Country Lane Homemaking

No Manners, No Eye Contact, and a Permissmon Face

I did some light shopping this last Sunday after church at the Super Wal-Mart.  We weren't in the store long, but while there, I noticed several people that I just wanted to toss on the ground and tickle till they laughed and couldn't breath.  LOL  I mean there were people in that store that look at you while pushing their cart and if looks could kill, I would have been 6 feet under!!!  ONe old lady had the most sour persimmon, or maybe lemon face on.  She looked at everyone with her nose wrinkled and her brow wrinkled and an awful look on her face and "Do not even try to make me smile" was virtually written across her forehead.  After passing her and making sure no one was looking, I tried to make the face she was making, and it honestly HURT!!!  My forehead and brow hurt from making that face.  I can't imagine how badly her face must hurt after hours and days, possibly months and years, after making that face continuously.

I try to be polite in crowded areas like this, and even if it is not my fault, will always say, oh excuse me ma'am, or excuse me sir when I walk past them, or have to swueeze up the aisle. But I get the stare down when I do.  As if, what the H#%& do you want lady???   When I am walking up an aisle and someone is in the middle of it, I will try to move over and wait until they are done to pass them, and I try not to take up a whole aisle while looking for my own purchases.  It is amazing how you can come up an aisle and all of a sudden, the woman who was so nicely helping her daughter pick out just the right kind of hairspray, will push her cart in the middle of the aisle blocking your passage, and not only that, but give you the look, as if to say, "I was here first!!!  You can just wait until we are good and ready to leave!!!!"   I see parents letting their children drive grocery carts like they are little racecars all over the aisles without supervision, and think, shouldn't you have to have a lisence to drive one of these?? LMSO  Shouldn't you be mature enough to handle all that power first, or possibly shouldn't the parents PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR CHILDREN AND DISCIPLINE THEM A LITTLE?????  I mean most parents just smile at you when their child almost side swipes you with a cart!!!!

Now when I first starting telling hubby this when we had finished our mini shopping spree and were headed home, he made a comment that older adults are treated so poorly by most, that maybe they think you are going to treat them with the same disrepect.  Then I told them, no no, these were not mature eldery people on medicare.  No no, I have fun visiting with them in the store.  They usually light up when they see Noah and he waves at them, and if I say hi to them they just beam and ask me all sorts of friendly questions about Noah and is he talking, how old is he, etc.  No, these were people between their 40-60 maybe.  These were people that are old enough to know better.  People who I am sure if their own parents were alive, would have repremanded for acting so selfishlessly and ignorant in public.

Let me also add that in my case, it is mostly the women who are treating me and acting like this.  I don't understand it.  Now, there have been a few men who have given the death glare, but most are nice and polite and say excuse me ma'am, or will move out of the way for you to come down an aisle when needed.  I think it is mostly gentlmanly politeness, and maybe it is simply because I am a woman, but I enjoy it, and I thoroughly expect my husband to be like that with other women!!!  He opens doors for me, but for other women as well.  If we were on a bus and there was no place for a woman to sit, he would stand up and let her sit while he stood next to me.  I want him to be polite and help a little lady out if she has dropped her groceries in the parking lot, and I have seen him do it before too!!

So tell me ladies, have any of you experienced this same thing??? 

Please make sure, at any age, that you are not one of these sour puss faced ladies!!!  Remember when you are out and about, that you are supposed to be showing them who you are, a Child of God.  Show them the love and respect, and unselfishness that God would want you to.  Even if you only see that person for 5 seconds, make sure you are polite and they remember your smile and kindness instead of your sourpuss face and rudeness!!!

