Home Sweet Simple Home
meant to do- did do
I meant to do my work today—but a brown bird sang in the apple tree, and a butterfly flitted across the field, and all the leaves were calling me.
g Richard Le Gallienne g
Crockpot Cowboy Stew recipe
Crock Pot Cowboy Stew Recipe
1-1/4 lbs beef stew meat
4 unpeeled potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (28.00 ounces) can baked beans
2 Tbsp. BBQ sauce
Mix stew meat, potatoes, onions, salt and pepper in crockpot. Spread beans over the meat mix and pour BBQ sauce over beans (work it in a bit with the flat of the spoon on the beans). Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours until the beef is tender. Or on high for 3-4 hours.
We love to serve cheddar chive biscuits with this! Also- I love using our enamelware bowls and cups and bandanas for napkins- gives us a cowboy feeling!
Cost breakdown: stew meat (a little over 1 lb)cost $3.31, potatoes- free (out of garden), onion- free (also out of garden) can baked beans $1.00 and BBQ sauce- well, we’ve had this sauce in the fridge for awhile- no price tag, I have no idea- let’s say 10 cents.
Total Cost: $4.41 or there abouts.
Add the biscuits (you can purchase a mix for 99 cents- just add water or milk depending on mix) and you have a delicious meal for under $6 for a family of 5.
Sunday dinners- crockpot- and a link
Sunday Dinners are beginning to earn that capitalization in our home.
Thank you to the wonderful readers who sent links to great sites with crockpot recipes. I really enjoy this website- one woman’s goal to use her crockpot every day for an ENTIRE YEAR. Oh, yes, 365 days of crockpotting.
While, I am no where near that level of dedication nor do I feel that much crockpot love, I really admire it.
In a week’s time, I’ve collected about 20 new crockpot recipes. I believe that is a good start. Should I only find 5 keepers out of the bunch that will still give us a variety in our Sunday Dinner menu.
A new family favorite is my tweaked version of Crockpot Cowboy Stew. I hope to have time to post that recipe real soon.
Bail Out Plan- Common Sense!
I am a BIG fan of Dave Ramsey and have been checking out his site to get his take on our current financial crisis.Dave has a plan- a good plan- a plan that is better than $700 billion in new debt.
First Dave extorts us to pray for our leaders-
This is directly from an email newsletter: Pray for them to resist a spirit of FEAR and to embrace WISDOM. Even if you don't like them or agree with them, pray for them and tell them you are praying for them. There is a spirit over this problem that must be broken. Also, most of the media personalities are afraid as well and that is affecting their reporting. Pray for fear to be removed from them; they are making this worse.
Next- Send the Common Sense Fix:
Go here to Dave’s website and click on the box that contains this message:
{Special Alert - 3 Steps to Change the Nation's Future
We are at a crucial time in our country's financial history. We need everyone's help! Here are 3 steps you can do that will change our nation's future}
Read it and follow the steps. This IS Common Sense. Let’s get our voices heard!
"Doing" Sunday Dinner
One of the biggest reasons we ended up eating leftovers or sandwiches for lunch on Sundays was how long it would take to prep and cook and put Sunday Dinner on the table.I love my Momma’s Sunday Dinners but there’s a reason why we almost always end up eating a “snacky supper” because we don’t end up eating dinner until 2ish pm. That’s a late lunch and cuts into the napping time when you calculate cleaning and talking a 4 year old boy into actually closing his eyes and laying horizontal.
In other words I found it taking too big a chunk of my day, I didn’t enjoy it.
In fact, I resented it.
Which is why we ended up eating sandwiches on Sundays.
Not the Sunday Dinner of my childhood.
We spend, on average, 3 hours at church in the morning, including drive time. We are usually getting home around 12:30 pm. We need to be leaving home at 5:15 pm to be back at church for evening services etc which means we need to start getting ready to go at 4:50 pm. So you can see my reluctance to be eating Sunday Dinner at 2 pm. Because I KNOW I will not be resting- I’ll be spending time before dinner prepping for dinner and time after cleaning up and getting the last doo-dads of my lesson together before the evening youth meeting and there goes my Sunday afternoon.
I have also found that in the trying to make Sunday Dinner a celebration for my family and trying to fit into the 2 pm complete-dinner-at-the-dining-table mode left me feeling more than a bit grim and grumpy. It was not my picture of Sabbath Rest.
Not even close.
I was quite resentful of it all.
Not a good way to run your Sunday.
