Little on school stuffs!

Kids are doing good in school. Bubba and Loo did their testing and scored well! I was happy and proud of them! 

Loo- Reading 81%         

Math= 62%

Bubba- Reading 82%

Math -67%

 

So both did good. Math a little low but they will bring it up easily. They are doing good. Marcan has done over 1 years History and Science already this year!!

Loo is doing good, although I think she is getting burned out on the computer. All their schooling is online.

Boo- Pulled him out of Kaplan. It was not working. As much as he wanted it to, I think the learning style was not his thing, plus there was a lot of pressure. He does not do pressure

So he is now in the program the others are in. I think he will do better in it. We will monitor him closely and make changes if needed.

Sir N- Doing good- Plugging along in his work! He is in a different program. He is using K12. There are some things I like and some I don't. He wants to use the program the others are in next year. We will see.

So it is that time of year, we are not done but I am thinking about next year. I had thought about pulling the kids from the program they are in. But think that's not for the best at this point. I do how ever think a little change needs to happen. I found out they can do a combo of what they are doing and K12. So I am thinking next year we may choose 2 subjects and they will use K12 for them. If we do I want them to all do the same 2. Keep it simpler for me. I am undecided on what 2. NOT MATH! I think there is way to much seat work in their math. Poor Sir N had 2 math books that are thick, he is 1st grade! I am looking at it. And was able to get a Demo account set up for K12. I am going to have them each play with that a little and see what I can decide. 

Over all they are doing good. Chubby is still not doing official school. He is still not ready. I work with him, he is getting closer to catching on but not there yet. Soon.

Baby E is awesome! She is good, playing and learning that way still! I am always amazed at how much they learn and absorb at such young ages! You don't have to sit down with work sheets to teach, talk, play, sing, dance, walk, look around, read,so many fun ways to learn! And the younger kids do it so well. They have not learned yet that "learning is boring" And in my house I hope, I try to teach them that its fun no matter how old or what your learning. I know some public school years ruined that for us- and some of the way society as a whole looks at and treats learning hurts it. But I want my kids to know learning can be fun, and there are so many ways to learn. You do not have to sit at a desk for 6 hours a day doing work sheets to learn! read a book- any book, bake, cook- following recipes is great for fractions, walk and talk, camp, look around. 

I am really thinking about the Family Herbalist course I have wanted to take for so many years. Its on sale right now! But its still $100.00. If I can manage it I am going to take it. Just need to find $100.00 extra somewhere. LOL funny thought there! I really think we could benefit from it. I think its worth the money, just having the $$. There is always something else I have to do. 

SO theres your update on kids and school!and probably more than you wanted to know about my opinion of learning! And I kept it short, sweet and kept most of my opinion to myself! I'll post that another time when I feel like annoying everyone!

Raviolies?? Ya well they started out that way

I had not made pasta- home made pasta for a long time. Feeling a little more like getting back to my normal cooking these days so I decided we were making home made raviolis! Cheese raviolis! So I put the stuff in pasta maker- and turn it on- it goes! and stops after oh maybe 20 seconds. We repeat this process till I am totally ticked! SO I set up the food processor with the dough mixers and go that route. Mix it all up. I decide the kids are going to want to help, why not make them cute raviolis! I pull out the larger cookie cutters, a heart, circle, octagon, and house shape. This should be fun right? 

Have Nanna mix up the cheese filling for me. I roll out the dough and kids go to town! cutting shapes, we fill with a spoon, pinch edges together to seal it up. So after doing this for what seems like forever- really was not to long but when you have a 3,5,7 and 10 year old helping time stretches! Now don't get me wrong it was fun. They were having fun and adorable. Chubby laughs and says "I am awesome chef! HAHAHA!" It was great. made me laugh hard.

So first batch cooks! HMM some of the filling leaked out it seems, oh well, not a biggie.

So me and nanna think on new idea for rest, kids have mostly lost interest, not totally but they are ready to try a new method also. So I roll out a LARGE piece of dough, use pizza cutter and make a slice. I fill it every little ways, fold over and cut, pinch edges and cook. Even more filling runs out, but still taste yummy. 