In fact, even when I am in line at the store, I make sure to speak politely to the check out guy or girl.  I have watched while standing in line how rude customers can be.  Crossing their arms and huffing and puffing and complaining about how long of a wait they have, and whispering loud enough I can hear, so I know the check out gal hears them as well, about how slow she is.  I started thinking one day about how they must get that all day long!!!  Or the people who just see them as "woking class" and don't think they have it in them to speak to someone who is "beneath" them on the ladder of success.  Yeah, I have seen this many times in line as well.  You can tell they want to hurry up and get out of there and hopes no one talks to them before they do.    I have found out that I get better service where I shop or eat when I speak to the check out lady or the waitress.  If I see a name tag, I will call her by name and say, sorry you got stuck with me in your line today, I have 2 carts worth of groceries!!!  LOL  (We shop monthly)  And that usually breaks the ice, and she will repond with no problem, its my job or something.  I will ask her when she gets off work and what she plans on doing after work.  This usually gives me a little information about her, whether she is going home to fix dinner for hubby and the kids, or whether she is going home to do homework, etc.  I just keep light conversation while she is checking me out, and I always try to say thanks for taking care of my groceries for me, and tell her to have a nice day before going.  I always leave her with a smile, and even the most sullen faced, tired, aggrivated check out gal, or waitress will return my smile by the time I leave.

So, my other question is, do you converse with people at the store, or the resturant??? Or do you treat them like workers, and that this job is theirs to do??  Oh how I hope you all are the first!!!  Remember these servers and clerks are people too!!!  They work hard for the money to take home.  They leave their family and friends to work and deliver your food and sack yoru groceries!!!  Don't treat them like you have absolutely no appreciation for what they do.

Just think about it next time you go into a resturant to eat our, or the next time you go into a store, whether it be a large chain store, or a small mom and pop store, to be personable.

Finally a Pair of Overalls That Fit (Especially for you Pregnant Gals!!)

I am so sorry, but I could not resist!!!  LOL  The first thing I thought of when I saw this was, that would come in handy while 8-9 months pregnant!  LOL   Ok, I am not sorry!!!!  LOL  I think it is hilarious.

For anyone who sees this and might be offended:

Get over it!!!! LOL  Loosen up a little and have a great laugh once in a while.  And wipe that stern look off your face.  LMSO   I crack myself up!!!  I really do.

Summer's last days...

  The weather has been blustery and rainy here the past few days on the homestead. It hasn't been this cold since April!  We have had temps in the high 50's and low 60's...... so unusual for NW Missouri in early September.  I am ever so thankful for the moisture, as we needed it. The grass was beginning to become brown up and the last few days of rain has "greened up" everything again.

No doubt about it.... fall is on the way!  Did I mention that fall is my favorite season of the year? The colors are spectacular here in October ~~ our homestead has a good 25 acres or so of Oaks, Maples & Walnuts.... so the colors are something to behold. I am looking foward to that.

On the home front we are busy, busy renovating our "parlor"...... it's not too big of a room ~~ about 15 x 16 or so..... but it faces south and gets lots of sun, and overlooks the woods and fields. This is a favorite place to sit and read on a cold winter day. We have stained the new wood windows, and have painted the cieling and installed a new light/fan. We are almost done with the wallcoverings..... I chose a very "old fashioned pattern"..... it actually looks like the original pattern that we discovered under the sheetrock! It makes things look very "old" and I am excited about that!

I apologize that I have been remiss at posting photos of our recent renovations. Life is so full with schooling, renovating, and all the other "stuff" that this mama has to do each day. I am finding I am only able to blog a few times each week as life is simply filled to the brim. ( No complaints here)

In the kitchen we have been busy baking some fall treats...... the weather put me in the mood for pumpkin pies! So, this afternoon my eldest daughter and I were busy making some for desert. I am so happy to share that my 13 yr old daughter has truly mastered the knack of making homemade pie crusts and does a superb job! She is going to be such a blessing to her future husband and family! She loves to help me in my homemaking endeavors and she is a precious helper to have around!

The pumpkin candle is burning........and the air does have a nip to it in the evenings now.

Supper is in the oven ready to serve....... a hot pan full of swedish meatballs.

It's that time of year...... when smells fill the home........

Well I am off to spend the evening serving my beloved family.

May God bless each and everyone of you!

~ gloria ~

Still Praying for No Sicknesses!!!!!!!!!!

Noah went right to bed last night, after the second time he threw up and I had to change him, and the bedding.  Bless his heart.  He is so good about it though.  LOL  He was confused as to where his favorite stuffies and pillows and blankies were but most were dry adn ready to go for his naptime today adn he was so happy about that.  I told him at naptime, we needed to go get Rusty and Cat, etc. out of the dryer, and as soon as I opened the dryer door (wish we could have hung them to dry, but it has been raining and chilly here for the last 4-5 days) he almost crawled in!  LOL  He found Rusty and cat immediately, and I found his taggie blankie (a present from my mom at Christmas before she died in March of the following year, so it is super special), and then buried under tons of other things was bunny.

