin. I guess most people only think of carving a pumpkin around this time of year. Or pumpkin pie. Here's a little something different for the pumpkin in your life. :)


Pumpkin Cheesecake Deluxe



Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
  • 32 gingersnap cookies, coarsely crushed
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • FILLING:
  • 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1-1/2 cups canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • Sweetened whipped cream, optional
  • Pecan brittle, optional

Directions

  • Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil; securely wrap foil around pan. Place pecans in a food processor; cover and process until ground. Add gingersnaps, brown sugar and butter; cover and pulse until blended. Press onto the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of prepared pan; set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin, cream, syrup, vanilla and spices. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan.
  • Bake at 325° for 60-70 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove pan from water bath. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Chill overnight.
  • Remove sides of pan. Garnish with whipped cream and pecan brittle if desired. Yield: 12 servings.


Well, double the yum in this one. :) Don't forget to go check out what Lisa has linked up.


Until next time...

Monday, October 12, 2009

a little help here, please

The problem is fixed. See? Thanks for the suggestions. A special thanks to Nana who took it, fixed it, and let me just copy what she fixed. Thanks again, Nana. :)


Ok, see the new header? Why is that paint palette behind it? The only way I could get text on the header was to open it in paint on my computer. It put that annoying thing behind my header every time. I do not like it. Does anyone know how to fix it? Or know of another program that will put text on the header?

I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks.

Until next time...

Fall Fruits Festival - Pears





Today starts Lisa's (over at Stop and Smell the Chocolates) Fall Fruits Festival. (Lisa usually has some tasty ideas up her sleeve). Go see what it's all about, find some new recipes, and link up your own. She also has giveaways this week to go along with the fall-like festivities. I highly suggest you visit her blog.

The first fruit in the festival is pears. Yum.


Raspberry-Pear Tart



Ingredients

  • 1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup cold butter
  • 1/3 cup chopped macadamia nuts
  • FILLING:
  • 3 medium pears, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
  • TOPPING:
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • 1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 1/3 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Directions

  • In a small bowl, combine flour and sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in nuts. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 11-in. fluted tart pan with removable bottom.
  • In a large bowl, combine the pears, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and lemon peel. Add raspberries; toss gently. Pour into crust. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes.
  • For topping, in a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and lemon peel; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in nuts. Sprinkle over filling.
  • Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until filling is bubbly and topping is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 12-16 servings.

Like I said...yummy. In fact, I think you're in for a delicious week.

Until next time...

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday Funnies - Farm kid turned Marine




Kim has some funnies on Fridays and others link up to her too. After this, go over and visit her for more laughs.

FROM A FARM KID,
NOW AT SAN DIEGO MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT.

Dear Ma and Pa:

I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minh by a mile.

Tell them to join up quick before maybe all of the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m., but am getting so I like to sleep late.

Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay.Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water.

Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc, but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food plus yours holds you till noon when you get fed again.

It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route marches", which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home.

Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks. The country is nice but awful flat.

The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot.

The Capt. is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it You don't even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.

Then we have what they call hand-to hand combat training.

You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home. I'm about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake. I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds, and he's 6'8" and weighs near 300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your loving daughter,

Gail.


Yeah, I know, I laughed too. You're supposed too! lol


Until next time...

Chocolate Friday - Frosted Cocoa Cookies


I love Fridays...for the chocolate. Of course, right now, it's totally torture since I can't have the stuff! Aaahhhrrrrggggg...the agony of it all!

Well, whatever. I'll share a recipe with you regardless. And after you get this one, go over to Lisa's and see what she has and what others have linked up.



Frosted Cocoa Cookies

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup baking cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1/3 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup baking soda
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 to 4 teaspoons milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa; gradually add to cream mixture and mix well.

Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place two inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 13-16 minutes, or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.

For frosting, in a small mixing bowl, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, cocoa, and extract. Add enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle over cookies.

Eat and enjoy. ('Cause I sure can't). :)

Until next time...

Thursday, October 8, 2009

28 of 52 photos of me

Forever In Blue Jeans

I'm sure you'll forgive me for not putting a photo on here last Thursday, considering what was happening. If you don't know, go back and read previous posts.

