Christmas Dinner

I made a centerpiece for the Christmas table.  Just a simple arrangement of greenery in a vintage camping coffee pot.  This afternoon I am going shopping to purchase a new tablecloth.  My dining room doubles as our schoolroom which makes decorating and creating ambiance a bit of a challenge.  However, after some cleaning and rearranging I think I have it ready for feasting.  Looking forward to cooking and eating together around the table.

Dinner

Rosemary Roasted Chicken

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Almond Green Beans

Wilted Spinach Salad

Yeast Rolls

Desserts

Chess Pie

Christmas Candy

Cookies

Housework

No scouring for pride

Spare kettle whole side

Though scouring be needful, yet scouring too much

Is pride without profit, and robbeth thine hutch.

-Thomas Tusser

Pie for Dinner

I curled up on my bed with a blanket on Saturday afternoon and read the new Bon Appetit that came in the mail.  This issue featured some great savory pie recipes...great for winter comfort.  The pretty pictures inspired me to make a homemade chicken pot pie with the chicken breasts I thawed for dinner. Is there anything better than buttery flaky pie crust with creamy gravy and warm vegetables?  

I love working with a vinegar pie crust.  The dough is so forgiving and best when it has been refrigerated overnight.

Vinegar Crust 

2 1/2 cups unsifted flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. vinegar
2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cubed
1/2 cup ice water

Combine flour and salt in a food processor and mix for just a second or two.  Add butter and pulse until mixture is crumbly with a few of the butter chunks still visible.  In a small bowl combine water and vinegar.  Pour liquid into the crumbly mixture a little at a time and pulse until all ingredients are moistened.

Form into a large ball and wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for two hours.  Overnight is better.  Divide ball and roll two large pie crusts on a floured surface.  Before baking brush the crust with an egg wash.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.       

*The vinegar makes the crust tender and easy to work with by not allowing the gluten to over develop.

Daily Docket

Special Day- Birthday, Name day, Feast day, Holiday, Saint.

Pace- What speed do I have to go today?  Do I really need to be running like a hare, or can I take it slow like a turtle?  Knowing the pace of the day is good for me.

Priorities- What are the top 5 things I have to get done today?  Did Slade ask me to do something for him?  Do we have appointments?  Do I need to pay a bill or make a phone call?

Parenting- A mommy focus for the day.  A special lunch for Elinor.  A walk with Sophia. Be patient and speak softly today.  Play airplane with Sam.  Talk with Addy late tonight.  Practice piano with Caroline.

Partner- Something sweet, something small, something kind, something for Slade.

The Plan- A skeleton for the day...when I will do what's on the docket.

Daily Readings- One sentence that captures something inspirational from my readings.

Prayers- Just a reminder, a little circle to remind me to make prayer a priority.

Pantry to Pot- Start dinner at breakfast.  Make meal times intentional and nutritious.

Project- If I have time what is one project I can tackle today?

Professor- What are the school goals for today?

  Water- Remember to stay hydrated.

Feeling Better

Over the Christmas holiday I have been as sick as I can remember.  Samuel , sadly, has been just as bad and even worse.  We had a virus run through the house, but it hit Samuel and I the hardest.  After one trip to the doctor, two trips to the urgent care, three different antibiotics for secondary infections, and every home remedy we could throw at this bug we are finally feeling a bit like our normal selves.   I am still fighting an ear infection, but it seems to be healing slowly. 

Somewhere around day five of this quarantine I began to relax, and then it hit me.  Maybe my lack of rest in general is why my body is not recovering like the others.  Sam and I have not slept well in months and months...and I think it just finally caught up with us. When I gave in and just let things be what they were going to be I began to see the tight knot that is wound up inside of me.  I am just plain tired, but the adrenaline I am addicted to that makes it possible for me to function is hard to resist.

And when Mamas get this run down we must resist adrenaline.
We must stop pushing through and rest.

Resting has been very good, and I have been eating nourishing food, sleeping late, and going very slow.  This has given me much time to think about my health.  I have also had plenty of time to sit and contemplate ways to better care for myself and my family.

When I look ahead at 2015 I can see some major projects, possibly a move, a heavy work load, and schedule.  And all these things are good.  However, I can also see that my inward state needs some nurturing if I am going to enjoy health and happiness this year.  I need better strategies to help me not feel so overwhelmed.