And so sandwiches and leftovers was a better fit for us- food tastes better, even if it’s just sandwiches, when everyone is happy and peaceful (that’s biblical! Proverbs 17:1).
But lately I’ve been wanting a bit more celebration in our Sabbath Rest.
I wanted a Sunday Dinner instead of lunch.
Thank the good Lord for the crockpot.
And for helping me to let go of that picture in my head of the perfect Sunday Dinner with the perfect set table, perfectly prepared food, and perfectly behaved family (notice I didn’t just say “perfectly behaved children” because, lets face it, I create just as much trouble as they do at times.)
Once I let go of perfection I felt that I could actually accomplish this goal of Sunday Dinner (not lunch).
I had a few crockpot recipes on hand that I really liked and have been searching and researching and adding to my file folder. I realize that it is okay to have 4 or 5 great crockpot recipes and just rotate them and since I haven’t taste tested all these recipes yet we may find we’ll narrow it down to 5 great recipes.
I’ve also noted that some crockpot recipes do not respond well to speeding up the cook time from 6-8 hours on low to 3.5 hours on high. I’ve also noted that you can often start out with frozen meat instead of remembering to thaw it the day before. So noted and moving on . . . .
I prep what needs prepping Saturday nite- setting out the crockpot and non-perishable ingredients. With a yummy main dish in the crockpot, I keep the side dishes simple- steamed veggies or a greens salad and/or homemade bread. Whatever I choose I make sure the side dish cooks up in less than 10 minutes.
As soon as I walk in the door, I’m slipping on my apron and setting the table.
I’ve noticed over the last 3 Sundays (we only just really started this crockpotting Sunday Dinner experience), anyway- I’ve noticed that we are sitting down to eat within 15 minutes of coming through the door.
That’s incredible to me!
A real Sunday Dinner that is finished and cleaned up by 1:30 pm.
Plenty of time for a quiet nap.
ZzZzZzz . . . . . .
Back on Track- Menu!
Notes: After a couple weeks set aside- I'm back posting my menu. The cost of groceries keeps sneaking up- 10 cents more here and 20 cents more there. We're still managing to keep the weekly cost hovering around $55 (including snacks and beverages which I don't calculate below). I pray that God will continue to help us stretch our grocery dollars to their max.
From the Garden: A few cucumbers plus tomatoes, hot peppers, green peppers and squash- from our garden and shared from others. We continue to enjoy thick sliced tomatoes as a side dish with most meals.
Monday
B: Cranberry brown sugar oatmeal, toast
L: Diner Dinner (weekend leftovers)
D: One dish Chicken bake, sliced tomatoes & cukes
Dessert: Chocolate Sour Cream Cake- aka Autumn Yum Cake
Daily Cost: $8.63
Tuesday
B: Fruit and yogurt parfaits
L: Homeschool group lunch: bring: 2 bags of chips
D: Crockpot Cowboy stew, biscuits
Dessert: leftover cake
Daily Cost: $10.10
Wednesday
B: Choice: yogurt or cereal
L: chicken nuggets, corn chips, pickle spear
D: Poorman’s Steak, baked potatoes, salad
Dessert: root beer floats
Daily Cost: $9.06
Thursday
B: Eggs in a Basket, apple slices
L: Polka Dots
D: Apple pancakes, sausage
Dessert: fruit cocktail
Daily Cost: $8.66
Friday -Football Game
B: Leftover pancakes and sausage
L: English muffin pizzas—“Itty Bitty Pizzas”
D: Roo’s soup and h’made bread
Dessert: none
Daily Cost: $4.54
Saturday
B: Daddy Cook (eggs, toast, bacon etc)
L: Leftover Smorgasbord
D: Leftover Smorgasbord
Daily Cost: $3.00
Sunday
B: Cocoa Wheats, toast
L: Crockpot Stroganoff, salad
D: Dinner @ church
Daily Cost: $7.17
Weekly Total: $51.16
~~ Don’t forget to check out the yummy menu ideas every Monday over at The Organizing Junkie’s blog. You just might find your next favorite family recipe!
Daybook Entry #12
The Simple Woman’s Daybook
FOR TODAY~ September 29th
Outside my Window... it is overcast, yellow leaves pepper the green grass of the backyard. A few walnuts ka-thunk down. The dew is heavy; I can see it on the children’s slide. A few plants bloom in my flower and herb garden but they are almost done.
I am thinking... how glad I am and blessed I am that homeschooling and our homeschool group are both going so smoothly.