Anyway, Carin has issued a challenge for moms to get in front of the camera at least once a week for a year. Mine is kind of sporadic, but I hope to get 52 pictures taken. Here's number 28 for me.

You want to know why I look so sad? It's because I can't eat that stuff! That's right, you heard me, I can't eat chocolate right now. I'm deprived! I'm suffering, I tell ya'!

But it's my own fault. I decided to do a cleanse and I can't have any delicious, yummy, mouth-watering chocolate until late December.

Yeah, you know what I want for Christmas this year, don't you?


Until next time...

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Out with the old, in with the new

At some friends' house.


The baby...I use the term loosely since he is already walking and over a year old...is getting a bed upgrade.

He's moving out of this...


Into this...

He's still in our room. When he's used to this bed, we plan to put him in the boys' room. It might be a while, but that's our goal.

Until next time...

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

"...blessed be the name of the Lord."

"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
~ Job 1: 20-21

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I wrote about my miscarriage in a previous post. Well, it wasn't over. The hospital told me to come back if I had more problems like I had that brought me in. I did. Sunday afternoon we went again; this time by van because I knew as soon as it started what I needed to do. We got there around 4:30 or so. Later that night they decided I needed a D&C. Thankfully, the OB doc that was on call was one I would have picked if given the choice. (The same one was the one on call Thursday night and I already had a follow-up appointment scheduled with him). The D&C took place around 1 a.m. Monday morning (long night) and I was discharged by 3 a.m. A first for me; I've never had a surgery where I had to be put to sleep before. It was definitely a different experience. But all went well and I have a different follow-up appointment in two weeks.

So, why the verses, you ask? Some people may find it odd that I'm not totally tore up about this loss. Yes, we wanted this baby. But God gives peace in the midst of pain. I know where this child is. At least I'm pretty sure. Remember David? If you're not familiar with the story I'm referring to, read 2 Samuel 12, especially verses 15-23.

I'm to give thanks in everything. It is the will of God.

Yes, it may be hard at first. I felt guilty thinking if I had done this or this, nothing would have happened. But you see, I'm not the one in control. God is.

I cried. I mourned. But I didn't fall apart. Because God is in control and I'm to give thanks.

I'm thankful for the short amount of time the Lord loaned this baby to us. I'm thankful for the EMT guys that came. I'm thankful for the ER docs and nurses. I'm thankful for a Christian OB that is not afraid to ask if he can pray over me before surgery. That was such a blessing.

I'm thankful for everything that happened, because that was the will of God.

Thank you all for praying for me and for your comments. I do appreciate them.

And I promise, the next post will be a bit more lighthearted. :)

Until next time...

Friday, October 2, 2009

Friday Funnies - World History according to students


CAUTION: Please refrain from eating or drinking while reading this article. I can't be responsible for food or liquid spewed or snorted from your mouth and nose if you start laughing uncontrollably while reading this. Misspelled words and other mistakes are intentional.