Here are a few things I am going to try...

Leaving Facebook

One giant step toward health for me is the choice to leave social media, Facebook in particular.  I once left Facebook for seven years, and I did much better with my inner life.  It has taken me a while to understand why I have this love/hate relationship with it.  It is not that Facebook is evil or wrong or anything like that.  I love the interaction and the keeping up with friends and family.  For me it is neurological. Something about the format makes me nervous...the scrolling and how my eyes jump from one thing to the next.  The amount of information is too much for me.  And once I start on this feast of information I get bogged down in it, and I spend way too much time on this site.  I know, I know, I could be more mature and set limits and all that...but I don't.  I think the site's design (the actual layout, advertisements, colors, lines, etc.) is very addictive for me.

Redefining my morning routine  

For a year I have been very angry that I cannot have the solitude that I think I need in the mornings. During this illness I came to terms with this and had a sort of funeral for my mornings in my mind...I must let that go and get into the groove of my baby.  That means I will have a new morning routine.  Instead of books and coffee and even lengthy prayers I am going to enjoy Sam.  A friend who had six kids  (I only had three at the time) told me that someday my mornings would be different...she was right.  She told me that she prayed a morning offering prayer before her feet ever hit the ground, and that was the foundation for her day.  She too was a lover of contemplation and books and coffee.  However, her life demanded that she take advantage of her mornings in a different way.  I am going to follow my friend and quiet my soul in this area.  I holler calf-rope, and it feels so good.

Revisiting my menu planning

My grocery budget is insane.  I know that food is expensive, but I could do better in this area.  My menus need to be simplified.  I have a five week menu cycle that I made when I had three kids, none of which ate like adults.  With two teenagers in the house and a tween that eats as much as her sisters, it is time to remake my menus to be more frugal.  What I spend on groceries stresses me, and it should...it's too much!  I know my lack of planning and organization is the major problem.  Some ideas I have are to make double batches of soups, beans, casseroles, etc. and freeze them.  Also, I need to take advantage of sales and stock up on things we use more often.  Another strategy I have is to grocery shop early Saturday morning when the stores are quiet.  This one change would greatly reduce my stress in this area, and allow me to focus.

Refocusing our homeschool 

I have been in serous homeschool burn out mode this year.  It just feels so tedious and overwhelming.  And the truth is, it is!  Homeschooling this many kids, all at different ages and stages is a hard work.  But, it is my work...it is what I am called to do.  Through the prayers of the Panagia and Righteous Anna I am strengthened...  I do not labor alone or in vain.  I am reorganizing the school room, refreshing books, and working toward a more peaceful atmosphere.

Vespers on Wednesday nights

I would love to have this time of prayer on a weekly basis, but the long drive to the Hermitage or our Parish might makes this unrealistic.  For now I want to attempt once a month.

I told Slade today that the illness during Christmas was a blessing.  It forced me to stop...stop everything and really listen, really see.  I am thankful that we are all on the mend and that the new year has come.  What goals or resolutions do you have for the New Year?  I hope you are feeling the peace of Christ this season and the joy of His abiding love.  He is always with us.

Happy New Year friends!  

Christmas Gifts for a Homeschool Mom

The average "gifts for mom" list is not necessarily a good fit for a homeschool mom.  Don't get me wrong...I love perfume and scarves and expensive handbags just like the average girl, but if you really want the wow factor for this homeschool mom of five I have a better list.  Maybe you can forward this post to your hubby or whoever is asking you that pressing question, "What do you want for Christmas?"  I hope this list will inspire you to answer with every bit of the quirkiness that defines a homeschool mom.  

Just a bit fun...happy shopping everyone.

The Best Crock Pot on the Market

My large crock pot has a hairline crack in the removable porcelain crock.  I am afraid to do too much in it, and I am for sure not transporting it anywhere.  Crock pots are a homeschool mom's best friend in the kitchen.  We can start dinner at breakfast and as the house is permeated with the smell of lemony chicken it is so reassuring to know supper is on. 

 An Amazing Coffee Pot

My coffee pot is trying to peter out on me...and that just cannot happen.  I currently have to jiggle the cord to get the green power light to appear.  I wait every morning in suspense...it's just too stressful.

 A Large Utility Tote from Thirty One

This is such a great gift for a homeschool mom.  This tote can be used for picnics, as a library tote, camping, day trips, etc.  One use I would like it for is to stock my car with a mommy survival kit.