So, no more sicknesses last night, and I feel fine, but we are still covering the household in prayers of good health.  It sounds silly to some that we pray for this, but it works!!!  Last year when Noah and I got the flu for the second time, Matthew pranced around the house praying and quoting scriptures and claiming health and wellness for himself.  I sked him if he wanted me to sleep on the couch so I didn't "breath" on him.  LOL  It is silly, but I didn't want him to get sick either!!!  He said no of course not.  Breath on me baby, my God is keeping my health for me even if you breath on me all night long.  He didn't get that flu either.  He used to get EVERY cold, sickness, runny nose, flu, etc. even if he was only with that person for 15 minutes.   Prayer works people.

So, today I went to the Health Department for my "official" weight check and blood pressure check (I go in weekly), and blood pressure was peachy, and the official numbers on weight loss is 15.  My unofficial amount at home is 18 and this is because..............I have to wear clothes when I go to the health department. LMSO  It is chilly here today so, I was bundled a little more than usuall.  I figure 2-3 pounds of that is clothing.  And then, upon leaving, I treated myself to a fish sandwich adn a small orange pop at McDonald's. LOL    Anyway, the other reason we were there is to get our vouchers for WIC for Noah.  He is underweight. and ai had to jump through a few hops, but Doc suggested I get him signed up with WIc adn they would pay for the Pediasure he wants him on.  So, I came home today with almost $100 of the 24 oz Pediasure bottles in every flavor they have for.....................FREE!!!!!!!!  I am so thankful for this too, because we simply don't have the money to spend over $100 on just drinks for Noah.  This high calorie drink should pack on some pounds hopefully.  And yes, we feed him lots of protein (he loves peanut butter), but he still isn't gaining.  So, we will see how this works for Noah in the next few months.

Noah and I are staying home tonight and Matthew is planning on stayin in town after work adn going straight to Bible Study and then come home.  Noah's schedule has been off today since he didn't get to be for real sleep until after 11pm last night, and since we both slept in late today as well.  So he is taking a late nap, and I will get him up in 1 hour instead of two.  Hopefully by this weekend, we can get him back on schedule.

Well, that's all for now.  I will check in on all of you soon!!

Checking in today......

I love this picture !! If I could, my kitchen would look like this..........Maybe one day....

Things have been different around here. Some days we are so busy and some days we do nothing at all. We have not yet got our school year going completely on track as it should be but that will soon be taken care of.

Our weather has been very different this summer and I am looking forward to seeing what type of fall weather we will be having. It would be fine by me if we have a cold Fall and a colder Winter !!

I need to get back into the kitchen like I am use to, baking and making things during the day. Cooler weather will bring that on soon I know. I am ready for soups and stews for supper again. I am tried of what I call my "Summer Menu". I am needing a change here soon.

I see that some are looking toward the holidays already and I must admit, I have given it some thought already also. I read somewhere this week, where someone said to just start the "Christmas" thing on Nov 1st and that way you will always have the same amount of time till Christmas then waiting till Thanksgiving. See, some years Thanksgiving comes 4 weeks before Christmas and some years it comes only 3 weeks before. But what I have been doing for the past several years, is just call it "The Hollidays" and enjoy them both together, getting things ready no matter what the date is. I do not forget the meaning of Christmas and why we have it, I just celebrate the holidays all during Nov. and Dec. If is fun that way.

Okay, I need to get back to work and I hope to start posting some recipes that I have ready for the Fall. So look back here soon for something new to try for your family.

Grocery Shopping and Menu Plans..

Today is grocery day.. WOOHOO.. I am so excited.. I am finally getting back on my menu plan and have my grocery list all made out.. I am so excited.. You just don't know how excited.. So I want to ask you to all who read this send me your fave reciepe for fall.... The kids and I love to make things together and so we are looking for new things to try out as well...

I am headed to the grocery when I get out of class at noon thirty so I can be done with our Once a Month BIG shopping trip and get home so the kids can help unload when they get off the bus right before homeowork......

