Happy Homemaker Monday

To see other HHM posts visit Diary of a SAHM.

The weather in my neck of the woods: Sunny, humid, in the 80's. Supposed to get more rain this afternoon. All the rain has been great for our garden!

One of my simple pleasures: Sipping iced tea under the maple tree in the heat of summer.

On my bedside table: fan, Bible, Close to my Heart catalogs.

On my TV: Sid the Science Kid-Andrew's favorite show.

On the menu for tonight: Ham and scalloped potato casserole.

On my To Do List: put all of our Mennonite store goodies away. Make tapioca pudding. Get ready for vacation next week.

New Recipe I have tried: this is the best recipe for tapioca pudding...in my opinion anyway!

Slow Cooker Tapioca Pudding

8 cups milk
1-1/3 cups white sugar
1 cup small pearl tapioca
4 eggs, lightly beaten

Stir together the milk, sugar, tapioca, and eggs in a slow cooker. Cover, and cook on Medium for 3 hours, or on Low for 6 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve warm or cold.

In the craft basket: cards, crocheting...trying to teach myself new stitches

Looking forward to: V*A*C*A*T*I*O*N!!

Homemaking Tip for this week: rinse your dishes, especially in the summer heat! I do this but am trying to instill this in my children.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): none

Favorite photo from last week: when I was going through the pictures I noticed this one. I did not remember taking it. I asked the kids and my son said..."Oh I took that one of my breakfast ingredients". He proceeded to tell me it was just like I do for my blog! Too cute!

Lesson learned the past few days: Don't sweat the small stuff. We are always amazed at how great God is to us. No matter what he will always take care of things.

On my Prayer List: family, friends, service men and women.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: Isaiah 55:12 " For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you."

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: cloudy, rain finally ending, cool breeze about 65 degrees.

One of my simple pleasures: reading an old book. I'm currently reading "Spencer's Mountain" by Earl Hamner. This is what the Waltons was based on.

On my bedside table: clock, Bible, scrapbooking idea books

On my TV: worship channel, full of instrumental hymns set to beautiful scenery pictures.

On the menu for tonight: ham casserole of some sort.

On my To Do List: weed the garden, go with hubby to vascular surgeon doctor.

New Recipe I tried last week:

Shoofly Cake (much like the shoofly pie)

4 cups flour

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 cups boiling water

1 cup molasses

2 tsp. baking soda

Work the flour, sugar, and butter into fine crumbs with your fingers or a pastry mixer. Set aside 1 1/2 cups crumbs for topping.

Mix water, molasses, and baking soda together. Then add to the remaining crumbs. Mix until batter is very thin yet still lumpy.

Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 cake pan. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

In the craft basket: scrapbooking and cardmaking

Looking forward to: our vacation to the lake this 4th of July.

Homemaking Tip for this week: when the kids want to help out in the kitchen cleaning let them. If you are like me that is hard to do. My daughter Hannah wanted to help out by doing the dishes the other night. Yes, they may not be perfect but the last thing I want to do is discourage her from cleaning! I had to grit my teeth and let her do it. After she was done I cleaned a couple of them. I also gave her a "gentle" lesson on cleaning dishes. Worked well.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): Evening Shade Morning Latte has been a blog that I read all the time. She has so many tips and homemaking advise. Best of all she has many recipes. I've been looking for a recipe for pickled jalapeno peppers and now I've found one! I know her blog will be a huge blessing to you, I know it has to me!

Favorite photo from last week: I love to snap pictures of our children reading or playing. Here Hannah is reading up on taking care of goats. We are getting some dairy goats and some chickens. All part of our "converting" to a simple life.

Lesson learned the past few days: I can get so much done if I get up earlier. I've been sleeping in the past few days....well because we are on summer break! But I often feel tired if I sleep in.

On my Prayer List: My brother in law Steve and my sister Missy-Steve's Mom passed away last week. My Dad who is leading Bible study this Wednesday.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.


To see other Happy Homemakers posts visit Diary of a SAHM.

What I've been up to....

I've been busy making things. We have a few weddings coming up. For one I'm making recipe cards for people who know the bride and groom to write a recipe on. Many of the recipes will be from family members who have passed away. I have many from my mother in law, who I never had the pleasure of knowing. I have been coping them onto card stock. I keep the originals and send the copies off with the bride and groom.

I've also been going once a month to a paper craft work shop. Below are a couple of the things we have made. This is a photo wallet.

You can add 3-6 photos in it. I have not had the chance to print photos and place them in there yet. I also made another one last week out of purple paper.

This is one we did last week. I had a lot of fun making this one....once I got the measurements down.

You can use this as a greeting card or put small pictures in it....or even both. I love seeing everything I can create using paper and glue with a few stamps.

