Our breakfast:
So Lauren and I are sitting at the table eating breakfast (Lilli spent the night with my parents).
Cheerios, toast and water.
Lauren then drops a piece of her toast into her cereal bowl, so tries to get it out, knocking over her cereal/milk. While trying to upright the bowl, spills her glass of water.
All in a matter of seconds.
I give her my bowl of cereal while I clean up, and she says it's too mushy.
So I pour her another bowl and we start all over. LOL
I seriously love days like this. My life must have been so boring before I had my girls ;)
A long over-due update on us...
Sorry I've been MIA lately. I've been posting snippets on Facebook about what we are up to, but haven't been on to blog.
Lilli is out of school, and had her dance recital in June. She was beautiful and did a great job. There was such an improvement over last year. She smiled and really enjoyed herself this year. It was a joy to watch and I cried ;) She danced ballet, tap, and jazz.
We plan to homeschool this next year, so we are doing a little schoolwork over the summer just to keep her from forgetting anything important. She really enjoys reading and I find her reading to Lauren quite often.
Lauren is doing great and really keeps us hopping. Her personality is all her own and she is such a joy. She is probably ready to potty train, but I'm happy to change diapers instead of running for a potty every so often. We'll wait until she asks ;)
We've been spending our summer (so far) with playdates, gardening, caring for those blasted meat chickens (I'm so ready for them to be processed!), and just enjoying each other's company.
Lance and I are attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class. We are almost done with it now, it was a 13 week class, and we have one more week, plus a party to celebrate the end.
I cannot say enough about the class. We have really learned a lot and it has brought us closer as a couple. We talk more about budgetting and spending and at least TRY to understand each other's reasoning. ;)
Lance is doing good, though his work has been slow lately. He had two days off last week. That's really the first time in 13 years that he's been off due to lack of work. There is another job starting in August, but I think it may be slow until then. We'll see.
He went fishing in Canada a couple weeks ago, and brought back some fish for our freezer. He said everybody with a boat was checked at the border this year. They have to leave the skins on the fish so the border can see what kind of fish you are bringing back. There is no limit on panfish, but they have to be able to SEE that they ARE panfish. They were checked, but had no problems.
I didn't really have such a great week while he was in Canada. The day he left our hot water heater wasn't working, so we started up the woodstove to heat water that way while he was gone. So I had to keep the fire going while he was gone. Not a really big deal, but added with gardening, caring for the cows, chickens, guineas and dogs...it was a long week. Then on Thursday night we had a huge storm that knocked the power out. No electricity, no water. That sucked. It was still out on Saturday and I was beginning to worry about getting water to the animals. I called Lance to ask him what I should do, as everybody need water by then, and he said he'd be home in a couple hours and he'd start the generator.
Of course, the power came back on an hour later, so I had everybody watered by the time he got home ;) All the critters were happy to see me...LOL.
Oh, the hot water heater is fine...it had a reset button on the thermostat that we didn't know about, so all is well with that now.
Lilli just turned 8 years old last week, and we had a skating party for her on Sunday this last week.
She attended Vacation Bible School at a Methodist Church in Lawrence last week and absolutely LOVED it. We plan to try that church this coming Sunday. I was very happy with how they ran the VBS and we are in the market for a church. I grew up Baptist, so I'm not sure how that goes along with Methodist, but I reckon I'll find out. I figure we are all there to worship God, each in our own way I guess.
Ok, I'm off to do chores and then head to South Haven. I told Lilli I'd take her to the new Transformer movie. She just watched the first one on DVD the other night and LOVED it. I'm not so sure I'm excited about sitting at the theater for 2 1/2 hours, but it does look like a good movie. That last Pirate movie was that long and that didn't bother me at all! LOL.
Basil Chicken Burgers with Pesto Mayonnaise ~recipe and picture
Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 11:30 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Now this looks and sounds good..Its late and all I can think about is food...lol
Ken Haedrich, cookbook author and FamilyFun contributor, came up with this extra juicy burger that's made with ground chicken -- often a leaner alternative to ground beef. Pesto, used both in the burgers and in the special sauce, adds a savory, garden-fresh flavor to his version of a cookout classic.