Well by now I am bored, hungry and want to be done. Nanna says why don't we just spread the cheese over 1/2 the dough, fold it over, cut it, pinch it and call it good. Hey that sounds good! So we dump and spread! fold, and hm may not work but lets give it a try. I slice into squares. But they are all so full there is no edged to pinch any of them shut! lol so we squish them together as good as possible, loosing filling in the process. What started out looking like cute little raviolis now looks like a mushy mess of gooey dough covered in slimy cheese!

But I figure in the end it gets chewed and looks yucky anyway so hey we can start out looking yucky! Don't mean it tastes gross right? Into the boiling water they go! We loose more cheese filling! drain when done and put into a bowl. Now a lot of the cheese filling at this point leaked out into the water and kinda made its own sauce. Some of it was put in the pasta ( I say pasta because I am not sure they qualify as raviolis, raviolis are supposed to have filling, this does not for the most part!)

I make the Alfredo sauce, pout it over, mix it up and we eat. Amazingly enough they turned out good! Not as many lost their filling as we thought. and it was good. Here is the recipe

Pasta dough- this is from my friend Dulie- I doubled it 

Basic pasta

 4  eggs

1 tbsp water

3-1/2 cups flour, you can sift it, seems to make mixing time easier for me.

1/2 tsp salt

I added onion powder- no measurement just dumped, and garlic powder, just dumped. I used a lot, the dough tasted like garlic and onion It was good 

This is where I change the recipe some, I add all ingredients and mix, as it needed more moisture I used milk until it was moist as I wanted. Dulie uses water

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Cheese filling

1 container cottage cheese

cheddar cheese                                                                                            I mix them together, this is kind of an eye ball it thing. You can use whatever cheese you want, mix it up and call it good. My kids love this mix

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alfredo sauce

1 package cream cheese

1 cube real butter

melt, mixing a lot, it wont really melt just get all gloppy

add bottle of shredded mozzarella/Romano cheese (one or both)is- this is where it melts. 

Add milk enough to make consistency you want. It can be thick or thin, your choice  . This stuff is good Pour over pasta                           

            

 

variety of favorite recipes

Stroganoff Recipe        

2          cups mushrooms, sliced

1          medium onion, diced

1          tablespoon olive oil      

3          tablespoons margarine 

1          cup beef, cubed

2          tablespoons flour         

1          tablespoon Worcestershire sauce         

1          cup milk          

1          cup sour cream

1          teaspoon nutmeg          

1          package pasta, any kind

            salt and pepper

 

   1. Cook Pasta according to package.

   2. In a deep skillet.

   3. Saute Onions and Mushrooms until tender.

   4. Remove from pan and set aside.

   5. Saute the beef until brown and add to the Mushroom mixture.

   6. Next, add the flour to the juices in the pan and mix until blended well.

   7. Then gradually add in the Milk and Worchestershire sauce.

   8. Add back in the Mushroom Mixture and let simmer on low heat for about ten minutes.

   9. Add in the sour cream and stir until blended and heated through.

  10. Serve over the pasta.

Sour Cream

 

Method 1

I N G R E D I E N T S

1 cup cream

1 tablespoon cultured buttermilk

Recipe can be increased at the ratio of 1 tablespoon buttermilk to 1 cup of cream.

 

I N S T R U C T I O N S

In a double boiler bring the fresh cream up to 180 degrees. Cool to room temp in a cold water bath. Add the buttermilk, cover, and let sit at room temp. for 24-48 hours. Stir and refrigerate. The batch will keep approximately 3-4 weeks, refrigerated

 

 

 

Method 2

I N G R E D I E N T S

1 cup cream

1 1/2 cups pasteurized whole milk

1/2 cup buttermilk

 

I N S T R U C T I O N S

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl over warm water. Raise the temperature of the mixture to (68 degrees to 70 degrees F) and let it stand for 12 to 24 hours or until it is sufficiently sour and thick enough to cling firmly to a spoon. Keep in the refrigerator until you want to use it. For a richer heavier sour cream combine 2 cups of pasteurized heavy cream with 5 tablespoons of cultured buttermilk and incubate as before. For better texture refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Jae, Here's my base recipe. I use a food processer, and my kitchen aid attachments but I don't see why it wouldn't work for your machine.