From the learning rooms... Mr. C continues to learn about farm animals and loves learning to write and “spot” the alphabet. Maiden and Sassafras love American History and readers. Maiden is better than tolerating her math and it continues to go well. Sass’s new Language Arts program ROCKS! We are blessed.
I am thankful for… those wonderful little adjustable waist inserts on my children’s pants.
From the kitchen... breakfast was cranberry brown sugar oatmeal and toast. Lunch will be Diner Dinner- the kids and make our own meal- picking and choosing from the weekend’s abundant leftovers (Mr. Steady made a HUGE batch of homemade French fries). Supper will be One Dish Chicken Bake with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers on the side. Followed by a two layer chocolate cake with cream cheese icing- dubbed Autumn Yum Cake. Made just because I love them all.
I am creating... notes for my creative writing class. A light hut for Botany. A fall banner for myself.
I am going... to enjoy this day.
I am wearing... comfy blue jeans, white T, zip up fleece and socks- its chilly.
I am reading... On Sparrow Hill by Maureen Lang and various Nazarene missions books with me kidlets. Oh and a smattering of blogs.
I am hoping... that Mr. Steady will light the pilot for the furnace. It’s beginning to get a bit past chilly and nippy. We’ve been holding out- trying to make it to the first of October before turning on the heat. Brrr- but we’re almost there!
I am hearing... the children puttering before we start school. A few crickets and a large truck rumble by.
Around the house... laundry and school. Dusting and youth work. Decluttering piles of magazines and getting a couple more bags ready to drop of at Goodwill.
One of my favorite things... watching the landscape turn from green to a kaleidoscope of color.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... my nephew’s football game (he’s on homecoming court) an annual family fall weenie roast, dog sitting for my parents at they go Up North. Yes, we do capitalize that in
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... Our family all spiffed up for my nephew’s wedding (in which Mr. Conductor was the Ring Bearer). I have to say- he looks the spiffiest of all!
Its the Sabbath- when do we rest?
Sabbath Rest
Isn’t that a beautiful word picture?
We had this growing up- Sundays were the only day my Dad didn’t work (worked as part-time farmer and 2nd shift in a local factory). We had breakfast together as a family, went to Sunday School and morning worship, Sunday dinner together then a open afternoon until Sunday evening services. (Supper was often dinner leftovers or snacks as my mom always made a “heavy” meal at lunch time.)
I remember restful days.
I moved out, got married and Sundays remained restful for the most part. I don’t know that I ever made a big deal out of Sunday dinner in those early years. I do know that I continued to enjoy being invited to my parents for Sunday dinner!
Whatever we did, I didn’t do anything to make Sunday dinner special. We we ate at the table together and such but it wasn’t a big deal.
Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing
Or is it?
Well as years went by and we added children and various church ministries (like teaching Sunday School classes etc) and then added a church job to the mix- Sundays became . . . . . .
trying to come up with a good word
failing to come up with a good word
Lets just say they were not restful.
We were flying around to get ready on Sunday mornings (no one and I mean no one in this house is motivated to get up before 8 am on Sunday mornings- it doesn’t matter what time we get up the rest of the week- there is something about Sundays that glues you under your covers . . . . .).
So anyway- Sunday morning were hectic, trying to get everyone dressed, shoveling cold cereal in our mouths or GASP eating cereal bars in the car on the way to church. Ugh. Not a pleasant start to the Sabbath.
Bet you can’t imagine the frame of mind we were in by the time we scurried into the church on average 5 minutes late.
Or can you?
Perhaps due to the hecticness of our morning, we’d come home from church ready to crash. A hurry up simple lunch- sometimes sandwiches, most often leftovers was eaten and everyone was off to a quiet corner- to read or sleep or whatever- as-long-as-it-was-quiet!
A couple or 3 quiet hours and then the mad dash to get ready for evening church activities. We’d round out the day with some visiting with my family (where we eat a snack supper or Mom’s dinner leftovers), come home and go to bed.
Not exactly one’s picture of an ideal Sabbath.
Mr. Steady and I had a talk- we talked about what we liked and what we didn’t like about our Sundays.
We decided on a few first steps to steer us in the right direction.
e We agreed wake up and GET UP when the alarm goes off and not hit the snooze.
e We agreed to set an alarm for the children- getting them up 20 minutes after us- therefore giving us ample time to get ready without the mad dash of chasing and dressing kids while you yourself are still half dressed. This eliminates the oops of going to church with only one earring on or one black shoe and one navy shoe (Or heaven forbid you didn’t button your blouse correctly because someone was yelling at you, tugging on you, or some other distraction!)
e We agreed to eat a “real normal” breakfast- a family favorite that we would save special for Sundays Only. Cocoa wheats and toast. Yes, we are simple people. We jazz up the cocoa wheats with dried fruit (cherries are my absolute fave) and mini-marshmallows for the younger crowd.