Got the link here:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=52179&cmp=NLC-NL_Recipe_062909_basil
Blessings Sister Brenda
1. Line a medium-size baking sheet with plastic wrap and set it aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, cheese, salt, and pepper, gently tossing the mixture with your hands or a large fork, until evenly blended.
2. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise and pesto, then add it to the ground chicken mixture and combine until evenly blended. Shape the meat into six 1/2-inch-thick patties, placing each one on the lined baking sheet as you go. Cover the burgers with plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes to firm them. (Note: The patties will be softer than traditional hamburgers.)
3. While the meat is chilling, prepare the grill and make the Pesto Mayonnaise (just combine the ingredients in a small bowl). Then brush one side of each of the burgers with a little oil and place them on the grill, oiled side down. Lightly brush oil on the other side of the burgers and cook them for 5 minutes on each side, turning once, or until the meat is no longer pink inside.
4. Serve the burgers on the rolls, dressed with the lettuce, tomatoes, and Pesto Mayonnaise. Makes 6 burgers.
Nutritional Information
Per serving (1 cheddar-based burger on a bun with 1 1/2 tablespoons of pesto mayonnaise):
Calories 572
Total Fat 41 g (62% DV)
Saturated Fat 9 g (47% DV)
Cholesterol 122 mg (41% DV)
Sodium 833 mg (35% DV)
Total Carbohydrate 23 g (8% DV)
Fiber 1 g (5% DV)
Sugars 3 g
Protein 28 g (55% DV)
(Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie neeeds.)
New Potato Salad `recipe
Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 11:22 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
I'm always ready to try something new how about you? Doesn't this sound good..I just love tater salad..
Potato salad is a must for any picnic or barbecue. This easy recipe adds turkey bacon for a tasty twist on a classic summer dish.
Got the link here:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50240&cmp=NLC-NL_Recipe_062909_new
Blessings Sister Brenda
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
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8 to 10 slices of turkey bacon |
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5 lbs. new potatoes |
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6 hard-boiled eggs |
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4 stalks of celery |
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5 or 6 radishes |
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2 tbsp. white vinegar |
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1 cup mayonnaise |
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2 tbsp. prepared Dijon mustard |
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3 scallions |
1. In a frying pan, cook the turkey bacon strips until crisp and let drain on a paper towel. When cool, crumble the bacon into bits and store for later.
2. Scrub the new potatoes and place in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook just until tender enough to pierce with a fork (about 20 minutes). Drain and immediately plunge the potatoes into cold water to prevent further cooking. When they are cool enough to handle, peel and cut the potatoes and put into a large bowl.
3. Chop the hard-boiled eggs and add to the potatoes. Wash and chop the celery. Scrub the radishes and slice very thin. Add the vegetables to the potatoes and eggs.
4. In a separate mixing bowl, whip the vinegar, mayonnaise and mustard together, and fold into the other ingredients until they are evenly coated. Keep the salad chilled until it's time to eat. Just before serving, sprinkle the crumbled turkey bacon on top and garnish with snipped scallions or radish rosettes. Serves 10 to 12.
Uncle Sam Ice Cream Cones recipe~picture
Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 11:15 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Now who wouldn't like this? yummy! I love ice cream how about you?
This 4th of July, invite your kids to turn ice cream cones into edible, festive Uncle Sam top hats.
Got the link here:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50261&cmp=NLC-NL_Recipe_062909_sams
Blessings Sister Brenda
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
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1 Wafer ice cream cone |
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White frosting |
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Blue fruit leather |
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Red and blue decorating gels |
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Red and blue M&M's |
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Canister of ready-made whipped cream |
1. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a plate and return it to the freezer to harden. Meanwhile, construct an Uncle Sam hat out of a wafer ice cream cone.
2. Use frosting to attach a blue band of fruit leather around the bottom of the cone. Squirt vertical stripes of red decorating gel down the sides and blue gel on the top.
3. Using a star tip, squirt on white frosting stars around the blue fruit leather, if desired. TIP: To avoid smudging the Uncle Sam hat design, have your child hold the cone from the inside while decorating it with fruit leather and icing.