I made this wedding/shower card. It is in a "Z" shape. I got a prize for making it and bringing it into the workshop. Joanne made these cute little clip boards for post it notes. See the next picture. I'm going to be making a few of these also.
She used patterned paper, ribbons and cardboard from cereal boxes. She bought some of those black paper clips. They are so cute!!

This one is a circle photo album I made for my Mom. I just have to print some pictures to put in there. Once circle for each of the grand kids.

This is a Father's Day gift/card for my Dad. I made this out of card stock.
I then put in pictures of each of the grand kids, one on each square.

I love the way this one turned out. I was going to write something in the center but thought the rocks looks good.

This is one that I made for my husband. I put each of the kids pictures on a square and had them write a little message to him behind the picture.

After praying about this for about a year I've decided to sign up as a Close to My Heart consultant in July. This is a wonderful company, I wish I'd found this before! I really want to succeed at this. But this company does not "stress" you out with making sales. You can sign up as a hobby consultant.

Gratituesday

It has been a while since I've participated in this. But to see other Gratituesday posts visit the Heavenly Homemakers blog.

Proverbs 31:13 "She seeks wool and flax.

And willingly works with her hands."

I am so grateful that I'm able to create things for our home with items around the house. One thing over the past year I've missed is my clothes line. With all the "stuff" going on around here lately we just never got around to putting it up last year. Well yesterday Andrew and I went out and strung up the lines.

A while ago I saw a clothes pin holder made out of a child's shirt. Well since I usually do not keep our kids shirts after they out grow them I went into our closest to see what we had. Low and behold I found a shirt that was given to my husband over a year ago. I decided to try my hand at making one myself. Now remember, I am pattern challenged so I usually just create my own way of sewing things.

I drew a straight line across the shirt to use as a guide when cutting the bottom off.

Next draw a line to mark the shape of the bag, you can make it as big or small as you like.

Cut off the bottom of the shirt.
Here you cut off the sleeves. Now you can see the size of the bag. You can make any adjustments to the size you like. I chose to leave the pocket on, you can remove it if you like.

Now turn inside out and sew up all the openings, except for the collar.

Find a hanger that will fit into the bag, I used one from one of the kids clothing. Fill with clothes pins and hang on the line. This can also be used to put kids socks in. I'm going to make another one for the kids. They are ALWAYS loosing their socks.

Now since I hate to waste anything I wanted to make something with the bottom half of the shirt....a curtain! My son has been after me to make a new curtain for his room. He loved it. I just sewed up the top and made a small cut in it to put the curtain rod in it. It is a bit short for the window but hey it was quick easy and didn't cost us a dime!

Now what to do with the sleeves??? Any suggestions?

Happy Homemaker Monday

To see other Happy Homemaker posts go on over to Diary of a SAHM for more.

The weather in my neck of the woods: beautiful spring morning, birds singing away, nice breeze, a lot of sunshine.

One of my simple pleasures: sitting out on the deck in the morning with my Bible and a cup of coffee.

On my bedside table: Bible, scrapbooking and card making books

On my TV: Waltons Season 1


On the menu for tonight: turkey burgers, french fries, toss salad

On my To Do List: continue painting the house (I can't wait to get this done!!), weed the gardens, clean out hall closet.

New Recipe I tried last week: this is a great recipe to let your children help out with.

Corn Dog Muffins

corn muffin mix
milk
1 egg
2-3 hot dogs uncooked but diced
handful of cheddar cheese


Mix the corn muffin mixture per the package directions (Jif is add milk & egg); Stir in the diced hot dogs and the cheese & mix well. Spoon into muffin cups and bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes.

In the craft basket: homemade cards; skirts for my daughters and myself; table runner (all these will be on going probably the whole summer as I find time for them)

Looking forward to: my cardmaking/scrapbooking workshop this Thursday.

Homemaking Tip for this week: When trying to declutter your closets or house, take one small area at a time. This way you will be less likely to become overwhelmed.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): I do not really have one.

Favorite photo(s) from last week: we had yet another fire in our area. It was right at the end of our property in the woods. We were out talking to my sister in law and Andrew said "Look smoke!!" Then we saw the flames shooting above the trees. Andrew is really enjoying having the fire trucks out our way. Oh by the way if you haven't guessed Andrew wants to be a fireman when he grows up. Chip off the old block!!
Lesson learned the past few days: No matter what you are going through God is right there with you. All you need to do is remember that. I speak from experience, Matt had some medical issues recently and at first I said "God, why are we going through this again?" I forget sometimes that he is there to help me not "cause" me pain or punish me for something.

On my Prayer List: My brother in law Steve, his mother passed away this morning, my husband's continued healing, Praise God that all his blood work came back normal this time!! He is still low in B12 but that can be corrected from shots.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: Ecclesiastes 7:8 "The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."

Give a way!