The History of the World according to students
Richard Lederer , St. Paul's School
One of the fringe benefits of being an English or History teacher is receiving the occasional jewel of a student blooper in an essay. I have pasted together the following "history" of the world from certifiably genuine student bloopers collected by teachers throughout the United States, from eighth grade through college level. Read carefully, and you will learn a lot.
The inhabitants of Egypt were called mummies. They lived in the Sarah Dessert and traveled by Camelot. The climate of the Sarah is such that the inhabitants have to live elsewhere, so certain areas of the dessert are cultivated by irritation. The Egyptians built the Pyramids in the shape of a huge triangular cube. The Pyramids are a range of mountains between France and Spain.
The Bible is full of interesting caricatures. In the first book of the Bible, Guinesses, Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. One of their children, Cain, asked "Am I my brother's son?" God asked Abraham to sacrifice Issac on Mount Montezuma. Jacob, son of Issac, stole his brother's birthmark. Jacob was a partiarch who brought up his twelve sons to be partiarchs, but they did not take to it. One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, gave refuse to the Israelites.
Pharaoh forced the Hebrew slaves to make bread without straw. Moses led them to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandments. David was a Hebrew king skilled at playing the liar. He fought with the Philatelists, a race of people who lived in Biblical times. Solomon, one of David's sons, had 500 wives and 500 porcupines.
Without the Greeks, we wouldn't have history. The Greeks invented three kinds of columns - Corinthian, Doric and Ironic. They also had myths. A myth is a female moth. One myth says that the mother of Achilles dipped him in the River Stynx until he became intolerable. Achilles appears in "The Illiad", by Homer. Homer also wrote the "Oddity", in which Penelope was the last hardship that Ulysses endured on his journey. Actually, Homer was not written by Homer but by another man of that name.
Socrates was a famous Greek teacher who went around giving people advice. They killed him. Socrates died from an overdose of wedlock.
In the Olympic Games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled the biscuits, and threw the java. The reward to the victor was a coral wreath. The government of Athen was democratic because the people took the law into their own hands. There were no wars in Greece, as the mountains were so high that they couldn't climb over to see what their neighbors were doing. When they fought the Parisians, the Greeks were outnumbered because the Persians had more men.
Eventually, the Ramons conquered the Geeks. History call people Romans because they never stayed in one place for very long. At Roman banquets, the guests wore garlic in their hair. Julius Caesar extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The Ides of March killed him because they thought he was going to be made king. Nero was a cruel tyrany who would torture his poor subjects by playing the fiddle to them.
Then came the Middle Ages. King Alfred conquered the Dames, King Arthur lived in the Age of Shivery, King Harlod mustarded his troops before the Battle of Hastings, Joan of Arc was cannonized by George Bernard Shaw, and the victims of the Black Death grew boobs on their necks. Finally, the Magna Carta provided that no free man should be hanged twice for the same offense.
In midevil times most of the people were alliterate. The greatest writer of the time was Chaucer, who wrote many poems and verse and also wrote literature. Another tale tells of William Tell, who shot an arrow through an apple while standing on his son's head.
The Renaissance was an age in which more individuals felt the value of their human being. Martin Luther was nailed to the church door at Wittenberg for selling papal indulgences. He died a horrible death, being excommunicated by a bull. It was the painter Donatello's interest in the female nude that made him the father of the Renaissance. It was an age of great inventions and discoveries. Gutenberg invented the Bible. Sir Walter Raleigh is a historical figure because he invented cigarettes. Another important invention was the circulation of blood. Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a 100-foot clipper.
The government of England was a limited mockery. Henry VIII found walking difficult because he had an abbess on his knee. Queen Elizabeth was the "Virgin Queen." As a queen she was a success. When Elizabeth exposed herself before her troops, they all shouted "hurrah." Then her navy went out and defeated the Spanish Armadillo.
The greatest writer of the Renaissance was William Shakespear. Shakespear never made much money and is famous only because of his plays. He lived in Windsor with his merry wives, writing tragedies, comedies and errors. In one of Shakespear's famous plays, Hamlet rations out his situation by relieving himself in a long soliloquy. In another, Lady Macbeth tries to convince Mac- beth to kill the King by attacking his manhood. Romeo and Juliet are an example of a heroic couplet. Writing at the same time as Shakespear was Miquel Cervantes. He wrote "Donkey Hote". The next great author was John Milton. Milton wrote "Paradise Lost." Then his wife died and he wrote "Paradise Regained."
During the Renaissance America began. Christopher Columbus was a great navigator who discovered America while cursing about the Atlantic. His ships were called the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Fe. Later the Pilgrims crossed the Ocean, and the was called the Pilgrim's Progress. When they landed at Plymouth Rock, they were greeted by Indians, who came down the hill rolling their was hoops before them. The Indian squabs carried porpoises on their back. Many of the Indian heroes were killed, along with their cabooses, which proved very fatal to them. The winter of 1620 was a hard one for the settlers. Many people died and many babies were born. Captain John Smith was responsible for all this.
One of the causes of the Revolutionary Wars was the English put tacks in their tea. Also, the colonists would send their pacels through the post without stamps. During the War, Red Coats and Paul Revere was throwing balls over stone walls. The dogs were barking and the peacocks crowing. Finally, the colonists won the War and no longer had to pay for taxis.
Delegates from the original thirteen states formed the Contented Congress. Thomas Jefferson, a Virgin, and Benjamin Franklin were two singers of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin had gone to Boston carrying all his clothes in his pocket and a loaf of bread under each arm. He invented electricity by rubbing cats backwards and declared "a horse divided against itself cannot stand." Franklin died in 1790 and is still dead.
George Washington married Matha Curtis and in due time became the Father of Our Country. Them the Constitution of the United States was adopted to secure domestic hostility. Under the Constitution the people enjoyed the right to keep bare arms.
Abraham Lincoln became America's greatest Precedent. Lincoln's mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin which he built with his own hands. When Lincoln was President, he wore only a tall silk hat. He said, "In onion there is strength." Abraham Lincoln write the Gettysburg address while traveling from Washington to Gettysburg on the back of an envelope. He also signed the Emasculation Proclamation, and the Fourteenth Amendment gave the ex-Negroes citizenship. But the Clue Clux Clan would torcher and lynch the ex-Negroes and other innocent victims. On the night of April 14, 1865, Lincoln went to the theater and got shot in his seat by one of the actors in a moving picture show. The believed assinator was John Wilkes Booth, a supposedly insane actor. This ruined Booth's career.
Meanwhile in Europe, the enlightenment was a reasonable time. Voltare invented electricity and also wrote a book called "Candy". Gravity was invented by Issac Walton. It is chiefly noticeable in the Autumn, when the apples are falling off the trees.
Bach was the most famous composer in the world, and so was Handel. Handel was half German, half Italian and half English. He was very large. Bach died from 1750 to the present. Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf he wrote loud music. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this.
France was in a very serious state. The French Revolution was accomplished before it happened. The Marseillaise was the theme song of the French Revolution, and it catapulted into Napoleon. During the Napoleonic Wars, the crowned heads of Europe were trembling in their shoes. Then the Spanish gorillas came down from the hills and nipped at Napoleon's flanks. Napoleon became ill with bladder problems and was very tense and unrestrained. He wanted an heir to inherit his power, but since Josephine was a baroness, she couldn't bear him any children.
The sun never set on the British Empire because the British Empire is in the East and the sun sets in the West. Queen Victoria was the longest queen. She sat on a thorn for 63 years. Her reclining years and finally the end of her life were exemplatory of a great personality. Her death was the final event which ended her reign.
The nineteenth century was a time of many great inventions and thoughts. The invention of the steamboat caused a network of rivers to spring up. Cyrus McCormick invented the McCormick Raper, which did the work of a hundred men. Samuel Morse invented a code for telepathy. Louis Pastuer discovered a cure for rabbis. Charles Darwin was a naturailst who wrote the "Organ of the Species". Madman Curie discovered radium. And Karl Marx became one of the Marx Brothers.
The First World War, cause by the assignation of the Arch-Duck by a surf, ushered in a new error in the anals of human history.