 

Basic pasta

 

4 lg or 5 med eggs

1 tbsp water

3-1/2 cups flour, you can sift it, seems to make mixing time easier for me.

1/2 tsp salt

 

When I make the dough I add only half the water and the remaining I add a few drops at a time. I don't pour water onto the noodle dough, I dip my fingers in the water and flick it on, a little at a time. Sometimes I need to add a bit more water to the recipe. I think making noodle dough is a bit like candy making, the weather seems to affect how much liquid is needed

 

*** I add herbs to my noodles, the family favorite is when i add basil and garlic and throw them in stock. If you are using dry herbs soak them in the water you use for the noodles before you add it to the flour.

 

 

Wheat pasta

 

2-1/2 cups ww flour, sifted

1 cup sifted flour

4 lg eggs, or 5 med

2 tbsp water

1/2 tsp salt

 

Lots of people I know dry their pasta. As i make mine I hang them over my cupboard doors that have been covered by bread cloths. Then as I finish I dust them with flour and fold them into wax paper, i make sure the wax paper is between the layers of noodles to keep them from sticking, and put them in the fridge or freezer. We like our noodles on the soft side, makes them 'meatier' for soups and great with sauces. For spaghetti I will hang them out to dry some.

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

2          cups plain yogurt           or sour cream  

1/2       cup chopped peeled seeded cucumbers           

2          tablespoons chopped onions    

1 1/2    teaspoons dried mint     (optional)

1/2       teaspoon garlic powder

1/2       teaspoon salt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

C's spagettie  

I use spaghetti; it would probably be wise to break it into pieces to make it toss more easily--

 

I also use whole wheat (organic) spaghetti--

 

1 cauliflower, cut into florets--with stems peeled (if they are tough) and diced

4 T. butter

1/2 cup finely chopped parsley . . . if I don't have enough of this, I use basil and chives, but the parsley is GOOD!

1 tsp. coarse mustard (that's the seeds, coarsely ground)

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (that's what you often find in Italian restaurants)

1 pound spaghettini (I use spaghetti); you may also use orecchiette or conchiglie (small)

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano or both (I mix them)

1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs, toasted until golden and crisp

 

salt and freshly ground pepper

 

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Salt it to taste, add the cauliflower, and cook for three minutes. Scoop the cauliflower into a large pasta bowl and add the butter, parsley, mustard, and pepper flakes. Add the pasta to the salted boiling water and set the bowl over the pot to keep it warm, leaving a crack so the water doesn't boil over, while the pasta cooks. Drain it when it's done and ad it to the cauliflower. Grind a generous amount of pepper over al, the toss with the cheeses and crumbs--

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Apple donut balls:

 

5 eggs

2 c. sugar

1 c. heavy cream

7 cup flour

1 3/4 c. buttermilk

1 t. vanilla

1 t. cinnamon

2 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1 quart jar of apple pie filling

Cooking oil

 

 

Beat eggs. Add sugar and mix until very creammy. Stir in cream and buttermilk. Add baking soda, salt and vanilla. Mix then add apple pie filling. Add Flour a little at a time while mixing.

 

Heat oil to 375.

 

Drop by heaping teaspoon full into oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towel then roll in sugar. They are great without being rolled in sugar.

 

This will make 11 dozen.

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Wheat Meat: To make Wheat Meat you soak 3 cups of wheat for 24 hours, rinsing when the water gets cloudy. I soak the wheat around 36 hours. Then drain and rinse the wheat and put through a meat grinder. You can use a hand meat grinder or an electric one. I have used both.

 

Then Add your seasonings 2 T of beef flavoring or 2 T chicken flavoring or flavoring of your choice and 1 tsp salt. I often use the Lipton Onion or Lipton Onion Mushroom dry soup mix envelopes for seasoning. The wheat will take on the seasoning of your choice. Your and also add taco seasoning, italian seasoning to make the wheat meat like sausage.

 

Put some oil in a pan and add wheat ground up and heat, breaking the wheat up with a spoon to acheive a meat like texture. To use for tacos add 2 T onion flakes, chili powder and cumin.