4. Remove the ice cream-scoop "head" from the freezer and top with the Uncle Sam hat. Working quickly so the ice cream doesn't melt, add blue M&M's eyes and a red M&M's nose. Finally, add a whipped cream beard. To do this, have your child hold the canister upside down while squirting on a long white beard.
5. Serve up your Uncle Sam ice cream cone immediately. Makes 1.
Fresh Pineapple Salsa ~recipe and picture..
Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 11:12 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Add a kid-friendly kick to summer barbecue dishes like Fiesta Fajitas with this flavorful, easy-to-make salsa.
I really like pineapple salsa
got the link here:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=52178&cmp=NLC-NL_Recipe_062909_salsa
Blessings Sister Brenda
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
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2 cups fresh pineapple, chopped |
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2 tablespoons fresh lime juice |
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1/2 cup cilantro |
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1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped |
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1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or less for a milder taste) |
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Salt |
1. Place all of the ingredients but the salt in a blender or food processor and pulse until the ingredients are mixed but still chunky.
2. Transfer the salsa to a bowl, salt it to taste, then cover and refrigerate it until ready to serve. Makes 2 cups.
Nutritional Information
Per serving (1/4 cup):
Calories 20
Total Fat 0 g (0% DV)
Saturated Fat 0 g (0% DV)
Cholesterol 0 mg (0% DV)
Sodium 148 mg (6% DV)
Total Carbohydrate 6 g (2% DV)
Fiber 0.2 g (1% DV)
Sugars 3 g
Protein 0.3 g (1% DV)
(Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.)
Fresh Pineapple Salsa ~recipe and picture..
Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 10:54 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Yummy this is a favorite.. I just love pineapple salsa.. Enjoy..
Add a kid-friendly kick to summer barbecue dishes like Fiesta Fajitas with this flavorful, easy-to-make salsa.
Found the link here:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=52178&cmp=NLC-NL_Recipe_062909_salsa
Blessings Sister Brenda
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
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2 cups fresh pineapple, chopped |
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2 tablespoons fresh lime juice |
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1/2 cup cilantro |
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1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped |
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1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or less for a milder taste) |
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Salt |
1. Place all of the ingredients but the salt in a blender or food processor and pulse until the ingredients are mixed but still chunky.
2. Transfer the salsa to a bowl, salt it to taste, then cover and refrigerate it until ready to serve. Makes 2 cups.
Nutritional Information
Per serving (1/4 cup):
Calories 20
Total Fat 0 g (0% DV)
Saturated Fat 0 g (0% DV)
Cholesterol 0 mg (0% DV)
Sodium 148 mg (6% DV)
Total Carbohydrate 6 g (2% DV)
Fiber 0.2 g (1% DV)
Sugars 3 g
Protein 0.3 g (1% DV)
(Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.)
Etched Glass Storage Jars info ~picture
Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 10:49 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Keep pantry staples organized with a set of glass storage jars customized with etched lettering.
Got the link here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/goodthings/etched-glass-storage-jars
Blessings Sister Brenda
. Clean and dry the glass. Using painter's tape, mark off the area you want to etch. Attach vinyl stick-on letters and decorative tape; press hard to ensure they are attached firmly.
2. Cover work surfaces (be sure to work in a well-ventilated area). Put on protective gloves and an old shirt with long sleeves. Paint an even layer of etching cream onto glass. Let stand for amount of time indicated by manufacturer's instructions.
3. Rinse with warm water in a stainless steel sink. (Avoid porcelain sinks; the cream damages glazed surfaces.) Remove letters and tape
Fourth of July Centerpiece info~picture
Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 10:31 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Dying to decorate for the Fourth of July holiday, but low on party supply cash? Visit WomansDay.com for a simple and elegant centerpiece that will wow your Independence Day guests
Got the link here:
Blessings SIster Brenda
http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Crafts/Fourth-of-July-Centerpiece.html
Supplies
Red sand (available in craft stores)
White sand
Blue sand
1 glass vase
Red, white or blue daisies
A small, decorative American flag
Directions
Make this simple, beautiful centerpiece by:
1) Layering red, white and blue sand in a glass vase.
2) Pour in a layer of color, then shake gently to level.