A Prime Account from Amazon

I already have this gift, but I had to include it.  Free Shipping for books!  Are you kidding...this is a homeschool mom's dream!    

 A Laminator

This gift is over the top.  The one I want is a little pricey, but oh so cool.  I would love it to make dry erase activities for my littles, flashcards specific to the things we are learning, saving works of art...the possibilities are endless.  

 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer with Scanner and Copier

What a tongue twister...but never mind that.  This little beauty makes the homeschool day to day much easier.  The copier is a godsend. 

 A Comb Binding Machine

This is so dreamy...now I can spend my summer making the kind of workbooks we love...suited just for us.  I would trill with delight if I opened this gift.

And for the stocking... 

 Livescribe Notebook by Moleskine

I love the feel, the smell, and the size of the Moleskine notebooks.  It is very inspirational to write in something of this quality.  Keeping a daily journal is a great way that homeschool moms can unwind and reflect.  

 Free Time Coupons 

This could come in the form of a coupon booklet if you would like something to unwrap.  It's easy to make them on the computer or just make them with colored pencils and crayons.  12 would be perfect...12 Free Time coupons that I can spend...like say once a month.  It is nice to have time alone sometimes.  

Sharpies 

Yes...I said Sharpies.  I love to have those around, but I am always too cheap to buy them for myself.  I want a big set...just love office supplies.

  

A Country Christmas

We celebrated the Butler Christmas at a ranch in Abilene. My sister-in-law's family invited us for a weekend in the country, and it was perfect.  I cannot remember when I have had a better time.  It was relaxing and hearty...good for the soul and senses.  Country folk really do have the most fun...especially if those country folk are from Texas!

Simple gifts...nothing extravagant.

Rustic ambiance. 

A warm and cozy bunkhouse.  My oldest brother Josh said, "This feels like church camp."

We gather in the kitchen.  Lots of great conversation.

Tamales and our parents!  Two of my favorite things.

Lots of cooking.

More cooking.

A porch swing.

Cheese and wine.

The best food.  Featuring a prime rib with horseradish sauce and au jus. 

Outdoor fun!  We also took a Christmas carol hayride underneath the Abilene starlit sky.

Four wheelin' on trails.  Throwing rocks in the pond.  Looking for wildlife.  Kickin'up dirt! 

A large covered porch for outdoor fun.

A spirited game of spoons!

Cousins are the best!

Amma brought a bag of Christmas books to read to the grands!

 Christmas dishes with red solo cups...what's more country than that?  

 The girls made blankets together!

The smiles come easy.

The dogs are in heaven.

Our Family Cookbook

The best recipes are the ones your mother made....the ones found on the family tree.  The other day I was perusing a cookbook that my Granny authored, and I was struck by it's prose and meditations.  It tells a story, as do all good cookbooks.  No fat grams, or calories, or nutrition facts...no, just good food made by hands and seasoned with the heart.

I love a good cookbook, but what I love more is knowing how to cook...I have a long line of matriarchs to thank for that...I think my husband and children join me in thanksgiving.

A good home cook can transform whatever is in the pantry into a feast, even if the ingredients are not the best money can buy. And resourcefulness and creativity are a home cook's pleasure...what makes cooking fun.  It is amazing what my mom could do with a whole chicken back when she did not have a whole lot of money to spend at the grocery store.  We used to tease her and say that she could make four meals for five with one bird. Funny story, but when I really think about the wonderful meals my mother cooked when we were poor as church mice...well, I just stand in awe.

 I made a pumpkin and buttermilk pie today.  As I cooked these family recipes, I reflected on my Granny...now in a nursing home.  She is a great cook...the best kind.  Below is the cookbook's dedication in her words,

...to Mama (Bertie Jayroe) for keeping the tradition of family meals and foods alive.  Mother's farsightedness and commitment created this multigenerational history of family eats.  It contains a personal family tree from which nurturing and incredible resourcefulness is found in the skill of the kitchen and pantry...few women of today manage to create lunches and dinners from scratch every day, including desserts. 