I hope you enjoyed this. I always laugh when I read it. :)

For more humor go over to Kim's.

Until next time...

Crazy life

Want to know why I've not been on here lately? Busy, busy.

We have neighbor difficulties. They told us to put in our own driveway even though we've been sharing one for a year.

What makes that difficult is that my husband has not been working because he's been staying at home helping me. Why?

We just found out we were going to have another baby, only for me to start bleeding. Yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening in the ER due to the miscarriage. We ok with that. Trusting the Lord in everything. Even money. :)

Wow. So we've got a driveway to put in, a large hospital bill to pay (ambulances are so expensive), and we have already decided to move within the next 2 or 3 months (due to more problems with the neighbors than the driveway).

So all you ladies (and gents) out there who pray; pray for us. We need it.



Until next time...

Friday, September 25, 2009

Friday Funnies - Japanese product ads


In Japan, English words are "cool" - it doesn't even matter whether they make sense, which is why they're so funny. Here are some actual English phrases found on Japanese products.

On Fresh Brand Straws: Let's try homeparty fashionably and have a joyful chat with nice fellow. Fujinami's straw will produce you young party happily and exceedingly.

Warning on a toy box: A dangerous toy. This toy is being made for the extreme priority the good looks. The little part which suffocates when the sharp part which gets hurt is swallowed is contained generously.