Well anyway I am going to try to make one of the kids fave meals tonight for supper and I am sure that they are going to be really really happy and we are going to make a snack together after school as well..

Ok gotta run again..

Have a great day..

God Bless,

Mars

I have a What Would You Do Question..

My ex husband called me the other day and we were talking about kids and etc and all of a sudden he says well I have a question to ask of you and your not going to like it. My first response was is it for you or for her???

You see first let me say this. My kids stepmom I don't feel like is very nice to them alot of the time.. She says my 13 year daughter needs to be in special ed and she made her write the alphabet because she wasn't sure she knew it.. What.. I am sorry, but all of MY kids are A or B honor roll kids and if their teachers do not have a problem then what is yours?? She has never had kids of her own and I understand that, but you knew that he had 5 when you married him...

She tends to get upset with Rodney if he has the kids any extra time except his weekends.. Now our parenting plan states that he gets them every other weekend and then every Wednesday for a few hours plus anyother time he might want them that is agreable between the two of us, plue every other week during the summer.. Now Rodney has been getting them his weekends, but he only had them 2 full weeks in the summer because of the situation with her.

Anyway the kids are looking forward to their weekend this weekend and she tells Rodney that he needs to change weekends because she only has 2 days off this week and etc and that if he doesn't change then he and the kids have to stay somewehere else...

Now I normally am very easy going and would trade him in a heartbeat, but I am sick and tired of her trying to keep him from having his time with the kids.. My kids welcome the time with their dad when she is not around and want to go ahead and go with him this weekend..

So long story short.. I told him that the kids wanted to come with him this weekend and that I was not going to trade.. If it was something that he needed becasue of work or something then we would work it out, but hello she knew he had kids and that he needs to spend time with them.. My older kids are upset because they know that their relationship with dad is going down hill because of her and they want to go to their dad's this weekend..

So should I switch or let them go with their dad?? I know that she or my ex MIL will read this and make comments, but really this is about the kids and their relationship with their dad..

God Bless you for reading this far....

God Bless,

Mars

Mini Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins

These are SO GOOD!!!

MINI PUMPKIN BUTTERSCOTCH MUFFINS (allrecipes)

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 (6 ounce) package butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease mini-muffin pan with cooking spray.

Sift together the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together the eggs, butter, and pumpkin in a separate bowl. Mix the flour mixture with the egg mixture. Stir in the butterscotch chips; pour into each cup of the muffin pan to about 3/4 full.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes.

Rain Rain Quizes and other fun stuff...

It has been raining most of the week now and so once again everything in North Missouri is wet and soggy again.. :) I am not complaining I am just stating a fact.. LOL Jordin's ballgame was called Tuesday due to the rain and it looks as if tonighs game will also be called off due to the rain... That is too bad, but we will make them up....

Well this morning in microbiology we had a quiz.. It was a practice test and it went ok.. I am telling you this class is tough.. We were talking before the class and the teacher is like a genius and we are all normal so when he talks sometimes we are like hello please speak in english.. LOL

I spoke with my ex husband last night and he said his dad will not get out of the hospital now till Saturday. The kids are worried about him and can't wait for him to get home so they can see him...

Jeremiah had a dream last night about his uncle that died last week. He got up this morning talking about it saying how he had a dream about uncle Robery and that he had gotten shot, but it was just his arm that got it and so he was in a cast, but he got to come back home and so did Lizzy.. We talked about it and he understands and is ok with things, but please keep the little guy in your prayers.. I know it has to be hard to know that your uncle is gone and not coming back..

Well I better get going for now.. I have some labs to do on the computer and some videos to watch as well..

Take care have a wonderful day..

God Bless,

Mars

Thrifty Thursday

Do you use a  lot of tomato juice?  How much do you pay for a 46oz . can? 

Is it $1.00?  $2.00?

At Walmart, I pay $.78 for a 58 oz . can of tomato juice.

How?

I take a 29 oz . can of tomato sauce, dump it into whatever I am cooking & then add another 29 oz . can of water.  Now I have 58 oz . of tomato juice for $.78!

You can also do this with smaller cans of tomato sauce if you need less.