She (Mama) made the best chicken and dumplings.  Her famous (from scratch) blackberry cobbler was the best there ever was.  Daddy liked her cobbler the best of all.  The berries were hand picked by Daddy from his blackberry patch in the orchard.  Mama and Daddy raised there own chickens then.  One was caught, killed, and plucked for the chicken and dumplings.  All this required time, so my parents always rose early.  As her children, we are very fortunate to have smelled, tasted, and eaten so well.  But more so to have the values of a good home so deeply engraved.  Again, thanks Mama.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...may we offer true thanks for what the earth has given and human hands have made.   

Christ in Our Midst

Tonight I headed out to the art shed to look for a set of Logic books that I need for a class I am thinking about teaching in the spring.  When I opened the door to this small space I was aghast at it's condition.  My two oldest daughters use this space the most, and it was amazing to me that such little care is taken with all the very expensive art supplies in their room.  This space is intended to be an artist's retreat...a renovated plant shed fully furnished with oils, canvases, watercolors, chalks, charcoal, drawing pencils, instruction books, etc.  I left the little wreck of a room quite angry.  Before prayers I had a chat with the girls about caring for our home and respecting the things in it as objects of great value.  Because things do have value...and not just monetary value. They have value in themselves.

In a world that has gone spiritually mad it is often difficult to understand the material world...to value it in such a way that elevates it as holy.  And yes, I believe paint and pencils and books are holy things, along with everything else in the created world.  One of my favorite authors, Madeleine L'Engle, sums it up quite nicely in her wonderful book Walking on Water, 

 “There is nothing so secular that it cannot be sacred, and that is one of the deepest messages of the Incarnation.” (And if you love the subjects of art and faith this is a must read...a must purchase.)

When I first read that book in my early twenties it was like a butterfly effect in my life...a small change that created an earthquake later down the road.  And since, I have been utterly undone by the knowledge of the Incarnation and its implications.  A simple shift, yet so profound...no longer must the material world be subject to the murderous accusation of being evil, or worse, mundane. No longer must men decide if some thing is good...if some thing is evil.  Everything God created is good!

Christ became man, taking on flesh, showing that man can become by grace what Christ is by nature...we become the body of Christ.  Christ showed us that the material world is good, and real, and valuable.  It's all very deep, and I do not intend to get in over my head in theology.  But, at the same time I know that this knowledge, however limited and shallow, has changed my life. This knowledge can change one's entire inner posture and experience.  Because of Christ man has the power to redeem his world....to live the incarnation.  Every good work is essentially an incarnational work.  And what we would deem as bad works, or sin, have no material value because evil cannot create anything.

But, I am a common housewife...busy with so-called mundane tasks...tasks that go unnoticed and undervalued by a world that is high on ideological promises and rhetoric.  A world that believes ideas change the world, not home cooked meals and prayers before bed.  How can this common housewife be anything more than the one saddled with all the unpleasant necessaries...the stuff that has to be done so we can get on with the real business of the world?  Is my work really valuable...the work of my hands?  Is it incarnational...dirty diapers, really?  

And yet, here I am tonight thinking about art supplies and how they are holy and how if my children will value them it will grow in them a heart after God.  And how lately I have been in a modern mood...not really valuing things...and barely tolerating people.  A momentary lapse of heart...that's what it really is.

After I came in from the art shed I opened the altar cabinet doors, and I decided to take care of something valuable...something I have been neglecting...the liturgical supplies.  Incense has permeated the wood along with the earthy smell of beeswax.  It is a wonderful smell, and it did my heart good to touch the things in the cabinet, holy things.  I looked across my living room and an interesting thought crossed my mind...everything in this room is holy. This is the antidote for my modern mood...for my lack of enthusiasm.  Every thing and every person in this home has value...in and of itself.  And I am the keeper...the keeper at home...the keeper of home.

My work is holy.  And every thing I encounter in my day; the laundry, the crying, the dishes, the food, the neighbor, the phone call...every demand, every interruption, every failure, every trill of laughter is...

Christ in our midst.

Most days these kinds of thoughts do not pass through my mind. Most days I just get up and put my work boots on...one at a time.  But sometimes it is good to remember, especially when life begins to stretch me thin and and I feel like my work is drudgery.  Sometimes we keepers at home can get in a bad way.

Tomorrow I am going to help the girls make things right in the art shed.  I plan on cooking a nice dinner and finishing up the laundry.  I hope to steal away for a bit and finish my Journey to Nativity calendar.  There's always school that needs doin', and babies that need rockin', and dishes that need washin'.  And I am going to read this post again in the morning...and remind myself that all of this...this big life that wears me out...it's holy...it's valuable...it's incarnational.