3) Add flowers or flags for a festive finish.
15 Bee Sting Home Remedies & Tips
Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 at 09:41 by haflinger - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
There are times I wish I had something for my sting..
Here are some really good tips.
Got the link here:
Blessings SIster Brenda
http://tipnut.com/quick-tip-bee-sting-relief/
Getting stung by a bee is no fun and the pain can last for a few hours, here are a bunch of home remedies for pain relief as well as some interesting tips and bits of info.
Bee Sting Relief Remedies & Treatments
First make sure the stinger is removed (look for a black spot in the bite area), do this immediately as it can reduce the amount of venom released into the body. At one time it was thought that you had to scrape the stinger out (with something like a blunt knife or plastic edge) but you can effectively use tweezers to pull it out.
Wash the stung area with soap and water then try a home remedy or treatment below for pain relief. Technically it’s a bee sting rather than a “bite”, but I used bite below to describe the injured area.
- Make a paste of meat tenderizer and water or baking soda and water–apply to bite area.
- Sprinkle the bite area generously with baking soda then drizzle some drops of vinegar over the baking soda to make it fizz. Leave on the bite until pain is gone.
- Cover the bite with a dot of mustard.
- Make a thick paste of meat tenderizer and vinegar, apply to bite area.
- Cover the bite with honey and reapply as needed for pain.
- Dab with a generous amount of toothpaste and leave on the bite area.
- Apply ice or an ice pack.
- Soak bite area in Epsom salt and water or make paste and apply to bite.
- Apply Aloe Vera.
- Chew a plantain leaf then apply the macerated leaf onto the bite.
- Crush fresh parsley and apply to bite area.
- Crush fresh basil leaves and apply to bite area.
- Drizzle apple cider vinegar over the bite.
- Apply a slice of fresh papaya to the bee sting.
- Dab a bit of deodorant on the bite.
Bee Sting Symptoms
A normal reaction to a bee sting is to experience pain and itchiness, redness and swelling. Pain will last for a few hours then should disappear.
If the following occurs after a bee sting, seek medical advice:
- The bee stung inside your nose or mouth (the swelling will affect breathing).
- If you were stung several times by many bees.
- If you have difficulty breathing or your breathing seems to have been affected.
- Your tongue begins to swell.
- You experience dizziness.
- You experience blurry vision.
- You feel nauseous.
- Your speech is slurred or you find it difficult to talk.
- Hives or a rash appears (especially in an area away from the bite).
- The stung area swells alarmingly large.
If the reaction seems severe (especially if breathing is affected), don’t hesitate to call medical emergency services as the victim of the sting may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the bee sting that can trigger anaphylactic shock.
Bee Quick Tip Bits
Bee On Daisy Flower
Simple logic: To avoid being stung by a bee, avoid attracting bees. Bright clothing, fragrances from hair sprays, perfumes and cosmetic products as well as sweet foods like soda pop, fruits and syrups can attract bees.
If you don’t appear to be aggressive or startle the bee–chances are it won’t sting you. If a bee lands on you or is near you, hold still until it loses interest and flies away. Rapid movement and swatting will signal the bee that you’re ready for a fight so if you’re going to scream with arms flailing–make sure you outrun it  .
- Tip: If a bee lands on you, blowing gently on it will help convince the bee that it’s time to move along.
Did you know: Pickings are slim in the Fall when bees are busy looking for flowers, fruits and plants that haven’t yet died off or harvested for the season. When you’re wearing bright clothing and smelling pretty while much of the vegetation the bees depend on are gone, the bee might think he hit the jackpot with the largest, loveliest flower of all (you).
Why Do Bees Die After Stinging?
When a bee stings, the stinger is torn from its body and left in the victim’s skin (the stinger is the tool that releases the venom). It basically disembowels the poor bumble bee and it cannot survive. Because of this, bees will only sting when they feel a threat (to themselves, their hive or to the queen bee).
Even though bees can be intimidating, they are very much needed to help our plants and flowers flourish (and to make delicious honey for us to enjoy). Make sure to check out Plant A Sunflower & Help Bees Thrive for a great summer project.
Please Note: None of the information above is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it’s provided for general knowledge purposes
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