I also implemented the new Saturday nite routine of setting the table for breakfast (yes, I was already doing this Mon-Fri but the weekends were lost!) and setting out complete outfits (including accessories/jewelry for me) for each member of the family. This stopped the my-favorite-shirt-I-wanted-to-wear-is-in-the-wash and the mom-this-skirt/shirt/shoe-doesn’t-fit or the mom-I-ruined-my-last-pair-of-tights and the honey-I-can’t-find-my-other-brown-sock issues.
Mr. Steady decided to start playing some of our favorite worship music also- hoping to bring forth our hearts-full-of-worship and calm down the momma.
It worked.
And continues to work.
They do say “music calms the savage beast.”
So this was our beginning- prepping the night before, setting a breakfast routine and getting up on time. We still needed to work on the dinner thing but this was a great start for us.
And now that we’ve been into our routine for about 2 years, I’ve decided we need to forge on, take more steps, and do something about Sunday Dinner.
Hence this post.
Autumn Yum Cake Recipe
Autumn Yum Cake
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup water
3 eggs
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Blend all ingredients together and pour into two 8 inch round pans (that you’ve greased and floured ahead of time). Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until toothpick poked in center comes out clean. Cool cakes and frost with cream cheese frosting (you can make two separate cakes and therefore share one or make a two layer cake). This cake took 1 ½ containers of frosting.
Cost Breakdown: boxed cake mix 79 cents (Aldi’s), cup of mayo- 50 cents (32 oz. jar @ Aldi’s for $1.99), 35 cents for 3 eggs, less than a penny for the cinnamon so it’s a wash. Containers of Icing- sale at local little store 99 cents each used 1.5 so that comes to $1.49.
Total Cost: $3.13 for a beautiful two layer cake.
Sprinkles were free- from my very own Mama.
Frosting done with love by me and Mr. C {who of course had to lick the frosting knife before we were done frosting and who repeatedly stuck his little gooey fingers into the icing making swirling patterns- however, this did not affect the yumminess of the cake in any way.}
Crockpotting not Crack potting- at least not yet
I am currently spending valuable online time looking for new crockpot recipes. I have found we are back to having Sunday Dinner if I can utilize my crockpot. Otherwise we don’t.We
Just
Don’t.
I have to admit it- I’m just not committed to making it the spectacular celebration meal that it should be without the crockpot.
Truth be told- I haven’t been altogether committed to making it anything close to spectacular. In the not so distant past it has been leftovers or a reinvention of leftovers.
Sigh.
Boring.
And we’ve been eating at the kitchen table instead of the dining table (what ever happened to that Sunday tradition).
Our Sundays are so squished between morning church services and evening church ministries. And with me having the job of church youth director- it’s a work day to boot.
So we relish the quiet and simplicity of Sunday afternoons.
And I love me my Nazarene Nap.
So what’s a gal to do?
Crockpot it.
The house smells so yummilicious when we get home from church.
This has been my first step.
I then took another step by setting out the stack of plates etc. for dinner on the table before leaving for church.
Now I am about ready to embark on my next step.
---- Having the dining table cleared off and moving the stack-o-plates to that table.
I know myself and if I had tried to do this all at once I would have fallen flat on my face, taken the rest from the Sabbath and not wanted to do it ever again.
Instead- taking small steps has my heart in step with continuing to make our Sunday’s special without making it stressful for the momma.
A steady stream of rambling
The days slip away from me without much time to write. We’re enjoying these warm fall days- spending time outside.
I don’t think I’ll have time to post my menu this week. I usually type it up in advance and post it but there was no “advance” time last week.
However- Last week, We did enjoy a wonderful day at the local fair. Mr. Conductor even milked his first goat. There was fair food and rides and 4-H barns—just tons of fun to eek out of every moment.
The best part for me was that we actually spent less at the fair than we have in years—that made it “more better” as Sassafras would say.
We’ve been enjoying our schooling- especially our Botany and nature studies- all good stuff there.
We’ve been spending time with family, enjoying gator rides, camp fires and high school football games.
We welcomed the first day of Autumn with special pumpkin waffles for breakfast, grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches at lunch and Autumn stew at dinner (with homemade bread, of course.) Played outside. Spent some time collecting bugs and leaves (some leaves we kept- but no bugs!)