It's Christ in our midst.

A DIY Play Kitchen

 My girls outgrew the store bought play kitchens long before they outgrew playing house.  Our solution: a DIY play kitchen.  I wish I had detailed instructions, but a quick search on the web will give you all the information/instructions you will need to complete this project in time for Christmas.  If you are looking for a wonderful gift for a special girl...look no further.  My daughters have enjoyed hours upon hours of fun in this playroom.  I love to watch my kids get lost in play. 

Speaking of playrooms...when it came to making a decision of what to do with the one extra room in the house...a school room, a playroom, or an office...we chose playroom.  I have never regretted that decision.  We filled it with baby dolls and accessories , dress up clothes, play kitchen toys, and a grocery store.  My parents made the little spool table and chairs a few years back.  The girls hand painted it.  They also painted a computer screen for their store using a cardboard box.  The refrigerator is full of realistic play food, the cabinets are stocked with pantry items and dishes.  The girls each have an apron. I bought them a small ironing board and gave them an old iron of mine after cutting the cord.  An old vacuum cleaner (my favorite Oreck), telephones, junk mail, and play money make the imagination play endless. I just love the miniature appliances.  I've been served a many gourmet meal from this kitchen.  

Our favorite kitchen toys are from Green Toys.  They are high quality and realistic...making play fun.

  This room is a screened in porch with an outside entrance, and this makes it easy for our neighbors' daughter to pop in just to play.  Sometimes I only know we have company because I hear the sounds from the playroom.  Funny. The time and money we have spent in this room is well worth it... and it continues to be a delight for my little ones.

Here is a great site to visit to get inspiration and/or instructions to make your own play kitchen.  Just click through all three pieces for instructions for an entire kitchen.

Ana White

or visit this fantastic board on Pinterest

DIY Play Kitchens and Work Benches

Sweet Treats

Adalay and Caroline entered the two cakes below in our local 4-H project show in the family living division.  Addy's cake, the Lemon Pound, won Grand Champion.  Caroline's cake, the Sock It To Me, won Reserve Grand Champion.  Both cakes are delicious...perfect for any occasion. Enjoy the weekend!

Sock It To Me Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup oil
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 Tbls. brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbls milk
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup water

Preparation:

1. Take 2 Tbls. of the cake mix and mix with the cinnamon,brown sugar, and pecans; set aside.
2.  In large bowl, blend cake mix,sour cream,oil,water,eggs, and sugar. 
3. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Pour 2/3 of batter into greased and floured bundt pan. 
4. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture in the center of this and spread remaining batter evenly over this.
5.  Bake at 375° for 45-55 minutes. Cool in pan for 25 minutes. Remove from pan.
6. To make glaze; Blend powdered sugar and milk together to make a glaze. Drizzle over cake. 

Lemon Pound Cake 

recipe found at add a pinch

Ingredient

• 3 sticks butter (1½ cups)
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 6 eggs
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• zest of one lemon
• 3 cups sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• For the Lemon Buttermilk Glaze
• 1½ cups confectioner's sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare bundt or tube pan by coating with shortening or butter and flouring light. Set aside.
2. Let butter, cream cheese, and eggs come to room temperature.
3. Cream together butter, cream cheese and sugar til fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add lemon juice and zest and combine well. Add flour and salt and vanilla.
4. Mix until just well-combined but do not over mix.
5. Pour into prepared bundt or tube pan.
6. Bake until golden brown and skewer inserted into middle of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
7. As the cake is cooling, whisk together ingredients confectioner's sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and buttermilk to make the glaze. Allow to sit until cake has fully cooled, then drizzle over top of lemon pound cake.

Bright Week

We made it!  That's what I keep thinking as I am cleaning out the fridge..all the leftover fasting dishes going to the scraps.  (We have a septic system which means no garbage disposal.)  I hope the neighborhood dogs like veggies in the scrap pile...hehe!

 I emptied containers of bean salad, coleslaw, a bit of refried beans, orzo pasta with artichokes and capers, and I was doing pretty good until I came upon a container of hummus.  The site of that evoked an emotional response.  I am sick of hummus!  And then a few minutes later I was half tempted to eat the last little bit for lunch.  I guess in a way it's hard for this to be over.  So much of Lent revolves around the kitchen, and an Orthodox kitchen is truly a spiritual place.  So much of the Christian faith is centered in the home.

