July

Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 04:07

what I accomplished yesterday - garlic/chive salad recipe

Posted on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 10:35

Yesterday I took Molly on a walk around the block then started painting the plant table made by my better half 10 or 12 years ago - it's the perfect height to work with plants. It is now in the rec room by the windows.

After that I started cleaning up a corner of the family room. Here is a picture the night before: (ds playing opposum)

And here it is finished:

I dedicated the top shelves to my mom who is in Heaven and also my sister in the other photo is in Heaven.

I have to include a picture of the baby crib better half made for Ang in early '90s. I've always loved it. There's quite a bit of stuff behind the couch but you can't really see it unless you look back there.

Then my daughter wanted me to sew these letters on the white T-shirt - seems this is the thing to do - sew name brands on t-shirts in a wacky way - sorry Walmart I hope you don't mind.

Today so far I've accomplished taking Molly around the block, doing my Bible study in Matthew 27, putting stuff in the bread machine - love that home baked bread without the work of mixing & kneading.

The benefits of garlic are widely known. Garlic and chive flowers also add a strong savory aroma, while the pansy blossoms add a touch of blue.

2 large tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup (125 mL) chives, chopped finely
1 Tbsp (15 mL) flax seed oil
1 Tbsp (15 mL) apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
flowers for garnish: garlic, chive, pansy

Arrange sliced tomatoes on a plate and sprinkle with chives. Drizzle with flax seed oil and apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper. Garnish with flowers.

charity knitting

Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 11:48

another man's meat blog

cardboard testimony

afghans for amigos

6 Easy Knitting Patterns for Charity Knitting

You can make it unique by using textured or novelty yarns for all or part of it, varying the colors and needle sizes, or knitting or crocheting a unique or contrasting border on it.

Simply cast on 4 stitches (gauge is not important). Begin knitting, increasing one stitch at the beginning of each row, until the blanket is HALF the size you want it to be. At that point, you begin decreasing by one stitch each row until you are back to 4 stitches. Cast off, and you have a blanket!

Another easy knitting pattern for charity is hats. With a worsted weight yarn and #7 (US) needles, cast on 32 stitches (for preemie size, 40 for full-term baby, 48 for small child, 60 for adolescent, and 72 for adult). Knit a rib stitch brim (k1p1 or k2p2) for one inch, then switch to stockinette stitch (k1 row, p 1 row) until the hat is 3" (4,5,7,8") long.

In this easy knitting pattern, you decrease for the crown by knitting two together every 6 stitches in the next row, and purl the following row as usual. Then knit two together every 5 stitches in the next row, purl the following row as usual.

Then knit two together every 4 stitches in the next row.... you get the picture! When you have 4 (5,6,7,8) stitches left on the needle, break your yarn off about two feet along, and using a craft needle, pull it through the remaining stitches on the needle, turn inside out and sew up the side seam.

bing cherries

Posted on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 03:35

Israeli humus recipe
Christmas craft projects - fabric gift bags
casserole tote
tiny fabric pots
tooth fairy pillow
spice ropes
calico cat & gingham dog
I love bing cherries; they are very healthy - so I ate a bunch today - can't eat just one, the old potato chip ad goes.
They are antioxidant and slow aging - I'm all for both of those.
health benefits of cherries
The Duel
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!
      The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
      Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
            (I was n't there; I simply state
            What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went "Bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied "Mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
      While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place
      Up with its hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
            (Now mind: I 'm only telling you
            What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
      Employing every tooth and claw
      In the awfullest way you ever saw---
And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
            (Don't fancy I exaggerate---
            I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning, where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
      But the truth about the cat and pup
      Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
            (The old Dutch clock it told me so,
            And that is how I came to know.)

garden

Posted on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 10:21

We don't have a very big garden, but we grow a few things in some raised beds. There are daffodils and raspberries that are there every year. Other places we have herbs & tulips and other flowers. We mowed after we got back from our 19 day trip in May to Israel. This morning I went and cleaned up the garden area of all kinds of weeds, poison ivy, small trees and grass. The garlic I planted last fall is doing fine. Some volunteer tomato plants were fun to find, so we will have some homegrown tomatoes this year. In Israel we learned this is the 7th year, the year not to plant anything but to let the land rest. You can take care of everything already there, just not plant anything new. I decided that would be a good idea for us this year.
I'll post a picture of us on our fabulous trip to Israel.