And had a campfire. The first fire of fall . . . . . .
School continues to go smoothly over all- we have little bumps and dips in the road but no real pot holes so far.
Today was homeschool group day. I continue to be amazed at how streamlined and smooth these days are. My creative writing class continues to be a hit- even thought some of them did not like all the editing that was done on their rough drafts. It’s a learning process.
For me too.
We are currently hooked on watching The Waltons Series on DVD. We are very much enjoying watching it together as a family and have had some great discussions. We’re in the midst of season 3 and watch 1 to 3 episodes a week.
Much better than what we’d get on “regular” TV.
We continue to wait to hear back from that last credit card company about a settlement. There have been times when I have almost been pushed to the point of being overcome by the tidal wave of worry and despair it could bring. I say “almost” because I have been truly blessed to feel the Lord uphold and support me--- as soon as I feel the worry creeping in I lay it down and pray. He is so exceedingly good. It also helps that I have tremendous prayer support from some dear friends. The Lord is my shield and protector.
I would almost dare to say that I am giddy with contentment.
ah, almost.
Can giddy and contentment coexist?
Sometimes I’m such a goober.
Good Morning! It's Works for Me Wednesday!
My quest for frugality takes all types of twists and turns. I get some great ideas and some really wacky ones.There are times the wacky ideas work and the seemingly great ideas crash and burn (ie some of those ridiculously huge bulk food purchases from the warehouse club- what family really needs a 5 gallon bucket of salsa?)
I digress.
The following doesn’t exactly fall under wacky but a couple of friends have raised their eye brows at me . . . . .
I freeze left over fruit juices, juice from canned fruits, the juice from the jar of maraschino cherries in small Jell-O molds to be used instead of ice in punches and other yummy beverages. I keep the molds in the freezer and add to them as I come across dribbles of juice left in containers and such.
Warning- beware of freezer burn- use the juice ice within a reasonable length of time.
I must say that the maraschino cherries juice along with juices from some sliced strawberries tasted incredibly slurpy delicious in our lemonade this summer.
Find other (perhaps more helpful) Works for Me Wednesday tips at Rocks in My Dryer.
A Boo Banner
Here’s a fun project I put together as a gift for my sister-in-law.
I purchased a packet of black to grey colored 5 x 7 scrapbook papers and a package of chip board letters.
I had silver ribbon here at home.
A bit of measuring, cutting, hole punching and gluing and Voila!
I like it so much I’m planning on making a fall one for myself (note to self purchase brown-red-orange packet of scrapbook papers).
Trying to narrow it down to one of the following:
Happy Fall Y’all
Happy Fall
Welcome Fall
AUTUMN
Which then (like the mouse and the cookie) leads me to thinking of Christmas and possible gift ideas . . . .
Oh the endless possibilities.
It begins- I teach
Today was the very first day of our new schedule for our homeschool group.The first day of full-fledged classes.
To say it was a success seems to be a bit of an understatement.
We had the most hilarious time in my creative writing class. The kids got a kick out of me and me out of them. We laughed. A lot.
The kids are sure this will be “a most fun class” and I am determined for them to continue to see it that way- that creative writing is not the daunting task they so often think it is.
Here’s What We Did:
I started the class off by asking them to think of creative pen names for themselves. They are to keep the names secret (except for letting me in on it) and are to turn in all their work under their pseudonym. I explained that their work was to be Top Secret—a For Your Eyes Only type business.
They sure got a kick out of that.
Somehow I made it quite hilarious when I showed them editing check marks (aka Top Secret code cracking devices) and how to use them. I guess it’s more fun to learn about such things when one uses horribly incorrect grammar. They so enjoyed the sentence “We was was going to the park.” That garnered a lot of snickers and many were talking “was-was” talk for a time after.
We then used our newly acquired editing skills to edit a goofy story about a guy named Billy Bob Burton who falls in a patch of daisies while riding his bike and decided to make little plastic helmets to protect them in the future. Very corny- which led to more hilarity in the editing.
I packed a lot into our 80 minutes because we weren’t quite done yet!
We made a page for their binders titled “Words I Use When I Write” and I encouraged them to begin making lists of words they like, use a lot and want to use some time; as well as words they over use and a list of words to use “instead of” next to those over used words.
To finish out our time together, I opened a few boxes of crayons and asked each student to take a few. We then listed the colors they had and began brainstorming adjectives that would fit those colors. We started out simple but soon we were able to twist or thinking and apply great adjectives to the colors. Blue went from cool to frigid. Black from pitch to sticky. Grey was gloomy, foggy and bleak. Pink was quiet and clean. Red became hot, fiery and sweaty.