And on that thought...

Lisa A shared a series of talks on her blog entitled  The Good Wife: Five Lectures on the Christian Ideal.
The first lecture is free, and the remaining are only $10 for the complete download.  Well worth the donation!

The Christian ideal of womanhood is beautiful.  I have been thinking this week about brightening up my home, and then I saw this over at OCN... 

BRIGHT WEEK- the week after Lent in which we continue to practice the spiritual values we gained over the last 40 days.

I thought, "What spiritual values did I gain over the last forty days?"  What values must I practice to brighten our lives...our home? I can think of several.

Patience

Humility that calms anger

Kindness

Less talking

and most of all...

Consistency

I hope your Bright Week is exceptional.  How are you recouping, feasting, and practicing?  

Our Bright Week has been good so far.

Monday we had steaks from the grill.  Tuesday we went to vespers at the hermitage and shared a meal with the small community that is forming there. (So excited about that.)  Today we went to the park, and I am grilling hamburgers for dinner.  Thursday I hope I can get in my garden and plant a few things.  Friday Addy is going to a homeschool prom party!  Caroline is spending the night with her best friend.  Slade, the littles, and I are having ice cream sundaes.  The weekend is full with piano recital practice and St. Thomas Sunday.  

What are your plans for Bright Week?  Anything special?

Glorify Him!

I am standing in my kitchen cooking up a storm.  The presents are all wrapped.  Kiddos are watching Christmas movies and singing Christmas carols.  The house smells amazing.  We made it!  We made it to Christmas Eve, and every year I am amazed.

After a lack luster first few weeks, I have found my Christmas spirit.  The days of humbug made me appreciate traditions.  When I was less than enthusiastic about the season I still had our family traditions to keep me from missing Christmas. And as we kept the traditions I slowly found my groove.

Mamas have this wonderful gift...we can make Christmas amazing for our families in the little things we do, in the smile we wear, in the tune we hum, in the giggles, and snuggles, and the sugary treats.  A mom has this energy, and it is infectious.  Food and festivities.  I love serving up scrumptious dishes with a side of I love you.

Christmas is a time of hospitality for me.  As I clean, shop, cook, wrap, and prepare I try to invite a spirit of comfort and warmth into our home.  I have found that the warmth comes from my heart and not in orchestrating a perfect Christmas.  I just love my family and friends.  

Christ is coming, along with friends and family.  We are family.  May our homes and hearts make a place for the Savior, and may we welcome everyone with warmth and joy.

Christ is Born...Glorify Him!

I glory in His presence, He has brought tidings of great comfort and joy.  Christ is in our midst  He is and ever shall be.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

On the Menu

Dinner

Honey Glazed Ham

Mashed Potatoes

Almond Green Beans
Salad 

Yeast Rolls

Tea

Desserts

Martha Washington Candies

Pecan Pralines

Almond Toffee

Craisin and White Chocolate Cookies

Ranger Cookies

Housewife Challenge

My friend Lori and I were driving home together last night from a 4-H food scavenger hunt at Central Market, and we got to talking about being in a house keeping rut.  We had just stuffed ourselves with Sushi and were feeling pretty good, but this house thing was bothering both of us.  She said her house was out of control, and I mentioned that I needed to get my house around for company this weekend.  We left off the conversation with a half- hearted promise to do better and get things whipped into shape.  Well, I got up this morning moving slower than normal and just feeling blah.  So, I came up with this challenge.  It is not intended to be a full house cleaning challenge...just a jump start to get the engine running.  It made me laugh, and I texted my friend to see if she was down.  Because of her schedule, we are going to do this tomorrow.  That got me to thinking.  Maybe the ladies who read my blog would like to get in on the fun!  So, if this is something that you think is doable, send it to a friend, or maybe a few friends, and have fun together getting ready for the weekend. Feel free to customize your own challenge, make it your own.

It's on tomorrow...you and me Lori!

  

I challenge you to a Housewife challenge, a silly insane game that has no winner:

General Rules:
Text to begin each challenge.
Text after you finish each challenge.
No cheating...(like getting the kids to help, or stuffing stuff under beds, couches, or in ovens.)