On Koeda brand chocolate-covered pretzels: The sentimental taste is cozy for the heroines in the town.

On a fondue set: When all family members are seated around the table, dishes are all the more tasteful. If dishes are nice, the square ceiling becomes round.

Advertisement for a restaurant: No one really goes to Aqua Bar for the drinks, but we make sure our drinks won't kill you.

On a paper coffee cup: The Art of Hot. Side by side, I'll be yours forever. Because please don't weep.

Sign for Cafe Miami: We established a fine coffee. What everybody can say TASTY! It's fresh, so-mild. With some special coffee's bitter and sourtaste. "LET'S HAVE SUCH A COFFEE! NOW!" is our selling copy. Please love Cafe Miami.

On a coat label: Have a good time! Refreshed and foppish sense and comfortable and fesh styles will catch you who belong to city-groups. All the way.

On a package of prawn-flavored crackers: Once you have opened the packing it will be entirely impossible for you to suppress the desire to overcome such exciting challenge of your tongue. However, dodn't be disappointed with your repeated failure, you may continue with your habit.

In a Honda repair manual: No touching earth wire, fatal eventuarity may incur.

On a toothbrush box: Gives you strong mouth and refreshing wind!

On a package of bath salts: Humanity are fighting against tired. Charley support you.

On a washing machine: Push button. Foam coming plenty. Big Noise. Finish.

On the front of a datebook: Have a smell of panda droppings. This one is very fragrant.

On children's play microphone: Mom ma! Pap Pap! I and Lady Emplyees to play with it together!

On a photo developing envelope: Takes the thirst out of everyday time. A pure whiff of oxygen, painting over a monochrome world in primary colors. We all know that. It's why everyone loves fruit.

Since I lived in Japan for two years, I can say that this is true. It was fun sometimes just to walk around in a store or mall and read the English on their products. Fun times!

For more funnies, head on over to Kim's at Homesteader's Heart.

Until next time...

Chocolate Friday - Reese's history






In the early 1920s Harry Burnet Reese worked in one of the dairies owned by Milton Hershey. Inspired by Hershey's success, he decided "if Hershey can sell a trainload of chocolate everry day, I can at least make a living making candy." Reese struck out on his own and by the mid-1920s had an entire line of candies, including dinner mints, dipped chocolates, caramels, and coconut candies. In 1928 he added peanut butter cups; they were so popular that when World War II rationing put a dent in his business in 1942, he dumped the rest of his product line and focused exclusively on them. Today Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are part of Hershey Foods.
--copied from Uncle John's Supremely Satisfying Bathroom Reader

We love to make cookies with Reese's Peanut Butter Chips.

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups self-rising flour
1 package Reese's PB Chips

Cream together the sugar and butter. Add in eggs and vanilla. Then mix in the flour and last of all the PB chips. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly on a wire rack until they are ready to eat. We like to eat them still warm from the oven (but not hot). They are best eaten with a glass of ice-cold milk. Yum!!

For more yummy chocolate recipes, go visit Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolates.

added later: I just realized that my recipe doesn't have chocolate in it. Add in your favorite chocolate chips to make it chocolate-y. Double yum!!


Until next time...

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

who needs chips?

He skipped the chips and went straight for the salsa!


We like spicy food and they have to be accustomed to it, so we start them off young. Don't be alarmed...he loved it! Plus - it was mild.

lol...love that boy!!



Until next time...

Entering the fair



Entering Chili Pepper's fair. Click on the button to read about it.
My entries:
My two oldest daughters and I entered a couple of things each at the Tennessee Valley Fair this year. I won third and fourth prizes on my two entries.

My oldest daughter (11) won second prize on both of her entries.

My second daughter (9) won first and fourth on her entries.

I was so happy for them. I tried to help them not expect anything (to help if they didn't win) and I think they were actually surprised to see that they had won. Especially ribbons on both. I was totally shocked that I had won ribbons.

It encouraged us to enter again next year.

BTW...I was going to link up to the fair on the first day, but forgot to take pictures of our things. But we got them back in time...and with ribbons to boot!!

To see other entries in this Country Fair, go to Chili Pepper's blog here.





Until next time...

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Quiverfull

Some people who read my blog may or may not understand why we have "so many" children.