They did great!
The day’s mission (homework assignment): Write down three “color” adjectives and use those three adjectives in a descriptive paragraph. Edited rough draft due next week.
Of note: The students are to write their rough draft every other line in pencil and then, using a blue pen and editing check marks, they are to edit their own work—then turn it in. I will go over their “blue edited” work with a green pen, handing it back for them to create their final draft.
And that was just a morning class!
We also enjoyed art, music and PE in the afternoon.
And to top it all off--- I got home an hour earlier than normal!
And so it is with great assurance that I can say:
“And a good time was had by all.”
Simple Woman's Daybook: Entry #11
Please visit Peggy, the host of the Simple Woman’s Daybook and others here.
FOR TODAY~ September 15th
Outside my Window... it is very soggy and yet the sun peeked out for a few delicious moments. Parts of my garden were beaten down by the storm so it looks a bit ragged.
I am thinking... how very glad I am that Mr. Steady did such an incredible job on replacing & repairing the garage roof, two walls and the doorway. We had 10 inches of rain in two days and I believe the way the garage was before it would have collapsed. [side note: he did it all with reclaimed lumber, metal sheeting etc.- only cost was for nails.]
I am thankful for… my husband carpooling to work with his brother. Saving gas and enjoying great conversations. A double blessing.
From the kitchen... breakfast was strawberry yogurt w/cookie crumbs and a thick slice of pumpkin bread w/apple butter. Lunch will be Maiden’s deluxe grilled cheese sandwiches with cottage cheese on the side (and perhaps some cheese crackers- she’s cooking and that’s usually how she likes to serve it- I never noticed before but everything is “cheesy” LOL). Dinner will be pigs in a blanket, chips, pickle spears and tomato slices on the side. Mr. Steady and the kids will be cooking and enjoying together as I have a dinner date with the homeschool moms.
Also- I’m making another loaf of pumpkin bread (birthday present for my sister-in-law) and two loaves of honey oatmeal bread to take as my contribution to the homeschool group lunch tomorrow.
I am creating... some fun fall banners (I need to take pictures and share), a couple of framed verses (presents) and cover pages for binders for my creative writing class.
I am going... out to dinner with moms from my homeschool group to celebrate 2 mommas’ birthdays.
I am wearing... way-too-baggy-but-too-comfortable-to-give-up pants, brown T-shirt and a silver heart prayer necklace.
I am reading... New Moon by Stephenie Meyer and a couple of other books- the titles escape me right now.
I am hoping... for a good day. A productive day.
I am hearing... the kiddos settling in with school, the DPW crew checking and cleaning the street drains.
Around the house... some bread baking and some laundry. But up a few more fall decorations.
One of my favorite things... the Mackintosh apple tart in my tart burner. Oh how I love that smell.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... going to the local county fair with the family (field trip!) and my nephew’s football game. The kids are making plans to sleep over at Nana & PawPaw’s in the practically finished play house.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... this is the edge of the dirt road next to my parents’ home. There is a stream that is normally about 2 or 3 inches deep. Here you see water running off the road and dumping into the stream- making it’s own little water fall and rapids. The water was moving pretty fast. The water on the road is about 4-5 inches deep and the stream is approx. two feet deep here.
A change of perspective could be necessary
You may or may not have noticed that I recently added a new button to my blog.Change the conversation . . . . Stop using the r-word.
The site this links to is incredible and I urge each of you to take up the challenge with me.
I am personally very particular about this word. This word is not only outlawed in my home (my children believe it to be the cuss word that it is) but I have also outlawed its use in our church youth group.
Why?
It is a disgusting, vile word. A hard sounding word with extremely negative connotations.
A completely undeserving moniker for people that God created in His own image.
I have not always had such a strong view point on this word. While not using it a lot, I was known to say, “I am such a r*****.” when frustrated with myself- giving it the same meaning as idiot or dummy.
And yet this word is not that innocent.
While the dictionary says “to hinder progress; to make slow or late; to impede”, that is not what most people mean when they speak this wretched word.
So what changed me from a sporadic user of the word to a fanatic in outlawing it?
Quite simply put- a person.
Not just anyone and yet
Not some one who would be labeled with the term.
She is my sister-in-law.
Here is the story:
My brother was also a “user of the word” until he started dating L. He not only stopped using it but admonished me and others in the family not to use the word either.
You see, L grew up with an older brother with special needs and while we used the term in the same way as “idiot” she personally knew the pit of ugliness the term can conjure.