 Level 1: An entire home rescue pick up.
 Here are the rules:

• You can only spend 10 minutes each of 3 rooms. 
• Send a picture to your opponent of the "before" of each room before the timer begins. 
• When the timer goes off send an "after" shot of the same room. 
• Start the music and turn it up loud. 
• When the timer goes off clean like mad.

When we are done with this phase of the game we level up.

Next Level: Kitchen in 30 minutes.

• Dishwasher and sink must be unloaded.
• Dirty dishes must be dealt with.
• Counters must be wiped down.
•  Floor must be swept.
• Trash must be taken out.
• Sink must be shined.
• This challenge must be done with red lipstick on. (or any bright color you can find.)

 Next level: Bathroom in 20 minutes.

• The toilet, shower, tub, and vanities (including the mirror) must be cleaned. 
• You must sweep and spot mop the floor.
• Trash must be emptied. 
• This challenge must be done in silence. (That includes no moaning and groaning in disgust.) 

Next level: Car in 15 minutes.

•  Everything from the car must be put away or thrown away. 
• The front dashboard must be wiped down. 
• This challenge must be done barefoot. 

Next Level: Dusting in 10 minutes. 

• Living room must be dusted entirely. 
• Master bedroom must be dusted entirely. 
• This challenge must be done with sunglasses on. 

 Next Level: Floors in 20 minutes. 

• All floors that can be vacuumed must be vacuumed. 
• This challenge must be done in socks. 

Next Level: Dinner in 15 minutes. 

• You must start dinner and have all components going. 
• This challenge must be done in high heels. 

After the Housewife Challenge is complete...meet me at Mickey D's with a hat on your head for a big Dr. Pepper. Loser pays, I know there is no loser, but it sounded good!  Drinks are on me!

A Few Weekly Finds

On the Web...

100 Days of Real Food
I enjoyed perusing this website.  Although I may not always buy organic, and I do not stress about that much, I do like cooking real food. This website offers simple ideas and a few free meal plans.  I like simple.  I plan to use some of the recipes from here to plan my menu for next week.

T- Tapp
I recently saw this workout on a website I visit frequently.  The author of the blog struggles with sever Diastasis Recti, and she has found ways to put her body back together after seven pregnancies.  I also have this condition, although not as severe, and I am looking for ways to strengthen my abdomen and put my organs back in place.

I bought the Basic Workout Plus during a Deep Discounted Tuesday at half price.  It is a fifteen minute workout that promises to put my organs in place.  I hope it works.  My week has been crazy, and I have not started it yet.(I guess I could be doing the workout instead of blogging...couldn't I?) I plan to start this weekend when I have a little more time to myself.

Heritage History
This site is wonderful..it even has many stories you can read for free!  I have used it to supplement Caroline's history.  Take some time to explore this site.  The prices are reasonable as well!

At the Library  

This little picture book is perfect for a quiet time with a wee little.

Pond Babies by Cathryn Falwell 
As you can see, we have babies on the mind around here.

Baby-Led Breastfeeding 
You would think that by now I would be an expert at nursing...but I am not.  I do ok, but I have been struggling in the evening with frequent feedings and not producing enough during this batch feeding.  I picked this book up, and I have found many helpful reminders and some new things to try.  Yesterday afternoon I relaxed as I laid down with Samuel, tried new nursing positions, and enjoyed some skin to skin snuggle time as well.  Nursing is wonderful when I relax!



  A morning spent at the park and library after an orthodontist visit was just what we needed after an intense first three weeks of school.  My older girls are loving their online classes, but getting back into the school groove after a long summer has not been without its moments of drama. I cannot believe that September is almost come and gone!

Roasted Chicken & Cantaloupe Salsa

I roasted a chicken in my favorite dutch oven, and then I shredded it.  I planned on making chicken salad for later in the week, but that never materialized.  Today during our 4-H Food and Nutrition meeting the girls made this yummy Cantaloupe Salsa, and I decided to top the savory chicken with this refreshing garnish.  It was really yummy paired with a Dos Equis Lager.  Enjoy a last bit of summer harvest!   

Cantaloupe Salsa
 2.5 cups cantaloupe, finely diced (about 1/2 large cantaloupe)
 1 cup red onion, finely diced
 2 jalapenos, seeded and minced 
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
 juice of 1 lime salt to taste