 

**************

 

Wheat Patties: You can make Wheat Patties and use for hamburgers or salisbury steak, etc.

 

Soak 3 cups of wheat for 36 hours, rinsing when water gets cloudy. Drain and rince and put through a meat grinder.

 

Add the flavoring of your choice

Mix in a mixer until gluten forms (about 3 min) Divide into 12 balls. On a lightly oiled cutting board, form into patties. Cook on a griddle, on top of the stove or bake in the oven, turning over to cook each side.

 

***********

 

Wheat Loafs: To make Wheat Loafs just soak for 36 hours, drain and grind in the meat grinder. Then put into the mixer adding your flavorings, 1/3 cup of chopped onion, 1/2 cup water, 2 tsp salt and 1/2 cup oil. and mix until gluten forms (about 3 min). Put in a well greased loaf pan. I use a wilton 9 loaf pan and make 9 individual wheat loafs. Then cook a large loaf for 1 hour covered with foil at 350 degrees. Then remove the foil and bake 30 minutes more.

When I use my wilton 9 loaf pan I bake the loafs covered for 30 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes longer. Exactly half the time of a large loaf.

 

I serve the wheat loafs with mashed potatoes and gravy. The patties work well as salsibury steaks in gravy.

 

Note:

You can use the wheat meat recipes in any recipe that calles for ground meat. Use in spaghetti sause, in chili, for taco meat, stroganof  and in casseroles. You may also sprinkle over salads, season with taco seasoning for taco salad or sprinkle on a baked potato. The possibilities are endless.

~A Best friend~A Quote~ A group of friends~A Thank you~

So yesterday due to many things was a rough day for me. I was pretty emotional. It actually started Tuesday night. I went for a walk to take a time out for myself. During my walk I called my good friend "D" She is awesome. She listened to me rant, rave, cry, sound like an idiot- all while walking around in the dark in my PJ's! She even cried with me! She is awesome. I went home feeling a little better. She then let a group of friends we have know I was struggling again. By Thursday morning when I woke up, and shortly after, as I sat and watched my email I was over ran with responses from these awesome ladies! It was awesome. They express their love and concern for me, and she had let them know I had ran out of $$, again. (This happens way to often) So some donations were also sent. Making it possible to buy pull ups, milk, and other things we needed in the house. Along with a couple other things needed. I have 3 major repairs left to do to the house. 1 I had worked out on the how, the 2nd is cleaning the pipes for the wood burning stove- I figure its warming up it can wait a little if need be, the 3rd the power line from the house to garage has to be replaced ASAP. I had a quote, seems reasonable. I had thought I could get that taken care of, but would take another month or so. Had me worried. I can now get that taken care of thanks to these awesome friends I have all over the world. Some of the responses were anonymous. I am truly grateful to these ladies and their husbands- those that have them. They have helped me many times, been my strength and support through much. Motivated me for home school issues, answered questions on it, and on life. They have been my mentours, my friends and my family. When I have felt down they cheer me, when I have felt lost, they find me, they are awesome. Sure there are times when some of them annoy me, but well lets face it we all annoy someone at one point or another. There are a few things going on I am not comfortable bringing up in public, and some of you know that, Some of you know whats up. 

I want to thank you all for being there for me, and to Thank D for being there for me. 

As I was reading emails yesterday I also had an LDS Gem come through with a quote that was perfect for the day. I am going to share it. The whole article can be read by following the quote. 

Peace during Times of Distress Posted: 25 Mar 2009 01:00 AM PDT "We know that sometimes it can be difficult to keep our heads above water. In fact, in our world of change, challenges, and checklists, sometimes it can seem nearly impossible to avoid feeling overwhelmed by emotions of suffering and sorrow."I am not suggesting that we can simply flip a switch and stop the negative feelings that distress us. This isn't a pep talk or an attempt to encourage those sinking in quicksand to imagine instead they are relaxing on a beach. I recognize that in all of our lives there are real concerns. I know there are hearts here today that harbor deep sorrows. Others wrestle with fears that trouble the soul. For some, loneliness is their secret trial."These things are not insignificant."However, [there are] two principles that may help you find a path to peace, hope, and joy—even during times of trial and distress. I want to speak about God's happiness and how each one of us can taste of it in spite of the burdens that beset us." Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 117–18

