I got a Kindle Fire!!

For Christmas I got my husband a Kindle Touch.  It is the neatest little thing.  When they first came out I was not sure I would like them.  I mean I am an old fashioned girl! I like to curl up on the couch with a book...how could I do that with an electronic gadget?!

So Tuesday my wonderful husband text me while I was at Walmart telling me to go get myself a Kindle Fire!!  WHAT?!  I was SO excited!!  I think I actually skipped through Walmart!!  We had talked about getting an iPad, but decided it was necessary for us at this time.  BUT the Kindle Fire...oh yes that is necessary!  Let me show you why...

It is the same size as a "normal" book.  It fits right on my lap while I'm curled up on the couch.  Hmmm wasn't that my reason for not wanting one?  LOL!

Just look at how beautiful this is!!  I have everything I'm reading right at my fingertips.  It fits in my purse so while I'm out and about I can do some reading.  The Bible app (YouVersion) is amazing! There are so many different versions of the Bible I can read.  When i'm doing a study I use many different versions.  ALSO...it will read to me!  When I'm resting sometimes I just want to listen.

Yes and there are a number of games.  My favorite so far is Word Mix.  You have to make words out of letters given to you. 

I love love love old books.  I'm talking books published in the 1800's and early 1900's.  There are so many forgotten gems out there.  Some of my favorites are:

Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes by Edith Thomas

Household Education by Harriet Martineau

Practical Suggestions for Mother and Housewife by Marion Mills Miller

The Complete Home various authors

The American Frugal Housewife by Lydia Maria Francis Child

There are many more, but those are some I've started so far.  I've also been downloading a ton of cookbooks.  It just amazes me that a whole shelf worth of books fit right in this.

Everything is so clear on this!  This is my blog.  I tell you the first hour I had it I just sat there and stared at it.  I felt all geeky inside.  LOL!!  Who knew an electronic gadget would do that to me?!  ME?! an old fashioned girl.  I'm an old fashioned girl living in the 21st century.

All closed up safe and sound.  I love this case.  The pattern is so beautiful!  The cover makes it look and feel like a book.  **grin**

Merry CHRISTmas!!

Another free digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

It snowed....which means Gingerbread!!

We didn't get this much but I forgot to take a picture this morning of the snow.  It wasn't much but enough to say we got some.  The reason everyone in our family is excited about this is because we bake gingerbread on the first snow of the season!!  This is a tradition we started 5 years ago when we started homeschooling.  It is now something everyone looks forward to.  Even my parents who stop by for some warm gingerbread after work.  This is a recipe I got from Laura Ingalls Wilder's cookbook.  I love old recipes!!  If you are not familiar with recipes from the 1800's and early 1900's you might be a bit confused.  As well as the way they are written out.  They are written in paragraph form rather than in recipe forms we know today.



LAURA'S GINGERBREAD
 

1 cup brown sugar blended with 1/2 cup lard or shortening.
 

1 cup molasses mixed well with this.

Dissolve 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1 cup boiling water mix well.  Do not worry about the way it looks in this step.  The first time I made it I thought something went wrong.  When you add the baking soda it will foam up...it's OK.  That's a good thing.

In a separate bowl mix 3 cups of flour and one teaspoon each of the following spices: ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves; and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sift all into molasses mixture and mix well.

Add lastly 2 well-beaten eggs. 

The mixture should be quite thin. Raisins and, or, candied fruit may be added.  Personally I like it just the way it is!

Bake in a moderate oven (I set my oven for 350) for thirty minutes.

I hope you enjoyed your visit!  Let me tell you it is GOOD!!!

Famous Firsts.....

I found this on the farm home life blog and it sounded like a lot of fun. If you participate leave me a comment and let me know so I can read your answers.

First Job: paper route

First real job: cashier at Present Co.

First favorite politician: do not have one!

First car: the "brown" bomber! Chevy Monza (I can't remember the year)

First record/CD: Randy Travis "Old 8 x 10"

First sport played: softball

First concert: Randy Travis in 1987

First foreign country visited: Canada

First favorite TV show: Little House on the Prairie

First favorite actor: Michael Landon

First favorite actress: Melissa Gilbert

First girlfriend/boyfriend: My one and only...hubby

First encounter with a famous person: Randy Travis....my Mom and I went to a benefit dinner he was there. I was so excited, but when the time came I was so star struck I couldn't say anything...LOL!!! But the dinner was great!

First brush with death: car accident in 2001...but I wasn't injured at all. Thankfully that is the closest I have ever come.

First house/condo owned: the one we currently live in.

First film seen: Swiss Family Robinson...I think

First favorite recording artist: Randy Travis

First favorite radio station: local country station probably

First book I remember reading: well the obvious answer is my Bible, but the Little House on the Prairie series I read when I was 9.

First meme I answered on my blog: The Simple Woman Daybook

I've heard of a ship in a bottle but this is just crazy...

For a fun project last week we made bird feeders out of soda bottles. Each of the children made them and we hung them in the tree and one on the deck. This morning here is what we saw in one of the bottles!!

GREAT!.....Now what do I do?????

Did you see the size of his beak??? Mr. Nuthatch to the rescue!

He managed to show the little chickadee how to get out of the bottle. Unharmed! But boy was it entertaining to see. He even came right back for more food!