I've mentioned before here that I'm a scrapbook addict! I could sit for hours working on albums and most recently on cards. I found this blog that is having a wonderful give a way of a stamp set from Close to my Heart. CTMH is a wonderful company that sells scrapbooking and card making products. I have been attending workshops monthly making items with CTMH products.

I don't know about you but I could find a few things to make with this! :-) There are a few things you have to do to enter but trust me these are worth it. Go on over and visit Karen at My Creative Heart to enter this give a way. You have until the 21st to enter.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: Is sunny and cool this morning. We are supposed to reach 75 today with rain later in the day. Which is great because the gardens need it.

One of my simple pleasures: I love to preserve all the food from the garden that God has so graciously provided for us. I also love to make relishes and jams. So many times we get so used to running out to the store to pick up the item needed. Why not make it yourself?

On my bedside table: my Bible; Herb books; things I want to do this summer

On my TV: the kids are watching "Martha speaks" a show about a dog who ate alphabets and can now speak!! LOL!

On the menu for tonight: Our ladies Bible study group is having a dinner. This is our last meeting for the summer. I'm making taco salad. My hubby and kids will be having hot dogs, we had a cookout with Mom and Dad yesterday.

On my To Do List: weed the garden; do something special for hubby; work on card for wedding shower this weekend; finish skirts.

New Recipe I tried last week: I did not really try a new one.

In the craft basket: paper crafts; I'm making skirts for the girls and I.

Looking forward to: our last day of group lessons. Which is today! We had such a great time with our first session. I'm looking forward to the one in the fall.

Homemaking Tip for this week: Do not let stuff pile up; laundry; dishes, ect. The more you put off the greater chance you will feel overwhelmed, therefore taking the joy out of your God given job. This comes from experience!!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): have not really read many blogs this week.

Favorite photo from last week: I've been having trouble getting our pictures to upload. So when I do I'll post one.

Lesson learned the past few days: The test you are in will become your testimony. I heard that saying on the radio a while back. That is SO true. We have found out that each shot hubby has to get will cost us. We have had to have faith in God that he will provide for us. With hubby being sick he has been unable to work any overtime, therefore cutting our paycheck almost in half. It has been pretty difficult. But the Lord is good!! He has provided for us in so many ways. It may not be with money but with other items that we need!

On my Prayer List: Hubby, kids, family. Our Church, blogger friends and missionaries.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: Psalm 113:3 "From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised."

To see other Happy Homemaker posts visit Sandra's blog.

Slow Cooking Thursday

I got this recipe from the Taste of Home website a while ago. I have made it at our camper, although I do not have a broiler there, I start them out on the grill. They were SO good. Enjoy.

To see other slow cooking Thursday posts visit Sandra's blog Diary of a SAHM. Picture is from the taste of home website. I keep forgetting to grab my camera when I head into the kitchen.

Saucy Chicken Thighs

9 bone-in chicken thighs (about 3-1/4 pounds)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 cups barbecue sauce
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place on a broiler pan. Broil 4-5 in. from the heat for 3-4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.

Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker.

In a small bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, honey, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and pepper sauce. Pour over chicken; stir to coat. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through. Yield: 9 servings.

Updates and a wonderful give a way

It has been a long time since I've blogged about anything! Once again we are hit with health problems. This time it is my husband. He has had this "rash" on his leg for some time and his former doctor kept telling him it was poison ivy. I knew it wasn't that just from looking at it, but who am I??? I convinced him to transfer to my doctor to have it looked at. Well he has a very bad case of cellulitis. If anyone knows anything about this they know that it is very dangerous and painful. The first round of antibiotics did not work. So now he has to get a shot everyday for 3 days of a stronger antibiotic. If this does not work then he may have to be hospitalized to get it taken care of. On top of that his blood work showed a number of things wrong. First, he is severely low in B12. So he also has to go get a shot everyday for 5 days, then once a week, then once a month. Poor guy!! Secondly, his liver enzymes were elevated and this could mean a whole bunch of things. The worst being liver cancer. His Mom died of liver cancer, his Dad died from lung cancer and his brother recently died from mouth cancer. I know we are supposed to be strong but when you hear something like that and know your family history it is difficult to do so. Please remember him in your prayers. The antibiotic shots are very painful. I probably would of passed out if I had to get them.


Now for something fun!! Almost all of my readers love cooking. I have a friend who is hosting a wonderful give a way on her site. Please go on over to Rebecca's blog and read more. I know you will find the site a wonderful source of information regarding everything food!! She has a bread recipe on there for the contest. Since I'm a bit busy here right now but I'm going to make this bread as soon as possible. Below is a picture of some bread I have made recently.



I have found that making bread is so relaxing. Not only that but you can get your frustrations out on kneading the dough!!


HURRY you have until June 8 to enter!!