It only took reality staring me in the face to realize how misguided I was. I quickly joined the no r-word bandwagon and was amazed, shocked and ashamed at how often I heard the word- in common, every day ways. Once I understood the implications of this word- hearing it stung my ears just as if someone had ripped off an obscenity.
Which is truly what this word is.
An obscenity.
Our lives have been made richer for knowing not only my sweet sister-in-law but for knowing Bud, her older brother.
Through Bud, my children have learned about special needs people in a personal and loving way. They have seen unconditional love for Bud within his family and have never questioned his acceptance. They have known from the beginning that he is different and that different is not a bad thing. In ways I could never have taught them on my own, they’ve seen God’s love differently. I find joy in watching them interact with him. From Maiden’s use of simple sign language to Sass hugging him (“Not too tight, Bud.”) to Mr. C’s staring wonderment and quick grin and also Mr. Steady’s just plain goofiness with Bud.
We love Bud. He enriches our lives.
The simplicity of just knowing him changed my perspective and made me a better person.
A good thing.
I also must add that growing up with Bud helped L to go on and earn a degree in Special Education. She currently teaches and is head of Special Ed at the local high school.
Bud doesn’t know all the lives he has touched, made different, made richer just because he is who he is.
He’s a pebble plunked in the pond and the ripples will continue and grow.
Continue and grow.
That’s a God thing.
The impact of his life will be far reaching.
That’s awesome.
I challenge anyone who uses it to get to know a special needs person and then ask yourself if this word is okay to use so flippantly.
Click on the blog button in my right hand column and pass the word!
Homeschool Memoirs #4- Something New
Go here for the details and more.
This week we are to share something new we are using for Homeschooling.
I want to share three items that we are just completely in love with here:
1. Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Botany
This science book ROCKS! I love the flow and wording and the Christian perspective. We are Charlotte Mason with a liberal dash of eclectic here and this science is really getting us into Nature Study the way I’ve always wanted to do it. Plus we’re all using it together- I’m not teaching two different science programs. Oh, the bliss of simplicity. Also includes a password to course extras on their website. [Consider joining the Apologia yahoo group too for more help and encouragement. There are also various lapbooks and notebooking available on the web to add on.]
The book costs $35.00 at Apologia’s website. I purchased mine at Christianbook.com for $27.99.
2. Language Lessons from Queen Homeschool
We’ve really struggled with Language Arts for Sassafras and I knew I just couldn’t put her and I through one more year of something that was not working. A homeschooling friend suggested These LA books from Queen Homeschool and I enjoyed the look of them so much that I bit the bullet and ordered the Language Lessons for Little Ones for Mr. Conductor too. Why do I like these books? Here’s what’s printed on the cover: “An informal introduction to language arts with a Charlotte Mason flavor . . . .” Exactly. Picture study of full color beautiful paintings, copywork of wonderful poetry, narration, creative writing, grammar and so on. Everything we need in one book. I was initially concerned that the book for Mr. C was going to be a bit much, but he is loving it- doing 3 to 4 lessons at a sitting and learning letter recognition so easily- it has such a great flow and fun little things for him to do. I have encouraged two other homeschooling friends to go this route with their children who are struggling with language arts and so far all our kiddos are loving it!
Each Language Lessons book is $19.95 (consumable).
3. Time Travelers History Study from Homeschool in the Woods
These CDs are incredible. We have all 4 CDs (
Each CD is $28.95. [I purchased all four plus lessons pre-printed here at WinterPromise- scroll down to additional resources.]
The three resources I’ve shared with you today have all helped to make our new school year run more smoothly. Each is jam-packed with the needed relevant information and packaged to be eye-catching and interesting. I am so very glad I stepped out of my little comfort zone of buying a totally prepackaged curriculum from start to finish and instead looked towards the items I knew would meet my children at their level as well as hold their interest and encourage them to stretch, grow and learn. (And have fun doing it!)
Long Remembered
We Remember
Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. Psalm 112:6
Word picture and perspective
Creating a word picture in my mind that tugs directly at my heart.
That’s what this quote does to me:
"Picture a place where you're yearning to be. A place where work, home, and play are properly balanced, where people exist peaceably, where relationships flourish. A place where there's time for what's really important. Picture life the way you're hungry to live it, in your deepest heart of hearts. Picture simpler times." – Thomas Kinkade
What does it say to you?
Oh, how I desire to find work, home and play properly balanced. Now that we are back into our full homeschooling schedule I am reminded that work and play can go hand in hand- work can be fun and enjoyable.