We climbed the fortress of Masada
at sunrise
our group on top of Masada
We slept in a Bedouin tent.
and ate a kosher breakfast
spent 5 nights in Jerusalem.
visited the western wall
and took an 11 p.m. tour of the
tunnels in the western wall
Scott & I explored the Kidron Valley
on our free day. This is Absolom's Tomb.
The Kidron Valley is between the Mt. of
Olives and the Old City with the Western
Wall and the Golden Gate. It contains the
oldest Jewish cemetery that is still in
use.
This is inside the Old City
We went with www.homeschooltravel.com and it was a wonderful trip. We also had a ride on the Sea of Galilee and rafted the Jordan River and much, much more. God is good!

zucchini with rice recipe

Posted on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 08:33

challah recipe

1 tbsp. oil
1 onion, sliced thin
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 lbs. zucchini, peeled, cut into 1" thick slices
1 green pepper, seeded & chopped
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup raw rice
1/2 cup water

Heat oil in pan. Add onion and sauté over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, zucchini, green pepper, and salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 5 minutes.

Add rice and water; cover and cook on low 20 minutes.

Potato & Egg Bake

Posted on Monday, May 5, 2008 at 11:11

This looks like a fun recipe:

Potato & Egg Bake

1/2 tsp. butter
1 1/2 c. mashed potatoes
4 eggs
2 Tbsp. grated Velveeta cheese
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Prepare mashed potatoes
Butter 9 inch casserole
Spread potatoes in pan.
Make 4 indentations.
Break egg into each well.
Sprinkle cheese over potatoes & eggs.
Top with paprika.
Bake 10 minutes 'til eggs done & cheese melted.

Jessica McClure rescue

Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 12:14

origame directions
make an origami fan
how to make a hankie doll
no sew friendship dolls
Listening to the radio in the car, Tony Evans was preaching on how Jessica McClure fell into an 8" well at 18months and how rescuers got her out alive. She was helpless, as we are in our sins and any good works we do won't help us. Jesus rescued us when we were without hope. I enjoyed the U-Tube video (on the link above).

spring

Posted on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 04:34

Spring has certainly sprung. It's gorgeous out. Dandelions have sprung up everywhere & the phlox is blooming. Tulips are up. Daffodils are still blooming too.

today 4/18/08

Posted on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 02:43

This stands for the souvenirs for the Mulan play I am committee head of. Actually I have them packed up all ready to take to the play! : )

hike

Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 06:55

Some pictures we took this morning on our walk:
Daffodils were growing all along the trails - very nice. They are the sign of "HOPE".


An old picturesque barn:

and wagon

artery health

Posted on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 10:25

virtual tourist

all about watermelon

artery and heart health

Some foods to consider eating more often

Sweet potatoes

Green leafy vegetables

Carrots, Broccoli and Greens (lightly cooked to keep the carotenoids)

Pumpkin, canned or cooked

Squash

97% or greater fat free chicken or turkey breast (I look for 99% fat free.)

Low fat tomato sauces and pasta

Onions and Garlic (Chop or crush to release the photonutrients)

Homemade pizza with 99% fat free chicken as meat sauce

Foods with low/no salt for those who have high blood pressure

Peanuts, walnuts, almonds in moderation (be careful not to gain weight)

Olive oil and canola oil substituted for other oils, (the key is to monounsaturated fats vs trans-fatty acids or partially hydrogenated fat)

Salmon and other fish (mackerel, sardines, herring), including the skin and fat (Research suggests this omega 3 fat (EPA fat) has the ability to raise HDLs.