My new yogurt recipe

I made it, it turned out great! Its a combination of  another recipe and my own thoughts

It turned out super thick, sweet, creamy and very tasty

1/2 gallon premade powder milk

2 14 oz cans sweetened condensed milk

2 12 oz cans evaporated milk

fill gallon to top with mil- leave enough room for yogurt start

warm in crock pot, cool back down to around lukewarm- 110 degrees add start place in crock pot with hot water again 

cover and let sit for 6-8 hours. refrigerate and eat up! I do mean eat- its to thick to drink!

taste before flavring. Its already sweet. I think next time I make it I may use 1 1/2 cans of sweetened condensed milk. See if I can make it a little less sweet. 

This turned out very good, thick and creamy! It may be my new favorite way to make it!

dinner tonight

Tonight we are using the Dutch Oven!

I took 2 Lbs ground turkey, crumbled in bottom of pan mixed garlic powder and onion powder into it

sliced potatoes, turnups, green peppers, onion, broccolie,and mushrooms and put ontop of turkey. 

1 can tomatoe sauce

1 can cream of celery soup, 1 can cream of mushroom soup mix with 1 can water poured over the top

put lid on cook in oven at 350 for about 1 hour

lunch was- top ramen noodles for kids, I skipped it

Breakfast- kids cereal and yogurt

me- yogurt with flax mix

Also tried a new recipe for my yogurt. Its still in the making. If it works out I'll share it. If not I am dumping and not telling anyone! I also found a couple new sites with recipes for yogurt that sound good

ways to flavor home made yogurt!

https://www.dvo.com/newsletter/monthly/2003/june/0603tabletalk3.html

new recipe

http://www.phamfatale.com/id_123/title_Agave-blended-Homemade-Yogurt-with-Kumquat-Preserves-without-using-a-Yogurt-Maker/

Flowers- yard and containers

• **Cosmos
• **Bachelor Button
• **larkspur
• lillac bush
• roses-
• **straw flower
• carnations
• tulips
• **sunflowers
• **alyssum-white & pastel
• **amaranth
• **helichrysum
• **lavender
• **verbena
• ** sweet william
• **lunaria
• **salvia
• **babys breath

** have seeds already

If you have any suggestions for other flowers sned me a message,comment or post! I plan on having a large vegie garden, large Herbal garden, and lots of flowers!

fun gardening-just for kicks!

• **luffa
• **carousel ornamental pop corn
• ** broom corn
• ** large and small gourds
• ** strawberry pop corn
•  gourds

** have seeds

Looking for some other fun ideas so if you can think of some post and tell me!

My Vegi Garden

Here is a list of what I plan on growing this year. It may change some as I go. But for now this is what I have

• potatoes
• tomatoes
• onion
• **green pepper
• **tomatillos
• **cucumber
• zucinni
• **yellow crook neck squash
• **spagetti squash
• **beets
• **sweet corn
• **straightneck yellow squash
• **peas
• green beans
• lettuce
• radish
• **white radish
• **watermelon
• turnip
• butternut squash
• **pumpkin
• **broccoli
• **eggplant
• **carrots
• spinach
• **spinach mustard
• **acorn squash
• **white sweet corn
• **yellow peppers
• **butternut squash
• lemon cucumber-have some, need more

** have seeds

If you can think of anything I left out or you would suggest please drop me a note. I am open to suggestions

List of what I plan on planting for Herb garden and medicinal stuff

• garlic
• chives
• cilantro
• lemon balm
• mint** But I understand there are more than 1 kind, so I am looking into others
• oregano
• rosemary
• thyme
• sage
• tarragon
• peppermint
• lemon thyme
• anise
• chamomile
• basil
• bay
• echinacea
• eucalyptus-maybe
• gravel root
• parsley**
• dill**

** have seeds

Any ideas or suggestions from any Herb gardners? I have never done an herb garden before. So this will be a learning experience. This list may change, adding or removing some. Some will be grown inside, some outside in the ground and containers. 

exercise/weigh in/measurments/pain level

SO I am trying to keep track of what I am doing to work out, loose weight, tone up and control pain

I am doing a 1-10 scale on pain level- tracking daily

tracking what I do to exercise

and eat/drink

sleep pattern

I want to try to update through each day to see if I can find a pattern of triggers for pain and anxiety

very little sleep last night- sick Chubby/ and then noise sensitive

pain at a 8 when woke/ 6 after Tai Chi

So today so far I have done 20 min AM Tai Chi

anxiety is high today on 1-10 probably around a 7

breakfast will be cup yogurt with flax mix, and honey/garlic

High Fiber drink mix! Honey N Garlic and cast Iron!