I’ve been thinking that just because I have 3 wild and rambunctious children, a part-time job that takes more than that, homeschooling 3 said wild children, various other obligations and not to mention my darling husband- and I’m thinking that while that all sounds like rather a lot to have on one’s plate- well, I’m thinking that we can still have this word picture. It’s like I mentioned in a previous post- it’s a matter of perspective.
And I’m lookin’ to be changin’ mine.
If one thinks that taking 3 wild and rambunctious children to the grocery store is going to be a nerve wracking trip- then in all probability it will be. But if one chooses to change their perspective (and I do) . . . . . let’s see- I’d have to say that I’d rather take my crew to the grocery store than to the mall! Ah, better perspective. Plus the perspective reminder that they will not always be this young and the moments are slipping by at an alarming rate . . . . . better perspective.
In fact, in my perspective, I happen to like wild and rambunctious and that on a grander scale they are pretty much fairly normal. My children may be wild and rambunctious but they are not ill-mannered or mean- perspective.
I want my perspective to be more wrapped around the here and now than on the future. I want to be concerned about the children learning what they need to know for their current grade levels, not whether they’ll get into the right college. That is important but I need the perspective of here and now. I want to pay attention to what they are doing now and the experiences we can have as a family now than spend time thinking that life will be so much easier when so-and-so child is a bit older or less clumsy or more confident or more understanding or fillintheblank.
Yes, the future and planning for it are important but I’ve found for myself that I have a better perspective when I spend more time right where I’m at right now.
I want to have the perspective of enjoying my home right now and not think “oh, I’ll enjoy it when such-and-such is fixed or replaced or remodeled or removed”.
Things can always look better with a bit of change in perspective. I believe I can have a better balance in my life if I work on my perspective.
My life can be simple in the midst of the complexities. It’s a matter of making time for what is really important.
It’s a matter of perspective.
Ah, fall menu
Menu with Daily Costs
Notes: From the Garden: we’ve got lettuce, cucumbers (burpless and lemon) and cherry tomatoes as well as a few onions. Friends have given us beefy tomatoes and summer squash as well as some hot peppers. We picked up some Honeycrisp apples and gi-normous onions at a local farm market.
Monday
B: Choice: yogurt or cereal
L: snacky lunch- cheese, ham on crackers, cucumber and tomato slices, apples
D: Corn chowder, biscuits
Dessert: Iced Monkey Bread
Daily Cost: $7.67
Tuesday
B: @ MOPS
L: Picnic Lunch: sandwiches, chips, apple slices, cookies
D: Campbell’s Mac-n-cheese, sausage, steamed veggies
Dessert: none
Daily Cost: $9.34
Wednesday
B: H’made oatmeal w/dried cherries
L: Cups of corn chowder, ham & cheese biscuit sandwiches
D: Maiden’s Cheeseburger casserole, greens salad
Dessert: Root beer floats
Daily Cost: $8.45
Thursday
B: Toad in the Holes
L: Ravioli, cottage cheese, cheese crackers
D: Chicken-n-noodles, h’made bread, h’made pickles, salad
Dessert: warm tapioca pudding
Daily Cost: $7.52
Friday
B: Baked apples and toast
L: English Muffin Pizzas
D: Nachos
Dessert: popcorn- it’s family nite!
Daily Cost: $5.73
Saturday
B: Daddy Cook (eggs, toast, bacon etc)
L: Leftover Smorgasbord
D: Leftover Smorgasbord
Daily Cost: $3.00
Sunday
B: Cocoa Wheats, toast
L: Open Face turkey sandwiches, sliced tomatoes & cucumbers
D: @ the County Fair
Daily Cost: $3.11
Weekly Total: $44.82
~~ Don’t forget to check out the yummy menu ideas every Monday over at The Organizing Junkie’s blog. You just might find your next favorite family recipe!
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My rock and biggest supporter. The glue that keeps the family sane. He is like deep, deep water- it takes a lot to see a ripple.
DD11- Our Maiden in Waiting- By the world's standard she's a 'tween'. By ours and the Lord's- this is the time of her years of preparation. She is eagerly learning what it means to keep a home and daily becomes more and more of a helper to her Mama.
DD8- Sassafras My Sassy middle child. She holds her own so sweetly and has such an empathetic heart. While real Sassafras is used for flavoring- She is that added spice of flavor to our family.
DS4- Mr. Conductor- The train aficionado in the family. He likes to think he's in charge and often is! He's also the biggest Oreo fiend in the family.
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