1-5 servings per week recommended)

Defatted soy flour (at least 1/3 of a cup per day recommended)

Fat free milk (skim)

Oatmeal, shredded wheat, low-no sugar added cereals

Whole wheat bread

Fresh fruits

Apples (with skin for flavonids)

Oranges (Eat pulpy parts for flavonids)

Red or black grapes

Grape juice (1 cup per day recommended)

Grapefruit, especially pink which has 40% more beta carotene than white

Dried fruits, especially apricots, dates, prunes

Cantaloupes

Fat free homemade yogurt with extra dry milk to increase the magnesium and calcium content

Tupelo honey as a substitute for sugar in cakes, cookies, breads, etc.

Salad dressings and dips with non-fat sour cream or homemade yogurt

Baked whole wheat chips and tortillas

Bean and chickpea dishes and dips

Tomato salsas

Walnuts (for omega3)

Almonds and Avocados (for monounsaturated fat)

Broccoli Sprouts

With all of this you need to maintain your normal weight by watching your calorie intake, and getting plenty of exercise

Foods to consider avoiding

1%, 2% and whole milk

Meats with 96% or less fat

Red meats

Hydrogenated oils such as stick margarine, and when listed as an ingredient in foods

Food with high butter fat and other animal fats, e.g., cheese, full fat yogurt, sauces

Hot dogs, hamburgers

Deep-fried foods

Sugar

Ice cream

Salt (if you have high blood pressure)

Candy, baked goods and ice cream made with fats

High fat snacks, chips

Pies, pastry's, cookies made with fat and sugar

Bok Choy

Posted on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 07:09

homemade cleaning supplies
I love bok choy and found a good recipe for it:

Spring Cleaning Recipes from Jordan Rubin

Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 11:36

Recipes for Spring Cleaning

Everyone can benefit from a good dietary "spring cleaning" to help sweep away unwanted toxins and perhaps unwanted fat. Toxins, which enter our systems through our food, air and water, and the accumulation of toxins in the environment, need to be cleansed or "detoxified" from our bodies.

rainy day

Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 09:18

It's a rainy, dreary day today - this poem says it all, but God is good all the time!!!

Poem lyrics of The Rainy Day by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

How to Organize My House

Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 11:08

Once again - a new day - a new blog - it's good to erase and start again.

How to Organize

It’s time to get into the habit of letting go of excess stuff, rather than finding a place to stuff it. Having to walk around stuff or over stuff does not make for a peaceful living environment. Let’s go room by room and take care of some of the most common clutter problems.

1.) Kitchen: ask yourself what items do I use daily?

These items really deserve the primetime space in your kitchen. They should be within arms reach in the best location available. Watch out for space hogs in the kitchen such as multiple coffee mugs, plastic bags and cleaning products.

2.) Next ask yourself how many of each of these items you need to have a reasonable amount on hand.

Do you have 6 of something but only use one. This is a common problem. Setting limits will help you maintain an organized kitchen easily. Any broken, stained or chipped items need to go.

3.) Donate or discard your extra items, or in the case of glasses or dishes store them in long term storage until needed.

That is only if you have room in or for long-term storage. If you already have a long term storage problem go ahead and get rid of your excess, unless its an item that you can not replace like grandma’s good china, in that case get rid of something else and store grandma’s china. Remember to periodically go through cabinets and drawers to purge extras and replace worn out or damaged pieces.

4.) Clear your counters: the most visible part of your kitchen.

Start by clearing all items into boxes or onto trays. Take this opportunity to clean your counters thoroughly. Now put back only the items that you use daily. Ex. Toaster, coffeemaker, crocks of utensils. Only display decorative items on you countertop if you have plenty of space to do so. Otherwise decorations in moderation should be on the walls to save valuable real estate in the kitchen.

5.) Discourage paper piles from forming by creating a RAF file or as some people call it an action file.

A RAF file can be anything that can hold 3 files or folders. RAF stands for read, act, and file. As paper comes into your house you need to use your RAF file to place each piece either in to read, to act (meaning you need to do an action) or to file. Each piece of paper you save is important for one reason or another so you need to be able to find it quickly. Then of coarse there is the trashcan, use it regularly. You can also set up binders with clear plastic pages for things like receipts, recipes, take out menus, school information and frequently called numbers.