Ya so I have this stuff I drink or eat, its pretty good.The kids even drink it. It has flax seed in it and we all love flax here! Well the bottle is almost gone, so I was going to buy more pay day. Last night I got to thinking, exactly whats in it? Grab the bottle read the ingredients- hm interesting, ground flax, ground unprocessed bran flakes, and oat flakes. Thats it! I have all that at home, and I have fresh stiff! Not the oat flakes but steel cut oats- even better. So I pulled out the blender(it was busy yesterday) Throw in some flax, bran and oats, grind it up real good and dump it into a gallon jar. I only filled the bottle 1/2 way. Flax wont last forever once its ground up. So its in the fridge, with the scoop and directions to use on the side. The good thing about this stuff is not only does it taste good, but you can drink it- milk or water. Its thick at the bottom so you have to stir constantly. But you can (even better) eat it in yogurt! And I made yogurt on Saturday, me and my Baby E! It turned out thick and yummy. I used the crock pot to keep it warm this time, it worked great! Its the best batch I have made since I stopped getting fresh raw milk to make it. SO you can put my flax mix in it, or apple sauce and eat it. And its good! Tastes kinda nutty.

Before this I had to make some honey/garlic mix again. I did it a little different this time. Instead of using the garlic press after I peeled it, I chopped it, then I put it and the honey in the blender and let it go! So its much smaller pieces this time, and garlicier! Is that a word? HMMM dont know but you get the point. It tastes good, and when you take a tsp you can feel the garlic. It tastes even better! I know I am weird. Most people dont like it, but I do, the kids do and mom does. And it helps our soar throats when they pop up!

I spent Saturday cleaning up my cast iron pans and seasoning them. They had been sitting so long they needed redone. One of the deep dutch oven was so rusted, it was pitted horrid. I did not think I was going to save it. But I had a new idea to try and it worked! I pulled out my handy little hand sander and sanded that thing! Got rid of the rust and pits! It came out looking better than the rest of the pans! I may sand em all! So they are all seasoned, and hanging. With the exception of the dutch ovens, they are stacked next to the stove in easy view and reach. Hopefully they will get used now. I printed out directions for cleaning and hung by the sink. So maybe this time it works.

Laundry soap

Ya I know sounds kinda boring dont it! Laundry soap, only Jae would write about laundry soap. Well not only am I writing about it, but I made it myself! Yes You read right! I was making my own for a long time, but the only ways I came across were powder, and I do not like powder laundry soap. I have to be vey careful on what kind I use due to allergies. The wrong kind and I am one sick puppy! Or my kids get a horrid rash. Well I ran onto a site- homeschooler led me to it. It has 10 different recipes! Now knowing what I do about doing things naturally, and all that I know its possible to make it and have it work! So I decided to giver another go! This time with liquid! I know one more reason for ya'll to think I am nuts, and thats ok, you can think what you want. Hey I am a little on the nutty side. Here is a link to the site  I based my soap off.  Homemade laundry soap

I changed my recipe a little. I had some ground Yucca root, I have used before in place of soap, so I used it instead of the soap. Since I dont use soap I dont have any! I added 2 cups vinegar, and my essential oils. Tea tree oil and mandarine orange. I like the smell of the orange, and the tea tree is good for killing stuff. I used recipe # 2 with my changes- the yucca root instead of soap, and the vinegar. I put the vinegar in because I dont use fabric softners or dryer sheets. I have used vinegar with my laundry soap before, it helps soften them. Hopefully it works this way, if not well I am not really out anything.