A fellow blogger has a well-written post explaining what you may have heard called "Quiverfull".

To put it in a nutshell, it's allowing God to control your fertility or lack thereof. We are open to any and all blessings the Lord sends us, in His timing. We believe His Way is best.

To read the post go here.

Until next time...

Friday, September 18, 2009

Friday Funnies - Looney Laws


Have you ever read some off-the-wall law? Well, here a few to lighten your day. And when you've read these, you can go find some more at this site; Totally Useless Knowledge.

It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church. (Alabama)

While it is legal to shoot bears, waking a sleeping bear for the purpose of taking a photograph is prohibited. (Alaska)

It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale. (California)

In Quitman, it is illegal for a chicken to cross a road. (Georgia) There goes the chicken/road jokes.

Boxes of candy given as romantic gifts must weigh more than 50 pounds. (Idaho) Now, that's what I'm talking about!

It is illegal to remarry the same man four times. (Kentucky)

It's illegal to tease skunks. (Minnesota)

While children may purchase shotguns in Kansas City, they are not allowed to buy toy cap guns. (Missouri)

In New York City, "It is disorderly conduct for one man to greet another on the street by placing the end of his thumb against the tip of his nose, at the same time extending and wiggling the fingers of his hand." (New York) lol!!

Also in Memphis, it is illegal for a woman to drive by herself; "a man must walk or run in front of the vehicle, waving a red flag in order to warn approaching pedestrians and motorists." (Tennessee)

It is illegal to deny the existence of God. (Vermont) Too bad that's not the case everywhere.

There are many more on the site. Just go check it out. Some are funny, some are just strange.

And for more humor, go check out Kim's site and everyone who linked up.

Enjoy!


Until next time...

Chocolate Friday - Hot Chocolate




It's Friday and time to link up with Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolates. She has some yummy recipes and ideas over at her site. So, after you've read this post, go over and visit her.

The weather is cooling off and it will officially be fall in a few days. That makes me think of...you guessed it...hot chocolate (or hot cocoa, however you prefer to say it).

I've made hot chocolate the old-fashioned way, but for some reason it was just to rich for me.

However, if that's your cup of tea (or chocolate as it were), here's a recipe for you.

Homemade old-fashioned hot chocolate recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces (2 squares) unsweetened chocolate
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 4 cups milk
  • pinch salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

Place chocolate, sugar, milk, and salt in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat, stirring, until chocolate melts and mixture is well blended.
Add vanilla; pour hot chocolate into cups.
Hot chocolate recipe serves 4.


Or if you're like me, you just grab a box of instant off the shelf at the grocery store.

Now, personally, I like to doctor mine up a bit. I love the International Delight brand of creamer. I don't really have a favorite (yet), but I sometimes like to try their limited edition flavors or holiday flavors.


A few that I will buy a second time are Southern Butter Pecan, English Almond Toffee, and Belgian White Chocolate Macadamia. Also Hazelnut and French Vanilla if I can't find the others. A new one that I would like to try is Vanilla Caramel Brownie.

If you've never tried these creamers in your hot chocolate, I say - Go for it!! Pick a flavor...or two...or three, and experiment. I guarantee, they are yummy-licious!


Until next time...

Thursday, September 17, 2009

27 of 52 photos of me

Forever In Blue Jeans


It's that time again. Yep, time for me to be in the picture. So here's one of me and the birthday boy.


Funny face, of course.

For more moms in the picture head over to Carin's. She's the one that started this. :) Then link up your own picture of yourself.

Until next time...

Happy Birthday!

Our second boy/fourth child turned seven yesterday.

Homemade donuts for breakfast.


The cake. Yes, for some reason my children love these cakes. Just pick a favorite flavor, color the frosting, and throw on some wild animals. Easy. Works for me!!

A favorite event: licking the frosting off the decorations.

The game: Pin the trunk on the elephant. :) Elephants are his favorite animal.

lol...overloaded with gifts!! He also loves fireman stuff. (His favorite movie is Fireproof).

In case you couldn't tell, he's the comedian of the family. He's a very good actor and very dramatic.

Happy Birthday, little Actor!!

Until next time...