6.) Clean off your fridge!

Scale down or eliminate old refrigerator magnets or at least move them to one side. Clear everything off the front, put important items such as take out menus in a binder or in your RAF file. Save your kids best artwork in a plastic bin with their name on it, be sure to write their age on the back with an acid free pencil or acid free pen that you can find in the scrap booking section of any store. Once the fridge is clear, only put back current items.

TIP: Keep a wipe off calendar on the front of you fridge, update it the 1st of every month from you pocket calendar that you keep in your pocketbook or briefcase. That way you won’t miss any appointments or meeting or double schedule yourself.

7.) Bathroom: Clean out your medicine cabinets.

Dispose of expired medicines and toss bottles of perfume, lotion and nail polish that are almost empty. Keep on the products that you like and use. Don’t keep products that you either didn’t like or were not effective just because of what it cost you. In the long run they cost you more in space wasted.

8.) Clean out stuffed drawers.

Ok we have all done it at one time or another shoved one more item into an already full drawer. Now it’s time to change all that. Go drawer by drawer take everything out and ask yourself “Do I love this?” Do I need this?” Why am I keeping this?” The answers to these questions will tell you what you need to do. Then you keep it, donate it or toss it. By lightening up your drawers you will reduce stress and be able to find the things you need faster and easier.

9.) Clear bathroom counter.

It makes it so much easier to get ready in the morning and reduces stress when your bathroom counters are clear. This is also a time save because cleaning is a breeze. See tip #12 for the solution to where to put all the stuff you cleared off the counter.

10.) Use your wall space.

If you’re hard pressed for storage solutions look to your walls. There are many options to create storage and reduce clutter on countertops. Ask yourself is there anywhere that I can add a shelf or shelves? Maybe a wall soap dish or toothbrush holder. Look on EBAY for hotel towel holders they hold 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels and 2 washcloths each.

11.) Create a peaceful retreat.

Most bathroom tubs and showers seem to be over flowing with bottles of shampoo, conditioner, bath toys and body washes. Again start by removing all items; clean the surfaces well with a soap scum-removing product. Then only put back the products that you use on a daily basis. Consider getting a shower caddy if you don’t already have one and a stick on basket or bag for the kid’s toys.

12.) Make personal bath totes.

Each member of your family should have their own container to store and transport their own personal bath items. This container can be a small plastic crate, a wicker basket or any other small container that can hold your items neatly. Placing each family members items in their own container makes it easy to store these things under the bathroom sink or in the bathroom or in the linen closet until they are needed. This also keeps their personal hygiene items together making it easy to find their comb or hair detangler and its no problem to move to another bathroom when company comes.

13.) Create a peaceful haven.

Your bedroom should be a place where you can rest. It is not the place to do work or other stressful activities. Do not allow things not related to sleep to accumulate there. This room should contain a bed, dresser, nightstands, lamp and maybe a chair or bench. Do not over crowd your bedroom with furniture it will make it feel small and will not promote peace. Your nightstand should be clear except for reading glasses (if you need them), a book or magazine (just one, not a pile), alarm clock and maybe some tissues. Start by clearing the room of all excess stuff, only put back those items that promote peace and rest. Donate or store extra items elsewhere.

14.) Remember the one in one out rule.

Once you have your house down to where it looks and feels good for every new item that you acquire you will need to donate, sell or give away one item. One for one, it’s the only way to maintain the balance that you have achieved.

15.) Place 4 containers in your laundry room.

There are 4 containers every laundry room should have. Three of them can be boxes, bags, laundry baskets or whatever you have on hand. The last one is a trashcan. Label your containers, donate, mending, rags and trash. The donate box means that you continually separate out items that are past their prime but still have some wear or are too small. The mending means that you need to do a small repair. Rags means they have holes or bad stains so you can use them to clean or stain furniture, cotton or wool clothing make the best rags. The trashcan is for items found in pockets, dryer lint and other trash. This way it doesn’t pile up on your dryer eventually making its way to the floor.

There you have it 15 steps to a clutter free home.