1 load washed, very clean, smells good and soft! 2nd load in and washing! I found a place to get seeds for Yucca Root last night. I am going to attempt to grow my own, then I have it fresh without buying!!! 

I have been fighting the climbing rose bush outside. I'll post pics when I am done with that battle. It was almost all dead, so I am having to remove so much dead, and there was a lot not even attached to the bush but mixed up in it. Messy stuff, and mean also! I have battle wounds all over my arms, but thats what you get when you go into battle with a rose bush with out gloves! I went and bought gloves after the main fight was over. Big DUH there! We are going to be working on the outside of the house a lot over the next week or 2. I need to get all the dead branches and stuff in a pile and ready to burn. I'll be getting a burn permit from the city, its only good for 2 weeks. So I want it all ready to go at once so I can get it done. Some of it that will be good for the wood burning stove will be cut and stacked in the garage. 

We are also going to be getting ready for the garden and planting seeds for it and for flowers.

and here is also some pics of all the jars in the cellar! Lots of jars, lots of dirt and dust! Messy messy place! Nanna is coming to help me clean one day. She was going to already but we did not get to it. Maybe next visit. After its cleaned and organized I will show you more new pics. 

fixin as we go

my flower pot holders!

So I have loads of pots in the cellar! Most will end up full of flowers but I was wanting a cute way to hold the forks,kinfes and spoons. I saw some in a flower pot a while back and liked it. So I took 4 of them from downstairs, cleaned them up real good and set up the paints! I decided I wanted cute, inspirational and spiritual. Something to remind me of where I want my thoughts and actions to be. These are the end result! I spent all day painting them. It was fun to do. I also took an old crock pot that cant be used, painted the smiley face on it and will plant flowers in it. It will sit on the front porch. Ya I know leave it to me- plant flowers in kitchen stuff, put kitchen stuff in flower pots! I never do anything like it should be you know me! 

They turned out cute. Now I have to figure out where to sit them. I was thinking at the end of the counter in the kitchen, but its always got stuff all over it. The Dinning room table? ya right! Baby E would have a blast and we would never have clean forks and spoons! So for now they are on the stove. I will figure it out someday! 

organizing the bathroom & Chore boards!

Today has been a busy day! First Me and Bubba went out and had some one on one time! We went to the local Herb Store and I bought some Red Mandarin Essential oil. Wanted to try it out. I love citrus smells, I find they energize me and keep me alert. This was by Natures Sunshine and I have never used their oils, fact is until yesterday I did not even know they made them. I am not to sure I like the one I picked up, it smells like an orange pop sickle. I wanted a real orange smell not this. But oh well. I did smell a few others and they had good smells. The Ylang Ylang was awesome smelling. I don't know if I will try more or not. I talked to the lady there about a few things. One was Chubby and his bowel issues. Her and her husband do a few different types of natural medicines, touch healing, hypnotherapy and other stuff. She has offered to work with Chubby for a very low price. I am considering it. Poor kid is not improving from doctors. Something different needs to happen.

After that we went to Dollar General and wandered. Picked up a few things we needed for the house and went home. 

Tonight we put our baskets together for the bathroom. Each child has their own small basket. It holds their tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant and razors. They are big enough to hold their most personal stuff. They wrote their names on them, and on the stuff to go in them, we beaded some craft wire and put on them. They each did theirs different. We then hung them in the bathroom. I put the older kids up higher and younger kids lower. We also have 2 closet organizers hanging in the bathroom. One is large, the other small. The larger has the towels, wash clothes and big stuff in it. The smaller one is my personal items, and small bathroom stuff.

The kids all got their own tooth paste and new tooth brushes, and deodorant. I hope they will like the baskets enough to not loose their tooth brushes with in 2 days!

The chore boards were fun to make. I took some of the boxes from out move and cut them. I glues to sides together and then wrapped them in wall paper. I wrote their names on them, one board per person. Then I took some velcro stickies and put on the board, 4 each. I then took the other side of the velcro sticky and put them on clothes pins. On a variety of color and size papers I wrote out the different chores. Daily and weekly. They are hung by my board with some blank papers so I can add or change things as I want. I stick them to the boards using the clothes pins with the velcro! I also have some of the yellow sticky stuff you can use to hang things. I hung a paper on Loos that's says "Birthday girl, 10 yrs old" Because Tuesday is her birthday! I made each board with room for me to put a little note on it for the kids. I thought it would be a nice way to give them a little extra I love you or recognize something they have done that I am proud of them for. They turned out better than I had expected and the kids are excited about the new way to keep track of chores. Now the white board will be used to write what we have going on for the day. I also have a larger white board I have not used yet. I am going to pull it out and write our basic daily schedule down. Hopefully it will remind us all good enough we stick to it and get everything done.

I also have a board up for me and Gma. The kids really liked that, they can see what we do during the day. Maye they wont think we do nothing. I also have another board that I am putting my most used recipes on. Its in the kitchen where its easily accessed. So that's been my day. I took pics of it all and some of the house. Its still not all unpacked and put together but its getting there! 

Tomorrow is Sunday, unfortunately I have 2 sick kids. I don't know if we will make it. Baby E and Chubby are both running fevers and coughing. I hope they feel better to go to Church. We missed last week due to me not feeling well. I really wanted to go this week. Nanna will be home tomorrow for a couple days. She will be here for Loo's Birthday on Tuesday! That has Loo happy.

Well its late. I have had a busy day, accomplished a lot and I am beat! Oh Boo made home made pizza for dinner tonight! He is so awesome! I love that he will go in and cook dinner, always good to. When I am tired and don't feel like it he is good about it.

Write and let me know what you think of the organizers and boards. They were so simple and fun to do!  Really got me thinking of the many things I can do with them!

have an awesome Sabbath day tomorrow. 

Jae

hello again!

Its been hectic here! We have a new hot water heater, a new stove was brought in today! I have not had to do anymore plumbing! We are still waiting on the plumber to come back and unclog the hot water in the tub. If he is not here tomorrow I will call him. Boo has a basket ball tournament this week. Starts tomorrow. I wont get to go to tomorrows game, I am getting my 2nd injection in my hip at the same time. But I will limp to Fridays game. Hopefully it wont be as painful as the last one was. This will be his last game so I really want to be there. I will take lots of pics and post them. 

We are almost all unpacked. I'll start snapping pics soon. Its an adjustment. We dont have as much room inside as we did before the move, but we have more room outside and it works. I am planning my garden. Have to find a way to till the spot though. I had to buy a lawn mower, and other things for the house, yard and school. So no $$ left for a tiller. So I am not sure how I am going to swing that. I am also wanting to save up some money to buy some chickens. I can put the chicks in the garage to keep them warm until they are big enough to go outside. It will be better than in the kitchen! 

The kids are back doing school work again! Thats good. Loo, and bubba have testing next week. Boo is doing testing also. 

We will be trying a new bread tomorrow! I got a cheap baking stone- $10.00 and cant wait to try it. Its here BREAD I cant wait to try it out! I have been looking forward to trying it for a while. I will mix it tomorrow before aI head out the door. Tomorrow is busy. I have to drop Boo off with the people taking him to his game, take nanna to the DMV, go grocery shopping before my doc app. Wont be up to it after! And then come home. I'll be taking bubba with me to help lift I think. We will put the big cooler in the van to keep stuff cold and frozen. This will be my big shop of the month, around $800.00 at once. 

The kids are all doing ok. We did notmake it to Church Sunday. I was not feeling good at all. And we did not make it to mutual tonoght. I am in to much pain. Hopefully after things settle down I will feel better. I think part of it is I have not been going to the Y to work out and swim. We live to far now for me to go every day. There is a local place. I am debating on going there. Its 35 a month, for me thats a lot. I really dont have it. But I also know the work out will keep helping the fibro improve. I need it for my health. But the $$ is hard to have every month. And its hard for me to justify spending money on myself every month. Plus I am worried about even having the money. Right now I really dont have it. I have talked to a few friends. I get differing opinions. Most have said do it, I need it. And I kinda agree, but well I always feel guilt over spending money on myself. So Iam trying to get over that. I would like to join and keep working out every day.

I dont know! UGH

So this is my short update. I'll take pics soon and post them

Would love to hear from friends and family

We love and miss you lots

Love

Jae